The guard looks you over for another long moment before stepping back, although the arrows are all still pointed at you. However, just as the gates are about to be opened, a secret door slides open to the side, and a duergar Stone Guard appears.
“Well.” The duergar removes his helmet, revealing the gray skin of his kind. He musses his white beard as he walks closer, switching to Common as he lowers his voice. There is a discomfiting glint in his eyes and his smile. “You are clearly lying. I ought to just send you to the slave pens, but … you amuse me. What do you have that is worth your freedom?”
The duergar waits for your answer, his gaze touching on each of you in turn as he smiles in anticipation.
Sennet looks to the others... "Do any of you have anything? I'm not really materialistic." Sennet is confused as he was not lying, however, this made him start to question the others in his group.
Finn stares back at the duerger, face red with anger at being called a liar. "Lying my ass! Would you like to see the marks where they beat us? Had I known proof would've been required, I'd have stuffed on of their heads in my pack! Sorry we were too busy fleeing for our lives to ask for an embroidered hanky."
The Twins suddenly whisper to your group and mention that this behavior is very unlike the duergar, they are not ones to take bribes usually and that he seems to be looking for something in particular on them.
Several long moments pass before the guard captain finally huffs and motions for some other guards to escort you all through the gates. You see 2 beside you, but it becomes apparent after a moment that there are 2 more guards, invisible, behind your group.
As you pass through the gate, a wave of heat slams against you as an acrid smog rises to choke the air out of your lungs. The Darklake spreads out beyond a jumble of buildings and streets, reflecting the lights of countless fires burning across the city within hollowed-out columns and stalagmites.
Though the streets are crowded, you move easily within the surging throng of buyers, merchants, and slaves. You aren’t the only outsiders here, as you spy drow, svirfneblin, derro, orcs, and other races in the crowds. The shouting of people blends with the sound of distant hammering to create a constant, distracting din.
Just as you pass through and look around, you see a half elf being pushed around by a few guards, accusing them of something. They look your direction and begin to shout at you for help!
Sennet's eyes look to the guards... "Can we go help, or are you just going to watch?" He asks, wondering what the guards are going to do. He assumes this question will help figure out where the guards priorities lie.
Alex holds his reaserch book close to his chest as theh enter the city. He relaxes a bit seeing the variety of people. As the half elf starts shouting towards them, he quickly looks away. He mutters to the party as quietly as he can, "We just got here. Do we want to get involved in something between the guards and someone?"
"You!! "says the half-elven woman clearly weaving her hands towards the group and walking towards them.
"Oh finally!! I was fearing that you would have been lost! you ok dear?" she grabs one of Finn's arms and wrap her hands around it. "I was telling this fine gentlemen that all has been a mistake I shouldn't have went away by myself. Sorry for have left you alone, now that we are all together again we can continue our journey, yes? Thank you gentlemen"she says to the guards that had been pursuing her, when she turns she almost hit Finn with a violin case she has hanging from her shoulder "I finally found my friends, I'll take care of them now, right my dears?"Despite her words she looks into Alex and Finn's eyes with a spark of terror in them using her hat with a peacock as cover to hide that silent beg for help from the guards.
"Tell you later"replies the half-elf in a whisper "Just play along love"
She turns again towards the guards.
"Oh my, you still here gentlemen? Aren't you the sweetest It's ok no need to escort us anymore. Thank you thank you. Have a good day!" she says more confident that she really feels but hoping they let her alone.
"You know each other!? Great. More spies! Take them too!" Suddenly several more guards appear that were invisible before, surrounding the party, weapons drawn and looking rather displeased. "You will come with us. Perhaps the captain will be more...accommodating towards you. Perhaps not." Your group is unceremoniously escorted to the dungeon in Overlake Hold and left there under heavy watch.
After waiting a long while in a dungeon cell carved out of impressively thick stone, you are taken to a dark office and met by an imposing female gray dwarf. She is fully armored and bears an insignia you have not seen on any other duergar. She is flanked by two Stone Guards who remain by the door.
“I am Captain Errde Blackskull, commander of the Stone Guard,” she says, giving each of you a calculating look. “Let me start by saying you are worth nothing here in Gracklstugh. Most of those in my command would sell you off in a heartbeat as the cheapest manual labor. However, I’ve learned to make much better use of adventurers like you.”
"You are spies?" whispers the half-elf to Finn but she shuts up while they are escorted to the dungeon.
Meanwhile they are waiting she says.
"Thank you... I guess... I am Krizarith Vanvoril, but you can call me Kriz. I know you are not going to believe me but I was in a party... someone, perhaps it was me, said to enter the wizard's tower... well, those kids seemed really excited about it and, who I was to rob them for their enthusiasm? So... I entered the tower, and long history short, the wizard wasn't happy with that and he said something about teaching me a lesson and puff! all of a sudden I was in front of those duergar guards, Gods know where and they started to call me a spy... can you believe it? the audacity!. " while she is talking she moves her hands i a little bit exaggerated gestures "That was when I saw you, the only ones who doesn't look like they were going to sell me for profit or kill me and I thought we could help each other... wait a minute, you are not going to sell me for profit, are you?"
Later in the presence of the captain she introduces herself again.
"Welmet good Captain Errde Blackskull, my name is Krizarith Vanvoril, at your service. These are my friends and colleagues. How can we be of service?"
She has noticed that the captain doesn't mention the spying and she is careful not to remind him of that.
The whole way to the captain, Alex is muttering about just wanting to finish his research and that all this spy stuff is nonsense. As he listens to Errde, he perks up when she mentions making better use of them. He pipes up after Kriz, "I can be most useful. I am a scientist and have been studying some of the monsters of the underdark. Specifically the hooked horrors. Fascinating creatures they are." He is very obviously scared and talking to calm himself down.
Sennet throws his hands up as they are accused of being spies. "I just want to ****in sleep, now we're going to be arrested.... Beautiful, just beautiful." Sennet begrudgingly follows the guards.
Finn is grumbling the whole way to the Captain about how all he wanted was to sleep in a bed and be done with drow and cells, and chains. When they arrive in front of the Captain, Finn will back up Alex's story. While not outright lying, he heavily implies that Finn's group is currently working with Alex's group as security
Errde straightens up for a moment after you all start up your protesting and such, quieting you all after a few moments with a bit of a frustrated look on her face. "I have two jobs for you. The first regards a wayward derro named Droki. We have been trying to tail him for some time but have yet to figure out how he is smuggling certain things in and out of our city. Find and capture him, or otherwise bring evidence of his dealings and resources. He is wanted, dead or alive."
Her tone shifts darker and quieter as she stops and speaks again: "The second job is simply information gathering. For a while now I have been suspicious there is something amiss among the clan lairds, but I need proof, evidence. Bring me substantiated reports of anything strange you see going on in the city that I can bring to the powers that be. Any sign of corruption, possibly brought in by that Droki, will garner me great favor with the Deepking."
She lightens up some again. "In return, I will personally ensure you safe passage out of the city for accomplishing these tasks." She nods at a guard who brings over a handful of stone guard insignias. "You may take and use these to aid in your efforts here, but use them only as needed or you will draw unnecessary attention, and I won't be of any use to you." She looked you over again with a grim face. "Do we have an accord?"
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The guard looks you over for another long moment before stepping back, although the arrows are all still pointed at you. However, just as the gates are about to be opened, a secret door slides open to the side, and a duergar Stone Guard appears.
“Well.” The duergar removes his helmet, revealing the gray skin of his kind. He musses his white beard as he walks closer, switching to Common as he lowers his voice. There is a discomfiting glint in his eyes and his smile. “You are clearly lying. I ought to just send you to the slave pens, but … you amuse me. What do you have that is worth your freedom?”
The duergar waits for your answer, his gaze touching on each of you in turn as he smiles in anticipation.
Sennet looks to the others... "Do any of you have anything? I'm not really materialistic." Sennet is confused as he was not lying, however, this made him start to question the others in his group.
I don't have a signature.
Finn stares back at the duerger, face red with anger at being called a liar. "Lying my ass! Would you like to see the marks where they beat us? Had I known proof would've been required, I'd have stuffed on of their heads in my pack! Sorry we were too busy fleeing for our lives to ask for an embroidered hanky."
The Twins suddenly whisper to your group and mention that this behavior is very unlike the duergar, they are not ones to take bribes usually and that he seems to be looking for something in particular on them.
(If no one has anything we'll move on shortly)
(I don't believe anyone does?)
I don't have a signature.
Several long moments pass before the guard captain finally huffs and motions for some other guards to escort you all through the gates. You see 2 beside you, but it becomes apparent after a moment that there are 2 more guards, invisible, behind your group.
As you pass through the gate, a wave of heat slams against you as an acrid smog rises to choke the air out of your lungs. The Darklake spreads out beyond a jumble of buildings and streets, reflecting the lights of countless fires burning across the city within hollowed-out columns and stalagmites.
Though the streets are crowded, you move easily within the surging throng of buyers, merchants, and slaves. You aren’t the only outsiders here, as you spy drow, svirfneblin, derro, orcs, and other races in the crowds. The shouting of people blends with the sound of distant hammering to create a constant, distracting din.
Just as you pass through and look around, you see a half elf being pushed around by a few guards, accusing them of something. They look your direction and begin to shout at you for help!
Sennet's eyes look to the guards... "Can we go help, or are you just going to watch?" He asks, wondering what the guards are going to do. He assumes this question will help figure out where the guards priorities lie.
I don't have a signature.
Finn brings the bandana around his neck up over his nose in an attempt to block the smog.
Alex holds his reaserch book close to his chest as theh enter the city. He relaxes a bit seeing the variety of people. As the half elf starts shouting towards them, he quickly looks away. He mutters to the party as quietly as he can, "We just got here. Do we want to get involved in something between the guards and someone?"
"No," Finn says just barely over a whisper, "I've already spent enough time behind bars."
"You!! "says the half-elven woman clearly weaving her hands towards the group and walking towards them.
"Oh finally!! I was fearing that you would have been lost! you ok dear?" she grabs one of Finn's arms and wrap her hands around it. "I was telling this fine gentlemen that all has been a mistake I shouldn't have went away by myself. Sorry for have left you alone, now that we are all together again we can continue our journey, yes? Thank you gentlemen" she says to the guards that had been pursuing her, when she turns she almost hit Finn with a violin case she has hanging from her shoulder "I finally found my friends, I'll take care of them now, right my dears?" Despite her words she looks into Alex and Finn's eyes with a spark of terror in them using her hat with a peacock as cover to hide that silent beg for help from the guards.
PbP Character: A few ;)
Finn shoots Alex a look of resignation and in a voice barely more than a whisper says to the half-elf , "what's this all about then?"
"Tell you later" replies the half-elf in a whisper "Just play along love"
She turns again towards the guards.
"Oh my, you still here gentlemen? Aren't you the sweetest It's ok no need to escort us anymore. Thank you thank you. Have a good day!" she says more confident that she really feels but hoping they let her alone.
PbP Character: A few ;)
"You know each other!? Great. More spies! Take them too!" Suddenly several more guards appear that were invisible before, surrounding the party, weapons drawn and looking rather displeased. "You will come with us. Perhaps the captain will be more...accommodating towards you. Perhaps not." Your group is unceremoniously escorted to the dungeon in Overlake Hold and left there under heavy watch.
After waiting a long while in a dungeon cell carved out of impressively thick stone, you are taken to a dark office and met by an imposing female gray dwarf. She is fully armored and bears an insignia you have not seen on any other duergar. She is flanked by two Stone Guards who remain by the door.
“I am Captain Errde Blackskull, commander of the Stone Guard,” she says, giving each of you a calculating look. “Let me start by saying you are worth nothing here in Gracklstugh. Most of those in my command would sell you off in a heartbeat as the cheapest manual labor. However, I’ve learned to make much better use of adventurers like you.”
"You are spies?" whispers the half-elf to Finn but she shuts up while they are escorted to the dungeon.
Meanwhile they are waiting she says.
"Thank you... I guess... I am Krizarith Vanvoril, but you can call me Kriz. I know you are not going to believe me but I was in a party... someone, perhaps it was me, said to enter the wizard's tower... well, those kids seemed really excited about it and, who I was to rob them for their enthusiasm? So... I entered the tower, and long history short, the wizard wasn't happy with that and he said something about teaching me a lesson and puff! all of a sudden I was in front of those duergar guards, Gods know where and they started to call me a spy... can you believe it? the audacity!. " while she is talking she moves her hands i a little bit exaggerated gestures "That was when I saw you, the only ones who doesn't look like they were going to sell me for profit or kill me and I thought we could help each other... wait a minute, you are not going to sell me for profit, are you?"
Later in the presence of the captain she introduces herself again.
"Welmet good Captain Errde Blackskull, my name is Krizarith Vanvoril, at your service. These are my friends and colleagues. How can we be of service?"
She has noticed that the captain doesn't mention the spying and she is careful not to remind him of that.
PbP Character: A few ;)
The whole way to the captain, Alex is muttering about just wanting to finish his research and that all this spy stuff is nonsense. As he listens to Errde, he perks up when she mentions making better use of them. He pipes up after Kriz, "I can be most useful. I am a scientist and have been studying some of the monsters of the underdark. Specifically the hooked horrors. Fascinating creatures they are." He is very obviously scared and talking to calm himself down.
Sennet throws his hands up as they are accused of being spies. "I just want to ****in sleep, now we're going to be arrested.... Beautiful, just beautiful." Sennet begrudgingly follows the guards.
I don't have a signature.
Finn is grumbling the whole way to the Captain about how all he wanted was to sleep in a bed and be done with drow and cells, and chains. When they arrive in front of the Captain, Finn will back up Alex's story. While not outright lying, he heavily implies that Finn's group is currently working with Alex's group as security
Errde straightens up for a moment after you all start up your protesting and such, quieting you all after a few moments with a bit of a frustrated look on her face. "I have two jobs for you. The first regards a wayward derro named Droki. We have been trying to tail him for some time but have yet to figure out how he is smuggling certain things in and out of our city. Find and capture him, or otherwise bring evidence of his dealings and resources. He is wanted, dead or alive."
Her tone shifts darker and quieter as she stops and speaks again: "The second job is simply information gathering. For a while now I have been suspicious there is something amiss among the clan lairds, but I need proof, evidence. Bring me substantiated reports of anything strange you see going on in the city that I can bring to the powers that be. Any sign of corruption, possibly brought in by that Droki, will garner me great favor with the Deepking."
She lightens up some again. "In return, I will personally ensure you safe passage out of the city for accomplishing these tasks." She nods at a guard who brings over a handful of stone guard insignias. "You may take and use these to aid in your efforts here, but use them only as needed or you will draw unnecessary attention, and I won't be of any use to you." She looked you over again with a grim face. "Do we have an accord?"