CotCT Breakaway 2


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Breakaway thread for my CotCT game, number 2. 2 Weeks of downtime, so there are several scenes. I think we had a common goal in "go back, rescue pseudodragon, so this probably should come first. Feel free to pitch me ideas in OOC, though


Female Human Cleric 4

Moved from the main thread

When Ayedah asked Alandra if she would look at the picture of Sozite now, Alandra said "Yes, please let me see it."


Female Human Cleric 4

No dot? :(


Female Human (Shoanti) Barbarian 3

Ayedah's excitement boiled over. "It's at my home, I'll show you the way!" She started for the door immediately, having completely forgotten about the curfew before she stopped and asked the others, "Should we meet at Zellara's tomorrow?"

Ayedah will head straight home if there are no objections.


Female Human Cleric 4

"Do you mind if I stay at your house? It's late and I'm tired."

Now I have my dot. That was odd.


Female Human (Shoanti) Barbarian 3

"Oh, yes, that's fine." Ayedah wasn't entirely comfortable with anyone sleeping in Danel's bed - she had been using the floor - even though she knew he wouldn't care. She's helping me find Sozite, of course he wouldn't mind! She wondered if she should warn Alandra that she would be using a dead man's bed, but then she remembered what goddess the younger girl served.


Male Human (Half Varissian/Half Shoanti) Rogue/Sorcerer 2/2

"Yes, we can meet there, I need to check on the kids. But be sure to stop by Before you head off on any crazy adventures ladies" zalen adds with a playful smirk "After all, finding beautiful ladies is one of my specialties" and he looks pointedly at his two Shoanti friends and winks


Female Human (Shoanti) Barbarian 3

Ayedah grinned and nodded towards Zalen. "I'll try not to start any fights along the way." she promised.


Male Half-Orc Cleric of Gorum, 2nd

For Krek returning home: 1d20 = 20

When he returned with the ladies, Krek made sure to gloat of his good fortune to Trep. The two would often try to outdo each other in many endeavors; promiscuity was one of them.

"My business down at the docks went pretty well, wouldn't you say?" He plants a kiss on the girl to his left. The mouth motions reminded him of his hunger though. "You got anything to eat? I'll give you a go at one of the lasses after I'm done if it's good."

Diplomacy (persuasion) = 18 + 2 = 20

Sincere on his implications, Krek's boasting was good-natured here; there was no desire of him to leave his friendly lonely or jealous - in the long run anyway. It was fun to see him beat at first though!

Any rolls needed for the night/morning = 14


Ayedah & Alandra:

With morning slowly dawning, you arrive at the house unmolested. Is it still Daned's, or has it become Ayedahs yet? In either case, they are met with the first other tenants leaving for their daily work and chores. Sunrise can not be more than an hour away anymore.

Zalen:

Zalen arrives at the house he appropriated from the deceased seer at the moment of sunrise. Outside, he can see his surrogate family, most of them yawning heartily. It seems they want to leave the house, and while the smell that accompanies them is far from delicious, It might be profitable. Zalen realizes what they want to do: Sell dock dumplings, made from the slurry they probably rendered just two days ago.

Krek:

Trep raised an eyebrow. "How much did ye pay them?" He asked, punching him in the shoulder playfully. "Unusual enough for them to make house calls, but freebies in the morning? Don't tell me you break hearts now." The suggestions what he used to break was quite a bit cruder.

He shrugged. "Still some cheese in the pantry, I'll go for some meat later. If you chip in, I know a good cheap butcher shop."


Female Human (Shoanti) Barbarian 3

Ayedah unlocked the door and ushered Alandra inside. "This was Danel's home...I'm taking care of it now..." She still wasn't entirely comfortable claiming it completely as hers. It made things easier sometimes to still think of it as his.

The apartment was much cleaner than it had been when she arrived for the first time, but it was still a clutter by most peoples' standards. Ayedah had taken care of much of it while Danel remained bedridden, but she had no head for organizing things properly. But the main thing that kept the floor and other free surfaces busy were the stacks of paintings leaning against the walls, arranged carefully so that each other's weigth would not damage them. She kept what she could hanging on the walls, and those she and Danel held most dear covered by sheets. It was these that she led Alandra to see.

"Danel was an artist. A really good one." Ayedah beamed, her voice full of pride in her friend even though she had no critical eye for art by Korvosan standards. "He had been drawing since he was a child, before I even met him when his father would bring him and his sister to the edge of the plateau." She pointed out the painting of the three children playing in the forest, two Chelish and one Shoanti. "That's us. I mean, Danel, Sozite, and me. And there's the other one..."

She moved over to Sozite's portrait and uncovered it. Gods and spirits, Danel, I hope you close enough. "This is it. He...he wasn't sure this is what she would look like now, but it's how he saw her." The picture portrayed a smiling young, blond Chelish woman, full of life and dressed in fine clothing, seated in a garden and without a worry in the world.


Female Human Cleric 4

Alandra looked at the paintings of everyone together and the portrait of Sozite. She thought back to the terrible days when she worked for Lamm, when she did bad things to people and they did them to her.

"I remember them. They were older than me, so I didn't really know them. They disappeared a little while before I escaped."

She looked at Ayedah. "I'm sorry I can't tell you more. We'll find out what happened to her though." Alandra takes her coin purse out from out of her shirt. "I have alot of money now."

"I need to say my prayers, then we should sleep for a few hours. We have been up all day and all night. I'm used to staying up all night but not all day. Then we can go to Gray."


Alandra, Ayedah: I assume your silence means you go to sleep without further discussion?


Female Human (Shoanti) Barbarian 3

Sorry, just got back from Christmas. Posting real quick before resting. ;) I'm ready to move on though.

Ayedah felt a mixture of relief and disappointment. She was glad Alandra remembered seeing her friends, but she had hoped for so much more, even though she knew it was unrealistic to expect so much.

"You're right." She tried to force a show of good cheer, and admittedly it was a bit easier with the possibilities the visit to the temple could bring. She wordlessly spread out a bedroll upon the floor, not intending to take the bed when there was a guest in the house. Not that she thought she could ever sleep comfortably in Danel's bed anyway...


Female Human Cleric 4

Alandra said her prayers to Pharasma, then also went to sleep.

Her plan is to go to Grand Cathedral of Pharasma in Gray tomorrow and have Ayedah tell one one the higher ranking clerics Sozite's story and ask for some divination, paying if necessary.


Alandra & Ayedah:

The two young woman made their way towards the Cathedral in the earlier morning. The sweeping of the streets was in full tilt, and still, guardsmen were everywhere. They passed an ox pulling three coffins towards Grey... but other than that, and the occasional dark glances exchanged between City Guard and Citizen, there was not much to be seen.

As they entered the sacred grounds, they could see a pyre being prepared. It seemed the dead Field Marshal Kroft mentioned were prepared for their final journey already.

A younger male acolyte approached them. Alandra recognized him in passing. Sliver, a quiet young man with some hint of elven blood. He sometimes surprised even seasoned clerics with morbid insights even they found disturbing.

"Hail, Alandra. Did you have the night off? And who's her?"


Female Human Cleric 4
Sliver wrote:
"Hail, Alandra. Did you have the night off? And who's her?"

"Hi Sliver. No I didn't have the night off, I was working for the Korvosan Guard. This is Ayedah; she's a real Shoanti. She works for the Guard too."

GM TN:

Spoiler:
Alandra will seek out her superior in the church. Her plan is to tithe 10% of her earnings to the temple, then ask for help finding Sozite (paying more if necessary). Then she can return to her regular duties in Gray until the Guard needs her again.


Female Human Cleric 4

During the walk to Gray, Alandra talked to Ayedah incessantly. Much of it was the inane rambling of a 17 year-old girl who has been through some crazy events in the past couple of days, but Alandra also told her about what life at the Temple was like and how she became a cleric of Pharasma.

"I was on a job with one some of the other Little Lamms other children. We were supposed to rough up somebody who owed Lamm money, but some stupid priest tried to defend him. So we killed him, and the guy too. I took Pharasma's holy symbol from him, then the priest started talking to us. He told us we were wicked and we would rot in Pharasma's boneyard when we died. I was holding the holy symbol and I knew everything he said was right."

"I didn't want to be wicked and I didn't want to rot in the boneyard so I escaped from Lamm. Only I had to kill somebody to do it. So I think I am still kind of wicked because I didn't mind killing that kid, and I didn't mind helping to kill Lamm either."

"And you know, I wont mind killing that stupid rat turd Devargo, or that little b&!&$ who got away at the fishery, Dala..., Dara, what was her name? They're both on my list. Two came off it and two more went on."

"Pharasma knows what happened to Sozite. She knows everything. But she won't tell me, 'cause I haven't proven myself to her enough yet. But there are a few at the Temple who have, we just have to talk them into asking Pharasma for us. Mother Maple might help us - I think she likes me."


Female Human Cleric 4

Sorry to interrupt the flow GM, but I wanted to get that in.


Female Human (Shoanti) Barbarian 3

As they walked towards the temple, Ayedah was a bit surprised at Alandra being so open about her past. The younger girl had struck her as being a bit more reserved, but that was probably just because she saw most city priests like that, at least those from Pharasma's seemingly grim order. She felt sympathy for the priestess as she related her troubled past - the thought of her friends being forced into the same life left her shivering - but was also shocked at the girl's admitted bloodthirstiness.

Then she thought back to her own behavior in the past few days. Am I any different? I've wanted to stain my hands with the blood of at least three men in the past two days...but those were in moments of anger. Have I ever wished death on someone so calmly? She wanted to assure Alandra that she wasn't "wicked", but her professed lack of guilt over killing another child to escape Lamm gave her pause.

"Well..." Ayedah's forehead wrinkled in thought. She was no philospher. "You think you're wicked because you were okay with killing another child? You would not think that if you really were fine with it, right?" Gods and spirits I wish I were better with words! There was no judgment in her expression; Ayedah couldn't imagine living through the childhood Alandra had, and she also decided that the girl walking with her now didn't have to be the same person she was as a child.

As they entered the temple and saw the bodies being brought to their final rest, she grew more somber. As Alandra introduced her to the young man, Sliver, she greeted him simply and politely, "Hi.", while wondering which of the two priests before her was closer to the norm for Pharasma's clergy and what exactly Alandra meant by "a real Shoanti". Does she not think of herself as a real Shoanti? It was something she hadn't thought about before; the idea of being raised outside one's own culture was a new one for Ayedah.


The younger cleric eyed the strange visitor cautiously, and added. "Mother Maple is looking for you. She looked none too pleased."

Shortly thereafter, Alandra could verify that impression herself. The elder cleric really was not very pleased, if her serene, calm, icy demeanor was any indication. She slowly, without visible hurry, approached the two of them through mourners hall, where the biers for the deceased deemed important and well-liked enough to lie in state publicly were kept.

The Kings body was not there, of course. Too much risk, someone might wish to plant evidence implicating someone, or desecrate the controversial ruler's remains.

Alandra did not tell her she was going to be away all night, right?


Female Human Cleric 4
GM TN wrote:
Alandra did not tell her she was going to be away all night, right?

Uh, no. She just had permission to go deliver the brooch to the Queen, I believe.

"Oh, no. She looks mad." Alandra whispers to Ayedah.


Mother Maple swept through the room, locking eyes with Alandra all the while. In fact, she went right towards her, and then past her, never breaking her stride. She grasped Alandra's tunic, and pulled her towards one of the secluded alcoves, where a corridor branched from the hall.

Puzzling as that might be on first sight, Alandra quickly realized that shouting in this hall would be very disrespectful - and maybe a public spectacle wasn't the best idea anyway.


Female Human Cleric 4

As Mother Maple pulled Alandra into the side corridor, it finally dawned on her: in all of the last night's excitement, she completely forgot all about her duties at the Temple!

She kept her silence and waited for Mother Maple to speak.


Male Human (Half Varissian/Half Shoanti) Rogue/Sorcerer 2/2
GM TerraNova wrote:


Zalen:

Zalen arrives at the house he appropriated from the deceased seer at the moment of sunrise. Outside, he can see his surrogate family, most of them yawning heartily. It seems they want to leave the house, and while the smell that accompanies them is far from delicious, It might be profitable. Zalen realizes what they want to do: Sell dock dumplings, made from the slurry they probably rendered just two days ago.

Although he is bone weary with the exertions of the day and night before, as well as not being 100% recovered from his fight, Zalen reaches within himself and musters a jovial grin and demeanor for his surrogate family. In truth, he is very glad to see them, so much so that it actually surprises him. "

What is that I smell?" He declares loudly "Dumpling stew! Why, that's one of my favourites! Let me try that!" Taking a taste, the rogue uses his considerable skill (1d20+8=27) in the persuasive arts to convince his young wards that their concoction is indeed delicious "Mmmm that's good! I wish I hadn't just ate so I had room for more!"

He then greets all the children individually, being more rough and tumble with the boys and more gentle with the girls but showing genuine affection to them all. He then turns to his 'lieutenant' Ayen, gives her a mock salute and says "Anything to report soldier? Everything quiet and in order on the home front I trust?"

(If they kids tell Zalen of their plan to sell their dumplings, this is what he will say & do)

"Excellent! I'm very proud of you all to see that your hands have not been idle while I've been away. This is a great idea and I approve of it throughly. However, if you rangy lot are to be off on your own, I must see that you are properly outfitted, so all you now, come with me!"

Zalen will then take the whole group to the market, on the way he will inquire of them their various skills with weapons and defense. Assuming they all know how to not kill themselves at least with a blade, he will purchase good quality daggers and sheaths for them all, perhaps ones that can be hidden for the little ones. He will then see about getting a set of leathers made for the two eldest boys, if the youngest boy insists on it, he may get one for him too. He will also purchase a stout club for the stocky Kortis and a rapier for the gangly Roral. He will first make sure though that they can at least use the weapons without hurting themselves. If they can't, he'll instruct them to stick to the daggers for now and promise to give them some training later on.

If any of the children have any specific requests, Zalen tells them to let him know and he will consider them.

Once all this is done, Zalen instructs the boys to guard well their 'sisters' and for them all to continue to listen to Ayen. They are also to return home well before dark and not to wake him up unless for some emergency. Once satisfied that they are suitably prepared to be off on their own, the exhausted 'big brother' Zalen shambles off to bed and passes out like the dead.

I left some room for some additional interaction Terra, so please continue if you wish. I was just trying to get everything Z needed to say and do off on one shot if that's OK. Also, please let me know what the tally for everything will be?


Female Human (Shoanti) Barbarian 3

Ayedah looked worried when Alandra voiced her fears that she was in trouble, and prepared to speak up in the younger Shoanti's defense. She wasn't expecting the elder priest to simply drag Alandra away like a child though, and was stunned almost into silence.

"H-hey..." she started before looking back to Sliver, as if any advice were to be found there, and back to Alandra. She didn't want to get the priestess into any more trouble, but she couldn't simply stand by either. She began to follow them, trying to think of what she could say that wouldn't make things worse.


Alandra & Ayedah:

Ayedah saw a brief motion of Sliver's eyes, and interpreted it as a cue to follow the two priestesses. They quickly made their way from the public rooms.

Mother Maple pulled Alandra into one of the smaller rooms to the side, usually used for consultations of the grieving - and privately by some of the acolytes to sneak away from their duties. Here, they should have the privacy they needed.

Mother Maple kept Alandra in her gaze for a long while. She didn't say anything. The tension kept rising as she stood before her, arms crossed in rejection. Finally, she opened her mouth, and said a single sentence. "I am really disappointed in you."

Zalen:

The children were very easily fooled by him - even though they knew perfectly well how Dock Slurry tasted, they seemingly wanted to believe, and that is the easiest lie, after all.

Ayen especially glowed with pride, and went on how she added carrots and dried salt from the sea. The boys merely snickered - which naturally made the girl angry.

The shopping trip started out alright. The children seemed to have a good enough time, and all were eager to get outfitted properly. Amazingly enough, the boys were not too eager to play with their knifes, though. They handled them with respect, like the weapons they were.

Ayen, however, surprised Zalen somewhat, when she declared she wanted a rapier, and practically begged Zalen to teach her how to use it. One in particular had caught her eye, and with all the sincerity a girl on the verge of starting to grow up can muster, she threw herself into the scales.

There was one discovery that somewhat tainted the excursion, however. Pirisa, the smallest of his little clan. He had never noticed how she took it, or from where, but on the way back, he found her playing with a small silver ring. Small for adult hands, but still too big for her. It was a plain loop, inset with small mother-of-pearl fragments. Probably worth some coin, too.


Male Human (Half Varissian/Half Shoanti) Rogue/Sorcerer 2/2

Inwardly Zalen took Ayen's desire to learn the rapier in stride. After all, did he not have amongst his new adventuring companions not one but three women competenat and deadly with a blade. In fact, he took no small measure of pride in her choice and looked favourably on it as, after all as was known to everyone, the rapier was the pinnicle of martial acheivement in a weapon.

First though he decided to tease her a bit before aquiesing, going on about her wanting a boys weapon or some such nonsense. But he made very sure to curtail his gentle play before it could cause her any genuine upset.

When Zalen notices the bauble Pirisa is playing with he first looks around to see if anyone else on the street seems to have noticed or be paying any attention. If not, he will guide in the group into some quiet corner or alley, if not, he'll wait for them to get home. Either way, once all the children are gathered he will glare at all the older ones over Pirisa's head indicating that he wants them to stay out of it for the moment. He then puts on a disarming smile and squats down to be on a level with the little one. Wanting to give her the benifit of the doubt he begins very gently "Why Pirisa my little blossom! I had not noticed before that you had such beautiful jewelery, may I see it?" (Diplomacy and Appraise check if she agrees) "My my my, this is quite lovely my dear. Whereever did you find it? And you can tell me the truth dearest, I promise I won't be mad" and he means this sincerely.

Spoiler:

Ok so that should be:
-5 daggers (2 small sized)
-2 sets of leather armor
-1 club
-2 rapiers

Could you let me know what all that comes to? Or if it's just standard book price I can figure it out myself.


Female Human Cleric 4
Mother Maple wrote:
"I am really disappointed in you."

"I know Mother, I'm sorry. But may I please explain?"

Assuming Alandra has permission to continue

"We went to bring the Queen her stolen brooch like you said, and we actually got to talk to her! Then she asked us if we could do a favor for her, to help the Korvosan Guard with something. How could I say no? How do you say no to the Queen? So we went to the Citadel and met with Marshall Croft. First the Queen, then Marshall Croft!"

Alandra paused to catch her breath.

"Well, Marshall Croft wanted us to do something secret for the Guard, that the regular soldiers couldn't do. Something important, for the Guard and the City of Korvosa. I wanted to do it today, but everybody else said we had to go right then. And it took all night, I got back to Ayedah's house this morning and fell asleep. Then we came right here."

"Oh, this is Ayedah, she was with us."

"Since the King died, Mother, there's crazy things happening in the City. Marshall Croft says she needs people like us. I'm sorry I didn't come back to the Temple after going to the Castle, but I couldn't. Not without abandoning the Queen and Marshall Croft."

"Oh yeah, and Marshall Croft paid us alot of money." Alandra pulled out her coin purse. "I was going to give my share to the Temple."


Female Human (Shoanti) Barbarian 3

Ayedah was glad she held her tongue as Alandra explained herself. "She's telling the truth. She could have been back a little earlier, but it was too dangerous on the streets for her to come alone."

She stepped up to Alandra's side, standing tall next to the girl, not in an attempt to intimidate anyone, but to let the younger girl know she wasn't alone and hopefully to spread the elder priestess' glare a bit more thinly between them. "She helped do a lot of good for the city last night...and she has helped a great deal as well."


The priestess listened to Alandra patiently, looked over her friend briefly. All in all, she remained calm, composed to the point of being scary.

"I am not arguing that you should not have aided the guard. I am not going to bore the secret out of you. But we had a talk about something similar just yesterday, Alandra. What did I tell you then?"

She let Alandra think about that, and turned her attention to the other Shoanti. "So you are one of her companions, I gather? Did she bring you here for moral support, or have we just imposed on you a scene you'd rather have remained ignorant off?"


Male Human (Half Varissian/Half Shoanti) Rogue/Sorcerer 2/2

?


Female Human Cleric 4
Mother Maple wrote:
"I am not arguing that you should not have aided the guard. I am not going to bore the secret out of you. But we had a talk about something similar just yesterday, Alandra. What did I tell you then?"

"Umm..." Alandra was trying to remember when Mother Maple turned her attention to Ayedah.

Its only been a day for Alandra but its been months for me.


I've not forgotten you, Zalen - but your post didn't make it to bedtime. I'll send it to you asap though


Female Human Cleric 4

I found the old breakaway thread

"...to ask permission before I left my duties?"

Sovereign Court RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32

Zalen:

Spoiler:
Use standard book prices for the cost.

Ayen tried to take the teasing in stride, and to be all grown up about it - but she was clearly somewhat upset about it, grew defensive and all the more eager to prove herself to him.

Pirisa passed the ring to Zalen with a pained look. "I found it. I like it. Please, can I keep it?" Where exactly she found it, she did not mention. Zalen turned the ring in his hand. No way she had this for any amount of time, it would have been taken from her within moments in Lamm's service. It was easily worth fifty gold. Whoever she had taken it from probably would notice the loss.

Pirisa could stand the situation only so long before her eyes started to water. "I want it back, please Mister Candorian."

Ayedah & Alandra:

"Precisely" Mother Maple replied. "I tried to give you as much lattitude as possible, but you need to be dependable. Otherwise, how can we trust you with anything?"


Female Human Cleric 4

Alandra knew she screwed up, but the truth of the matter was that she completely forgot about her shift at the Temple during all the excitement of the night, and only remembered when she first saw Mother Maple angrily approaching.

Alandra dejectedly knelt before the priestess.

"I'm sorry Mother. You're right, I should have come back here after seeing the Queen. I could have met the others at the Citadel later. Or never. My first duty is to my Lady and her Temple, I know that. Here is all the money I got from the Marshall, and from before."

She held out her purse full of platinum coins.

"But there is one thing...I promised Ayedah I would help her find her friend. Will you help her, not for me, but for her? She is a good person, much better than me."


Female Human (Shoanti) Barbarian 3

Ayedah kept quiet as Alandra explained herself and knelt before the elder priestess. She didn't know their ways or their beliefs, and she knew there was only so much she could do with what she did know.

Alandra wrote:


"But there is one thing...I promised Ayedah I would help her find her friend. Will you help her, not for me, but for her? She is a good person, much better than me."

Though she remained silent as Alandra told Mother Maple of her plight, she couldn't hide her look of surprise at the younger girl's last words. Spirits...does she really think so poorly of herself? She remembered all of the girl's talk of her own "wickedness", and tried to think of some way she could possibly help her. She's doing so much for me, if I didn't even try to help her what kind of person would I be?


Male Human (Half Varissian/Half Shoanti) Rogue/Sorcerer 2/2

During his inspection of the ring, Zalen makes sure to check for any kind of identifying marks at all. Also he uses his knowledge of jewelry and the city to try and get some idea of who might have made it, or at least who to ask about it. (Please feel free to roll whatever rolls are appropriate)

Then as little Prisa begins to beg and weep for 'her new ring' back, Zalen mentally curses himself. 'You bloody fool! These young girls have probably never had anything nice or pretty of their own in their whole lives, and the first and only thing you think to buy for them is a Knife! And you call yourself an expert on women! Hah!'

Mustering his not inconsiderable charm (1d20+6=26), Zalen prepares to unleash it upon his youngest charge. Slipping the ring on the tip of his index finger Zalen picks up the weepy child under her arms and sits her on his knee. He then begins speaking to her with a mock serious tone at first as he waggles his finger at her "First of all young lady, you shall get nothing whatsoever from me ever again unless you Promise to Stop calling me 'Mister Candorian' and Start calling me Zalen....Or, hmmm, yes, I have decided, You...and Only you" as he gives a mock glare and finger waggle to all the other children " my dear Prisa may also call me 'Z' if you prefer. This is a Most high honour only bestowed on the most special of young ladies. You may feel honoured if you wish" as he winks at her "Now, do I have your promise?"

Only after he gets it will he continue "Now, as to the matter of this lovely piece of jewelry you have found..." and he takes it off of his finger and hold's it up between their faces. "Such a pretty piece of jewelry was obviously made for a very pretty girl" Zalen looks back and forth between Prisa and the ring for a moment, pretending to think hard and seriously "Well, you certainly are pretty enough to have a ring like this made for you little one. BUT, I am not sure if this ring was made for you. Are you? I mean first of all, it's almost big enough to fit over your head!" and he tickles her after trying to put the ring over her head. "Can I tell you what I think?" (After she replies) "I think that maybe there is some other pretty little girl out there who has a very sad mommy cause she lost her pretty ring. If this was your mommy's ring would you want her to be sad because she lost it honey?" letting her think about it for a minute he waits for her response then continues "So this is what I think we should do. First I think you should think really really hard and tell Z where you think you 'found' it. Then I think we should go back there and see if can find the pretty girl who is sad for losing this pretty ring. Then, and I'll have No argument on this!" he says in his pretend serious voice "I insist that we go back out, right now, and buy some pretty things for Both our pretty girls! How does all that sound to you?" And he will include Ayen in his look and smile as he says this last as well.

Turning his attention back to Prisa he concludes "And then, after we give enough time, say a month, for whoever owns this ring to find it, if no one does, I promise on my heart that you shall then have it to keep forever. Does that sound fair to you my dear sweet pea?"

(Please feel free to include responses in-between all this text Terra

If Prisa agrees to take Zalen to wherever she 'found' the ring, Zalen will look for the nearest jewelry store. Taking all the kids in, at first admonishing them Not to touch anything and for Ayen to keep a close eye on them all, especially Prisa (but not so Prisa can hear). Approaching the proprietor, Zalen will say that has found a ring nearby and if they know of anyone who has lost one. If he doesn't, Zalen will give only the vaguest description of the ring and inquire if the shop-owner knows who might make rings like that. If no good leads are forthcoming, Zalen finally says that he will return once a week, for one month, to see if anyone has inquired about a lost ring.

Once all that is concluded, Zalen will turn back to the kids and say "And now for something pretty for my pretty girls!" He'll allow each girl to pick out one or two pieces they like from the jewelry store. Not wanting them to be a target for muggers though he will limit it to 5gp each in total. He then will take all the children to a clothiers and allow each of them to pick out 2 sets of clean work/everyday clothes. The girls can also pick out one nice pretty dress only to be worn on special occasions. If the boys would like something nice, they can have one set too.

Spoiler:
He'll give them some freedom in picking what they want but will not let them go crazy. The idea is to have them be happy and be well dressed for a commoner and not stand out too much in a crowd one way or another. So up to 5sp for the common clothes and up to 1gp for the nice ones. Can you let me know how many of each the kids get? And I'll take off another 10gp for the jewelry. Cool?


Ayedah, Alandra: The priestress looked down on Alandra... kept quiet for a moment.

Sense Motive DC 15

Spoiler:
She displayed a long, but quite explicit sequence of feelings. She starts out shocked, and somewhat dismayed, then starts growing angry, rather than surprised. But before she could really answer, she caught on to something.

She sucked on her thin lips, and wrangled her fingers. "Alandra, I know you came from deep poverty to this temple. I also know about your List, and I am actually very thankful that you begin to make an impact on the world."

She raised her chin, and forced Alandra to look into her eyes. "I know you are a gifted cleric, and you will become more so. Alandra, you have a gift. Do not waste it, because while the Lady is patient and not easily offended, I can not keep making exceptions for you. Do you believe the others would like you being treated in preference to them?"

She glanced over Ayedah. "So, you are looking for a friend, and think a glimpse of prophecy is what you need? We can certainly perform an augury. Yet you should know that we can only see things as they appear, not make them as you might wish them to be."

Zalen:

There were no names engraved into the ring, but a pair of initials was hammered into the band, chiseled into the metal carefully. Two 'R's, standing with their backs against each other. Zalen could remember this... Remus Reb, a gnomish goldsmith and somewhat known eccentric.

Prisa melted under Zalen's charm all too quickly. He had read her quite right... and being treated like this was the way to her heart. "I promise, Zalen. I'll be good." she replied. She even giggled when he tried putting the ring on her head, something she usually reserved for her "big brother".

"I just found it..." she defensively added, and grasped for the ring. "Errmm... maybe we just wait if someone comes? If noone wants it? We don't need to look for someone who just lost it." She tried to sound sly, but it was all too transparent. It might have worked on a soft-hearted parent, maybe.

As Zalen looked back to Ayen, he could see her taking very careful inventory at what was going on. She approached the two of them. "We still need to earn back all that money, Mister Candorian. First you have to earn it, to spend it." Prisa simply giggled. "You're not in charge, Ayen. Zalen is!"

Ayen looked to him exasperated. "Please, Mister Candorian." She sighed. "A few new clothes don't hurt, I'd say." She sighed. She tried so hard to be all grown up, the mother of the company so to speak, and now the man she had a very foolish crush on had favored her "daughter" over her.

Prisa's grin just grew wider.


Female Human Cleric 4

Sense Motive: 1d20+7=15

Mother Maple wrote:
"Alandra, I know you came from deep poverty to this temple. I also know about your List, and I am actually very thankful that you begin to make an impact on the world."

Alandra's eyes widened at the mention of the list. But of course, Pharasma knows everything, and her high-ranking clerics know much that is hidden from others.

Maple wrote:
"I know you are a gifted cleric, and you will become more so. Alandra, you have a gift. Do not waste it, because while the Lady is patient and not easily offended, I can not keep making exceptions for you. Do you believe the others would like you being treated in preference to them?"

"No." Alandra replied meekly.


Male Human (Half Varissian/Half Shoanti) Rogue/Sorcerer 2/2

Shrewdly discerning the mood's of both girls, Zalen begins to get a headache to go along with his exhaustion. Inwardly he sighs and begins to wonder if he may have bitten off more than he can chew by taking on all of these children. After all, he was a single child and an orphan himself! What did he know of being a parent! Nonetheless, he Had taken on this resposibility and even though his time with them had been short, he could directly relate to these children and their parentless situation and they had already begun to worm their way deep into his heart.

Knowing the importance of not undermining Ayen's athourity and as well not wanting to hurt her feelings the tired rogue realized that he'd also have to remedy the situation immediately.

Speaking with some real but moderate sternness this time Zalen says. "Now now pretty Prisa, I'll have none of that. As I've told you all before, when I am not here Ayen IS in charge and you Will listen to and obey her. I will have No argument whatsoever on that matter, is that clear to you all. Prisa? Please apologize to Ayen as you have no right to speak to her that way. Do it Now please."

(if she does) "Good girl" and he'll smile and stroke her hair while the little one is still sitting on his knee.

"Now as to the matter of the clothes and jewelry, you are absoloutly right Ayen, you all Do still have to work off your allowance. But I have no doubt that you shall do so therefore I have no worries about that. But these clothes and baubles are Gifts from me my dear. I am giving them to you as presents out of my affection for you all. So that puts them in a different catagory. All you need do is accept and enjoy them. Oh, well you May also say thank you if you wish" and he winks and smiles as he says this last.

Finally he turns to Prisa again "As for the matter of the ring little one I have spoken already my decision on it and there shall be no more discussion about it. If we find no ownder for the ring it shall be yours, but we Will try and find them."

Relizing he is far too tired to deal with the ring now, Zalen decides that he shall just go visit Remus later on. Gentley putting Prisa down zalen stands up, stretching his muscles and cracking his joints, deftly tucking the ring into one of his hidden pouches as he does so. He smiles and looks on his charges "Now lets go get those presents quick so you can get to work and I can get to sleep!"


Female Human (Shoanti) Barbarian 3

Sense Motive: 17

Ayedah couldn't quite understand the meaning behind Mother Maple's reaction, but she reminded herself that their ways were not hers. She didn't understand why it was so important for Alandra to be beholden to so many rules when there had been important work to do, something that did some actual good. I hope, at least... She wanted to believe that what they had done last night had been worth it.

She couldn't imagine living the way the priests here apparently did. It all seemed so restrictive... Still, she kept her silence, not wanting to make things more difficult for Alandra.

GM TerraNova wrote:
"So, you are looking for a friend, and think a glimpse of prophecy is what you need? We can certainly perform an augury. Yet you should know that we can only see things as they appear, not make them as you might wish them to be."

Ayedah's eyes lit up with hope as Maple turned her attentions to her. She hated to see the younger girl scolded so, but she couldn't stop herself from showing her excitement until Maple's last words of warning.

Her excitement tempered somewhat, she replied, "I know. But I have to do anything I can to find her. I have to know what has happened to her. Where she is....if she's...if she's alright..." She reached for her coinpurse. "I'll pay anything I can. If there is anything your temple needs of me, I'll do it. I just need to find her." She was clearly determined to back up her words, though she might have been throwing herself from a bridge with them.


Mother Maple put a reassuring hand on Alandra's shoulder. She seemed to not have lost permanent esteem in her eyes - the act seemed more like a parent comforting the wayward child she had punished just moments ago.

"Such insight is quite... taxing. Only an experienced priest can gain it, and it does not come cheap, even for our own." The elder priestess anounced, and kept Ayedah close in view. "I do not know if you can pay afford this service. Alandra speaks for you, and that is important. But I simply can not waive our fee entirely."

Zalen:

Astonishingly enough, his heartfelt words were accepted by all of his young wards. They seemed quite eager to get his mind off the serious issues, even. Very soon jokes had replaced any somber mood, and when he came home much later that night, he could be sure a good time had been had by all.

Ayen and Pirisa now had new clothes, much like a peasant girl in rural Varisia might wear - blue and white. The boys instead had received some new toys. Dice and a small crossbow with a practice target. It did not have a real weapons pull, and no bolts, but it probably would keep them occupied whenever their hands grew idle.

Any requests for a new scene? Otherwise I have one or two more ideas... but these apply to you as easily as any member of the group, so I might save them for Ayedah or Alandra.


Female Human (Shoanti) Barbarian 3

Fear flashed in Ayedah's eyes as the hope that brought here here seemed in danger of being snatched away. "Please, what would it take? If I can't give you what you need, I will get it! I have to know where my friend is! I have to find her!" She realized she was pleading with the elder priestess, and while she would have been embarrassed to do so in other circumstances, she wasn't now. Finding Sozite was more important than her pride. But she suspected it wasn't the kind of behavior that would move Mother Maple.

She tried to calm herself and thought of how Alandra behaved. Bowing her head, she continued in a more even, repectful tone. "I am sorry, but is there anything I can do to get this...augury?" She stumbled over the unfamiliar word. "What does such a thing cost?"


Instead of derision, Ayedah was actually treated to a guarded smile that lacked in empathy just enough not to be entirely pulled into the situation. Probably she was used to having to deny others' pleads for aid, but could not quite harden herself to no longer care about doing so.

"Young Shoanti, Pharasma has given us the gift of prophecy and divination. We can ask her favor, and let it guide you. A donation will be required." She gauged Ayedah for a moment. "Usually, we leave it to the petitioners conscience to some degree, but to speak frankly, it should be no less than two hundred chelaxian coins - and that includes a gesture of our sympathy to you, and Alandra vouching for your cause."

She motioned Alandra to rise, and join her. "Alandra, I would like you to assist me in the trance, write down my vision. It is good practice for you, and might aid your understanding as well."


Female Human Cleric 4
Mother Maple wrote:
"Alandra, I would like you to assist me in the trance, write down my vision. It is good practice for you, and might aid your understanding as well."

Alandra's eyes brightened at the request, "Of course Mother, thank you. I would be honored. We can pay the donation."


Female Human (Shoanti) Barbarian 3

Ayedah's eyes lit up. She thought Mother Maple had been speaking as if the price would be something she could not possibly pay, but this...

She quickly pulled her pouch from her belt, pulling out coins with a shaking hand. "Yes! I have that! I can pay double, anything!" As she held out four hundred gold coins worth of money, she couldn't hide her relief; while she fought to keep her eyes from misting, she was clearly grateful. "Thank you!" she bowed her head awkwardly, twice.


Male Human (Half Varissian/Half Shoanti) Rogue/Sorcerer 2/2

OOC

Spoiler:
Unless you have something specific for the kids and I I'm happy to wait for the next scene with everyone involved. and hey, we still have that other ring with the message on it too...


Mother Maple offered Ayedah a comfortable seat in a waiting room, and retreated deeper into the temple with Alandra. In a secluded chamber, the Elder Priestess left the Alandra to ignite the braziers, and prepare the herbs.

Mother Maple returned in the ashen white garb reserved for such cermonies, and briefly inspected Alandras preparations. She was not disappointed.

The heavy, somewhat acidic smell of the herbs filled the room quickly, and Alandra found herself breathing as much more shallowly as her mentor breathed deeper. Mother maple produced a small knife, and cut her wrist almost casually. Not as deep as being in danger of bleeding out, but enough to produce an even more pronounced connection to the hereafter. Before long, she had lost contact with the living world, and taken on a greyish palor. Her skin glistened with cold sweat.

"The gem is tarnished, but unshattered" she whispered, almost inaudible. "Wrapped in Cerulean veils, the tiger's maw swallowed her. Break his fangs. Only then will it ever regain its luster." A shaking gripped the elder priest, and she seemed to slip from her meditating posture. "The Tiger's eyes are upon us all."

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