Realms of Dread, Chapter Four

[Lord Skybolt]

He goes over the fence then proceeds to check for more sign of the abductors still being sneaky in the process so as to not alert any observers to his activities .

[ewancummins]

Threan looks around for a few minutes before he finds the signs- faint tracks leading out of the alley onto a mud-spattered dirt road that's partilally 'paved' with heavy wooden planks. Stepping out of the semi-dark alley into the hazy sunlight of the open street, he finds himself in what looks like a warehouse district: lots of big, undecorated buildings, wagons and porters moving about, and not much else of note. The trail becomes hopelessly mixed , muddled, and effaced after only a few steps into the street.

[Lord Skybolt]

After finding that the trail ends in this warehouse district he goes back the way he came being just as sneaky and slow on the way back so as not to alert any unseen observers . When he get to the ditch will abandon stealth to quickly get over the ditch(1) . He will report what he has found to the others . Wondering on the way back if the others have gotten any useful info from the kids .






1. 23 Jump check .

[BigBadQDaddy]

Alain gets up from his knees, holding the sock found underneath the cot. "Ma'am, do the children under your care wear uniforms? or do they simply wear what they arrive in or whats been donated?"

[ewancummins]

Alain gets up from his knees, holding the sock found underneath the cot. "Ma'am, do the children under your care wear uniforms? or do they simply wear what they arrive in or whats been donated?"

''Oh, they just wear ordinary clothing. Much of it comes from donors, as you suggest. Magus Delthrin, bless his soul, bought all of them them proper shoes and winter coats, last year.''

Yorna sniffs a bit, her eyes bright.

[VAN]

Inovidil always likes when someone admires her for her knowledges. Smiling at the gnome says:

"Well, I put some good effort on that is true! You are a great person you too Glim. You are a scholar as well and guess you know more about deities and divine magic than me."

When the gnome shows her the tavern Inovidil smiles and paces faster towards it.

"Great! Hope she is there!"

[Ken of Ghastria]

Blaise says to Yorna. "Since our 'colleague' will be gone for a few minutes with his new friend, madam, yes, I think this would be an excellent time to speak with the children. Could you direct us there, please? I promise I'll not upset them further if I can avoid it."

[steveflam]

Passing through the door of the Militia barracks, a red haired woman heads for the first man or woman she sees. Before them is a woman in her mid twenties, sporting a black robe and a cloak.

"Pardon me, I be looking to join the militia. Might ye be able to guide me to tha right person?"

[Le Noir Faineant]

Ironheart and Shana



The clerics forwarded by the temple join them outside Rask's office, having given a formal statement to a clerk [nothing Shana doesn't already know]


Ironheart doesn't need to carry Shana, as it turns out.
The unlikely pair of investigators soon arrives at Morningmist hall.
Once at the temple, Shana and Ironheart are given additional information by one of the priests, a grim-faced fellow with a bald head that shines as if he waxes it.

Baldy references a ledger, rechecks the page and then tells Shana and Ironheart:

''We have only one unaccounted-for female guest- an elf woman who showed up just two days before the murders. She gave her name as Narisa Jihb and her profession as cleric of Lathander. My assistants tell me she had a strange accent- certainly not Cormyte- but no one who spoke with her can place it. She really didn't interact much with the rest of us- with two exceptions. She was seen speaking with Thumast Alfane the day before his murder- but we don't know about what. Mikam...''

Here the bald priest begins to lose his heretofore rigid control over his face and tears threaten to flow,

''...was the one who set her up with a room, food, etc. That was his duty, among other tasks, to care for guests and travelers.''

Ironheart, always the helpful that he is:

"You got yourself something in that eye, Sir. I can remove it for you, though..."

Moves forward, with intention to poke...

[BigBadQDaddy]

Coming to the conclusion that the child's sock is of no importance, he sets it back down underneath the cot where he found it.
"Yes, ma'am. It is dark times indeed when one can't seem to discern between ones saints and it's sinners." He says with a sympathetic smile.
Once Blaise makes his request of Yorna to be directed to the children, Alain agrees. "Yes, I think that would be necessary. And fear not madam, the children in your care will not be subjected to any trauma from our part."

[ewancummins]

Militia HQ




A helpful watchman answers the black robed woman-

''Just knock on that door and ask for Sergeant Talbot. He's handling all new recruits. ''

[ewancummins]

Morningmist Hall

The bald cleric pulls back as Ironheart approaches. He draws his scarlet sleeve across his face to wipe away the tears in his eyes.

''No, no! I'm alright, it's just that thinking of what happened to my brothers saddens me. Thumast and young Mikam were both friends to me- as to all who knew them well. It's horrible to think that they were betrayed and murdered by a fallen priestess of our god! To compound the sin, the traitor mutilated their corpses, after murdering them. ''

[ewancummins]

the orphanage



Yorna takes Blaise, Alain, and Jamethon to another, slightly smaller room. This room has open windows [admitting sunlight and fresh air], plenty of plain furniture, and several spinning wheels.

''This is one of our workshops, you see. We teach all of our girls to spin, mend clothing, cook, and clean. This will help them get jobs as servants, seamstresses, etc- as well as helping their prospects for marriage, if they are that lucky. The boys we usually apprentice out to the craft-guilds as quickly as possible, but the ones who stay are taught practical skills and put to work here at the orphanage. ''

Yorna then calls for the witnesses to be brought into the room. Seven young boys and eight young girls enter the room. They range from just toddlers to perhaps nine years' age. Some are crying, others just look tired or confused.

Yorna sits down at a worktable.

''Ask them any questions you like.''

[ewancummins]

at the Sign of the Drowning Flagon

After crossing the canal bridge, Ino gets a better view of the building and its surroundings. It is one of several buildings on a small island surrounded by canals [there are several such islets covered in buildngs, throughout Marsember]. Some of the buildings here are connected by covered walkways, so that they form a larger complex.

Glim says,

''This first house is just the registry-house, only one part of the Drowning Flagon, All of the stuff on this little island is owned by the same man, and it's all considered part of the inn. There are stables, kitchens, storehouses, all of it right here. In the middle is a great hall with dancing and music and feasting! That's where we are headed. ''



Posted behind and above the front desk of the stoutly built and rather plainly furnished registry house is a painted wooden sign:

BE WARNED-

GUESTS MAY NOT CARRY ARMS OR ARMOR ON THIS ISLAND.
EXCEPTIONS: CORMYREAN ROYALTY AND NOBILITY; ON-DUTY MILITIA, PURPLE DRAGONS, AND WAR WIZARDS.
CHARTERED ADVENTURERS MAY STORE THEIR ARMS IN THIS BUILDING.

ANY HOSTILE USE OF MAGIC AGAINST THE STAFF, FELLOW GUESTS, ETC IS GROUNDS FOR EXPULSION.

[Ken of Ghastria]

Blaise steps forward, smiling. "Hello," he says to the children, "my name is Mr. Redman, and this is Mr. Guischard and Mr. Moorcroft. We understand that Willem, Hamnet, and Cora left their beds last night, and we want to help them find their way home."

He looks at one of the crying children and says consolingly, "Now, now, don't worry. We'll help them get back." There's a slight sparkle in Blaise's eyes* as he continues, "What's your name? Can you tell me what you remember about last night? It'll be all right ... tell me whatever you can recall. Nothing can hurt you here."

__________________

*OOC: Blaise uses his charm invocation to help calm the child and build a sense of trust. Yes, Blaise is not above manipulating the minds of minors!