Seedy Underbelly

Log Info

• Title: Seedy Underbelly

• GM: Eztli

• Characters: Warrick, Crik, Tlanexhuani, Thoth

• Place: Alexandrian Sewers

• Summary: The Alexandrian City Guard have received reports of suspicious individuals entering the sewers on several repeat occasions, and are enlisting the help of adventurers to investigate.

Alexandria Market District, Evening.

It was a rather unpleasant day to be out in the streets of Alexandria, with a freezing rain that chilled most people inadequately prepared to the bone. And it was not a particularly fun experience for those who were, regardless.Certainly, there was not many out on the streets who had no reason to be there, save for a few brave shoppers and several bedraggled looking stall keepers. A guard meets the adventurer's guild group close to one of the sewer entrances, A younger man wearing a heavy rain resistant coat and a large umbrella which they were struggling to keep upright against the wind, looking very much like they would prefer any other posting right now.

Honestly...

The cold never bothered Thoth anyway.

As the War Golem proceeds onwards, with a series of Dancing Lights floating ahead of it to light the way in the rain, it is walking with the crew until they make it to the sewer entrance.

"This one greets you." It remarks pleasantly, bowing its head a bit. "Doth thee prefer if we went inside of the sewer, to step out of the rain? This one believes Softskins are known to 'melt' in water, due to high sugar contents?"

In a similar looking coat with the emblems removed is that of a Eldanar man, his scalemail armor blowing the coat out, with the weapons underneath making it stick at odd angles. "Go down a block, you'll find an alcove that's within the post that's good against the rain," Warrick grunts to the guard, empathetic.

He blinks at Thoth, glad that the little bird mage was with them on this. Yet- "... errr.... no. We don't melt like that."

It is for these moments one carries layers and layers of cloaks and feathers. To look brooding in the heavy rain, and occasionally stay warm. Crik steps up along the walk way and lets out a gloomy caw in greeting; before bopping his head down and up at the pair.

Tlanexhuani has no problems with rain; his scales shed water exceptionally well. The freezing is another matter entirely, and a makeshift cloak of furred hides does not trap heat so well. It also defeats the water-proof nature of scales being between them and the rain. The elder Makari is far from comfortable, but that doesn't stop him from answering the call for assistance.

"Peace on your nests," he greets those present before turning to Thoth. He blinks slowly. "This one did not know..." his eyes flit to those few passersby and other softskins before looking back. "They could me-" A blink again at Warrick, before he exhales hissed relief. Followed by a short series of stacatto ones. "Ah! Iss joke!"

The guard was already clearly keeping watch around the street, but a small bird like golem was not something some saw every day. They braced the umbrella in against their shoulder, and pulled out a leatherbound book that they flipped through. "Not an armored egalrin by the looks of it, you must be Thoth then." They offer, taking a look at the others. "Which would mean that the other with you is Crik, then. And, Tlanexhuani? Am I saying that correctly?"

The guard glances to the sewer, and they shake their head. "No, It's best to talk up here in spite of the rain, I'd rather not tip anyone off since sound travels really far down there." They answer, before turning, and blinking once. "Oh, Warrick Reztner? I thought it might be someone else with the same name, but it's good to meet you! I'll keep that in mind since I'm supposed to wait here for your return, it's an honor to meet you, really you were a big inspiration." They say, perking up a bit in spite of the rain.

It takes Warrick a moment in the freezing rain for Tlanexhuani's words to click. "Oh! Heh. That's a good one, went right over my head," he chuckles, knocking his boots against the cobblestone to dislodge some mud. "Peace on your nest, Tlanexhuani." He squints at the pile of rags cawing. "... and Crik."

He blinks owlishly at the guard's enthusiasm. "Uh... pleasure to meet you too," he awkwardly says, rubbing his neck. "Glad I did... something for someone." He clears his throat. "On with it then, kid. Quicker you brief us the quicker you get out of this crap."

Crik stares at the guards - then lets out a bit of a 'crik' sound from his throat. "What is the situation?" He asks - before turning to look towards Warrick. "Ah, famous." His beak opens. "Fame opens many doors."

The corvid then starts to step closer towards the sewer entrance, peering in curiously while the others assess the situation.

"This one will correct its internal documentation. Thank you." Thoth answers Warrick.

It then looks to the guard and nods, "This one is indeed Thoth." And then follows this up by inquiring; "So, the Other requires this group to be quiet and sneak. This suggests you wish for the objective not to spot us as we enter? Are we required to..." Pause.

"'Tail' someone?"

"Ssa," Tlanexhuani assures their guide with a (wet) tail slap into the ground. "Speak it very good. What iss that we musst do? Find someone with tail?"

The guard shoves the tome back into their coat the moment it was closed to prevent any water damage, and they return to keeping the umbrella steady. "Well, I don't know if I would say famous, but there's been talk about Warrick in the guard houses here and there." They answer Crik, looking down at the manhole cover. "Right, I've kept you long enough, and I would like to get out of the rain. As much as we try to avoid it, it's not uncommon for people to take shelter or travel through the sewers for various reasons. What makes this strange is the irregularity of these reports. Apparently there has been someone in a black cloak that has been through several less used entrances several times a day. We've sent a few patrols down looking for them, but no one has been able to find them once they were down there." The guard begins briefing. "Oh, and don't worry Crik, we know they are at least not an egalrin, so you're in the clear for this job."

"A person in black robes. Understood. We will travel into the sewers and arrest anyone matching this description." Thoth answers the guard dutifully, so proud it understands the goal of this exercise.

"Shall we then?"

Warrick cuts Crik a side glance. "It does. I prefer to open them with the handle." He shakes his head, letting out a breath to chuckle at Thoth and Tlan. The ex-guard adjusts his coat, some weapons clanking against one another underneath. He liked Thoth's gumption, yet they were still missing some information. "Al... right. Do the patrols know /where/ they lose them down there? Cloaked figure, smallfolk, mediumfolk, largefolk? Time of day of the reports? Give us that, and I think we're good to move out."

"I was not clear?" Crik asks, seeming to miss the connection. He looks at the guards, then at the others, then at himself, back at the guards. Then at himself. "Why would they be me?" There's a brief stare, then a ruffle of his feathers, as he glances towards Thoth. "Do not arrest me."

"Iss not you," Tlanexhuani assures Crik. "If here, cannot be one in sssewerss." Simple truth. He then looks to the guard after Warrick's very relevant questions.

"Well, yes, you are clear, I just well, there were reports of thefts from a black feathered egalrin wearing many cloaks committing thefts in the area a few times, and it's not uncommon for thieves to use the sewers to escape from authority." The guard explains, sounding just a touch disappointed. "I'm not going to arrest you though, you're here to help after all, so don't worry, I just want to make sure the perpetrator isn't sneaking in to cover their tracks or anything of that sort."

The guard turns back to Warrick, and shakes their head. "We don't have any sort of positive identification on them, they've been spotted only in passing at entrances, usually in less patrolled areas. There were a few reports near the nobility district, but the majority have been around the centeral line of Alexandria. They're around human sized, and patrols found a few footprints in the sewers at first, but that was weeks ago now, and even though sightings have continued, no further evidence has been found." They explain. "Time of day has been varied, from sunrise to after nightfall, with no consistency between sightings."

Warrick listens to the guard. Turns towards Crik, and stares. Sighing, he steps towards the sewers, nodding along. "Middlefolk then. Sticking to the center sewer line. Very well. And with this rain, the sewers are going to be bad. Let's get this over with. Thank you, Watchman."

Crik looks at the guards, then back at Warrick. Then back at guards. There's a sudden change in his posture as he adopts a very rigid, stiff looking posture. "It is important to be sure of all the avenues of possibilities," He begins, "But sewers leave a stinking trail." He collapses back down to his regular hunched over pose. "... and theft is brazen word." Nervous tail bop and he quietly moves to stand so that Warrick was standing between him and the guards.

Thoth slowly looks at Crik at the tale of a feathered thief roaming about, before looking back to the guard. "This one will also not arrest this feathered Other." It adds dutifully, and waits for the gates to be opened. Though it wonders how lucky they'll be finding this person, who seems so difficult to find.

In order to help maybe resolve that, it hides the dancing lights within some of the tubes near its wings, and then opens its chest up. Inside, a Magical Owl bleary-eyed stares at everyone for a moment, before being helped onto Thoth's shoulder to help them be on the lookout.

"This one is ready."

Tlanexhuani does not know much about sewers, and definitely not of Alexandria's. Still more water seems like it would be an improvement? He considers asking, though holds those words as all seem ready to move. Instead, he echoes Thoth with "This one is ... " His attention shifts when Thoth... opens and retrieves a bird. A slow blink. "...ready."

"Thank you again for doing this, I'll keep an eye on this exit from here, out of the rain for the benefit for visibility." The guard nods. Obviously not to get out of the rain, as a large gust of wind sent their umbrella nearly horizontal, showering them in freezing water before they could wrestle it back in a moment of suprise at someone taking a bird out of their torso. "R-right." They stammer from the cold. "Please give Captian Slatesteel my thanks as well, the armor from their recent order fits much better now." They add with a bow, stepping aside to let the group descend down into the sprawling tunnels between the city. Railed ledges and pathways line a central channel of water beneath them going east and west. The heavy rain overhead had the channels sloshing along quickly westward, leaving a lingering unpleasant smell in the air.

GAME: Warrick rolls Urban Survival: aliased to survival+2: (5)+7+2: 14
GAME: Thoth rolls Perception+3: (4)+6+3: 13 
GAME: Thoth rolls 10+3+2: (15)+10+3+2: 30
GAME: Crik rolls perception: (1)+11: 12 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Tlanexhuani rolls perception: (17)+9: 26
<OOC> Warrick says, "i guess eastward, upstream, since going westward just gets worse, unless we other info in pages"

Warrick gives Tlan a pitiful look. "You may want to cover your nose with cloth, Tlan," he sighs, pulling out a well used oilcloth and covering the lower half of his face with it. He pulls free a small glowing stone, letting it go to float above his head. He glances to the Watchman. "I'll let her know that, stay dry."

He descends the steps, throwing open the coat and pulling out his large crossbow from under it. It racks as he loads it, grimacing from the smell. Looking around, he decides eastbound is the best way to start, since going further down west would mean even more water. He stops before they get going. Points. "Footprints. They just... stop. Magic maybe? Can't be telporting, ward works down in the sewers."

GAME: Thoth rolls Knowledge/Arcana: (3)+13: 16

As the group delves deeper into the sewers, with Thoth following behind Warrick, it keeps an eye out. Ra will occassionally hoot, and turn its body. Sometimes turn its wings to point at something. Eventually, they find the same boot prints that Warrick is likely following. What's more, Ra eventually jumps down and picks up what looks like black scraps of cloth.

"This one believes this is indeed the correct path." It points out. As it looks at the door itself, considering it for a moment.

Crik follows on after the others, still looking more behind himself than ahead of himself. Several layers of cloaks are flopped over as the corvid tries to get settled in with his new surroundings. Which prompts him to pause and look at the scraps of black cloth, and measure against his own. Nope. "Different fabric." Another cloak is pulled over, as he attempts to slide into the darkness.

GAME: Crik rolls stealth: (3)+12: 15

Thoth then adds; "This one senses magic. I am uncertain what it is at this time. But I may be able to track it." It remarks. However, it then also reaches out and tries to touch the wall to see if it's just an illussion.

Is the aroma in the tunnel pleasant? No. Are Tlanexhuani's nostrils more sensitive than others? Possibly. Can he constrict them and breathe more through his maw? Yes. Very much yes.

He points a claw at the prints he also sees, to include their apparent halting. "Ssa, magic. Iss magic to hide trackss, ssa? For prey hide from hunterss? Could be thiss magic. Why not found. Not want found." He thinks a moment before offering. "If magic hide track, could follow magic instead?"

The wall that Thoth checks remains completely solid, with no signs of any illusory magic hiding anything.

GAME: Thoth refreshes spells.
GAME: Thoth casts Mage Armor. Caster Level: 5 DC: 16
GAME: Thoth casts Detect Magic. Caster Level: 5 DC: 15

Warrick glances at the fabric Ra finds, nodding in approval. "Good point Tlan. Thoth, you mind figuring out where it goes?" he inquires, hefting his crossbow into the crook of his shoulder.

Thoth taps its beak twice when it finds out that the wall is solid. It even pecks at it for a moment. Then, looking to Tlanexhuani, it nods. "This one will try to find the source of this magic." As it moves its fingers over its eyes, creating a sort of 'screen' of transparent light. Almost like it were wearing giant sunglasses.

"This one will start to track."

GAME: Thoth rolls Spellcraft: (5)+13: 18
GAME: Thoth rolls Spellcraft: (16)+13: 29

"This one knows something of magic, but this one not see magic," the azure Makari explains. So he moves to follow Thoth after the artifice avian activates the means for them to track the trail.

"This one can sense it. But this one suggests going slow. The illussion will stop in about... five minutes, fifty-eight seconds. Fifty-seven seconds. Fifty-six seconds..." It then looks at the group and puts a finger aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaall the way at the end of its long beak to indicate 'sssh'.

And begins to trail after the aura. Traveling eastwards.

Crik follows on after the others, doing his best impersonation of a rogue not lost in the sewers. He looks at the others as they discuss their options - and then his head trails aaaall the way as the indication for silence is given. Crik replies with a faint 'crik', and follows on.

Warrick merely nods, patting Tlan on the shoulder to reassure him before doing his best to follow along quietly. At least its raining to mask the noise.

GAME: Thoth rolls Stealth: (6)+4: 10
GAME: Warrick rolls stealth: (16)+2: 18
GAME: Warrick rolls urban local: aliased to knowledge/local+2: (13)+5+2: 20
GAME: Crik rolls knowledge/local: Trained Use Only: 0
GAME: Tlanexhuani rolls stealth: (15)+-2: 13

With Thoth able to detect the lingering aura, the group is able to track it like a long trail through the sewers. The smell doesn't get much better, but it isn't completely unbearable, either. A small boon from the large amount of fresh flowing water reintroduced to the system, perhaps.

"Moving stealthily, the group travels for a long time. The path is straightforward for the most part, continuing eastward, only stopping at several crossings to go further south before continuing on east.

Warrick carefully treads along, holding his crossbow from the hip by the carry handle. He stops by several intersections, running a hand over some grime to clear away some markings. After a while, he looks up and down the sewer line before pointing further eastward. "This will go towards noble district," he mutters quietly. "We are going to be far, far under the mountain."

That they head towards the Nobility District might also explain why the stench is not as bad? Noble exfrement has no foul odor; just ask the nobles.

The azure makari does not know this, of course, but is thankful that the odor is somewhat more bearable. "Iss bad under mountain, War Rick?" he asks softly, unsure of the significance.

"Will that be a problem?" Crik asks, turning his head about. There was a little hop and skip from his step as the corvid takes a look around, taking note of the markings on his many notebooks. Other than that, he did his best to stay quiet and not cause too many caws.

"... I really hate ladders," Warrick murmurs in a quiet sigh in an aside.

As Thoth believes they're getting closer to the end of that 'timer' it is holding in its head right now, it starts mentally preparing for trouble. "This one can Haste the group the moment we get closer to our foe." It tells the group. "But it will only last for a few seconds. So this one will hold until it proves needed." It adds as it listens to Tlanexhuani and Warrick speaking of the mountain and the noble district.

"This one also does not enjoy tall ladders." Thoth then chimes in.

GAME: Crik rolls perception: (15)+11: 26
GAME: Warrick rolls perception: (14)+6: 20
GAME: Thoth rolls Perception+3: (3)+6+3: 12
GAME: Tlanexhuani rolls perception: (2)+9: 11
GAME: Thoth rolls 10+3+2: (5)+10+3+2: 20
GAME: Tlanexhuani rolls knowledge/nature: (2)+3: 5

"But you have-" A glance towards Thoth, then the corvid doesn't finish his sentence. Instead, he focuses on the growths around them, opening up his beak. "... more plants here." He says, looking down at his feet. "Why would there be more plants down here?"

Warrick nods once towards towards Thoth, worry crossing his face briefly. "... oh Serriel, damn it, it's been so long since magic infusion training," he groans. "I forgot what the spell feels like. Going to throw my back out twice as fast."

He slides his helmet on, slipping the visor up. "At least we share something in common," he shrugs to the golem before his attention is directed elseplace. "... that's... right. Shouldn't be growing here. There must be an entrance nearby to track in fresh dirt."

"This one has broken wings." Thoth finishes Crik's sentence, tilting its head back to look at the mangled metal and strange-metal feathers. It then turns back to continue leading the group. And then, there's greenery.

"This one is not well versed in nature and its placement. But this placement reads as 'odd' to this one." Thoth points out. "Do you wish for me to remove all the greenery?"

"Plants strange this place?" Tlanexhuani isn't sure of the significance, so follows the others' familiarity with the lands, city, and even sewers. "Sseek person, not plants. Will help find?"

<OOC> Eztli says, "How would you like to proceed? You've been keeping up with the aura, but it's faded out now."
<OOC> Warrick says, "search the area for where those plants start to grow more? there has to be an entrance/exit around if they're growing (warrick's logic)"
<OOC> Thoth says, "We can Perception it."
<OOC> Eztli says, "Roll me perception or survival?"
GAME: Warrick rolls urban survival: aliased to survival+2: (10)+7+2: 19
GAME: Tlanexhuani rolls perception: (9)+9: 18
GAME: Thoth rolls Perception+3: (8)+6+3: 17
GAME: Thoth rolls Perception+2+3: (11)+6+2+3: 22
GAME: Crik rolls perception: (13)+11: 24

It takes some time searching to find an increase in plant growth. The noble's district is well funded in comparison to other areas of the sewers, with numerous side channels leading off to the isolated estates of those who live there. After several minutes of searching and comparing, you are able to find an offshoot which unlike the others, does not taper off leaving the main channel, but instead the plant growth becomes increasingly dense the further down it goes. A near complete carpet of mosses is underfoot now, and the air almost smells pleasant down here.

GAME: Warrick rolls urban survival: aliased to survival+2: (16)+7+2: 25

Warrick reconvenes with the others after suggesting to search the area, them finding this dense vegetation. "... never seen this before," he grunts, following the offshoot. And then his boots land in nothing but moss. Warrick looks down, back behind them, then further ahead before he kneels down, brushing away some plants. "... found it," he whispers, following a faint trail of boot prints. That... go towards a wall of vines. "Look alive, team," he whispers to them, stepping towards the vines and gently pushing it aside to peer through the thicket.

Crik was holding up his knife when Warrick turns to address the theam. "The grass is alive?" The corvid asks and instantly gets worried, looking around him. Then he walls quiet as Warrick starts to peer out.

"Understood." Look alive. This one Thoth knows! It quickly casts a twin set of spells upon its own body. Growing small all of the sudden, while a shield wraps around its body. It waits for Warrick to lead on this one.

GAME: Thoth casts Shield. Caster Level: 5 DC: 16
GAME: Thoth casts Reduce Person. Caster Level: 5 DC: 16

Tlanexhuani may not know the sewers, but moss is most, and green where others say it should not be is conspicuous enough. He follows the trail of what should not be here with the others, until Crik makes him blink in surprise. "Ssa. Grass alive. Trees alive. Sprout. Grow. Die." He then blinks again as Thoth enacts magic and his tail flicks tension. "Ah. This one ready."

The vines on the wall where Warrick pokes gives away easily and immediately, and a bit more pushing reveals a section of the wall was completely covered by the vines. An entire entryway was hidden by the plants, even more overgrown inside, and leading down to an unknown part of the sewers.

-To Be Continued...-