Lauranna Cindel |
"Oh okay."
"You should just play sick. That's what I'd do if I didn't want to work. You know get your forehead near the fire and cough a bit. Or make like you have back pain. Nobody can disprove back pain."
DM Amazing Red |
DM Amazing Red wrote:"Oh okay.""You should just play sick. That's what I'd do if I didn't want to work. You know get your forehead near the fire and cough a bit. Or make like you have back pain. Nobody can disprove back pain."
"Oh, that is awesome. We're gonna do that right now! Thanks lady!"
Lauranna Cindel |
"Kids." She says and shakes her head. I wonder what everyone else is up to.
Lauranna Cindel |
Well the orphans are sent out every day to work for other people throughout the city and she receives the pay, and then there's the facts she doesn't care for half-orcs and drinks a whole lot and cheats at checkers with her neighbors. The top item is certainly exploitation, but there's only the children's words to back it up.
Amarok of the Ancients |
Also remember that we're not here to make any decision...just deliver the supplies and look into things. We have a lot of information. We could certainly just report that to the Silver Crusade and let them decide. I think we have enough to report back and move to the next task.
Echi the Honorable |
I agree with Amarok, we should just tell the Silver Crusade what we found and move on to the next task.
Andoliesa |
as a player I know there is more we can do, but I'm not sure Andoliesa has the skills or mindset for any of it.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Bait |
Zarta is fine with me, but also curious as to what Olysta had to say upon our report
DM Amazing Red |
"Well I was hoping you would find a bit more, but you did well. I will send someone out to investigate further."
=============================
Arriving at Paracountess Zarta Dralneen’s townhouse in the Ivy District—one of several homes the noblewoman keeps around Absalom—you come upon a magnificent gothic structure three stories in height. The ebon lacquered double doors wrought with gleaming silver fixtures greet the characters, a prickly brass cone hanging from a chain serving as the door chime. Moments after ringing it, a servant in loose casual attire opens the door, greeting you as if expected. If questioned, the servant remains quiet, only responding when pressed, and then with only a few simple words: “My mistress will answer any questions you have once we reach her quarters.”
Led through well-appointed sitting rooms, ballrooms, and a grand stairway granting a view of an elaborate study, you finally arrive on the third floor of the house, at the door of Zarta’s personal study, which lies beyond her bedroom. Knocking upon the door and announcing his presence, the servant opens the darkly stained wooden door. A large intricate carpet dominates the marble floor in this sitting room. A chaise sits along the north wall and a desk spans the southeast corner, its chair positioned with its back to the southwest corner of the room. Three comfortable chairs are positioned around a small, low circular table. Sitting in the chair behind the desk, Paracountess Zarta Dralneen regards you with a wry smile, putting away a few papers before standing to address the hopeful Pathfinders.
“Aldor, you are dismissed. Close the door behind you and attend to your other tasks.” She then turns her attention to the group. “It’s always so incredibly adorable when I see a fresh faced batch of Pathfinders. I mean, look at you scrumptious little teacakes. I could eat each and every one of you up. Well, maybe not you.” Zarta points. “I assume this isn’t a pleasure visit since most of you are terribly overdressed for that manner of occasion, so that must mean you are here for that trinket Valsin has been nagging me about. Seems I can’t get that man around these parts anymore,” she gestures, sliding her hand down her body and widening the gesture to sweep out and across the room as if her home were a secondary thought. “On the good side, he always sends me all the precious new recruits."
“Many think we in Cheliax serve and worship devils, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, we use the creatures for their power. They serve us and we sculpt their power in our own interests. The world must come to terms with the order of things. People need to know their place and operate accordingly. It is the only way to make order from this world. Too many people stretch too far beyond their station, making waves and eroding the true order.”
Lauranna Cindel |
"But making waves stirs the stagnant pot of the plutocratic elitist oligarchy! It is only by overthrowing the old corrupt order that the common man can make headway against a the tides of greedy self-interest that stand atop his back at the tip of the social pyramid. The government of Cheliax worships an antiquated system of government that only serves those in power. Devils are just a symptom." Lauranna continues in this vein for the next two-and-a-half hours trying to convince Lady Dralneen of the error of her ways. She is a chaotic good evangelist after all.
Lauranna Cindel |
"With ridged ladders you're always stomping on the hand below you while getting your own fingers crushed by those above. But with freedom you are at liberty to at least imagine another way--like I don't know--maybe a stairway that moves by itself."
Bait |
Bait listens to both parties and then shrugs, not terribly concerned with the outcome of their differences. Lauranna's mention of a moving stairway does intrigue him though and he grins when she mentions it... "Ooooh, now that does sound like fun... I want to ride it!"
Amarok of the Ancients |
Amarok smirks at the discussion of political systems.
"For orcs, there is only battle," he says. "There is little room for thought of caste systems. The strongest survive, and nature buries the weak. So the Ancients whisper to me," he adds.
Looking toward the next room, he says "Why don't we help your servant see reason."
Andoliesa |
Andoliesa just shakes her head at the opinions of both the Paracpuntess and the Evangelist. "Perhaps we could focus on what we came here to do, you know."
Andoliesa doesn't trust political systems, but she does trust Grandmother Crow.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Echi the Honorable |
Echi appears completely lost in the conversation and seems immune to the Paracountess' charms. "Yes, let us retrieve this object. What is this object?"
Lauranna Cindel |
"... Or maybe a room that floats you to whatever floor you need to get to. Huh? Oh right. Object."
Tazenin Khalazza |
During Lauranna's speech Tazenin with great enthusiasm taking notes in his journal. "Plutocracy. Ok. Oligarchy. Hmm. Interesting. C - Cheliax. Please slow down if you can. I write it down. So what it was. Yeah, that's. According to some individuals the real reason for the devil's power in Cheliax is not... "
DM Amazing Red |
As the paracountess talks with the party, a cacophony of booms and crashes sounds from beyond the room’s west door. “A servant is greatly misbehaving. You’re going to have to deal with it in order to get the trinket.” She goes over to the desk in her study, opening a drawer and drawing out an exquisite silver letter opener shaped like a dagger (treat as a masterwork silver dagger). “You might need this to get it to submit,” she offers with a sly grin.
Echi the Honorable |
"Pardon me, what is the trinket?" Echi asks, looking for more clarification.
Bait |
"What's so special about the letter opener?"
Bait |
"Ah, good to know... thank you... "
DM Amazing Red |
Zarta’s bedroom is decorated in the colors of Cheliax—ebon black and crimson red. Silk, rare woods, and carefully carved marble compose every bit of furniture in the room. Goose down now litters the room, covering almost every surface and the silken shreds of the cushions that contained it lie about like flayed skin . A post on the massive screened bed is snapped in half, collapsed on the bed and drawing the screened curtains into a ripped slope of formerly fine cloth. Vials of perfume and crystal jars of other cosmetics sit smashed on the marble floor around the dresser. A prominent fixture in the room, a large “X” made of stout wood sits along the west wall, complete with leather shackles and chains. A table sits to its left strewn with various items intended for pleasure, but outwardly resembling implements of pain. A tiny red-skinned devil is throwing around an iron case trying to open it.
Am: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18
An: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14
B: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
E: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9
K: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
L: 1d20 ⇒ 2
T: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
Amarok and Anodliesa are up first!
Amarok of the Ancients |
Amarok runs into the room and attempts to strike the creature before it is aware of him.
MW falchion: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 102d4 + 1 ⇒ (2, 1) + 1 = 4
DM Amazing Red |
Fixed. Map is updated too.
The imp is surprised by the party but not enough for Amarok to strike him. The imp let's go of the box and flies into the half orc's square to sting him. Provoking an AOO.
Sting!: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25
1d4 ⇒ 3 Make me a fort save DC13 vs poison or take 1d2 ⇒ 2 dex damage. Party is up!
Bait |
Bait moves into the room, pulls out one of his silvered arrows and shoots at the imp
to hit: 1d20 + 3 - 4 ⇒ (20) + 3 - 4 = 19
dmg if hits: 1d4 ⇒ 2
Echi the Honorable |
Echi moves into the room and tries to stomp the tiny devil with his lucerne hammer.
Lucerne Hammer - Power Attack: 1d20 + 5 - 1 ⇒ (6) + 5 - 1 = 10
Bait |
ooh that was a crit threat! I have to try to back it now...
to confirm crit: 1d20 + 3 - 4 ⇒ (20) + 3 - 4 = 19
extra dmg if hits: 2d4 ⇒ (3, 3) = 6
and this damage is all silver, so 2 plus 6 = 8 silver dmg
Bait |
these are weapons covered with weapon blanch - I don't think that incurs a -1 dmg
Amarok of the Ancients |
Boo. Miss the AoO, and take the dex dmg!
Amarok is surprised by the creature's tenacity and speed, and poison courses through his veins.
He steps back and responds with a strike from his falchion, hitting soundly but not dealing the damage he thought it would. not silver
AoO, MW falchion: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 82d4 + 1 ⇒ (4, 1) + 1 = 6
fort save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
MW falchion: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 222d4 + 1 ⇒ (1, 2) + 1 = 4
CRIT?: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 72d4 + 1 ⇒ (2, 1) + 1 = 4
Andoliesa |
Andoliesa strikes at the creature with her blade. If it is still standing, she gives her blade a blessing, and it glows a soft yellow.
grappling the imp is also an effective tactic here
Round 1 action:
standard action to use weapon of good blessing on sword, but only if the imp is still standing
Rolls:
aoo, Elven Curve blade, attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21 for slashing: 1d10 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
Active Status effects:
good weapon blessing
-Posted with Wayfinder
Lauranna Cindel |
"...And you could have gigantic hamsters driving the whole thing via a big pulley and wheel system." *SWISH! THUD! OUCH! KA-BOOM!* "Huh?"
DM Amazing Red |
Tazenin and Amarok fail to do anymore damage but Andoliesa's holy blade does and the imp submits. "Okay, I give. Yes, you’ve bested me, but I don’t wish to leave so soon. Take the blasted box, and tell Mistress Dralneen I deserve what comes my way.” He tosses the box over to the party.
Bait |
Bait catches the box before it hits the ground and walks out of the disturbing room.
Echi the Honorable |
Echi takes a quick glance at the various 'toys' in the room, shakes his head sadly and exits the room, making his way past the Paracountess to find the exit from this sad, strange place.
This is definitely not a place to remain longer than necessary.