Cultists in Locktuse, Adventurers Book 2

Chapter 1 ~ Arthur Dwindle

Thanks to what little reward Windell gave to us about informing him of the colonials, it was enough to purchase a boat to sail for Trinidad's colony of Locktuse with other visitors as well.

On a civilian fishing boat nonetheless...

The stench of these dead, primitive animals makes invades my nostrils and now violate what contents rest in my stomach. Mix that with the constantly bouncing ship and hurling seems all the more likely (22vsDC16)! Thankfully, I keep my composure once we catch sight of land. Oh sweet solid ground!

Glancing towards Kriv, he's the one who's gushing his stomach contents into the sea. Even the cheese and bread we had earlier spills out of his mouth. Seems to me we ought to purchase food to appease any possible anger fits he could have from being hungry.

As we got closer to Locktuse, we can see the colonists waving and hollering to us with overwhelming excitement. Some men wave their hats to us, the ladies waving towards us, even the children were hollering at us.

Although, amongst the crowd, standing between two families, is an even more grotesque creature than Arkith back in Claddeau. Its head no longer has flesh on the skull and the antler protrude and curl in a much more gangly manner toward the cranium. The shape of its head is closer to a wolf than deer. No one amongst the mass crowd seems to even be noticing this oddity.

At last, our boat reaches the wooden dock as planks are placed to let us cross over. To be honest, I was the first to stumble along the plank and collapsing onto the ground.

The first thing that greets me is a pale hand where it's far too easy to notice the veins that run along the wrist. One glance up and Sariel's elven albino features gleam right at me. "You are not one to travel by sea often, are you?"

"And yet you have?" I reply as she helps me up, "I didn't see you vomit your innards overboard."

"I have been on enough voyages to have built a tolerance for it. Some missions I have been on required going to Europa."

Whatever the case, perhaps being in Perceval's stance would be a lot better, honestly. At least he doesn't have the softer parts within that would make someone queasy.

As the people disembarked, a rather nice gentlemen who has slight sideburns growing, approaches with what seems to be a guard with a musket and a police constable, "Welcome to Locktuse, everyone!" he greets, "I am Governor Paget (padge-ay) and to my left is Constable Kempt, and here in Locktuse I truly hope you enjoy your stay here. We love every new arrival to help fill in the gaps and missing workers in the factories. As you see, we are a very simple colony that is still growing. So please, if you have any concerns, consort with me or the Constable. Thank you for choosing the colony of Locktuse."

The crowd then disperses into the town and out off the fairly maintained dock. Some of the wood seems freshly new, though a few pieces have noticeable signs of decay in it.

Peep follows along Perceval, holding onto one of his coattails. A slight gurgle escapes his throat but nothing comes out.

As for Kethra, she doesn't seem fazed by being seasick. Perhaps she too has endured the seas before. At least she's not as hard to read as Perceval is.

"So, where should we stay for the night?" I advise, "I believe it would best if we can befriend a noble around here and manage to stay at his manor for the time."

Perceval shakes his old skull slowly, "I'm afraid that will be staying in your dreams, my half-elf friend. An inn would be far more realistic and affordable."

"If we are lucky," Sariel joins in, "I could find an Eskillian outpost around these parts instead. Perhaps I could convince them we could stay there."

"As long as we have a means of staying somewhere, I'm satisfied," Kethra says, "As Perceval suggested, let's just stay at an inn for the time being."

"Amen, sister!" Kriv impatiently chimes.

We take our first steps forward into the town. I must admit, the place is quite beautifully built for a colony. I've had dealings with Trinian colonists before during my times as a pundit for Regalia, and much of their architecture was mostly wooden and hardly any of them reached a second story tall. Here in Locktuse, a lot of these buildings are made of stone brick and have quite the touch of middle class to them. Perhaps staying in an inn won't be as awful as it would seem.

Though that beauty quickly dies out once ringing of bells and a shouting shopkeeper runs after five other cloaked figures wearing odd beaked masks. One of which, seems more formal and official. "Someone stop those thieves!" He shouts. Though, his features are quite human in nature but his pointed ears defy it like an oxymoron. Even his appearance seems far too similar.

"Let's get them!" Kriv eagerly grins as he charges forward with his rapier and dagger.

Sariel simply takes her crossbow out and fires a bolt (19+8vsAC13-7 dam), striking one of the thieves in the chest.

Perceval throws one of his knives toward the same target (crit!-10 dam), striking him in the leg, no doubt stopping him from running off.

Kethra brings down another radiant energy downward but one the more formal of the thieves (DC14vs11+2-6 dam).

Like many cowards, they continue to flee towards the alleys. Sariel thankfully rushes after them. Even better, elves who hail from the forests are faster on their feet. They won't slip away that easily.

Kriv pounces on the wounded thief, tackling him to the ground. He raises his blades above his head, "Who are you working with?" (Int3+3vsCha10)

Peep points his longbow at the thief, copying the noise of a growling dog with perfection.

Personally, I wouldn't find a midget dragonborn and a bird all that intimidating.

"Killing me anyways would be redundant, kobold! Arkengrath would bring me back anyways!" The wounded thief sneers, which I honestly don't think is a thief anymore...

"Kethra and Kriv," Perceval calls out, "Go help Sariel. I'll handle it here."

Kriv groans and mumbles as he hops off the prisoner to catch up with Kethra.

While Perceval tends to the wounded with Peep, I decide to see about this familiar face here at the shop here. Hopefully answers could be gained.

"Sir," I ask, "What is your name?"

"Oliver Dwindle," he replies, "I sell arcane objects around here. What of you?" He glances all around me, even checking my ears which prick upward. This discovery of his only seemed to make him more curious

"I'm Arthur Dwindle, and seems to me, brother, we share our mother's ears."

"Oh really? If you're my brother, then tell me where we parted ways." Suspicion clear in his voice.

"In Graylen village. I disembarked for Uhrenburg in the Rhine Königreich (kear-nig-rike) to study the Enlightenment further. You left for Eddington to study the arcane knowledge of the colonists. Am I right about that?"

Utter disbelief is evident in his face as he keeps staring silently at me for a moment, "Well isn't this just a bad time for a reunion."

A yelp of pain screams out from the thief.

"Answer the questions!" Peep threatens, who seems more terrified than threatening, while Perceval kneels down by the thief's head.

"Now I will ask again: Who do you work with?" Perceval calmly asks.

"The Nox, alright? We just needed trinkets to protect ourselves."

Well, if Nox activity is already spurring on the first day here, who knows what schemes they are coming up with now.