RC No America (Wed)- Mystery of the Claw Tattoo

Remove all ads!

Iris checked the possessions of their captive to see if they were magical, none were but the short bow was a masterwork item. Quickly finishing up the meal, Knomal, Gaspar, Xalen, and Iris dragged the would be assassin to Masters Hall. The guard upon seeing the four, immediately summoned Lt. Gorin Zachian again to the gates of the hall. Gorin accepted the prisoner informing the four that he would keep this one alive until the interrogation was complete. Returning to the Trumpet, they were surprised to see a different face at the desk, that of the proprietor, Gaurlar Darym. Gaurlar welcomed the four to the trumpet and proceeded to ask how he could help them. Knomal, having had a disturbing night already was taken aback and informed Gaurlar that they had already made arrangements with Bartook. It was now Gaurlar’s turn to be surprised as his assistant Bartook Deevers was in fact currently in Silverymoon visiting relatives. Gaurlar had been called away to meet with his friend Gorin Zachian, a meeting that proved to be a ruse, and had left the Inn in the charge of the cook Hanz. Gaurlar sent his errand runner to verify Knomal’s story with Gorin. Xalen decided to exit the Inn and enter their rooms through the window. He looked around to see if the rooms had been disturbed since they were last in them, and seeing them as they were left, returned to the front of the Inn.

The errand runner, Quint, returned with a note from Gorin verifying that the party was in fact to be treated as guests of Masters Hall. Iris questioned Quint but the lad had been in his room since his supper, and had seen nothing. Gaspar went to the stables to check up on their horses while Knomal left to speak with the stable boy, Chuckie. Chuckie remembered the imposter “Bartook”, but had assumed he was with the party, and had taken one of the horses and rode off in the direction of the main gate. Knomal gave the boy a gold piece, and Chuckie vowed to have all his street friends look for the stranger. If he returned, Knomal would find out. Gaspar discovered the missing horse and also that someone had searched through their gear on the mule, nothing was missing. The group entered the Inn again, and Gaurlar brought them to the rooms reserved for Guests of Masters Hall. He informed them that they would be free from all scrying and listening attempts so long as they remained inside these rooms. Exhausted from the days activities the group simply retired for the night. In the morning, Xalen awoke early and began to make preparations for a spell. He informed the others that he would be some time, and that they should not wait for him. Knomal indicated that resting was fine with him.

 

Xalen sits motionless for the morn till into the early afternoon, eyes closed, concentrating intently on the weapon before him. His eyes remain closed, his breath steady...a slightly blow glow eminating from his hands, causing the sword glow in an iery mannor...it's form and function being slowly revealed in his minds eye, bit by bit, hour after hour.

 

While Xalen contemplated the information streaming to him through the identify spell, Knomal decided to use this time to visit Furjur’s Flying Carpet. Gaspar, not knowing else to do, followed him. Once there, Knomal presented the shop keeper with one of the “Blue” arrows asking if she knew anything about it. The shop keeper, Krystal Lycerra, quietly hid the arrow and led the two to the back office. Once there, she related the story of how her father had thwarted a cult’s efforts to gain influence in the city of Everlund. This group, The Brotherhood of the Claw: the Order of the Blue Claw, took out its revenge, assassinating him with arrows such as these. She remembered once seeing a tattoo on the back of one of the brotherhoods necks, that of a blue dragon claw. This group is a cult of dragon worshipers that seek to promote the worship of Tiamat, and usually serve a dragon or clan of dragons in the area. They engage in many illegal operations, gathering treasure hoards for their dragons. The Order of the Blue Claw is believed to serve a clan of dragons that reside within Morueme’s Cave, located in the eastern portions of the Nether Mountains. She also believes that the group is most likely being watched and they could avail themselves to the use of her magic mirror to gain the upper hand.

While the two were in conference with Krystal, Serena decided to wander off to the local market to purchase some items. She did not see the assassin located on the rooftop overlooking the inn. As she turned down a side street, the assassin struck, hitting her with a pair of blue arrows.

Observing this was a local street urchin named Rufus, who ran to his friend Chuckie at the Trumpets stables and informed him of what he saw. Chuckie dropped what he was doing and took off toward Furjur’s Flying Carpet, arriving just before the conference had ended. As Knomal emerged from the back office, Chuckie approached him relating to him the observations of his friend Rufus. This man he saw was the imposter Bartook. He was uncertain as to the fate of the cleric, but could take them to where she was attacked.

 

Knomal turns to Chuckie
"Good work lad, lead us to the place, but be standin' aside so they don't hit you if something bad happens..."

"Gaspar, keep wary and ready... I left my durned bow in the inn. Ladies, you wouldn't have a spare bow for me to borrow? 'Tis hard to chase an assassin armed with one of them blues without some sort of ranged support."

 

"Knomal, I'm always careful and let me take point." Gaspar pauses in the doorway. "Though maybe we ought to get some kind of antidote to that poison if that's possible as well."

[This message has been edited by Avarahtar (edited February 22, 2002).]

 

Krystal moves toward the door, grabbing a few items along the way, A long bow, a quiver of arrows, and a vial. "Here, if you think it will help, you can use this bow and these arrows. Just return them, they are quite valuable. And you can have this vial of anti-toxin. It should neutralize the poison, you can pay me later for it."

 

With a small bow Gaspar accepts the offered items and passes the bow and arrows to Knomal. "My thanks lady. Knomal, lets be off. The cleric may be in great need of our help..."


[This message has been edited by Avarahtar (edited February 22, 2002).]

 

"We will be back soon, but now - onward, and be careful and wary"

Knomal took the bow and hung it on the shoulder, casually walked out of the store and followed Chuckie at a distance.

 

Chuckie initially heads toward the Trumpet, but after a short distance, he turns down a side street and moves in the direction of the open market.

"She went down here not more'n 10 minutes ago."

As the three turn a corner, they can see a figure slumped over on the ground, two blue arrows protruding from the torso. As they get a little closer, they can see that it is their friend, Serena.

 

Knomal curses and darts to Serena. On the way, he cries out loud: "Guards!!!"

Knomal reaches Serena and checks if she's still alive.

[She is still breathing, but it is very shallow. Baldak]

"Arg, we don't need anyone dead here!" growls he as he reaches for the antidote and pours it down Serena's throat. He says to Gaspar - "Take her to the Carpet and wait, I'll run and warn Xalen!"

Saying that, Knomal turns and runs to the Trumpet.

[This message has been edited by Skedaddle (edited February 26, 2002).]

 

Frowning slightly, Vall approaches the settlement of Sundabar. It is an environment that he is unfamiliar with. People... friendly people, people with smiles and jovial expressions. People that aren't wielding maces, clubs and other tools of torture. His frown deepening, Vall moves among the streets of Sundabar, quiet as a mouse. A few passers-by might notice a small wisp of black, a shimmer of gold or the cruel point of a wicked-looking axe. But by the time they stopped to take a longer look, the oddity was already gone.

He has come from the High Forest in search of the evil that has plagued his entire life: the orcs. Rumor had it that they were attacking from the mountains, raiding and pillaging-- he had already passed one of their targets, a small settlement called Jalanthar. Vall knew the attacks would increase, in both frequency and size. These were orcs after all.

But this was Sundahar, and it was a different place. Vall thought over this while continuing to creep along the streets, his instincts and senses never failing him. Then he saw something that piqued his attention: two adventurers tending to the broken body of one who looked to be a cleric. One was carrying the cleric and moving ahead, while the other watched for any sign of danger, weapon clearly at the ready.

Vall felt he must help these people, and abandoned his skulking to quickly approach the two. "May.. may I help?" he spoke in the unfamiliar Common tongue, while pulling a healing draught from his pack.

[Introductory post.]

[Baldak: Vall is Chaotic Good.]

[This message has been edited by TheBlackRose (edited February 26, 2002).]

 

Having picked up Serena’s body, Gaspar took off toward Furjur’s Flying Carpet while Knomal headed to the Trumpet to gather the others. Gaspar was approached by an elf, Vall, who asked if any help was needed. Upon arrival at the shop, Krystal had Gaspar bring Serena into the back office while her sister Marinda prepared some healing spells. Gaspar then turned his attention to the newcomer. Vall produced another of the insipid blue arrows explaining that he had found it. Upon comparison, the arrow Vall had matched the ones used by the assassin. As the elf began his tale, the rest of the group arrived at Furjur’s Flying Carpet.

Vall raged on about the brutality of Orcs and how he has vowed to hunt them to extinction if possible. Little by little, his tale unfolded. His village was overrun by an Orc horde when he was very young. His father died defending the village, but they were outnumbered greatly. His brother Trian and he were captured and brought to the Orc settlement where his brother was brutally slain through the use of his own sword and he, Vall, was enslaved. He managed to escape after many years of harsh treatment. He did manage to steal back his brothers sword which he carries. It would seem that some spirit has been bound to the blade.

Unsure about the Elf, but having little time to decide, the group accepted the newcomer, any additional allies would be needed in the near future. Knomal, Calin, Gaspar, Nimbul, and Vall, through the use of a magic mirror in the shop, proceeded onto Masters Hall. Iris and Xalen returned to the Trumpet to gather the equipment left in haste. Serena, too weak to be moved and still unconscious, was left in the care of Krystal and her sisters.

At Masters Hall, they met once again with Gorin Zachian. With the additional news of possible Orc involvement, Gorin was still unable to act. He needed some additional information that was as yet eluding him. Where were these orc hordes gathering? Where was this cult’s base of operation? He needed someone to locate the Cult, infiltrate the stronghold, secure information on plans, and return it to him. He asked Knomal if he would be interested in this operation, seeing as how the cult was bent on killing the group. Knomal and the others decided that they needed to deal first with Serena’s attacker. They could then decide on the best course of action to take.

Nimbul was the obvious choice to sneak back to the trumpet and locate the assassin. After waiting for about an hour, Nimbul returned. The assassin was located on the rooftop across from the Trumpet, laying in wait much like a sniper. It was obvious that this assassin would simply wait for one of the group to be alone in the street , attacking with the poisoned blue arrows when secluded.

Knomal decided that this was not an acceptable way for them to continue. The assassin would have to be removed. Nimbul and Knomal entered the building next to the Trumpet where they could over look the rooftop where the assassin was located. Xalen and Gaspar entered the assassins building through a rear entrance and proceeded up the stairs to the attic. Xalen moved over to the window used by the assassin, but he must have made some noise in the process. The assassin was waiting for him.

Seeing the assassin move back over to the rooftop where the window was right below, Knomal and Nimbul fired arrows at the assassin, the blue arrows they had secured earlier. Nimbul hit the mark, and the assassin retreated to cover. Several more volleys, including three more hits, and the assassin was down. Xalen climbed onto the rooftop and retrieved the body.

The equipment of the assassin consisted of a short bow, a quiver of blue arrows (15), and a small sack. The sack contained a flask and a pouch.

Each party member receives 200 experience points.

 

Gaspar looks down at the body with a small frown. "Maybe we ought to search this one a bit closer." He then kneels down and searches the assassin and his possessions more thoroughly.

 

Upon closer inspection, Gaspar finds what looks like a short sword and scabbard. When the blade is drawn out, he notices that it is considerably shorter than the scabbard.

 

"Hum, would there be something hidden with that sword in the scabbard? Mayhap some secret stash of valuables?" says Knomal, as he stops playing with one of the blue arrows. "Let me see..." - he takes the scabbard from Gaspar and searches through it thoroughly.

 

Gaspar hands the scabbard over to Knomal. "Here take a look if you'd like."


[This message has been edited by Avarahtar (edited March 04, 2002).]

 

After a few moments of prodding the scabbard, the secret compartment in the bottom opens. Rolled up inside, Knomal can see a piece of parchment.

 

Iris reaches down and picks up the pouch to see what's inside. She also goes over to see what the parchment is, but doesn't read it.

 

"Oooh! That's interesting. Here we have a map to the place where the dead man is supposed to get his booty for killing, um... us." Knomal laughs. "But since he was the one who got killed, we have the full right o go and investigate the place... Maybe even get some of that booty."

Knomal demonstrates the map to everyone.

 

"Perhaps this is a trick, laid by the assassins themselves. The map could be fake, and direct us to an ambush where the assassins can.. have their way with us. I believe we must consider this option before proceeding," says Vall.