Realms of Dread IC, Chapter One

[BigBadQDaddy]

In Captain Rask's office-



''Well, we do have a partial list of the missing, but I assure you it is far from complete. The city doesn't even attempt to keep records on all residents, you know. That would be an absolutely impossible amount of work for the scribes. We keep count by established households, and not with a headcount of all residents. No one really knows how many people are missing or dead, as a result of last week's horrors. Beggars, street whores, those without much money and without close kin- these people might as well never have existed if something were to happen to them, because we'd never hear of it.''

Captain Rask dispatches his clerk to retrieve the list.

Alain watches the clerk as he goes to retrieve the list, then turns to face the captain again.
"I couldn't help but notice who was leaving your office when I arrived. The cities resident necromancer no less. Just out of curiosity, does master Delthrin have a proper name? or does he answer to simply 'Delthrin"

[VAN]

Inovidil tries to understand what these men were carrying. It could hardly be a pig because it doesn't seem to have air holes to breath. Her thought goes to a small child, maybe a dead one. She decides to find out, so for not losing Delthrin and the others turns to a corner and casts fly. Then goes up and keeps following them always invisible.

[kintire]

Shana frowns

"She's all heart isn't she? But you... are you going to be alright? I have a little money you could use... maybe head back to Chessenta?"

I look troubled

"but I can't help all the girls... and if something's going on... I need to see that diary. Do you know where it would be kept?"

[ewancummins]

Militia HQ, Watch Captain Rask's office

Rask scratches his head for a moment, brow creased and head tilted forward. After a silent few seconds, he looks up and says,

''Ah yes, now I recall it. Tharkholt. Delthrin's family name is Tharkholt. Queer old family, they mostly died out years ago, or moved away from Marsember. I think he's the only one of his clan left in the city.''

[ewancummins]

Outside the orphanage...

Still invisible, Ino follows the three men and their mysterious bundle down the block and around the corner. They walk down to the nearest canal, where a small rowboat is tied to mooring post. Delthrin gets into the boat. The two men hand him their burden, which he then places in the bottom of the boat. Then the two men climb in after him.

What's Ino going to do now?

[ewancummins]

in the cloakroom of the Palace....


''I...I don't know when I'd be able to pay you back, Shana. It's very generous of you to offer, and I'd dearly love to go home to my own country,far away from this wretched town with its miserable weather.''

Xanthippe pauses in thought for a moment.

''I think that I can get you Nell's diary. Then I wouldn't feel so bad about taking your money. I'd feel that I had done something for you...and for the other girls, too. ''

[BigBadQDaddy]

Militia HQ, Watch Captain Rask's office

Rask scratches his head for a moment, brow creased and head tilted forward. After a silent few seconds, he looks up and says,

''Ah yes, now I recall it. Tharkholt. Delthrin's family name is Tharkholt. Queer old family, they mostly died out years ago, or moved away from Marsember. I think he's the only one of his clan left in the city.''

"That does sound a bit odd. Were the rest of his family practitioners of the art? or did perhaps some other scandal thin them out?"

[steveflam]

Rardi looks at the more sober man. "She ain't in no trouble, far as I know. I'm just investigatin' tha matter. Ye know bout some man named Delthrin? What kin ye tell me about 'im? Lissen up" she leans towards the man "I kin heal yer fer free and lissen ta yer confessions without judgement at tha temple if ye like. I think yer a worshipping man an a good soul, no matter the reason ye be here.


Now what of this Fortish he mentioned? I jest be doin' me job is all. Anything ye kin tell me would be helpful."

[VAN]

Inovidil decides that things are getting more interesting and decides to follow the boat. Always flying she gets a little closer to the boat so she can hear if the 3 men speak.

[kintire]

"Xanthippe, are you sure? You've already done a lot by telling me this... I don't want you to take any risks"

[ewancummins]

Watch-Captain Rask's office-


Rask answers Alain's questions,

'' A family of wizards? No, I don't think so. ''

Rask takes a sheaf of parchment and places it inside his desk before adding,

''There were vague rumors of disloyalty surrounding the family during and for some time after the war with the Usurper King, but I don't think anything much ever came of all that talk. I don't suppose such suspicions helped the family fortunes much, though. Really, I couldn't tell you exactly what happened to them. You might wish to consult someone who knows more about the history of the city.''

[ewancummins]

Rardi looks at the more sober man. "She ain't in no trouble, far as I know. I'm just investigatin' tha matter. Ye know bout some man named Delthrin? What kin ye tell me about 'im? Lissen up" she leans towards the man "I kin heal yer fer free and lissen ta yer confessions without judgement at tha temple if ye like. I think yer a worshipping man an a good soul, no matter the reason ye be here.


Now what of this Fortish he mentioned? I jest be doin' me job is all. Anything ye kin tell me would be helpful."

The more or less sober one of the pair answers,

''Ah....some man named Delthrin? I don't know anyone by that name. Who is he? You don't mean the famous Deltrhin, the one they call the Deadmaster?''

The fellow is beginning to become visibly agitated. He shifts in his seat uncomfortably, and tugs at his collar as if it's choking him.

The drunk man next to him repeats himself-

''Fortishhhh...''

[ewancummins]

the canal

Inovidil decides that things are getting more interesting and decides to follow the boat. Always flying she gets a little closer to the boat so she can hear if the 3 men speak.

Quiet and unseen, Ino glides over the water in the wake of the rowboat. Delthrin is rowing with powerful strokes, while one of the two others mans a pole to help pilot the boat through the narrow canal. The third man watches the banks of the canal, looking first left and then right, watching each side by turns. No one talks much, except for the occassional short and simple steering command from Delthrin.

The hazy ground fog that always seems to linger in low pockets across town is thicker than usual in the region through which the boat is passing. The vapours hang close to the water, so that, looking down, the boat seems to be floating on a cloud's surface. Old two- or three-storey buildings to either side of the canal lean towards one another, casting deep shadows across the waterway that give the scene the aspect of an early twilight.

After following for several minutes [during which time Delthrin takes a break and allows on of the others to ply the oars for awhile] Ino sees the boat making it's way out of the mouth of the canal and into the open bay.

[ewancummins]

the cloakroom-

"Xanthippe, are you sure? You've already done a lot by telling me this... I don't want you to take any risks"

''Ahh...well, I will tell you where she keeps the diary, then. She has it locked up with Nell's other things, in the strongbox in her office upstairs, I'm sure of it. That's where she keeps our contracts and tally sheets, too.. ''

[BigBadQDaddy]

Watch-Captain Rask's office-


Rask answers Alain's questions,

'' A family of wizards? No, I don't think so. ''

Rask takes a sheaf of parchment and places it inside his desk before adding,

''There were vague rumors of disloyalty surrounding the family during and for some time after the war with the Usurper King, but I don't think anything much ever came of all that talk. I don't suppose such suspicions helped the family fortunes much, though. Really, I couldn't tell you exactly what happened to them. You might wish to consult someone who knows more about the history of the city.''

Alain pushes his glasses up the bridge of his nose before responding to Captain Rask. "I don't suppose you could point me in the direction of a city historian, could you?"