Helios Optym runs Optym's Blade, buying and selling weapons and adventurer's sundries. He is an expert knife thrower as one or two would be shop-lifter's have found to their cost. He has good connections with the Dwarven community and a couple of (expensive) masterwork axes in stock.

He will buy the Hobgoblin's longswords for 7gp but refuses the armour as it is too smelly and large for human use. He doesn't deal in 'used wagons' but guesses that they would sell for 200 -300 gp.

OoC Please Roleplay any other dealings with Helios here.
Here are a couple of Silverymoon maps, thanks to ALFA's new Silverymoon DM, 'Red' Thorin. www.silverymoon.8k.com/Map1.html (http://www.silverymoon.8k.com/Map1.html) www.silverymoon.8k.com/Map3.html (http://www.silverymoon.8k.com/Map3.html)


[This message has been edited by Erran (edited August 05, 2001).]

OOC: I sent my char sheet, I must have forgootten to put my name on it. It came from XXImportRacer@cs.com, he's a monk. I realize Drow are not very welcome above ground. This makes it more interesting.

IC: Drake looks at the 2 guards carrying him away and decides to attempt an escape. He pulls his hands out of the guards grasp then attempts to hit them both in the face with his spiked guantlets.

Xander, angered by the unjustly apprehension of the Drow decides to follow the guards to see what is to become of this Drow. After all this could have very easily have happened to him. Once he leaves the Inn to his surprise he sees the Drow attempting to escape his captors. Xander, being partial to the Drow decides he'd like to help, having been in similar situations many times himself.
Xander attempts to cast obscuring mist to aid the Drow in his escape.

[This message has been edited by Shadow Assassin (edited August 05, 2001).]

Ooc: Where can i purchase spell components and how much would a pouch full cost?

The drow struggled with the guards, striking one in the arm and wounding him slightly. The others, heavily armoured and experienced soldiers, clubbed him to the ground until he was subdued (0HP subdual damage). As they dragged his unconcious form towards the Western barracks the air around them turned misty. One took out a shrill whistle and began blowing it with all his might. Another cried out "Help, drow attack!" The guards formed a circle round the unconcious drow and drew their swords, peering into the gloom.

Meanwhile, back at the Inn, Thomas was discussing with the others what to do next. "We could sit here like ducks on a pond and let trouble find us, or we could take to the road. North lies the Spine of the world where dwarves battle orcs for caverns of gold and gems. West, across the Evermoors lies Longsaddle and the road to Waterdeep. East lies Sundabar where Helm Dwarf Friend rules."

OoC Buy a spell pouch at Optms for 5gp and it will contain all the components you need for low level spells. Only for higher level spells with stated components will you need to buy them seperately.

Jakob follows the others to Optym's blade and sells his hobgoblin sword for 7gp. He then stocks up on a number of basic cupplies he had neglected to buy when he entered the city - A bedroll, a flint and steel, a hooded latern and 4 pints of oil, a signal whistle, a small steel mirror, a sack, fifty feet of hempen rope, two more days worth of rations, another 20 crossbow bolts and a sap - for a total of 24 gold and 3 silver pieces. (OOC if I can) As he walks away from the counter with his purchases, he sees Xalen and stops. "I've had a thought," he says,"It might be as well to trade the wagon for a new one, or at least repaint it ourselves in case there's an ambush set up. Trading it would be better, for then it could leave the city without us. Just a thought."

Knomal followed the party to the Optym's Blade, never saying a word. His mind seemed occupied with an important decision.

So it is drow, he thought, Why in the nine hells I always have to be where I don't want to be? Drow...

He purchased a five-pack of darts and approached the party:

"I think... I have to leave Silverymoon. I... I have important matters to attend in Waterdeep, so I need to get on the next caravan going there..."

He pulled the ring of climbing from his pocket and handed it to Xalen.

"I do not think I'll be needing this anymore... Fare well, and may Tymora's luck be with you my... friends."

Then Knomal turned around and quickly walked out of the store.

"Thomas, wasn't there some connection between this whole story and a person in Waterdeep? I dont like being in this town, as everyone rather saw us dead methinks. As for traveling to places mostly populated by dwarves, I.. I dont like it. On the other hand I never really liked huge cities, they always seem corrupted"

Ooc: I've already bought a spell pouch, just wondering if i could get some components...and whats a signal whistle?

Majikus purchases 2 more days of rations and 50ft of hemp rope...and a silver mirror...Majikus then turns to the group and asks everyone,

"May i collect my famialiar 'Hook'? I left her at my residence in the inn? I would be heart-broken to leave her and she may prove useful...? Oh what the heck! I'm taking her anyway!"

Well, if memory serves, there was a collector of antiques in Waterdeep name of Phineus Martok that the late Tadman Delver was going to sell the gem to.
As for the wagon, we can paint it any colour you like, and paint is cheap enough. What do you suggest, Red? White? Blue?

Pimm, after selling the Hobgoblin long sword, buys a score of crossbow bolts for the crossbow that he nicked from Barent's carcass.

Looking between the handfull of coins he's aquired and the new/used crossbow, he chuckles to himself and shakes his head. "A fine payment it is, for getting dupped into killing some enemies of the city. I wonder what we'll get jilted on next."

After the transaction with Optym, he returns to the inn, to find the next, if any, course of action with the other adventurers who were involved in the ambush.

Joining the discussion late, he tries to catch up on what he missed.

"I'm in full agreement with Jakob, I think we should sell the cart, as 'people' will be looking for it, and if we are to flee to another city we can very well use the funds from the cart."

(Ooc, wow I left for the weekend and had to catch up on a TON of posts, you guys have been busy! ;))

[This message has been edited by ArtEChoke (edited August 06, 2001).]

Xalen enters the shop the sells the sword off for the offered 7 GP, deciding not to barder if he is still to buy goods there. He purchases a short sword, another torch, and another three days worth of trail rations just in case. After he made his purchases, Knomal explained that he was leaving and hurridly left the shop. Xalen chased after him and grabed his shoulder, wheeling him around. "Wait, Knomal...I don't think now is the time for any of us to be striking out on our own. This dark elf is crafty indeed, and we all know he's dangerous. If you leave, you'll just be easier pickings for him. Look, at least consider my words before you leave. Here..." Xalen takes 35 gold pieces from his pouch and hands them over to Knomal. "The barkeep paid me this gold last night for clearing his bar of any wrong doing in the death of Delver. You're entitled to some of it as much as I. After all, we started this thing together. Don't you think perhaps that's the way we should end it." With that, Xalen turns and heads back to the inn, hoping Knomal might reconsider for Knomal's sake as well as his own.

In the tavern, he overhears the discussion from Thomas, Jakob, Majikus, Gracious, and Pimm. Xalen coursely interupts the group. "Look, we have a whole city at our disposal to find out what we can about this drow before we head off into the unknown. This city is a shinning beakon of knowledge in the north, why not take advantage of it. The drow would need time to get to us here anyway. Let's not run like a cur with our tail's between our legs just yet. Surely in a city filled with sages, someone must be abble to tell us something about this Er-Cam. Perhaps we should also check down in Beggar's Alley. I hear tell it's the heart of the underworld in this city, and some seedy fellow there might very well know who this dark elf is. *But* if what I say can't convince you otherwise, I would also suggest Waterdeep. I came from there not that long ago, and our only other lead to Delver is there as well. I say we keep the wagon for now, repaint it, and travel to Waterdeep that way. Once there, surely we could sell it and the horses for about the same price in that city." Xalen looks around for any response from the group.

Garacaius meets Xalen's look "I guess we could stay for a little while, though our journey later on would probably be the more dangerous then. This Er-cam will likely be after our heads when he finds out, and I dont trust the people of this city. Though if we could find a source of information that isn't related to the high lady, I would gladly look into it. Beggar's Alley sounds fine, we just need to keep track of our gold while there."
Garacaius looks around to see if the rest of the group agrees

[This message has been edited by Lokken (edited August 06, 2001).]

Bayne listens to his fellow elf, and adding his opinon, "Well good sir Garacius, i believe we should make a trip down beggars lane, surely t'woud be useful for information. Although for information about drows have you considered asking that drow taken away by the guards earlier? He might now something we dont, and being a drow, he might be...useful."
watching the listeners faces expectantly Bayne takes a step back and waits for a reply...

Garacaius looks coldly at Bayne and replies almost hissing "I would rather slit the throat of any drow and see their blood spill before their words."
With the first response to drowtalk off the chest, Garacaius pulls himself together and continues in a more civil tone
"But, I am afraid you could be right, he might just eventually know something, or any other of the fallen lineage for that matter."

[This message has been edited by Lokken (edited August 06, 2001).]

Bayne is taken aback by the elfs response, "Why good sir who said we had to like him or get along with him? After he has served his suefulness we can simply tell him ot be on his way, simple enough wouldnt you think? And you never know, you might just like the man.. What do you have against Drow anyway? No matter what they are still your elven bretheren and sisters!

"Well I hardly think we have the time to get yet another person out of prison. I say we check Beggar's Lane first. If Knomal were here, he might be of some help. However, if we must, let's go at it alone. Thomas, I've only heard of this place. Do you know the way, or perhaps any scholars in this city who might be able to help."

Garacaius glares amazed at Bayne, unable to believe the words that is spoken.
"WHAT I HAVE AGAINST DROW! They're the fallen of our brethren, the darker side of our honor. They worship evil and destroys our kin for sport! There should be no mercy, they have chosen their path of evil, the evil I seek to vanquish if it ever steps in my path."
Outraged by even needing to say these things, Garacaius let himself fall down on a chair and whispering to himself "Unbelieveable!"

[This message has been edited by Lokken (edited August 06, 2001).]

Xander then seeing the guards surround the helpless Drow tries to summon an elemental to help him

Summoning even a small elemental was way beyond Xander's meagre talents. He did succeed in summoning 'Nature's ally', in this case a hawk. Unfortunately for him and the hawk, the obscuring mist hid the guards from view as well.

Back at the Inn, Thomas said that he had heard rumours of a thieves guild operating in the north west quarter of Silverymoon but he did not know exactly where.

OOC: that spell allows the summoning of an elemental

IC:He then tries to use flare to distract the guards so he may attempt a rescue of the drow

Drake lays on the ground motionless as a mist surrounds him and his captors. Somewhere off in the distance far from where his mind has wandered he hears a whistle and the screeching of a large bird, he then sees the bird a giant phoenix in a black moonlit sky. He looks down, all he sees is black and then all is dark again and his mind begins to wander somewhere else.

Pimm considers Xalen's argument for staying in the city...

"Agreed, let's remain for now, and find out more about our new enemy. Its obvious that Er-Cam is known in Silverymoon, so if the guards won't tell us more, someone else probably will."

"A thought... considering how quickly that young drow was apprehended by the guards, I would make the assumption that Er-Cam didn't make contact directly with Dekrynn, in the city at least. Maybe, if its not too late, we can pick up some clues at the trading coster. Perhaps a ledger, or an appointment book might lead us towards a messenger that she used to contact the drow, that is if we haven't already killed the messenger. Hopefully the guard hasn't cleaned the entire place out yet."

"Also I might add that I think we should travel at least in pairs now. I wouldn't like to think what this drow or an assassin could do to a solitary member of the group."

Unfortunately the obscuring mist that he had summoned prevented Xander from targetting any of the guards with his daze spell.

OoC The first level druid spell is Summon Natures Ally I, that gets you a dog etc. Summon Natures Ally III is required for even a small elemental. For that you gotta be level 5. Read PHB page 260.

"I agree with Pimm, we should travel at least in pairs...And if i were to choose, i'd be with Xalen...but thats only if he would desire my company of course"

Suddenly, everyone here's alittle movement nearing to them...

"MEOW"

"Hook! Come here my darling! Have you missed me? Well don't worry! I'm here!" Majikus picks up his cat and snuggles her in his arms stroking her nose and head...

"Looks like we have a new member to our band of travellers!"

He went to the docks, sat on a pier and did some thinking.
Why am I running at the first sign of danger? But the drow... I don't even know if he's a drow, but most seem to think so. But...
He recalled the stories he used to read about the drow elves. Their demonic, purely evil nature, the way they deal with non-drow - iblith, their hatred for good. these were the things that frightened Knomal when he though of dealing with the dark elves. He wanted to run now.
Waterdeep? What am I to do there? The City of Splendors would not take care of a rogue without much coin whose morals cant let him join the thieves' guild. Back to Calimport? Have I spend months to come here just to be off back? Here, here someone might need my help, but there...

With these thoughts, Knomal headed back to the tavern and in some minutes he came through the door:

"By Beshaba's bosoms! The caravan left without me!

Jakob had been listening to the discussion amongst the party for a time, and decided to add some thoughts of his own. "I agree we should go to Waterdeep when we leave, but we could maybe throw off anyone who's watching for us to leave by selling the wagon so it leaves without us, and then booking passage on a stagecoach or something. I know the city authorities say that they disguised it, but frankly I don't trust them one bit, and think they could have informed, or even set up any ambush. I definetely think we have to get the Serpents' documents if we want to get to the bottom of this ourselves, but we have other matters to attend to. Drow or no, A thinking creature is being brutally repressed by the tyrannical order! Comrades, let us strike a blow for freedom and racial equality! Let us overcome the violence inherent in the system! Let us, ah...I don't know what to do, actually...."

Majikus continues stroking his cat while in deep thought...

"I've heard that if we go to Waterdeep...I would have to pay some kind of fee to be allowed to practice magic within the city...is this true?"

"MEOW?"

"Oh yes..." Majikus then starts tickling Hook's tummy..."And i agree with you Jakob...we should travel by other means save foot and that wagon and we shall see what happens to it...we should also build a few dummies to make it look as if we're in it etc. What do you lot think?"

"Well good sirs and madames, I believe sitting here making suggestion is getting you no-where, so lets go to the beggar's side of the city and try to collect information!"
Bayne the elf makes his way to the door, motioning for the others to follow, "After the beggar's alley we could go to some nearby elven bars and see what we can see?"
The small elf looks behind him as he wlaks out of the door to see who is following him...

"Well, if you people insist on selling off the wagon now, fine...but that means we will have to book a stage or wagon for Waterdeep, and that will cost money in itself. But if you honestly don't feel safe, do whatever you want. Just be sure and give me whatever cut of the meager profit we get out of it. Now the question remains, what shall we do for now. I think perhaps we should split up whatever we decide to do just to cover more ground. I'm willing to tread in Beggar's Alley or perhaps seek out this thieves guild. What say you Knomal. Willing to lend your hand?"

With that, Xalen gets up and heads out the door, hoping some more will come along as well. Beggar's Alley would indeed be a dangerous place, but still, it could prove fruitfull and as long as they keep to their own bussiness, hopefully, he thinks, he should be fine. Hopefully...

[This message has been edited by Crawl (edited August 07, 2001).]

As the others are leaving Garacaius stands up and says "Well, we aren't getting anywhere sitting around here all day, let's go gentlemen, we can decide where to go later."
Garacaius walks out of the inn and head for Beggar's Alley

Majikus runs after Xalen with Hook scampering by his side...

"Wait for me Xalen! I want to come with thee...i may prove useful should the occasion arise!"

Pimm, sighs to himself as members of the party march out the door, "Oh well, I guess I'll just try to meet them back at the Inn later on..." he mutters to nobody in particular.

Turning to Jakob, "I believe we can let the drow sit in a cell for now. As he evidently has done nothing wrong, I think the guard may hand him over to us as long as we are leaving the city. That's probably all they're after anyway, and I think we should question him ourselves, as he may be in league with Er-Cam, or know of him at least."

"I had a thought about this Phineus Martok. Do you suppose its possible that Martok and Er-Cam are one and the same? If not, why did Martok want the gem anyway? I think perhaps DeKrynn didn't murder Delver to switch clients, but perhaps simply to get a bigger share for herself... What say you to going over to the Crimson Serpent now to see if we can find any evidence of this or anything else leading to Er-Cam?"

Their inquiries down Beggars alley proved somewhat inconclusive. There were general rumours about 'masses' of drow in far away Cormanthor Forest. and of small bands active in the High Forest. No-one had heard of Er-Cam, although 'Blind Willy' said:
"You are the 2nd person to ask that, there was a woman asking earlier, Harper I'd guess by the pin in her cloak."

Xander realizes the cause is lost, turns and makes his way back to the Inn.

"If the drow operates in the city, he'd probably have a contact among humans somewhere... Most likely a thief, a person who has access to information." Knomal followed Xalen, "If we inquire directly about the drow... well, 'tis not wise to the least. For a coin they'll sell their own mumsy, but if we are to save our coins, we need to act the other way."

Knomal though about the wagon.

"How much would the passage to waterdeep cost for us?"

I sent you my char sheet Erran.


Aerik looks down upon the pathetic fight watches for a lil while the is about to turn away when he sees the druid quit the battle and leave. Aerik decides to follow him from atop the buildings. The druid enters an inn. Aerik decides not to follow instead he begins to look for the rest of the party he had seen enter the city. Finds none, and leaves the city the just as stealthily as he had entered it.

Pimm arrives at the Crimson Serpent trading coster, and arrives at the front door. He fears that the city guard may have already scoured the building and taken any valuable documentation, but given the red tape that hinders action in cities he is hopefull that everything is relatively untouched. His worst fear is to encounter someone who has interest in destroying documents to cover their trail. Hopefully there's no one there at all.

He loads a quarrel into his crossbow and conceals it under his jacket.

He mutters a quick prayer to Shandukal, and tries the knob...

(Ooc Ironbeard I'm assuming Jakob came with, but I purposely left him out of the post in case you were interested in following the drow captive or something.

Erran I stopped there, because for all I know, the city has boarded the whole place up or stationed a guard there)

OCC: Erran I'm just unconscious, right?

Jakob grabs Pimm's hand before he tries the knob. "Hold," he whispers, "there may be guards inside as we speak." He raises a hand for silence, then presses his ear to the door and LISTENS intently.

OOC seeing as everyone else has given up on rescuing the Drow, I've decided it's not worth it.

[This message has been edited by Ironbeard (edited August 07, 2001).]

Xander sits in the Inn for a short timie pondering what had happened. To bad for the drow he's probably going to rot in a dungeon, Xander thinks to himself. He then shakes it off and gets back to listening and working on his staff

OOC: do you remember how long I've been working on improving my staff?

The hawk disappeared with a faint 'plop', a minute later the mist had cleared. There was no sign of the other assailant. The guards removed the drow's gauntlets, then bound his arms before carrying his unconcious form inside the barracks and into a cell, where they left him to recover conciousness. A priest came, stared at him, then left shaking his head.

At the warehouse there was indeed a guard standing inside. "All documents and articles have been impounded by the City of Silverymoon. If you have any claim present it to the Magistrate. Mystra be praised."

OoC: Sorry to rain on your parade Xander, but no amount of fiddling with a staff will turn it into anything. If you want to make a masterwork staff, you must start with a special piece of wood, eg darkwood. The cost is 300gp.

Xalen, upon hearing what the blind beggar had to say, turns to the others and says, "Hmmmm, woman with a pin, eh. Could be a harper, herhaps. I could see an interest in such a group into any plot like this. But somehow I have a suspicion the pin he saw was that of the DeKrynn woman. She obviously wanted to know more about this Er-Cam, the same as we. But if she didn't know anything about him, why, or more importantly how did she contact him."

Xalen pauses and walks away for a moment, thinkign to himself. After a minute or so, he turns around, a grin on his face. "I think she never contacted this drow about the gem. He must have contacted her. Somehow, he must have learned about the gem and the powers it had, and he contacted her. So if she was looking for information about him, well, perhaps she found something. It might be worthwhile to head the the Coster after all...perhaps she has some infomation there, or at least clues at to whom she has spoken with in the last few days." Xalen turns and marches out of the alley, not noticing if anyone is follow or not. Deep in thought, he wonders exactly what this dark fiend might have in store if he can tap the knowledge held in the gem. Myth Drannor knowledge...what exactly would the elf do with that?

Hearing what Xalen said Bayne follows him out of the alley and makes his way to the trading coster, "Aaah so this is the cause of all your troubles?"
Seeing the two men outside the door talking to the guard Bayne walks up and listens into the conversation...

Majikus runs after Xalen and Bayne, picks up Hook and starts cuddling her...

"So what should we do now? I don't mean to be of little use here but i am rather lost in all this...Maybe it was because of that bad night i had last night..."

Thomas thought carefully on Xalen's words.
"Remember the letter to deKrynn? Er-Cam said something about not comming to Silverymoon for obvious reasons. I guess he knew how drow are treated. Sounds like he prefers to operate outside the city."

The drow in the cellars was woken (HP restored) and brought, hands tied, before Judge DuBarry.
"My priest can find no evil around you. However, why you should risk walking around Silverymoon in daylight escapes me. With your evil bretheren active in the high forest and plotting against us it is a miracle you were not lynched. For resisting arrest and causing harm to an officer of the guard I sentence you to be taken beyond the city limits and exiled. If you are caught within the city again you will be left in a cell to rot. Take him away!"

Aerik relaxing on a high branch of a tree sees a drow get tossed out of the city. "How interesting", he says to himself. As the drow gets up, dusts himself off, and begins to walk away. Aerik watches him as he heads off into the woods. Having seen this Aeriks attention has been peaked. "Why would a drow risk being seen in a city?" Aerik intends to find out. He then re-enters the city by roof top and begins looking for the group he had followed here. He spots them and sees they are up o something, what he can not tell. So he lays down on his stomach and waits for them to do something to show their intentions.

Wed night online:
The party tried to find more information from the magistrate but all he would tell them was that the matter was now in the hands of the Harpers.
They then went over to the caravan district where they met 'Honest' Alphonse Dayley. They sold him the wagon and horses for 225gp, only later realising that it was worth double that. Pimm summoned a dog which took some small compensation out of the seat of Alphonses's trousers.
They still wished to leave Silverymoon so they went down to the docks.

contd on Passage to Yartar