Chapter 3 - Part 2 : Falling Down

[BigRedRod]

One misplaced foot can have surprisingly far reaching consequences.

Finn found this out through direct experience. Racing down the winding alleyways of the abandoned neighbourhood in an effort to reach the sounds of combat there were all too likely centred around his companions, the rogue relies purely on his grace and good fortune to keep him from slipping on the slick cobblestones.

What Finn hadn't been expecting was to push down on a cobble with one foot and have it simply drop away into darkness. It takes a moment for the mind to register something so very unexpected occurring when one is so focused on something else. And a moment was too long to stop Finn's stride and attempt to leap away from the growing pit beneath his right boot's sole.

Not quite understanding how or why, Finn fell through the gaping hole in the pavement and into blackness.

...

Finn awoke with a start. His dreams haunted by visions of his family back in Odril crying out in pain. They called for him and there was nothing he could do. Grey light and drizzle are let into the strange dark void that the man lies in through a vaguely circular hole a dozen or more feet above him. After a moment he starts to move.

No longer could he hear the sounds of combat. How long had he been unconscious? A few minutes? An hour? Longer? It was impossible to tell but lying atop a pile of stony debris was unlikely to provide any clues.

Brushing away the worst of the dirt, the fallen man looks up a the hole and around at the darkness. He was in some kind of large cave, not a geological feature one would usually expect to find just below the streets of a city so large. The hole through which he had arrived was not also an exit. Too high and even if he could somehow scale the unseen walls of the cavern the edges would most likely give as soon as he attempted to haul himself out.

The grey shaft of light illuminates his pack. Reaching inside, he retrieves a slim metal rod from within and swings it around and down. As the rod strikes the ground the cavern is suddenly showered in golden light.

Sunrod in hand, Finn looks around once more and seeing only one direction to head in, sets off on a subterranean journey beneath the region of Edinhumber known as Broken Tower.

...

After a few minutes of wandering the earthen ground begins to slope slightly upwards. And a few minutes after that comes what was once a house. Or at least part of one.

Planks of wood and pieces of stone are scattered near and far. Drawing nearer, Finn can make out a pair of mostly crushed skeletons with a wooden beam lying across them.

Looking up, the rest of the house is visible. Clearly the arrival of the cavern was a sudden thing. The house at some point in the past suddenly found itself with no foundation and fell downwards, leaving only a hollow shell sat upon the surface.

Fortunately for Finn, the distance to the surface is less here and the mass of debris formed from the insides of a house collapsing in a heap, allows his to scrabble upwards.

...

The rain has stopped entirely when Finn steps out into what passes for fresh air in the city of Edinway. Breathing a sigh of relief to have not met his end trapped under the Broken Tower, Finn is quite surprised when he catches sight of a rather striking figure dressed in red and black with a book tucked under one arm and a large scythe grasped firmly in the other looking down at him.

[LuneMoonshadow]

The man looks out from beneath his wide brimmed hat at the newcomer, his green eyes searching for something - a threat perhaps, or maybe a sign of intimidation. Without so much as a smile he steps back away from the rogue, tucking the book into his belt and placing the free hand on the shaft his scythe, leaning on it much like a staff.

"It would seem the denizens of this region didn't all die out like everyone so believes." He pauses for a moment, his eyes drifting to the area about him before returning to the stranger and continuing the thus far terse conversation. "Can I help you?"

[Flagg Thornington]

Though Finn only met his companions less than a tenday ago he feels an urgency to find out what happened. He rubs the grogginess from his eyes as he wanders about. Looking up to see another person startles the wanderer.

Finn offer a hand in thanks.
"What brings you to this district? By the way, my name is Finn."

[LuneMoonshadow]

The cleric doesn't take the rogue's hand, opting to tip his hat to the stranger and lean upon his scythe instead.

"I'm Malkanus, a cleric from a different land. I'm here just investigating the happenings in the district. The lore interests me, I suppose." He taps one of his findings, the book stuffed into his belt, as if to make a point. "Quite a sight to see a living person wandering about in the district. What brings you here, anyway?"

[Flagg Thornington]

Finn nods his head to the careful traveler.
"Me and my three companions were searching about to see if the district could be reopened to ease the overcrowded living conditions in this vast city.

Have you seen anyone or, anything?

I was traveling with a mage, a northerner and a lady cleric when I fell right through the street cobbles into a vast underground cavern. What day is it? I'm not sure how long I was knocked out. I was running through the streets toward the sound of clashing steel, arms that were probably being wielded by my companions."

[LuneMoonshadow]

Malkanus informs the stranger of the day even as he listens for sounds of combat. He shakes his head a bit and shrugs, shifting his weight from his scythe to his feet, and resting his weapon on his shoulder.

"Sorry, but I haven't seen your companions, only a building that apparently had a struggle in it at an earlier time. Three bodies of humanoid rats, no humans, elves, or otherwise." The cleric looks about, tapping the book stuffed into his belt in thought. "But if they engaged in combat in this area, who exactly were they fighting? I've been looking for survivers or people hiding."

[Flagg Thornington]

"There's a lot of rat creatures infesting these parts and I think it'd be best if we stick together. We encountered two different breeds of rat-men. Some of the creatures are covered in runes, one of these spoke with us, asking us to return and speak with it again. The others are violent and could make short work of either of us, if caught alone and unprepared. First I must return to where I last saw my companions and search for clues to their whereabouts. It's near the tower."
Finn motions for Malkanus to follow as he triangulates his position using the tower as a reference point and heads toward where he last saw his troupe.

[LuneMoonshadow]

The cleric sighs a bit, twisting the scythe idly in his hands as the rogue starts to wander off. He shakes his head a bit, wondering what he's going to get himself into.

"Maybe finding a survivor wasn't the best idea," he whispers under his breath. "Lets just try not to be too long." And with that, Malkanus steps after the rogue, following him through the streets.

[BigRedRod]

Looking up it strikes Finn that the Broken Tower from which the area takes its name would not be visible from his present location on one of the many narrow streets flanked by buildings or two or three storeys.

After a few hesitant steps in what seems a likely direction, Finn notices a shape moving across one of the rooftops. Before, he can articulate this sighting, a number of ratfolk have silently dropped down to street level surrounding the pair.

Rather than being the large feral creatures which fight with tooth and claw, or the rune-marked rat, this particular bunch bear more of a resemblence to those both Malkanus and Finn saw in the lair of the moon cultists, just not as dead.

Clad in clothing of a wide variety of styles and colours, the troupe of rat creatures look like a malevolant circus act. Albeit an armed circus troupe.

Finn spins sideways as one of the nearest rushes toward him, feinting to the left with a short sword while grasping outward with its free paw.

Initiative
Rat 1 (short sword)
Finn
Rat 2 (light mace)
Rat 3 (dagger)
Rat 4 (handaxe)
Rat 5 (dagger)
Malkanus


Map
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[Flagg Thornington]

Finn responds by stepping backwards and presenting his rapier. The rogue thrusts right for the middle of the rat with the short sword.

[BigRedRod]

With surprising grace under the pressure of almost half a dozen armed ratmen dropping from the rooftops all around him, Finn lashes out with a swift thrust of his rapier. The weapon strikes its target, but only a glancing blow, doing more to its clothing than to its flesh. Still, the beast squeals in pain.

The metal head of a mace sweeps just above Finn's head, but before he can thank the gods for his good luck, another of the creatures closes in and tears something free from Finn's belt. Turning, he sees a rat-creature with a long knife in one paw and one of his own belt pouches in the other.

Malkanus finds himself under a similar assault from a pair of the creatures at the opposite end of the narrow street. The sweep of an axe is deflected entirely by the bands of metal which protect the cleric, but with his attentions focused on the rapidly approaching axe, there is no time to react to the rat, dressed in a dirty yellow and red tunic, as it grabs a hold of the book secured within his belt and pulls it free.

Initiative
Rat 1 (short sword)
Finn
Rat 2 (light mace)
Rat 3 (dagger)
Rat 4 (handaxe)
Rat 5 (dagger)
Malkanus

Map
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[LuneMoonshadow]

"Finn, can we take these?" the cleric calls behind as he digs a foot into the ground, preparing himself. His hand grips his scythe and brings it up to the thief who stole his book, with the intent of making sure he retrieves his things. After attacking the cleric will shuffle back away from his attackers (10 feet).

[BigRedRod]

As clumsy a weapon as a scythe may be, in the right hands it can be brutally effective. Swinging the weapon up and around, Malkanus catches the book thief on his knife-arm and severs the limb entirely. It drops to the cobbles with a squelch and a clatter and the creature now gripping the book tightly in its one remaining paw squeals in agony.

One of the trio of rats around Finn strikes suddenly with a well aimed stroke that bites deeply through the leather protecting his thigh and cuts into the flesh beneath.

Initiative
Rat 1 (short sword)
Finn
Rat 2 (light mace)
Rat 3 (dagger)
Rat 4 (handaxe)
Rat 5 (one-armed)
Malkanus

Map
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*END -menbfc

[Flagg Thornington]

"Only if we're lucky. Stay close and we have a fair chance."
Leadership is not the rogue's strongest attribute. In fact, only in the past few days did he first partner with a group not out to stab him in the back.
Yet, here he stands back to back with a holy-man he just met fighting for his life.
Finn presses his attack not wanting to lose track of his pouch. He parries and thrusts in a dancing motion among the piecemail rainbow surrounding him.
He aims for an opening on the same rat and focuses on avoiding the blows of the neighboring rat.

[ooc attack rat1 Dodge rat2]

[BigRedRod]

Whether it was by pure fluke or skill it is open to debate, but Finn's second thrust of the rapier glides uncontested toward its target and punches through layers of cloth and the fur-covered flesh beneath. At a guess, the rogue would suggest he managed to puncture a lung, as the creature reacted by coughing up a splatter of crimson gore before dropping onto its rear against the wall unable to continue the ambush.

A solid blow catches Finn on his shoulder and painfully reminds him that the battle is still not over yet. The mace wielder's companion is clearly not quite so confident and backs away, turning after a few steps and rushing away down the narrow street with a far quicker pace than any thief Finn has encountered in the past could manage.

Malkanus bats away a stroke from the handaxe of the rat with both its remaining arms with his own weapon as the one-armed book thief also decides that it is better to leave the quarry alive and short a few of their precious treasures than it is to be cut to pieces by a cleric with a scythe. Even with only one arm, the creature moves at a superhuman pace. Unlike its fellow deserter though, it leaves a spotty trail of blood behind it.

Initiative
Finn
Rat 2 (light mace)
Rat 3 (dagger) Out of Sight
Rat 4 (handaxe)
Rat 5 (one-armed) Out of Sight
Malkanus

Map
Drop this text at http://www.irony.com/java/mmee
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[LuneMoonshadow]

Not wanting to be left alone with two of these creatures, the cleric steps back and releases one hand from his scythe. He looks over to Finn and places a hand on his shoulder, whispering for the strength he needs.

OOC: 5 foot step back away from the rat and next to Finn, cast Lesser Vigor on him.

[Flagg Thornington]

Finn feels the trickling energy that follows the cleric's prayer, and ignores his wound to press the attack. His bloody rapier dances in a blur before it shoots foward toward the rat that hit him with the mace.

[BigRedRod]

Stepping back in the narrow street sees Malkanus with his back against an exposed wall complete with a glassless window and windowframe covered in shreds of peeling paint. Reaching out to place his hand upon his new found companion's shoulder, the priest channels divine energy into him.

Feeling better already, Finn lashes out with a quick thrust at the nearest opponent. Seeing the rogue's intent, the rat leans sideways and so receives a deep gash under one eye rather than a fatal stroke. Shrieking in pain the rat makes a hasty return blow that is easily avoided.

Stepping forwards, the remaining rat loses interest in the cleric and instead chooses to direct its attention on Finn's exposed back. Sensing the attack, Finn is able to attempt a dodge but just manages to receive the flat on the axeblade to the side of his head.

Initiative
Finn
Rat 2 (light mace)
Rat 3 (dagger) Out of Sight
Rat 4 (handaxe)
Rat 5 (one-armed) Out of Sight
Malkanus

Map
Drop this text at http://www.irony.com/java/mmee
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@2k *s -1 40 30 rs 0 9y6tc 40 30 3c 2k
*END jg6uxt

[LuneMoonshadow]

Malkanus grimaces at letting his companions back exposed, but understands it was for the best. He grips his scythe with both hands now, swinging it the rogue's newest attacker, trying to regain the position he had just given up.

[Flagg Thornington]

Finn decides that the rat's tactics are sound and decides to use them against the beasts. He pokes his rapier at the rat before him and steps back to flank the beast nearest Malkanus.

[ooc attack rat 2 and 5-foot step to provide flanking bonus to Malkanus, that is if the cleric doesn't kill R4 first. If so Finn won't move at all.]

[BigRedRod]

Malkanus attempts to swing the scythe in a complicated arc in the hope of catching the ratman off guard. The weapon glances off the wall of the building behind the cleric and sends the blade moving through a rather different area of space, one which isn't occupied by anything other than air.

In a fluid movement, Finn lashes out at one rat and steps behind its companion. The rapier pierces the shoulder of the rat with the mace, sending out a fine spray of blood and making an odd scraping sound as metal cuts a groove into bone. In response, the creature grips the mace in both hands and attempts to cave in Finn's skull. The blow is far too high and uncoordinated though and instead destroys most of one of the brick's in the wall behind the rogue.

Aware that his position is not quite as tactically favourable anymore, the rat between the cleric and the rogue hops backward, taking a hasty swing at Malkanus which just about manages to pay off. An explosion of pain accompanies a loud clang as the axe pounds against the cleric's armour. Despite the metal bands still all being intact, they were not enough to stop the force of the blow.


Initiative
Finn
Rat 2 (light mace)
Rat 4 (handaxe)
Malkanus

Map
Drop this text at http://www.irony.com/java/mmee
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@rs 0 *s -1 3s 4g rs 0 9y6tc 34 4g 3s 3c *s -3 89 72 rs 0 F *s
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@2k *s -1 40 30 rs 0 9y6tc 40 30 3c 2k
*END -pr32hp

[LuneMoonshadow]

The cleric spins on his heel, attempting to use his momentum to dig his blade deep into the side of the rat creature with the mace. After his attack, he shifts sideways to the space above the other attacker in order to keep it moving north up the street.

[Flagg Thornington]

FInn thrusts again hoping to end the fell thing's life and stays put in the same spot.

[ooc attack rat 2]

[BigRedRod]

The blade of the scythe bites deeply intot he already heavily wounded rat pushing its bestial body past the upper limits of endurance. As Malkanus pulls his weapon free, the rat slumps to the ground letting blood run between the slick cobbles.

Turning around, Finn drives his rapier into the thigh of his one remaining foe. The creature squeals in anger although the loss of so many allies coupled with personal injury seems to have over-ridden the rational part of its brain which was no doubt screaming that now was the time to flee.

Finn barely dodges the axe blow, the blade passes in a vertical slice less than half an inch from the end of his nose.

Initiative
Finn
Rat 4 (handaxe)
Malkanus

Map
Drop this text at http://www.irony.com/java/mmee
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*END csjvn8

[Flagg Thornington]

The rogue turns on the remaining foe and presents a sample of his finest bladework.

[LuneMoonshadow]

Malkanus shifts to behind the remaining foe, capitalizing on the fact that he cannot react to two oncoming attacks at once. With this new advantage, he swings his blade out towards the creature, an attempt to end his life.

[BigRedRod]

The pair make short work on the remaining thief, the rage that motivates it to keep fighting when all of its companions have either fallen or fled, does little for his dodging skills. As the two free their blades from the rat, sending its lifeless body slumping down on to the cobbles a few flakes of snow begin to cautiously descend through the air, vanishing instantly as they touch the blood-stained cobbles and still warm bodies lying upon them.

[Flagg Thornington]

"Quickly now, help me search these corpses. We have to get moving if we plan on following the wounded rat's bloody trail. If this snow persists we'll lose track of the things thev've stolen from us."

Finn kneels down and prods through the lifeless corpses pockets and apparel. The rogue instinctively looks up at random intervals to make sure that nothing approaches.

[LuneMoonshadow]

The cleric nudges a corpse with his foot before leaning down and searching for anything to hint at how to retrieve his stolen goods once again. Losing the one thing he had found in this wretched place wasn't a good way to start the day. He sighs a bit as he stands back up and looks over the bloody trail left by the thief.

"Your wounds will continue to heal themselves a bit more, so don't concern yourself with them." The cleric nods to the rogue and slides a boot across the bloody trail, ready to go once the rogue is.

[BigRedRod]

The rats have little about their persons aside from their weapons and clothes aside from a number of sacks each, a grand total of two half-eaten meat pies and a smattering of small coinage. Tucking a few coins into his belt pouch, Finn looks over at the trail of blood and sees a dark outline approaching in the poor afternoon light.

Covered in cuts, bruises and dried blood comes Harald the Jarl. The large man walks as if every step causes him agony, one hand holds his massive blade as if expecting an outbreak of violence at any moment while the other supports an odd shaped mass of cloth. A few more steps forward and Finn notices the mass is wearing boots. Instantly Finn recognises the motionless form of Sophia, freed from her armour and hoisted over Harald's shoulder. Things seem to have gone badly for his companions in Finn's absence. Of Meleaga, there is no sign.

[ooc: Grand total of 15gp to be split between the pair of you]

[The Alcotroll]

"Meleaga ran." announces Harald in response to Finn's unspoken question.
"There was... I was too slow... She's dead."
It's impossible to tell whether the water trickling down the big man's face is caused by weeping or by melting snow.
"I couldn't leave her..." he continues in a quiet voice, as if justifying his actions to himself, "It wouldn't have been right..."

[LuneMoonshadow]

Malkanus glances to the rogue then at the newcomer, understanding that the two knew one another. He immediately steps over to the warrior and takes the girl from him, gently laying her on the ground to relieve him of the load.

"I'm sure there was nothing you could do," the cleric says as he pulls a wand from his pack. He his hand with the rod on the man's shoulder, channelling the energy from the wand. Once his task is finished, he steps back to let the two talk.

OOC: one charge of CLW, if it still leaves a good bit of damage on him, use another charge.

[Flagg Thornington]

Sorrow, a taint of loss? The sight brings a tear to the rogue's eye, for the first time since he left behind his home. Finn shifts on his feet suddenly uncomfortable with the wieght of newfound emotion.
"I was running toward the sounds of steel on steel when I plummetted right through the paved street. I guess I didn't wake soon enough. What befell?"

[The Alcotroll]

Relieved of his burden, Harald leans on his sword and wipes moisture from his face with the back of his arm.

"There were three Ratmen at first," he says, "We walked right into them, turned the corner and there they were. We killed them, after a while, but it cost us. Sofia was hurt, I was hurt, Meleaga..." here the Jarl pauses to spit on the cobbles, "had exhausted his magics."

"We carried on, wondering where you might have got to. We should have been paying more attention."

"Two more attacked us. I was hard pressed, and by the time I killed the cursed thing, I turned to see Sofia down and the wizard nowhere to be seen."

[Flagg Thornington]

"That is grave indeed. Harald this is Malkanus, it seems he has been wandering this district for the same reason as we."
The rogue let's the two introduce themselves before he continues.

"We need to follow this trail of blood, cuz I need to get my pouch back."

[LuneMoonshadow]

The cleric bows a tips his hat, returning to his position against a house and crossing his arms over his chest. He glances down at the body of the cleric only momentarily.

"I'm all for getting my possession back also, but what of the body?" Malkanus stands upright, twisting his scythe in his hands. "As I see it, we really only have two options. We can either burn the body, or leave it here, and I think the best option is to burn it. Keeps people from tampering with her and less chance of anything strange happening." He looks to his companions for a decision, ready to move on.

[Flagg Thornington]

"I've no idea what the burial customs of her deity are, but I'm sure she'll offer no complaint to whatever we decide. Burning sound fair to me, that way there's nothing left for scavengers. Let us be careful not to let the pyre give away our position. I'm sure those rats haven't strayed too far, and they're bound to show up sooner or later with reenforcements. Harald, help us find some kindling while we arrange the body."

[LuneMoonshadow]

The cleric arranges the body in the middle of the street, placing her holy symbol in her hands and resting them on her stomach, and straightening her legs out. He kneels down next to the body and makes a quick motion above her forehead while whispering a short prayer. He stands back up, and helps finding kindling for the pyre. "Not much else we can do for her," he whispers.

[Flagg Thornington]

Finn says nothing as the final preparations are made for a hasty funeral.
He stands back a ways keeping a lookout for trouble. He also spends some time familiarizing himself with the blood-trail and it's distictive markings.

[The Alcotroll]

At Finn's mention of a trail of blood, Harald fumbles beneath his cloak. "The trail leads to a dead rat," he says, "I stumbled across it by chance, and assuming that it's enemies could be my friends, I followed the trail back here."

His rummagings produce a heavy tome, stained with dust and blood. "It was carrying this, which struck me as strange enough to recover. Does it belong to you, master Cleric?"

At the mention of a pyre, Harald plants himself firmly over the body of Sofia, hand on hilt.

"I'll not see her burned in the street like unwanted refuse!" he announces gratingly. "Her death is my failure and my responsibility. I will not compound my failure by disposing of her like common carrion! She must be returned to her cathedral and her body annointed in the manner of her order. I will carry her back alone if I have to."

[LuneMoonshadow]

Malkanus eyes the tome and takes it, bowing and offering his thanks to the warrior as he places it in his pack. "Thank you for recovering for me. Either the creature felt the need to steal it for security reasons or it was just handy and intriguing. Either way, perhaps it will serve further use."

As Harald positions himself over the body of the fallen cleric, Malkanus can't help but rub at his eyes a bit. "If you feel obligated to carry the woman, then so be it. No point in refusing, as each person must do what they see fit. However, now that we know the rat creature is already deceased at the end of the trail, do we continue forth to recover Finn's stolen artifacts or take the girl back to her temple? I'm assuming the trail and corpse don't lead to anything out of the ordinary, such as a hideout," he says, glancing over at Harald to check for any signs of the contrary. "And if not, we should return the girl to her rightful place in the temple."

[Flagg Thornington]

They'd have probably left me lying on the cobbles if it had been me...

"Well, let's get her back to her temple then. The rat that swiped my pouch wasn't bleeding and ran like a strong wind blows. With this weather any trail will be covered by the time we get back to investigate. But if that's the last we see of the rats that would be a worthy trade for my trinkets."

Finn steps ahead staying alert without overlooking that which lies below his feet.

[BigRedRod]

The snowfall continues and some of the flakes even toy with the idea of not vanishing instantly as they touch down upon the cobbles and rooftiles of Broken Tower. Finn takes the lead and against all odds the trio find themselves stood in front of the walled off street with the small door set into it to which they have the key.

Early afternoon traffic seems especially light given the snow, so there is no one around to question the sight of scythe-wielding well-dressed cleric wandering the streets with a large northerner, the body of a pretty but very much dead young woman slung carefully over his shoulder, and Finn, positively non-descript compared to his two new friends. Those that do pass them, make no comment. A few of the braver souls stare in confusion and sometimes fear.

Leaving Edinhumber behind, there is a thin coating of snow on each and every rooftop and the cobbled streets have their own fine dusting to match. Every so often a cart drives past, leaving two great lines of muddy slush. The density of people picks up as the group approach the Great Plaza and people start finding the bizarre precession impossible to ignore. Some take of their hats as Harald strides by. Others form little huddles to gossip. And still nobody finds the courage to question them.

Eventually, they are upon the massive cathedral of Pelor, Sophia's home church. The great doors are firmly closed to keep out the chill of the ever colder afternoon.

A younger acolyte Harald vaguely recognises from his frequent trips to the cathedral wanders down the steps and half waves a hello before realising what the Jarl is carrying,
"Oh, by Pelor! Harald! Sister! Come this way"

The young yellow-clad man leads them around the side of the vast building past the door leading to Sister Malta's kitchen. Light and heat spills out of the doorway as somebody makes to leave, spots the trio carrying Sophia's corpse being led by the acolyte, makes a soundless exclamation and rushes back in to the kitchen.

Soon a cluster of yellow-robed individuals surround the trio as they walk, after a brief flurry of voices, one of the more senior clergymen silences his companions and demands a little dignity while they take their fallen sister tot he mortuary.

Stone doors are pushed open, and the trio are led down cold steps. The room is cold and filled with stone slabs. Shroud-covered bodies lie upon some, and Sohpia is quickly taken from Harald and added to these. Most of the yellow-robed figures stay with the body, many praying silently, while in a flurry of confusion Harald, Malkanus and Finn find themselves being led by Mother Hart through the Cathedral Passages.

The three are led in to Father Drohan's study and the door is firmly closed behind them with Mother Hart taking up a position stood beside the door, the warmth stolen from her face and replaced with no expression at all. Sat behind his desk, the high-priest looks over his clasped hands at the trio, when he does speak his voice is cold,
"I want you to tell me exactly what happened"

[The Alcotroll]

Looking thoroughly dejected, Harald gives his account, explaining how he, Sofia and the absent Meleaga fell foul of the denizens of the quarantined zone, and how he emerged as the sole survivor.

"I couldn't leave her there," he finishes, "I feel responsible for her death. If I had fought as well as duty demanded, she would not have been slain. And so I have returned her to you."

[BigRedRod]

Father Drohan nods as Harald recounts his tale,
"I see. Sister Franchesca will be sorely missed, not just be this church, but by Edinway as a whole. She devoted to herself to Pelor and doing his work through ridding the world of evil. The Moon Cultists that spread fear from the nobles to the common man, the rat-beasts that I did not even know about but were lurking just out of sight, no cause was too great."

Taking a deep breath, the man continues to speak in his expressionless tone looking between Harald, Malkanus and Finn as he speaks,
"I want each of you to understand that Pelor and by extension my church do not condone retribution or vendetta. The motivation behind an action can be as important as the action itself. As Sister Franchesca's cohorts, you no doubt understand that your actions were of great value to Edinway. I would ask you to continue along this path. Rid Edinhumber, and the rest of the city if necessary, of the bestial creatures you've stumbled across. Doubtlessly there are more groups of these so called "Moon-bringers" in the city, only this morning I heard of a poor woman being discovered burnt on a pyre outside her house. They'd left a message painted on the cobbles, some rot about her being a witch and using her dark magics to stop the dawn. This cannot go on and although pious, the priests here are not warriors. Sister Franchesca was unusual in that respect."

The man stands,
"I have much to do. The funeral will be in a matter of days. You are welcome to stay here, should that be your wish. If... If any of you would like to speak at her funeral then let me know. I'm sure Sister Franchesca's family would welcome a few words from you."

[LuneMoonshadow]

Not one for remorse over someone he doesn't even know, Malkanus shifts a bit as the priest talks. He's never met the man or even the girl he speaks of, and yet here he stands, apparently one of her "cohorts" in the fight against evil. Against cultists and rat creatures.

When the priest finishes his talk, the cleric waits a moment to gauge the reactions of the other two, before stepping off, not really seeing a need for him here considering he knew nothing of the girl, her quest, and only just met these two friends of hers. But as he moves past the priest to exit the room and by extension, the temple, he pauses for a moment to speak. "These cultists are far from being Moonbringers. They are simply a gang of thugs, and should be named as such" He nods to the priest and makes his way out to the street.

[Flagg Thornington]

Finn lets the islander do the talking, and silently hopes that Harald will refrain from piping up at her funeral. Things like that generally draw too many gandering eyes.

Finn is beginning to notice a rising affinity for Pelor's followers. Almost every one of them remind him of his mother in some fashion. He ponders the depth of his beliefs and worries about his own neck simultaneously.

Malkanus' departing words snaps Andrellew from his enigma.

"Father, I am sure you will handle the procession in a most honorific fashion. Please say a few words on our behalf."
The rogue pauses to gather his words.
"Life under the moons is full of toil. A man suffers his entire life. A woman suffers tenfold. Sophia was brave in the face of danger. She was a woman of deep belief, and she possesed a forgiving heart. Her radiance reflected Pelor's light, and her beauty exemplified mankind. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her."

Finn hopes he didn't stretch her glory roo far...

"Father we have our task to complete, we should see to it. We do need to address these tokens, our party needs to attain provisions for the upcoming journey."

[The Alcotroll]

Finn's words earn him a sidelong glance from Harald, by now feeling awkward and restless.
"Father, We will be present at the funeral, though I am not one for grand words and sentiments. For now though, we have work to do, these cultists must not be be given rest if we are to destroy them. You say another has fallen victim to them? Could you direct us to the place?"

[BigRedRod]

"Very well."
Father Drohan scribbles down Finn's words as he speaks them,
"The burning was over in Eastgate. No doubt the watch will welcome men of experience in these matters. Rooms will be prepared here for you, I'll send a message when I hear anything from the Franchesca family regarding the funeral. Go with Pelor."

Leaving Mother Hart and Father Drohan in the large study alone, the trio set off through the cathedral eventually emerging in Sister Malta's kitchen. The atmosphere is sombre, Malta stands idly stirring a large pot staring off at the ceiling while the one or two faithful in the room eat in silence. Noticing the trio, the large cook offers a weak smile and quickly turns away to hide the tears streaming down her face.

...

Eastgate, as the name implies, is the district of Edinhumber located around the east gate of the city. Rows of taverns-cum-brothels-cum-gaming houses line the three streets emerging from the gate (two heading off to circumnavigate the inner edge of the wall, the third heading towards the Great Plaza).

The snow continues to lightly fall dusting everything with thin white powder. Except for the streets themselves, which are churned up into an ugly brown slush. Even in the afternoon, even with the cold, even with the snow, much of the traffic is drunk out-of-towners moving from establishment to establishment emptying their pockets as they stagger.

Drawing closer to the gate itself the smell also gets considerably worse. The horse traffic in and out is quite heavy, despite the large stable clearly visible through the large open gates. A solitary street sweeper stands beside his cart shovelling away, steam rises from the mobile dung heap, he offers the trio a yellow toothed smile as they pass.

The gate guards look bored. Two of them are stood in the gateway choosing people who look to need taxing as they enter, the rest are no doubt gathered around a fire within the watchtower. A few words give the party directions through a maze of narrow alleyways to the scene of the murder.

A few minutes later, Finn spots red paint covering the side of a house and concludes they have reached their destination. Here the ground is almost pure white, with at least an inch of pure white snow upon it, aside from a dozen or so light sets of boot prints leading in all directions. The words daubed on the wall stand out in stark contrast to the otherwise peaceful scene.

Yvonne Stroud is accused of using dark magics in an attempt to bring back her husband
She has been found guilty and exectured as befits those who seek to stop the dawn
The Red Moon Will Dawn Again
The front door of the house hangs limply from its hinges, although of the pyre there is no sign. The shuttered windows of the houses look down eerily upon the quiet afternoon.

[LuneMoonshadow]

Malkanus stands in the snow, staring at the crimson letters set before him for a great length of time before finally breaking the spell and shaking his head as if to rid his mind of the thoughts contained within.

"These cultists have to be stopped," he says in barely a whisper, seemingly to himself. As if to reiterate the point he pulls his scythe off his back and walks past the lettering, dragging the blade across the scrolling message before stepping to the door. The cleric pushes on it with his weapon, letting it open before him to reveal the contents inside the poor victim's hovel.

[Flagg Thornington]

Finn stays close to Malkanus and he opens the door to the victim's home. Once on the stoop the young man will draw his rapier, just in case. His eyes search for any remaining threats or clues in the disheveled shanty.

The red words are eerie, it would seem these cultists think they are doing the right thing. The minds must be twisted by some evil spirit to slaughter and rape.

Finn searches for some sort of trinket associated with witchcraft, wondering if Miss Stroud really was into the dark arts.

[The Alcotroll]

Hand ostentatiously on the pommel of his sword, Harald plants himself in the doorway, facing the street.
"Shout if you need me." he says.

[BigRedRod]

The late Mrs Stroud clearly kept a respectable home. The ground floor of the building is a single room combining the functions of kitchen and dining room. The only signs of a struggle start at the shower of splinters surrounding the limply hanging door and the bootprints and scuff marks leading up the staircase.

Leaving Harald behind in the doorway, Finn and Malkanus head upstairs and on to the landing. Of the three doors, one has a large impact mark on its front where it must have been kicked open. The room beyond was clearly the bedroom, although much of it has been torn apart in the struggle and then rummaged through by other hands, likely those of the watch. Shirts, skirts, trousers, dresses, undergarments and other items of clothing are strewn about all over.

The other two rooms are a spare bedroom that doesn't look to have been occupied for several weeks at least and a small room containing little more than a desk and chair. The drawers of the desk contain assorted feathers, beads, lengths of thread, polished stones, buttons and the like, along with a pair of ledgers and writing equipment.

[LuneMoonshadow]

Noticing nothing suspicious in the house, Malkanus shakes his head. "I see nothing here of any interest. You find anything, Finn?" As he finishes his question, the cleric flips open one of the ledgers, hoping that some bit of information within will serve a deeper purpose.

[Flagg Thornington]

"Nothing here but minor contraband. But it's impossible to be sure. Let's not waste any more time here."

Finn slips back down the stairs and toward the doorway Harald is blocking.

"Let's slip back to the deserted district and pick up where we left off. We should start keeping track of where we've been on a map or something. The winding alleyways get to be pretty confusing. Do we have a map?"

[BigRedRod]

The ledger is full, from cover to cover, of columns of dates, numbers, mysterious symbols and equally mysterious groups of letters. It looks rather like somebody was keeping track of a business, although a cursory inspection by the priest doesn't reveal a fantastic deal else.

[LuneMoonshadow]

Still slightly intrigued, the cleric whispers a short prayer in hopes that something that seemed mundane will catch his eye. If this fails to draw his attention after a quick search of the house, he'll return to the doorway and report his findings and await their next plan of action.

OOC: Casting Detect Magic

[BigRedRod]

The ledger fails to react to the spell, being as non-magical as the desk from which it was removed and the rest of the house.

[LuneMoonshadow]

As Finn converses with Harald about a map, Malkanus steps out onto the street and looks about at all the nearby houses, his eyes searching the windows for any inhabitants that curiousity has gotten the best of.

"Perhaps it would be best if we introduce ourselves to some of the locals here. They may have seen something that could help us in the end." The cleric turns back to his companions, looking for a reponse to the idea.

[Flagg Thornington]

"All right, let's check with the neighbors and see what they know. I can sketch a map as we go." Finan heads to nearest door and raps on it with an official cadence.

[BigRedRod]

The knocking elicits a few vague shuffling sounds and then a minute or so of silence. Standing at the door with Harald and Malkanus behind him, Finn debates either knocking again or trying another of the homes when there is the wooden sound of shutters being pushed open,
"Yes?"

A solitary face appears through the now open window above the door to accompany the unwelcoming question. The lady of the house looks warily at the trio in the street waiting for a response.

[Flagg Thornington]

"Good afternoon m'am. We're here to ask you a few questions concerning the strange tidings of your neighbor. Can you spare a few minutes of time to answer some questions?"
Finn tries to sound official as possible and avoids being too pushy.

[BigRedRod]

For a moment the woman hesitates, her eyes flit from Finn to Harald and then to Malkanus. An odd assortment of people to find standing in the snow outside your house indeed.

Finally, she screeches out her response,
"'Bout what?"

[Flagg Thornington]

"I apologize for interrupting your day. What can you tell us about the late Mrs. Stroud and her husband? Did you see or hear anything strange lately?"
Finn awaits the woman's answer.

[BigRedRod]

A narrowing of the eyes and a tilting of the head responds to Finn's question before the lady of the house finally opens for mouth again,
"You trying to be funny? Altair's dead and now so's Yvonne. Dragged 'er out kickin' and screamin', threw 'er on a bloody great fire and scarpered (http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&hs=Ud3&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1&q=scarpered&spell=1) double quick. Dead before anybody could get to 'er. That screamin' is going to stay with me until I die. Fat lot of good that damned bodyguard of 'ers did."

None in the group fail to notice the way she virtually spits the word bodyguard.

"Doesn't surprise me at all that 'e was involved. I just 'ope they catch the rest of 'em, so I do. To think that good folk can get pulled from their beds in the middle of the night..."

It takes a second or two for the woman to be reminded that she is hanging out of her window talking to perfect strangers,
"What you wantin' to know for?

[LuneMoonshadow]

"Vengeance," the cleric says, a blank expression upon his face. "We're here to catch the people responsible. Might you know where this 'bodyguard' of hers is? And are you sure he was involved in this?"

[BigRedRod]

"Aye, sure as I know where my arse is. 'e's in one of Tybalt's cells now, shouldn't long 'fore they manage to beat the answers out of 'im and the rest of those red-robed bastards can be strung up."

She looks directly at Malkanus, making it clear that she considers him to quite possibly be one of these "red-robed bastards", albeit one with a snappier dress sense.

"Oh and 'e's involved, so 'e is. Or if not then 'e should be strung up anyway for takin' advantage of Yvonna like that. What good is payin' someone to protect you if 'e ain't gonna raise a finger in your defence? Tell me that."

[Flagg Thornington]

"Are you saying that the coward did nothing at all?"
Finn waits and tries to discern if the woman is telling the truth.

[BigRedRod]

"Are you thick, lad? If 'e dint 'ave summut to do with it, then I'll eat my 'hat, so I will. Right shadey fella 'e was, and I don't know what their arrangement was but I reckon it was more than money she was payin' 'im with, if you follow me. Not that I'd speak ill of the dead, Yvonne was a real treasure. 'er and 'er Altair they used to really look after everybody round 'ere."

Although Finn isn't skilled in the careful interplay of social manoeuvring linked with doorstep to window diplomacy, he is as sure as he can be that he isn't being lied to, not deliberately in any case.

[LuneMoonshadow]

Malkanus nods to the woman, deciding she isn't worth the effort of a fake emotion after the look she cast his way. "You've been of great service and we thank you for your time. We will get to the bottom of this affair, I can promise you that." The cleric decides not to wait for a response, stepping back away from the abode and glancing around the street again. After his companions also step back, he will speak. "Looks like we're off to find that bodyguard. Let's just hope this woman knows what she is talking about."

As Malkanus begins to walk towards the holding cells of Tybalt, Malknus glances over his shoulder for one last look at the aftermath of the events that unfolded on a previous day. "Red-robes bastards indeed," he whispers to himself.

[BigRedRod]

A few questions to the first people that the three happened across sent them back along the main street to meet Cassio's equivalent in Eastgate. The gate itself serves as the guardhouse for the local watchmen charged with both dealing with crime and overseeing traffic into and out of the city.

The two bored guardsmen indiciate a large door, currently closed against the snowfall, which is the public enterance to Ward-Sheriff Tybalt's domain. Leaving the snowy main road behind, the trio enter a small room containing little more than a desk, a roaring fireplace and a couple of doors. A young man, little more than a boy really, sits at the desk in a faded guardsman's high collared navy blue and yellow shirt. The arrival of actual work seems to take him aback slightly and he blinks several times in confusion before deciding to question the three men now stood before him,
"Errr. What is it you're all wanting?"

[LuneMoonshadow]

The cleric casts a sidelong glance at his companions and decides to take the lead. "We are here to inquire about the bodyguard of Yvonne Stroud, the woman who was murdered by the group claiming to be Moon Bringers. We'd like to speak to him if he is here."

[Flagg Thornington]

Finn stands silently with his arms folded in an official manner just behind the red-robed priest. We really need to get him a new color, kinda fishy...

[BigRedRod]

A look of unease plays across the watchman's face for a moment,
"No. Errr. Sorry, but you aren't allowed down in the cells."

Clearing his throat, he regains some of his composure and actually manages to look Malkanus in the eye while continuing to deny him access to the prisoner,
"Why do you want to speak with him? If you have any light you'd like to shed on the Red Cultists then there is a reward providing it leads to anything."

[Flagg Thornington]

"But Sir we wanted to learn more of the cultists by, um, Questionin' your prisoner. There must be something you can do during times like these. We're also investigating the murder of Pelor's priestess Sophia Francesca."
Finn reads the look on the watchman's face to see if he might be motivated to look the other way.

[BigRedRod]

"Questioning prisoners is something that we really don't need help with. Afterall, this is Ward-Sherrif Tybalt's domain, we have... err methods for getting answers out of anybody that is foolish enough to break the law within Eastgate."


The mention of Sophia peaks the man's interest, however,
"I'd heard that the Franchesca family had lost their daughter. Although nobody seems to know what happened, or they don't want to say anyhow."
Clearly the man is very much a fan of idle gossip concerning the rich and powerful in Edinway,
"Hang on, why are you investigating the murder? And what does that have to do with the bodyguard?"

[LuneMoonshadow]

The cleric raises an eyebrow at the guard's interest in the local nobility gossip. Folding his arms over his chest in an attempt to make himself impatient and closed off Malknus answers the man's question, with a little added flare. "The murder of Sophia Franchesca may represent a direct attack on the noble family, which is why we must investigate. The actual group responsible for this is unknown, and the bodyguard that you hold here may have information that could lead us to a single assassin or even perhaps," he pauses for a moment and takes in a deep breath, "some underground cult. We're not certain what exactly we're looking for, which is why we're here. Perhaps you could let us speak to the man for a moment. I would appreciate it. My companions would appreciate it. And I'm sure the nobles would rest easier knowing that the murderer cannot commit this act again."

[BigRedRod]

Nodding along as Malkanus speaks, the guard is clearly on the edge of his seat. No doubt commiting everything he says to memory so that he can inform anybody who'll happen to listen as soon as gets off duty. Screwing his face up, he considers letting the three of them down below to the cells,
"I'm sorry but it'll be my arse that gets a kicking if anybody finds out that I've let you in."

[Flagg Thornington]

"No one really needs to know we were even here. I'm sure no else would notice the three of us coming and going. Besides I doubt it'll take very long. There must be sum-thing we can negotiate."

[BigRedRod]

Casting about to double check that none of his companions have silently entered the room, the guard leans forwards,
"Like what?"
He asks in a conspiratorial tone.

[Flagg Thornington]

"Perhaps a man who works as hard as you deserves a night on the town.
This should treat you right." Finn digs in his pouch and withdraws fifteen gold coins. He reaches across the counter and pours them into the guards palms.

[BigRedRod]

The man's eyes go wide at the sight of the gold tumbling down upon his desk, quickly pocketing the coins he points the trio at a door and puts a finger to his lips while digging through a drawer for the keys.

Unlocking the door, he motions for his new friends to take the lead down the narrow bare grey stone staircase. The smell of blood, sweat and damp wafts up from below. Flickering candle light from a wooden cross-shaped chandelier illuminates the small room at the base of the stairs. A number of black hoods hang on pegs along one wall while on the other hang a variety of whips, padded clubs and other crude implements for delivering the kind of pain that doesn't leave scars. A wooden door reinforced with steel and firmly held shut by a metal bound wooden bar, is the only exit.

Clearly, the young guardsman does not want to be down here, wrinkling his nose he gestures to the hoods,
"Err. You need to put one of them on if you're going in. Prisoners aren't to see the faces of anybody while we hold them."

Harald looks as though he is going to protest for a minute but instead just grumbles and shoves one of the black cowls over his head. Despite having hidden his face, Harald is still very clearly one of the Aart, but this doesn't seem to bother the young guardsman,
"I can't leave my post for long... I'll have to lock you in.
Don't worry, I won't rebar the door behind you. Just bang on the one at the top of the stairs when you're done and I'll let you out."

The man hesitates for a moment, unsure of whether to proceed with opening the door to the cells.

[LuneMoonshadow]

"Perhaps one of us should stay with our friend just to make sure that the other two don't become trapped in the cells." The cleric looks at the executioner's hood, not exactly pleased with the garb he has been told to adorn.

"I can stay with him if necessary." Malkanus casts the guard a wicked grin, quite intent on being "friendly".

[Flagg Thornington]

Finn grabs the hood without hesitation and slips it over his brow. The rogue turns to the priest and nods his agreement to the suggestion of staying behind. Finley steps down the dark hall without hesitating and heads in the direction suggested by the young guardsman.

[BigRedRod]

With a nod, the guardsman lifts the bar,
"He's in the far cell"
The door opens silently on its well oiled hinges. Beyond the single door of the tiny preparation room lie the cells, the stench of urine adds itself to the general aroma. The room is split lengthways into thirds by rows of dull metal bars, the thirds are further subdivided into small individual cells which contain little more than a bucket and a bench.

Light comes from more of the simple wooden chandeliers attached to the roof. With a bang, the door shuts behind Finn and Harald leaving them alone with the cells. Walking down between the bars towards the final cell, the pair notice only four vaguely humanoid shapes which must be prisoners. The dozen or so others stand empty, their gate-like doors standing open and unlocked.

The deeper the walk, the worse the smell gets. Finally, the two come to the final cell and spot the unfortunate who must have formerly been Yvonne Stroud's bodyguard. Lying upon his bench, the tall dark-haired man is both asleep and rather older than either had presumed, being firmly planted into his middling years. A combination of blues and yellow join together with a little brown to make up a large bruise on his temple. A number of smaller bruises dot his exposed arms. The man's chest rises and falls as he slowly breathes and a smile plays across his face from whatever dream he is currently enjoying.

[Flagg Thornington]

Finn produces his blade and prods the sleeping man ever so gently. He then withdraws the rapier from the bodyguard's holding cell. He stands with his sword in hand and waits for the man to stir. If the man does not stir the rogue will tap on the man's shoulder with the flat of his blade progressively harder untill the man awakes. Finn will wait for the man to say something before speaking, trying to guage what the man is thinking.
Perhaps this prisoner will think we're here to free him.

[itches]

"Ugh." Woken suddenly from a pleasant slumber, Lade levered himself upright and opened blood shot eyes to take in the pair of men before him, and then promptly dropped back down on the bench.

"Time for more questioning already ya bastards? When are ya going to get the message that I didn't have anything to do with it!"

[Flagg Thornington]

Finn pauses, as if he was collecting his thoughts or choosing his words.
"To do with what? From what we hear you didn't do a thing. In fact the common word paints you a bit on the yella side. That's why my colleague and I are curious. What keeps a bodyguard from defending his charge?"

[itches]

"Screw ya," Lade said making a rude gesture at the masked men. "Ya can't talk. Instead of being out there trying to find what really happened ya in here asking me the same stupid questions over and over. I went to sleep the night before and everything was fine. Next thing I know Yvonne is dead, ya bastards are accusing me of murder and my head feels like someone tried to crack it open with a tree."

As he said the last the man gingerly fingered the bruise on his temple.

[Flagg Thornington]

"Look, we don't exactly work for the watch. You should keep it down if you're going to convince us to free you from this prison. The northerner here does not appreciate disrespect, and you're lucky I even talked our way in here. Tell your side of it and I'll lend my ear. If your story sounds right you may be free before the night is through."

[itches]

"Not the watch?" Lade said sitting back up and looking interested. "Okay, take off ya executioner hoods so we can talk all civilised and nice like, I'll tell ya everything I know, no lies. Seeing folk wearing those things sets a chill all through my bones."

[Flagg Thornington]

Finn complies with the request and removes his hood.
"Let's be quick about it then, we're not supposed to be here. Tell us your tale while we are of the mind to listen." The rogue glances about the cell block casually.

[itches]

"Yvonne hired me couple of weeks ago," Lade started once the others took their hoods off. "Got scared by something or someone, refused to come out and tell me. Her husband was a trader, doing fairly well for himself but didn't want to leave their home. He was robbed and killed not that long ago so she sold off some of the business to get by.

"She mentioned that she was trying to make sure the rent of a shed was fine, went down there but there had been an agreement with her husband that no one would go there. She wouldn't tell me what was down there but it's what made her get someone for protection. Couldn't pay a lot but I ain't expensive.

"Strange thing is she didn't want me going down there, she the boss so I didn't. Two weeks and I didn't hear, see or smell nothing. Then last night I go to sleep, nothing strange going on then ... I don't know. I honestly don't know nothing. I went to sleep and I'd guess they snuck in and knocked me out, by the time I woke up the watch and Yvonne-."

Lade stopped talking for a long moment as he looked at the ground, his jaw working with thinly concealed anger.

"Bastards burned her alive. Saw it when they took me in, heard they neighbours saying something 'bout Moon Bringers. I don't know 'bout that but what I do know is once the freaken guard let me go I'm heading down to that shed. I can't protect Yvonne now but I can avenge her."

[Flagg Thornington]

Finn looks around the cell block for another possible exit. Then he examines the lock on Lade's cell door, even while he still speaks. When the inmate finishes his story Finn responds in a feint whisper that forces Harald to lean in to hear.

"Walking out the front door would cause trouble for our friendly watchman.
I'm not sure we have enough coin to bribe your way out of here. Do you know of another exit? There doesn't exactly seem to be any windows. Perhaps you can get bailed out. Harald, go get Malkanus to ask the guardsman if this man has a price. I'm gonna see what I can do with this lock. Psst, if he follows you back down here be sure to cough loudly to warn me."

The rogue kneels and start working on the industrial strength tumblers commonly found within locks such as these. He produces his probing tools from his well used kit and checks for any deadly traps and signs of runes that often betray the workings of magical enhancemments before digging in to his delicate and artful manipualtion of springs and catches.

[BigRedRod]

Down in the cells, Finn and Harald do a marvellous job in attracting the attentions of the other prisoners. The three of them are all stood up, getting as close to the two men who are now very obviously not guardsmen, in order to listen to whatever adventure is unfolding.

...

Upstairs, the young guardsman sits opposite Malkanus looking rather uncomfortable. Once or twice he opens his mouth to speak, but can't seem to quite find the words. He glances guiltily towards the door down to the cells and jumps in fright as the door suddenly slams open.

A broad snow-covered figure steps out of the growing blizzard and into the warm of the room. Wearing chainmail along with a rather more grand version of the young guardsman's uniform it isn't hard for Malkanus to guess who he is,
"Abraham! Any news?"
The man bellows, as he shakes the snow from his boots and sets about unclasping his cloak. Behind him, two other guardsmen enter and close the door before following a similar routine as their commanding officer.

"Errr. Not... Not really, sir."
The young guardsman, Abraham, goes so pale as to seem ill.

Not looking pleased with the answer, Tybalt looks down at Malkanus,
"Really? And who might this be?"

...

Harald strides away from Finn, cap in hand, glad to be free of the silly thing but remaining quiet. The lock seems simple enough to Finn, sticking in a pair of shirt pieces of metal he sets about springing his new friend free of his cell.

[itches]

"Hey hang on now lad," Lade exclaimed in alarm as Finn moved to the lock. "That's not such a good idea. Look thank ya for the idea but maybe it would be a better idea to argue my case to the guards instead - Ya know, as I'm innocent and there's no evidence to imply involvement. No one gets beaten and locked away that way."

[Flagg Thornington]

"That may be true, in a perfect world. But as you wish."

Finn halts his workings and pockets his tools.

[LuneMoonshadow]

Malkanus watches Tybalt for a moment, glancing at his two guards and taking an assessment of their apparent skill before deciding to speak. "Just a cleric, sir. I'm only here momentarily." He nods down at the snow that had befallen them as they made their journey here, as if to say that was the reason for his presence.

[BigRedRod]

Tybalt nods and motions for his men to follow him. The trio vanish through one of the side doors. Abraham takes a deep breath as the door closes behind them,
"I think your friends have used up their time."

Getting to his feet he crosses the room just in time for Harald to arrive on the opposite side of the locked jail door and bang loudly upon it. Looking like he might faint, the guardsman looks over his shoulder and fumbles with his ring of keys. Eventually getting the door open, Harald strides in and speaks in his gruff manner,
"The lad wants to know if there is a price for the old man."

Clearly intimidated by the sheer size of Harald, the younger man takes a step backwards,
"Errr. Not yet. If he's anything to do with the cultists then the only way he'll be released is in a wooden box.. If he's not then he'll be let out, might be a fine of course. If he'd been doing his job then he should've died before his master."


Looking from Harald to Malakanus, he adds,
"You'd need to talk to Tybalt about that though, I can't just go releasing prisoners when I fancy it. And you can't mention I let you down there."

[LuneMoonshadow]

The cleric growls a bit, not excited at their current situation. "I'm not one for diplomacy, and I don't know the man's story." He shakes his head a bit, then turns to the warrior. "Go get Finn. He speaks better than I and he had better leave anyway. Tybalt has returned and he had better get out of there. Make sure to leave the hoods where you got them." With a wave of his he motions Harald down back to the cells even as he steps to the door Tybalt went through, intending to intercept him if it opens to give them a few more precious seconds.

[Flagg Thornington]

Finn wastes no time in hustling out of the cellblock, a place only a daft rogue would willfully enter. "We'll be back. Tell no one of our visit." His voice is a hastened whisper. After making it back to the front Finn thanks the guardsman with a silent nod after returning the hoods.

"Can we see Tybalt now or when should we return?"

[BigRedRod]

With the second to the cells barred an the second locked, Abraham looks rather more relaxed about the whole situation,
"Maybe in ten minutes... He's just got back so he'll be more amenable after he's had time for a bit of tea and a sit down"

The man looks to each member of the trio in turn, although not quite meeting the eyes of Harald.

[Flagg Thornington]

"We'll return shortly then, it might be best if we were frosted when we arrived so as not to arouse suspicion. Come on, back out into the flurry."

The rogue steps out the front door and crosses the street looking for an awning to wait under.

[LuneMoonshadow]

Malknus nods to the guard ans steps out into the snow, pulling his cloak up around him to push back the chill. He moves over to the rogue, turning back to look at the door he just came out of. "I told Tybalt I was there to stay out of the snow to avoid suspicion, so me staying and wanting the prisoner to be freed, or even me coming back frosted will arouse suspicion. This one is up to you." He gives him a small nod and takes a step back to lean on a nearby building.

[BigRedRod]

Waiting in the snow is not an activity most people enjoy. It tends to be both cold and wet, like a longer lasting rain. Traffic through the gate picks up a little which the trio watch as a trade caravan arrives at the gate. As the snow continues to come down, a few more guardsmen emerge from the barracks in order to help tax the merchants and their goods as quickly as possible.

Horse drawn wagons are driven down the slippery white cobbled streets, no doubt heading to the storage sheds that flank much of the outer layer of Edinway, especially around the gates. Most of the chatter comes from the caravan guards, clearly very eager to be paid and dismissed so they can start drinking away their wages.

Eventually, the trio reach an agreement that they are all wet and cold enough. Leaving Malkanus taking shelter under an awning opposite the guardhouse, Harald and Finn head for the door.

Abraham gives them an unsteady smile and a nod, and stands from his desk,
"Hello again. Tybalt is in his office, follow me."

Still shaking snow from their clothes, Harald and Finn are lead through a door and up some stone steps covered with a rather threadbare carpet. Turning right, the three come face to face with a wooden door. Abraham knocks and instantly a voice responds from the other side,
"Enter."

The office is not large but quite ornate. Ward-sheriff Tybalt takes pride in himself and his work. An ornately drawn map spans most of one wall, it seems to describe most of Eastgate. Before the fireplace is a rug made of the skin of an unusual animal that might been a bear of some description but with pale yellow fur. Similar minor trophies and knick-knacks that seem more suited to belonging to a professional solider than a guardsman dot the room, taking pride of place on wall and shelf. The vague smell of expensive tobacco hangs in the room.

Sitting behind his desk, Tybalt is an impressive man. Freed from his chainmail, the broad shouldered man is now resplendent in a fine jacket of navy blue with gold trim over a pearl-white shirt. His black hair is close cropped and speaks of his seriousness before he even opens his mouth to speak,
"Greetings."

Abraham, red-faced as usual, stutters slightly as he introduces Harald and Finn,
"Sir, Th-these folk wo-would like to-to-to talk to you about the Stroud bodyguard we have in the cells."

Rolling his eyes, Tybalt waves a hand,
"You're dismissed, guardsman."

The door closes quickly behind the pair and Finn can just make out sounds of the young guardsman breathing heavily on the other side of the door,
"Take a seat. I'm Tybalt, Ward-Sherrif of Eastgate. What is this about one of my prisoners, then?"
As he speaks, Tybalt indicates that the two should sit.

[itches]

Lade looked at where his strange visitors had disappeared back outside, the anger and frustration he had felt since Yvonne's death now mixed with a measure of hope. They had seemed ready - almost eager - to help him get free. Noticing the other prisoners crowding nearby to listen, the man scowled at them.

"Mind ya own business."

Shutting his eye and trying to get comfortable on the pallet, Lade knew there was only thing he could do now. Wait.

[Flagg Thornington]

Finn begins without giving Harold a chance to speak.

"Good Day Ward-Sheriff Tybalt, thanks for seeing us. We've been investigating the murder of Sophia Francesca, a local priestess. Our digging about has led us to believe that you have an innocent man imprisoned here in this jail. We've come to clear this man's name and ask for his release. The cult that call themselves the moonbringers are the ones that murdered Mrs. Stroud, not her bodyguard who was cudgeled during the attack. Will you help us to release this innocent man?"

Finn silently hopes that this is enough information to appease the sheriff's curiosity.

[BigRedRod]

Tybalt seems troubled by the news that Sophia is dead,
"So the priestess Franchesca is dead? And at the hands of Moonbringers. This is... troubling"
Rubbing a hand across his stubbled jaw line, he smiles unpleasantly at Finn's request,
"I'm aware of the man's story and I've yet to extract anything useful from him though. He's hardly innocent though. What kind of miscreant takes advantage of a poor widow as he did?"

Abruptly standing, the burly Ward-sheriff paces across the room to stare at his map, hands behind his back,
"I believe I have heard tales of your actions. Harald Godwinson and his companions. They say you've tracked down and eradicated an entire cultist cell. They say that my counterpart over in Edinhumber, Cassio, has made use of you. They say quite a lot. How much is true though?"

Turning back to face Harald and Finn, Tybalt pauses for a few seconds before continuing,
"I do not tolerate crime, be it a street urchin stealing a loaf of bread or a respected member of the community being burned at the stake. Lade will be released, but let me warn you, he is in your custody. You will locate the ones that did this and deal with them, and you will keep me informed every step of the way."

[Flagg Thornington]

"We are indeed working for Cassio, and now it seems the temple. You shall be the first though to hear of our progress. I assure you that Lade will be watched closely. We will make sure his intentions are true. Thank you for your sense of justice Tybalt, we shall not disappoint you."

[BigRedRod]

Nodding, Tybalt returns to his desk.
"You may go. And take Lade with you."

As the pair turn towards the door, he adds,
"And be warned that my wrath is legend, do not abuse my generosity. We have a deal, you'll follow the terms or hang."

Abraham looks relieved to see Harald and Finn as they step back into the entrance hall of the guardhouse,
"It went well? Everything is okay?"
A nod from the northerner has the young man reaching for his keys once more.

Minutes later, Lade steps out into the snow flanked by Finn and Harald having been officially released. The red cloaked shape of Malkanus stands across the way.

[itches]

Standing barefoot in the snow, wearing just his underclothing, Lade shivers as he looked at the men who had just arranged his freedom.

"Th-thank ya," he said through chattering teeth. "We c-can t-talk more once ah g-get my gear ba-back, it's f-freezing."

[LuneMoonshadow]

Malkanus rises from his position against a wall as the trio appear in the doorway. A few steps is all it takes to meet them as they come his direction. His eyes scan their new companion with much disappointment that he makes no effort to hide. "Let's go back to the home, then. Can't have you walking around like that in the snow. You'll draw too much attention." The cleric moves off toward the home they had just previously departed, content that his word is all it will take to move their feet. He casts one sidelong glance over his shoulder to ensure that it is, though.

[Flagg Thornington]

Finn nods his agreement eager to be away from the jail and out of the frigid air.

[BigRedRod]

The walk is cold for Lade. Very cold. The party draw more attention than usual as they walk the snowy streets closing in on Lade's former home.

Pausing for a moment as they round the corner, Lade rushes ahead and dissapears inside the house. The trio head inside and up the stairs to find their new companion now dressed and no longer shivering quite as much.

[LuneMoonshadow]

Malkanus once again ignores the townsfolk as they walk, his eyes cast down upon the path that they walk, his mind immersed in the things that he wish he knew. As they step up the stairs, the wood giving a soft groan underneath his boots, he is pulled back from his thoughts to the house - the house where the woman was murdered. The red lettering still etched in the back of his mind. "I think it's time we heard everything you know about this muder and the cult calling themselves the Moonbringers."

[Flagg Thornington]

Finn keeps close to Lade hoping to serve as a windbreaker. The rogue does not particularly care for all the extra attention and keeps his eyes low to avoid possible recognition. He steps in out of the cold when they reach the house and waits for Lade to dress.

[itches]

"Like I told ya friend," Lade said as he searched around the room. "I don't know nothing about 'em. Well that is to say I know what everyone knows. They want the red moon to come back - and hell, who don’t ya know? - but they are using it as an excuse to just burn regular folk who they don't like.

"Hell until the bastards knocked me out," he continued with a flash of anger. "And burnt poor Yvonne - may her sprit find peace - I'd never had first hand contact with 'em before."

"Bloody looters stole my money," Lade said stopping his search and letting out a frustrated kick at one of the building's walls. Reaching into a now dead fireplace, the man pulled out a soot covered gold bar, brushing some of the soot away then dropping it into a bag with the rest of his gear. "At least they didn't get you."

"What I do know is that Yvonne had a scare at one of the sheds her husband owned, I didn't know what it was but know I'm thinking those MoonBringers had something to do with it and I figure It's my job now to find out what."

"Hang on," the man said coming to a sudden stop. "Why are ya guys so interested?"

[Flagg Thornington]

Finn pauses briefly, lost in the thoughts stirred by mention of the red moon.
The cult appears no more than a band of brigands playing on the general confusion caused by the spiritual imbalance plauging the realm.

"We've been investigating a vacated district at the behest of the Ward Sheriff. We found one of the cult hideouts where the priestess Sophia Francheca was being held captive. We showed the men inred no mercy. Shortly after her escape she was murdered in the streets. We want to erradicate the culprits, and I want my stolen pouches."

[LuneMoonshadow]

Malkanus brings a hand up and strokes his chin as his eyes drift out of focus, showing he is deep in thought. Only after a few moments does he stop and blink a few times to bring himself back into the world that he has found himself in. Sighing slithgly at the situation, much preferring his thoughts, his eyes lock onto Lade.

"Is there any way you can take us to this shed? If the cultists did this on a pretense of..." The crimson letters come rushing back, burned into his mind. He shakes his head to clear the thought, clearly disgusted at what he has seen. "If they did this on the pretense of 'false life', I think the shed might reveal what exactly they executed her for. Perhaps that is the break we need - the motivation to their killing spree."

[itches]

"Well the thing about that is I don't know exactly where the shed is," Lade replied with a wince. "She refused to tell me, probably thought I would head over there - with good reason - and she was dead set against that. I know where it is in a vague sense only, I was hoping to find something here that would give a clue, ya know." the man added with a general gesture around them.

"But first if you'll excuse me for a second," Lade said walking back to the front door. "With all the drama I haven’t had a chance to say goodbye to Yvonne."

[Flagg Thornington]

"Lade, take your time with your goodbye. When you're finished you might want to take a look at the ledger book we found here earlier. It may pinpoint the location of the busines."

[The Alcotroll]

Harald hasn't spoken much since Sophia's funeral, for the death of the priestess had affected him more than he cared to admit.
The last few days have been spent in moody, brooding silence and building anger. He can't shake the feeling of failure, of having caused the woman's death through his tardiness in dealing with the rat-men.
Now, that sense of failure is giving way to a mountng hunger for vengeance. Harald wants to kill something, preferably rats, But cultist scum would do just as well. If it weren't for them, she'd never have been on that street, and I'd never have...

He clears his throat and glowers around at the room and it's two other occupants.

"Do you think we'll meet anyone at this 'Shed'..." the unfamiliar word carefully enunciated, "he talks of?"

[itches]

Once outside of the building, Lade looked at the remnants of the ashes all but undistinguishable under the snow. It didn't seem right somehow, that a person could be brutally killed then have all evidence disappear under a layer of pure, clean snow. Long years of hard experience told Lade that this is exactly what would happen with Yvonne's death, people would keep on living, pushing what happened to the back of their mind until one day, they would forget.

"I'm sorry," he said quietly to the empty space in front of him. "I was supposed to protect ya and I failed at that, but I won't let ya be forgotten. I don't know if avenging ya will do anything to help ya rest better, but I'm a simple man and it's all I know. I swear to ya Yvonne, I won't fail you again. Not while there's still a will left in my tired old bones."

With his simple speech and promise made, Lade stood silently besides the scene of the gruesome murder for as long as the cold and snow would allow him, not quite sure what else to say but unable to shake a feeling of inadequacy.

[Flagg Thornington]

Finn starts reading through the ledger looking for signs of encoded script or any address it may note.

[BigRedRod]

Flicking through one of the Ledgers, Finn stares in disbelief that renting out a couple of warehouses as merchants went to and fro from the city took this much writing. Moving through the pages rapidly he stops at on the last page, the final few numbers are written in a different hand and account for the previous month.

At this point as far as Finn can tell there were two business ventures on the go. One with quite a variety in income and expenditure, the other with barely a copper difference from month to month. The former vanishes as soon as the handwriting changes and then there is only one more payment from the steady property. Assured that he is now looking at the correct set of accounts, Finn back-pedals to the start of the Ledger where he sees that this property is identified as "Dantzac" (the other bearing the term "Frogmore")

Taking the other Ledger, Finn is pleased to find that it corresponds to the start of Mr Stroud's business ventures. The early pages have but a single set of numbers which are also referred to as "Dantzac" but aren't as steady as those in the other ledger. A fair few notes fill the margins, with small arrows pointing at certain numbers and explaining them in a curious shorthand that means nothing at all to Finn (the most prevalent occurs almost weekly, bears the description of "Gorg" and costs one or two silver pieces each time).

Agreeing that they could spend a lifetime staring into the ledgers and getting no closer to finding the storage shed, the party head out on foot, led by the now dressed Lade to its rough location.

The snow keeps falling and the air grows ever colder. Overhead the winter sun starts its decline toward the horizon. It's going to be a long, cold night in Edinway. Lade's general idea of the location of the shed gets the party only a few hundred feet away from the Eastern Gate, in fact it's still quite visible from their location. Still, even such a short distance away the area is much quieter, with a vast majority of the local buildings being small, inexpensive guesthouses. The most visible departure from this is the ugly building which proudly proclaims itself to be "The Gorgon's Head", yellow light seeps out from the windows and around the closed door and vague tavern sounds can be heard from within.

Looking around in despair, Lade suddenly bursts forward to a wide side street bearing an iron sign which proclaims it to be Dantzac Way. Harald follows somewhat mournfully, having just been about to announce that perhaps they should ask the locals for further directions over a mug or two of ale.

Rectangular windowless buildings of grey stone with wide barnlike doors surround the dead end known as Dantzac Way. Of the half dozen storage sheds, the furthest away, at the very end of the cobbled street, bears a faded wooden sign above the door which displays the name, Stroud.

Ancient filth clings to the grey stone blocks from which the storage shed was built, the slate tiles of the typical sloping roof also have seen much better days, doubtlessly some of the snow must be getting inside. In fact, looking backwards, this shed is in the worst state of repair by far. The large wooden door is large enough to allow a wagon inside and is framed by rusted iron.

[itches]

Smiling broadly at having found the shed, Lade silently waved the others back down the street until they were out of ear shot of anyone potentially inside, then readied his shield in his arm while speaking to the others in a low voice.

"Right, now that we've found it we could poke around trying to find out more or just charge in and trust to surprise being on our side. It's cold, getting dark and I'm running out of patience so I'm voting for us to rush the place. What do ya guys think?"

[The Alcotroll]

Tempting as it is to dive right in and assuage some of his frustration, there are more pressing considerations than the need for vengeance.
"We should look around first." he says, dubiously. "Fine fools we would look if the occupants ran out of the back door while we were still breaking down the front."

[itches]

"Good point," Lade conceded as he pushed his frustration to one side. He was supposed to have learnt years ago that rushing into situations would get you killed.

"Don't suppose any of ya lads are any good at moving about unseen?"

[Flagg Thornington]

"Nondetection just happens to be my specialty. But our past experiences would say it's best not to split up. Someone care to join me?"

[itches]

"I'm not what ya would call talented at it," Lade commented as he unreadied his shield. "But I've had some experience with moving about unseen, I'll watch your tail out there."

[Flagg Thornington]

"All right you two try to lay low and signal us is someone's coming." Finn slinks toward the rear of the building steping carefully and eyeing every shadow.

[BigRedRod]

Harald and Malkanus stand in the piling snow, as Finn vanishes around the side of the small warehouse followed closely by the rather less expert scout, Lade. Harald barely has time to reflect on how the snowfall deadens the horrible city stench he'd been suffering since his arrival before the two scouts reappear from the other side.

Simply put, the building had no windows or other exits. It was designed with a single function in mind, storing goods for merchants and therefore such furnishings were entirely unnecessary.

[itches]

"The main door's the only way in or out," Lade reported once they returned, once again readying his shield. "So we're good to go in hard and fast. Harald and I first, ya two backing us up. That work for everybody?"

[The Alcotroll]

Harald tightens the straps on hsi gauntlets, unslings his shield and draws his sword.
"I'm happy with that." he says.

[LuneMoonshadow]

Malkanus draws forth his weapon, setting the blade down onto the ground as he casts a glance to the surrounding street, looking for anyone who might find this little "escapade" suspicious and find need to report such things. He'll nod to Lade and Harald showing that he is indeed ready.

[Flagg Thornington]

Finn produces his slender rapier and moves into position to back the first two.

[BigRedRod]

Lade steps forwards to the large wooden door as Harald tenses his muscles and prepares for the inevitable hordes of red-robed cultists that lurk within. Malkanus and Finn keep their attentions focused on anything that might be approaching from outside.

Gripping the iron loop fixed to the door frame which serves a handle, Lade nearly dislocates his arm attempting to pull it open. The rusted metal bindings of the door rattle loudly against their frame. It would seem that the door is locked, and locked securely. Despite the heavy rust, the party quickly assess that in no way could it be forced open quickly or quietly.

Looking down, Lade spots what must be the keyhole. About two inches high and at shin height, the hole is coated in something unpleasant smelling and slippery.

[Flagg Thornington]

Finn takes his cue and carefully begins examing the ooze covering the keyhole. The rogue tries to identify what kind of liquid was used to deter those without a key.

[BigRedRod]

The viscous liquid is an oil which has been applied to the keyhole in order to aid proper lubrication, judging from the rust covering the rest of the metal on the door and frame the lock will have needed it in order to actually function.

[Flagg Thornington]

Finn kneels and retreives his locksmith kit with a practiced ease. He starts in with his offset probing pick and makes a mental count of the number of tumblers and the lock design features. After a prelimenary inspection he retrieves the appropriate tools and attempts work the mechanism without the proper key.

[ooc search and disable]

[BigRedRod]

The lock is a strange one, the mechanism isn't very complex but it controls several bolts arranged at regular intervals up the side of the door. The end result is that it needs a light hand to find the correct positions for the tools and then application of immense force in order to make the things actually move.

Lubrication is always a mixed blessing. Without it the tumblers within an old lock would simply refuse, with it, anything but the actual key has a hard time gripping in the correct place.

Finn wrestles for several minutes, every so often there is an audible rasping as something moves higher up the frame but not far enough to actually release the door. The snowfall grows ever heavier too and with the light of day rapidly failing it makes for cold, difficult work.

After a full fifteen minutes, and now with numb hands, Finn twists one of the two bits of metal he has jammed into the lock and there is a raspy click. Falling back, the rogue breathes a sigh of relief, he can't remember a lock ever taking him so long to work his magic on before.

[The Alcotroll]

Harald glances at Finn for a moment, then braces his shield before him.

"You lift the latch," he whispers, "and I'll go through."

[Flagg Thornington]

The rogue stowes his picks and draws his rapier, just in case. He steps to the sisd of the door and eyes each of those gathered for a visual go ahead. Once everyone is ready he reaches with his left hand and works the doors handle.

[BigRedRod]

Getting a grip on the door handle, Finn wrenches it outwards causing the great wooden door to noisily swing outwards into the cool night air. A curious odour which seems to be a combination of body sweat, root vegetables, earth and smoke comes crashing out, in stark contrast to the pure snow filled air outside.

Scraping against the cobblestones, the door comes to rest and the party look inside. The storage shed is dark, as well one might expect from a structure of such function. All that can be made out is a wall comprised of stacked crates, varying from two to four wooden boxes in height there are a pair of narrow gaps running through the wall, gaps just wide enough to be used as a path into the unseen. A few muddy boot prints can just be made out leading towards the rightmost passage.

Aside from the initial burst of stale air accompanying the opening of the door, the air is calm and still.

[Flagg Thornington]

Before Harald can step through the doorway Finn reaches out to stop him with the hand he used to wowr the door open. In a near-silent voice the rogue alerts the assembled that something is indeed inside. "Anyone have a torch?"

[itches]

"I do," Lade commented quietly as he rummaged through the gear in his pack. Pulling out his everburning, the man muttered something under his breath that caused it the burst into flames and held it up instead of his sheild.

[The Alcotroll]

Harald shrugs. "I haven't. I'll do without."

He frowns at the doorway for a moment, then adds; "If I go right, Lade, will you take the left? Malkanus, you stay and guard our backs. Finn, be ready to come running if Lade or I call."

[LuneMoonshadow]

The cleric gives the warrior a brief nod, bringing the shaft of his weapon to rest up on his shoulder so that he may make any desperately needed attack quicker than when it rests on the ground. His eyes once again scan the street and the inside of the shed now illuminated by the torch.

"Of course," he says in a quiet whisper. "Just don't go getting yourself into trouble. I wouldn't enjoy having to come in after you." He turns away from the group, taking his station at the entrance of the shed with his eyes ever watchful.

[BigRedRod]

Leaving Malkanus and Finn behind, the two warriors split up. Lade walking rather more swiftly than Harald on account of the northerner’s lack of light source. Exciting shadows dart about upon the wooden ceiling as Lade's enchanted torch creates and destroys them with its endless shifting.

The narrow walkway is enough ofr Lade to walk through without much call for squeezing. The passage broadens out quickly into an enclosure surrounded on all sides by crates stacked upwards toward the ceiling. A quick glance around reveals nothing of interesting.

Shuffling in the dim light, such that is provided by the open door and the occasional flicker from Lade's torch, Harald makes slow progress, aware that if there is anybody lurking in the shadows and he trips then it would quickly spell the end for him.

Stepping forwards, the crates around Harald abruptly end leaving him in what looks and smells like a hastily improvised barracks. The Jarl doesn't have time to reflect on this, however, as a blade promptly plunges out of the darkness. The sword forces a path through Harald's armour and leaves him a nasty wound just above his hip. Reacting quickly, Harald has his shield up before him as another blow comes crashing down on him from the opposite direction. The third stroke comes a fraction of a second after and fails to penetrate the banded strips of metal protecting Harald.

Even in the poor light, Harald can clearly see that these attackers are cultists, although unlike their brethren they have chosen not to wear encumbering robes and instead opted for red doublets over their suits of leather armour and red hoods which obscure most of their features. Armed with longswords and leather bucklers which they have demonstrated they clearly know how to use, they also stand out from the moon bringers Harald has faced before.


Initiative
Finn
Harald
Cultist 1
Cultist 2
Cultist 3
Malkanus
Lade

Map
http://bits.bris.ac.uk/bigredrod/ORP/Maps/NS/SWR1.PNG

[Flagg Thornington]

Finn glances about, quickly realizing that there are few options, and hurries
after Harald with his rapier ready to back up the warrior. He makes his way as far as he can and lunges around the crates at the nearest cultist.

[ooc attack #1]

[The Alcotroll]

With an incohate roar of rage, Harald aims a hefty blow at the cultist-warrior on his left, putting all his strength into the swing in an attempt to break through their cordon and allow his companions through behind him to even the odds.

[OOC: Power attack. +3 to hit, D10+6 wound. I wasn't sure whether Finn could actually reach past me to strike. If he can, Harald will go for whichever target he struck at instead.]

[BigRedRod]

Rushing towards the sounds of unfolding chaos hidden between the poorly lit stacks of wooden boxes, Finn draws his rapier and thrusts it forwards past Harald and towards the nearest combatant. The slim weapon snags on the cultist's doublet, leaving a tear on his left breast but no physical harm.

Harald's rather larger sword comes down toward the same cultist who responds in a practised motion which sends his leather buckler towards the blade. Realising his error far too late the buckler is batted aside effortlessly and the edge of the sword impacts with his upper arm with such force that if it wasn't for his armour he'd of doubtlessly lost the arm. Blood rushes out from the wound quickly hiding the skin beneatht he torn leather.

Judging from the expressions that flit across the man's face he quickly entertains the notion of escaping and then realises that such an attempt would involve getting past Harald and his companion. Shrieking loudly, the red mist fills his vision and the Moon Bringer swings his longsword through the air towards Harald. The reckless blow collides with one of the crates, sending a shower of wooden splinters into the air and leaving Harald entirely unharmed.

Batting away another sword stroke with his shield, the third finds him unprepared and this time plunges between the bands making up his armour and leaves a shallow wound somewhere on his upper thigh.

Initiative
Finn
Harald
Cultist 1
Cultist 2
Cultist 3
Malkanus
Lade

Map
http://bits.bris.ac.uk/bigredrod/ORP/Maps/NS/SWR1ii.PNG

[LuneMoonshadow]

Malkanus immediately spins on his heel, his eyes searching for any sign of combatant about to spring our and lay claim to his head. Seeing no immediate threat, the cleric grabs the door and pulls it towards him, leaving it cracked so not to accidentally lock themselves inside somehow. With the door now mostly closed to the prying eye of the street, Malkanus moves to join the others in the battle that has just erupted.

OOC: Move behind Finn

[itches]

As the sounds of battle reach his ears in his secluded and empty alcove, Lade hesitated knowing that it will take him several precious seconds to rush back to Harald's aid, instead, an all or nothing plan forms in the mercenary’s mind. Stepping up to the stacked crates just to the north of him, Lade spread his hands evenly out on them, braces his feet and heaves with all of his might - praying that they would move.

[BigRedRod]

Gripping hold of the door handle, Malkanus quickly closes off the unfolding melee from any passing eyes before joining Finn and Harald at the choke point of crates.

Taking a different approach, Lade drops his torch to the ground. It bounces against the flagstones sending out a few cinders which vanish instantly. Axe shouldered, he then proceeds to push at the stack of crates next to him. The wooden boxes resist moving less than an inch as Lade sweats and strains, whatever they're filled with is very heavy. Really putting everything he has in to it, the failed bodyguard suddenly feels a shift and the first crate drops from its stacked position with an almighty thump that sounds like it may have cracked the flagstone beneath it. The second crate doesn't go as far, falling just off the edge of the box beneath.

The falling crates send a burst of illumination from the enchanted torch lying upon the ground toward the cultists and Lade can see three men all attempting to relieve Harald of his life, the nearest of the three seems to clinging to life by little more than determination, the growing pool of blood at his feet is a testament to his iron will.

[ooc: The beige circles on top of certain crates mark them as standalone crates that can be climbed over being as they are cubes of about 3 feet in dimension.]


Initiative
Finn
Harald
Cultist 1
Cultist 2
Cultist 3
Malkanus
Lade

Map
http://bits.bris.ac.uk/bigredrod/ORP/Maps/NS/SWR2.PNG

[Flagg Thornington]

"Move it on up Harald, I'm right behind you." Not wanting to continue playing hide and seek, Finn holds his action untill the Jaarl makes room.

[delay untill Harald acts.]

[The Alcotroll]

Taking Finn's lead, Harald takes a step forwards between the two left-most cultists, aiming a swing at the injured man as he does so.

[OOC: 5-footer between #1 and #3, taking a swing at #1 (who I assume is the injured bloke) as I go. Normal attack (D20+6, D10+3) and a cleave if I drop the bugger. Carry on. ]

[BigRedRod]

Half-stepping and half-jumping between two of the cultists, Harald lashes out with his blade as he moves. The weapon catches the already injured man just below the kneecap, his leg falls to the ground only a second before the figure lands on top of it screaming in agony and spraying a fountain of blood into the air.

Taking advantage of his position instantly, Harald lashes out at another of the warehouse guards, but the blow is clumsy and easily deflected by the man's own weapon. The clang of the two swords colliding somehow manages to silence the screams coming from the fallen cultist who instead lies upon the ground shuddering unnaturally in a growing pool of gore.

Initiative
Harald
Finn
Cultist 2
Cultist 3
Malkanus
Lade

Map
http://bits.bris.ac.uk/bigredrod/ORP/Maps/NS/SWR2i.PNG

[Flagg Thornington]

Finn steps up behind Harald and lashes out with his slender blade at the nearest cultist.

[ooc 5-foot step diagonally left and attack #3]

[BigRedRod]

Stepping over the still writhing corpse of the felled cultist, Finn grants himself a better view of the two remaining guards. The only light now provided by Lade's torch which lies on the ground behind some crates, the scene is one of chaos. Luck smiles on the young rogue, however, as the thin blade pierces the leather protecting a cultist and punches into the flesh of his shoulder.

The counter attack is swift and accurate coming down towards Finn at such an angle that it would require him leaping through the creates behind him in order to avoid. His leather armour offers some protection but not enough, as the blade tears a hole in it, slices through the flesh beneath and comes to a jarring stop as it collides with Finn's collar bone, a fraction of an inch in any other direction and the blow may have been lethal rather than just incredibly painful.

Done with his position in the ambush, the third cultist steps forwards towards Harald, bringing his sword around in a horizontal arc as he does so. Reacting quickly, Harald lowers his shield to intercept the blow.


Initiative
Harald
Finn
Cultist 2
Cultist 3
Malkanus
Lade

Map
http://bits.bris.ac.uk/bigredrod/ORP/Maps/NS/SWR2ii.PNG

[LuneMoonshadow]

Watching as his two companions step left behind the boxes, Malkanus grips his weapon with both hands and digs in his right foot. He takes off in a straight line once he sees an opening, swinging his scythe down and up at the cultist's ribcage.

OOC: Charge for +2 attack -2 AC to attack Cultist 3

[itches]

Pushing with all of his might Lade felt the crates separating him from his companions shift an inch and stop, unyielding and unmovable. Despite all his efforts, strength and intentions he had failed. A renewed clash of steal reached the failed bodyguard's ears, a cry of pain, the dulled thud of steel on flesh, the scrape of steel on bone. In less then a day after they had saved him from jail and he was already failing them, like he failed Yvonne.

But no. Somewhere deep inside the man a spark of courage refused to give up to despair, refused to continue to fail and rest in abject self pity. No more, he would not fail them. Pulling forth reserves of strength that he scarcely knew he possessed, Lade pushed at the crates with an almost superhuman effort, pushed with all of his determination to not fail again, driven by his guilt at Yvonne's death.

And the crates moved. Crashing to the ground with a tremendous thunder and kicking up a great cloud of dust and wood fragments. Blinking away the sweat which dripped down his face, Lade wondered at the roar that sounded in his ears. It was only as he picked up his everburning torch and tossed it over the fallen crates that he realised that the roar was his own, a roar of triumph.

Almost grinning at his success, the failed bodyguard clambered over the crates eager to join the fight.

[[OOC: Moving up to Harald's left. I'm presuming it's going to take a round to do everything, if not I'll edit in a quick draw and attack 2]]

[BigRedRod]

The confined space hampers Malkanus' attack forcing him to perform a vertical upwards sweep which his target avoids easily by smashing his buckler into the flat of the blade.

Lade's torch glides through the air and lands just behind Harald, now clearly illuminating the battle unfolding within the tight confines of the warehouse. Lade follows quickly after, clambering over one crate, hoping to another and then dropping down on to the flanks where he takes up position beside Harald.

Initiative
Harald
Finn
Cultist 2
Cultist 3
Malkanus
Lade

Map
http://bits.bris.ac.uk/bigredrod/ORP/Maps/NS/SWR3.PNG

[The Alcotroll]

Taking advantage of Malkanus' enterance, Harald goes for the distracted cultists with a carefully judged lunge from behind his shield.

[OOC: Bog standard attack on #3 (D20+6, D10+3)]

[BigRedRod]

Surrounded but still managing to keep his foes to one side of him, the cultist is distracted but not sufficiently to give Harald any useful advantage given the crowd of companions around him jostling for space to swing their own weapons. Moving like a coiled snake, Harald darts forwards and rams his blade into the cultist's ribcage, there is the clear sound of bones snapping and a fair bit of blood but not quite enough to drop him.

Initiative
Harald
Finn
Cultist 2
Cultist 3
Malkanus
Lade

[Flagg Thornington]

Finn follows the warrior's lead and lunges with his thin blade at the vulnerable spot near the base of the cultist's neck.

[ooc assign dodge bonus to #3 and attack #3 with rapier]

[BigRedRod]

The cultist reacts with speed and skill despite his grievous wounds, using his buckler to deflect Finn's rapier from its lethal path to one that only delivers the barest of nicks to the neck.

Sweeping a stool from his path with his off-foot, the uninjured cultist moves away from Lade to put the table at least partially between them. As he moves, he lashes out with a swift blow that fetches Lade a stinging line of red across one cheek.

Having taken quite a beating, the other cultist steps backwards as Harald bats away a clumsy blow his blade.

Initiative
Harald
Finn
Cultist 2
Cultist 3
Malkanus
Lade

Map
http://bits.bris.ac.uk/bigredrod/ORP/Maps/NS/SWR3ii.PNG

[LuneMoonshadow]

Malkanus casts a quick glance to his companions, assing their condition before commiting himself to any kind of action. Pleased to see wounds not grievous enough to be any immediate concern, he turns to the cultist to his right and attempts to bring his scythe around despite the obstruction of the boxes.

[BigRedRod]

The scythe wheels through the air on a collision course for the cultists head. Pushing himself backwards into the wall, he avoids a lethal blow, leaving the blade of the scythe wedged into one of the crates. With a sharp tug, Malkanus frees his weapon and sends up another shower of wooden splinters.

Initiative
Harald
Finn
Cultist 2
Cultist 3
Malkanus
Lade

[itches]

Pulling out his axe and holding it with both hands, Lade side stepped over to follow the cultists retreat.

"Give up lad, or I'm going to have to hurt ya."

[[OOC: Quick draw, full defence, 5-foot step to the east and Intimidate +5]]

[BigRedRod]

Keeping his mouth shut despite Lade's offer of a peaceful resolution, the warehouse guard simply narrows his eyes. And in that moment it becomes clear that these men are willing to die for their cause, whether or not the party actually know what that cause is.

Initiative
Harald
Finn
Cultist 2
Cultist 3
Malkanus
Lade

Map
http://bits.bris.ac.uk/bigredrod/ORP/Maps/NS/SWR4.PNG

[The Alcotroll]

Stepping forwards to maintain the pressure on the third cultist, Harald keeps his shield to the fore and swings over-arm at the foe's right shoulder.

[OOC: 5-foot step, D20+6, D10+3]

[BigRedRod]

Harald's sword carves through the thick layer of leather protecting the guard and onwards through flesh at bone, entering at the top of his right shoulder the blade sends a shower of gore into the air as it digs down stopping at the base of his rib cage. With his life having been extinguished too quickly to even cry out, the bloody mess of a corpse slumps backward between a stack of crates and the stone wall of the warehouse.

Initiative
Harald
Finn
Cultist 2
Malkanus
Lade

Map
http://bits.bris.ac.uk/bigredrod/ORP/Maps/NS/SWR4i.PNG

[Flagg Thornington]

The thief drops his rapier on the toppled wooden crate to his left. While advancing he grabs his whip from his belt with a manuever he's practiced many times. With a flick of his wrist the leather whip whistles through the air.

[ooc Drop weapon, Draw whip as part of move action. Attempt trip attack from 2 squares left of Lade, drop whip as free action if necessary]

[BigRedRod]

Finn's whip cracks out like a lightning bolt, coils firmly around the remaining guardsman's foot and sends him tumbling to the stone floor at Lade's feet. His arm sweeps out and sends a plate of food from the table clattering to the floor.

With a foolish determination, the cultist sets a knee to the floor and pushes himself up with his bucker hand on the nearby stool. Lade takes advantage of the opportunity and brings his axe overhead and down towards the crouched figure. The last guard is on his feet too quickly, however, and Lade's axe instead strikes the table leaving a rather large gash in the thick wood.

Initiative
Harald
Finn
Cultist 2
Malkanus
Lade

Map
http://bits.bris.ac.uk/bigredrod/ORP/Maps/NS/SWR4ii.PNG

[LuneMoonshadow]

Malkanus quickly steps over to the body to his left and makes the short trip over to Finn before pulling on the bottom of his gloves to ensure their tight fit. He places his fingertips together and begins to whisper a short prayer asking for aid in a time of need, casting his right out at the remaining cultist.

OOC: Move to the South of Finn and cast Hold Person (DC 16)

[BigRedRod]

Always willing to help the pious, Malkanus' patron acts quickly and the results are obvious. The sole uninjured guardsman freezes instantly in place, looking for all the world like an especially detailed statue.

[ooc: Initiative shouldn't matter as much seeing as no badguys can move, but the guard is only held for 3 rounds, i.e. 18 seconds, so time is still an issue]

Initiative
Harald
Finn
Cultist 2 [Paralysed 3]
Malkanus
Lade

Map
http://bits.bris.ac.uk/bigredrod/ORP/Maps/NS/SWR4iii.PNG

[itches]

Reaching out and plucking the sword from the frozen cultist's hand, Lade tossed the offending weapon out of reach, cocked his fist, smiled maliciously, and swung it home.

"Ya should have taken my offer boy."

[BigRedRod]

The man's hand offers no resistance as Lade removes the sword from his clutches. Drawing his arm back the older man delivers a powerful blow to the side of the younger's head. The response is somewhat disappointing, instead of collapsing in an unconscious heap the man's head just turns sideways a little.

Repeating the action with a little more vigour yields another slight turn of the head. Lade's third blow lands as the spell over the cultist ends, sending him backwards in a crumpled head of unconsciousness.

[Flagg Thornington]

Finn retreives his rapier and heads toward the front door to keep a look out for vistors whole the group beats, questions.

[itches]

Lade spat on the unconscious body of the man, nursing his knuckles that were bruised in the assault.

"Not so fun when we fight back is it ya bastard."

Retrieved his torch where it still burnt and flickered on the ground the mercenary turned to Harald - ignoring the unconscious cultist for the moment.

"How bad are ya hurt lad?"

[The Alcotroll]

Harald pulls up a chair to take the weight off his feet, removing his helmet and shield before he pulls aside the skirts of his scale great-coat to inspect his wounds.
"I won't be running any time soon," he says.

[itches]

Lade winced in sympathy at the nasty wounds adorning the northerner. They were ugly things that had to hurt like hell, but not fatal.

"Ya did good in the fight, especially considering it was an ambush," he commented to the younger man. "And that was a good timing with freezing our sleeping beauty over there, I'll remember to toss a coin to ... umm," he said to Malkanus frowning as he searched his memory. "What god do ya serve again?"

[LuneMoonshadow]

Malkanus steps over to Harald, looking over his injuries. He shakes his head a bit as he places a hand over one of more serious ones, whispering softly to himself as he closes his eyes, concentrating on the wound underneath his fingertips. After finishing the spell, the cleric moves his hand to inspect the result. "A little better," he comments to Harald.

When Lade addresses him, he turns and gives a short nod. "No donations are needed," he says with a half-hearted smile. "Watching my back when the times comes would be appreciated, though." He turns away to look at Finn's wounds, unwilling to answer the question asked of him.

OOC: Replace Doom with Cure Light Wounds on Harald

[The Alcotroll]

Harald nods his thanks, then settles back in his chair with a satisfied sigh. Clerics are good to have around. Gods grant we keep this one for longer...

[itches]

Lade frowned at the back of Malkanus as the man walked away, then shook his head, it wasn't important anyway. Turning back to Harald, the mercenary gave the other man a crooked smile.

"Ya sure do look comfortable. So, want to search the bodies or the warehouse?"

[The Alcotroll]

Harald rises heavily to his feet. "Go on then," he says, "Since you insist. Perhaps we should bind the wrists of this one here first though." he adds, indicating the unconscious third man.

[LuneMoonshadow]

"I should be able to awaken him if we want to question him sooner rather than later." The cleric glances in the general direction of the door now guarded by Finn. "Daylight may not be an ally for a deed such as this. Noises could be heard, people could spot us leaving, and it is lost time in general."

He paces about in a small circle, sighing a bit as his fingers stroke his chin. "But I do agree we should search the place. Perhaps Finn could use his... talents," he adds as an afterthought before delving deeper into the things at hand, falling silent as his feet pace a small circle, his eyes continually falling onto their captive.

[Flagg Thornington]

"I was waiting for you to secure the prisoner. Now if someone wants to keep an eye on our only way out of here, I'll begin right away."

Finn starts searching the crates near the door and will move deeper into the room when someone moves to cover the door.

[The Alcotroll]

Harald grunts acknowledgement at Finn and limps over to the door. "I'll stand guard then. Some-one tie that bastard up before he wakes."

[BigRedRod]

Finn is able to make little progress with the crates, given that each and every one of them bears no label and is nailed shut. Even the boxes damaged during the combat aren't sufficiently broken to expose their contents. To make matters worse, Finn lacks any suitable tool to try and pry one of the wooden boxes open.

With Harald volunteering to stand beside the firmly closed door, Finn is able to retrieve a length of the silk rope he carries and tie up the one surviving guard. Lade's beating though has left the man with little chance of reawakening without aid for some time.

[itches]

As the others set out on their tasks, Lade sets about trying to search the bodies of the deceased guards without getting too much of their blood on him, paying special attention to identifying marks, symbols, anything written and everything that looks the least bit valuable.

[BigRedRod]

Lade's quick fingers quickly locate the money pouches carried by each of the guards. Summing the coinage, he reaches the rather paltry sum of three gold and five copper. Of more interest is the silver pendant worn by the only surviving member of the three, it consists of a small silver bell strung on a fine silver chain. Lade decides that it looks rather old but has been well cared for, as a result it is likely worth a decent amount of coin to a jeweller.

Aside from a few other worthless nick-nacks, copper rings, bits of wood which have suffered from extensive whittling, and other similar trappings of common men, each of the guards bears a red-lacquered red disk with a black keyhole at the bottom. A rather unusual symbol for any guardsman to be carrying.

[itches]

Pocketing the gold, Lade attracted the attention of the others and showed them the bell pendent and red disk.

"Anyone seen this stuff before?"

[LuneMoonshadow]

Malkanus quickly glances at the strange disk, his brow raising in honest curiosity. "Actually, I have." He spins the disk over, inspecting it closely to make sure that he isn't missing anything. "A while back when I was doing a little investigating of my own I found this same symbol on the wall in front of a prayer mat."

He motions to the man lying on the ground. "The place had been occupied by cultists, of course. This disk represents the Red Moon and the keyhole means this is the symbol for the gatekeeper. It's a religious icon, so it's conceivable that these people actually think they are Moon Bringers." The look on the cleric's face makes his thoughts on the matter rather obvious. "But this might change things a bit. I thought they were more or less a gang of thugs just using the name and look because they thought it a good idea. Now I'm not so sure what these people are up to."

[The Alcotroll]

"A red disk and a keyhole?" calls Harald from his doorman's position, "I've seen that before as well, likewise in some cultist pit..."

He pauses, "Which reminds me, I've some unfinished business there... When my brother and I first came to this cursed pit of a city, we came across a burning house. These cultists had killed a man, stolen a child and torched the building. The child bore some strange mutation; she had feathers instead of hair-" he fishes around in his belt-pouch, and holds out the slightly crumpled black feather he had picked up from the street- "The woman whose house it was had adopted the child, and claimed that these Moon people had taken her because of her mutation.
"Following the trail, we came across a cult lair in a basement, but the men there were thugs and footpads and we overcame them easily enough. We would have pursued further, but we encountered more prisoners, including Sophia, who we escorted clear of the ruins. Apparently, in that cellar there is some secret passage through which the cult leader, his Orc bodyguard and the captive mutant-child has already passed"

He scratches his brow in confusion. "Malkanus, you must have some knowledge of these people to interpret their symbol like that. Tell me, why would they want to kidnap a feathered girl-child mutant? If they thought she was an abomination to be destroyed, they would have burned her surely, so they must see some value in her."

[LuneMoonshadow]

Malkanus runs a hand through his hair, his mind hard at work trying to solve this strange twist. A little girl with feathers...

He pockets the red disk, intent on keeping it close should the need to falsify their allegiance ever arise. He turns to Harald, shaking his head. "No, I can't say that I know why they'd capture a girl such as that. Perhaps she has some latent magical ability that they feel the need to possess, or maybe she is the result of some strange magic permutation."

He sighs heavily, unhappy that the only reasons he can foresee are purely conjecture. "I can only guess as to why they'd take her, and your guess is as good as mine." He motions to the man unconcious on the ground. "But perhaps he could give us some insight into the situation."

[Flagg Thornington]

"Perhaps we'll find something in the crates to corroborate this man's story."

Finn listens to the conversation while looking for something to use as a torch.
After finding a suitable torch the rogue sets to lighting it. With proper illumination he will continue his search for some kind of tool to jimmy open the crates.

[itches]

Lade listens as the others discuss the disc, making a mental note that the guards actually are cultists and pushing the rest out of his mind. He can deal with mutant feather children later.

"Let's just give the place a proper look around first, ya never know, we might find something to help up beat answers out of him."

Holding his torch up high, the mercenary hesitated, surveying everything in view and wondering where he should start.

[OOC: Searching everything he can get into, which seems to be the little bits that aren't locked away in a crate.]

[BigRedRod]

Finn heads towards the cooking pot, and after rooting around in the still glowing embers finds a suitable stick. A little fiddling with his supplies later, the rogue finds himself the proud possessor of his own, ineptly constructed, light source.

A few odds and ends litter the top of some of the crates, a length of rope, a wooden cup, a slim metal flask containing what smells like a spirit made from root vegetables and other innocuous items which point to men having been stationed here as guards for weeks rather than days. Stumbling upon a stout metal bar, Lade passes it to his companion and turns his attention to the large pile of wooden planks stacked rather roughly in a nook.

Having finally found a suitable tool, Finn is able to jam the metal bar beneath the lid of the nearest crate and pry it open. It takes a little work to remove the lid, a task made more difficult when holding a spluttering homemade torch in one hand. With a clatter, the lid drops to the ground, bending a few exposed nails as it drops. Not unexpectedly for somebody of Finn's experience with warehouse contents, there is a layer of dry stray beneath the lid. Taking care to hold his spluttering homemade torch upwards to avoid starting a fire, Finn carefully moves handfuls of the soft yellow stuff around searching for clues.

The gleam of metal catches his eye and all at once Finn can make out the shape opf a longsword. And then another. And a third. And a good few more nestled beneath. the entire crate appears to be carefully packed with swords.

Turning to another, Finn repeats the process and is greeted by another silvery shine. This crate contains a collection of identical circular steel shields. Each bears the same symbol as that of the icons Lade found on the three guards.

Drawing closer to the planks, Lade makes a rather startling discovery. They've been joined together with long nails. Somebody has purposefully crated a permanent stack of planks, and not even taken the time to stack them neatly. There is also rather a lot of dirt on the ground around the formation. Pulling the stack forwards to try and gain some insight as to why it was constructed, Lade spots something wooden set into the stone floor. A trapdoor. A trapdoor concealed underneath a fake stack of planks.

[Flagg Thornington]

Finn heads to the trap door, motioning for Lade to stand fast. He crouches low and starts looking for signs of a cultist booby trap.

[itches]

Lade froze on the spot as Finn began his search, the sweat he had built up in the fight suddenly turning cold. The failed bodyguard silently and desperately hoped that the cultists didn't feel it necessary to add any security beyond the planks of wood.

[BigRedRod]

The trapdoor is a square piece of wood, about three and a half feet across, with no obvious handle. However, a slight grove in the stone floor at one side is more than adequate to provide leverage.

Prodding around the edge of the wooden trapdoor, Finn discovers a rim of razor sharp metal. Anybody attempting to simply lift it would most likely sever their fingers in the process, the metal has also been blackened although Finn isn't quite sure whether this was to simply stop the small razor edge from shining under casual inspection or if it is a sign that the cruel trap has also been coated with a poison of some kind.

[Flagg Thornington]

"I'm going to open this, with your help. Bring you torch closer. If you look closely at the edge here you'll see a nasty blade waiting for eager fingers. It may be poisoned so be extremely careful. I'm going to get this door cracked open and when I do use your blades, not your hands, to help me with the weight. Are we ready?"

Wary of the possibility of foul substances the rogue uses his dagger to pry the door up slightly after the party signals to go ahead.

[BigRedRod]

Hastily shoving the pile of planks aside to clear the space and content that the razor edge is the only trap, Finn slips his dagger underneath and attempts to lift the wooden trapdoor. Attempting to avoid losing his fingers during the process makes it rather more difficult with Finn only being able to use one hand on the short blade.

Eventually it pops out of the hole in the ground and with the help of the flat of Lade's axe, the two push the heavy wooden lid over, it lands with a loud dull thump. The hole seems to lead down into a chamber beneath the warehouse, Finn can make out a packed earthen wall with wooden supports but little else without at least partially lowering himself through the hole.

[Flagg Thornington]

Finn lays down, silently cursing the rat that stole his mirror, and pokes his head down into the passage just enough to see what lies beyond. He fights back the darkness with his makeshift torch in his left hand. His rapier remains firmly planted in his right palm.

[BigRedRod]

Perhaps in direct conflict with any sort of common sense, Finn spreads himself out around the edge of the open trapdoor and with hands sufficiently full as to be unable to stop himself falling or hoisting himself back up in any kind of emergency plunges the top half of his body into unknown depths.

Luckily, the Gods smile on Finn and a brief scan conforms that there was nothing lying in wait to deliver the young rogue a quick death. Instead, the looks down into what looks rather like a mining excavation. The chamber is not large being perhaps ten feet across and extended behind Finn to the rearmost wall of the warehouse. Aside from the support structures on the walls, there are several free-standing wooden pillars ensuring that no kind of collapse occurs. However excavated this area, clearly knew what they were doing.

The flickering torchlight dances upon the rough earth floor and folding further into the trapdoor, Finn is able to see the purpose of the hidden cellar. Wooden bars going from floor to ceiling make the entire far end of the region into a small cell. A cell currently occupied by a wooden bucket and a burlap sack.

After a few moments to confirm that it isn't any trick of the light, Finn reaches the conclusion that the sack is moving. It looks like the cell holds a prisoner and the guards above were not just guarding a warehouse. A trio of comically large padlocks hold the cell door firmly closed and the wooden poles seem thick enough that it would be a major undertaking to break through them.

[itches]

Standing near the trapdoor in case Finn needs any more help, Lade fidgets and eyes the unconscious and bound figure of the cultist, eager to begin beating some answers out of him.

"Anything down there lad?"

[Flagg Thornington]

"Why don't you ask moon-boy who they're holding in their cellar Lade. There's no one waiting to spring from this hole and disturb the interrogation. I'm going below to see what the captive has to say." Finn slips down into the jail for a better look.

[BigRedRod]

The cellar is barely five and half feet high making it rather easy for somebody such as Finn to gracefully drop down onto the soft earth but rather more difficult for him to stand without stooping. Surprisingly, the air seems clean rather the fetid stench one might expect from a subterranean prison.

Aside from the wooden-barred cell at the top of the dug out prison there is nothing which catches Finn's eye immediately. A few steps, however, and he spots something highly peculiar. Large black feathers are scattered across the packed earth floor.

Moving more towards the cell, Finn notices the burlap sack drawing itself tighter and tighter into a ball. Stood on the other side of the bars, Finn can make out the faintest of whimpers from the small form huddling beneath the rough sack. Clearly the sole occupant of the cell is a child and one that has been held here long enough not to know that pleading will achieve nothing. Much of the child is hidden beneath brown sackcloth, in fact Finn can only just make out a filthy arm and a head covered in equally dirty short black hair.

Behind the prisoner is an untouched but rather mouldy looking loaf of bread. The wooden bucket carries a liquid Finn deems to be water.

A closer inspection of the locks reveals that they were built to withstand people such as Finn, opening them without the proper key would be a time consuming task at the best. The bars themselves are thick and tightly packed enough to make breaking them an equal challenge for somebody of a rather different skill set.

[LuneMoonshadow]

Malkanus steps over some debris left from a box while pulling on his gloves tighter, making sure they are snug. He moves up next to the prisoner and kneels down next to him, pulling out the red moon token as he does so. Whispering a quiet prayer and placing three fingers on the man's forehead, he attempts to bring him back to conciousness.

OOC: Replace Detect Magic with Cure Minor Wounds

[Flagg Thornington]

Finn speaks softly in a soothing tone. "Hello there, it's all right. Can you talk to me? We're here to set you free." Finn remains kneeling near the cell's lock.
He retreives his tools and sets to work on the challenging deadbolt.

[BigRedRod]

A filthy face looks out accusingly at Finn but remains silent, her lips set tight together. The girl can't be older than ten. Sizing up the first the locks, Finn sets about the process of attempting to gently manipulate the mechanism within. A loud snapping sound greets his first probe, taking a deep breath, Finn removes the straight probe and takes out another, almost identical slender metal rod. The eyes of the girl remain transfixed upon him as he jabs the tools of his trade into the keyhole and continues about his business.

Upstairs, Malkanus channels divine healing into the man Lade beat into unconsciousness. The spell does little more than confirm the man is not yet dead as he shifts slightly. Lade's bare-knuckled assault, however, will require more than trivial magics to undo.


[ooc: I'll assume Finn is taking twenty on the open lock checks for each of the three padlocks. So it'll take six minutes assuming that a +31 modifier is high enough for each of them. And healing a single lethal damage and reducing the non-lethal wasn't enough to get him back awake.]

[itches]

Ambling along behind Malkanus, Lade peered over the holy man's shoulder as he did his work.

"Seems I hit him harder then I thought. Think ya can bring him around?"

[LuneMoonshadow]

Malkanus glances over to Lade and smiles as he places his palm on the man's forehead, whispering a prayer and asking for guidance once again in an attempt to bring the prisoner around. "Just wait to wallop him this time until we've finished with him."

OOC: Replace Shield of Faith with Cure Light Wounds

[itches]

"I'll try," Lade responded with a grin back. "But no promises."

[BigRedRod]

A low groan serves as a good indicator that Malkanus' God has provided enough healing for now. The figure curls tightly into a foetal position as though the cleric were his mother attempting to wake him up rather than a cultist warehouse guard being woken by a team of would-be interrogators.
"Ow."
His hands reach upwards to his face and suddenly the man freezes in position clutching his bruised face in his hands, it would seem he has remembered where he is.

[itches]

"Welcome back," Lade said as soon as he saw the prisoner regain consciousness. "I hope you slept well."

Taking off his helm and dumping it on the table, the failed bodyguard pulled a stool up, sat down in it and leant in close to the captured cultist with a leering expression.

"I know ya willing to die for what ya believe in boy, I understand that and hell, I even respect it. I also reckon ya think we're going to kill ya or torture ya, and ya not far off the mark there. But before we start I want to talk to ya a bit.

See what I know is ya and ya former friends have been killing folk, burning 'em alive and such. I wonder, did ya ever wait around long enough to hear the screams of those people? Not the ones who breathed in too much of the smoke and passed out, the ones who ya gave a nice hot fire. Burned alive.

"I knew a guy back in me soldiering days, a veteran when I was little more then a boy meself. He'd seen a lot of death, and had almost died more times then he could count. He once told me that the worse way for someone to die was fire, worse then drowning, or getting ya guts cut out, or even magic.

"Have ya ever burnt yaself on a candle or lamp? It's like that only a hundred times worse, all over your body. The flames eat up ya body to the point where ya can't scream, or think or even breath because of the pain. And it doesn't stop, the flames spread and eat up more and more of ya - right down to the bone - until finally long after you lost the strength to even moan in pain and ya nothing more then a lump of burnt meat, ya die.

"I'm telling ya this because I know a few things myself," Lade continued, his face becoming very grim. "Ya see I know that the other day ya burnt someone alive, someone I care very much about. I know that right now I'd take a great deal of pleasure from giving seeing ya suffer the same way.

"But some of the others here, well they're a little weak in the stomach and don't wanna suffer from the stench of you being cooked alive. Because of that I'm giving ya a choice. Before we decide what to do with ya, I'm going to ask a few questions.

"Questions about a girl you kidnapped. Questions about the arms and armour you have here. Questions about the 'guest' down stairs. Questions about your plans. All sorts of questions. Ya going to answer them all, eventually everyone breaks and answers, it's unavoidable.

"Your choice is something different. Your choice is how much ya suffer here - and boy believe me when I say I can teach you about pain - because if I think ya not answering me questions truthfully, or holding something back or don't like ya answers, or hell if you even pass wind without my permission ... well then my friends might have to leave while we have ourselves a little barbeque."

Leaning back, Lade formed his face into the meanest expression he knew and snarled at the man.

"Understand?"

[BigRedRod]

Taking his hands away from his face, the guardsman moves into a sitting position as Lade speaks. With his story complete and question asked, silence hangs in the air for several tense seconds as the guard weighs up the threat of being burnt at the stake against his beliefs. A single quiet word eventually escapes his tight-lipped mouth,
"Yes."

[itches]

"Good. Let's start with an easy one, who do you have locked up in the basement?"

[BigRedRod]

The guard's mouth half opens in response but before he can speak a single word he clearly notices that the planks of wood have been moved from above the hidden trapdoor.
"Not who. What."

Meeting Lade's gaze he continues with an unexpected good humour and confidence in his voice,
"A demon. A creature beyond all of Aos. Such a monster has no place roaming free, we locked it up to protect the good people of this city."

[LuneMoonshadow]

"You locked up a demon beyond all the power of Aos in a cell with wooden beams. You, sir, are the most brilliant man I have ever seen. I don't suppose that you have any great dragons kept in a room with a chair barracading the door around here? That's too bad, as I've always wanted to see one."

Malkanus steps back and rubs at his temples before pressing on to matters that actually have purpose. "How exactly do you know it's a demon anyway? I don't suppose that your God told you, eh?"

[BigRedRod]

With a critical look at Malkanus, the guard replies with a wry grin, seemingly having forgotten the threats of an agonising death now,
"My God?"

With another glance over at the open trapdoor he continues,
"Do you actually know what a demon is? I'm not an educated man by any means, my ma and pa had no money to get me schooled like pretty much everybody else in the city I love."

His eyes glaze over slightly as he reflects upon his childhood,
"There was an old woman who lived in this tiny little house on the corner of the street I grew up on. I, and the other children too, thought she was a witch. One day, me and another lad start throwing stones at her house, shouting at her for being a witch and all that. Well, my da found the pair of us and he beat seven shades of shit out of me for that. Rightly so t-"

[itches]

"Enough!" Lade interjected loudly, picking up his helm then slamming it against the table. "We are not here for tales of ya youth!"

Calming down from the outburst, the former mercenary took a moment to compose himself, then returned his attention to the cultist

"We don’t wanna release a demon upon the people of the city, tell us why ya think what-ever poor soul you kidnapped is a demon. In as few words as possible, my patience is running out."

As he spoke, something Harald had recently said sprung to the man's mind.

"For instance 'because it's a girl with feathers'"

[BigRedRod]

Lade's acute observation clearly shocks the man more so that the sudden termination of his tale,
"So you know about it? You know what it is and why we hold it. But... Then... By the Gods, you... you came here for it! Why? For the love of the Gods, why would you damn yourselves so?"

The eyes of the guard dart wildly between the cleric and bodyguard and he struggles briefly against the silk rope binding him but makes no progress.

[The Alcotroll]

Having abandoned his post by the door out of sheer boredom, Harald has been observing the interrogation from the wings. Hearing the cultist's admission that the abducted girl is close by, and the score with the arrogant smith a little closer to settling, he moves to join the discussion.

Planting a savage kick on the man's ribs by way of attracting his attention, Harald then stoops to grab the cultist by the collar and hauls the man face-to face with him, glaring murderously from beneath the rim of his plumed helmet.
"I don't know why you hold her," he snarls viciously, "Why don't you tell me, brave guardian, why you must protect the city from a little girl?"

[BigRedRod]

Harald's physical interjection to the conversation immediately halts any further cries of pleas from the struggling guard. Dragging him closer, the guard's face is a portrait of fear, or it is until Harald starts speaking. Confusion reigns as the man replies,
"Little girl? You don't understand! Do not be fooled by the face it wears. We keep it here to protect the city, if such a monster was allowed out, it would certainly mean the end of Edinway."

[itches]

Frustrated by the slow process of extracting information from the cultist, Lade kept his next question short and to the point.

"How will it doom Edinway?"

[BigRedRod]

Still barely being able to touch the ground with his feet due to be held up by the much taller Harald, the cultist doesn't look away from the Jarl's face as he speaks,
"A demon, free in Edinway, you can't see a problem with that? It may not have red skin and a flaming sword but you don't need that. Not with Edinway. Not with how the city is now. We weren't allowed down there on our own, if we had to go down that is, bloody thing doesn't eat or drink. We'd have at least three of us down there, ears plugged with wool and you didn't look at it if you could help it."

Swallowing, the guard adds,
"You've killed two men today and you aren't even sure why, that is how it'd destroy the city. It'd make us do it ourselves and make us not even notice."

[itches]

"Wrong ya stinking piece of shit!" Lade screamed coming angrily to his feet, grabbing the cultists head and twisting it around to face him. "We killed them because you and ya friends burnt someone alive! And ya still haven’t convinced me to spare ya the same damned fate."

Taking a deep breath to calm himself Lade turned to Malkanus, convinced that this was all the unseful information they were going to get from the man on the subject.

"Do us a favour? Check to see how Finn's coming along. Come on Harald, put him down. Why don't ya start telling us about the weapons and armour ya have here?"

[The Alcotroll]

Reluctantly, Harald releases the man, but remains threateningly close as a brooding reminder that further violence is always a possibility.

[LuneMoonshadow]

Malkanus nods to Lade but pauses before checking on Finn. He reaches into a pocket a pulls out the red disk, staring down at as it lays still in his palm. What am I expecting, some kind of sign?

He sighs and holds the disk up for the prisoner to see before pocketing it again. "Just one more thing. What gives you the right to misuse the name of the Moonbringers and terrorize a city because of your fanciful willingness to murder innocent people? The Gatekeeper charged the Moonbringers to bring about the rise of the Red Moon, not turn a city upside down with a gang of thugs running around claiming to be saviors."

Grimacing and visably angered, he turns on his heel and goes to check on Finn, pausing a moment at the top to get a response if there is any to be had.

[BigRedRod]

Freed from Harald's grip the man collapses to the ground, moving slowly to a sitting position he answers Lade's accusation in a quiet voice,
"If the moon doesn't dawn then we're all dead anyway."

Sat up once again, the beaten guard cocks his head at Malkanus' comment,
"I serve the Gatekeeper. I am a Moonbringer. Every single day more people die and their souls wander this world lost and full of rage. People forget what it is like outside the city without Pelor's men and the Magewrights keeping every safe. Entire villages reduced to blood and darkness. And it'll happen to every single one of them... And then the other towns and cities. And then last it'll be Edinway swept clean of anything living by the dead."

Wincing in pain, he pauses briefly,
"We kill people. I have blood on my hands. We all do. But we are doing everything we can to bring the Red Dawn."

His eyes fix on Malkanus,
"You're a disgrace. How can you pretend to serve our Lord while you undo work and attempt to unleash a demon on this city?"

[LuneMoonshadow]

Still facing the trapdoor with the back to the prisoner, the cleric answers the pointed question. "I don't pretend to serve anyone. I'm here on His behalf, doing His work."

He turns around and fixes the man with a glare, folding his arms over his chest. "And that work, I might add, is trying to stop you heathens from having your way. You're wandering the streets, a gang of children, intent on harming innocent people all because you don't have the basic understanding of the Moonbringer principles. You don't go around killing innocent people who did not warrant the death you gave them simply because 'we are all going die anyway'."

Malkanus slowly walks over to the Cultist and kneels down in front of him in order to look him in the eye. He pulls off his hat in order to ensure that he can see him perfectly well. "You're the disgrace to the Moonbringer name. You're a joke, a common peasant running around carrying a red disk and claiming your actions are for the good of mankind. I was born into this society, raised as a child to fight in this war. If you ever question my loyalty again, I will make sure it's the last thing you do."

Malknus rises and puts his hat back on as he goes back to the trapdoor, turning to look at Lade and Harald. "Kill him if you want, I have no use for him. He's a simple fool in a pretty costume."

Smiling more to himself than the prisoner, he adds, "Tell the Gatekeeper I send my greetings." With that, he enters the dungeon to check on Finn's progress.

[Flagg Thornington]

Finn resumes his work when he spots the priest clambering down through the trapdoor. The thief prods carefully and methodically massages the tumblers with his intricate trade tools.

This must be the kidnapped girl the Jarl spoke of. What in the world would the Moonbringers want with the feathered child.

"Priest, what would they want with this girl? She is but a child. What does your god tell you of the red moon? Surely you know something you could tell."

Finn pauses again for a moment in thought. He turns toward the girl again and continues.

"Listen Honey, can you tell me your name? My name is Andrellew, but you can just call me Finn if that's easier. I noticed you haven't been eating, you must hungry. Would you like somthing to eat?"

[The Alcotroll]

Harald treats the prisoner to another gentle nudge to re-direct his attention. "Enough of this priestly babble," he says, "Tell us about the swords. You've enough iron to equip an army in here! Why?"

[BigRedRod]

"No. Go away."
The face vanishes under the blanket with the three petulant words. As Finn continues to work, the shape shuffles slightly so that the prisoner can watch him.

...

"Not to do with me. And I can't help but observe that this is the kind of situation that the whole Don't Ask, Don't Tell thing was come up with for. I didn't even know what was in them myself, we just made sure that no prying eyes did either."

The reminder of his own failure quiets the man as he looks bleakly at the corpses of his two companions.

[Flagg Thornington]

Finn continues to work on the look without speaking again for several seconds. His facial expressions fake intense focus during the silence.
He then pauses his work again and says to the girl.
"What if I told you that you would be free from this cell soon, and that you could leave with me and my friends, would you be my friend and tell me your name? I know that you must be tired and weak. This is Malkanus, he has something tasty for you."

Finn turns to Malkanus. "Don't you have something for our friend to snack on?"

"What would you like to eat little one?"

[itches]

"Alright then," Lade said, searching the cultist face and not seeing any indication of a lie. "A rat like ya is pretty far down on the food chain, who is giving ya orders?"

[LuneMoonshadow]

Malkanus kneels down next to Finn and smiles at the hidden figure. "It's a trail ration," he says as he pulls it from his pack. "Not the best food in the world, but I can tell that moldy bread isn't to your liking."

He holds it out to let her get a good look at it and the chance to take it if she so wishes while he leans a little closer to Finn and answers with a whisper. "I know nothing of this situation, to be honest. Girls with feathers are as confusing to me as to you. Let's just get her out of here and to safety so we can sort this all out."

[BigRedRod]

The child pauses at the approaches of Finn and Malkanus eventually choosing to share her own name with them,
"I'm Celeste."

Ignoring the offerings of the cleric's ration, she shifts herself from the ground into a sitting position and in that moment both the cleric and the rogue get a good view of the reason she currently resides in a cell. Sprouting from her upper back are a pair of small folded wings, not looking anything like large enough to actually allow the child to fly. The wings are covered in a full and healthy plumage of the large black feathers that litter the ground. For some reason it seems her wings have resisted the grime resulting from living in an earthen walled cell for any period of time, unlike the rest of her.

Shuffling around to get her back in a corner, she covers herself with the sackcloth once again, this time allowing her grubbing face to peer out. A smile almost crosses her face as the first of the three locks clatters to the ground as a result of Finn's successful manipulation.

...

Lade's prisoner shakes his head,
"I don't know. He always came to us and we knew better than to ask a name."
His eyes remain n the ground, clearly ashamed to have to make such a confession.

[itches]

Lade growled at the cultist's answer, lashing out with a kick.

"If ya don't know his name, tell us what ya do know about him. What he looks like. How often he would come by. Everything else."

[BigRedRod]

Attempting to clutch his stomach while still bound, the man continues in a tight voice,
"He looks like he washes his face with acid. Really bad scars all over, and only one eye left too. You couldn't miss him."

The guard hesitates for a moment before adding further details,
"Always used to turn up with a pet orc too. Bloody massive bugger, like a brick shithouse. 'Course they never turned up in the open, they'd either just come in here or they'd yank you off the street into a dark alley, say a few words then chuck you back out. Never knew when it'd happen, it just did."

[LuneMoonshadow]

"Nice to meet you, Celeste." Malkanus smiles, putting the ration back in his pack. "Celeste, could you tell me where your parents are? I'm sure you'd like to see them once we get you out of here."

[itches]

"One more question," Lade said quietly after silently considering things for a few moments. "Why did ya kill Yvonne Stroud?"

[BigRedRod]

A little more vocal now, the girl responds,
"Home. Maybe. What time is it? They might be out."

Waiting for only half a second, she completes her thought in a barely audible voice,
"They might be looking for me."

...

Taking a deep and uncomfortable breath, the man does his best to shrug,
"Stroud, like on the sign? I dunno, as I've said, I was told to guard this place and that is what I did."

[itches]

"Yeah sure," Lade growled at the man. "Ya were just innocently doing yer job and had nothing to do with the murders."

Considering kicking the man until he felt better, the aged mercenary instead just got up and stalked away to the other side of the room.

[The Alcotroll]

As Lade walks away, Harald leans in close to the bound cultist.

"I don't know why you burned that woman, but I think he was very fond of her," he confides in a conspirational whisper. "Perhaps you should give some thought to why we should keep you alive, for I fear he intends to put you to the flames..."

[BigRedRod]

The cultist responds through gritted teeth in a low voice which gradually rises to near a shout,
"And like I said, I ain't burned no damn woman. You want to come here, kill two good and burn me then get a bloody move on. Just don't stand around preaching to me about how I don't really serve the Keeper and how I've gone round burning folk when you lot are trying to set a demon free and threatening to do the same to me. You ain't solving any problems, you are the problems!"

[The Alcotroll]

"Suit yourself," Harald responds with a mirthless grin, before rising and following Lade.