Realms of Dread [IC] Chapter Three

[steveflam]

"Maybe if there were Zombies here, we could follow their footprints? I am no tracker of course, but it couldn't hurt to look, right?"

[ewancummins]

"Maybe if there were Zombies here, we could follow their footprints? I am no tracker of course, but it couldn't hurt to look, right?"

''Good idea, Balzar!''

Jamethon begins searching for prints.

[steveflam]

The dwarf does the same thing, but his previous statement is quite true. He is in no way a tracker, but his vision may be better suited on the exterior of the warehouse. He walks up to Captain Rask.

"Maybe I could look outside with a few of your men, and have a good look, sir? As you probably already know, as a dwarf I can see better after the sun sets than a human can. And maybe if Blaise was here earlier he might be able to remember some information?"

The dwarf looks at the Bard and smiles.

[ewancummins]

The dwarf does the same thing, but his previous statement is quite true. He is in no way a tracker, but his vision may be better suited on the exterior of the warehouse. He walks up to Captain Rask.

"Maybe I could look outside with a few of your men, and have a good look, sir? As you probably already know, as a dwarf I can see better after the sun sets than a human can. And maybe if Blaise was here earlier he might be able to remember some information?"

The dwarf looks at the Bard and smiles.

Watch-Captain Rask answers-

''Yes, good idea- do so at once.''

[steveflam]

Balzar follows a few men out of the warehouse and begins looking around for footprints of Zombies. He is presuming that a Zombie isn't like a normal person, in that it drags its feet.

OOC: ewan you ca do the roll for Balzar's search. Like Ken said it is better that way

[ewancummins]

in and around a certain warehouse near the Marsh Gate


Tracks of men [some of which seem to indicate shuffling or dragging] were found, both within and without the warehouse. Balzar isn't sure, but it seems as if the tracks aren't more than a day old. That sandwich certainly wasn't older than a day [mmmmmmm]. The dwarf and his new-found allies attempt to follow these tracks [ a difficult task in the city, even for a skilled tracker in good visibility] , but the trails soon become confused. The thick fog impedes everyone, and the darkness is an obstacle for Rask's men. In the end, no clear trail is found.


The searchers do note that there are several rectangular spots within the warehouse conspicuously free of dust, and that these spots often have footprints or dragmarks near them.


Rask orders another , more methodical, search. This second round turns up very little:

• a clay jar containing a few rusty nails
  
  the skeleton of a rat
  
  a broken pipestem
  
  a shabby , mouldering blanket
  
  a scrap of paper with no writing on it

In the end, W-C Rask orders an end to the search and a return to HQ.

***



Militia HQ

Rask briefly discusses the situtation with Blaise and Balzar-

''Someone may have warned the smugglers, as the dwarf says. In any case, it's clear to me that we won't find anything useful here. We were just too damned late. Of course, tomorrow I'll have men out looking for witnesses, and try to find out who owns that building. For now- I suggest we all get some sleep. There's little else that can be done tonight.''

[steveflam]

"I agree, Cap'n. We did what we could tonight. Mebbe you could get a priest in the morning to look for the undead scum? I knows that Rardi can look for undead with a spell. A Morninglord priest would be glad to help you, I am positive. I'll go back to the Inn but want to go to the Temple in the morning to tell them of Rardi's dilemma, unless you'd like my aide with anything, sir. If I can help getting to the bottom of this I will, gladly. For Rardi and me now deceased friend Archedius."

He returns to the Old Shell Inn with or without Blaise. If there are any patrons inside, he will go and sit at the bar, ordering an ale. As he walks in he will try to observe what type of people are in the Inn at this hour and have a quiet listen to conversations.

[ewancummins]

The Old Shell

Alain listens to the sound of the boatman poleing himself away from the dock and thinks for a moment. He tries to capture a good visual of the area so he may find it again in the morning. Facing the lot he then heads left down the board walk, taking note of his surroundings.

The boardwalk leads around the corner of a building and connects with a main street. Once on the street, Alain can get his bearings: he's someplace north of his inn, he thinks. It takes an hour of walking through the nighttime streets, now and then almost tripping where a loose cobblestone or a pothole goes unnoticed in the soupy fog, but the bard does eventually find his way to the Old Shell.

The Shell is lively tonight, with music and laughter audible from the street, and the welcoming gllow of laterns shining from the windows. Inside, Alain finds Shana at the bar. A crowd of admirers are clustered all about the Dalelander woman, smiling and chatting and laughing.

Less than an hour after Alain returns; Balzar [whom Shana and Alain have never before seen, of course] and Jamethon also return to the Shell.

[steveflam]

Not metagaming but Balzar will ask Jamethon if recognizes anyone since he doesn't know anyone in the party.

Turning to Jamethon Balzar asks after he sips his ale, keeping his voice low so only jamethon can hear "Ye know anyone here? Maybe we could get more information from one of yer friends?"

[ewancummins]

early morning 22nd of Flamerule-- gaol on Fishgut Rock


Rardi-

Someone gently shakes Rardi awake. One of her guards tells her-

''Priestess, rouse yourself. It is time.''


Ino-

Henryk wakes Ino.

''The Bailiff wants you outside, Inovidil. Come on, let's help you get the armor on, and these chains, too- I'm sorry to say. ''


****************

Both prisoners are escorted in chains and under heavy guard from their seperate cells to the exterior of the gaol. It is only when Rardi and Inovidil are both outside that they spot one another.

For once, the weather is not foggy or rainy. A hard blowing sea-wind rips across the island, tearing at clothing and hair. The sun is only just now coming up, a huge orange-red ball of fire hovering in the eastern waters.


Outside the gaol, on a little forlorn lot of withered grass, waits a one- mule wagon with a human figure laid out still and silent in the back. A freshly scrubbed sailcloth serves as his shroud. A pair of boots are sticking out from unde the bottom of the cloth wrap; Rardi recognizes the boots as belonging to her dead friend, Archedius.


The bailiff is here, too, dressed in a suit of clean, well-fitted but drab-colored clothing. Gone is his sword and fighting gear, but he wears a long poignard at his belt.


''I have changed my mind about burying Lieutenant Tagaris here on the island. Surely he has some family? Even if not, no doubt his other friends and comrades would wish to claim his remains. Therefore, I am sending him to Watch-Captain Rask. Before he goes, I'd like to allow you both the chance to speak what words you will, and look upon him one last time. ''

[ewancummins]

The Old Shell, morning of the 22nd

Blaise, Balzar, Alain, and Jamethon are all wakened by Nelly banging on their respective doors. The girl has a message in writing from W-C Rask. The ink is hardly dry. It reads:


Just notified that the trial will be held today. Your assignment remains the same: investigate smugglers. I will be busy dealing with situation on Fishgut Rock. Will keep in touch by runners. Make certain you can be found if needed. Meet me two hours past noon at HQ. That is all-

W-C Rask




[There's a good chance Shana is awakened by all the racket that Nelly makes, banging excitedly on doors]

[steveflam]

Rardi rises at the feel of a hand on her body to wake her. She looks at the guard and nods. Stretching, she gathers her wits and sits on the bed, then stands. Nodding, she folllows the guards out of her cell. Soon she recognizes Inovidil but says nothing, merely acnowledging her presence with a nod. Rardi is very serious, knowing this would be the last time she sees Archedius. Try as she may to keep up a strong front, she falters easily and tears streak down her face as she thinks bout her dear friend.

Rardi weeps softy as she looks at Archedius. In a low voice she affirms to the Bailliff and those present "E 'ad no more family.... sob...... I.... I.... am sorry for his demise....."

Once she is close to him, she cries openly, distraught at her friends death and how she let him follow the mindflayer. Now knowing about the foul creatures, she knows she'd have done differently.

Lowering her head, she places both her hands on the corpse of Archedius, and her body heaves and shakes, weeping for her departed friend. Gathering her composure she speaks in a low voice to those gathered "I.... I ...... be knowin Archedius fer nigh twenty years... Ye saved me life back then, though ye din know me, an took me as a frien ever since. If it weren fer ye, I'd be pushin up daisies with the rest o me clan. *Sigh* ..... Archedius was a good man an meant well. He did good deeds an to me knowledge the right thing. I's of followed im ta hell n back an agin."

Rardi doesn't mention what she detected on her departed friend before they encountered the Illithid in the cage. She would probably carry that piece of info to her grave. Sighing, she adds "I ne'er known a better man than him and may his eternal soul rest in peace, with the blessing of Lathander, the Morninglord I pray for 'is soul ta travel freely to the other side."

[VAN]

Inovidil wakes up easier this time, she has slept much better without the splint. When Henryk tells her to be ready she gets a big breath, she knows that the time to meet the justice has arrived.

When Ino spots Rardi, doesn't know what to do. If go to her or no. She preferred be with a familiar face than alone actually. But with the guards around she decides to be formal so she follows the dwarf's lead and just nods to her.

Inovidil is psychologically ready to face the Bailiff, a judge or a noble who is dealing with these things. But isn't absolutely ready to see Archedius dead body. She freeze for a moment and the blood drains from her face. Then she feels dizzy and tears comes out. Inovidil doesn't try to mask her pain or stop her tears, she is feeling very bad, sorry and at the same time guilty for Archedius. She is a witch, she should have known...she should have stopped him from joining the illithid.

After Rardi, Ino gets closer to the body. Between her tears she gets Archedius' hand with both hers and with a cracking voice says:

"Fare well my friend. I didn't know you for long time, but I'm sure you were a brave, honest soldier and have helped many people. May Mystra bless you and gets you beside her."

Then she steps back and goes beside Rardi.

[Ken of Ghastria]

"Bonescrape's bloody jest," mutters Blaise spitefully after reading Rask's note.

A short time later, he gathers Alain, Jamethon, Balzar, and Shana (regardless of whether she heard the commotion) downstairs for a quick breakfast. "The authorities are in a rush to punish somebody for what happened," he says. Looking around quickly to ensure no one else is listening, he continues, "And I don't intend to let our friends rot away in prison -- Ino hates bugs and doesn't like being dirty. But we'll deal with that after the trial. The only way we can help them right now is finding evidence that Delthrin is either a criminal or still alive, even if I'm the only one who still believes it."

He looks as though he's just remembering something. "That scrap of paper we found in the warehouse... I wonder if it was really blank? And Alain, where did you end up going last night?"

__________
OOC: Can we say that Blaise has that piece of paper, or did Rask take it?

[ewancummins]

The Old Shell


Jamethon speaks-
'''I agree that we need something solid on Delthrin- something damning. Necromancy alone is nothing- the laws here allow the practice of such foul and blasphemous arts. Horrible as that may be, it isn't illegal.''

The somber man reflects a moment, then announces-

''Damn it, we need the gnome's help! He's the only one of all of us, besides Blaise, who entered the warehouse before it was cleared- and he had a much better opportunity than did Blaise, to look at the smuggled goods and examine the rooms. Moreover, he's the only eye-witness we have who can testify as to Delthrin's presence there with the smugglers.''