Decadents and Dropouts IC

[Belinda35]

The Narrator - Haerdon

"Personally, I don't care. May he burn the vampire after all. I am just interested in the gold he has, a part of it belongs to me, rightfully." he emptied another tankard. He was far from drunk, but it could improve his position to feign drunkeness. "Another one...cutie!" he called to the rather ugly maid in a drunken voice.

 

[Belinda35]

Phyliss Ovida

Now, this got interesting, and it didn't went so far that she had to have a bad conscience yet. She whispered in his ear. "As long as we keep dressed, there is no harm. We will search for Gryph later, and will go to the docks together and find the people. So, just let us go on for a few moments." She stuck her tongue in his ear, and rubbed her hand over his head, playing with his horns, while she caressed his wing with the other hand.

 

[Avellan13]

Trunfor

Trunfor shuddered from pleasure as Phyliss caressed his wings. They were very sensitive, they had to be to be able to detect the slightest change in the sir currents. He rubbed his head against Phyliss and continued to play with her snake hair which he found very interesting.

 

[Belinda35]

Phyliss Ovida

Phylis loved as he played with her snakes, she found it somehow innocent and exciting as well. She carefully touched both of his wings with her arms now. She knew they had to stop soon, if they would get going, but she just wanted to keep it that way for a few minutes.

 

[Avellan13]

Trunfor Blackheart

Trunfor breathing deepened and he began to nudge against her, but restrained himself. He had to keep contol of himself, but was reluctant to move from his current position.

He looked into Phyliss`s eyes and spoke in a low whisper, "I.. I think we.. we need to stop before someone.. finds us like this. Not that don`t like what your doing, I love it, I just think we need to slow before we get carried away."

He grinned shyly and looked away, "Though I hope we can continue some time real soon if you don`t mind?"

 

[DormantEvil]

Relic

The Ghost Chicken ran straight for them, and Relic watched over one of the men's shoulders for a few moments before jumping off the top of the stairs down to the floor below. Escaping the madness with one delicate bound. The men, shocked at her retreat slowly began to laugh. They had scared the all powerful drow. It was only when the elderly man caught site of the translucent creature charging at them that his laughter turned into a cry of fear. He turned and started to hobble away down the hallway in the opposite direction. The other men soon turned, before shouting out and running after him. Quickly passing by the crippled man and throwing themselves inside their rooms, the doors slamming shut behind them.

Chuckling to herself, Relic slowly stood upright in time to hear some interesting comments. So many people looking for the gorgon.

"From what I have heard they were wiped out millenia ago in The Great War. Why would Haerdon want a gorgon in exchange for a vampire? That doesn't make sense at all."

Gryph, why was he talking to this man.

"Personally, I don't care. May he burn the vampire after all. I am just interested in the gold he has, a part of it belongs to me, rightfully."

Vampire? That would fetch quite the price. If only Relic pieced together the strength and lack of eating that her former companion of only a few short days had concealed. She was yet to find out the truth about the woman she found so attractive and strong. But the mention of gold also caught her attention equally.

Sliding over to stand nearby, she listened in.

"You are looking for a Gorgon? I might be able to help you with finding a woman who recently arrived in town. For a price of course."

Moving in to stand by 'Koslak', Relic put a delicate hand on his shoulder and leaned in closely. Whispering quietly to both of them.

"Just how valuable is she to you?"

Shooting a toothy grin towards his companion 'Drake', before giggling to herself. Oh how she loved these games. "I happen to know just where you can find this exotic beauty, the filthy whore has been gathering men from all over town to please her. Her abilities must be good, because she's stealing my customers. She's pay alright. Personally I would keep her for myself, hundreds of ways that woman could please me...at her expense."

 

[Nidhogg]

-Z-

The air of this large office was hazy from smoke. It was remarkably cooler in this room than the rest of the building. A breeze could be felt from the open windows. The room itself was cluttered with books, scrolls, maps and charts of all sorts. Even with bookcases covering each inch of the walls, two tables, and a massive desk, there didn't seem to be enough room for it all.

At the far end of the room sat a massive and ornate wooden desk. The corners were adorned with the carved heads of sea serpents. A large chair was turned towards a door in the corner of the room. Z couldn't make out who was in the chair, but that was where the plume of smoke was coming from.

He shut the door behind him and took a few steps in to the room. "Macaroy? I was told to see you about purchasing a boat."

A feminine voice responded. "Well...I do have a few skiffs that I'm anxious to be rid of." It was a mildly husky voice, with a slight rasp to it. Definitely sexy. A female dwarf came out from behind the chair. She was stunning. Her face was strong, but her eyes had a soft touch to them. Her large, shining, green eyes. With her ginger hair disheveled, her blouse open to show off a lot of her impressive cleavage and a satisfied smirk on her face, she gave quite an odd first impression.

Z could tell right away that it was a carefully crafted impression. He arched an eyebrow at her.

She chuckled and took a drag on her pipe. "Let me guess...expected a human? Or just a man?" She scoffed. "Sorry for not falling in to your stereotypes."

Zahn kept a neutral face as he looked at the woman. "So am I supposed to feel bad that when I was told to meet a person working in a guild dominated by male humans and given nothing more than a generic name I made the simple assumption that it would be a human male? Save the guilt card, save the sex card and save the dwarf card. I'm just here for a boat."

Macaroy shot an angry glare at Zahn. There was a long silence before she couldn't hold the look anymore and laughed. "Hey, those usually work pretty well. Except for the dwarf card. But at least now I can put a real shirt on. Too cold in here to expose half my damn chest." She extinguished her pipe and pulled a brown duster out from under her desk. She slipped it on and buttoned up her shirt.

"You don't have to stand by the door, you know. Come on over and tell me what you're looking for, Mister..."

"Zahn." Z walked over to her desk and stuck his hand out. Macaroy gave it a quick and firm shake.

"Tala Macaroy. Not sure what official title the guildmaster has assigned me this week, but it really doesn't matter does it?" She swung her chair back around to face the desk and sat down while motioning for Zahn to do the same.

"I suppose not." Z pulled a chair from the side of the room to in front of her desk and took a seat.

Tala had a soft smile on her face. "I'm guessing you're not one for innuendo or small talk, so I won't force it. First things first. How...legitimate do you need this purchase to be?"

"I'm paying in hard coin. I don't need false paperwork or silence from anyone. Just a small boat as soon as possible."

"Ah, fine." She seemed disappointed. "So boring. Alright, Zahn, uh...now how small are you talking about? If you just want a raft I'll sell you some rope and a few tables from downstairs."

Z shook his head. "No rafts. I'm thinking something along the lines of a cog. There will be five or six passengers, minimal cargo, and luxury and privacy aren't a major concern. The passengers have no experience with boats so they're hiring some people to pilot it. Don't know who they've found, but the simpler the boat the better."

Tala scanned through a few different ledgers on her desk. "Let me see here...um. Ah, I have two cogs actually. One was willed to the guild a week ago after the captain passed on. It has been sitting in the docks unused for over a year though. Might be in bad shape."

Z didn't want to get cheap on safety. "The other?"

Ehh...here. A nicer one, just got unloaded on us a month ago when the captain and crew were arrested. Had been used a lot, but was inspected and found to be in good shape. It is a cargo ship, little over 80 feet long, no cabins, but a lot of space in the hold, if you don't need head room, that is. Single mast. Square sail. 4 steering paddles."

Z thought it sounded decent. "How much?"

Tala ran her finger across several lines written in to the ledger. "Ummm...four thousand up front, or three now and three later if you want the payment plan with the guild."

Four thousand was too much. "I'll pay three thousand, all in platinum, and I want to see it before the deal is final."

The dwarf looked up from her book and smiled again. "Fine with me."

Z was genuinely shocked. "That was easy."

She hopped out of her chair and moved towards the door in the corner. "I'm not paid enough to waste my evenings haggling. Lets just get the deal done so I can go have some fun. Uhh...lets take the back stairs. Seems rambunctious down there. I swear I thought I heard someone shout something about an evil chicken..."

Z got up and followed her to the back stairs. He quickly checked on the old coin. It was in the bandoleer pocket. He knew Relic would be alright, but he was worried about Phyliss, Trunfor, Canut and Gryph. It had been almost two hours since he left the tavern, and he really hoped they were taking care of everything.

 

[Belinda35]

Phyliss Ovida

Phyliss withdrew from Tronfur. "Yes we might have another go, another time." She hugged him once more and got up. "Lets us go downstairs, then." She took off the black dress, not caring this time if Trunfor would see her, she had still her undies on, so no harm. She put on the green-black dress she usually wore out on the streets and in wilderness, and she didn't forget the boots this time. She had hidden the money from Zahl in a small bag, hidden stringed to her neck and hidden between her breast. The dress showed no cleavage and was not tight enoug to expose the little bag, but tight enough to keep it pressed between her breasts. She checked her look on the mirror to be sure, and took a look at Tronfur. Good, no lipstick marks on his face. She missed a small red ring around the base of his horn, but it could have been anything. She took the blanket from the fourth, unused bed, and draped it carefully around Canut. Then she stuck the key to him, together with a little note, telling him to lock the room if he left and leave the key at the landlord.
She went down, but there was no sign of Gryph and she was told that he walked out.
"Ok, Tronfur, so we two will go into the docks and find two sailors. I will buy a small crossbow before that, to have enough change, and it might be helpful."

 

[Belinda35]

The Narrator - Haerdon

Haerdon thougt it was Blade for a moment, but then realized it was a different drow. He didn't like them to much, but sometimes they were handy. Especially this one. He got very excited, but was experienced not to show it.
"So you know how to find her? Anyone could say that. But I am willing to pay in gold if you show me the gorgon first. Name your price." He found it ironic that he would pay for the gorgon with the gold he looted from Marcus estate. So this gorgon was choosing her guys by money. That why she was so resistant against a honest barbarian. He would teach her some modesty, for sure.

 

[DormantEvil]

Relic

"Awww, do you not trust me? A smart man you are. No wonder you have such a strong aura."

Relic smiled, squeezing his shoulder slightly before slowly walking over to put both of her hands on Drakes shoulders. Unable to squeeze them due to his armor, but she leaned forwards to whisper to them both again. Keeping her gaze on the babarian.

"A gorgon in green, with a man on each arm, snakes of amber elegance and eyes red enough to light anyone's heart ablaze?" Her voice seemed to lower as she spoke of Phyliss. As she finished, she rested some of her weight on one of Drakes shoulders. Slowly running a sharp fingernail over the very well polished armor he wore.

Her eyes seemed to sparkle when she mentioned her price. "If I caught her myself I could sell her body for a hefty price, but with those eyes so dangerous I will stick to what I do best. Pleasing men. My price is simple, and not greedy I hope you find."

As she spoke of pleasing men, Relic breathed in Drakes scent. As if enjoying it, and smiled. Her eyes darting to the one asking for her terms.

"To give you a simple location where I last saw her, fifty gold pieces...but to offer a service much more valuable and to bring her right into your waiting trap?" she left Drake and moved around to lean on Koslak's shoulder, so she could whisper into his ear and breath against his exposed neck. She curled some of her hair around one finger, as if in thought. "I suppose for two hundred gold pieces...no, one hundred since it serves my own enjoyment, I could 'do business' with you."

 

[Belinda35]

The Narrator - Haerdon

Now this made Haerdon suspicious. He had given the half-dragon a wrong description, to see if he was lying, but Drakonius didn't go into that trap. The drow did. Haerdon knew very well that Phyliss snakes were black, with a little gleam of green, and her eyes were human, except for the yellow iris. He was a bit in the trap as well. He could not tell the drow that her decription was wrong without admitting he had lied before. He could, if he did it right.
"Quite a lot of money. If I pay that, I have to be sure. If you insist of not showing me the gorgon fisrt, you sure happen to know her name. I need the right gorgon as bait for Haerdon."

 

[Avellan13]

Trunfor

Trunfor nodded to Phyliss and grabbed his bag. As she got dressed he looked at her from the corner of his eyes. Then he followed her downstairs.

Upon hearing her comment about a crossbow, he grinned and shook his head, "Don`t worry, I have a weapon of my own. It`s one of the greatest I`ve come across. It`s very unique."

He bent down and retrieved a longsword from his sheath, hidden within the folds of his robes. It was very unique about 4'5" long and made coldiron, the steel was light blue with red lines along it. The hilt was dark brown. The most unusual feature was that the blads was split in half down the metal, giving it the appearence of two blads melded together.

Trunfoe spoke a word in a low whisper, then the sword began to hum softly as lightning crackled along the blade. "This is Uninduel, my finest creation. The only weapon I use."

 

[Belinda35]

Phyliss Ovida

Phyliss looked at the large sword that Tronfur produced. "Fair enough to me." said the gorgon. "Quite surprising. I didn't expect that you hide something that big." She grinned as if something funny came into her mind, but quickly wiped it off her face. "Maybe you will have to need it. I am sure you can handle your weapon, but I am not very good in close combat. I have some good shields, deadly snakes and my petrification spell, but I am in a fix if someone is protected against that. The snakes must get very close, and have to penetrate the skin, and for the spell I need eye contact." she moved towards one of the shops were she had been with Gryph the day before and got in. "I need something to take out an enemy from distance, especially if we are on a boat. Did you guess that I am an expert in crossbow-shooting? Luckily, the little one is still here." She bought a little crossbow and enough bolts for it, and still had quite a lot of change left from Zahls first coin.
"So, we can now afford to go hunting in the docks."

 

[Avellan13]

"Don`t worry, I can protect you. I`m bound to serve and protect you. Also I`m skilled in close combat, my wings and fiendish heritage improve my reflexes for quick movement and have many magical abilities and spells that are useful in many situations"

He put a hand on Phyliss`s shoulder reassuring her of his protective nature. "I already have an spell on you, form the spell school of abjuration. A spell called shield other. Any attack, whether mundane or magical, will be transfered to me instead of you, and I can heal myself which is also useful if I take take too much injury."

 

[Belinda35]

Phyliss Ovida

"Oh, Tronfur..." Phyliss looked at him with big eyes. He really cared for her. "I don't know...what to say. But I should tell you, that I have a shield against most physical and many magic attacks, and I have very good self healing skills." She was quiet, because she knew, he would not be talked out of this. So she kept going forward towards the docks. There was sounds of a fight. There were three man, one of them a boy, were fighting against a one-eyed, elder man with a fuzzy red beard and wide trousers, like they are worn by sailors. He could be an old sailor who had seen better days or a pirate, who could tell. He fought wild and brave, but had no chance against three. Finally he was beaten down, long before Phyliss and Tronfur were close. They ripped his money from him and turned around, as they found someone approaching. They were not prepared to see a demon and a gorgon. The boy turned around and run. The two others probably looked for easier victims, and moved back, too. The man on the ground was conscious, but to badly beaten to jump up and run away as the others, although he probably wanted to. "Look like we have found our first customer." said Phyliss to Tronfur.

 

[Avellan13]

Trunfor ran over to the old man and knelt by him. He examined the injury and found that it wasn`t too serious. "I got this," then he looked at the man, "I need you to stay still for me." Trunfor put a hand on his shoulder and put the other above the wound.

Remembering the spell Trunfor spoke softly the words of the heal minor wounds spell. It didn`t matter what language one spoke in when casting spell, just as long as it was spoken clearly.

Blue lines crisscrossed over the wound as the spell melded the flesh together. The skin regrew back into posotion and the amaged veins and muscle knitted back together. Within a few seconds, they skin was as good as new.

"There you go, your fully healed and back to your regular self again."

 

[Belinda35]

Phyliss Ovida

Tronfur was there before her, and he healed him quite fast. He was good at it, really. She smiled at the man. "Don't walk away. my friend. I ahve a little gold for a brave sailor, or rather two of them. Maybe you are one of them? " She stepped close to the man, friendly, but looking very determined. If he was a sailor, she would get him to hire at her boat, sure thing. And he looked like one.

 

[Avellan13]

Trunfor Blackheart

"We have one sailor, we need another. But where do we find another?" He looked about helplessly. Trunfor knew little about cities and settlement, so he didn`t know where to look for a sailor in the first place. Trunfor felt useless in the current situation.

He kept an eye out for any more possible danger.

 

[Nidhogg]

-NARRATOR-

Maralai was alone in the guard captain's office. Her intelligence reports were painting a much different picture than what she had assumed. The beasts the doppelganger was dealing with didn't seem to know what he was. They were still dangerous monsters, but Maralai had limited resources here. A survivor of the Cabal was her top priority.

The door to the office was shut and locked, and there were no windows; the only light in the room came from a single candle. Maralai was leaning over the desk reading the reports her hunters had brought in on the docks. She was memorizing every house, every alley, every sewer grate, every possible escape route.

"Didn't I tell you that you would regret not bringing me along?" The deep and raspy voice that came from behind the elf was instantly recognizable.

Maralai groaned. "I do not need another one of your lectures, Doctor. It is also very rude to just spirit yourself in to a room. Door's exist for a reason." She turned around to face her first lieutenant.

The half-orc was leaning against the wall by the still closed door. It was clear he had some age to him, the jet black hair he kept tied behind his head was graying at the temples. His well trimmed mustache and beard hung several inches below his chin, and had already gone mostly gray. He wore the brown and black colors that all of Maralai's hunters wore, and emblazoned on his chest was the White Stag symbol. His gear was no simple uniform, though. His black waistcoat had armored shoulder pads and bracers adorned with arcane symbols. The only weapon he carried was a large falchion that hung loosely from his belt.

"Yes, they certainly do. But there are guards spying on the door and it is always better to keep my presence a secret, isn't it?" The Doctor walked over to Maralai and smiled.

"Yes, yes, Doc, I know. You do love being a surprise. I swear, if you spent as much time on strengthening your magic as you did on disguising it, you'd rival a god by now."

Doc chuckled. "Power comes with responsibility, my friend, and you know as well as I do that responsibility would get in the way of 'me time'. So, you going to tell me why I had to teleport my ass across the damn continent on such short notice? Teleporting is not easy or cheap."

"Why? You mean other than because your commander ordered you to?" Maralai gave Doc a sly smile, which quickly faded. She was all business now. "We've come across a doppelganger."

Doc arched an eyebrow. "So? We run in to on of those buggers at least twice a year. I know you have...issues with them but-"

Maralai shot a nasty look at Doc that stopped him. "We have it on good authority that he is a survivor of the Cabal."

"Ah...now that is certainly different. I thought they were all accounted for?"

The elf shook her head. "So did I. But how many false documents and records did we find in the Magister's possession? We could have easily been mislead."

Doc sighed. "Does this doppelganger have the necromantic powers the Magister had?"

"Not that I can tell. Right now he seems to be going through a lot of trouble to buy a boat for a gorgon, a drow, a cambion, a kobold, and an unknown hybrid. None of whom seem to be aware of what he is."

"How odd. Hmm, theories on the unknown hybrid?" Doc leaned over the desk and began leafing through the reports.

"Possibly a giant-kin. No one has gotten close enough to get a good look at him. Since they don't seem to be working for the doppelganger we haven't spent much time observing these monsters."

Doc nodded his head. "If they did get in the way, the cambion and the gorgon would be the main threats. Both are easy to protect against if you prepare, though. What squad did you bring with you?"

"Six man elite. Rockbiter's boys. Two crossbow, two halberd, two sword and shield. No magical gear, but all had the full treatment."

Doc looked up at her quizzically. "Awful lot of manpower for this town, commander. I mean the treatment keeps them safe from magical attacks...but you can't support or heal them with magic either. Not to mention you have to keep the medicine coming or they go catatonic." Doc groaned softly. His commander hadn't told him why she was coming here in the first place, so she wasn't likely to tell him now. He had to respect her decision.

"Alright, so not only are our best hunters here, but you are here. So what the hell do you need me for? I mean Rockbiter trained nothing but the best, and if you aren't worried about the other monsters interfering...what is the problem? You know what shape the doppelganger is in right now, you know where he is right now...the hard parts are over. Just cut his damn head off."

Maralai stared straight down at the desk. "I want the doppelganger alive. We need to keep him from changing shapes, from casting any magic, from being able to regenerate. I also need his mind to be susceptible as I doubt he'd tell me anything willingly. We need to do this without spells or artifacts. Any massive magical aura could give away our position."

Doc went pale. "Commander...Maralai...please tell me you don't want me to..."

She didn't move. "I have to undo any damage this monster has done. We can not let him get away just because we lack the will to do what is necessary. Get it done quickly, and don't worry about the local authorities. We are taking this monster down tonight."

Doc silently nodded in agreement. There would be a special place in hell waiting for him after this. He had to believe it was worth it.

 

[Avellan13]

Trunfor leaned up against the wall and pulled his spellbook out of his bag. He skimmed through the humdred spells he had collected through the years. Many were cantraps (0-level spells) which were very weak and used for simple tasks like detecting poison, deteting magic, and other simple attack spells. He had more spells in high levels like magic missile, wall of force, anti-magic field, invisibility, teleport, dispel, acid cloud, telekinesis, slow, haste, and many others.

He was mainly a wizard with a little combat expertise so he relied on spell to augment him attacks during melee combat.

Trunfor was looking up his favorite spell, Dominate Person (Allowing him to control any humanoid for a limited time) when he thought he sensed something nearby. He glanced around at the roof top and down some alleys, but he couldn`t find the source of what was troubling him.

 

[DormantEvil]

Relic

Smiling, Relic outwardly thought for a moment before tapping a finger on his shoulder. "I believe she mentioned the name Morintha, but that is just what I hear. I have yet to speak with her directly, she keeps herself hidden throughout the day. Has been for a short while now. There is another sighting though, but she cannot be the one you require...she isn't as beautiful."

Standing up, Relic tossed Drake a glance before wandering a few meters away.

"But I suppose I could tell you where both the gorgons are, included in that price. For you to make your own mind up. Maybe you would get more coin or the man you are after, if you had two instead of just one?"

((Gay trap is gay. Did I dig up?))

 

[Belinda35]

Phyliss Ovida

The man they rescued was named Skandölf, and he was indeed a sailor, as he said, though Phyliss assumed that he had been a pirate, but was polite enough not to mention it. He agreed to work for her, as she expected - her determined look and the presence of a gorgon and a fiend did help as well.
"Don't worry. Skandölf will know the taverns and places where to find our next mate, and he will know some of them personally, so that we will succeed as fast and easily as we had now. Aint't I'm right, dear Skandölf?"
Skandölf nodded. "Follow me, I take you to a tavern I know."
Phyliss blinked at Tronfur. "This goes just to well, doesn't it?"

 

[Belinda35]

The Narrator - Haerdon

"I am only interested in the gorgon that will lead me to Haerdon, and her name is not Morintha. But she is damn pretty, at least he said so. Maybe they are both the wrong one? Let us make a deal. You show me the place, and if it is the right one, I pay what you ask, and pay you 120 gold pieces then. Allright?" Haerdon was getting impatient, but took care not to show.

 

[Avellan13]

Trunfor nodded, put his spellbook away, then walks over to syand by Phyliss. He eans in close and whispers, "I agree, but something up. I sense something... though I can`t figure it out."

He looks around nervously and takes a breath, "I don`t, it`s probably nothing." Then walks beside Phyliss, keeping alert for any danger.

 

[Belinda35]

Phyliss Ovida

Phyliss looked around, but could not sense anything as well. "I don't sense anything. " she said. "You mean the stalkers?"
Skandölf was walking in front of them, he didn't look as if he was seeing anything unusal, too. She admitted that the old sailor had quite a pokerface. After the first shock he acted as if there was nothing unusual to hire at a gorgons and a demons ship, and he walked ahead as if he was just going to have his usual drink at the seamens tavern.