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D&D Campaigns => Eberron => In Character Discussions => Topic started by: Johan on June 30, 2008, 11:02:19 PM

Title: 12.27.2132 - A New Cell
Post by: Johan on June 30, 2008, 11:02:19 PM
Temmit waited for Renee and Leslie to disappear into the catacombs that would lead them back to Renee's secret chamber, Whisper's storage closet, and would eventually return Leslie safe and sound. Once the dark had swallowed his two best friends, Temmit pulled the lever that lowered the granite block from the cieling, blocking the corridor that led into Whisper's new cell.

The block ground it's way into place with an ominous finality.  "I hope that Leslie will be safe from here on out." He remarked to Smokey.

"She's with Renee." Smokey pointed out. "How much more safe can she be?"

"Good point." Temmit conceded.

"Who's going to protect you, though?"

Temmit grasped that point very quickly. He was now completely alone in Whisper's new cell, with Damien Starke. A moment of fear and panic splashed upon his chest, but his intellect quickly reasserted itself. Damien was unconscious, and would remain so for at least the next day.

"Or so you believe. Renee is no doctor, you know."

Damien was also well tied up.

"But which of you is really any good with a rope?"

He was blindfolded and gagged as well.

"But again..."

"SHUT UP, DAMN YOU!!!"

For a moment, there was silence in Temmit's mind, then a small, contrite voice whispered, "It wasn't me." He knew that there would be no further issues.

Temmit made his way back to the room where Damien lay unconscious and immobile. To his relief the traitorous sorcerer remained as incapacitated as he had been when they tied him there.

Temmit checked the ropes, the gag (which wasn't tight enough to suit Temmit's sense of vengeance), and the blindfold; all were satisfactorily held fast. Nevertheless, Temmit drew his sword and sat in the chair facing the sorcerer, standing vigil until that night, when Renee should return.

"You should really learn a little more about tying knots."
Title: 12.27.2132 - A New Cell
Post by: Johan on June 30, 2008, 11:23:20 PM
Temmit meditated. Smokey was mercifully quiet. He explored his own mind, and reviewed all that had happened to him that day. He was changed, he knew. His world was far expanded because of that day's experiences, and his mind was too. By virtue of all of the mental exercise he had undertaken this day, he realized that there was so much more that his mind was capable of. As he dwelled upon his new realizations, he felt sure that the extent to which he might eventually expand his mind was truly limitless. What he was able to do was truly up to himself...he just needed to find the deeper understanding of himself that would unravel the bindings upon those powers. They were in there already; he just needed to figure out how to release them.

It was no more than half a hand, he was sure, by the time that Smokey chimed in. "So," the gray crystal ventured. "What shall we do?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, we just going to sit here?"

"We're guarding Damein."

"He's not going anywhere. He's out until at least tomorrow."

"What?" Temmit knew that he shouldn't have been surprised at that comment. "But you said earlier that we couldn't be sure of that."

"No I didn't."

Temmit had to admit that he knew from experience that this conversation would elicit a laugh from him eventually.

"Besides, who's word are you going to take on the effectiveness of knots: Renee's or a rock's?"

Temmit ignored the obvious concession that Smokey made by that comment. The crystal would never openly admit to owning his earlier statement.

"You know," Temmit ventured. "We could collect arms and armor, as well as loot."

"Gather it together in a central location."

"Aye." Temmit agreed. "I could also get all those bodies taken care of."

"Down the kitchen shaft?"

"That's my thinking. I will, of course, leave you here to keep an eye on Damein here. If he starts to come too..."

"I'll call out."

"Works for me."

"Make it so, number one."

Temmit almost inquired into that odd statement, but thought better of it. He took Smokey off from around his neck, left the crystal hanging from the back of the chair, and set to what turned out to be very grisly work.
Title: 12.27.2132 - A New Cell
Post by: Dray on July 01, 2008, 05:56:13 AM
Quote from: Johan"Make it so, number one."


(OOC: LOL, Nice to see that you finally came to the realization that psions are not the PC's, but are in fact the familiar's to the psi-crystals.)
Title: 12.27.2132 - A New Cell
Post by: Johan on July 01, 2008, 05:17:36 PM
Temmit was glad to see that the storage room was well organized. All of the crates therein were clearly marked as to their contents: rations, tools, linens, wine, and other standard sorts of supplies lined the various shelves.

After a quick review of that area, he set about collecting whatever looked like it might be of use or value from the dead thugs and thieves. Pouches, jewelry, weapons, armor, and other insundary items he collected in a corner of the storeroom. He hoped, and even thought, that Renee might just recoup her costs of buying this cell from Sephlin.

The actual removal of the bodies, however, was a far more trying ordeal for Temmit. The lean youth struggled with the large number of men and the few women who were now dead in the cell. Not all of them were slim.

They did all fit whole, however, down the kitchen shaft. Upon deposition, there was a long, relatively quiet decent, and then a faintly audible splash at the last.

Temmit grimmaced a bit when he tought that if it was a subterranean river below, it must eventually come up out of the ground, into the light of day. And then, there was the possibility that someone might stumble upon the nearly score-and-a-half cadavers, and wonder where they came from.

There was no help for it, though. He had to do what he had to do, and hope that the water below would deal with the refuse in a manner that would lead to no questions.

"So let me ask you this..." Smokey chimed in as, several hands later, Temmit washed himelf of blood for the second time that day. He waited in silence for the question that was to come. "When Renee returns, how will you know that she's out there?"
Title: 12.27.2132 - A New Cell
Post by: Johan on July 01, 2008, 10:08:28 PM
For a long while Temmit considered this problem. It naturally led him to wonder about how Whisper would populate Renee's new cell long-term, and if they would populate it long-term. Also, he wondered whether there had been any members of Lowtown Shadow who weren't in residence when Renee and he had come calling for Leslie. Might any turn up over the next couple of days?

But to tackle the issue at hand, he delved once again deep into himself. He recollected the other side of the barricade: the poorly lit tunnel, the echo of his own and Renee's footsteps, ringing hollowly through the catacombs around them. He imagined what it might look like and sound like now, when no one violated the isolation of the tunnels. Somehow, there remained a preternatural echo of silence in that hall. Very much unlike the dwelling of Sephlin.

Temmit had to admit to himself that the opulent, decadent nature of the place where the crime lord lived was very appealing. As were his very appealing consorts. The image of Sephlin's tent appeared in Temmit's mind. The luxurious satin pillows and the naked, though surprisingly intelligent (and most importantly: naked) women who were there. He could recall the insightful conversations that he had overheard of them (in their nudity) while he was in their naked company.

Or perhaps he didn't recall the conversations. The ones that presented to him as he thought on it weren't at all the same as those of earlier. And, Temmit realized, that now, Sephlin was no longer there. Some of the women were now missing, and...

Temmit's eyes snapped wide open as he realized what was going on: from where he was here and now, he was seeing and hearing what was currently occurring at Sephlin's tent.

And then, Smokey was answered, while Temmit was presented with countless new questions.
Title: 12.27.2132 - A New Cell
Post by: Dray on July 02, 2008, 05:18:42 AM
(Ah, well done in regards to the hint of new power, one question though....how were the women in Sephlin's tent dressed?)
Title: 12.27.2132 - A New Cell
Post by: Johan on July 02, 2008, 07:31:32 AM
Dressed? I'm not following you. :P
Title: 12.27.2132 - A New Cell
Post by: Johan on September 24, 2008, 07:44:33 PM
Temmit concentrated upon his dormitory. He visualized his and Jacob's beds, their foot lockers, and their desks. The scene came to him, and Jacob did too. Temmit's roommate was sitting at his desk, as he did every night, concentrating on his homework.

Temmit watched the scene for a few moments, gaining a deeper understanding of his newfound ability. The only sounds that came to him were Jacob's writing and mumbling. Jacob almost always mumbled to himself while he was studying.

Rather abruptly, Temmit was growing a bit tired from all of his scrying; he considered looking in on the Marks' tavern, but withdrew into himself a bit. This exploring wasn't really getting him any closer to the answer to Smokey's original question: how would he know when Renee returned? Should he become aware of someone out there, at least now he had a way of knowing who it was, but what would tell him that anyone was there?

It was time to go investigating...
Title: 12.27.2132 - A New Cell
Post by: Johan on September 28, 2008, 09:20:43 PM
Temmit left Smokey looking over Damien and made his way back to the block that obstructed the corridor out to Lowtown. He spent a good hand or more alternately wishing for coffee and searching for any evidence of how one might communicate from one side of the block to the other.

At length he had to admit that there was none.

"But how can that be?" Smokey asked for the umpteenth time.

"Because it's a barrier." Temmit languidly answered the little crystal. Again.

"You keep saying that; I don't think you know what it means. A barrier for what?"

Temmit was flagging pretty badly by this time. The day's adrenaline had not only worn off, but had left him feeling more drained that he could remember feeling. It had been an awfully long time since he had drank any coffee or eaten anything. Or had coffee. "Well, I'd hazard a guess that they would have been thinking about a Kar'Thul invasion." Temmit offered.

"Oh." Smokey conceded. "That makes a lot of sense, actually."

"It's only a guess." Temmit said. "But it makes sense to me too."

"Coffee." Smokey antagonized and Temmit could do nothing but shake his head.

"So what do we do now?" Smokey asked after a moment of cold silence. "How do we tell when Renee returns. Or if she has already?"

"Well," Temmit responded. "I guess one of us will simply have to wait on the other side, and when she returns, that one would tell the other that she was back, and the person on the inside can open the passage."

"Won't work." Smokey criticized.

"Why not?"

"Because I'm not strong enough to work the lever when you tell me that she's back."

It was a chatty but short time later that Temmit placed Smokey tenderly outside the block and reentered the new cell, lowering the block securely once again.

"She's back now." Smokey said, a little nervous lilt to his voice evidencing his lie.

"No she's not." Temmit challenged.

"I never said that she was."

"Coffee."
Title: 12.27.2132 - A New Cell
Post by: Dray on November 07, 2008, 10:30:08 AM
Hours passed, and Temmit lost track of time. To him it seemed like months.

"She's back."
Title: 12.27.2132 - A New Cell
Post by: Johan on November 09, 2008, 02:29:56 PM
"...and she's completed naked, except for tall leather boots." Smokey added after a moment.

While Temmit considered the latter to be obvious prevarication, the former part of Smokey's report sounded genuine. Drawing upon his mental link with Smokey, Temmit was fully aware of what was happening beyond the barricade.

Much to his relief, Renee was indeed back. She was alone, and she bore a weighty sack over her shoulder. It was also obvious that Renee was atwitter with frustration, and she looked around in the corridor, and flapped her hand on her thigh every now and then.

Temmit assumed that she was enduring the same conundrum that he himself had wrestled with a few short hours ago: how was she supposed to be able to either gain entry or communicate her presence.

Casting a glance at Damien, who lay still unconscious, Temmit struggled to his feet, fighting to gain his legs. He bumped into the door frame as he staggered along towards the barricade. He gained his feet quickly enough, as he came closer to fully awake, eager to hear how Leslie's return went, and how Renee suggested that Temmit get back to his dorm before curfew. Or if that particular cart had already set off down the road.

He reached for the lever that would raise the block, and pushed hard upon it, engaging its hidden mechanism.
Title: 12.27.2132 - A New Cell
Post by: Dray on November 10, 2008, 08:59:08 AM
The lever was surprisingly easy to maneuver. Temmit watched as the stone block raised itself back into the ceiling with only a slight grating sound, the smooth square rock slid back into its place without complaint.

As it did so, he observed Renee as she ducked under the rock with sword ready, should it be Damien awaiting her and not him. Relief came to her tired eyes as he gave her a simply nod of recognition.

She waited for the entrance to quiet as she looked behind her with sword still ready. Satisfied she hadn't been followed, she sheathed her sword and came into the cell. She carried no torch or lantern, Temmit surmised she had used magic to see on her way back.

"How did you know I was here?" she asked with a slight smile as she turned back to him.
It didn't appear that she took any time to freshen up, just change out of her armor. The smell of freshly made bread and the hint of coffee snuck out of the bag, only to be ferreted out by Temmit's keen nose.
Title: 12.27.2132 - A New Cell
Post by: Johan on November 10, 2008, 06:55:52 PM
Temmit smiled upon seeing Renee. He had no recollection of ever having been so happy to see a person in his life. He forcibly quelled the urge to hug her. "I planted a spy." He said as he retrieved Smokey, holding the little crystal up for her to see.

"I'm no spy." Smokey objected. "I'm a force of the supernatural, and you shall serve me. Place me back in my place of honor." He commanded as Temmit looped the cord around his neck.

Ignoring Smokey's declaration of imperiousness, Temmit re-entered the Whisper Cell. "Shall we close this again?" He asked. "And do I smell coffee?"
Title: 12.27.2132 - A New Cell
Post by: Dray on November 11, 2008, 12:10:26 PM
"You most certainly do," Renee exclaimed with a smile. She looked very pleased to see him as well, and Temmit, now very familiar with her body language, watched as she held back the same urge to hug.

Much to his stomachs chagrin, she also didn't make a move to take the bag off her shoulder. Instead she started to walk past him as she offered, "I thought since you had missed both lunch and dinner, you would appreciate a late night snack."

She was heading for the room Damien was detained. 'Duty first,' Temmit thought to himself, thinking of one of her house's mantras.

Temmit shifted the lever once again, but waited for the stone to almost lower completely to the floor before turning to follow her. The run to catch up helped work out the stiffness in his legs.

As he came up alongside her, she answered one of his immediate worries.

"We still have almost two hands before curfew, you are safe," she said. She then offered nothing more as they walked. Temmit sensed she was waiting to discover what subject was the most portent in his mind.
Title: 12.27.2132 - A New Cell
Post by: Johan on November 11, 2008, 01:03:29 PM
"Thank goodness." Temmit admitted. "I had the fear that it must be well past mid-of-night."

His stomach growled and gurgled noisily. "You did a real good thing today, Renee." He said, ignoring his body. "I rounded up all the valuable that the ruffians had; I think that their collective value might just recoup you most of what you spent in buying this place. The bodies I put down the shaft in the kitchen, so they're all gone now. Damien is still out of it (or was when I came to let you in)." He stomach growled again. "I'm sorry...I'm having difficulty focussing...so much happened today. I did have a worrisome thought or two that we should cover in due time...like whether or not there were any members of Damien's gang not in residence before we visited, but that can wait." He trailed off for a moment, not being able to bring to mind any other officious duties left untended.

"Leslie's all right, then?" He asked at length, coming to his most important concerns, and confident in her answer, but trying to adhere to her protocols.
Title: 12.27.2132 - A New Cell
Post by: Dray on November 11, 2008, 07:19:35 PM
Renee listened to her lieutenants' report without interruption and with an unchanged serious expression as he passed from subject to subject.

"I hope their bodies don't surface on the Appleseed shore anytime soon," she stated without any accusation of wrongdoing hinted in her voice.

Temmit was about to respond but she politely interrupted. "No, no, that wasn't a condemnation, but merely a concern. Sending them down the garbage shoot was what I would have done in your place as well. I will simply have someone keep an eye on the outer city patrol for awhile."

Temmit gave a quick nod. In truth he had had the same concern earlier that day. He remained quiet, still waiting for his reply to Leslie's situation.

Outside Damien's door, Renee stopped and faced him. She was tired, but the waves of relief emanating from her were very evident to him.

"I am afraid Leslie's return was just as difficult as her kidnapping. But she is at least safe in her room tonight. Shall I tell you the story over coffee, sausage and bread?" she asked with a slight smile as she held up the bag in one hand and reached for the door with the other.
Title: 12.27.2132 - A New Cell
Post by: Johan on November 11, 2008, 07:35:53 PM
Temmit's stomach growled noisily, his tongue salivated overmuch, and his face all but melted at the provocative smell and thought of coffee. "I really wish you would, my savior." He answered appreciatively. As she opened the door, Temmit looked over her shoulder lest Damien be conscious and ready to attack...or missing entirely.
Title: 12.27.2132 - A New Cell
Post by: Dray on November 11, 2008, 08:14:14 PM
"Savior? That has a nice ring to it," Renee smirked as she moved into the room. Temmit noted that Damien was in the absolute exact position (and he checked) he left him in just a short while ago.

Renee sat unceremoniously on the floor and started emptying the contents of the sack.
A warm waterskin, filled with coffee, was the first to emerge along with Temmits' very own trusted stein. He imagined that the rest of his belongings from her underground bedroom were in the bag as well.

After the black gold had been presented to him she then took out a small cloth and laid it on the floor. Presenting on it a large bowl of homemade sausage, a chunk of cheese and what appeared to be a fresh loaf of bread. The sausage had a hint of an apple scent and looked absolutely devine.

She looked up at him while he was pouring the precious liquid into his stein. "All compliments of a very thankful mother."
Title: 12.27.2132 - A New Cell
Post by: Johan on November 11, 2008, 08:25:27 PM
Temmit drank greedily of the coffee, and picked up some of the sausage, quipping "I wish I had one of those." He ate the sausage, tasting the ambrosia that it was.

"It's worked out, then. If nothing else comes of it, Leslie is safe. Tell me of the trouble that you had in returning her?" He drank more coffe and looked to Renee expectantly.
Title: 12.27.2132 - A New Cell
Post by: Dray on November 11, 2008, 08:45:34 PM
"I am afraid it was more trouble for poor Leslie than I," she responded seriously. "I recevied the entire story of what happened to Leslie, after the fact, from her mother."

"Didn't you accompany her to the Tavern?" Temmit asked.

"No, but I am getting to that," Renee replied. "We went topside within the theater she was to be 'discovered in'," Renee continued while putting her fingers up to emphasize the words. "Prior to our arrival there I had coached her as much as I could on what her story should be. Her story was to be that she had knocked herself unconscious while watching the show from the rafters above the stage. Hitting both the front and the back of her head."

Temmit slightly winced at the thought of the wounds the small girl had sustained, and the actual truth to how she received them. He breathed in another chunk of sausage as his saviour continued her tale.

"She was to tell the first person in the theater she found her story, and then ask for help getting home. I didn't want to be seen with her lest I raise suspicion and obviously hinder her story."

Renee then took a pull from 'coffee-skin' and smiled at Temmit's forlorn look at the loss of precious fuel.

"Naturally, the first-person who found her rushed her directly back to the Marks Tavern after seeing Leslie's head trauma. Unfortunatley though, Nadell was waiting at the Tavern, for he had setup a miniature headquarters there in his effort to find his lost student."

Temmit caught the portent behind the revelation immediately. Stephen Nadell was the Commander of the Truancy Office and was no man to be trifled with. He was known for his unflinching dedication to his responsibility and his keen intellect at sniffing out the truth. If he wasn't such a danger to Whisper, Temmit would have begged to work for the man years ago.

"Needless to say, because Stephen was there, Leslie's father had to put on a big show of concerned fatherhood."

Temmit winced again.

"Yeah, he practically tore her head off. Yelled at her at the top of his lungs in front of the customers, and more importantly Nadell, right as she entered. He didn't even notice her wounds until he was a good shade of purple."





Title: 12.27.2132 - A New Cell
Post by: Johan on November 11, 2008, 08:58:11 PM
Temmit ate, drank, and listened attentively.
Title: 12.27.2132 - A New Cell
Post by: Dray on November 11, 2008, 09:03:38 PM
"Just as William really noticed the state his twelve-year-old daugher was in, Nadell began barking. The scene quickly dissolved into chaos as Nadell rushed to place her under arrest and William rushed to intervene."

"Eventually, Nadell and the laws behind him won out. He took Leslie off to the Truancy Office at school to be questioned."
Title: 12.27.2132 - A New Cell
Post by: Dray on November 11, 2008, 09:06:09 PM
"Just as William really noticed the state his twelve-year-old daugher was in, Nadell began barking. The scene quickly dissolved into chaos as Nadell rushed to place her under arrest and William rushed to intervene."

"Eventually, Nadell and the laws behind him won out. He took Leslie off to the Truancy Office at school to be questioned."
Title: 12.27.2132 - A New Cell
Post by: Dray on November 11, 2008, 09:06:09 PM
"Just as William really noticed the state his twelve-year-old daugher was in, Nadell began barking. The scene quickly dissolved into chaos as Nadell rushed to place her under arrest and William rushed to intervene."

"Eventually, Nadell and the laws behind him won out. He took Leslie off to the Truancy Office at school to be questioned."
Title: 12.27.2132 - A New Cell
Post by: Johan on November 11, 2008, 09:21:45 PM
"Aw, blast it." Temmit's heart sank for Leslie. "I can only imagine how that went. Is she ok?"
Title: 12.27.2132 - A New Cell
Post by: Dray on November 11, 2008, 09:25:26 PM
Renee eyes got watery. "Despite the intelligence of that little girl it was a lot to handle after all she had been through."

Renee stopped talking for a moment while she tried to catch her breath, lest she give in to the tears.
Title: 12.27.2132 - A New Cell
Post by: Johan on November 11, 2008, 09:27:32 PM
"She's remarkable, that's for sure." Temmit consoled Renee. "And she'll have the support that she needs too." He took another draught of coffee. "Dang that's good." He appreciated.

"What happened then?"
Title: 12.27.2132 - A New Cell
Post by: Dray on November 11, 2008, 09:40:43 PM
"Nadell hauled her off to the school without another word. I arrived (at the Tavern) about a half-hand later and got briefed to what occurred by her Mom. William was beside himself with grief and worry. He hadn't wanted to yell at her, much less seem so callous about her injuries. Yet he couldn't apologize in front of Nadell lest he, well, you know...."

Temmit nodded and Renee took a long breath to contain her emotions. It had been a long day. One in which she had to kill a great deal of people.

She took a pull from the almost empty coffee-flask.

"The hand of time that followed seemed like an eternity afterwards. Then, just about a half-hand ago," Renee said as she looked at her watch, "Leslie walked back through the front door alone. William snatched her up and brought her immediately upstairs."

Renee gave him a smile and an errant tear escaped down a cheek.

"Most likely to shower her with apology and tend to her wounds," she continued with a sniff. "By the Fates he loves that kid."

Temmit sensed that William wasn't the only one. Leslie had a way of getting into a persons' heart and then camping there...sweetest girl he had ever met.

"Anyway, while her Mom and I were exchanging information on the truth behind it all, she made this exquisite meal for us and wanted me to pass on to you her incredible appreciation."

With that, Renee unexpectedly leaned over and gave Temmit a peck on the cheek.

"I was ordered to pass that on."
Title: 12.27.2132 - A New Cell
Post by: Johan on November 11, 2008, 09:59:35 PM
Temmit reddened noticeably, even in the ruddy light of cell's lanterns. He truly wasn't used to being touched, or having people in his personal space. "It's easy for a mother to be extra emotional about their kids, eh?" There might have been a bit of sadness in his otherwise monotonous voice.

"Well, in truth it's you that did most of the work." He admitted. "And deserve the wolf's share of the credit. I'm glad to have been part of it. You wouldn't believe the things that I've learned about myself today...the growth that I've experienced. Or perhaps you would."

He looked around for something to be interested in...
Title: 12.27.2132 - A New Cell
Post by: Dray on November 11, 2008, 11:15:38 PM
Renee seemed almost ready for the awkward moment, as if she had been trying to think around the situation even prior to the actual show of affection.

She replied quickly in an effort to get beyond it.

"I would understand that perfectly well my friend. Only a few years ago I barely thought I could beat a guy in a sword fight in gym class, now they fear me."

Temmit thought her smile at him had the tinge of regret. He knew this girl was tough because she had to be, and not because of want.

"Thank you so much for risking your life for Leslie today. I know I don't have to say it, but I did... so...um, that's that."

It was her turn to have an awkward moment as she was truly at a loss of words for some reason.

After a moment that they both shuffled through, she finally broke the ice. "So we have a hand and a half to kill, what should we do?"
Title: 12.27.2132 - A New Cell
Post by: Johan on November 11, 2008, 11:34:22 PM
"Do her!"

Temmit quickly hid his flush with a pretended sneeze into the crook of his arm.

"Well, there are a lot of questions that I have." He said, completely oblivious to anything but the joke that nestled in Smokey's whisper.

"For instance, what do we do with Damien? How do we get him out of here? And what of Martha, still tied up in her doll shop - can we get rid of her entirely and report her failings to the Warden? Can Whisper immediately begin using this cell for our meetings? We could perhaps use the shantytown entrance, but where does that come out? Will any of Damien's cohorts, should any remain, come along looking for entry? What do we do about Faithborn? If anything, I mean." He seemed to falter for a moment, his lethergy gaining hold of him again, despite the coffee.

He cast about, and noticed that he had risen and begun pacing. He looked at Renee, still sitting upon the floor. "Just for starts." He said quietly.

"Do her!"

"Ah-choo!"
Title: 12.27.2132 - A New Cell
Post by: Dray on November 14, 2008, 01:01:57 PM
Renee gave him a knowing smile.

After what felt like a full turn, Temmit crossed his arms at his chest and gave her his signature raised eyebrow in query.

Renee giggled as she continued to sit on the floor. "Well what do you want me to address first?"
Title: 12.27.2132 - A New Cell
Post by: Johan on November 15, 2008, 12:29:02 PM
Temmit shrugged a bit and said, "I suppose we need to start with what we do with Damien? Personally, if there were no politics to be had, I'd throw him into the kitchen shaft...piece by piece. But his fate is bound to Martha's, I think, and we would need to deal with them both at the same time."

"I think that they are the place to start, since I have to be back in my dorm in a hand, and I would think that he needs to be dealt with before that."

"Then, what do we do? Leave this place open to the lowtown public while we're gone? Is that even an issue? With your contract with Zephlin, will these stores be safe here unattended?"
Title: 12.27.2132 - A New Cell
Post by: Dray on November 16, 2008, 11:37:00 AM
"While Cordello's men don't guard the underground passages beyond his own underground palace, he is in many ways the governor in LowTown," Renee said. Temmit sensed the beginning framework of a story.

"He is reputed to not only be a powerful wizard, but also the commander of hundreds of men in the Underground. Experienced men who know the passages down here like the back of their hands." Renee stood up as she spoke and walked over to Damien to check on him.

"All who dwell down here pay heed to his words and do not dare go against him." She noted Damien's wounds were still bleeding and the man looked worse for wear. She looked back to Temmit without concern for the prisoner.

"One of his laws is though shall not pilfer or interfere with those who dwell in his cells he has leased."

(OOC: Questions?)
Title: 12.27.2132 - A New Cell
Post by: Johan on November 16, 2008, 12:03:42 PM
Awesome. Thanks for the clarification.

"All right." Temmit said. "That puts me a bit more comfortable. Although I'm not sure whether all those men might already be aware of the transfer of ownership."

"And it does leave me wondering about any errant members of Damien's plan. I don't think that we should simply leave him here unattended, you know?"
Title: 12.27.2132 - A New Cell
Post by: Dray on November 16, 2008, 01:29:57 PM
"I thought of that. But we are facing with only choices with actions that can't fit into the limited time we have." Renee looked back at Damien again. Temmit now sensed what was on her mind, the decision was easier for her to make when there was danger about, but now....

She turned back to him with a quickness that it actually surprised him, her body language had not warned him.

"He's more of a statement to the Council if I send him back alive," she said, almost challenging him. Temmit suddenly realized that she had picked up on his understanding of her perdicament.
Title: 12.27.2132 - A New Cell
Post by: Johan on November 16, 2008, 02:03:45 PM
"Is he?" Temmit asked pointedly. "A notion presents to me: I would think that his head would make as much a statement to the council as the live version, at least from the perspective that he elluded their detection. AND I think that Damien's head, presented to them in Martha's presence, would be a fairly loud message to her as well."

Temmit was surprised at his own ruthlessness. But logic dictated that this would be the best course of action. Damien "escaped" from the Warden once, and Cyric's sense of fairness might afford Damien that opportunity again. That was an unacceptable possibility. And Martha would get her message as well, in addition to the Warden knowing that she had betrayed them as well. It really tied itself into a fairly neat package, and the cost was to Whipser's advantage as well.

He watched Renee's face and tried to read her thoughts at the same time. Knowing that time was not just then their ally, he paced a bit, drawing closer to Damien's still form...he became keenly aware of Damien's beautiful masterwork dagger, which was now placed upon the writing desk.
Title: 12.27.2132 - A New Cell
Post by: Dray on November 16, 2008, 02:12:53 PM
Renee's eyes watched him pace back and forth.

It was in the moment that her shoulders slumped, just before her eyes fell to the floor in defeat, that he knew she had realized the truth behind his words.

"She has already killed many this day."
Title: 12.27.2132 - A New Cell
Post by: Johan on November 16, 2008, 02:22:33 PM
"Let's digest this, and come back to it in a few moments." He suggested. "Can you join me in the store room for a purview?" He asked and moved towards the door.
Title: 12.27.2132 - A New Cell
Post by: Dray on November 16, 2008, 02:29:34 PM
Renee looked up at him, gave a sigh and then made a visible mental attempt to steel her resolve. She nodded and followed him to the warehouse.
Title: 12.27.2132 - A New Cell
Post by: Johan on November 16, 2008, 02:49:32 PM
As they made their way through the cell, Temmit described for her the various insundry items that he had found on the thieves (omitting the dirty romance novel).

They arrived at the warehouse, and Temmit directed her at the pile of valuables that he had left there. As she began her inspection, he slapped his head.

"Dangit!" He exclaimed. "I forgot something. You familiarize yourself with these and I'll be right back." He moved back towards the door...
Title: 12.27.2132 - A New Cell
Post by: Dray on November 16, 2008, 02:52:52 PM
Renee whistled in appreciation at the obvious value of the stash.

"You weren't kiddin," she said without turning from one of the crates she inspected. Temmit noted her disinterest in stopping him, and went back to Damien's room.

Temmit surreptitiously grabbed a sizeable sack of salt on his way out of the warehouse and left Renee pondering their bounty.
Title: 12.27.2132 - A New Cell
Post by: Johan on November 16, 2008, 03:42:33 PM
Temmit re-entered the warehouse and cast about immediately for Renee. He didn't see her.

He placed his sack on a shelf near the door and heard the now-familliar grating of a stone barrier sliding into place.

"She must have gone up to see where that entry way exits up in Shantytown." Smokey offered.

"Thanks." Temmit pathed back to him, half wondering why the little crystal had been so silent for so long.

Temmit moved towards the rear of the warehouse, carrying Damien's personal effects as evidence of what he had forgotten.

"You all right?" He called after the stone had stopped grating.
Title: 12.27.2132 - A New Cell
Post by: Dray on November 17, 2008, 12:29:46 PM
"Yup," she said, her voice echoing within the remainder of the stairwell.

"Good news, bad news," she said after coming through the archway and back into the warehouse to join him.

"It appears that exit was blocked off decades or perhaps centuries ago by new construction above. The stairs lead to a big concrete block wall that I couldn't hear anything through," she finished.

(OCC: My recollection Johan is that you and I never established where the stairwell went. If I am incorrect in this, and if I am in err on where it goes, please tell me so.)
Title: 12.27.2132 - A New Cell
Post by: Johan on November 17, 2008, 12:37:51 PM
Nope...you're correct about that. Never investigated. I'm going to be interested about that anyway, and my far sight ability will be used to find that out.

"I have more good news / bad news for you." Temmit said. He held up the Outlands Patrol Shield and said, "Damien had this...back when he was alive." He studied her face and eyes closely as he revealed these pieces of information to his leader and friend.
Title: 12.27.2132 - A New Cell
Post by: Dray on November 17, 2008, 12:43:52 PM
Renee's face was frozen in shock. As adept as Temmit had become recently at reading her, he wasn't sure which piece of information had had the most affect.

She slowly reached up to the medallion and took it in her hand. Temmit released the chain that held it and waited.

Finally she said while blinking away the threat of tears, "thank you....for both".

Title: 12.27.2132 - A New Cell
Post by: Johan on November 17, 2008, 12:58:16 PM
"You're welcome." Temmit answered. "I've asked Leslie to get me a list of the original owners of these things...I'm wondering if a Starke isn't on it? It'll be interesting to see if Damien inherited this. It also suggests to me that Damien was looking for names to supply to...somebody." He said meaningfully.

"But onto something that I *can* fix for you...let's see what's on the other side of that wall, shall we?" He moved towards the rear of the warehouse, leaving Renee in posession of the Shield. "I'll have to raise this block again." He said as he went.
Title: 12.27.2132 - A New Cell
Post by: Dray on November 17, 2008, 08:30:58 PM
Renee followed Temmit up the stairs after the solid block raised itself without protest. After she cast a light spell on her hand, he noted that the ascended steps were far more than he had anticpated.

"It goes straight up to a dead end and as near as I could tell, there weren't any secret passages beyond these walls," she said as she stepped along beside him. The stairwell was plenty wide enough to allow them to walk up it beside each other.
Title: 12.27.2132 - A New Cell
Post by: Johan on November 17, 2008, 09:05:58 PM
The passage was just as Renee described it, not that Temmit expected anything different.

Once at the end, Temmit placed his hand upon the wall, and delved into himself as he had earlier, concentrating upon the far side of the wall.
Title: 12.27.2132 - A New Cell
Post by: Dray on November 18, 2008, 12:34:10 PM
It was surprising to him how easy it was to project his spirit through the barrier. The outer-body experience felt as natural as jumping into a pond and swimming. The fact that he could still command all of his other senses (except vision) in his physical form (that remained behind) made him feel like he was two places at once.

"Technically, I think you are," Smokey offered.

Temmit's clairvoyant spirit arrived on the other side of the wall, which Temmit (somehow) sensed was very thick. Looking about, he was disappointed that the room he found himself in was without illumination. This limited his vision to only 10 feet around the point where he had arrived.

To his right and left, the wall he passed through was behind him, and it stretched into the darkness and beyond. In front of him, just in front of the darkness, was a tall storage shelf, the steel and wood shelves starting two feet above the dirt floor and occurring in two foot increments until they passed beyond the range of his vision.

The shelves were on an open, steel-strut frame, and completely full of a myriad of objects. Most of which Temmit identified as theater props, costumes and the like.
Title: 12.27.2132 - A New Cell
Post by: Johan on November 18, 2008, 08:57:44 PM
Temmit closed his mind to the far side of the wall, and smiled. "We're in the Theater District." He said. "At least, I think we are. There is a room beyond this wall, and in that room there are shelves of costumes and set props. The other side of this wall must be the basement of a theater."

He thought on that for a few moments. If we could open the wall, it might make an excellent entryway."

"But now, I have to make curfew, I think."
Title: 12.27.2132 - A New Cell
Post by: Dray on November 19, 2008, 06:25:14 AM
Renee looked at her watch in the light of her spell.

"You have a little over a half-hand, you should just make it," she said. Before he could turn back down the stairwell, she stopped him with a gentle hand.

"Temmit," she said meaningfully, "thanks".
Title: 12.27.2132 - A New Cell
Post by: Johan on November 19, 2008, 09:17:28 AM
"Any time, Renee." Temmit answered sincerely, patting her hand the way he had seen many elders do. "We'd best hurry along though.

As they descended the stairs, he did venture a question. "I was wondering though," he began. "Do you think that tomorrow after school I might be able to study that Shield? I ask because I got a really wierd sensation when I picked it up first: I could feel Damien's touch on it. It was like, had I found it laying in an alley, I would have known beyond doubt that it had belonged to him. I'd like to...I don't know...interrogate? the Shield to learn more about it. You think that we can meet after school tomorrow and get into your hidey-hole for a hand or two?"

Dray: I'm not sure that this has to be played out in ICD or even in game. We've both got the description of what's going on. I don't think that this ability reveals names, althoguh it says that it always correctly identifies the original owner and the last owner, the details suggest that it only gives race (like that's usefull here...or is it? :)) gender, age, and alignment (and how they got / lost the item). You could just send me an e-mail (or post a thread) with that information.

Other than that, I think that we're one here.

Thoughts?
Title: 12.27.2132 - A New Cell
Post by: Dray on November 19, 2008, 12:09:05 PM
"I may be busy tomorrow night with matters concerning Martha," Renee offered as she walked along down the stairs with him. "But you can take it for study."

"And please feel free to use my room if you need privacy," she added.
Title: 12.27.2132 - A New Cell
Post by: Johan on November 19, 2008, 09:50:41 PM
"That'll work." Temmit said. "You can count on my needing privacy, and I appreciate using your room. And while you're taking care of Martha, you might want to take that sack with you."
Title: 12.27.2132 - A New Cell
Post by: Dray on November 19, 2008, 11:21:44 PM
"What's in it?"

Temmit understood from the flatness of her question, she already knew.
Title: 12.27.2132 - A New Cell
Post by: Johan on November 20, 2008, 01:16:43 PM
Fin?
Title: 12.27.2132 - A New Cell
Post by: Dray on November 20, 2008, 05:33:51 PM
Fin.