As you spend time in the dock district of Waterdeep during a week filled with icy winds, knee-deep snows, and few options for action, you hear rumors about strange cloaked beings, some of them human, others half-elven, and some of monstrous races like orcs and gnolls.

Besides your run-in with these mysterious figures, you have heard of several other businesses near The Rusty Nail Inn and Tavern that have been "visited" by these beings, including Harran's Meats and Furs from the Four Corners and The Wheel and the Anchor.

Investigating these businesses, you find out that the owners have cowed to the threats of the cloaked ones, and the owners' lips are pretty much sealed.

The woman who runs the fur shop whispers that she has told the City Watch, but they have so far done nothing to help her situation.

OOC: In Waterdeep, the City Watch are the police force.

Harran lets you know that he is glad to pay the bi-weekly fee and feels the cloaked ones can offer protection that the City Watch can't.  He just paid them, and is already saving coins for his next payment in 20 days.

I mean, it sometimes takes evil to stop evil, right?  Monsters fighting monster, and you fight fire with fire, eh?

Who cares if they may come from a different plane and all?



Rejin, the little man who runs the seedy dive "The Wheel and Anchor" says nothing, only that he fears his life and the life of his family.


Other things you hear bother you.

The leaders of the cloaked beings seem to have magial powers, either arcane, divine, or even both.

Arjun Colarn, the young brother of Prudence Colarn, the owner of The Rusty Nail, seems somehow connected to the Cloaked Ones, for he is never around when these figures appear, and they have only been in The Rusty Nail when Arjun is not there.

Pressure is on for Prudence to pay the protection money the cloaked ones are demanding from her.  She shakes her head and her sour expression shows that she hates the idea of having to pay the initial 50 gold pieces demanded by the mysterious beings.

It only starts there.  Once they get their hooks in, they keep demaning more and more...

And why the hells don't the Watch do something to help?  Are they in it, too?  Probably getting a kickback.

Prudence thinks the cloaked ones will be back in a few nights, probably with more members than when they tried to shake her down last night...when you fought and stopped them, chasing off some of their members.

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As you talk and plan over supper, the common room is crowded, as the inn is filled with those who have become citizens of Waterdeep for the harsh winter.

Conversations are hushed and eyes dart around, people expecting trouble.

And they don't have long to wait.

A half hour or so after the sun goes down and Selune rises over the harbor, someone treks past The Rusty Nail, holding his cloak tight to fend off the fierce wind.

He sticks his red-nosed face into the door and says loudly Them cloaked ones is out again, over at Harran's, probl'y collectin' payment.  Best stay away.

But that does not add up...You found out from Mr. Harran that he just paid them their bi-weekly fee...

amion's head snaps up from his meal when the red nosed man poked his head in and told of the cloaked ones at Harran's. After the door shuts he leans into the table a bit and whispers to his companions.
"It may be time to become a bit more proactive in finding out what these "cloaked ones" are all about. I am going to get my gear and headin over if any would care to join me." he says then pushes back from the table. The young man heads to his room and straps on his breast plate and greaves, grabs his shield and straps on his sword belt. Lastly he hefts his spear and heads for the common room.

Kalmir runs up to his room and grabs hisstuff at Damion's insistence. When he gets back down he walks over to the bar a bounce in his step. He seeks out prudence and exchanges a few words with her. We go to Harran's to have a drink he says winking at her, Don't worry, you have not tried to cheat Kalmir and friends and you charge us reasonable rates. We not let cloaked idiots harm you or your inn.

Soe was napping in Khidran's lap as custom at this hour when the red red-faced appeared, in a swift move he stashed Soe in his pocket without waking her up, he decided it was better to leave her behind once he was in his room, so he carefully placed here on the bed with a blanket over her, as usual she purred and awaited his arrival under the blanket, instead she could hear the door slam.

A few minutes later he stood outside in the cold air awaiting the others and listening for sounds of combat or magic.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:57, Mon 07 May 2007.

OOC: I will assume the whole party decides to go to Harran's to check on the goings-on.

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Making your way through the snow-filled streets is easy in the sense there is hardly anyone about to get in your way, but harder than normal, due to the foot-high snow cover in most places.  The Watch and members of the Mage's Guild have done a decent job of cleaning the main streets of much of the snow, but it falls so fast, these two able groups have been falling behind.

You make it to Harran's and see some local folk gathered near the shop.  Seeing you come onto the scene, one of the younger men in the small crowd puts his finger to his lips and makes the "Shhhh" sound.

Don't let them know you're here, and you'll see a good show!  The cloaked things, they're having their way with Harran.  He probably don't got enough to pay them and now he's going to pay...in blood!

Forging on ahead, you come to Harran's and see two cloaked figures standing outside the shop.  One's attention in on the action within the store, while the other's is on you as you approach.

As you get nearer, he draws one gloved hand up in a "halt" position, but says nothing and seems to bear no weapon.  He may well have a weapon drawn beneath his thick black cloak, though.

He stands a good 6 and a half feet tall and is broad like Kalmir.

You can not see into the store right now.

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OOC:

Basically the two bruisers are right outside the door of Harran's.  There are no people close to the shop; they are near the next building, a residence.

You are about 15 feet from the cloaked being with its hand up.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:59, Sun 13 May 2007.

Kalmir advances until he sees the hand go up. Not in the mood to banter while a man's life could be at stake Kalmir wastes not time drawing his axe from his back, Move out of Kalmir's way before his axe is forced to move you!

[private to gm: intimidate 16]

For once Damion agrees with Kalmir's straight forward tactic. He steps up next to his large friend and says,"I think it in your best intrest to step aside and leave Mr. Harran be. You will get but one warning from us then you will be met with force."

OOC:

I was sort of hoping more players/PCs would post, but...

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The big figure seems to be more put-off than frightened by Kalmir.  He turns his head and yells into the shop Oy boss, we gots some trubble-makers out here. They...they got weapons an' all.

A tall thin figure wearing a dark green cloak with white fur trim barks back Hells, you have weapons, too!  USE 'EM!

The thug standing in the doorway shrugs at Kalmir and says in a low voice Look, I really don' wanna fight ya, an' we'll be outta here in a few minnits, so please just let us be an' go on your ways, huh fellas?

All the while the figure standing next to him slowly draws a battered longsword.  There is an odd smell about him, like dirt and rot...

He is silent, his movements slow and careful.

Unfortunately there was not a thing that Authiel could think of to do to intimidate as Kalmir and Damion were doing.  She knew that she was far too tiny for any man to give her a second look as if she were dangerous.  But thankfully she was used to being underestimated.  If given the chance, she knew that she could show these men a thing or two about danger, but right now her kind of danger might just harm her companions or the man that they were there to try and help.  And so, instead of doing anything just yet, she stood idly by, hoping that if she was noticed at all it would be to admire her looks or her body and not to be perceived as a threat.  Yet.

Damion listened to the exchange, his eyebrow cocked slightly when the thug made his statement anout not wanting to fight them.
"Well then we are somewhat agreeing on something. We do not want this to come to that either but it does not look as though you are giving us much of a choice." he said calmly. When he notices the other cloaked figure at the door drawing his sword his hand tightened on his spear."We will not leave until you let this man be. Now, choose your fate!"

Khidran could see where this was going from a mile away, so he carefully took a step behind the others so that he could draw his longbow and an arrow without any of their opponents noticing.  He wanted to do more but for now this would have to do, besides from the looks of things Damian and Kalmir would make something happen soon enough.

The big thug takes a threatening step toward Damion and growls out Lissen you..!

He then makes a show of rising his spiked club.

But he does not attack, instead drawing his nose to almost touch Damion's.  The stench of his sour breath it hard for Damion take take, but with some effort, he can conscentrate enough to "lissen" as the thug whispers.

<sub>Look, I got a sweet thing goin; on here, and I have some mouths ta feed, okay?

You wanna fight this zombie-thing and my boss, feel free.  Make it look like I slugged ya a good one, then let the big bruiser next ta ya give me a little lovetap and I'll pretend it knocked me out, an' then do as ya like, okay?</sub>

The "zombie-thing" next to him steps stiffly toward Kalmir, but still manages to block the doorway.

From within you can hear a woman's voice shouting Leave my father alone!  Damn it, he pays you already!  What more do you want?!

Loyalty. is the response, coming from the chill voice of the leader in the fur-trimmed cloak.  You hear the slap of hand against cheek, and then a woman's gasp.

Damion's eyes teared up a bit at the foul odor coming from deep within this creatins guts eminating from his mouth. He quickly looked to Kalmir to see if the large man heard what the thug had said.