Day 03 - Wisdom of the Sages

[DM Illithid]

[Morning. Spells and health are at full. Plan for today is to meet Rory's friend 'the Sage,' and possibly prepare to delve into the underhalls. Everyone is present.

PM to William.]

Morning breaks, as our stallwart companions find themselves in friendly company amoung the tavern hall of the Dripping Dagger. It lives up to its name this morning, as a few mercenaries practice throwing daggers at a target on the door. Pausing only momentarily as the door occassionally opens.

You're unsurprised to be surrounded with fellow mercenaries. Because that's all the Dripping Dagger caters to.

Rorry and William each take a few moments to pause while eating their porridge, listening to some tidbit of hushed conversation after another. William smirks, hearing something perhaps amusing, perhaps relevant.

[I'll have Rory lead us to the Sage momentarily. Waiting to see if anyone has errands they need to run, or speculations to make.]

[Poor William Woodholm]

Will passed the night drinking rum - and now and then nipping off a bottle of his own - until he fell into a fitful, swoon-like sleep. Since none of the serving maids ever dared rouse him, Kilain had to be got up, amid a lot of curtsies and nervous complaints, to come back downstairs and fetch him.

At breakfast Will was quiet, ate little and kept a hand upon his head, but smiled easily - if in an odd private way. As talk around the table fell off, he stood to excuse himself. ?I've my own lead to follow but will see you all again here for lunch,? said he and bowed and went out the door.

[Silvamir Grymm]

Seated beside Francesca and across from Rorry, Silvamir frowns, shaking his head. "Always running off on his own, that one," he says, referring to the departing William. Then turning back to face Rorry, he continues. "I am eager to hear what this sage knows. How far is he from here? Can we make it there and back before midday?"

[Francesca]

Francesca idly rubs the holy symbol around her neck between her thumb and forefinger, listen to Silvamir and Rorry talk.

[DM Illithid]

[Moving William to 'Day 03 - Bad Dreams .'
Let's speed this up, shall we.]

Rorry leads the party to Nisban, a kindly old gnome the party has dealt with in the past. After a quick tale of Zai'Tan, the old man scratches the top of his head in deep thought. "Hmm, Alzhedo name. Seems to me a sorceror of some skill with a cataclysmic death."

He scurries off, rummaging through a few books. You're unsure of the time spent staring at musty books, but the sun is shining through a different window than you remember before Nisban breathes another word. "Yes. Zai'Tan was killed in a failed coup Fifty Four years past. He had ensorceled and replaced a slew of the Pasha's government. And reportedly the Pasha himself. He gained the attention of the clergy of Tymora and Mystra. Who dispatched agents to deal with him. All failed to return."

He turns a few pages. "The followers of Mystra claim responsability for his death, though it appears a trio of adventuers were the real cause. His remains are scattered across the forest of Tethyr. No word of accomplices. Though policitcal scholars speculate the church of Bane may have been involved. As Zai'Tan was pushing the country into war with Tethyr."

He looks up at the party. "That answer any of your questions?"

[Rorry]

Rorry frowns. "No, we wanted you to tell us about halfling town."

[DM Illithid]

Nisban frowns. "Hmm, that you did. Let's see here." His rummaging begins again in earnest. After consulting a few pages, he looks at a large map along the far wall. With a pin and a piece of string, he measures a few distances from one location to another. He hands a small scroll to Rorry. "Luiren its called. Quite a distance though. Month and a half by land. Two by sea. Assuming you survive either journey. Best of luck."

[Kilain Gravendak]

"Now isnt that just grand" grumbles the dwarf. "We have three leads that point in diferent directions. Though Calimshan and Luiren are both south. Arent we between a pebble and a rock."

He stares at the gnome sage and says "this Zai'Tan...does any of yur books mention anything about him and 'The Lady'?"

[Lellowyn]

"It's a good thing some of the most skilled ones get themselves killed early with their overzealousness, otherwise, we'd all be in more trouble more often. Surely a ... halfling would be of no help here, it should not be considered an option."

[Rorry]

"No help?! No help?! Are you nuts? Need I remind you that without a 'halfling' you all would be toast!" Rorry stamps her little foot in frustration. She glares at Lellowyn with her little fists on her hips. "Oooo, a little bug." She kneels down to watch a small bug crawl along the floor.

[Lellowyn]

Lellowyn smirks and nods as she looks to the others. A flip of her hand toward Rorry and the raising of a delicate eyebrow suggest an unvoiced "see what I mean?" comment.

[Francesca]

Francesca nibbles on the nail of her index finger, thinking.

"So shall we draw lots to see where we begin? Or, we could have a divination cast. Perhaps an augury could point us in the right direction."

[DM Illithid]

Nisban twitches his bulbous nose. "Talk of a Lady could mean romance or religion. No word of a feminine companion that he didn't purchase from the slave yards. And there's a multitude of Lady deities he might be referencing." He shrugs and begins moving books aroud in a manner clearly unrelated to your presence.

One of the books falls to the floor, cracking open to a page. "What's this now? Ah! Portals of the Underhalls. I'd forgotten this one! My, what fiction this must be."

[DM Illithid makes a deft throw of his bobber a good fifteen feet into the lake, waiting for a nibble.]

[Silvamir Grymm]

One of the books falls to the floor, cracking open to a page. "What's this now? Ah! Portals of the Underhalls. I'd forgotten this one! My, what fiction this must be."

[DM Illithid makes a deft throw of his bobber a good fifteen feet into the lake, waiting for a nibble.]

"You say Zai'tan's remains were scattered across the Forest of Tethyr. But another source claims they are to be found among the Underhalls," Silvamir says, gesturing toward the book. "Could that be? What do you know of these Underhalls?"

[nibble...nibble]

[DM Illithid]

Nisban smiles, turning the book over in his hands. "Now the Underhalls are something I know plenty about. The greatest tomb of unwary adventurers known to exist. It's had its share of residents." He pauses, contemplation clear acorss his brow. "If I were going to gather the ashes of some sorceror and hide it somewhere, the Underhalls would be as good a place as any. What makes you think his remains would be there?"

[Rorry]

"Underhalls? Since when was halfling town in the Underhalls?"

[Kilain Gravendak]

Kilain leans forward and looks at the slight gnome and his book, "hrrrrrrm mightnt youve heard of a reference dealing with this Zai'tan, the underhalls, and The lady. we do have reason to believe The Lady is a divine figure.. What say ye Sage?"

[Silvamir Grymm]

Nisban smiles, turning the book over in his hands. "Now the Underhalls are something I know plenty about. The greatest tomb of unwary adventurers known to exist. It's had its share of residents." He pauses, contemplation clear acorss his brow. "If I were going to gather the ashes of some sorceror and hide it somewhere, the Underhalls would be as good a place as any. What makes you think his remains would be there?"

"I'm afraid your halfling town will have to wait for now, Rorry," Silvamir says. "If we're going to get to the bottom of this Zai'tan matter, we need to act quickly while the trail is still warm. Something sinister and the clues all seem to lead to the Underhalls."

Turning back to respond to the gnome sage, Silvamir chooses his words carefully. "We recently interviewed a source that we believe to be in league with some church or cult. I suspect their aim is to raise Zai'tan and continue what he started. But it is all speculation...nothing more."

[DM Illithid]

Nisban contemplates this bit of news, unsure what to make of it. He nods thoughtfully. "You're suggesting he was in league with one church or another. And fifty years later, that church intends to return him to life. Not the least believeable plan I've seen."

He frows his brow, thinking over possabilities. "No clue which church he is allied with. Lovitar is popular amoung the calishites slave trade. And there's a large following amoung the Underhalls."

With a sudden snapping shut of his book, Nisbam makes move to rummage through something or anohter. "You'll need a map of sorts. Did this source tell you where in the Underhalls you can expect to find Zai'Tan's remains?"

[Rorry]

At the mention of a map, Rorry forgets all about halfling town. "Ohh, a map. Can I see? I can find all kinds of good treasure with a good map."

[Silvamir Grymm]

"No clue which church he is allied with. Lovitar is popular amoung the calishites slave trade. And there's a large following amoung the Underhalls."

With a sudden snapping shut of his book, Nisbam makes move to rummage through something or anohter. "You'll need a map of sorts. Did this source tell you where in the Underhalls you can expect to find Zai'Tan's remains?"

"Our source did make many references to the Lady...so Loviatar may be who he was referring to, I suppose."

"We suspect there's something occurring in Waterdeep. An artifact was to be delivered there...something that would supposedly lead Zai'tan to his destiny. Does that mean anything to you?"

Silvamir frowns at the giddy halfling, but says nothing as she reaches for the sage's maps.

[DM Illithid]

Nisbam shakes his head. "Nothing in my tomes about his destiny. If he were allied with a church following, it's possible his coup of Calimsham was a prelude to something larger. Perhaps he is to be reborn to begin a similiar coup of Waterdeep. An unlikely prospect, but it fits the clues you're describing."

[Silvamir Grymm]

"Well there's a pleasant thought," Silvamir frowns. "These Underhalls. How do we access them in Waterdeep? Can you provide us with a map? It seems that is where we are headed, so please share all you know that might be useful."

[DM Illithid]

[You've been to the Underhalls (http://plothook.net/RPG/showthread.php?t=1811) before. 3rd and 6th level of adventure. Yawning Portal is the most accessible route into the Underhalls. You have a map from your previous trip plus you suspect Rorry has a stash she's not sharing.]

Nisbam laughs, "I have the maps you made last time you were there, if that's your angle. Aside from that I have some additional maps I wouldn't trust. And some snippets of lore from past adventurers. What I don't have is a location for Zai'Tan's remains....if they are indeed beneath our feet."

[Lellowyn]

"The last time we ventured into the Underhalls was quite a bust if I remember correctly, which... oddly, I'm not sure if I do. With any luck, this trip will be a little more interesting and memorable."

[Silvamir Grymm]

Nisbam laughs, "I have the maps you made last time you were there, if that's your angle. Aside from that I have some additional maps I wouldn't trust. And some snippets of lore from past adventurers. What I don't have is a location for Zai'Tan's remains....if they are indeed beneath our feet."

"Of course," Silvamir nods. "I had hoped you might have additional maps...of the areas we left unexplored. But our maps will suffice. Is there anything else you can tell us that might prove useful? If not, then I think we are done here. Unless of course somebody else had something to ask," he says, glancing at each of his companions.

[Francesca]

Francesca shakes her head.

"Our maps will do. We just use the process of elimination to figure out where it is that we haven't been previously and check out thos areas as thoroughly as possible. What more can we do with the limited information we have?"

She bows to their host.

"Our thanks, Wise One, for your time and assistance."

[DM Illithid]

[Moving Party to 'Day 03 - Plan of Attack.' Closing this thread. The remainder is OOC, enjoy.]

Nisbam shakes his head and sighs as the party takes their leave. He laughs momentarily, knowing well the halfling took her share of maps. This development concerns me. Zai'Tan could influence things needlessly. he thinks. Had anyone been present in the room, they would hear nothing. But Nisbam was not speaking.

Neither was his confidant. Have faith in your students. You have guided them well. Your place is here.

Nisbam scratches his nose with one long finger. Not the least impressed with this skin. Too dry. They represent an investment of time. An investment well guarded. Perhaps an escort. He pauses, knowing well the coming objection. Someone other than myself.

The second thought, emanating from a string under Nisbma's shirt, paused in contemplation. Very well.

Nisbam nods, considering which agent would best serve.