Nights of Steel and Fire (D&D)

[Rogue 9]

"Thank you, Justiciar," Gaheris said, inclining his head. Dislike of the man or not, he knew enough to be grateful. "This is certainly easier than the means I was going to resort to. Should Astinius return before us, tell him where we've gone."

[Cynical Cat]

"I will," said the Justicar. "Send those bastards to Kelemvor's Throne."

[Rogue 9]

"Watch yourself here. I don't expect them to give up on the Abbey if they're still around." He turned to face Malkamar and Torma. "We leave in fifteen minutes. I need to gather supplies from my quarters; I recommend you do the same." He tucked the manuscript underneath his arm and started walking towards the monastery building.

[SirNitram]

"Where first? Waterdeep to find out what we're up against, or Elturel before this Zrem vanishes into the Ether?" Malkamar asked simply, shrugging. He had packed his gear already.

[LadyTevar]

Torma carried all the gear she needed on her back. When it wasn't being used for a cat-bed. "I'm assuming we are off to Candlekeep, since we were given a book," she said, touching noses with the Abbey's cats in a surprisingly gentle farewell. "Think they'll let me inside this time?"

Sometimes, the subtle humor was the best joke. She had been thinking of pranks for the road, if they'd had to walk. Go out hunting for the group, bring back a headless deer, claiming that it was the only way she knew to 'bleed' it for the poor folks who don't like it bloody.
Of course, what the blood might lead to them would be a fun fight....

"No, you can't go with us, Marmalade."

[Rogue 9]

Gaheris came back out of the monastery considerably less than fifteen minutes later, hefting a small backpack of gear.

"All right. I say we go to Elturel first and then to Candlekeep. The books aren't going anywhere, but leads in Elturel might."

[SirNitram]

Malkamar nodded, quickly taking the peices and assembling them into a circle. "Haven't worked one of these in years... Next stop, paladin's fortress of Elturel..."

The Shadovar focused on where he was headed, completed the last link, and prepared to bring up the rear as they rushed through the temporary portal.

[Cynical Cat]

The adventurers stepped through, finding themselves just outside the central citadel of the cliff top city of Elturel. A wagon master blinked and hauled up hard on his reigns to avoid having his horses trample Malkamar. With the unshockable demeanor of a cosmopolitan Faerunean, he guided his horses around the arriving adventurers with a flick of the reigns and tipped his hat to the new arrivals.

[LadyTevar]

Torma watched the wagoneer continue down the road. "Wow... those are well-trained horses. Most horses would have panicked at my scent...." Then she looked at the city, trying to see as much as possible at once.

[Rogue 9]

"Right," Gaheris said as he nodded to the wagoneer. "The Vara'Dome doesn't maintain a presence here; with the government the way it is, we haven't seen a need until now. We'll have to start from scratch."

[SirNitram]

"Well, it's a paladin's personal fortress and the city around it. You'd not think of it as a den of iniquity." Malkamar said simply. "This Zrem or whatever his name was. How do you suppose we'll find him? It's a trading city, people come and go all the time..."

[LadyTevar]

"Maybe we should get out of the road?" Torma suggested dryly, settling her wings along her back and making actions to words. "Unless you like blocking busy highways...."


OF course, she knew what one of the biggest problems would be. Part of the fun was seeing how long before her companions realized what that was. It was a minor prank, but this wasn't really a time for the big ones. "If we knew what he looked like, we could ask the innkeepers. He'd have to be staying somewhere, right?"

[Rogue 9]

"I've got no idea exactly how we'll find him, but I have a few on how to start looking," Gaheris answered Malkamar as he walked to the edge of the road and started hiking up towards the citadel. "I think we'd best talk to Lord Dhelt, or at least one of his constables. Surely they'd have some inkling if such a powerful cult was in residence in their city."

[LadyTevar]

"Oh yes... surely they'd know about a secret society out to undermine them from within, operating right under their noses." Torma agreed facetiously. "After all, no one in power would ever think of aiding such a cult... and asking about it won't get the inquirers jumped by shadowy assailants in a dark alley."

Sometimes, Gar was still far too much of a paladin.

[SirNitram]

"The lord here is a paladin; I'd say if they're here, they're working signifigantly lower on the chain." Malkamar pointed out, collecting the gate peices and moving off the main throughfare. "It can't hurt. Well. Maybe me being there might hurt."

[Rogue 9]

Gaheris chuckled. "The last thing Dhelt would do is be on the take from an organization that makes use of fiends," he said to Torma. "Unless things have really changed around here, we're very safe from those at the top of the government."

[LadyTevar]

Torma rolled her eyes, as Gar didn't get all the message in her little rant. "Of course not. What's hiding in the sewers or whatever's left of the theive's guild would be SURE to tell him everything happening in his city..."

[SirNitram]

"Our illustrious draconic companion is pointing out more than just that the upper ranks might be involved." Malkamar replied. "You've lived amongst the Night Masks. What happens to someone who squeals, Gaheris?" A pause, and a look at Torma. "Might want to do something about the pony-sized acid-spitting saurian we're with too."

[LadyTevar]

"Dragon. Not Saurian." Torma snorted.

[Rogue 9]

"Squealers get stuck like pigs," Gaheris answered simply. "That doesn't mean Dhelt doesn't know anything, and since he isn't likely to be corrupt, it can hardly hurt to ask."

[Comrade Tortoise]

Astinius left the Hall of Sages and realized that, despite him only being gone a few hours, he should get back and report. He strolled down the streets and bowed to the guards on his way out, he also carefully surveyed the roads and made sure there was nothing suspicious upon them.

He realized that if he was going to be attacked, this would be the place it was done, away from the guards walls and spellguard. The Wards of the city would offer protection from most dangers that he could not handle, but there were ways around a Mythal.

[SirNitram]

"Let's go talk to Dhelt, then." Malkamar shrugged. "Can't hurt. Just gotta convince him I'm the good ancient Shadovar shadowmage. That, or I'll crash at the nearest temple to Mystryl."

[Cynical Cat]

Darkness rolled over the Vault of the Sages, plunging it into inky darkness. Astinius's elven vision allowed him to pierce the gloom, revealing a nightmarish entity of deeper darkness appearing in the street some fifty feet away. It was roughly humanoid, twelve feet tall, with a dozen long tendrils sprouting from its head.

[Comrade Tortoise]

Astinius tried to react both mentally and physically as fast as he possibly could
Initiative

[Cynical Cat]

The dark beast charges, covering the distance in a flash [Initiative 18 baby].
It reaches out towards the elf mage with its large paw, seizing him.

[hit, initiating grapple, 47 to achieve a hold]