Checking In
The posting directs all to a rather nondescript corner of the Nobility District. Nondescript compared to the many large, ostentatious manors, villas, and similar all about. At said corner some stonework rises obliquely from the ground to end in a sturdy door marked with an 'Employees Only' sign. Both structure and door are well-kept and well-maintained.
Adjacent to the door is gobber in coveralls bearing a large key ring in one hand and a sheaf of paperwork in the other. He waits with some modicum of patience, foot tapping. The light drizzle that falls does not appear to help his mood.
Culix is plenty familiar with spots like this, it's places like skullery entrances and kitchen backdoors that she used to ply a decent amount of her trade in the noble district. Such places are useful to note when you rely on sticky fingers for a living. She arrives, her own hood drawn up against the drizzle, and drawing nearer offers the other goblin an upnod of her head in greeting. "Here about the job." she offers him, the ambience lending itself to somewhat hushed tones. Old habits.
Ulthan makes it around the corner, and walking to the gobber in coveralls, his oiled leather cloak shedding drizzle behind him as he looms as non threateningly as he can. "You the contact for this job?"
A tall man with short black hair and armor walks toward the designated location. His tabard is a rich green color edged in gold. Not exactly the most common colors for the mark of Serriel that is emblazoned on his chest. There's a heavy mace hanging from his hip, the weapon seems comfortable there and he walks easily at the side of a man that looks exactly like him if not for the far cry in difference of their clothing options. Theo lifts a hand in greeting to the goblin. "We're here for the same." A flash of a smile to the others.
Schara was usually early for their jobs, and this one was no exception. The figure of brass stood off to one side at the agreed upon meeting place, waiting for others to arrive. Thankfully, the armor kept out the worst of the rain.
"Sorry, I was waiting for the others." They greet with a low, static filled voice from behind the helmet. "The others are arriving however. It is nice to meet you all."
The other one with short black hair, green eyes, and dressed in green could indeed be a copy of the Serrielite, but Lheo wears calf-length green robes appropriate to a spellcaster, and sturdy, well-made leather boots. No similar symbols adorn him, but he does carry at one hip, among the myriad of pouches and containers, a dagger. He nods when Theo speaks, but seems to let his apparent twin do the talking.
The certain sith-makar was quite noticeable in the light drizzle of rain; the coating of moisture seemed to bring out the full range of color from Aelwyn's autumn shaded scales, or perhaps it were the sense of spring in his step. Either way - the Dragoon knew this was not going to bode well for him.
Bowing his head to the gobbo in overalls, the draconian mumbles around his self made mask. "'mereforthejob." A strong scent of ginger and lavender hangs about him. The one's he recognizes gets nods of his head in turn. "'limes-gain?" He asks from their apparent client.
The door-gobber, as he is, gives Culix a long, appraising look that is pulled to the others arriving or approaching. "If you're all here to find my missing man in the sewers," he jabs a thumb at the door behind him, "you're in the right place. If you're looking for some well-stocked wine cellar to borrow from..." he waves a hand vaguely around to the houses, then shrugs, "...can't help you."
He gives everyone another look, nods, and gets to things. "Since we're not in the piddlin for our health, Root-rotter, Sanitation Supervisor, Second-class. Gamma Section. One of my crew didn't turn in his paperwork after shift. Then he never showed for the next one. Could be something happened to him, could be he skipped out. We needs to know which; for health, safety, and insurance reasons." He thumbs to the door again. "This is the entry point for 'is assigned rounds."
Ulthan winces visibly at the word 'insurance' as he is leaning on the haft of his massive flail like it was a cane. "Any word that he'd ahve been unhappy with his job before?"
Culix nods her head slowly as she listens, "Fairly familiar with the sewers 'round here. Reckon I'll find him, or what's left of him, as the case may be." She says and fishes a bundle of herbs and a face scarf from one of her pouches, and sets about the process of making a pouch to hold the bundle against her face and nose, within the scarf, which is tied off behind her head.
"What's he look like?" she asks the gobber then, as she goes about her other prep work for venturing into the sewers. Trousers are tucked into boots, gloves are pulled over the ends of her sleeves.
The armored figure looks around, and sighs. "I hope it isn't a what's left of them situation. I don't want them to have been hurt or worse." They state. "What information do you have? Their name, assigned job, where their shift was expected to take them, any identifying features, please be as thorough as possible so we can do everything we can to help."
"Within reason, of course, I would not ask too much of everyone here." They add, glancing around the assembled group.
Aelwyn takes lead off Culix and starts to also make sure his leather straps are tight and he was wearing the worst of his clothes - red loincloth replaced with a leathery one, calves wrapped up in leather and his pseudo-mask had a good collection of herbs.
Though the sith-makar realized that he probably should stuff it a bit less to be more audible. "Is our word enough or will Boss require more physical proof of his whereabouts?" A true optimist.
Theo watches Culix make her preparations with more than a little trepidation. He seems to realize as she wraps a cloth around her face, the wisdom of such an action and nudges his brother, pointing toward the woman. "Have you got a spare cloth on you Lheo?" He asks in a low voice, patting his own armor for something he might use to cover his face with. "Talk about a crime against fashion, but I would rather avoid _smelling_ the place as much as possible."
Ulthan hmms as he sees the mask-putting going on, then it occurs just what 'sewer' meant, and he groans, digging a bandana from a pouch at the small of his back, then winces as he pours what looks like one of the exotic vingera sauces on it before wrapping it over his nose and mouth.
Indeed, Lheo seems to have everything, and he pulls from his pack an old, cheap shirt that has been abused before. This he tears the sleeves from, and hands one sleeve to his brother, takes the other one, and stuffs the now-sleeveless shirt back into his pack. "That should serve, brother," he speaks for the first time. "I've spells to clean our gear, later, if we need them. Try not to fall."
Root-rotter looks down at his paperwork, shuffles through to a page and peers at it. "Looks like Beau'bril-... Bea'abraeli-... Bob." He nods. "Bob's been with us less than a fortnight. Had lots of new faces with all those refugee people looking for work. Which was good after needin so many new workers, what with all that demon stuff awhile back." He scratches at an ear. "One of those inky elves. I think. Be easy to spot since he'd be wearin a uniform like mine."
The other questions are easier and he pulls out a piece of parchment to offer it up. "This was his cleanin route, starting from that door, there." Now a nod to the door. The hand-scribbled drawing consists of two parallel lines running the length, spaced apart. One end is labelled 'Door,' with the other labelled 'Temple District.' Inside the lines are a few arrows following the right interior from 'Door' to 'Temple District,' then turning 180 degrees to follow the other interior side pointing back to 'Door.'
"If you can find any sign of him, bringing him back is good. Saving the uniform is great. If there's nothing, the 'counter's will just figure he quit."
Culix takes a moment to pour over the crude map when it's offered, then nods her head a bit. "Alright. I think I know where we're at." she says and then glances back to the others. "Name's Culix, by the by." she offers for the benefit of those she doesn't know.
"I'll take the lead, stay a dozen paces ahead of you lot. Prefer to be sneaky-like and you lot don't... look particularly light on your feet." she says as she looks back and forth between them. "If I run into any trouble, I'll set off a Sunrod." she adds.
Back to Root-rotter, "I'm good to get a shift on." she tells him, and nods her head towards the door he indicated.
Ulthan nods at the gobber offering to take point, then shifts his flail onto his shoulder. "I'm Ulthan, if you point them, then I'll charge them."
Ulthan eyes the door speculatively while checking his grip on the flail's haft, then checks the dagger and handax hanging off his belts.
Theo gratefully takes the sleeve from his brother and affixes it to his face. At least its green, so it fits with his outfit at least a little. Though in truth he wasn't about to complain either way. Priorities. He nods to Lheo and perks up a little at Culix's introduction of herself. "I'm Theo, and this here is my brother Lheo." He motions to the largely identical man at his side and takes a deep breath. "Alright. I'm ready to go... Really Lheo, did you have to mention _falling_ in there?" He shudders.
“Thank you for all the information you could provide. Hopefully it will provide us with enough information to find them." The artificer nods, trying their best not to consider any alternatives. "My name is Schara, and if you're sure that's a good idea, then I will trust you with that. If they were injured by something, the thing that injured them may still be around. I am light on my feet, without the armor at least. But it's necessary, so it is probably best if I stay back with the others."
Aelwyn bows his head towards the others, "Aelwyn, a Dragoon." The draconian introduces himself with his mask muffling most of his voice. "Let us hope our path will not take us deep into the catacombs where nothing good lies." The ruddy sith-makar gives everyone else a rudimentary look over, but Lheo and Theo get a bit longer stare of recognition. "Hmm. Guild draws all kinds of blood." He says by himself, looking over Ulthan.
Finally, with a deep sigh, he adjusts the mask in place and follows on after Culix. "This one will make sure the back stays protected." He hoists up his glaive a touch.
"Mostly so neither of us _does_ it, brother," Lheo returns, with a smirk for the armor-clad man. "Let's just be careful." His voice is muffled behind the multiple layers of cloth, once he has tied the other sleeve around his own face. "Let's get this over with." He nods at the gobber, to indicate that he understands the instructions.
Root-Rotter unlocks the door and opens it. It may be little surprise that it opens to a set of stairs which sharply descend below street level. The day's light illuminates them to the bottom, with a larger cross-path below. "I'll be here if you get back, with paperwork and to lock back up. Guild handles all the coin, so don' ask me for none." He then waves them on their way. "Oh, case it wasn't clear, turn right at the bottom. Downhill."
The stairs are a bit steep, but manageable, ending at a fairly large and extremely long passageway. No, sluiceway. It is easily two dozen feet across, with ample ledge to either side of the central channel. The channel for waste, water, and wastewater. With the snowmelt passed and a lull in the heavier rains as of late, the ledges are rather dry. The entire sluiceway slopes notably down to the right and upwards to the left: enough to maintain flow, but not a perilous grade to walk. It is not totally dark, care of small mana lamps spaced hundreds of feet apart, but it is not very well lit, in any sense.
Perhaps surprisingly, all is quite clean for a sewer: the walls are nearly as dry as the walkways and the atmosphere is more damp than putrid. This could be due to recent stormwater, excellent work on Bob's part, or there could be some truth to various noble's claims that their excrement does, in fact, not stink?
Ulthan waits for the Gobberr to get ready and heading down, before following them down and unlimbering their flail into an easy, practiced carry.
"Brother, your sword, if you wouldn't mind?" Lheo's voice comes out of the dimness once they have reached the bottom of the stairs, and the sound of his gloved hand trailing against the wall to steady him and mark his orientation is audible. If Theo offers him what he is looking for, he immediately chants a quick cantrip, leaving whatever object is presented glowing with a soft, pale green light.
GAME: Lheo casts Light. Caster Level: 2 DC: 14 GAME: Culix rolls stealth+2+1: (3)+16+2+1: 22
Culix, as promised, takes the lead and descends the steps first. Her eyes adapt readily to the dim, so she doesn't produce any kind of light to supplement what is already present for now, leaving those further back to brighten the plate up if they like. As she steps into the shadows at the bottom of the steps, they seem to swell to meet her and she tugs the front of her hood a little lower before creeping downhill as instructed, beady eyes peeled and sweeping back and forth.
Theo laughs at his brother's request. "It's a _mace_ brother." He chuckles, offering the weapon up without a hesitation and watching his brother work magic on it. "You'd think you'd remember a simple word like that with all those complicated phrases you have to use for your magic." A grin before he follows well in Culix's wake.
Aelwyn walks in the middle of the pack - first he felt relief that there was no questionable scents, but then he started feeling some worry that there were no questionable stenches. Turning towards Schara, he quietly rumbles. "Brass, why are these sewers as if they are not used? Are there creatures that..." He gestures with his hand. "... deal with the situation."
The Dragoon turns his head towards the others, seeing the light being lit. "Be careful of what one speaks of - light of all sorts can bring all kinds of ailment when we know nothing." He rumbles, "Though this one feels mirth will go long way in this mire."
GAME: Schara rolls knowledge/dungeoneering: (20)+5: 25 GAME: Aelwyn rolls knowledge/dungeoneering: (20)+5: 25 GAME: Culix rolls knowledge/dungeoneering: (19)+9: 28
"I remember the important things, Theo." The smirk in Lheo's tone is audible in the dark, along with his footsteps, and in the dimly green light, there's a matching on written across his face. "I don't care about your sword, and wouldn't if you had one." He seems undaunted by the patronizing tone.
"It is much nicer than the last sewer I've been to." Schara nods back to the sith-makar. "Perhaps the nobles fund more thorough cleaning jobs in their area? Or it could be Otyughs, they are known for eating waste, or something else."
The artificer stops, and starts wildly waving in the general direction of Culix. "Please be careful, it looks like something was moving through here. There were slimes and things last time I was down in the sewers, and they're really hard to spot before they drop down and ambush you and burn you with acid!" They warn.
Theo groans and looks at his brother. "Low blow. VERY low blow Lheo." He looks almost pained, and it's clear that he's not making much effort to be subtle down here. All the better for Culix to sneak up on things right?
Ulthan stalks foward, slowly as to not crowd the gobber, Culix, up at front.
Aelwyn takes a glance behind at the brothers - but his attention is soon returned to Schara. "There _are_ creatures that-" A brief pause, then he decides he no longer wishes to know. "... Brass come here often?" He would probably grinning if his mask was not in the way. Either way, the sith-makar grabs his glaive in his hands. "Slimes would not leave marks, would they?" He asks with a tilt of his head.
Culix spies the same signs her allies alert her to, but she keeps her own counsel on them for now- staying silent so as not to give away her position if there's something lurking she hasn't seen yet, she continues to press onwards.
GAME: Culix rolls perception: (6)+10: 16
Aside from the glowing -mace- and the small mana lamps, all is dim. Aside from words uttered, footfalls, and the light sounds of flowing fluids, all is quiet. The group continues down the sluiceway for over half its length, descending down to (or rather under) the upper city.
No slimes fall from the ceiling. No tentacles lash out from the sewage. All told, it is perhaps as exciting was one might imagine a walk down a very long corridor might be.
When it comes to the sewers, boring suits Lheo just fine. After his wicked snicker, he goes quiet, letting footfalls and bobbing green light speak for him. The talk of slimes swirling around him is enough to kill much of the jocular attitude - acid on his clothes is the last thing he needs.
enough to kill much of the jocular attitude - acid on his clothes is the last thing he needs. Following his brother's suit, Theo also falls silent. He's less worried about acid on his clothes (armor is fairly resilient stuff), but the silence of the location and the general gloom makes it difficult to come up with witty retorts and casual conversation.
Culix eventually stops in her tracks, waiting for the light to catch up with her just enough that the party can spot her. She holds up her hand, and then points down, at the opposite side of the central channel- In a hushed tone hopefully loud enough to carry to her allies but not much further she calls, "Busted up here." indicating a section which seems to have partially collapsed or been damaged.
Schara continues their travel through the sewers, a bit more on edge with everything going on. Hopefully the leftover debris was simply Bob not catching everything with his work, and not anything more sinister. If there were threats, they remained silent as well, as far as they could with metal armor that tended to clank occasionally, or whirr faintly. They stop to consider the statement of Culix, and they nod back.
GAME: Lheo rolls perception: (19)+4: 23 GAME: Ulthan rolls perception: (19)+6: 25 GAME: Theo rolls Perception: (12)+1: 13 GAME: Schara rolls perception: (16)+10: 26 GAME: Culix rolls perception: (9)+10: 19 GAME: Aelwyn rolls perception: (4)+1: 5
The stones appear to have fallen from a corresponding spot on the wall just above them. They are comparatively small, unhewn stones compared to the large cut and fitted blocks forming the walls. Their absence has left a vertical divot in the wall 3-4 feet tall and just over a foot wide.
All save Aewlyn now also spy a bucket on the floor against the wall next to the small pile of rocks.
Culix pauses, peering at the gap, and she scratches her cheek- or, goes to, then remembers where she is and decides better than to touch her face. "I'll take a look." she tells the others, and then makes her way over towards the gappy masonry, to peek inside.
Ulthan moves closer up in case Culix needs to be pulled out quickly.
Aelwyn had no trouble seeing in the dark, but he did have plenty of trouble trying to think something else than the fact that they were traveling in a sewer. Surely the smell would hit soon? When the party sees the collapsed section, he stops by the hole. "No surprises." The draconian states, turning to look at the rest of the pathway.
Theo looks at the pile of rocks then the bucket. "Seems we've found our first clue." He murmurs, eyeing the rocks for some hint of how the wall became damaged. "Magic Lheo?" He queries softly.
"No magic needed, brother," Lheo is distracted from his silent ponderings as the bobbing green light his brother carries flickers over the wall in a particular location. "There's a doorway here." He pokes with a gloved finger at the messy masonry. "There's a door here, and what looks like maybe a room on the other side. That might be his bucket, did he go and explore, on his shift?" He points out with the gloved finger where the missing masonry is of the right size and shape to be a doorway.
Ulthan keeps an eye on the gobber squeezing into the narrow passage, but comments quietly. "You guys note how many of the stones are on this side of the wall? Something tried to get here, perhaps?"
"Maybe exploring, maybe dragged in." Culix replies to the others. "Our man's in there, though. Or a close resemblance." she adds, backing away from the hole again. "Lemme see if I can't find a way to get this open. I don't reckon he woulda fit through the gap, and I don't fancy trying to haul him out through it. He don't look conscious."
"Well, that's certainly odd." The artificer muses while looking at the stonework. "Something came out, or the Mul'niessa we're searching for went in? They may have went to search for the source. In which case, should we follow? It may be best to clear out the stone around the opening, in case we need to leave in a hurry."
"Tch, this one thinks we have enough bodies to move few stones out." Aelwyn states and gives his shoulders a roll. Was that a slight flex on his arms? "Nothing else is moving in there?"
Ulthan hmms at the dragoon, "Need to make sure we don't crowd too close, in case something decides to sneak upon us."
Culix shakes her head after a few moments of searching, "It's not a secret door, just a bricked up one. Guessing recently, since our man didn't go missing all that long ago." she nods her head to the others. "Guess we'll have to bust it open, then." she agrees, and steps aside to allow more burly members of the party access to the loose masonry. "I'll keep an eye out." she adds.
Theo sighs and looks at Lheo. "I'll help dig things out. You help her keep an eye out yea?" He grins and winks at his brother as if to say 'I got this'. Then quickly sets to work moving the rubble. He at least doesn't seem that concerned with being snuck up on.
Ulthan , not thinking it prudent to just toss the stones into the stream, helps move them into a line running along the length of the channel.
"Yes, please, be my guest." The slender wizard steps backwards willingly, turning his back to the work in progress to watch the other way down the tunnel from where the gobber's eyes are set.
The stones are not completely loose, but neither is the 'patch' excessively deep nor expertly-made. With a few minutes, bit of muscle, and even a tap with a weapon, the most impeding portions are removed. This restores enough of the designed hole in the wall to allow easy access for adventurers of all sizes (below Large). Those keeping watch spy the same empty and otherwise quiet sluiceway.
Aelwyn carefully sets his glaive aside, making sure it is in easy reach - but then he flexes his fingers and starts to near the bunch of rocks. "Tch. This one feels the guild was overly cautious with this assignment." But it was noble coin, in the end.
GAME: Lheo rolls perception: (20)+4: 24 GAME: Schara rolls perception: (7)+10: 17 GAME: Ulthan rolls perception: (9)+6: 15 GAME: Culix rolls perception: (1)+10: 11 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Culix rolls stealth+1+2: (18)+16+1+2: 37 GAME: Theo rolls Perception: (8)+1: 9 GAME: Aelwyn rolls perception: (10)+1: 11
The passage is only as deep as the wall, meaning a step brings all into another chamber. The air is dry and stale. The chamber is sizeable, if completely unlit: enough so that only Aelwyn and Schara can spy the far walls with the light from Theo's mace. A few other walkways to other areas are noted, also blockaded with stonework. Roughly twenty paces further in, at the edge of vision for The Brothers Prim is a humanoid in coveralls lying on the ground, broken broomstick in hand. Obliquely between the doorway entered and the form on the ground, the otherwise smooth floor is broken by an arc carved or gouged into the very stone. It emerges from under one nearby adjacent wall and disappears under a far wall or into the darkness (depending on the observer).
GAME: Lheo casts Detect Magic. Caster Level: 2 DC: 14
"Wait," Lheo says as soon as he's stepped in the room, and gotten a good look at the arc, and at the figure. "I think he's still alive, but that arc just glowed. Hold on, let me see what it is." He gestures quickly, another simple thing, and incants until a gentle glow tinged gold-green covers his eyes. He goes silent, studying the arc closely and only absently stepping out of the doorway for another.
Theo hears the sound of his brother spell-casting and stands close at hand. He has no idea what spell his twin might be casting, but the fact comes with caution of long experience and a desire to protect the other man while his defense are lowered.
Ulthan moves forward, to have a little more space around himself as he peers around, moving a little away from the spellcaster, just in case.
Culix pauses, looking towards the Arc when her attention is drawn towards it by the brother. "Careful, might be some kind of trap." she advises, even though she barely even noticed it, so focused was she on climbing through the gap unseen.
"It leads to that wall over there." Aelwyn points into the darkness. He had no idea what the others had seen - but when magic is abound, one does have a tendency to be on guard.
GAME: Lheo rolls spellcraft: (3)+9: 12
Schara stops and looks at the arc, and back to the man. The artificer shifts awkwardly on the spot. "It would not do to rush in and cause more injuries and casualties, but if there's any chance of them being alive, I need to help them." They sigh. "Please work quickly, but not rushed, I have magic that can help if they need it."
"Go ahead," Lheo replies very, very absently, still staring. He stares for a minute or more at the arc, then sighs. "I don't know the spell." He makes a small gesture, and the golden-green film vanishes. He takes a step or two forward, remaining clear of the arc, and squats down a foot or two away, careful not to touch it. "Symbols. Arcane ones, and - yes, it goes under the wall. It's conjuration magic-" He trails off, suddenly speaking very, very slowly. "In the name of the Seven-" His eyes are suddenly wide. "If that's a summoning circle, it's _huge_," he whispers.
"The wards should stop it from working if it's a summoning circle." Culix replies to Lheo then as she inches closer. "Reckon we ought to let someone know soon as, though. And get to our man." she nods her head over towards the downed worker, and then takes a step closer. "Magic circles take some precision, right? Maybe we ought to just scuff it up."
Theo stays close to his brother. Not wanting to step over some invisible magical line and end up... well causing all sorts of trouble. He notices Lheo bend down to study the arcane symbols that he doesn't even realize are there until his brother is studying them. "A summoning circle?" Theo asks a bit nervously, eyes tracking through the room. "Good point... they work under the city right? It looks engraved into the stone Culix. It'd take more than a good scuffing."
Ulthan says, “Anyone brought any of the stones from the main corridor? Could probably fill the arc a bit with them?”
Aelwyn shakes his head, "It does not answer why Bob is buried in here. Circles drawn into dirt don't drag people." The draconian points out, but then nods towards Schara. "This one will watch over Brass." He gestures towards the poor soul in the distance.
"No, it doesn't explain why they're here in the first place." The artificer nods to Aelwyn. "That sounds awful, and it should be dealt with, but if he's supposed to be part of this process, then getting them out of here disrupts it even further."
"I'm going to go help them if it won't react to my passing." They state firmly, stopping to look at the area before moving further.
"Don't cross the arc on the floor," Lheo tells Schara soberly. "It's a lingering effect, but who knows how long this was here? If it's still charged after all this time -" He drops to his knees and draws the dagger from his belt, using it to ease a few small chips of stone out of the arc-shaped groove in front of him. Ease them out and move them away from where they were lodged into the groove itself. "A few of these are brighter-"
Theo watches, hovering over his brother with a worried expression. "Are you sure that it's safe Lheo? Seems like something that's a bit dangerous to mess around with." He knows very little about magic himself of course, but whenever Lheo starts muttering it's fair to know that his brother might be a little too deep in thought to consider the danger around him.
GAME: Culix rolls perception: (8)+10: 18
"Don't see anything that could serve as a trigger." Culix tells Lheo, then, and gives a shrug, stepping away to let him continue fiddling with the magic circle. She looks over towards the downed worker, "We better see to him. Any of you any good with medicine?" she asks, though her gaze wanders, from their mark, to the circle, and to the door they came in through.
Schara is satisfied with their appraisal of the area, and seeing the person there wasn't getting any easier. The artificer steers clear of the marking on the ground, but is quick to make their way over to investigate the figure, eventually kneeling down to tend to them. "I have some healing, yes." They state. "I will do what I can."
"If Bob still breathes, this one has a flask for his health." Aelwyn says, bringing up his potion. But beyond that, the sith-makar remains in the middle of the room, holding up his spear and leaning against it. He was content looking over the area.
-TBC