Party 1

"Passed what on little one? The wasting do you mean? It seems we all," Esrah pauses glancing over a Ran then Kiran before looking back at Petal stepping closer to the gnome, "those of us who have magic in our blood...it's our curse thanks to the Darkness that's ever-present amongst us," he adds frowning.

"I believe this is a time for all to retire," Idemiah then says stepping away from Esrah towards the door. "We shall leave you to rest," she adds as Esrah sighs nodding and following Idemaih out of the parlor door towards the entrance of the villa.

Party 2

"Holy city indeed," the elderly human woman sighs shaking her head. "I am Yelena Yoxall. May I know your names," she adds looking from Varen to Ronegan.

Varen takes a moment and peers through one of the windows, seeing Elavor conversing with someone. Must not be an issue.

She turns back to the woman. "I am Varen Delisse. A pleasure to meet you, Yelena."

Ronegan sets down his cup of wine and takes the lady's hand in his own. "Ronegan Gallowglass. I am a scholar, of sorts."

Party 2

Saying your names out loud something changes in the shop. A gust of wind from all directions rushes over you both making all the candlelight flicker! Yelena then smiles as she steps back behind the counter. She then turns from you both back to the wall shelf then pulling a plain candlestick that looks like it's made from some sort of root the wall shelf opens swing inward reveals a set of stairs that disappear into the dark.

"Welcome," Yelena says looking back at the party. "May you find what you seek," she adds gesturing for the two of you to go through. "I warn you however...this is a sacred place and entering these hallowed halls comes with a price for all," she adds the warning.

Party 1

Once the two paladins have gone, Ran looks down at Petal.

"Well done. They didn't get anything from us and confirmed a few things that were only rumors," Ran says. "They seemed straight forward enough, but if there is someone in the palace behind the Dark Wanderer, we don't know who to trust."

Ran looks around the suite.

"We may want to make sure all other doors and windows are secured. If the Dark Wanderer already has supporters on the island, they may be bold enough to try something tonight before the inquisition tomorrow."

He begins moving through the room to secure any windows but calls over to Kiran.

"Do you know anything about what the questioning will be like tomorrow?"

Ronegan's eyes widen agog and he bobs his head slowly at Varen, mouthing a silent thank you to his friend. He begins to move to the passageway then pauses at the door way. "If our ally comes in. Half-elf chappie name of Elavor. Good lad, brilliant cartographer, bit of a drinker. Tell him that we're okay and give him some mulled wine. That should keep him occupied for a bit. His steed's named Dust, in case he wants to confirm that you actually spoke to us and did not just make us disappear."

Ronegan pauses and looks down at the set of stairs. "I hope." He will walk down the stairs.

"There is always a cost. The sacrifice is usually worth it in the end." Varen says, clenching her fist again. She continues down the stairwell. "Until next time, Yelena." 

Elavor keeps his pose, his eyes widen slightly when she removes her hood, but his recognition of Lyra almost softens him...  he keeps his hand on his dagger, but the grin on his face is almost genuine. At least he intends it to be genuine, letting some of the emotion of seeing her come to the surface to sell it. 

"Lyra! You almost had me for sure! I thought... well, who cares what I thought?? I'm glad to see you... it's been a long time. This place? Well, just keeping an eye out for  ... my friends needed to pick up some goods, so I said I'd wait for them here."  Elavor looks at her face.. recalling how she used to ... "Not now" he thinks

 "This is the first I've heard about House Pedryas, I wasn't aware news traveled so fast about our new king, either. How did you find out?"  Elavor asks, his grin still plastered on his face. he grips the dagger a bit tighter... 

"And what brings you out on a night like this? Were you following me, Lyra?" he asks, bluntly, with a bit of jest in his voice to sell it. With Lyra, the direct approach always worked the best. She knew who he was, more-so than anyone he travels with now, and she knew his privacy was gold to him.

He never liked the games she played. The pieces might add up, but the way they're being played are keeping Elavor on edge. 

(OOC: DM, does Elavor sense any thing off about Lyra? Lying, misleading, etc?)

"At a spice shop? You hang around cooks now," Lyra asks in utter disbelief. "As you know my younger brother was promoted to the high king's guard from the conscription ranks," Lyra reminds Elavor, "and all the rumors end up at the Boar eventually," she adds sighing. "You never listen..." she adds crossing her arms over her chest. "Of course I was following you! I knew you'd leave the city without so much as telling me again like before...I realize it didn't work out between us but...I worry for you," she finishes with a hard expression as if she's sorry she admitted the last bit she confessed.

OOC: Roll an insight check!

Insight : 16

Elavor your former flame has always been hard to read and doesn't seem to be giving up any more information than her words or expression can tell you.

Elavor relaxes a bit, folding arms in front of him while Lyra talks... then raising his finger as he adds "I ALWAYS listen, Lyra, I just don't always remember. Or hear what's really being said. I know that's a fault of mine... " He sighs. 

"And no, I'm not cooking. Those that are with me, though, are VERY much into food.... speaking of them, I should get into there... " Elavor turns to head into the store... "Look, I'm sorry for always having to leave. Since  I joined the guild, I've always been called to the road for work. You know that...that what we had was special to me. I just... there's a lot that I handle better alone." he explains with a shrug, his hand on the door handle... 

"Oh... before I forget. "The Dark Wanderer": does that mean anything to you??" Elavor asks, his eyes narrowing at her.. hoping to catch anything in her answer he can decipher... 

(Insight : 18 )

"Dark what?" Lyra asks with a surprised look. "No, no clue who or what you're talking about. Enjoy your shopping...and your new friends," she adds turning on her heels and walking towards the passage to the main part of the bazaar. "Don't die eh?" She calls over her shoulder pulling up her hood and disappearing into the shadows again!

Heading inside Elavor finds a shop that's brightly lit with an elderly human woman at the counter a pair of half-moon spectacles now perched on her nose. She looks up.

"Good evening," she calls out to Elavor curiously.

(Meanwhile, back in the royal apartments...)

Kiran shrugs a little uncertainly, "I'm afraid not, that's not a part I was involved in. My role was bringing them in for inquisition, I was not told what happened after. I would hope, with the whole empire watching this closely, they will be cautious how they handle it. But I'm afraid I've never been much of an optimist."

Elavor looks around the shop...and at the shop keeper. Then back to the store. And then to the shopkeeper again... "Good evening... Well, my friends just entered a bit ago. Any idea what dark corner they've scurried?"

As they descend the stairway, Varen quietly speaks to Ronegan. "You know, at some point I ought to show you what it is I can do. It's... a bit messy. But we've come this far."

Party 1

Ran looks at Kiran carefully when he mentions having brought people in to be questioned.

"Were you told who to bring in or was it your call?" he asks.

Ronegan fidgets about on the stairs, and turns to Varen, almost stumbling down into the darkness as he does so. "Yes! By the gods, the curiosity was KILLING me. I noticed so much different magic emanating from you. And our conversations at the Firstforge Keep over the years? You showed such interest in the strange and rare bestiary of legend, I knew something was strange about, you my lady." Ronegan talks extremely fast, the excitement that the irrepressible halfling has for knowledge outweighing even the sad events of the day.

Varen can't help but chuckle. "Strange, me? I am insulted, little halfling!" She laughs, a genuine one that contrasts the dour mood she'd been in since hearing of the king's passing. "But seriously, in due time. I don't want to offend our newest hosts by getting blood on their secretive lair."

She gives him a smirk.

OOC: For the sake of brevity!!

Ronegan and Varen descend the stone steps that spiral downward into the darkness but as they step forward a series of magic torches illuminate with a blue flicker on the walls about every 20ft as they approach.

Upstairs...

Elavor is tested by Yelena the half-elf utters his name and yet the shop does not react. Yelena however waves the half-elf through after a good examination of his intentions which Elavor finds a painless process. Pulling the candle stick again the elderly human allows the hidden door to reopen revealing the staircase. Upon it Elavor descends towards the echoing voices of his companions.

Descending together the party finds a sunken city (picture an underground Venice, as the strong scent of salt water begins to fill their noises. They find a single gondola and a gondolier who neither speaks or moves from the boat. The figure only beckons the party with a skeletal hand to a long boat.

Do they board?