Beyond all measure Winnk was very excited about vampires. Of course he knew his chances were extremely slim in surviving any encounter with one, but he still couldn't wipe the smile from his face. "Well you just made a lousy day 2.5% better. Thank you very much Mister Ferretini."

Then to his crew of vampire hunters, "We also had leads on the East Empire Trading Co. and the Fighter's Guild. If there's nothing further here let's do it, then give Murmur time to read."

Can we pick out any distinguishing features in the drawing that would confirm the identity to us compared to what we saw in the crypt?

Peering upon the drawing, Kraelix was unsure whether the depicted knight actually matched the remains in the crypt. Mabe the artist's interpretation was meant to be symbolic?

08:04, Today: Aurbis, on behalf of Kraelix, rolled 11 using 1d20+4.  Perception.

  "Oh, yes, absolutely.  I expect I'll take it to a reading room at the Mage's Guild and never move it until I can bring it back."  Murmur carefully closes the book and cradles it under an arm.  Then she turns to address the small crew.

  "This is more than I thought we'd find here.  Does anyone else need anything at the castle, or can I lock this up on our way to the next spot?  And which?  The muscle or the merchants?"

Winnk flexes his pecs, which gets lost under the leather armor, but he knows he did it and that's all that matters. To him.

"It's too early in the day to visit the fighters guild. EETC first."

"Nothing else from me here." As Winnk gave his two copper, Kraelix shrugged, "I've no affiliations with either of them, so Merchants is fine with me."

"I'll have the book shipped to the Mage's Guild for you, Miss," Ferretini concluded with a polite smile. "No need to cumber yourself with it while you pursue your other goals through the city. I remain at your disposal should you require any more assistance. Good luck on your endeavours, and may the Divines guide your path."

The castle guard escorted the troop back out into the sun-basked courtyard. From there, finding the East Imperial Trading Company was easy. Crossing the bridge back to Greenside, the troop followed the river bank towards the south until they reached a fortified tower standing over the Niben River mouth. The offices of the mighty EITC certainly couldn't rivalize with other guilds for elegance, but the repurposed watchtower provided unparalleled security as well as an impregnable view over the sea and the south portion of the docks. The size of the grounds before the tower outclassed any other guild in the city. Several blacksmiths, stablemasters, accountants, navigators, translators and carpenters provided their services to the Company's exclusive clientele, and a corresponding armada of servants and guards manned the necessary posts, day and night.

It was near dinner time, and the smell of spicy foods, fresh-baked loaves and grilled meat filled the air in the busy courtyard. All around the adventurers, couriers, dockhands and maids rushed from one building to another. A pair of guards in expensive steel armor made its way towards the group, and asked for the purpose of their visit.

Kraelix spoke up, hoping his apparent status as a priest of war might help with the social exchange, "We've come on behalf of the Mage's Guild, to speak to (insert relevant person's name or position here) concerning recent events and their impact as hidden agendas are brought to light."

Winnk resorts to his finest police work: “Who is your daddy and what does he do?”

The two guards - young Imperials in their early twenties - looked at each other, then at the adventurers in great confusion.
"Uh.... me da's a cobbler in Blueside" the one said hesitantly. "Named Fabius Lerrido. Me, I'm Basilius. Basilius Lerrido. Why you ask?"
The other elbowed him in the ribs and spoke somewhat louder. "We be askin' questions here. What's this business you have exactly? ANd who you need to be talkin' to?"

"Oh, by Malacath's massive member," a voice behind the adventurers boomed, making them all jolt and turn around. "Didn't you harebrains hear they are with the Mage's Guild?".

A muscular, towering Orsimer with dark olive skin, shaved head and chiseled tusks stood behind the group, arms crossed, a disapproving frown on his scarred face. He was wearing an extremely heavy, full plate armor made of strange golden-bronze metal, the style of which was unknown to the adventurers.
"Narogok. Head of security on the premises. And I suppose you're the ones send to investigate the break-in, aren't you?" The man's intonation and posture revealed that he had been in the military, and not just as a trooper. "'Fraid we have ourselves a situation. See, the thieves haven't quite left yet, but we can't get them out either. Maybe you lots will be able to help, being wizards and all."

He pointed a finger at one of the small buildings at the edge of the courtyard.
"Back there is where we keep alchemical supplies, in the basement. Now those folks entered while everyone had their eyes on the Market this morning and tried to haul a barrel of dwarven oil out. Idiots managed to let it slip. Big crash, oil everywhere, my men reacted immediately, but the thieves threatened to set fire to the whole lot if we enter. Dwarven oil gives a pretty impressive bang, just so you know. So we've been overseeing the exits, and are trying to negociate. We ain't come far yet. Care to help?"

"Yes sir I would very much like to help." Winnk bowed to Narogok, the respect he had for the orc was apparent.

"Murmur or Kraelix, do you have the ability to heal one of the thieves after we've finished burning them all because I wasn't able to persuade them to surrender? Because I assure you I will not be able to persuade them to surrender. And I would very much like to see this impressive bang."

---

if we are pretending Izada is still with us, she can heal. I  suggest we go in guns blazing, but if anyone else wants to try diplomacy go for it.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:13, Wed 14 Apr 2021.

Kraelix held up a fist pointed toward the sky and a dark energy began to swirl around his fist for a moment as he dismissed the energy instead of releasing it, "Yes, that we are." He placed a hand on his own chest, then pointed to the others in turn, "Kraelix, Murmur, and shit-for-brains over there is called Winnk." He raised his eyebrows at that last one, showing he didn't know what the fighter's mother was thinking either.

"We can certainly assist with your current problem. Do you already have a solution in mind, or is planning the stage we currently reside in? Have they given any information in the negotiation? Demands other than 'let us get away' and all that?"

"What did you say?" Winnk threw a fist into Kraelix's armor. Ouch.

"Screw you and your Empress. I never signed up for this stupid job anyway."

Winnk looks for the nearest exit.

"I'm only making a bit of light in an otherwise dark moment here, Winkk. He's not a wizard, he prefers good old fashioned wood and steel, as you can see."

He looked to Winnk then, "Yes, I can heal one if needed. Assuming it's not such a big boom that it kills them outright."

He looked then toward Murmur, "Where I come from, they don't value words much, so it's not a skill I possess. I'm actually more in line with Winnk on this one. They know they're not getting out of there, so they've got nothing to lose. We need to hit them hard and fast before they can follow through with their threat."

"Samesies."

Winnk gave up on leaving and instead approached the building where the thieves were in the basement.

"Heyo! I'm coming in. I ain't gonna bother tryna intimidate you to come out without a fight. But was considering maybe joining ya. See, at the moment, you're on the wrong side of the law. But that's just cuz we think you're thieves tryna steal stuff. Maybe you have a very righteous reason."

He shouted down to the basement thieves.

17:53, Today: Winnk Slornga rolled 6 using 1d20+3.  intimidation.

As Wink made to head down, Kraelix prepared himself in case this were going to turn physical by fastening his shield to his arm and stretching his arm and chest. He then reached for nature magic, transforming his staff into a magical weapon as he'd done before. cast Shillelagh

It was an odd situation with uncertain actions to come. He had never before taken part in being exploded, and he hoped today was not going to change that.

As the group progressed towards the bandit group, a young Khajit dressed in Mage Guild gowns caughtup to them and whispered something in Murmur's ear. The both of them exchanged a few hushed words, then Murmur hurried away towards the exit, while the Khajit approached the rest of the group.

"You must excuse the interruption", she says in a soft, purring voice. "The nice Marelle Decourcis has called the nice Murmur back to the Guild, for an urgent matter. This one is supposed to take her place at your side. Care to explain the situation to a poor, clueless Khajit?"

The small building contained only a pair of writing desks and a row of shelves with books and scrolls. The two clerks waiting outside the door with worried looks on their soft faces hastily explained that the upper floor was a mere office of records and requisitions, while the storage could be found in the basement. Winnk was handed a large key on a metal ring. A wooden flight of stairs led downwards to a heavy oak door with massive iron fittings.

Winnk's call elicited no answer, yet some commotion could be hear, as if heavy items were being pushed hastily against the door. Hushed voices, intelligible through the layers of wood, seemed to argue with each other.

"We mean it! Let us go away in peace or we blow the whole place to bits! We ain't afraid to die!" The voice that came through the door sounded young, afraid, and not particularly confident in its own words.

Winnk turned to the khajit, “stay back, I’ll explain later. Also, nice to meet you.”

He didn’t bow, because he was busy thinking about how to get the thieves alive. And he wasn’t very good at getting people alive.

He took the key with a nod, “all right, get out of the area just in case.”

The more he told people to stay back the more he thought he might be making a dumb choice.

“Fuck it.”

He walked in.

“Look I’m not here to try to intimidate you or anything. I’d sincerely like to hear your cause. I may be interested in helping you.”

Kraelix paused for a moment before backing up. There was no discussing whatever this new plan was, so he didn't know if the call to back up applied to him or not. All he'd seen from the man called Winnk so far was cowardice and a mouth that never stopped, so he could only assume he meant to go in and talk his way through it.

If the man got himself killed, so be it.

Kraelix backed up and motioned for the Kajit to follow him toward safety. (if there's something we can get behind for a little cover without being too far away, I'll take it. If not, just put maybe 25 feet of distance between me and the door.) He mentally prepared for a warding spell against elemental forces in case an explosion was imminent.

If it goes boom, I'll try to use Absorb Elements to gain resistance to the damage.

His hands. Knees. Lips. Shaking so hard.

“You don’t mind if I smoke do you?” He pulled out a cigar. It should calm his nerves.

He put the key into the door and turned it.

“You guys got a light?”


(I suppose the door opens into the barricade so I can’t open it???)

The lock clicked as expected, but the heavy objects propped against the door wouldn't let it open more than an inch wide. Through the crack, Winnk could see a dimly-lit room with fully-stocked shelvings. Something pushed back against the barricade.

"Come over here and push, you big useless lump!" a voice shouted from the inside. "It's what we pay you for! And you out there, don't light a smoke unless you wish to die!"

The strong, earthy smell of alchemical ingredients seeped through the door.

Science DC 15 to recognize the smell.

"Oi, fuckin' shut it."

It was indeterminable if the Orc's remark was to the yappy bandit or the wayward 'hero' with the cigar that's either lacking braincells or possessing sufficiently large enough cohones, but the scowl on her face was most certainly for both as she approached the door.

"If any of you were half as capable as you think, we'd not need a damn push right now! But, no, let's just be an arse to the one woman who can help, that's reasonable."

The massive, hulking giant of an orc SLAMS her hands down on either side of the barricade, body a brick wall pressed firmly behind her sassy cohort.

"Am I pushing hard enough? What do you think?" Eyes flicker, inquisitive, to the still open a crack door, to Winnk on the other side. Mischief gleams in her eye.

The smell of whatever was in there was what tipped winnk off. There wasn’t anything dangerous.

Heh. They almost had him.

“Good bluff. I gave you a chance to talk.”

He lit his cigar and threw the match at the door.

“Now talk.”

Kraelix hung back, unsure of what Winnk was actually planning. As he saw things starting to unfold, he realized the guy literally intended to blow everything up and dig through the rubble. As that realization hit him, be backed further away, pulling the kajit along with him.

That smell...

09:40, Today: Kraelix rolled 19 using 1d20+2.  Science.