Nights of Steel and Fire (D&D)

[LadyTevar]

By this time Torma was well and thoroughly confused. "How many damn alleyways are we going to walk thru?" she griped, fastidiously lifting her feet like a cat trying to walk thru snow. "Do you *realize* how strongly these places smell of human waste? It's bad enough to just be in town this long... if I stay here much longer I'll probably lose all sense of smell all-together!" She hadn't been complaining that much, however. That would have interferred with what else she was doing.

((Listen check for possible stalkers: 20+7=27
Spot Check (anything unusual): 21+ 11=32))

[Cynical Cat]

There were no apparent stalkers or pursuers.

[Rogue 9]

"We're almost done," Gaheris answered with a sort of distant frown. "It's too quiet. All the ruckus this morning, and nothing else is going on, not even the usual thieving and skullduggery. Nobody's pressing the advantage, and that frightens me almost as much as those pit fiends." He scowled at a completely random scuff mark on a wall, an intentionally delayed reaction to yet another all clear signal he'd spotted a block back. "Let's get back to the Abbey. We need to prepare for tomorrow." He turned his path towards the marketplace and the abbey beyond.

[LadyTevar]

"Maybe the attack on the abbey scared everyone?" Torma suggested quietly. "When a Red tries moving into our territory, we Coppers fade until we have a plan to deal with it," she said conversationally as they walked, keeping her voice lowered. "Perhaps whomever summoned the demons is moving into the territory, and it scares them."

[Rogue 9]

"I doubt it scared the attackers," Gaheris responded. "The Night Masks lying low is to be expected, but these cultists, whoever they are, aren't using their advantage. By tomorrow the abbey will be stronger, with the men back on their feet."

[LadyTevar]

"Then, as Astinius suspected, they have what they wanted..." Torma said softly. "A pity ... if there was another force moving in, your NightMasks would have to split their attention. Always useful when dealing with a more powerful foe, my mother said."

[Rogue 9]

"Somehow, I get the feeling they're not done with us yet," Gaheris said with a scowl as they walked past the Tower. The Abbey was just ahead.

[Comrade Tortoise]

"I do not know your enemies so I cannot recommend a way of tracking them. I can tell you if you are ignorant about them, you must search for more clues."

"Indeed. Thank you. You have certainly helped me collate my thoughts. If I find something of interest, I will at least have an idea where to to start looking and how."

[Rogue 9]

Gaheris and Torma arrived back at the Abbey.

[LadyTevar]

Torma was nearly instantly surrounded by the Abbey's felines, all purring and rubbing against her in abject affection.

[SirNitram]

"Still no sign of Astinius." Malkamar stated as he spotted the returning duo. "By now, our quarry could be to Mulhourand or farther, if they knew we were coming."

[Rogue 9]

"If all they wanted was to make a martyr of the Abbot," Gaheris pointed out. "Hells, they could have been in Shou minutes after the attack for all we know. We have to assume that there's something else they want here, just to narrow down the possibilities."

[LadyTevar]

"They could want us..." Torma pointed out bluntly. "They did try to take us captive, did they not?"

[Rogue 9]

"Someone tried to take us captive. We have no idea if that was them or not. Actually I'm inclined to believe it wasn't; if your first try is a simple ambush by run of the mill thugs, I doubt your second move will be to summon pit fiends. Might as well do that first."

[SirNitram]

"Which still puzzles me." Malkamar admitted. "I can understand me; I'm a Shadovar. I can even understand Torma. No offense, Gaheris, but why a paladin and a wizard?"

[LadyTevar]

"Maybe they wanted a quiet kidnapping first, and now whomever's in charge is doing it 'their way'?" Torma shrugged. "The main question is which of us they are truly wanting, and who's just baggage along for the ride."

[Comrade Tortoise]

"Well sir. I must go. But there is the mater of your fee... Even if you didnt charge one I would like to thank you for the assistance."

[Cynical Cat]

"No payment is necessary," said the old man. "Besides, you seem to have no shortage of serious problems of your own.

[Rogue 9]

"Which still puzzles me." Malkamar admitted. "I can understand me; I'm a Shadovar. I can even understand Torma. No offense, Gaheris, but why a paladin and a wizard?"

"If our first attackers were Night Masks and our second ones were not, the reason is easy enough. There are any number of reasons the thieves would want any one of us. The pit fiends didn't go for any of us; the survivor grabbed the Lord Abbot and ran," he pointed out, unconsciously balling his right hand into a fist as he thought of it.

[SirNitram]

"I daresay that while you may be right, we won't know until we find out what this group worships. It's not a demon or a Power. That leaves.. Well, alot, and none of them are nice or comprehendable." Malkamar replied.

[LadyTevar]

"But how many of them are allied with Pit Fiends?" Torma asked rhetorically. "Hopefully Astinius will have that answer when he comes back."

[Comrade Tortoise]

"thank you Trantos. WIth that, I must depart... I have information to gather..."

With that, Astinius took a slight respectful bow.

[Cynical Cat]

"One of them is in Silverymoon," said a voice. "One of the likely ones."

"Silverymoon is warded," replied the other. "To move there will be difficult."

"A big shield will fall to a bigger axe."

"It is not your power that is being spilled."

"You will be compensated. Think of the gains. A likely one, alone."

"Alone in Silverymoon."

"And they were four in Westgate. I have an idea. We shall see to the elf. We leave the others to you."

"We have drawn too much attention. It is too soon."

"They are feeble things of soft flesh and only the shadow of intelligence. There is nothing we cannot take from them. Their fortress is rubble, their high priest is gone. They are naked before you. Take them."

"It is not as easy as that."

"It does not matter. There is no shortage of flesh to employ in the endeavor. We need only succeed once."

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Krelben approached the companions. The Justicar had a book under one arm and several pieces of curved metal under the other. "You need to get gowing and you seem to have lost your mage. I'm here to remedy that."

[SirNitram]

"Astinius wandered off to Silverymoon and hasn't even made contact since." Malkamar nodded quietly. "We need passage to the citadel and town of Elturel, and hopefully after that, Candlekeep. We need to find someone in the first, and research something in the second."

Malkamar had the decency to look shamed. "Despite my usual ego on the matter, my lineage is... lacking the traditional gifts of the Empire and I can't get us there."

[Cynical Cat]

"I noticed," said Krelben. "This is a copy of The Journey of Tyr, illuminated by Jalek Ness some three hundred years ago. It will get you whatever you need in Candlekeep." He handed the heavy tome to Gaheris.

He handed the curved pieces of metal to Malkamar. "Connect them together into a circle and think of where you want to go. A portal will open, but it won't last long. The circle then falls apart on the other side, allowing you to take it with you."