CH. 8: Proving Worth

[HorizonsDream]

"Thanks," Kendra tells Perp. Upon seeing the struggling elf, Kendra stands and walks behind him. She loosens his bonds slightly so they aren't so tight, but not enough for him to be able to escape. "That should be a little more comfortable," she said with a light smile. "I have to apologize for this type of treatment," she says with a sigh. "If I had my way, it wouldn't be like this."

[djhyland]

Arulia retrieves her mace and shield, then follows the gnome and the goblin into the next room. With the trap at the top of the stairs revealed by gnome's ingenuity, she keeps well enough away from it. Seeing that the goblin is preparing to attack the strange snake creature, she takes a deep breath and prepares to jump the railing to back him up.

(OOC: Arulia will try to jump the railing.)

[JadedDM]

Haahqae, Arulia, Gobax, Felran and Ne-Chanz (Deserted Building)
In the heat of passion, Gobax starts pummeling the paralyzed snakeman with his mace, again and again, until there is little renaming but a bloody pulp. His arm aches from the exertion and he needs a moment to catch his breath afterward, but the snakeman is dead.

Haahqae tosses his rope over to the goblin, so he can tie it off and let the others climb up.

Arulia, however, doesn't wait and attempts to jump the railing like Gobax did. She finds it difficult to keep her balance, as she is weighted down. But nevertheless, she is able to make the jump without breaking her neck, landing on the dais.

==========

Gobax kills the snakeman.
Haahqae tosses his rope to Gobax.
Arulia makes a DEX check [TN 12-2 for encumbrance = 10] (1d20): 5, pass.

Kendra Greylock (Haven's Vale)
The elf looks around, at first with confusion and then panic, as he realizes what is happening. Struggling against his bonds, he spits at Kendra. "How much of an improvement to the world had the fiery mountain wiped out all of your kind!" he says in common.

Krup chuckles, crossing his arms. "Looks like we have a feisty one here, fellows." The other dracs chuckle in response.

Tulbas Erogund (Cultist Lair, Barracks)
Tulbas continues studying his spellbook.

=======

Tulbas spends 1 round studying Shield. He will finish in 5 rounds.

Shima Longfoot (High Hand Inn, Common room)
The wayfinder turns his attention to the two cloaked humans and listens in on their conversation. He realizes one is male and the other female, and more than that--they are speaking the thieves' cant. The cant is a sort of lingo that is common among thieves as it allows them to speak freely without fear of being overheard. Knowing some cant himself, Shima is able to translate.

"How much longer until things are ready?" asks the male.

The woman shakes her head. "We still need to clear out the blexland [someplace filthy and gross; probably referring to the sewers] for the stalling ken [hideout]. Too much lay [danger] down there now, not worth the boredom [risk]. I heard the bashers [adventurers] he sent down there before mostly went legit [died]. But once that is done, we'll be able to move freely throughout the anthill [city], avoiding the pigs [guards]."

"Good," he replies. "And then what?"

"That's up to the upright man [boss]. He's the one with the signals [plan]," she answers. "But we'll be able to start visiting the neighbors [burglary] again and earn some nice stuffing [loot]."

=========

Shima makes a detect noise check on the cloaked humans [TN 45%] (1d100): 14, pass.

[Chris1234]

Shima Longfoot (High Hand Inn, Common room)
Shima picks up his drink, stands, and moves towards the dwarven, woman by the fireplace, and says "Mind if I sit?"
He tries to assess her kit.~Adventurer?~

[TristenC]

Sparing a glance for the ruin that was the snakeman, he moves on to business. The fire has truly started... Sirrion protect us...

Finally seeing the rope, Grubnick heads over and ties the end to the table upstairs rather than the railing; hoping that will be sturdy enough to help the minotaur up. Seeing Arulia leap the banister as well, he grins a bit, Brave, aren't you? I appreciate the support earlier, I know I get a little fired up in combat... he actually looks a little embarrassed, surprisingly. Would you please guard this door in case anything heard that while I secure the rope?

[HorizonsDream]

Kendra lets out a small sigh. "But it didn't, so you are stuck with us," she says with a shrug. "Now, I'm much kinder than my friends here. They probably want nothing more than to slowly crave you up. I'm not much into that type of thing to be honest," she says. "That means you have a choice. You can just tell me what I want to know, or I can let Tern have his way with you." Considering that the draconians were behind her, she was hoping that if she pleaded enough with her eyes that the elf would relent a little bit.

[djhyland]

Stumbling to a halt, Arulia catches herself before she crashes into the goblin and the remains of the snake-man. "You've already...killed it? Well, then...I suppose I did not need to leap the railing." Stepping back, she takes her place at the door to ensure that no unexpected visitors come through before her companions are ready.

[JadedDM]

Haahqae, Arulia, Gobax, Felran and Ne-Chanz (Deserted Building)
One by one, the rest of the party climbs up the rope and onto the dias. Pen looks over the dead snakeman with awe. "Wow...what do you think happened to this guy? I mean, before he got bashed to death."

"Looks like unsanctioned magic," Ismene remarks, still clutching at her wounds. "So it's true then. There is a renegade behind all of this."

"His hands are snakes," Pen remarks. "Do you think they had minds of their own? How did he wipe himself after going to the bathroom?!"

Gregeddin coughs and shakes his head, as if to shake away such thoughts from his mind. "I suppose we'll never know. And perhaps that is for the best." He looks to Ismene. "Can you turn invisible and scout ahead?"

The gnome frowns. "No, not with this glitter on me. Look." She lifts the hood of her robes and vanishes, but the twinkling glitter remains, giving her presence away easily. She removes her hood, coming back into view fully.

"Well, I think it's kind of neat," Pen says. "I look like a knight in shining armor. Which is weird, since chain mail doesn't usually shine." He tries to make a heroic pose, and gives a big grin so that his smile is also glittering.

Ismene giggles. "You're a regular Solamnic Knight."

"You think so? I thought about going to ask them for membership, but I have things to do here in Abanasinia first," Pen replies.

=========

The party is no longer inspired by the bard song.

Kendra Greylock (Haven's Vale)
The elf sneers. "Do you take me for a fool? You intend to kill me as soon as I say anything, so what difference does it make? Kill me now, if you like. My people will wipe out both of your kinds in the end."

Krup snorts. "You say that now, but wait until a little pain has been administered and then see what you think."

Tulbas Erogund (Cultist Lair, Barracks)
Tulbas continues studying his spellbook.

=======

Tulbas spends 1 round studying Shield. He will finish in 4 rounds.

Shima Longfoot (High Hand Inn, Common room)
The woman looks up at Shima and frowns. At first, it seems like she's going to tell him to get lost. But after looking him up and down, she seems to think better of it. "Go ahead," she says, gesturing to the chair next to her. For a second, Shima can see under her cloak and realizes she is wearing chain mail.

There something...odd about her accent. Shima can't place it right away, but he gets the feeling she isn't from Hillhome, to say the least.

"New in town stranger?" she asks. "What brings you to Haven?"

[TristenC]

If Haahque will donate one more dose of his potion, I'll take a look. He uh.... he's been tutoring me on finding traps and stuff...

[HorizonsDream]

"No, your people won't," Kendra says gravely. She turns her head to look at the draconians with her. "Can I have a few minutes alone with him?" she asks.

[Chris1234]

Shima Longfoot (High Hand Inn, Common room):
"Yes, is it that obvious?" he replies, trying to place her accent. "I'm here looking for adventure. But this town isn't at all what I was expecting. What gives?"

[Haahque]

When everyone else is up on the dais Haahqae will dispel his cantrip and climb up the rope like everyone else, gathering it up and putting it back in his pack afterwards.

"Looks like unsanctioned magic," Ismene remarks, still clutching at her wounds. "So it's true then. There is a renegade behind all of this."
"It really wouldn't surprise me if the Belzorites have a couple of renegades working with them, after all they're sort of known for using renegades. That's part of why I agreed to help Tulbas investigate this base in the first place. That, and because I'm just a nice guy to a good friend like Tulbas."

"You think so? I thought about going to ask them for membership, but I have things to do here in Abanasinia first," Pen replies.
"Yeah? Is that so? What kind of things do you still have to do here in Abanasinia first? You keep on saying you got a lot of important stuff to do and all, but you never go so far as to explain it."

"If Haahque will donate one more dose of his potion, I'll take a look. He uh.... he's been tutoring me on finding traps and stuff..."
"Yeah, but why send the apprentice when you still have the master himself at your service? I can nearly go invisible without any magical aid myself, and if I happen to get into any trouble I always have the potion for backup. This time I'll be super extra special ultra cautious that there are no traps in our way, magical or otherwise, I could even use my scroll of detect magic to make double sure. Scrolls of detect magic are much easier to come by then potions of turn invisible."

[djhyland]

Arulia half-watches her companions carefully clambering past the trap as she guards the door. Once all of them are past, she relaxes enough to add to the conversation, but she doesn't drop her guard completely. She can't help but smile at the knightly description of Pen. "Of what I've seen of him, he's good and brave and already acts more knightly than most," she thinks. "It's a shame that the knights probably don't appreciate kender more than people around here do..." But instead of voicing this doubt, she says "I think you would make a fine knight, Pen."

[JadedDM]

Haahqae, Arulia, Gobax, Felran and Ne-Chanz (Deserted Building)
"Well, it's a secret," Pen replies to Haahqae. "But I will say, my quest is one of danger, excitement and heroism." He smiles up at Arulia. "Thanks! Maybe once my mission is complete, I'll start my own order of knights. We can be a group of valorous paragons who right wrongs, protect the weak and kick evil in the butt."

"Perhaps the time for stealth has passed," Gregeddin muses. "Likely they heard the battle we just finished anyway, and are probably expecting us. It may be better to move forward as a team, then risk a scout getting caught in whatever traps they no doubt have lying in wait."

Kendra Greylock (Haven's Vale)
"What for?" asks Krup. "We aren't squeamish, if that is what you're worried about." He chuckles as if the idea was somewhat amusing.

Tulbas Erogund (Cultist Lair, Barracks)
Tulbas continues studying his spellbook.

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Tulbas spends 1 round studying Shield. He will finish in 3 rounds.

Shima Longfoot (High Hand Inn, Common room)
"You must be referring to the occupation," the woman replies. "The dragonarmies took Haven only a week or so ago. Rumor is they have conquered every nation to the north, west and east except Solamnia and Sanction. Soon they'll march on Qualinesti, as well. Then I suppose they'll continue working south until they reach Icereach."

She leans toward him. "But if it is adventure you seek, I can help you there. Assuming, of course, you don't mind getting your hands dirty."

[TristenC]

You may be right, Gregeddin... Grubnick admits, but I'd still like to see any waiting formations before they see us, or trap locations, so we can plan... Ismene, would you be able to make me invisible like you did for Pen earlier? Or do you have some interesting Gnomish device Haahque? I need practice finding these traps, besides I did spot that one by the stairs...