"Now that you speak about it," Hotis comments, looking around with a frown, "the lanterns are missing. In addition to whatever is on the wall, the lanterns Julian used to compel us are missing. A piece of advice, gentlemen, you should listen to your friend. Everyone that enters the private room should have been enchanted to never speak about it. The rest of you manage to find a loophole when Julian let you enter to help him. I do not recommend pursuing an investigation due to the possibility of Julian retaliating against you, but you are the only people that now can speak about this room to other people."
Drexon, at first, you cannot detect anything from Hotis, but there's that same familiarity again. It's the same thing you felt when you first entered Raymond Dustin's mind, the chamberlain of the Verdant Mason. Despite your weariness, that sense of familiarity gives you the feeling that Hotis is more annoyed than scared of Julian.
When the group walks out of the secret room, you see a more subdued game house. Some of the furniture is broken beyond repair. More than two dozen people are laying on the ground, being attended by other patrons that have healing training. All of the apprentices are on the ground. Most of them are knocked out, but one has been covered by a tarp; you don't think whoever is under it is alive. More than half of the game house's guards and the city guards accompanying the mayor are also knocked out on the ground. You cannot see Julian's private game guests anywhere. You also cannot see Julian anywhere in the scene.
"Yo, Eremoz!" Harren calls when he sees you come out of the secret room with Hotis. "What happened? The boss said that there was an attack. He disappeared somewhere without even taking a guard. Do you know where he is? Geralt managed to stop the brawl, but unfortunately one of the patrons is dead. He's very young too." He takes a look at Hotis behind you and winces. "Oh, Mr. Garaton. I fear that the deceased one was your student. He was wearing your institution's insignia. I think he came with six, maybe seven others. They're knocked out, but we can send some of the reserve guards to get them back to the museum."
Hotis looks at his fallen students and tuts. "I will return to the museum and notify my staff and other students," he says. "They will take care of the deceased and the others. You take care of your own." He turns toward the group and gives a nod. "Gentlemen, I will take my leave. Good luck with your endeavour."
"Yes, yes, the remaining city guards left immediately with the mayor and the boss' other guests," Harren replies. "A theft? Here? Ugh, the boss is going to be pissed. Did you receive your payment, at least? If you did, you should go and lay low for a while. The boss will be on the warpath until whoever did this is caught. Don't want you to be caught in the crossfire. You seem a good sort, Eremoz. If the boss suspects you and your friends, you wouldn't know peace. I recommend legging it and keeping a low profile until this blows over. The last time this happened, the boss kept us awake for three days straight looking for the perpetrator. You don't want to know what the boss did to the guy. Even I still think the guy was innocent and was just in the wrong place at the wrong time when the boss caught 'em."
“Yes, Julian paid before he left. Thanks for the advice, and the job. I wish it would have gone better.” Eremoz reaches out to shake Harren’s hand before leaving with his friends.
Exiting the building, he stick his hand back in his pocket, keeping contact with the papers. He divides the coin among his friends (4 copper each). “Yes, we need privacy and although Drexon looks like he could sleep through the rest of this age, I’m sure a quiet place would be appreciated.”
You can quickly make your way back to the Hid-Inn and pay for another night. You only need to pay 100 bronze (1 copper) for the room, because it seems they have a discount for whoever checks in exactly at midnight. The family suite is still available. The attendant will bring you food and drink.
As you make your way to the Hid-Inn, you notice several city guards and rangers rushing toward the Twenty-One Jack. One of the city guards is the captain that talked to Eremoz and wanted to see your warrant for confirmation. One of the rangers is also one you have seen before; it is the halfling ranger with dark purple hair. Both of them are looking haggard, the ranger more than everyone else. You bypass them without them noticing you.
Karm will cover the copper piece, eager to get into a room. There he has a few things he wants to talk about.
So the obvious first and let me make some connections that may or may not make sense. We were just in a hidden room that had sleeping mats and toys. The Owner definetly knows whats up and the Grand Mason probably does too. This High Mason will travel to Timaril to be involved in the construction of a great tower that will be destroyed the same day of its opeing celebration in about one and a half months. Through a terrorist attack no less. Then there is also some Four-sided Quartz mentioned in that document we found in the stash at the farm. I want to say that it is being carried possibly by this same Grand Mason.
Karm pauses a few secons and adds What did i miss?
Drexon moves over to a bed, sits down and then falls back into it.
He listens to Karm trying hard not to fall asleep.
”That apprentice lady was suspicious. Hanging out with the others that had raided the warehouse. It certainly looked like she said something that started the scuffle, and the fact it was timed to coincide with the theft from the secret room…”, he says letting the thought fade.
”You spoke to her more than I did Cob, what do you think?”.
Right, a thief that has never been caught. Sounds like an elusiveone to me. But maybe i am projecting things now. But it could be relevant. The jewel tower is part of our "prophecy" too. ...seek the peak of the weaving way... Eremoz, didn't your friend at the farm say that the Planesrider clan resides close to the Weaving Way Mountains?
Karm opens up a book and writed down a few things before tearing out the page, scrunching it together and putting it in the a coat pocket. Everything seems weirdly connected. Drex, can you show me the office of the Grand Mason again? I need something to look at and distract myself... That being said i couldn't help but notice, you got yourself something there referencing the vial I could have a look at that for you if you want Says Karm while twisting a pearl between his fingers.
Eremoz pulls the papers out of his pocket and reads through them as his friends talk. Hearing his name, Eremoz snaps back to the conversation at hand. “Hmm? Oh, yes she did. Nomads, but she said they roam near the base of the mountains.”
Eremoz, you pull out the bundle of paper in your pocket. You open it and you see a map. It is a map of Mantagard's Haventree District with a location southwest from the city center circled with a red marker and a date, Kapitu 8th.
Behind the first map is another map, this time of the Northern Vortes region. There is a dashed red line leading from Mantagard to the middle of the Gorginite Forest east of the city about a day travel. There is also a dashed line north of the city, toward the city of Saikhan, accompanied with the date Kapitu 14th that has been scratched out and replaced with Kapitu 10th.
Accompanying the maps is a note saying, "Did my homework. You're most likely collateral. Apologies in advance. If you somehow survive, I'll be in touch. Thought you might want this when I saw you looking around for something at the warehouse." A watermark in the middle of the note forms a silhouette of a wolf.
”Yes, so much seems to be connected. Our presence in this time obviously has an impact, otherwise Old Man Jiminy wouldn’t have sent us back. Every choice we make now could have huge consequences. What started as a search for missing children seems to be a far larger plot now. It is disappointing we were so close to finding them, just a little late it seems”.
Karm, when you cast identify on Drexon's vial, you sense that the content of the vial is blood, specifically Drexon's blood mixed with a very, very, very old humanoid blood. It is powerfully attuned to Drexon's blood and would enhance his spellcasting ability and spell power. The congealed blood also acts as a highly powerful catalyst, allowing Drexon to gain a burst of arcane energy once a day if he needs it.
Cob listens closely again to the others, trying not to lose all of the little threads sticking out.
”I don’t know if she was a real apprentice or not. She was spying on secret room and she was talking with someone else. Then she starts the fight. I’d guess she was the lookout for this silver wolf thief.”
"Now that you speak about it," Hotis comments, looking around with a frown, "the lanterns are missing. In addition to whatever is on the wall, the lanterns Julian used to compel us are missing. A piece of advice, gentlemen, you should listen to your friend. Everyone that enters the private room should have been enchanted to never speak about it. The rest of you manage to find a loophole when Julian let you enter to help him. I do not recommend pursuing an investigation due to the possibility of Julian retaliating against you, but you are the only people that now can speak about this room to other people."
Drexon turns back to Hotis, trying to figure out if hm the Grand Mason is truly afraid of Julian.
He does also nod to Eremoz, and starts to make his way out. The adrenaline of the moment disappearing and weariness returning to his bones.
”Very well, I could use some rest truth be told”.
Insight (Disadvantage due to exhaustion): (
11,1)+5=6Cob nods when Eremoz encourages them to leave.
Once out of the game room, he does look around for any sign of rangers.
Drexon, at first, you cannot detect anything from Hotis, but there's that same familiarity again. It's the same thing you felt when you first entered Raymond Dustin's mind, the chamberlain of the Verdant Mason. Despite your weariness, that sense of familiarity gives you the feeling that Hotis is more annoyed than scared of Julian.
When the group walks out of the secret room, you see a more subdued game house. Some of the furniture is broken beyond repair. More than two dozen people are laying on the ground, being attended by other patrons that have healing training. All of the apprentices are on the ground. Most of them are knocked out, but one has been covered by a tarp; you don't think whoever is under it is alive. More than half of the game house's guards and the city guards accompanying the mayor are also knocked out on the ground. You cannot see Julian's private game guests anywhere. You also cannot see Julian anywhere in the scene.
"Yo, Eremoz!" Harren calls when he sees you come out of the secret room with Hotis. "What happened? The boss said that there was an attack. He disappeared somewhere without even taking a guard. Do you know where he is? Geralt managed to stop the brawl, but unfortunately one of the patrons is dead. He's very young too." He takes a look at Hotis behind you and winces. "Oh, Mr. Garaton. I fear that the deceased one was your student. He was wearing your institution's insignia. I think he came with six, maybe seven others. They're knocked out, but we can send some of the reserve guards to get them back to the museum."
Hotis looks at his fallen students and tuts. "I will return to the museum and notify my staff and other students," he says. "They will take care of the deceased and the others. You take care of your own." He turns toward the group and gives a nod. "Gentlemen, I will take my leave. Good luck with your endeavour."
“Harren, I’m glad you made it out. Julian believes there was a theft.” Eremoz looks around at the various wounded. “Did the mayor escape unharmed?”
"Yes, yes, the remaining city guards left immediately with the mayor and the boss' other guests," Harren replies. "A theft? Here? Ugh, the boss is going to be pissed. Did you receive your payment, at least? If you did, you should go and lay low for a while. The boss will be on the warpath until whoever did this is caught. Don't want you to be caught in the crossfire. You seem a good sort, Eremoz. If the boss suspects you and your friends, you wouldn't know peace. I recommend legging it and keeping a low profile until this blows over. The last time this happened, the boss kept us awake for three days straight looking for the perpetrator. You don't want to know what the boss did to the guy. Even I still think the guy was innocent and was just in the wrong place at the wrong time when the boss caught 'em."
Cob leans in close to the others.
"I think we should get out of here," Cob whispers. "We can always pop up for a visit later if we want to take another look around."
He steps out on to the street and looks around to see if the smoke, fighting and all around chaos attracted any of the conclave rangers to the scene.
And i feel like we have lots to talk about...
Karm follows Cob outside
Things that we should discus in private
Olloray Dim - Limbo's Pit
Gunther Korroden - Nightmares in the Mist
“Yes, Julian paid before he left. Thanks for the advice, and the job. I wish it would have gone better.” Eremoz reaches out to shake Harren’s hand before leaving with his friends.
Exiting the building, he stick his hand back in his pocket, keeping contact with the papers. He divides the coin among his friends (4 copper each). “Yes, we need privacy and although Drexon looks like he could sleep through the rest of this age, I’m sure a quiet place would be appreciated.”
“Aye, you got that right Eremoz”, Drexon replies as he moves along with the others, obviously fatigued and far slower than usual.
As they leave, his hand goes to the Bloodwell Vial which cost him so high a price, and he hopes it was worth it.
You can quickly make your way back to the Hid-Inn and pay for another night. You only need to pay 100 bronze (1 copper) for the room, because it seems they have a discount for whoever checks in exactly at midnight. The family suite is still available. The attendant will bring you food and drink.
As you make your way to the Hid-Inn, you notice several city guards and rangers rushing toward the Twenty-One Jack. One of the city guards is the captain that talked to Eremoz and wanted to see your warrant for confirmation. One of the rangers is also one you have seen before; it is the halfling ranger with dark purple hair. Both of them are looking haggard, the ranger more than everyone else. You bypass them without them noticing you.
Karm will cover the copper piece, eager to get into a room. There he has a few things he wants to talk about.
So the obvious first and let me make some connections that may or may not make sense. We were just in a hidden room that had sleeping mats and toys. The Owner definetly knows whats up and the Grand Mason probably does too. This High Mason will travel to Timaril to be involved in the construction of a great tower that will be destroyed the same day of its opeing celebration in about one and a half months. Through a terrorist attack no less. Then there is also some Four-sided Quartz mentioned in that document we found in the stash at the farm. I want to say that it is being carried possibly by this same Grand Mason.
Karm pauses a few secons and adds What did i miss?
Olloray Dim - Limbo's Pit
Gunther Korroden - Nightmares in the Mist
Drexon moves over to a bed, sits down and then falls back into it.
He listens to Karm trying hard not to fall asleep.
”That apprentice lady was suspicious. Hanging out with the others that had raided the warehouse. It certainly looked like she said something that started the scuffle, and the fact it was timed to coincide with the theft from the secret room…”, he says letting the thought fade.
”You spoke to her more than I did Cob, what do you think?”.
Right, a thief that has never been caught. Sounds like an elusive one to me. But maybe i am projecting things now. But it could be relevant. The jewel tower is part of our "prophecy" too. ...seek the peak of the weaving way... Eremoz, didn't your friend at the farm say that the Planesrider clan resides close to the Weaving Way Mountains?
Karm opens up a book and writed down a few things before tearing out the page, scrunching it together and putting it in the a coat pocket. Everything seems weirdly connected. Drex, can you show me the office of the Grand Mason again? I need something to look at and distract myself... That being said i couldn't help but notice, you got yourself something there referencing the vial I could have a look at that for you if you want Says Karm while twisting a pearl between his fingers.
Olloray Dim - Limbo's Pit
Gunther Korroden - Nightmares in the Mist
Eremoz pulls the papers out of his pocket and reads through them as his friends talk. Hearing his name, Eremoz snaps back to the conversation at hand. “Hmm? Oh, yes she did. Nomads, but she said they roam near the base of the mountains.”
He returns to looking over the mysterious papers.
Eremoz, you pull out the bundle of paper in your pocket. You open it and you see a map. It is a map of Mantagard's Haventree District with a location southwest from the city center circled with a red marker and a date, Kapitu 8th.
Behind the first map is another map, this time of the Northern Vortes region. There is a dashed red line leading from Mantagard to the middle of the Gorginite Forest east of the city about a day travel. There is also a dashed line north of the city, toward the city of Saikhan, accompanied with the date Kapitu 14th that has been scratched out and replaced with Kapitu 10th.
Accompanying the maps is a note saying, "Did my homework. You're most likely collateral. Apologies in advance. If you somehow survive, I'll be in touch. Thought you might want this when I saw you looking around for something at the warehouse." A watermark in the middle of the note forms a silhouette of a wolf.
Drexon happily allows Karm to look at the vial.
”Yes, so much seems to be connected. Our presence in this time obviously has an impact, otherwise Old Man Jiminy wouldn’t have sent us back. Every choice we make now could have huge consequences. What started as a search for missing children seems to be a far larger plot now. It is disappointing we were so close to finding them, just a little late it seems”.
Karm, when you cast identify on Drexon's vial, you sense that the content of the vial is blood, specifically Drexon's blood mixed with a very, very, very old humanoid blood. It is powerfully attuned to Drexon's blood and would enhance his spellcasting ability and spell power. The congealed blood also acts as a highly powerful catalyst, allowing Drexon to gain a burst of arcane energy once a day if he needs it.
Cob listens closely again to the others, trying not to lose all of the little threads sticking out.
”I don’t know if she was a real apprentice or not. She was spying on secret room and she was talking with someone else. Then she starts the fight. I’d guess she was the lookout for this silver wolf thief.”
“That thief was good. I found these in my pocket after the ruckus.” Eremoz passes the papers to his friends. “What do you think?”