The Low Quarter (cont.)

[mzipser]

[fieldset=Karn Lee - Human Monk]
[floatleft][IMG]https://i.imgur.com/d3e5J4w.jpg[/IMG][/floatleft]  
[spoiler=Statblock][sb=free][/sb][/spoiler] [SPOILER="Sheet"][URL="https://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=102892"]Karn[/URL][/SPOILER]

Karn nods and walks to the north door, figuring it wouldn't hurt to listen at both of the nearby doors. He won't try to open it until he knows what Byll is doing and, anyway, he's not very good at that, but listening he is good at.

[/fieldset]

[Eric]

Karn puts his ear to the door and is surprised to hear conversation on the other side, along with what sounds like walking footsteps--coming this way.

"Has to be worth a fortune," an unseen female voice comments, muffled through the solid wood.

[mzipser]

Karn motions to the others to move back and whispers, "People in there, coming this way"

[Basil_Bottletop]

The elf had stepped aside for Karn to take a listen, but it put the two men within very close proximity to one another. When he pulled away with a warning, Byll simply nodded. Whatever confusion lie behind those eyes remained hidden there. He waved for the bigger man to move to the side, partially hiding him by the wall and door frame.

He wasn't sure who might be down here nor how they got this deep, but it suggested that they had another entrance because they hadn't tripped any of the hurdles their group had experienced. Byll thought quickly about how much time they had spent down here recovery from their wounds and how their benefactor may have sent a second group thinking they were dead or trapped. But again, they had not crossed paths where they should have met. This was different.

With the confidence of a viper, Byll opened the door and braced for first contact.

 

[Eric]

The door swings open with only a slight screech against the warped frame. The other side is a moderately large (50'x50') square room, with the most obvious feature being the small cooking fire at the center around which several humans are gathered. The smoke from the fire billows upwards, disappearing through cracks in the ceiling--one a fine domed artwork depicting a thick canopy of tree branches, now ruined and marked with mold and soot.

One of those gathered, a dark-haired woman, has her back to Byll; in one hand she's showing an ornate crown to a short, swarthy, bald fellow crouched opposite the flames. The third, a lean human male shrouded in a heavy black cloak, lounges further away near a doorway leading east.

The bald man's eyes are immediately drawn up to the opening of the door, and one hand flashes to the hilt of the sword belted at his left hip, leather scabbard scraping against his chain shirt as he moves. Before he draws it, though, a tight smile appears on his lips. "Byll. Fancy seeing you down here. Got lost looking for the sewers?"

 

[Basil_Bottletop]

Given the underground ruins he found himself in, Bloody Byll wasn't quite sure what his expectations were when he opened the door. A living creature -notably one civilized to know the common tongue and that objects held value- was certainly the foundation of such an encounter, but beyond that the possibilities were endless.

His eyes danced between each of the travelers and even once glance led him to see they'd found some kind of ventilation down here. He thought about how they'd spent the last day down here and how they'd not had the same luxury. The envy was enough to make his mouth dry.

"Devees? You live?" Byll said, pushing himself through the doorway with hesitation borne from a budding rivalry and a few campaigns hitting both men on the chin at various times. He didn't let the question linger though, of course the man lived, it was more about the fact that he'd reappeared so close to his old stomping grounds that intrigued the elf. "And you've found paying customers, I hope?"

The elf never made a move for his sword, nor did he wave for the others to join. The first was a sign of his personal comfort here, the second was because he wasn't exactly sure how he wanted this whole thing to play out.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[mzipser]

Karn stays where he is - out of sight against the wall next to the door. He listens to what is going on. Byll seems to know whoever is in there, so Karn is willing to let this play out until it gets violent or Byll signals him to come in.

[mzipser]

Karn Lee - Human Monk
Karn Sheet

Karn stays where he is - out of sight against the wall next to the door. He listens to what is going on.

Byll seems to know whoever is in there, so Karn is willing to let this play out until it gets violent or Byll signals him to come in.

 

OK. I'm starting to get this. Cloning!

 

[bzipser]

Brynna shrinks back and tries to stay out of sight, worrying that their guide is really in league with these new arrivals.

[Eric]

"Well, they better be paying. Or else I'll get the money elseways." Devees practically grunts his noncommittal response, his slumped stance a physical embodiment of uncaring.

The woman carefully tucks away the ornate crown she was holding, but says nothing and doesn't bother to turn toward the door. The cloaked companion, though, chooses to enter into the conversation. "Friend of yours?" he asks Devees, a thick Sudrenen accent muddling his words into a single blob of sound.

Devees licks his lips before smiling a canine response. "In a manner of speaking." He doesn't take his eyes off Byll. "Odd place to be traipsing alone. You on a job yourself?"

[Basil_Bottletop]

The question brought a smile to the elf's face, but not for the reason one might imagine. Without looking back, Bloody Byll entered the room, throwing his palms out to show he was currently unarmed. His blade slung at his side.

"I don't come down here to visit me ancestors." He said, making no effort to hide that he was inspecting as much as he could of the room and it's occupants.

"Back at base camp. I just heard voices down through here and thought I'd take a look. Didn't know I'd find a dead man leading the march."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[SirLoganofGilead]

Astaban looks at Karn and Brynna. They had been his companions longer, and he certainly trusted them more, but he also didn't feel safe leaving Byll in control of their fate. He eyed the other two and motioned that they could stay hidden if they wanted, and then he immediately moved past them and threw the door Byll entered. "Who are your friends Byll? Weird place to be meeting old aquaintences...no?" He keeps his hands off his short sword, but he orbed dagger is always close at hand.

[Eric]

"Well, I ain't dead. And you ain't alone, either."

The black-cloaked man harrumphs. "There are two more of them, Dev. Probably lurking around the corner."

[mzipser]

Karn looks at Brynna and shrugs then motions to go into the room.

 

He walks in and says, "Yep. That's what we was doin'. Wanted to see what happened b'fore we came in. I'm Karn by the way."

[Basil_Bottletop]

Byll shrugged as entered and then Karn introduced himself. Devees knew it was the closest thing he was going to get to an apology. The smirk on his face seemed to be for Devees's companion, and how both camps were doing a terrible time of keeping their cards close to their chests. The charade was crumbling for everyone, and quickly.

"They don't need to know your names, big guy." He said softly as he tilted his head over his should, but the tight quarters and close proximity meant he knew it likely wasn't a message just for him. He raised his voice again when his focus was back on the new group. "Devees, you on a Crocus contract, or no?" Suddenly, things were going to get rather sharp.