Like the others, Morin sadly waved goodbye to the big man.  Cael hadn't been much of a conversationalist, but he had been pretty good at smashing robots apart.  As the barbarian wandered off to bury Synn, Morin set about scouring the Foundry tavern for coffee beans, or any other stimulant to banish his crushing hangover.

Having located something he was fairly sure counted as coffee, the gnome joined the others at the breakfast table.  Rubbing his aching head, he shrugged in response the others' discussion.  "With Baine out, we could probably spare a day if you really need it.  Depending on how everything else goes, maybe we'll have time to hit the caves after you're done fixing up the old musket."  He perked up a bit at the thought.  "Hey, maybe I could help you get it done.  I'm no gunsmith, but I know a thing or two about a thing or two and I've always wanted to see how one of those things fits together inside!"


OOC: Morin just barely avoids taking the penalty.  Anyways, I agree about sweating Sanvil a bit, then heading over to the warehouse.

07:52, Today: Morin Matzylford rolled 12 using 1d20+4 with rolls of 8.  headache?
This message was last edited by the player at 14:23, Thu 27 July 2023.

"Oh no, you've got one of those headaches?" Val asks as she sees Morin fumbling about for coffee and moves to help him steep a large, strong cup of the stuff. "They've been going around ever since the torch went out. Some say it's bad water--Crowfeather not doing it's job--but even without dad Father Kyte's been looking after it." The young girl looks Morin over, concerned, and assures him, "No one'll blame you if you need take some time to rest."

"You're welcome to watch and lend a hand if you'd like."  Zorden replied to Morin's offer.

"Though if the plan is to talk to Sanvil again, you might be better off helping with that."

Ionaya started to address Val's question, but after a timely interruption, decided that it was better to answer later.
However, the sylph is sure to give Val a hug and a smile while they eat the meal Val prepared.

Before Cael left, Ionaya told him, "I am in your debt mighty Cael, please call upon me whenever you have great need. You're a special person and I hope to see you again."

"Huh. Well, maybe we could also stop by Crowfeather's and check if the purifier is still running." Cain proposes on hearing of a new problem from Val.

OOC: Alright, so we first check in on Sanvil, then the warehouse? Or maybe we check out the purifier then, in case someone was messing with it?

Morin shook his head at Val's suggestion.  "Oh don't worry, I'm fine!  And if everyone's getting these headaches, well that's just one more reason to fix whatever's going wrong!"  The gnome's hand unconsciously moved to rest on his scrollcase, which had recently taken on a curious addition from Khonnir's collection: a scroll labelled "detect radiation".

"I say we check the purifier last.  If Khonnir and Kyte can't find anything wrong with it, us taking a look feels like a real shot in the dark.  Don't get me wrong: I'm always down to poke around some magitek, but I'd wager the headaches have something to do with the torch itself going out."

Leaving Zorden behind to tinker with his musker in the Foundry Tavern's foundry, Cain and Morin(and Ionaya?) head up the road to the town garrison. Still early in the morning, the barracks seem to in the midst of a shift change with a number of men and women in semi-standardized sets of leather armor. A familiar face, one of the guards who has been stationed near the Weeping Pond for the last few days and has helped the party in the past, recognizes the diminished Canaries while seemingly on his way to report in and waves as they approach. When near enough to talk he greets them and asks, "Mornin', friends, you're not going back in the pond, just the two(three?) of you?"

"Not right now, but we are making preparations to go back. Right now, we would like ask our friend from yesterday a couple of questions, if you do not mind." Cain answers the guard.

"Yeah, we're taking a prep day." Morin added casually.  "Sharpening the swords, running down errands, you know how it goes.  Is Sanny still in a state to talk?" 

With a tone of disgust she replies in agreement with her allies, "No sooner than we have to, with Ranginori's blessing! As my allies have said, we need to speak to the Trett before justice takes him."

Looking into the face of the guard she smiles and hands him a gold piece, "This is for you and your kindred, I ask that you share a song with a woman or girl you know and offer to dance with a woman you've met for the first time."

"Oh, uh, thank you?" The guard accepts Ionaya's coin, taken off-guard by the unexpected gratuity and the unusual requirements for how he should spend it, but soon turns his attention to the question of Sanvil. He laughs a bit nervously and admits, "I know it's a bit silly, you being the ones who took him in and all, but orders are no one but the captain and council talk to the prisoners. They won't tell us why, but after their murder spree they'll probably be executed soon." He tilts his head slightly as he catches the expressions on the party's faces and soon explains, "They ... found your friend, the orc lady, dead in Trett's room. Poison, it looks like."
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:53, Thu 03 Aug 2023.

"Son of a..." Cain exclaims on hearing what happened to Kalasha, momentarily lost for words. Once he calms down he continues. "You'd think a paladin would be a better judge of character. I certainly hope the Council does not let this slide."

OOC: Well, I guess that's done. Where to next? We could check out the purifier, or talk to the Council maybe? Or we just return back to base for when we are all ready to head for the warehouse?

Morin shook his head sadly.  "We were all taken in by his act.  If anything, this is my fault.  A paladin could be expected to be big and dumb and trusting, but a bard?  We're supposed to be the smart ones."

Turning back to the guard, the gnome forced a smile.  "Thanks for telling us.  We just wanted to ask him about Kalasha, anyways.  I'm sure they'll kill him soon: After everything that's happened, the people could probably use a good execution to cheer them up.  I just hope it's not too gruesome.  Back in Taldor, poisoners are considered the worst of the worst.  I saw one get executed back in Oppara: They boiled him alive, and it took forever.  Put everyone off of their supper."

Morin shook his head sadly, picturing the bitter end he imagined waiting for Sanvil.  Then the moment passed, and he was back to his cheerful self.  "Well, nothing much else to do here.  Back to the Foundry?"

OOC: I don't have anything new to talk to the council about.  We can poke around the purifier if you want, but I think we might as well skip ahead to tonight and check out the warehouse.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:45, Thu 03 Aug 2023.

"Executions are pretty clean here in Torch," the guard assures Morin, "At least, if you can get the torch going again. Toss a man in and he's nothing but smoke before he even feels the heat. The smelters are always careful about how close they get--some men claim they only realized they lost their hand when they unexpectedly dropped their tongs."

Cain shrugs. "Might as well. Could use some rest before me move on anyway."

OOC: Fine with skipping ahead to when we are all ready. All I really wanted to do right away was to inquire about Kalasha.

Electricity flashes across and between Ionaya's eyes when the guard says that Sanvil Trett has slain yet another friend of her saviors and allies. "Forgive the blood thirst in this, but if it were left to me, I'd crush his hands one finger at a time, pour excrement into his throat, and burn what survived slowly!"

She quickly turns to Morin and angrily says, "Stop that! Don't blame yourself for the evil of others! You are a better being than Trett ever dreamed of being! I'd trust you with a sword behind me before I'd ever trust Trett's bound and burning corpse."

After managing a slight smile at Morin she nods, "Yes, let's return to the Foundry so we can make further plans."

Having learned of Kalasha's death at the hands of Trett, the party returns to The Foundry Tavern for a day of rest while Zorden tunes his musket, aided by the curious Morin. Dolga Freddert and Joram Kyte arrive at the tavern shortly after the party's return intending to inform them of the paladin's passing themselves, offering their condolences and their regrets that the news proceeded them. Dolga explains that the crimes of Sanvil and his ropefists warrant execution, but they will hold a trial once everything calms down. Sanvil's warnings of the imminent Technic League threat didn't hold up under ... pressure ... but she doesn't intend to give him a platform to scare the townsfolk while everyone's worried about the torch.

At lunch time the party is joined by Khonnir, who is still weak and near-dumb from his ordeal, as Valerie serves a meal of sandwiches and cider. Finally, as evening comes and the sun is only a few hands from the horizon, Zorden concludes his work upgrading the mechanisms of his musket.

Zorden took the news in stride, with only a slight gritting of his teeth revealing a bit of regret in not leaving the merchant at the bottom of the pool of black water down in the caves.  It wouldn't have saved Kalasha, but would have seen to Trett.

At least the council seemed to have gotten reassurances about the League, which was likely to have maybe bought them at least a little time.

Come evening he cleaned up his mess in the workshop and moved back into the main area of the tavern as he did his best to use a rag to clean his long pale white fingers of the black oil and dirt that was left on them from his task.

Well, there was one more reason for Morin to get the Torch turned back on: once the beam was up and running, they could watch the townsfolk hurl Sanvil into it!

But first it was time to see if the murderous merchant's lead was worth anything, by poking around the warehouse district.  Once night had fallen and Zorden was done tending to his boomstick, Morin pulled his cloak up high around his head and led the party through the warehouse district to Ember street.

While Cael would certainly be missed if a fight broke out, the silver lining to his departure was that the remaining Canaries all seemed pretty light on their feet.

Keeping to the dark shadows of the nighttime streets, Morin did his best to pick out the suspicious warehouse he had heard about, while keeping the rest of the party as unobtrusive as possible.

OOC: Not sure if a roll is necessary, but if it is, I rolled pretty good.

18:46, Today: Morin Matzylford rolled 15 using 1d20+4 with rolls of 11.  perception.
18:46, Today: Morin Matzylford rolled 30 using 1d20+11 with rolls of 19.  creeping around the warehouse district.

Zorden followed along towards the rear as the group made to go skulking about.

He wasn't entirely sure what they were looking for, but figured they'd know it when they saw it.

With the new gear they'd found, or bought, Zorden was moving a bit more quickly and assuredly.  Plus, if they did somehow get jumped by a bunch of ropefists, the streets of Torch were a bit less restrictive than the caves below the black hill which would hopefully work out in their favor.

Before getting too close to the warehouse, Cain casts a spell of protection on himself. Then, following Morin's example, he likewise creeps closer to the warehouse to case the place.

Casting Mage Armor from a scroll.
12:04, Today: Cain rolled 22,18 using 1d20+8,1d20+10 with rolls of 14,8.  Perception, Stealth.

Now well-rested, well-armed, and well-prepared the party heads out to investigate this supposed warehouse of the local gamblers den proprietor which drew the merchant betrayer's interest. They pass through the market square--the few merchants remaining now coin-poor after buying up the loot brought up from the party's recent expedition--as the various temporary stalls are being packed up and their wares hauled off for overnight storage. As the party passes the Temple of Brigh and into the warehouse district and Ember Street it isn't difficult to spot the abandoned warehouse of rumor; even in the current economic downturn most warehouses still show signs of activity with people coming or going hauling goods or materials, large doors open to the cooling air, or lights flickering from within, but one building in particular stands out with no one coming or going and all of the windows and doors boarded up tightly. A carefully inconspicuous loop around the block to peek at the building from different angles confirm all doors and windows appear to be boarded with no apparent activity within.


This message was last edited by the GM at 19:07, Sun 06 Aug 2023.

"Is someone confident they can get a peek inside somehow?"  Zorden asked after the group had circled about and inspected the warehouse in question from just about every angle, and presumably retreated a bit of a distance away to discuss and plan.

"Or do we need to knock and see if anybody answers?"

"Hmm. That sleazeball mentioned tightened security in a warehouse, but I see nobody, and no apparent way inside either. Maybe we are too late for whatever was happening here? Let's take a closer look and see if we can pull some of those boards down."

Cain takes one last look around to make sure the coast is clear before he proceeds closer to start looking for the easiest way inside.

OOC: Let's start by examining those boarded-door and windows closely. How hard/loud would it be to open one up? Are any of them less secure than the rest, or show signs that someone was there recently?

Also, I don't suppose anyone has a crowbar?

"Wait one tick."  Morin motioned Cain to stop for a moment before approaching the warehouse.  Reaching into a pocket for a single grape, he rubbed the berry against the side of his waterskin with a quick incantation.  Opening up the lid he took an appreciative sniff of the liquid inside, which now clearly smelled of alcohol. "Here, everyone have a little nip.  It'll keep you sharp."  Anybody who took the gnome up on his offer found he was right: A sip of the wine did indeed seem to clear the head and make the drinker more alert.

Once the drinking was done with, Morin joined Cain in creeping forward to inspect the warehouse up close.  If every single entrance was boarded up, that meant nobody was getting in or out without a prybar or a fireaxe.  Meaning that either Sanvil had been lying his ass off once again...or there was some sort of secret entrance.

OOC: Casting tears to wine, giving everyone who takes a sip a +2 enhancement bonus to all skills based off of int or wisdom, such as perception.  It lasts 30 mins.

When we get close, Morin's going to be mostly looking for trapdoors or secret panels that might lead into the building.