Realms of Dread, Chapter Four

[BigBadQDaddy]

the Old Shell

"As I said, Shana, I am unwilling to debate this. Their is much more at stake then feuding over personal politics." Alain feels himself being pulled down into the mess of it all. He could see everything falling apart over bad blood and He has no idea how to stop it.
When Inovidil approaches the table, Alain forces a smile, feeling ashamed at the insincerity of it. Here was his friend who had been through the worst couple days of her life and he couldn't get over the premonition of failure looming over himself to deliver an honest greeting.
He recounts the facts of the case to her, referencing his notes from throughout the day. After he explains the facts, he goes into his theory regarding the nightsoil men and how he believes they are implicated in the whole mess whether they are aware of it or not. After he has finished, he has calmed down enough and smiles a sad smile which isn't in itself much at all, but it is at least an honest one.

[ewancummins]

The Old Shell

Jamethon stands when Breana and Blaise enter and approach the table.

''Hey, Blaise, Breana, I'm happy to see you both! I was beginning to worry about you two- it's getting late. ''

Breana is what most men might find to be rather striking in appearance: a pretty redhead whose black silk robes cannot quite conceal her curvaceous body. Perhaps that doesn't impress Shana and Ino, but it certainly is having an effect on the several of the men gathered in the common room, whose eyes follow the newcomer across the room.

[kintire]

Shana looks at Alain in profound disappointment. Then turns to the newcomers, giving Blaise and Ino a cheery smile, which fades to a cool polite one as she looks at Breana.

"Good evening..err.. Breana. I don't think we've met? I'm Shana. Pleased to meet you!"

[Le Noir Faineant]

Ironheart is maybe contemplating the idea of "hey girl, you know that barbarians only consider real what they touch" hook-up routine...

[Ken of Ghastria]

"Greetings, all!" says Blaise happily. He smiles at everyone, winks at Shana, and blows a kiss at Threan. "Yes, this is Breana, assigned by the ever-watchful Watch-Captain Rask to aid us." He makes introductions and then pulls a chair over to the crowded table and sits next to Shana.

"Not too much to report, I'm afraid. That area of town has plenty of warehouses that, in theory, could be good hiding places for undead -- which is why we presume we're dealing with -- yet Breana's detection spell revealed no trace of them, and I sensed no magical spells in effect in the buildings. There have been several break-ins, but we believe they're the work of a gang of vagrants or adolescents that some workers described to us. The only thing we found was this--" He pulls out the yellowed fabric that Breana pulled out from under the trapdoor, and he places it on the table.

"We then tried to gather information at a local bar...well, cesspool with kegs is a better way to describe it. They have a dead fish on the front door! They must be popular with cats. Anyway, some of the patrons made lewd advances toward Breana -- shocking, yes! -- and we had to leave before things got out of hand. Oh wait, no, we didn't! In any event, it might be worth it to go back there tonight. If you can ignore the smell, it can probably be a good source of information."

He looks around the table. "And how is everyone here?" He says to Shana, "And you, I missed you ... I feel that I haven't seen you in weeks!"

[steveflam]

"Yes hi everyone, I am Breana. Well met! I think at least some of those ruffians won't have the heart to bother women, eh Blaise? I am all for returning tonight as well. We might have more luck in finding them undead children."

[kintire]

Shana grins wickedly at Blaise

"you seem to have filled the gap quickly enough! If you've missed me that much, why not buy me a drink to celebrate the reunion?"

If Blaise heads for the bar, Shana follows him for a short reunion...

[Ken of Ghastria]

Shana grins wickedly at Blaise

"you seem to have filled the gap quickly enough!"

Blaise affects a pained look and makes a stabbing motion with his fist into his chest.

"If you've missed me that much, why not buy me a drink to celebrate the reunion?"

If Blaise heads for the bar, Shana follows him for a short reunion...

"Happily," he says. "Anyone else be needing a drink?" He moves to the bar.

[Le Noir Faineant]

"Happily," he says. "Anyone else be needing a drink?" He moves to the bar.

Ironheart gives a happy grunt and points to his beer mug, the mouth still full of the bloody steak.

[ewancummins]

Jamethon says-

''No thank you, I'm not finished with this one just yet. I'll go up later.''

The black-clad man remains seated at the party's table. He addresses the pretty cleric-


‘‘Breana, sometime you must tell me more about this god you serve, and his church. My own homeland is far away, and no one there has ever heard of Myrkul.''

[steveflam]

The cleric looks at Shana with a quizzical expression. She leans in to her and speaks in a hushed tone so only Shana can hear her. "Uh listen, I heard ye but I'm really not interested in Blaise. he's a nice enough fella but just not my type. I hope that clears any misunderstanding, Shana."

Breana eyes Jamethon with scepticism. Not very many people were at all interested in Myrkul. What land was he from to not have heard of Myrkul?
Odd.

"Perhaps another evening, Jamethon. I think we are going ot be going back to the warehouse district this evening. Unless of course we have a little spare time now? And what land are you from to not have heard of Myrkul?"

[ewancummins]

Breana eyes Jamethon with scepticism. Not very many people were at all interested in Myrkul. What land was he from to not have heard of Myrkul?
Odd.

"Perhaps another evening, Jamethon. I think we are going ot be going back to the warehouse district this evening. Unless of course we have a little spare time now? And what land are you from to not have heard of Myrkul?"

''I'm from Mordent. I'm sure you've never heard of it. It would seem that it is not even part of this world you call Toril. Verily, the stars themselves are different here. In Mordent, most folks worship just one divine power, blessed Ezra, Lady of the Mists. I served her as an itinerant priest. ''

[steveflam]

Breana listens to Jamethon tell his tale. She had to admoit she'd never heard of this Ezra or even the land of Mordent. "You're telling me that you're from another world? Interesting. I never really thought about other worlds, ta be honest. And only one deity? So what yer sayin is this Ezra is the only god worshipped there? That doesn't give a person much choice, now does it?"

She pauses, thinking about that. Only one god? I wonder who that would work here? Probably none too well.

"Well let me see. As I told you, Myrkul is the Lord of the Dead. Most priests or clerics walk around with masks to spread his word. This is what most people of these lands know of Mighty Myrkul. A deity is a choice not to be taken lightly. Some prefer one to another." She shrugs and smiles before continuing. "I chose Myrkul for my own personal reasons. Many of our clergy
try to spread fear to people of our deity by intimidation. I prefer to let me actions speak for themselves. So I be servin tha Lord o tha dead. And then what? Is that a crime? No. I be like any other law abiding citizen here an do me best ta serve the city. I joined tha militia to change people's minds about Myrkul, show our support for the city since the death of Magus Delthrin, we figure it be our duty ta take up his mantle an help out. I am the one who was chosen to represent the Fane, you see."

She stretches and gets comfortable. "We really had no luck this afternoon. Me spell detected nothing undead. But I think if we return this evening, there may be different results. Undead tend to be more at ease after the sun sets. I was thinking that with all of us going it might be a good idea to have some cannon fodder in case we run into them undead children. Ye think it a good idea? I kin command em ta do what I please, ye see. Nothing illegal, mind ye, only on the up and up."

[ewancummins]

''Ah, yes I am well aware that the necromantic arts are permitted by Cormyrian law. My personal feelings on the matter are not important. I am sworn to uphold the law, so long as I wear this badge.''

Jamethon taps the tin star affixed to his coat.

''To answer your question about gods of my homeworld: no, Ezra is not the only divine power in the world, though her church is strong in the more civilized and advanced territories, such as my own country of Mordent. Other parts of the world house cults to other gods, such as the Lawgiver, the Morninglord, or the Wolf God. Some of these cults are good, if misguided, but others are certainly wicked and dangerous. ''

[Ken of Ghastria]

Over at the bar, Blaise laughs and places a hand affectionately on Shana's shoulders, then he slides a tankard over to her. He turns and walks back to the table, carrying a stein for himself and for Ironheart. "Warrior, your mead is ready! With my compliments."

He looks at Alain and says, "Did you have any success with the public records of the buildings?"