Part 3: Hidden Enemies and Unexpected Allies: Session 13

[15:36] <@Kilarra> *****Second Darkness*****
[15:36] <@Kilarra> ~~~Chapter 1: Shadow in the Sky~~~
[15:37] <@Kilarra> -Session 13-
[15:37] <@Kilarra> As Katarina makes her way back to the Gold Goblin, a familiar hawk flies down and holds out a leg with a bit of parchment on it
[15:38] * Katarina takes the parchment, offering some of her trail rations to the hawk as she unravels the parchment.
[15:40] <@Kilarra> Ganmeed nibbles at the offered food and then perches on her shoulder. The parchment reads: "What have you found, and do you require assistance?" - Kwava. The opposite side is blank, with enough room for a brief reply.
[15:41] * Valnar_Quartzheart runs into Katarina on his way out of the Gold Goblin.
[15:41] * Valnar_Quartzheart "Why hello Lass, Whatcha got there?"
[15:42] <Katarina> "A-a l-letter from K-kwava." She frowns, not having any kind of writing instrument, and looks to see if the hawk may have been carrying that as well.
[15:43] <@Kilarra> The hawk does not have anything, but seems willing to wait right there on Kat's shoulder for a reply
[15:43] * Valnar_Quartzheart "Ah, well, Do you have anything to say to him?"
[15:45] * Katarina sighs. "I-I s-suppose just l-let him kn-know what happened..." She turns her eyes back towards the Gold Goblin. "W-we sh-should write back, a-after we search th-the G-Goblin."
[15:46] <@Kilarra> Chip the boar has stayed dutifully by Katarina's side, as Daroskt's last command was to keep her safe/
[15:47] * Valnar_Quartzheart looks at Kat curiously, "What are we searching the Gold Goblin for?"
[15:48] * Katarina frowns. "A-a d-deed, maybe... a-anything of v-value to sell," she mumbles, "Th-then w-we can g-get Daroskt b-back..."
[15:48] * Valnar_Quartzheart looks a bit angry now, "And why are we trying to get him back? Can't we let the dead rest?"
[15:49] * Katarina scowls. "H-he w-wasn't ready to die... a-and h-he's my friend. W-we're going to r-revive him."
[15:50] * Valnar_Quartzheart "Wasn't ready to die? Bah, Doesn't matter if your ready to die or not, the fact is that he is dead. And bringing him back is no good idea."
[15:51] * Katarina shakes her head and continues forward to the Goblin. "I-I'm going t-to h-help him..."
[15:52] * Valnar_Quartzheart "But as your friend I will help you search for the deed, and perhaps we can sell the damned place, but I will not have my gold going anywhere near bringing a dead man back."
[15:54] * Katarina nods, arriving at the Gold Goblin. She quickly moves to search the bodies of the bouncers, looking around the main hall for anything of note or value.
[15:55] * Valnar_Quartzheart follows Katarina back to the Gold Goblin and begins to search as well.
[15:56] <@Kilarra> Ganmeed waits patiently with Chip for the reply his master was expecting
[15:57] * Katarina searches thoroughly, moving from body to body on the floor, then to the catwalk, searching each room as she goes, searching the bodies of Saul and his bodyguards last.
[16:00] * Valnar_Quartzheart searches all of the Gold Goblin with Katarina just to make sure she didn't miss something.
[16:01] <@Kilarra> There are a number of locked doors in the Gold Goblin, but thankfully, Saul's body had a set of keys on it, presumably capable of opening most, if not all, the doors at the Gold Goblin. There's also his key-stump, his well-made Rapier, His Leather Armour, both of which were very well crafted, a pouch containing 25 gold pieces, a ruby earring that's probably valuable, two potions and two smaller vials marked as some kind of poison
[16:02] <@Kilarra> Bojask's body has two more potions, A Chain shirt, three throwing axes, and a hand axe and battle axe that are of superior quality
[16:03] * Katarina begins to take all of these items, lugging them on her person as she continues her search. "I-I'll j-just c-carry as much a-as I can, th-then we'll g-go sell it a-all and sp-split the gold?"
[16:03] <@Kilarra> The bouncers of the Gold Goblin mainly left behind worthless clubs, but a couple had Short Swords, and each of the four thieves had a Shortbow, with 62 arrows left between them. The bouncers and thieves have a total of 51 gold pieces between them, and Bojask had another 43 on him
[16:04] * Valnar_Quartzheart nods his head, agreeing with what Katarina says, "If you need me to carry anything let me know."
[16:05] <@Kilarra> The search turns up more than just weapons and trinkets once the keys are put to use however. An iron box inside the night vault, both of which could be unlocked with Saul's keys, yields the Title Deed to the Gold Goblin Gambling Hall.
[16:06] * Valnar_Quartzheart watches as kat opens the Vault, "Is that it?"
[16:07] * Katarina nods looking over the note. "Y-yes. S-so, sh-should w-we sell th-this place?"
[16:07] <@Kilarra> There's an odd stink coming from the wine cellar, a search of the kennel yields a signet ring amidst Pigsaw's droppings that Katarina would immediately recognize as having belonged to Larur Feldin. Saul's office, lastly, contains a number of financial records in Saul's handwriting
[16:07] <@Kilarra> It is also of note that the key stump of Saul's does not actually open any plainly visible door in the place.
[16:08] * Katarina sighs as she sees another life that was claimed by Saul, passing through and looking about the office for a quill and ink.
[16:08] <@Kilarra> There's an inkwell with a quill at the corner of Saul's desk
[16:11] * Katarina grabs the quill, dabbing it in the ink, and begins to write, detailing all that transpired since she had last seen Kwava. She brings the note up to claw-level for the bird after.
[16:11] <@Kilarra> Ganmeed nips Katarina's finger affectionately, then grasps the scroll and flies off
[16:13] <@Kilarra> Katarina, after sending Ganmeed off, can hear a yelp from the main room of the Gold Goblin.
[16:14] * Katarina blinks, having thought that no one else was in the Goblin, and draws her falchion, quietly moving towards the noise, hushing Valnar.
[16:16] * Valnar_Quartzheart is shocked at the occurence of Kat telling him to hush, only becuase he thought the place was empty, but decides to follow a good distance behind Kat, knowing that he would never be as quiet as she was.
[16:16] <@Kilarra> From up in the catwalks overlooking the main floor, Katarina can see the person who has come to the Gold Goblin. It's none other than the tiefling she saw at the House of the Silken Veil getting a massage. Except now she's clad in a breastplate bearting Calistria's symbol, with a whip curled around her shoulder.
[16:17] * Kilarra straights her hair a bit after Ganmeed's flyby, "Ruddy bird." She looks around, "Anyone here? I'm looking for the lady who left the Half-Orc at the House of the SIlken Veil."
[16:17] * Valnar_Quartzheart walks behind Katarina.
[16:18] * Katarina blinks and sheathes her falchion, replying down to the tiefling, "Y-yes, w-we're u-up h-here... One m-moment." Katarina begins to quickly make her way down to the main hall, bidding Valnar to follow.
[16:19] * Valnar_Quartzheart follows.
[16:19] * Kilarra waits, tapping a hoof. She's not the most patient of people
[16:21] * Katarina arrives as quickly as she can with a quizzical eyebrow raised, unsure why that tiefling in particular came to the Goblin. "H-hello?"
[16:22] * Valnar_Quartzheart right behind Katarina, "Why hello there lassie."
[16:22] * Valnar_Quartzheart bows while greeting the tiefling.
[16:23] * Kilarra nods, then extends a hand, "Name's Kilarra, one of Shorafa's inquisitors. She sent me here because, with everything that's been going on here, she wants to keep a bit of a closer eye on you." She nods her head faintly in Valnar's direction. "Also, she sent me to mention something she forgot about your friend. She said you've got twenty days between the spell and natural decay, so you should make sure your other business is wrappe
[16:24] * Kilarra -so you should make sure your other business is wrapped up first."
[16:25] * Katarina timidly extends her own hand and shakes Kilarra's. "O-Okay... th-thank you, I s-suppose..."
[16:26] * Kilarra nods, "So, while I'm in your company, you're entitled to any help I can provide so long as it leads to the bottom of this mess. So, what have you got so far?"
[16:27] * Kilarra looks right into Katarina's eyes for a moment.
[16:28] * Valnar_Quartzheart watches the two exchange conversation and doesn't exactly feel comfortable being in the company of two women and having no men by his side to charge into battle with.
[16:28] * Katarina frowns and looks away shyly, occupying herself by pulling out the keystump. "Th-this p-probably l-leads somewhere... th-though w-were not sure wh-where..."
[16:31] * Kilarra looks at the keystump. "Alright, so we should probably find that out. And the easiest way to follow anything is to follow the money. Vancaskerkin leave any financial records?"
[16:32] * Valnar_Quartzheart looks up realizing he can provide some insight,  "Yes in his office."
[16:32] * Kilarra smirks at Katarina, "You have really pretty eyes by the way. Once we wrap this up, you fancy a roll in the hay?"
[16:33] * Valnar_Quartzheart is caught off guard, though the comment is not meant towards him.
[16:33] * Katarina blinks, confused as she blushes brightly. "Wh-wh-what?"
[16:34] * Kilarra shrugs, "Oh come on, I'm standing right next to you, you must have heard that."
[16:35] * Katarina 's cheeks light up even more and she seems to shrink slightly. "I-I-I, uhm, I n-no th-thanks?"
[16:36] * Kilarra pouts, "Too bad. Oh well, where's Saul's office?"
[16:37] * Katarina quickly scurries in the direction of Saul's whether the others follow or not.
[16:38] * Valnar_Quartzheart follows.
[16:38] * Kilarra makes her way after Katarina, her cloven hooves clacking as she walks. Who needs shoes?
[16:38] * Kilarra flicks her tail idly
[16:39] * Katarina points to the office desk and financial records upon entering the room.
[16:40] * Kilarra takes a seat and begins looking throught them.
[16:41] <@Kilarra> After an hour or so studying the records, Kilarra notices that something is off. Much of the records have been doctored, and many of the profits of the Gold Goblin were actually being funnelled to someone labeled 'D.A.'
[16:41] * Kilarra looks to Katarina, "Saul was funneling his money to someone."
[16:42] * Valnar_Quartzheart "Why would Saul need to be giving his hard earned gold to someone else?"
[16:43] <@Kilarra> Around the time that Kilarra anounces this, Ganmeed swoops back into the room and holds out another scroll for Katarina.
[16:43] * Kilarra glowers at the bird, then looks to Valnar, "You tell me. He have any paramours or mysterious benefactors?"
[16:46] * Valnar_Quartzheart "Bah, Hell if i know."
[16:47] * Katarina takes the second scroll, quickly unrolling it to read.
[16:47] <Katarina> "K-kwava s-said something a-about a renegade e-elf..."
[16:47] <@Kilarra> "Sent Ganmeed ahead, I'm on my way to join you. Sorry for your loss, I should have come sooner."
[16:49] * Kilarra strokes her chin with her tail, "A renegade elf..." she eyes the note, "What'cha got there?"
[16:49] * Katarina hands over the note, "K-kwava is c-coming h-here."
[16:50] * Kilarra takes the note and looks at it, "This Kwava a friend of yours? Maybe he can put the pieces together."
[16:51] <Katarina> "Mhm... H-he t-told us th-that Saul was t-tricking us."
[16:53] * Kilarra nods, "Yeah, Shorafa heard about the ambush. Apparently Saul tried to have Zirphas, that gross Wererat, send some of his blokes to off you."
[16:54] * Katarina nods. "A-about that..." She pulls out the note that Kwava had given them before. "C-can y-you read th-this?"
[16:54] * Kilarra takes the note and looks it over.
[16:56] <@Kilarra> Kilarra is just barely able to discern the meaning
[16:58] * Kilarra recites the note in plain common; "My ally Saul Vancaskerkin is sending a group of victims to the Boneyard. They’ll be at the old rendezvous tomorrow night. Kill them all—we don’t want to induct them to our gang. Feel free to keep whatever valuables they have in their purses. WHen I see proof that they are dead, you'll be paid and I'll consider you part of the family."
[16:59] * Katarina frowns. "Th-then Kwava i-is trustworthy." she notes, looking to Valnar.
[16:59] * Kilarra looks to Katarina, "Sounds like you got lucky and Zirphas sent a bunch of recently converted rats. Probably didn't want to risk anyone more valuable given the reputation you guys have been making for yourselves."
[17:00] * Valnar_Quartzheart simply shrugs at the comment.
[17:01] <@Kilarra> A short while later, Ganmeed flies back to the entrance hall of the Gold Goblin as Kwava arrives. He quickly follows the bird's direction and joins the party up in Saul's office. "Hoi."
[17:01] * Kilarra oggles the exotic looking elf, "Well hoi yourself." She licks her lips.
[17:02] * Katarina waves lightly at Kwava. "H-hello."
[17:03] <@Kilarra> Ganmeed perches on Kwava's shoulder. The Elf nods, although he looks oddly at the tiefling, not recognizing her. "Who is your new friend?"
[17:03] * Kilarra smiles and stands up, extending a hand. "Kilarra of the House of the Silken Veil. It is -very- nice to meet you."
[17:04] * Katarina distracts herself with petting Chip.
[17:04] <@Kilarra> Chip moinks appreciatively.
[17:05] * Valnar_Quartzheart watches the tiefling and laughs a little bit.
[17:05] <@Kilarra> Kwava nods, "I see. So, if you are with that house, what has brought you here to my allies?"
[17:06] * Kilarra smirks, "Oh, this and that. Mainly keeping an eye on them for Shorafa and helping them settle this whole thing. What brings a hot mahogany hunk of meat like you here?"
[17:07] <@Kilarra> Kwava looks to Katarina, wondering if it was okay to tell the tiefling what he had told them after the ambush
[17:07] * Katarina is still petting Chip and /not/ paying attention to the tiefling.
[17:08] <@Kilarra> Kwava clears his throat, "Is this new companion of yours trustworthy?"
[17:08] * Valnar_Quartzheart "As far as I know."
[17:09] * Katarina frowns and nods. "Y-yes."
[17:10] <@Kilarra> Kwava nods and turns back to the amorous tiefling, "I am Kwava of the Shin'Rakorath. I was sent to this city in pursuit of a renegade elf by my superiors. I believe that my querey was working closely with Saul Vancaskerkin."
[17:10] * Kilarra smirks, "Then I think I know who D.A. is now. The only question is, where is he? Or she?"
[17:11] <@Kilarra> Kwava notes, "She, I believe."
[17:11] <Katarina> "C-can y-you give us m-more d-detailing the e-elf?"
[17:14] <@Kilarra> Kwava nods, "I know little specifics, but my superiors believe this elf is from the Mierani Forests, so she would have a paler complexion than me, as I come from the Ekujae to the south. As I am only a recently inductee to the Shin'Rakorath, I believe this mission to be a test of my trustworthiness to them. They did not yet give me details of her exact crimes."
[17:15] <@Kilarra> Kwava notes, "However, given recent events, I am beginning to think those crimes are very sinister indeed."
[17:15] * Kilarra is still oggling the elf himself, only half paying attention
[17:16] * Katarina nods. "Th-then, p-perhaps w-we sh-should look f-for somewhere t-to use that k-key?"
[17:17] * Kilarra blinks, and then thinks about the key conundrum, remembering why she was actually here. "Have you searched everwhere for what that key might go to?" Fun times with the sexy elf could come later.
[17:18] <Katarina> "N-not y-yet... O-or, w-we haven't f-found anything yet..."
[17:19] * Valnar_Quartzheart "I remember a hollow spot."
[17:19] * Kilarra nods, "I see." She strokes the side of her head with her tail, looking contemplative. "Do you have a plan for the building maybe? Or the deed, there might be someth- a hollow spot you say?"
[17:19] <Katarina> "W-where?"
[17:19] * Valnar_Quartzheart "Down in the pit where Saul was killed."
[17:23] * Kilarra stands up, "Show me please."
[17:24] * Valnar_Quartzheart goes down to where he heard the hollow spot.
[17:24] <@Kilarra> Kwava nods his agreement, "A hollow in a pit could be the missing piece."
[17:24] * Katarina follows after in behind Valnar.
[17:25] <@Kilarra> The sand in the pit is stained with blood where Saul fell, marking the spot plainly.
[17:25] <@Kilarra> Kwava follows as well
[17:25] * Kilarra too
[17:28] * Kilarra spies the blood stain, "Red marks the spot I take it?" She wiggles her cloven digits in the sand and frowns, that was grating.
[17:29] <@Kilarra> The bloodstain where Saul fell is, notably, right smack in the middle of the sandpit
[17:29] * Valnar_Quartzheart "Aye that is where the sound came from."
[17:30] * Kilarra smriks at Valnar, "Perhaps you ought to start digging then."
[17:30] * Valnar_Quartzheart nods and starts to dig his way through.
[17:30] * Katarina doesn't mind digging, and begins to dig, if only to solve this more quickly in order to help Daroskt.
[17:31] <@Kilarra> the bloodstaind sand is heavier, but still not too difficult to shift. Beneath it lies a wooden cover.
[17:31] <@Kilarra> *The bloodstained
[17:32] * Valnar_Quartzheart looks at the wooden cover, "Well?"
[17:32] * Katarina tries to pry open the cover.
[17:33] <@Kilarra> The cover slides over easily, revealing a large keyhole right in the middle of the floor
[17:34] * Kilarra smirks, "I think we found our answer then."
[17:36] * Katarina pulls out the keystump, placing it into the keyhole, turning it to unlock and open.
[17:43] <@Kilarra> The lock clicks as the key turns. The heavy stone door, hidden beneath the sand, opens upwards.
[17:45] * Katarina blinks, approaching the stone door. "Th-then, l-let's g-get going..."
[17:46] * Valnar_Quartzheart nods, "Mind if I led the way?"
[17:46] * Katarina shrugs, waiting for Valnar to lead as she pulls out her bow, being cautious.
[17:47] <@Kilarra> Kwava holds out a hand, "Hold a moment. Are you certain you are prepared to venture down there right away? If nothing else, I would like a moment to send a message away to my superiors about what I have thus far found."
[17:47] * Valnar_Quartzheart pulls out his axe and shield and heads into the passage that the stone door opened up.
[17:47] * Valnar_Quartzheart stops as Kwava says something.
[17:47] * Kilarra shrugs, "I got everything I need through the temple for the moment, what about you?" she looks to Katarina in particular.
[17:49] * Katarina blinks. "Ah... I-I sh-should p-probably s-sell everything w-we found h-here." She nods to Kwava. "S-sent the n-note. I-I'll be back..."
[17:50] * Valnar_Quartzheart follows Katarina to sell the items.
[17:51] * Katarina hasn't left yet.
[17:51] * Katarina scratches her head. "W-we'll leave tomorrow m-morning... y-you b-both can use th-the rooms h-here to r-rest if you'd l-like?"
[17:51] * Valnar_Quartzheart was planning on following her when she left.
[17:52] <@Kilarra> Kwava nods and shuts the trap door, returning the key to Katarina after locking it. "I do not mind, although I technically do not sleep." He gives a light chuckle.
[17:53] * Kilarra smirks slyly, "Can I room with the elf?"
[17:53] * Katarina holds out the potions and poisons along with the ruby pendant Kilarra, wondering if she can tell what they all were. She blinks and looks away abashedly at Kwava, embarrassed at the slight oversight... and blushes at Kilarra's comment.
[17:53] <@Kilarra> Kwava shakes his head at that, "I am here on a serious mission and do not have time for such frivolities at present."
[17:53] * Kilarra pouts and grumbles something about 'prudes'.
[17:54] * Kilarra glances at the potions, "What'cha got there? Or do you not know?"
[17:54] * Valnar_Quartzheart goes to sleep in his bed, until the morning when he and kat would go and sell the items that they found.
[17:54] * Valnar_Quartzheart waits to hear what Kilarra has to say about the potions and ruby.
[17:55] * Katarina shakes her head. "I-I do n-not...."
[17:57] * Kilarra takes the potions, looking at the colour and texture. "These two," she indicates the ones taken from Saul, "Are Barkskin potions. They'll make your skin tougher and harder to cut. The other two are light curative potions (Cure Light Wounds)."
[17:58] * Kilarra notes the label on the smaller vials, "These, I'd wager, are some kind of poison."
[17:59] * Katarina nods. "A-are you able to d-detect magic? D-daroskt was...."
[18:00] * Kilarra nods, "I can, yeah. Why, got someting other than the potions?"
[18:00] * Katarina holds the ruby earrings out.
[18:02] * Kilarra casts Detect Magic. "It's a nice piece of jewellery, but it's not magic. However," she squints, "That chain shirt is, as is the leather armour in your pack. The rapier too."
[18:04] * Katarina nods. "Th-thanks." She puts the jewelry away and looks to the potions. "V-Valnar c-can have th-those, b-but I'd like o-one of those b-barkskin..."
[18:04] * Kilarra nods, "Suit yourself, I brought soem of my own from the temple as a precaution."
[18:05] * Kilarra kinda liked the earring, but hadn't really done anything yet to be asking for a share of the loot.
[18:06] <@Kilarra> Katarina catches Kilarra's glance at the jewellery
[18:07] * Katarina takes the earring back out and hands them over to Kilarra. "Y-you c-can keep th-them, if y-you like them..."
[18:09] * Kilarra blinks, "Really? That's awfully generous of you." She takes the earring and fiddles with it a moment, before pinning it to her slightly point ear. "How's it look?"
[18:10] * Katarina smiles. "I-It looks nice, a-and, n-no problem..." She turns, starting to put away the rest of the looted goods. "V-valnar? R-ready to s-sell all of th-this?"
[18:11] * Kilarra smiles. She might get some action yet. Plus compliments are always nice anyways. Her smile however, shows a lot of razor sharp, needle-like teeth.
[18:12] * Valnar_Quartzheart looks to Katarina, "Aye."
[18:12] * Katarina nods, heading out to sell the goods, calling back to Kwava and Kilarra as she goes. "W-we'll be b-back soon."
[18:15] <@Kilarra> Katarina and Valnar go shopping. Kilarra heads up to the House of the Silken Veil for a quickie and a status report, and Kwava sends his message to his superiors. Then they all come back for a night of rest at the Gold Goblin, where there's plenty of food and drink to make a meal, and to recover from their arduous fight earlier that day.
[18:16] <@Kilarra> -End Session-
[18:16] <@Kilarra> Rewards: No CRs
[18:16] <@Kilarra> Story Bonus: Completion of Part 3, 1240 Experience each