DireMerc |
The Order of Cyphers, often known as cyphermages, is an organisation of wizards and scholars who have dedicated themselves to the secrets of Varisia's ancient monuments. They set out to explore areas of interest throughout Varisia. Their headquarters is the Cypher Lodge in Riddleport. Room and board, as well as an extensive library, is open to both cyphermages (for 1 gp a night) and non-members (for 20 gp a night). The guest rooms are frequently full, despite these prices. The Order is led by the mage and crimelord Elias Tammerhawk.
Thalion Hopson |
Diplomacy(Gather Information): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13
The next round of carousing brings Thalion some more interesting tidbits of information, but nothing of use regarding the Cypher Mages. Thalion returns to the table, his steps weaving a little. "Perrraps I ssshuld g-go fforr an-nnoerrr rrroundd."
Flare Brent |
"Thank you, Victor. No thank you, Thalion." Given the amount of time spent gathering information, Flare would very probably be done with her project, and would be calmly drinking her water, as she watched the pirates and thieves around them.
Cynthia, Shaman of Hope |
"...That's a ridiculous price for a night's stay." Cynthia observed. "They sound like people I'd enjoy meeting, though. It's always nice to be able to talk with other scholars."
Flare Brent |
"But for the price, it's going to be very well protected. They don't want people sneaking in and avoiding the cover charge, after all." she shrugged, "So we can probably afford to send just one or two people in alone, while the rest of us stays with Andrianna. I'd say Cynthia and Victor would get the most out of their stay. A ton of books, and Cynthia might even be able to convince the master and apprentice to meet with us." Flare shrugged, continuing to sip at the water.
Thalion Hopson |
To be read with appropriate slurring accents, of course.
"A ton of books. Flare, you sure you don't want to go with Cynthia and Victor?" Thalion flashes a smile at Flare. "Of course, they would have to drag you out of the place...after prying the books away from you."
"I like the plan. Do we want them to meet us here, or do we want to choose a place somewhere else to meet so as not to give away our home base."
Riven White |
"Agreed, costly but hopefully worth the expense. If we send a messenger we could see if it's worth even meeting with them but I'd prefer them not know where we live for now so I think meeting someplace else would be best, Thalion maybe you should sit down."
Cynthia, Shaman of Hope |
"That assumes a room will be open. Is there anything you'd like me to do if they're not?" Cynthia asked the others, tilting her head slightly as she observed their decision-making process.
Thalion Hopson |
"I think I will. Sit down, that is." Thalion plops down to join the group, and looks to be in no condition to try another round of carousing. The cleric smiles at Riven stupidly, before turning to Cynthia. "For the price they charge, is it possible for them to have no room? And, either way, if our goal is for them to meet us, do we need more than a day trip to visit with them?" Before hearing the answer, the young man rests his head on the table. "Just going to rest...a little."
Flare Brent |
"Reserve one. Or try to find out where to find the people were looking for. I wonder if they're a mage or a thief. I'd kind of expected Aeron was fate pushing someone we needed into our group. Maybe this is Fate settling up that score." She shrugged. "Maybe they'll be able to give us some real direction, while they're at it."
At this point the brick was clearly visible on the table, and she'd dusted the residue off. Maybe she'd frightened the wait staff in some way that kept them from telling her she was getting rock dust all over the table... but it didn't matter, no one had bothered her. Carved into relief amongst the stones were their instructors... their faces mostly correct, but still slightly off. Having not seen them over the long trip had damaged Flare's memory of them... despite that, the images were uncannily accurate. They were easily recognized, and only careful attention to details Flare was unlikely to notice had lessened her work.
Riven White |
Riven had watched Flare work but was possibly use to it by now.
"So it's settled? We reserve a room for Cynthia and she tries to set up a meeting somewhere eles."
Flare Brent |
"I'm not sure about sending Cynthia alone. Check, I'm not sure about sending just Cynthia and Victor. If someone decides they look like easy pickings alone on the street..." she trails off with a sigh. "But if we only move as a group, people will start to take more notice of us."
Cynthia, Shaman of Hope |
Cynthia tilted her head as she looked at the others, clearly sizing them up. Hmm, there were many ways of going about this, but... "I'll see if I can talk with them without needing to actually rent a room. Best to save money if possible." she decided. Talking was one of the few things she was reasonably good at, and why not try to put that to good use for the sake of the team? "How about we have Thalion escort us to the gates, and you can come pick us up this evening?"
Flare Brent |
Flare looked to Thalion, who was resting his head on the table, after his second binge. She then favored Cynthia with a lofted eyebrow, but no words to keep it company. The interrogative 'Really?' was written plainly on her face.
Thalion Hopson |
Thalion looks up at the mention of his name. "I can go...just give me a minute..." The cleric stands, and weaves out the door momentarily before he returns, wiping his mouth with his sleeves as he does. Thalion then heads over to the bar and brings back some water and bread. With a deep breath and exhale, Thalion begins filling himself with less intoxicating substances.
As he partakes in the bread and water, he looks over to Flare. "Can I see what you were working on? I couldn't quite make it out, but it looked...comfortingly familiar."
Flare Brent |
Flare's impressive face betrayed her for a moment as one of her old smiles creeper in, before she had a chance to remember how unhappy she was supposed to be. She slid the brick across to Thalion. It was a solid piece of work, with just the interior carved out, and considerable thickness besides. There wasn't much danger of the piece being harmed even if thrown at someone, much less dropped.
Thalion Hopson |
As Thalion continues to wolf down the food awashed with water, he tilts the brick to get a better look. The recognition gives him pause, and he stares longingly at the images. "This is amazing Flare! The masters would be awed to know the imprint they've left upon you. I...I wish I had your...I miss them." The cleric wipes away the slight moisture on the corner of his eyes, and respectfully returns the masterpiece to Flare.
Thalion closes his eyes and gathers his thoughts. With a deep breath, he returns the gaze to the group, with less traces of the damages he had imposed upon himself with the alcohol. "What if we go together, but in two or three groups? If we know the general direction, there is less of a need to actually be 'following', but just to be sure we don't see commotions."
"My head is clearing up a little. I am ready if we want to try for a visit today."
Flare Brent |
"You do. All of us do." Flare said as he trailed off. That's why she made it. So they'd all have something.
After he continued, Flare nodded, saying the first part increasingly, another taste of normalcy. "Unusually clever. I don't think I've read many stories where the heroes use different paths to reach the same goals."
Victor Krishna |
Victor dutifully falls into step behind Cynthia, letting her do much of the talking while he himself listened out for anything useful that could be gleaned. With no much knowledge at his fingertips, he was reasonably confident that they could pick up a trail, assuming they had a clue to go on.
Flare Brent |
Before they Slipped off, Flare ensures that the two of them, if they spend any amount of time alone with the stores of knowledge... that they try to find out whatever they can about the group's marks.
Cynthia, Shaman of Hope |
Cynthia calmly walked into the area, politely greeting those she met. Finally, after arriving at the lodge, she introduced herself and her companion. "Is Mr. Tammerhawk available at the moment? We have a few questions, and one of your apprentices referred us here for answers. It shouldn't take long, and we'd be happy to wait if it would be more convenient for him to meet us later on."
Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17 Cynthia is discreetly attempting to figure out if everything in the lodge seems normal, or if there's trouble that might not be immediately apparent.
Cynthia, Shaman of Hope |
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22
Well, she'd already introduced herself, but... "Two inquiries, to be specific. The first is that we're hoping to make contact with some old friends of ours, a man named Sloanne and his adopted son Malcom. Your apprentice suggested that Mr. Tammerhawk was the best person to talk to, but if anyone else knows them, I'd be delighted to speak to them instead. We've also come across some information on certain mystic markings, and I understand that your organization is quite interested in such things. I'm afraid I can't entirely guarantee its value, but if nothing else, it should serve as either a new piece of information to consider or an independent confirmation of some of your current knowledge."
DireMerc |
I somehow missed that, oh well.
"Hmm...very well I send your request up to Mr.Tammerhawk and see if he agrees to meet with you, there is a waiting area over there if you wish."
You move along and wait around twenty minutes.
Finnaly someone comes to get you.
"The master has agreed to meet you in his office for a moment to hear you out, follow me" says the servant he she brings you to the office of Elias Tammerhawk the second most powerful man in Riddleport.
You enter his office decorated with all kinds of relics and he sits at a desk behind a mount of paperwork.
"Well then your looking for a crazy old coot and his orphan apprentices then? I'm curious why are you looking for him and what is your relation to him if any?" says Elias as you enter his office.
Cynthia, Shaman of Hope |
Cynthia curtsied slightly as she entered. "They're old friends of ours." she explained calmly. Her instincts were suggesting that this wasn't a man to be totally trusted, but she wasn't exactly sure she could bluff him, either. In that case, she just had to not lie... "It's been a long time since we separated, though, and we'd like to take them back where they belong. If Sloanne's truly gone a bit mad, that should be easier on you, right?" she smiled at him.
Diplomacy (Give Simple Directions?): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19
Cynthia, Shaman of Hope |
Perception (Sense Motive - Watching his reactions): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
Knowledge (History - Thassilon Empire): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25
"As I told your assistant, I can't promise true value here." Cynthia explained, before rolling up her sleeve and showing him the unusual marking. That was the absolute truth - though it was also a setup to first set his expectations low, then try and drastically surpass them. "This particular marking has been present on my body since birth, and it seems to have been generated on a responsive magical formula - specifically, it's been known to illuminate of its own accord when in the presence of certain starmetals, as well as in the presence of certain behaviors, and such things aren't at all common where we're from." she explained. "In fact, to the best of my knowledge, they're unique insofar as anything limited to a small group of unrelated people can be termed such. Thassilon was deeply influenced by a number of behaviors, of course, and starmetals were used in some of their greatest works, so naturally we're very interested in what these markings are and how they might be connected to the old empire's activities. I'm afraid we're too busy with our own activities to study these marks as much as we'd like to right now, but we might return here to study them more in-depth at a later point, and I'm certain that my friends would be happy to collaborate with you if there's any knowledge to be gained at that point in time."
DireMerc |
Elias examines your rune for a moment and cast a simple spell. (detect magic) The mark glows slightly.
"Not Thassilonian I'm afraid the mark seems to be divine in nature but very powerful. You have had it since birth you say? Most likely the doing of some deity that has plans for you. I'm afraid I wouldn't know more than that on that matter but the rune is interesting. Very well. Sloanne and his apprentice went to a place called Blackreath Keep. Old ruin north of town in a swamp, most folk stay clear since that whole area is infested with undead. They have been gone for about three weeks."
Cynthia, Shaman of Hope |
Cynthia curtsied again. "That was also a possibility, I suppose. Thank you for your time, Sir Tammerhawk, and I wish you the best of luck in your studies of the empire's monuments." With that, she left the room and headed down to collect Victor - who had hopefully been able to stay out of trouble - before moving to rendezvous with the others and report what she'd learned. Without needing to spend 20 gold on a room. Yes, she took satisfaction in things like that - and more importantly, she'd learned a very valuable piece of information. Perhaps even more valuable than the head of the Cyphermages suspected, or he'd not have parted with it so easily...
"'Twas a most interesting encounter." the Shaman mused after she'd finished explaining. "I believe it would be best to be prepared for violence along the way, though, perhaps before we even leave the city."
Thalion Hopson |
I'd call Victor our walking encyclopedia. But, it's more like a walking google nowadays.
"Blackreath Keep? Undead? It's like I walked into an adventure book! Not that I've ever read one. Completely. Well, may be one." A goofy grin appears on his face as an odd bit of memory floats back from not too long ago, of a certain girl who tried to take the entire library with her in the midst of what was probably her most important trial at the time. He looks at at Flare, and nearly burst out laughing. It's the alcohol, I tell ya.
Fighting to keep his composure, Thalion looks away from the feisty bookworm and towards Cynthia and Victor. "Swamps, a keep and undeads. Anything we need to pick up before we play hero and go rescue our new friends?"
Flare Brent |
"As much as I want to let Tormod know what we found, I still don't trust Andrianna. I think it's best we leave her in the dark, at least for now... I'd normally be all for trusting people, but..." she trails off. "Have one of you guys seen if she has any persistent auras..?"
Thalion Hopson |
Thalion is ready to go (kinda). I didn't list any of the basics - backpack, bedroll, blanket, flint and steel, waterskin and trail rations is what I typically buy for all my characters at the start. Per your initial instructions I didn't buy any of that this time. Are we assuming we have that stuff when we left, or do I need to buy them? Beyond that, Thalion is ready to go unless someone suggests more that we need to have as equipment.
Flare Brent |
Flare also doesn't have traveling gear. Flare is pretty much ready whenever anyone else is, aside from that, though.
DireMerc |
Built by a chelaxian noble during the Everwar Blackreath Keep was a major staging point in the pacification of Varisia. Around the time of the death or Aroden the then ruler of the fort a Lord Dicentra declare himself independent and the ruler of the region when Chelaxia descended into chaos.
The new-found king however found himself surrounded by enemies who waned to be free of chelaxian rule once more. An army of Shoanti barbarians and free varisians attacked his fort and while his guards fought well they were badly outnumbered. In a desperate attempt to turn the tide Lord Dicentra cast an extremely powerful necromancy spell of his own creation that animated all the dead for miles around the castle.
What exactly happened afterwards is not clear the lord was supposedly killed and the location abandoned. The dead have been drawn to the place ever since and so people avoid it.
The dead consist mostly of zombies and skeletons. Thought in the castle there is said to be animated suits of armor.
Cynthia, Shaman of Hope |
"Well, I believe Thalion is going to have fun." Cynthia said, glancing in his direction. "I hear clerics are very potent against the undead, but I must confess that I'm interested in seeing this in-person." More to the point, shame on the locals for not already resolving issues such as this. Allowing curses to linger was just asking for trouble.
Flare Brent |
"Well, if we're leaving town, we're going to need supplies. Do you guys want me to just pick some up for you, or should we start moving together again?"
Thalion Hopson |
"Let's go together! I could go for some pastry while we're in the market." Thalion wipes the beginnings of a drool as he imagines the taste and the moistness. "Mmm..."
Thalion is buying the VG special - backpack, bedroll, winter's blanket, flint and steel, waterskin and rations, trail x4, for 6gp 6sp and weighing 18lb. Let's add a bag of sling bullets (10) for another 1sp and 5lb. Nevermind on the sling bullets - I saw I already have two bags.
Flare Brent |
Flare will trust Thalion's wisdom for once, and copy him... but additionally buying materials to create 10gp worth of stone arts... bringing her expenditures to 10gp... then grabbed a bundle of silk rope for 10 more.
How much do you want her crafting materials to weigh?