Notes

3/31/2007

Players: Kathi, JC, Chris
Characters: DM, Elendil & Jolley, Billi

Begin on the morning of the 24th of Eliant.

[Good morning Silverymoon! It's gonna be a beautiful sunny day with temperatures ranging from the mid-teens to low twenty's across the forecast area. Look for steady winds from the nothwest throughout the morning and afternoon hours. It's beach weather if you're a frost giant but everyone else stay bundled up and keep those hearth fires burning. This mornings weather forecast is brought to you by Melee. Having a boring day? Try new and improved Melee to really liven things up. And by Old Rotgut Stout. Need something to get your sweetheart in that special mood? Old Rotgut Stout. Presented by the AD&D Network Weather Team.]

Billi pops out of bed late morning and spends an hour or so making sure he's ready for any magical castings he may have to make during the day. Then it's off to elevenses for breakfast, to pick up the feather he had enchanted the day before at the Topaz Emporium, and then lunch before heading off to Elendil's to see what he and Jolley had have managed to learn about Teal and Arzhul. However, when he gets there Elendil has already left.

"I'm sorry Billi." Coweta tells him. "Maybe if you'd gotten here earlier in the day."

"Oh that's alright. I'll see him later anyway." Billi says politely. "Tell him I came by." The halfling pulls his cloak tightly about him and sets out for the Fleet Feet office almost without realizing it.

Meanwhile, Elendil has awakened surprisingly refreshed and renewed and takes a quick shower before having breakfast in the apartment common room. He even smiles at Lasarra and tells her he was pleased to meet Alicia and Jolley.

"Honestly I don't know what she sees in him." Lasarra begins. "He's such a brute, not like you at all, and to think she's actually going to marry him. I mean, not that there's anything wrong with getting married mind you but don't you think you should wait to find the right man? You know, someone with refinement and taste and a few coins to rub together, not someone who's going to be off adventuring half the year or more."

When Lasarra turns to grouch at someone for slightly bumping into her Elendil takes the opportunity to make a quick exit and is out the door by the time she turns back around. He grabs a carraige to Woodhall to find Jolley and the two decide on the Bright Blade Brandished for lunch. Elendil gets them a private booth.

"Look," Jolley says seriously as the two sit down. "We need to let Dorren know what's going on cause he's got people that can help."

Elendil nods. "I agree. My advisor said it was a good idea as well. Can you get in touch with him quickly?"

Jolley grins. "Don't have to. I saw him sitting at a table when we came in. Hang on I'll go grab him."

Elendil shakes the mans hand firmly a moment later when he and Jolley return to the private booth. He tells Dorren of the nature of his first contact with Teal in many years, and that it now appears she is in direct danger from Arzhul who is definitely here in the city. He also tells him of the demand for the item, which is safe at Gwen's Relics or with Gwen herself, that is to be payment for Teal's safe return.

"I'm not sure what I expect you to do." Elendil says honestly. "Maybe keep an eye on the relic shop to see if anything happens before Gwen returns. Arzhul certainly knows who I am so he'll be able to find me if he has to after I've retrieved whatever it is. Or keep an eye on my fathers home if I could ask that? I'd hate to think he come to harm for something he knows nothing about."

"I'll have some folks keep their eyes open." Dorren says rubbing his chin. "I appreciate your honesty Brother Elendil. We know little about about the Night Mask but hopefully this will help. I'll also put a set of eyes on you too until this thing plays out if you don't mind. Nothing intrusive of course."

Elendil nods. "Okay."

"Good." Dorren says. "You'll know my folks by the phrase 'dragons tit'. Oh, and I don't recommend you go to retrieve the item alone. Take Jolley with you at least. We'll be watching but he's a good man in a pinch."

"Why Dorren, I didn't think you noticed." Jolley says grinning.

"Oh shut up ya canvas." Dorren says with a mock irritation. "I know what your good for."

Elendil and Jolley share a good laugh as the the three men disperse and Jolley claps Elendil on the back as they are walking out. "See, I told ya he was funny."

"Let's check Gwen's and the Dancing Goat." Elendil says once they're outside. "Then we gotta find Billi and let him know what's going on."

Gwen's is still closed and when they get to the Dancing Goat the bartender informs him that the message he'd left the previous day for Teal is missing and that none of the establishment staff knows how or why.

"Damn." Elendil bangs his fist on the bar. "I should have warned you I half expected something like this to happen. At least it has found it's way to the intended audience, of that I'm sure."

As Elendil and Jolley are leaving the Dancing Goat they both spot Arzhul walking away from them at a normal pace toward the bridge. Although it looks exactly him, Elendil's initial reaction is that there is something different about this person and he is instantly skeptical, despite the appearance, that it is actually him. However, he has to know for sure.

"Curt! Hey Curt!" Elendil calls out tapping Jolley and starting to jog after the man. "Hang on, wait for us."

The man stops and turns and seems genuinely surprised we're referring to him.

"I am sorry but as you can see I am not this Curt person you are looking for." He says with a flourish and a fancy accent that, while it's the same voice, sounds nothing like the man that threatened Teal. "I am Tirnach, Tirnach Midnight at your service."

Elendil studies the man for a moment. "I... uh... my apologies sir but you look just like a friend of ours. Jolley, don't you think he looks like Curt."

"Had me fooled." Jolley says.

"I assure you there is only one Tirnach Midnight, Sorcerer Supreme. And I have never encountered anyone who mistook me for someone else." Tirnach says somewhat haughtily. "I am sorry I am not your friend Brother..."

"Elendil, Elendil Covenant." Elendil says extending his hand which Tirnach accepts and shakes. "This is my friend Jolley. I'm sorry we interrupted you."

"Not at all. Please feel free to look me up if you are even in need of a man of my skills. I am very well known."

"Thank you I will." Elendil says. "Sorry to have bothered you."

And with that the mans turns and continues across the bridge at the same leasurely pace.

"That was weird." Elendil says to Jolley after the man is out of earshot. "That's him but the walk, the talk... that's not him."

"Isn't Arzhul supposed to be a master of disguize?" Jolley asks. "Maybe that's the M.O. Become someone else that everybody knows and no one thinks twice about. It would certainly be effective."

"Come on," Elendil says. "We'll probably find Billi at the Dragonfly Cave."

---

When Billi gets to Fleet Feet he is almost run over by Murial who comes dashing around the corner.

"Billi, what are you doing here?"

"Well I came to see you of course." Billi replies.

"That's sweet. Oh, but I can't stay. I have to deliver this to Elendil. Do you know where he is?"

"No, he wasn't home when I went by earlier." Billi says looking down. "But we could try again. Come on. What's the letter? Who's it from? Do you think it's from his sister?"

"No, I don't think so." Murial says. "But I'm really not supposed to tell you who it's from even when I do know."

"Aww." Billi says dejectedly. "Well, come on lets go find him so we can find out!" The two halflings make their way across town to the Palace District but are intercepted by the Lady Coweta when they try to dart through the building entryway and get up to Elendil's apartment.

"Elendil is not here at this time." Coweta says politely but firmly. "Can I help you with something?"

"Oh, well we have a letter for him." Billi says excitedly. "Has he been back? Have you seen him? Do you know where he went?"

"No, I'm sorry." Coweta replies. "But I would be happy to hold it for him and deliver it upon his return."

"I'm only supposed to give it to him." Murial says.

"Hey, you know if we knew what was in it we might have a better idea of where he went and how to find him." Billi says. "Let me see that."

"It is not appropriate for you to intercept other peoples private communications." The paladin informs the halfling in no uncertain terms and tone. "I would be happy to hold it for him but you are not to open it!"

"Well I was just trying to help." Billi says.

"That's okay, I can wait for a little bit." Murial says in a timid voice. "Hopefully he'll come back soon."

"Would you like some tea while you wait in the common room?" Coweta asks. "I was just about to have some myself if you'd care to join me."

"Hey, wait a minute." Billi stops as he looks down a cross street . "That's Elendil and Jolley right there! Hey guys!" Billi grabs Murial's hand. "Come on."

The envelope Murial hands to him is finely ingraved on rich parchment. "It's an invitation to dinner this evening at the Bronze Pegasus, at the residence of Rezenn Latessa." Elendil announces after reading it and tunring it over to see if there's anything on the other side. "There's an RSVP card I am to return to the carrier."

Murial nods. Elendil looks over at Jolley and then Billi.

"I'm skeptical." He tells them. "This has got to have something to do with Teal. I need information but I don't want to walk into some planned setup or trap set for dinnertime. Let's RSVP now, in person as a group with the messenger and see what happens."

"Trying to throw 'em off if it is a setup, I get it." Jolley says.

"What do you think Billi?" Elendil asks.

"It's kinda sneaky, I like that." Billi says. "I think it's a good plan but Elendil, I didn't know you thought that way."

Elendil chuckles. "We do what we must to survive my friend. Come on."

Murial leads us to the Bronze Pegasus and the door to Rezenn's apartment. When it is opened by a tall Moon Elf, graceful in demeanor and appearance, Murial says, "Miss Latessa I brought you the RSVP."

Rezenn surveys the group of us. "Thank you young lady."

Murial turns to depart but Billi stops her. "Hey, where you going?"

"Billi, I gotta go back to work! Remember?"

"Oh yea, well, see you later?"

Murial nods and darts off.

"You're early," Rezenn says, "But please come in, sit down. I have some news you may wish to hear." Seeing nothing overtly hostile the group settles into a seating area. Rezenn gets a box from a shelf and gets out a large moonstone. She strokes it several times and makes an arcane gesture. The stone begins to glow softly and she sets it down on the table next to her.

"It will prevent us from being overheard by any means known." She tells them turning to Elendil. "I am here with an offer. My mentor and employer is aware of the unpleasant situation you and Teal find yourselves in and he may be able to help by providing information regarding exactly where she is and who or what may be guarding her."

Elendil looks at his companions. "We're listening."

"In return he only asks for a brief time with the item, to examine and learn from it, after it and your sister are recovered safely."

"What do you know about it that we don't?" Elendil asks after a moment of scratching his beard.

Rezenn strokes the moonstone again. "It is a cube made of solid gold three inches on a side. On one of the faces is an intracately detailed etching of a brain.Your sister and her companion were hired to steal it for someone who wanted it destroyed and steal it they did, but when it came time to deliver it to the intermediary they fled." Rezenn pauses looking from Billi to Jolley to Elendil. "This is why Teal is in danger and why someone is trying very hard to retrieve it."

"And how do you, how does your employer know all of this?"

Rezenn smiles. "I work for a sage. A senior member in an organization of sages which is intentionally not widely known. It is their job to know what needs to be known so that the information can be used to benefit. More I can not tell you, but I assure you the offer is real."

"You said they stole it for someone who wants it destroyed. Why would someone want to destroy such a thing?"

Rezenn strokes the moonstone again. "Something new is coming into the world. People are being born with abilities manifested solely from the power of their minds. Abilities that require no magical study and no divine backing. It is believed by my employer that this item has something to do with these abilities. He has not spoken to me of the reasons someone might want it destroyed but I did get the feeling his motives for wanting to examine it, and learn the identity of this person, are personal as well as professional. He knows only that it is a woman."

Elendil nods. "Obviously at this point I can not guarantee anything but I would be grateful for any help you could be, any information you could provide, that would help to safely free my sister."

"So you do not reject the idea?"

Elendil pauses glancing at Billi who nods nearly imperceptibly. "I do not reject the idea. In fact, I would consider it depending on how things work out but that is all I can say for the moment."

"Splended!" Rezenn says. "Are you hungry? I can have dinner prepared early if you like."

Elendil looks at Billi who nods and then at Jolley.

"Hey, you know I'm always ready for a good meal." Jolley says.

"Good." Rezenn says rising. "Pardon me a moment and I shall see to the details."

Dinner is elven bread, cheese, lamb kabobs and asparagus and as Elendil eyes the black cherry tort set for him for desert he asks, "You said my sister and her companion stole the item. Who did they steal it from and when? How long has she been on the run?"

"I'm sorry I don't know." Rezenn says wiping at the corner of her mouth. "I will ask but I do not know if he knows or will tell me."

It's still early when we break from dinner, thank Rezenn for her hospitality, and depart the Bronze Pegasus.

"What did you make of that?" Elendil says a few minutes later as they are stopped at street corner waiting for a small caravan of horse drawn carts to pass by. "A secret organization of sages? I don't know if I believe it or not but I get the feeling there's something she's not telling us about her employer or the cube."

"Agreed." Jolley says. "I got a weird read from her, we should be careful."

"Well gentlemen, I have devotions and meditation to attend to. Let's meet at the corner nearest to Gwen's at 10 bells in the morning and go as a group to see if she's returned."

The group splits up and Elendil returns home. He locks his door prior to beginning communion and sits in the chair by the fire afterward, relaxing in the warm glow of the small hardwood logs burning.

...hiss.CRACKLE.squeek.(tuning)(tuning)and that's the weather for today, the 25th of Eliant. This forecast is provided as a public service by this station in conjunction with the AD&D Network Weather Team, and made possible by viewers like you.]

"Huh!" Elendil starts awake and realizes he's fallen asleep in the chair. The fire is now just embers and the night sky dark outside the window. With a stretch and a yawn he drags himself off to bed. He allows himself a few minutes roll over time in the morning but is downstairs for breakfast shortly after 8 bells and at the designated meeting place a few minutes early. Billi and then Jolley arrive a few minutes later.

As they approach Gwen's shop it apparent there's some kind of commotion within as several people are fleeing and there is a young man standing outside who intercepts us as we approach.

"No, no. Look out! You can't go in! There's monsters loose in there."

"Monsters?!? What are you talking about boy?" Jolley snaps at him reaching for the hilt of his sword. "What happened?"

"We'd only just reopened a little bit ago when a man brought in some kind of white snake he wanted Gwen to take a look at. A moment later cages were popping open and I got out quick."

"What kind of monsters? Be quick lives may be at stake."

"A couple cockatice, some shocker lizards, a dark mantle and I don't know what else." The lad stammers. "We'd only gotten them unloaded last night."

"Come on." Jolley says headed for the door.

"Wait!" Elendil says halting him. "Where's Gwen?"

"Still in there somewhere I think. I haven't seen her come out."

"Damn! Make yourself useful then and go find the Silver Knights." Elendil says dismissing him. "Jolley, Billi, hang on. I've got a spell to go in first. Elendil comes up to the open doorway and casts Sound Burst within and then Bless on the three of them. Billi then slips in to the side followed by Jolley to the other side.

"Jolley, careful there's something that looks like it's stunned from the blast on the shelf near your head." Billi calls out.

"I got it. Something else on the shelves at the back of the room too." Jolley replies seeing movement.

MELEE

Jolley throws his cloak over the stunned cockatrice and wraps it up into near immobility as Billi slips through, and closes the door leading into a back room. Elendil advances more cautiously keeping an eye on the back shelves. It's another cockatrice that is trying to hide behind a large stuffed lizard, there is also what appears to be a petrified patron with a look of shock and fear frozen on his stone face.

"Whoop! Look out for the rust monster!" Elendil hears Billi call from the other room. Billi is then attacked by the dark mantle.

When Elendil gets to the back of the room the cockatrice gives up tying to hide behind the lizard and flaps over to a higher shelf on the other side of the room, and staying just out of Elendil's reach while doing so. It obviously wants no part of a fight. Jolley tucks the one he's holding tightly under his arm and opens the door to the back room. There is complete, sudden and absolute Darkness within.

"Billi? You okay?" Jolley yells in.

"Yea, but don't come in!" The halfling replies. There's something in here that just caused the magical darkness."

Elendil comes to the doorway to cast Dispel Magic just as Billi has backed out of the spell affect area and looks around at the rest of the back room. The first thing he sees is the loose rust monster eating a spiral iron staircase going up to the second floor. He also sees the petrified form of a woman.

The Dispel Magic spell is successful and the the darkness is lifted. Looking in both Elendil and Jolley can see a rubbery cloak like thing (a dark mantle) moving along the floor towards the wall and begin to crawl up the side of the wall toward the ceiling. All of a sudden Jolley is bitten by the cockatrice he's holding that has managed to work enough of its beak loose to get at him. Fortunately he is not petrified and seeing a box within enters the room, stuffs the cockatrice in cloak and all, and slams the lid. Elendil casts another Sound Burst, this one right under the dark mantle which falls from the ceiling to the floor with a hard flop. He prods it roughly with the steel end piece of his staff but there is no reaction and no movement.

Meanwhile, Billi has managed to lure the rust monster back into its cage and while it is happily eating the pile of bait the halfling struggles to lift and close the lid. With a surge of second effort he slams it shut and leans against it as Jolley comes over to pin it closed.

"Give me a hand up." Billi says to Jolley. "I want to check out the upstairs." Jolley lifts Billi onto the bottom of the stairway which is now missing the bottom four feet thanks to the rust monster, and then lifts himself up as well. Elendil returns from informing Gwen's assisstant of the situation shaking his head in disgust that the man has neither gone for the Silver Knights to help nor come in to offer any assistance of his own.

When Billi and Jolley get upstairs they can see three shocker lizards, one of which is very large, one of which is peering out from under the alchemy table with an unusual look of intelligence about it, and a third that is moving back and forth so quickly along the far wall that it's little more than a blur. Jolley begins to feel the hair on the back of his neck stand up. As they advance into the room Elendil lifts himself onto the stairs to follow. The large shocker lizard and the hasted, blurry one retreat. Billi and the other shocker lizard keep an eye on each other as Billi approaches and then begins to examine the items on the alchemical table. He calls out to Jolley which startles the shocker lizard under the table and it lets out a shock.

"Yowtch!" Billi calls out.

"Sorry, I'm sorry." Comes a small voice.

"Wow, you can talk?" Billi says looking down at it.

"Not until just a bit ago when I drank from the bottled pool." The lizard says. "But back then I didn't know I couldn't talk."

"Bottled pool?" Billi says confused. "Oh, you must mean a potion." There are several obvious potions on the table, some of which have been opened and spilled. "I guess that explains the others conditions too."

"Yes, we all did. But I was the only one that ended up like this."

"Okay." Billi says. "Try to stay out of the way. We've gotta find out what's going on here."

"I will." The creature replies. "Watch out for the floating white thing when you go in the other chamber. That's what set us all free and it's in there."

"What is it?"

"I don't know." The lizard replies reaching a back leg up to rub the side of its head. "It's longer than your big companion, has a single arm and claw, floats in the air and makes things move. I was scared when I saw it."

"Okay thanks." Billi says. We'll watch out."

End of session. Begin next time advancing into the other room. Six rounds left on the Bless spell.

Next Session 5/5/2007