Above & Below

Kurama, you've heard rumors about evil things lurking, and about the origins of Oshait, but Yeenoghu only sounds vaguely familiar. 

Murmur comes over with a handful of papers. She nods a greeting to Kurama. "Name's Murmur," she states. "Found some maps. They're mostly of waterways, but I'm pretty sure I know how to get home now."

She smiles at the party. "It's been a pleasure...and I have a feeling we might run into each other again when things get really bad."

"Wh-what should I do?" Pip turns to Brask.

(Is Murmur proposing to take the boat?)

Yeah, I think that's what you all (or at least Effort) had promised her. We can revisit if you want to keep it for later.

Come on Pip.  We're going hunting for bastards.  Unless... Brask looks uncertain, which is unusual for him.  Do you want to stay with Murmur?

The goblin stares down at his feet for a moment, then lifts his head up, holding his chin high. "I still owe you for saving me from Umog," he states. "I must pay that debt."

Damn right, Brask says approvingly.  Now hop to it.  Grab your stuff and come on.  You got any stuff?

Brask will inspect Pip - what weapons is he carrying, and what armour is he wearing, if any?

To Kurama, he replies:  Brask.  If you're a decent fighter, we might become friends.  Well, we got a guy to find and some dog-lovers to smash.  It's a good day, I reckon.  He turns to wave at Murmur.  Hey, good luck, don't crash the boat too soon.

And he walks down the gangplank and off the ship and into town.  If there's a handy tourist place selling maps, he'll stop and get one, or a food vendor he can buy something to eat and get some directions while he's at it.  Basically, he's just look for a simple orientation to how the city is laid out, what the main districts are etc.

Effort stops, and takes a long look at Murmur, committing the girl to her memory.  "Be careful," she finally says.  "You now know they're looking specifically for you.  They won't be happy you got away. ... Don't let them capture you again.  Do whatever it takes.  If my guess is right, it would be better to die fighting than to fall into their grasp once more.  Good luck."  Turning, she makes her way down off the boat, trailing after Brask.  Seeing that he's looking for a map of the city, Effort simply shakes her head and stops him.

"This is my home town.  I know the alleys and the streets from my youth, when I lived on them.  And I know of the high places from my time as a human scholar here.  It may be that some shops have changed hands since then, but I would be surprised if the streets have as well.  Should you need something, or to get somewhere, just ask." 

(Effort might not know particulars about the city, but I'm assuming she could help the group navigate around to wherever they needed to go, since she lived her most of her life, and has spent time on both sides of its "faces" (by which I mean the poor and the affluent).)

For the most part, Effort doesn't even need to do checks. She grew up here - she knows where most shops, inns, and places of worship are.

As Murmur recruits a few poor dock hands to help her with the ship, the rest of you wander away from the docks. The city is bustling, but it is getting late. The sun is low as you look off to the southwest, toward the poorer neighborhoods that Effort grew up in. Somewhere, Effort, you wonder if Namar is still roaming the streets, preying on the innocent citizens here. More than that, you wonder where Promise is...and where the others might be, if they're somehow alive too.

To the northwest you can just make out the silhouette of the Temple of Lathandar, sitting in the center of the wealthier districts. Not that that means much here - Gorta certainly isn't Lovilra when it comes to affluence. The rest of you notice the extreme diversity here. More than Green Fork, even more than Lovilra. Humans, elves, and dwarves hardly make up half the citizens you see as you leave the docks. Groups of dragonborn walk along with halflings and half-orcs. An enormous goliath is escorted along by a group of Kenku. A centaur trots along the main thoroughfare as a small group of kobolds duck down an alleyway. 

Effort, you know you can head straight down the main road from the docks and find plenty of inns. There are two marketplaces - one in each section of town - that you can shop at, or you can choose to wait until tomorrow morning. It's been quite a ride.

"Do any of you need to go shopping?"  Though she's asking the group, she's looking specifically at Pip, who is likely in need of a better outfitting if he's to keep up with the dangers the party will face.

"We've two choices, though I'd recommend at our budget we look around the commoner's downtown, the prices may be a bit better.  Of course if you're looking for something of quality and according prices, it's on the other side of the city."

Pip wears a bit of leather armor - nothing too impressive, but you've seen more sorry excuses for armor in your travels. He has a scimitar and a shortbow. There were plenty of both in the stores of the ship, but not much more intimidating than that. 

"I...have no coin," Pip replies. He makes it plain what he does have, holding out his weapons. "I am happy to sleep on a floor or outside if that is what you decide."

(To Murmur before following the party off the boat) "Hopefully we meet again under better circumstances" Kurama replies before giving her a nod and following the others off the boat and back into Gorta.

When he catches up to the others he listens as he hears a description of the city from Effort, still impressed with the size of the place and all it could have to offer compared to the relatively small monastery he called home.  When she mentions her former life as a scholar, feeling a kinship with her he asks "You were once a scholar as I was?  What was your area of study?"   

Once the discussion shifted to their plans for the rest of the day, Kurama is indifferent on where they stay.  Accustomed to both comfortable & simple living, he will happily follow the group to any location they deem appropriate.   

"I worked for the Temple of Lathander as a scribe and a researcher," Effort says dismissively as the group walks along the road.  "But not as you see me now.  I had to disguise myself as a human for them to take me into their confidence.  A pity for them, because I was very good at my job and earned great favor with one of their clergy members.  He wouldn't recognize me as I now, however."  The frosty look on Effort's face as she recounts this part of her past tells you that she doesn't particularly look back on that time of her life with any great fondness.

Brask can definitely afford some studded leather armor (45gp) and an explorer's pack (10gp) for Pip.  He also gives him ten gold.  We'll add it to your debt.  I'm not letting you get killed before you pay it off.  Now, if there's trouble, stay back, hide and shoot your bow.  No rushing in and being heroic until we've done some training and toughened you up a bit.  Hey, Effort!  You find an inn yet? 

Insight check to see if Kurama notices: 7 

(apparently his pretty oblivious lol)

Kurama is still in awe at the sights and sounds and smells of the city. He starts to search around but is immediately distracted by a Tortle lumbering by.

Pip proudly dons his new studded leather armor and puffs out what little chest he can. "Thank you," he says, nodding to Brask. The nod still has some shyness to it, as he struggles to keep his eyes up and not look down at his feet, but there's a little bit more confidence than there was.

After the shopping is completed, Effort leads the group to what she recalls is the most affordable yet still clean inn on the less posh side of town.  She doesn't bother to enlighten Kurama, though her attitude does soften a bit when it becomes apparent that he's nearly as inexperienced as Pip is at navigating through the large city.  The latter, she gives a friendly smile on seeing him fully outfitted.  Stopping by one of the stalls on the way there, she buys a Healer's Kit and Blanket hands them to Pip, artfully tying up the blanket into a makeshift knapsack to help Pip carry his things (should he not have some kind of sack or pack of his own already).

"Outfitting yourself for battle is well and good, but taking care of yourself outside of it is also important.  Not all wars are won on a battlefield... so remember it, and take care of yourself."

Cadmael she instructs to keep watch for any oddities - such as signs of being followed - as they traverse the city.

Cadmael perception: 13

I need a drink, Brask says.  You found an inn yet, Effort?  Not enough drink on that boat. Hey, Kurama.  We just killed two lots of slavers.  They screamed real nice as they died.  Took their boat, freed their slaves.  Good week so far.  So, what've you been up to this week?  How did you get to this city?

"Nothing quite as exciting as that," he replies to Brask "I only just reached the city earlier today.  Before that I had been wandering the wilderness trying hopelessly to gain any clues about what had happened to my home but never found anything useful.  I then lost my way and was captured by a group of bandits.  After escaping my confinement and dispatching them swiftly, I managed to convince one of the rouges to tell me about a Promise in Gorta who might have a connection to my home's destruction so I made my way here" he says rather matter of factly.  "And a drink sounds nice," Kurama adds on, "Do you think they'll have any good teas?" looking hopefully at the others.

Brask laughs.  Yeh, bandits go down pretty easily - a quick smack on their stupid skulls and... hang on.  What do you mean about your home?  You lost it?  Like, it floated away?

Tea?  You sick or something?  Tea's for when you're sick.

Kurama pauses for a moment before responding "Unfortunately not.  My home was dedicated to discovering all of the many truths of this world.  I believe one of my fellow monks pushed that search for knowledge too far and...unleashed something that destroyed everything including what they once were.  I've made it my mission to discover what it was and stop it so that my family can rest in peace." jlkaj f

"A good tea is beneficial for the body and soul at all times my friend.  You should try some."