A Grim Era, Book One, Chapter IX

[Grimsage Matt]

Each of you came here for a diffrent reason. Some of you were driven from your homes. Some of you left, seeking new expereinces, or to fufill oaths of vengence.

But, these are toubled times.

In the north, the Juton stir, and raid the coasts. In the mountians, the Orc clans mass, gathering goblins, ogres and worse, perparing for another great WAAAAGH! across the land. The rumors from Brightvale is that the living of Trystal are under sige from the dark necromancers of the Sythal bogs.

Yet even in Bladereach, all is not well. Gangs lounge about in the streets, and spellcasters have to hide their abillities, or risk being burned at a stake by self rightious Technopriests and Enginseers.

And yet, each of you has felt, this damp and dismal eve, the pull to The Drunken Larvitar Pub and Grill.

The street lights are dim, a dog is looking at you like you might be dinner, and the street orphans are sharpening their knives in plain view. And yet, comeing from the door, you hear the faintest traces of music...

[Sodalite]

A man, covered from head to toe in quilted cloth with even his face hidden, walks slowly, carefully, and without word into the bar. He takes a seat in a far corner, orders a small drink with a wave of his gloved hand, places his other palm on his covered forehead, wonder what in hell he should do now. He looks up and scans the bar, hoping to find something of interest.

[SNIPER4HIRE7]

Gaius walks in his armor dull from weeks of travel without enough time to clean it, he sighs deeply and sits at the bar bartender give me a beer he says as he sips the brew, he wracks his head for ideas every trail is a dead end without some help i ain't getting close to blood-blade, at the thought of his hated foe his grip tightens and causes the glass to shatter, sorry about that he says apologizing to the bartender

[Grimsage Matt]

The Bar
The Barkeep Just grunts and hands you a metal mug. And a letter.


The Liches Table
One of the Waitress comes over and hands you a drink. "Hi hun. See you lookin lonesome over here."

Next to the drink, which appears to have been served in some form of skeleton themed black metal, is a letter.

[ArchangelAzrael]

The door of the bar opens once more and this time Ulhar steps in. His eyes scans the place looking for a familiar face to share a dring and perhaps a good story. As he takes in his suroundings he slowly moves to the bartender with the intention to order some beer.

[Sodalite]

The covered man looked to the skeletal letter-holder and the letter within. He wasn't sure if how obviously it was addressed to who he was beneath the cloth meant he shold be suspicious or trusting of it. He spoke, hardly more than a whisper, to the waitress, "I suppose you could say I am rather lonely. It's been such a long time since I've met a face I was familiar with."

[SNIPER4HIRE7]

What a letter gaius says in surprise okay I'll bite he says ripping the envelope he opens it and begins to read the letter

[Grimsage Matt]

The Bar
The Barman gunts, and pushs a metal mug of ale towards Ulhar. Attached to the mug appears to be a letter.


The Liches Table
She makes a sympthetic noise. "Suger, I can feel you. Used to work the bar over in Steam Wheel port, but then" She shrugs. "In any case suger, the boss asked me to make sure you got the note."

The Letter

Head to my office in the next three minuites if you want the antidote. And Machill? The poison is a force based one, so yer not off the hook.

Why are you still reading this?

The Capone

[Sodalite]

At the mention of his name, Machill stands up immediately. He nods appreciatively to the waitress before hurrying towards what he could only assume was the office referred to in the letter.

[ArchangelAzrael]

Ulhar pose momentarily as the letter was not part of the order look, looks around to see if he can locate the sender, and quickly decides that he can learn anything he needs from the letter itself. He takes a good sip of his beer before opening his letter to read it... perhaps it's from a female fan he thinks smiling to himself.

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If the letter is similar to the one above my character responds like this: Oh ****... then he spills his mug and rushes to the office

[SNIPER4HIRE7]

damn it Gaius roars crumbling up the letter he finishes his drink in one gulp and walks to meet this Capone

[Grimsage Matt]

The Capones Office

Above the door, there is a shield, a emblem that you can feel faint amounts of divine energy emenating from.

And then you see Capone himself, in his trademark suit, gangster hat, and with enough beer to kill a dwarven god.

"So, minions, your finally here eh? Take a seat, and lets get down to business."

His voice is slick, yet gruff, a mix of drunk, gangster and overlord of all that he knows about. And he seems bigger then his mere size, yet seems to be waiting on your reactions.

[Sodalite]

Machill seated himself in the same quick fashion that he entered the office with. He figured it would be best to let this Capone speak whatever he meant by business before bringing up anything.

[ArchangelAzrael]

As Ulhar enters the room his eyes scan the place for potential threats

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the first roll is spot the second one listen [roll0] [roll1]

then his eyes settle on the man that holds all the chips. He tries to measure him and discern his intention

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sense motive [roll2]

all the while taking care not to offend him.

I believe we have received an Invitation from you sir, its a great honor to finally meet you in person, but since time is of the essence you would excuse me if I have to cut the pleasantries short. What is it that you require from us?

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If a diplomacy roll is required here it is [roll3] i just hope the dice gods favor me on this one

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lets hope I didnt mess up anywhere with the text/rolls

[ArchangelAzrael]

bah! ok since i cant edit the post for the rolls here they go again
spot (1d20+7)[17]
listen (1d20+8)[25]
sense motive (1d20+7)[8]
diplomacy (1d20+5)[25]

please forgive the double post. Lets hope this time I do it right

[Grimsage Matt]

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What you see; you see The Capone, A beer fighters grand melee cup, A "Honoray member of the Dwarven Peathon" plaque, a signed Elvis poster, and a bottle of OHGOSMAKEITSTOP! a beer so powerful it has to be kept in the PLANE THAT DOES NOT EXIST to keep the dinker safe (he's chuging it down like it's water).

What you hear; You hear tghis jaunty tune.

As you sit down, The Capone begins to speak once more.

"Well, ya see, theres a few things that should have happened, but lets just say that good help is hard to find. Some of them got eaten, gutted, driven insane by the things that sleep below, traped by their own distant relations, experimented on by trolls, you know, the usual. Heck, I rember that one time when this paladin got eaten by a giant chicken." He stops, chuckling briefly.

"So anyway, heres what I need ya bunch to do. There are fell deeds afoot yada yada yada, blah blah blah. So, here's what you do. I point, I tell you to jump and you say 'how high'. Mostly I will ask you tio do things that come naturaly to you bunch... wait a sec, wrong group. K, Don't worry, I got your files over here.... K, mission the first. And I know it's going to sound lame, but it's traddtional that the first quest is about rats in some womans basement or pillow Attic. In your case, Miss Braids wants them delt with. Here's the details to her place, and whatever you do, do NOT snakes around her."

As he says this, he's been going through the files on his desk, and pulls out a peice of paper showing the location of Braids house. Inculded is a Breif blurb on her. The "Dementia Summoner" part stands out.

[SNIPER4HIRE7]

gaius stands annoyance clear on his face, he takes a deep breath to calm himself tell me do you know where blood-blade is? he asks his voice calm sounding

[Grimsage Matt]

Capone looks right at you, his eyes seeming.. bored. "Ya, I know where it is. But trust me bud, you are nowhere near strong enough to take it on right now. Do some jobs, get some practical experience, then track the bastard down and gut 'em."

Listen check [DC 18]

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"Course, the Orc it was posessing died a while back."

[Sodalite]

Machill spoke up next, still in quiet tone, and asked "How have you come to know who I am? I've taken great pains to hide that."

[Grimsage Matt]

Capone just looks at Machill.

"Buddy, first rule of business, have a information gathering network. Mine? If a lord of Trystal breaks wind, I know about it before it leaves his rump. You buddy?"

As you gaze into his eyes, you are drawn into someplace dark, someplace that you briefly vistied once, and as you are now, wish to never see again.

"We've meet before Laaco Lacilel Cenyircelv*" [Elvish for Self Slain Lichling]

[Sodalite]

The small, singular sound of a droplet hitting a dish echoed through Machill's mind. He quickly responded with, "Very well," and leaves at that. At least this business will provide something to do, and hopefully some opportunities to learn of what has happened in his once homeland since his flight from there.

[SNIPER4HIRE7]

If you know where blood-blade is then i will aid you in any task in return i want to know where he can be found Gaius declares so go clear out some rats correct? he asks unsure if he understands the mission seem too easy (italics is thoughts)

[ArchangelAzrael]

Ulhar pose for a moment before speaking. Sir Capone you wouldnt have any more information to give us on this mission would you? After all information which you seem to have in mass wins battles before they are even fought. It would seem a trivial task that which you ask of us which make us ponder if there is more to this "rat" killing thing. As Ulhar speaks his mind cant help it but think perhaps the lack of intel is a test to us, after all one doent go to all this trouble gathering a group for such petty quest, there must be a twist in the story somewhere.

Oh and one final question if I may. Let me ask you the same question that was in the letter, how are my brother and Rose?

[Grimsage Matt]

"I just said it it involved Rats. Knowing Braids, that means they've got some nobleman in one of the trees and are trying to eat him again. And I could hear that." All of a sudden he smiles, but it's a 'I can't wait to watch' type smile, he knows something, and he's not telling.

"As for yer Brother and Rose? He's training in the Academy and Rose is getting hammered with a old drinking buddy. Seriously, I don't hurt pub owners. And going after family is a low blow."

[ArchangelAzrael]

Hearing that they are safe Ulhar is finaly able to relax. Ok I am ready whenever everyone else is.