Too Late?

The monk and cleric casually strode along on the side-walks of Pharlan tower towards townhouse 19.

"Did you hear that?" the monk spoke.

"Hey - you spoke." Replied the cleric, delighted that perhaps the monk was finally responding to her attempts at conversation.

"erm..Someone just screamed. Let's hurry." Mal said with a confused look.

"I didn't hear anything." Lux replied blinking.

"C'mon." Said the monk as he ran toward townhouse 19.

Turning the corner, Mal saw Dee the halfling begin to pick up his pace and then suddenly disappear from a few feet away.

His instincts told him that something was up at townhouse 19 as he sped towards the mansion's gates and through the courtyard with Lux in pursuit.

Dee: So much for a quiet night...

Hearing a loud scream coming from near the designated meeting area, Dee qucikens his pace as he slowly slips on his ring. And I though this would be just a quiet evening... Sigh... The halfling sees Miguel running towards the door and he silently follows.

A LADY IN DISTRESS

There was no longer any coherent thought in her mind, only a maddening fear and a near maniacal need to run. Having spent most of her spells, her only impulse was escape. Elaydren put all her remaining strength into reaching the doors of the mansion.

She made it to the hallway leading to the foyer. Her fear nearly turned into glee as she realized that the way to freedom would be in the next room. However, someone -- something barred her path to escape.

***

To pass the time while waiting, Miguel pulled out a small sheet of vellum and began enchanting it. In a minute, a single kanji appeared on its surface as the small piece of paper stiffly floated before him at face level.

“Hey you!” Miguel started to talking, more kanji started to appear and dance on the floating parchment. “I’m already at the Aunt Elaydren‘s house waiting for Rourke. I don’t know how long this one’s going to take, but as soon as I find out - ”

***

Elaydren's face grimaced in fear as the creature stepped into the light. It was of human shape, heavily armored and had it's sword raised at the ready.

The figure stepped into the hallway casually. The creature saw that only a lone disheveled noblewoman was it's only prey. Judging that she was no threat, It lowers it's blade - deciding to take it's time.

"You are no match for the blood and soil of Karrnath!" The creature's voice was a raspy sigh.

Elaydren's fear threatened to climb out of her belly but seeing the creature lower it's weapon gave her hope. This mixed with her panic bred desperation. Elaydren's instinct to survive took over.

With a feral scream, the lady charges.

***

A piercing scream from the house abruptly stops Miguel.

“Something’s up. I’ll message you later.” He quickly finishes off the missive and sends it off as he runs for the house – his speed enhanced by his link to the darkness around him.

***

Elaydren's desperate charge succeeded. She made it to the foyer. She had taken the creature unawares but not without it's price -- her fine dress was now stained with her noble blood. She felt her knees weaken and threaten to buckle but fear pushed her on. Frantically she limped toward's the door, now only a few feet away.

"BY THE BLOODSWORD'S CRIMSON BLADE!"

The battlecry made Elaydren turn around to see that there were now two of the creatures both rushing toward's her, swords raised.

***

Miguel reached the door. Finding it locked. He hears another scream from within. The warlock utters a harsh word causing the front door to suddenly explode inward.

Miguel saw his aunt. Her back turned towards him. His gaze drawn forward, he see's his aunt about to be attacked by two armored foes.

-continue here-

Vinegar

Back at the tavern. Luxor intently watches her companion eat his dinner. She pushes away her plate towards him uninterested at the mound of darkened venison spuriously covered with sesame seeds. She instead dives at the side dish of lettuce, carrots, and other greens with vinegar at the base.

"These are .. delightful" making a face while at it. she had taken too much of that vinegar.

Middle Central is considered by many as Sharn’s seat of power. While not as wealthy as it’s Upper counterpart, it makes up for abundance of political connections of its residents. Most of the Dragonmarked houses as well as the embassies of the different nations of Khorvaire are located here. As expected most of the power play happens within and with whoever is in the district. People of and outside of Sharn who wanted power wanted to be a part of Middle Central.

Miguel, however, didn’t like Middle Central. Not one bit. It was one of the reasons why Miguel dormed in the Morgrave University rather than stay in the Cannith Enclave which was located in the district. It was these trips that were an exception. Elaydren d’ Cannith, his somewhat eccentric and distant Aunt, resides in a quaint little house in Middle Central and if he was to see her, Miguel needed to go to Middle Central. In the last year that Miguel has been back in Sharn, Elaydren has already sent him with a handful of assignments that has brought him to different places around the continent and outside that. Miguel didn’t complain. Actually he was grateful for the opportunity, it was an excuse for him to get out of the city and escape the politics happening within the House.

So there he was standing in front of House 19, a couple of minutes before the second chime of the evening waiting for his companions. He left them earlier that day at the Half Pint to get ready for whatever tasks his Aunt had her do. He spent most of the intervening time gathering supplies he might use in the task. Now, as he leaned by the lamp posts in front of House 19 garbed in his shadow silk leather armor and bearing his traveling gear, he waited for the arrival of his companions or for the second evening chime to sound, which ever comes first, before he meets with his Aunt.

*** 8 months ago ***

Agitated. Alone for the first time in a long time. unable or more appropriately, unwilling to fathom the present much less the future. she reluctantly leaves idfu's villa. Taking with her nothing but herself and the kimono robes she wore the day before; and her ram staff, a recent gift from Idfu. She pauses astounded at how far she has gone. She looks back at her home. her refuge. her past. The villa was aflame. It looked huge even from where she stood. The darkness of the night adequately framed the angry flames, making it more monstrous that it was. "What would have Idfu done?" She thought. She asked the universe. Tears ran down her cheeks. her body shook uncontrollably. She was crying. Angry. Desperate. She had lost everything.

She continued to walk away until her thin body gives out at a faraway abandoned church a number of hours away. It was midday when she woke up. She slept from exhaustion. She stretched her numbed arms. She looked at her surroundings. Disconcerted. Then, remembering the tragedy that had happened, she broke into tears she no longer had .. IDFU!! ...

***Earlier today***

Her basket was already filled with different kinds of berries, plums, lemons, a bunch of exotic looking greens, and some bottled spices. it was a couple of hours passed lunch. she was in a better mood. Probably caused by the turn in the weather. she liked the rain. it was removed from the depressive heat common to summer days. She instinctively notices a tall man in the crowd. He was checking out some very dangerous commodities. she intercepts him just before he makes a mistake of grabbing some poisonous leaves (indigos kiss).

They made it through outside of the market. "I need to drop these off for a friend." She explained.

".. and i need to get more of these.. " she picks up one of the bundled greens and nonchalantly showed it to Maleb. " .. It was Idfu's fav ... " Her sentence was cut short. Her face appeared ready and close to bursting into tears but just as she paused in her steps. She collected herself.

"What's the matter?" Maleb asked.

"Nothing .. " She offered. Then as if she never paused, she explained her job in the city. It was simple. Help people who cant help themselves. Later, at the poorer quarters of the city. They distributed the basket full in a number of houses. maleb followed. When they were done. They have made it it time for dinner at the Half Pints Tavern.

For a moment Miguel’s smile turned into a frown as he realized what was happening.

“I think what we have here is a little misunderstanding. I’m Miguel ‘d Cannith” the artificer said as he extended his hand for a handshake.

“Maleb.” The other man answered as he shook the offered hand with his free hand while still holding firmly to the halfling’s hand.

Miguel eyebrows went up again at that reaction but before he could say anything, a smallish bald black human woman in a simple kimono came towards the table bearing a couple of plates of steaming vegetables.

“Maleb! I didn’t know we had some guest.” The woman stated as she placed the plates on the table, seemingly oblivious to the incident happening between the males standing around the table.

Strange. This one appears to carry herself with some sort of calmness about her but there is something other than the strong enchantments on the bracers and something within the woman’s pouch that states otherwise. Better keep watch of this one.

“I'm Miguel ‘d Cannith, Miss.” Miguel stated as he nodded towards the woman cutting Maleb off before he could answer.

“And may I introduce my friend Timothy o’ Rourke,” gesturing towards the warmage who had likewise moved closer to the table during the conversation, “and his halfling associate -”

“Dee!” The halfling half exclaimed as he finally escaped the firm grasp of the large man and moved to the other side of the table beside the other humans.

“I’m Luxor.” The smallish woman replied with a nod and smiled back. “We were about to have an early dinner, why don’t you join us. I’m sure there’s enough for everyone.”

“We’d be honored if you allow us to buy the drinks.” Miguel stated as they added more chairs at the table and waved Otis to get their orders.

*

After an hour of drinks, salad and more orders of food and drinks after those, the five people slowly got comfortable as they got to know more about one another with small talk.

“What’s the business with the big hunk of flying granite, anyway?” Dee suddenly asked.

Miguel stopped in mid-gulp and placed down his glass of his liquid ice. “Good you asked, me. I almost forgot.”

The Cannith took out a small parchment and placed it on to the table so that everyone could see. “The gangly gargoyle you all saw earlier is the regular messenger of my Aunt Elaydren. She sent me this invitation. I’m not really that dear to her. She almost always calls for me only when she requests for me to look into a magical item or artifact of sorts she wants. Which I assume is the case for this instance.”

Miguel raises his glass for another drink of the liquid ice before continuing.

“I don’t really mind. It allows me to go out and escape the political web of my relatives.”

He stops though as his glass touches his lips and looks around at the table. “If you guys don’t have anything else better to do, why don’t you join me? I'm already taking Rourke. I’m sure Aunt E won’t mind paying for extra hands.”

Dee: This doesn't happen often...

I got caught?!!! Dee thought as he wriggles his hands free of Maleb's grasp. I better watch this person, I rarely get caught even when I'm drunk...
The halfling then made some half-assed apology and introduced himself to the group as he carefully scans the people who are currently gathered. Noting a familar face and some new ones, Dee carefully made a mental note of each of the current people in the group, looking for weaknesses, just in case...

OOC: Sorry for the delayed posts guys, things have been really hectic...
[Dm's note: Originally posted on July 19. Moved for continuity]

The human took the initiative to regard the question.

"It's actually difficult to give an exact account," came Maleb's response.

"But I must admire the dexterous little hand I've caught... though I do not highly approve of it's owner's intent," he continued still firmly holding the halfling's hand as he tried to guide the newcomer's surprised gaze to that of the halfing.