|
Post by Kai Wren on Apr 19, 2019 14:58:13 GMT
It was almost impossible for Kara to hear absolutely everything, but she could just about make out enough to be concerned.
(Green is Gulken, Red is his contact)
“The cult ... ...”
“You ... ... the Eye?”
“Yes. ... ... ... you ... to capture?”
“Three. Two red, ... ....”
“We ... at ... a dozen. ... time is ... ... Gulken. Do not ... me.”
“They ... ... ready. We ... another two .... Do not fear.”
“I never ... orc. But if you ... not ... ... sacrifice, our bargain ... ... null ... void. And ... will ... consequences.”
And then Gulken's voice rose in naked fury.
“Do not threaten me, slave of Tiamat! The Eye must return to the faithful!”
|
|
|
Post by moralhazard on Apr 19, 2019 19:37:36 GMT
Kara watched from inside the crowd and Gulken and his contact made their way into the alleyway. She clenched her free hand into a fist when they threw the homeless man out. It hurt to do nothing, but she did nothing, just edged up close to the little alleyway and did her best to listen. It was hard – there was so much noise coming from the square, so many people totally unaware of Gulken, who he was and what he had done.
There was mention of a cult, something about an eye – said with an emphasis, such that Kara didn’t think it was a person’s eye. Something about capturing, about sacrifice, about bargains. Kara realized she was shaking. She couldn’t make it all out, and she couldn’t understand it either. She tried to fix the words in her mind as best as she could. The robed man had to be a dragon cultist; she had heard of them in Waterdeep. It was the only thing that made sense. A dragon cultist and a priest of Gruumsh, meeting about a bargaining that involved capturing and sacrifice.
What should she do?
Kara wanted to charge into the alley and thrust her blade through Gulken’s remaining eye. It would be an awkward angle, but maybe she could manage it. She wanted to run away and pretend this wasn’t happening. She wanted to find someone who could help; never so much had she missed the company of the Stone Shields.
The Stone Shields. There were no Stone Shields in Waterdeep, and previous few anywhere else. But Waterdeep had its own watch! She listened, intently, trying to get any more information she could, and tried to scan the square to spot the nearest guards. If she went to get them, how would she ever find Gulken again? Kara didn’t know that either, and the thought of losing him made her too afraid to abandon the alley, no matter how foolish it was to stay close. But she had a plan; she knew what she needed to do. She would listen, as long as she could, as best as she could, then she would find the guards, she would take this to them, and they would help her. They had to help her.
|
|
|
Post by Kai Wren on Apr 20, 2019 14:35:26 GMT
(Okay, give me a perception check to find a guard)
|
|
|
Post by moralhazard on Apr 20, 2019 16:00:10 GMT
Perception: iSrgOY3K1d20+21d20+2
|
|
|
Post by Kai Wren on Apr 21, 2019 9:01:32 GMT
The conversation between Gulken and his contact didn’t seem to have much further left to run. As she moved to find a guard, she did happen to see an exchange; a heavy purse from the figure in the robe passing into the hands of the hulking orc, who opened it up to inspect what was apparently part of his payment.
The challenge in finding a guard was distinguishing them from the other armed and armoured figures who made the square their place of business. There was, however, a small patrol – three watchmen in the characteristic uniform – making their way in a slow circuit around the square.
There wasn’t often trouble here, but it always paid to remind the mercenaries that there was an official authority in this place, and the trio looked a little curious as Kara made her way towards them. The eyebrow of the central man rose sharply as it became clear that she was in fact heading directly for them, rather than looking to pass them by.
“G’day, Ma’am.” He said, cautiously, “And how can I help you on this bright and peaceful day in Waterdeep, I wonder?”
Honestly, the last thing they wanted was trouble in the square – most other places in the City, three well-armed guards would be more than enough to handle anything that might need their attention. Here, though? They didn’t feel nearly so confident in their ability to handle trouble from the Square’s populace.
|
|
|
Post by moralhazard on Apr 21, 2019 19:18:15 GMT
“Good day,” Kara could feel her heart pounding in her chest, beating as hard as if she had just won a fight or run a race. She swallowed, hard, one hand gripping her glaive tightly.
She had to do this, Kara told herself. She had to, and so she would find a way; Helm commanded caution and planning and this was a plan, and so all she needed was the courage and will to carry it out. She reached her free hand into the pocket inside her tunic, over her heart, where she kept her insignia from the Stone Shields. She pulled it out, gripping it in her hand for courage as much as proof.
“Gulken Dead-Eye is an orc and a priest of Gruumsh,” Kara said, slowly and clearly. “In Sundabar I watched him tear the eyes out of and burn many I called friends,” slowly she opened her hand, showing them the insignia. “Now he is here in Waterdeep, and I -“ Kara faltered a little, and persevered, “and I think he means to do something terrible.” She looked between the guards, glanced back over her shoulder at the alley, and looked back at them again.
“Please - help,” Kara was horribly aware of the quaver in her voice, the desperation that she was sure was shining out through her eyes. Would she have believed herself, were she a guard still? She didn’t know, but - she had tried. Kara comforted herself with that; she had tried.
|
|
|
Post by moralhazard on Apr 21, 2019 19:22:00 GMT
Persuasion: qwFn56VC1d20-11d20-1
|
|
|
Post by Kai Wren on Apr 22, 2019 16:52:36 GMT
The guards looked between themselves for a moment. As upset as she clearly was, they didn’t doubt for a moment that she was telling the truth. The world was full of people who had witnessed horrors, and whilst none of them had been there at the occupation, they had heard rumours. Everyone had.
The problem was, even if this orc had committed terrible atrocities… they were atrocities committed in another place, far from Waterdeep’s walls.
“Calm down.” The more experienced Guard said, holding up his hands in a gentling gesture, as though Kara were a skittish horse that needed to be brought under control. He gave a gesture to the other two, and they spread out to block the view of the crowd who were – again – finding themselves drawn to the spectacle Kara risked making of herself.
“What crime do you think this man is going to commit in Waterdeep?”
The question was designed to focus the woman’s mind on the issues that the Guard could deal with. His tone was as kind as he could make it, but his meaning was clear; they needed more to go on than merely his history outside the City. They needed to know what he was up to here and now.
|
|
|
Post by moralhazard on Apr 22, 2019 17:06:30 GMT
Kara was shaking now. The guard told her to control herself, and Kara nodded, accepting it; something about the tone or gesture, or maybe just the familiarity of being commanded, was surprisingly soothing. She took a deep breath, closing her eyes for a moment to center herself, and tucked the badge of the Stone Shields back over her heart, pressing on it for a moment. She could feel the edge of the bear’s claw against her hand as well when she withdrew it from her tunic, and that steadied her as well; the memory of the bear and her courage always steadied her.
By the time Kara tried to speak again she was no longer shaking, and her heart was – well, not exactly calm, but not racing either. Her voice was steadier too, stronger. It had taken a few moments, but she looked considerably less like she was about to make a spectacle of herself. Kara focused, taking her mind back to her own training. What would she have said about the encounter to a superior? To a magistrate? If it wasn’t Gulken – if it was just some potential criminal – how would she have reported it?
“He met with a man dressed in a heavy cloak,” Kara said, eyes a little distant as she remembered. “They had planned to meet here, and wanted a private place to talk, but one – not too out of sight. I don’t think they trusted each other. They were discussing a trade – something called the Eye, perhaps something of Gruumsh. Gulken called the other a slave of Tiamet,” she left that without comment. “When discussing the trade, their bargain, the man in the cloak spoke of capturing and sacrifice. Some numbers were mentioned – three, then later a dozen.” Kara exhaled, long and slow, looking between the three guards again. “That’s all I could hear.” She would be honest, even if it hurt that she couldn’t tell them more.
Kara didn't plead her case or beg again; she had given them everything she could think of. It would be enough, or it wouldn't. She had done her duty, and she would stop Gulken - but she hoped, desperately, she would have some help in doing so.
|
|
|
Post by Kai Wren on Apr 22, 2019 18:31:22 GMT
The mention of Tiamat gave the guard some pause. Whilst nothing she had said other than that was actually illegal, worship of Tiamat was. The Cult of the Dragon Queen had done immeasurable damage and caused numerous problems to Waterdeep over its long and storied history. To collaborate with such individuals was a crime, and one that he had to take seriously.
“A man in a cloak isn’t much to go on.” He said, frowning deeply, “But we can talk to them. Are they here?”
It wasn’t a promise of aid, but it was better than nothing. They had no doubt about Kara’s sincerity, the only question was whether Gulken would be stupid enough to give them the confession they’d likely need to act – or whether the collaborator was still in the area.
(Give me a perception check to see if you can relocate the pair now that you’ve walked away from them and had a brief conversation.)
|
|
|
Post by moralhazard on Apr 22, 2019 18:44:46 GMT
Perception: TqT2Oc3p1d20+21d20+2
|
|
|
Post by moralhazard on Apr 22, 2019 18:59:14 GMT
Kara wanted to collapse with relief, but she kept the emotion in check, remaining firmly upright. She had done her best to look up the rules of Waterdeep, but they had mostly been relating to how covered her weapon needed to be and how illegal it was if someone used magic on an unsuspecting person (very, she had learned). That meant that she wasn’t exactly sure why what she had said gave the guards pause. All the same, she was extremely grateful that it had.
Kara glanced around, eyes scanning the square. “Gulken is there,” she pointed to the enormous orc; he wasn’t hard to spot. “I don’t see the other man but,” Kara swallowed, “that is the alley where they are last,” she could at least point that out, and she did.
Kara wanted desperately to leave; she could run away and just let the guards deal with all of this. Couldn’t she? But if Gulken convinced them it wasn’t a big deal, if he could explain or even just deny then she would be back where she had started. Except - except at least they would know of him now. They seemed like good guards, tough and responsible. They wouldn’t forget.
|
|
|
Post by Kai Wren on Apr 22, 2019 19:19:21 GMT
“Alright. Come with us.”
The guards didn’t want Kara just running off, it seemed – perhaps because, if it turned out that she had been deceiving them, there would be a reckoning for wasting their time. Regardless of the reasoning, the trio moved across the square, and the leader shouted:
“Hail. You there, orc. Hold a moment.”
Gulken did pause in his step, and his fingers flexed at his side. For a moment, it looked as though he might draw the massive axe he had slung over his back, but he reined himself in. He was no simple brute, after all. He was a priest – cunning, by the measure of his kind, and when he turned on the approaching humans, his snarl brought back all sorts of uncomfortable memories.
That hateful eye was only for Kara as she was shepherded back towards him.
”You again. He growled, moving forwards with purpose and intensity. At least, until the lead Guard lowered his halberd meaningfully. Gulken apparently respected the rules of the City enough not to strike immediately.
“This woman.” The orc spat, “Has been sniffing around me all day. I don’t know what she’s told you, but I have no interest in her.”
The guard held up his hand.
“She says you have been consorting with a follower of Tiamat. Is this true?”
The fury that flashed across Gulken’s face was impossible to miss, such intense wrath that it was impressive he didn’t draw his axe and start hewing into the Guard right then and there, but…
“I am here to sell the services of my warband. Nothing else.”
|
|
|
Post by moralhazard on Apr 22, 2019 20:53:32 GMT
Kara nodded. She didn’t want to see Gulken again – she didn’t want Gulken to see her again – but she followed the guards across the square. Kara gripped her glaive, tightly. At this point, she almost wished Gulken would swing his axe at her; it would be easier that way, cleaner. She could fight, and if she died, she would die knowing she had done what was right. The choices one had to make in a fight were simpler and cleaner than the choices one had to make outside of them – where to move, how to strike, when to swing one’s glaive. Kara could do those things; she could make those choices. She had trained for years to make them.
But… talking to strangers? Convicing them to do things, or even just convincing them of things? If Kara had ever been good at such things, she wasn’t now.
Gulken didn’t swing.
Kara swallowed a little, looking at him. He would deny it; he would deny it and walk away, and she would be left with nothing. Maybe less than nothing, if the guards were angry with her. All she wanted was to stay still and silent. She didn’t want Gulken’s hideous eye on her anymore. She didn’t want to talk to him; she had embarrassed herself enough for one day. If she could have brought herself to turn and flee, in a heartbeat she would have, but…
“I heard you,” Kara forced her voice out, as strong and clear as she could make it. She gripped her glaive so tightly her knuckles were white and strained, the corded muscles in her arm straining against the skin all the way to her shoulder. “You called him a slave of Tiamat.”
|
|
|
Post by Kai Wren on Apr 23, 2019 7:34:28 GMT
iSSE9r4Z1d20+31d20+3
|
|