CH. 12: Testing Grounds

[spyguy1503]

"That's really stupid. Look, this is the difference between money and no money. Let's just kill them all."

[djhyland]

Arulia looks around nervously, then draws closer to get a better look at the building and to see if anyone else is taking an interest in the brothel.

(OOC: Is there any contact information on the sign--"Please inquire with so-and-so to see if an exciting career in prostitution is right for you!" or the like? Is Arulia able to see in through the windows, or are they curtained/boarded up?)

[chese780]

"Actually, this is the difference between getting money the easy way, or getting it and finding a way out of this city."

[spyguy1503]

"We're mercenaries. Our life is easy money."

[JadedDM]

Haahqae (Old Keep, Courtyard)
While the two guards are scuffling, Haahqae moves in to try and grab for that tin knife again. However, it's difficult to get near the two without risking being trampled. Just as he's nearly able to grab it, a woman's voice demands, "What in the Abyss are you doing?!" which causes him to miss it again.

The two baaz immediately stop and stand at attention. A Khurish woman wearing a commander's uniform is approaching. When she arrives, the two baaz both start to explain, but she silences them with a gesture. "You two are supposed to be guarding the tower gate, and here I find you acting like undisciplined hatchlings. Perhaps guard duty is too boring for you? I could arrange something more interesting, if you prefer. We can always use more people on latrine duty."

"No, sir, that won't be necessary," protests the first.

"It won't happen again, commander," adds the second.

"See that it doesn't. Now, have either of you seen a gnome? That inept Perp was escorting him and lost him." The two soldiers shake their heads. "Well, consider this place on lockdown until he's found. We can't have an un-escorted civilian wandering about. If you see him, take him into custody at once and inform me."

"Yes, commander!" the two baaz reply in unison.

"Now open up the gate," she adds.

The two baaz snap a salute then hurry over to the lever and begin cranking it, lifting up the portcullis to allow the commander entry.

(Haahqae attempts to pick pocket the baaz [TN 25%] (1d100): 44, fail. He is not detected.)

Kendra Greylock (Prefect's Mansion)
"Just don't make a habit of it," Tethys says in reply. "Now then, I understand you haven't had any luck in tracking down that dwarf you saw at the elemental attack. The other people I have put on this have yet to locate him, either. Almost like he just disappeared. Rather suspicious, don't you agree? I think this means he did have something to do with it, after all. The city's in lockdown, so he couldn't have left. He must be hiding."

Arulia Seroth (Outside the Brothel)
Looking closer at the sign, Arulia notes that it suggests anyone who wishes to work here seek out the priests at the Temple of Takhisis to learn more about employment. Stepping closer, she can hear the sounds of carpentry inside--hammer on nails and the like.

The windows are covered, but one in the front isn't covered completely--there's just enough of a gap that she can see a little inside. She sees humans working inside, fixing up the place. She also spots a woman in black robes that seems to be supervising them.

She looks around to see if anyone else is showing interest in the place. As she does so, she spots Gobax--the goblin who she worked with to free Tulbas from the Neo-Belzorites--poking around the burned building next door.

(Arulia makes a WIS check [TN 13] (1d20): 8, pass. She notices Gobax.)

Grubnick (Outside the Burned Building)
Grubnick quietly makes his way back upstairs. Once the coast is clear on the street, he emerges from the burned building and crawls under the rope. From what he can tell, nobody saw him entering or departing the place.

(Grubnick makes a WIS check [TN 16] (1d20): 17, fail.)

Felran, Ne-Chanz, and Shima (North Haven Sewers)
Ne-Chanz prepares to charge, but is stopped by Felran of all people. The two argue about the moral implications of what they are about to do while Shima stays in the corner, listening quietly.

The gully dwarves continue to weep, wail and blubber throughout.

[Haahque]

Wandering about? No! He had fled into the city and was hiding from the sudden swarm of rodents, incompetent fool! Well, no point in trying to argue the point right now. For now she’s offered him a stroke of luck in giving him passage through this portcullis.

When the gate is open, Haahqae will slip through to the other side, then press himself against the wall so that she passes by him. Then he’ll follow her a ways, she’ll be going up to the second floor at least, possibly further. And there’s also a chance that she’ll get engaged in another conversation that might give him some further information that he needs.

[TristenC]

[Thanks, just wanted to be sure]

Grubnick heads back down the street, at a bit of a loss for what to do next. He moves towards the docks, just to get a change of scenery and mull some things over.

[HorizonsDream]

"I agree," Kendra says. "But that doesn't really narrow things down." Haven was a city, and it was quite large. There were a lot of places where this dwarf could hide. "Though, he could be really angry that I messed up his plans. What if we set up a trap, using me as bait?"

[djhyland]

Arulia walks back to the street quickly, lest the black-robed woman notice her attention. Once there, she looks around. Noticing Gobax walking away, she starts after him. "Gobax!" she calls. "Gobax, is that you?"

[TristenC]

Grubnick doesn't respond at first, but the second time he is called it clicks, Oh yeah, i'm "Gobax". The goblin turns to see the woman hailing him, Oh hey uh....'rulia, isn't it? How have you been? I haven't seen you in a little while.

[JadedDM]

Haahqae (Old Keep, Courtyard)
Haahqae easily follows the commander into the tower. He was in now, but apparently the army thought he was still wandering about, unattended, in the courtyard somewhere. This could be a complication. But for now, he simply follows her up to the second floor. She doesn't speak to anyone, but any soldier she passes snaps her a salute. She heads into her office and sits down at her desk. She begins writing something on parchment with an ink quill.

There are several offices here, most of them with the doors closed. The stairs up to the next floor are also nearby.

Kendra Greylock (Prefect's Mansion)
Tethys chuckles slowly. "I suppose it's true what they say about great minds thinking alike. I was thinking the exact same thing." He leans forward and hands Kendra a scroll from across his desk. When she takes it and unfurls it, she finds it is an advertisement for a parade in Kendra's honor for saving the city from rebel terrorists. The parade is to take place in one week. "I've already had my men start posting these in town. Once word gets out, the rebels are certain to try and use the opportunity to attack. But we'll be ready for them."

[HorizonsDream]

Kendra reads over the scroll for a few moments, then looks up to Tethys. "But what if they don't fall for it?" she asks. That is her only real concern on the matter.

[BishGada]

Tulbas looks at the Heads of the Orders with great respect. Some unsettling thought sneaks to his mind, 'Note that both the Red and the White are wearied down while the Black stands tall.' He nods slightly to Par-Salian blessing and waits to see what will come next.

[djhyland]

Arulia hurries to catch up with Gobax, and once she does, she continues to walk along with him rather than stop. "I've been...uh...okay. How have you been?" After the merest pause to let him reply, she speaks in a low tone meant only for his ears. "I saw you coming out of that place...is everything all right? The Belzorites haven't come back, have they?" She pauses as a thought strikes her, and her expression becomes hopeful. "Or...have you found some sign of Yvette and Xyleena?"

[Chris1234]

Naras continues to wait for either a successful resolution one way or another in Felran and Ne-Chad 's discussion or else for the latter to step around the former to thump a Gully..