Ebberon 3.5: Dark Streets and Clear Skies of Sharn (IC)

[Neil Crow]

In the City of Towers, a thousand secrets whisper in the night, and a thousand tales unfold before the
moons reach their zenith …


https://s31.postimg.org/t90iyypbf/Sharn_zpsf4f9adea.jpg

Welcome to Sharn in all its glory, the city that dares to near touch the heavens with its soaring towers and magical wonders, the leader in fashion and enterprises, the gateway to adventure in foreign lands, the meeting place of the nations of Khorvaire, and your home now. In this city of grandeur you have managed to scrape out a life in the lowest of the poorest Quarter of Sharn. Welcome to Dura Quarter in the Lower Wards life here is dark, dirty, unforgiving and near on claustrophobic with only the rarest of window or sky view. Where a man crossing a walkway past another is more likely to put his hand on his weapon hilt then wave and where nearly the only plant life to be found is the moss and mold growing in the rust and rot stained walls and floors and the only flowing water is the dirty water the flows down from above through the crakes and pools on the walkways, a far cry from the balcony and tower top gardens of the Upper Wards. Here the massive towers that make up the city higher levels meet base to base smoldering one another as if to try and push the other off the cliff face that marks the bounders of Dura.

This is your home and as dark and dangerous as it can be you have grown accustom to life here and know that for every throat cutter and gang thug suckling down the tower hallways you come across there are five more people just trying to get by and have found their way here do to many reasons. Right now you wish you were dealing with one of hundreds of honest good people you have meet in the Lower Wards, but right this moment you are dealing with the Cross Tribe gang and more importantly its boss Gulrn the hobgoblin, and a man who very much does not like you at this moment in time. You find yourself in a dank mold infested iron bared cell deep in the Cross Tribe base in the Gate of Gold district with several other individuals of different looks and they just like you don't seem happy to be here. Your still kicking yourself for letting those low life bounty hunter pack get the drop on you, but hay they were not Gulrn's normal goons and you didn't see them coming for you until it was too late. Other a splitting headache with a few burses and being weaponless you are no worse for wear, it seems whatever Gulrn has in mind for you he wants you in one piece for it. In the hallway just before your cell is dozen of the Cross Tribe gang thugs making rude jesters and laughing at your expense, clearly Gulrn is not taking any chances of you escaping and as you ponder that you hear screaming coming from somewhere deeper in the Cross Tribes hide out.


https://s31.postimg.org/b18quxkor/9e7a9c0464fbe8894f7d9b621c365c51.jpg


all normal except Perception DC +5 (low-light vision -5 and darkvison -5), and any skill to try and escape cell DC +15

[Rendel Nep]

"Um, Hi! I'm in here because I won money off Gulre and he can't accept that doing field research with the right tools and asking a few questions isn't cheating."
The Bob-haired Kalashtar greets the other occupants of the cell.
#"My name is Glamovakri. Call me what you like although I fancy Twinkletoes. I would say nice to meet you all but under the circumstances, I think we can all agree that would be a falsehood at the bare minimum. She says with a bit of regret.

[samduke]

walking over and sitting down, well met Twinkletoes, my name is Sara, it seems I may be here due to jealousy of another, personally I am hoping that this is the worse of it.

[Malimar]

Tanner's Knife the warforged ponders, with some unhappiness, the situation he and the others find themselves in. He pays no mind to the jeering and taunting of the gangsters.

He's an old, well-used, battered, dinged-up warforged with a slender, elegant chassis obscured by many years of "improvements". Somebody's bolted on an assortment of not-exactly-correctly-sized mithral plates and jammed a miscellany of gently glowing and sparking crystals in the gaps. His face and jaw have been altered with extra points of articulation, giving him the ability to approximate a wider range of human expressions (and thereby to fall more firmly in the Uncanny Valley). His plating has been adorned with painted, engraved, enameled, and embossed decorations and runes in many colors, though the paint is now so faded and flaked that it's difficult to see what some of the decorations might have once represented.

Mournfully, "At least Gulrn seems to want us alive. I say this because if he did not want us alive, we would probably not be." He nods sagely, as if this is a profound pronouncement.

Then he introduces himself to the others, "The name they call me is Knife. Tanner's Knife. I believe I am suspected of being a snitch, which is of course balderdash. Still, it is always nice to meet new people who aren't actively trying to kill me, though you are correct, Twinkletoes: circumstances could be better. But circumstances could also be worse."

[hoverfrog]

~ The Cells ~


-----
http://i.imgur.com/1aaDa6s.jpg?1
Pen ir'Embrace (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=863431)

Pen puts her head in her hands and mutters to herself, "You're in trouble now, Penelope."

"I'm not sure that it's particularly comforting to know that Gulrn wants us alive. He might well be planning to torture us for fun after all." The changeling woman stands and paces the few feet in their tiny chamber, "I don't suppose any of you have any great influence with Gulrn, do you?"

[coffeegoblin]

"Influence? If I had any influence I wouldn't be in Lower Dura." Bitterness in her voice she rises from the ground lethargically. "I'm Sorashana, never can have enough friends I guess." She approached the cell bars staring down the chorus of jailers. "What's the screaming about?"

Gather Information [roll0]

[Neil Crow]

One of the thugs guarding the cell, a near toothless half-orc with bad breath which Sorashana gets her fill of when he steps forward, leering at her in a very uncomfortable way as he laughs saying, "Oh no need to worry sweet honey that just Impale doing his thing, he is a Warforged that works for the boss ya see, ya'll know him when ya see him, kind of hard to miss seeing as he has all those spikes and such. But hay, no need to worry about him, well no need unless the boss wants to make a example out of ya lot and give us a show!"

The last of his statement is made more towards the other eleven guards as they all take up laughing and one shouts "hay lets take bets on how long their bodies twitch afterwards!" which this statement is met with more laughter and jokes at the prisoner's expense.

[coffeegoblin]

Sora swallows her disgust and focuses on the ugly thing that replied. "They must have stolen from Gulrn too." She looks away, leaning against the bars. "How much you get paid for this type of work anyway?"

Bluff [roll0]

[hoverfrog]

~ The Cells ~


-----
http://i.imgur.com/1aaDa6s.jpg?1
Pen ir'Embrace (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=863431)

Pen reaches up for her holy symbol, an eight-pointed configuration of four crossed and rune-inscribed bones. "Let's hope that the Traveler doesn't think to test us this day," She offers the prayer quietly before turning to her fellow prisoners, "Are any of you wounded beyond the bumps on your heads?"

When she checks on Sora she whispers, "Find out who is carrying the keys. If you can get one to taunt us with the keys I may be able to force him to drop them."

[Neil Crow]

The half-orc thug near the bars of you cell leans forwards as Sora asks him how much coin he makes, he laughs saying, "Oh look boys, I think she wanting to know if I have enough to pay for a tussle in the sheets. Sorry honey but even if we want'd to pay coin for a tussle we's don't have the keys, I's think the boss don't trust us not to damage the goods before he gets his fun."

As he says this he put his left arm through the bars of the cell to reach up to touch Sora's hair with his leather armored hand as his face gets closer to Sora's.

If either one of you would like to knock the Thugs hand away before he touches Sora the it is AC 14 to hit his hand or a Acrobatics check of DC 16 for Sora to dance away from his grasp.

[Malimar]

Knife ponders the situation. He ponders unleashing dark and baleful powers on the crowd of guards. A flock of bloodthirsty bats, perhaps. Or using a curse in the Dark Speech on the bars to break them, allowing his new companions to break out, steal weapons from the guards, and fight their way to freedom.

But, in the end, he decides inaction is the better course for now. Too many guards, they would probably overwhelm the prisoners, no matter how many bats he threw at them. He will wait until either some of the guards wander off, or until they are brought to wherever Gulrn wants them brought to. Even if they are to be brought to the torture chamber, that would probably still be the more advantageous moment to make a move.

Still, Knife stoically proclaims, "You would probably do better not to harass us. These bars won't protect you from us for long."

[hoverfrog]

~ The Cells ~


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http://i.imgur.com/1aaDa6s.jpg?1
Pen ir'Embrace (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=863431)

"Leave her alone!" Pen yells as she grabs the thief's arm and pulls it.


He's not carrying a weapon so there's no worries about Attacks of Opportunity unless he has Improved Unarmed Combat.
Melee Touch Attack [roll0] to initiate a grapple (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/combat/specialAttacks.htm#grapple).

[Neil Crow]

The Half-orc thug is taken aback by Pen's action and the look of anger come over his face and he yells, "Hay ya let go or I'll smash your face in!"

With that he pulls back attempting to break the grapple and move away.

Opposed grapple check [roll0]

If the thug succeeds in his opposed check he will back away from the cell staring dagger at Pen, if not well then she is holding onto one pissed off Half-orc.

[hoverfrog]

~ The Cells ~


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http://i.imgur.com/1aaDa6s.jpg?1
Pen ir'Embrace (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=863431)

Gulrn's thug barely managed to drag his arm free from Pen's grip but her point has been made. She leans close and snarls at him, "Touch her again and I'll break your arm next time." As she glowers she grows larger and more threatening and her teeth sharpen to bestial fangs, "Don't think I won't kill you as soon as I get the chance."

Her threat is empty though as long as they're locked in this cage and from the thug's expression he knows it.


His BAB is higher so he wins.

Intimidate him [roll0] EDIT: Ha, a 1. Oh well.

[Rendel Nep]

Twinkletoes looks on with concern. She can't exactly aid in her fellow captives struggle but maybe a threat of talent might have the gangsters reconsider.

Tanner, what's your favorite energy? Right now I'm thinking a little bit of fire. That's bound bring some attention to this little operation. No one wants the city to catch fire. She asks unsubtly so everyone can hear.


Intimidate: Threatening to set things on fire
Bluff : Because if Twinkletoes did set things on fire, she may have to face the Blackened book if it got out of control. [roll]1d20+ 10


Edit: Altering the tone of the question outside the actual dialogue.

[coffeegoblin]

At Pen's shout Sora dances away, the half-orc's hand brushes against her hair but is stopped short by the other prisoner. "Thanks." She says to Pen losing her cool a bit, as the changeling faces off with the guard"I..thanks." She pulls back away from the bars.

[Malimar]

Knife tilts his head at Twinkletoes and gets philosophical. "Which child does a mother like best? Any energy is a valid tool in pursuit of one's goals."

Then he comes back to the present moment and realizes that the current goal is to get the thugs to back off. He wiggles his metal fingers at the thugs, "Shoo." Then some of the crystals jammed into his body and some of the runes carved or painted into his plating glow, and four will-o’-wisp-like globes of sparkling light appear in the cell and proceed to menace the thugs. Literally the least he can do in this situation, but hopefully enough to alarm the thugs and get them to lay off so he doesn't have to escalate to actually hurting them.

Using dancing lights (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/dancingLights.htm) as a spell-like ability

Aid Another on Twinkletoes's Intimidate: [roll0] (if 10 or higher, she gets +2 to her check)

[Neil Crow]

Although the thugs seem to basically ignore Knife's dancing lights they all seem to believe Twinkletoes' threat completely, well all except the Half-orc thug who is staring daggers at Pen, but the rest of the thugs pull him back from the cage moving him to the rear of the group you hear many of them whispering, "hay don't forget the boss want's them unharmed", and other such comment to try and calm him down. Just as it seem to be working the thugs are interrupted by a lout high pitch scream of pain that is then cut off short and you could swear you think you heard the sound of cracking bones.

The Half-orc thug who tried to touch Sora push his way from behind his companions and calls out, "Did you hear that! The Boss is done with his last visitor, and soon it will be your turn. Guess what pretties, your next and I bet gold that the Impel is going to have some fun with you all!"

[Rendel Nep]

Twinkletoes leans against the dingy cell wall, surprised but relieved that the gangsters didn't see through her threat. She then takes her time to feel through her bags and notices something.

I'm not sure what going on because they didn't even bother to take any of my coin even though I was out cold. Surely, they would take everything when they had the opportunity. She informs the others.

[hoverfrog]

~ The Cells ~


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http://i.imgur.com/1aaDa6s.jpg?1
Pen ir'Embrace (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=863431)

"Do you have anything that can get out of this cage?" Pen shrinks down to her usual from and examines the bars carefully. She wonders if she could squeeze through at her thinnest and measures the gaps with her hands. She also rattles them a little to try to determine how strong they are.


I'm not sure if I need to roll but I want to determine if Pen's shape change will allow her to get through the gap if she shrinks down to a super thin elf or something.

Can the bars be bent or broken by someone strong?

Search check [roll0]

[coffeegoblin]

At Twinkletoes's comment Sora checks her belt pouch and finds some grubby change. "Not so useful for me, I'm broke, but that's interesting." With few ideas on how to get out she wonders if they should. "They don't want us harmed either, strange if we are awaiting execution."

Bardic Knowledge for info on Gulrn [roll0]

[Malimar]

Knife makes an indecipherable face and allows his glowing orbs of light to fade away into nothing.

With Twinkletoes's prompting, Knife checks his coin pouch. They've taken his knife, but not his pouch of platinum coins. "Strange."

He replies to Pen, paying no further mind to the guards who have retreated a little ways away, "I believe I could break the bars or the lock, assuming they're not warded against the supernatural, but these thugs may be too numerous to overcome without weapons. If we're being kept intact for torture, I can break Impale's apparatuses just as well. But I have a sneaking suspicion, given that they seem to have left us with everything but our weapons, that Gulrn has some other purpose in mind for us. I am willing to break us out now, but only if we have consensus that it is the correct course of action and the guards can be handled once we are free."

[Neil Crow]

As you all contemplate just what then meaning is behind your capture and why you were left with coin in your pockets, it is Pen who hears it first but soon after the whole group can hear the distinct sound of several pairs of feet come from somewhere deeper in the base but walking your way. Pen believes she can also hear the sound of a metal chain being moved about. Your group is clearly not the only ones to notice as all the guards start standing up strait and grabbing weapons that where either leaning against the wall or in their belts. From somewhere unseen from your advantage point, but clearly nearby you hear and ruff voice almost like a growl ask, "How are the prisoners?"

One of the thugs steps forward and says back to the unseen speaker, "Okay Vulak, some back talk and treats is all they've done so far, and we didn't touch'm just like the boss wanted."

Just then five figures come into view, it is clear that four of them are more thugs although one of the four is a very large Gnoll, with scalemail armor and even is armed with a large weapon strapped to his back, and clearly looks like the one in charge of the group. The other figure is a small Shifter girl, she looks to be just shy of puberty, she is wearing filthy dress that barley covers her and is not more than rags as she steps forward from the four thugs walking behind her and up in front of the cell her bare feet only inches away. You notice two more things about the young girl, one she is wearing a slave collar, a magical one at that, the kind that have been outlawed in most civilized lands including the city of Sharn, and she has been for a long time by the looks of the healed scars the collar has left. You also notice that she is hold a large key, the kind of key needed to open you cell door.

The Gnoll, who you now figure is Vulak shoves the small girl out of his way knocking her against the cell bars as he steps forwards to address you before the cell door. "You will be escorted to the Boss's meeting hall, you are to be delivered unharmed but if you try anything I have been given orders to prevent you escape even if it means your death do you understand."


https://s32.postimg.org/460ord8wl/Vulak.jpg

As you contemplate his words, Twinkletoes, as everyone has come to know her as, remembers just who the piece of work is standing before the cell doors. He is Gulrn's fourth lieutenant and just under the boss and his second and the third ranking lieutenant in the ranking of the gang, he had once been the third before Gulrn found a girl who took that position from him. Twinkletoes knows that he is brutal enforcer, but one that keeps his word and punishes anyone who would contradicts something he has said, even to the point of attacking his own men, in truth he is the closest thing Gulrn has to a honorable man in his gang and he is the one mostly used when it comes to talks with outside groups and the Cross Tribe gang.

Vulak picks the small Shifter girl up none too gently and yells at her to open the door which she does with shaking hands. You are escorted out of the cell either by your own power, or by force if need be and marched down the halls ways of the building that you have no memory of entering but guess it is the base for the Cross Tribe gang. The structures seem to be some kind of large home or estate but it is quite old but beneath the rote, decay and rust you see glimpses of what had at one time be clearly a wealthy attired home. Whoever had build this once beautiful home had abandoned it a long time ago and now the Cross Tribe gang used it as their base and as you are lead into the main hallway, a place once used to great honored guest with it high walls, stain glass window overlooking a set of curving stairs with a raised platform where one could see all who enter the house. This room has now been turned in a twisted version of a throne room with three large cushioned chairs on the raised platform and signs of brutality everywhere along with a dozen armed men on the overlooking second floor railing. Seated in on the raised platform is Gulrn along with a white haired woman armed with a sword to his left and to his right a Warforged with several spikes attached to himself and deep glowing red eyes.



https://s31.postimg.org/eostdkypn/223f21b9193e273b356ef38f6da53700.jpg

As you are all brought forward you notice the body of a dead elven man laying before one of the stair, clearly having suffered from multiple puncture wounds, his blood flowing upon the floor almost up to you feet where you are made to stand. Gulrn stands and smiles at you, his arms held out open before him as his grey face scans your faces before he begins speaking, rudely interrupting anything you were about to say, "Well are you a fine sight, I see that you didn't give any of my boys any trouble, good and I hope you found your accommodation to your liking. Now your most likely all in a fit wondering why I had you brought here, so I will enlighten you. I have a job for you, and if you do it not only will I be so kind as to forgive every coin you owe me, every insult you gave, and every betrayal you competed against me, I will also pay you fifty gold coin each upon completion of the job, how's that sound."


https://s32.postimg.org/rn3kmtf79/Gulrn.jpg

[Malimar]

Knife examines the newcomers curiously.

The girl in the slave collar is a curiosity, but not actively offensive to him. He has very little opinion on the concept of slavery -- his people were effectively slaves from inception, he spent much of his existence under a sort of slavery-esque arrangement, and even though the Treaty of Thronehold freed the warforged, he found no reason to be wildly celebratory about that.

When Vulak muscles up to the cell door and issues a threat, Knife just contorts his face, with its extra points of articulation, into a wide (and creepy) smile.

Then he allows himself to be led to the throney room!

In the presence of Gulrn, he first eyes the crumpled, punctured elven corpse. His metal fingers twitch with the desire to carve open the corpse and examine its innards to assess their functionality -- a desire that seizes him more or less whenever he comes across a corpse. He's managed to internalize the notion that killing people for science is wrong and bad, but as long as they're already dead, why not do science to them? The tickings and tockings of organic meatbags is endlessly fascinating to him.

He's almost on the verge of asking Gulrn if he's done with the corpse and if he'd mind letting Knife borrow it for awhile, when Gulrn interrupts the half-formed thought.

He ponders protesting, now that he's in the presence of the boss, that he's no snitch and all accusations to the contrary are baseless slanders and libels and defamations, but then Gulrn offers a job. He makes a pondering face and concludes that whatever the job is, it's probably easier than convincing Gulrn of his non-snitchery. Even if it's a suicide job -- in which case, wriggling out of the job and going on the run again would still be easier than just being executed by the boss now. Also hey, bonus money! "This proposition is acceptable to me." But he doesn't speak for the other prisoners, of course.

[coffeegoblin]

Seeing the small wilder girl Sora grinds her teeth struggling not to tear the collar off her knowing it might get them both killed. She doesn't have much time to dwell on the girl's misery though before she realises they likely face a similar grim fate. Gulrn proposal was still surprising even if she expected something like this, his willingness to forgive seemed a little suspicious.

"50 is actually quite generous but I owe a lot of people a lot of money, I need 100 and upfront or I'm not going to get very far."

Diplomacy [roll0]

[hoverfrog]

~ Gulrn's Audience Chamber ~


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http://i.imgur.com/1aaDa6s.jpg?1
Pen ir'Embrace (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=863431)

Pen cowers from the huge gnoll and moves closer to the shifter child as they walk to what she expects to be their dooms, "What's your name, sweetheart?" If the girl stays quiet she tries to cajole her into speaking by offering little snippets of information about them. Little things like their names, the odd way that Knife walks, like he's half marching and half stalking, the look of concentration on Twinkletoes' face, the way Sara keeps clenching her fists like she's preparing to fight. She unconsciously mirrors the girl's movements too, the hunched way of walking, the defeated look, slow shuffle of her steps. She deliberately doesn't ask anything of her except her name. She's seen people beaten down before and it would take many small steps to get her to help herself, let alone help them.

When they reach Gulrn she continues to cower while he makes his demands. It's not an offer of a job but an order. There was no negotiation here. No discussion. They would agree or they would die like the poor elf at their feet, "I accept, sir." Her downcast eyes look at the corpse rather than the hobgoblin and she makes herself small to avoid notice.


Diplomacy to change the shifter's attitude so that she might help us in the future.
[roll0]

Spot or Search to gather some details about the elf. Is there a dragonmark on his body, a sigil, an item of clothing that might identify him? [roll1]

[Neil Crow]

Pen -

As you are walked down the hall and try to engage the young Shifter girl, you get close enough to see past the dirt and grim on her face and body to see that she had a pretty grey and black light fur and even at one time someone had braided side braids into her hair. The girl clearly is to afraid to say anything in answer to you when you first ask her name, but as you keep talking to her you notice her pay more and more attention to what you say. As you walk next to her you notice her give you slight glances your way with her blueish grey eyes and even give a shy smile at some of your funner comments. Just as your about the enter the 'throne room' you almost miss it when she whispers her name to you in your ear, you didn't even notice her get that close to you until you her say,"Rosemary."

In the throne room -

Gulrn smiles as Knife and Pen agrees without argument, but his look hardens when Sorashana tries to haggle with him over the price but as she puts on her most charming smile he just shakes his head and says, "I will raise the coin to 65 gold coins each, maybe you can talk your companions out of the extra gold they just got from your haggling, but no more pushing as I am not know for my patience for a reason."

As Pen stairs at the dead elf man bleeding out at the foot of one of the two stair cases leading up to the platform. Pen notices that among his ruined studded leather armor is the symbol of the Wayfinder Foundation, which means either this man was one of that groups numbers or he was wearing a disguise to make it look as he was. She also notices a tattoo of a raven in flight on his neck that could be used to help identify just who the man was if she so wished to spend the time to do so.

[Rendel Nep]

As Twinkletoes recalls what she can about Vulak she gives him a respectful nod. hen she see's the interactions between him and the girl, she assumes there's a strong degree f resentment in the gnoll although she would like to back it up with an bit of insight of her own. Maybe an opportune time to exercise her ability to read thoughts? THe mental noise might have her escorts draw the wrong conclusions.

She discards that idea and proceeds to be escorted without any disruptive actions. After all, she was going to be harmed, she'd be dead now and no sense changing that.

Once Gulrn has made his proposition, Twinkletoes say "I would rather contine to draw breath than your ire, so yes, I accept." when prompted.

Although, having accepted, I am now concerned as to what you'd have us do." She adds with a worried smile.

[hoverfrog]

~ Gulrn's Audience Chamber ~


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http://i.imgur.com/1aaDa6s.jpg?1
Pen ir'Embrace (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=863431)

Pen offers Rosemary a small, supportive smile when she reveals her name. If she ever gets the chance she'd try to rescue the child. Assuming she survives herself.

"Is this something to do with the Wayfinder?"


Cloistered Clerics have Lore, equivalent to Bardic Knowledge. What do I know of the dead guy. Raven tattoos and Wayfinders can't be that common, hopefully. [roll0]

[samduke]

I have a job for you, and if you do it not only will I be so kind as to forgive every coin you owe me, every insult you gave, and every betrayal you competed against me, I will also pay you fifty gold coin each upon completion of the job, how's that sound."


after listening sara decides that incurring his wrath is not a great Idea and accepts the job, looking around at the others gathered.

[coffeegoblin]

Sorashana kept smiling, not sure what to conclude from the negotiation, but 65 was a good sign.

"That's fair, I'm in."

[Neil Crow]

At Pen's question to Rosemary the little girl looks at her clearly not understanding the question and just whispers, "Gulrn tortured him for information, I had to watch."


Gulrn smiles and takes a seat while the white haired woman who Sara knows as Roslyn sets on his lap running her hands down his chest and staring daggers at Sara and looks slightly disappointed that a fight didn't take place in the 'throne room', all of this Gulrn dose not seem to notice as he speaks once more. "This job is simple and one I think you will want to take. A day ago there was a private Skycoach accident and a young dwarven boy fell to the ground levels of Sharn. Before you ask it is believed he is still alive as he had a father fall talisman on, but he is missing and a bounty has been placed to find him. Now I don't care about the bounty, hell if you find the child you can have the 500 gold coin for doing so, but what you are going to do is bring him here and I will arrange his return home, understood!"

At the last of the his statement Gulrn seats forward nearly knocking the white haired woman off his lap as he gives your group a hard look, "If you cross me on this it is the last thing you do, I swear it." Then sitting back once more he continues, "Fear not I do have a lead for you, that I personally acquired so feel honored. The information I have is that it is believed the child fell to the upper parts of the Cogs, last seen falling between the the Dura Quarter and the Menthis Plateau Quarter after the Skycoach collision, and pieces of the child's coat were found in the upper parts of the Ashblack district on the Cogs. So good hunting."

You will all notice that when Gulrn talks about acquiring the information the Warforged named Impel seems to kind of smile and crosses his arms in a posture of pride. Before you are able to asking any question Gulrn makes one more finale statement, "Oh and so you don't think I'm being unreasonable and because I don't trust you I'm sending along help." At this Gulrn pulls out a small rod like thing and pushes a button on it and all the sudden Rosemary the small Shifter girl screamed out in pain and fell all fours as she crawls to the base of the staircase and then Gulrn puts the rod away which allows puts a end to the girls pain. "Rosemary will be going with you as a guide, and a hostage. If goes as plan you will rescue a small boy, bring him here, I will arrange a meeting between the us and the boy's father at which time you will get your reward. Now if you try to betray me or fail in your task you get to watch young Rosemary die before your eyes."

[hoverfrog]

~ Gulrn's Throne Room ~


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http://i.imgur.com/1aaDa6s.jpg?1
Pen ir'Embrace (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=863431)

Pen helps Rosemary up and puts a comforting arm around her, "We'll do as you say, Gulrn but I want to make another deal with you. When we return with the boy, you let Rosemary go."

"Now, what else can you tell us about the boy? What does he look like? Does he have an accent? How old is he exactly? Has he grown his first beard yet? What was he wearing when he fell? What's his name? Was anyone seen with him last?"

[Malimar]

Knife ponders this task. Find a dwarf boy child somewhere in Sharn? Sounds... well, neither simple nor straightforward, but at least not a suicide mission. Unless they fail, presumably.

He ponders the addition of Rosemary to the mission, and eventually decides it's not unreasonable. He concludes that it would be at least mildly unfortunate for the shifter child to be killed on their account, before she gets an opportunity to achieve the greatness that lies potential in her blood.

Any other questions he might have had are asked by Pen, so he gestures to her in a "what she said" sort of way.

[Neil Crow]

Gulrn leans forward and says with a hard look, "If you finish this job I am willing to sell you the slave but I have to warn you her parents were in deep coin when they handed her over, maybe somewhat unwillingly but that's the price you pay when you gamble big and loss."

When Gulrn says that the white hair woman laughs saying, "But Gulrn dear if you sell the dirty beast who will take care oh the house?"

Gulrn just looks at her and shakes his head as he continues speaking, "As for a description of the child, his is young brown haired, standing about three feet tall with no beard or facial hair to speak of he was last seen wearing a blue coat, white shirt and leather paints with red strips down the side, is that descriptive enough for you. If you don't have any further questions Vulak will show you out and once your beyond my doors you will get your gear back and Rosemary will show you the quickest way down to the Cog, she's helpful that way."

[Rendel Nep]

Twinkletoes relaxes a bit, knowing the parameters of their mission. Since Pen seems to have taken charge, Twinkletoes lets her do her thing.

[hoverfrog]

~ Gulrn's Throne Room ~


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http://i.imgur.com/1aaDa6s.jpg?1
Pen ir'Embrace (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=863431)

"Th-thank you, Gulrn," Pen stutters nervously, "Um, what does the Wayfinder have to do with this?"


Bluff to appear nervous [roll0]
Diplomacy to appear make him more likely to answer [roll1]

[Malimar]

Knife opens and shuts his jaw several times, considering again whether to ask Gulrn whether he's done with the corpse and if he can borrow it for awhile. In the end, he decides anew not to ask. In no hurry, he just lets Pen finish questioning Gulrn (occasionally gesturing to her with a "good question" or "I was also wondering this" sort of gesture). Then, once the whole party is ready to depart, he follows Rosemary out.

[Neil Crow]

Gulrn just looks at Pen for a moment not saying anything and it is the white haired woman who speaks up, "You need not worry any more about him, he will not be getting in your way, but I would say that your group is not the only one looking for the dwarven boy, so your working against the clock."

That is the only information that is given out about the dead man at the end of the stairs and at that Gulrn waves his hand and Gnoll Vulak along with the over dozen men escort you out of the Cross Tribe's bass with is a large wooden and iron enforced set of doors that although clearly showing signs of neglect and vandalism are still solidly built. Once outside a cart is pulled out with out and inside is all your gear which Vulak stand next to the cart and says, "I have been given instructions to turn this items back to you and to make a verbal statement on my word that on completions of the rescue and returning of the lost child here we will sale you the Shifter girl for one hundred gold coin"

You will all notice Rosemary looks at a loss of hope when the amount of coin is said and there is a look of triumph in Vulak's eyes at the sight of her fear of at losing her chance of escape. After that Vulak and the rest of the thug walk back though the set of large door baring them form the inside. Rosemary turns to the group and says, "I know a quick way down to the Cogs, my family worked there last year."

Rosemary will wait until after everyone has gathered up their things and is ready to go before she start leading the way. Like usual when going anywhere in Sharn it never a straight line, as you have to go up several flights of stair and walkways before you make it to a large shaft with a set of stair that cling to it side that lead you down into the depths of the Cogs. The trip to the shaft will take an hour and then its another thirty minutes climb down before you make it too the edges of the Cogs. As you climb down the shaft you can see the glow of many forges, open fires, heat rises up in waves and the sounds of the works and gears below you near deafening you.

[hoverfrog]

~ Walking to the Cogs ~


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http://i.imgur.com/1aaDa6s.jpg?1
Pen ir'Embrace (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=863431)

"Don't worry, Rosemary." Pen tries to reassure the shifter girl. "We've been promised 65 galifars each for this mission. I'm sure we can pool our coin and buy your freedom between us. Right?" She looks around at the others hoping for approval. Inside she wonders if there's another way to remove her collar and seek revenge on Gulrn for all the evil he's done.

[coffeegoblin]

Sorashana tucked her sap up her sleeve and strung her bow, running away seemed like the smart move, but the shifter made a powerful hostage."Yeah, don't worry about the numbers kid, numbers are mutable." She gives Rosemary a thumbs up. "Besides pretty sure Gulrn is looking to be more legit and is looking to get rid of you, this is just a way he can profit from it."

[Rendel Nep]

I'll even trade in my crossbow if I have to. It's looking more and more like I only need it for absolute emergencies, anyway. Twinkletoes offers.

[Malimar]

From the cart, Knife collects his knife.

He eyes Pen. A hundred gold for a shifter girl? Hm. That's only twenty from each of them. He does the math: his daily expenses include no money for food and no money for shelter, so he concludes he can probably afford to take a cut out of the 65 he's being paid for this. And in exchange, he gets... what? The opportunity to let the shifter girl grow into her birthright, her powerful shifter blood, without being stifled by Gulrn. That's worth something to him, albeit rather less than twenty gold. Party unity, on the other hand, may be worth the remainder, so in the end he shrugs his mithral-plated shoulders to Pen, "Sure, sounds like a plan."

Then Knife follows Rosemary, almost completely oblivious to the surroundings they're travelling through.

[Neil Crow]

Rosemary seems to gain some the light back into her eyes and her steps become for confidence as she leads the group down into the depths of Sharn under the encouragement from the group. It is only three floor down the spiral stairs that lead down into the large deep shaft when Rosemary turns off into a dug out hole in the wall of the shaft that seems to have been man made as it is crude but reinforced and large enough to allow most of you to walk comfortable and even the largest of the group with room enough to squeeze through the tightest parts of the man made cavern. The cavern lead out into a rocky outcropping that forms a natural balcony that set over the canyons that divide the different Quarters of Sharn and as you all gather Rosemary point up above you to what looks like the wreckage of a skycoach

"There is the wreckage and the boy fell down here into the depths of the Cogs, once your ready I'll take you to were the man that the Boss questioned found the boy's coat."

With that said Rosemary waits for the group to have a chance to look over the sight of the wreckage which is a near fifty feet above them, hanging very precariously on the wall of a tower that clings to the side of the canyon, looking like it could fall at any moment with just a strong gust of wind. It is possible to climb up to the wreckage if you wish but it will not be easy and any miss step once next to the wreckage could cause it to fall onto the rock outcropping everyone is standing on.

[Malimar]

When Rosemary points out the wreckage, Knife looks around, and still takes a few seconds before he spots it. He ponders the wreckage. "I don't suppose anyone here can fly up to inspect that for clues? I'm not very inclined to climb."

[hoverfrog]

~ The Cogs ~


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http://i.imgur.com/1aaDa6s.jpg?1
Pen ir'Embrace (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=863431)

"Fly? No, not me. Maybe we could bring it down so we could get a better look. It doesn't look like it would take much to make it fall." Pen could probably hit it with a crossbow bolt. If they had any twine they could tie it on and use that to get some rope up there. There's just the little matter of getting out of the way before it falls.

"Perhaps not."

[coffeegoblin]

Sorashana uses the pause to take a few gulps of wine from her flask to calm her nerves, glad to be taking back streets but still anxious about running into someone hunting her.

Looking up at the wreckage to her it looks like a jumble of twisted metal, a scavenger's dream and investigator's nightmare. "I dont imagine there are many clues to the boys whereabouts up there." She doesn't spend long under wreckage and moves to a safe distance. "No tricks up my sleeve, well not for this."

[Rendel Nep]

I can't fly either. I could possibly knock it down if we needed to. I can't imagine he'd still be in there but if we need clues... Twinkletoes says with a bit of trepidation.

[coffeegoblin]

"Let's take a look at the next spot kid, we might come back here later if we're stumped."