joeshmoe554 Posted April 9, 2014 Posted April 9, 2014 "'Jeaux', is that the name of the creator of this mechanism? Or the one who keeps it running. Probably some reckless inventor who doesn't know what he's getting into, or worse one of those Ji Pei technicians." "It is my name, not the name of a creator or mechanic but myself. I have not met the individual who crafted this form so I cannot say what his name may be or if he is a reckless individual." "Ehem, should we go see the Baron?" "If he is our employer than we should meet with him and see what more information he can give us."
Palathadric Posted April 9, 2014 Posted April 9, 2014 "No we can not say that, Monk. Moke here just said that we do not know Zylstra's open door was the cause of the disappearances. And whether or not they were opened due to my actions holds little relevance now, I think." "Humph!" I grunt. "We'll see about that. Let's see le Monsieur." "It is my name, not the name of a creator or mechanic but myself. I have not met the individual who crafted this form so I cannot say what his name may be or if he is a reckless individual." "So he gave his creation a name. Odd fellow! Shows a lack of mental stability if you ask me."
CMP Posted April 9, 2014 Author Posted April 9, 2014 Em's gaze narrows, though he remains silent, instead inspecting Zylstra at length. "Cozy," he mutters offhandedly, the large mushroom drawing his eye. "Yes, indeed, we have expanded and grown ever since the nearby Wolfgang presence was removed and we opened our doors. Used to be only the administration building, Shelby's shop, and the Sluice. Now we've got a flat for our permanent residents instead, as well as a well and a workshop. Oh, the Sluice is that mushroom over there. It's our local bar. Er, pub. Tavern. Hotel...inn?" Hybros looked over the underground city with admiration. He took a deep breath of the moist underground air. It was good to see Zylstra again. "A little emptier since I was last here... but other than that, a good a home." "Ah, yes....two weeks ago we were bigger than we ever were. Now we're a ghost town. Hopefully we can get things back to the way they were...." "If he is our employer than we should meet with him and see what more information he can give us." "Humph!" I grunt. "We'll see about that. Let's see le Monsieur." "Ehem, should we go see the Baron?" "Yes, allow me." Moke goes up to the stairs leading to the gray stone building elevated above the others. The doors swing open to reveal a bearded gnome in an enormously glorious hat sitting behind a desk. "Sir, I brought-" "Yes, yes, Moke, I have eyes. Welcome to Zylstra, heroes. Pretzel, Hybros, it's good to see you two again. And always good to meet more Heroicans, misters...?" "Jeaux Elmfyre and Em, sir." "Em? That's a name?" "As much a name as the Baron, sir." "Shut up, Moke." The Baron turned to the heroes. "Well. I suppose you'll want to hear all about our little problem. Afraid I can't help you much there. Around a week ago, one of our citizens vanished. It went unnoticed until the next day, when two more vanished as well, without a trace. I advised everyone to travel in pairs, as a precaution. It didn't even remotely help, because then those pairs started disappearing two. A friend of mine advised we set up a town watch, and I authorized it, only to have his entire team disappear like everyone else. Nothing we do seems to have done anything to stop whatever is happening. So now we're hiring you." "I have a list of the missing people here, just let me get it out-" "Don't bother. They got Vinum, Erveka, and Shelby while we you were out collecting the heroes. We're the last two citizens left." Moke froze, paralyzed as this revelation sunk in. The Baron merely turned to the heroes grimly. "I don't like relying on outside help. It goes against everything Zylstra has stood for in the past, and with these disappearances I'm not convinced even opening our doors was a good idea. But you've helped us before, and now you're all we have left at this point, heroes. I'd like you to start poking around the city. See if there's anything we missed. Evidence, clues, anything you can use to figure out just what the hell is going on here. Any questions?"
Palathadric Posted April 9, 2014 Posted April 9, 2014 "It is a great pleasure to meet you again, Monsieur le Baron. I am sorry it is under such sorrowful circumstances, but let me tell you I will do my best to ensure that this is all sorted out in the best possible way. I have to agree to a certain extent that opening one's doors can tend to lead to problems. Look at what it's done to Eubric. Left its doors too open and the next thing it's filled with gangs and the like." I lean in closer and whisper, "What about the assassin? Has he gone missing too?"
joeshmoe554 Posted April 9, 2014 Posted April 9, 2014 Jeaux looked around the room, initially seeing little out the ordinary with the exception of the rather tall hats his hosts were wearing. As his view passed Hybros, he began to think it may have been some way of compensating for their short stature. "What was the last known location for the first person who disappeared? Also has there been any trace left behind from the disappearances, perhaps something a person was carrying, a scrap of clothing, a hat or some sign of a struggle? Any thought as to why the two of you have yet to be taken?"
Emjajoas Posted April 9, 2014 Posted April 9, 2014 "How many entrances are there to and from the city?" Em inquires, tapping his chin. "Including any hidden passages you're aware of."
CMP Posted April 9, 2014 Author Posted April 9, 2014 (edited) "It is a great pleasure to meet you again, Monsieur le Baron. I am sorry it is under such sorrowful circumstances, but let me tell you I will do my best to ensure that this is all sorted out in the best possible way. I have to agree to a certain extent that opening one's doors can tend to lead to problems. Look at what it's done to Eubric. Left its doors too open and the next thing it's filled with gangs and the like." I lean in closer and whisper, "What about the assassin? Has he gone missing too?" "Thank you, monk. Opening our doors has led to significant prosperity, yet now it may be responsible for these disappearances...ironic. The ex-assassin, Posco Padfoot, was actually the one who suggested we set up a town watch. He vanished along with them." Jeaux looked around the room, initially seeing little out the ordinary with the exception of the rather tall hats his hosts were wearing. As his view passed Hybros, he began to think it may have been some way of compensating for their short stature. "What was the last known location for the first person who disappeared? Also has there been any trace left behind from the disappearances, perhaps something a person was carrying, a scrap of clothing, a hat or some sign of a struggle? Any thought as to why the two of you have yet to be taken?" "Can't say where they vanished. Probably in their room in the flat, or somewhere else secluded. Posco was going to start poking around for evidence when his team disappeared. We haven't noticed anything outright, but we don't have the investigative skills you heroes do. I don't know why they left us for last....maybe they just wanted to have me watch my entire city crumble first." The Baron glared out the door. "They'll have to do better than that if they want to get under my skin." "How many entrances are there to and from the city?" Em inquires, tapping his chin. "Including any hidden passages you're aware of." "The one you came through is the main entrance. We sealed off the other side, so all that tunnel does is lead straight here. Then there's the other passage..." "You'll remember it Mister Pretzel, it's where those Wolfgangers were hiding out..." "Right, but they're long gone. I had some of my people scope it out not long afterward to make sure there weren't any entrances to the surface. The only thing I can think of is if they forced the manhole, but...I feel like we'd have some trace of something if the kidnappers were, well, mundane. I have a gut feeling that magic's at play here. Which reminds me; Moke, go fetch the professional." The gnome in the top hat nodded and scampered out of the room. The Baron grabbed the bottle off his desk and took a swig straight from it. "I hired another to help with this investigation. Apparently he has skill in matters such as this. He'll be along shortly...any more questions?" Edited April 9, 2014 by CallMePie
Palathadric Posted April 9, 2014 Posted April 9, 2014 "Right, but they're long gone. I had some of my people scope it out not long afterward to make sure there weren't any entrances to the surface. The only thing I can think of is if they forced the manhole, but...I feel like we'd have some trace of something if the kidnappers were, well, mundane. I have a gut feeling that magic's at play here. Which reminds me; Moke, go fetch the professional." "The arts," I shake my head. "They always end up in play in less than positive ways really. It's sad. There are some who use the gift of magic for good, even to increase the power of healings...but others... "Baron, did you receive the Teleportapple I sent you?" "I hired another to help with this investigation. Apparently he has skill in matters such as this. He'll be along shortly...any more questions?" "I should be very interested to meet this person." I pause for the moment. "As far as the shops are concerned are they still intact? Have items been stolen? Or is just the people who have disappeared?"
Emjajoas Posted April 10, 2014 Posted April 10, 2014 "Do you trust this professional?" Em asks skeptically, an eyebrow raised.
JimBee Posted April 10, 2014 Posted April 10, 2014 Hybros tips his hat. "It is good to see you again. I am sorry it had to be under these... circumstances, eheh. Who is this assassin you speak of? And why are we not alone in this investigation?" He rocked back and forth on his feet. The unusual silence made him uneasy, for once.
CMP Posted April 10, 2014 Author Posted April 10, 2014 "Baron, did you receive the Teleportapple I sent you?" "As far as the shops are concerned are they still intact? Have items been stolen? Or is just the people who have disappeared?" "Must have been lost in the mail. No, the shops are completely intact. As far as we can tell, it's like nothing's happened, except that every gnome, halfing and dwarf is gone. Hybros tips his hat. "It is good to see you again. I am sorry it had to be under these... circumstances, eheh. Who is this assassin you speak of? And why are we not alone in this investigation?" "Always a pleasure, Master Hybros. Posco? You've always reminded me a little of him, actually. He's a halfling, and was a Blue Assassin as well, the only one ever known to have escape their service intact. I allowed him to hide here. Ever since his meeting with the monk here and some of his compatriots, he's been somewhat more amiable. A decent fellow, once you get to know him and keep his blades from knowing you. And while Heroica's proven to be the most reliable surface world organization we know of, I specifically wanted someone with the ability to sniff out and destroy problems of a magical nature. He assures me this is his specialty." "Do you trust this professional?" Em asks skeptically, an eyebrow raised. "Based on what he's told me, yes. He mentioned working with Heroica before..." The doors swung open again. Moke came back inside, followed by an imposing figure, arms and legs layered in heavy black armor that clinked as he walked, head covered in blood red scales and resembling an almost snake-like image. He closed the door behind him, and bowed slightly to the party. "Heroes. Soryx Dourskull, at your service."
joeshmoe554 Posted April 10, 2014 Posted April 10, 2014 Jeaux looked over the man standing before him. "The Baron says you are a professional at dealing with magical problems. What sort of experience do you have in these areas, and have you encountered a disappearing act similar to this before?"
JimBee Posted April 10, 2014 Posted April 10, 2014 "Always a pleasure, Master Hybros. Posco? You've always reminded me a little of him, actually. He's a halfling, and was a Blue Assassin as well, the only one ever known to have escape their service intact. I allowed him to hide here. Ever since his meeting with the monk here and some of his compatriots, he's been somewhat more amiable. A decent fellow, once you get to know him and keep his blades from knowing you. And while Heroica's proven to be the most reliable surface world organization we know of, I specifically wanted someone with the ability to sniff out and destroy problems of a magical nature. He assures me this is his specialty." "Blue Assassin? Hmm, it appears Posco and I have more in common than you know, hehe... I would very much like to meet him. Once we find him, of course, hehe." Hybros nodded slightly to the wereviper. "I am Hybros. I assume you can fight for yourself in battle." He indicated the blade strapped to Dourskull's hip. "Other than that, what is your purpose here?"
Emjajoas Posted April 10, 2014 Posted April 10, 2014 Em quietly inspects Soryx, judging him trustworthy for the time being, and nods in greeting. "Em," he states.
Palathadric Posted April 10, 2014 Posted April 10, 2014 "Ah, Soryx, when I heard our mutual friend the baron had hired help I half suspected it might be you. How goes things with you? Tracked down any more necromancers recently?"
CMP Posted April 12, 2014 Author Posted April 12, 2014 (edited) Jeaux looked over the man standing before him. "The Baron says you are a professional at dealing with magical problems. What sort of experience do you have in these areas, and have you encountered a disappearing act similar to this before?" "I've hunted demons and dark entities posing threats to the world for the better part of my life. Often I'm called upon to investigate someone's disappearance only to find them having been consumed by darkness in some way, but nothing quite like this, I'm afraid." Hybros nodded slightly to the wereviper. "I am Hybros. I assume you can fight for yourself in battle." He indicated the blade strapped to Dourskull's hip. "Other than that, what is your purpose here?" Soryx blinked at Hybros' strange appearance, but if he had any concerns, he didn't voice them, tilting his head towards the imp. "I can fight. My purpose here is to help you hunt down the threat that's taken these citizens, and destroy it." Em quietly inspects Soryx, judging him trustworthy for the time being, and nods in greeting. "Em," he states. Soryx nodded back towards Em. "Ah, Soryx, when I heard our mutual friend the baron had hired help I half suspected it might be you. How goes things with you? Tracked down any more necromancers recently?" "Things are well, monk. I have hunted a few more necromancers of the Cold Circle. They have been oddly active the past few months. And of course there are the typical errant demons roaming the world I am called upon to slay." The Baron clears his throat. "Yes, good, get to know eachother. Soryx will be working with you to find and, if necessary, kill whatever's taken my people. I'd like you to take a look in Shelby's shop first. That's where the biggest single disappearance took place, far as I know. Keep on the look out for anything out of the ordinary. Clues. Anything we can use to pin this threat down. Any more questions?" Edited April 12, 2014 by CallMePie
Palathadric Posted April 12, 2014 Posted April 12, 2014 "Biggest single disappearance? How many persons disappeared there? One more thing, have there been disappearances in the same place at different times?"
CMP Posted April 12, 2014 Author Posted April 12, 2014 (edited) "Biggest single disappearance? How many persons disappeared there? One more thing, have there been disappearances in the same place at different times?" "The last three, actually...it's hard to pin down just where and when several people have vanished, even at once. If I knew where our little militia disappeared, I'd send you there. Shelby, Vinum, and Erveka told me they were holing up in her shop, to....to avoid them getting all four of us in a single group. To draw them away from me," finished the Baron, bitterness in his voice obvious. "They knew they had to buy time for you to get here. Haven't heard back from them. I don't know if they've hit the same multiple times." Edited April 12, 2014 by CallMePie
Palathadric Posted April 12, 2014 Posted April 12, 2014 "Baron, I do not know what your plans are, but I would strongly recommend that you come with us. It seems like that whatever is plaguing your city will come after you and though I can't promise that we will be able to resist it, seeing as even your town watch were unable to, still we are warriors while your people are of a peaceful sort. I certainly think that we have a greater chance together and I'm sure we could use your insight into the situation."
joeshmoe554 Posted April 12, 2014 Posted April 12, 2014 "I must agree with the monk. If we split up then we may lose more people without gaining any additional information regarding our target." Jeaux did a quick glance around the baron's office. "I suppose we should start doing a sweep of the community to see if we can find any clues pointing us in the right direction. Do you have a map Zylstra to help in the search?"
CMP Posted April 13, 2014 Author Posted April 13, 2014 "Baron, I do not know what your plans are, but I would strongly recommend that you come with us. It seems like that whatever is plaguing your city will come after you and though I can't promise that we will be able to resist it, seeing as even your town watch were unable to, still we are warriors while your people are of a peaceful sort. I certainly think that we have a greater chance together and I'm sure we could use your insight into the situation." "I must agree with the monk. If we split up then we may lose more people without gaining any additional information regarding our target." Jeaux did a quick glance around the baron's office. "I suppose we should start doing a sweep of the community to see if we can find any clues pointing us in the right direction. Do you have a map Zylstra to help in the search?" "I'm afraid I can't do that." "Sir?" "We're staying here as bait. It's the best chance we have of catching whatever's doing this. If they operate on the basement of silent kidnappings, I doubt they would try and assault five highly trained heroes. If your clues can tip you off as to what you're facing, you'll be better prepared when it comes to take me and Moke too. If we go with you, it, or they, or....whatever the hell this is, may never show its face. I can't imagine you'll need a map, what you saw on your way in is essentially everything. The gray building we're in now is administration, the flat building underneath us is the Flat, where most of us live, the black stovepipe building is Shelby's shop, the black one on the other bank is the workshop, and the big mushroom is the Sluice, our pub."
JimBee Posted April 13, 2014 Posted April 13, 2014 Hybros frowned at the Baron's decision to stay behind. "Hmm, well I suppose you are right. I do not like the fact that the culprit could come at any time to take you and Moke while we are gone, but it is out best option. We should investigate the shop first, then." He eyed Soryx warily. "I am still uncertain why we must have two parties investigate this case, but I suppose you will have to prove your worth and loyalty out there." He nodded to remove any sense of threat he was giving, but then felt his sheath to make sure his sword was secure, as if to reassert his caution.
joeshmoe554 Posted April 13, 2014 Posted April 13, 2014 "How will bait be effective, if there is no trap to utilize it? I can see no benefit to you purposefully endangering yourselves with no plan to catch the culprit when he comes to take you."
Palathadric Posted April 14, 2014 Posted April 14, 2014 "How will bait be effective, if there is no trap to utilize it? I can see no benefit to you purposefully endangering yourselves with no plan to catch the culprit when he comes to take you." "Hmm...I must say that whoever is manipulating the machine has at least half a brain. Baron, wouldn't you think it better if you accompany us at least for the start until we can find out more? Also, forgive me if you told us before, but how long ago did the first kidnapping occur and how frequently have they been occurring since then? Every day? Every few hours? Every week? From what you can determine has there been any pattern of any kind? For instance: timing, the number of persons kidnapped in a week or day, etc.?"
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