4. Footway Robbery - Waelass

[Dekaru]

Finch rolls his eyes and pulls five Confederate coins from his pockets. He holds them out to Nassur and drops them in his hand.

[Imperial]-"Sell swords as capable as these are worth more than four coins. You can pay me back later, sir."

[Interovegas]

[Imperial Comprehension: 7,6,4,1 Result: Only Judy knows ...]

Nassur nods and whistles to his companions. He barks out a few sentences in mother tongue and the others respond by picking up their equipment and heading towards the gates.

Nassur Li-Ak-[Imperial]: "Good pay good soul. We change cloth before wade in filth. Meet at alehouse after show way to fighter friend."

[Xenoe]

Judy sees the quizzical looks on Finch and co's faces.

[Imperial]: "They say to meet them at the alehouse after they change, I'm guessing we should head there now."

[Dekaru]

Finch just nods in acknowledgement

[Interovegas]

While the party waits at the alehouse they are approached by a pair of guards. The guard addresses Zwiche.

Guard-[Imperial]: "Thy be a foreign looking lot. Mercenaries perhaps? Pff, never thee mind. We seek conspirators. Comrades to a tall flaxen haired lady. Thou perhaps seen such a woman wandering about with some gang of sorts?"

[Zwiche]

Zwiche sees no reason to lie to the guards. Besides, he is hard to miss. Surely he, and all traveling with him, have already been noticed. But on the other hand, the use of the word “Conspirators” raises his caution, even with his limited Imperial.

[Imperial]-“Conspirators you say? What do these miscreants seek in this city?”

[Interovegas]

The guardsman frowns at the giant.

Guard-[Imperial]: "We did not come for questions. The problem is small in nature but must be dealt with. Doth thy curiosity come from some pertinent observation?"

[Dekaru]

Finch looks at Zwiche with an inquisitive expression

[Imperial]-"I think he be thinkin' of the lady we met in the market yesterday. Was askin' strange questions like if we knew where the Imperials were patrollin' and putting watches in the camp outside the city. We just told her we were just mercs who dun' know anythin'. Saw her walk over to some strange fellows similar look as her."

(Lie obviously)

[Interovegas]

Waelass Guard-[Imperial]: "N where was that?"

[Dekaru]

[Imperial]-"The fellows? They was by some merchant sellin' clothing. Didn't pay much attention to the matter honestly."

[Interovegas]

Waelass Guard-[Imperial]: "We implore thee press thy recollections for more pertinent details to their location."

[Dekaru]

Finch rubs his chin pretending to try and remember details.

[Imperial]-"Hmmm I really don't know what to tell yas cause I dunno what you're lookin' for. Errr there was one she talkin' to that was an Ob-Lob. Think I heard the name Fanch come up, was wearin' a green coat so must be some captain. With the weapons they be carryin' I assumed em mercenaries for the soldiers outside."

Finch snaps his fingers as though he came to some amazing realization

[Imperial]-"One of em', real good lookin' fellow, was hidin' something on his back beneath a cloak. Saw whatever it was move almost like he had wings er something. Figured he must be carryin' some creature or somethin'. Real skittish fellow, seemed kinda flighty."

[Interovegas]

The guards nod and waste no more time on these innocent civilians. A short while after Nassur and the others arrive dressed in metal scales and high boots.

Nassur lobs a crude broadsword towards Finch as he approaches.

[Imperial Comprehension: 9,7,4,3 Result: Words fail them]

Nassur Li-Ak-[Imperial]: "See you not have killing steel. Hold this. Weak guard did not kill steel look good and new. You stand with Kina at front."

Nassur motions towards his broad shouldered short haired female comrade.

[Dekaru]

Finch, having no idea what Nassur just said, catches the sword in hand and tips it against his hat. He looks at Judy and asks

[Imperial]-“A blade fit for a King. But what did he say? He said stand behind her at the back?”

[Xenoe]

Judy - [Imperial]: "The good friend said that he'll lend you his blade, and that you should indeed stand at the back... if you were to face the opposite direction. So the front with that young lady."

[Dekaru]

Finch clears his throat and does his best to maintain his composure

[Imperial]-"Ah, but of course! I am honored that the position is given to me, sir. Let us tarry no longer!"

[Zwiche]

Zwiche shakes himself from his quiet thoughts.

[Imperial] - "Aye, let us hurry. Every moment we idly stand by is another drop of blood torn from the Lady's veins."

[Xenoe]

Judy checks over her gear and her wheelbarrow one last time, before looking to Nassur and noding.

"Aye, we're ready, if ye are ready as well, follow me."

Judy heads towards the sluice the group found last night.

[Interovegas]

Finally, the group marches to Andrea's rescue. In short order they lead the Ruhini mercenaries to the sewer entrance. Nassur's comrade expresses some form of complaint or displeasure in their mother tongue but no one backs down. The group cranks open the gate and brace for the all too familiar rancid stench of medieval waste. Finch and the well equipped female mercenary stand at the front of the line. Zwiche is positioned at the back because of how his large size makes it impossible for anyone else to fight beside him in the tunnels. From the center of the line Nassur asks.

[Imperial Comprehension: 9,6,5,3 Result: Nah]

Nassur-[Imperial]: "What sort thing or person can live this? And where go in dark shit hole?"

[Zwiche]

Zwiche gestures forward , uncertain of Nassur’s words, but still hearing his questioning tone.

[Imperial]- “Aye, our friend was taken deep into that foul out of darkness. I explored it recently, and can assure you of where her body must lie. A passage paved in bones, reeking with a putrid stench and a most heat. Gather your courage, hold your weapons tight, and let us set forth, to earn glory or death.

[Xenoe]

Judy - [Imperial]: "Perhaps something less man or more beast? Or not living at all. This is where our friend's scent last vanished, as attested to by my canine friend."

Henry barks a couple of times in affirmation.

Judy - [Imperial]: "And there's one too many human skeletons in here for this place to be an ordinary sewage drain."

[Interovegas]

[Imperial Comprehension (Understanding Zwiche): 10,9,8,7 Result: Naah]
[Imperial Comprehension (Understanding Nassur): 7,5,4,3 Result: Naaah]

Nassur asks Judy.

Nassur-[Imperial]: "What giant rhino man say? You no tell that many dead in here! If friend taken by man eaters it big risk go forward."

[Dekaru]

Finch remains entirely focused on his personal goal of not dying today

[Xenoe]

Judy - [Imperial]: "The big man says that he's itching to bring back our friend, and as for the man eaters, we aren't quite certain that they are the ones behind this, it'd will leave a bad taste in our mouths to leave our friend to her death. We'll turn back as soon as it's apparent it's something too much for us to handle."

Judy lights her bonfire barrow.

Judy - [Imperial]: "Here's a good place, I can enchant ye with armors of smoke."

Judy attempts to smoke armor her allies.

[Interovegas]

Judy ensorcels Zwiche, Finch and the woman. The billowing smoke from the fire masks a bit of the sewer stench and also makes it hard to breathe. The smoke plumes drift upwards and outwards and leave an obvious signal something is transpiring in the tunnel. The enchantments are cast without interruption. The party is content with their magical augmentations and begin to proceed forwards with exceeding caution.

They weave their way through the cramped passages and junctions until they reach the unusual ossuary. The canal is about twice as wide at its diameter and curves off at the sides. In the bed of the of the canal lay the rows of skeletons mentioned by Zwiche. To his immediate concern, there are many missing skeletons.

Nassur lets out a low pitch whistle and the others create a close circle around the party and keep their eyes peeled on both sides. Nassur shuffles to the middle and whispers to Judy.

Nassur-[Imperial]: "Ask big one if this right way. This place evil wrong. We risk not much deep than this."

[Zwiche]

Zwiche nods his assent, noting the empty places with concern.

[Imperial] - “Aye, this is the place. Be on your guards. The last time I strode these tunnels I saw a dark shape, but it eluded me. We must press on, for the Lady.”

[Xenoe]

Judy nods solemnly.

Judy - [Imperial]: "He says that this is the path he took. Perhaps there is evil afoot here, but besides the emotional reason of saving our comrade, there's the practical reason of resting easy at night, which would be difficult to do in this city knowing there is something beneath us. It might be best to just face it now, rather than alone at night when your comrades are asleep..."

[Interovegas]

Everyone is in agreement and continue forwards with great trepdiation. Further along the winding paths they arrive at the deepest point Zwiche reached in his exploration. There stands a now locked gate. The bars are thoroughly rusted but there are few signs of age on the lock mechanism. There is no translucent silver green residue around.

[Dekaru]

Finch walks up to the gate and jiggles it to confirm it's locked. He looks to see how the gate is locked and when he sees it's not locked by a simple padlock he looks back at the procession behind him.

[Imperial]-"Anyone got a way of breakin' this open? Maybe between you two you could pry it open."

He gestures to Zwiche and Nassur as he says the last sentence

[Zwiche]

Zwiche cracks his knuckles and nods. He moves up to the gate and prepares to kick it in.

[Imperial] - "This will be loud. Everyone be on your guard."

[Corenat Rovarnus]

Vala watches the rear, ready to plug her ears if need be. There has to be a better way of going about this, but she can't fathom how.

[Interovegas]

Zwiche squeezes through the small crowd. He glances over the mechanism briefly but does not glean any immediate insights as to any potential structural weaknesses. He claims a deep breath of air and snaps his foot against the lock in tandem with a powerful exhalation. The rattle of the metal is uncomfortably loud but is quickly distorted by the thick layers of dust that coat the area.

[Zwiche (Athletics): 9,8,6,4,4,2 Result: Smash! ... slowly]

Zwiche sees his strength has some sway over the integrity of the barrier. So, he resorts to repeatedly smashing the mechanism until the the rusted bars above and below have bent from their proper form so greatly that the gate can be pushed open. About three minutes pass this way. Beyond the gate the passage continues on ... and up? It is difficult for the party to discern exactly what change in terrain is occuring deeper in the tunnel without going closer. Before any of the party proceed Nassur softly grabs Judy's shoulder, pulls her near and whispers.

[Imperial Comprehension: 10,9,6,3 Result: Eavesdropping for nothing]

Nassur-[Imperial]: "What beast make change metal. If taken human by, what human down in dark. What human make many skeleton? Each turn more dark more wrong than last. I and mine not die like dog in dark cave."

Indeed, the other less verbose members of Nassur's gang bear expressions ranging from fear to uncertainty.

[Dekaru]

Finch bravely (but nervously) steps through the opened gate to illuminate the way forward

[Interovegas]

Finch forces the matter by proceeding forwards. The others form a trail behind him and anxiously follow for the time being. Beyond the threshold the ceilings rise to a comfortable level for ordinary humans. Everyone find themselves able to take deeper, fuller breaths. Somehow, air is circulating in these black depths. The simplicity of the stonework conveys an ancient quality about the tunnel and the path beyond. It takes several dozen paces to travel the length of the passage. Along the sides are empty small alcoves beginning at about waist height. At the other end of the passage is a thirty by thirty foot room hosting a stairway and a curving tunnel. Faint hints of reflected light from both exits indicate this forgotten catacomb is still in use.

[Zwiche]

Zwiche puts a hand on Finch's shoulder, and whispers into the darkness.

[Imperial] - "This must be the end of our quest. The Lady surely lies in that forgotten catacombs. But now the choice leaps out to us: stairs or tunnel? Which exit shall we take?"

[Dekaru]

[Imperial]-"An excellent question."

Finch wets his finger and raises it in the air to try and feel if there is any air flow through the room and which direction it's going.

[Interovegas]

[Finch (Scrutinize) - 1d: 4,4 Result: Some information]

Finch tries his sailing tricks to ascertain the air flow dynamics of the area. Alas, any breeze in these rooms is too slight for accurate detection. His efforts are not for nothing though. It takes about a half a minute for Finch to be certain of what he's picking up. He slowly paces between the second tunnel and the stone stairway several times and concludes there is a source of heat far down the tunnel.

[Dekaru]

Finch points down the tunnel that descends to a probable unfortunate fate

[Imperial]-"There be heat coming from below. If'n there be a place to find trouble it be down this tunnel."

[Zwiche]

Zwiche strides forward, his sweaty hands grasping the leather hilts of his axe and sword.

[Dindavaran] - "Once more into the breach," he mutters to himself.

[Dekaru]

Finch follows after Zwiche, not waiting for the rest to consider in how much danger they are

[Interovegas]

Nassur and the others trail further and further behind. Zwiche ignores their cowardice and marches ahead of Finch and Judy, depending on Judy's torch to light his way. Now everyone can notice the rise in temperature. Very quickly the air becomes uncomfortably hot. Zwiche follows the gentle curve of the hall. His anxiety and excitement twist together no longer able to felt as separate emotions. He scrapes against the walls quietly as he picks up speed. A faint orange din signals he is almost there! The bend comes to an end, Zwiche crosses the threshold ... and stops dead in his tracks. The others following rapidly behind him cannot make out any details from behind his enormous body.

Thirty paces away dim lights peek out from iron lids sealing multiple accesses to a towering iron chamber that stretches up to, and possibly through, the vaulted cieling thirty paces above. Two figures dressed in thick beige cloth coverings toil away atop a second story catwalk as they shovel dark chunks into the black behemoth. One of them idly glances back around the room and lurches backwards and shrieks when they spot Zwiche standing tall and armed with sharp steel. The second one looks back and trips over their robes and falls back against the black behemoth. One of the duo whistles an oscillating tune as loudly as they can.

Zwiche can barely make out two more passages behind the wooden catwalks around the room. They are just near the iron structure and leave out the left and right sides of the room.

[Dekaru]

Finch tries to awkwardly peek around Zwiche to see what the hell is going on. Once the cloaked figures start whistling Finch pokes Zwiche in the back with the pommel of his sword

[Imperial]-"Whoever that is needs to shut up."

[Xenoe]

Judy - [Imperial]: "Whoever just screamed, don't let them get a way!"

[Zwiche]

Urged on by his Captain's prod, Zwiche lunges forward, his hands outstretched. He charges towards the ladder seeking to grab the beige-swathed coal shovelers.

[[MOVE and MOVE. I forget the name of that action, but Athletics? to move extra squares and climb the ladder]]

[Corenat Rovarnus]

Vala also rushes forward to apprehend the other laborer, in a non-lethal manner.

[Dekaru]

Finch makes to step just through the tunnel to make room for others to pass and looks back at the mercenaries hiding in the back. Gritting his teeth he yells back at them

[Imperial]-"What the hell ye doin' back there?! Did I pay a bunch of yellow bellied cowards or did I hire warriors? I didn't know that Ruhini warriors were as courageous as field mice!"

(Inspire/intimidate it's the same roll really. Assuming they even understand Finch. Moving out of the tunnel and to the side to make room for people to pass)

[Interovegas]

[Zwiche (Run): 7,7,5,3,2 Result: Mooove]
[Imperial Comprehension: 9,7,7,6 Result: Understand]
[Inspire does nothing to buff full characters]

Nassur and company look at Finch. Nassur holds his arm outstretched to his side with an open hand signaling the others to wait.

Nassur-[Imperial]: "This cursed. Fires and men in dark underneath reek of evil. Only weak man taunt ally in battle. We not work for weak man."

Nassur uses his other hand to throw four coins at Finch's feet.

Zwiche runs ahead twenty five feet and scrambles to subdue the menials.

Judy remains in place, blocking Vala's passage forwards into the room.

The second menial whistles desperately.

[Dekaru]

[Ob-Lob]-"Knew you was a ocker but never pegged you a harry."

Finch draws his sword and maneuvers to block the other ladder to try and prevent the pair of cloaked figures from bolting. He shouts up at the pair

[Imperial]-"Stay right were ye are! We have a few questions for ye!"

(Move to base of ladder and try to be intimidating. Also actively looking to dodge any attacks coming Finch's way)

[Xenoe]

Judy shakes her head.

Judy - [Imperial]: "Ser Nassur, he's a rowdy man but he means no harm. We're just desperate to get our friend back, surely you must be able to understand that feeling. We'll double your pay if that makes the deal more attractive to you, perhaps there is evil, but what evil can resist the liberal application of cold steel? I am also a user of the arcane as you can see."

She then lights her torch, steps out of the way into the room, and attacks the second menial with a smoke arrow.

[Zwiche]

Rushing to stop the whistles of the menials, Zwiche climbs up the ladder as fast as he possibly can. It almost looks like he [RUNS] up the ladder.