The gate guards appeared too distracted by a plume of smoke down by the docks to heed Yamousous words....perhaps for the best.

They three of them made their way down the hill towards the town....

Finan glares at Yamousou and hisses a reprimand.
"Some words are best not spoken aloud, especially in the street.  We will discuss these artefacts later..."

Distracted by the plume of smoke
"Oh, weren't the others going to the docks to find Greylock?  Perhaps we should hurry on there ourselves!"

Yamousou nodded, he would hold his tongue in future.

As they walked down the hill, he watched the smoke rising. "Why do I have the feeling that if we head to the source of the blaze we will find our companions."

Guillaume quickens his pace.  "I 'ope you are not right, mon ami."

Once back in the hustle and bustle of the street, Finan has a quiet word with Guillaume.

"Unless I am very much mistaken, the items appear to be of Fomorian origin.  An ancient civilisation of Giants revered as Demi Gods
by the Gliss.  They enslaved all before them in an iron grip but disappeared suddenly and without reason millennia ago.

The plaque is probably the most significant artefact though.  It is a map of an ancient labyrinth.  A labyrinth within the Lost City of Nem,
the city of the Fomorians far to the North.  This knowledge is fairly common among the Druids with many legends and stories attached to it.

I'm sure Kores with have kittens when hr sees it..."

The three of them traced the wide path about the citadel and down through the town towards the docks.

As they walked Finan noted an elderly druid, Kerron, walking back up towards the towards the Temple.

"I wonder if the Lord Steward is aware of this provenance."  Guillaume looks around to check they are not being overheard.  "I am glad then, that I created a copy of the plaque!"  He flourishes the cloth with the imprint of the plaque.  "So we 'ave a map of the labyrinth, now we need to find this lost city."

A faraway look comes over Guillaume.  "Think of the riches..."
This message was last edited by the player at 01:15, Mon 12 Nov 2012.

"Death is all you will find there...  If the Steward knew or cared of the provenence I'm sure he wouldn't have been so helpful."

Guilaume shrugs.  "So it would be your advice to stay away from Nem?  I wonder if Kores will 'eed such advice.  There may be more artifacts there, per'aps some of value to the Druids?"

He continues walking towards the docks.

The three of them continued their descent until they were back outside the chapel amid the Docklands.

They saw Brother Jacob departing across the square with a bundle in his hand.

OOC: Feel free to move across to the Dockside thread.

Brenar, Dann and Trivel headed away from the other three in a straight line towards North Gate ( See Map Thread).

There were a steady stream of people coming in the gate; mostly late traders and tired groups of field hands.

They came across a row of stores on their left; a coopers, a saddlery and the unsigned store known only as Lumpy's.

Not being able to read any signs, Trivel looks at the store. What does one sell in an unsigned store?
He's also keeping watch for the men they saw earlier.

In reply to Trivel (msg # 183):

Brenar indicated the store and led the other two down a small walkway beside it to a green painted door.

Shrugging he pushed it open....

The store was dark inside and stacked high with all manner of objects and furnishings.

A very ugly man with a prodigious gut struggled up from the stool he was sitting on, " Can I help you gents?"

OOC.
Does Brenar recognize him ( or the description of Lumpy)?

Dann looks at Trivel and Brenar, uncertain on what to ask.

The man before them was not the Lumpy that Brenar knew back in the day but then there had been quite a number of men known as Lumpy running the place as despite the owner been stabbed to death on a regular basis the place did quite an exceptionally roaring trade.....one simply had to know when to get out...a lesson only a few Lumpys over the years had learned.

"Lumpy I presume." Brenar began. "We're looking for...information" He said giving a quick glance over his shoulder. "And word is you might be able to help."

" Aye, that I might. But it'll cost ya.", he snuffled. His eyes flicked over the three men, hanging a little longer on Trivel.

" Information about what?"

"It always does." Brenar agreed. He gave a look at his companion. "We were hire for a job, for a certain Silver Face. Sadly, our partner who knew where to go got caught and executed. Very messy affair. Our discreet inquires reveiled that you might be able to direct us the right way." He stated in a low tone, giving the occasional look over his shoulder.

" You were? Bad Luck about your mate but thats life, I guess.  Seems he has a few crews going...can't see there'd be much money in it myself."

" I don't know who he is and I'm pretty sure I don't want to. But one of the other crews he hired, couple of not so sharp local lads....they said they met with him just outside the castle walls underneath an old druid-arch...the ones with the carvings.  Not sure which one, mind...but there'd only be two or three round the walls that aren't bricked up these days."

" You'll need to put something red at the top of the arch and then come back the next night...or so they said.  Could've been pulling my leg."

" They off-loaded a bunch of old Selentine stuff to me, said Silver Face wasn't interested...only wanted older stuff.....".

"What kind of stuff?" asks Dann laconically.

" Eh? Oh, shield centres mostly..them scutum things...seems metal-head is only after old local gear...dunno why..."

"...old local gear..." repeats Dann, mumbling. This sounds really suspicious to the borderer.

"We have the information we were looking for." Brenar offered, "And we wouldn't want to keep you any longer that we needed. Shall we conclude this transaction and my friends and I will go and hand our red cloth." he added his hand on his purse.

" Aye, well...you do that then.  Nay charge this time, but likely lads like yourselves? You look like you might need some items disposed of on a semi-regular basis.  And i have the ways and means of doing that. Anything you need to shift at the moment or in the future, just come and see me."


A little later...

Brenar, Dann and trivel approached the ancient fortress walls avoiding the main gate...they had already seen one Druids-Arch but it was blocked with old stone and wasn't in the location they had been told of.

They found a couple more round towards the temple and were considering checking them again when Danns keen eyes spotted a length of red thread caught at the top of the arch they had just found*.


OOC: * On the Map it is just below the O in the word Fort.