This 2E Dragonlance game is set in the city of Haven, during the War of the Lance. Haven is a city undergoing great upheaval. First massive numbers of refugees pour in, then the city is conquered by a draconic army. Can our heroes survive under this dark occupation?
Nora wrote:are you truly that righteous and altruistic after all?
"I'm neighter. But I'm responsible to her being captured and wouldn't want to have her blood on my hands."
Nora wrote:As we captured her and held her here, I sincerely doubt she'd be willing to aid us in any way, even if we agreed to let her go now. So not only would we not receive a reward, we'd make an enemy of both her and her uncle's men.
"Not if we help her. She is still on the run. My uncle suggested The Tower of Wayreth would be the best place to hide her. And to the Ergothians we can say she managed to escape, after all she managed to delude them long enough. About the reward... well, maybe we would be able to find other ways to help Darewind. As it happens two days ago I had to 'comvince' with a little magical help, one of the Seekers Guard that he is an old friend of mine, to avoid, ahh... well... complications. I didn't want to pursue the issue anymore, but maybe we can use this 'friendship' somehow..."
Tulbas Erogund (Cult Lair, Back Room)
Nora shakes her head. "Unless this Holy Guard you magicked was Orin Woodwind himself, I doubt it will help us much. No, what we need is coin, and lots of it. We have an ever growing number of mouths to feed and backs to clothe. Besides, even if she agreed to help us, which I really doubt she would, what could she do? She may be a rich noble, but she's also deposed--she has no money or influence to help us. If anything, she'd be more of a liability, because the Ergothians would continue to send men after her."
Nora turns and starts to walk away, but stops after a couple of steps and crosses her arms, her back still toward Tulbas. "Of course," she adds, "once she's been turned over, and we have our money, what happens after that isn't our concern. If someone knew the trade is to take place tonight at Late Watch and that the Ergothians have a boat named the Salmon in the harbor to take them to New Ports, said person might be able to ambush the guards before they reach the boat, rescuing the girl. If such a thing were to happen, the Ergothians could hardly blame us or demand their money back; after all, we delivered her as promised. It would be their own fault if they lost her again."
Nora looks over her shoulder to Tulbas. "Of course, if something like that happened, I wouldn't know anything about it. After all, I can't keep track of what all 2,000 of us are doing at all times. Come along now, we have an initiation to prepare for."
Kendra Synclair (Synclair Residence, 2723 Crooked Road)
"Wonderful!" Garnet says, and she grabs Kendra into a tight hug. "I'll take it down to the tailor today to make the adjustments. Oh, I'm so excited! My baby girl is finally getting married!"
Kendra lets out a sharp gasp of pain as she is hugged tightly, due to the fact she is still pretty wounded. "Ow, not so tight mom," she says as she returns to the hug. "And I'm glad you're excited."
Darga shakes his head regretfully and lays a hand on the boy's shoulder to comfort him. "Well, I can't bring back yer mama, but I got nowhere ta go either. If'n ya don't want ta stay wit' these folk makin' ya steal fer them, there's got ta be another way. I don't know if I kin take care a' you myself, but I kin at least get ya away from these folk, eh?"
"If something like that happened, I'm sure that said person would know nothing about you. Would that person be able to predict the numbers of the Ergothians present in the exchange?" Tulbas asks while turning his head to Daxia to see if she understood what has happened here, behind the clouds of the drugs she consumed, already starting to plan his next moves, querying about the 'Salmon', maybe letting Daxia learn spells to be prepared for the fight to come.
Kendra Synclair (Synclair Residence, 2723 Crooked Road)
"Well now, let's sit down and discuss some of the details, okay?" Garnet says, pulling away and then heading back to the table to sit down.
Darga (Harbor District)
The boy stops wiping his eyes and looks at Darga. "How ya gonna do that?" he asks.
Tulbas Erogund (Cult Lair, Back Room)
Nora shrugs. "I'm not sure how many there are--maybe half a score, at best, but I do know their leader is an Ergothian Cavalier--one of their finest warriors. Have you heard of them? Many say they are comparable to the Knights of Solamnia in strength. I know I wouldn't want to tangle with him. Not alone, anyway."
Daxia looks forward, blankly, not at anyone or anything in particular. If she's paying any attention, it's difficult to tell.
Nora escorts Tulbas back to where he left Kynaston and Haahqae waiting.
Darga shrugs. "I don't look it, but I had lots o' money until las' night. Twos and twos of silver, gold, and steel! If y'really want away from these folk, I kin see 'bout gettin' it back from them that stole it from me. Then I kin take care a' ya, or at least I kin get ya some food an' a place ta stay fer a while if ya don't want ta stay wit' me. But first, I'd need ta get th'money back..." He falls silent, as if struck by a thought. "Mebbe ya kin tell me...what do these folk a' yers look like?"
(OOC: Does the boy's description of his "guardians" match up with the people who rolled Darga, by chance?)
Kendra follows after her mother, and sits down at the table. She still doesn't look quite too happy about this situation, but she was stuck in it now. There wasn't a whole lot she could do about it. "What details are there that we have to discuss?" she asks.
As Nora and Tulbas reach Kynaston and Haaque Tulbas says, "Thank you Nora, I shall show my companions around now and be back here for the initiation." After Nora is lost from sight greeting the new recruits, Tulbas says quietly to the others, "Look, I've got crucial information regarding Daxia's exchange. We need to act really fast. Let's get outside and I'll explain it all." Tulbas starts to lead them out through the crowd. At the entrance he bids the guards farewell and tells them they will be back for the initiation.
Finding a quiet hidden spot Tulbas says, "Nora interrogated Daxia and after I confirmed Daxia story, Nora seems to believe it and is willing to help. Since she is entangled in politics she can help only indirectly... Anyhow the exchange will take place tonight at Late Watch. The Ergothians have a boat named 'Salmon' at the harbor that will take them to New Port. There will be about half score of soldiers where their leader is an Ergothian Cavalier whom are very strong warriors. Our actions must not trace back to Nora, should anything go wrong."
Tulbas waits for a second for the others to respond and then, "My thoughts at that are: we are out numbered, so we need to recruit some help. We also should check the harbor, but not ask directly on the 'Salmon' to avoid suspicions. I'd also like to consult my uncle and last thing we might want someone at the cult's warehouse to make sure the info is correct."
Tulbas then stands contemplative for a moment, "Another completely different direction could be to stage Daxia death and make the Ergothian believe it..."
Tulbas finds Haahqae lazily slouched against a wall, juggling an unlit torch lazily in one hand. At his beacon Haahqae pulls himself up and follows the elf without a word before they reach a secluded spot. "Ya know, I thought joining a cult would be a little more exciting. Where's all the dancing and chanting?" He comments upon arriving.
"An Ergothian Cavalier? They mean trouble, always thinking themselves better then the honest folk. And I swear they have no humor."
"Ah, so you want to enlist another group of heroes, take a trip to the dock, spy on Daxia all day and have a chat at home? Sounds like a reasonable amount of work for 3 people in one day. Can I pick up eggs at the market on the way?"
"Stage her death? Well how good of an actor is she?"
Darga (Harbor District)
"There's a whole bunch of us," the boy explains. "More than I can count wif all my fingers 'n toes. We all live together in a big building here by the docks." He turns and points to a warehouse not too far from where they are standing. From all appearances, at least from the outside, it appears abandoned.
Kendra Synclair (Synclair Residence, 2723 Crooked Road)
Kendra and Garnet sit and discuss the more minute details of the upcoming wedding.
Tulbas, Haahqae, and Kynaston (Harbor District, outside of Cult Lair)
"Hmm, the Ergothians must plan to hop a real ship at New Ports and ride it back to Ergoth then," Kynaston muses, rubbing his chin. "An Ergothian Cavalier, huh? I heard stories of them when I was in Solamnia, but...I've never met one before." He listens to Tulbas' ideas. "Well, we can probably get Kendra, Darga and Gregeddin to lend a hand, as well. That brings our number up to six. At least we'll have the element of surprise on our side, as well."
Gregeddin reflects on Raetmal's words, "Yes that could be the correct name you mentioned, what I can say is that the feats were incredible, what I would call magic. However, divine or arcane... I suppose I couldn't say given my inexperience." he muses aloud.
"Why thank you for your generosity of the spell book. I shan't take it now for the rain, but would very much like to take you up on your offer!" Gregeddin exclaims.
"Ah so I would need to find what a black robed wizard wanted for him to give up any information about Fistandantilus..." Gregeddin pauses nervously, "And is it true that they are dangerous?"
His last question made him a little nauseous to say aloud, "And do you know where to find one?"
Darga frowns at the boy's words as he holds out his hands and looks at his fingers. "So many of 'em? An' are all of 'em in there?" He looks doubtfully at the building. "If what yer sayin' is true, I don' think it'd be a good idea ta go in an' look around. 'Least not without a plan a some sort." He shakes his head ruefully. "Looks like that plan'll have ta wait, an' I got somewhere I got ta be. If'n ya want, ya kin come along an' I'll see what I kin do ta get ya some food."
Darga sticks out his hand to the boy. "Th' name's Darga. What kin I call you, boy?"
(OOC: Unless the boy suggests another course of action, Darga will start towards the mage shop where he was to meet with the others.)
"You will have to wait with the dancing and chanting for a while, the initiation afternoon would cheer you up." Tulbas says impatiently.
He looks at Kynaston, "I might be able to neutralize some of the weaker warriors, making them fall asleep using magic, to balance the odds. Maybe you Kendra and Gregeddin would want to concentrate forces fighting the Cavalier but that's up to you as I have never fought such a warrior. I hope Gregeddin found Darga, do you know where is Kendra? You can go find her, Haaque, you can look for Gregeddin and Darga at the library, and I will go to talk to my uncle. He might help us. Let's all meet at my house... err.. my uncle's shop in one hour time. Agreed?"
