ity n he ky - art 3
he ouse f he agpa (ii)

The following morning, Trimus and Rellan returned to the inn, leaving Cain and Darkhawk to watch over Heydrech's villa and the recuperating Jodotha. Ako walked into the lobby, looking very dishevelled, at mid-morning. His robes stained with vomit and with bits of straw stuck to the hem.
"Where have you been!" hissed Trimus. "Jodotha needs you!" The cleric told the others his story as they walked back to the rented house, Trimus found it hard not to laugh at the thought of the cleric being stuck in a common lock up till he received a stern glare from Rellan.

Around noon Heydrech left his house with a gnome servant carrying pile of books. Darkhawk and Cain followed the pair, leaving a weak but recovering Jodotha behind. The passed through the main streets of Serraine towards the heart of the city.
"He's heading for the library." Said Cain as they waited for the nagpa to cross a street ahead of them. Cain was correct in his guess as a few moments later the Nagpa climbed a set of marble stairs to enter the city library. Other people were moving in and out through tall revolving doors so Darkhawk and Cain found it easy to gain entrance close behind their quarry. The entrance hall, floored with a mosaic map of the city, was large with a high domed ceiling. Cain nudged Darkhawk to draw his attention away from the buxom nymphs adorning the walls and ceiling back to the nagpa. Heydrech was conversing with a floating skull, a dull green glow emanating from it's empty eye-sockets.
"I have come to continue my research." Cawed the nagpa, "My usual spot is free I hope."
The druj nodded and floated away towards a door which was opened by a gnome in an ornate red jacket with gold piping. When Darkhawk and Cain started to follow the door was shut again.
"Passes?" questioned the gnome officiously. At Darkhawk and Cain's quizzical look the gnome sighed and rolled his head. "You need a pass to enter the library. See the assistants at the information desk. Darkhawk and Cain walked to the desk where a gnome with crystal lenses over his eyes scowled at them before dragging a scroll from a pile under his desk.
"You need three signatures from respectable residents of Serraine. Get them and I will give you a card." He sneered.
Darkhawk and Cain left the library and walked along a wide tree lined road to the mayor's office. The mayor greeted them warmly and was pleased to sign their scrolls. They then went to visit Parboo to see how he was recovering. The gnome greeted them warmly.
"I am feeling much better, thank you" said Parboo offering them a seat and some cakes. "Gilbo is back at work. They have sealed off the entrance to the Undercity again until they can find some brave souls to map it and recover some of the strange machines we saw. Hopefully when I am fully recovered I might be one of them." The gnome puffed out his chest.
"Can you sign one our scrolls?" asked Cain.
Parboo quickly read the scroll then shook his head. "Sadly not, I am not a member of the library and you need to be one to recommend a member. And no I don't know of any one who is a member."
Darkhawk and Cain wished him well and left to return to the house when the others were waiting.

The next day Trimus, Cain and Darkhawk tracked the man that had been following Vaselev back to the Imperial Hotel and confronted him in the foyer.
"We know you have been following Boris Vaselev. What we want to know is, why?" demanded Trimus imperiously.
He laughs at Trimus and the others, not an evil laugh more a patronising one. "I have seen your foolish and amateurish attempts to gain entry into the estate of Heydrech. I have seen you follow Vaselev. You are out of your league. You know not what you are dealing with."
"We know that Heydrech has been investigating into non magical teleportation. We have been sent here to stop him." Said Trimus.
The man raised his thick eyebrows and smiled. "Then whoever sent you must be desperate."
"Who are you?" demanded Darkhawk a note of impatience and anger in his voice.
"I am the Master of the Grey Tower. I am here on a similar mission to yours, to stop Heydrech. He is a member of the Grey Front, an evil organisation who schemes span the whole of the Known World. However when I got here I found that Miroslav Gorovich Stekel was here. This is the man you know as Boris Vaselev. He is a Nosferatu who has been looking for me for many years. Once I was sure it was him I have to stay out of his way. Despite your bungling attempts so far you may just be able to succeed in defeating Heydrech, especially as you have a Celestial Knight among your company."
Darkhawk blushed. "I have not been fully accepted into the order yet."
"Still the powers bestowed on you may just tip the scales in your favour." He draws a wand from inside his jacket and hands it to Trimus. "This may help as well. It is a wand of magic missiles, it has over a dozen charges left, use them sparingly." He then leant closely a whispered the word of control into Trimus' ear.
"Thank you." said Trimus in return bowing shallowly "We shall do our best." With that he and the others took their leave and returned to the house.

When they arrived Jodotha was just finishing a note and the rogue passed it to Trimus before sealing it.
"Strumpy, The masters of the Phoenix request and audience with you to discuss issues of mutual interest." Jodotha gave the note to a young gnome along with a gold piece and sent him off to the giant's tower.
"My plan is this." Began Jodotha. "We go to Strumpy and offer to work for him, delivering items to Heydrech. If he refuses, then we ask to be put in a chest to be delivered to Heydrech's residence."
Trimus' eyes widened at this and he shook his head.
"Come on Trimus, it's worth a try." Continued the rogue.
"My plan." Said Ako, "Was to get hold of some poisoned meat and drop it over the wall to kill or incapacitate the hell hounds allowing us to get to the house unscathed."
"That is far more sensible." Agreed Trimus. "We should try both plans and see how they proceed."

Ako and Darkhawk left almost immediately to get what they needed from the market while Cain and Jodotha left to visit Strumpy. Trimus stayed behind to watch the comings and goings from the nagpa's. Rellan stayed for a while before leaving on a private errand.

In the Shambles off of the main market Ako managed to buy four large juicy stakes from a gnomish butcher. Darkhawk's mouth was watering as the thick slices of meat were wrapped in paper.
"Do we have to give all of those to the hell hounds?" he questioned as they returned to the market proper.
"Yes." Replied Ako, a smile on his lips. "Now we need to find a herbalist." They soon found one, the smells of barks, spices, leaves and powders drawing them towards her from some way away. They purchased a selection of powders ideal for killing rats and left to return to the house to prepare for their evening's mission.
As they were walking past a stall selling weapons Darkhawk gasped and gripped Ako by the elbow. "I have to have one of those!" he exclaimed pointing to a strange device on the stall.
"You have very astute tastes, sir." Said the stall holder, a dark skinned gnome of middling years. "That is a new invention of mine. A multiple shot crossbow. The gnome hefted it and loaded three small quarrels into a metal slot. He pulled the trigger rapidly three times and the bolts flew out hitting three wooden dummies some 20 yards away. "You can fire them all at the same target or at three separate ones. Very reliable."
"How much!" asked Darkhawk pulling his money pouch free from his belt.
"Twenty gold." replied the gnome.
"Done." Agreed Darkhawk counting the coins out into the gnomes hand.
"And five more for a dozen quarrels." Added the gnome optimistically.
"Can't argue with that." said Darkhawk counting out another five coins into the pile.

"I think he expected you to haggle, Darkhawk." Said Ako as they walked back towards the house.
"Really?" questioned Darkhawk. "Well I hope I didn't disappoint him."
"I doubt it, I truly doubt it." Said Ako smiling.

Meanwhile Cain and Jodotha had arrived at the giant's tower and were sitting in his reception room in oversized chairs talking with Strumpy. Things were not going well. "I am not taking on any new staff at the moment." Bellowed the giant in a whisper. "I can handle all the work that comes my way."
"But we could help you and leave you more time to pursue other things." Argued Jodotha.
"No. I'm sorry but I really can't afford to pay you or find you much to do."
"We'll do it for free." Said Jodotha desperately.
"You've taken up enough of my time. I must ask you to leave."
"Fine. How about if we paid you to put us in a crate and deliver us to Heydrech's villa." Jodotha was babbling now, his plan going awry.
The giant scratched his head and shook his head. "You are either mad or criminal. Either way I will not help you in such a deed. Good day to you." With that the giant shoed them out the front door of his castle.
"That" said Jodotha. "Did not go well."

Trimus sat in the window of the house watching the gates to the estate. Nothing happened for long periods of time and Trimus had to recite the names of the elements, the constellations and the useful herbs and their properties to himself to keep from dozing off. Around noon as he was expecting the others to return four of the vulture headed nagpa arrived at Heydrech's gate along with an attractive woman. Shortly after Rellan turned up, a concerned look upon the elf's face.
"It seems that things are getting busier." He said looking out the window. "We need to make our move tonight."
"Agreed." Said Trimus, "We need to find out how the others have got on."
As if on cue there was a knock on the door and Trimus went to answer it. To his surprise there was a small boy holding a note addressed to Rellan. Trimus sent the boy on his way with a silver piece for his troubles then returned to where Rellan was waiting. The elf broke the seal on the scroll and read it aloud.
"I believe we have mutual interests in common. I suggest a meeting at your lodgings at 1am. If you are in agreement, send your cleric to walk in the street at a quarter to the hour. I shall take this as an assent for us to meet." Read Rellan. "It's signed 'A Friend' ".
"Hmm. Well we should perhaps find out what this friend has to say, it can do us little harm."

Darkhawk and Ako met Cain and Jodotha returning from Strumpy's tower. After hearing of their failure Darkhawk grinned widely and said. "I have an idea. I will meet you back at the house."
The others looked at each other as the fighter walked swiftly back towards the tower.
"Should we follow him?" asked Cain.
"No." replied Ako, "The others will be expecting us. We had better do as he said."
Darkhawk knocked boldly at the door of Strumpy's tower and was admitted by the giant.
"How may I help you?" the giant asked.
"I am about to move house and I need some large crates to move my belongings in. I want them to be safe on my return to Karameikos." Replied Darkhawk hoping that Strumpy would take him at his word.
"Yes, and how might I help you there." Said the giant in a puzzled tone.
"I have seen you with just the crates I have been looking for. You deliver several a week to a large villa in the west of the city. I wondered where you got them from."
"I see. Those are from Ebeneezer Firebrand and Sons, a commodities dealer. He may have some to spare."
"Thank you sir, you have been most kind." Said Darkhawk bowing and departing the tower, a broad grin on his face. "Now to Ebeneezer Firebrand." He said to himself, rubbing his hands together.
Ebeneezer Firebrand had an office beside are large warehouse near the landing strip. As Darkhawk approached he could see a number of gnomes loading and unloading goods from large skyships. Overseeing this opporation was a stout gnome with a neat beard and a long oiled moustache. Darkhawk approached and introduced himself. "Pleased to meet you." said the gnome offering Darkhawk his hand. "How may I be of assistance?"
Darkhawk showed the gnome his amulet. "I believe that unknown to your good self one of your customers has been dealing in forbidden trades. I am from the Karameikian Investigation Agency and I have been sent here to investigate."
Ebeneezer looked shocked and ushered Darkhawk away from the other gnomes. "I know nothing of this." He stammered. "Who is it?"
"The nagpa Heydrech. Can you tell me what he has been taking delivery of recently."
"Heydrech, he is one of my best customers, surely you must be mistaken."
"That may be so but can you look at the manifests to tell me what he has received recently."
"Certainly, come with me." The gnome bustled off in the direction of his office. He pulled down a scroll case and leafed through a series of scrolls, each covered by tightly packed gnomish writing. "Now let me see the last consignment contained, glassware, copper sheeting, parchment. Nothing unusual there. Wait a minute this may be more unusual. Human and elvish bones from Ylaruam. It says they are historical artefacts for research purposes."
"That may be so." Said Darkhawk sternly, "Thank you for your assistance. I would be happy if you kept this matter to yourself for now."
"Of course." Replied Firebrand, dabbing his brow with a purple silk handkerchief. Darkhawk bowed at let himself out leaving the gnome looking worriedly at his scrolls.

Smiling broadly to himself Darkhawk returned to the house and told his tale to the others. Even Trimus was pleased with the fighter's efforts clapping him on the back and laughing at the gnome's discomfort.
"It seems that Heydrech is certainly up to something, possibly involving undead, as well as his other researches." Said Rellan. "Perhaps this meeting tonight may offer some further insights."

At a quarter to one that following morning, Cain left the house and walked up and down outside the house as if he was looking for something. After a few minutes he returned and Jodotha slipped up onto the roof to watch the street. He didn't have to wait long. Stepping out of the shadows was a tall man wearing fine quality plate mail under a cowled robe. At his side hung a fine long sword in a scarlet scabbard. As he approached the front door he looked up and waved at Jodotha who shrugged and dropped back through the skylight. Cain opened the door to the stranger's knock and invited him into the hall.
"I am Colloran Angleheart." The stranger said in a rich musical voice. "We may have a mutual interest in the house opposite. I represent a body of people known as the Order of the Silent Flame. We are opposed to those evil doers who name themselves the Grey Front. We suspect that Heydrech is trying to create undead by the use of a powerful artefact."
"Someone's coming." Hissed Darkhawk from above. They all scampered up the stairs and crowded at the window to look out. Coming down the road was a strange sight, a dozen skeletons were escorting six nagpa, one of which may have been Heydrech himself but it was hard to tell for sure. Trimus looked sideways at Colloran who was gripping the sill of the window so hard that his gauntleted hands were denting the wood. His face was set in a rictus of disgust at the sight before him.
"We need to ride our world of this evil soon." He growled between gritted teeth.
Moving away from the window they huddled together to come up with a plan. At several points Colloran shook his head and suggested a different idea till eventually all agreed on a course of action. It was daring, it was dangerous but it might work if the Gods smiled upon them.

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