Labyrinths of Deceit (Group 2)

[CloakedInsanity]

Welcome to the towns of HawksWarren. How you got here is up to you. It seems the local magistrate has been working to rearrange the town guard. You notice various watch posts and such at the gates, and through out the city.

There are many taverns and inns (if you so choose to have the services of one) though some are more reputable than others.

(Just waiting on everyone to get intros done)

[Kyroswolf]

As William the Chained enters Hawks Warren, it is obvious where he gets his moniker from. Not from the gleaming Mithral Shirt, for it is hidden beneath his clothing, but from the chain he carries wrapped bandoleer like across his chest. Gleaming with hundreds of sharp barbs, and with heavy, spiked weights on either end.

William himself is covered in scares from both his training, and from his recent battles across the border. Yet he shows no sign of discomfort as he strides through town studying every facet of the place. Upon finding a tavern that doesn't appear to serve more fleas than humanoids, William enters, orders a meal and a drink, and takes a seat to enjoy a pleasant lunch.

[CloakedInsanity]

The bar keep slides a mug of ale and a plate of food across to William.

[Jael_Darkwood]

Kulak walks through the gates, pausing momentarily inside the gateway. Pushing hood off of his head, he reveals the striking features of a goliath. His face is expressionless and remote. As he moves past you into the city, a cool breeze brushes over you. He looks carefully at those around him, examining the features for something, though you arent sure what. After a moment, he pulls up his hood once more, and makes his way through the crowd.

Entering a bar seeming at random, he goes to the bar and orders. "Ice brandy." He places some coin on the counter, and carefully lowers himself onto one of the stools.

[CloakedInsanity]

"Aye, a fine choice, while wi may onlee have the second best ale in town, we certainly got the best liquor"
The bar keep flips a glass up from under the bar, and manages to fill it with the drink while it was in the air, before catching it and sliding it across the bar to Kulak.

[Duke of URL]

V'ael, Grey Elf Archivist

Strange rumors, strange indeed, have reached the elf's ears about the goings on near this place. Something seems... not quite right about them. As if there was something out of place or unnatural. "Something to study," she thinks.

While seeing to be almost oblivious to her surroundings, she nonetheless pulls up suddenly, and says to no one in particular, "yes, this will be a fine place to find some traveling companions." She then enters the tavern directly in front of her, sits down at a corner table, pulls a book out of her pack, and attempts to order some decent wine.

[Jael_Darkwood]

Kulak examines the newcomer coldly. He gets up and moves to the gray elf's table, standing with his hands on an empty seat. "You were looking for travelling companions?"

[ooc : listen +13 i'm just gonna say i heard you talking outside the bar.]

[tresson]

Kel

Kel dropped off the back of the wagon after it passed through the gate. He tossed a silver piece to the wagon driver and looked around. 'So this is the place the rumors talk of. I guess it's worthy enough to be link to my legend.' The Goliath said. 'Now to find accommodation, food and news. My legend won't grow by just standing here."

With that he began to search for an Tavern. His pace was sure and an aura of confidence radiated from him. Soon enough he found a suitable and entered. He noted another Goliath talking an elf. 'The sent of war is bring all sorts I see.' Kel thought to himself. He found a seat at the bar and waved over the barkeep.

"Food, Drink and News my friend."

[Duke of URL]

V'ael

The elf barely lifts her eyes from the text she is reading. "Hmm... hmm... oh, yes, companions. Always. The search for hidden lore is often filled with dangers. And rewards." She loses the thread of conversation as she becomes re-immersed in her book.

[CloakedInsanity]

The barkeep comes back with a plate of food, and mug of ale. "It would appear the magistrate has been keeping some eyes on events o'er the border, with all the new guard posts and all, it seems trouble is getting closer, just yesterday New Brightwater was burned."

[Jael_Darkwood]

Kulak looks over at the other goliath. "Memories... so many memories...."
He sits at the elf's table, catching the bartender's eye and motioning him over. "Food. Light on the spices, please."

[Toliudar]

Al

A flicker of movement around at the side of the hearth reveals that what had looked like a blanket thrown over some firewood was in fact a slender halfling woman. Had she been sleeping? Watching someone? It was hard to say.

Her dark hair was pulled back into a knot at the back of her skull, and deep brown eyes scanned the room. Although her movements were lithe and nearly silent, there was a stiffness about her middle that suggested armour underneath her grey cloak.

She slipped between tables to the bar, and clambered up onto a stool even taller than herself. She glanced along the bar at the elf and goliaths. Her voice was surprisingly deep for one so small.

Another whiskey, please. And what's this about New Brightwater?

[CloakedInsanity]

The barkeep returnes with yet another plate, and brings a glass to the halfling. "It would seem some magician burned the small village to the north last night."
He pauses to fill a glass of a slighty disheveled man at the other end of the bar.
"'tis odd that only a few bodies were found, considerin' the skeletons of the buildings still remained. Usually they leave nothing but ash."

[Kyroswolf]

William finishes his meal then siddles up to the Elf, Halfling, and Goliaths conversing at the bar. "I take it from what I have heard that the rumors of this land have brought you here as well. I am William the Chained, recently "retired" from The Hall of Moradin."

[tresson]

After nodding to the halfling woman and the goliath in the corner Kel looked back to the bartender. "I've been on the roads for the past few weeks with the only news I've had was from fellow travelers so my knowledge is limited." He paused to sip at his beer. "You said the lack of bodies was odd. Might I assume that the rumors from other attacks didn't say anything similar?"

He picked at his food waiting for the barkeep's reply.

[CloakedInsanity]

"I hear they usually leave the bodies behind in some fashion. Usually they dont just disappear." He pokes around under the bar for a moment, before setting something, a black flower by the looks of it, on the bar. "Some I believe was telling me they found this one of the few bodies they found. I didnt hear much else before they drank themselves to oblivion."

[Duke of URL]

V'ael

"Usually?" The barman's comments bring V'ael's nose out of her book. "That suggests a pattern -- how long has this been going on, and what's been done to try and stop it?"

[tresson]

Kel

Kel pick up the rose and looked at it for a long moment. He turned it this way and that before finally putting it down. "I fear the rose means nothing to me." He stated. "Maybe our good lady elf might know. She does look of the learned disposition."

He turns back to the man who introduced himself as William. "Welcome William. It would appear that we are all hunting the same stag here. Might it be better if we might combine our efforts in this hunt? A group such as ours would make for stuff of legends. But where are my manners. Obviously you would like to know the name of your soon to be leader! I am of course the living legend Kel Namala Gath. The hammer of north. Banisher of the Waste Raiders. Champion of the Rose Trials and, of course, the greatest lover this side of Thotico River!" With that last statement he sends a passing serving woman a wink and a smile.

[Kyroswolf]

William ponders the name, "Hmm....Kel Namala Gath....no, can't say I've heard of you, but rather confident of yourself though aren't we?" William laughs at his own rather poor joke, "Leader...we shall see, and best lover well," he gives the same passing barmaid his own lobsided grin, "We can let the ladies decide."

[Duke of URL]

V'ael

The elf pointedly ignores the braggadocio of Kel and William, and examines the rose.

Spoiler

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Knowledge check appropriate here? Rolling d20 just in case, we'll add the modifiers later...

Knowledge - (1d20)[1] + modifiers TBD

Edit: Natural 1? Not going to make a good impression there...

[Toliudar]

Al

While the boys are content to compare penis size over to one side, Al shifts her stool closer to the elf woman, rolling her eyes as she glances over at the three warriors. She too focuses her attention on the black flower.

Sir, who delivered the flower here, and why? Is there no garrison or local authority who would want to investigate this tragedy?

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Similarly, hoping to add a knowledge check to this, to determine if there are any organizations, faiths or major powers who use a black flower as a symbol.

(1d20+7)[12] Religion
(1d20+12)[28] The planes

[Seribro]

You her the fluttering of small wings above your head and as you look up, you notice a crow descending to the bar between the strangers and the barkeeper. It seems to be holding a card in its beak that looks a lot like a card from a tarot deck. As it lands it places the card down on the wood, hops a few paces forward and then stares into the common area towards a table with a lonesome young woman. The card depicts the image of a skeleton in a black cloak standing upright holding a big scyth. Beneath the image stands the title of the card: Death.
If you set eyes upon the young lady, you will notice her laying out a few cards across the table she is sitting on.
The crow dissolves into nothingness leaving the card behind.

[CloakedInsanity]

The black rose (that is indeed what it is) looks to be normal, though it does have some rather spiky red tiped thorns on its stem.

Nothing comes to mind for V'ael.
Al recalls an old legend of a group of spies and assassin who used a black rose on their banner.

"The magistrate would no doubt like to, though has his hands full. I believe just this morning on of his messangers sent word of some Reivan troops crossing the border a short distance from here. Hes been out by the guard posts since then."

[Toliudar]

Al

The halfling in grey looks down at the card marked with Death. Again, she shares a glance with the elf who seems lost in thought.

Well, there's been at least one order of assassins that used such flowers as calling cards. Silly, if you asked me, but that line of work seems to attract eccentrics. Want to get the magistrate's story?

Nodding to the bartender, she snatches up the rose and the card and slips from her stool. Striding, well, striding as well as one can stride with thirteen inch legs, she glances up at the two Goliaths and the human warrior as she goes past.

You still want to help? Come along.

Passing within a few feet of the table with the human woman on it, the halfling woman flicks the card, and it sails up and then settles, face down in the middle of the table. Her voice is gravelly and severe.

You too, princess? Left your calling card on the table, figured you might want to join the party.

[Kyroswolf]

William

William looks after the departing halfling woman, then turns and raises an eyebrow to Kel, "You have some competition for that whole leader thing I see." He then turns and follows after Al, whistling and twirling one of the weighted ends of his chain between the gauntleted fingers of his right hand.

[Jael_Darkwood]

Kulak nods, adjusts his equipment slightly, and stands. "I will come."

[tresson]

"True rushing off to hunt down evil with a full head of knowledge is always preferable to blindly rushing of to hunt down evil but, admittedly, not nearly as much fun." He stands and shoulders his back. He adjusted it for a minute to make sure that the handle of his massive greathammer is easily with in reach before following the halfling.

"So then if we are to kick butt for goodness together might it not a good thing to at least know each other's names?"

[Seribro]

The woman smiles and takes the card back, then shuffles it into the deck. It is not my persona trading card, but I heard your friend wonder what happened to the bodies. They are dead, yet they walk. That is why they do not lay around. The cards told me I would meet you and your fellows today. Is there still something missing in your party which I could provide you with? For the right price off course. Perhaps you need a healer? Divine guidance? Swift passage? Or perhaps a brain?
She then takes a look at the flower you carry around and goes over the different guilds she knows

Spoiler

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(1d20+8)[14]

[Toliudar]

Al

The halfling woman is about to leave when the woman's voice stops her. She turns back.

When I said "party", it was a joke, unless you think tracking down some kind of mass murderer will be fun. There is no "group" here, and all I lack right now are answers. You want to come, come. I'm not paying you anything.

Glancing back at William, Kulak and Kel, she says merely Call me Al. She is then out the door and heading towards the guard posts to seek out the magistrate.

[Seribro]

As the halfling strides of, she places the deck on the table and takes out a single card to see what it will be. A picture of a figure in a battle-wagon is shown: the Chariot.
A smile appears on Mezumi's face and she softly mumbles to herself.
"Or perhaps all of the services named. No wonder you travel with the Goliaths. Those thugs never refuse a good challenge do they? Just like you...
She puts the cards away and stands up. To follow the halfling outside.
"When I said price, I wasn't talking about daily payment. What I ask for is an equal part in any loot of battle we might come across and for a bit of protection if things go bad. I can deal at the very least the same punch your thugs can, probably even more, but I can not take as much as them. You keep me from harm and I'll make sure you can beat any creature or opponent you go after. Is that a deal?"