Mists over the Musarde, Chapter Two

[Lord Skybolt]

"I think we should decide which problem to deal with first. The gang or exploring the sewers . My vote is dealing with gang first because we deny our main enemy of henchmen, and I'm new to the group so I could possibly use my not being known to be publicly affiliated with our group . To set a trap for them if you are game . " Alain explaining his thoughts to group .

[JMaytr]

Jonathan looks at Cirdan with interest when his voice changes. The effect it has on the courier is impressive to the youth. After the man departs and Benn reveals the notes, Jonathan removes from his pocket a half rotten pear and nibbles at the better parts.

"I think Alain might have a good idea on his hands. Being a new addition myself, I could assist you in what ever trap you have in mind. Ridding a fiend of its minions takes away from its arsenal.

"Now while I have heard from the others some manner of their heroism or experience, and have shared my own, I have yet to hear a story from you Sir Alain. Surely you must have a tale from your homeland here in these lands of mists."

Jonathan watches Alain and waits.

[steveflam]

Jonathan looks at Cirdan with interest when his voice changes. The effect it has on the courier is impressive to the youth. After the man departs and Benn reveals the notes, Jonathan removes from his pocket a half rotten pear and nibbles at the better parts.

Norzak sees this and frowns. Lad looks like 'e needs a good meal. I's got some rations I kin give 'im. Mebbe feed 'im too afore we leave for whate'er we gonns do.

The dwarf walks back to his room and grabs a small package. He returns and hands it to Jon. " 'Et. Ye got ta 'et ta keep yer strength, Jon" looking ot the others then back to Jon he adds "Mebbe we kin go get a meal afore we go whate'er we's gonna do. Cain' do nuthin' on an empty stomach, eh fellas?"

[Lord Skybolt]

" Well I've only dealt with skeletons, nothing as dramatic as ghouls or zombies. They are are pretty easy to deal with if you have the right weapons in hand or magic . " Taking out a morning star from his pack back and brandishing it for the group.

[JMaytr]

Jonathan looks at the dwarf with somthing close to astonishment as he hands the package to him. Seeing that there is somthing edible that dosen't also bring a chance of illness in the package, Jonathan greedily tears into the rations. At the mention of a real meal Jonathan perks up, looking like a small boy on holiday morning.

Then the memories of other so called "kind" men with meals flood Jonathans mind, memories of the unspeakable things they did to him. The look of joy fades noticably.

"Thats very kind of you Norzak, but I wouldn't want to feel indebted to you in any way, I mean no offense of course. I will prove my strength below and earn my meals. I may be a young man, but I am still a man. You understand I hope."

Though he says no more, Jonathan seems a bit shaken and his eyes look cold and distant as he thinks on the past. Even though he is the one that asked Alain for a tale, as Alain tells it, Jonathan dosen't seem to hear.

[steveflam]

Jonathan looks at the dwarf with somthing close to astonishment as he hands the package to him. Seeing that there is somthing edible that dosen't also bring a chance of illness in the package, Jonathan greedily tears into the rations. At the mention of a real meal Jonathan perks up, looking like a small boy on holiday morning.

Then the memories of other so called "kind" men with meals flood Jonathans mind, memories of the unspeakable things they did to him. The look of joy fades noticably.

"Thats very kind of you Norzak, but I wouldn't want to feel indebted to you in any way, I mean no offense of course. I will prove my strength below and earn my meals. I may be a young man, but I am still a man. You understand I hope."

Though he says no more, Jonathan seems a bit shaken and his eyes look cold and distant as he thinks on the past. Even though he is the one that asked Alain for a tale, as Alain tells it, Jonathan dosen't seem to hear.

"Tweren't nuthin' lad. If'n I's give ya somethin' iss cuz I wanna an won' ask fer nuthin' in return. Deal?"

[Brock Marsh Runoff]

"Yes, let us enjoy a proper meal," Dorgio agrees, "Jon, we would be liking you to come with us. After that, we must consider what to do about Van Deiks. The tavernkeeper, he said the gang stayed at the Lorelei, yes? Has anybody been there, or know the lay of it? Now's not the time to be shy."

He pauses, stroking his mustache in thought. "Or, perhaps it would be best to talk to the girls in the River Quarter. I'd bet these girls, they have no love for Deiks. Maybe, they could be telling us something that would help us -and- them."

[Lord Skybolt]

" If you give me some time to gather some information on this Deiks person, while your looking for information at the cathedral about some of the future foes we may encounter down in the sewers or else where . I don't think it would be good idea if I went with you so as to keep our alliance as little known as possible. " Alain says to them on their way out . "I'll meet you back here in few hours lets say ." Thinking I should be checking out this Deiks fellow then in that time .

[steveflam]

"Who's this 'ere Deeks fella 'n' whys we wanna know him?" Norzak asks with interest.

[JMaytr]

Jonathan seems to relax a bit.

"Thank you Norzak. I very much appreciate your kindness. Sir Dorgio, I have many friends...well, I know many of the women from the river quarter, they find youth and my hair quite enchanting. I am also very good at conversing with the opposite sex. For some reason my tongue is silver when it comes to the ladies. If they have no love for this villian as you say, I am sure they will spill the information we need into my pillow."

Jonathan finishes the rations Norzak gave him, eating even the smallest crumbs from the package.

[Adam]

"Who's this 'ere Deeks fella 'n' whys we wanna know him?" Norzak asks with interest.

Bennedict comes out of his shock at this, shaking his head ruefully. "Apologies, Herr Norzak. I would have thought some of our friends would have mentioned it last night. I'm afraid I was a bit taken with everything that happened, so I hastened to bed before you came back." He takes another thoughtful puff from the pipe before continuing. "It seems our troubles with the criminal element did not die with Malruex. This fellow apparently has it in for us, and has been actively trying to "off us," to use the colloquial. The fellow we kidnapped last evening," Benn tries not to glare at this, " was an innkeeper who has dealings with him. He wanted nothing to do with the man's activities, however, so he sold Van Deicks out to us. He is apparently a pimp, but in his off hours he moonlights as a brute. He runs a brothel in the city." He taps a finger curiously on the desk. "I wonder how much any of them have to do with the occult elements of this mystery? While it's true that Renault worked for them before, there's no way to know if it was this organization that unearthed him and brought him back from beyond the grave. I'm not sure what's the more disturbing thought, actually: a criminal empire of occultists, or two entities out to get us at once."

He turns apologetically to the youth. "Sorry about all this, Jonathon. It seems, knowingly or not, you've stepped into the deep end with us."

[Le Noir Faineant]

Cirdan watches the conversation silently, his face hidden under his helmet.

So that's what I am up to now?, he wonders as he watches Jonah, Norzak and the others through his eyeslits. A thug that cleans the mess this dwarf and those... Gypsies... leave behind. Father would whip me if he knew!

He shudders, but does not move or say anything.

Think of Evangeline, he reminds himself,you're doing this for her.

Finally opening his vizor, he walks over to Ben. "Excuse me... How much of the momey shall we spend on weapons? - Silver is hard to find in a place like this, where people like thin rapiers more than good swords, and guns over bows. - I think we should get going."

[Adam]

Benn stands up, emptying the remaining tobacco from the pipe into ashtray. "You are right of course, Cirdan. If you like, I can go with you to see what we can come up with. I'm willing to consider the majority of this," he waves the letters of credit, "to be available for silver weapons if we can find them. I think they definitely qualify as 'expedition expenses.'"

[Brock Marsh Runoff]

"Since we are speaking of funds," Dorgio mentions, "What of the goods we ... liberated from Malruex's warehouse? Those should bring in some coin."

He pauses after saying this, then looks to Benn. "The warehouse, now there is something to look in to! If Van Deicks is simply a criminal, then a well planned raid might put a dent in his plans. Or, if he is in league with this rat cult, we might glean some clues from there."

Turning to Cirdan, he says, "Off the subject, I am reminded of something. Cirdan, when you left for Darkon, did you stop in Nevuchar Springs?"

[steveflam]

OOC: We'll presume Norzak was told what the others learned the about this Van Dieks fellow.

Norzak listens to his comrades explain to him about van Dieks. His eyes narrow and he grits his teeth. "So 'es a brute eh? I think we should go to where he usually can be found, this wimmin' beater. I'd like ta show him tha error of 'is ways. Show 'im tha proper respeck 'e should show wimmin."

" 'Is warehouse kin wait. We kin allas' go to 'is warehouse 'n' show this idiots dolts the error of followin' Van Deeks. Don'na 'ave ta kill anyone, just make 'em see tha error of their ways."

Norzak looks at everyone, Jon included. He seems to be in a stabby mood, to those who know him. "Ye leave this Van deeks ta me. A wimmin beater ain' got no right ta be about. Teach 'im the error of 'is ways. Like I's said I won' kill noone," He looks to Jon and says. "Ye's gonna see me in action, lad. Ask them here varmints. They's knows me. I might be harsh in action but I means well! Now I think ye need a hot meal 'n' a bath ta 'elp ye out, lad."

"So we 'ave tha afternoon n early evening afore we's goin to fin' this Van Deeks scum. Like I's tole Jon, I wanna get him fed n bathed. As fer the gold, Benn, use it fer tha elf first, then tha others. If ya think I kin use some silver doodad, then get me one, else keep tha funds fer us." He looks to Jon. "Ye comin' ter eat a hot meal lad? Or ye gonna lollygag here?"