Do you have potions of flying and invisibility on hand? If not, how long to get them?
Yes sir to both.
I will take 1 of each please.
The clerk dips into the back area again, returning with two small vials. One very clear (looks almost empty) and one a very pale sky blue color.
Here you go ser, and no need for the rod with this purchase! He beams a smile at you.
Does he tell me which is which. Assume empty looking one is invisibility.
Oh indeed sir! My apologies! The clear is indeed invisibility. If you look closely at the stoppers, you will see that we have them labeled in common for convenience. Will there be anything else?
Thanks, that will be it. I head to see Calseinica.
~a fair while later~
You find that your newfound fame is somewhat of a burden. People constantly stop you in the streets asking you to recite some lines or tell a story about your recent performance. After the first several inconveniences, you buy a cheap cloak with a hood and attempt to disguise yourself. It works, for now.
You find your way to the Nymmis manor-a fine, stately looking building with well appointed windows and doors. Your knock on the door is met by an older well dressed man who opens the door an looks down at you neutrally.
Yes. How may I help you ser?
Good day, I am Caldir, here to call upon Calseinica.
His eyes widen at your name, Indeed sir; you are THAT Cladir? It is with regret I must inform you that the Lady Calseinica is not receiving visitors at this time. Shall I take a message for her?
Message? Just that I wish to speak with her. If this is not a good time, she can send word to me at the Boot when she is available and I will return.
Indeed sir. The boot is it? Hmmm... Maybe best I just summon you back when she is disposed to take company. Don't want her associating in such places so soon after her return home. No offense I assure you. Good day.
No offense taken, good day.
Do I know the location of the mayor's house/compound/party palace?
The Villa is actually located relatively close to the NSN hideout. However, it is approaching dusk and you don't think you will be able to make it to the Villa and back to the Boot before nightfall.
I will skip the Villa and make my way back to the Boot. Thinking to myself that sometime in the not too distant future that I need to explore the city streets at night to see what creature prowls them.
You return to a full Boot bar room.
~Sarchep~Here he is laides and gents. Star of the stage; veteran of verse; legend of Larazod: Caldir!
The packed room stands and cheers a resounding roar; several calls are made for you to recite some portion of the play. Sarchep gives you an expectant look.
I recite a few lines...
The crowd is deafening in its appreciation for your skill!
Sarchep motions you over to the bar.
I go over to the bar, hope he has a beer waiting for me.
Indeed he does!
I poured you a cold one, but given how thick this crowd is you are welcome to whatever you like. Just do me a favor and give them a few more bits of theater before you turn in.
I drink my beer and then perform another bit from the play.
The crowds reaction is as robust as your first bit, the imbibed libations of the crowd balancing out anything your performance may have lacked.
turn in for the night
Zzzzzzzz.
Ding!
Next day...
Cruise by the mayor's villa, just want to get the lay of the land. Can I circle it, noting windows and doors, guards, etc.
~A corpulent building of iron and stone looms over its neighbors in southern Westcrown-the mayor's abode is anything but subtle. This is no mere house, but rather a bloated near-castle of ochre and black, a huge manor with rusting gargoyles dancing upon its gables among hooks and nails to prevent the birds from settling. Iron gutters stand ready to pour water onto the cobbled streets below. Well furnished windows abound and nearly two dozen chimneys blech out plumes of smoke. A long canvas-topped walkway extends from the manor grounds' front gates to the villa's fron doors. A host of workers is hard at work prepping the grounds and exterior of the building for....something.~
Looks like a party, maybe the mayor is turning eleventy-one?
Go to Nine Star Knight HQ to see what is brewin there, watch my back on the way there.
As you leave the area of the villa you feel a subtle weight leave your shoulders that you hadn't sensed before. There is something in that house. Something incredibly...evil...
You make the NSN sanctuary without event.
Arael is there talking with some of the lesser members and tells you that both Ailyn and Janiven are away at the moment.
Any word on the party invite yet? I don't want to sound ungrateful given your amazing efforts during the Trials, but they won't mean much if the Lord-Mayor doesn't throw a party. Well, that's not quite true I suppose. If you can't get in with an invite I would imagine someone with your particular skill set would be able to find alternative ways to find entry, yes?
Hi Arael, I just passed by the mayor's villa and it looks like preparations are underway for something big so hopefully I will get an invite soon. When I left the area by the house I sensed it contains something incredibly evil.
He looks at you a little cock-eyed, Evil, huh? Funny. I've been by that place a thousand times and never felt anything different. Sometimes I wonder how anyone could sense something like that with so much darkness in this city. Well, if you sensed it you sensed it. Not sure what it could be, but probably a good idea to be very careful when you go looking for the Asmodean Knot.
Javinen said you were working on some potions or something to help me when I go in to look for the Knot?
Any sign that the Hell Knights are looking for you again?
Pulls out a small wooden case, Indeed. I have crafted these for you-four potions of cure moderate wounds and four of lesser restoration. I'm not sure what you will be facing in there so these general formulae seemed best to create. As for the Hellknights their quest to recapture me continues. I'm surprised you haven't noticed the wanted posters they have slapped up everywhere. I'm sure given a few more months they will weary of failure and find some new "menace" to pursue. Your efforts in the ruins have done some significant damage to their reputation, as know the citizens can see that there are others in the city working to improve the fate of the common man. Inheritor guide your steps my friend.
Thank you Arael. Hopefully, I won't need them, but better to be well prepared just in case. What are Ailyn and Janiven up to?
I think they are tracking down additional information surrounding the Pathfinder lodge. They have been pretty secretive lately. Knowing Janiven, that means she will be stirring things up pretty soon. I'm sure she's trying to angle a way to shove it in the Hellknights faces. Those pompous assess.
Thanks again for the potions and say hello to Janiven for me. Head back to the Boot, go by the Mayor's villa again to see if I notice anything else of interest.
You clearly sense some malign force as you approach the structure this time. It's undefined but menacing none the less. Almost like some huge powerful thing within the house is raging to escape and wreak destruction upon the city.
The freshening up of the grounds and building exterior seem to be finishing up and you see some finely liveried youth assembling at the main doors.
Can I continue to watch without drawing attention to myself?
Give me a stealth check.
After a few minutes of casing the villa, a small squad of city guards approaches you. Move it along mister., one says to you with certain menace in his voice.
Yes sir.
I move along back to the Boot
Your return is met by another demand from the lunch crowd for additional stories/reenactments. You don't ever remember seeing this much lunch traffic at the boot. Just how big of a deal was your performance anyways?
After the recital of a few lines and much back slapping and applause, the gathered crowd finally releases you to your mid-day repast.
As you finish your lunch, washing it down with a delightful cask drawn ale, a young man in flamboyant attire enters the Boot. Looking about the dispersing lunch crowd he announces in a light timbered voice, Is Ser Caldir in the house?
Over here good man
As the young man approaches you notice that he carries himself with noble bearing and is dressed as a bit of a dandy, wearing gaudy interpretations of the Mayor's colors.
Presenting a finely penned scroll, wrapped with an elaborate ebony and red bow-Ser Calidr, Larazod laureate of the stage, you are formally invited to join the Lord Mayor Aberian Arvanxi and a host of other distinguished guests in two nights for a Cornucopia of historic proportions at his humble manor. Cocktails will commence at five and the full six-course meal will begin at six and last until at least midnight. Present this document to gain entry to what will be a fabled night of delights. Good day ser.
He turns to leave and the remnants of the lunch crowd burst into a furor of discussion regarding the upcoming fest.
I take a look at the scroll.
Seems like a fairly normal scroll if of extremely high quality paper and ink. The ribbon is made from some type of silky substance that you have never seen before; you figure it probably would fetch a few crowns at market. You open the scroll and find ridiculously flowery court script inviting you to the Cornucopia in 2 nights.
Tomorrow I will go see the Nine Star Knights to let them know about the invite. Any word from Calseinica?
Nothing yet. Any other action befor visiting the NSN the next day?