Lurel listens carefully to the description of the sewers.

"Well, it looks as though the first level, at least, is easily accessible. We can explore one section at a time, and come back up into Witten for food and sleep. Can't say I'm too keen on running into the Yar down there, but.." He shrugs. "There's nothing for it. We have 60 tunnels to explore."

He takes a stone, and scratches a rough design of the sewer layout on the ground.

"That's a lot of tunnels to explore - Midge, can you keep track of where we've been so we don't run around in circles?"

He looks to Lisette and Siffli. "So, which access point would you recommend?"

OOC> Damn... don't have much time, so i dont write so much. I have a 10 weeks vacation now, and I don't know how often I will be able to post, but I try to do it as often as possible...

(OOC: Maybe Malchik could do your character in an emergency? Hope you enjoy your vacation. ^^)

Ford ponders.

"Geez, how are we ever going to explore all that?! Maybe we should write it down on a piece of paper as we go along like we did before. I think trying to remember all of those tunnels would be a challenge even for Midge!"

OOC I have just noticed I have made a stupid error, must be due to altitude. There are sixty tunnel 'ends'. I know because I have a plan. It actually means there are FIFTEEN tunnels N-S and FIFTEEN E-W not thirty. My apologies.

You will not be attacked initially be anyone you meet in the first level of the sewers. Rather than spend ages walking round, just pick a starting point and a direction and I´ll tell you who you meet and in what order. You can jot it down if you like as you may want to go back to one or more group later. I´ll number the tunnels in clockwise order from one of the corners depending where you start. There are fifteen blind tunnels on each side.

The extent to which you will get info/help/services from any of the groups you find will depend a lot on which of you does most of the talking.

I am leaving this hotel, (in the middle of the Atacama desert) where there is unlimited free internet access, tomorrow morning. I don't know what I'll find in Buenos Aires. I'm not paying so we´ll have to see. If I'm not on again until the twentieth, so be it! I'll try to post once more before I go.

Cheers

If we find Yar, Midge speaks, worriers, I do, and if we find a store, Ford or Siffli. As for direction...

Lisette pulls out a coin, and says: "Heads, clockwise, tails, counter."

"Well," Lurel remarks thoughtfully, "we still don't know the name of Smudge's client. Unless Smudge is willing to tell us, we'll have to go around asking everyone if they bought arrows - it might take some time. We might as well use the entrance Smudge recommended, and work our way along the blind ends. I wonder if he's explored the north-west of the second level for a particular reason? But we might as well start with the north west area of the first level - with the information we have, it's as good as any."

He grimaces. "This could take some time. We have all of today to start getting an idea of what it's like. I suggest that we come back up to street level at regular intervals, to check our bearings, and check how late in the day it is. I'd rather not spend the night down there."

"I agree... for one thing, dried up old sewage isn't my idea of a good camp!"

Ford shudders slightly at the thought.

"There are plenty of ways back up by the looks of it... we may need to come up now and then for air, if nothing else..."

He grins slightly.

Okay you start in the north west corner and travel clockwise yes. If you want to change your mind let me know. Numbering along the northern lit tunnel from 1 travelling east you immediately find a door. Knocking at it a tall man in greena nd yellow livery throws the door open.

"About time - oh! Look, if you want to buy furs go and deal with the Master. Balthazar Zorn. Ask anyone to find him. He´s head of the Lipschitz Yar, we just store stuff."

Behind him you can see several people in similar livery and piles of furs.

Ford clears his throat.

"Hello there. My friends here have already been to see Balthazar," he motions to Lisette and Siffli, "but I'm afraid we're not interested in furs. However, we were wondering if you've heard of any activity to do with arrows around here recently?"

The men look at each other. The one talking to you scratches his head.

"We're just grunts. I did hear Balthazar muttering about needing something like that for the shipment from Olden as protection but that's between him and his guards."

He looks to the others for corroborration. Two others join in.

"We don't have much call for bows and arrows in the sewers. Can´t get a proper flight path. You can try the Demveni Yar, they specialise in weapons. They've a guild faction somewhere around here on this level."

"Could be the black slayers."

"Are they here?"

"I dunno. They're in Flen and Olden."

"I have't seen them."

"Well, nobody ever sees them, do they!"

"They use arrows!"

The man who first spoke says. "I don't think they are here but you can check next door. Others are a bit more obsevant than we are. Is there anything else you want to know?"

"Ah, thank you."

Ford smiles at the men and then turns to Lurel.

"Erm, is there anything else, or shall we head to the Demveni? They sound like the best bet..."

Lurel nods. "Yes, that sounds like our best bet. Unless anyone here knows where we might find Smudge when he's down here..."

"Alright then."

Ford turns back to the men.

"Thanks for all your help, we'll be on our way..."

He looks to the others and then walks on. Once they're away from the men he turns to Lurel.

"Hmm so... we need to find where this Demveni lot are. Should we ask next door like he suggested?"

Knocking on door two, next to the Lipshitz Yar the door is opened cautiously by a boy of about seven or eight years old.

"Password" he whispers. Then he sees who you are. He opens the door and calls back over his shoulder. "Miklos, visitors!"

A boy in his early teens wanders across. You can see other children, mostly male but with two or three girls, none older than Miklos.

Miklos says "So you come to the Hantan Yar, but you don't look as if you´re starving, so I won't give you food unless you can convince me you are. I'll sell you some at a nice high price so we can get more for the really needy."

The children are stocking shelves, parcelling food up and giving it to runners. In the short time you have been there three runners have gone. Two have arrived with more supplies. The password is 'hunger'.

Lurel mumbles to the others: "I think Midge or Ford should do the talking here - ask about arrows and Smudge."


He stands back a little, trying to take in as much detail as he can. He is curious as to what this Yar is doing.

Ford nods to Lurel. He turns to face Miklos.

"Hello... we're not here about food, actually, we're looking for some information. Do you know where we can find the Demveni Yar?"

"They are here somewhere. Try all the doors you're sure to get them. The Lipschitz is next door to the right as you go out. There´s nothing for a ways the other direction."

He notices Lurel's curious gaze.

"Look, Mister, some kids get orphaned young and don't know how to live. Some's very poor and can't afford to. Well, we know how to 'get hold of' food from those as can spare it and get it to those who can't live otherwise. Yeah, it's not legal any more than trading furs without paying the taxes is legal." He nods towards the Lipschitz Yar. "But be careful what you think the Yar are all about. We're all different."

Lurel uses his empathy skill on Miklos. Although he is sure that the boy's motives are noble, he wonders whether he should ask him some questions.

"I wish we could help you," he says softly. "We've seen so may children suffer, on our travels." He tells Miklos about the children from Heidal.

Depending on the outcome of Lurel's empathy check, Lurel will either leave it at that, or, if he feels that it would be safe to do so, ask:

"Can you tell us something about the Lindan Yar, and their leader? We ran into them in the forest and... well, I'd like to know whether we can trust them if they say they're not interested in us. I don't want to have to keep on watching my back..."

ari feels sorry for the kids chips in
"if i had food or money i'd give it to you... hang on i've a bit of dried meat spare"
*he rumages in his pack*
"Here, its all i've got spare".
"mikos, do you know anything about the lower levels at all?"

[ooc] home pc still not talking to net so my posting is being a bit random sorry [/ooc]

"I may as well chip in, too."

Lisette hands the boy some coins.

[ooc] Do you have a library? [/ooc]

Lurel´s empathy check shows the boy is willing to steal to help those in need. He will steal only from those he believes can spare it. He authorises food only to those he believes are genuinely needy.

He answers the three questions in the reverse order.

"A library? Most of us 'ere can't even read. There's a odd lot of mages a bit further along this passage. Library is the kind of thing they 'ave."

"The lower levels ain't safe, or so we're told. You want to ask the Ton Ton Yar about that. Knowing them they could be telling the truth or lying straight in yer face. They´re in the south tunnel."

"Lindan Yar. Yeah we know 'em. Keep out of their way. They work for some rich geezer who handles the kind of food that grows on yer - if you get what I mean!"

He takes the food from Arturius.

"Most of the Yar aren't so bad really. But the Lindan Yar... The Ton Ton's are a bit iffy sometimes. Depends on the guy in charge of the cadre. Porcius Nilbar here. Don't know anything about him as he's new. Then there's the black slayers. Funny thing is no-one seems to know what they do. They kill a few people each year but that can't be all, surely? Anyway ask around if you want to know more."

"And where would we be able to find the Linden Yar?" Midge asks

"Ratz is my guess," Lurel says with a grimace. "Remember that estate we passed, just outside of Ratz.. what was his name again? Radovan something or other... the one our 'friend' from the Lindan Yar was talking to." He turns to Miklos. "I'd be more that happy to avoid the Lindan Yar... but they seemed to take an interest in us."

He shrugs helplessly. "Thanks for your help, Miklos."

The boy seems to respond to Midge.

"The Lindan Yar ain't here. But if they're interested in yer then you must ave something to do with drugs. We don't want no part of that. Stay here. They won´t come down the sewers!"

You leave the children in tunnel north2 and continue east. The next occupied cave is number eleven. When you knock, the door is opened by a mage with wild eyes.

He says "Ooble, ooble pip?"

When it is clear you have no idea what he is talking about he adds "I don´t suppose you can help us? We´ve forgotten the spell to turn gelignite into monosodium glutimate. Do you by chance know it?"

"Perhaps it's written down somewhere?" Lurel suggests. "Do you keep notes, or maybe have a library where you can look things up?"

He thinks for a minute. "Ive not come across that spell before... but I could keep an eye out for it in my travels."


He nods sagely at the mage. "But I haven't introduced myself - my name is Lurel, and I am a wizard of El Rhun. I'm currently looking for information concerning arrows - would you know, by any chance, of anyone around here who recently bought a batch of arrows?"

He moves closer to the mage and whisper conspiratorially. "We think there's a particular arrow which might be more than it seems... and it's probably not safe in the hands of laymen... you know how it is...."

He uses his empathy skill on the mage.

Ford thanks Miklos and leaves him a few apples before heading on to the next cave. When he sees the man and his "ooble pip"ness he turns to Lurel and whispers.

"I'll leave this one to you!"

"Ah, a library. Well, we had one but Snickerbar did a peculiar experiment turning wine into water and all the books got ruined. Arrows. That sounds like either the warriors around the corner, or maybe the TonTon Yar, they do anything. Or the black slayers of course. I heard Smudge talking of them. They are certainly here somewhere. Maybe they are on the south side, or the west they are not here or on the east side."

He looks closely at Lurel.

"I think you might know how to turn cheese rind into thermodynamic energy. Chockohorlicks over there tried it but ended up with three blind mice."

Empathy tells Lurel that the part about the arrows was the only thing sane about the mage.

"Try feeding the cheese rind to mice," Lurel mutters, then he smiles at the mage. "I can see that you are very busy, and I hope I am not keeping you from your experiments, but if you could tells us a little more about the Ton Ton, or the black slayers....? Oh, and you wouldn't happen to know what the warriors are called, by any chance?"

"Well, thank you for your tip about the mice. Chockohorlicks suggested cutting off their tails. Would that help do you think?"

He scratches his head. "I can't help much. The warriors are the Dandini Yar or something like that. They always speak in the clipped military way. It's hard to make out what they are saying. As for the The Ton Ton, well... They would tell you they redistribute wealth. They do in so far as they take from a lot of people and give to themselves. They are willing to do whatever is necessary to sustain their inflated life styles. With the Black Slayers - all we know are rumours. But before you reach any of them you'll find the Slavic Yar just around the corner. They probably won't speak to you unless you are titled. They deal in the fine arts and antiques. They might have antique arrows for all I know."

The glazed look returns.

"I have been trying to get sunbeams from cucumbers but all I get is indigestion. Do you know where I am going wrong?"

Lurel scratches his head. "Hmm.... I think the best way to get sunbeams is from the sun - but cucumbers are really good when you have sore eyes - just put a fresh cucumber slice on a sore, tired eye. Works wonders. Oh, and if you cut off their tails, you just get very annoyed mice. Try building them a little wheel to run around in instead... or even better, try to learn their language, and send them out to gather secrets."

Lurel hopes that suggestion will keep the mice safe from the mad mages' experiments.... poor mice!

"And thank you for your information about the Yar. Good luck with the sunbeams and all."

He waves goodbye.

Ford smiles politely during the bizarre conversation, trying desperately not to snigger, and thanks the mage when they leave. Once they're out of earshot he mutters to Lurel.

"Was he on something or just desperately senile?"

He grins slightly, enjoying the brief amusement.

"So... where to next?"

The remainder of the tunnels on the north side are empty. Travelling south on the eastern tunnel you arrive at a door at the third tunnel. This must lead to the Slavic Yar.

"From what the mad mage said, it sounds as though Princess Siffli might be the best to talk to them... but perhaps it would look grander if one of us announced her?" Lurel wonders. "I mean.. a princess can't be expected to knock on a door, after all." He grins.

Ford grins.

"Hell, why not? I could try I suppose... any suggestions as to what I should say? I'm not so great at that whole noble thing. I doubt we should mention that she's a princess from another plane of existance though... I'm not sure how well that would go down!"

"Well that was strange!"
"I don't know we don't have titles or royalty in the village, may be bowing?"

OOC> Snickerbar? Chockorholic? What happened to all the really odd names, Malchik? lol

"A princess travelling among brutes such us as us and in a place such as this, would probably not be highly thought of anyway. Though, I suppose we could give it a try."

[quote=ShinJiOh,Jun 23 2005, 05:14 AM]
OOC> Snickerbar? Chockorholic? What happened to all the really odd names, Malchik? lol

Withdrawal symptoms in South America. But I'm home now.

On topic.

As you stand outside debating, a man in an elaborate green and gold robe pushes past you and enters the room. He is carrying a heavy ceramic pot painted in red black and white. You can see briefly inside that other people are similarly dressed. The door shuts.

"Wow, I wonder where you get a robe like that from, it must have cost a bundle. Let's go knock on the door to see if they can help us."

Lurel waves to Siffli.

"I'll announce you, then, and hope that your title impresses them enough. Please try to find out what you can about Smudge and his arrow-purchasing client."

He knocks on the door.

The door is opened by a very snooty looking man.

Siffli draws herself up to her full height and says.

"I am Princess Siffli, heir elect to the throne of Avelyssia. These are my servants. I am looking for arrows!"

The name seems to impress the man, although Siffli's choice of servants seems somewhat odd to him.

"Madam, we are the Slavic Yar. We deal in fine art. You must be looking for the warriors. They are about seven tunnels south of here. In the meantime can I interest you in an exquiste china vase from..."

Siffli ever more imperious says "I do not deal in stolen goods!"

The man looks highly offended. "Madam, you mistake our role. We re-acquire for rightful owners what has been taken from them. Since the object is already stolen we cannot make it so. You therefore see that we cannot be stealing. Very occasionally we accidentally collect more than intended. The objects will still have been stolen. It's just we have no 'owner' to return them to. As with this exquisite..."

He waves at a hideously overdecorated china pot with gilt handles the owner was probably glad to have lost.

Siffli refuses the pot and whispers to the party.

"What else should I ask about?"

Ford whispers to Siffli.

"Like Lurel said, maybe ask about Smudge, or his client?"

"Smudge?" The man sniffs. "If you mean that ratty little urchin who offers to help, he wouldn't know a genuine piece of art from a scribble. I know he helped the Black Slayers with something and those ridiculous tree-huggers on the southern side of the sewers. I only learned that because he was trying to advertise his past successes. We need finesse to succeed. Indeed at the moment we are pondering over what appears to be an insurmountable problem. Not the kind of thing for a sewer rat!"

"What problem might that be?" Lurel asks. He turns to Siffli, and asks: "Your Highness, do you wish me to enquire further about the Black Slayers, and the ...treehuggers... mentioned? Or would you rather seek information about the Ton Ton Yar, the Warriors and that.. Lindan.. Yar?"

He tries his best to look haughty.

The man is not quite convinced as to whether he should be talking to you or not but deigns to reply.

"If you are asking where to find them I know nothing of the whereabouts of the Black Slayers except that they are here somewhere and not in the east or south tunnels. The Warriors are further south and are the only others on this side. The other two groups you mentioned are in the south tunnel. They don't bother us and we don't bother them. As far as I know they are the only occupants of the south tunnel. The Lindan Yar is not found here although they are peripherally part of our problem. I believe there are groups in the north and west tunnels but I don't go there."

He looks at you again.

"If you need to know other information you should talk to the groups directly. The one thing I know about the Black Slayers is they are not seen if they don't want to be. If they carry out assassinations they mark the kill as theirs by leaving a broken arrow on the corpse. The arrow is coded and numbered to prevent others trying copycat crimes. I know this because one of our leaders in Flen met that fate."

He pauses again.

"Do you really want to hear about our problems?"

Lurel shrugs. "I daresay it may be of passing interest to her Highness, given that the Lindan Yar also saw fit to involve themselves in our business - maybe an exchange of information would be mutually beneficial. Please, do go on."

'That's interesting about the Black Slayers and their arrows... I wonder.... was the dead body Ford found one of their victims, or was the arrow left there to make it look like the Black Slayers were involved? Was the arrow coded, though? Did anyone examine it? I don't suppose anyone thought to bring it.... we must talk about this as soon as we've finished our conversation with this Yar, and before we go looking for the Black Slayers!'

"Well. Our function as I said is the return of goods to their rightful owners. There is one man who has several items that do not belong to him. He is the brains behind the Lindan Yar. His house is near a small village called Ratz. Our problem is that his security is so tight not even the most adept of us can get in."

He looks at Midge.

"This one might succeed to squeeze in through a skylight perhaps."

After a moment he says to Ford. "What is your role in this group?"

Ford smiles and tries to put on as elequent an accent as he can manage without sounding ridiculous.

"I am an escort for Her Highness, and I also help with mercantile situations when I am needed."

'I hope that sounded convincing enough...'

The man glowers at the others.

"Well? Unless you wish to help us with our problem we have work to do."

Midge replies : "What in particular do you want stol....... returned, but what would you be willing to offer us in exchange for her highness' servants' services?"

OOC> did that make any sense?

"There are several very valuable objets d'art inside the house that should not be there. In exchange? Well, there must be many other things inside. Also, you said the Lindan Yar had taken an interest in you. Maybe inside you'd find out why. Look, you don't have to make a decision right now. The problem will be with us for the foreseeable future. In fact if you come back it gives me time to draw up the full list of items and, if you say you'll do it, I'll also ask around and see if anyone knows what the Lindan Yar is currently up to."