CH. 9: Winter is Coming

[TristenC]

Grubnick pats Tulbas' shoulder comfortingly. You're not alone. We made it through once, we can again.

[mgbevan]

"I suggest you get down there and see if Haahqae needs assistance, call us through when you're ready." Gregeddin replies to Shima, unwrapping himself from his winter blanket as he speaks. He shakes thw blanket sending a flurry of snowy flakes through the air between the group as they stand in the still, abandoned, room.
The bard nods approvingly at Grubnick's gesture, confident that Tulbas will be strong enough to make it beyond this trial, the young elf still has so much promise about him.
While they wait, the bard readies his bow and eyes any material left on the bookcase.

[Haahque]

Returning to the others, Haahqae explains: "There's no sign of anything changing. The traps haven't even rest from when we set them off. It looks exactly like no one's been down there since we left. Maybe Belzor killed himself after he realized all his minions failed him. Or maybe he teleported away, but if he came out this way he's left no signs that he passed through."

[spyguy1503]

(OOC: So did you ditch us?)
"Did they leave?" Ne-Chanz asks, increduously. He steps out into the street.

[TristenC]

We should still be careful. Presuming nothing has changed can be dangerous. If I were leaving a deadly trap, i'd certainly try to make everything look as of nothing had changed... And we could have missed something the first time around. I think the two of you searching would be a great benefit...

[Haahque]

"Hmm, yes, quite." Haahqae returns to the basement and passes through the first room to examine the second room for traps.

[djhyland]

"If I was Belzor," Arulia muses, "I certainly wouldn't stop and clean things up before I left. If he's fled, maybe he was worried that we'd come back before he could get out if he didn't leave as quickly as possible." She holds up a warning hand. "But just because things look like they were when we left last night, that doesn't mean that we're safe or that Belzor or his minions aren't still down there somewhere."

[JadedDM]

Haahqae, Gregeddin, Tulbas, Arulia, Gobax and Shima (Deserted Building)
Gregeddin examines the bookshelf, but there are only the covers remaining. All of the pages have been ripped out, presumably to have been used as kindling or possibly toilet paper from whomever used to squat here.

Haahqae moves into the next room, a pantry. There are no bodies here or any sign of battle. He searches but finds no new traps.

Deserted Building 41.jpg (162.43 KiB) Viewed 5764 times

(OOC: Yeah, Shima has his weapons.)

Kendra Greylock (Outside the Ivy Inn)
"Fair enough," says Necolai. "But the unfortunate fact is, you know enough about our operation to make me uncomfortable now that you're working for the law again. And that makes you dangerous. I have to look after my people, after all. And protect them from any threats that might emerge..."

Felran and Ne-Chanz (Outside the Steel Tankard Inn)
The two step out into the street and see no sign of the others. Nor is there any sign of them inside. It would seem they were left behind.

[TristenC]

Once given the all-clear from Haahque, Grubnick searches the storage room for useful equipment.
[any lamp oil, torches, lanterns, useful stuff? General idea of contents? Since we aren't rushing to save Tulbas anymore, I guess we have some time to check]

[BishGada]

Tulbas looks at the bodies around and recognizes Sigbert. He also noticed a gore mushed false Cleric. "What happened to this one?" He asks Gregeddin.

[Chris1234]

If the walls or floor are made out of stone, while Haahgae is checking out the previously identified traps, Shima seeks for moving/sliding stonework etc in the external pair of rooms prior to the secret door in the bookcase. {OOC: Grid ref (3,7) to (9,7)}

If nothing significant is revealed (or no stonework), Shima moves through the bookcase into the pantry and If the walls or floor are made out of stone, he seeks for moving/sliding stonework etc.
If nothing significant is revealed (or no stonework), Shima advances a room repeat the stonework stuff until he catches up with Haahqae, at which point he tries to assist searching for traps.
{OOC: What grid ref is Haaqaue on?}

[Haahque]

Convinced that the pantry hasn't changed since Haahqae left, he makes his way forward checking the kitchen and the dining room for traps or any sign of living residents.

[HorizonsDream]

"I have no desire to go after you or your people," Kendra says. "And I don't have any intention of giving up your people to my new employer either."

[spyguy1503]

"Well, apparently they don't want us anymore? I'm not leaving until we get paid, though."

[mgbevan]

" 'This one', was one of the first we encountered. Quite deadly with the bow by Haahqae's reckoning." Gregeddin replies to Tulbas' question as he follows the group deeper into the lair.
Before he continues to divulge any more information, the bard looks over subtly to Arulia to gauge her reaction. He remembers they didn't leave on the best of terms and doesn't want to make her feel any worse by giving away too many details relating to 'This one's' injuries.
Gregeddin rattles off some other details in the mean time as he calculates how Arulia is doing "I believe we came across This one on separate occasions, and I'm sure he so generously gifted a number of us with arrows. Even when someone was invisible! I could probably have learnt a thing or two about archery..." The bard mutters looking over his composite bow, "But then again, maybe they just got lucky..."