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"The only two people, as far as I know, that know we are here are us," Kendra says, motioning between the two of them.

"Pleasure to make your acquaintance" Gregeddin replies, "The Trade Guild? hmm... They've been hit by some new tax haven't they, sounds awful. I wonder deity people can turn to in such hard times." Moving closer and dropping his voice to a whisper, the bard says softly into Elara's ear, "I'm not sure about you but I don't much fancy believing in this Dragon Queen... And I know lots of folk were believing in the Master, but with them gone, who can people turn to now... for salvation... for support... any ideas?" Gregeddin's eyes plead at the girl, using the images of countless refugee eyes pleading back at him over the months he musters a desperate and longing stare to reach out and scour her soul for a response.

“Hmm, in my very professional and expert opinion, what we have here looks very much like an abandoned building. By the looks of it it’s been abandoned for some time, days, perhaps weeks. It also looks like there were some refugees living in it. Yes quite.” Haahqae muses, going over his findings one more time.

Turning to Tulbas he explains his theory. “Which is what is rather suspicious! How many abandoned buildings were there here while people were going crazy over Fistandantilus? None! How many abandoned buildings do we have now that people are worshiping Balzor? More! Coincidence? I think not!”

“We could stake out this building and wait for some unsuspecting Balzorite to come along and let us in, but I’m a little impatient, so I say we search the surrounding area as well. The brothel is abandoned, maybe it’s in on this whole abandoned looking building plot too!”

Haahqae and Tulbas (Deserted Building, Harbor District)
While Haahqae explains his 'theory' to Tulbas, the elf decides to look about the room, as well. Then he turns back to the gnome. "Should we go get Gregeddin first?" he asks.

Gregeddin (River Way, Harbor District)
The young girl nods. "Yes, m'lord, I've heard of the tax, too. May well drive me out of business...but there are always other jobs, I s'pose."

At the bard's little performance, she looks him dead in the eye and holds his gaze in her own blue eyes. "The Master was no god. My parents thought so, though. Thought Darewind was a prophet, but the truth was he was just using that fancy amulet of his. Had to charge it up with people's souls. He'd take a few into his back room ever day or so, tell 'em he was taking 'em to the 'promised land' and then suck 'em dry. Killed both my parents, he did. But the Dragon Queen is real, m'lord. I've seen her power, felt her presence. If you're seeking support, give yourself up to her. She will take care of you."

(OOC: Gregeddin makes a CHA check [17] (1d20): 13, pass.)

Kendra and Arulia (Toom's Residence, Farmer District)
The old man quickly closes the door after they step inside and goes about relocking the many locks on it. He then goes to each window, peers out of it anxiously, then quickly pulls the blinds. "You took a great risk in coming here then," he says. "The army is watching this place at all times. That church of theirs has spies everywhere. I've already been questioned by them out of suspicion of being elven collaborators. They threatened my family, said they'd ship them all off like they did those refugees...or worse."

He goes over to the fireplace, his hands trembling and grabs a cool cloth so he can pick up the kettle and pour himself a cup of whatever steaming liquid is within, but he's shaking so much he is having difficulty with it.

Gregeddin nods his agreement as he feigns taking in this revelation for the first time, "I did not know Darewind's deception and treachery ran so deep. And it is very saddening to hear about the fate of your parents. However it is good to know you are being treated well now."

Gregeddin seeks to draw the conversation to a close with, "So it is true that one can feel Thaksis presence? I suppose I have some pondering to do, at the time I thought I'd just had some bad shellfish... " the bard takes a final glance over her wares he departs, bidding his thanks. Walking down river way, he tries to see where Tulbas and Haahqae have gotten to, and failing that asks any bystanders "Seen a gnome walking anywhere?"

OOC, does Tulbas still wear his hood up while outside to conceal his elven heritage?

Kendra glances over to Arulia for a moment as if silently asking if this was the best idea before she focuses on the old man. "We...we wanted to know if there was a way to send a message to those that we care for," she said. "But if your family is being threatened, I can see why you wouldn't want to help us."

Haahqae, Gregeddin and Tulbas (River Way, Harbor District)
Gregeddin manages to get away from the young girl and starts to look for his companions. Meanwhile, Haahqae and Tulbas depart the deserted building to look for him. After a few moments, they spot each other and regroup.

Kendra and Arulia (Toom's Residence, Farmer District)
"Send a message?" the old man asks. "Yes, yes it might be possible...and quite dangerous, too. But that's assuming whoever you want to contact is still there. The elves have already begun to flee their homelands, boarding ships to the west." He finally manages to pour his tea and sips at it tentatively, as if worried he might spill it.

"Manage to stay out of trouble?" Gregeddin asks cheerily as he approaches his friends.

"I overheard, or rather spied, two long shore men gossiping about some plot using prisoners, slaves, elves and mines or something, it was pretty hard to make out everything they were saying but that Verminand character is supposedly involved in it. Sounds a bit like crimes against humanity or elven kind." The bard adds in a whisper keen not to be heard himself, "But nothing of Belzor, I'll have to tell you exactly what I heard somewhere more private so that we can make more sense of it later. Was the Warg-Rider more helpful?"

"I'm only assuming my contact is still around," Kendra admits. "But...I have to try."

"Let's search around the brothel then. I'm sure we will find a private spot where you can tell us what you have heard."


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(OOC: Tulbas wears his old cloth and cover his head with hood. Both to keep unrecognized and also since it is very cold outside.
Tulbas has a chance of detecting hidden doors I think even without searching. Anyway, he will search in the alleys near the brothel is there are secret doors or trap doors.
)

Haahqae, Gregeddin and Tulbas (Alley behind Brothel, Harbor District)
The three head back to the brothel and go into the alley behind it. They search around and can speak with more privacy here. However, nothing turns up.

Kendra and Arulia (Toom's Residence, Farmer District)
There's a sudden, sharp knock at the door. "Open up!" demands a voice. "In the name of the Prefect!"

Tooms drops his tea cup, which cracks and spills all over the ground as he stares at the door in stunned shock. "You...you were followed!" he hisses accusingly. "Quickly, you must hide...in my room! Get under the bed! They must not find you here!"

Kendra looks to the door in shock. She grab's Arulia's hand, and pulls her along to hide in the man's bedroom. "Quick, under the bed."

Haahqae explains the conversation with the warg rider, the resulting search and his theory to Gregeddin.

"So that's why this whole thing is suspicious. I'm sure there's got to be some clues in the brothel or the building beside it, they're too suspicious to not have clues, but I don't exactly have a magic sniffing nose on me right now (maybe on my next trip to nevermind I could pick one up). And those illusionists must be pretty good cause I can't find anything in either building right now."

Now that the party had a bit more privacy Gregeddin reveals his findings in a hushed tone, "So from what I could interpret, the long shore men were discussing an attack on someone, an attack supposedly carried out by elves I think. There was mention of taking prisoners with them into the woods. There was speculation whether they would be treated any better with the elves than the army." Gregeddin shrugs at this, for the time he had been alive there hadn't been much contact between elven and human societies, so he was relatively unaware of any long standing rivalries that could exist.

He continues, "They said rumour was that caravans - of the rounded up refugees perhaps? - are heading South, towards "Pax Somewhere" an old fort they think. This is when they started talking about reopening the mines, sounds something like slave labour. Verminaard is meant to be involved." As Gregeddin whispers these words his brain starts to tick, he searched his memory of maps he may have seen over the years and local place names trying to figure out this 'Pax somewhere' enigma.


Gregeddin agrees with Haahqae's suspicion that this is all awfully suspicious. "Vanished like ghosts?" the bard repeats back astonished, "Perhaps they went invisible? We've seen that been done before. But even when invisible they can knock things and physically touch the air. Maybe they could be in there being invisible right now? If they are we could light a fire, guard the exit and smoke them out, or maybe the smoke will flow through any hidden trap doors and reveal them that way?" Gregeddin was getting rather excited with a plan to locate the hidden Belzorites.