[Game Thread] Job 5-1: Hurt's Thieves Re-sought

[hvg3akaek]

Shopping The man looks at Georgio and shrugs. "Mmhm, times are tough. I don't know how Hurt does it, but he seems to be able to keep up all his stores, even with hardly anyone wanting to go digging these days. Ah, I can still remember the delvers of thirty years ago, when people would flood here to try their luck at unearthing some old treasure! But today? Nah, its gardening or gravedigging, that's the only use people have now..."

Researching Drosin eyes Olmé for a moment, then shakes his head. "Nah, lass, I have other work that'll keep me busier than I'd like ta be. Best o' luck ta th' pair of ye, though!" Over the next few hours, Yrael and Olmé pour through many a tome and map. Putting the 'useful' ones to one side, they tried to return as many of the fragile tomes to their places before they collapsed, tore, or otherwise broke apart. Eventually, they had three good-sized maps of the sewers, none recent, but all showing some of the passageways in detail. Hopefully, they had not changed too much since then...

Guarding Winkle eyes Higgins for a moment, before deciding that the strange ugly man was really serious. Then, with a shrug, he says "Sure, just come round the back...", and leads him to a wood pile. With the cold months coming on soon, it needed to be chopped...

[Gothar]

Damn! exclaims Olmé I was hoping for something a bit more exciting like a map of a lower city, old ruins, odd mines etc. looking over the maps she thinks for a moment You suppose we can take these or is there someone here that could copy them over in short order? I wouldnt imagine that they will last too long traveling.

A grin slips easily across Olmés face as an idea pops into her head. I dont suppose you know of any really old clerics that might know of any legends? Especially anything that might pertain to the drow....

[Anouris]

Georgio raps her fingers on the table top. "It is strange how he manages to stay in business as times as you say. Heck I'm not even buying these items for digging, but for other uses. Imagine, 10 stores still going, despite all the recent break ins." Georgio ponders for a moment, the man managed to answer her next question before she even asked it. "Not even the dwarves are mining? Maybe that's it. I'll have to ask. Hmm.. one more question before I go. Back in the day, when business was good. What other folk use to make up your regulars."

[hvg3akaek]

Shopping With a wry smile, the shop owner said "Well, let's hope these break-ins do see an end to his stores! Nothin' personal, but other folk gotta make a living, too!" He looks over the items Georgio has, and with a raised eyebrow, asks "If not for diggin', what do you want them for? They'll be two gold, seven silver, too." As he marks down the items in an old notebook, he starts trying to think back three decades ago. "Ah, been a long time since I've seen their faces...but people would come from all around. An' it wasn't any particular place they'd travel from, nor any race who showed up more often! Sure, the dwarves would dig for longer than others, and halflings would play more than dig, but even elven parties were present, hoping to strike it rich!"

Researching Yrael ponders for a moment, but doesn't come up with any interesting tales. As the pair look over the sewer maps, they do notice certain locations that are less clear than others. Paths that should go on, but are drawn lightly, and then left to fade away. Tunnels that run off the edge of a map, and do not continue anywhere. Clearly, there is more down there than on the maps - or at least, there was, at one point in time.

Guarding Higgins continues to cut wood...

[mcl01]

Yrael shakes his head, sadly. "None 'ere would follow such things. Aye, we care not for wild rumors... As for the maps, I suppose I could 'ave a scribe or two work on it while we leave." Trailing off, Yrael places a hand on the aged parchment, fingers tracing the many creases as he examines the sewers. Placing a finger upon one of several faded or unfinished spots.

"We shouldst go look at these missing areas quickly. There might still be some exits we know not of."

[Gothar]

That sounds like a fair plan... However we should let the others know before we embark on such an undertaking... I would hate to bump into our own down there and be taken for the enemy... Olmé take a last long glance at the map - happen to have a piece of paper we could just trace the basic map? We cant take too long... otherwise lets see if we can get someone to do it for us while we go let the others know.

[Anouris]

Georgio places three gold on counter. "What they are for. Hmm, they are a part of a test. How it goes, I'll have to tell you about it later." She smiles a wicked grin and leaves the store.

She looks to Hruda, "I guess lets get rid of these before moving on to our next task." She then goes to visit the remaining stores belonging to Hurst. She instructs the employees that she is for working for Hurst and they are not to sell the items she is leaving, not like they could. After making some notes in her notebook she moves on to the next store.

[Master of Monsters]

Higgins grunts as the axe he found cleaves a log in two. He then begins to pile the wood in an orderly fashion, wishing the others would soon finish. As Higgins bent down to pick up one particular large log, a small snake skittered out. Higgins hooted with glee, before taking up chase after the snake, forgetting completely what he was doing.

[hvg3akaek]

Shopping Georgio pays for the goods, and offers a less-than-informative answer, but the store owner doesn't seem to mind. He fares them well, and wonders little more on their strange antics. After all, he just made more money than he had in any of the last three weeks! The rest of the day, Georgio and Hruda spend travelling around to the other stores, and setting up the building blocks to Georgio's master plan...

Researching Olmé and Yrael quickly find some paper, and trace the map as best they can, before heading back upstairs. With no sign of Drosin, they decide that the drinks will have to be organised some other time, and hurry off to the others. But will they meet back at the shop, or the HQ?

Guarding The snake manages to provide a brief spot of interest to the hobgoblin, before it slithers under a nearby building, and is not seen again.

[Gothar]

Well at least we have something! Olmé says with a smile where should we go to meet up? We can pop by the shop first and if no one is there we can head to head quarters unless of course you have any other ideas about stuff to do first? I was kinda hoping to learn a bit more about the drow history in the area....

[Anouris]

"All right Hruda, one last store and then we'll head back to HQ for a rest before this evenings steak out."

[mcl01]

Yrael responds gruffly, "Aye, I suppose th' store would be best. I'd still like to ask that man a few questions. Let's worry 'bout that dark elf later... we 'ave a job to do first, don't we?"

[Darakonis]

Hruda was taken aback when she saw the elderly shopkeep. This was her first time seeing such a time-ravaged human. The elf was accustomed to the way her own kind aged, and was chagrined to see the wrinkles, balding hair, and gaunt features. Too overcome with emotion to speak, Hruda let her companion do the talking.

***

At the mention of resting at the HQ, Hruda smiles on the inside. All that shopping and doing nothing got her tired; and she had a big night ahead of her.

[Gothar]

I think the two things are directly linked somehow - the stealing and the dark elf. Its too coincidental to not be....

Olmé heads off with Yrael. Lets find the others back at HQ so we can work out a plan to stake out the shops as I think Anouris wants to do

[hvg3akaek]

With the final parts to Georgio's plan in place, Hruda pondered (briefly) on what the plan could be. Then let her thoughts quickly move on to shopping and resting.



As the woodchopping continues, Olmé and Yrael eventually show up, looking for the others. Fortunately, Georgio and Hruda had chosen this store as the last one for Georgio's items, and thus the group met each other. To think, a few minutes earlier or later, and they may have passed each other by, and not seen them until they all returned to the HQ!


With talk of retiring until nightfall, Higgins happily retired from his simple duties, and calling to Snyders (who had spent the afternoon merely watching the hobgoblin), he joined the others in their trek back home.

OOC I think Georgio wanted to do a spot of shopping before resting, if anyone else wants to do something, please go ahead, otherwise, we can move ahead to stakeout time!