Start of #Sharn buffer: Wed Mar 21 21:35:08 2007 [17:45:48] [The group still stands in the abandonned tavern where Mikael assumedly worked his illegal document forging business out of, located in the sea-side district of Cliffside. They discuss what to do next.] [17:45:53] [Session Start] [17:37:56] * Marianysa sighs, shuffling her feet a little. "You guys want to come along? I'm a little worried about an unpleasant surprise." [17:38:58] * Aun nods. "Might as well. Better than going back to Fallen." [17:39:17] [17:42:50] Ah? Sure. [17:42:54] Aurelis nods, We don't want a repeat of what happened to me. [17:47:07] * Aurora moves along [17:48:03] * Marianysa leads the way back to her shop. [17:48:43] [The group makes it to one of the levetating lifts, to a warehouse district in Lower Dura where it's relatively easy to find a skycab, since one of the larger skycab docks is located directly beside the lift, ready to spirit arriving personages of a more reputable nature past the seedy lower levels of Sharn.] [17:51:28] [The closest route to Mari and Aurelis's shops takes the group to Middle Tavick's Landing, where they find the bridge to Middle Menthis. Both of their shops are facing opposite each other, closer to Tavick's Landing than Menthis Plataeu.] [17:52:50] [The bridge is a wide avenue, capable of several lanes of horse-drawn carriage traffin and moving cargo. Entire buildings are built onto the sides of the bridge, impossibly supported by Sharn's manifest zone.] [17:53:51] [Aurelis's shop is closed, however, Mari's is currently open, as the group sees a customer entering the building as they approach. Either that or Mari forgot to lock the door and that customer was actually just a looter.] [17:55:30] * Marianysa scratches her head. "Um. Well, that's not right. I thought I locked up..." [17:55:46] [Aurelis] Aurelis sighs. [17:56:04] We'd better check it out, make sure there's still anything in there. [17:56:47] * Marianysa glares at Aurelis. "Don't say it. Anything at all." [17:57:20] [Aurelis] Aurelis smiles, knowing that he doesn't have to say anything at all. [17:57:36] Right, let's get inside, quick. [17:57:39] * Marianysa turns back to looking at the store before striding purposefully towards it. "All my stuff..." [17:57:48] * Aurora heads towards it, keeping an eye at that costumer [17:59:54] * Aun follows after Mari [17:59:59] [Mari is the first one through the door and she sees the person that just entered browsing some of the scrolls in the evocation section. She also sees someone rather familiar behind the counter, tending to her shop.] "Miss Leyonard! You're back!" [The woman speaking is perhaps five years older than Mari. She's her old babysitter.] [18:01:27] [She looks a little nervous, glancing to the back room before leaning forward and lowering her voice.] "Mari, your mother is-" [18:01:27] * Marianysa blinks, then reddens a bit. "L-lanni? What're you doing here?" [18:01:31] "Right here." [18:02:17] * Marianysa cringes, turning veeeeeery slowly towards the voice. [18:02:18] [A woman walks out from the back room. The resemblence to Mari is striking, with her red-brown hair kept loose and elegantly fashioned.] "And still quite well of hearing." [18:03:18] "Really, Marian, you should at least take this job seriously if you insist on doing it." [18:04:11] * Aurora waves to the nice new lady. [18:04:37] [She strides toward Mari. Although her years are apparent, they don't detract from her grace. She takes her daughter by the shoulders and looks her over.] "Where have you been, Marian? You smell like goblin hide." [18:04:53] * Marianysa stiffens. "If _I_ insist on doing it? Like this was my idea in the first place?" [18:05:26] * Marianysa scowls sulkily, looking away. "Not important." [18:05:45] "Don't grimace like that, you'll get wrinkles early." [18:05:53] * Aun maintains a neutral expression, not entirely sure how to deal with this at all. [18:06:34] "Well, it was you who chose this over the other option we gave you." [18:07:09] Ugh, you have to talk like this? I'm not a child! [18:07:25] And like it was really a choice. [18:08:01] I'm not interested in getting married, let alone to some guy I don't even know! [18:09:00] "Please, Marian. It's business. Do you have any idea what an opportunity marrying into a Dragonmarked family is?" [18:09:22] "This... pittance of a business wasn't even a real suggestion." [18:11:25] Maybe to you. [18:11:25] "With House Cannith, your talents of artifice could have risen to new heights. And now what... years later and you're still making scrolls and potions." [18:11:56] "Well, I'm glad to hear this shop of yours does mean something to you." [18:12:19] "Afterall, your father made a name for himself through his own blood sweat and tears." [18:12:56] So is this important somehow or are you just here to bug me like usual? [18:14:37] "I am here because you obviously need help. I know you up at left the shop without so much as posting a notice of how long you will be out of business." [At this, Lanni bushes, even as she takes care of the customer who's rapidly trying to complete his purchase and leave the uncomfortable setting.] [18:15:32] blushes* [18:15:45] I didn't know I was going to be gone so long! Besides, it was important. [18:16:50] "Oh?" [For the first time, it seems, Mari's mother looks up at the other people in the room.] "I'm sorry, where are my manners. Looking after Marianysa feels like a full-time job" [She laughs lightly.] [18:17:39] * Marianysa continues to scowl sulkily. [18:18:14] [She looks all of those attended and approaches Aurelis first, offering her hand to him.] [18:18:59] [Aurelis] Aurelis doesn't wish to make this situation anymore akward for Mari so he tries his best to keep his drug-induced insanity to himself and shakes her mother's hand politely. [18:19:12] * Talpa (~rustangel@ip-116-200.atvci.net) has joined #sharn [18:19:26] * Talpa is now known as Phanos [18:19:48] [Misses Leyonard's lip twitches and she extricates her hand from Aurelis's as fast as possible.] [18:19:58] * Marianysa slaps her forehead. [18:20:44] [Aurelis] Aurelis sighs. I'll be in my shop. Aurelis then hangs his head and walks out the door [Aurelis's further mutterings are muffled as he walks away.] [18:21:55] * Marianysa mutters "You really know how to make the worst of a bad situation." to herself. [18:22:11] [Mari's mother looks over the rest of the group and gives a curt nod to them as a whole, walking back to Mari.] I see you've chosen to keep some... interesting company. [18:22:42] I am Aurora Lumines. Priestess of the Silver Flame. [18:23:25] * Marianysa snaps "Keeps life from getting boring." [18:23:37] "Mm. Apparently...." [18:24:21] * Marianysa 's scowl deepens. [18:24:33] * Aun extends a hand. "Aun, chronicler for the Sharn Inquisitive." [18:24:37] [She sighs and pulls out a small leather portfolio from her purse.] "Mari, if this shop were to fail, it would absolutely crush your father." [18:24:47] ( I misread that as fall. ) [18:24:59] ( That'd make much more sense in the shop crushing her father. ) [18:25:07] ( I think I need mroe tylenol. ) [18:25:44] [She doesn't look up as she takes out a small quill, obviously magical because no accompanying ink bottle appears as she writes something down after opening the leather folio] [18:25:58] "That's why I am here. To help you succeed." [18:26:49] She had a pretty good reason to leave. Aurelis got into some pretty nasty trouble. [18:26:51] Right. [18:27:09] * Marianysa makes shushing motions at Aurora. [18:27:17] [She rips a sheet of paper from the leather folio and hands it to Mari.] [18:27:46] * Aurora shrugs and shushes [18:27:52] "Promise me it'll go toward that goal, okay?" [18:28:37] * Marianysa takes it. "Alright, alright." [18:29:47] "Now... if you need to get whatever..." [She glances at the rest of the group] "this is, out of your system, Lanni will stay here as a favor to the family and mind your shop." [18:30:42] "I also cleaned your living quarters." [18:31:20] * Marianysa twitches slightly, but nods. [18:32:03] [She leans in and kisses Mari on each cheek, then straightens her clothes for her.] "Alright, I've been away from your father too long waiting for you. He sends his love." [18:34:49] * Marianysa sighs, and nods again. "Okay, okay." [18:35:35] "I'll tell him you said 'okay.' " [18:37:31] * Aurora watches them. Aww. She doesn't say that, though [18:38:28] * Marianysa grits her teeth. "If he wants to tell me he can-" she sighs "Fine, tell him I love him too." [18:40:02] [She frowns, sad.] "Mari, you know he's a very busy man. Everything he's done has been for us. But.. this isn't a conversation to have in public. Can we least expect you home for the Night of Long Shadows?" [18:41:31] Yeah. [18:43:03] [With a nod and one more kiss to the cheek, Misses Leyonard exits the shop.] [18:44:50] Your mother cleans your place? If I tried to get mine to clean the apartment after yesterday morning... [18:44:54] * Marianysa leans against a wall, slumping. "Sorry you guys had to see that." She turns to Lanni. "And thanks again. Sorry you got dragged into this." [18:45:03] * Aun shakes her head. "She does my voice way too well." [18:45:12] [Lanni, still blushing somewhat, nods sheepishly.] [18:45:16] * Marianysa rolls her eyes. "She probably paid someone to do it." [18:46:13] It's no problem. [18:47:53] * Aurora relaxes a bit. "Anyway, nice to meet you. So this is the shop?" [18:48:14] I'd better go check on my stuff. Make sure she didn't have them throw out anything important. [18:48:18] Yeah, this is it. [18:50:48] Nothing much, but it's home, after a fashion. [18:51:07] It looks cozy. [18:51:13] [Mari heads into the back to her private living quarters. She finds somethings missing, but upon searching further, they were just placed neatly out of sight.] [18:52:50] * Odin (~Legionnai@ip68-7-9-26.sd.sd.cox.net) has joined #Sharn [18:53:12] [Lanni looks to the others in the room.] "Ah.. hello.. my name is Lannielle. You can call me Lanni." [18:53:17] * Odin (~Legionnai@ip68-7-9-26.sd.sd.cox.net) has left #Sharn [18:53:42] * Aun nods. "Nice to meet you, Lanni. I'm Aun." [18:54:31] Good to finally meet the family. I'm Aurora. [18:54:42] (Yeah! Keep your Norse Pantheon out of my Eberron!) [18:54:46] * Marianysa returns. "Well, looks like they didn't mess anything up horribly." [18:55:29] (Careful, Gilgamesh is gonna show up with Odin's sword now and fuck your shit up.) [18:55:29] "Ah, I'm not family. I just work for the Leyonards. I used to babysit Mari when her parents were away on business." [18:56:08] (Eh, there's a 1 in 4 chance he'll use the Exalipoor instead, in which case I can easily survive that.) [18:56:15] ... ah? You aren't? I thought you were an older sister or something. [18:57:14] [Lanni looks over to Mari.] "Well I think "or something" qualifies." [She smiles.] [19:00:38] [Just then, the door to the shop opens with the accompanying bell chime. Aurelis enters and he looks a bit pensive.] [19:01:04] [Aurelis] Aurelis holds up the letter that he found slipped under his front door. I believe we have an answer as to what happened to Mikael. [19:01:12] Ah, there you are... what's it say? [19:01:31] * Marianysa smiles at Lanni. "You're close enough." [19:02:46] * Marianysa turns to Aurelis. "Uhoh. What is it?" [19:02:50] [Aurelis] He apparently had a confrontation with a bald, grey-skinned man. Basically said that me and my debt was too much trouble for him and that I will not be seeing him again, nor will any of you. I believe he has skipped town. [19:03:10] Hm. [19:03:25] Xev. [19:03:31] [Aurelis] He quite accurately described the Seekers of Truth as his attackers. [19:04:47] * Aun nods. "Well, he's not up to murder, then. And probably not the one trying to kill us, since this seems like something too rough for a hidden villian to do." [19:05:30] Well, better than being dead. [19:05:35] Assuming this note was written by him. [19:05:49] Assuming that this note is telling the truth. [19:06:56] [Aurelis] This message was post marked the morning of the day Mari and I were approached by the Seekers of Truth. [19:07:13] * Marianysa blinks. "When did you get pessimistic?" [19:07:49] [Lanni] "K-kill you? Mari, what's going on?" o_o [19:08:54] ... hm? Ah, sorry. Just trying to be more... analytical. You know, discovering secrets, lies within lies, that sort of thing. It's supposed to make me really good at uncovering mysteries! [19:08:58] * Aurora looks a bit proud. [19:11:00] * Marianysa blinks, then pales slightly. "Oh damn..." she says quietly, before turning towards Lanni. [19:11:51] Um...don't, uh, don't worry about it Lanni. This isn't anything you need to, uh, worry about. ...and please don't say anything to mom. [19:12:15] She's in safe hands. I'm quite the healer. [19:13:09] [Lanni looks at Aurora skeptically.] "You're the tallest halfling I've ever seen." [19:14:03] * Aun laughs. [19:15:33] ... wait, what? I'm not... okay, no, no. Not that kind of healing. [19:16:24] [Lanni's looks of skepticism doesn't cease.] "I don't think spiritual guidance is what Mari will need if she's stabbed to death." [19:17:14] Aurora's bad at that, anyways. But she does have divine magic working for her [19:18:18] [Lanni blinks.] "Oh, wow, I'm sorry. I thought you were just a priest." [19:18:46] * Marianysa just looks confused. [19:19:58] * Aurora smiles. "It was a gift I was born with, then trained further in, granted to me by the S-... wait, what do you mean, bad at that?" [19:20:23] [Scene Change] [19:22:03] [Phanos has retreated back to his herbal remedy and zombie delivery store after the insufferable ignorance thrust upon him by someone who's life he saved. The next day, early in the morning, there's a visitor to his shop.] [19:22:38] "Joo wanna delivah de flowaz?" [19:23:54] [He enters the store and ignorance Phanos's first sale's pitch, instead looking about and stopping in front of one of Phanos's zombies. The man is very smartly dressed, and his iron-grey hair, but strength of youth, marks him as a man from Karrnath, though the distinction is lost on Phanos.] [19:24:04] ignores* [19:24:54] [He finally turns his ice-blue eyes on Phanos and extends his hand.] "Hello, my name is Trevor Therimbol." [19:25:57] * Phanos reaches out, scratching the inside of the man's palm lightly, then giving him a kiss on the cheek. [19:26:06] "We be Phanos." [19:26:37] [The man hesitates for a bit, not familiar with the custom, but he quickly goes with the flow of the greeting so it is not overly awkward.] [19:26:54] "I represent a family here in Sharn that is quite interested in your talents." [19:27:00] * NovaSeaker is now known as Trevor [19:28:43] "They are aware that you're not from around here, is that correct?" [19:28:57] "You like de potions eh? I don't remembah you sah, you musta had some serve come in wif de coo-coo itch ya? Too barassed now?" [19:29:15] "No, we don't be from around ere." [19:29:36] "Ah-ha, no, luckily. I am referring to these fine works of art." [He gestures back toward the zombies.] [19:31:05] "Dat ain't eart man. Dat Clemeno." [19:31:27] "Undead are somewhat of a rarrity in these parts of Khorvaire. Legally, under the Code of Galifar, mindless undead such as these zombies are seen as property so as long as they cause no damage they're not destroyed on sight, however your delivery service is raising a few eyebrows." [19:32:26] "Dats because me zombos smell good-good, I takes de god care o dem, dey de cleanest zombos mon." [19:32:56] "Absolutely. The family I represent is somewhat amazed at how well preserved these zombies are." [19:33:25] "Tell me, Phanos, are you familiar with the term 'the Blood of Vol'?" [19:34:20] "Ol people bleed easy ya. One mon, he fall on de rock, bus his nee little cut-cut, bleed like a pig mon. I sell him some bull-juice salve." [19:34:37] "Stop it right up. I make you some?" [19:35:06] "Ah, I think you misunderstand. The term "the Blood of Vol" is the name by which our faith, our religion, goes by." [19:36:14] "Oh. So youz like de zombos. Some a youz no like de zombos. I don't cyaa me. I got me gods I foller, I sez, an dey suit me fine. Today? Today be de day of Chronepsis." [19:36:39] "Let me speak de juju today, cept wifout all de speakin!" [19:38:15] "Ah, very interesting indeed! This is actually the reason why I am here. My masters would like a trade of culture with you. Perhaps we can each learn something from the other? I'm not here to convert you to the Blood, merely offer you a new perspective that we can both learn from." [19:38:44] "You give me a wife?" [19:38:50] "And a goat?" [19:39:13] "And a saradabi?" [19:39:50] "We offer our necromantic rituals for your own." [19:40:05] "Nectoplactic?" [19:40:55] "No, necromantic. In the common language of Khorvaire 'necromancy' is the magic of the undead. The magic that creates beings such as your zombies." [19:40:55] "I don't need no nectoplankton mon." [19:41:22] "Nononon, see dese zombos, dey not like youz zombos." [19:41:37] "I don't send em to eat no brains, I don't treat em bad." [19:42:08] "Dey was me tribe's finest fightas mon. Dey see me come here, dey offer demselves to de ritual." [19:42:09] "Oh heavens, I hope not. Undead are most misunderstood in Khorvaire, exceptic perhaps the land of my birth." [19:42:30] "You from Timbahnahtalikitaronosopa too?" [19:42:53] "Ah, no, my home is Karrnath, in north eastern Khorvaire." [19:43:08] "We have a long tradition of noble undeath." [19:43:19] "I got a question." [19:43:28] "Youz keep sayin' UN-ded." [19:43:58] "If dey UN-ded, ain't we all UN-ded. Cause if you UN-ded, dat mean you livin, roit?" [19:44:38] "Yes, it is largely a semantic nonsense. However it's the best we could come up with to differentiate them from the living and the dead." [19:45:21] * Phanos scratches his head. [19:45:31] "Whatevah. My zombos, not fo trade mon." [19:45:54] "My cultchah, lika you say? It got its secrets, its juju nobody tells nothin' of." [19:46:05] "I'm not gonna sell dat to you mon." [19:46:20] "Oh no, we don't want your zombies, we can make out own just fine. We want to trade information and knowledge, we offer you our knowledge for yours. Both sides gain and no one looses." [19:46:31] our* [19:46:35] "Oh, I see." [19:46:58] "I be breakin' too many codes to tellsay you dese tings mon." [19:47:05] "Well, we are offering you our own secrets...." [19:47:17] "I don't mean you no arm, you ear dat, but my secrets are bettah den yours." [19:47:27] "Else you wouldn't be ere." [19:47:37] "Not worf trade." [19:48:08] "Well I'm sorry you feel that way." [19:48:19] "Good luck on all your... future endevours." [19:48:42] "You ave fun follerin' de fake gods." [19:48:42] [He bows slightly and leaves the shop.] [19:48:51] [He pauses] [19:49:25] "We follow no divinity but that which courses through our own veins. Your gods cursed the world with death. We merely aim to lift that curse." [19:49:39] [He leaves then, not waiting for Phanos's response.] [19:50:06] * Phanos whistles to himself, going about his shop's chores. "Silly mon. Without death, life not be important." [19:51:14] "Dere as to be a threshold ya. I with vulcha. E foller me, make me stand de vigil. Share dat responsibility? Only wif my children. Or only for a goat, a wife, and a saradabi." [19:51:34] * Phanos is talking to his zombies. They make good listeners. [19:53:11] "Les go tell de odas." [19:53:24] * Phanos sends his zombies outside, locking up his shop and heading out. [20:02:46] [Scene Change] [20:03:28] [After settling things with Lanni, the group heads back to Aun's apartment to rest and recoup and maybe figure out what to do about Mikael or the other things going on around them.] [20:05:04] [Scene Start] [20:05:51] * Aurora frowns. "So we have Xev and his friends, the mysterious client assassin, and the Ravers. Who else do we have to deal with?" [20:06:25] [Sev] "Mikael?" [20:06:39] Right, Mikael... [20:07:04] * Trevor is now known as NovaSeaker [20:07:05] For the assassin's client... well, there's the club, but we don't have much to go with there. [20:07:33] For Ravers, I don't know what to do other than to march down into their lair and start fighting. And that's a terrible idea [20:09:01] * Marianysa looks out the window, distracted and sullen. [20:09:55] And Xev hasn't done anything wrong that we can prove. [20:11:15] * Aurora nods. [20:11:15] [Aurelis] Aurelis nods, Indeed, as far as we know he has just been asking questions and lying on occasion. [20:11:42] [Aurelis] Which, is pretty much what we do as well. [20:11:57] The way I see it right now, we can be more aggressive about questioning people about the club, or we can charge into Raver Headquarters blades swinging. [20:12:36] [Sev slaps his hands on his knees and gets up.] "Alright, let's go." [20:13:16] "They're tricky bastards, but flimsy, if you can down em fast enough." [20:14:26] I... didn't mean right this instant. [20:14:42] [Sev frowns, then sits down again.] [20:15:38] I don't know if we're ready for that yet, but we'd need... a lot more than just us. I don't know how many ravers there are. [20:16:00] [Sev] "Pfft, hundreds, at least." [20:17:13] And when we had to fight four of them, Mari took quite a hit. [20:18:46] [Aurelis] Aurelis fakes clearing his throat. Ahem. [20:19:08] [Aurelis] Why exactly are you lunatics even talking about fighting Ravers? [20:19:33] Because we almost literally have nothing better to do. [20:20:42] The guy in the red cloak probably has plans too... [20:20:47] I don't want to wait to find out what they are [20:22:59] [Aurelis] Why is that our problem? They've been mostly fixated on Fallen for some reason. And the cloaked man was angry that they were taken out of that district. If you ask me, it is better just to leave them there. [20:23:08] * Aurora frowns. [20:23:24] [Sev glares.] [20:23:46] They started showing up... about 80 years ago, didn't they? Do any of them look 80 years old? [20:24:04] [Aurelis] Aurelis shrugs. So insanity breeds true. [20:24:33] * Marianysa turns towards the conversation. "So what's your plan? Just sit here and wait for people to come kill us?" [20:24:38] [Sev crosses his arms and sits back, frowning intensely.] [20:25:03] Right. And what happens if you have a breeding population that kills off competition and can eat just about anything? [20:25:04] And I'm not even touching that one cause it's too easy. [20:25:15] [Aurelis] Aurelis turns to Mari and shakes his head. No, these assassins must be dealt with surely. But raving lunatics are not our problem. [20:26:29] [Aurelis] Aurelis looks back to Aurora. In another 80 years it will be someone else's problem. When they start spreading, then maybe the Watch will finally do something about it. [20:26:35] * Aurora frowns. [20:26:43] Maybe that's why they picked Fallen. [20:26:48] Because nobody cares. [20:27:03] We've still yet to check out the weapon. I'm going to go and do that. [20:27:22] Alright. But if we don't find anything, then we'll officially have nothing better to do. [20:27:57] [Aurelis] Aurelis stands. Now that sounds like a sane idea. [20:34:51] [The group gets ready and leaves for Central Plateau. When they arrive at the skydock, however, a familiar race is waiting for them.] [20:34:58] * NovaSeaker is now known as Alexander [20:35:13] * Alexander waves the group over. [20:35:29] (face*) [20:35:34] * Aurora blinks, and waves back. She starts walking [20:35:54] * Aun nods towards Alexander and heads over [20:35:57] [20:36:25] * Phanos meets up with the group as they walk out from Aun's place, his zombie cohort trailing behind him. [20:36:26] [The group gets ready to leave for Central Plataeu and as they exit Aun's apartment, they see Phanos walking toward them.] [20:37:10] "Lolo." [20:37:26] "So, where we be goin'?" [20:37:35] * Marianysa waves to Phanos, not quite cheerfully. [20:38:07] Ah, hi. We're going to try to get a weapon manufacturer identified. [20:38:35] "We go." [20:38:47] "So, youz know about de bloody ol?" [20:39:21] [Sev] "The what?" [20:39:56] "Dat mon, e come to me, e say me zombos, dey art, not people. E say dat death? It a curse." [20:40:10] .... wait, what was that again? Slower? [20:40:22] What man? [20:40:24] "De mon from de bloody ol." [20:40:50] "Sed e from kannaf or someting. Say I like him." [20:41:02] "I tells him, I dont foller no fake gods like im." [20:41:11] "I say dying? It important." [20:43:35] "E like my zombos, no like me not wantin' tell no secrets to em." [20:43:44] [Sev] "Uhhh, okay man, whatever pilots your airship." [20:43:54] * Marianysa scratches her head. "I don't know what bloody hole he's from and I'm not a big fan of death, but that sounds suspicious." [20:44:05] That sounds pretty ... yeah. What she said. [20:44:07] "Jes de not same as de lady I talk to, no like zombos." [20:44:25] "It some religion. Bloody ol." [20:44:29] Ah, the Blood of Vol. Yeah, they're a Karnathi religion that thinks death needs to be conquered, and think that zombies and the like are examples of that. [20:44:33] * Phanos nods sagely. [20:45:11] Oooh. Oh! Okay. [20:45:34] "Not everybody should ave dat powah, I say." [20:45:42] The Blood of.... ... ugh. [20:45:53] "You cant have one widdout de uddah." [20:45:56] Phanos, you made the right choice. [20:46:22] "See me? I take de life, AN de def. Mishmash. I stan in de middle, I control bof. It my duty." [20:47:07] Great, so now we have crazy cults too. [20:47:16] So that's what they think? Ugh. [20:47:20] I wouldn't call them a cult. [20:47:25] I just know that they're everywhere. [20:47:55] They're on a downtrend, but they're popular enough in Karnath to challenge worship of the Soverign Host at times. [20:47:59] "You hold to one too too much, you get powah quick quick, but you don't see it bothways no more. You gets blind. Too easy a path, both burny snake an bloody ol. Too much control given to de wrong people be holdin' it." [20:48:53] "Burny snake lady? She mean to zombos, mean to me. De bloody ol mon? E nice to zombos, dont want nuttin outta me but ow dey smell so good." [20:50:27] Weird. [20:50:37] Anyway, we're gonna go ask about that weapon. Wanna come with us? [20:50:45] "Yah." [20:51:42] * Aun nods. "Let's get going. I think this is the best lead we have left." [20:52:54] [When they group arrives at the skycab dock they wait a few moments for the next free one. While they wait, a familiar face approaches them.] [20:53:20] * Alexander jogs over. "Phew, glad I caught you before you left." [20:53:56] Ah, hi. [20:54:01] "Good mean mean, evil mean nice. Nice mean evil. Mean mean good." [20:54:11] "Sorry about tracking you guys down like this, but it's pretty urgent regarding our business together." [20:54:18] * Phanos lectures his zombies, they stare silently. [20:55:27] * Alexander glances around. "We can talk here?" [20:56:11] * Aurora looks around. Can we? [20:56:14] * Marianysa scratches her head, trying to follow what Phanos is saying. [20:56:38] * Phanos looks to mari. "De evil mon, he nice to me. De good lady, she mean." [20:56:57] "So here, you all is backwads like it be from where we is be from." [20:57:24] "I try to teach me zombos." [20:57:40] * Alexander stares at Phanos for a second. [20:57:45] "He's new, isn't he?" [20:58:03] "You new." [20:58:09] "I four hunnerd yeahs old." [20:58:40] * Aurora blinks. "You are?" [20:58:54] Well, he's new to our group, anyway [20:58:54] * Phanos nods. "Only a youngling, but not so new." [20:59:58] * Aun looks over to Alexander. "It's probably as safe to talk here as anywhere else. I think we're being watched no matter what." [21:01:09] hmm.. alright. [21:01:26] * Alexander pulls his eyes off Phanos, trying not to stare at the sight of him. [21:01:44] We've found out where the prisoners were taken, but time is running short. [21:02:26] They're going to be loaded on a ship tonight, with bribed dockworkers looking the other way. We believe they will be shipped off to Droam or Darguun as slaves. [21:02:50] Oh no... [21:03:03] * Aun nods. "Thanks for the tip. Do you know what ship?" [21:03:07] If you want to give them the best chance for freedom, I'm going to need to hire some adventurers, and that isn't cheap, and I need to hire them fast, which is even less cheap. [21:03:10] Ugh. WHich way? [21:03:35] Oh, I didn't know you wanted to get involved. [21:03:50] I thought you were paying me to free them. [21:04:19] "I no like slavahs. We do it free." [21:04:39] "Dey come on de boat, take my people. Ship dem off." [21:05:08] * Aun nods. "Slavery's filthy shit. I tried to free them once, and I'm going to keep doing it until it actually sticks." [21:05:14] We'll do it outselves, though a little backup wouldn't be too bad if we could afford it. [21:05:38] * Marianysa nods firmly. "I'm going either way." [21:05:48] ((Rescind prior commentary)) [21:06:43] Well if you're still hiring me to finish the job, the risk and expenditure of equipment to my agency should by covered by 200 galifars. [21:07:06] be* [21:09:29] Does that sound fair? [21:09:58] What do you guys think? [21:10:48] Well, if we're going in, it'd be smart to do it with backup. I say it's a fair price. [21:11:06] If we're lucky, the goods we confiscate will more than cover it, too. [21:11:09] * Marianysa grins. "And I just came into some extra money today." [21:11:44] Er, about that. [21:12:03] * Aurora nods. [21:12:07] Technically, the boat is legally docked in a port of Breland, and it's cargo is legally incoming. [21:12:53] Well, there's the stuff on the slavers... [21:13:06] The looting of the fallen, while technically still illegal, will likely be overlooked. [21:14:27] "Ooh, jink jink? we go." [21:14:29] Well, let's get going. The faster the better. [21:14:30] * Marianysa shrugs. [21:14:32] Also, the boat happens to be a legitimate member of the Zil fleet... [21:14:43] So killing it's captain is likely a bad idea. [21:15:33] We can leave now and stake out the ship until the prisoners are most "vulnerable to escape". [21:15:58] * Aun nods. "Sounds like a tricky operation. We should get ready, then." [21:17:07] * Alexander nods and hands her a business card for the Truestrike agency, but an address is written on the back. "Meet me here when you're ready. It's a bar across the way from the ship." [21:17:43] And, if you can, paying me the 200 now will go towards outfitting my crew. [21:18:07] I've got 160 left... [21:18:29] I spent most of my money on that last operation [21:18:31] Damn. I don't actually have the _cash_ yet. [21:19:24] I've got it on me. Hold on. [21:20:00] * Aun digs in her satchel and hands a small stack of platinum coins to Alexander.\ [21:20:46] * Alexander hefts them in his hand once before sliding them into his trech coat pocket. "Great. I'll see you there." [21:21:07] * Alexander he moves off into the crowd, moving pretty fast. [21:21:30] Alright, how ready are we? Should we put the weapon off some more? [21:21:54] [Sev] I'm ready for busting heads whenever. [21:21:56] Considernig what's at stake here, definitely. [21:22:15] I think the weapon can wait. [21:22:25] [Aurelis] Aurelis takes stock of the arcane energes recently imprinted of the complex landscape of his mind and nods. I am ready. [21:22:38] on* [21:23:30] "We ready." [21:24:25] Alright, let's get going. [21:25:16] * Marianysa nods. "Yeah!" [21:26:24] [The group gets on the next skycab and sets off for their new destination in Cliffside, ready to finish what they started days ago.] [21:26:30] [Session End.] End of #Sharn buffer Wed Mar 21 21:35:08 2007