TEMPOS!!! Kalmir cries as he brings his axe to bear once again. He is no longer himself and only thoughts of battle and blood matter now. This wizard threatened the lives of Kalmir's friends, and for that his life was forfeit.

[private to gm: 21:29, Today: Kalmir Colbeysson rolled 23 using 1d12+17. damage.
21:29, Today: Kalmir Colbeysson rolled 15 using 1d20+7. power attack +4-4.
21:25, Today: Kalmir Colbeysson rolled 23 using 1d20+5. will save.
]
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:31, Wed 13 June 2007.

With a shudder and a gasp, the leader falls to the snow-covered ground, his body riven in two!

A single long green worm, about the size of a large serpent, slighters from the wound.

It disappears in the dark green cloak the leader was wearing.

You hear Haran inside the shop shout in alarm, and a woman's voice rings out in horror.

No!  We didn't mean...

Haran rushes to the leader's body.

M-master?

The thug continues to wail, and the guardsman lifts him out of the snow.  Most of the thug's face is blood-covered, as are his hands.

The green worms crawl up your bodies, and Kalmir feels one bite into his flesh near his stomach.

===================

OOC:  There is no combat, per se, any more, so I will say each of you manage to get at least one of the worms off, besides any you roll to remove as described above.

Post in any order you like.

Iodaem quickly rid himself of the final wretched worm, throwing it to the ground and stomping on it to put it down for good.  "Beshaba's Blood, what was that thing?" he wondered out loud, before checking to make sure there weren't any others on him - thankfully, there wasn't.

Completely disgusted at the worms, Authiel shakes and peels and pokes and pulls them off of her one by one until all are gone.  Then she stands there, shivering, and looks at the others.  "We need....in there....help them..." she stutters, trying to calm her nerves.  Of all things to deal with, one of the things that scared and disgusted her the most.  Yuck.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:16, Thu 14 June 2007.

Seeing the leader fall, Kalmir takes a moment to rip the worms off his body before steping into the Inn to find any of the 'Cloaked Ones' who might have escaped his wrath.

OCC: 13:08, Today: Kalmir Colbeysson rolled 25 using 1d20+5. will save.

OOC: DM Halaster is already working on taking over this region, so I will get to the heart of the matter and not draw things out.

--------------------------

You all manage to get the worms off you, and as Kalmir rips off the last of the ones on his torso, he is sickened to see blood trickle from the small wound made by the worm's mouth,

Looking at the crushed worm in his hand, the northman sees some of his flesh in the thing's mouth.

Haran moves the dark green cloak of the leader away.   It is odd that it would be the only part of the leader still here - no other clothes or boots or gear can be found, only the fur-trimmed cloak.

His wife - a portly woman with pink skin and a messy bun of greying brown hair - rushes forward thanking you profusely.

Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you, rhank you!

Bless us all, Lady of Luck Tymora!

And may her blessings be on you all, as well!

She mimics hand gestures like those a cleric would make when casting a spell of blessing, but it is clear she has no divine talents of her own.

Haran comes over to try to hush her, as does the couple's big son, Tyrone.

Ma, it's okay...shhhh...

Haran nods, pushing a small pouch into Kalmir's bloodied hands.

Here, take this small reward, please.  It is but a part of what I would have paid those...rabble.

Tyrone looks surprised and starts to ask his father something, but Haran quiets him with a sharp look.

While all this is going on, Iodaem looks about the small shop.  A display of leather vests, chaps, and skirts has been knocked over, its contents spilled out all over half the shop's wood floor.

A smaller display has been moved, revealing a hole about the size of a man's fist in the wooden floor.  It looks like the display would have covered the hole.

A metal box, about the size of a loak of bread, is on the shop's counter, it's lid open.  A few silver coins are on the counter next to the box.

Haran is hesitant to hand the leader's cloak over, but he will do so if pressured.

After a regaining his breathing from the furios stomping of the disgusting worms Damion heads to Kalmir.
"My friend, you are injured. If you would like I will heal you."

Still seething with rage, Kalmir throws the worm on the floor and steps on it. As Damion walks over he the feral glow leaves his eyes and he slumps exhausted. It ok Damion, Kalmir not hurt badly, just tired. Little worms not hurt Kalmir, Kalmir great warrior. Kalmir accepts the puoch but hands it to Damion. He isn't really interested in te money.

Authiel, still shivering with disgust and the effects of the fear and excitement from the confrontation, began to pick up the clothing that had been scattered on the floor, straightening the displays and organizing to help Haran and his wife.

Damion nods and slaps Kalmir on the shoulder. As the young priest tucks the pouch into his belt he walks to the green cloak. He draws his scimitar and slips it under the fabric then flips it over.
"There is something you said a few moments ago Good Sir Haran. Why is it you called this abomination MASTER?"

Haran comes over and takes some of the leather goods from Authiel Hannasiel's hands, a weak smile on his face.

Oh, you're kind to help, but really, you have more important things to do, I'm sure.

Haran's wife and son start to clean up the shop as well.

=================================

OOC:  Moving on a bit to allow for DM Halaster to come in and take over with new ARPs, and such...

===============================

After leaving Haran's shop, you go back to the tavern and sit quietly at your favorite round table, talking quietly about what just happened at Haran's leathergoods shop.

The leader seems to have controlled some altered form of a zombie that held within it many (hundreds!) of sickening worms that had an intense taste for blood and flesh, but also a desire to get toward your chests and faces before eating...

The leader was not killed, but seems to have turned into some sort of green snake and slithered away down a hole in Haran's shop's floor, despite the cold.

The thug who Damion was speaking to was not spared any of the agone of the worms, his face having been eaten off by several of the worms from the zombie.

You are left to wonder about this strange leader, pondering what he was and if he will ever show up to try his protection racket again.

And then there was Haran's attempts to get you out of his store after you'd driven off the leader...
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:47, Tue 19 June 2007.

OOC:

Moving on a bit more....

As you talk quietly, a tall imperious-looking man walks into the tavern and eyes you all up and down, as if comsidering something carefully.

He then signals to someone or something outside the tavern's door and comes to your table, his stride sure and confident.

I am Radclin Dunleaves the Third, investigator for the Magistrate Norketh of this ward.  I understand you just broke up an altercation at a local hop, one Haran's Leathergoods?

Might I bother you to recount what occurred there for the record?

He produces a small quill and gets out a sturdy piece of vellum from a pocket him his padded cloak.

Arching his eyebrow, he plunks down a gold piece in front of each of you.

A bit for your trouble of retelling the tale of your heroism for the cause of justice in our fair city.

Damion waved off the gold coin with a smile then stood to tell their tale.
"Good sir Radclin, we were having our breakfast this morning and heard tell that Harran and his family were being harassed by thugs extorting money from him for protection. We had heard whispers of this ring for some time and thought to put a stop to it. When we arrived we asked politely for them to stop more than once. The thug at the door said he just wanted to be out of there but feared for his life so we enacted a plan to "defeat" him without putting suspicion on him. As that got under way the leader of the small group sicked his pet undead on us, which my large companion Kalmir took care of, unfortunetly not without the foul creature spewing forth a massive amount of flesh eating maggots. While dealing with the worms,"Damion said with a shudder,"We also chased off what seemed to be the ring leader of the group. He transmuted himself into some form of greenish in color snake then slithered off though a hole in the leather shops floor. I fear Good Sir Haran may still be under his thumb because he acted quite strange after we chased off the thug."

Kalmir nodded emphatically at Damion's report, Not first time either, The night before we were in here eating and drinking when cloaked figures came and tried to get innkeeper to pay money. We stop that time too!

Unable to think of anything to add, Authiel simply nodded throughout Damion's version of the events that had occurred and also when Kalmir remembered something she had not thought to mention.  At the mere mention of the strange works, Authiel involuntarily shuddered, lending credence to Damion's words.

Seeing Authiel shudder Kalmir placed a large meaty arm on her shoulder, Don't worry, Kalmir not let them hurt pretty lady.

Authiel smiled gratefully up at the big man, trying to stop herself from being so frightened at the memory of those awful, disgusting things all over her.

As Damion and Kalmir speak to the regal man, Authiel, and to a sligtly lesser extent, Damion, get a feeling that there is something a little underhanded about this man, but neither can put their finger on what it might be.

When Kalmir is done, Radclin nods once and strokes his long chin with his thing fingers.

Interesting, and very helpful.

I will share your tale with the magistrate.  If he has further need to speak to you, will you be available here for the next several days or so?

The investigation will probably be wrapped up shortly.

"I will likely not stay in Waterdeep for much longer, at least - if any of you others intend to travel, I would like to follow.  As long as Innarlith is not on your list of destinations, at least," Iodaem said, trying his hardest to look forward, instead of thinking of the encounter with the worms earlier. . .

Authiel's head snapped towards Iodaem as he spoke, almost forgetting to say something to the others before the odd man left.  But just in time she caught herself and whispered something to Kalmir since he was protectively comforting her.  [Private to Kalmir Colbeysson: "Something isn't quite right.  Keep that man here," she whispered with a little wave towards Radclin.]

Kalmir isn't sure why Authiel wants him to keep the man there but Kalmir thinks quickly. Stay and have drink before you go, on Kalmir. Kalmir said, inviting the man to stay longer.

Radclin looks down his nose at Kalmir.

Hrrm..

I seriouisly doubt they have my preferred wine here...and old Evermeet family vinyard of quite old vintage.

But I thank you Northman, just the same.

With that, he turns to go.

-------------------

OOC: He is still in reach, however...

Seeing his fellows are trying to keep the man Damion scoops up the gold the man layed in front of him and move to intercept him. He quickly placed himself between the man and the door.
"Sir, uh, I would like for you to take back your generous payment. We did not do this for gold but strictly for the good of the deed itself. I do now want to offend you but I would like for you to take my coin and donate it to the local church." he said with a smile as he handed the coin to the man.

Kalmir got up as well and moved to stand on the other side of the mAN, Take Kalmir's too, is there a temple of Tempos in the city?

Seeing both Damion and Kalmir intercept the strange man, Authiel quickly went over to Iodaem, ignoring for now what he had said that had so stolen her attention.  First things first, of course.  When she reached Iodaem, she stood on her tiptoes to whisper something in his ear.  "Something isn't right here, but I don't know what to do.  What should we do?"