CH. 12: Testing Grounds

[Haahque]

“Funny you mention that, actually I have. There was this jerk named Darewind who used to do public healing declaring it the work of the old gods. I mean he seemed ok at first, but then he sent assassins after myself and my friends with absolutely no provocation. Serves him right that he was eaten by a dragon.”

“But, if I happen to run into any true clerics I could tell them to contact you if you want. Whom should I tell them to search for?”

Haahqae is somewhat disappointed with her appearing to know less about the subject then he had hoped, but regardless he tries pressing the issue, because she must know more than she’s letting on.

“However, my question was more about if you knew about any other deities that might be in the city. I wouldn’t know who to look for unless I knew a little about the old gods that they follow. What would they look like? What sort of holy symbols? What would they likely be doing?”

[Chris1234]

Shima tries to hit Rat #1

[TristenC]

[Ooc: is there enough time to reasonably get to the Steel Tankard and back before curfew?]

Oh yeah? Who all was asking and what descriptions did they give? Maybe I can help find some of them...

[djhyland]

"That's...that's good..." Arulia stutters, and turns her head away. "I'm glad that they...uh...help your family."

Arulia takes a deep breath and looks back to Aaron. "If...if I wanted to meet these women again, do you know where I could find them? I've been looking, but haven't had any luck yet."

[JadedDM]

Haahqae (Steel Tankard Inn)
The young woman snorts. "Kelryn Darewind? He was a charlatan; a renegade mage who used necromancy to drain the life of others in order to heal himself--not true magical healing. If you do find real clerics, seek me out. My name is Elara. And if I knew about other true clerics, I wouldn't be here asking you about them, I'd be seeking them out myself. If there are any, I doubt they walk around bearing their holy icons and wearing their vestments in public, in any case. They'd be easier to find if that were true."

Arulia Seroth (Market Square)
The boy shakes his head. "They don't want to be found, I think. They only come by in disguise, using different costumes and accents. They talk to our guardian about stuff, and then leave. I'm...not really supposed to talk about it," he says a bit abashed, realizing he has probably said too much already.

Grubnick (High Hand Inn)
"He paid me not to tell anyone else about it," Green Tears answers with a shrug. "I try to respect people's privacy when asked. You'd have to ask him yourself."

(OOC: There is, sure, if he doesn't dawdle.)

[BishGada]

Tulbas helps the woman to the door, while she leans on him he thinks to himself, 'That may cause real delay...' but he continues helping her. He leads her to the door opposed to the room where he heard the mages conspire giving quick looks to the rooms on both sides looking for survivors. If nothing is obvious he goes with her in the hallway to the next two openings and if they do notice anything worth action or deeper search they will enter the room and Tulbas will say to the woman, "Wait here and keep watch on the hallway."

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(OOC: Does Tulbas knows her name/age and where is she from?)

[JadedDM]

Tulbas Erogund (Tower of Wayreth)
Tulbas looks inside the next room over, where he remembered the human apprentice was staying. Like the other rooms, this one was also severely damaged. The door is not completely off its hinges, but only half-way, leaving it creaking and swaying back and forth. Inside the room, there's a large hole in the floor, leading down to the room below it. The bed and several other pieces of furniture have also fallen through the hole. The hole stretches from one wall to the other, meaning the only way to access the back half of the room would be to jump over it.

On the other side of the hole stands a large armoire. Tulbas can hear, with his keen elven ear, what sounds like muffled sobbing from within the armoire.

(OOC: Tulbas doesn't know anything at all about her, save that she's Qualinesti.)

[spyguy1503]

Ne-Chanz attacks again.

[BishGada]

While leading the woman to the next room Tulbas introduces himself in short, "I'm Tulbas." he smiles bitterly to himself omitting the thought crossed his mind that he is a remnant of distinct race and now have fallen to the current situation. "If I may, what is your name?" as the reach the next room Tulbas looks around. Looking at the damage he assumes this room suffered more from the first blast on the lower floor then the last one. "The human apprentice is in the wardrobe." he whispers to the woman. "I guess if we to survive we need to get as much help as possible. I'll try to call him out unless you highly object." Tulbas waits for her to comment but obviously they need any help so he is positive she will agree with him. Seeing the understanding and confirmation in her eyes Tulbas walks to the edge of the hole and calls a little bit louder, "Hey! Human apprentice! It's us, the other apprentices. You can come out now. You are safe. The attackers have moved on. Join us and we will find a way out. If you stay hidden and the attackers win the battle they will come later to clean up the place." he waits for the human reaction.

[djhyland]

Arulia frowns. "If you're not supposed to talk about it, then you probably shouldn't," she says. "But I really need to find those two. How would you suggest I do that?"

[TristenC]

Right, I understand. I just remembered an errand I need to run, I'll be back in a bit. Grubnick heads to the Steel tankard to discretely inquire about the women from whomever is in charge there.

[JadedDM]

Tulbas Erogund (Tower of Wayreth)
"Tulbas?" the Qualinesti woman repeats. "That sounds more like an Ogre name than an Elven one. I am Selowen, if you must know."

Tulbas calls out to the armoire and waits. After a few seconds, the armoire speaks (or rather, someone inside it does) in a muffled voice. "Uh...no thanks. It's probably safer here than out there." The door cracks open a bit, which makes the voice clearer. "Unless...you know of some way out of here? I never wanted to take that Test anyway. I say we bail, hide out in the forest until this mess is over. Or maybe even find our way back to a real town. What do you say?"

Arulia Seroth (Market Square)
"I dunno," Aaron replies with a shrug. "I think they are looking for someone, though. Maybe if you find him, you can find them. I heard them mention some dwarf before."

Grubnick (Steel Tankard Inn)
Grubnick departs the High Hand and makes his way to the Tankard. Stepping inside, he notes Haahqae is preset. He is sitting at a table with a young woman, maybe 13 or 14 years old, speaking with her.

Heading to the bar, he gets the innkeeper's attention. She is a human woman of middle age. Listening to his description, she shakes her head. "Sorry, no. Haven't seen anyone like that before," she tells him.

Ne-Chanz and Shima (North Haven Sewers)
Shima wards off his opponent with his shield, then counters with his blade but misses again. Ne-Chanz does likewise, but then scores a second hit, slaying the rat. Another one (Giant Rat 03) leaps forward to takes its place.

Initiative
Ne-Chanz (1d10+5): 9+5 = 14
Shima (1d10+5): 9+5 = 14
Giant Rats (1d10+3): 6+3 = 9

Round 2!

Giant Rat 01 bites at Shima in leather armor (+2 hit) while he is carrying his masterwork buckler (-2 hit) [TN 15] (1d20): 6, miss.
Giant Rat 02 bites at Ne-Chanz [TN 14] (1d20): 5, miss.
Ne-Chanz swings his long sword with great skill (+1 hit/+2 dmg) and strength (+1 dmg) at Giant Rat 02 [TN 10] (1d20+1): 5+1 = 6, miss.
Shima swings his long sword at Giant Rat 01 [TN 11] (1d20): 6, miss.
Ne-Chanz swings his long sword with great skill (+1 hit/+2 dmg) and strength (+1 dmg) at Giant Rat 02 [TN 10] (1d20+1): 15+1 = 16, hit for (1d8+3): 4+3 = 7 damage. Giant Rat 02 is killed.

(OOC: Actions for Round 3?)

[spyguy1503]

"That's one for me!" He attacks again, and again.

[Chris1234]

Shima tries to hit the same rat that he's managed to damage already.
"Hey, well done. Plenty more yet though."

[TristenC]

That's odd, I heard they had been here before... He describes Xyleena and Yvette as he recalled them, and also the look of the trappers.

[Ooc: didn't Haahque tell Grubnick he met the girls here? Or does Cassandra just not remember them?]