Samir watches Ashley as she goes through the motions, he himself trying to do his best to memorize the small area where they stand, including the door and its apparent locking mechanism. At the end he smiles gamely, and nods to the orc. "Well, it looks like my friend has found what we came for. We do so appreciate your assistance, sir. Ready to go?"
Malachi hesitates as Vilus talks about his vision. It was deeply personal and Malachi did not like the thought of it being shared. Still, it was done. “We will see, I may take you up on that after this is over. When we were connected and you reached out to your Watcher, it opened up my eyes to things as well. Made me more aware of my mind.” he pauses as they watch Joren come out and follow Stenwick “Well, I guess that decides that.” He hurries after Joren and Vilus, trying to keep his distance and follow along undetected. “I have the sending stone as well, we can contact the others when we find out where he is going.”
Ashley smiles at Samir as he addresses the orc, she looks around for the old elf and waits for them to be escorted out of the archives. Her hands itch for what is beyond the door, but not wanting to arise any suspicion, she keeps them to herself.
Following along behind Stenwick at varying distances, Vilus, Joren, and Malachi wind and weave through the streets headed west. The further they go, the less posh the surrounding scenery becomes. The streets become narrower, and take odd turns and detours. The buildings themselves have far more wood than stone in their construction, and they are packed tightly together, though they are no shorter than on the east end of town. The result is that the buildings above almost seem to lean and lear down on the people below, adding a claustrophobic feeling to the increasingly packed streets. Tents and Stalls fill many of the larger streets, making some sections downright impassable.
Meanwhile, Stenwick himself moves at a decent pace, pushing past crowds of people and slipping around this corner and that. Malachi, though not as familiar with the city as Vilus, has the same thought at the same time. The man's route seemed unnecessarily convoluted, sometimes nearly doubling back on itself. As Stenwick walks around the next corner, into a dark alley, Malachi and Vilus both wonder, have they been made? Then they get to the alley themselves, along with Joren.
Stenwick is gone.
Samir, Marion, Ashley:
Mission accomplished, the three adventurers gracefully make their exit from the archives, additionally armed with knowledge of the layout. The old elf invites them back anytime to discuss magic or the academy, and then they out the front door, allies nowhere to be seen.
As Vilus realises that they have lost sight of Stenwick, he quickly leans himself on something and his breathing slows as his body goes rigid and his pupils disappear leaving only white orbs behind in his head.
His echo thirty feet away, Joren comes to a stop, realizing he has lost his quarry. Their quarry.
He witnesses Vilus' transformation at the exact moment that he feels the sending stone buzz in his pack and Ashley's welcome voice.
He wants to reply himself, but he is turned around and has no idea where he is or what Vilus and Malachi may have discussed previously. Joren hands the stone to the half-elf so he can better respond to the fire genasi. "I think we can only be using a limited number of words in reply."
(Not yet using the sending stone - hoping Malachi can use it and tell Ashley and the others where we are).
Malachi pulls up short, catching his breath as he comes to the opening of the alley. His heart falls as he realizes Stenwick is gone. “We lost him, where did he go?” He sees Vilus tense up next to him as Ashley’s voice comes through the stone. “What do I tell them?” he looks over at Joren in confusion. At least it sounds like the other group had some success.
He looks around the alley and hesitates, remembering what happened last time he reached out into the mind of the cultists. He rolls a copper coin across his fingers as he reaches out and tries to detect the thoughts of any nearby creatures that may be hidden.
Joren takes back the sending stone from Malachi. "Apologies, Mal. I was thinking you knew where in the city we have come to."
He uses the stone to reply to Ashley. Aware of the limited number of words he thinks he has, and how little actual information to relay. "Joren, Malachi and Vilus here. Following Stenwick from his meeting with Marigold, but losing him now. In a rough, crowded part of Talmouth. The Rows?"
Vilus snaps back to consciousness and breathes hard, "I followed him further, we have an entrance location now..." Looking to Joren and Malachi he sees Joren using the stone, "if you're talking to them, then tell them to follow the black smoke butterfly, it will lead them directly to us..." With that he goes unresponsive again.
Over with Marion, Ashley, and Samir, Vilus observes them leaving the building through one of his placed familiars, The winged shadow flutters down in front of their faces and then settles itself on Ashley's shoulder, before leading them away and toward the Vilus and the other two in the depths of the Rows.
Gathering together after a few minutes, the group stands reunited, just around the corner from the sewer entrance, with 3 hours until the guard change where Jean-Lou will provide a window to access deep storage.
Malachi finds nothing as he reaches out for Stenwick’s mind, almost relieved that the cultist did not sense his attempt. It appears Samir’s operation was a success. He is startled as Vilus breaks his trance, announcing that they have a location. He almost asks how he did it, but he lets the question trail off unanswered. He looks on apologetically as Joren takes the stone and talks to the others. “Sorry”he mumbles “not sure where we were or what we were doing.” As the others join them he looks around for some landmarks to ensure they can find their way back to the alley later. Perception:15 (rolled in channel)
“What did you find out?”He asks Ashley and the others. “We have a few hours, do we explore here or head back to the library? I don’t want to follow Stenwick too closely.”
"we leave the tailing of the cultists for now, we don't have much time to prepare, I need to get to the clock tower, center town, you can all come with me if you'd like and I can drop off those who want to stay, over at Magath's, the shop, I know where it is. Though I would like Mal with me at the very least."
Vilus looks impatient, as he surveys his friends for a hint of an answer in their faces.
"Certainly, thank you." Samir nods and fidgets, looking at Vilus."Unless you have need of me, I would very much like to take the opportunity to look over this shop and find out what we are working with."
Ashley is relieved when she finds her friends and they are all back together. "Well, we found where the archives are and a restricted area past a locked door within that is most likely the spot where the list we need is located."
"How did you all workout? And yes, Vilus, I would love to join you to the town center, check out Magath's shop, er our new shop on the way. There is so much to see in this city!"
"Aye Vilus, I will be joining you at the town center if you will have me, as an extra sword if nothing else."
Joren looks unusually stone-faced, once it becomes clear they've lost Stenwick. He looks pensively at Ashley as she asks how things worked out..
"The same sword, still, sad to say. I was never meeting my father, but Jean-Lou was his friend. Having a wondrous greatsword that my father had been studying. One that is magnifying and multiplying and the dunamis of my echo. Never until today have I been holding such a weapon, feeling its power."
He shakes his head. "But the councilman is not knowing me. Not truly. And even if he did, he may not be trusting me with the blade. Perhaps especially not if he did.I am glad you three were meeting more success in the archives than I did with Jean-Lou."
He taps the pommel of his old, weathered greatsword behind his shoulder for good luck.
Deftly navigating the cluttered streets and alleys, Vilus leads the group toward the East. The line between what is a domicile and what is a business becomes blurred. The sound of gulls permeates the air overhead, and the smell of salty spray washes over everyone.
Finally, Vilus heads down a dead-end street and towards the shop at the far end. A painted sign overhead reads, "Mother Magath's" over an image of a mortar and pestle. The shop windows on either side of the front door have been broken in, and hooks that may once have held herbs or merchandise for display now swing freely in the draft. The paint on the sign is not particularly faded, and the front door swings open smoothly enough, indicating that the state of disrepair is more likely the result of looters than long-term neglect.
The interior is simple enough. A row of shelves along either wall, with a long table down the middle, forming two isles that lead toward a counter at the back. Behind the counter is a door leading further back, and a small wooden staircase leading up to the second story. Bits of dried leaves from various plants crunch under foot. The shelves and table are mostly stripped bare, save for a few items that the looters must have passed over, like a bowl of purple powdered crystal whose spilled contents have mingled hopelessly with the dirt of an overturned plant pot, or a single work glove caked in dirt and riddled with holes.
Malachi follows Vilus and the others through the winding streets until they arrive at the shop. He looks around at the neighborhood and the broken windows. “The Councilor was right, the location is not ideal and much work needs to be done, but still I see promise.” With a flourish of his hands the sign above the shop changes to ‘Cambria’s Curios’ and then to ‘Talmouth’s Treasure Chest’ as he creates an illusion. He smiles at the others “The name still needs work.”
He follows the others inside, looking around. “We can use this as a base of operations and start a business to earn some coin. Speaking of, we still have the money order to cash in, to start the shop or to get whatever we need to take care of the cultists.” He looks over at Vilus “Of course I will go with you to the city center. But are we going to get the documents for Jean Lou first? We have a small window to sneak in.”
Looking around from his position he gathers his words, "we have a few options, and we need to discuss all of them before we move, but first we need to make sure we are secure here, won't be overheard. Take ten minutes, turn this place upside down, I'll mend the windows and the door. Then we plan. sound good?"
With that, Vilus heaves himself back on to his feet, his prosthetic leg thudding loudly as it hits the wooden floorboards, and he goes to the windows and begins casting and recasting mending, over and over, holding broken shards that he finds in place until the first window is finished and secure, he then lazily drags himself over to the next.
Samir watches Ashley as she goes through the motions, he himself trying to do his best to memorize the small area where they stand, including the door and its apparent locking mechanism. At the end he smiles gamely, and nods to the orc. "Well, it looks like my friend has found what we came for. We do so appreciate your assistance, sir. Ready to go?"
Joren, Vilus and Malachi
Malachi hesitates as Vilus talks about his vision. It was deeply personal and Malachi did not like the thought of it being shared. Still, it was done. “We will see, I may take you up on that after this is over. When we were connected and you reached out to your Watcher, it opened up my eyes to things as well. Made me more aware of my mind.” he pauses as they watch Joren come out and follow Stenwick “Well, I guess that decides that.” He hurries after Joren and Vilus, trying to keep his distance and follow along undetected. “I have the sending stone as well, we can contact the others when we find out where he is going.”
Joren, Vilus and Malachi:
Joren is taken aback at first, hearing Vilus' voice in his head.
But once he recovers from the surprise, he does allow his echo-hopping to fall further behind, leaving greater distance between himself and Stenwick.
He thinks of how to reunite the group. We could be communicating through the Sending Stones except... I am having one and Malachi the other!
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian(Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons
Dyson/Eleo(TwilightCleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(ShepherdDruid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(WildMagicSorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(EchoKnightFighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(MercyMonk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(NatureCleric3/DivineSoulSorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
Ashley smiles at Samir as he addresses the orc, she looks around for the old elf and waits for them to be escorted out of the archives. Her hands itch for what is beyond the door, but not wanting to arise any suspicion, she keeps them to herself.
Vilus, Malachi, Joren
Following along behind Stenwick at varying distances, Vilus, Joren, and Malachi wind and weave through the streets headed west. The further they go, the less posh the surrounding scenery becomes. The streets become narrower, and take odd turns and detours. The buildings themselves have far more wood than stone in their construction, and they are packed tightly together, though they are no shorter than on the east end of town. The result is that the buildings above almost seem to lean and lear down on the people below, adding a claustrophobic feeling to the increasingly packed streets. Tents and Stalls fill many of the larger streets, making some sections downright impassable.
Meanwhile, Stenwick himself moves at a decent pace, pushing past crowds of people and slipping around this corner and that. Malachi, though not as familiar with the city as Vilus, has the same thought at the same time. The man's route seemed unnecessarily convoluted, sometimes nearly doubling back on itself. As Stenwick walks around the next corner, into a dark alley, Malachi and Vilus both wonder, have they been made? Then they get to the alley themselves, along with Joren.
Stenwick is gone.
Samir, Marion, Ashley:
Mission accomplished, the three adventurers gracefully make their exit from the archives, additionally armed with knowledge of the layout. The old elf invites them back anytime to discuss magic or the academy, and then they out the front door, allies nowhere to be seen.
As Vilus realises that they have lost sight of Stenwick, he quickly leans himself on something and his breathing slows as his body goes rigid and his pupils disappear leaving only white orbs behind in his head.
Looking around the area of the city hall, she leads Samir and Marion to a quiet alleyway and pulls out the sending stone.
"Anyone there? I think the ruse worked, where should we meet up with you?"
His echo thirty feet away, Joren comes to a stop, realizing he has lost his quarry. Their quarry.
He witnesses Vilus' transformation at the exact moment that he feels the sending stone buzz in his pack and Ashley's welcome voice.
He wants to reply himself, but he is turned around and has no idea where he is or what Vilus and Malachi may have discussed previously. Joren hands the stone to the half-elf so he can better respond to the fire genasi. "I think we can only be using a limited number of words in reply."
(Not yet using the sending stone - hoping Malachi can use it and tell Ashley and the others where we are).
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian(Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons
Dyson/Eleo(TwilightCleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(ShepherdDruid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(WildMagicSorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(EchoKnightFighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(MercyMonk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(NatureCleric3/DivineSoulSorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
Malachi pulls up short, catching his breath as he comes to the opening of the alley. His heart falls as he realizes Stenwick is gone. “We lost him, where did he go?” He sees Vilus tense up next to him as Ashley’s voice comes through the stone. “What do I tell them?” he looks over at Joren in confusion. At least it sounds like the other group had some success.
He looks around the alley and hesitates, remembering what happened last time he reached out into the mind of the cultists. He rolls a copper coin across his fingers as he reaches out and tries to detect the thoughts of any nearby creatures that may be hidden.
Joren takes back the sending stone from Malachi. "Apologies, Mal. I was thinking you knew where in the city we have come to."
He uses the stone to reply to Ashley. Aware of the limited number of words he thinks he has, and how little actual information to relay. "Joren, Malachi and Vilus here. Following Stenwick from his meeting with Marigold, but losing him now. In a rough, crowded part of Talmouth. The Rows?"
He shoots the unresponsive Vilus a futile look.
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian(Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons
Dyson/Eleo(TwilightCleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(ShepherdDruid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(WildMagicSorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(EchoKnightFighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(MercyMonk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(NatureCleric3/DivineSoulSorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
Vilus snaps back to consciousness and breathes hard, "I followed him further, we have an entrance location now..." Looking to Joren and Malachi he sees Joren using the stone, "if you're talking to them, then tell them to follow the black smoke butterfly, it will lead them directly to us..." With that he goes unresponsive again.
Over with Marion, Ashley, and Samir, Vilus observes them leaving the building through one of his placed familiars, The winged shadow flutters down in front of their faces and then settles itself on Ashley's shoulder, before leading them away and toward the Vilus and the other two in the depths of the Rows.
Gathering together after a few minutes, the group stands reunited, just around the corner from the sewer entrance, with 3 hours until the guard change where Jean-Lou will provide a window to access deep storage.
Malachi finds nothing as he reaches out for Stenwick’s mind, almost relieved that the cultist did not sense his attempt. It appears Samir’s operation was a success. He is startled as Vilus breaks his trance, announcing that they have a location. He almost asks how he did it, but he lets the question trail off unanswered. He looks on apologetically as Joren takes the stone and talks to the others. “Sorry” he mumbles “not sure where we were or what we were doing.” As the others join them he looks around for some landmarks to ensure they can find their way back to the alley later. Perception:15 (rolled in channel)
“What did you find out?” He asks Ashley and the others. “We have a few hours, do we explore here or head back to the library? I don’t want to follow Stenwick too closely.”
"we leave the tailing of the cultists for now, we don't have much time to prepare, I need to get to the clock tower, center town, you can all come with me if you'd like and I can drop off those who want to stay, over at Magath's, the shop, I know where it is. Though I would like Mal with me at the very least."
Vilus looks impatient, as he surveys his friends for a hint of an answer in their faces.
"Certainly, thank you." Samir nods and fidgets, looking at Vilus. "Unless you have need of me, I would very much like to take the opportunity to look over this shop and find out what we are working with."
Ashley is relieved when she finds her friends and they are all back together. "Well, we found where the archives are and a restricted area past a locked door within that is most likely the spot where the list we need is located."
"How did you all workout? And yes, Vilus, I would love to join you to the town center, check out Magath's shop, er our new shop on the way. There is so much to see in this city!"
"Aye Vilus, I will be joining you at the town center if you will have me, as an extra sword if nothing else."
Joren looks unusually stone-faced, once it becomes clear they've lost Stenwick. He looks pensively at Ashley as she asks how things worked out..
"The same sword, still, sad to say. I was never meeting my father, but Jean-Lou was his friend. Having a wondrous greatsword that my father had been studying. One that is magnifying and multiplying and the dunamis of my echo. Never until today have I been holding such a weapon, feeling its power."
He shakes his head. "But the councilman is not knowing me. Not truly. And even if he did, he may not be trusting me with the blade. Perhaps especially not if he did. I am glad you three were meeting more success in the archives than I did with Jean-Lou."
He taps the pommel of his old, weathered greatsword behind his shoulder for good luck.
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian(Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons
Dyson/Eleo(TwilightCleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(ShepherdDruid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(WildMagicSorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(EchoKnightFighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(MercyMonk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(NatureCleric3/DivineSoulSorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
Deftly navigating the cluttered streets and alleys, Vilus leads the group toward the East. The line between what is a domicile and what is a business becomes blurred. The sound of gulls permeates the air overhead, and the smell of salty spray washes over everyone.
Finally, Vilus heads down a dead-end street and towards the shop at the far end. A painted sign overhead reads, "Mother Magath's" over an image of a mortar and pestle. The shop windows on either side of the front door have been broken in, and hooks that may once have held herbs or merchandise for display now swing freely in the draft. The paint on the sign is not particularly faded, and the front door swings open smoothly enough, indicating that the state of disrepair is more likely the result of looters than long-term neglect.
The interior is simple enough. A row of shelves along either wall, with a long table down the middle, forming two isles that lead toward a counter at the back. Behind the counter is a door leading further back, and a small wooden staircase leading up to the second story. Bits of dried leaves from various plants crunch under foot. The shelves and table are mostly stripped bare, save for a few items that the looters must have passed over, like a bowl of purple powdered crystal whose spilled contents have mingled hopelessly with the dirt of an overturned plant pot, or a single work glove caked in dirt and riddled with holes.
Malachi follows Vilus and the others through the winding streets until they arrive at the shop. He looks around at the neighborhood and the broken windows. “The Councilor was right, the location is not ideal and much work needs to be done, but still I see promise.” With a flourish of his hands the sign above the shop changes to ‘Cambria’s Curios’ and then to ‘Talmouth’s Treasure Chest’ as he creates an illusion. He smiles at the others “The name still needs work.”
He follows the others inside, looking around. “We can use this as a base of operations and start a business to earn some coin. Speaking of, we still have the money order to cash in, to start the shop or to get whatever we need to take care of the cultists.” He looks over at Vilus “Of course I will go with you to the city center. But are we going to get the documents for Jean Lou first? We have a small window to sneak in.”
Vilus sits on the counter, sighs, and thinks.
Looking around from his position he gathers his words, "we have a few options, and we need to discuss all of them before we move, but first we need to make sure we are secure here, won't be overheard. Take ten minutes, turn this place upside down, I'll mend the windows and the door. Then we plan. sound good?"
With that, Vilus heaves himself back on to his feet, his prosthetic leg thudding loudly as it hits the wooden floorboards, and he goes to the windows and begins casting and recasting mending, over and over, holding broken shards that he finds in place until the first window is finished and secure, he then lazily drags himself over to the next.