CH. 3: Mages, Mages Everywhere

[BishGada]

While pouring some tea and eating the breakfast Tulbas says, "One good thing so far happened by meeting them. They help the business." Tulbas smiles.
Finishing his meal, Tulbas clears the table, lifts his packs and makes sure the grey rob is folded in the packs 'I better hurry back to this fellow house on Riverway. I told them we will meet there in the morning.' He thinks to himself and go to say his goodbyes to his uncle.
Opening the door Tulbas pulls tight his hood and coat and goes fast to Riverway, trying to avoid the rain as much as possible.

[JadedDM]

Kendra Synclair (Old Keep)
"Fired? Are you mad?" Orin demands. "We're short-handed as it is, not to mention the men who died in the riot...and the other two guards who have gone missing. We assumed you shared their fate. Both Ward and Stennis disappeared at the same time you did."

Kendra was familiar with Ward, of course. Stennis was a new recruit, having just finished his training a month ago. He was a nice enough kid, if a tad naive. She had not seen either him or Ward since before the riot, though.

Haahqae (Steel Tankard Inn, Common Room)
The waitress returns with Haahqae's order, giving him an odd look when she overhears him talking to himself, but she says nothing. The bread is a bit stale, the cheese has a bit of mold on it (easily picked off), and the ale is more water than anything else. Still, it beats the gruel that the refugees have to live off of with only a single copper piece.

Tulbas Erogund (Erogundali Mageware Shop, 253 Herbalist Street)
Tulbas hurries to Kynaston's house and knocks. He is greeted by the big warrior and let in. "Morning. You're the first to arrive so far," Kynaston tells him. "Hopefully the others will arrive soon."

The house has been cleaned up, although still looks rather bare. Raetmal has never been particularly wealthy--although his merchandise is expensive, few people buy any as magic is still frowned upon in the city (and most everywhere else, for that matter). Still, it's hard to imagine living in such a small, one-room house in the bad side of town.

==============

Haahqae pays 5 CP for some bread, cheese, and a mug of watered down ale.

[HorizonsDream]

"You're just going to put me right back to work?" Kendra asks in disbelief. "I'm sorry, but I can't do this anymore. That riot proved to me that this place is falling apart. It was only a matter of time before their was a riot."

[BishGada]

Tulbas looks around and feels some guilt. "The place looks better than yesterday. Do you need some help?" he asks somewhat reluctantly as his trust in other people is hard to earn, especially humans.
Keeps his stand he asks, "You said Daxia seek the help of one of your friends, but it was none of you whom we met yesterday... So who was it?"

[Haahque]

Without anyone farmillar around, and with his day already planned out, Haahqae eats in unsual silence. When he's done he stands, drains his ale then walks out the door with ne'er a word.

Haahqae then makes his way to Kynaston's house.

[JadedDM]

Kendra Synclair (Old Keep)
Orin actually laughs out loud at Kendra's comment. It is not a laughter of mirth, however, but a bitter, derisive one. "And so what do you intend to do? Return to your family and ignore the plight of the city? Surely you aren't that stupid. What do you think is going to happen to your family, to your home, to you--if more riots break out? If this city falls into chaos and anarchy?"

He shakes his head. "Even after all of this time, even after everything you've seen, this has never been anything other than a source of steady income for you, has it? You are truly that oblivious to the importance of what we do here. The Holy Guard is the only thing keeping this city from collapsing into total mayhem--the only thing keeping the citizens of this city safe. And now that it has become more difficult, you intend to--what? Give up? Bury your head in the sand and just assume it won't affect you? That it is no longer your problem?"

He continues. "And should we fall, should the masses overthrow order for chaos, do you think you alone can protect your friends and loved ones, or for that matter, even yourself, from the hordes of thieves, cultists, rapists and murderers that will run rampant over our city, burning it to the ground? Or do you believe the riots will somehow pass by your home without touching it?

"We are the city's last defense--it's only defense--from pure anarchy, Synclair. To abandon us is to abandon the city itself and all the people who live here," he concludes.

Kynaston and Tulbas (12 River Way, Trench Residence)
"I'm afraid there isn't much more I can do at this point, other than start replacing the stuff stolen," Kynaston says. "I guess I should be grateful my family doesn't live here anymore. It's just me now."

The big warrior nods. "Coroccoco. She was a member of our group--a hobgoblin monk. She descended into the mines with us, but afterward she had her own path to follow. But she did bring Daxia here. She thought--I guess we both thought she would be safe here..."

Haahqae (12 River Way, Trench Residence)
Having finished his meal in peace, Haahqae slips out into the rain and makes his way to Kynaston's place. Upon knocking on the door, Kynaston opens it, allowing the gnome shelter from the rain. "And that makes our second arrival. Hopefully the rest will be here soon."

[mgbevan]

He nods solemnly, better understanding the situation between the robes and guards. It seemed that this power struggle was truly encapsulating the city, indeed it was eclipsing Gregeddin's thoughts of the plight of thousands of refugees that make up the city.

Guards gone missing after the riot... How curious. I wonder if the officers are aware of it. Might earn myself a little noble notoriety if I saved them...

With that final thought he glances down at himself. The metallic hilt of his new sword was the only aspect of him that looked anything remotely noble. The rest of him was a young man in punctured leather armour, cowering, trying to keep a loaf of bread dry.

Some way to go before big ideas...

Gregeddin hurries his way to meet the others

[HorizonsDream]

Kendra let out a groan of frustration, which was probably the most she had ever done emotionally in front of her boss ever. "Ugh! Why?! Why is it that everyone I know makes me feel horribly guilty for every decision I try to make for myself? Every decision I have ever made was for my family's sake. They told me to get a job so that we could survive, so I got a job. They told me to leave the man I was with because he apparently wasn't good enough for me or them, so I broke it off with him. They told me to meet Norris, and put pressure on me to marry him because he can provide for all of them, and so I'm marrying him. Now you are using my family against me because you know I'll feel this sense of duty to keep them protected in this damned city!"

Sadly, Kendra knew how she sounded at the moment, but she couldn't stop herself. It had been building up ever since she saw her family last night. "Oh, and I know that my problems are NOTHING compared to Haven's problems, and the problems of the people within. I know what I sound like," she said. It only seemed to add to her frustration. "I'll be back in a couple of days, when my wounds are more fully healed as I'm no use to you now," she finally said. "If you don't like that, then you can fire me."

[Haahque]

“Yep, it’s not their style to let a little water dampen their spirits. After all, they day we met was just as wet as this one, and everyone was practically jumping with joy at the opportunity to help that poor drunk minor reclaim his mine.” Haahqae replies with a bow that drips water all over the doorway, water that quickly makes way for the puddle that forms once Haahqae steps in the door and wrings out his hat.

[JadedDM]

Kynaston, Haahqae, Gregeddin and Tulbas (12 River Way, Trench Residence)
"Good point, Haahqae," Kynaston says. "Maybe that's why we make a good team. Oh, and here comes another one," the big warrior says, spotting Gregeddin arriving. He lets the two inside. The floors are already pretty badly water damaged, so Kynaston doesn't seem to mind if any puddles are left behind.

"That's everyone but Kendra and Darga. Has anyone seen them yet?" he asks the assembled group.

Kendra Synclair (Old Keep)

"Now you are using my family against me because you know I'll feel this sense of duty to keep them protected in this damned city!"

"What the Abyss are you rambling about?" Orin demands, baffled by her outburst. Kendra realizes that as she has never spoken about her personal life to Orin, nor does he know anything at all about her situation, there is no way he could have been deliberately trying to manipulate her by using her duty toward her family against her.

"Go then," he says, sitting back down. "Obviously, there's little I can do to stop you. Don't think you'll be getting paid during your absence, though." He shakes his head. "And may the new gods have mercy on us all."

Darga (Clover Park)
Darga remains standing in the park, cold, wet, aching and hungry, still trying to process what has happened.

"Hey, you alright, buddy?" asks a voice from behind him. A kender approaches--a young man wearing a rather silly looking white cap designed to resemble a fox's head. A nice long sword is strapped to his back. "Mister dwarf? You okay?"

[HorizonsDream]

Kendra walks out of the Seeker Headquarters, out into the rain, and heads towards Kynaston's home.

[mgbevan]

"Morning all" Gregeddin calls as he steps inside. "Nope, I haven't seen either of them. Been to the market though"

With that, Gregeddin tears off a piece of the loaf and happily chomps away. The first bites were a nauseous mix of soggy crust, but it soon got palpable in the dry doughy innards. With a stuffed mouth he is only able to waggle the bread at the others as an indication of sharing.

[Haahque]

"Thanks for the offer, but I've already eaten. Now has anyone been able to find out more about this ancient mage-god we might be up against?" Haahqae inquires. "Like even some idea of where to look to find out what he can do?"

[BishGada]

Tulbas looks at the re-assembling group his face very serious. "Before dealing with gods..." he turns his head to Kynaston, "You said Coroccoco was the one Daxia knew. Now that Hobgobling is no longer here. Daxia has no reason to trust any of you as she might even think you had surrendered her whereabouts and me, she will recognize me for my part in her capture... Making her to trust us will be VERY difficult."
Looking at the little Gnome Tulbas says, "Fistandantilus was a great mage. One of the most powerful mages ever existed. He was ambitious, started as Red mage but obsessed with immortality eventually became Black. He succeeded in extending his life span. We can find more about him by seeking information about the Palanthas Tower, as he became it's Master, and maybe that's the source of his nickname, about the last Kingpriest, Beldinas Pilofiro, as he was his adviser, and about the war the hill dwarfs had against Thorbardin the battle at Zhaman, and Skullcap, as he led this war and was believed to die there."
Then he looks at the others again, "We can work in parallel, continue the research about Fistandantilus, and seek a way to rescue Daxia. Maybe Kendra could find a way to contact Darewind. I sure want to have words with him.
We need to decide who comes with me as followers of the Master and weave a nice and convincing tale how do we know each other. We also better find another place to meet since they found Daxia here and might think to track this location." Tulbas looks again at Haaque. "I know you volunteered yesterday to join the Master ranks, but would you prefer be in charge of the information research in the library?"

[Haahque]

"Oh I would like to sit in the library and read books all day believe me, but I also like to help out friends, strangers, anyone really when I'm needed. And it might be the case that the worshipers of Fistandantilus could know some things that weren't written into books."