After a few hours of traveling through dark and dusk you finally return to town just in time to make it in long before any rats come out. You do see common rats on your way in and wonder if they communicate with the bigger ones but you don't spend too much time thinking about it.

S'Sikaar and Daremo bid you a farwell once in the city limits still holding on to the prisoners from earlier. Daremo announces he will take them back to the town guard to turn them in.

Upon entering the tavern you are greeted once again by Orin who looks a bit weaker judging by the stance he takes near the bar. He gives you a small smile and then puts on a fire so that you have some light before getting warm inside.

No one is inside the tavern except for some common folk who quickly leave drunk long before they get caught out in the darkness of midnight.

Aeress barely had anything left in her pockets after her long series of misadventures, and as relieved as she was to be back, felt exhausted and crestfallen.

But before she did anything else she had to have an ale.  That was a lie she'd need at least five.  She drained the first one with astonishing quickness, it was gone in mere seconds.  The second last perhaps a third of a minute.  The third was staying around a bit, but it wouldn't be long for the world either.

She let out a long, slow, low moan.

As they reached the Tavern, Lirian was exhausted. She went to check Redmane, just to be sure it was well, and then to the main hall to eat something. Strangely enough, she then realized she hadn’t eaten anything since morning, living only on adrenaline, so to say.

While having something to eat she thought about the day. She then realized the backpack she was carrying was not hers, but taken from the cages’ room (OOC: see post #49 in “The Rescue?” thread), assumed from the dead mage, and she decided to see what was on it. Maybe something that could identify it (so telling his family about his demise), or anything useful if not…

Once her stomach was full, she invited Orin to sit with them (assuming he was not busy with other patrons). “How do you feel?” she asked him. “I’m afraid we’re not much closer to find a cure than we were past night, though we have some clues to follow, but at least we hope we have hindered those spreading the plague a little… Be sure we’ll keep on it”

"Orin, old chap!" Hunter exclaimed on seeing the blond, slender man. "We've had quite a battle, and gave a purple monster rat ogre a good thrashing, and found something that might be helpful in solving this disease. It's been quite an adventure.

"Some food might be in order; we're all about done in.

"Jenkins, barricade the door. Put a table and some chairs in front of it, so they'll make noise and take time getting in. Then have a look around this place, find any other entrances or exits. And say we retreat to the stairs, can we get out from upstairs or would we be trapped there? Have a look would you. And bring a mattress down here, I'll sleep here tonight."

"Yes Master. What are you going to do?"

"Oh, I'm going to take a nap. All this talking has exhausted me. Don't take too much noise." With saying that, he pulled the biggest softest chair into the darkest corner of the room and slouched down in it, feet up on a small stool, a spare vest draped over his eyes.

Jenkins dutifully began dragging a table over to the door.
This message was last edited by the player at 10:16, Sat 11 Nov 2023.

Aeress put her ale down long enough and spoke.  It wasn't a threat but she wasn't being flippant either.

"Stop that immediately.  While I appreciate what just happened to you, this is a tavern.  A business.  The tavernkeeper will not appreciate you boarding up the door of his public house and preventing his customers from entering.  Not to mention leaving, there are plenty of people here who will not be staying so long, they have responsibilities in the morning.

"Also your reasoning is flawed, what if there is a threat in here, do you not wish an unimpeded route of withdrawal?  Moreover these good people are not subject to your whims even if you have been abused.  Again I say stop that or I shall stop it."

Lirian looked at the argument among Aeress and Hunter.  As most arguments, both had their share of reason on it…

“Shouldn’t that be Orin’s decision?” she asked to both. “After all, it’s his business, and both of you have a point. On one side, we assume they have this place under surveillance, so, they knowing we’re here there’s danger, and I don’t believe many customers would appear after midnight. On the other side, Aeress is right that someone can come, be it to seek lodging or refuge if attacked by rats, and, as it’s said, “make it difficult for your enemy to get in, and you would be unable to get out”...”

She left the issue for Orin and turned to Quentin

“I guess you have your instruments to analyze the samples here” she said. “And I guess you’ll want to do it fresh, after having slept to begin with it. Have you any idea of how long can it take? Needless to say, if there's any way I can help you just have to ask.

And, by the way, I also guess we can trust your dogs for keeping watch, as we’re all tired and need some sleeping…”
This message was last edited by the player at 16:51, Sat 11 Nov 2023.

Quentin takes a seat to drink a glass of wine and eat something with a lot of meat and not a lot of vegetables. "Relax." he tells Aeress "No one is coming before sunrise, we just make sure everyone willing to leave had left." He bites, chews, swallows and takes a sip. Lirian eventually says that people might come after midnight, but Quentin very much doubts it. "Bad news, Orin, not sure if they are news, is that the average life expectancy is about a week, with rather tight a distribution, and average mortality is, like, one hundred percent." He bites, chews, swallows and takes a sip again, while Orin has some time to consider consequences. "Good news is we are alive and maybe a little bit wiser... well, call it three little bits in case it helps. So trust us, we are actually working on the problem." Quentin then bites, and chews again, apparently just working on a piece of meat. He then swallows. "I want you to take a good care about the live rat I brought in. Feed it and stuff. I might want to run some tests on it in due time, or just observe the life cycle. It is dangerous, so have that in mind." He then devotes some more attention to his dinner and, when he's done with the meat, proclaims: "I'll want an empty table and a lot of light. For me, it's going to be rather busy evening." He finishes the wine with one last gulp and goes to fetch his belongings.

He returns with a moderately-sized bag, which he handles with ease and care. You soon learn why: the bag contains a lot of delicate glassware, mostly, but not exclusively, empty. He sets some of it on the table and starts some process including distillation of something. It seems like it is going to take some time. "Okay, this should replenish those fire breath potions and produce some extra. Now to our finds." Quentin turns his attention to the vial that should reveal... well, us, or something. He checks to make sure it is safe to drink. No known poison, not some acid or something. He does not expect it to be, but why not take some care? Assuming it's safe, he takes a small sip and looks around. "Well, then, I see what I see. You can look for yourselves, but I'm not sure if we will or will not need the rest of the concoction." He is prepared to describe what he sees if people prefer not to deplete the potion. Then he takes the mysterious syringe and starts running more fancy tests. Right off the bat, he is not going to inject himself or anyone, but would like to still have enough for one piglet, baby rabbit, normal-sized rat or, failing that, a normal-sized mouse. Making sense of the sample that he is thus left with does take some skill...

Taking an edge: Power Points

I guess a successful alchemy roll might tell Quentin a bit of what contents there are, while a successful healing roll after that might tell him what effects those contents should have on a recipient.

23:43, Today: Quentin Fox rolled 4,3,4,2 using 1d8,1d6,1d8,1d6, rerolling max.  Alchemy and Healing on the contents of the syringe.
23:42, Today: Quentin Fox rolled 3,3,6,10 using 1d8,1d6,1d8,1d6, rerolling max.  Alchemy and Healing on the potion.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:01, Sat 11 Nov 2023.

Jenkins ignored the tall woman biggun and kept dragging a table over to the door.

Faint snores came from the chair.

Piper took a seat atop the bar, not entirely sure what exactly was going on, but curious enough to wait and listen and see.

As Jenkins got the table almost into place there was a cacophonous yowl from outside before a mighty thump caused the door burst partway open, sending the table sliding back.  Through the partially open door a massive tomcat looking creature sauntered through.  The gray tabby was nearly the size of one of Quentin's dogs and looked about the tavern intently  before setting its eyes upon the bar and suddenly pouncing.

Piper jumped up with a shout of surprise but rather than jumping away she launched herself at the beast, intercepting it mid jump and clinging to its face and head as it alighted atop a barstool.  Piper pounded her small fists against it as she shouted, "Mosii you big dummy!  It's all your fault I got stuck in that cage!  Where did you go?  Run off after something dumb I bet, just leaving me napping like a fool!"

There was more pounding of fists and some choice words in Mouseling, but eventually Mosii curled up atop the barstool and Piper shifted herself to nestle rather comfortably into it's fur.

"So what exactly is going on with all these rats?"  Piper eventually asked, the brief bit of drama dismissed as if it hadn't even happened.

Jenkins leapt back in shock and fright, a shrill shout on her lips when the "attack" turned out to be friendly. She shook herself, visibly shaken, nervously peeked out the door, and then quietly closed it. The threw a chair haphazardly on top and disappeared out the back.

Getting inside, Kai dumped his backpack and weapons on a chair and table, before giving a stretch and feeling over where his wounds were, that are as if nothing happened thanks to the magic used on him.

"Good idea." Kai called out at the door being barricaded. "I am way too tired to be dealing with being attacked. Though if they came in another way, blocking our only exit may be a bad idea."

"What I do know is, food and drink certainly wouldn't go amiss."

Quentin comments as he continues his work: "Well, there are windows, especially second-floor windows, and there are stables. If they are to burn this whole place down, we'll probably escape into the streets. Not ideal, given what we might meet on the streets, so I would think about it later. Tonight we are probably stuck as we are."

Orin looks at a Hunter with a bit of questioning look. "I am assuming you have seen something?", he says to no one directly. "Let me get some stew in some bowls. I have some left over dinner this evening. Every please sit and rest."

The man brings out bowls of food and puts them around the table. He nearly leaps from his skin when he sees Piper. "A Mouseling? By the gods, these are strange times indeed. Such a rare heritage."

Outside the sounds of the world go silent. You don't hear much in the way of noise or anything else which is usually a good sign for you.

Aeress was in a bit of shock how casual all these people were with the place, but the proprietor didn't seem to care and Lirian was right, if the proprietor didn't care there was no argument to be had.

She shook her head.

"We have seen many things goodman."  Aeress responded, savoring her precious ale.  Then she remembered how she got there.

"The shopkeeper! I must go arrest him!  How many people has he done this to?"

"Shopkeeper, hm? Which one that is? And, more broadly, how did you people get there?"

Quentin is totally willing to tell what is going on with all these rats, but he first needs to finish what he's doing in #7i and get the results narrated by GM. He does not mind if Lirian tells things instead.

Lirian took Piper and raised her to the table so that they were more or less at the same height and she could eat something too, offering her anything that she could use to sit (a turned down empty bowl, or something like that). Then seeing Quentin was too busy for it, she began to tell all rescued prisoners what they knew about the rat problems, though she tried not to blame the rats themselves, afraid to offend the Mouseling.

Used to tell histories, and feeling her audience also needed some entertainment after so tiring a day, she tried to tell it in the most entertaining way, as if she was performing in the square or streets…

08:04, Today: Lirian rolled 2,5 using d8,d6, rerolling max. Perform while telling the situation, just for RPG

From now on. unless the GM tells otherwise, all other characters may act on the information in the threads Lirian has been on

After telling what she knew about the rats, and seeing Quentin was still busy with his experiments, Lirian took the backpack she had taken in the cages room (assumed being from the dead magician) and looked at its contents. There were some notes, mostly unrelated with the issue at hand, some personal belongings, but nothing that could help her to identify him.

“Well, whoever he could be, there’s no way I can notify his family about…” she thought.

Then something caught her attention. Wrapped on a cloth, there was a strange book. It had reinforced covers and a lock on it. It was locked, and there was no key among the belongings. All of this intrigued her.

She studied the lock deeply, trying to know how did it work…

9:04, Today: Secret Roll: Lirian rolled 1,7 using d6,d6, rerolling max.  Notice: studying the roll to have DMs to picking it. I guess a success that would give a +1…

After some minutes studying it, she removed a hair pin from her hair and tried to pick it to open the book (it won’t give any DM as a lock picking set would, just justifying doing it)

19:05, Today: Secret Roll: Lirian rolled 2,8 using d4,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2,(6+2)8.  Thievery: picking the lock. As she has no lockpicks, -2 DM making the rolls 0,6 If the previous roll gives the DM: 1,7. Success, unless there are DMs due to lock difficulty

Quentin injects the rat with a sample of a little bit of what is left in the injector saving just enough. The rat at first seems to fall over and start breathing hard. Seconds go by and the beasts breathing slows down to a crawl. Even longer goes by and suddenly the creature starts breathing rapidly, the size of it begins to grow at a pace that shows a bit of slowing but not much.

The sudden rat growth stop you from testing the potion itself. Everyone around the table watches at the rat gets bigger and bigger. It's fur seems to harder and more stiff.

Orin looks at the beast in horror, "What did you do to it?"

The rat looks up from the table with green glowing eyes and gives a sequel as it continues to get bigger and more rage filled.

OOC: Lirian we will deal with the book after this.

Seeing the rat growing, Lirian took her staff and set herslef on a guard state, lowering Piper to the ground again, and began to rook tables and chairs aside, leaving space just in case the rat freed itself and must be combated.

OOC: has she recovered any PP? (I'm not sure how long have they been in the Tavern relaxing, as I don't believe any have been recovered on the way, being a quick one)

OOC: No until you rest your PP is the same.

"I won't attack until you say or until it atacks" Lirian said to Quentin, not wantin to interfere on his experiment, but ready if needed to avoid the rat to do any damage.

She took a defensive stance, her staff on her hands, keeping at about 2 yards ot the growing monster

OOC: Lirian sets herself at range 1 (staff reach, but too far for a sweep to affect her) on hold. If the rat frees itself or if quentin orders it, she will act.

As soon as the rat starts to grow, Quentin makes sure of the following:
1. That the rat gets blind and remains knocked out (or gets knocked out again before the bonds burst; using two stabs of the scalpel and as many blows to the head as necessary).
2. That the bonds are updated and refreshed as it grows.

Quentin is very impressed by this disregard of conservation of mass, which quite thoroughy refutes his hypothesis that this is a chemical requiring food and time to work and hints at the stuff's very magical nature.

The next thing to learn would be the stability. And for that, he'll need this specimen alive and safe. Both ways. Though maiming a bit should be non-problematic.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:16, Wed 15 Nov 2023.

Quentin quickly knocks the creature out which eventually stops growing. It seems that whatever is in liquid left that was injected caused the creature to grow to the size of a dog, similar to the ones you fought earlier.

OOC: Common reason stands that the disease itself is not a magical disease, it's an after effect of whatever is being put into these creatures to mutate them. It also stands to reason that likely the big brute creature that nearly killed Kai was one that was highly experimented on.

"Okay, Orin, what I did to it seems to be what they do to them. This interesting for quite a number of reasons. First, they don't breed and raise these monster rats. They get them just like that, provided normal rats are plentful. Which means no huge need for food or space, but definite need for this wonder drug, which seems to me utterly magical. Which means I cannot study it much other than trying it out on dogs or what not, but not sure how much use would be that if they turn aggressive." Then a thought struck Quentin. "We'll get it bite something some time in the morning. I wonder if it'll be infectious or not. I was of the assumption that growth and infection were independent, but if the growth is all-magical, they don't have to be." Having the rat bound and stored, Quentin then turns to the potion. "Now this thing here..."

Seeing the rat incapacited, Lirian relaxed herself.

She sat down (though not turning her bakc to the rat and Quentin and keeping her staff and shortsword hadny, just in case) and offered Piper to return her to the tables to finish their supper, and she turned again to the book, raising her eyes to Quentin and his experiments from time to time just to be sure everything went OK.

As Quentin starts looking at the vial of liquid he studies it trying to figure out what he can. He smells the substance and it leaves a strong impression of an odor. After looking at it a bit you you decide it's best not to drink the liquid but rather take a bit of it and start experimenting using small bits of the liquid itself. It will take a few hours but by morning you'll have some idea of what you picked up without endangering yourself.

OOC: If you choose you can drink the liquid. If so make a Vigor roll.

Lirian notices while she is messing with the tomb that she feels a certain amount of energy coming off the front. When trying to pick the lock but tomb seems to chill your fingers to the bone while you are working on it. You can feel the blood drain from them.

Orin looks at the group and says, "Tis late. I am going to turn in to save my strength. Enjoy the food and fire friends."

Jenkins reappeared with a bundle of bedding, which she promptly dumped unceremoniously on the ground and forgot when she realized something was going on.  She pushed and wormed her way through the crowd, wide eyes peering over the table edge. She gave shocks of horror and fright when it grew and grew, but was reassured when Quentin made sure it was secure. She cheered when he began torturing it, giving off squeals of joy and excitement with every little stab and slice, her eyes bright with unholy lust.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:37, Thu 16 Nov 2023.

Aeress watched the whole thing with rapt fascination.  She'd been about to thrust her spear into the monster rat until it was revealed everything was under control.

She shook her head.  "I wounder if that shopkeeper knows anything about this madness.  If they have this why not do something useful like huge plowhorses, cows or chickens?"

When Quentin finds himself unable to come to a conclusion that the liquid is in any way "safe", he declares the need to take more time. This means he'll take the first shift guarding the site, which he declares as well. He asks whom he shall wake up for shift two.

Piper had a bit to eat but retreated back to her Mosii shaped burrow to try to grab a nap before the suddenly expanding rat caused all sorts of commotion.

Once the excitement died down she settled back in, yawning in unison with her cat bed.

"That real big one didn't exactly seem domesticated."  Piper remarked to Aeress.

"Besides, they seemed extra culty based on what the cultist said, so that usually doesn't influence people to act rationally and want to be productive members of society from what I've been told."

Feeling her fingers being somehow affected by the book Lirian stopped her efforts on it. “damn, There must be some magic here…” she thought, leaving for latter study.



“Seeing how aggressive the rat was becoming as it grew, I sure wouldn’t test on a horse or cow…” she answered to Aeress. “Frankly, I would not like to fight a cow grown this way and so aggressive…

And remember, one of the cultists told us they have lots of monsters, so I’m now scared they could have tested it already…

By the way, it’s not the first time you mention the shopkeeper. What do you mean with it? How did you get taken? You don’t seem someone easy to beat…”

OOC: could we assume everyone tells the others about the previous adventure threads and so everyone may act in the future on its information (see that his will left us only ignoring how Piper was taken)?

After chatting and relaxing a little, Lirian went to sleep, taking the book with her. If there were watch shifts, she will agree whatever she’s given
This message was last edited by the player at 12:59, Thu 16 Nov 2023.

OOC: Anyone who got caught can share the info so that includes Kai. But yes, if Piper wants to share more about the shop she certainly can.

"The tale is simple but strange.  I learned a shop might have an... item of interest.  I went to see about it.  He acted strangely, but his shop was trapped with some device that emitted a strange gas.  After breathing it, we lost consciousness.  He was a half-elf I believe, I'm sure I'd recognize him if I saw him again."

She shrugged.

"I'll go try to arrest him tomorrow, but I doubt he'll be there, which is why I'm not so eager to go now.  I'm more disturbed by how he knew to lure me to his shop."

"The one in the dungeon spoke of being marked."  Piper mentioned with a yawn.

"Don't know exactly what they're looking for, but if they are out looking, they might be putting in the effort to lure anyone they don't think they can just smack over the head and drag away."

"Poke him again. Slice his other tendon. You're not doing a very good job as a torturer" Jenkins said accusingly to the big dragon-man with the bottles. "Can I have a go?"

"What shop? Hunter was going to the cart-man's shop" she said off handedly. "Cardigan? Cart of grain? Caligular? Ooh, Caligula good torturer. Can I play?"

"Gold... no, Silver.  Silver's.  Silver's Maps and Sundries or something like that."  Aeress recalled.

OOC: If everyone is okay we are going to skip to morning.
IC: By morning after a long rest and some time slept not thinking about the last day of your life you keep coming back to something that doesn't make any sense. The Jester. How does this infernal play into the plot, certainly he is mentioned but didn't show up in the previous fight with no signs of him other than his people. Is he part of it? Or simply a pawn.

Quentin awakens and figures out the liquid after a few hours dealing with all the issues. He determines that the liquid itself is most likely the cure to whatever is infecting the city. After careful probing and finding out as much information as he can, he determines that likely without more full samples of the serum that was injected into the rat, he won't be able to do anything to save the people. But he can save one or he can save it.

That morning Orin comes downstairs worse for wear and begins cleaning the tavern trying to make sure he can open the doors on time. He looks deathly but insures you that breakfast will be served shortly. You realize that during this time, he has asked you for penny for the rooms and board.

In fact, Quentin did not think of that Jester at all. Maybe someone else did, but Quentin had his hands full of things to think about. For one, the contents of this ******* vial did not make sanse together with the note found with it. Each made some sense on their own, but taken both together they just made sure they don't. He kept thinking of how he's to resolve the discrepancy and then an answer came in. Quentin had no problems with this answer.

"Hey, Orin! Be my guest now, have a drink!" The vial Quentin is offering Orin looks much like the same vial he had set to analyze in the evening and Orin can well recognize that much. "What?" Quentin asks responding to an expected surprise. "I guarantee this won't make you worse in any conventional way and you don't have much left to lose, have you? Make sure to tell us how it goes in detail. I bet my stay's worth you will live."

Orin looks at Quentin with a raised eye brow. "This smells foul but like you said nothing to lose at this point."

Orin drinks down the liquid without another thought. He gives the vial back to Quentin but shrugs his shoulders as expecting that he was suppose to feel something.

"My body still aches. Give me some time. Maybe this potion of yours takes time. Back to breakfast."

Quentin nods. "And tell me if you start to see new things about people, like of any of us here. Not sure you will, but if you do, please tell me."

Then Quentin addresses the rest of the team, such as it is. "So, guard, kingsguard or mapmaker? I say kingsguard."

Lirian appeared after a good resting night. She heard Quentin’s conversation with Orin, then she greeted everyone.

“Or Library…” she answered to Quentin. “I understand you didn’t have time to finish wat you looked for yesterday, and I’d like to ask Elysia about this book I found among the dead mage possessions. It sure has some magic, as it was able to freeze my fingers when I tried to open it, and I’m curious what it can be…”

Then, keeping with Quentin’s policy of “nothing to lose” she looked at the book. “I guess you won’t be kind enough to open, right? Not even if I kindly ask you, please?” she answered to it, not expecting anything to happen, but the most she could lose was some seconds asking, and magic things sometimes were very strange…

"The library... well, that was when I thought we have the time and can keep a low profile. Might do it again, but I say we better inform higher-ups and see if they are of some use. Should not take too much time. We are not in for an audience, a secretary will do. I'd do it alone, but splitting up is unsafe, so there's that."

As for the book... Quentin wasn't quite sure what to do about it, but was generally convinced it should not be just opened. "If the thing's trapped, it might tear itself apart sort of thing and we lose it. That would be worse than losing some expendable person... I mean, we sure can find one among the poorer diseased men if we offer gold to their kin, but that also would be a detour. This one here..." Quentin points at the host "...is off-limits as test subject." Quentin has absolutely no inclinations to open strange book himself. He trows a glance at the goblin, but does not say anything. Maybe because of abovementioned risks to the book. "The librarian probably knows of normal protections and the ways to identify the details. I, myself, don't do any magic." He taps on the table, thinking. "The library does make sense, but we risk sitting there all day and we must get the things moving. Then the map shop sort of thing, and..." He looks straight at Orin "Hey, you've been hearing us talking all over and you sure have connections here... would you somehow move things? Like, gather some men or some infos or something... like, we want one sewer map, but you've heard of map shop..."
This message was last edited by the player at 18:33, Mon 20 Nov 2023.

As the group continues their conversation a few of the guards doing their morning rounds walk in the door with a few other patrons. They sit at a tab closest to the fire to grab warmth. Orin you see make a nod at them when they come in like the usual. He is in the back slaving away dealing with breakfast.

Piper had slept quite peacefully, at some point in the night having relocating with her furry feline pillow to the still warm stones in front of the fireplace.

As patrons began filtering in she hopped down and had a big stretch before flopping back down again sleepily.

"Why not both, or all of it?"  She asked.  "It shouldn't take all day in any one place, so it's mostly a matter of where to go first, yeah?"

Hunter had stirred himself awake late in the evening, and kept watch over the midnight hours until much of the night had gone. Those first downstairs in the morning found him huddled in some blankets atop the table by the door.

He forced himself up, clothing rumpled and creased, and got the table out the way to open the passageway.

Helping himself to a mug of hot brew, he came and joined the others at the table.
"So. I understand the map maker captured you all? We need to go back there. The book is interesting and seems very important. That needs to go to the library, but we don't need to stay there, we can just drop it off with Alyssa. I need to see my cousin and sort out some personal matters. We need to talk to the Guard, or better, the Kingsguard. Actually,  what we need is someone senior, perhaps the Kingsguard Captain or the Chatelaine to report to and get information and perhaps resources from.

So... priorities? Book because that's fast and on the way. KingsGuard. That's got to be the main focus. If that's fast then fine, if we are kept waiting half the day for an audience then I will bow out and see Sheldon. Meet up in the afternoon to investigate Silver's." He looked around to giage how this plan was received.

“I guess none of you found anything similar to a key on the cages room, do you?” Lirian asked, more rhetorically than really hoping for any answer. “None of us thought about searching the body of the dead mage, but for what you’ve told they left nothing as that to any of you, so if he had it most probably they would have taken it from him…”

Then she listened to Piper and Hunter.

“Well, we also assumed our missions yesterday would be short, maybe excepting the visit to the Library…” she commented to Hunter’s words. “I’d like to pass some time there to search for some better magic to use if we have more problems, as I have little to be offensive. Elysisa scroll was quite helpful, after all, and I’d like to learn something like this, though I don’t expect to be able to handle the Slumber Symphony by myself yet… And I guess she could give us some recommendation card or a likewise passage to see the Captain, or at least an officer, of the Kingsguard, as I don’t believe they would receive any stranger that asks them to…

I'd advice you against going alone to see your cousin...” she said to Hunter. “No need to remember you whan happened last time you went alone, though this time you'll be on guard...”

You notice that Kai is no longer with the group. When one of you search his room you find a note scribbled.

I am sorry that I must take my leave. My faith requires me to hunt mages that require punishment. May we meet again in future adventures.

-Kai

Lirian thanked Orin for the note, and frowned when she saw its content.

“Here it goes the keeping safety in numbers…” she commented. “He shown us his value in combat, but it seems he has other duties. We can only wish luck to him”

Aeress offered up her take to the others.  "I greatly suspect either the shop has been abandoned or the agents who captured us are oblivious, so I think any trip there will be relatively quick.  Honestly I suspect they captured us and got out and abandoned the place.   It's what I would do.  If the library is a better lead but a more time consuming one I would suggest there second just to rule out the map seller as a possibility. "

"So,"  Piper began, still lounging, as she ticked the list off on her fingers.

"First this map shop to see if it was a real place and potentially still in use by the cult, though that would be deeply foolish for them and lucky for us, so likely there won't be much to see, but if there is we can always circle back later.

Then the library.  To see about this book and perhaps an introduction to someone in some actual legal authority who might be interested in this whole mess.

Then, assuming we have an introduction or another way of gaining someone's ear without them thinking we're part of the problem, we go see said legal authority.  With or without Hunter depending on the effort involved in that particular endeavor.

We may then end up back at the shop if there's potentially something to see requiring more time."

Piper then looked to the others.  "Anything left out?"

"First to the map shop, all together, to see what we can find. Then let's split, whoever wishes to go to the library, go, I will go to my cousin and then the Iron Anvil Guildhall.

"We meet up again at the... castle? Hopefully either the Librarian or Sheldon will be able to arrange an introduction."


OOC: If GM wants us to stay together for logistics reasons (less work for him), I would be happy to do my side track via PM and we meet up when finished at the library.

"What's at the guild hall?"  Piper asked, her lack of knowledge of the city showing in her piqued interest.

“It’s a metalworking guild known for the high quality of its weapons and armor” Lirian answered (OOC: see the Common Knowledge thread, last post). “But, what we have to do there?” she asked to Hunter.

“I’m OK with Piper’s suggestion. I agree any cultists are likely to have left the shop, if they know about our raid yesterday, though I doubt it’s vox populi yet, but even if so, they may have left some clues there if they had to leave on a hurry…

I hope Daremo and the dragonkin already have told the guard about our adventure, but talking with their officers can help us, if they are as honest as I hope. Elysia may introduce us to them. Maybe she can help us with the book too. No one would have so magically trapped it unless it’s seen as important. If it is related to our issue now or not it’s entirely another matter… And I left my lute there, I won’t deny this reason too on my part…

Wherever we go, I’ll take my shortbow this time, though” she added.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:03, Wed 22 Nov 2023.

"Well, I want a blunderbuss for starters" Hunter said promptly. "If only I can convince dear Cousin Sheldon to pay for one. A blunderbuss would have been most welcome yesterday, if fact I felt positively undressed once I had fired my pistols. Moreover, I am rather keen to see what else these famous crafters and smiths have fashioned."

With an overall list of places to visit more or less finalized, Quentin decides not to argue about the exact order of visits and says he's fine with whatever the people come up with, as long as we have a consensus. Meanwhile he sits with the guards. "Can we discuss the rat-hunting? An interruption came the last time around and I was unable to clarify the details. Will you be able and willing to pay by the tail instead of a full-time job? If so, I would be interested. I gather there are not that many applicants, so you should still have funds in the program. In fact, are there any other applicants? I'd like to coordinate our efforts with them, we are having some success so far, which is better than nothing, and can sort of come with a workable plan."

23:10, Today: Secret Roll: Quentin Fox rolled 5,24 using 1d6+1,1d6+1, rerolling max.  Persuade the guards to pay by the tail.

"What strange times of mean fortunes are these."  Aeress shook her head, not in frustration of anyone in particular but just the world she found herself in.

"I find that order reasonable.  I'm obviously more biased to check the shop first, but in exchange I'm just as interested in following up on the others."

Lirian listened to Quentin talk with the guards. “Well, we’re short on money…” she thought. “We probably should take the short swords we took and don’t need for ourselves to sell them…”



“Unless I understood wrong the shop will be our first stop…” she answered. “Even if our raid is not yet vox populi and they have not fled this would not last…”

She was reading herself to go, taking the book in a small backpack, a short sword to her belt and her staff, as well as the bow and quilver when she had second thoughts about it being appropriate on a city.

Then she closed to the guards too, trying to talk to another one and not to disturb Quentin. “Excuse me, Sit, but are people allowed to openly carry weapons like a bow on the city?

I mean, I guess melee weapons are, and with the rats problem even usual, but I understand a bow could be more problematic…”

Hunter stirred Jenkins awake with his foot. "Come on, up. We're off soon."


The pile of rags jerked and twitched, and presently Jenkins emerged blearily eyed. She stuffed their meager belongings into the backpack while Hunter checked the priming on his pistols yet again.

OOC: I am okay with splitting up. You can do whatever you choose. This game isn't on rails.

IC: Quentin talks to the guards and one of them seems to be more chatty than the others. "Right now the job is pretty standard. You are paid for a days work, however and don't be telling people. We are offering a deal as a bonus proving you have slayed some of the bigger beasts. The small ones are stand? We have a few sellswords who are lined up to do the work so you wouldn't be alone. But the choice is yours?"

OOC: If you are splitting from the group let's announce where you are going and who is going to be with you to keep the flow of the story moving. Then I can break up the groups into the right groups.

"Got that." Well, Quentin did not have to say how he liked that, but he got that well enough. "Who's organizing the partitioning, scheduling and that sort of thing so that the teams don't trample the same areas all over? I'd like to take a look at the map of the sewers to see where one could start and to mark one area checked. Besides, if that's not a secret, how many man-days heve been put in and how much of the map has been covered?"

The guard looks at Quentin with a grin, "HA!" the man laughed patting Quentin on his shoulder. "Groups he says boys. Maps yeah, we have a map that we can give you as a matter of fact, I won't even hide it.". The man digs in his bag and produces a map of the sewer showing the details of where people have mapped out and some other areas that seem to have X's marked in red. There's lots.

"Before you ask. That's all the teams that have failed. So it's not a small amount. In terms of how many people have joined generally those low on coin. Good news is, there's always travelers looking to make a coin. So we have lots of recruits but very little in terms of people surviving once they go down. A few groups have come back up but generally they only go down maybe once or twice at most."

With decisions (more or less) made, Piper finally roused from her lounging position and with Mosii aiding in her efforts, sought out some breakfast for the pair from whatever it was that Orin was making.


OOC: Piper is ready to head to the map shop first just to see if that's worth any effort.

Kai enters, his cloak coated in hoarfrost.  "Good morning," he says in his usual sullen tone.  He hangs his cloak by the fire and joins the others at the table.  "Sorry I wasn't here sooner.  I woke up early and wound up having to deal with some...things."

"Well, if you are up for dealing with more... things, I believe we have an itinerary set.  You should remember the traitorous shopkeeper?  We were about to see if he was still in town, so to speak."  Aeress explained.  Kai had been swindled by the same snake, and would likely be interested in trying to track him down.

Since Kai has a new player, previously Aeress and Kai were captured by a gas booby trap set in a mapmaker's shop.

Quentin takes a good look at the map. Of particular interest is whether this map is "full" sewer map as the city might have had pre-crisis that was then updated by the teams going there or was it just mapped by the teams going there with no pre-existing map. He also tries to infer any patterns but feels mostly confused by the preponderance of red X's all over the place. He points at the site which the group has recently checked whether it is or is not marked on the map. If it is not, he asks whether the guards knew that the sewers ran this far outside and if so, are there any other such spots.

OOC: Mostly ready to leave. Will talk to the guards for a bit, but just let Quentin know when you are heading out.

10:22, Today: Secret Roll: Quentin Fox rolled 1,1 using 1d4,1d6, rerolling max.  Research(?) the map.

Seeing the rest of the team ready, and receiving no answer from the guards, Lirian decided to take her short bow anyway.

“We must assume we’re being watched, and so we will be trailed” she said to the others. “I even would not rule out a spy among the patrons…” She looked at the patrons in the Tavern, trying to see any suspicious person among them.

“So, we’d better be alert and watch out backs. If they don’t know yet about the raid, their spies would be watching us, and if they do, they may either have withdrawm or readied an ambush…”

"Ooh! Now this is of interest!" Hunter exclaims, and joins Quentin at the table to study the map.

Soon after, he was frowning. "I'm sorry, I don't understand. These Xs, these are where people went down, Yes? And where did they come out alive? Can I draw on your map?"

If permitted, he will go over the map with the guard, and circle the Xs where people went down and came up alive, and put exclamation marks at the Xs where people went down and failed to return.

"Also, where are the entrances to the sewers? Like, what major places? If there is a temple entrance, is that marked "temple". Is there an entrance near Silver's map shop, where is that?"

OOC: I'm good to go, but more map clarification would be good.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:38, Tue 28 Nov 2023.

The guards laugh at Hunter. "Alive? Very few..", says the guard. He points to the locations that you can enter the sewers which are mainly around the docking area where the boats come in and out of the bay. There are other locations closer to the edge of town. Skimming over the map itself you determine that one of them was likely the area that you had the big battle last night where Kai was nearly killed by the giant rat.

The closest one to you the Sunset Pomade which is close to the docks but sort of an entrance for people coming into the city. Further off on the edge of town you do see that a few blocks from the library there is another entrance. The one by sunset has a number of different ways you can take but most have X's leading to dead ends or people just didn't finish mapping. The one by the library only has one specific X.

"It won't matter if they prepared an ambush," Kai says loud enough for teh other patrons to hear.  "We'll simply kill them.  Then we'll come back here and cut out the tongues of anyone who told them of our plans."  He looks about the room in a menacing manner.

OOC: I am going to move the scene to the shop as it seems there was a number of people that wanted to go in that direction.

IC: As you leave the tavern to figure out what to do next your off following the direction of the people who were caught at the shop. As you reach the shop you can see that the shop looks pretty empty from the windows. As you all walk in you notice a foul smell coming from somewhere in the shop itself. Everything seems in place but there is nothing specific out of place.

You round the corner behind the counter looking for the owner only to find his body laid out on the floor in a defensive position missing his face. The area where his face is a huge bloody hole. You assume right from the second you see the body that the guards have not seen this yet.

“It seems the shopkeeper was not among the enemies, but another of their victims, probably to ambush you here…” Lirian though in loud. “We’d better call the Guard before anyone blames us about this.”

She looked around to see if there was a rear door or any clue about what happened. She also looked (without touching) if there was any sewer map among the ones that could be in the shop.

Quentin, along with his whole zoo, is guarding the outside against anyone coming in or out, including through the back door. He will come inside if asked, but would prefer for someone to replace him outside.

Hunter led the way in with pistols drawn, coat flapping gloriously. Seeing no immediate opposition he seemed somewhat disappointed, but nevertheless he checked the whole shop for anyone hiding.

Jenkins followed in cautiously behind the others, but when she saw the body she pounced and immediately began rifling his pockets.

Hunter is looking for any enemies lurking somewhere, and also other exits including other rooms, back doors, and specifically looking for some kind of a trapdoor. He will be lifting rugs etc to look under them.

Jenkins is looting the body. Any maps or notes of interest. Any keys?

Kai sighs at Jenkins' interest in looting.  "You could at least say a prayer for his soul first," he says before kneeling down and doing just that.

Is the shopkeeper's face just beaten to a pulp or was it literally blasted off, like with magic or a shotgun?

Jenkins snorted disparaging and called to Hunter "Can has eats naow?"

"No, you can't eat him. Even if Big Hat does say a prayer first"  Hunter replied .

OOC probably gnawed off...
This message was last edited by the player at 02:55, Thu 30 Nov 2023.

"Hold on, he told me he had some of my family's property.  I'll never get it back from the guards, can we at least search the place before we call them?  And we might find some evidence of who did this too."  Aeress plead.

After breakfast Piper had gotten ready to travel, and had outfitted Mosii with some lengths of leather lacing that attached to a collar and even a bit of outerwear custom sized for the furry beast.

En route to the shop the feline kept the pair to the high ground, prowling along the rooftops as they went to have a better view of things.

Once at the actual shop Mosii leapt onto the counter where Piper dismounted to have a look at things while her companion began contemplating a few bits of bric-a-brac that might look better knocked onto the floor.

"Did he seem part of the ambush plot when you were here?"  She asked Aeress.

"Forced into service perhaps, or a willing ally, double crossed in the end?  We've already seen evidence that kinship is not their strong suit."  She pondered aloud, thinking back in the dead cultists found in the basement lair.

"The shopkeeper triggered the trap which expelled the fumes, so to me that's pretty clear evidence he was in on it.  Though the question of how in on it he was remains."  Aeress recalled.  She began to check behind the counter where the mechanism seemed to have been tripped.

Carefully.

Does the smell come from the body, or somewhere else? Or is it the knockout gas?

While searching the man Jenkins finds a number of coin on him and pockets it. She does find a pendant that looks interesting.

Taking a quick look at the man you determine that under the counter is a button it seems to be mechanical tied to something that runs along the base of the counter and into the floor. Judging from looking closer to the face of the man you can tell it appears to have been ripped off. Whatever took a bite was big and probably several bites after.

The shop is filled with a number of different maps and trinkets but hunter glances at them and very few are probably worth much of anything. Most don't even look like things Jenkins would steal. Towards the back of the shop Lirian does find something of interest. It appears to be a book of sorts, it's open and there are a number of signatures. The book itself when she checks the cover says "History of Stormharbor", one of the names you find is Lord Blackpaw. Which rings a bell.

Aeress searches and manages to find a ring that was originally with the crest of her family seal. The ring itself seems to be big enough to fit her finger.

Outside Quentin notices a patron walking towards the shop obviously with some maps in hand ready to sell to the shop keep. They seem in a hurry to get in and sell the maps to the shop owner.

The lone man seems harmless enough, so Quentin makes sure he gets in and does not get out. He leaves the preliminary talking to the people inside.

Lirian did not hide she was uncomfortable by not calling the Guard, though she understood Aeres’ concern about her family heirloom and the possibility to find some clue.

“I see you move though the roofs with your kitten” she said to Piper in the meanwhile. “It would be a good position to see if we wear a tail… We should agree some way you warn us if so, don’t you think?”

She saw how Aeres had found the ring, and that Jenkins found something in the body.

“Well, I guess now we should call the Guard before they assume we’re the ones that killed him” she said, moving to the door with the intent of calling them. She then saw the man moving in and intercepted him.

“You better don’t go in, Sir” she told him. “The image inside is disgusting. Do you have in this city a quick way to call the Guards, as a specific cry or whistle, if there’s a patrol nearby?”

The man looks at Lirian with a bit of surprise, "Why yes but what is going on? We have that bell over there."

The person points to a bell that is free standing that is placed throughout the city that people can use to alert the guards.

“Someone has killed the shopkeeper” Lirian answered, moving to the bell and ringing it. “Believe me, it's not a pleasant sight...”

Within a few minutes the guards are upon the shop and asking Lirian what happened they begin their investigation. They force everyone out of the shop while they research the event and learn of what took place. You are left standing outside of the shop waiting for them to conclude their investigation but wondering how long something like that may take.

What do you want to do?

"Right well, enough of this. We're wasting time. I'm off to see Cousin Sheldon, I'll see you at the palace later."

Walking authoritatively up to a guard, he informed her "We are staying at the Ship Inn if you walk to talk to us later."
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 02:45, Fri 01 Dec 2023.

Aeress pocketed the ring.  She was grateful to see it, not because of any value it had, but because of what it meant to her and her quest.  She was beyond grateful, though perturbed the man was dead because she might never know how they found this ring.  She took nothing else, considering this alone to be her legitimate property.

What did they know about her?  Well, there was really only one way to proceed.

"What was the next place to check, the library?"

“Are you going alone?” Lirian asked, showing some concern. “Please, be cautious, remember what happened yesterday…”

Then she turned to Aeress


“That’s what I understood.” she said. “I want to see if Elysia has found anything else in her research, recover my lute and see if anyone there can open the book…

I guess Quentin would like to research something there too. Have you any idea about the mysterious potion you gave Orin? ” she asked him. “Maybe you can find something about it there. I also would like to research something about the magic of the songs, as it can be helpful if I learn to control it a little more, an also about this name seen in the shop. Lord Blackpaw was it, wasn’t it? I seem to remember I heard this name before, but I’m not sure where or why…

And maybe she can give us a letter of presentation to the King’s Guard Captain, or another high raking officer…”

[Private to GM: Can Lirian remember why this bell was ringed by this name? If possible she has taken the book before calling the Guards.]

As the shop yielded nothing of highly significant interest based on the reactions of the others, Piper joined the rest outside as the guards had their way with the place.

She yawned and then looked about at nothing in particular as plans were discussed.

"I'll go with him."  She announced when Lirian voiced her concern over Hunter going off to find his relative alone.

"I can go wherever, I merely seek to learn what more there is to know of this conspiracy.  I fear I am of little direct aid other than as another person, whose presence might deter a foolish action."  Aeress offered honestly.

“In fact I thought about this possibility, but I didn’t dare to ask you” Lirian answered. “You can follow him from the roofs, and either warn him if he has a tail or ambush the trailer. I guess Quentin would not be disgusted by more samples of the potion, if we can ambush another of their agents…”

Then she thought something before Jerkins left. It was a long shoot, but worth trying, as there was nothing to lose…

“Jerkins” she closed with the goblin and said him in loud voice, trying not to be heard by the Guards or other people. “Was it a key wat you found on the corpse? Please, lend it to me a moment to check it on the book. Can I keep it until latter? I promise to return it to you, but I don’t want to take the book out of the backpack before strangers……”
This message was last edited by the player at 15:40, Sat 02 Dec 2023.

Jenkins slowly and reluctantly pulled a pendant out of her pocket and handed it over with grubby fingers. The pendant was a big sticky, and appeared to have fish scales stuck to it. It would probably be best not to think what else might be in the goblin's pockets.

Hunter eyed the conversation between Piper and Liriam with bright interest. "That is a most excellent idea. Truly, that would be most useful. If we do get kidnapped again, you at least know where the others are" he said earnestly.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:37, Fri 01 Dec 2023.

“Thanks, Jerkins, I promise to return it latter, if at all possible” Lirian said to the goblin, trying to seem friendly. Then she closed with the oen among the Guards that seemed in charge.


“Excuse us, Officer, do you need us anymore?” she asked him.

“We have some urgent business to do, if you allow us. We have the intent to go to your headquarters, or to those of the Kings Guard latter, and we can then make a full report if you so need, but now we’d like to keep with our duties,if at all possible…”

She was hessitant to tell they were goin to the Library, not being sure about who could hear them.

[Private to GM: Is the pendant like those taken from the cultists?]
This message was last edited by the player at 15:41, Sat 02 Dec 2023.

"Great, then off we go."  Piper announced before having a few words with Mosii and then waiting for Hunter and Jenkins to lead the way.

Aeress simply waited to see if they were cleared to proceed or not.  She too was not volunteering anything more.

If the guards do not mind, Quentin agrees to leave the area and rides with the rest of the group.

OOC: To make sure I got this right.

Hunter + Piper = Going to his contact house
Everyone else going to Library

OOC: Lirian the pendant is the same as you have seen before. You are able to take the book before the guards show up.


If so we are going to break into two groups. See the next two threads.

Hunter check your PMs.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:09, Mon 04 Dec 2023.

“Don’t undervaluate yourself” Lirian answered. “You’ve shown courage, and that’s all that can be asked. We all seem to be into a conspiracy that may be be too big for us, but we’re caught by it, and the most we can do is trying to overcome this ordeal. And I’m sure you will be quite better at talking with authorities than myself, just to give na example, as you come from this kind of environ. I’m lost at it…”


OOC: So I understand too…  We’re just waiting for clearance from the Guards, as they are still searching the shop.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:40, Mon 04 Dec 2023.

The guards come out the shop and one guard comes up to your group after forcing you out. "Obviously, you did not do this. You are free to leave. Unless you have anything else to add?"

Aeress was about to reply to Lirian when the guard spoke up.  She quickly replied to him.  "I don't believe we do.  Thank you for your assistance!"

She practically pushed Lirian along, though it was doubtful whether Lirian actually needed any such encouragement at all.