Third Entry

Mage's Eve. It will rain all day. At breakfast, we talk to a gnome who seems to be a merchant of some success. I consider the odds of picking his pocket, but the group needs information so I restrain myself while we talk to him. It seems that there are humans in the northern states of Queen Rosalayne, amassing on the border. We talk about slavery and the 1214 Rules surrounding the three ways one can become a slave: spoils of war, purchased from owner/parents, or voluntarily by contract. Two out of three, I think to myself, not bad Stib. Lose a war and you will have a hat trick. I contemplate following the gnome outdoors when he leaves and clubbing him from behind, but in the end he buys us a big pork breakfast and klagh so I reconsider.

We also speak to an elf (Skysh) from Daph to the south, who confirms an increase in Orc raiding parties of the Flaming Brand variety.

We decide to case Theodore's warehouse. On our way, I see another damn literate half-orc, scribbling in an alleyway. Looks like he's making notes about the walls. Just the kind of thing I would do before a big job. This time I alert my companions. Trax and I decide to follow the orc while the others circle. I prepare my Sleep spell, but want to get a sense of where the thing might be going before I let fly. But he just keeps moving, so we close to casting range and I launch the dweomer. Zzzzzzzzz…

Bound, gagged, and relieved of his meagre possessions, the Orc holds no threat except the risk that somebody saunter by and see us hovering over his prone body. When the rest of the group arrives, we smash him on the head and check him into a dive hotel for interrogation. "Bloodtoe" agrees to talk, but only on the express condition that one of us twist a rusty dagger through his hand. Krog-gor complies. Bloodhand admits to scouting the city on behalf of Flaming Brand clan-head "Torak Fire-Eye", two days east. His parchment contains markings (number of guards on the gate?). I don't know how much of his story to believe but his voluntary admission that there is another orc in the city (which I know to be true) lends him some credibility. Krog negotiates with him - orc to orc - but we ultimately decide to let him go and follow him.

He leaves the city after a "chat" with a guard. We grow increasingly suspicious that the city is not well-protected.

Later, at Theodore's warehouse, Bingle-Boink notices a female elf from Balkin's house arrive and enter the warehouse. I decide it's time to do some sneaking around. I try to open the lock on three separate windows, but much to my frustration, fail each time. This is embarrassing. Bingle manages to loose some glass and I am in, dripping wet in the main office. I remove my cloak and toss it out the window. Skulking dry is much more silent, and you leave fewer tracks.

I go through the office fairly quickly (no time to linger), and discover: mithril transaction records (all buys, no sales); a purchase of one slave for 15,000gp (seller: Balking); an upcoming transaction wherein Balking will buy 5000gp worth of mithril steel. The Imperial Palace Official Weaponer is involved. In another office I find the beginnings of a letter to "Sara". Rifling through a desk, I come upon a very fine dagger, and a felt box containing a vial (perfume?), a ring, and a bracelet. I hesitate, then pocket the lot. The dagger is an especially nice find - I haven't been able to afford one up to this point.

Sneaking across the hall becomes more challenging - repairmen are working right around the corner. I manage to slip through a door, and come upon a large room chock full of crates. I jimmy one open and find it loaded with valuable mithril rods! I also overhear conversations through the wall - it appears that Balking has exchanged the elven slave for the return of his idol.

I unlock a side door and slip out with 5 mithril rods. I don't stop walking as I pass my compatriots in the alley. I am thinking that, in the circumstances, fencing these rods will be a challenge in the short term. But in the even shorter term, I was getting the hell out of there. After much discussion and a short detour, we deposit all rods in the local bank.

Checking out of the Prancing Pony, we find a threatening letter. Perhaps it is time for a new hotel. The Prancing Horse it is.

The next morning, walking toward the east, we see a ragged elf running in from the East gate. "There is a huge orc army marching on the city, 100,000 strong, one day away!" The elf is hauled off to the castle. After a wait, the Captain of the Guard appears and rallies all available persons to the city walls. Not bloody likely, say I, but some of my friends have different ideas.

Townsfolk report that the city gates will close shortly. I hatch a plot to leave the city and attempt to infiltrate the army and assassinate the Orc leader. It's not that I've suddenly developed an interest in hand to hand combat, but for Elucidor's sake, don't make me fight on the walls. Please. After much debate, we resolve instead to attend a weapons shop and take our chances in the city. There are still some things we need to investigate. I am agreeable. Fighting in the alleys is more my style anyway.