Café de Nuit

"Saves me the trouble a slittin' his throat, or worse!" Norzak mumbles then guffaws as if laughing at some private joke. "Bah, another one fell to 'is death. Them criminals like te jump outta me way. Takes all the fun away from hurtin' 'em even more." Looking at Cirdan he says "Ya think I kin find the finger? Might keep it as a souvenir!" At this Norzak explodes in laughter, and Cirdan can't tell if Norzak is joking or serious as he walks past the elf, back to Benn,Sancerre and the culprit. Norzak sheathes his blade.

ewancummins wrote:The tall man answers -
''They are taking her to Monsieur Malreux. There's a tunnel route to one of his warehouses. That's the way they are going, down through the drains. I can show you, if you promise to let me go before you go up into the building. I want to be far away when the trouble starts!''

Cirdan's thoughts over the new dead can only be guessed.
With his ice-cold elven eyes, he turns to the remaining thug.

"You lead us, and you live."

''Yes. I'll take you there, just keep that dwarf away from me!''

The surviving man climbs down into the pit using the ladder built into the stonework, moving slowly and cautiously. He waits for you all at the bottom of the tunnel, next to the spot where his comrade lies dead atop the wreckage of the iron grill, face down and partially submerged . The tunnel is dark [you'll need a light source], built of cut stone, roughly cylindrical, seven feet in diameter and filled up with water about two feet deep in the middle. The passageway is ever so slightly inclined , so that the dirty water flows down in one direction, albeit gently.

Bennedict casts a light spell onto his crossbow, causing the tip to glow brightly with illumination. He then rubs the bridge of his nose, before turning a withering glance to Norzak.

"We need this man alive, Herr Dwarf, and we need him cooperative. I know it is a struggle for you, but if you could please keep your knife safely contained within its sheath, we may be able to save the girl. For our employers' sake, please, I beg of you, show restraint."

He gestures towards the ladder.

"After you, Herr Cirdan."

Norzak shrugs. "Me blade is sheated, Benn. Well once we get info outta him, he won't be any more use, now will he?" Norzak says a little too eagerly. He follows the others down the shaft. He takes a big whiff. "Oi!!! Smells like a clan 'o' dwarves all gathered together for a reunion down in a small room down here"Norzak states matter-of-factly.

ewancummins wrote:''Yes. I'll take you there, just keep that dwarf away from me!''

The surviving man climbs down into the pit using the ladder built into the stonework, moving slowly and cautiously. He waits for you all at the bottom of the tunnel, next to the spot where his comrade lies dead atop the wreckage of the iron grill, face down and partially submerged . The tunnel is dark [you'll need a light source], built of cut stone, roughly cylindrical, seven feet in diameter and filled up with water about two feet deep in the middle. The passageway is ever so slightly inclined , so that the dirty water flows down in one direction, albeit gently.

Cirdan will tie a rope around the surviving man's neck.

"So I can be sure that I'll get a hold on you if this should be a trap. I'd accept your word of honor, but I think we both know that it isn't worth that much."

And to the others: "Sir Norzak, would you lead the way? - And, Sir Ben, the dwarf and I can see in the dark. Can you make your magic do that for you, or will you need an artifical lighting?"

Bennedict points his now illuminated crossbow at Rafael.

"Taken care of," he says, "After you, gentlemen."[/i]

Once he reaches the bottom, he looks around. He kicks the dead man once for goos measure and spits on him, then looks him over quickly while the otehrs descend the rope. Norzak merely nods and unsheathing a dagger, moves forward. He will listen and do spot checks as he plods along. Every few feet he wil stop and try to discern if there are any tracks.

The party moves down the sewer tunnel....

Norzak, moving a short distance forward of the main body, spots a tangle of broken furniture and other garbage which partially dams the stream ahead. Water flows through gaps in the mess , or over its irregular top. Crossing it shouldn't prove any great obstacle, as it is little more than two feet high.

As he draws closer, Norzak spots a bit of something red waggling in the stream on the far side of the low pile of trash. It proves to be a lock of hair, snagged on a splintered wooden board that rests just below the waterline.

Norzak approaches carefully, then picks up the red hair and waits for the others. He shows them the hair, a grim look on his face. If'n they've 'urt Missy I'll kill em all, the bastards! She better be livin' fer their sake, all I kin say

Cirdan will gently - wait, not so gently - push the thug on the line.
"Move. And pray that the girl is still alive."

[Check: Is somebody following us?]

No one appears to be following the party.

The captive continues to walk on, sullen and fearful. He clambers over the trash pile and waits for Cirdan to cath up before continuing forward.

After about ten or fifteen minutes of steady walking you come a four way intersection of similiarly sized drains. The captive points to the righthand tunnel.

''This is the one we want, bosses. Right down here.''

Benn's magelight shows a rippling inthe water behind the roped guide, as if something has moved into the water behind him, just outside the circle of light. From further down the tunnel comes a soft weeping sound...

Benn gestures with his crossbow, indicating that the prisoner should head down the tunnel, towards the weeping.

"If this is a trap, Herr, I intend for you to step into it first."