At the start of every day, Setsuna casts Endure Elements and extended Delay Poison; given the... nature of Riddleport, Setsuna also prepares Greater Invisibility and Dimension Door via Dreamed Secrets; even if she does not really intend to cast them, better safe than sorry.
"Hey, Rilee. What's your favorite color?" Setsuna asks Rilee seemingly at random.
If her great grandmother's answer is not a color that chromatic dragons typically sport on their scales, Setsuna attempts to find the next best thing.
"Happy birthday," says Setsuna as she tosses a crafted piece of dragonhide armor into Rilee's grasp. "If you're anything like Sab, then I know you can't wear metal. However, there's no hide stronger than dragonhide! You're about the same size as some of Mom's Catfolk guards, so I was able to make an educated guess."
Rilee would remember that Jeevika's diplomatic delegation travels with a troop of Catfolk guards for additional muscle. Evidently, Catfolk and Elves get along really well.
Given how long the group is going to be waiting for item enchantment, Setsuna decides to just order supplies for Sandpoint in Riddelport.
She is naturally weary upon realizing that she has attracted the attention of a pirate lord.
...Might as well hear the man out, Setsuna decides after some thought. "Sure; I will meet with Overlord Cromarcky. What time works well for him?"
Shortly before arriving at her destination, in addition to her daily buffs, Setsuna casts Freedom of Movement and then downs a cocktail of Extended Tears to Wine and her renewable potion of Ward the Faithful. She also summons her cloak of shadows.
"I have a meeting with Overlord Cromarcky," she says carefully.
The member of the Gendarme, Riddleport's acting guard and military, says, "Ya don't seem to get it, lady. When the Overlord 'asks,' he's not so much 'asking.' Catch my drift?"
As Setsuna, and those who may be accompanying her, are ushered by a detachment of ten men armed with spears to a dock on the Velashu River, where they are rowed across to an island that plays home to a large fortified building.
Once disembarked, you are led up the path and hill to the gates of the fort and ushered inside, eventually to a large meeting chamber. Standing around the room, somewhat unprofessionally, are ten more men wearing the colors of the Gendarmes, each brandishing cutlasses, maces, axes, or some other weapon. Sitting at the head of the table, his booted feet propped up on the top of the table as he leans back in his chair, is a man in black leather, with a matching feathered, black tri-corn hat. His beard and hair is nearly as black as his attire. He finishes eating the chicken leg he was gnawing at, casually tossing the bone down as he says, "So yer tha big spender wanderin' my streets, eh? Not really a smart move, lass, throwin' so much coin around without takin' proper...precautions, savvy?"
He gets up and wanders around the table, his own cutlass rattling in its scabbard at his side, and circles around you. "Fortunately fer you, I 'ave eyes-an'- ears e'rywhere." As he steps around behind her, he reaches out casually and lifts a lock of Setsuna's hair and smells it, before letting it drop back into place. "Also, fortunately fer you, I 'appen ta run this town, an' keep it under more control than any other Overlord in thirty years. And as such, I 'appen ta be able to 'andle her 'shoppin' list,' so ta speak."
Catching the drift, Setsuna nods in understanding. Even if she can be a bit... naive sometimes, given the local management, part of her expected that this audience was a "right this second" sort of deal. She follows the Gendarme without further word.
When Cromarcky sniffs her hair, Setsuna has no visible reaction; ten plus years of diplomacy training have taught her how to act around an assortment of characters.
"Then it sounds like you're the man I need to speak with, Overlord Cromarcky," the Oracle replies with a nod of understanding.
He smiles at Setsuna, his toothy grin showing heavily stained teeth, "Aye, lass. That I am. I 'ear yer lookin' fer a whole f+%~in' lot o' goods. Enough fer a small army. An' 'ere is what I can do fer ya," he says as he slides a slip of parchment across the table, before walking back around and having a seat by his plate.
More like small town...
Setsuna carefully examines the parchment.
Something tells me that I could probably get a better deal elsewhere. Oh well. Not sure if the sunk cost fallacy applies here, but Sandpoint receiving less than what they could get at no cost to them is still better than them getting nothing at all. Besides, since that this guy's basically the resident king here, it's not like I'll be getting a better deal without making a greater sacrifice. If nothing else, he probably has the influence and logistics to get things moving.
"I will gladly purchase these offered materials, Overlord Cromarcky. It is an excellent variety."
While the quantity might be a bit lacking, Setsuna will admit that the variety of the offered selection is definitely nice.
"Well, then!" he says as he stands, "we 'ave an accord."
He then gestures to the table, expectantly.
Rilee follows along, quiet and attentive behind Setsuna. Again, she doesn't speak, all too aware of her youthful body and the lingering eyes of the gendarmes. She keeps her staff held loosely in her hand while static sparks in her hair at random intervals. She steps back when Cromarchy moves around Setsuna, eyeing him warily as he sniffs her hair.
She peers over Setsuna's shoulder when the ledger is presented and she furrows her brow, the corners of her mouth turning down. "Ah, Setsu..." she says softly when the Oracle agrees to the low-ball bid, then coughs lightly. If the overlord eyes her, she scowls and folds her arms in disapproval.
When Rilee subtly objects, Setsuna gives her a resigned yet knowing look of acknowledgement and shrugs.
The Oracle carefully reaches into her handy haversack and grabs the sack of platinum pieces that she had already prepared for this venture. She promptly places them one by one on the table, counting aloud as she goes.
"There we are. As agreed. A thousand platinum pieces," she finishes with a smile.
She somehow proves to be rather charming.
Rilee's eyes go wide as Setsu produces the full payment right there. She reaches past Setsuna and pushes half of the coins back in the guileless oracle's purse.
Smiling, she looks at Cromarchy. "There. You've seen we're good for it. Now, half up front, which is more than generous, and you'll get the remainder upon receipt." She then uses one of the pirate's own words, likely not correctly, "Savvy?"
"...And you beat me to the punch, grandma," Setsuna mumbles in Auran, a little bummed that Rilee spoiled her fun.
She snaps back to Diplomacy Mode and smiles.
"I have the means to confirm the delivery of the goods, so you'll receive the first half now and then the second half when they reach their destination. Sound good?"
Setsu promptly ups the charm.
The Overlord snarls at the pair of women.
"Ye take the deal, an' ye pay up front. I 'ave nary any intention o' goin' through the hassle o' gatherin' all o' this s#@* an' you lot runnin' off on a heroes errand an' gettin' yerselves killed, an' losin' my coin in the process. This ain't me first time dealin' with your type," he says as he too folds his arms.
Rilee's eyes twinkle as she smiles and the scent of ozone wafts from her skin. "Then we have a third party hold the balance. You don't lose what's yours, as long as we get what's ours."
"You do raise a valid concern. As she said, how about half now and then the second half in an escrow, given to you upon completion of the delivery? That way, you'll get the entire sum guaranteed."
He scratches his beard as he glares at the pair of you.
"An' jus' who ye 'ave in mind? Who ye be trustin' more than the Overlord o' the whole f%%$in' city?"
Zoli taps Setsu and Rilee, asking them to bend down.
In a low whisper she says "This 'deal' is starting to sound worse and worse. Maybe this is our cue to decline...and if worst comes to worst, get out of town fast. We know we'll get a fair shake in Magnimar."
"Yer not gonna find a better deal in the city, I can guarantee ye that," he says angrily to Zoli.
"So there's always the possibility of going to another city," Rilee ventures. Then she holds up her hands in a placating gesture. "But you've been so hospitable so far, I'd hate to halt the progress we've made. We can work this out, right?"
"Ye' think just anybody is gonna 'ave the ability to get this amount o' s&&$ together in a reasonable amount of time?" he says, his patience clearly wearing thin. "So what's it gonna be ladies? Ye take the deal, or ye f!~+ off. Yer choice."
...He probably isn't wrong there.
"You aren't the only one who's been on the receiving end of a bad deal, Overlord Cromarcky. Given the sheer scope of this project, we're just looking for some sort of... guarantee that the goods get delivered in full in a timely fashion. That's all I really want."
I think that's a reasonable request.
Rilee sighs, clearly disappointed. She shakes her head and leans on her staff, a movement that is strangely incongruous with her apparent youth.
"Gimme a month, an' you'll 'ave yer goods. Wouldn't be 'oldin' my seat this long by makin' enemies from raw deals," he says flatly, with a scowl.
"...A month would be quite a wait. Very well. Sounds like we have a deal," Setsuna finally concedes.
The Oracle puts the second half of the money on the table and takes a few minutes to count the pieces and make sure that everything is there.
Hey, I tried, she mentally grumbles to whatever celestial being is probably mocking her somewhere. Plus I actually showed a little spine. That rarely hurts.
"So where's the contract we sign?"
He signals one of his men to gather the money, commenting "I'm a man o' my word. I will send word if there be any complications. I'll know where ya find ye," as he waves you off.
__________
As you disembark on the eastern shore of the river, Setsuna hears a voice in her head...
::I know you've met with the Overlord. Meet me at the Silken Veil. True allies are hard to come by.::
Rilee looks a little bewildered after leaving Cromarchy's place. "Well, I suppose there are worse ways to throw away ten thousand gold coins."
"...The plot thickens."
Setsuna turns to the others and explains the presumed Sending she just received.
"Since we have like a month to kill, I don't see the harm in going. Besides, Rilee, weren't you itching to go to this Silken Veil earlier? Or was I just imagining things?"
After rounding up her posse, Setsuna departs for the Silken Veil.
"I was itching to do what, exactly?" Rilee asks, confused.
As they work their way through the pirate town, she finally thinks on Setsuna's question about her favorite color. "Honestly, I like them all. Why wouldn't I? There's the greens of the leaves and the browns of the earth. The brilliant violets of flowers in the spring, and the lovely blue of your eyes. Although, I suppose my current favorite is that red of the sunrise two days ago. Do you remember that? We were soaring just over the Churlwood when the sun crested the horizon and it seemed like it set the entire sky on fire. It makes me sad how much beauty I see that I will eventually forget."
She walks along in silence for a while, then asks, "So what is this Silken Veil, and why do you think I'd like it? What color do you think it will be?"
The group makes their way to the House of the Silken Veil, after receiving some directions. The temple is an octagonal pyramid topped with a blood-red steeple. Although the once-white marble walls have long since been stained by years of exposure to salt from the ocean and pollutants, the silken curtains that cover the three entrances are always clean and fresh. Inside the temple, the air is filled with exotic incense.
As you step inside, Rilee catches the glimpse of suspicious movement about a block down the path from the direction you came from, a form darting down an alley (though is unable to identify the source).
Inside, the temple is a scene of lavish debauchery, with women in varying degrees of undress tend to worshippers and customers alike. An extremely alluring woman with a pair of dainty horns protruding from her brow makes her way over, "Good evening," she says, almost sounding like a purr. "How can we take care of you four today...or tonight?"
As she speaks, a scantily clad Shoanti woman comes over and starts casually caressing Eugeni, while an extremely beautiful elven girl approaches Rilee and runs a delicate finger across the exposed skin along her shoulder.
"I think it's a... location? Sounds like a pub. As for why you might like it... call it a hunch. I don't know. I just get them sometimes. Not nearly as much as Sabby, but just weird little premonitions. I think it's a side effect of my spark."
"...The temple of Calistra. Why am I not surprised?" Setsuna deadpans upon realizing where she just lead the group.
Upon... studying the... scenery, Setsuna turns as red as a ripe tomato.
"Uh... we're... I'm... supposedtobemeetingsomeonehererightnow."
She puts a finger to Setsuna's lips and says "Shhhh. Relax, darlin',"[/b] she moves her finger down Setsuna's chin and whispers, "Just tell me what you want, and I'll see that one of my girls takes care of it."
"Oh, uh, I'm... flattered, but, uh, I meant... someone sent me a Sending (I think) to met them here... and didn't provide a description of who to expect. Huh. Probably should've asked for one," Setsuna the Tomato manages to squeak out.
When the elven girl receives a small shock of static, Rilee turns to Setsuna. "Call it a hunch?"
She was about to say more, but she notes how flustered Setsuna is so she decides to give her a break. Instead, she turns her attention to whatever it was she caught a glimpse of on their way to the Veil. She lets the elven woman resume her temptations while turning her body so she has a view of the entrance to the Calistrian temple.
"As we have learned many times, Rilee, I can be very, very wrong!" Setsuna the Tomato squeaks back.
As Setsuna explains the nature of their visit, the two girls become more brazen, loosing their hands to wander a bit more.
A look of understanding crosses the woman's face. "Ah, yes of course. Ladies, I will take it from here." At her command the pair slip away. "If you'll follow me, I will take you to him."
Unless anyone in the party attempts to stop her for some reason, Setsuna merely nods and follows the lovely Tiefling.
Rilee pulls her eyes away from the entrance and follows as well. Him? She stays alert and wary as she moves through the brothel-slash-temple.
Zoli thinks, What the heck? And starts to ask if they have any fellas of a certain stature...But decides not to let Setsu out of sight and so tags along behind her.
Eugeni glares at the prosipriestesses when touched. He follows the others with his usual stoicism, wondering what he will do with an entire month to waste. Maybe I'll get some more alone time with Setsuna... he hopes.
The tiefling woman leads you all through the main room of the temple, which in and of itself is a showcase of beautiful men and women, in some cases "tending" to "worshippers" openly. Although, four of the five other walls not containing entrances to the building from outside have doors that likely lead to more private chambers, as well as other rooms visible on the second level of the building.
Once you reach the final door on the first level, the priestess turns to you all and smiles seductively, "Right this way, ladies. Gentleman," she says as she opens the door.
Inside, sitting on a comfortable lounge chair, is a Shoanti man wearing the colors of the Cyphermages, his head and body all tattooed in Shoanti style. He rises and bows, "Greetings and salutations. I am Elias Tammerhawk, Speaker of the Order of Cyphers. I trust you've met my associate, Shorafa Pamodae, High Priestess of Calistria and Lady of this House." At her proper introduction, she winks and blows a kiss at Zoli.
"When you began making large purchases from my colleagues, I made certain to keep an eye on you. That is how I knew you had spoken with our illustrious Overlord. Let me guess, he made you a less than fair offer to fill the further items you seek?"
"Essentially," Setsumato says as she manages to get her blush under control. "Granted, I really didn't press him for more materials; I'm not sure how much I could really demand of the resident warlord while sitting in the middle of his personal fortress surrounded by his private army. Any... actual debate he and I had on the subject was more... I wanted some guarantee that he'd actually follow through. A down payment of half immediately and then the second half upon delivery of the goods. A signed contract. Something. Didn't get that either."
And I'm honestly surprised we were allowed to leave without further drama.
Setsuna sighs in frustration.
"Your guess is quite astute, Speaker Tammerhawk. Thank you for your concern."
As she greets the wizard she brushes her lucky medallion and tries to remember anything useful she's heard about Tammerhawk.
"That sounds about right," Elias replies with a smirk, as if he were aware of an inside joke that none of you know about. "He is running out of money to pay his Gendarmes. And they are little more than mercenaries. Once the coin is gone, so are they, and without them, his ability to hold Riddleport wanes. Then the crime lords of Riddleport will tear this city apart with their grabs for power."
He turns to regard you each before adding, "But I have a solution."
"Does it involve us getting bogged down in helping you somehow? We can't afford to dally here any longer than absolutely necessary..." Eugeni says suspiciously.
"That's more or less why I didn't anything to come to blows," remarks Setsuna with a dry laugh. She gets the feeling that Tammerhawk and Shorafa are smart enough to realize that the group is tougher than they appear. "So what's this solution?"
"No more than you already are, Sir. I know it is going to take a significant amount of time to complete your items at the Lodge. All I need is your aid in the interim."
He folds his arms and adds, "I would ask you to aid me in taking over Riddleport."
Rilee barks out a short, incredulous laugh. She folds her arms in front of her, her staff held in the crook of her elbow.
"I had just started getting used to the idea of relaxing for a month while our purchases were being completed. Now you want us to help stage a coup?"
"Does that mean I get to shoot that pirate d&&*~ead?"
"...While I'm not entirely opposed to my boyfriend's idea, what exactly do you have in mind for us to do, Master Tammerhawk?"
The hairs on Zoli's neck start to stand up. "Oh gosh, he had us over a barrel and he took advantage of it...I don't know though, what're you thinking?"
After speaking with Elias Tammerhawk, Speaker of the Order of Cyphers, and Shorafa Pamodae, the high priestess of the temple of Calistria, the heroes agree to help them overthrow Overlord Cromarcky. The plan agreed to is for the Varisian Rangers to provide a distraction for the Gemdarmes, drawing them out and away so that Elias can tend to the Overlord personally.
The next day, Rilee summons her cyclopses, as planned, and moments later, the alarm is sounded as they begin creating turmoil. Dozens of the gendarmes respond, and begin pursuing them. As they do so, they are beset by chains harassing their efforts, conjured by Setsuna.
As the guards make their way closer to the cyclopses location, they are charmed by the magics of satyrs, confounding them further. Meanwhile, word of another monster rampaging through the city draws out even more guards, and to a totally different part of the city. Their efforts are hampered by every stable, one by one, having their horses, camels, oxen, riding dogs, and axebeaks released, creating waves of stampeding animals through the streets.
Eventually, word spreads that Cromarcky has been deposed, as well as local gang leader Ziphras, the wererat. The Rangers are notified by a Sending to Eugeni to meet with now Overlord Tammerhawk at the Cypher Lodge after dark, where he thanks them for their aid, and assures them that the fair amount of supplies will be prepared and a pair of ships provided for the journey to Sandpoint.
The heroes now have the better part of a month to pass on the streets of Riddleport...
Rilee watches with a soft smile as Setsuna and Eugeni head out into the streets of Riddleport hand-in-hand to experience the joys of being a young couple. Then Zoli scurries out with her plans to make Baern's Breath an even more potent weapon, leaving the reincarnated druid alone at the table. She reaches in her pouch and touches the small statue of Olympus, feeling the usual urge to bring him back to life and go soaring on the winds. But as Shorafa begins to slink out of the room, another thought comes to her.
With all the dire threats that she and her friends/family had come across, she had never had a chance to actually be Rilee. Most of the incarnations she could recall had been entirely fresh starts. The lives she lived were complete unto themselves, with a beginning, middle and end. Her life as Rilee Stormborn, however, felt like a continuation of Riley Tobias. Though she could never envision abandoning those friendships that had started as Riley, it still hamstrung her ability to have a life separate and distinct from the old druid.
Looking down at her old, ill-fitting animal hide that she had claimed from her old corpse, she suddenly felt very uncomfortable in it. She looks back up and sees the swaying shape of the Calistrian priestess about to leave. Rilee jumps to her feet and calls out to her. "Excuse me, Madame Pamodae? About some of those services you offer..."
When Setsu asks around for Rilee's whereabouts, she learns that she hadn't been seen in the skies or in the nearby wilderness as is her usual custom. Instead, Setsu learns that she had taken up temporary residence in the Silken Veil with the Calistrians.
When she visits and asks for Rilee, the priestesses smile delightedly and escort her inside. She is brought to a small parlor with a pair of plush upholstered chairs set next to a table with some wine chilling in a decanter. After several minutes pass, a beautiful woman enters with a pair of crystal goblets and pours the wine, passing one to Setsuna.
"Hello, Setsuna," the woman greets. Suddenly there's a pop of static and a whiff of ozone. The lovely, graceful woman is Rilee, who has undergone a startling transformation. Her normally unruly, wild and unkempt hair is styled and traces of color has been added to its normal bleached white. Her face has been augmented with cosmetics, most notably around the eyes which deepen and accentuate their wide, expressive nature. Her lips, too, have been stained a deeper red. She is wearing an extremely feminine robe cinched tight against her curves. Even her nails are smooth and polished with colored lacquer that matches her lips.
Rilee smiles, gauging Setsuna's reaction with a bit of nervousness on her face. She sits slowly, first setting down her glass, smoothing her attire and then settling into the chair before reaching over and picking up the goblet again.
"I thought I'd try... this. What do you think?"