The Mage Tower

The elderly scholar busied herself among scrolls and maps scattered across a large table inside the Mage Tower. As she recognized the names Caelum and Elara, her face lit up with recognition. "Ah, yes, those two are never far from trouble or treasure," she remarked, pointing to a cluster of maps. "They had an interest in the Whispering Tombs just outside the city, said something about a weakening seal they were keen to investigate." She shuffled the maps, unintentionally revealing one with detailed notes and a sketch of an intricate lock mechanism that seemed to overlay a map of the tombs.

"Maybe you'll find them there," she suggested, oblivious to Taya's prying eyes, which quickly took in the details of the lock mechanism—a clue, perhaps, to what awaited them at the tombs.

The Fletcher's Shop

Inside the fletcher's shop, the air was thick with the scent of wood and metal. The fletcher handed Haj the arrow, its shaft gleaming with an unusual polish. "See this? It's enchanted with a Seeker's charm, supposed to lead the holder to hidden treasures or secrets," he explained, his voice low with reverence. "Found it myself, just north of here by the old stone ruins. Might be of interest to someone like you, eh? Who knows what secrets it's meant to uncover?"

Cal's Mysterious Interaction at the Red Rock Inn

At the Red Rock Inn, Cal introduced himself to the cloaked figures with a flourish, spinning tales of desert intrigue. The men exchanged a glance, amused yet intrigued. "Fascinating story, 'Gort,'" one responded with a smirk. "We, too, have interests in the desert, particularly the ancient relics said to be hidden beneath its sands. Why don't we discuss this further in a more private setting?" He gestured subtly towards an open door by a secluded corner of the inn.

Taya takes a mental note of what she observes on details about the lock and will make sure to share her insight as soon as they left the mages. "Thank you, ahem ... professor," says Taya assuming that she is talking to a high ranking member of the mage society, which is unknown to her. "You seem very knowledgeable about the region. I wonder if we could trouble you for a little bit of information about a place called Snowmantle. Could you tell us something about it? Any legends or interesting facts? It is in the mountains near Dagger Falls, right?"

"I may be interested, but at what price? I doubt if you're giving it away freely."

"We have business in Snowmantle, but we really wanted to make contact with our friends before we left town.  What are the chances that these 'Whispering Tombs' are in that general direction?  I've never heard of them.  What can you tell use about them?"

As and afterthought Galdric adds:

"I apologize if all of our questions are a bother.  We are new to this area and being in a place of learning such is this spurs the mind into searching for knowledge."

Galdric doesn't want the woman to become annoyed with the bombardment of questions, because then she won't be as forthcoming. 

(Persuasion 14 if necessary)

Cal, ever the enthusiast of audacious bluffs, knows he's treading on risky ground. However, his nonchalant demeanor and unexpected charm often disarm even the most dangerous individuals. He doesn't resemble a typical wizard or magician but rather a well-to-do member of society fallen on hard times, so few expect any of his tricks. With a grin, he responds, "Relics, you say? How intriguing! I happen to share your fascination." He eagerly follows the cloaked figures toward the secluded corner, fully aware of the potential danger but determined to maintain an air of obliviousness, hoping his luck and quick wit will see him through this. And if they do fail him, hopefully raw psionic power won't. 

Horros still taking a back seat to the conversation tries to recall if he's heard of the Whispering Tombs and knows any details himself as a member of his religious order: 11 He stands at the ready to support his allies if the conversation takes an awkward or unsavory turn, but it's evident he doesn't love dealing with academic types.

The Mage Tower

In the softly lit confines of the Mage Tower, the elderly scholar, intrigued by Taya's inquiry about Snowmantle, shared a solemn nod. "Snowmantle, situated near the Border Forest, has been enveloped by a dark shroud since the Zhentarim transformed it into a labor camp. It’s distressing how a place known for its seclusion and peace has been warped by such malevolence," she remarked, sadness tinting her voice. Turning to Galdric’s question, she brightened slightly, "The Whispering Tombs, however, are beneath our very feet. Caelum and Elara descended into these depths recently, motivated by the need to strengthen ancient seals that are reportedly weakening. Both sites, while fraught with danger, are crucial in understanding and perhaps resolving the broader threats at play."

She handed them a detailed map of the sewer network that connected directly to the tombs.

Cal at the Red Rock Inn

In the shadowy back room of the Red Rock Inn, the cloaked figures’ demeanor shifted dramatically. One of them, with a firm grip on his concealed weapon, issued a stark ultimatum. "We know you're not Gort. You can either cooperate with us and maybe find something of mutual benefit, or we can ensure your silence in less pleasant ways. We’re serious about finding the relics, and your antics won't deter us." His eyes narrowed, scanning Cal for any sign of deceit or fear. "So, will you come quietly and discuss this like civilized folk, or do we need to take more... persuasive measures?"

Haj at the Fletcher's Shop

The fletcher, intrigued by Haj’s cautious approach, placed the enchanted arrow back on the counter, its mysterious aura palpable. "One hundred fifty gold pieces, and it’s yours. It’s not just any artifact—it’s a beacon to the unknown, possibly leading to the very ruins that hold keys to ancient secrets," he tempted, his tone a blend of business and mystery. "Imagine the stories it could tell, the secrets it could unveil. So, what do you say? Will you take the risk and see where this arrow leads, or will the legend of what lies in the ruins remain just a story for you?"

Galdric forces as charming a smile as he can manage onto his face. “We thank you for sharing your wisdom with us. It has been invaluable.”

He turns to Taya and Horros. “It would seem we have another decision to make. Our road forks once again. I suggest we find our companions and decide quickly how to proceed. Our time grows ever shorter.”

Cal, unfazed by the sudden shift in tone, responds with a grin, "Ah, so my 'Gort' disguise didn't fool you, huh? I suppose my career as a master of disguise will have to wait for another day!"

He chuckles, then adopts a more serious tone. "But jokes aside, I'm more than willing to discuss this like civilized folk. After all, I've always wanted to have a conversation in a shadowy back room of an inn. It's like a rite of passage, isn't it?"

Cal nods towards the door. "Lead the way to your secondary location then, gentlemen." He follows them, prepared for whatever surprises await.

"A Zhentarim labor camp?" Taya gasps. Then, her voice filled with a mix of shock and a hint of theatricality, "And here I thought it was just an abandoned ruin, waiting for the brave to explore its secrets." Though genuinely surprised to hear about the Zhentarim outpost, she realizes in hindsight that she should have guessed it. 'I doubt we can easily stroll in and have a chat with Zenezara, Riggs' superior. Perhaps we could infiltrate the camp to gather information, but it's bound to be dangerous. Perhaps too risky,' she muses, her expression turning thoughtful. 'Perhaps we could achieve more by helping the Arcane Brotherhood. They seem to be onto something, something that might provide answers instead of just raising more questions.'

Accepting the map with a curt nod, she adds, "Thank you for your assistance. But tell me, what exactly is being kept locked away? You mentioned that the seals are weakening."

Haj laughs, a short derisive bark of laughter "150! Do I look like I have that sort of wealth?"

"I'm a poor Bedine, far from home carrying the entirety of my possessions, and after paying you for the armour the best I can offer is 6 silver."

Horros chimes in as he grits his teeth with an apparent displeasure, "Bah, the Zhent's are always up to no good, but they're like roaches. Kill a few and they multiple... not to say violence is the right answer here. We have to do what best suits us as a group, no need to take stupid risks if our skills don't really align with one or the other. It's good to have options... let's reconnect with the other two and go from there..."

The Mage Tower

As the group prepared to leave, the elderly scholar handed Taya the map, her voice lowering to a serious tone. "Beneath Dagger Falls, within the Whispering Tombs, lies not just relics, but seals that bind an ancient evil. Our texts are frustratingly vague, only mentioning that these seals were placed to prevent a darkness from surfacing—a darkness that could devastate realms if unleashed. The Arcane Brotherhood fears what the weakening of these seals might portend." She glanced around, ensuring no other ears were privy to the conversation. "Your courage in exploring these depths could be pivotal. Take care, and may your choices reflect the gravity of this threat."

The Fletcher's Shop

The fletcher eyed Haj, considering his financial plight but recognizing an opportunity. "If gold is tight, perhaps you’d be interested in a trade of services instead? I’ve heard tales of a relic near here, guarded by old magics. Help me retrieve it, and not only will you keep the arrow, but we’ll split any other finds. It’s said to be in the ruins to the north, fraught with peril but rich with forgotten treasures. What do you say, friend? Do we have an accord?"

The Red Rock Inn

As they descended into the basement, the atmosphere thickened with secrecy and potential peril. The cloaked leader, revealing a detailed map with an ancient symbol, eyed Cal intently. "Here’s where we need to go. But before we discuss further, you must understand the gravity of what we seek. It's an artifact of immense power, potentially catastrophic if mishandled. We need to know if we can truly trust you. Where are your companions? This task requires discretion, and we can’t afford unexpected interruptions." His tone suggested a blend of curiosity and caution, probing Cal’s intentions and his group’s whereabouts.

Haj considers the offer, less interested in the arrow, more interested about the artefact. This may be what they are looking for.

"This sounds like an interesting prospect. I would need to discuss this with my group, but I think they would be interested. Of course, I'll need more detail before presenting this 'business opportunity' to them."

Cal nods, his expression carefully neutral as he absorbs the details of the map, then trying to steer the conversation towards uncovering more about the cloaked figures' plans.

"Thank you for sharing this with me," he responds calmly. "My companions and I are currently engaged in our own tasks in town, but we will regroup shortly."

"Look, I understand the urgency of your mission," he says, nodding towards the map. "By the sounds of it you're concerned about someone beating you to the prize."

Cal leans in slightly, "Knowing more about these other parties could help us all. Perhaps there is a way for our interests to align, a way of ensuring that none of us are beaten to the prizes we seek."

He watches the cloaked figures closely, hoping this conversation will lead them to reveal more about their competitors and their overall plan.

(If relevant, Deception/Persuasion: 18)

Galdric is just going to nod his thanks to the scholar and start making his way out to look for the others so they can decide what to do

Horros will follow  Galdric, letting out a big stretch as he thanks the scholars for their assistance. “Time to reconvene with the team. Prep for the next steps quickly.”

“I feel it is our obligation to attempt to aid our friends in the tombs, but I also fear the time the diversion will take. War looms over all our heads.”

„I think we shouldn’t march into a zhentarim camp, and helping the brotherhood seems a good idea with the advantage that we can inform them about what we learned from Riggs. Perhaps, they are still willing to help us communicate —as we originally wanted. How big can these tombs be?” Concludes Taya after they have left the wizards. 

Galdric shifts uncomfortably at the thought of these tombs. In his mind, such a place could mean only one thing…undead. His most hated foe. He flashes back to his battles with his former companion against hordes of Thayan zombies. He notices his companions next to him and begins to fear for their safety. History cannot repeat itself again…