Lio sense motive: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18 (preview says 18)
"Say it." Lio challenges you. "Tell me that I'm wrong." Having incited anger within you, and being filled with myriad emotion herself, she does not back down.
"I never said you were." Myri voice has a hard edge, like ice. "What I said still stands. My word is my bond." She does not elaborate.
Her body shaking slightly to add veracity to her words, if the low gasp in them didn't do that already. "I need you." She darkens as she continues, "It's... hard to not touch you... when we are around other people." She squirms, "I really don't think they'd appreciate me dragging you off every time I need you though."
Her gaze focuses on him, "You won't let be become a tyrant." There is more relief in that simple sentence than there should ever need to be.
Her hands travel down his shoulders, fingers intertwining his.
"I never said you were." Myri voice has a hard edge, like ice. "What I said still stands. My word is my bond." She does not elaborate.
Lio looks at you, not really understanding your anger. She exhales slowly, once, and continues on the path back to the hotel, saying nothing further unless you speak. Bluff:
The intensity of the promise, both in his words and in his body, touches the core of her. Her skin continues to darken as her body strains under his weight. Wanting that primal contact, needing him. A whispered vow, "Together. You mine. And me yours."
While at the caravan, Lio goes to the women's wagon. As nothing was taken, she retrieves her box of diamond dust, some ground up powdered gold, paper, pen and ink, and she places all of these things into her waterproof sack, which then goes into her backpack. After a moment she emerges from the women's wagon. She looks around for the best place to put a rune that will trigger if anyone comes to be nosy about the empty caravan.
"Myri, Gwnewch yn siŵr bod y ceffylau yn ddiogel." Lio says. Then, once she has located a suitable spot, she says, "Aime goen ta need tehn menets, ah'll beh ahs queck as ah kann." Then she begins her ten minute ritual.
The text says: If I do not have to have the spell prepared, just to know it, and if I do not have to concentrate on the spell (meaning that it wouldn't make sense since it wouldn't work otherwise, and i'm not sure how the glyph really works, having never used one before OOC, then the spell in the Glyph will be CALL LIGHTNING if i have to have the spell prepared, then it will be HEATSTROKE if that one works? :)
After the battle, and also at the caravan, Kalimac asks Attatoq to try to scent the missing people. He knows it won't help if it's teleportation or something similar, but Kalimac is not going to leave a stone unturned, or an ability unused.
Attatoq is able to uncover no more information the Liothonae could.
Rhost nods grimly ... and takes a moment to ensure that the box with The Seal is unmolested.
The Warding Box, which of course does not even detect as being magic, does not appear to have been touched.
(Although if you want to double-check to make sure that the Seal is still inside it, you would naturally have to open it.)
When you finally arrive back at the Inn, you find that Silmemir is there, unharmed.
"Umm, Hrunndalf. You said something a while back...when you were still big. It sounded different than normal...almost, I don't know cindery? Didn't sound like Terran, what...was it?
Hrunndalf looks surprised. "Not Terran? I thought something felt different about it... maybe my curse is finally breaking!" Then realization sets in. "Oh, wait... it wasn't Skald, Taldane, or Tien either? Cindery... could be Ignan, then."
Hrunndalf tries to reproduce the unknown tongue by quietly babbling out whatever syllables come to mind, but they're mostly nonsense, or Terran. After a while, having achieved nothing but drawing worried looks from passers-by, he gives up. "Well, I'll be ملعون."
"There it is again! ملعون, ملعون, ملعون. Does anyone recognize that? Helgarval? Maybe it's Celestial?"
"There it is again! ملعون, ملعون, ملعون. Does anyone recognize that? Helgarval? Maybe it's Celestial?"
it is infernal, says the Helm.
it is infernal, says the Helm.
"Oh," says Hrunndalf.
During the afternoon, a package arrives at the Inn. It proves to contain a Scabbard of Vigor, and a note inside indicating that it is a reward from the Oxgutter family for the rescue of Kelda from the prison below Brinewall.
In addition, information trickles to you in fits and starts, from the various sources you have asked to look into matters – Fynn, Kei, and Jorun (the news from Jorun also, oddly, arrives with a number of mundane documents written by Asvig Longthews.)
From these various sources, you are able to learn the following:
The Rimerunners Guild specializes in trade with Tian Xia over the Crown of the World, and along the rivers of the Lands of the Linnorn Kings. Their Guildhall is located on the waterfront in the Jade Quarter, and it is staffed by dozens of well-armed guards both day and night.
The guild is headed by Thorborg Silverskorr, a native daughter of Kalsgard who has the reputation of being honest, popular, and well-liked. But deeper investigation proves that this information is somewhat out of date. Starting a number of years ago, her public appearances became rare and infrequent, and it became impossible to see her except by appointment. However, she has made lucrative loans to a number of powerful people – including, it is said, King Sveinn Blood-Eagle himself – which helps keep her reputation above suspicion and reproach.
Her chief advisor is the equally elusive Goti Runecaster, a powerful magician of monstrous appearance and unknown species. He is known to have a blood-feather raven named Wodes as a familiar.
Fynn Snaeborg also sends you another bit of news – he has managed to secure for you an appointment in the early evening with a high-ranking Rimerunners Guild official, using his status as a well-known merchant to grant you the guise of his factors, brokering a lucrative deal in the amber and whale oil trade. He is hopeful that if you are as charming with the Guild official as you were with him, you might be able to coax out of him the location of Thorborg Siverskorr’s home. Fynn has sent along the necessary documents and information (although, of course, nothing will be valid until it is signed by him, he stresses, so if you must agree to some disadvantageous deal, no harm will come of it.)
(Although if you want to double-check to make sure that the Seal is still inside it, you would naturally have to open it.)
Rhost does not open the box.
As the information is gathered and shared at the inn, Hrunndalf says, "Sounds like Silverskorr had a change of heart a while back. I wonder whether it was imposed upon her. Someone may have harnessed her power for evil through deception, threat, or sorcery. Goti maybe? Of course, she may have been an evil mastermind all along, and merely stopped caring about her façade."
In addition, information trickles to you in fits and starts, from the various sources you have asked to look into matters – Fynn, Kei, and Jorun (the news from Jorun also, oddly, arrives with a number of mundane documents written by Asvig Longthews.)
Lio takes the documents written in Asvig's hand. To Melinda she says, "W'ere do ye wont 'e wreaten sampl's?"
Fynn Snaeborg also sends you another bit of news – he has managed to secure for you an appointment in the early evening with a high-ranking Rimerunners Guild official, using his status as a well-known merchant to grant you the guise of his factors, brokering a lucrative deal in the amber and whale oil trade. He is hopeful that if you are as charming with the Guild official as you were with him, you might be able to coax out of him the location of Thorborg...
"Whoe shudde go tolke ta thes offecial? We kannot jus' barge en 'ere an deman' asnwers," She looks evenly at the group. "Who es goen ta beh able ta keep 'ere kool whaile unner all thes stress?"
Lio looks at you, not really understanding your anger. She exhales slowly, once, and continues on the path back to the hotel, saying nothing further unless you speak. Bluff: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18
Sense Motive:
They continue on, in silence
"Whoe shudde go tolke ta thes offecial? We kannot jus' barge en 'ere an deman' asnwers," She looks evenly at the group. "Who es goen ta beh able ta keep 'ere kool whaile unner all thes stress?"
Rhost looks at Kalimac and raises an eyebrow.
"Whoe shudde go tolke ta thes offecial? We kannot jus' barge en 'ere an deman' asnwers," She looks evenly at the group. "Who es goen ta beh able ta keep 'ere kool whaile unner all thes stress?"
Rhost looks at Kalimac and raises an eyebrow.
"I suppose I can. As well as anyone can, I expect." Kalimac realizes that may not have been the most ringing self-endorsement of all time. "I'll do my best."
"I suppose I can. As well as anyone can, I expect." Kalimac realizes that may not have been the most ringing self-endorsement of all time. "I'll do my best."
"Look on the bright side. You couldn't do worse than the rest of us."
"Look on the bright side. You couldn't do worse than the rest of us."
"Given our historical diplomatic results when in tense situations, you realize that's faint praise indeed?" says Kalimac with a wan smile.
<Sssorry about that. Wasn't expecting it. Blindfolded. I'll keep it out from now on.>
<Don't know where I am. I've been unconscious. I'm being interrogated.>
Melinda suddenly swears, back on her feet pacing in the room.
Much more of her impotent anger comes through the telepathic bond than Mel intended. <Oh, I'm so sorry. We should... should have realized it was a trap sooner. I... wish I could... I don't know take your pain away. What are they asking? If you tell them something, anything, will they stop?>
Additional information that you totally also received from your sources:
Snorri Stone-Eye, called the Mad Reaver, was a well-known jarl renowned for his many successful viking raids against the soft lands to the south. The Rimerunners Guild financed several of these raids and took a cut of each journey's profits. Recently, Snorri contracted a mysterious illness on one of his journeys, swiftly declined, and soon perished. Most of his assets are rumored to have been sold to the Rimerunners Guild before he died.
Snorri was reputed to be not completely sane. He believed he possessed second sight, and predicted that soon there would come an apocalypse during which the very gods would wage war with each other on Golarian and the Rough Beast would slip his chains and ravage the world. He believed that only those who were properly prepared would be spared the devastation and enjoy the fruits of a world ripe for conquest when the dust settled after the gods destroyed themselves.
"Look on the bright side. You couldn't do worse than the rest of us."
"Given our historical diplomatic results when in tense situations, you realize that's faint praise indeed?" says Kalimac with a wan smile.
"When we have been dealing with people who are villains, we have done just fine at diplomacy. Which bodes well... If the person has nothing to do with everyone being stolen, then we should be able to make nice."
A pause, "And if they do, then they will probably end up dead and we can use their keys to find the next person."
She looks around at the group, "I'll calm myself down by the meeting and not say stuff like that. I have a spell that helps."
<They want to know if Ameiko is an Amatatsu, and if she has any living relatives. They clearly want to know quite badly.>
<So at least some of us are likely to survive until they have determined that for certain.>
"I'm not at all sure I'd call what happened at Asvig's place a successful diplomatic mission. Unless we're going to call carving through a room full of thugs 'diplomacy'. No, while we did the right thing, we did not do diplomacy."
A pause, "And if they do, then they will probably end up dead and we can use their keys to find the next person."
"Good plan," grunts Hrunndalf.
"Should we meet the contacts as a group, or stay behind while Kalimac and Mel do the talking?"
"Good plan," grunts Hrunndalf.
"Should we meet the contacts as a group, or stay behind while Kalimac and Mel do the talking?"
"We stay together." Then, self-consciously: "Not for any tactical reason. I'm just not willing to let Melinda out of my sight for the time being."
Then:
<Sorry, it became difficult to think for a moment there. They're becoming annoyed by my apparent recalcitrance. They're saying they're going to transport us somewhere that has better equipment and where 'Kimandatsu and Runecaster' can work us over.>
Mel pauses in her pacing, walks over to Alaric and whispers to him,
<But ... but listen. I really don't mean to be maudlin, but if I’m coldly realistic here, when they get to the point of killing some of us to get the others to talk, the mute girl is going to be among the first to go.>
<I sincerely hope it never comes to that point, but just in case, just in case this is the only chance we get to talk, I don’t want to die withou
"We stay together." Then, self-consciously: "Not for any tactical reason. I'm just not willing to let Melinda out of my sight for the time being."
"You know, Alaric, I've always felt that you have the whole matter of who should be protective of whom backward," says a waggish Kalimac.
Mel pauses in her pacing, walks over to Alaric and whispers to him
Alaric, silently seething, nods to Mel. "Tell them."
Standing next to Alaric, Mel lets out a tiny snarl.
Her voice low, savage, she turns to the group. "The bastards who took our friends are torturing them. They are being taken to Runecaster and someone new, Kimandatsu. They want to confirm if Ameiko is Amatatsu and if she has any other living relatives."
Her voice goes very, very calm. "So we really cannot afford to f#@& up. And we should really try to get a audience with Runecaster this evening."
Her voice low, savage, she turns to the group. "The bastards who took our friends are torturing them. They are being taken to Runecaster and someone new, Kimandatsu. They want to confirm if Ameiko is Amatatsu and if she has any other living relatives."
Her voice goes very, very calm. "So we really cannot afford to f@&* up. And we should really try to get a audience with Runecaster this evening."
As the color drains from Kalimac's face from this news, he speaks in a calm, controlled manner. "We have our appointment with the factor this evening. We will get what we need from him. We all know what's at stake now. We can't let ourselves be turned by any of the various evils we have seen. Everyone needs to keep a tight leash on their emotions if we want to see our friends and loved ones alive. He turns to each of his friends, looking everyone in the eye in turn.
As the color drains from Kalimac's face from this news, he speaks in a calm, controlled manner. "We have our appointment with the factor this evening. We will get what we need from him. We all know what's at stake now. We can't let ourselves be turned by any of the various evils we have seen. Everyone needs to keep a tight leash on their emotions if we want to see our friends and loved ones alive. He turns to each of his friends, looking everyone in the eye in turn.
Alaric holds Mel tightly and murmurs: "She's only unconscious. We'll save her. I promise."
To Kalimac, Alaric offers a nod. The uncleric's face is stone, manner resolute.
"You know, Alaric, I've always felt that you have the whole matter of who should be protective of whom backward," says a waggish Kalimac.
Alaric turns to Mel. "What, did you two rehearse that?"
Alaric turns to Mel. "What, did you two rehearse that?"
"I would never do such a sneaky underhanded thing." A pause, "Of course, Kalimac is absolutely correct."
He turns to each of his friends, looking everyone in the eye in turn.
Rhost looks Kalimac in the eye, opens his mouth, shuts it again, and nods.