Oghma's Pearl. (A D&D adventure for @siobhancan99)

[BernadetteRochelle]

Several days hard ride east from Waterdeep rests the Library of Oghma, god of knowledge. Half buried deep inside a large hill, the Library serves as temple, repository, college, and diplomatic headquarters. Worshippers, scholars, dignitaries, courtisans, and spies travel here from as far off as Thay and beyond. The grounds of the greater Library complex house a small city founded thousands of years in the past, bearing a name long forgotten. It has been rumored that the deepest layers of strata beneath the modern sub structures were built by a community of ancient dwarves and humans, and even today the "university town" sharing space with the library proper is one of the few places where shield dwarves regularly mix with halflings and tall folk. But even the dusty ruins of settlements past and the rumors of occasional extraplanar visitors from far beyond the astral sea belie the true mystery of this place. A grand complex that smells of parchment and secrets, where lost gods and lost philosophies whisper in the brittle-dry air. Where sometimes, just sometimes, a deeper mystery may caress the anticipating flesh of some unsuspecting passerby with the very fabric of fear and discovery.

 

[siobhancan99]

Bronwyn stumbled into the nearest inn that didn't seem crowded with students, run down, or overly fancy. She had a few gold in her pocket so she wasn't on the brink of starvation, but her last job the pay hadn't come through. She wasn't exactly flush either. She set down her pack and her lute case, her drums and the like. The girl behind the counter looked non-plussed. "We already have entertainment." Bronwyn held up a weary hand "Relax. I'm here with my own money, not looking for yours." At that the girl brightened. She was pretty enough. If Bronwyn wasn't exhausted she might have tried to flirt her way into a discount. Jet black hair and milk-white skin mixed with a hint of elven features made most boys and a fair number of girls curious at the very least. She balked momentarily at the listed price of the room, regretting not investing the time to flirt a little. Somewhat relieved to find it came with laundry and a bath, she forked over the gold and took the key.

She made her way up the steps to a small room, well-appointed and not ostentatious. She stripped out of leather armor and the clothes beneath, piling it with the rest of her clothes save one outfit by the door for the laundry service. Slipping down the hall she made her way to the bath. A short time later, after figuring out the controls, she soaked in a copper tub, reflecting. The town was a good place to find work for people in her profession. There was an ex or two here. Mugen? Mogen? she thought that was his name. He might still be here. And Sha.. Shalessa? Shanessa. Shalessa. They had parted on good enough terms. Maybe good enough for her to snag some couch space or at least a spot on the rug in front of the fire. Hopefully it didn't come to that.

Refreshed after a short nap, she threw on her last clean clothes. Black trousers and a purple shirt with a somewhat plunging neckline. Fortunately, there was strategic lacing for the preservation of what modesty she still had. She threw on a pair of black ankle boots, definitely more fashion than road-worthy, and headed down to the bar. After a wine and a meal she could work out whatever she was going to do with herself. Priorities.

 

[BernadetteRochelle]

The bar at the inn of the collage at the Library of Oghma was a small space appointed in dark wood, red silks, and small brass rivets. Behind the bar, several rows of both mundane and exotic spirits, wines, and beers were cramped together in a more or less defined order. The half orc that stood below them wore a wary smile, her well-muscled arms peaking from behind the short sleeves of a simple off-white linen shirt. She was in the midst of concocting some complicated drink and looked for all the world like a blacksmith trying their hand at alchemy.

Nearby, a small clutch of 3 students, two humans and an elf, were muttering in low tones. One of the humans, a young man with a green hooded cloak that covered his head let out a lyrical laugh towards the barkeep, "Gad, you need to pour the manticore rum on TOP of the ice, THEN stir in the mint!"

Gad glowered at the young man, then returned her gaze to her task. A few seconds later, the half orc shrugged with a slight sigh. Then. Brightening and breaking into an honest, gentle smile. "Order up!" She called, completely unaware of the eyes that followed her from a far alcove.

 

[siobhancan99]

Students. She'd been one once, about a decade ago. She shook her head at the man's order, and placed a few silvers on the bar, waiting for her turn. Out of habit, she scanned the room, trying to assess threats and a good time all in one sweep. When she had the bartender's attention she asked for the house white. Nothing too taxing and probably drinkable. She looked over the well-muscled arms of the woman appreciatively, then waited on her drink, again scanning the room. One couldn't be too careful, after all. She didn't expect trouble, but that's usually when she found it.

 

[BernadetteRochelle]

The entrance of a young woman into the bar was met by some interest by both barkeep and patrons. It was not entirely unusual for strangers to venture to the Inn, but the bar was more of a hideaway for students seeking a reprieve from sporadic classes and mildly austere dormitories.

When one of the human students stood to retrieve his drink, he cast Detect Magic in what he must have thought was a subtle fashion, on that he was sadly mistaken. Had the new arrival been paying particular attention, she would have noticed the elf, another male, casting the same spell much more covertly.

Gad, The barkeep looked the newcomer directly in the eyes, one heavy, arched and sculpted brow raised. She wore a welcoming grin. "The house white then? I'll suspect your rather the subtle one, eh?"

At that moment, the elf student sat bolt upright. There was definitely an invisible presence in the room and it hummed with illusion magic.

 

[siobhancan99]

"subtle, unpretentious. That's me." she grinned and took the wine "Bronwyn. Pleased to meet you" She turned at the commotion, surprised the two would cast so openly but it was after all a harmless spell. She arched an eyebrow, watching the elf look around. Still, the presence of magic could mean a lot of things. Trying to seem casual, she asked clear enough to be heard "what is it you see, over there?"

 

[BernadetteRochelle]

A hooded figure it's face covered but for the eyes materialized in a shadowed corner of the far side of the room, a hand crossbow aimed at Gad. "So you think you can made a move on The Clouter, do you Parliament scum?"

As if recognizing the feminine voice, the barkeep, Gad drew a mace from behind the bar. The two humans upturned a table to serve as cover while the elf drew a blade that glowed electric blue.

A second passed as if the bar, college, and library was evaluating the intentions of everyone present.

 

[siobhancan99]

Bronwyn realized she had a choice. She could watch the crossbowman kill the bartender, which he seemed confident would happen, or she could intervene on her behalf. If she didn't intervene, she wouldn't find out anything about the conflict implicit in the words. Who were the clouter? what was the parliament? He'd probably slink off and she'd get very vague answers. On the other hand, if she allied herself with the half-orc she was borrowing other people's trouble.

Borrowing other people's trouble won out, as getting involved gave her a potential revenue stream. She hurriedly cast, trying to lock him in place with a Hold Person spell. If it worked, that might give some opportunity for questioning at the very least.

 

[BernadetteRochelle]

The student who had just recently ordered a drink was the first to react. Three barbed prongs of energy thudded into the would-be attacker. The figure shuddered as each magic missile made contact with it's torso, doubling the figure over in pain. As the hooded intruder steadied the crossbow in their leather-gloved grip, Bronwynn's hold person spell took effect. The remaining human's hand darted out in a quick, jerky gesture and a patch of ice thudded against the wall very near the stationery figure.Gad, the half-orc, dashed forward and wrapped her large arms around the slight figure, as if doubting the duration of the Bard's spell would prove sufficient to immobilize her potential assassin. "All right you cubs, everyone too young to have grown their first grey hair...out!"

The elf, sword still drawn and blazing with energy, stood his ground as the human students departed, grumbling. Gad took a long look at the Bronwynn and cocked her head quizzically as if daring her to stay for what would, in all likelihood, be a rather drawn out interrogation.

 

[siobhancan99]

Bronwyn screwed up her mouth a little and looked around then back to the half orc "I mean, technically that's about 40 years from now, for me. So am I in or out? you never know with these things." She sipped at her wine, leaning against the bar "But I'm over 30 if that's what you mean." She looked at the guy "oh. youll want him able to you know. move his jaw I suppose" she raised a hand, "shall I then?"

 

[BernadetteRochelle]

Gad's smile was almost disturbingly warm as she nodded to Bronwynn. "Be my guest" she said brightly. The half orc threaded her arms through those of the assassin, pinning them against her own body, poised to shift her grip should a thorough neck-breaking be required in the near future.

 

[siobhancan99]

Bronwyn dropped the spell, and helped herself to a bar snack. She was intensely curious, of course, but she felt it was best to let this play out. She discreetly admired the muscled bartender, biting her lip at the imagination of those powerful arms pinning her, perhaps less savagely. She shook her head to dispel the thought, then slipped onto the barstool nearby. She intended to convey she wasn't going anywhere, to see if they'd shoo her out or if she could participate in the interrogation. Her eyes slipped over the would-be assassin, attempting to ascertain what she could on appearance alone.