LoF: Lockesville

[Kazilan]

Pandaros

Pandaros watched the mage exit the smithy.

"You've got two choices," he muttered to himself. "Remain hidden and see what unfolds, or throw yourself into the mess to try to resolve it sooner." Just then his stomach let out a long growl. "I guess that decides it."

The wiry human walked towards the wizard, his hands raised well away from his weapons in a friendly gesture. "Excuse me, master mage, but I was wondering if we might speak for a moment about what has been happening in this town. It would appear that my being a stranger here has placed me in a precarious position. Perhaps if I were to help you discover what is behind the towns problem's, I would be vindicated and allowed to leave?"

"And perhaps," Pandaros thought to himself, "there might be a nice reward as well. Rule number 1, never turn away a chance to earn a reward, especially on an empty stomach."

[Sever]

Sever

Sever shook his head a few times and appraised his limbs and other non-bodily possessions. It proved needless, though, as it seemed Oley was an old hand at spells as simple as teleportation. Everything was as it should be and he was at the pub. He turned to the guard.

"Nice. He really is full of tricks isn't he. I know quite a few people who'd kill to be able to teleport instantly to the nearest drinking establishment. It's a wonder this guy walks at all!"

Sever cast his eyes around the tavern. He and the guard hadn't been gone long and most of the same patrons were still present. But the atmosphere was different - the general mood had grown quiet.

Perhaps the locals have bored of this particular newcomer? Or is it something else? No matter. I'm hungry.

Sever flagged down a passing bar attendant and ordered a light meal and a drink for both himself and his escort. After the waitress left, Sever asked the guard:

"Do you notice anything different since we left? Do the locals go a little quiet after Oley teleports someone into the pub? Or himself for that matter? Speaking of which, i'm happy to wait here for him if this is where he wanted us to be."

[Keal]

Kasimno

Kasimno waited long enough to hear the news about the guards and headed off,"First I should check Oley, see if he knows any other mages in town, or if he was the one who actually made the flash. Then to get some help from someone who wasn't already occupied," Kasimno said to himself and went towards Vindson's house, when he spotted who he was looking for, Oley. "Hello, Oley. How are you today," Kasimno said deciding ro build his way up to information.

[Larry_OHF]

Basically for everyone, but exclusively Sever and Milanthir

The guard considered Sever's words, and realized that they held some truth to be investigated further.

"You're right. At first, I thought it was because I had teleported in here that people seemed a bit strange-acting at my presence...but now that you mention it, they are still looking at me instead of you now."

One of the older gentleman who overheard the guard from the table behind him came over and put his hand on Karl's shoulder.

"Haven't ye heard? Some of the town's guardsmen have gone missing 'bout an hour ago. With other guards stationed on duty that they cannot leave, you're the only guard left that is walking around!"

Karl the guard had little time to even consider this thought when the two senior officers that had been in the prison gathering information from their men stationed there came bursting through the doors with all the appearances of somebody that had had enough of today's surprises. They spotted Karl and went straightway over to his table, ignoring Sever.

"Karl, we have urgent business with you. As your commanding officer, I release you from your duty with this gentleman and call you back to active duty as an investigator in the disappearance of four of your fellow officers. Come with us, and we'll brief you further on what we know on our way to the armory."

Karl stood up and looked at Sever.

"Well...I guess I'll see you around. If I spot Oley, I'll tell him you're looking for him."

The guard left with his two commanders.

Now everybody was looking at Sever.

"He's a great guy, you know..." said the same old man that had approached Karl. "I hope they give him some people to help with the search, and not make him run around alone. Four men's already gone missin'."

With that said, the old guy hobbled back to his table and took up conversation again with the girl that was sitting with him, half his age.

=================================================

For Milanthir: You make it to the jail, and find it closed to anyone that may want to enter. A single guard stands outside the door, and tells you,

"Under orders just passed down, nobody is to be allowed in, sir."

=================================================

Karl

Karl walked with his two senior officers as they explained,
"See...with two guards stationed at every gate, some working at the Locke Manor, and two at the prison...that leaves only you to figure out what happened to our men and find those two bastards that are still hiding from us. We can't have you going alone, so we decided to take one of the guys out of prison duty, lock the damned jail tight, and have one guy outside the door so as to keep everyone out. The prisoners have been sedated so as to keep them under control while they are not being phsically watched over. You're working with Sam. I need you two to figure out what is going on and take care of it before the Lockes really get pissed about this. I don't need them breathing down my back, so I am depending on you, Karl. You're the best we've got right now. Don't let me down."

"Sir, I wonder if I might try asking Oley for his help on this. If we are facing a mage of power enough to make four guards go missing, I think we might need more than just steel to deal with this foe."

"You won't get that old has-been to do anything except drink his ass to the grave. We don't have anything else. Listen, if you locate our suspects or even learn of the fate of the four missing soldiers, don't try taking them on yourselves, Sam and you. Pin them down and get backup. Use a signal flare and we'll send who we can."

They say their formal parting words and then Sam and Karl the two remaining guards start from the beginning and begin thier search through town.

[ 02-08-2006, 04:04 PM: Message edited by: Larry_OHF ]

[Sever]

Sever

Sever sat quietly in the tavern mulling over the events of the last few minutes. He could feel the eyes of the townsfolk upon him. Nervous eyes. Expectant eyes. But what did they expect from him? He tapped his fingernails absently against an empty glass to clear his mind.

There was still much to be done. He'd organised to work a shift for the barkeep later to pay for a meal. At present the barkeep was elsewhere. The eyes were upon him. He'd yet to arrange a bed for the evening and, for that matter, the duration of his stay in Lockesville. Still the eyes were upon him. He'd missed his first chance of a one-on-one with his mark - that always put him out of sorts. Yet still he could feel the collective gaze of the Lockesville citizens upon him.

What do they want from me? I'm a thief!

Sever tried to find refuge by taking stock of his situation, but to no avail. His own logic countered his arguments no sooner than he'd thought of them. He'd no armour above his waist - but if he ever put himself into a position where he relied on armour, he was going about his job the wrong way. He'd left his shortsword at the smithy's - but he still had his dagger and six pointy surprises for whomever begged. He was burnt! - But that hadn't slowed him yet and, by the looks of some, not half as burnt as he would be.

Placing his hand on the amulet around his neck, he resigned himself to the only course of action available to him. He sighed as he stood up - he really was earning each and every drake of this mission.

Sever approached the old man who'd spoken to Karl earlier.

"If you see the barkeep, good sir, would you be so kind as to inform him of my absence for tonight. He'll know what you mean and, under the circumstances, he'll understand why. Help yourself to the meal when the lovely young lady returns." Sever placed five drakes on the table. "This should cover it."

And with that, he headed out the door and jogged in the direction of the armoury.

[ 02-09-2006, 10:03 AM: Message edited by: Sever ]

[Morgeruat]

Oley; Death to his foes, Chaos to his friends

Oley looked the two young men over, both clamoring for his attention at the same time, "You'll do," he said simply, with a finality that brooked no rebuttle, if they wanted a discourse, they would have to take him up on it later. "Follow me, before things get more out of hand," And he set off for the tavern where his "guest" had gone, once there he could set his plans in motion and all would be revealed.

[Keal]

Kasimno

"Okay..." Kasimno said a little confused for the moment. a: For not getting a normal hello back, and b: What did he mean by before things get out of hand, but then again Oley was a slightly bizzare and mysterious character so he decided to follow the mage.

[Larry_OHF]

For Oley, Kasimno, Pandaros and Sever

Oley had just met up with two anxious fellows, one he had seen around town lately and one that he had known for a while as a resident of town. Gathering them up, he marched this parade towards the tavern where he knew another to be that had been seeking him.

Sever had just exited the tavern doors and was on his way to the armory where he hoped to reunite with Karl the guard. However, once outside he could clearly see Oley being tailed by two guys coming towards him.

OOC>>>Oley and Sever spot one another.

[Morgeruat]

Oley, Drinking it up, where others fear to tread

Oley began mumbling to himself, and began moving in a bee line for Sever, two had entered his home, and he wouldn't have been surprised if that fool Simon had issued Sever his own personal escort, he'd seen a guard leaving the tavern earlier with one of the senior officers, probably Sever's escort. Upon getting to a distance where he could converse without raising his voice he said "Did you bring me the glass of Nordlar?" Seeing Sever's blank look he muttered, then gathered the three around him, "The arsonist is near, I cast a dweomer that revealed his general direction."

He opened his hand enough to let the crystal drop and go taut against the string, spoke a word of power, and watched as the crystal began swinging like a pendulum, coming to rest parallel to the ground it's direction undeniably that of the Inn. "Follow that, lads, and you'll find the man who erased Vindson and your memories, he said looking at Kasimno. He looked at Pandaros, "I'm sure flushing out and bringing to justice the arsonist would remove the emergency and let you roam again, I was once young and itching to go explore the world, why when I was but thirty two and finishing my apprenticeship, for back in those days it took decades to master the fundamentals of the Art..." Oley began to ramble about his youth and his adventuring career's beginnings and the crystal began to droop back towards to the ground as his concetration on it waned.

[Kazilan]

Pandaros

Pandaros had enough experience around wizards to follow mutely as this one led him towards the tavern. He nodded to the two other members of the group and looked intently at the crystal, then the tavern. As the mage began to trail off into his past Pandaros cleared his throat.

"Excuse me wizard, but did you say something about erased memories? Perhaps you could give us a little more insight into what we are about to face. For if we are up against powerful magic, our best weapon will be you, not the physical means we possess."

Pandaros rested his left hand on the pommel of his short sword and looked at Sever. "You just exited the tavern. Did you notice anyone or anything out of place?"