The Journey of the Legend part 3

In the morning, I get out My old gear, most of it still fits, and hang my axe once again on my back. The familiar weight to it reminds me of days past, some of which I would like to forgot forever. I head over to pick up Aurane, and we head over to the estate. Once we all gather there, we discuss what we should do, and decide we should update Elon again. I feel it's important to let Him know what we have found, in case something happens to us, he can let the next group know what we did. As we get to Locomotion, we are eventually led by the receptionist into the warehouse area, which is more like a workshop than a warehouse. We can see that Elon is working on one of his larger machines in here, an "Engine" of sorts. I recognize a firebox, and controls of some such, but really everything past the firebox is beyond me. a huge metal monstrosity with a firebox on wheels, and what appears to be a smoke pipe on the end. Elon comes over and Melfina tells him about the undertow, how they may be responsible for the disapearences. Apparently she says it a bit too loud, as a Dwarf comes overand tells us none of what we have found is real. He doesn't believe in all that hooey, and we should stop bothering his boss. Elon, however, clearly thinks otherwise, and pulls us into his workroom. He says he is worried about his Dwarven worker, an underboss of sorts, who goes by the name of Firecrotch. The dwarf seems to be prime kidnapping material according to Elon, and should be watched. Elon tells us that any delay to his machine being finished would be disastrous, as he needs to finish it within the next week, and it will be close in the best of conditions, let alone without his people going missing. He wants us to tail Firecrotch, see if he could be in danger, and says that he will not be available in the next week, until his project is finished. We get the address for Firecrotches residence, which I recognize, and we set off, leaving Elon to his project.
 
 
Thinking of the layout of the city, I narrow down two different paths that Firecrotch could take, and we set off across the city. we take the first path, a more open path that leads past a few Inns, and enter the Aftermath Cafe. after talking with the owner, and having a wonderful meal, we determine that Fredrick, his given name, does not in fact frequently have meals outside his home, and probably doesn't even take this route. Aurane and Melfina keep an eye out in the city to see if they can spot anywhere a shady character may be hiding for future reference as we head back top the estate. When we get there, Garfield meets us at the door with a Letter addressed to "you silly Miscreants". Can't be for me then. The letter seems to be From Bridgett, who states that there will be a performance at her Inn tonight, and we should attend. Seeing as we now have dinner plans, and Aurance and I should really check on our business, you know, Our Livelihood, we decide to spend the rest of the day at work, and meet the others at the Babblebrook for the concert.
 
 
I head back to my shop, wondering what I'm going to tell Max. I haven't been working in the shop for a few days, and he isn't going to be happy. His weapons sell well, but he relies on me to be there when he has troubles from his past. We have both seen so many things, and with time. and each other, we have been Ok, but a couple nights a month one of us may wake up in the night, and need to talk. With Leona there, learning, things have really evened out, we have something else to concentrate on, and teach our trade. Work has helped as well, if we have enough of it. A Long day at the forge will wear us out to where we can sleep soundly. I decide to buy some Tea for the two of them from the cart outside the shop. I swear, I feel that cart stays here only because of us sometimes. Although, they do have some good food..... I grab the sweet tea, getting one for each of us, And enter the shop. Leona is on one side, my side, working on a shield strap, and doing decent Work. Her natural strength aiding her in this work, and she seems to enjoy it for the most part, and we like having her. I may seem disconnected, or uncaring with her, but I never had a family of my own, and now I do with this shop. I give her an approving look, and head over to Max, handing him his tea. He takes it, and asks me what I have been up to, and I tell him that some people are in trouble, and some higher ups in the city have asked me to help out. I don't tell him that people are disappearing, as I was told not to. But Max is smart. he knows something else is up, but doesn't press me on it. He knows that I feel the need to help people in trouble, and if I couldn't tell him somethings I had reasons. He says the shop seems to be doing well, and I tell him I may have some custom daggers for him to make soon for one of my new companions. I can help with the design, even with some of the work if need be, although his work would be better for the weapons. I go over to Leona, and she asks if the Second tea I have is for her, and I say of course it is. I make the pretense of examining her work, but really I just want to examine her fine work from a closer perspective. She really is doing fine work. there are some ragged edges, but it seems sturdy enough. I'll have to finish it up a bit, and some polish work, but it seems like good work. I tell her so, and tell her after thatwork is done I'll need more nails. Yes, it is a step down, but people always need nails. They sell. Simple as that. She seems a little off put, but I tell her I will show her some more techniques before I head out again. I know it hasn't been that long since this all started, but working in the shop that afternoon with my Family, was really just the best. a bit of Light in these recently darker days. I wonder what my thoughts would be if I didn't know what was happening in the city right now.....
 
 
I manage to show Leona how curving the pauldron slats that run down the arm properly, it allows for proper movement of the arm, while keeping the integrity of the armor, before I have to leave to meet aurane and the others for the concert. We make business small talk as we head over to the Babblebrook, and get there nearly at the same time as the others. Bridgett isn't really thrilled to see, us, but she did tell us to come. Rorin, as his own weird way of apologizing, presents Bridgett with a large painting from his estate. Clearly not intending to put the new painting in the common room, (I think she said something about the master suite) we get a table off to the side and wait for the concert to start. The performer starts around 8 pm, a lovely tiefling named Danarei Milos, and while I remember a song mentioning the Undertow, I don't remember much else of what she sang. I may have been staring a bit.... Something about her eyes... so many troubles have they seen.. I could help with that...
 
 
What am I thinking?! I hardly know this girl! I better get another drink, keep my mind on the singing and off the singer. There is work to be done tonight. We all sit and wait until after the performance is done, Danarei heads over to our table to talk to us. She says she is part of the Real undertow, which has been taken over by the Bards college. The college is lead by someone by the name of Garnet the Tone Deaf. Odd name for a bard..
The college says the undertow is dedicated to helping those who find themselves with magical power and getting them to a place of safety. I ask her if she knows anything about a boy named oliver, and she says that the boys Brother has drawn the interest of the college, and while she has more information, she isn't going to give it away for free. Rorin tries to buy her off for 3 gold, but apparently she has gotten bigger tips than that thrown at her for a song. Melfina says something to her, what it is I imagine I will never know, as it is in a language I don't recognize, but must be spoken by some higher class of being. Who Is this woman?? that will have to wait for later I guess, because Danerai says that whoever is taking everyone hasn't left the city yet. And, the she says that there may be a council member responsible for all of this. Some of them have a very squeaky reputation and record, and it leads to some thought that something is amiss. She says we should look into Lavender Thatcher, Harold Ravenswood, and Garmeeli the Swift. The Heads of the Accountants, infrastructure, and Hunter's guild in that order. The sewers may be a good way to move people around the city. there is a new way of cleaning the sewers, and while the gelatinous cubes were dangerous, a new way has been found that is even more so. Great. That is all the information she is going to give us, because at that point, she gets up and leaves us to try and figure out what to do next.
 
 
The group of us all leave the Inn, heading for the route that Firecrotch would have taken, at least in this part of town. I could tell that everyone in the party was on the lookout for trouble, there was no conversation between us, and most of us had the look on our face of someone concentrating on something other than just walking calmly. It was just a few blocks before I noticed our shadows. A little noise here from the scuffle of a boot, Small movement in the alleys as we pass, The feeling on the back of your neck of someone watching you. I could tell my companions we noticing too. I could tell there were at least 6 of them following us. and I needed to wait. I wasn't sure which of my companions would be able to keep up, so I needed on of our shadows to make a mistake, and... There! one had bumped into a barrel! not only would the others have heard, whoever hit that barrel would be just a bit off balance. now would be the time for Us to pounce. I roared out my intentions, and started the chase, sprinting towardsthe side alley with, and drawing my axe. while I had no immediate intention of killing, I wasn't sure if my target had the same Idea. I get a hit with the side of my axe, an awkward blow, but not lethal and The clumsy shadow decided to run. Nuts. Assuming they were younger than me, they would probably outrun me. Rorin, however, pumping his short legs faster than I thought he could, sped past me and knocked the little guy out. No hesitation. It looks to be that small red headed boy Caleb. Not wanting to attract too much attention, I lift the boy up into my arms, and hold him tight. as If carrying a child home, I tell the others to surround me, and we start back to the Estate. I can still feel the others following us, but I bet they are keeping their distance. This target Bites back. with the group on High alert, we make it back to the Estate, and we all get inside. Rorin tells Garfield to get his toys , and we take Caleb into one of the many rooms in the mansion, and set him on a chair and tie him up. After Garfield brings out what seems to be a bag all all sorts of nasty implements, Aurane holds his holy symbol in front of him, chants a small prayer to himself, glowing slightly, and tells us he has cast a zone of truth. As we start to interrogate him, We find he can't provide us with a lot of useful information. We learn that The king of the undertow has instructed Caleb's group to follow us, but they don't know what the king looks like. We know that the group following us includes Marjore, the handler, a big guy names Arms, then Beejee, cookie, and Charlatan. Oliver was part of the group too, but not with them tonight. With caleb not being very helpful, and all of us tired enough to passout on the spot, we decided to throw the kid in a makeshift cell, still tied up, and call it a night.
 
 
Well. It turns out none of us were really thinking, as Caleb was able to escape. He may have had something hidden somewhere in a pocket that helped him get out, and we didn't bother checking him for anything. Berating ourselves for being unintelligent windowlicking simpletons, we shake of the major disappointment, and decide on our next course of Action. We decide to take the advice of Danerai and investigate the Sewers. We will need to find a way into the sewers, navigate them, and see if we can find anything down there, all while being careful of this new sewer Cleaning Service.
 
After visiting the Sanctum, and standing around for a bit while the Ladies are allowed to search, Aurane has the Idea the the city planning office should have this information. We head over there, and drop the name of Harold Ravenwood, and we get the plans for the sewer. We find an entrance, and decide to head down. the smells, while not pleasant, are not over powering, and we walk along the side of the sewer, slimy water flowing next to us. We continue down the darkening pathway in a single file line, none of us really wanting to step into the liquid to our side. Suddenly, Two large, Filthy, semi transparent, Reeking figures Rise out of the Fetid water. Clothed in stained , rotting tatters, the pale urine colored pair stared down my companions infront of me, out of reach of my weapons. I had to watch helpless as a brief battle was fought between these vomit inducing vaguely piscine creatures. I had a feeling that they were not naturally this grotesque, but something in the sewer had made them like this. As to what they actually were, I have never seen their ilk, and if that is the natural state, I hope to never see it again. As to my companions, they received several wounds, Aurane nearly going down a couple times. they did however dispatch the fiends, and I was impressed by the combat abilities I witnessed. it has been a while since I was in a fight, and had forgotten what clerics could do. Aurane, being a city cleric, I have seen what they could do while working with them on occasion. Marda seemed to favor her hooked swords, and her movements suggested more grace than I had thought her capable before. Rorin, again, seemed a little quicker on his feet than his appearance would tell. just as the previous night, he preferred attacking with his fists instead of any weapon, and while I had heard of hermits who could acheive mighty blows with naught but bare hands, I was thinking that took many many years to perfect. Where had he disappeared off to in that time gone. As for Melfina... She simply reached out to touch one of the monsters, and while it didn't bleed, it seemed to have taken damage from just her touch. I didn't see any paryer be muttered, but then the only light was from Aurane's Hammer, and the shadows, and light were dancing around in the chaos. Whatever Melfina is, I should make a mental note not to anger her too much.
 
With some being Hurt, I was forced to remember my old abilities. At some point during my time in the Army, I was taught how to focus on nature, and increase my ability to heal, move, and track. I used a bandage on Aurane, and imagined his flesh growing together like a damaged plant. it seemed to work, and he said he was feeling better. I'm glad he was, I could feel some energy leaving me, and I wasn't sure how many more times I could do that. Maybe, three times a day at most? We all decided that we should head back up to the surface, and see if we couldn't acquire some health potions. The sewers weren't going to change That fast Right?