Chapter 1: A Knife in Darkness

[Rex]

Lathi

"Og, get us an exit out of here." Lathi will use the bucket to pull up water and try and contain the flames as much as possible.

[tibbius]

The first bucketful of water seemed to fall through the flames and puddle under them. The heat of the fire was intense, like the hottest desert day at noon.

The mocking laughter in the entry hall ceased.

The flames began to flicker and dwindle. Black clouds of smoke hung in the ceiling high above your heads. The relatively feeble glows of Lathi's lantern and Xara's goblet became more noticeable as the fire paled.

[Scott308]

Ishbak Arus

As soon as the flames die down enough to escape the kitchen, Ishbak will head out and begin searching for any clues that might help them determine who was responsible for the firebombing. They tried to kill us! I bet it was those smug bastards responsible for guarding the warehouse! If they get rid of us and our claim on shares of the warehouse goods, they may make more money. I'm getting into that warehouse tonight, in case anyone else wants to go.

Investigation: [1d20-1] = 19-1 = 18

[Rex]

Lathi

"Agreed, I am with you."

[tibbius]

The flames dwindled to nothing, leaving behind stained and shattered floor tiles, scorched stucco on the front wall, and a hanging pall of smoke at the rafters. Moving carefully to the doorway, you find the entry hall empty. Only muddy bootprints remain to mark where the arsonists stood laughing. The bootprints come in from the open entry door and go back out the same way. No one is visible on the street outside the house, lit only by the waning crescent of the moon.

Danger seems to be passed.

Now the matters of food and drink (for everyone) as well as sex (for Xara). Not to mention the attic and the warehouse. But night has come and you all are hungry and tired.

[Scott308]

Ishbak Arus

I don't know about you guys, but I'm starvin'. I'm gonna find some place to get food. After that, I'm interested in checking out the rest of the house.

[Rex]

Lathi

Lathi will make sure the fire is out then"Food sounds good."

[tibbius]

The streets are fairly dark but you all are hungry. Extinguishing the lantern so as not to waste your oil, you head out of the house. None of you has a key so the door is left ajar as it was when you arrived. You follow the paved streets toward the gate in the wall that separates the fine stucco houses of the residential district from the somewhat cruder structures of the crafts and trades. For several minutes you see no-one else. The fronts of the houses are blank except for their doors, as is the fashion in Belthaar. Most buildings loom three stories tall in shadows under the fingernail moon.

You're pretty sure that the closest place for food after sunset will be one of the taverns in the Pleasure District.

Near the gate you meet a contingent of three guardsmen loitering. One carries a torch. The leader wears a red sash and a red plumed helmet. Their grey tunics fade into the night. "Who goes?" asks the leader in a bored voice, when you reach the shadowy edge of the torch light (about 40 feet away). His hand rests on the hilt of his curved short sword. His two subordinates also grip their swordhilts.

[Scott308]

Ishbak Arus

Pausing only momentarily, Ishbak continues on. Hungry folks looking for a tavern so we can fill our bellies. Where would the closest- or cheapest- be?

[Rex]

Lathi

"Yes, cheapest if possible."

[ravenn4544]

Og grunts in agreement.

[tibbius]

The guard captain's face is not easy to read in the flickering orange light that the torch casts over his shoulder. "Well..." he muses, "you could try Mama Mama's." Even Ishbak, a foreigner, has heard of that place. It's the most expensive dining house in Belthaar.

"Or," the captain adds with a muted snicker from his flanking subordinate, "if that's not sufficiently refined, there are many fine establishments along the wall in the Pleasure District." Those are the lowest dives to be found. "I like Undakar's." None of you have ever heard of that, but it would certainly be less expensive than Mama Mama's. "It's near the warehouses," he adds with a helpful tone, possibly finished taking the mick o you. "Azimban food - mostly."

[Rex]

Lathi

"That sound good, could you point the way please?"

[tibbius]

The guard captain obligingly gives directions, and shepherds you through the archless gate where another six guards are seated around a brazier. The wall is about twelve feet high and a couple feet thick, built of bricks. The gate is wide enough for two wagons to pass each other. On the other side is the Trades District, sturdy but rundown buildings of two or three stories packed along narrow cobble streets so different from - and darker than - the spacious residential district with its tidy houses. Working your way through the Trades you end up at the edge of the warehouse district, on Breakspear Lane. Undakar's door is opened wide and tables are set up on the street outside the door. Warm light and spicy air waft forth from the dining room, and peeking in you see thirty to forty people sitting drinking eating and laughing. Most of them wear grey tunics, some with red sashes. A few wear rough clothing like Remhaz and Lessa or whatever their names were at the warehouse. It looks like all of them are armed with daggers and swords or clubs tucked into belts. Nobody looks up as you enter and step carefully between packed tables to the bar.

"Stew or roast meat? Chicken or pig? Veggie?" asks the portly middle aged woman behind the bar. "Hot drink or cold? With booze?"

[Monsieur Rose]

Xara

Xara is getting restless. "Veggie and a cold drink for me." She casts an eye over the crowd, looking for possibilities. She makes a note of anyone who makes eye contact. "Let's find a table to sit at. We're not going to find anything private, but we need to talk about things. Maybe a table on the side?"

[Rex]

Lathi

"Meat and tea for me." Turning to Xara, "This way, it looks like an open table in that corner."

[ravenn4544]

"Booze! Meat! Give the green crap to the princess!" Og utters brashly.

[sirravd]

Anathotesh of Nesh

The companions are interrupted by a man––a minor nobleman, apparently––sitting down at their table, bringing his plate of jellied fungi with him. "Gentlemen," he says, "I believe I recognize you: Akhtesh Beruz's executor described you to me: his other inheritors. I am his son. Well-met."

[tibbius]

The grey-garbed watchmen and the rougher-looking merchant guardsmen continue their meals at their tables all around the group, undisturbed by the presence of civilians in their midst. There is plenty of opportunity for conversation.

The jellied mushrooms are sweet and a little spicy, Mazanian cinnamon and black pepper. The pig stew that Og got is very spicy (red pepper) and greasy with onions and carrots. The booze is harsh distilled stuff that tastes too sweet, like pure Ikunan cane syrup. Xara's veggies are mainly celery and onions with some greens, all sauteed and tossed with a mild sauce of red pepper and cream.

[ravenn4544]

Anathotesh of Nesh

The companions are interrupted by a man––a minor nobleman, apparently––sitting down at their table, bringing his plate of jellied fungi with him. "Gentlemen," he says, "I believe I recognize you: Akhtesh Beruz's executor described you to me: his other inheritors. I am his son. Well-met."

Og laughs with food and spittle flying out as he jerks a thumb over his shoulder, "Get in line, brother! HAHA!"