Realms of Dread IC, Chapter One

[VAN]

Inovidil thinks that Delthrin did a sign to someone at his house so he will not attack their boat. She keeps looking at the boat.

[Archedius]

"I need information on enchantments that would allow a bladed weapon to remove a head in one blow."

[ewancummins]

by Fishgut Rock

The three men in the boat fall silent. A few minutes pass during which their only action is to handle the boat so as to keep more or less in the same area.


creeeeeaaaaak

Ino hears a grating, creaking noise seeming to emanate from the rocky surface of the sheer cliff. The men seem to have heard it too, for they all look up at the same time. A door, one that had been clevery concealed in the rocky cliff-face, opens about twenty feet over the water, not far from where the little boat bobs up and down in the surf.

Through the fog , Ino can see that someone or something humanoid is standing in the doorway. If she flew closer she could doubtless get a better look....

Delthrin raises his hands over his head. The mysterious bundle rises from the bottom of the boat and is borne upward through the air, as if by invisible hands. It appears to be moving to the door in the cliff.

[ewancummins]

at the Palace of Celestial Delights


AIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!


A woman's piercing shriek disturbs the air. Patrons and working girls alike turn their attention towards the source of the scream, a woman standing in the doorway of an upstairs bedroom.

The woman in ripped clothing staggers to the head of the stairs which connect the west end of the parlor with the upstairs rooms. She clutches at her face and continues to sob and wail.

A man emerges from the same open doorway just a moment latter. In his upraised right hand he clutches a bloody razor. He stumbles about drunkenly and shouts obscenities at the woman.

''You filthy slattern, that'll teach you to mock me! Now no one will want you, you stupid trull!''

[BigBadQDaddy]

Watch-Captain Rask's office, Militia HQ


After a brief, uncomfortable silence, the orderly arrives with a cheap cloth scroll. He sets the list down before Alain and then departs without a word.

Alain see perhaps two dozen names on the list. None are known to him. Some have notes appended: beggar, whore, fishmonger's wife, solider,etc. One name has been circled and underlined by some scrivener or another.
Aleena Korund Next to Aleena Korund's name is written:urgent case, Korunds in Spicer's Row

Alain looks intently over the list before clearing his throat and addressing the watch Captain.
"Sir, there is a woman's name that has certain attention drawn to it. An Aleena Korund. Is someone with the watch inspecting this woman?"

[ewancummins]

Watch-Captain Rask's office, Militia HQ


After a brief, uncomfortable silence, the orderly arrives with a cheap cloth scroll. He sets the list down before Alain and then departs without a word.

Alain see perhaps two dozen names on the list. None are known to him. Some have notes appended: beggar, whore, fishmonger's wife, solider,etc. One name has been circled and underlined by some scrivener or another.
Aleena Korund Next to Aleena Korund's name is written:urgent case, Korunds in Spicer's Row

Alain looks intently over the list before clearing his throat and addressing the watch Captain.
"Sir, there is a woman's name that has certain attention drawn to it. An Aleena Korund. Is someone with the watch inspecting this woman?"

'' Yes, I have men working to find her. The woman is the wife of a prominent spice trader, Alexius Korund. Sergeant Talbot is in charge of the investigation. Any questions you have would best be directed towards him. I must get ready for an event to be held later to night at the new baron's house. These official events...well, at least I had enough notice to have my dogsbody black my boots properly and have my dress uniform cleaned. ''

[ewancummins]

The Old Shell


Ironheart is deep in his cups when he notices Jamethon is gone. Somehow the man slipped away while Ironheart was distracted by something or another.


Two men are engaged in a loud argument at the next table.

A fat man in tradseman's garb shout at his fellow:

''Look here, you rascal! You ought not to say such things about the Regent. You'll only get yourself hanged, you fool. ''

The other fellow, a brawny man who wears a butcher's scarred leather apron, replies in kind-

''Bah, if she means to hang every man that speaks as I do, she'd best start with her own courtiers! All I am saying is that the land needs a king. If it's treason to speak the doubt that's in everyone's minds, why...Damn it all, I'd sooner have the Lost King for our lord than see the land fall into anarchy because the king's heir is a barren woman!

The argument has drawn the attention of several other patrons, and the heretofore relaxed atmosphere of the Old Shell becomes quite tense.

[Lord Skybolt]

"I'm not the Spell Caster in the family, you'll be wanting to be talking to my brother Glim . Wait here and I'll go and get him ." With that he walks behind the desk at more than normal pace for someone of his small size supposedly to get his brother . He doesn't seem to be making any noise[1] on his way to get his brother though , about 15 seconds later you hear the sound of a door opening and closing .










1 Move Silently Check 32

[kintire]

Shana smiles impulsively at Xanthippe and slips a heavy jingling bag into her hand

"you've been really helpful. I really hope you prosper back in Chessenta! I'm sure you'll have a great future"

Shana seems casual about the tip: nothing reveals that she's just handed over most of her personal wealth...

Then her head whips round as the scream rings out and she steps lightly towards the stairs, green eyes like ice.

"And what do you think you're doing?"

[steveflam]

Rardi rushes out of the room she was in and makes it as fast as her legs can carry her to the scene. "OI! Whutta ye think ye're doing? What's goin on 'ere?Put that down in the name of the law!"

OOC: Rardi prepares a Hold Person spell in case he gets any funny ideas.

[Ken of Ghastria]

AIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!

OOC: Yep, that's my cue.

Blaise, relaxing after his exhausting interview with the two women, bolts upright and grabs a blanket. "Stay here!" he says to the women as he bounds for the door and opens it a crack -- just enough to see the man with the razor.

OOC: How far is the drunken man from the room that I'm in?

[Guest]

Palace of Celestial Delights-

The razor -wielding man approaches the weeping woman who is slumps against the railing on the lefthand staircase. tHe woman doesn't seem to see him coming- she cannot, for she's covered her face with her hands. Anyone getting lose enough may see blood dripping out from between her fingers!

When Shana and Rardi begin shouting at the man from their positions downstairs in the parlor, he stops at the top of the stairs. He looks down at the two women , flourishes the razor, and says:

''More mocking whores.....You want the same as she got, you ignorant cows? Mind your own affairs! ''

Blaise cracks his door [upstairs level], and beholds this scene form behind. The shouting man's back is to Blaise, and he stands only about ten feet away down the hall to the left.



[OOC DM note- in lieu of a map [scanner giving me trouble] I'll give a better description of the place:

2 storeys-

ground floor= one quite large parlor with ceiling that goes all the way up [full height of building], various side and back rooms- including the cloakroom. Running along the walls to the left and to the right of the big parlor are twin staircases with bannisters. Both sets of stairs connect the ground floor parlor with an open deck upstairs which runs from one end of the building to the other. Along the back wall are several doors leading to bedrooms ]

[ewancummins]

Palace of Celestial Delights-

The razor -wielding man approaches the weeping woman who is slumps against the railing on the lefthand staircase. The woman doesn't seem to see him coming; she cannot, for she's covered her face with her hands. Anyone getting lose enough may see blood dripping out from between her fingers!

When Shana and Rardi begin shouting at the man from their positions downstairs in the parlor, he stops at the top of the stairs. He looks down at the two women, flourishes the razor, and says:

''More mocking whores.....You want the same as she got, you ignorant cows? Mind your own affairs! ''

Getting a better look at the man, onlookers will see that he is tall and strongly built, with corded muscles and big hands. His face is twisted with rage just now, but there's nothing else remarkable about it. He wears no shirt, indeed, no clothes but breeches. Even his feet are bare.

Blaise cracks his door [upstairs level], and beholds this scene form behind. The shouting man's back is to Blaise, and he stands only about ten feet away.



[OOC DM note- in lieu of a map [scanner giving me trouble] I'll give a better description of the place:

2 storeys-

ground floor= one quite large parlor with ceiling that goes all the way up [full height of building], various side and back rooms- including the cloakroom. Running along the walls to the left and to the right of the big parlor are twin staircases with bannisters. Both sets of stairs connect the ground floor parlor with an open deck upstairs which runs from one end of the building to the other. Along the back wall are several doors leading to bedrooms ]

[ewancummins]

The Old Shell

As Ironheart looks on, the loud argument between the two mean nearby gets worse- and louder. Other patrons get involved, so that two gangs have formed, each about half a dozen men. Angry words are exchanged. Someone throws a punch, and the common room soon erupts into a big brawl. Those patrons not wishing to fight quickly make their exits, except for a few who simply move away towards the edges of the room. An old woman and an old man flee towards Ironheart's table, seeking to take refuge in that relatively quiet corner of the room.

[ewancummins]

The Shrenan brothers' shop-


Another gnome, one who bears a distinct resemblance to the one with whom Archideus had just now spoken, comes out of the back room. His aspect is a bit more cheerful. He looks up at the tall human and says -

''I am Glim. My brother Threan tells me you have a question about magic blades...ones that could be used for severing the head in a single blow. Well, even a mundane axe might do the job, if one were strong enough and handled the weapon properly....to get a much better chance of doing it in one swing, nice and clean, you'd want powerful enchantments laid on the blade. I dislike admitting it, but the creation of such a blade is beyond my current capabilities. ''

The little smith waits a moment before continuing-
''Ah, but I'm sure I could readily identify any weapon with those properties. Ummm....are you trying to purchase such a weapon, or is there some other reason you ask?''