Trifecta: City of the Tirenes

[Apollyon]

Zinnanda

"Why was this tower abandoned? It's rare for someone to just walk away from something valuable, like a building."

[DarkLadyOfTheSith]

Hamul shrugs at the druid's question. "Why is any home or even city abandoned and left to fall into ruin? Occupants leave, or die, and noone chooses to settle in their place. I'm not a student of archaeology, so I cannot answer you more specifically."

(Akma and Lori-- you don't have enough information about the site to know anything yet, but I'll save the checks for when you do. Right now, it's about like saying, 'it's an old tower somewhere along Lake Superior'. Could be any number of places.)

[Apollyon]

Zinnanda

"There's a big difference between 'an collector of treasures that died of old age' and 'a wizard who opened up a portal to foul places, was brutally slaughtered, and now the tower is host to horrific abominations.'"

She sighs and continues "Do you at least have an idea of how long it's been abandoned?"

[Xilehxt]

A'kma the Crimson

The stoic mage stands in the back of the group, giving a small sigh as he knew, that in the end, they would take the job and go on the chase anyway and these details would reveal themselves as necessary. He conjures two small pebbles from thin air and starts playing with them expertly in his fingers.(Of course, he does this discreetly. The whole thing is covered by his sleeves)

[Chancellor]

This Tower is bound to have some loot in it. Dresden smirked and finished up his mug of stout ale. Now, the question is: What should I pack?

(OOC: Knowledge: Dungeoneering) (d20)[1] )

EDIT: OOC: D'OH! Rolled a one (plus seven) for 8. How do add your bonus? Is it just a +7? i.e. [roll]1d20+7[/roll] OK, I got it.

[Apollyon]

Zinnanda

Zinnanda looks over at Dresden. "I'd advise getting extra trail rations. And you might want to invest in a Bag of Holding, just to put a few kegs of ale. Kumeri knows how you haven't pickled yourself by now."

[Chancellor]

Dresden

"A few Kegs?" He shakes his head, What a clown. Dresden flags down a barmaid, Hey, luv, can I get some eggs and a shaker of arsenic? Thanks."

[Chancellor]

Dresden

"A few Kegs?" He shakes his head, What a clown. Dresden flags down a barmaid, "Hey, luv, can I get some eggs and a shaker of arsenic? Thanks. Oh! And more ale," he takes his mug and shakes it upside down, letting a few drops hit the table, "I seem to be out."

OOC: Oops, double post ; this is the complete one.

[mdsoze]

Styrr

The larger of the barbarians chooses to speak finally.

I have questions, Hamul of Akish.

Who is this mage who desires the artifact? What does he desire it for?

When handling this artifact and transporting it, are there any hazards we should be aware of?

And what is known about the tower where it is being held?

Styrr leans heavily on his greataxe, resting a bit.

[DarkLadyOfTheSith]

"At least a hundred fifty years. And the most likely hazards are those of time and nature-- wild animals and crumbling walls. As I understand it, the relic should be inert, and not cause you any difficulty in transport-- as to the name of my employer, he wishes to, for the time being, remain anonymous." Hamul glances in puzzlement as Dresden starts making strange requests of the empty air. "Your friend? Is he reliable? I do not like employing folks who take exotic mushrooms. They're inclined to sloppy work."

[Chancellor]

Dresden yells drunkenly, "Reliability is my Middle Name; Dresden, Reliability..." He stops in mid-sentence, his finger in the air as the world spins around him, he eyes glazing over. "I think I need some air, if you would excuse me..." Dresden stumbles out of his chair and out onto the open street.

[mdsoze]

Styrr

I think he enjoys city life a bit too much. Getting out of town will do wonders for him.

[Apollyon]

Zinnanda

"I suppose that I shall go after him to make sure that he doesn't get himself into trouble. Hamul, I am interested in the job, should the rest of my friends show interest." Zinnanda says, before turning around and heading for the door.

Before reaching the door, she turns her head back into the room,"And if he ate strange mushrooms, he didn't get them from me. If nothing else, I know which mushrooms are safe to eat." With that said, she turns and exits the room, grumbling in a strange language.

OOC: I'm going to follow Dresden.

[Xilehxt]

A'kma rolls his eyes as he still plays with the pebbles. Although he wasn't versed in alchemy, he thinks to himself to look into alcohol and why it makes people act the way Dresden did. It was only a matter of time before the group takes the job anyway...

[Chancellor]

OOC: Bluff to act drunk [roll]d20+11[/roll]

Dresden stumbles out of the tavern, and lurches over to a nearby alleyway before he lets down his guard with a heavy sigh, pressing his weight up against a wall. Stupid, Dresden, stupid stupid stupid! He grits his teeth and spins a gold coin through his fingers, Whatever happened to discretion? The LAST thing you want to do is draw attention to yourself. You remember what happened last time your tongue got a little too loose in a bar? Dresden shakes his head, looking around to make sure he wasn't followed.

OOC: Spot [roll]d20-1[/roll]

[Chancellor]

OOC: Bluff to act drunk (d20+11)[14]

OOC: Spot (d20-1)[18]

OOC: Err, stupid dice roller...

[mdsoze]

Styrr

Styrr looks around, makes eye contact with Nenna, and then the others, and if there are no obvious signs of discontent.

Hamul of Akish, I agree to retrieve this item.

[Turbit]

Tolbin

"I'm in. These dour companions of mine would be in a pretty grim place without me to help raise their spirits." Tobin said before laugh at the double mean.

[DarkLadyOfTheSith]

Hamul shrugs. "Very well. Although I don't find your group particularly reliable, one should never judge on first meetings. And if you fail in the attempt, I can always recruit someone else. You have ten days before I start seeking replacements."

He sketches out a map to the area of the tower. "Any further questions?"

[mdsoze]

Styrr

Where is the platinum?

[Xilehxt]

A'kma gives a nod to anyone that cares.

[DarkLadyOfTheSith]

Hamul spills a few platinum coins into his hand, displaying them. "Proof that I have the coin. Payment upon delivery, of course."

[mdsoze]

Styrr

Styrr grunts, clearly dissatisfied that he misunderstood "initial fee", and then turns towards the rest of the group.

I'm ready to go. It looks to be a three day ride. I think we should cover some of the distance with the daylight that is left.

[DarkLadyOfTheSith]

(Anything more you wish to do in town before moving on?)

[Tortoise262]

Lorellia Lyrenth

Saying nothing, Lori unties Salmarnez and hops on his back, then returns to her novel.

[DarkLadyOfTheSith]

Your journey takes, as Styrr predicted, three days. Approximately midday on the third day, you arrive along the rocky coast of the lake-- looking to be a freshwater ocean, as the far side can't be seen over the horizon. An hour later, you approach the spot on the map, and a jutting tower, looking like the remains of an old lighthouse stands like an arm raised in defiance out of the rock itself. While dilapidated and old, the structure itself appears sound, and unlikely to topple in on itself while you are inside.

(It's about 12:30 in the afternoon-- what would you like to do next?)

[Xilehxt]

A'kma gets closer to have a look at the tower, trying to figure out the era of its construction. Then perhaps can know more about the mage and the crystal ball.

Knowledge(architecture) (1d20+6)[20]

[mdsoze]

Styrr

Well, this looks fairly straightforward. Go in, find the treasure, and leave. Why are we standing here? Let's get moving. The sooner we achieve this, the sooner we might get some real work.

Styrr begins moving towards the tower, unless someone says something.

[Xilehxt]

Quite an old architechture. I wonder what could lurk within...

A'kma follows Styrr's lead.

[Tortoise262]

Lorellia Lyrenth

"What'dya think, Sal? Wanna go in?"