Acqua Alta Finale

[Palpatim]

Rogur listens to the scribe and nods tiredly. "Well, sounds like we still have work to do then." He sighs deeply and mutters to himself, "Just once for a quiet day." Then, aloud to the scribes, "Where are Iniyusi and Duvek?"

[Malk0lm]

Noxias tries to get more information out of the helpful scribes. "Did they say where the rendezvous was to be?"

Looking at Rogur he says, "Perhaps we should try to find our lost party member and then try to discover where the meeting point is." Addressing the scribes Nox makes a suggestion, "Why don't we escort you back to the Scriptorium, just to make sure there are no other thugs about."

[Ithelryn]

"Hello Rogur/Noxias, It seems you've all made a short bit of work with this lot!" says Yrisz as she and Konstansz pull abreast with their small skiff.

"Do anybody have any ideas where those ruffians were taking Lywthast and the others?" she asks hopefully.

"Also, if I'm understanding Konstansz correctly, she might know something about our dear Polon, right?" she says looking even more hopefully towards the Tiefling.

[Malk0lm]

"Nice to see you ladies were finally able to show up." Noxias mocks. "It sounds like Zephyr surely met some trouble on his end as well, we now know that at worst he found Ogam and Gendoll and at best recovered Lywthast. Either way we know he met some trouble. As the only other fire-- erm magic weilder in our group I feel a certain kindered spirit toward him. I fear for his safety. We should hasten back to start the search for either him or the other party of scribes."

[Umiushi]

This is the thirty-first Acqua Alta Finale main post. Players' posts in either thread are due by 11 pm, Tuesday, June 19th. The next main post will appear by 11 pm, Thursday, June 21st.

Vist answers Rogur, "Iniusy is still in her bedroom, I think. The Acqua Alta turned the upper floor of the bookstore and the library into two separate structures. I didn't see any of the gang around there when we were caught. Duvek's not been seen since you and he parted ways, yesterday."

Penally shakes her head to Noxias and Yrisz's questions, "No, they didn't say such a thing outright, but they called it 'the castle,' and one of them said we were nearly there, a few moments ago. I would like to go back to the Scriptorium, yes, but I'm also worried about Gendoll, Ogam, and Krushevx's daughter.

"Why, 'at worst?'" she adds, after a moment.

[Malk0lm]

Flustered, Nox attempts to recover from his gaff. "I mean to say that he may have found them but was not able to help them." Nox mumbles something about context under his breath.

[Umiushi]

Penally appears to accept Noxias's explanation, or at least does not question him further. She looks around at the bystanders on the nearby boats and rooftops.

"I think it will be no easy task for the gang to kidnap us again if we stay in the open for now," she glances at Vist for confirmation before continuing and he nods cautiously. "If you need to leave us," she continues, "it's probably more important to rescue the others."

[Palpatim]

Rogur shakes his head at Penally. "We can find our way back here after we get you back to the Scriptorium. And I we need to see what Zephyr's been up to; he's too impetuous for his own good?" Catching a look from Yrisz, he flushes and says defensively, "Yes, I get the irony."

[Ithelryn]

Yrisz looks uneasily about, "Not to seem contrary, but I think Penally is right about the Ms leaving them be in public; I mean it's practically a parade day out here with so many having so little to do but wait the waters out."

"If we are as near as Penally captor's have suggested, then at worst we will be able to note them as they bring a bound Zephyr into their 'the castle', if not their peered prisoner hauling boats might mark them to us."

"Lastly, they might even be so obliging as to shoot at us some more as I'm rather sure we're now high on their 'list of people to shoot a lot' by now."

"So what does everybody think? If you really think that Penally and Vist are still in danger Rogur, then off course we should escort them, but I'm one to try to go forward to save the others rather then giving the Ms time to get them deep into their dark castle where the will never be heard from again."

[yukonhorror]

As the person from the docks tries to get information from the gang member, Zephyr puffs up his muscles and brands his pick while menacingly looking into the member's eyes, "Go ahead. Tell the nice officer where you were going to meet. We are waiting." Indicating the 'we' means Zephyr and his hefty weapon.

[Palpatim]

"You're right, Zephyr can hold his own. Let's keep heading this way then. Penally, on your way back, if you happen to see Zephyr--you remember him: big half-elf, carries a pick, prone to fits of magical rage--could you point him in our direction?"

[Malk0lm]

"Well that sounds settled then. I'll leave another mark for Zephyr, if he comes this way, but let us make haste in case he decides to do as we did and travel into the mouth of the snake."

[Umiushi]

This is the thirty-second Acqua Alta Finale main post. Players' posts in either thread are due by 11 pm, Saturday, June 23rd. The next main post will appear by 11 am, Monday, June 25th.

The flustered gang member stammers out his directions and the boat heads toward the southern portion of the Mound. Within a few minutes it enters what looks like a small lake with a miniature archipelago. Unlike the buildings with at least two stories that have been nearly ubiquitous, this area sports numerous, crudely-made wooden structures. Most of them are only one story high, and all but a few of those are completely submerged.

The odors of garbage and sewage are both present in the damp air. A breeze has picked up again, carrying away the worst of the smells. A small multitude of birds and flying lizards wheel and cry under the bumpy contours of the gray clouds.

People laze about on the roofs that do poke up from the water, and on various rafts and boats, some of which are lashed together in clumps. A few call out cheerful or cheeky greetings as the boat passes, while others keep to themselves sullenly. Most just eye Zephyr, Lywthast, and the others with silent curiosity.

Here and there, ruined stone walls break the surface like the remnants of a sunken city. Many of them are blackened with soot in places. Several of the shanties make use of these to provide at least one of their walls.

There is a structure that rises taller than the rest. It's a crazy jumble of wooden boards and planks, some of which towers as many as three stories over the water's surface, all built within the broken stone shell of what may have once been a manor house.

One of the tallest points rests against the southeast corner of the stone walls. As the boat approaches from the east, Zephyr notices a woman leaning forward from the roof, watching the boat's approach. After peering at it for a few moments, she ducks back into the structure.

"We've arrived," the official observes, "What will you do now? Do you intend to charge in by yourself, or would you like someone to come in with you? One or two of us should stay behind to keep an eye on this miscreant and see to Lywthast's safety."

[yukonhorror]

"I can always use more company, but I am ok on my own. But yes, I would like to keep at least two folks here with Lywthast. Lywthast, I believe some folks stayed behind at the scriptorium. It may be prudent for you to head back and hold up there. If no one is present that you know, barricade yourself in the uppermost room. When I return, I will knock three times and speak the name of the large goliath." Zephyr then redirects his attention to the official, "Can I trust your men to get her back safely? Since I have arrived in this town, I have been attacked by members of the church, members of the matchless gang, and your men, so forgive me if I am not generous with my trust in people. However, there are still other scribes that were kidnapped. I don't know if my friends are here yet or not, or even if they are on there way, but I have to check it out to see if the scribes are in peril."

[Umiushi]

This is the thirty-third Acqua Alta Finale main post. Players' posts in either thread are due by 11 pm, Tuesday, June 26th. The next main post will appear by 11 pm, Thursday, June 28th.

"I see," the official says as the boat approaches the eastern side of the compound, "trust us or fail to trust us, your only two choices are to take her with you or leave her with us. Now, the immediate problem at hand," she gestures towards the wall, "is how to get in. You look like you could manage to scale this wall, even with that ridiculous load on your back, but I have no intention of sending any of us to accompany you if you do that, especially not one of my armored bodyguards. However, those open windows up ahead are close to the water. If you want to break in through there, I could spare someone to go in with you. Your final option is to have us row around the wall and see what sort of proper entrance there is, that is if you want to experience whatever welcome they intend for you once it's fully prepared. You want us to keep Lywthast safe, and staying here longer than necessary will not serve that purpose. Now, what will you do?"