A Gossamer World (Inactive)

Game Master Rednal

"Puzzling indeed." Oneidros pauses to consider the many tomes he read in his time in the library of Almazaar.

DM, any knowledge checks worth making here? Oneidros is +33 at all except Eng and History where he's +30. How you prefer to handle knowledge rolls?
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Party, I'd vote for seeing if we can find Eldran Tesh (unless some Know check result suggests differently)

From what you've heard, no particular knowledge checks need to be made.

ah, so checks would reveal nothing?

Not at this point in time. Don't forget that you're world-hoppers - local details tend to be lost on you. XD

yeah, figured it was worth a shot since we had been here before, or was hoping a planes checkc would get something. I know nothing of Abadar? I'm not sure how far religion spreads.

Let me put it this way - how much time do you think your character normally spends studying the deities of each major realm? Assume the Grand Stair can take you to other campaign settings. At your levels, you've presumably been to several different settings. You could easily claim to have been here and studied in the past if that's what you think your character would do - and Abadar IS the local deity of merchants, well worth researching on general principle.

Well, Sashin IS from Golarion. Where Abadar is part of the major pantheon. Is that good enough...?

(Yup.)

Makes complete sense. Yin will not use her Knowledge/History as it's for sure not about this world, and heavily limit Knowledge/Religion to "general concepts".(Suggestion: Can make Religion Checks with a base 0 untrained, roll only. So always 0+d20, maybe know something, but only basic and non-specific...could be a good general way to handle some of the knowledge here)
I do assume Magic, in those worlds it exists in, is similar across the board courtesy of using the same system. So knowledge-arcana will probably not really need to be limited?
Knowledge-Planes is bread-and-butter, but I suppose wether thats applicable is case-to-case.

Yin remembers her manners and becomes visible, approaching the bard that spoke up:
"A bro-thel? Whats that? No, forget that question...where's that? Even if some other guy is behind this, that Count is in charge here, right? We can just un-convince him and tell him to undo what he did. And if he's no longer in charge, he can tell us about this other person and we can undo that Eldran Tesh guy!"
Having said that last part, she's looking at her travel companions...if they'd be up for it, Yin's ready to head right out following the directions given to find the Count for some more in-depth questioning.

"Right then." says Barrett, adjusting his hat as he stands. "I'm gonna head out, poke my head around a bit. I'll meet up with ya'll later."

With that the gunslinger excuses himself and heads out into the streets. Without any real direction he starts to wander here and there, getting a feel for the town. and making small talk with whoever he comes across. He wasn't much for talking, but his attention was elsewhere. He wanted to see what the halfling had described with his own eyes.

That's what it meant to be a Master of Invocation after all; knowing names and meeting folks. And if he just managed to stir up trouble, well, that was alright too.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26 to gather information
Casting Legend Lore on the town of Dalaston.
Casting Time: 1d4 ⇒ 1 10 minutes

"Well, i suppose this brothel should be our next stop." Mineire says, hoping to spur the others into action.

Sashin watches Barrett walk away from the group, and then thinks it best she go with him.

"Barrett, would you mind if I join you? I won't start any trouble...unless you ask me to!" she adds with a smirk.

I figure splitting up (oh no!) is our best bet for at least the investigation going on here. If everyone's okay with that, that is.

Oneidros nods to Sashin and Barrett as they head out.

To Mineire, he says, "I can see either starting with the count or this Eldran Tesh. Either way though, I'd like to know what's going on here. If you want to start at the brothel, that's fine with me."

Before they head out, he turns to the halfling, "Thank you for your suggestions. Before we go, do you know where we could find Tesh?"

Re splitting, I'd figure Sashin would just send a head with each party! ;-)
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On a more serious note, Mineire (or anyone) do you have a means to keep us in communication while split?

I've got Message, which gives me the ability to whisper messages to targets (14 targets) if they're within 240 ft. of me. The spell doesn't end if I get out of range, and it lasts 140 minutes, which is around 2 hours.

Aye, but 240 ft is not very far. I think it was rather meant to keep the split Parties in touch...as for me, no, not really. If things get too bad, I could spend a mythic power to cast sending(as per Archmage). So our brothel group has a means of contact, in an emergency.

I got nothing, lol. However, I think Yin can use Wild Arcana to cast Telepathic Bond, no?

"I think splitting the group is a good plan. We are six, thus able to cover two or three locations, depending."

I have sending prepared. Also, I don't mind if Sashin comes along with me - though I'd prefer if she remained a dhamphir for the time being.

I got nothing, lol. However, I think Yin can use Wild Arcana to cast Telepathic Bond, no?

Honestly, I do think you don't WANT that. While technically you only take Wisdom Drain if you try to READ my thoughts, an argument could be made that Telepathy is kind of a direct mind-link, especially if that telepathy is fueled by Yin. Theoretically, I could leave myself out, but if the second group would have some means of communication I would prefer not spending mythic power unless needed, especially if it's only 10 min/level(say the Count is "busy" at the Brothel and we have to wait 2 hours before we get to talk-)

Ah, Barrett has sending. in that case I'd say we use Sending on a need-to-use basis to stay in touch.

I have sending prepared. Also, I don't mind if Sashin comes along with me - though I'd prefer if she remained a dhamphir for the time being.

Until combat breaks out, or super-intimidation is needed, Sashin will stay in dhampir form.

I could do Correspond, which is like a two-way Message spell, no range limit, but sadly costs the PP of a 6th level spell and only lasts two hours. Not sure it is worth it. However, in an emergency, I can do Remote Viewing. Well, with that casting time, not really an emergency I suppose. Could just hoof it over to the other group or use lower level spells.

Just let me know when you've decided on something... though you never know when splitting the party is going to get half of you dropped into a horrible encounter while the other half relaxes with tea and cookies... *Innocent look*

aye...sending is 10 minutes so definitely not something if needed spontaneously. So either we trust in our relative OP-ness and split, or, other suggestion, we head towards the brothel together. The group that intended to goes in, while Sashin and Barrett do their thing outside the building. That way if you two get into trouble, you are already in the area and can head there. If we inside get in trouble, we can always storm out and you'll hear the ruckus. Sound like a plan?

Yeah, that sounds great. I'll still use Message, and we'll use it as a fallback strategy, just in case.

I'm still following my original plan of wandering off for at least ten minutes. Mostly because I already did all of the rolls above.

I'm still following my original plan of wandering off for at least ten minutes. Mostly because I already did all of the rolls above.

Any of those rolls dependent on not being in a certain part of the town? By all means wander off. The suggestion was just that we all, together, move towards the location of the brothel, then split there so we're in the same general area. Rather than splitting right at the inn and going wildly different ways from there.

No, but I'd also like to cover the most ground possible. I'm still waiting to see the results of my rolls, that'll effect my decision to continue wandering or reconvene.

At this point, since Barrett wants some alone time, I'd vote for giving him a half hour to do his thing and then we all go to the brothel together. If the majority wants to genuinely split up, that's fine too. We could just say we'll meet back here in 2 hours. What's the worst that could happen? ;0)

I am fine either way. If someone wants to go off on their own, that is fine with me. If everyone wants to wait for their return, that is fine with me, within reason. 2 hours might be a bit much, as things seem at least somewhat (if not terribly) time-sensitive.

*Amused expression* Result sent.

Honestly, if Barrett wants alone time anyway, splitting off to "cover as much ground as possible" then it's quite pointless for us to sit at the inn and wait for him so we can go together, because that kind of defeats the purpose(not covering any more ground than if we had stayed together in the first place).
If Barrett leaves to do his thing, with or without Sashin, he knows the risk of going alone, so Yin WILL move towards the brothel. Either accompanied by others, or alone and using stealth. Patience is not a strong aspect of her personality, plus as Mineire said, it seems time sensitive if our friend was kidnapped from here. Also, unless he spends his whole day at the brothel, the count may leave if we wait too long.

When Barrett and Sashin leave to look for clues in the city, Yin tries to urge the others to go see what the count knows about this. Thats the formulation. She does not use the word "talk" for a reason. Fair warning since you already know Yin If one or more agree to go with her, she sticks with them and moves regulary. Otherwise, she will stealthily fly using the roofs as cover from the streets, going to the Brothel on her own.
Stealth: 1d20 + 49 ⇒ (2) + 49 = 51 + invisibility(not calculated as not sure it even helps against these bloodless).

I think we stalled/deliberated long enough...

yeah, I am inclined to believe we have stalled enough. If at least one other person wants to go, Mineire will join that person and Yin to the brothel trip.

Sold. Let's say everyone but Barrett is off to the brothel together...and hopefully he'll catch up soon.

Remember, I went with him. Just in case. But the rest of you can go on.

*Sitting behind the screen, sipping from a glass of wine and reading the newspaper next to the fireplace* ... *Looks up* Do we have a plan now? Oh, good. *Tosses the newspaper into the fire* Barrett pretty much knows what he's doing, so...

All except Sashin and Barett find it easy enough to head to The Blind Eye. This lovely house lies directly across from the largest manors in the Golden Quarter, in the northeastern part of the city. It is painted a deep crimson, and red curtains are drawn across the windows. A sign hangs above the door bearing the gilded image of a closed eye. Despite the general lack of visibility, you can hear a lot of noise from inside - the place is obviously quite busy.

Mineire will open the door and walk in, looking for either the Count, or more likely, the proprietor.

Yin will tag along with Mineire, invisible and hiding. She has no concept of a place like this as she seldom mingles with others or visits other races settlements.
For the time being, she will observe and, as far as her attention span allows, learn what the modus operandi of this place is and how to behave, hoping that Mineire exhibits mimic-able behaiviour.(hey, she also understood what an Inn is).

That just as a general explanation. Not going to delay the game with the alien-ness of her mind or demanding explanations on behalf of her on generally understood concepts("What's a brothel?"), but in new(=unknown) social situations she may take it a bit slow until she feels comfortable enough to chime in.

The inside of the building is quite busy, and as at least some of you enter, an elderly woman looks up. She seems almost bored, actually. "It'll be at least an hour before there are any openings. What are you looking for?" she inquired, stifling a bit of a yawn.

Meanwhile, a human boy who couldn't have been more than five years old was clinging to her side, and he stared at Mineire with wide, fascinated eyes. "Are you here to kill the dragon?" he asked.

"Quiet, Stil. Don't bother the guests." the woman said, shooing him to the side.

"I was here to see the Count. Don't worry, I have no designs on interrupting business. If he is here, I can wait."

To the boy, he responds, "What dragon?"

Oneidros finds himself drawn to the human child. Several of the twigs from his outer body weave themselves into a hollow ball and then spin slowly over to the boy.

"Here, little manchild, have a ball." The floating hare grins toward the child (hoping he looks more encouraging than unsettling). "I'd love to hear about this dragon as well!"

Take 10 on Diplomcacy for 19.

The small boy stared and smiled, clearly fascinated by Oneidros - and surprised when the twig creature talked. "The dragon burned mommy and daddy." he said, looking at the twigs and lightly tossing the ball up and down.

"Hush." the old woman said again. "It's not like they can just come back from the dead, Stil - and you know better than to tell stories." she sighed slightly. "I didn't see anything. Poor thing probably saw a bird's shadow on the ground before the fire and mistook it for a dragon. Fires have other causes."

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
Makes perfect sense! Both birds and dragons fly.
Also Dragons spit all kinds of things, not only fire! And some birds are vicious.
Probably a bird caused this fire that killed his parents. And since birds are everywhere, and he's traumatized, he's blaming a dragon for this. Poor boy.

does she respond to, or seem uncomfortable with, my line of questioning on the Count?

She seems rather indifferent to the questioning - and since you said you'd wait, she seems to consider the issue closed.

"About how long do you think it'll be until the count comes out?" he asks of the woman.

"Whenever he wants to." she said. "This is a business, thank you very much, and we're not in the habit of disturbing our guests or telling tales about them."

Oneidros shrugs, says, "Well, I guess we wait," and then plays catch with the boy.

Rednal, I'm happy to wait until he comes out.

Anybody else want to do something?

I think Barrett and I are nearly done being loners. Not sure how long it took, but the plan was to meet up with the group at the brothel.

I do have leads I can follow up on if ya'll are ready.

Mineire appears to wait for the time being, concentrating on elsewhere.