Jan 13, 2024 11:21 pm
Stella finds a few wavy lines engraved on the key. It looks like a depiction of... water?
1. The Cloakwood
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Jan 13, 2024 11:29 pm
Aiwë guides the apprentice right to the edge of the Silence spell, his face just crossing the barrier.
"What's your name?" She stands ready to shove him back into Spell.
"What's your name?" She stands ready to shove him back into Spell.
Jan 14, 2024 12:05 am
The young man blinks. Apparently being right on the edge of the silence spell is disorienting. But his lips quiver into a weak smile and he answers. "Uh... Stephan. You know, with a 'p-h'?"
Jan 14, 2024 1:33 am
Aiwë cocked her head, feeling out the name and it's spelling.
"Nice. I like it. I'm Aiwë, like a bird. We're here because we don't like slavers or plans to start wars for personal gain. What's your opinion on those things?"
"Nice. I like it. I'm Aiwë, like a bird. We're here because we don't like slavers or plans to start wars for personal gain. What's your opinion on those things?"
Last edited January 14, 2024 1:36 am
Jan 14, 2024 5:35 pm
Stephan's eyes grow even wider, if possible. "Look, I wasn't part of anything, I swear! I was just supposed to be studying magic with Master Davaeorn. I'm rarely even allowed out of this suite of rooms down here!" He swallows hard. "I just did as I was told and didn't ask any questions. Honest! Please don't kill me like you did Master Davaeorn!"
Jan 14, 2024 5:41 pm
Aldous walks gently up to Aiwe and whispers, "I didn't recognize him at first, but I think he's the son of some minor nobility in the Gate. I can't imagine anyone living in this mine and not knowing anything about the goings-on here. Even if he claims not to be involved, he must know something about the Iron Throne's plans."
Jan 14, 2024 6:14 pm
"You didn't ask questions or poke around? Ever?" Aiwë raised her eyebrow. "Why not?"
Rolls
Insight - (1d20+1)
(11) + 1 = 12
Insight adv - (1d20+1)
(1) + 1 = 2
Jan 14, 2024 7:23 pm
Dieter tightens his grip on Stephan’s collar giving it a small tug.
Dieter gives the help action to Aiwë
Dieter gives the help action to Aiwë
Jan 14, 2024 7:44 pm
Stephan winces at Dieter's treatment of him, but doesn't complain out loud. He looks around at the companions' faces. "Did you even know Master Davaeorn? He wasn't the type to take questions, much less give answers. He-"
The apprentice stops as he gets a good look at Aldous. "You're Duke Entar's son! I saw you once at a ball. Do you..." Stephan clears his throat and adopts a more formal tone. "Lord Aldous, surely you can assure these fine folk that I'm telling the truth and will be no trouble at all! Please, tell them to let me go!"
The apprentice stops as he gets a good look at Aldous. "You're Duke Entar's son! I saw you once at a ball. Do you..." Stephan clears his throat and adopts a more formal tone. "Lord Aldous, surely you can assure these fine folk that I'm telling the truth and will be no trouble at all! Please, tell them to let me go!"
Jan 14, 2024 7:52 pm
Aldous takes a deep breath, then offers Stephan a small smile. "Of course! Why, you and I are practically cousins, aren't we?" He spreads a hand toward the party. "These men and women are no mere sellswords. Why, they're on the path to become the Gate's greatest heroes in ages!"
The young Silvershield taps his lip thoughtfully as he regards Koveras. "Except that one. Half-orc, you know." He holds a hand up beside his mouth and stage-whispers. "He can... get a little upset when things don't go smoothly for us. What happened to your master was practically a garden walk compared to the bloodbathes that he's- Well. Do you... know of anything about this place that might make our stay not go... smoothly?"
The young Silvershield taps his lip thoughtfully as he regards Koveras. "Except that one. Half-orc, you know." He holds a hand up beside his mouth and stage-whispers. "He can... get a little upset when things don't go smoothly for us. What happened to your master was practically a garden walk compared to the bloodbathes that he's- Well. Do you... know of anything about this place that might make our stay not go... smoothly?"
Rolls
Aldous deception - (1d20+6)
(15) + 6 = 21
Jan 14, 2024 7:55 pm
Koveras leans forward, letting the hallway's shadows fall across his face. Without breaking eye contact with Stephan, he cracks his knuckles thunderously and then crosses his arms over his broad chest. "You don't want to know what happened to my last prisoner."
Jan 14, 2024 8:02 pm
Stephan's eyes flick back and forth between Aiwe, Aldous, and Koveras. He feels Dieter's grip on his collar. And he sees the way Stella shies away from what's happening.
"Uh. Uhhh..." He glances again at Davaeorn's remains. "The key! You found Davaeorn's key, the one he keeps in that leather envelop? It's to the Plug!" He licks his lips. "Davaeorn said the mines used to be flooded and the Plug keeps that from happening again. I think there's a prisoner in the cells who knows more. Yalsick, or something, an old dwarf!"
He leans down as low as he can get given his ropes and starts shaking. "That's all I know! That's all I know, I swear!"
"Uh. Uhhh..." He glances again at Davaeorn's remains. "The key! You found Davaeorn's key, the one he keeps in that leather envelop? It's to the Plug!" He licks his lips. "Davaeorn said the mines used to be flooded and the Plug keeps that from happening again. I think there's a prisoner in the cells who knows more. Yalsick, or something, an old dwarf!"
He leans down as low as he can get given his ropes and starts shaking. "That's all I know! That's all I know, I swear!"
Jan 14, 2024 8:36 pm
Aiwë frowns first at Koveras, then at Aldous. "Cool your blood. You, don't encourage him." It's hard to tell if she's joining in the deception or not.
"Peace, Stephan. We won't hurt you unless you hurt us." She gestures for Dieter to put his knife away. "Are there evacuation protocols for the mine?"
"Peace, Stephan. We won't hurt you unless you hurt us." She gestures for Dieter to put his knife away. "Are there evacuation protocols for the mine?"
Last edited January 14, 2024 8:38 pm
Jan 14, 2024 10:06 pm
"Um, well there's a big bell by the Plug. Everyone knows that's bad and to get out. But other than that... Um. Master Davaeorn and I just always used that lift over there, so I don't know what the other people do."
Jan 14, 2024 10:25 pm
Dieter loosens his grip on the boy as he expertly sheaths his knife, it’s a long piece of hard steel with a dull cross guard and pommel devoid of the flair and pomp of other knives. His is a hard tool, an instrument of death in dark and quiet hours.
Last edited January 14, 2024 10:25 pm
Jan 15, 2024 7:53 pm
Stella watches the exchange, studying Stephan and impressed by Aldous' act...or...well, she was pretty sure it was act. She honestly couldn't tell how much of it was. That alone was both impressive and...well, a bit unsettling. She was usually pretty good at reading people.
Last edited January 15, 2024 7:55 pm
Rolls
Insight - (1d20+7)
(7) + 7 = 14
Jan 15, 2024 8:15 pm
From what Stella can tell, this young man is exactly what he says: an apprentice wizard who had an unfortunate choice of master. He's obviously in over his head with these criminals. At the very least, he's probably smart enough to know when to quit.
A part of her wonders what kind of reward the party might get from his family. He is from a noble house, after all.
As for Aldous, she knows him well enough by now to see the twinkle in his eye.
A part of her wonders what kind of reward the party might get from his family. He is from a noble house, after all.
As for Aldous, she knows him well enough by now to see the twinkle in his eye.
Jan 15, 2024 8:42 pm
Dieter releases his grip on the boy
"I’ll go for the bell"
"I’ll go for the bell"
Last edited January 15, 2024 8:44 pm
Rolls
? - (1D20+9, 1D20+9)
1D20+9 : (7) + 9 = 16
1D20+9 : (19) + 9 = 28
Jan 15, 2024 8:43 pm
"That bell can help us clear the mine and let us free the slaves before we pull the Plug." Aiwë guides Stephan free of the Silence spell as Dieter releases him. "Oh! Looks like Dieter's on it." She cuts his bonds free.
"Anything valuable or sentimental down here? Now's the time to get it, this will be underwater soon."
"Anything valuable or sentimental down here? Now's the time to get it, this will be underwater soon."
Last edited January 15, 2024 8:48 pm
Jan 16, 2024 7:13 pm
Dieter carefully goes back the way the party came, up some stairs, to the office level. With elvish magic to help him, combined with his carefully honed skills, he passes through the level without anyone truly noticing him.
Boarding the lift unnoticed is the trickiest part of his mission. Many minutes pass while he observes the comings and goings on the lift, but then opportunity strikes...As he moves into the mine itself, the young man's able to pick up his pace. Here the light is dim and flickering, and neither guard nor slave notices his passing. Still, it takes some time wandering the tunnels to find the Plug's location.About an hour after leaving the group, Dieter steps silently into a rough-hewn passage. This tunnel is much darker than the others, but the young man can barely make out several torch sconces on the walls. Unlit. A quick test with his fingers tells him that the torches are still warm...
A little worn out from the battle with Davaeorn and the subsequent sneaking, Dieter shifts his weight... and one of his boots makes the smallest of splashes in an unseen liquid on the ground. And then he smells it: blood. A lot of it.
Boarding the lift unnoticed is the trickiest part of his mission. Many minutes pass while he observes the comings and goings on the lift, but then opportunity strikes...
OOC:
I think it'll be more fun to have Dieter explain how he manages the lift, so just put that in purple sometime!OOC:
Everybody except Dieter can have a short rest, if they wish. Dieter gets Inspiration though!A little worn out from the battle with Davaeorn and the subsequent sneaking, Dieter shifts his weight... and one of his boots makes the smallest of splashes in an unseen liquid on the ground. And then he smells it: blood. A lot of it.
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