CH. 12: Testing Grounds

[djhyland]

Unable to find the gnome, Arulia instead nods to the woman behind the bar and walks over to the minotaur. "Good morning, Ne-Chanz, she says. "How are you doing today?"

[JadedDM]

Haahqae (Masked Dragon Inn, Ismene's room)
"Gregeddin's been arrested? Is he alright?" Ismene asks. "Wait, is that the job? Are you...trying to bust him out?"

Kendra Synclair (2527 Market Street, Greylock's Gorgeous Gems)
"Me, too," Sadron says. The two sit and eat breakfast quietly.

(OOC: You can give a little more than that in your posts. What is she thinking? What is she feeling?)

Arulia and Ne-Chanz (High Hand Inn, Common room)
The innkeeper nods back to Arulia. "Need anything?" she asks as the half-elf approaches Ne-Chanz to speak with him.

Grubnick (Haven Arms, Common room)
"Pretty, long blonde hair and fair skin," the waitress replies. "The other two women wore animal skins and spoke with mountain accents. I don't think they were from around here."

She listens to his description of Yvette and Xyleena. "No, sorry. Never heard of them."

Shima Longfoot (Temple of Takhisis)
"We will see about getting your weapons back after the job is complete," the high priestess counters. "You wouldn't be able to use them anyway without a permit, so there's no reason to be stubborn about it. If you agree to the job, I'll heal you now and give you the details."

[Chris1234]

"And how is one suppose to do a job without the tools of the job?" Shima grumbled. ""But whatever. Yes, let's get on with it."

[TristenC]

too much to hope for the coincidence... he thinks to himself. Any idea where I could find the trappers? And do you know if the warrior was from any particular division of the army?

[HorizonsDream]

"You can stay as long as you want, Sadron," Kendra finally says. "I'll find a way to make this work." She knows it is a horrible idea in the end, but she can't just let him go like that. The possibility of him finding his people were slim to none, and there was a very high possibility of him getting caught by the dragon army. Not only that, but there were old feelings stirring that she was having a very hard time ignoring.

[BishGada]

Tulbas turns around as the door opens, he looks at the mage, admiring the White Robes. He was used to the Red Robes Raetmal always wear, and lately to the Black Robes he kept seeing in the corner of his eyes while walking in the house, but the Whites he sees for the first.
Hearing his names he focuses on the Mage, "Daxia. Yes, it is I." he says calmly and indeed is able to give a weak smile, "I'm glad to see you are well. I was worried, with all that happened, that you wouldn't make it. How is Kynaston?" he asks hoping for a short answer since he knows the issues ahead are much more important and Magnus will soon be furious at him. On the other hand, knowing the Wizards of the Tower might be considered by the Black Mage as benefit.

======================================================
(OOC: I forgot about the familiar. *scratching my head*)

[Haahque]

Haahqae had planned to make this quick, even before Miriam's uncaring look at him earlier today. However, if Ismene had more questions for him, Haahqae has no choice but to answer them. Haahqae knows how it hurts him when his own questions aren't answered, and he would hate to be the cause of such pain for Ismene.

"No, no. I have no idea what came over that man, he was a good friend and usually rational and kind, but for whatever reason he decided to attack the prefect with... as far as I know, no provocation nor anything to gain from it. I can only only assume he went insane or had a moment of extreme stupidity come over him. However, he got the entire trade guild arrested - including my own innkeeper and Kendra's husband - with that one, so I think he can sit in his cell and think over his actions for a little longer. Perhaps he'll figure out how stupid he was and not do that again when he gets out."

[djhyland]

Arulia nods to the innkeeper. "Actually...yes. I was hoping that my...my friend here could tell me, but maybe you can too. I'm looking for a gnome named Haahqae, and the last time I saw him he was here. Would you be able to help?"

[JadedDM]

Haahqae (Masked Dragon Inn, Ismene's room)
"Attacked the prefect?" Ismene repeats with surprise. "I suppose that explains what happened to the Trade Guild. I wonder why he would do something like that."

She shakes her head and says, "Well, good luck with your job then. I hope it works out well for you."

Kendra Synclair (2527 Market Street, Greylock's Gorgeous Gems)
"Will the ring you plan to sell make enough coin to take care of both of us?" asks Sadron. "I can't exactly go out and get a job myself, I'm afraid."

Tulbas Erogund (Tower of Wayreth, Waiting Room)
"You two have met?" Magnus asks, looking between them.

"Back in Haven," Daxia says, and leaves it at that. "Kynaston is well, or he was when I last saw him, anyway. After dropping me off here, I assumed he would return to the city. I've been here ever since, biding my time and waiting for things back home to cool down. But why aren't you here with your uncle? I thought he was your mentor."

Arulia and Ne-Chanz (High Hand Inn, Common room)
The innkeeper shakes her head. "Nobody with that name stays here."

"Haahqae stays at the Tankard," Ne-Chanz adds. "You might try there."

Grubnick (Haven Arms, Common room)
"If you want to find the trappers, I'd say try the Trade Guild...or what's left of it," the waitress suggests. "Most of them were arrested awhile back, but a handful remain. As for the soldier, I'm not sure. But she seemed really important. The soldiers that were here at the time all jumped to their feet and saluted her, even though they were off-duty."

Shima Longfoot (Temple of Takhisis)
"I would hope you are clever enough to find ways to kill without just stabbing people," the high priestess notes. "Besides, that's too messy. Find another way. Concoct a poison, if you have the know how. If not, find a way to acquire some." She holds her hand out to Shima. "If you accept the deal, give me your hand and I will cast the spell."

[Chris1234]

Shima passes a hand over.

[HorizonsDream]

"I think so," Kendra says. "Norris would sell this stuff all the time, and he was able to take care of the both of us plus my family. He constantly tries to get me to stop my dangerous job," she explains. "If I can sell the ring, then I can pay for this place. With the money that I'm making working for the prefect, I'll be able to take care of my family and have a little bit left over."

[Haahque]

"Thank you, I hope so too." It appears that the conversation is over. While one part of Haahqae would like to stay here and keep talking, he knows that he can't let that get in the way of his job. This job needs him thinking over all the details, leaving none overlooked.

Haahqae leaves the room, giving Miriam a small "Sorry it took so long" as he passes by her, and makes his way out to the market where he's looking for a clothing merchant.

Well, that was interesting. It went a bit better then he had expected, although not as good as he might have hoped, but a young gnome's imagination can be quite hopeful at times, beyond any rational thought. He hadn't revealed that he could cast magic to her yet. Nor had he told her what he was going to do.

[djhyland]

"Oh, okay," says Arulia. "Thanks for that, Ne-Chanz. I'll go look for him there." She nods to the inkeeper. "Thank you, too."

Arulia ducks back out into the cold autumn air and heads for the Steel Tankard.

[JadedDM]

Haahqae (Grand Market)
Haahqae makes his way to the marketplace and starts looking around. There are a number of vendors selling bolts of cloth and clothes of various materials. The demand is high especially now, since winter is on the way, so Haahqae has many options to choose from.

Kendra Synclair (2527 Market Street, Greylock's Gorgeous Gems)
Sadron nods. "As long as I'm not too much of a burden then. I heard living here is much more expensive these days due to the occupation."

Arulia Seroth (Steel Tankard Inn, Common room)
Arulia departs the High Hand and makes her way to the Tankard. She had not been here in about two weeks; when she agreed to rescue Tulbas from the Neo-Belzorites. That was when she also ran into that young girl who was asking questions about the old gods. When she looks around the common area, she doesn't see her this time. For that matter, she doesn't see Haahqae, either.

The innkeeper is also missing. Rather, the head waitress, Cassandra, seems to be in charge. There are a handful of locals here, as well. She spots the man who she smelted iron for a few days back, drinking at the bar. She sees a pregnant woman speaking with a woman wearing an eye-patch. No soldiers have shown up yet, though.

Shima Longfoot (Temple of Takhisis)
The high priestess takes Shima's hand with one of her own, and grasps her holy icon--a five-headed dragon--with the other. She then begins to pray. However, when she is finished, aside from a shiver going down the dwarf's spine, he doesn't feel any different. His wounds have not healed. Perhaps it takes a few minutes to kick in? He's never experienced divine magic before, so he can't be sure what to expect. The woman watches him for a reaction.

[Haahque]

Haahqae will search for strips of plain cloth (colour or pattern doesn't matter at all), he wants four strips of cloth, about a foot long and a foot and a half wide. If he folds it in half width wise, it should fit his foot (0.5' x 1.5') and be able to wrap around his foot multiple times before tying it off to create a soft, quiet padding. If he unfolds it, it should fill his pack and be able to be folded over multiple times, separating lairs of coins to prevent them from clinking together. Or, if he should find it useful he could place coin or other valuables in the center, then tie the corners together to make a bag on its own.

In terms of fabric, linen is his performance as the best balance. Silk is great, but probably above his price point. Hemp or flax would be acceptable and cheap, although uncomfortable on his feet. He'll settle for one of these if he can't find what he's looking for in linen or he's unimpressed by the price of the other fabrics.