Seeing the dwarf look back at the curtains behind him, Filimena instinctively cranes her neck to get a better view of them, even though it doesn't actually let her see more of them than she already can. She begins to move silently around the counter towards the curtains, getting as close to them as the dwarf will let her.

OOC: If she can, Filimena gets close enough to the curtains to touch them, although she doesn't open them, and tries to listen for any sounds behind the curtains that might suggest someone is there listening.

I'm just going to go ahead and roll stealth and perception checks, assuming they come into play. Also gonna roll a strength check, just in case there's some kind of contest. Trying to be efficient :p

15:16, Today: Filimena the Gentle rolled 5 using 1d20-1.  Strength contest.
15:15, Today: Filimena the Gentle rolled 8 using 1d20+3.  Perception.
15:15, Today: Filimena the Gentle rolled 19 using 1d20+3.  Stealth.

Edit: Actually, gonna roll dexterity instead, since Filimena would presumably try to dodge, rather than shove her way through.

15:18, Today: Filimena the Gentle rolled 4 using 1d20+3.  Dexterity contest.

Why am I rolling so horribly?!

This message was last edited by the player at 07:19, Wed 21 Sept 2016.

Raszire looks at the dwarf, his demeanor slowly slipping away from that of a pleasant mannered priest, "They?" Raszire's eye narrow, "Look you pompous little man if you know anything about what happened to those children you had better tell us now or so help me if they come to harm I will make you wish you had never been born" Raszire pushes forward, his hand finding its way to the haft of his mace.

The dwarf cowers before Raszire holding his hand before him as though the might shield him should the dragonborn attack. He stilts he was using to make himself taller fall away as he collapses to the floor in a heap sobbing "They have my daughter. They have my daughter." over and over again.

Filimena slips past Keygan as the dwarf is otherwise occupied by Raszire. [Private to Filimena the Gentle: To your right black curtains partially obscure a window niche that faces the street. You recall seeing ornate locks and complex locking mechanisms neatly displayed in the niche.

The room itself looks tidy but lived in. Carpets cover the stone floor, and a broom leans against the railing of a wood staircase leading up to a second floor balcony. A trio of wooden chest rest in the middle of the floor, their lids bound shut with sturdy iron padlocks. Small tables, shelves, and benches hold various kick-knacks, and a framed portrait of a silver-haired dwarf hangs next to a tall wood box at the stairs. The wooden box containing an intricate array of tricking gears, counterweights, and cylindrical chimes, surmounted by a circular face that bears the numbers 1 through 12 on its circumference.  ]

MAP
This message was last edited by the player at 00:30, Thu 22 Sept 2016.

They have his daughter, did he say, Filimena thinks. Well, I'm in here anyway. May as well take a look around. I'm sure the other two can handle the dwarf. She's in a square room, about the same size as the shop she'd just left. A trio of wooden chests lies on the floor in the middle of the room, secured with sturdy-looking iron locks. A flight of stairs on her right leads up to the second floor. Filimena sneaks to the bottom of the stairs and looks up, listening for any activity. I wonder if anyone else is around?

18:07, Today: Filimena the Gentle rolled 18 using 1d20+3.  Perception.
18:06, Today: Filimena the Gentle rolled 10 using 1d20+3.  Stealth.

Filimena realizes that the wooden box is a clock. She looks around and notices that there is a series of boards under the stair seem to be off compared to the rest.

The halfling is sure they hide a secret of some type but before she can investigate farther something falls upon her. She feels a blade pierce her side and when she looks there is a shimmering person as though he's somehow is blending into the background, unfortunate the halfling drops to the ground in a bloody pool before she can do much else.

OOC:
COMBAT!
Surprise Round
09:18, Today: Skulk rolled 19 using 2d20+4, dropping the lowest dice only.  Attack vs Filimena.
Skulk hits Filimena for 12 damage ... dropping the warlock to -1 HP

Initative: 09:23, Today: DM5 rolled 18,20 using d20,d20.  Initiative Party vs Skulk.
Looks like Skulk goes first ... X_x

---

Round 1 [Private to GM: 09:24, Today: Secret Roll: Skulk rolled 9 using 1d20+5.  Bonus action to Hide.]

From the back everyone hears the sounds of Filimena cry out which cuts short as something hitting the floor.


OOC: Party's up! Filimena needs to roll a death save ...
MAP S marks the secret!

OOC: Marik rolls 20 for Initiative, so I guess I'm going before Raszire. I'll edit if that somehow is not the case.


As Ghelve falls on the floor weeping before Raszire, Marik hears the locksmith cries about his missing daughter.

"There we have it...now we know how they got into the Orphanage without messing with the locks" he thinks. He feels some empathy for Ghelve, but remain impassive, as he slowly begin to make his way toward him and Raszire.

He was about to say something to try to comfort the locksmith when he hears a cry from Filimena behind the curtain, with what sound like the wet sound of flesh being pierced. A burst of adrenaline fills his veins as his well honed instincts kicks in.

Using all the power he can muster he makes his way to the counter and jump, sliding across it as he has often do with tree trunks in the forest. Getting back on his wooden feets, he gets out his hunting bow and pull out the curtain. He sees a pool a blood, with the fallen form of Filimena on the floor and a sinister looking individual with a crimson blade in his hands.

"Filimena!"

In the urgency, Marik doesn't quite take the time he would needs to properly stabilize himself and let loose an arrow, which miss the individual and hit the wall behind him.

OOC: Marik has rolled 9 for a Attack.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:29, Thu 22 Sept 2016.

Raszires expression softened when Ghelve blurted out the statement about his daughter and silently chastised himself for letting his temper get the better of him. Whn he heard Filimena gasp in pain he threw open the curtain, bringing his shield and weapon to the ready. Once in side the room the anger he had been trying to suppress grew as he saw the halfling lying in a growing pool of blood, he turned toward the dagger wielding individual, "Normally I would subdue you for questioning, but today I will make an exception." the word ending almost in a growl as he advanced swinging at the assassin.

10:50, Today: Raszire Toumash rolled 19,7 using d20+5,d6+3 with rolls of 14,4.  Attack and damage.

The creature ducks under Marik's weapons then is hit by Raszire. It then growls at Raszire as it slashes at the dragonborn with his shortblade. The wicked looking weapon connects just under the chain mail Raszire wears leaving a nasty cut along his belly.

OOC:
12:23, Today: Skulk rolled 18 using 1d20+4.  Attack vs Raszire.
12:23, Today: Skulk rolled 6 using 1d6+2.  Damage.

Raszire gets hit for 6 damage!

---

Round 2
Party
Skulk [Private to GM: 15 / 22]

MAP

Raszir snarls as the blade connects and brings his mace around for another swing, but he pain throws off his aim and the mace misses its target.

12:32, Today: Raszire Toumash rolled 10,7 using d20+5,d6+3 with rolls of 5,4.  Attack and damage.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:35, Thu 22 Sept 2016.

Cursing himself for his lack of aim, the elf knock another arrow and wait until Raszire makes a slight step on the side. As he finishes his attack, the Dragonborn leave him a clear view of the attacker. Marik let loose a second time and the arrow this time flies straight into the chest of the dark individual.

OOC: Marik rolled 23 for attack and 10 for damage

The creature who looked to be running away is cut down by the group. It's skin seems to stop shimmering and turns to a dull grey color.

OOC: Need 2 death saves (straight d20 rolls) from Filimena before we move on.

As soon as he sees the creature falls, Marik rush to Filimena side and attempts to stop the bleeding by covering the wounds and using medicinal herbs in a small satchel by his belt.


OOC: after the discussion in the OCC topic, Marik will use one use of his Healing kit to try to stop Filimena from bleeding out.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:58, Thu 22 Sept 2016.

Raszire moves over to where Marik was with Filimena, "Please friend Marik allow me" Raszire kneels down and places one hand on Filemena and one hand clasping his holy symbol recites a short prayer to St. Fenwyn asking for her divine aid.

15:16, Today: Raszire Toumash rolled 7 using 1d8+6 with rolls of 1.  Cure Wounds.

OOC: And of course it rolls a one on the die.

OOC: Whoa... A lot happened while I was gone. Haha. Erm. I'll just go ahead and roll the two death saves, just in case I somehow manage to fail once, and critically fail twice (taking into account the fact that Filimena has halfling luck). Gulp.

09:39, Today: Filimena the Gentle rolled 14 using 1d20.  Death saving throw.
09:39, Today: Filimena the Gentle rolled 2 using 1d20.  Death saving throw.

Filimena gasps to life. It takes her a few seconds to take note of her surroundings, and to realise what has happened. She slowly picks herself up, still feeling weak. She looks over at Raszire and Marik, feeling rather embarrassed. "Thank you. What... What happened?"

Marik gently put his left hand on Filimena shoulder to stop her from moving.

"Easy. Stay still. Your wounds are still closing..."

Under the influence of the divine power channeled by Raszire, the gaping wounds caused by the dagger quickly subsides, leaving only a small gash of crimson color.

Seeing the halfling now out of danger, Marik then smiles, and remove his hand.

"That was close...Welcome back to the lands of the living, Filimena."

He then turn to Raszire.

"Well done, priest...Wait, are you feeling fine? You took a  nasty blow from that sword yourself. "
This message was last edited by the player at 04:27, Fri 23 Sept 2016.

The dwarf walks in, visibly shaking. He's standing at normal dwarf height, if not a bit shorter, with his pants legs trailing behind him like a kid wearing his father's breeches. He looks at the dead creature and spits on it. "They took my daughter ... forced me to make skeleton keys ... to get them into ... most any building in the city." He gulps down air as he speaks, just stares at grey body on the floor.

"They took her to Jzadirune... through the portal there," Keygan points to the wall under the stairs. As though anticipating the question he continues, "Jzadirune was a small enclave inhabited by we dwarfs, but it abandoned when the drow came up from below and took over the area some 75 years go. The drow had developed a magical plague, we called it the Vanishing and it caused people to slowly fade into nothing ..." Tears in his eyes,  "Those kids ... they'll be there ... with my daughter... Nisris."

Raszire faces the dwarf, "Master Ghelve we will get your daughter and the other children back. I am sorry for earlier I should not have lost my temper."

Marik, still on his knees, look up to see Ghelve and restrain himself from laughing when seeing the pants trails off behind the dwarf. He then listen closely to Ghelves, without showing any expression. At the mere mention of the Drow, however, his whole demeanor change instantly. His face hardens and his hands clenches into a fist.

"Drows, you say..."


The mere mention of the Fallen is sufficient to send Marik into another state of mind. A predatorial state honed from decades of training by the High Elves on learning the ways of the Dark Ones and hunting them down to the last.

Marik gets up, without looking at either Raszire or Filimena, and go inspect the creature corpse, as well as the wall, trying to recall his training to validate if the Drows could really be behind all of this based on what he knows of them.


OOC: Marik makes  a Survival check to track hints of Drow presence in the room and a History check to see if he know anything about the Vanishing and the fall of Jzadirune. Both are with advantage as Drows are one of his favored enemies.

Marik rolls 16 on Survival and 16 on History.

As he investigates, Marik ask a question. Far from the friendly tone he used with Filimena, his voice is now icy as winter.

"If indeed the Dark Ones are involved, how are the Last Laugh implicated in this? Do they had any dealings with you?"
This message was last edited by the player at 18:04, Fri 23 Sept 2016.

Keygan shakes his head at Raszire's words, "You didn't know ... couldn't have know. These things and their shorter companions are to blame." He moves to the chests and opens one from which he draws out a scroll case. His gaze shifts to Marik,"I haven't had any dealings with the Laugh... just these large ones and their smaller, cloaked, and hooved companions."

[Private to Raszire Toumash: You hear a whisper in your ear saying, "Find out more about this Vanishing... " and recolonize your saint, Fenwyn, making a request of you]

OOC: Marik finds no trace of Drow.

Neither Jzadirune nor The Vanishing doesn't ring a bell, but one is a dwarf conclave in now Drow controlled territory and there is much unknown about the dark elves war tactics.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:08, Fri 23 Sept 2016.

OOC: Marik would like to insight check Ghelves, to see if he is lying.

Marik rolled 8.


Also, can I make a check to see if I know what kind of creatures he is talking about as Marik is inspecting the corpse?
This message was last edited by the player at 18:46, Fri 23 Sept 2016.

Filimena steadies herself against the wall under the stairs. She feels better now, but still slightly weak. She listens with interest as the dwarf tells the party about the Jzadirune and about the secret portal under the stairs.

A secret enclave, she thinks. Presumably underground. Her eyes flit towards the curtains. And the curtains... That's the second line of the poem settled, then.

Filimena's attention is drawn back to the dwarf as he draws a scroll case from inside one of the locked chests in the centre of the room, and tilts her head in curiosity. She steps closer to the group.

OOC:

Filimena intends to ask Ghelve about the remaining lines of the poem, just in case he knows anything that might be able to help them, but she's going to wait and see what he does with the scroll first.

Can Filimena also make a history check to see whether she knows anything about the Vanishing and about Jzardirune?

18:04, Today: Filimena the Gentle rolled 21 using 1d20+2.  History check.

And perhaps a nature or arcana check to see whether she knows anything about the creatures Ghelve is talking about?


18:14, Today: Filimena the Gentle rolled 7 using 1d20.  Nature check.
18:14, Today: Filimena the Gentle rolled 10 using 1d20+2.  Arcana check.

Blah...

Marik believes Keygan is telling the truth.

OOC: Give me an History roll for what this 'thing' is.

---

[Private to Filimena the Gentle: Jzardirune !  The Vanishing of Jzardirune

^Dwarf _Stronghold yes! Place _{filled with traps} ^{and tricks} and secrets!

Cousins of the Korim dwarves _cleverer than ^cousins they dug <sub>deep

So deep</sub> woke the spider elves Set them upon the world and then vanished for their

^t
 _r
  o
   _u
    ^b
     l
      _e
       ^s
        ]
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:50, Mon 26 Sept 2016.

OOC: Marik rolled 14


For future reference, would that thing be considered a "Humanoïd"? :P
This message was last edited by the player at 23:19, Mon 26 Sept 2016.

OOC: why yes yes they are ...

[Private to Marik: You've heard of this creature before it's called a Skulk. Skulks have skin which changes color and can allow them to blend into their environment. They can see VERY well in the dark and are often in the Underdark. ]

One moment, Filimena is with Marik and Raszire and Ghelve in the room behind Ghelve's shop, the next there is a gentle sucking noise, and Filimena finds herself floating in a field of white. All is silent at first, then the voices begin, whispering quietly and serenely all around her. This is different, Filimena thinks. They're not usually this... Calm. All of a sudden, she feels a tap on her right shoulder. She tries to turn to look, but at that moment, it's as if time has frozen, and she cannot move. Her pupils widen, though. Somehow, she knows who it is.

Finneas? She wants to say his name, but her lips won't move, and her lungs won't breathe.

"Filimena..." comes a voice from behind her, not her brother's, but her own, whispering.

Finneas, where are you? She wants to say. Finneas, I'm looking for you!

"Find them, Filimena..." The voice responds.

Filimena pauses, confused. Find them? Find who? She tries to ask.

"Find them..." The voice continues.

Filimena begins to panic. Tears are welling up in her eyes. The children? I'm looking for them now. Filimena struggles. She desperately wants to turn around, to see her baby brother again. But I'm looking for you too, Finneas. Please, let me find you!

Silence. Filimena begins to weep.

"The Korim..." The voice reappears. Filimena stops struggling.

What?

"The Korim..." The voice says again. The millions of other voices around her begin to join in. "The Korim... Cousins... Deep" The voices are getting louder and louder. "THE COUSINS... DEEP... SPIDER ELVES... DEEP... VANISHED..." Filimena begins to struggle again. The voices are deafening now. She wants to hear him again, but they drown him out. "THE COUSINS... DEEP... SPIDER ELVES... VANISHED..."

Then, as suddenly as the vision began, it ends. With another sucking noise, Filimena is back in the room. She sees Marik standing over the body of the creature that had nearly killed her. She breathes a deep sigh.

[Private to GM: Hope you don't mind me taking liberties with the voices. Just thought it was time I brought back some of the drama of when Filimena was first introduced. Also, I noticed a parallel between Filimena's missing brother and the missing children, and thought it might be interesting to bring that up.

Can I do a history check to see what Filimena knows about the Karim?

19:55, Today: Filimena the Gentle rolled 19 using 1d20+2.  History check.]
This message was last edited by the player at 12:08, Tue 27 Sept 2016.