CENTRAL FIELD WARD:
Zarek follows Lucas, ‘The Roach’, as he heads West.
Staying some 60’ feet behind the Dwarf, Zarek eventually loses The Roach from site and has to hunt for him. Zarek catches up with Lucas as he reaches and then enters the ’Dhavian Trill Music Hall.
Outside there are no other gang members and the area is fairly quiet and empty.
Zarek thinks it best to return to the Scrap’d Rafter Tavern and hope that Alley had returned there herself.
Zarek then hears a faint, “Pisst” sound from behind him and looks about but can’t find the source of the sound.
Alley steps out of the shadows and beckons him to her hiding place, a crudely erected canvas shelter, where she is spying on the ’Dhavian Trill Music Hall.
Alley tell Zarek all that she had observed whilst keeping an eye on the Theatre. Alley notes that there are those that seek the Chimera, those of ill repute and more and more normal folk from what I have seen and then there are the Villains who wear Red Apparel to denote their availability to give it.
Alley explains that there has been quite activity with people going in and out of the ’Dhavian Trill Music Hall. The 2 gang members spoke to another individual and they both left the front of the building. She believes that there are 3 or so civilians inside and Zarek confirms that the Dwarf she saw enter was in fact Lucas, A.K.A ‘The Roach’.
Alley and Zarek quietly approach the ’Dhavian Trill Music Hall and Alley stands watch while Zarek investigates the boarded up main entrance. The face of the building is an eyesore among other structures that make up this area, covered in smears of oddly coloured paint with makeshift planks nailed over the windows and door frame.
Zarek finds that the planks have been removed and replaced many times. The Tiefling has problems opening the door and make enough noise to alert anyone who has been standing by the entrance.
This simple single level, multi-roomed building is located against the North Eastern wall of the Field Ward made of simple but hearty wood construction. Upon entering the complex, Zarek sees a state of pillaged, flame-scarred ruin after abandonment and squatting from commoners of the Ward. A considerable amount of random filth, rubble and debris litter the floors. The walls are pockmarked with dried blood, nicks and scrapes.
Many of the rooms are of a rickety, wooden construction, with simple shale and dirt floors among ruined wooden floors. There are no hallways between the rooms. This once proud home of the arts is now in a state of utter decay with danger around every corner. Each room of the complex is unlit, musty and rife with the smell of refuse and decay.
“Let me say a prayer over you Zarek and it should aid you in your task for a short while.” Alley tells Zarek as she says a few words over the Tiefling.
“Strange.” Thinks Zarek as Alley had said that she had not chosen a religion as yet. The words did not sound familiar and did indeed sound Religious and so Zarek attempted to remember what it be and he recalled a book which told of novice priest learning Cantrips which aided in there, or anyone they touched, tasks. A Clerical ‘Guidance’ Spell, but Alley had already use Magic, how was it that she also access the Religious Spells of Clerics?
“There is much this girl is withholding from telling me.” Zarek believes.
THE FOYER:
The first area which ‘The Roach’ must have passed by is a 40’ by 40’ square room marked with faint outlines that adorn the walls where picture frames once hung. Zarek’s investigations reveals a specific faint outline of where someone was slain by a magical acid attack. Generally considered bare, but littered with trash and an empty armour rack in the corner of the room. A statue of the goddess Meilil once stood on a raised dais in the centre of this chamber.
Upon entering this room, the walls will flicker dimly with golden light. A scan of the area also reveals that the shrine appears to be desecrated by arcane means.
Alley stays inside the Foyer and keeps an eye out for foe entering the ’Dhavian Trill Music Hall.
Zarek moves on alone moving as stealthily as he can.
THE LOUNGE:
The room is reeks of rotten ale and is littered with the charred remains of tables, stools and chairs. Amidst all of the damage of the inside of the compound, a portrait of a much younger, happier Warble Bandlewagon holding a set of golden panpipes still adorns the wall. Magically enchanted, it is pristine under a thick coat of ash and affixed to the wall. Zarek is suspicious of the painting and leaves it alone.
Destroyed chandeliers along the floors of this room create difficult terrain. Among the wreckage, Zarek notices ruined instrument of different kinds.
Zarek stops and listen out again before he continues onwards but hears nothing to be alarmed of. Beyond the Lounge Zarek makes out the main seating area and the stage. Right by the foot of the stage Zarek can see the glow and flickering of a solitary candle, yet there is no one else that he can see.
Zarek makes his way towards the candle.
THE STAGE AND SEATING:
The largest room of the complex is lined with rows of benches, rafters and other seating. Melted wax adorns four iron pillars arranged at the corners of the room. No sign of ‘The Roach’ here.
As Zarek reaches the candle 3 addicts emerge from behind cover. One human makes a run for the exit via the Lounge, One Dwarf throws a large piece of timber at Zarek and the third stands ready with an empty bottle in his hand. No sign of ‘The Roach’.
The first addict has trouble avoiding the detritus all over the floor of the seating area, whist the piece of Timber misses Zarek and the third addict waits to see the outcome of the fight. Alley hears the commotion and rushes in to aid her new comrade in arms.
Zarek attempts to intimidate all of the addicts with little result as they must be under the influence and Zarek was not as frightening as their imagination. Alley enters the Stage and Seating area and adds to the confusion by calling out “This is the City Watch, Hold, What Befalls?” in a male voice very akin to the Sargent and the Endshift Tavern that Zarek spoke to, if not exactly the same.
Alley steps to the side as all of the addicts make their way out of the ’Dhavian Trill Music Hall and into the Field Ward.
Zarek and Alley look around the Stage and Seating area and find that the candle was left there to attack whoever made the banging noise getting in, and they then both checked the Iron Pillars. Removing the wax, Zarek reveals the name placards of Bandlewagon family members: Janne, Anton, Daario, and Carradine.
Zarek and Allet then investigate the stage area and behind it.
“Lucas must still be here, or maybe there is a tunnel through the wall where they can enter and leave the Filed Ward without being spotted?” Say Zarek.
The 2 new acquaintances then search on and behind the Stage area and only find more rubbish and signs of Chimera use.
“We have searched everywhere and still no sigh of ‘The Roach’, what are we missing?” asks Zarek.
“And all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts.” Resights Alley.
“Is that Willy Makespeare, the famous playwright and poet?” Say Zarek.
“Yes, and we have neglected to look behind the…” Alley begins and is cut-off by Zarek who reply’s, “Curtains and Backdrops.”
Zarek and Alley start to look behind the old and damaged backdrops still hanging in place and Zarek finds a very well-hidden doorway. Zarek investigates the entrance further, with Alleys help, but he is unable to find any handle or other means of opening the door.
“Alley, it looks like it is Magically Triggered, given that the Villains name is the Alarmist I guess?” states Alley.
“That makes a lot of sense, but what would open it? A command word, or object or anything.” Zarek thinks outload.
The pair then hear the sound of laughing, a bottle smashing and footsteps from outside by the rear of the ’Dhavian Trill Music Hall. Was it ‘The Roach’ who left via another exit?
“I think its best we leave and regroup to think this all out.” Saya Alley.
“If you are sure, but the Scrap’d Rafter Tavern is not be safe.” Zarek warns.