The Undying Dragons - Campaign Thread

Jan nods. "Good. If we were slow playing it, there would probably be a benefit to taking the job, but doubt he'll be in much mood to keep the offer on the table. You manage to get a better sense of what he's up to and how good at it he is?"

 Marrin just stands looking around at everyone for a bit before heading over to Haguur.

She'll look to see what they are up to and give the orc boss a nod (assuming nothing is off) before heading back to the group to confer.

She nods along to Jan's question, casting glances to the door and those around them while she listens.

Ethel thinks about how to answer Jan's question.

"He presents himself as a powerful mage.  The notion of holding entire kingdoms for ransom with his power was brought up.  Still, he wanted me for help with fairly rudimentary autopsies and beginner level necro-surgical modifications."

"What I think is that he is a skilled but spoiled psychopath, struggling to get out of his father's shadow and dreaming about ruling the world.  If it comes to it, I think we can take him.  Though as I told the Orc... it would be best to avoid confronting him."

"On the other hand..." Ethel wrestles with what and how to say next.  "He has a great deal of research.  He also possesses the tome you saw on the ship... the Chronicle of Years to Come.  All of this is dangerous to leave in the hands of someone like Godrick.  Jan if... if you still are entertaining thoughts of trying to capture or kill Godrick before we leave, I think I would be compelled to assist you in this.  I'd already asked the goblins to try and steal the books from Godrick's lab during our escape but realistically I can't expect much chance of success there."

"They do seem... ill suited to librarian work.", Jan sighs.

"There was a reward for his capture, I'll admit the 'suspected pirate and slaver' bit should have given me a bit more pause. Pretty sure they wanted him alive, but I'm not inclined to be on a ship with him still breathing. I'm thinking I might need to renegotiate the contract, he's been a fair bit more trouble than the bounty is worth so far. I'm not so keen to collect it that I'd put the rest of our escape at risk, but if it becomes necessary, or the right opportunity presents itself... Be a lot easier to loot his books if he's worse off than his creations."

Avaria listens to her friends talk about Godrick and wonder what she can do to help.  "You're right, it isn't good to leave this sort of information with a man like that, one that wants to bring things back from the dead and what did you say, an army?!  What can I do to help?"

Before anyone answers Avaria about what she can do to help, the viewing plate on the cavern door pops open, and narrowed eyes watch the room for a moment.

Jisthelek pops up from the spot by Marrin where he's been sitting, trying not to laugh, as he has been trying to teach the bard a passable Ghukliak where they won't just sound like a half-elf chewing on rocks.

"Stick to yes, no, and I don't know." Jisthelek says, slipping in bind the group and almost all but disappearing into the shadows.

The door opens a moment after that and two hobgoblin guards enter, though you can see more in the hall behind.

One of them pulls out a piece of parchment and starts to look around the room. The other hobgoblin cuffs the first one in the head, take the piece of paper, turns it the right way up, reads quickly and looks over at the group of you.

"You, you, and you," the hobgoblin says, pointing at Marrin, Avaria, and Ethel.  "Come now."

Jan will try to memorize the features of both the illiterate and literate hobs.

Ethel is glad for the interruption as she wasn't sure how to respond to Avaria's comments.

Perhaps it is the stress of these last few days piling upon her tense meeting with Godrick, but an uncharacteristic snort-chuckle erupts from Ethlehyn as the Orc literacy slapstick bit plays out.  She instantly reigns herself back into composure and prepares to get into line with the hobgoblins. 

She almost takes her spellbook with her, subconsciously recognizing that - if all goes well - she will never return to this cage.  But, of course, that would be suspicious, so she hands it to Jan as she passes by.  "For safe-keeping, please."

"Of course." Jan gives Ethel's hands a squeeze as she takes the spellbook.

Marrin walks away from her lesson with Jisthelek with a sour look on her face but shakes it off when the grate opens and she is called out with Ava and Ethel.

She gives those watching a smile and says,

"Once more unto the breach!"

With clearly forced enthusiasm as she heads out.

((And just assumes everyone is familiar with Shakespeare.))

She'll try to listen to any Ghukliak she can to at least pick up the cadence and intonations so she can make her yes, nos and I don't knows sound okay. She'll also watch the body language of the guards as they move.

Investigation (?): 13

The best Marrin notices about Ghukliak is that Jisthelek has a different accent than the hobgoblin guards do, but that he can mimic there's quite well. But any distinction between the guards themselves isn't something she can figure out yet.

The guards gather Marrin, Ava and Ethel and lead them into the hallway on the other side of the door. As they exit you all notice that Haguur is watching closely from the entrance to the orc cavern.

Jisthelek waves.

"Good luck at the ball," the goblin calls.

The cavern door slams shut and the lock is engaged.

In the cavern, Jisthelek keeps the smile on his face and keeps watching the door for a few moments before turning back around, looks at Haguur and gives the orc a cavalier salute. He then comes over to Jan.

"I'm going to take a nap then get those crapheads in my cavern worked up so we can let them run wild through the hallways once we're out there."

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In the hallway, once the door is locked the guards motion for Avaria, Marrin and Ethel to stand against the wall so they can be quickly searched.

This is new. You've never been searched before when leaving the cavern. You've been made to put items back in the arena prep-area but not this. 

Unless anyone resists, they do a quick but thorough search and don't find anything that causes them concern. 

You're taken through the guardpost, where there is only one guard on duty (besides your escort), through the doorway that leads to the stairs to the level above. Locks click into place behind you as you go. All of you quickly go up the stairs as you have before.

The route again takes you past the guard commons room and the guard barracks, where six or seven guards can be seen cleaning armour and getting ready for their duties for the evening.

The guards barely spare you a glance before you're led out to the great room that has the arena viewing area to the west, the entrance to the Amorous Octopus to the east, the visitor inn/commons next the tavern, and to the north the main passage leading to the docks, other doorways and to the tunnel to the surface.

In the middle of the great room, the three axe beaks, now dead, are being turned slowly on large spits. 

You're escort guide you into the Amorous Octopus, the huge octopus mural on the ceiling and walls looking clean, and well lit. The guards move to stand guard on either side of the doorway, on the inside and outside.

As you look around, Gertrude comes around from the bar and approaches the three of you. She looks quickly to the guards at the door then back to the three of you.

"Put these on the tables," she says, gesturing to a pile of tablecloths on the end of the bar while waving her other hand at the tables in the tavern.

She then takes a step closer and in a much quieter voice and asks "will you be ready?"

[The only thing 'unusual' Ethel would have had on her would have been a few pinches of fine sand in each of her pockets.]

"Of course," Ethel says firmly and directly as she moves to the tablecloths, answer both Gertrude's order, and her quieter question.  

Ethel gets to work as instructed, playing up her limp a tad and working a little slower than Marrin and Avaria.  She also makes a point of identifying all of the exits and potential routes through the tables to those exits.  Investigation 9

[Do we have a map of the Octopus?  Will we need one before this is over?]

Marrin nods besides Ethel and gives a confident smile before heading over to start doing her tasks.

Taking time between tables to scope the room and the guards. She'll comment to Ava as she works,

"No uniforms I guess. Glad we don't have to squeeze into something silly."

Perception: 4

(Avaria still has the healing potion on her from Dodds...)

She follows her friends all through the way to the Octopus, unsure as to what the evening is going to bring, but nods at Gertrude when she asks her question and moves on to the tables.  She listens hard to hear anything that catches her as off, and keeps an eye out as well as they do what is asked of them.  As Marrin comments, she gives a half-hearted smile, "True. Though I'm sure before this is over we'll feel silly about something."

Perception  11

((Glad someone is paying attention!))

Amorous Octopus:

As Avaria, Ethel, and Marrin begin their task of helping get the Amorous Octopus ready for the evening, you notice Gertrude stiffen slightly as someone sweeps into the tavern.

Looking to the main doors, you see Gillian ‘Mother’ Hargrove enter. Being closer to her now than you were in the arena, you can see she’s even taller and more athletic looking than you remembered. Her hair flows in long waves of red. She has the same combo full-length dress and leather on, and two longswords dangle from her belt.

She beelines for Gertrude.

“Where are the musicians, dear?” Gertrude asks, looking around the tavern. “And flowers? Aren’t they back from the topside with flowers yet?”
Gertrude just shakes her head.

The big half-orc bartender steps out from the back room, and just as quickly steps back into it when they spot Gertrude.

Mother Hargrove finally notices the trio of Avaria, Ethel, and Marrin.

“New help?” she asks as she gets closer only to stop and smile. “Oh lovely. These are three of our arena stars, aren’t they? Well, these rags won’t do. I’ll have something more fitting sent over.”

You can see she’s sizing you up, literally, for different clothing.

“You do know how to set a table formally don’t you?” Gertrude asks the three of you.

From outside the Amorous Octopus you can hear shouting, and cheering, and the growing sound a group of people make as their numbers get larger.

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Meanwhile, back in the caverns:

Haguur goes to the main door and listens for several seconds then nods and comes to join Jan, Jisthelek and Ula in the middle of the chamber.

“Get weapons and let’s go now,” Haguur urges. His impatience clear to everyone. “Why are we waiting?”

Jisthelek pats the muscular orc on the arm, jumping back behind Ula when Haguur glares down at him.

“We need to wait for the guard’s attention to be on the party,” Jisthelek says, looking to Jan for confirmation.

Haven't managed to have time to make a map of the tavern, but the below comes pretty close. The major add on is that there is another doorway to the west, that leads into the Travelers' Common / Inn (with the makeshift rooms created by tapestry and sheets).

"I've been around a formal table service once or twice," Ethlehyn answers the elder Hargrove.  "Utensils placed in order of use; from the outside in.  Forks to the left of the charger; knives and spoons to the right."  She pauses.  "I imagine there will be seafood on the menu... will there be oyster forks?  As I recall those are placed with the spoons, for Gods know what reason."

"And what is the stem wear situation?  Do you have formal glass wear or will the settings have the same mugs and cups as in the bar?"

Gillian Hargrove stops and raises an eyebrow at Ethel, then she breaks into a broad smile.

"Where have you been hiding my dear?" the elder Hargrove asks Ethel. "You're exactly what this place has been missing."

She thinks for a moment then nods to herself.

"We'll find something special for you to wear tonight," Gillian says. "You're going to be dining at my table."

After leaving a long list of orders and demands with her daughter, Gillian sweeps out of the tavern.

A moment later, the bartender sticks their head out from the storeroom again and then satisfied it's safe, they come out and begin polishing mugs and cups.

The rest of your set up goes quickly and the guards keep any drunks and overly anxious ship's captains and other guests from entering early.

The noise of an increasingly rowdy crowd continues to enter the Amorous Octopus.

A hobgoblin guard returns as you finish getting the tables and room ready. He carries a small chest and places it on the bar.

Gertrude looks inside and laughs.

"Um, these, um, look like they're, uh, for you." she says to the trio.

When you look in the chest, you find it full of very frilly and ruffled dresses. Ethel and Avaria may not recognize them, but Marrin realizes that these were expensive in their day, but are at least several years out of fashion now.

"You, er, you can get, um changed back there." Gertrude says, gesturing to the storeroom, behind the bar.

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At this point a couple of hours have gone by, the party looks to be starting very soon, and there have been no sign of guards checking on the lower caverns.

Frosted bollocks.

Ethel's efforts to look relaxed and interested in the task at hand, to mask their true intent this evening, have blown up in her face.