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Author
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Comment
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Jubilex
ezOP
Posts: 3663
(10/5/04 12:45 pm)
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Re: Dobrug
Atan will ask for more information on where the Kuraliti came from?
The kuralitai are Olmani, and include both Kulbrae, Xixia, and Ironhoof tribesmen. They are uniformly big, experienced warriors, and are known for their ruthlessness in enforcing the will of Yashai.
Where the close by and came to the noise of altercation or did they suddenly appear?
The two brothers were loading lumber at a warehouse and saw the altercation across the street.
What does the store sell, what is the name of the store, did the shopkeep live above the store, does he have a family?
They don't know.
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squarefodder
Khelzhad
Posts: 360
(10/6/04 8:24 am)
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Re: Dobrug
Khelzhad spends the morning trying to gather information on the shop and its owner, first by visiting the place and looking for obvious signs of guild or trade. If it cannot be determined, he will start asking around the vicinity of the store, such as at another store, inn or street urchin.
Edited by: squarefodder at: 10/6/04 8:29 am
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Jubilex
ezOP
Posts: 3666
(10/6/04 10:11 am)
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Re: Dobrug
Ruglan finds out no additional information about the shopkeeper.
[Ruglan has slipped into the NPC bin with Draxim. He'll listen passively to for any information that comes his way, but won't seek it actively.]
Khelzhad goes alone to case Uruul's shop. Inside, he finds the small place cluttered with piles of fabric, jars of insense, and gleaming silver trinkets. Much of it is totally new to the Ghuraskalli's eyes, so he can only imagine from where the shopkeeper acquires his goods.
A middle aged Olmani stands in one corner, counting out silver coins from a small wooden box. A tall kuralitai, his red coat partially obscuring a long chainmail hauberk, sleek steel mace flipped absently back and forth in front of him, stands by the door. The Olmani guard stares at the dwarf with suspicion.
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squarefodder
Khelzhad
Posts: 361
(10/6/04 11:43 am)
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Re: Dobrug
A little honesty can go a long way. Khelzhad introduces himself as a bard just learning the Olmani ways, and hopes that when trade is reopened between the Ghuraskalli and the surface world, that the Olmani caravans can facilitate trade between them. He is looking for objects that show the Olmani character, so that his people will know that they are true chaos-hating allies. Particularly, he is interested in objects that depict any of the Olmani history he has learned so far. In the conversation, Khelzhad will ask from which Olmani tribe the shopkeeper comes and the state of business in Olmani goods here in Dobrug. Khelzhad will purchase about 20g worth of objects to sell his act, but not without a fair haggle.
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Jubilex
ezOP
Posts: 3667
(10/6/04 11:53 am)
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Re: Dobrug
Uruul listens patiently, but with little interest, to Khelzhad's introduction until it seems like the dwarf might actually purchase something. Twenty gold, he finds, doesn't get him very far in the extravagent shop and Khelzhad walks away with a simple silver amulet - inscribed on both sides with what Uruul assures him is an old Olmani prayer, part of the saga of Vuras Achael.
Uruul is not very forthcoming with personal details, saying only that he is from one of the western tribes, and that the business in Dobrug is as good as can be expected.
Khelzhad gains no insight into Uruul's true intentions [Sense Motive].
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squarefodder
Khelzhad
Posts: 362
(10/6/04 12:15 pm)
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Re: Dobrug
The dwarf heads back to Janes' place for elevenses, and gives his report to the Companions.
"His is not a shop for the thrifty, and it is doubtful that Uruul will cross Yashai who is so near by."
Aside from outright bribery, Khelzhad offers another option: he could use Silreik's ring to pose as a town watchman and, with Ruglan, demand to know the name, purpose and last location of the man with whom he argued that night.
[the ring will only allow him to Change Self for 10 minutes at his currently level, so any exchange must be quick].
[It's actually cast at 10th level, so 100 minutes. -GM]
Edited by: Jubilex at: 10/6/04 12:21 pm
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doggius
Moderator
Posts: 832
(10/6/04 1:29 pm)
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Re: Dobrug
[WHy not change into Yashai herself?]
[It's not easy to pull off a disguise of a specific person. Change Self gives a big bonus to the attempt, but Khelzhad just doesn't have the skill. -GM]
[Ah, then I would suggest saving it.]
Pogar, a dwarf of action, will go back and play the homeless bum again, finding himself a spot to camp for a bit, close enough to see people come in and out, but not too close. Pogar will look at the clothing, cloak wise, and see if anyone leaves or enters wearing the same cloaks as the two elfs that he has just met.
Edited by: doggius at: 10/6/04 2:31 pm
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Jubilex
ezOP
Posts: 3668
(10/6/04 2:41 pm)
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Re: Dobrug
No one pays Pogar the least bit of attention. The streets are littered with refugees, mercenaries, and other destitute unfortunates, and the dwarf is seen to be yet another poor soul wallowing in the mud. He watches Uruul's shop and waits.
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Ulwe
Moderator
Posts: 1072
(10/6/04 8:02 pm)
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Re: Dobrug
That morning, after leaving a message with the Thasvara-bound priests, Ulwe visits the master-armorer to retrieve the chain shirt and shield he commissioned. [409 gp]
The new armor is of the highest quality. It is tailored to fit Ulwe perfectly. The tight links of shining steel, each riveted with care, flow with the quick movements of the elf. The gleaming mail is covers his torso, shoulders, upper arms and hangs down to his thighs. The trim in bronze and silver links, depicting wave patterns around the arms, neck and the bottom. To help distribute the weight of the armor, Ulwe wears a broad belt of dyed blue leather. It is tooled with the same wave motif as the armor.
Matching his armor is a small steel round shield as bright and beautiful as the chain shirt. It is perfectly balanced, and made with the highest craftmanship. Etched on it's outer surface is a border of the same water pattern found on his armor. In the center of the shield are Ulwe's personal symbol: three porpoises in bronze-inlay.
On his head he wears a shining steel spangen helm with oculars. The trim of the oculars and edges of the plates and frame are lined with bronze, etched with the familiar water motif.
He donates his old suit of Duergar chain and his trusty Ghurugil spear to the shrine of the Aerendalen.
With the 600 silvers from Atan, Ulwe buys two flasks of holy water and donates the remaining 10 gold to the Shrine as well.
Atan! Mark down 2 Flasks of Holy Water. also your share of the treasure is 1471 gold!
Another day's chore sees Ulwe visit the jewler. He retrieves a silver holy symbol and heavy silver chain as well as a simple signet ring he had also commissioned earlier. [symbol 25g; chain 175g, ring 5g]
While the coffers are flowing, Ulwe donates 400 gold to the Locamyridra. He sees that the Aerendalen shrine gets 300 of the tithe and the remaining 100 is divided up among the Spearbearers and Brae the diviner's cult.
Finally after the afternoon has passed, Ulwe returns to Jane's Place to check in with the Companions. He brings a sack full of eight small wooden boxes. Within each box is a apple-sized globe of blown glass filled with Holy Water. The clear glass is stoppered with cork and sealed with thick blue wax. Stamped in the wax is a small relief of three dolfins, created by Ulwe's signet ring.
"I bring to each of you the blessed Holy Water of Orlanth. Use it when faced with abominations of the walking dead and their ilk."
[each character gets a vial of Holy Water. Mark your sheets! If any are unclaimed, Ulwe will carry them.]
Edited by: Ulwe at: 10/6/04 8:17 pm
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Jubilex
ezOP
Posts: 3669
(10/7/04 8:27 am)
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Re: Dobrug
Ulwe's donations are accepted with great gratitude by Waed Daeva, the senior Aerendalen in Dobrug. The appearance of so much old currency adds weight to Ulwe's tales of fighting Shadows in the Cairnhollow - a story that many in the Locamyrida casually dismissed.
While in the temple, Ulwe overhears a tense discussion between a few of the priests. There was a violent confrontation, they say, between some of Oggsrund's axemen and the kuralitai last night in a nameless dockside brothel. There were no fatalities, but one of Oggsrund's men lost a hand.
With that rumor on his mind, Ulwe notices an increased presence of the Moagaran axemen in the streets between the Locamyrida and Janes' place. Armed and spoiling for a fight, the native mercenaries wander the streets.
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Tarondor
Moderator
Posts: 1297
(10/7/04 3:02 pm)
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Re: Dobrug
[Madragar accepts the precious vial of holy water and then returns to his incognitum as Anorre the Sage, awaiting the Spring Thaw.]
[Spring has arrived. -GM]
Edited by: Jubilex at: 10/8/04 7:15 am
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Jubilex
ezOP
Posts: 3671
(10/8/04 7:40 am)
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Re: Dobrug
The companions sat around Janes' place, drinking heavily and wondering what to do. Something eventually happened...
[I hope.]
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Ulwe
Moderator
Posts: 1073
(10/8/04 8:07 am)
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Re: Dobrug
[where are Domun and the other guy?]
[Ulwe hasn't seen them. They haven't come around to Janes' place so far today. -GM]
Ulwe returns to Janes' Place dressed in his new armor carrying his new spear and generally looking quite sharp. Seeing the glazed looks on the alcoholic faces of the Companions, the priest shakes his head.
With a loud "WHACK!" he slams the table in front of Ruglan and Khelzhad thereby breaking the silent monotony of drinking and staring into space
"Let's begin with the shopkeeper. He is the last known link to Naredru."
"I propose we take him by force. He has but one guard. Madragar can weave a simple charm of Sleep to take care of the guard. The rest of us can handle one simple merchant. It should be done as soon as we can get that Bald wizard down here. It would help to get Ruglan's town-guard friends to add an air of legitamacy to our abduction."
"We must be careful, for the entire city is on the edge of a blade. The Axe-men are out for blood, and tonight will probably see an escalation of violence. That is why we must strike immediately, before Yashai is even more watchful."
"Once we catch him, we should bring him to the Sword-Elders to compell the truth from him."
[Well at least it is something!]
Edited by: Jubilex at: 10/8/04 8:21 am
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squarefodder
Khelzhad
Posts: 364
(10/8/04 8:30 am)
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Re: Dobrug
"*burp* But dear Ulwe - we have not even tried to do this the easy way. Allow me to approach him with one of the little treasures from our keep. I would do this already, but the Captain advised against us. Still - he is a merchant and will respond faster to the coin than to the sword."
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Ulwe
Moderator
Posts: 1075
(10/8/04 9:27 am)
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Re: Dobrug
"If your Olmanni were better you could try to use your ring to impersonate a Kuritali. As it is, I fear if you imersonate a watchman he would not be forthcoming. Naredru is either an agent of Chaos or posessed by one. The merchant is dealing with the enemy. No gentle questioning will bring him around. Nay it is the baleful glare of a Sword-Elder which will glean the truth from him. I say we snatch him and soon."
[Are there any employees or someone who could fetch Madragar?]
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Atan
Moderator
Posts: 915
(10/8/04 9:30 am)
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Re: Dobrug
"The coin gets his attention, but what a merchant holds of highest value is his neck. I like your idea Ulwe and Khel's use of the ring. I simple ambush should be easy enough. Early morning visit, we need to check the alley for a back door but Khel could use the vanish ability of the chain to get inside. Then send in Ruglan and Mad. A sleep spell later, we bind,blind and gag the guard then have our way with the shopkeeper."
"Refinements?" Atan looks about for input to flesh out the crude plan. "What do we want to ask him and how far do we go to get him to talk? Maybe just snatch him on his way to work or home?"
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squarefodder
Khelzhad
Posts: 365
(10/8/04 9:48 am)
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Re: Dobrug
"The shop is directly across from Yashai's camp, and there are barracks of additional Kuritali within. Any alarm may set them off - there may have been others present who I did not see, or Uruul may have such alarm magic as we have used. The ring may help disguise me, but stealth is not my specialty", he notes, patting his chain-mailed, beer-filled belly.
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Ulwe
Moderator
Posts: 1076
(10/8/04 9:59 am)
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Re: Dobrug
"If we had more time, we could follow his movements and learn more of our quarry. Haste must be our mode for the now. Let's snatch him in his store. Perhaps Khelzhad's ring could be loaned to Madragar, so the wizard can sneak in and do his magic to enslumber the guard. Then the rest of us converge on the store and wrap the bastard up in a carpet and take him straight to the Sword Elders."
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Tarondor
Moderator
Posts: 1298
(10/8/04 3:18 pm)
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Re: Dobrug
Madragar enters in time to hear the last few statements. He is dressed as himself, and carries all he owns in a backpack, as if ready for the road. He has cast off Anorre like a comfortable old cloak and looks hale and healthy, if a bit pale from months out of the sun.
"Nice to see that winter has not left you short of plots and schemes, gentlemen," he says with a smile. He looks up to see Janes. "A round and room, if you please."
Looking back at the plotters, he says, simply "I'm in."
"However, I have something else which will demand our attention immediately thereafter. I have information which I have not revealed all this Winter, but now that the roads are clearing, it must be acted upon."
"My master is alive. I do not know where he is, but with Lyssa gone, Edrigan the Golden is the last great shield of Moagara, and he must be found. I know he alive, for I have felt his magic, still keeping the Tower of the Mists warded. This could never be had he passed on to the bosom of the gods."
"I have discussed this with Ulwe. I think that I might be able to enter the Tower of the Mists and there search for clues to his fate, as well as any precious items left behind with which we might aid him, and through him, all of Moagara. I was his apprentice, as close as father and son. I should be able to survive his wards."
"The problem will be approaching the Tower without alerting the Gorgon. He is old in guile and will not doubt be watching. But, I pray, that after all this time his watch may not be as sharp as it was in the days after I fled the Tower."
"So. Let us retrieve Naredru and then, I pray you all, aid me in going home."
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Ulwe
Moderator
Posts: 1077
(10/10/04 9:15 pm)
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A Kidnapping Caper
"Finith, if we wait another night, we give Naredru that much more time to elude capture. We are finally all here, let us set out immediately. I do not think anyone will question our presence with the merchant. We have all been seen at Yashai's selling the crown. The merchant will think we have treasure to sell."
"Khelzhad, Pogar and Madragar, and Ruglan go in first. Khelzhad distracts the merchant while Ruglan attacks the guard, giving Madragar a chance to enslumber the guard. Pogar can back up Khelzhad in case the merchant feels fiesty.
Draxim and Janes in back covering the alleyway with crossbows.
Finith and I on the outside ready to go in and keep lookout."
"Sounds like a plan?"
Edited by: Ulwe at: 10/10/04 9:16 pm
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