Normont tries the breastplate on for size, placing his old chain shirt into the bag, along with the silver ring and cloak. He will wait for Quinn to look at the gold ring on the finger before placing it back in the bag as well.
“Thank you,” Dev replies, but, catching Lokilia’s expression, which lacks the satisfaction he had anticipated, and indeed seems perturbed, turns back to Tillimus, not touching the scroll case. “Could we please first have a moment to speak in private? We can leave you in peace in your office while we do. Just a minute?” He motions toward the office door, with the intention of finding a quiet spot just outside the office to huddle with Lokilia. If Tillimus agrees, the tiefling wastes no time and whispers his question with sincere concern. “What’s wrong?”
"Nothing's wrong," Lokilia says quickly in a lowered voice. "We just don't really need the scrolls if they're keeping the person in one of the warehouses. I'd rather not impose too much on the Ocici's so that they'd help us in the future." She shakes her head, "But you are probably right Dev, to get those scrolls in return for that token. It was quite valuable and we should get a fair exchange. At least Tillimus still seems open to mutual help in the future. Take the scrolls."
“Oh!, that totally makes sense!,” Dev says, relieved. “But I don’t think he’s in one of the warehouses. The messenger this morning told us the captive was being held outside of Whitestone. And Tillimus said the smaller warehouses are just inside the main gate in the Southern Ward. So I figured they aren’t being held there and we still need to find them. And I thought, maybe one of the other Hunters know if they might be wearing a particular thing? You know, so if the scroll can’t locate the person maybe it can locate that thing and we can find them?”
Dev wants to be sure he and Lokilia understand each other. He understands now why Lokilia was reluctant. If she is now on board with the scroll idea, then they can go back in the office, collect the scroll box and say thanksverymuch. But Dev waits patiently to hear any other concerns his friend might have.
Quinn recoils, "Put that thing back, that is not what I meant at all. It seems this bag only works for you." With a huff, Quinn goes back to practicing his forms.
After returning to the office, Dev smiles at Tillimus, and, turning the polished box to face him, says, “I am hopeful that a life will be saved with the power of what’s in here,” before opening the lid to confirm that there is no trick to opening it and that the box indeed holds scrolls. Assuming it does, and that Lokilia is ready to leave, the tiefling closes the box, thanks Tillimus, and leaves the warehouse at Lokilia’s side.
After returning to the office, Dev smiles at Tillimus, and, turning the polished box to face him, says, “I am hopeful that a life will be saved with the power of what’s in here,” before opening the lid to confirm that there is no trick to opening it and that the box indeed holds scrolls. Assuming it does, and that Lokilia is ready to leave, the tiefling closes the box, thanks Tillimus, and leaves the warehouse at Lokilia’s side.
Lokilia nods to Dev and thanks Tillimus as well. Once the pair are outside and headed away, she remarks, "Let's hope we can make good use of those scrolls. Very well done Dev. It was a great idea to take advantage of that token." She takes a few more steps along, then says, "Should we meet up with Normont and Quinn? Let them know what we've been up to?"
Dev beams, ecstatic after Lokilia’s compliment. “But I would have left it at that. It was smart of you to think of, like, maintaining the relationship.
”Yeah,” Dev agrees, pleased with the amount of information the pair had been able to gather, “let’s head back.”
When the others return, Normont is relieved. He didn't expect them to run into trouble, and he knew they could handle themselves, but still he had been a little concerned.
"Archivist Pren has sent some messages to the Archives in Emon, Westruun and Kymal as well as to Blainith asking for information about the Nameless Ones. Hopefully she will receive replies tomorrow. She did know that they are a new criminal organisation emerging from a merger of former Clasp and Myriad assets within Emon", he says, sounding very much like he was just repeating a phrase word for word at the end.
"We also have a meeting with The Guardian of Woven Stone, Lady Cassandra de Rolo, in two days time", he reports back.
"How did you get on?", he then enquires of Dev and Lokilia.
"Hey, Normont!" Lokilia says enthusiastically when she enters back into the home. "Wait until you hear what Dev came up with! I think we might have something to look into too." She looks expectantly at the young tiefling, letting him explain the results of their work.
Maybe it’s nothing to worry about, but… have you ever heard of…,” Dev’s voice drops to a whisper as he leans forward again, “... these so-called Nameless Ones?”
" How utterly horrid.", Balaran exclaimed.
" Yes. Yes, I have heard of them....there was apparently a major influx of them into Kymal a few years ago......Mother had just managed to stifle the majority of the turf wars between the gangs there. And I suppose they perceived a weakness of other organisations? Its not really something I took much interest in honestly."
" But I know they were trying to prevent underworld folks from leaving and forcing them to join.....a lot of people were murdered and left at the gates as a warning.....Mother was furious."
"Shortly before I left there was some trouble at one of the casinos involving a collapsed balcony or something and I know there were a large number of these Nameless Ones killed and arrested because Mother was going on about all the paperwork...."
" I believe she came down hard on them after that and there were quite a few arrests and a few attempts on her life but last I heard in correspondence things are quite quiet now."
" Hmmm..........now.........let me see. Names.....I heard her say Poska quite a few times....some sort of leader? There was some confusion as she had been seen in Kymal but also in Emon at the same time.......and there was a dead goliath with links to them found in the tunnels.......and a Mulberry and a.....Fire...Fira Key? And Jinoir......sorry, I have a gift for memory but I had no real interest in Mothers role so.....I didn't pay the best attention."
" But I would say knowing Mothers wrath that those Nameless Ones in Kymal are likely keeping a much lower profile these days."
"It all sounds rather scary," Lokilia says after Balaran's words. "I wonder if the quiet in Kymal is a sign. The during action may have forced them out - to Whitestone."
She finishes the rest of her drink as she thinks over the situation. "It may take a lot of hard work to uproot them her too. What freaky need though is to stop them, so they won't just show up somewhere else."
She looks over at Balaran. "We really do appreciate letting us know what you knew. Although of course, as always, we really quite enjoy your company."
" I think so.......a lot of people died....I don't think Whitestone has the underworld that Kymal had....but a lot of guards and some average people also died in Kymal. But it doesn't sound like as many of them are here.....maybe? From what you've told me."
Dev finds himself walking toward Glinnick’s place, his heart bristling at the threats the glamoured messenger conveyed that morning at Normont’s grandfather’s workshop.
A light seems to suddenly shine in Dev's eyes. "I have an idea… the Ocici mercantile family owes us all favors. Let’s cash those in and maybe they have some magic or something that can lead us to the prisoner. The messenger this morning said the captive is not in Whitestone, or implied it. That’s kind of the only clue we have.”
Dev pulls up short when he realizes he has led Lokilia to the area around Glinnick’s place. He continues in an undertone. “I didn’t realize I was walking this way. Must have been, like, subconscious? Because I was also thinking, if we got inside Glinnick’s, unseen, maybe we could find some clues to where the captive is?”
Lokilia spotted two individuals on watch down the street but Devs wandering and almost subconcious way of moving through the semi-crowded streets seemed to have prevented them from noting Lokilia and Dev at this point.
"I... don't know what I was thinking, but...," he starts, voice lowered, as his mind races through what he knows about the place. (He's surveilled the house before. Is there a back door? Where did he see the face/form he thought he recognized as part of the messenger's true form, or other guise? In a window? On the street? Any clues as to how they might sneak in? Perception from prior reconnaissance: 14+2=16).
(OOC: Maybe we can come up with a plan for later & all four of us come back after dark?)
Devs eyes scanned the building for any changes, he knew there was a side entrance in an alleyway and a set of wooden stairs that led up to a door on the 1st floor ( 2nd in the US). The building was joined to a row of townhouses on the other side and its rear wall was shared with a large mercantile warehouse that faced onto the street behind. Dev- tried to recall where he had seen the face before but was unable to.....he was fairly sure it was one of the top windows or perhaps the doorway at the top of the stairs.
“I was thinking… about Glinnicks,” he whispers as they wait for a response, “What if I went to the front door and like distracted whoever is inside while Amber snuck into a window to look for clues?”
Lokilia looks a bit disappointed that Tillimus knows so little about the Nameless Ones. Though perhaps it's good he at least recognized the name of the group. "It turns out that some of these Nameless Ones are here in Whitestone. We've been investigating them a bit....
"......
" I mean I have some antique scrolls that may be of use in location.....they are part of a consignment for a long term client but your coin trumps that relationship.......I believe the dweormer within will allow you to find a certain object....I don't know if it works for people as such."
" Ah....but that does explain a few things.....I've had a number of shipments come up short recently....I have written some rather brusque letters to our shipping partners but perhaps these ne'erdowells are to blame."
" Let me think..........there are some smaller warehouses just inside the main gate in the Southern Ward that I usually rent for overflow or as loading stations for southbound goods but they were both already booked when I tried last month but none of our esteemed competitors or other local interests seemed to know who had booked them and the bad tempered old gnome that owns them was most disagreeable about it."
"Hey, Normont!" Lokilia says enthusiastically when she enters back into the home. "Wait until you hear what Dev came up with! I think we might have something to look into too." She looks expectantly at the young tiefling, letting him explain the results of their work.
Dev excitedly picks up from Lokilia without skipping a beat. He recounts to Normont and Quinn, looking to Lokilia frequently to fill in and confirm details, first, the details of their visit with Balaran, who shared solid information regarding the Nameless Ones' activities and misdoings in Kymal until faced with his mother's wrath, and the names Balaran thought he remembered as being connected to that episode.
Dev tells of the brief surveillance of Glinnick's place and his idea that perhaps Amber could sneak in and look for more information regarding where the Nameless Ones are based outside of Whitestone, if he, Dev, provided a simultaneous diversion at the front door to draw attention away from the back rooms of the house. And, he tells of the meeting with the Ocici man Tillimus and, if it is safe to do so confidentially, removes the box of scrolls from his pack and opens it to briefly display the contents to his friends.
After smiling encouragingly to Lokilia to please add anything he hadn't mentioned, the seriousness of the situation -- a kidnapped person under threat of death seems to be depending on them for their very survival -- pulls Dev's excitement into a more solemn countenance. He asks Normont, in whose sagacity the teen tiefling places much hope, what he thinks.
"I have nothing to add really," Lokilia says with a smile, as she sends a light ruffle of air through Dev's hair. "I do think those warehouses in the Southern Ward might be worth taking a look at. See what they're up to with those."
Normont listens to Dev relay what they had learnt, stroking his pointed beard as he ponders the information.
"That is more information than I hoped for, you have both done amazingly well", he says first.
"It is interesting. And very concerning. That they were willing to go up against the authorities in Kymal suggest they are not bluffing here about a war with the Grey Hunt and Pale Guard", he states with a sigh and shake of his head.
"It is good to have some names, at least now they are not truly Nameless. But what did it mean that this Poska was in two cities at once? We know they like magical disguises, perhaps it as simple as that. Or twins. I am not sure it overly matters unless we hear the name related to someone in Whitestone I guess".
With regard to the plan to send Amber into Glinnick's store, he looks doubtful. "Amber was not really designed for that sort of espionage. She has a bit of capacity to sneak, but no camouflage or capacity to turn invisible. Nor could she easily open drawers and rifle through papers. She is also very identifiable as related to us, so if found it would point directly to us. I am not sure what would happen to the captured hunter in that circumstance"
He looks at the scrolls, "They may well be useful if we learn of something distinct that would be with the Grey Hunter".
When Lokilia mentions the warehouses in the Southern Ward, he nods, "Perhaps that is the best route to continue investigating. It might be they won't expect us to know about the warehouses, rather than Glinnick's where they might expect us".
"One other thing, thinking back to what the intruder said. They mentioned no-one in Whitestone needed to die. That could relate to the kidnapped Grey Hunter, which was my initial thought, or perhaps to the fact that whatever they are doing here is designed to affect folk somewhere else. It sounds like Balaran's mother has caused them setbacks in Kymal. They could also be staging some kind of retribution. Of course, both these things could be true as well", he says, his face set in a mixture of concern and anger.
"We need to get that message to the Grey Hunt. I am not sure we can wait for morning, what do you all think? Should we risk contacting them today?".
(OOC: DM - is there a method for contacting the Grey Hunt in these circumstances that Normont was told? Like a dead drop location or something?)
( Normont is fairly sure he could get a message through via The Castle, Grey Hunt Manor or The Tempests Residence.....or.....less surely.....through Kynan, Jaret or possibly even Mother Brazilda at the Zenith.......or even less surely....Othinon of The Altar of the Raven also in the Grey fields.)
"It would be good to get a message to them," Lokilia says. "Sooner rather than later. I wonder if they even know one of their own is missing!" She pauses a moment, a mildly worried look on her face. "Or who it is even."
She seems to think about it for a bit, then says, "To borrow an idea from Dev, perhaps we should use a bit of diversion in sending the message. A fake messenger then the real messenger!"
"I guess it depends how worried we are that The Nameless Ones have infiltrated places of authority. I think I could get a message through Grey Hunt Manor or The Tempest's Residence. I think those are the safest options. The Castle would have been an option. I just don't want to expose anyone else to danger by leading The Nameless Ones to them. Even a fake messenger would be in danger if they thought them real", Normont replies to Lokilia.
He really is concerned, and possibly overthinking, this whole espionage aspect.
"By tomorrow I should be able to modify my equipment to provide a similar capability to disguise myself to the one The Nameless One and Dev used earlier. Maybe waiting would be better".
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Normont tries the breastplate on for size, placing his old chain shirt into the bag, along with the silver ring and cloak. He will wait for Quinn to look at the gold ring on the finger before placing it back in the bag as well.
"Nothing's wrong," Lokilia says quickly in a lowered voice. "We just don't really need the scrolls if they're keeping the person in one of the warehouses. I'd rather not impose too much on the Ocici's so that they'd help us in the future." She shakes her head, "But you are probably right Dev, to get those scrolls in return for that token. It was quite valuable and we should get a fair exchange. At least Tillimus still seems open to mutual help in the future. Take the scrolls."
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Satina Cindermark, Fighter || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
“Oh!, that totally makes sense!,” Dev says, relieved. “But I don’t think he’s in one of the warehouses. The messenger this morning told us the captive was being held outside of Whitestone. And Tillimus said the smaller warehouses are just inside the main gate in the Southern Ward. So I figured they aren’t being held there and we still need to find them. And I thought, maybe one of the other Hunters know if they might be wearing a particular thing? You know, so if the scroll can’t locate the person maybe it can locate that thing and we can find them?”
Dev wants to be sure he and Lokilia understand each other. He understands now why Lokilia was reluctant. If she is now on board with the scroll idea, then they can go back in the office, collect the scroll box and say thanksverymuch. But Dev waits patiently to hear any other concerns his friend might have.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Quinn recoils, "Put that thing back, that is not what I meant at all. It seems this bag only works for you." With a huff, Quinn goes back to practicing his forms.
“As you wish”, Normont replies with a chuckle, putting the mummified finger back in the bag with the ring still attached.
Lokilia nods to Dev. "Go ahead, Dev."
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Satina Cindermark, Fighter || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
After returning to the office, Dev smiles at Tillimus, and, turning the polished box to face him, says, “I am hopeful that a life will be saved with the power of what’s in here,” before opening the lid to confirm that there is no trick to opening it and that the box indeed holds scrolls. Assuming it does, and that Lokilia is ready to leave, the tiefling closes the box, thanks Tillimus, and leaves the warehouse at Lokilia’s side.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
( The box indeed appears to hold three scrolls.)
Lokilia nods to Dev and thanks Tillimus as well. Once the pair are outside and headed away, she remarks, "Let's hope we can make good use of those scrolls. Very well done Dev. It was a great idea to take advantage of that token." She takes a few more steps along, then says, "Should we meet up with Normont and Quinn? Let them know what we've been up to?"
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Satina Cindermark, Fighter || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
Dev beams, ecstatic after Lokilia’s compliment. “But I would have left it at that. It was smart of you to think of, like, maintaining the relationship.
”Yeah,” Dev agrees, pleased with the amount of information the pair had been able to gather, “let’s head back.”
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
The four companions reconvene back at 'home'.
When the others return, Normont is relieved. He didn't expect them to run into trouble, and he knew they could handle themselves, but still he had been a little concerned.
"Archivist Pren has sent some messages to the Archives in Emon, Westruun and Kymal as well as to Blainith asking for information about the Nameless Ones. Hopefully she will receive replies tomorrow. She did know that they are a new criminal organisation emerging from a merger of former Clasp and Myriad assets within Emon", he says, sounding very much like he was just repeating a phrase word for word at the end.
"We also have a meeting with The Guardian of Woven Stone, Lady Cassandra de Rolo, in two days time", he reports back.
"How did you get on?", he then enquires of Dev and Lokilia.
"Hey, Normont!" Lokilia says enthusiastically when she enters back into the home. "Wait until you hear what Dev came up with! I think we might have something to look into too." She looks expectantly at the young tiefling, letting him explain the results of their work.
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Satina Cindermark, Fighter || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
Quinn will greet both with a smile, relieved of their safety. "We are eager to hear!"
Dev excitedly picks up from Lokilia without skipping a beat. He recounts to Normont and Quinn, looking to Lokilia frequently to fill in and confirm details, first, the details of their visit with Balaran, who shared solid information regarding the Nameless Ones' activities and misdoings in Kymal until faced with his mother's wrath, and the names Balaran thought he remembered as being connected to that episode.
Dev tells of the brief surveillance of Glinnick's place and his idea that perhaps Amber could sneak in and look for more information regarding where the Nameless Ones are based outside of Whitestone, if he, Dev, provided a simultaneous diversion at the front door to draw attention away from the back rooms of the house. And, he tells of the meeting with the Ocici man Tillimus and, if it is safe to do so confidentially, removes the box of scrolls from his pack and opens it to briefly display the contents to his friends.
After smiling encouragingly to Lokilia to please add anything he hadn't mentioned, the seriousness of the situation -- a kidnapped person under threat of death seems to be depending on them for their very survival -- pulls Dev's excitement into a more solemn countenance. He asks Normont, in whose sagacity the teen tiefling places much hope, what he thinks.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
"I have nothing to add really," Lokilia says with a smile, as she sends a light ruffle of air through Dev's hair. "I do think those warehouses in the Southern Ward might be worth taking a look at. See what they're up to with those."
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Satina Cindermark, Fighter || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
Normont listens to Dev relay what they had learnt, stroking his pointed beard as he ponders the information.
"That is more information than I hoped for, you have both done amazingly well", he says first.
"It is interesting. And very concerning. That they were willing to go up against the authorities in Kymal suggest they are not bluffing here about a war with the Grey Hunt and Pale Guard", he states with a sigh and shake of his head.
"It is good to have some names, at least now they are not truly Nameless. But what did it mean that this Poska was in two cities at once? We know they like magical disguises, perhaps it as simple as that. Or twins. I am not sure it overly matters unless we hear the name related to someone in Whitestone I guess".
With regard to the plan to send Amber into Glinnick's store, he looks doubtful. "Amber was not really designed for that sort of espionage. She has a bit of capacity to sneak, but no camouflage or capacity to turn invisible. Nor could she easily open drawers and rifle through papers. She is also very identifiable as related to us, so if found it would point directly to us. I am not sure what would happen to the captured hunter in that circumstance"
He looks at the scrolls, "They may well be useful if we learn of something distinct that would be with the Grey Hunter".
When Lokilia mentions the warehouses in the Southern Ward, he nods, "Perhaps that is the best route to continue investigating. It might be they won't expect us to know about the warehouses, rather than Glinnick's where they might expect us".
"One other thing, thinking back to what the intruder said. They mentioned no-one in Whitestone needed to die. That could relate to the kidnapped Grey Hunter, which was my initial thought, or perhaps to the fact that whatever they are doing here is designed to affect folk somewhere else. It sounds like Balaran's mother has caused them setbacks in Kymal. They could also be staging some kind of retribution. Of course, both these things could be true as well", he says, his face set in a mixture of concern and anger.
"We need to get that message to the Grey Hunt. I am not sure we can wait for morning, what do you all think? Should we risk contacting them today?".
(OOC: DM - is there a method for contacting the Grey Hunt in these circumstances that Normont was told? Like a dead drop location or something?)
( Normont is fairly sure he could get a message through via The Castle, Grey Hunt Manor or The Tempests Residence.....or.....less surely.....through Kynan, Jaret or possibly even Mother Brazilda at the Zenith.......or even less surely....Othinon of The Altar of the Raven also in the Grey fields.)
"It would be good to get a message to them," Lokilia says. "Sooner rather than later. I wonder if they even know one of their own is missing!" She pauses a moment, a mildly worried look on her face. "Or who it is even."
She seems to think about it for a bit, then says, "To borrow an idea from Dev, perhaps we should use a bit of diversion in sending the message. A fake messenger then the real messenger!"
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Satina Cindermark, Fighter || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
"I guess it depends how worried we are that The Nameless Ones have infiltrated places of authority. I think I could get a message through Grey Hunt Manor or The Tempest's Residence. I think those are the safest options. The Castle would have been an option. I just don't want to expose anyone else to danger by leading The Nameless Ones to them. Even a fake messenger would be in danger if they thought them real", Normont replies to Lokilia.
He really is concerned, and possibly overthinking, this whole espionage aspect.
"By tomorrow I should be able to modify my equipment to provide a similar capability to disguise myself to the one The Nameless One and Dev used earlier. Maybe waiting would be better".