Can't Get No Privacy
Log Info
- Title: Can't Get No Privacy
- Emitter: Cryosanthia
- Characters: Seldan, Seyardu, Aya
- Place: Alexandria, the Temples and the Docks.
- Time: Friday, July 23, 2021, 2:09 PM
- Summary: Seldan has done some legwork and uncovered a few suspicious properties worth investigating, and enlists the help of Aya and Seyardu to check them out. The first is within sight and walking distance of the Temples, a small property inhabited by a small man. Master Hamen Giabrerwyrd, an ancient halfling absent minded halfling with a hoarding problem. He regular sized house is cramped even for right-sized people from all the junk and pests crammed in it. His problems, are in the attic, and that is completely empty. Although an evil presence has soaked into the very wood. Careful examination uncovers a black feather, and a spying location on the temple of Eluna. Seyardu pleads with the old halfling to get help, but he refuses. The second house is near the docks, another regular sized townhouse converted into living space for work gangs. Currently all out, except the maid, who shows Seldan and Seyardu to the flooded basement. The Silverscale attempts to explore it, and runs into some kind of barrier. Detect Magic fails, as does Dispel Magic, but Seldan's disintegrate eliminates it and the pair fall down the stairs as their support vanishes, riding a wave of water. The basement is dry, although a large waterspout is remidying that, pouring in from the stairwell. Seldan blocks it with a wall of ice, and takes a moment to gather himself while Seyardu looks through things. Half of the basement is full of boxes, turned into a wall that hides a relatively open apartment space, with mild furnishings and a desk. A notebook has some dangerous topics, intelligence gathered from Resurrectionist meetings, a relatively accurate schedule of guards for the Shard in the Temple of Eluna and tactics to use against well known adventurers. Someone has been busy observing.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Appearing, in Order =-=-=-=-=-=-= Seldan 5'11" 187 Lb Human Male Red-blonde Eldanar man wearing Eluna's colors and symbol. Seyardu 5'6" 150 Lb Sith-Makar Female A friendly silver sith-makar with a perpetual squint. Aya 4'7" 105 Lb Shadow Elf Female Mul'niessa. Braided hair. Simple clothing. -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--= -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= NPCs of Note =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Hamen Giabrerwyrd Halfling Male An elderly doctor, demented and easily distracted. -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--= -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= As the GM -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Cryosanthia 6'9" 291 Lb Sith-Makar Female A dashingly tall, elegant white-scaled lizard woman. -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=
The Temple Fountain
Sometimes a little digging can pay off. Asking around, seeing what's up.
Alexandria is a city of many oddities. There is a lot to sort through. Magic inventions gone haywire, old curses come back to life, things crawling out of the sewers. To say nothing of Druids, witches, cavaliers and their very unusual animal friends. None of it is collected in a central location.
There is the Explorer's Guild archives, but those deal with 'finished' items. It isn't the place to go to get police reports about unresolved issues, or see who was requesting a blessing, and why. That has to be gathered the hard way, walking and talking, which the Silverguard has done.
He's spoken with precinct commanders of the guard, officials in the Temple of Eluna, and their liaisons with other temples, and inquired at the Society of Progressive Anarchists. Of the many oddities uncovered, four have a common element of unexplained hauntings, recently occuring, within the correct timeline.
One is a house bordering the Temple District. Another, in the Noble quarter. Two more are in poorer neighbourhoods, near the market garden and the warehouses. Placed on a map, they do not conveniently align to form a pentagram or other magic polygon. The complaints are brief: noises in the attic; possessed room; screams of children; and creepy flooded basement. The third one is from neighbours of the property, not the property owner.
Silverguard Seldan has asked for some extra pairs of eyes to meet him at the Temple District Fountain, where his brief briefing is given.
All that is left is to pick which house to investigate first.
The temple fountain has seen some interesting things over the years, and it is perhaps significant that even on this sweltering summer day, Seldan has not attempted to cool himself in it. He seems to be unperturbed by the heat, though, and his only concession to it is rolled-up sleeves beneath the sorcerer's robe. He waits now for others to approach him, and inclines his head towards those who do.
It's another hot, hazy day, full of clouds. The barest of breezes ripples the water of the fountain, which splashes more from the water streams out of its orifices. Clerics and clerks go about their business, most of them taking a lunch break. There are solemn petitioners, and the happy shouts of their children. It's tranquil and busy at the same time.
Seyardu had vested interest in seeing that things would be resolved on recent matters. Not only that, but to make sure that what happened in the market basement would not around. So when Seldan requests her presence, much of what she had planned for the day is dropped, and the silver sith-makar is quickly on her way to the fountain, taking a look around at those present, as well as those who wandered around and lingered nearby.
"Not enjoying the water, today?" Aya inquires of the Silverguard as she reaches the fountain. "So it wasn't a swim you called for. What is it you need?"
"I have been tracing the possible whereabouts of unexplained disappearances, hauntings, odd things, that might lead me to the devils who lurk within the city walls," Seldan explains to Aya without preamble, although he does incline his head. "I would have them faced with those they do not know, lest they flee upon seeing me. They will not challenge me, cowardly creatures that they are, and I would have aid in learning more about their goals and activities."
Quickly, he runs down what he has already learned and the possible locations to search.
"While swimming would be nice, I do not believe that the fountain is for swimming in, here." Seyardu replies to the Mul'niessa. "Peace on your nest, Aya. If I am not mistaken, this gathering likely has to do with the presence and dealings of several fiends in the area."
She nods to Seldan as he begins the explanation. "Yes, the previous time, the moment he showed up, they teleported away. Though they seemed alright with Merek being the only one there. They may still have an interest in him, but with only one left, they may not be as bold to attempt outright capture. But for those such as myself, they may be more confident in their dealings. The more we learn, yes, the better prepared we will be able to be. I do not feel I was ready to deal with them when they showed up in the markets. Even with myself and Aryia present, we could barely even harm it."
The report sheets are brief. There was a certain something about them that caught the Silverguard's eye.
The first house, the one with noises in the attic is visible from the Temple District, the fountain even. The owner had requested a blessing, and often an exorcism, from nearly every Temple represented.
The attending priests had noted a presence of evil, performed adequate rituals, but based on the repeat requests had not been successful.
The other houses are further away. One an estate up the mountain in the noble district. That one concerned 'superstitious nonsense', as the Head of the Manor described it.
The others are down by the Lower Market Gardens, and the Tornmawr riverbank, close to the docks.
The Silverguard doesn't swim in the fountain for Reasons. The least of which might be that Cryo puts her tail in it. Her youngling swims in it, and all the local temple kids do too, likely with less bladder control. Of course, the whitescale makes sno-cones from the water, so the water cycle is maintained. Mainly, it is Kol, and too many memories.
The silverscale spends a few minutes reading the reports, however brief, as she mulls over the implications of each. It was possible some were false alarms or rumors, but several priests had visited one building, and all seemed to note something wrong, even if it could not be addressed. And the houses by the docks were concerning, as well. Many animals had gone missing near the markets, people as well who may not have put up much of a fuss about their disappearances. It was a lot to think about.
"There are many places to check, but some may be more pressing, or relevant than others." Seyardu notes once finished, with a glance to the others gathered. "One near here is close, but the others may reveal more as well. I would like to check them all if possible, but we need a place to start. What would you say, Seldan? You have more experience in these matters than myself."
"I would have us begin with what is nearest to us, Hearthguard, and if the priests say that evil lurked there, then it seems likely that our quarry once did as well." Seldan looks around, towards the house in the Temple District. "Not lightly does the stench of evil linger for days after they leave."
Said without implicating the Mul'niessa in any way at all.
"Yes, the fact that they found nothing, but the presence of something still lingers, is concerning." Seyardu agrees with a low nod. "The docks, too. Nobles are much more likely to note disappearances, and conduct thorough searches, or hire others to do so. The docks are a concern as well. If they are doing anything such as they did in the market, it would be likely to take place there, where those of lower class work."
Seldan's eyes go to the silverscale, and he nods agreement. "They all should be searched. I would have us begin with that which is closest."
It's a short walk across the flagstones.
The Temple House
The Temple District is reserved for housing the gods. The servants of the gods have to live somewhere, and within walking distance is preferred. If they aren't worthy of the available residencies, they oft rent or purchase a space in the buildings that have sprung up around the holy sites.
Some have been there a long time. The house in question is one, a small house, suitable for a small family and dwarfed by larger buildings on either side. It has a permanently shaded yard which struggles to grow even weeds. The outside is clean, but dilapidated. Once a decade the owner hires someone to spruce it up, nail back loose boards and provide a fresh coat of paint and acid-wash the stonework, then lets it run to seed until it is time for a 'freshing' again.
Several knocks are necessary before the door opens. It partially does. Behind it is an elderly Lucht Siuil. Half as tall as humans, they can often live twice as long, as if there was some constant to a lifespan which they consume more slowly. This one seems to be testing that theory. He is very wrinkled, like a dried up apple-person. He squints and blinks up at the group assembled. "Are you here about the attic?"
The reports list his name as 'Hamen Giabrerwyrd'.
The walk was short, but made in quick time still, as there would be more ground to be covered and investigated in the day, and the sooner, the better.
She waited at the door, off to the side slightly with a nod to Seldan. Seyardu knew she could be a bit alarming in appearance to some come across for the first time, and so deigned for others to begin the greeting.
Aya has no issues with the logical choice of nearest to most distant. As she moves, she opines, "A lingering stench of presence is not so surprising. The city has, unfortunately, hosted all manner of fiend, undead, or other nameless things that should not be. I can only imagine that Alexandria must somehow be ... delectable to such things. It does keep the days and nights interesting, at least."
Upon arrival and answering of the door, Aya answers simply, "Yes. Were the temples unable to resolve the problem?"
"Yes, Master Giabrerwyrd. I am to understand that that was never resolved, and I had hoped to be able to help." Seldan's eyes flick to Aya, but not a warning. An acknowledgement.
A reeking wave of miasma rolls out, assailing the noses of all present. Like a wall. The halfling is oblivious. He pushes weakly on the door. It does not open further.
This place stinks of so many things when the door opens. Dead things, rotted food, bug infestations, rats, mice, old man halfling, garbage, pipeweed, incense, and alcohol. A sensitive lizard nose is overwhelmed.
"They weren't." His voice is soft, frail. He seems nearing the limit of Lucht Siuil's, near two hundred years old. "Said it was animals. I know what animals sound like. Too big for animals. Come in Fathers."
He steps back, "had to move a few things out of the attic. Sorry it's a bit tight."
The reason the door won't open is clear, it's blocked by a box, which has another box on it, and another, then a stack of newspapers. The entire hallway is stuffed with... things. Bags, boxes, empty food containers, empty bottles. Clothes. Stuff, and more stuff. There is a small passage way through it, and above halfling height some of the hoard has started to lean over, occluding the hall.
He takes a stepladder, which allows him to stack things higher than human head-hight, and turns it sideways. He squeezes by, "Come this way."
Seyardu seemed caught off guard by something, sniffing at the air. But it only lead to them coughing, and shaking her head.
"Excuse me sir, but is everything alright? If you need assistance properly cleaning your home, this one could arrange for some to come by, and help clean it. It must not be pleasant, at the moment."
Though as the door opens, she pushes in regardless with the others, doing her best not to grow sick from the smell.
Aya gives Seldan a return acknowledgement, along with a hand gesture inviting him to go in first. If the stench is actually evil, would the Silverguard not freshen the air? One could hope. In any case, maybe he will divert some of it with his passing, or hide her not-quite-concealed expression of distaste at the setting they enter.
Although he does not appear to need to, Seldan turns sideways to dodge through all the extra objects, and is most careful in his movements as he follows directions. He is not as sensitive as the sith-makar, but his expression goes distant, in the way of one whose senses are elsewhere. He makes no comment about the state of housekeeping, or the likely state of disrepair.
"What?" Master Giabrerywyrd peers at Seyardu, shaking his head. He looks around, "Just a few boxes."
He mutters, "My life. Can't throw out my life. I am a famous doctor you know, non-magical healing. I have a plague around. For innovating heart massage. Here, I'll show you."
He starts digging randomly into a writing desk. He has to hold back the things stacked on it as he rolls up the cover. One hand bracing, he starts searching the inner drawers, previous task forgotten.
"I am not asking you to throw out your life, sir." She addresses with a nod to the Lucht. "Just to clear the area, clean it, so it would be more comfortable for living."
"... A plague, you say? For the heart? I am unsure what you mean by that." It was hard for the silverscale to move, tail held painfully still so as not to send anything crashing down. And many more things were bumped into, causing them to teeter dangerously. The fog over her senses from the nigh overwhelming smell certainly wasn't helping things.
"I pray that your life does not one day inadvertently become your death." Seldan's eyes refocus, but he looks down at the Lucht with that quiet, focused reserve he gets when he is all business. "I do not doubt that it is most valuable, but if what is found is indeed evil, time may be of the essence. May I ask that we examine that at a later time?"
"Oh careful! Careful!" The halfling calls at Seyardu as she bumps into things, "it's comfortable, perfectly comfortable. Might be a little trouble for you tall folk, but everything is right sized for me."
He seems to have forgotten his search.
Master Giabrerwyrd blinks owlishly up at Seldan. He looks down. There is a crushed rice container. He picks it up, wordlessly stares at it. He sets it down inside the writing desk.
"Well, come this way. At least see the attic before you leave."
He turns, leads through the maze of stuff. The house is full, every floor, every room. Enough space for a halfling to move through, enough space to do something, provided one moves the things in the way, then moves them back after to leave. On the steps to the second floor he lights his pipe, leaving a smoke trail for the others to follow. It does not disguise, so much as layer on the existing scents, and re-awaken noses that were going scent-blind.
Finally, there is a pull-down ladder, pulled down, ascending to a board nailed over the attic opening. He puffs, "You'll have to pull that down."
Aya follows in the wake of her (much larger) peers along the path. She withholds comment. For one, those that come to mind would not likely help their standing with the aging lucht. Second, speaking requires breathing, and she is attempting to keep that to a minimum at the moment. There is no pressure from her to change this order of entry into the attic, either. The air could be better up there... or it could be worse.
GAME: Seyardu rolls perception: (18)+3: 21 GAME: Aya rolls perception: (13)+23: 36 GAME: Seldan rolls perception: (17)+7: 24
"Apologies." Seyardu says, finding herself catching a box before it falls down. "It is not the comfort, so much as the scent. There are things here which should be cleaned for your health. Such as that container for food." But it is left for now, there are more pressing matters. She takes her time climbing up to the attic once the ladder is pulled down. Unsure what to expect, it was hard to focus on anything particular. "This one does smell things of death here. But is unsure what truly to expect. Hopefully it is something more minor."
Pulling that down should prove easy enough, and Seldan does so without any apparent difficulty. His eyes take on that unfocused cast again as he ascends, and he stops maybe a step from the ladder, close enough to cause a traffic jam, and narrowing his eyes. "Most evil indeed. Especially that. It is sunk into the wood, so much has been done here." The narrowed eyes are soon joined by a black scowl as they travel to the ankle shackles sunk into the roof beam. The entrance hole is unblocked. The ladder mounted.
The attic is a contrast to the house. It is empty. Completely. The air is fresher, and while musty from lack of exchange it is absent the smells of the house. The roof sits directly on the floor, the sides sloping up to a peak, leaving only standing room near the middle. This matches the mansard style visible from the street.
There are small gables, over windows that are more decorative than functional, most long boarded over.
Once Seyardu was upstairs, the first order of business was to get some more fresh air in, so she could actually focus on the task at hand. She squeezed past Seldan, heading for the source of light.
Unfortunately, as she is about to open it, she notices something, and sighs. It would not be good to open it if it was relevant to their investigation. She turns back to the others. "The window looks disturbed." She says, and gestures to the object beneath them. "And these lenses, binoculars? Someone was looking through them, through this window. Whether it is the Lucht below, this one does not know."
GAME: Seldan rolls spellcraft: (14)+18: 32
At a whiff of clean(er) air, Aya propmtly joins the others in the attac space. This time, she does not wait, nor climb; she simply vanishes from the bottom and reappears in open space, as limited as it may be. After a tentative sniff or three, she inhales deeply, looking about. "Perhaps the gnome..." a pause as something catches her notice. After peering at a crack in the wall, to include leaning in, she reaches to pry something from the same.
"Or perhaps some specifically foul fiend?" This proposed as she holds up a black pinfeather that bears enough smoke and brimstone to override the mustiness of the attic.
Seyardu is savouring not overbearing smell.
For his part, Seldan's eyes lower briefly in concentration, focusing on the shackles, but he shakes his head, and examines what the others found. "Binoculars. And ... a feather. Yes, that fits the erinyes, our quarry. But these," he nods up at the shackles. "I would take these with me, if I may. They are most evil and should be destroyed, and if I can learn who touched them, I may be able to learn who it is that seeks Merek."
He turns, then, looking around the area. "Cleaned with magic, I think, but some time ago. Dust from the house below creeps in." He gestures to think dust on an otherwise clean floor. "The perpetrators are gone, and I would clean the area again, and take all with his, that they know that their presence was known. Had I such a spell, I would place an arcane mark."
Smoke drifts up from below, following everyone, spreading as a cloying reminder of Master Giabrerwyrd and how much his residence is a fire hazard. Not enough to smoke to be a fire, but enough to imagine the place going up in flames. "Finding anything up there? Not animals, right? You going to do an exorcism?"
The attic remains refreshingly empty, even with the implied presence. The shackles are new, or at least, not a hundred years old, and screwed in with bright, new screws. The binoculars are old, small ground lenses in metal tubes wrapped in leather, adjustable for eye width but not depth. Powerful enough to recognize faces entering and exiting the Temple that seemed to be a focus of interest.
Seyardu grumbled just slightly as the feather was pulled out, and the spells was in the room. "Ashwings." She says simply. She turns back to the window, looking at the cleaned spot. "The only place with a clear view through the spot cleared is the temple of Eluna. Someone could see who entered and left with these binoculars."
She pauses, sighing before she continues. "They have done similar at the temple of Serriel as with the lancer, hiding their appearances, before their attempted infiltrations. They may be attempting to find those who come and go frequently, or infrequently, so they may disguise themselves for the task. The temple should be alerted to that, as the Lancer disguise was not broken by magic."
Her gaze turns to the shackles, and then to the floor below. "If they see this place is disturbed, things taken or moved, they may come back and harm the owner. This one would suggest they stay at one of the temples, for a while. And it may be a chance for someone to speak to them, help them work through to cleaning this place out."
"That shall I do," Seldan says at once to the mention of warning the temple, his lips setting into a thin line. He frees a shackle and holds it in one hand, by the chain. He calls back down through the opening. "No, master. It is not animals, but I cannot promise that they will not return, not yet. You may be able to discourage their return by blocking or shattering the window, for it looks down upon the temple that is their target."
He looks up again, at Seyardu. "I wish to try something. It is my hope that, by having this item, I may be able to see the mover and shaker behind this. For now, we should search the others."
The Temple of Eluna will be warned that the main doors may be watched, and by what.
Aya arches a belated brow as Merek is mentioned. "I expect those who seek him wish him ill... and the the list of those suspects to be long and possibly distinguished..." She has no further insight onto the fiendish, and leaves the Silverguard to his magical investigation.
"Oh no no I couldn't break a window, it's bad luck and the rain would get in. That would ruin all my things. I have a lot of precious things up there." The halfling calls up the ladder. "I'll get a board. I'll cover it up with that."
He wanders off, seeking a board, a hammer and some nails. He has several. His search takes some time. He is still seeking them when he is found later, looking at a faded picture of a collection of halflings on the steps of a library. His eyes are teary, "They were my best class."
He promises, he will board up the window and board over the attic entrance again. He is a plethora of excuses for not going to a temple, "Oh I wouldn't want to put them to any trouble. I'm right here. I could call for help I'm so close. I've got visitors coming, a dinner party planned. My grandchildren will help tidy up, it's nothing really, five minutes of putting things away. No need to trouble yourselves."
The Master Giabrerwyrd is very resistant to any suggestions to change, or leave. Finally asking everyone else to do so, "it's time for second lunch, and I really must get started. Thank you for coming, you clergy are so young these days. Thank you."
Perhaps checking on him in a few days would be wise.
As they leave, Aya taps Seldan, "I have work to do. I'll re-join you soon." She vanishes.
It's a walk to the tenement near the dockyards. The sun and humid air have never felt so refreshing.
The Flooded Basement
This property is a townhouse on the western side of the Tornmawr, near the southern bridge. It is situated in the middle of a block in a long row, with similar row housing facing it from across the street. The bridge itself is visible over the roofline, the front is on a street parallelling the river, while the back lot overlooks it and posses a small yard along with its own dock. This places it on the right side of the street. There is evidence of a boat-house built into the river wall, now bricked over. A short flight of stairs leads up.
A goblin woman answers the door, in a maid's outfit. A lower-class working maid's outfit, designed for rough wear, easy cleaning and nothing like the fancy dress nobles like for theirs. There's a sense of deja-vu. The entrance hallway is very narrow, originally designed on a human scale, now half the hall has been taken up by a line of lockers. Each has a name, there are more than seven. The house has been converted into a Work Gang residence, the entire space subdivided and made gobber sized.
"Wotcha want?" The maid demands, staring up. Behind her is a mop and bucket, "Dem wareshouse boys make a lot of mess, an' de deck gals is worse, and dey all come back hungry. An'e'ho, yer dont look like plumbas but c'mon."
This location had the basement flood almost a year ago, and repeated attempts to fix it have failed. The work orders are unexpectedly terse, with 'never send me there again!' being writ large. After the desire to take a look is shared, the maid leads the party inside, opens the door.
It's flooded. No doubt. Stairs descent into murky, opaque depths. Mold and mildew climb the walls. There is even what seems to be tidal line of the water rising and falling.
Seyardu was happy to get out of the house and into the fresh air, but concerned at the home owner's dismissal of everything which had happened. Someone would have to help later, for certain. But she takes a few moments to lean against a wall, before they continue on. She knew the way to the docks well enough, having travelled enough. at the door, she takes a similar stance to before, off to the side. Though she waves as the door is open. "Peace on your nest." She greets. We are here to investigate the reports that have come out." And once allowed in, she enters quickly, looking around. "Have you heard anything from those who investigated, outside of the work orders? Any information would be helpful."
She looks down to the water, at how she could see so little. "I could take a look underwater if necessary, but it does not look the most safe."
"Aaaayyhhh Nope. They poke around a little, sometimes go out to the river, then stick their head in to look at something and run off screaming." The maid says, leaning against the door-frame. She glances at the Silverguard as if his ankles look especially yummy for some reason. Mostly she keeps her hands in her pockets. "Couple a 'em used snorkles. Said it weren't safe."
For his part, Seldan keeps his own counsel regarding the mess in the halfling's abode, but he follows Seyardu, letting the silverscale speak first. "I see. If it contains what we seek...." he begins, a questioning look directed at Seyardu. "Do you wish to swim, or should I?"
"I do not wish to swim through water I cannot see through, but it may be best, so I may see what can be seen. If I can find the source of the problem, perhaps it can be drained." Seyardu suggests, taking off her breastplate and bag, shield and hammer.
"And as well, it is likely best if it is me, as I do not need to breath underwater. Though I may need to make sure I do not get sick from being down there, afterwards."
While Seyardu speaks, Seldan's eyes unfocus briefly, and he frowns. "Ware you. They may yet be gone, but I sense evil beneath the water. If there is trouble, I will come."
"Yew wanna me tie a rope around yer foot?" The goblin maid asks, "So big'n'shiny can pull ye out if you get stuck?"
GAME: Seyardu rolls will: (16)+7: 23
She looks to Seldan, and nods slowly. "I will be careful, it may be the body of something, or something still living." She thinks for a moment, and nods at the suggestion too. "That is a good idea, I will not be able to speak underwater. If the rope is pulled on twice, it means I need assitance getting out."
With most of her effects off to the side, she prepares to drop into the water, looking to see what was beneath.
The water swallows the silverscaled Sith'makar. It's the temperature of the Tornmawr, and tastes like it too, if she's swum recently. It's not stagnant but it is dirty, dirtier than it should be. There is a dead fish.
Before she's even fully submerged her bodylength, she's gripped by a sudden irrational fear. It's too dark! It's too close! Too dangerous! She's blind! She'll drown! Her body will be lost!
Her instincts scream for her to turn back. Somehow she powers through.
And bonks her head on an invisible wall?
Ahead, the basement. Some barrier preventing access. It looks flooded. Whatever blocks the way, has no texture, no surface, yet it is possible to stand on. Incredibly clear ice, perhaps? Yet it isn't cold.
GAME: Seyardu rolls Knowledge/Arcana: (17)+5: 22
There is something weird going on. Possibly an illusion of water on top of actual water. It's not apparent what is there. A pane of glass? it doesn't feel like anything. It's like, an invisible roof on top of the basement, blocking the bottom of the stairwell.
Otherwise, it seems like a normal basement full of junk.
Much sooner than expected by those at the top, the silverscale emerges, brushing the water from her face. She looks somewhat shaken, but nods. Could just be from hitting her head.
"The basement is not flooded. Or rather, not completely. There is something beneath, stopping me from going further." She begins to explain. "No one likely noticed before, as there is something in place, designed to scare others off if they tried to investigate. Someone did not wish for people to go further."
Seldan looks thoughtful, "Hmmm... bear with me."
The maid nods, looking at the semi-submerged Sith'makar. Absently she winds some of the rope around her wrist, taking up slack.
Seldan's eyebrows climb towards his hairline at this news, and he begins to set aside his own cloak. "Something - invisible? Or could you see?"
"It is not something that I can see." She admits after resurfacing to take another look. "I am standing on it right now, but it is not right. The water beneath me, where I am stopped, looks fake. An illusion perhaps? Someone hiding something."
GAME: Seldan attempts to cast Detect Magic but fails due to ASF. GAME: Seldan casts Detect Magic. Caster Level: 16 DC: 18
Swiftly, and without answering Seyardu, Seldan begins to draw a sigil in the air, but whatever it was fizzles, and he shakes his head in annoyance, repeats the gesture with a small change. This time, a gold/silver film forms over his eyes, and he scans the water. Again, he shakes his head, but a different gesture. "I must go in. I can breathe." He pulls from his pack a heavy-looking medallion, settles it over his neck, and sets aside his pack and helmet on the stairs. The robe he leaves on, although why is unclear.
Then, he dives in, headfirst in the same direction Seyardu did.
GAME: Seldan rolls will: (9)+31: 40 GAME: Seldan rolls spellcraft: (13)+18: 31 GAME: Seldan rolls knowledge/arcana: (16)+18: 34
"None o' dem inspectors said an'thin about that." The gobbo maid adds, as Seldan dives in, "jes don't go in the water."
Fear grips the Silverguar as he descends, and is immediately shaken it off. He encounters something four feet down, blocking the stairwell. Can't see or feel it. an see the basement beyond, and that does appear flooded. Nothing magical registers, although whatever is in here must be, it's too strange.
GAME: Seldan casts Dispel Magic. Caster Level: 16 DC: 21 GAME: Seldan rolls 1d20+16: (13)+16: 29 GAME: Seldan attempts to cast Disintegrate but fails due to ASF. GAME: Seldan casts Disintegrate. Caster Level: 16 DC: 24
With that, Seldan disappears below the surface. He does not seem wholly uncomfortable with doing so, but from the stairs, a violet glow forms beneath the surface of the water, then goes black, and fades. A pause, more bubbles, silence, and then another glow, this one a sickly green color, forms beneath the surface, fades, forms again. There are no bubbles, all this time. And then....
Partway down is the strange barrier. Beyond it a basement that seems as full of stuff as the halfling's house was. The Silverguard's first spell does... something. There's a sense of the objects shifting but the basement remains unchanged. The dispel magic must have dismissed something.
Even if there was nothing to dismiss. The non-magical, non-material barrier remains. The Silverguard's second spell goes off. Disintegrate. Walls of Force are vulnerable to this. So, it was a wall of force as it vanishes. With it, the support for all the water in the stairwell vanishes as well.
It's not a huge wave, but it is a wave of water and it carries the Silverguard and the silverscale down the steps. It bursts against the boxes, spraying everywhere. Seldan, Seyardu are thrown against the boxes, which were bone dry until a few seconds ago. The maid, holding onto the rope and blissfully unawares, is yanked down the stairs to land on top of Seyardu.
That seems to have done it.
Only one problem. There's a dinner-plate sized spout of water flowing into the stairwell from a random spot on the wall. It's below the tidal line. Seems like that pool on the steps was connected to the Tornmawr and it's moving into the basement as fast as it can.
The stairs led down into the water and continued below the water. Like a fish tank in a basement stairwell, with the bottom lined up with the roof of the basement. something like that.
It is a lot of high level, really complex magic. Weirdly inefficient. Someone could have spent a couple hours, drilled a few holes and put in a pipe. Instead, they went an enchantment that is the work of days and would cost thousands of gold to do.
Seyardu was taking off her feet suddenly as the wall of force was removed, just as she was thinking about the colors coming from beneath. And unluckily for her, this sends her falling to the ground, taking the goblin maid with her. She groans slightly as she pulls herself up, looking to the goblin who, luckily, had landed on their back. Unluckily for Seyardu, she seemed to be developing a habit for becoming a cushion for falling people.
"Are you alright, miss?" She asks the goblin, before she is on her feet, seeing more water pouring in. She rushes up the steps, back to where she left her shield, and presses it against the wall. "It is not a natural formed opening!" She shouts back to Seldan. "If possible, we should deal with it before it destroys whatever may be downstairs."
The tidal rush sweeps Seldan, too, off of his feet, but he climbs back to it quickly enough, and immediately looks back at the other two, wearing an expression amid drenched ginger-blonde hair that can only be described as sheepish - not to mention bedraggled and more than a little dirty from the water. He reaffixes the silver band over his hair, pressing water out, and his eyes lower. "I ask your forgiveness, both of you. That was foolish of me."
When Seyardu speaks, though, he turns to the spouting water, quickly. "I have an answer."
Again, he raises a hand, and this time, his casting is visible to both of them. A complex series of sigils, an arcane phrase that makes them crystallize into ice, and Seyardu will feel her shield chilling as something icy forms beneath it.
When it is done, he stops, steadying himself against the stone, head lowered. "I ... think that that will hold. Forgive me. I know better than to work magic blindly."
GAME: Seldan casts Wall of Ice. Caster Level: 16 DC: 22
"Yah, I'm.. yrrk!" The goblin says, still holding onto the rope as Seyardu runs upstairs. This time she lets go, "fine."
She rubs at her clothes, dry except for the water she's standing in, which keeps flowing in. "Fallin' in worse."
She looks around at the pair, "Didna think you were plumbas." She watches the small dome of ice fill with water, and then successfully hold it back. "That's a nice touch."
There is a thin layer of water in the basement now, slowly finding the drain.
Seyardu nods, and lets Seldan past to freeze the hole shut for now. "It looked magical, you seem good at removing other sources of magic. If you are still able to, eliminating the problem would be good for the long run."
She returns down the steps, to where the maid was. "Of sorts. Adventuring work is often like that, finding problems and fixing them, just broader in scope. I would recommend you wait upstairs though, while I investigate what is down here.
When the maid had left, Seyardu takes a look around, collecting herself. The clothes shift when no one was looking to nothing, and back to what she was wearing before, now pleasantly dry. There were many boxes, and she opens some, before the water soaking into the lids damaged whatever may have been inside.
The basement is as large as the upstairs of the town house, and half full of things. Mostly boxes and garbage. Whatever goblins discard, seems throwing it down the stairs was easier than carting it out the front door. It is, gratefully, mostly experiments and broken tools. This is the inventory of the boxes, semi-precious junk, although there might be a functional bomb if one looked long enough.
Also, the 'half full', is a misnomer. Originally it might have been a basement full of junk. This junk has all been moved to crowd the stairs and provide the illusion of a packed space, floor to ceiling. One might imagine inspiration from a certain other house. In any case, it's choc-a-block until a point, which can't be seen beyond from the stairs. Beyond that, it's an open and relatively spacious apartment. There are mana-lights on poles, with a shield facing the stairs and a hood that can be flipped down. A bed. A king-sized straw mattress resting on the floor and covered with sheets. A set of shelves and a writing table.
There are another three sets of shackles attached to the ceiling, and a few odd, empty areas as if something was removed. The windows are all covered, no way to see in or out.
While Seyardu searches, Seldan is silent, steadying himself, his lips moving soundlessly in what would seem to be silent prayer. It takes a minute or two , but at length he looks up, and draws a deep, steeling breath. He'll be doing penance for that bit of stupidity later. He _knows_ better than to do that. Eluna teaches to _think_ before you use magic. He did not, and he is only fortunate that nobody was hurt.
That does not mean that he was done, though. He finally looks up and around, allowing the silverscale to continue the search, while he himself examines the magic funneling the Tornmawr into the basement, using the last of his detection spell that has not yet quite faded.
Looking further, she investigates a few of the things. A thought crosses her mind, if they were being discarded, to ask if she could take some of them to give to Lily, but looking further, the plan is scrapped, seeing the proximity to so many magical disturbances, and questionable areas.
She pokes her head out from behind, and waves to Seldan. "Please put yourself out of earshot, miss. The less you know, the better in this case."
Once she was sure they were out of earshot, she continues. "This place, the temple home is linked to. They were capable of teleporting around, and this one believes they were taking advantage of that, to hide in places they would not be seen or noticed. This magical barrier, have you seen it before? If it would block sound, they would be able to be beneath, undisturbed and unknown. There is a bedroom befind most of the boxes. Someone was sleeping there most likely, this one does not know if ashwings sleep however. But it was being used most likely. I will continue, search the room more."
And with that she squeezes through the boxes again, investigating the room further, the writing desk, looking for anything of note.
Meanwhile, the Silverguard's inspection reveals it is not registering as magic even though it is clearly magical. A more powerful detection, like Arcane Sight, might do. Also, now that this spell is visible, it could be targeted and a dispel magic might do it.
"Ah got cleanin' ta do, call me if somefing jumps ya." The goblin maid says, wandering off and she can be hear bumping around cleaning.
Although, holding off on the dispel, to avoid accidentally taking out the dome of ice could be prudent.
The boxes hold plenty of interesting things! For goblins! That don't seem related to the investigation at hand.
The desk holds more interesting things, writing implements, and a notebook. That has a lot of entries. Lists of people coming and going to Eluna's Temple. A schedule, it isn't clear what it's for. Another list, of attendees to the Resurrectionist Society meetings.
Notes, as if someone was in attendance. Names, of which Seyardu recognizes a few and Seldan would recognize more. Several pages of personal details about various people.
"It is in my mind that they are commanded," Seldan answers, studying the opening covered by the ice dome. "The magic here is elaborate, and well-constructed, and far beyond the ability of most within the city, not to mention done at great expense." He stands very still, his eyes on it, ignoring the water running in rivulets down his face from his dripping hair.
"The barrier itself is known to me. It is a wall of force. It is not light magic, but not unattainable. The spell is known to me, and yes, it would block sound." Only them does he turn towards the silverscale. "What have you there?"
She looks at the notebook, and the chains, taking them off the wall. the desk, she finds the notebook, and a quick look through determines it would be best to show it to Seldan. So with book and chains in hand, she squeezes back through the boxes, and up to where Seldan was.
"You should look at this book, it seems to point towards further links between the buildings. It speaks of people visiting the temple, like what was suggested by the window being watched. As well as some people referred to as the 'resurrectionists'.
Before they leave, Seyardu is going to suggest none of the goblins stay there for a while until some people from the temples look the place over. She'll give them some gold for inn rooms.
Which is a very popular suggestion.
Even moreso when the Silverguard backs the silverscale. Devils are using the building as a hideout.
The word _Resurrectionists_ appears to get Seldan's attention, as if it has some significance to him. He straightens, and stiffens, striding over to take the notes from the silverscale. Any remaining annoyance at himself, or at other thoughts, whisks away like the last leaf in a winter wind, and he instantly takes on an impassive cast. "Even so?"
He scans the notes, reading thoroughly, his expression darkening. "They desire the Shards, a thing that is hardly a surprise. Yet ... to whom do they owe allegiance? They have not the resources to manage a thing this complex without outside aid. We must learn who they serve. In the meantime, I will inform Griva that we have a mole."
He turns to look backwards, up the stairs.
It is a dangerous notebook. This is immediately obvious to the Silverguard.
The schedule, related to the Temple of Eluna, isn't perfect but it's close. It identifies all the Paladins involved in guarding the Shard of Animus. A few names are wrong. Serene is still on the schedule when Seldan knows she isn't. Some of the times where guards change are confused with prayer services. It seems like a really good guess, and some of the work-pages before, where names are listed along with times, followed by a check or an 'x', imply projections which were used to refine the guesses.
The notes associated with the Resurrectionist society had to have been taken from someone there. They name who appeared, key things they spoke of, a shorter list of 'inner circle' which includes Seldan, Cesran, Aya and others. There is also a count, of suspected Shards and who might have them.
However, perhaps the most disturbing thing are the pages devoted to Aya, Merek, and others listed in the 'Inner Circle'. It's an analysis, a listing of their suspected strengths, their abilities, their magic items. Along with those are tactics, both that the person in question employs, and to use to engage them. Taunt Aya about her allegiances to Taara, tease Merek about the Iron Hells and the Demon Duke, never engage Seldan. Ways to lure them into traps.
Or to get them to accidentally kill others.
This confirms the suspicions, and adds more questions. Yet it is without doubt, they want the shards and are working out a way to get one.
