The Blood War Boils Over

[Greyen]

Thorg

Thorg grunts and takes the slip and hands it to Tynze. We're Howlers huh? Does that mean we need to howl in unison or at odds? I wonder if the idiot mage can even yell better than a little girl child? He then heads out toward the door and into town.

On the way he keeps an eye out for any of the familiar hawkers of magical gizmos.

[GimliFett]

Tynze

Smirking, Tynze follows Thorg. "Not unless you want more mess. Enjoy!" he says to the clerk as he pauses at the doorway for a moment before exiting.

"I guess we should wait on the mage to come out so we can go get paid?" he growls.

[Moral Wiz]

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sigh. No worries. Just as long as I have a semi-reason for being late.

Nathaniel

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Nathaniel notes the looks of the guards with a light, almost wistful smile.

It's been a long time since I've had to seriously answer to someone.

The mage takes one of the seats in fount of the desk. If no one comes in five minuets, he'll pull out a book from his bag; Fox's Umbra Alphus. The sort of thing that he wouldn't normally bother with, Fox was an interesting theorist, but a bit verbose, but it was an old, battered copy. The sort of thing that impressed the populous.

[Greymist]

Mottle

Though he had been quiet in the bounty office when they left Mottle started grinning maddly.

Well if they're going to give us that name I might as well help us earn it

After Mottle quickly sung some arcane words the sound of a lone wolf howling from within the doorway of the bounty office could be heard.

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Casting Ghost Sound - Duration: 28 rounds.
(Extended + Song of arcane power)

[Lochar]

You hear it stop suddenly, and then there is a sound of a wolf being strangled.

Nate:

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You're only alone for a few minutes before a dwarf walks in, slamming the door behind him.

"So." He begins, looking you over. "Give me one good reason I don't find the nearest demon to shove you down their throat. You realize you're part of an army, boy? Doing something that's actually worth a damn, instead of hiding and studying? You're responsible now, or at least your supposed to be!"

[Moral Wiz]

Nathaniel

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The shadowcaster stood up at once, and bowed. He actually smiled, though he did his best to keep it low key.

At last! I might as well have ended up back being a Watcher.

He returned to true seriousness when it came to giving an account of himself though. He regarded the dwarf as he did, back a few years, to his old superior, Watch Officer Jenkins.

Sorry sir. The ship ran into bad weather. Possibly magical. And then there were the creatures...

Still, my fault. Wasn't able to do anything, and thus it's my responsibility. As was the choice to drop into the desert. I can only apologize, beg forgiveness and hope to make it up to you with my expertise.

But if you want a reason not to shove me down a demon's throat.... well, because I'm an expert in planer creatures. That's why I got sent here. I can tell you how they think, how they act... and how to kill 'em. I'm more useful alive than dead, as I can tell you what you should be shoving down their throats. Cold Iron, ect..

He's deadly serious.

[Lochar]

Nate:

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The dwarf is silent as you rattle off your specialty. Once you're finished, he nods. "At least you know your stuff, which is why you were assigned out here. I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt here, Darksmith. Your squad won't be as happy with you, though."

The dwarf pulls a scroll from inside his vest and tosses it to you. "Welcome to the Howlers. That's your group's codename. Find the rest of them, and report back here an hour before dusk. You've all got a mission. I'd check the Treasury first."

The dwarf nods to you, before leaving.


It's about five hours before dusk now.

[Moral Wiz]

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So... call it four hours leave.

Nathaniel bowed low at the reception, which was far more positive than he'd expected.

Thank you sir. You won't regret it. And don't worry, I think I can win them over.

Well, except for that dragon man. I think he just doesn't like me.

With that, he runs out

Nathaniel exits the garrison smiling, his black robes streaming behind him, then looked around for the party

Well, that could have gone worse.

Laern, who'd been silent up till now piped up, even if he did do so in Celestial

You're lucky, Professor.

Shut up, old friend.

Nate's smiling as he gave the reprimand.

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Assuming the bounty office is in, or near the garrison. If not, I'll change it. Same with lantern archon speaking aloud. No note in the SRD.

[Lochar]

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Bounty office is a side building to the garrison, but the party has already left there.

[Moral Wiz]

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Hmm... where did they get too? I couldn't tell from there posts

Nathaniel

Hmm... Now where did those "Howlers" go?

Nathaniel took a look around the area outside the garrison, taking a glance on the route back into town.

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(1d20+18)[19] Spot check

[Moral Wiz]

Oh yes. The treasury. Must be time they drew their paycheck or however it's done here.

After asking directions of a slightly less hurried looking bystander, Nate ends up heading to the treasury. Outside (or inside) He runs into the party. He smiles, ever so slightly, as he aproaches

Well, I'm not courtmarsheled yet. What are you guys up to?

[GimliFett]

Tynze

As Nate enters, Tynze stands quickly and walks towards him. "Nice of ya to join us! You'd better be worth our effort and time today," the big man growls.

"Can we get paid now?" he asks Thorg and the clerk, while looking at the other members of the unit.

[The_Snark]

Allison

"Collecting the bounty for the demons we ran into on patrol," Allison replies, somewhat more cordially than her teammate. "I don't suppose they gave you orders for us?"

[Moral Wiz]

Nathaniel

Yes. We're due back an hour before dusk, for some sort of mission. Nothing more

So; about four hours before reporting back?

[Lochar]

The clerk takes the letter from the group, reading over it, before flipping through his own book. Finding what he was looking for, he stamps the paper, before turning and walking into a back room. He returns a few minutes later, carrying several pouches. He tosses one to each of you. "Nine thousand gold, split. Fifteen hundred to each of you. Anything else?"

[The_Snark]

Allison

She nods, something in her eyes giving away relief. "Good. Four hours, then." She stows her pouch at her belt, but otherwise ignores the treasury officer. "Not much to see about town, I'm afraid. You might do better to spend that time recovering from the journey."

[GimliFett]

Tynze

Snatching his pouch, Tynze turns and strides for the door. "I've got nothin' else here right now. The rest of you need me? I've things to do if you don't." He waits just within the doorway.

[Moral Wiz]

Nathaniel

The mage noted the relief in his new companions voice with interest, and familiarity.

Well, there are worse companions than those obsessed with their work. Might as well be back in Senturia.

He turns to Alison with the light smile of relief he had at simple conversation with someone who wasn't angry at him. Or Laern.

Meh. Actually, I feel a bit... relieved. It's too long since I've been outside the academy.

He seems slightly surprised at the offer, but happily takes the money from the clerk, with a bow and a murmured My thanks.

Apart from anything else, I need to find a place to lay my head. The garrison provide anything, or do we make do with what we find?

[Lochar]

The clerk looks up. "Garrison barracks are open if you don't want to spend your gold renting something else."

[Moral Wiz]

Nathaniel

Heh. That makes it sound like I should rent something else.

Well, I'll take a look. Then spend time getting to learn a little bit of the shadows around here. Walk the streets, if you will. I'll be back for the mission ahead of time, trust me on that one.

With that, and a smile at his new companions, he takes off out of the building, black robes trailing behind him

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First order of business is to head to the Garrison barracks, take a look around. Spot check, and for ONCE I remembered about that check pool, and didn't roll. ;D

[Greyen]

Thorg

Thorg hefts his bag of coin for a moment and slips it into his pack. He grunts to the others I'll be in the commissary for a bit. I'll be there before the apponted time. He turns and leaves, heading for the supply house first.

[Lochar]

Tynze:

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Where do you want to go? Check on the kid?

Nate:

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The barracks are easy enough to find, and you find they're fairly bare. The barracks are 40 men rooms, with about a ten by five area that you get to yourself. Everything else is a common ground, or someone else's ten by five.

Thorg:

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Still waiting on where the feat is from. And you can't buy anything that gives actual ranks in Tumble.

[Moral Wiz]

Nate

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Nathaniel looks the barracks over, as several gruff looking people in Full Plate jostle past

Hmm.... the discipline gained by sleeping here might be of value. But it would be hard. Little space, little privacy.

No, call me weak, but I think I can stretch to something better. If only for the sake of my books.

After a brief perusal, Nate takes off down into the town Simply strolling down the street, Nate tightens his collar.

Now Laern. Let's have a look round.

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Nate's just going to wander, more or less aimlessly. He's vaguely looking for lodging, but anything interesting or unusual will draw him in like a firefly.

And yes, that includes people in trouble. Nate may be cynical, but he's still LG.

[GimliFett]

Tynze

With a snort, the big man departs, calling over his shoulder. "See ya at the briefing!"

Lochar:

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You got it!

[Lochar]

Tynze:

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The boy is about how you expect him to be, still quite weepy over his father's death. Although the two you left him with do have him quite distracted, letting him play with a giant's knife, something that seems to be more of a short sword in the child's hands.

When you come in, he looks up at you. "Hello sir." he says quietly, but without the stuttering cry he had yesterday. "Did you kill plenty of the demons?"

Hanging from the boy's neck is a medallion of Pelor, the same as his father's order. Although, the medallion is fairly well tarnished, cracked, and even blood-stained. Looks like someone managed to recover the thing from his father's corpse.

[GimliFett]

Tynze

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Tynze nods and though he starts to frown at sight of the Pelorite medallion, he manages to smile. "You bet! Our unit got a couple of massive scorpions and bagged a gaggle of imps," he says as he pats the boy on the head. "How're you holding up, Lucas?" he asks as he squats down to be closer to eye level with the child.

[elkhantar]

Memnoth

The dry lich picks his part of the gold and goes to look for his sand golem and the small dragon it should be guarding. See you in four hours he says, walking into the city streets. Four hours were too few for him, who hoped to be able to pray at dawn to regain spells, but it would have to do. Meanwhile, he decides to check on the little beast and see how the wingless dragon is doing.

Somehow, Memnoth remembers to lower the temperature around him, and he concentrates to lower the heating that usually accompanies him wherever he goes.

[Greyen]

Thorg

Thorg leaves the commissary pocketing his reciept and moving toward the healers area. The growls the people he sees on the way out of his way and shoulders anyone who is brazen enough to not move for him (children and the elderly are left alone though). Stepping into the healers area he walks to the desk, knowing full well the price of hostility here is a slow wait time and a painful healing, Good evening madame, I am in need of healing. I have another mission tonight and need to be ready. he says a calmly and warmly as possible for him.

[Lochar]

Tynze:

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"Good sir. Someone brought father's symbol back and gave it to me." He touches the symbol on his neck. "I'm glad to have something from papa."

The boy seems sad, before cheering up. "But you guys got lots of the demons. Did you lose anyone to them?"

Memnoth:

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It takes you about an hour, but you find your golem and the dragonlet, but you do find them at a healer's station. The 'little' blue is actually in the middle of a fairly painful looking procedure, wherein the medics are removing the remainder of his wings and shredded bone in his back.

When the dragon sees you, he lifts his head, hissing. "Hello again, boney one. They're telling me they have to remove all the ruined wing, but they promise to..." a particularly pain filled hiss erupts from the dragon, and crackles of electricity erupt from his mouth, but no one is standing around that end to be shocked. From the scorch marks, this isn't the first time. "promise to regrow them afterwards."

The golem is standing in a corner, watching the dragon still. Apparently, without further direction, it has been following the blue even now.

Thorg:

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You enter a healer's building, and are directed to a small room. Inside, there is an older man, a staff leaning against a wall. He looks you over, eying your wounds. "Nice scrap, from the looks of it. Do you want the scars, or a complete healing?"

[Lochar]

Nat:

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The city is fairly well maintained, especially considering it's more or less a military encampment. Even those not directly in the military are fairly well orderly. It probably rubs those who are of a more chaotic bent badly, but order is the rule of the day.

Wandering the town, Nat finds himself going through first a fairly large open air market, where wares and goods are hawked. Buyers, sellers, and all manners of creatures are here. Places like this would probably be a good place to possibly find room and board, or at least interesting trinkets.

And actually, you do find signs of certain things shadow related, even here. You see a symbol of the Cabal, and a direction pointing you down a quieter alley. Going down here, you find several merchants in an out of the way area, but they smile when you show up.

Looking at their wares, you realize you've found a set of merchants who value the power of the shadows, and what all it can bring.

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These merchants will sell you anything from the shadow magic section of the ToM, up to a 40k price. 15% markup if you buy it without negotiating.

They also sell, at a 5% markup, any other books shadow related items. This does include custom items, but you're required to wait some time so they can get their hands on it.