The shackled city - chapter 1, Life's bazaar

[SoD]

Seraphina

Seraphina mumbles some greetings, and attempts to fade into the shadows...

[The Bushranger]

Dan'yel

Odd, that two of our group would feel...discomfort around this place, Dan'yel muses as he notices the halfling's distress, and sends what he hopes is a reassuring smile in Seraphina's direction.

[The Great Skenardo]

Moon
Moon sips some cider, but makes a face as if it has gone sour in her mouth as the priestess appears.
"Hey, guess you made it okay. Did you guys know that you're not really quiet when you walk?"

[mdsoze]

Trocken

I like it when they hear me. It's a real pain to pull an axe out of someone's back.

[wxdruid]

Thecla

Thecla gives Moon an odd look, Is there a reason I need to be quiet?

She looks around at the others (that are visible), So, what has happened here?

[Ascension]

"We offered our assistance," Pindinbar explains, "but they aren't interested in our help unless we've been approved by a cleric of St. Cuthbert... which is why we were just sitting here waiting for you to arrive."

[wxdruid]

Thecla

Oh, we went to the Temple and Jenya gave us a message she had received from St Cuthbert. She pulls out the paper...

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briefly looks at it and realizes she should check in at the orphanage first probably. She hands it to Trocken, Here, I need to go and talk to the person in charge at the orphanage, so we can find out what's going on.

Once he accepts, she puts away her mace and walks up and knocks on the door.

[SoD]

Seraphina

Her curiosity getting the better of her, temporarily, she steps forward, and stands on tippy-toes to see what's written on the paper. "Doors with teeth? Half a dwarf? What a pleasant riddle...

[Ascension]

Pindinbar laughs a short, bitter laugh.

"Oh, it's a riddle, is it? I thought maybe it was a message saying we didn't have enough authorization to save the children, we had to fill out hero application forms in triplicate..."

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Oh, no, Pindinbar isn't bitter at all about the Church of St. Cuthbert...

[SoD]

Seraphina

Seraphina giggles at her new friends comment, before politely pulling the paper from Trockens hand, and handing it to Pindibar. "No, nothing that bad. But even so...it may regard lost children. 'The locks are the key to finding them'. 'Doors with teeth'..." she looks thoughtful at that. "Locks, keys, and doors. Interesting. I've no idea what it means, but locks, keys and doors?"

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Some sort of check to get any clues from the riddle?

int - (1d20+1)[8]
wis - (1d20+3)[9]

Anything gained, oh might DM who knows all, and holds the power of life and death over our heads, like the god that he is (circumstance bonus for sucking up to the DM?)?

Edit: Looking at those rolls, probably not, right?

[The Great Skenardo]

Moon
Moon rolls her eyes, apparently agreeing with the opinion of St. Cuthbert floating about at knee-height.
"I thought Old Cuthie was, like, the one god who wouldn't have any truck with riddles. I heard when you become a priest of St, Cuthbert, the first test is not smiling for two years. And then you have to vow never to laugh."
Inside her head, however, the gears are turning as she thinks about the riddle, even as she drinks more steaming cider.

[Ascension]

Pindinbar puzzles over the riddle, weighing it in his mind.

"Locks... locks..."

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WIS: (1d20+3)[20]

[SoD]

Seraphina

"Maybe it refurs to a locksmith? Although 'half a dwarf binds them, but not for long'...it imples we don't have much time." Seraphina frowns slightly: We?

[Ascension]

"More like they don't have much time. Poor kids... who knows what those villains might be up to... Half-dwarf... Duergar, perhaps? The Cauldron is the lake here, but where might be the 'curtain'? Mystery wrapped in enigma..."

[SoD]

Seraphina

"No, not a duergar. They're full blood dwarves, only not as friendly, like the drow aren't half-elf."

[The Bushranger]

Dan'yel

Sipping the cider himself, Dan'yel considers the message, listening to the various opinions.
You know, I would have to wonder by if 'half a dwarf' they somehow are referring to undead... Regardless of that, where or what is the 'malachite hold'?
He shakes his head wearily.
I hate mysteries. They give me a headache and I've got a beauty of one starting now.

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INT: (1d20+2)[22]

[insecure]

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Trocken

I like it when they hear me. It's a real pain to pull an axe out of someone's back.

I must admit, that one made me laugh.

The old lady opens the door again at the sight of the new comers and the noise from the knocking.

Who are you? Are you this St. Cuthbert person I've heard about?

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For the int and wis checks, the riddle isn't supposed to be solved via checks, but I'll still give you a clue or two:
The Malachite Hold is an old underground fortress, that has been in the dormant volcano for a long time.
Also, you are supposed to follow the clues given in the riddle in the same order as they're written. For example, you need to "look beyond the curtain", before you "beware the doors with teeth".

[wxdruid]

Thecla

Thecla looks around and then back at the woman, I'm from the Temple of St Cuthbert. I'm a Cleric of St Cuthbert. I'm curious to know what's happening?

[The Great Skenardo]

Moon
"..."
Moon stands behind Dan'Yel, the closest person tall enough to hide behind. She'd moved...remarkably quickly when it became clear the door was about to open, and now she remains perfectly still behind the man from the desert, parasol clutched to her chest.

[Ascension]

Pindinbar turns to the old woman.

"You wouldn't happen to know of any curtains around here, would you? Important curtains? Curtains under the lake, perhaps?"

[The Bushranger]

Dan'yel

Dan'yel's cheeks are turning red again, starting when Moon ducked behind him so hurriedly when the door started to open. Nevertheless he stands still, his hands in the folds of his robe; he can tell that she would really, really, really rather not have anything to do with the terrible termigant who runs the orphanage, and if she wants him to act as a fence, then a fence he'll be.

[mdsoze]

Trocken

St. Cuthbert gives riddles because giving direct information wouldn't force the reader through as many ordeals.

Anyways, we're here about finding the children.

[insecure]

Oh, so you are a cleric of St. Cuthbert. I have waited for one like you for a while, because I am not sure whether I can trust your companions, the old lady explains to Thecla.

Well, then, come in, but please give your weapons to Patch, our janitor. If you just wait a moment, I will fetch him. He is the one who knows about such things as curtains.

After waiting for a few minutes, you can all see a half-orc, about forty years old and with a patch over the left eye, walk down the stairs, accompanied by the old lady.

The old lady steps forward and begins to introduce you to Patch:
This is Patch, our janitor. He is quite probably the one whom the children love the most. We do not really know what his real name is; this is just a name the children gave him.
Please do not ask too much about his name, she whispers to you.

The janitor nods to you, looking groggy.

So, perhaps you could introduce yourself to Patch? The lady asks to you.

[wxdruid]

Thecla

Thecla nods respectfully to the old woman and to Patch. I'm Thecla, a cleric of Saint Cuthbert. She thinks it's kind of odd to hand over her mace, but, she isn't going to argue. She doesn't want to alarm the old woman or the janitor. She offers it to Patch, handle first.

[The Bushranger]

Dan'yel

The sorcerer raises an eyebrow at the half-orc, but makes no move to head insidide, mindful of the duty he's currently performing...
I believe I'll wait out here and make sure none of those ruffians show up to try anything. If you need me, talk to the rat.
He motions to the rat which is, presumably, still somewhere on Seraphina's person?

[The Great Skenardo]

Moon
From behind Dan'yel, Moon sighs.
"it's okay," she says, finally.
There's a short clatter of metal, and then the elf steps from behind the magician.
Grudgingly, she hands over the slim rapier, blocking the matron's gaze with her parasol.

[The Bushranger]

Dan'yel

If you're sure...
Shrugging, he goes to hand over his dagger.
My name is Dan'yel, and I know a small bit about magic. May I be permitted to keep my staff, please?

[SoD]

Seraphina

"Seraphina. And Rat." she unsheathes a thin raipier, and hands it up to the half-orc.

[Ascension]

"I'm Pindinbar. Pindinbar Suttles. And, well, these are my weapons..."

Pindinbar hands over the bow and arrows first. Then he unbuckles his sword belt. He hesitates about turning over his dagger, but does it at last.

"I don't see how you need us fully unarmed..."

[mdsoze]

Trocken

Trocken seems very agitated.

Hand over my weapons? I'd sooner shave my beard and put the clippings in my ale. They're my weapons, and I'm not handing them over, especially not to a half-orc down one eye.