CH. 7: The Viper's Nest

[JadedDM]

Haahqae (Deserted Building, Harbor District)
Haahqae finds the door is unlocked, so simply opens it without any precautionary measures. It reveals a long staircase leading down below, a basement of some kind. He can't see the bottom of the stairs from his vantage point, but he does hear voices coming from that direction.

Kendra and Arulia (Grinning Goat Tavern)
The barkeep chuckles darkly. "You and everyone else. I guess you didn't hear about the tax hike? Most businesses are probably going to go under. I've had a steady stream of folk coming in here who were let go. Everyone is looking for work, just about. Your best bet is to find someplace that isn't being taxed, like the church, the mageware shop and the army." He sniffs. "Rumor is the church is going to reopen the old brothel, and you two ladies are certainly pretty enough for that...assuming you don't mind all your johns being dracs and gobs, that is." He leans forward and says a little more softly, "Necolai is also looking for some folk to get things started again...if yer interested."

Tulbas Erogund (Unknown location)
"And we thought you had come to kill us all," the man replies. "And yes, those who undergo the change willingly keep their minds. And Belzor isn't human...not anymore. He has become something more, something divine. You will understand when you see him. I joined for the same reason we all did...the need to be a part of something greater. Not everyone has the opportunity to create a god, after all."

Tulbas moves toward the door, the cold floor stinging his bare feet slightly. When he gets close, the three Histachii start hissing angrily.

"I wouldn't do that," warns the burned man. "She told them to kill you if you tried to escape."

Gregeddin and Grubnick (Outside the old brothel, Harbor District)
Gregeddin eyes the goblin warily. "Who do you work for? Are you another one of her spies? Not quite as subtle as the last one, I have to say," he says. "She should really hire better actors."

[TristenC]

Hah! Grubnick barks a laugh. Then perhaps that should argue in my favor for not being a spy. Why would she need to spy on her own, eh? Before Gregeddin can answer he waves his hand idly as if brushing the question away, dismissing the thought

I don't really work for anyone right now, which is kind of my point. I have a little time before my funds run out. I'm trying to do some research so I don't have to take anything... unsavory... out of desperation.

Grubnick takes his pipe out of his mouth and gestures with it in his hand. You mercenaries seem to have a great deal more freedom than the army appears to. I'm not terribly excited about the prospect of working for her, but it seems the only viable option now with the taxes... someone should do something about that before all the businesses start going under.

Grubnick shakes his head. Ah, I'm rambling again. My appologies.

[HorizonsDream]

"He must be crazy," Kendra says softly. "Though, I doubt he'll want to work with me when I failed him last time," she added with a sigh. "When is the brothel scheduled to open?"

[BishGada]

"Easy boys!" Tulbas says to the Histachii, "I thought I've heard something outside." Then to the burned man he says, "First, do you have any control over them? And second, what divine powers? I'm not saying your are all being deceived. Obviously you have many intelligent people among you. It is clear Belzor got something, but you can't deny the logic contradiction, it can't be divine if not inspired by the gods, but acording to your words Belzor was not a god not so long ago, so where does the divine power comes from? And why choose him to be turned into a god, and not you or Leota?"

[JadedDM]

Kendra and Arulia (Grinning Goat Tavern)
"I guess when they get enough girls," the bartender responds. "I heard they're still trying to find someone to manage the place, too. You might guess not too many want to sign up, even with the hard times. But I imagine given time, desperation will set in and having to ride a gobbo's sword won't seem too bad as long as you get to eat."

Tulbas Erogund (Unknown location)
"Yes, all of those who have undergone the change can command the Histachii. You will, as well, when your time comes. Unless you become a Histachii, as well," the burned man adds with a smirk. "And Leota already explained that to you. I know, I heard her do it. Belzor is better than the old gods, because he was born mortal. He understands the plights of mortals. He knows what it is to suffer, to feel pain or grief, to go hungry. The old gods cannot, and that is why they can't relate to us...or us to them. As for why him, specifically, he is a powerful mage. Leota is just an apprentice. And the rest of us cannot use magic at all. He was the only one with the power to see this thing through."

Gregeddin and Grubnick (Outside the old brothel, Harbor District)
The human rubs his chin thoughtfully. "Alright, let's say I believe you. What skills do you bring to the table? How can you be of any help to us?" he asks.

[djhyland]

Arulia scowls and shakes her head in disbelief at the barkeep's suggestions, but does not rise to the bait. She leans over to Kendra's ear and murmurs, "I'd rather join the army than take him up on his offer, even if it means serving alongside goblins and draconians! I don't think he's got anything worthwhile to tell us!" But she stays beside Kendra, just in case the other woman has more questions to ask.

[TristenC]

A fair question, I suppose, Grubnick replies, nibbling on his pipe-stem. Though it truly depends on the situation at hand.

I have some small skill at fighting, he raises a finger, adding one for each point he makes; I am trained in binding and treating wounds, I'm not prone to the laziness and untidiness of most of my kind. I can be quite... resourceful... when necessary, and perhaps the most obvious is that I am a goblin and may likely go unnoticed many places where... others are not.

Waggling his extended fingers he takes his pipe from his teeth and places it back with his tabac. Now if I may ask, who do you mean by "us"?

[Haahque]

Haahqae will do his best to move silently down the stairs, so as to get a better vantage point to figure out what's going on down there.

Move Silently (85%): 72
Hide (70%): 1

[HorizonsDream]

"And if one wanted to sign up, where would that be done?" Kendra asks. She wasn't sure if she could pull someone off like that especially with being married and all, but it was still another option.

[BishGada]

"Dear friend, I can relate to your desperate need to find something to believe in especially in these harsh times, but do you really believe Belzor can withstand Takhisis wrath? Darewind also was powerful with the Art, still he turned to a pile of ash with so ease... And he couldn't heal himself or others true healing, just sucking their life for his own benefit. In your current state, divine powers of your leader would be useful, don't you agree? I tell you, in order to succeed you need the guidance of a true god, and the old gods are awakening. True, we see now only Takhisis, but not so long ago even her was a myth. If she returns why not the other old gods? And I bet among them many will approve your ambition and beliefs." Tulbas pauses for a while, then, "Why is the transformation required? You can still believe in whatever you believe and keep your human form, no?"

[JadedDM]

Haahqae (Deserted Building, Harbor District)
Being utterly quiet and remaining in the shadows, Haahqae descends the long staircase to the basement. When he reaches the near bottom, he looks into a room that appears to be a lounge of some kind. There are weapon racks and armor stands for people to leave their gear. There's a table to the south and a small khas set (a game where one moves wooden pieces across a checkerboard) to the north. Scattered about the corners of the room include some benches, barrels and old sacks. Across from the stairs is another closed door.

There are five men in this room. But one would hesitate to call them 'men.' The two most human-like are sitting at the khas table, playing. One is a woman in chain mail with a large maul nearby, leaning against the wall. The other is a man in leathers with a bow and arrow on his back. Both look largely human, but have strange snake like features--reptilian eyes or scales on parts of their bodies, or sometimes a forked tongue will poke out of their mouths for a moment. The two are engrossed in their game. The man in leathers also seems to have bandages on, covering up a nasty burn on his arms and legs.

The other three humanoids stand at attention near the door. They aren't doing anything but standing there, staring into space. They have gray, scaly skin and smell of rotting meat. Their fingernails are black and twisted, resembling the claws of a lizard. Their teeth are yellow and look like little hooks. They wear little clothing, just filthy rags draped over their emaciated bodies.

Deserted Building 02.jpg (21.43 KiB) Viewed 6293 times

(OOC:
Haahqae makes a Move Silently check [85] (1d100): 72, pass.
Haahqae makes a Hide in Shadows check [70] (1d100): 1, pass.)

Kendra and Arulia (Grinning Goat Tavern)
The bartender shrugs. "I suppose, since they don't have a manager yet, you'd need to go to the temple and speak with the clerics there." He holds out a hand. "If there's nothing else..."

Tulbas Erogund (Unknown location)
"We don't need to withstand her power, only hide from her. And we've remained hidden this long," the man says. He snorts derisively at the rest of Tulbas' speech. "Why should we care about the old gods, any of them, after what they did to us? They nearly destroyed our world, leaving us alone without any help. We've suffered over three hundred and fifty years of plague, famine, and war while they did nothing. The old gods care nothing about us. We're just tools to them, pawns in their own little khas games. To the Abyss with the old gods, every one of them!"

He winces in pain, all that yelling and flailing of limbs was aggravating his burns. He calms down a bit and then says, "The change is to make us better. Better than human. We've improved on the creation of the old gods. The change brings many benefits, including heightened senses, stronger skin, and even the ability to resist some magic. Why would anyone choose to remain weak and soft?"

Gregeddin and Grubnick (Outside the old brothel, Harbor District)
"Myself and my...partner," the man replies. "I am called Gregeddin." He pronounces the 'dd' as a 'th.' "My partner is Haahqae of Mt. Nevermind. He's still inside, looking around. And you are?"

[TristenC]

Pleased to meet you Gregeddin, he says as he extends his hand. Call me Gobax. Gobax Redbug. I presume this partner of yours is inside?

[HorizonsDream]

Kendra hands the barkeep a couple of steel pieces for the information, then leads Arulia back outside into the street. "That was actually pretty useful information," she informs her. "And it would be a great way to get information," she adds.

[Haahque]

Huh, that's a strange fashion sense they got going there. But what I know is that these are probably Belzorites, and they have someone, who was bleeding last night, in here somewhere. None of these creatures look like they were bleeding, and Tulbas is missing, so that means Tulbas is probably in here somewhere. And Tulbas is probably bleeding. I wonder if his magic can cure that? Seemed to work for a goblin before anyhow.

Well as they say si fueris Romae, Romano vivito more; si fueris alibi, vivito sicut ibi.

Haahqae will try to go back up the stairs just as stealthily as he went down them, then he'll cast Change Self (Assuming there's no-one else in the building at that point) to change his appearance to a lizard-like humanoid similar to the ones downstairs. And then he'll descend once again to talk to the first guard he sees.

"Greetings, I just got word from Belzor that I need to talk with the prisoner. He was mysterious as to the reason why, but he was concerned about the wound in some way and wanted me to talk to him about it. All will be made clear in time."

If these guys are still stupid enough to worship a god that's been proven to be made up via illusions, they should be susceptible to my own illusion, and believe me when I tell them that their god came to me in a vision. I just hope I sounded mysterious enough to emulate a deity's vagueness.

[JadedDM]

Haahqae (Deserted Building, Guard Lounge)
Haahqae uses an illusion spell to make himself appear to be one of those strange looking snakemen and walks back downstairs to speak with the two guards playing khas. They are at their feet at once, and immediately suspicious.

"Did you just come from upstairs? What were you doing up there?" demands the woman.

"And why is it speaking so...eloquently?" asks the man. "Which Histachii is this?"

"I don't know," the woman replies. "They sort of all look alike to me. But why would Belzor send it here if he wants to see the prisoner? Speak up, creature. Answer our questions!"

(OOC: Haahqae casts Change Self on himself for 2d6+4 rounds.)

Kendra and Arulia (Grinning Goat Tavern)
The bartender takes the coins and nods to the two women, before returning to the bar.

(OOC: Kendra gives the barkeep 2 steel coins.)

Gregeddin and Gobax (Outside the old brothel, Harbor District)
Gregeddin shakes his hand. "You may presume that, particularly as I literally just said that," he answers. "Shall we?" he asks, gesturing to the door.