"Yes ma'am, far as I know, nothin' has been removed from the area." Of course, it could have floated out. Or been carried off by rats, or been picked up before they had arrived to do the guarding, any number of things. That's why the phrases 'far as I know' and 'to my knowledge' were so important when dealing with battlemages. A slip of the tongue and you were so much roast meat and metal, sitting in the sewer stink.
"Well..." Jacme drew the word out, looking at the section of wall in question. He had decided that he didn't particuarly care for that section of wall. Out of his right eye, it was a fine and dandy wall, looked just like any other. Out of his left eye however, it was a fuzzy and broken down wall. It made his head swim every time he looked at it, which was why he had been avoiding looking. Wouldn't do to get a fuzzy head and then end up competing with Oleg for 'most puke on boots and pants legs' award. Or maybe they could call it the 'making the disgusting sewers more disgusting' award.
"Honestly ma'am, depends on which eye I'm lookin' out of. I know it's supposed to be gone, but it still seems like I kind of see it, almost like a flicker out of the corner of my eye." And lets just hope that you don't kill me for that answer, he thought. Battlemages were tricky like that. Worst come to worst, he'd just throw the dwarf at her and then run like hell. Of course, that'd mean he'd have to live a life on the run, trying to get away from Marn and those that would seek his criminal charges. Just the thought of heading south again on a horse made his arse hurt. Age was catching up to him.
Now they just had to wait for battlemage to make her choice. Follow through the wall, play body cleaning service, or hopefully, hoping upon hopes, be tasked to continue to guard the entrance, or better yet to get other guards to relive them.
Shadows from the Sewers 2: Battlemage
Re: Shadows from the Sewers 2: Battlemage
Murder at the Justice Hall? What had he missed this time while he had been buried in maps and the like? The bombs of course had been the talk of the city and Toast couldn’t quite suppress the shudder that rushed down his back when Darrik mentioned them.
“Illusion’s gone for me as well,” Toast replied quietly in answer to the battlemage’s question. The gnome took a few steps to the side and looked at it from another angle to see if something like what Jacme had described happened to him as well but no matter how he looked at it the illusory wall was gone for him. Nothing but a rotting pile of bodies and broken bricks. Nothing really nice to look at.
When he was done with his own little inspection, during which he had briefly forgotten that there was a battlemage who was supposed to do exactly that, Toast swallowed down his discomfort and stepped back a few steps again, feigning to be looking at the scene. They all knew that nothing had disappeared; Jacme had already said as much, but Toast suddenly didn’t know where to look anymore.
‘Get a grip!’ he scolded himself. ‘This could be your big break! Your chance to show everyone that you’re awesome!’ Well, he wasn’t really giving in to illusions of grandeur, not with a battlemage present, but a gnome could dream, right?
“Can Darrik and me not see the illusion anymore because we are the ones who broke it?” He didn’t know squat about the kind of magic battlemages used, so he figured he’d ask. Wasn’t it better to know something about the scary things in the world to better be able to defend oneself rather than remain ignorant? Of course, there was also the possibility that Nashandra Katona would not even give him an answer but at least he had tried. He needed to be brave. Make an impression. ‘A good one,’ he reminded himself, abruptly closing his mouth again before he ran the risk of continuing to blabber.
“Illusion’s gone for me as well,” Toast replied quietly in answer to the battlemage’s question. The gnome took a few steps to the side and looked at it from another angle to see if something like what Jacme had described happened to him as well but no matter how he looked at it the illusory wall was gone for him. Nothing but a rotting pile of bodies and broken bricks. Nothing really nice to look at.
When he was done with his own little inspection, during which he had briefly forgotten that there was a battlemage who was supposed to do exactly that, Toast swallowed down his discomfort and stepped back a few steps again, feigning to be looking at the scene. They all knew that nothing had disappeared; Jacme had already said as much, but Toast suddenly didn’t know where to look anymore.
‘Get a grip!’ he scolded himself. ‘This could be your big break! Your chance to show everyone that you’re awesome!’ Well, he wasn’t really giving in to illusions of grandeur, not with a battlemage present, but a gnome could dream, right?
“Can Darrik and me not see the illusion anymore because we are the ones who broke it?” He didn’t know squat about the kind of magic battlemages used, so he figured he’d ask. Wasn’t it better to know something about the scary things in the world to better be able to defend oneself rather than remain ignorant? Of course, there was also the possibility that Nashandra Katona would not even give him an answer but at least he had tried. He needed to be brave. Make an impression. ‘A good one,’ he reminded himself, abruptly closing his mouth again before he ran the risk of continuing to blabber.
Re: Shadows from the Sewers 2: Battlemage
"Not quite," Nashandra replied to the gnome's query. "It seems to be magic of the mind, no simple trick of the light. I caution you to be wary. You likely won't know if you're being deceived by magic like this again, at least until the spell on your conscious mind is broken. If anything seems amiss, let me know." The battlemage studied their surroundings briefly, but it seemed they were clear of any other such illusions for the meantime. She knew even she herself, a trained battlemage, could be tricked by such an illusion, though she would be stupid to make anyone aware of the fact. More worrying was the fact that, if a mage could create a lasting enchantment like the one before them, there was no telling what else the criminal may have up his sleeve.
"We'll take a look around the tunnels nearby, but it may not be wise to stay here too long," she warned.
Nashandra ignored the bodies as she leaned out to tap the walls of the alcove, then the back. No secrets hidden that she could find, and she wasn't yet desperate enough to rummage through drenched and rotting corpses, so she turned to the guards as she stepped back from the makeshift grave. "Leave the bodies here until the removal can be supervised by a mage."
"For now, we should search the area," she continued, and looked towards the gnome. "You know the sewers well, I'm led to believe. Where would you suggest the rats are hiding?"
"We'll take a look around the tunnels nearby, but it may not be wise to stay here too long," she warned.
Nashandra ignored the bodies as she leaned out to tap the walls of the alcove, then the back. No secrets hidden that she could find, and she wasn't yet desperate enough to rummage through drenched and rotting corpses, so she turned to the guards as she stepped back from the makeshift grave. "Leave the bodies here until the removal can be supervised by a mage."
"For now, we should search the area," she continued, and looked towards the gnome. "You know the sewers well, I'm led to believe. Where would you suggest the rats are hiding?"
Re: Shadows from the Sewers 2: Battlemage
It was a bloody relief that the battlemage was more interested in picking at the brains of Toast for knowledge regarding the sewers than she was in having guards go off on fools errands. It was a silver lining to the shitty cloud of the day.
With nothing else to occupy him for the moment, Darrik took a few steps over to Jacme and Oleg, and nodded to the both of them "Fine crock of shit we've found ourselves in. And all because of some blimmin' magic wall. I'd prefer the oversized rats any day." Darrik glanced over to where the battlemage and gnomish sewer expert were conversing "With any luck, this business of the bombings will curtail our little expedition down here." Shifters' arse, he'd made a height pun. Darrik almost cursed. He'd gone and done his sergeant's work without realising. Teodinus damn Jack Iron and his obnoxious sense of humour.
The dwarf guard put aside thought of his unintended pun as he added "I heard rumours at headquarters this morning that we'll be seeing Martial Law and curfew, possibly as early as tomorrow. If true, we're going to be dealing with nothing but angry or apologetic drunks, and smartarsed noblemen saying 'Oh I didn't notice the time, but I am very rich so it doesn't matter'" Darrik cracked a half smile "...and other dregs of society. You mark my words."
With nothing else to occupy him for the moment, Darrik took a few steps over to Jacme and Oleg, and nodded to the both of them "Fine crock of shit we've found ourselves in. And all because of some blimmin' magic wall. I'd prefer the oversized rats any day." Darrik glanced over to where the battlemage and gnomish sewer expert were conversing "With any luck, this business of the bombings will curtail our little expedition down here." Shifters' arse, he'd made a height pun. Darrik almost cursed. He'd gone and done his sergeant's work without realising. Teodinus damn Jack Iron and his obnoxious sense of humour.
The dwarf guard put aside thought of his unintended pun as he added "I heard rumours at headquarters this morning that we'll be seeing Martial Law and curfew, possibly as early as tomorrow. If true, we're going to be dealing with nothing but angry or apologetic drunks, and smartarsed noblemen saying 'Oh I didn't notice the time, but I am very rich so it doesn't matter'" Darrik cracked a half smile "...and other dregs of society. You mark my words."
Re: Shadows from the Sewers 2: Battlemage
Good. No roasting from the battlemage, and she seemed to want to gnome for questioning. And then the dwarf started talking to them, and Jacme tried to keep up. Changers, weren't dwarves supposed to brooding and quiet? It was like listening to a chicken cluck in a bag of corn. He mentioned the martial law, and Oleg tried to nod, but made a little noise and headed for the corner again. Jacme snorted, then faced the dwarf.
"Forgive Oleg if he's a little short on conversation, seems he ate too much and the smells a bit hard on him." He rubbed his hand across his chin, shrugging. "Martial law's probably the best for it, until they catch whoever done what. The drunks will thank us for the free sleeping space when we let them out in the morning, we'll take our chewing out from the higher ups for arresting nobles who paid money to them that have gold ranks, and the dregs won't listen to us to start with."
His eyes shifted to a walkway as a rat scampered across it, marking where it was. He didn't much care for rats. They had little baby hands that looked odd on the furry creatures.
"I'm more worried about dealing with the people who did the bombing versus the ones who're going to bitch about a curfew." He grunted, wanting to rub the soreness out of his leg. He hated standing around, wanting to get out and be moving on the street again, "A few skulls are going to get cracked before it's all said and done, and that's my word on it."
"Forgive Oleg if he's a little short on conversation, seems he ate too much and the smells a bit hard on him." He rubbed his hand across his chin, shrugging. "Martial law's probably the best for it, until they catch whoever done what. The drunks will thank us for the free sleeping space when we let them out in the morning, we'll take our chewing out from the higher ups for arresting nobles who paid money to them that have gold ranks, and the dregs won't listen to us to start with."
His eyes shifted to a walkway as a rat scampered across it, marking where it was. He didn't much care for rats. They had little baby hands that looked odd on the furry creatures.
"I'm more worried about dealing with the people who did the bombing versus the ones who're going to bitch about a curfew." He grunted, wanting to rub the soreness out of his leg. He hated standing around, wanting to get out and be moving on the street again, "A few skulls are going to get cracked before it's all said and done, and that's my word on it."
Re: Shadows from the Sewers 2: Battlemage
Toast froze for a moment in almost shocked silence. ’Spell on your conscious mind...’ He was under a spell? Under magical influence? The gnome suddenly felt uncomfortable in a completely different way then he had up until now. Feeling queasy over bodies and about having a battlemage close by was completely different from hearing that there was a distinct possibility that he was actually under a spell. That was ...
It was only when the battlemage addressed him again that his focus snapped back to the reality of the situation, and most importantly to the fact that he could be doing something useful, something that could get him a bit of a reputation – other than the inconvenient one involving a certain invention that had cost him his smell of sense.
“There are a few older tunnels that are rarely used anymore, with more alcoves and a couple of maintenance rooms branching off of them. They haven’t been properly maintained and cleared out in a while because we don’t have enough hands for everything anymore but we still do regularly check them. Nothing seemed amiss to any of the gnomes who patrolled them and checked through the rooms every now and then, but with the knowledge of magic being at work, there is no telling what might have been missed.” Toast grabbed one of the maps he carried in his faithful backpack and showed it to the battlemage, pointing out the area he meant and launched into a more detailed explanation, which he abruptly cut short when he realised he was babbling and repeating himself. He couldn’t help it, sewers were his thing. Next to his fabulous inventions of course.
There was no telling, really no telling at all however what the gnomes might not have seen now that it was clear that a powerful magician had been at work. Heck, half the sewers could be under an illusion and none of them would be all the wiser again. The network was just too vast for everything to be constantly under surveillance, only those areas that were used most frequently. But he didn’t want to seem completely incompetent in front of the guards and Lady Katona. He also didn’t want to get Darrik into trouble. After all, they had worked together on a couple of disappearances which had led to this discovery. Battlemages were fickle beings. If Toast told her that they could have missed other things, she didn’t want her to think that Darrik hadn’t done his job properly.
“As I said,” he said, his voice smaller now that he had to make a final decision, “it’s a good starting point, if nothing else. So my suggestion would be to start there, and then work our way back towards here. Of course, my guess is as good as anyone’s.”
It was only when the battlemage addressed him again that his focus snapped back to the reality of the situation, and most importantly to the fact that he could be doing something useful, something that could get him a bit of a reputation – other than the inconvenient one involving a certain invention that had cost him his smell of sense.
“There are a few older tunnels that are rarely used anymore, with more alcoves and a couple of maintenance rooms branching off of them. They haven’t been properly maintained and cleared out in a while because we don’t have enough hands for everything anymore but we still do regularly check them. Nothing seemed amiss to any of the gnomes who patrolled them and checked through the rooms every now and then, but with the knowledge of magic being at work, there is no telling what might have been missed.” Toast grabbed one of the maps he carried in his faithful backpack and showed it to the battlemage, pointing out the area he meant and launched into a more detailed explanation, which he abruptly cut short when he realised he was babbling and repeating himself. He couldn’t help it, sewers were his thing. Next to his fabulous inventions of course.
There was no telling, really no telling at all however what the gnomes might not have seen now that it was clear that a powerful magician had been at work. Heck, half the sewers could be under an illusion and none of them would be all the wiser again. The network was just too vast for everything to be constantly under surveillance, only those areas that were used most frequently. But he didn’t want to seem completely incompetent in front of the guards and Lady Katona. He also didn’t want to get Darrik into trouble. After all, they had worked together on a couple of disappearances which had led to this discovery. Battlemages were fickle beings. If Toast told her that they could have missed other things, she didn’t want her to think that Darrik hadn’t done his job properly.
“As I said,” he said, his voice smaller now that he had to make a final decision, “it’s a good starting point, if nothing else. So my suggestion would be to start there, and then work our way back towards here. Of course, my guess is as good as anyone’s.”
Re: Shadows from the Sewers 2: Battlemage
Nashandra's lips were pursed as her eyes scanned the map presented by the gnome. The city sewers was a place relatively untouched by the law of Marn, and it was bothersome to rely on the supposed expertise of this young maintenance worker. Perhaps it was better than nothing, but she would have preferred a place more familiar and under far greater guard control.
"We don't want guesses, Mr Fountainbloomer. Guesses will get someone killed," she replied. The look she gave the gnome suggested that he had more than just criminals and mages to worry about if he hampered her investigation. Nonetheless, she was pleased with the information he'd given her. They had a place to start, at the very least.
"We'd better make the most of the early hours, so let's move now," the battlemage spoke, as she joined the guardsmen. "The next watch should be here shortly, so I'd like one of you to come with me." She gestured towards Jacme and Oleg. "Whoever stays behind will report my orders to your sergeant, and furthermore, request additional men to support the investigation. The new watch will be required to continue guarding the crime scene while we explore the area. You'll lead the way, Fountainbloomer."
Glancing back towards where the pile of corpses lay rotting, the battlemage added, "Let's not take any unnecessary risks while we're down here. If you run into any danger, do not fight. This is only an investigation. Your sergeant will be organizing a larger force to clean up the area if it's deemed necessary. That being said, I except you're prepared to use force on anyone making trouble."
Without waiting for a reply, Nashandra began towards the area Toast had indicated as being their best place to check for clues.
"We don't want guesses, Mr Fountainbloomer. Guesses will get someone killed," she replied. The look she gave the gnome suggested that he had more than just criminals and mages to worry about if he hampered her investigation. Nonetheless, she was pleased with the information he'd given her. They had a place to start, at the very least.
"We'd better make the most of the early hours, so let's move now," the battlemage spoke, as she joined the guardsmen. "The next watch should be here shortly, so I'd like one of you to come with me." She gestured towards Jacme and Oleg. "Whoever stays behind will report my orders to your sergeant, and furthermore, request additional men to support the investigation. The new watch will be required to continue guarding the crime scene while we explore the area. You'll lead the way, Fountainbloomer."
Glancing back towards where the pile of corpses lay rotting, the battlemage added, "Let's not take any unnecessary risks while we're down here. If you run into any danger, do not fight. This is only an investigation. Your sergeant will be organizing a larger force to clean up the area if it's deemed necessary. That being said, I except you're prepared to use force on anyone making trouble."
Without waiting for a reply, Nashandra began towards the area Toast had indicated as being their best place to check for clues.
Re: Shadows from the Sewers 2: Battlemage
Jacme figured Oleg needed a bit more experience dealing with the unpleasant sides of Guard duty and trundled off to get the new watch up to speed while Darrik gave the ill-looking youth a pat on the shoulder before attending to Katona's orders.
It was a straight-forward task really, when you looked at it from one perspective: follow Toast, keep ears open and eyes half closed, ready for any tell-tale sounds of noises other than their small group. In fact, take away all the magic, rats, and bodies, and it was basically your regular old patrol. At least, that's what Darrik told Oleg. Oleg didn't believe the dwarf one bit, though he held his tongue on the matter. Mostly because speaking made him want to retch.
Darrik hefted his buckler, and kept himself at the ready to defend Toast as the gnome led them down one old tunnel into another, until they pretty much blended into one another. The only thing which kept him confidant that they were making progress was that they seemed to be reaching a section a bit older and less well maintained. Deep down, Darrik wanted to know how close they were, but he kept mute on the topic. Oleg, nerves run ragged mostly because of the presence of a battlemage rather than any other consideration, spoke their minds for them "So, are are nearly there yet?"
It was a straight-forward task really, when you looked at it from one perspective: follow Toast, keep ears open and eyes half closed, ready for any tell-tale sounds of noises other than their small group. In fact, take away all the magic, rats, and bodies, and it was basically your regular old patrol. At least, that's what Darrik told Oleg. Oleg didn't believe the dwarf one bit, though he held his tongue on the matter. Mostly because speaking made him want to retch.
Darrik hefted his buckler, and kept himself at the ready to defend Toast as the gnome led them down one old tunnel into another, until they pretty much blended into one another. The only thing which kept him confidant that they were making progress was that they seemed to be reaching a section a bit older and less well maintained. Deep down, Darrik wanted to know how close they were, but he kept mute on the topic. Oleg, nerves run ragged mostly because of the presence of a battlemage rather than any other consideration, spoke their minds for them "So, are are nearly there yet?"
Re: Shadows from the Sewers 2: Battlemage
Yeah, guesses could get people killed. That wasn’t something Toast wanted on his conscience, no way. But what could he do? As certain as he usually was of himself, the other gnomes’ work and the sewers in general, he felt completely out of his depths all of the sudden now that magic was at work. There was no way he could predict what was still real and what wasn’t. And it worried him. A lot.
The battlemage’s look made him shrink in on himself a little and he decided to keep his mouth shut. For the most part at least. So much for gaining major reputation. Apparently he was on the way very far down if he did a wrong move with this one. Fickle beings, for sure, these mages. She could probably incinerate him merely by snapping her fingers.
A shudder raced down his spine and he tried to suppress it as much as possible, disguising it with a quick step further into the tunnels. Right on cue as well, as Lady Katona gave her instructions. This, this was something Toast could do without seeming like an idiot. Keeping his guesses to himself, though his mind kept spinning, the gnome led their party deeper into the tunnels. While he kept his eyes open for any signs of danger, he was soon distracted by checking the tunnels themselves and the various openings and sewers branching off of the main one they were currently travelling. The guards and mage could make sure nothing was untoward, he had his own job to do.
The sewers seemed off somehow, but Toast couldn’t quite put his finger on it. According to his map, everything was in order and he didn’t see anything weird, like with the magical wall, but he felt certain that something wasn’t quite right. He would have to get some others down here to check up on everything. Or would that make him seem paranoid?
When Oleg’s question disturbed the silence, Toast replied without checking the map or even looking at the guard, his eyes intent on the tunnel in front of them. “We’re almost there actually. This is where there are less controls for lack of manpower, as I’ve mentioned. We keep regular tabs but if someone has been meddling with magic, we could have been fooled.”
For a brief moment, he paused, struggling with whether or not he should tell the battlemage about his gut feeling or not. Then he decided to go for it: “I’m no mage and I have no way of detecting magic but I feel like the sewers aren’t entirely right. I don’t know how to explain it correctly, but they just don’t feel like they usually do. Like something is amiss.” ‘I just don’t know what,’, he didn’t add out loud.
The battlemage’s look made him shrink in on himself a little and he decided to keep his mouth shut. For the most part at least. So much for gaining major reputation. Apparently he was on the way very far down if he did a wrong move with this one. Fickle beings, for sure, these mages. She could probably incinerate him merely by snapping her fingers.
A shudder raced down his spine and he tried to suppress it as much as possible, disguising it with a quick step further into the tunnels. Right on cue as well, as Lady Katona gave her instructions. This, this was something Toast could do without seeming like an idiot. Keeping his guesses to himself, though his mind kept spinning, the gnome led their party deeper into the tunnels. While he kept his eyes open for any signs of danger, he was soon distracted by checking the tunnels themselves and the various openings and sewers branching off of the main one they were currently travelling. The guards and mage could make sure nothing was untoward, he had his own job to do.
The sewers seemed off somehow, but Toast couldn’t quite put his finger on it. According to his map, everything was in order and he didn’t see anything weird, like with the magical wall, but he felt certain that something wasn’t quite right. He would have to get some others down here to check up on everything. Or would that make him seem paranoid?
When Oleg’s question disturbed the silence, Toast replied without checking the map or even looking at the guard, his eyes intent on the tunnel in front of them. “We’re almost there actually. This is where there are less controls for lack of manpower, as I’ve mentioned. We keep regular tabs but if someone has been meddling with magic, we could have been fooled.”
For a brief moment, he paused, struggling with whether or not he should tell the battlemage about his gut feeling or not. Then he decided to go for it: “I’m no mage and I have no way of detecting magic but I feel like the sewers aren’t entirely right. I don’t know how to explain it correctly, but they just don’t feel like they usually do. Like something is amiss.” ‘I just don’t know what,’, he didn’t add out loud.