The shackled city - chapter 1, Life's bazaar

[The Bushranger]

Dan'yel

Both of them yes, although I think the one who did the locks has to be considered the prime target of our investigation. He looks over at the matron again. Has anything else odd, different, or otherwise not of the ordinary routine happened lately?

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Sense Motive: (1d20+1)[13]

[mdsoze]

Trocken

Trocken leans back, and then indignantly walks back over to Patch.

Well, Mr. Grumpy-about-my-weapons, if I gave you the words locks, curtains, cauldron, and slaves, would that spark any ideas in your mind?

[insecure]

Elisath leans back against the wall for a moment before answering.
"Not that I recall, no. Aside from the kidnappings, of course. Oh, and our gardener, Jaromir, had been ill, but it was not something really bad."

At Trocken's question, Patch's face turned white for a moment and he just stared with an empty gaze, but soon his face returned to its normal color.
"Nope, doesn't ring a bell," Is all that he says, but he seems to mumble something under his breath and his attention goes away from you for a moment more.

OOC:

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As Patch rolled really bad on his bluff roll, you all recognizes his lie.

[Ascension]

"Something seems to be bothering you, Sir Patch," Pindinbar says to the half-orc, "Would you care to share your troubles with us? Perhaps we could help."

[The Great Skenardo]

Moon
Moon glares at the half-orc like an affronted finch; there's no telling what grudge the elf has against the one-eyed Patch, but it's clearly deep-seated. She starts abruptly, and opens her mouth as if to speak...but then clams up once more, waiting for the current situation to be resolved.

[The Bushranger]

((Wait, I thought Trocken and Patch were outside? Oh well.))

Dan'yel

If you know anything that can help us, the mage chips in, knowing about it ourselves would be a great help. Might even be good for you in the end.

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Diplomacy: (1d20+6)[17]

[mdsoze]

Trocken

(If the others are around when this goes on, Trocken shuts up. If he and Patch are alone outside, he'll keep right on talking.)

Listen, Grump, if you're gonna lie to me, you have to do it better than that. You know something. And I do still have my axes. Now, try answering that question again, and this time, without the lie.

[insecure]

((I were under the assumption that they both were outside, away from the rest of the group.))

Patch looks around as if he were looking for something for a few seconds and then steps forward, all while he grabs his dagger firmly in one of his hands.

"Okay," Patch looks calm at first, but if you look close enough, one could see how the sweat begins to appear and the arteries throbbing under the skin.
"First, don't say anything to Elisath? Got it?" Patch glanced nervously at the door.
"You see, I'd get kicked out like a rat if she heard of this, and I like the kids. It's the best job I've had for a long time."
He leans towards you, his voice almost a whisper.
"Once, I were a member of the Last Breath guild. Three years ago, they sent me o'er 'ere to get a job and keep an eye on the place. Something were gonna happen 'ere, but I didn't know what. Anyway, I wouldn't complain. This was my duty and after all, I like kids.
So, I thought they had forgotten 'bout me, but they hadn't. Four days ago they contacted me again, telling me that I should make sure no one was in some of the rooms. So I did that, afraid for what would happen if I didn't do it. The next day, four of the kids were gone. I didn't know what to do, so I kept my mouth closed and stayed here. I'm afraid that I helped the guild kidnap the kids, but what should I do? I gotta do something, right?"

Patch looked more nervous now than before. He leaned against the wall, his eyes constantly searching the area for something.

[The Great Skenardo]

Moon
Moon tilts her elfin head to one side, examining the half-orc with narrowed eyes.
"I knew it. Last Breath, huh?" She kicks the street.
"Gimme back my sword. Now."

[Ascension]

Pindinbar is not happy with the revelation.

"Can you at least lead us to the Last Breath? The time has come to atone for your wrongdoing."

After a pause he adds, "And please, please tell me you just like kids, you don't like kids."

Oops.

[mdsoze]

((Ummm, didn't the DM just clarify that it's just Trocken and Patch outside?))

Trocken

Well... if you like children, I'd think you'd want these four to be brought back. Tell me everything you know about the guild, and if we get the children back safely, your secret will be safe with me.

Trocken follows Patch's eyes.

Whatcha looking for,... mister.... Putch, was it?

[insecure]

"You don't scare me, dwarf." Patch spits on the floor while saying so. With a quick motion, he prepares his dagger. "And while you may have an axe, you ain't gonna use it against me. Not here in front of the orphanage."

After being silent for a while, Patch speaks again in a more controlled voice.
"But, I don't really know anything 'bout the guild that could help. All I know is that they used some keys or something and another thing to make 'em silent. All I did was to make sure they had no problems on their way in. I don't really know anything that's useful; it's been to long since I worked for 'em."

[The Great Skenardo]

Moon
Moon looks at the ceiling, thinking.
"Hey, here's something neat; you all were talking about the doors in here, yeah? Well, the locksmith and the door guy are the same person. He's a shortstack, but he's tall for a shortstack. I guess. I'm pretty sure I could find his shop. In the morning." She adds, pointedly.

[Ascension]

"Where should I meet you in the morning?" Pindinbar asks.

[mdsoze]

Trocken

If you're sure. You've earned my silence. I hope we find those children.

After Trocken gets his answer, he waits for the others to exit.

[wxdruid]

Thecla

Thecla waits patiently for the others to return so they can leave.

[The Bushranger]

Dan'yel

It would probably be wise to rest before trying to confront someone, I agree. It would, among other things, allow me to refresh my magic.
Dan'yel sighs a little; not having a room, he's pretty well resigned to heading outside the town and finding a place to spread his bedroll for the night.

[Ascension]

"Right, so where should we meet in the morning?" Pindinbar asks again.

[SoD]

Seraphina

"Well, I can meet anywhere. I've been staying in a different place each night, so I don't have anywhere specific I need to be."

[Ascension]

"I was a wee lad the last time I slept under a roof, but I imagine some of you have more delicate sensibilities, so I assumed we would probably be separated. That's the only reason I ask. Personally I say we should just meet at the locksmith's shop. I don't suppose it should be too hard to find, right?"

[insecure]

"So, that means you are done here, right?"
Elisath steps forward and begin to shake hands with all of you and wish for best of luck in the search for the children.
"Well, I hope you got closer in your search. It was nice to meet you, and may luck follow you.
Just continue your discussion outside. I will go back to sleep now and make sure that the children have not been awakened by this.
Goodbye!"

With a nod of Elisath's head, Patch hands over the weapons to their rightful owners and goes inside again.

OOC:

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So, what would you like to do now and where would you like to sleep? If you don't have any special actions before tomorrow (In-game), I'll start a new day after you've found out where to meet and all that.

Also, ten pages for one day!

[Ascension]

Pindinbar will ride Peter back out of town and look for a secure spot to set up camp for the night.

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Taking 10 on Survival for 17

[wxdruid]

Thecla

Thecla will recommend meeting at the Temple of St Cuthbert in the morning. After that she will go look for the locksmiths shops, to find where they are in the city. She will spend the night at the Temple.

[SoD]

Seraphina

Seraphina goes to find somewhere dry and out of the way to sleep.

[The Bushranger]

Dan'yel

After they reach an agreement on the morrow's plans, Dan'yel collects his belongings. He looks like he wants to say something to Moon, but doesn't quite do it, before he goes to quietly head outside the city for the night, to sleep under the stars.

[mdsoze]

Trocken finds a spot to sleep. If possible, he will try to be close to the temple to make walking over easy in the morning.

[insecure]

You all arrives at your destinations safely, tired and weary. As you lull yourselves into sleeping, you are all sure that something had happened. Something, that would lead to new events, adventures, and places. Some of you may like it that way, some of you may not, but there's no turning back now. You have set yourselves for finding the children, and that's what you'll do.

Those outside finally fall asleep quietly and calm under the twinkling stars, and those inside finds rest in a comfortable bed.

----
The next morning, 23th of Everyn (October), Daen's day (Monday). The weather is cold and cloudy, with a slight breeze from north.

The temple isn't hard to find, especially because it's the most visited place in the city at Daen's day. At this day, the church of St. Cuthbert pray for the poor, miserable, and old. Many attends this prayer, leaving half of the city's merchant stands empty. The mass have just begun and will continue for half and hour, but Thecla doesn't have to attend to it, even though it's looked down upon, as Jenya would prefer to have the children found instead. After all, this is repeated every seventh day.

Moving slowly towards each other through the crowd, you finally meets at one of the white marble pillars outside the temple. People chatter around you, making it harder to hear each other, but also helps hide your agenda, whether you want it to be a secret or not. Nothing really happens here, except for two half-elves bumping into you, only to say "Sorry" afterwards, and as planned, you set off for Keygan Ghelve, the gnome locksmith.

After walking for a while, you finds Keygan's shop at the Lava Avenue: A tow-story building, with a small turret which dominates the facade of the black stone house. Iron bars are embedded in the thick window frames, and beyond the turret's ground-floor windows sits a lovely display of locks, from large to small, simple to complex. To the left of the turret, above a heavy oak door, swings a simple sign that reads "Ghelve's Locks."

[wxdruid]

Thecla

Thecla walks right on up and tries the door. She looks in as well, trying to see if anyone is around.

[Ascension]

A bit paranoid after yesterday's adventures, and always on guard regardless, Pin scans the immediate area, keeping an eye and ear out for anything suspicious.

Spot: (1d20+7)[20]
Listen: (1d20+9)[21]

[The Bushranger]

Dan'yel looks rather sleepy as he arrives, but nevertheless he looks about before heading for the door.

Good morning, everybody.

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Spot: (1d20+3)[17]
Listen: (1d20+1)[9]