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#76
04-07-2012, 01:13 AM
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#77
04-07-2012, 12:10 PM
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Flint looked to the woods longingly - There's a less complicated lifestyle right there. This collective group promised to be anything but simple. Still, after witnessing everyone's strange behaviour and reactions to Norris, he couldn't help but feel travel would be full of entertainment and adventure.
__________________As he walked alongside Tarya towards the approaching keep, he straightened his stooped shoulders and held his head high. Not since the time spent in their home village had the shifter felt he didn't stand out like a sore thumb. It was something he could get used to.
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#78
04-08-2012, 02:48 PM
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Corian breathes a sigh of relief as Norris indicates they are not to be taken prisoners, "Thank you, Commander Norris. We will gladly speak with Mr. Suha."
__________________Corian follows Norris and his guardsmen up towards the keep, looking back over the group, 'It’s an odd bunch I’ve chosen to tie my fate to. A giant, clay golem whose logic is, at times, illogical, A half-orc and a shifter, a dwarf, who isn’t a dwarf, a bugbear…and halfling who, at the first sign of trouble, abandons us.' He shakes his head, 'Not a proper outfit…no order, no discipline. But it is what I have to work with, so, we’ll see how it goes.' Corian continues on up the road to the keep, hopeful of the opportunities that lay ahead.
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#79
04-09-2012, 01:26 AM
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Norris nodded and gave generic replies to those who spoke to him, but otherwise remained silent. He did heave a deep sigh when any of the adventure group 'escaped' from his guard escort, but he knew without actually arresting anyone he couldn't detain them. After the distance to the Keep was covered, the gates swung open for the group, and a large open field was revealed to the party. Aside from a few buildings for the guards(stables, a small blacksmith shop, barracks, ect.) it was nothing but gently rolling hills and well tended landscaping. About an equal distance from the gate as the town was, stood a large whitewashed manor. All but two of the guards were dismissed by Norris, and it appeared those two only followed was more because they were stationed in the manor and less as escort or guards of the others.
__________________Norris swung the door to the manor open for the others, and led them through several twisting hallways. Each hallway seemed to have a 'theme' of sorts, some decorated with several fine tapestries depicting ancient battles or the sword coast or some other region or historic event. Several fine vases and other decorations stood in little nooks or in the corners. After a few minutes of twisting hallways, many of which felt unnecessary in getting to the room that Norris stopped at, Norris knocked three times on the large door. "Enter" A young but firm voice replied. Norris opened the door, and ushered the others in through the doors. "What is the meaning of this?" The young man asked as he stood from behind a solid oaken desk. A mask of anger was slowly creeping over his face, but he paused his tirade when Travis stood from the chair who's back was to the door. "Excuse me Charles, but they are with me. It appears that my companions choose not to come, but they have recently have allied with my companions." Travis said to the young Charles Suha, then turned to the others. "We were just discussing his missing staff, and what Marcan, Dedrik and Grabbag; as well as you four; could do for him. Please, do you have any questions?" Travis asked
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#80
04-09-2012, 02:16 AM
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Gradually, the onlookers dispersed, and Marcan found it harder and harder to follow behind whilst mingled. At what appeared to be the last alley before the buildings stopped, he slipped out of sight, and used his slightly-longer reaching power to teleport to the rooftop. There, he waited and watched the group.
__________________The lacking of chains was good, but the lethargic attitude of the guards made him more comfortable. Folk who were only really interested in earning their pay, and had not seen action in a long time were much easier to slip by! Eventually, he moved down from the rooftop, and crept along behind his companions. The gate was easy enough to scale, after waiting for his energy to return, as such a large wall cause the guards to be most spread out. Had he been forced to climb, there would probably have been problems, but after travelling next to it for a while, he found a spot to quickly teleport up to the top, away from tired eyes, and then drop down inside. From there, the real challenge started. With such a long, cover-less expanse, Marcan quickly realised he had little hope but to run. Sure, he could try to find a guard uniform, and bluff his way through, but what if there were no halflings on staff? He'd look a right idiot in baggy pants and overly long sleeves! No, as soon as he felt his energy return, he hopped down and sprinted his little heart out towards the manner. Sure enough, the guards spotted him before he made it across, but by then, he already had a decent lead on them, and even the fastest couldn't catch him. Then the call went up; a loud, long blast on a hunting horn. Laughing to himself, Marcan even turned to catch a glance of the men running after him in their armour. Ah, but he only had to match their speed, and he would be... Oh dear. The sight awaiting at the manor's steps was something he hadn't planned for! Two more guards walked slowly towards him; each held, not sword-and-shields, but a pair of dogs straining at their leashes. Guard dogs...fast guard dogs, complete with unhealthy appetites, and sharp, pointy teeth... He almost stopped running, but the cries from behind merely caused him to change his direction. Now, he ran at the manor, not head on, but diagonally, trying to run around the dogs. It was foolish, he knew, but he only had to get within twenty, maybe thirty feet of the manor, that was all... He made it to forty before the dogs caught him. Two immediately went for his legs, whilst one snapped at his shoulders; the fourth, not used to such small targets, leapt right over his head, but landed and turned before Marcan could get away. "Back!" he cried, not expecting the dogs to understand or obey, but the shout was more than an attempt to command them. It was a focus, a trigger for his own power. As he shouted, he called forth a maelstrom about him, a whirlwind of fey power that lashed at the guard dogs. Ignoring their grip upon his legs, Marcan stepped into the vortex, and left the now-immobilised dogs behind. He couldn't make it to the manor's wall, but he did manage to land in the garden directly below a window. It was good enough. A second burst of energy propelled him through the window - but there was no sound of glass shattering, nor did a single plane break. Marcan simply willed himself to pass right through wall and window, into the room which he hoped would be deserted...
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#81
04-09-2012, 04:44 PM
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Oblivious to what happened outside with Marcan and the dogs, Tarya looked back across her shoulder. She had thought that the tall bugbear and his small companion would have followed, after the dispute with Norris had been settled. She was distracted by the young age of the so-called Mr Suha, and then Travis spoke, the fellow that had been with Grabbag and company when they had entered the inn.
__________________The fortune-teller knew that information would be given soon, and at this point no one really knew why she and Flint were actually interested in helping out with the lost staff. She didn't mind. No questions asked, no answers given. So she kept her own questions brief and simple, allowing for others to pose more specific ones. Scratching a tusk, the half-orc said, "Well met, Mr Suha, my name is Tarya Stargazer. What did fate have in store for you, that you lost your precious staff?"
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#82
04-10-2012, 03:03 AM
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Quote:
Yeah, how long has it been missing, and where'd the trail go cold? He was no spokesperson, and certainly no looker, but tracking he could do. If Mr Silver-spoon could fill in some details, they might be able to help. Well, maybe, Oh, and what's the job pay? He used to be a merc, might as well keep up appearances... Last edited by Dalinen; 04-10-2012 at 03:04 AM.
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#83
04-10-2012, 06:52 AM
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Grabbag followed the group from a distance, mistrustfully eyeing the guards.
__________________He sat down in a small copse of trees in view of the main entrance, resolving to go in and get his friends out if they did not get out soon.
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#84
04-10-2012, 10:32 AM
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There was a tickle in the back of Biqqesh's mind, one he hadn't felt for some time. This was real, honest to goodness, progress towards his entire purpose for existing. He was named for finding this thing, and here was a man who knew of it, and others who were also searching for it.
__________________He managed to hold his non-tongue for the moment, not wanting to come across as too excited. It would, after all, be a bit strange to have a lump of clay bouncing giddily in a chair before the man.
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#85
04-10-2012, 11:23 AM
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When the guards claimed to drop the charges, Dedrik stopped and watched the group. He, Littlearse, and the Greatarse followed behind and got comfortable a distance away from the manor and the town. He wanted to remain just far enough that the knights could not turn back on their word and close enough to be sure to join the group when the search for the staff had begun.
__________________The druid found a branch on the ground, sat on the dirt, and began to whittle. It was a quiet and peaceful. A good chance to rest. It had been a long time since the dwarf had a moment to rest such as this. Strips of bark tumbled silently to the floor when Dedrik began to feel as if something was wrong. . . something was missing. His whittling slowed until he stopped altogether staring off at the manor with a puzzled look on his face. His eyes widened with realization sweeping over his face when he was suddenly tackled by the owlbear. The two rolled around on the floor, leaves and twigs crunching beneath them, until Dedrik broke free and stood to his feet. "Grabbag, where is the halfling," he asked, out of breath and a tad upset with himself for losing track of his little friend.
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#86
04-10-2012, 12:19 PM
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Grabbag shrugged. "Long name small one go look in on friends." he gestured towards the manor. The small one was good at things like that. Magicing himself over walls, through windows, and because he was so small, Marcan could hide well. People didn't turn up their noses when he passed, either. For some reason, they always did that when Grabbag passed. "Calm. He be back. Or we go get him. He be no prisoner."
__________________Grabbag leaned back against a large oak, grinning as he watched a butterfly get eaten by a toad. For some, life was simple. Toads and butterflies were no prisoners. They were free!
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#87
04-10-2012, 12:40 PM
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Corian steps through the door into Charles Suha’s office, taking a position near the desk. He nods in appreciation to Travis as he includes the four newcomers in the recovery of the staff, "Thank you for allowing us to assist you." Corian then directs his introduction to both Travis and Charles, "I am Corian Essel’duri. I believe we can provide skilled aid in this endeavor and we will be successful in returning you the staff."
__________________Corian gestures towards his companions, "As my friends have indicated, we need a starting point for this quest. What can you tell us about the circumstances surrounding the loss?" Corian waits to hear the information about the missing staff before asking any other questions. 'A staff is missing…I wonder if someone is responsible. Was the staff lost or stolen, and who could have commit this crime?'
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#88
04-11-2012, 12:55 AM
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Charles looks over Biggesh for several long seconds, the fact that he is obviously uncertain as to how to react to a animated lump of claw clear on his face. Instead of asking questions of his own, he quickly gathers his composure and nods to the others, signifying that he heard their questions. "As you seem to know" Charles begun [b]“There’s been a theft here at the Manor. An important family heirloom, the Staff of Suha, was stolen from my Great Hall 3 nights ago. Marit, one of the
__________________villagers, saw the thieves – a band of orcs. They killed the two gate guards and the house guard on duty that night, came straight to the Hall, stole the Staff from its place on the wall and left. They seemed to know exactly what they were after?" Charles paused and then as an after though replied "I can pay handsomely, lets say 36 platinum, if you can return the staff safely to me." ***** Dedrik and Grabbag watch as the group of four disappear behind the gate, and their mental clocks slowly begin to count down to assault time. How ever, it seems that Marcan's mental clock was a lot quicker to reach 'assault time' then was the clock of the others, and they spot the tiny halfling near the wall just before he blinks on top of it then over to the other side. Not long later the sounds of blaring horns and barking dogs fill the air. ***** With his breath coming in gasps, Marcan rights his clothing and takes a moment to scan the room he has entered. To his surprise it appears that he has found the Manor's library. Judging by the length of the wall at his back, as well as the length of the row in front of him, he is able to guess that the room roughly square in shape, at sixty or so feet on each side. Several rows of book shelves stretch off to both sides of him, and at the end of the isle from him, he can make out the silhouette of a tall backed char, facing away from him.
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#89
04-11-2012, 01:48 AM
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At the sound of alarms blaring, Grabbag looked up, forgetting all about the butterfly and the toad.
__________________Yet another horn was blown before he could even grab his weapon, and he turned to the druid, growling deeply: "We go?" Grabbag grabbed his cruel-looking gouge, and made sure all of his armour was firmly in place. The little one needed their help, it seemed. 'Small one good hiding. Not so good now. Me help small one!' he thought, desperately wanting to help his friend avoid being taken prisoner.
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#90
04-11-2012, 09:30 AM
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’Orc? How would orcs know where to find the staff?’ Corian nod confidently at Charles, ”I’m sure we can recover the staff for you.” He then rubs his chin, ”Other than this…Marit…did anyone see anything suspicious? It certainly sounds like someone inside your manor was involved; do you have any idea who would have been capable of such a betrayal?”
__________________It is clear these orcs have an ally within the manor, and to be able to pull off a theft such as this, it must be someone of significance. Corian, and the others, will need to be careful with whom they deal with, and keep a sharp eye for any attempting to hinder the investigation.
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