Dagger Silent: Heret

Prince Toad · #1

Current Mission: Training

You have been led blindfolded to the underground headquarters of the Bjensfir Tong. The expansive complex is insulated by the layers of snow above and the fires burning in the numerous hearths scattered about. Rough hands remove your head covering, and you find the dim light to be little better than your previous darkness. Peering to your right, you discover several others whose blindfolds are being undone. A jerking motion leads you to the left while the others wait for a bit before being led off themselves.

You enter a side room, even darker than the last. The muscular thugs on either side drop you to the ground, retreating into the corridor. A thin, wiry man who was leaning against a column pushes himself off and begins to speak.

Man: I'm sorry, sweetie. Those two aren't true gentlemen. Ahh, do you know what day it is?
Heret: But of course. The moons have set in the north.

The code phrase clearly lightens the man's sharp features a bit.

Man: Another recruit? Ah, lovely! You'll be a fine one, I'm sure, sweetie. But first, we've got to get you through a little training. Nothing too bad, just some basics to the trade. Then we'll get you a blood note and you'll get going. But first, your name?
Heret: Uh, I'm Heret, sir.
Man: Please, call me Barik. I'm called Barik Silver-Tongue, in fact, but Barik will do for you. As I'm sure you've noticed, I'm among those responsible for the basic training of novices. Snowflakes, we call you-- although few fit the title like you, sweetie.
Heret: Uh...
Barik: No matter, no matter. If you'll allow me...

A small lock appears in Barik's lean hands.

Barik: Careful you don't hurt yourself, sweetie. Have you got a pick or do you want me to give you one?
Heret: I, uh... I'm gonna need one.
Barik: Oh, dear. Have you got any experience with lockpicking?
Heret: Not very much, no.
Barik: Not a problem, dear, I'll show you how it's done. This particular one has a fire trap in it-- burn you a little, nothing too bad. But I can assure you that the traps you'll be dealing with during jobs won't be as... benign, shall we say? So I'll teach you about picking locks, and finding and disarming traps.
Heret: Okay, thanks.
Barik: The pleasure is all mine.

The man hands you a small case filled with picks, probes, hammers, chisels, files, wirecutters, and some things you aren't sure how to name. He spends roughly an hour showing you different kinds of catches, traps, common placements, signs, auditory warnings, etc. The last one he shows you is a poison needle trap, which he appears to prick himself on.

Barik: Ah! Dammit! My dear, this is as good a time as any to teach you about toxins. There are several kinds of toxins, in two classifications: venoms such as this, or what we call applied poisons. Venoms must be directly in the bloodstream: they can be used on piercing weapons, on traps like this, or be put into food or drink. Applied poisons are slightly different. Some can actually be applied through nothing more than direct contact with the skin, or if they are breathed by the victim. Applied poisons are much more dangerous to work with, since any mishap could be fatal, but if you don't make a mistake, it's a simpler matter than with venoms. Just now I have a venom in me. I'll start weakening in about ten minutes, and I'll be dead within an hour. It just so happens that my cohort Nadista runs an apothecary across that dark, trap-filled hall over there. The southern one-- that one there. Be a dear and go get me some antidote for darklove root, wouldn't you?
Heret: Uh... sure thing.

You enter the hall, leaving the wiry Barik behind, casually observing you as you disappear into the doorway. What do you want to do?

Lord Umbra · #2

Go through the southern hall to get the antidote, trying to look out for the traps.

[ October 10, 2004, 02:07 PM: Message edited by: Lord Umbra ]

Prince Toad · #3

Well, you're in the hall. You just want to walk on through, looking for traps?

By the way, the hall has ten doors in it. The one you came from, one on the opposite wall, and four on each side wall. Most of them have locks, except the one directly to your left right now and the farthest one down the hall to your left.

Lord Umbra · #4

I'll try unocking the door directly to my right. I DO have an hour XD.

Prince Toad · #5

As you attempt to unlock it, you hear a clicking noise. Suddenly a huge cloud of wriggling spiders is dropped from the ceiling directly behind you.

Now what?

Lord Umbra · #6

Get the hell out of there, namely into the unlocked room that was formerly to my left.

Prince Toad · #7

You retreat into the previous room.

Barik: Back so soon, sweetie? Have you got the antidote?
Heret: Oh. Er, no... but there were spiders...
Barik: Ah. That's a swarm trap. Did you check the lock for traps first?
Heret: Nope.
Barik: You should always do that, dear. Now if you would be so kind, head back in and get me the antidote? You've still got fifty minutes or so.

Lord Umbra · #8

Wrong room, I said formerly to my left, but whatever. I'll go back to the hall, and walk through while keeping my eye out for traps.

Prince Toad · #9

Oh! Right. Sorry. You can open that door instead if you want.

Lord Umbra · #10

Quite a posting frenzy ya had with KB, eh?

****

Sure.

Prince Toad · #11

Yup.

The door comes crashing down onto you. You take 500 damage. You curse yourself for being too lazy to check for traps, but hey-- at least you saved yourself some time.

Now what? The spiders are still kind of crawling around everywhere.

Lord Umbra · #12

If there is something past door, go into the room but be cautious of traps.

If it was a fake door... Cast Blazing Circle and incinerate the spiders. After that, I'll proceed down the hallway, carefully looking 'round for traps.

Prince Toad · #13

It was a fake door, nothing behind it. Every spider bursts horribly into flames, leaving thousands of charred arachnid corpses lying around the hall. Somewhat disgusted, you pace the length of the hall looking for traps. You don't find any-- there's just the doors. What do you want to do?

Lord Umbra · #14

Keep on goin, towards the door on the opposite wall. As usual, I'm going to be wary and lookin for traps.

Prince Toad · #15

You reach the door on the opposite wall. It's locked. Do what?

Lord Umbra · #16

Isn't that the door to Nadista? I'm lost XD. Anyhow, I'll try to unlock the door.

Prince Toad · #17

You try to pick the lock. You hear a little click. Despite the trap's poor quality, you're too stupid to dodge or do anything. There's a bright flash, which blinds you.

This lasts about 20 minutes. Want to do anything or just sit and wait until you get your vision back?

Lord Umbra · #18

That is the door to Nadista, right?

************

Wait 'till my vision returns.

Prince Toad · #19

That's a long curse.

Okay, about twenty minutes later your vision finally returns. Now what?

Lord Umbra · #20

You didn't answer, that's the door to Nadista, correct?
_____________________

Try to pick the lock again, if I hear the click again I'll cover my eyes or something to avoid the blinding flash.