Author Topic: And I Have to Start It in a Bar...  (Read 60408 times)

Offline ksbsnowowl

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Re: And I Have to Start It in a Bar...
« Reply #80 on: June 02, 2014, 04:09:40 AM »
After a long, tense moment Thokram opens the wooden door, with his sap held in a raised hand.  When no danger is visible on the other side, he lowers the weighted instrument and motions the others to follow him.  On the other side of the wooden door is a spiraling stone stairway, tightly curling upward.  The whole staircase probably isn't 10 feet in diameter.  You all climb several stories, passing a few locked doors along the way, and by the time you find an open door, most of you are a bit winded from the climb.

You have followed the staircase to its top.  There you find a set of double doors with a flickering orange glow spilling from the small gap between the doors.  Pushing open the set of doors you are met by lush greenness, muted by the night, but still visible by orange firelight and the muted white glow of Eberron's thirteen moons lighting the cloudy sky with a cold radiance.  The top room of this building is an enclosed greenhouse.  Despite the recent cold snap,* the room is warm and the air is damp.  Braziers near this end of the greenhouse are blazing, keeping the chill outside, and even melting the softly falling snow as it lands on the steeply-pitched glass roof, keeping it clear to let in moonlight from the cloudy sky.

Your ears are filled with the sounds of chirping insects, and the soft hiss as the snow lands on the glass above.  Aside from plants along the walls, the front third of the greenhouse is bare of any large flora.  Against the backdrop of the indoor jungle to the rear of the room, you see an elderly human man sitting at a worktable.  The gaunt man is talking softly to himself as he arranges orchids in a vase.  Gardening implements cover the worktable; a silver cane and a satchel hang over the back of his chair.  As you approach, you realize that the man was not talking to himself, but rather to a small man standing on the other side of the table with him.  The blonde-haired halfling steps out to the side of the table, and weather-worn cheeks belie a hard life on the face that studies your approach.

"I am Viorr Maelak," the elderly man says. "Welcome to my little piece of the wild."

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« Last Edit: June 02, 2014, 04:23:07 AM by ksbsnowowl »

Offline Stratovarius

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Re: And I Have to Start It in a Bar...
« Reply #81 on: June 02, 2014, 04:39:10 AM »
The weather-beaten little halfling bowed stiffly, the movement slow and deliberate, perhaps from formality, or perhaps because of age and infirmity that had come before its time. He looked out of place amongst the lush foliage, as if the verdant growth does not suit him. His clothing is certainly not of a local cut, and appears overly protective for this type of climate. Wherever he is from, it is not around here. He also has a large pack stashed away under the table at which he was sitting, large enough it would look enormous on his form.

Despite his display of the proper greeting, he did not speak, preferring instead to watch and listen, his eyes glancing back and forth between the various arrivals, flecks of uncertainty passing across his face. It is apparent he has an escape plan, even if he would prefer not to use it.

Offline phaedrusxy

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Re: And I Have to Start It in a Bar...
« Reply #82 on: June 02, 2014, 08:52:27 AM »
During their walk up the stairs, Grey relays to the minds of his companions <We are not alone. There are people behind every locked door. A dozen, in total.

There are also a couple of animals hidden in this greenhouse.>
I don't pee messages into the snow often , but when I do , it's in Cyrillic with Fake Viagra.  Stay frosty my friends.

Offline VennDygrem

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Re: And I Have to Start It in a Bar...
« Reply #83 on: June 02, 2014, 09:17:05 AM »
"Thank you for inviting us this night, but I believe I speak for all of us when I ask, 'For what purpose?' And, aside from that, how did you know we would all be at the one table at the tavern?"

Fina keeps her view intently on the old man, her expression intent upon him though not quite carrying the concern that her questions bore.

Offline Risada

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Re: And I Have to Start It in a Bar...
« Reply #84 on: June 02, 2014, 10:11:15 AM »
<Can you identify who are these in hiding? Or you can only detect their presence?" Asks Novihrek to Grey.

Aside from that, the kalashtar is waiting for the old man to start his explanation.

Offline phaedrusxy

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Re: And I Have to Start It in a Bar...
« Reply #85 on: June 02, 2014, 10:16:28 AM »
<The ones behind the locked doors on the way up the stairs were all humanoids of average intelligence. They do not appear to have followed us.

The two animals hidden in the foliage of this room are average intelligence animals. One is high above the ground, or very tall.>
I don't pee messages into the snow often , but when I do , it's in Cyrillic with Fake Viagra.  Stay frosty my friends.

Offline ksbsnowowl

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Re: And I Have to Start It in a Bar...
« Reply #86 on: June 02, 2014, 11:21:48 AM »
Sensing the apprehension in Fina's voice, the old man begins by answering your first question.  "Well, now that you are all here..." he starts while glancing down at the halfling.  "I have a job for you," he says, then quietly adds, "a job that will make you rich."

He reaches into a pocket of his trousers and pulls out a potion vial, placing it on the front edge of the table.  He reaches in again and again, each time pulling out another vial, placing six of them in a neat row.  "But if you'll indulge me, there's a bit of an audition first."  Turning slightly, as if to indicate the miniature jungle behind him, he continues, "There's a wild ape in my greenhouse.  I'd like you to defeat it without killing it.  Unconscious is fine, bleeding is fine, magically subdued is fine.  Just don't kill it."

Nodding toward the vials on the table edge, he says, "These are healing potions.  Use them however you like."  Almost as an afterthought he adds, "Oh, and do be careful.  The ape is carnivorous...
... and quite hungry."


With that, he moves to stand beside the table, clutching his hands behind his back, and taking on an air of quiet observation.

Offline Risada

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Re: And I Have to Start It in a Bar...
« Reply #87 on: June 02, 2014, 11:28:41 AM »
The kalashtar turns to the old man and says "And I suppose you are not going to tell us about this job unless we can restrain your... ape? What happens if we were to refuse your offer? These dozen men you have around this place will force us?"

Offline ksbsnowowl

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Re: And I Have to Start It in a Bar...
« Reply #88 on: June 02, 2014, 12:28:30 PM »
Viorr's chest jerks once in a silent, stifled chuckle.  "Ape first; questions later.  I must ensure those I send are capable."  He grabs his cane from the back of the chair, ready to follow and witness your work.

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Offline phaedrusxy

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Re: And I Have to Start It in a Bar...
« Reply #89 on: June 02, 2014, 12:52:31 PM »
Grey looks up at a spot in the tree foliage and says "It's right up... there. Let me see if I can end this quickly." He points and walks a bit further into the "jungle", with his eyes still fixed on the treetops.

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I don't pee messages into the snow often , but when I do , it's in Cyrillic with Fake Viagra.  Stay frosty my friends.

Offline ksbsnowowl

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Re: And I Have to Start It in a Bar...
« Reply #90 on: June 02, 2014, 01:18:54 PM »
Thokram moves forward with Grey, clutching his sap due to the old man's challenge of not killing the ape.  The goliath looks at the trees ahead and above you, but is unable to find the creature, despite Grey's pointing.

Grey is also unable to make out the ape visually.  The leafy foliage and the dim lighting don't help...

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Offline Risada

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Re: And I Have to Start It in a Bar...
« Reply #91 on: June 02, 2014, 01:38:52 PM »
Novihrek moves to one of the paths and tries to find the ape.... And actually finds the climbing bugger within the foliage.

"Grey, come here... I can see him clearly here."

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« Last Edit: June 02, 2014, 02:07:03 PM by Risada »

Offline Stratovarius

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Re: And I Have to Start It in a Bar...
« Reply #92 on: June 02, 2014, 03:42:59 PM »
The halfling examines the poor creatures, so unskilled in the ways of nature. "If you would prefer a less... strenuous resolution to the situation, I might be of service. I have some small talents in dealing with the natural world. Not, admittedly, with these forms of creature."

Offline phaedrusxy

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Re: And I Have to Start It in a Bar...
« Reply #93 on: June 02, 2014, 03:46:49 PM »
Grey regards the halfling in a new light. "I thought you were with him...

I was planning to try and charm the creature, rather than fight it, myself. After all, there's no reason to use violence when it isn't called for."


As the masked man speaks, his body becomes immaterial, although his armor and robe stays in place.
I don't pee messages into the snow often , but when I do , it's in Cyrillic with Fake Viagra.  Stay frosty my friends.

Offline Stratovarius

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Re: And I Have to Start It in a Bar...
« Reply #94 on: June 02, 2014, 03:50:44 PM »
"With him? Not in the way in which you mean it, no. But I was engaged in a conversation with him upon your entry. One passes the time as one must." He paused, looking up in the direction of the ape where it hung amongst the foliage. "Sadly, I do not appear to be particularly skilled when it comes to creatures of the jungle. Hardly a shock to one's conscious, admittedly."

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Offline ksbsnowowl

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Re: And I Have to Start It in a Bar...
« Reply #95 on: June 02, 2014, 04:36:24 PM »
"I have experience with jungle creatures," Thokram says proudly, trying to hide the fact he still doesn't see the ape.

Viorr limps along after you, using his cane to steady himself on the uneven soil of the greenhouse.  He watches quietly as you discuss how to subdue the animal.

Everyone keeps their distance as Ǽlǽtan tries to sooth the ape, and it begins to climb down from the tree.  Bathra steps up beside the halfling, and the ape's demeanor immediately becomes more aggressive.  It starts to charge at the pair, but Serafina was ready for him...

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Offline VennDygrem

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Re: And I Have to Start It in a Bar...
« Reply #96 on: June 02, 2014, 10:09:48 PM »
Fina was confident that, given the chance, her newfound allies could regain their hold on the beast and subdue it without harm. Rather than try to burn it and possibly reflect poorly on her self and her allies, she chants a quick prayer and rushes in front of the Halfling. A patch of cloud cover above recedes, and stars seem to realign themselves. Was it an illusion made as part of the magic?

Could be.

"If any of you can calm this beast, I suggest you do so now! I'd rather not turn the creature in to our host charred to a crisp..."

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Offline phaedrusxy

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Re: And I Have to Start It in a Bar...
« Reply #97 on: June 02, 2014, 10:15:57 PM »
"I will try, if you all can avoid attacking it. I cannot calm it once fully provoked."
I don't pee messages into the snow often , but when I do , it's in Cyrillic with Fake Viagra.  Stay frosty my friends.

Offline Stratovarius

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Re: And I Have to Start It in a Bar...
« Reply #98 on: June 03, 2014, 01:41:02 AM »
"I am quite willing to hold back, if you are more capable in this way. But I fear nature is intending to take her way."

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« Last Edit: June 03, 2014, 02:23:03 AM by Stratovarius »

Offline ksbsnowowl

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Re: And I Have to Start It in a Bar...
« Reply #99 on: June 03, 2014, 02:02:17 AM »
Heeding Grey's words, Bathra holds back, taking a defensive stance.  Still, the agitated ape moves forward to claw at the warforged, slamming him with a large fist that produces a loud crack as it strikes the construct.

Unsure if the insubstantial man's plan is already ruined, Thokram holds off on attacking, just in case Grey's magic hasn't been ruined.

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« Last Edit: June 07, 2014, 11:06:23 AM by ksbsnowowl »