Ascension - Mageocracy

Game Master bbangerter

Ian pries one of the flying blades from his side with a grunt, coated in blood, but it vanishes out of his hand as the spell fades.

He addresses Soliel, who appeared out of nowhere. "So you do know how to have fun," Ian grins through the beating he took. "He's bleedin' out. Got anything to get him back to the Tower alive? I wouldn't mind seeing this prick interrogated."

As the others join them, "This dangerous? Yeah. Usually the risk isn't drowning in piss and shit though. That's a brand new perk of the job," he frowns down at his platemail, thinking of how long its going to take to clean.

He looks at the priest's belongings. "We divvy up the stuff we can use, sell the rest and split the gold. But let's get back to the tower first."

"Good work everyone. Glad to have you with us, Orc."

Ian will pick up the priest's body and carry him back, alive if possible, dead if not.

As Ian objects to the wretched filth, Wraxus forms a wry smile. Calling on another simple spell, Ian's armor suddenly is clean of the refuse from the sewer. Just as he finishes this, Ian offers his congratulations... and an insult.

Stepping closer to Ian, Wraxus' expression suddenly gets cold, "To clarify, Master Marros, you may call me Wraxus, Drake, mage, or conjurer. But call me Orc again, and things will not go well. I trust you meant no offense, but am I clear?"

Soliel smiled wickedly as she and Ian stood over the collapsed form of the priest. The grin stayed as she glanced up at the much taller ex-guardsman. Oh yes, this has always been my form of enjoyment. Looking back down, her looked changed to a pensive frown when the suggestion to save the man for interrogation followed. No, he dies here. Too many have escaped because of an unwillingness to simply eliminate the enemies of the Tower. The man is a dead-end, a culmination of other leads. Radgar, the distant Necromancer and Diguri all await execution. Any shred of wisdom would tell allies of this wretched man to ply their ideologies elsewhere after his death. We can recommend hanging his body out in public view, to ensure the justice of the Mages is well known.

This conversation angle can continue, and Soliel isn't so much making a decision for the group as expressing her firm opinion. Obviously can't talk too long about it, given the 5/rnd bleed out rate, but still

On one knee cleaning her sword and picking through the priest's items, Soliel glanced up with a slightly amused expression at the momentary dust-up between Wraxus and Ian, and addressed the conjurer.

Ian meets Wraxus' eyes. "I don't take orders from you. You got such thin skin maybe you're in the wrong line of work." He shoves the point of his greatsword into Bannali's neck with a clink of metal meeting the stone floor underneath, then slings the body onto one shoulder and starts to walk back towards the sewer exit.

Wraxus' eyebrow arched as the woman spoke in the accursed tongue to him, though his eyes did not waver from Ian. After the warrior speaks, he calmly responds. "I know the horror of my heritage, I see it any time I catch my reflection. Nor do I give any orders. But I do ask of my comrade, one I am honored to fight beside, for a measure of respect, and hope he can grant me that." He offers Ian his hand.

"I'd heal the sap to see him interrogated, but I agree the Tower has proven its inability to keep captives, so he would have to be killed thereafter. Either way, I don't care."

@Edmond: I believe Ian's last action put that debate to rest

After Ian and Wraxus resolve their differences.....

As Ian hoisted the dead priest's body and group moved to leave, Soliel paused. A moment, she said in accented Common. We should check the side passages off this chamber. The priest himself resided in some specific place. Perhaps more details are there as well. Starting with the passage that the man came from, she ban searching the halls off the chamber.

Ian nods and follows Soliel, watching her back.

As Ian turns and walks away after Soliel, Wraxus shrugs and sighs, then follows after the others.

Soliel takes the lead down the side passage, 40' later it opens into a room, but she stops before entering.

"What is it?" Ian stops, behind her. Priest's corpse still over one shoulder.

Holding up one hand silently, Soliel stopped instinctively as she noticed a slight discoloration on one wall. Her training in the Friends had, painfully, taught her the lesson of missing such details. Here, the vigilance paid off. This, she said while pointing at the faint outline of a rune. I believe it to be a trap. Everyone back up 20 paces while I attempt to neutralize it. After waiting a moment for the others to comply, Soliel began attempting to disable to magic trap.

Disable Device 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (12) + 19 = 31

Assuming that is successful she'll move ahead in the room and search it

Soliel drains the magic from the rune, disabling it.

Beyond is a small chamber with one other exit, a ladder leading up to the surface level.

On top of a crate in one corner rests a backpack and a lantern. Going through the pack reveals several gems (1000gp total) and a dozen waterproof scroll cases.

Looking through the contents of the cases are a number of interesting documents.

Other scrolls still to come

"Anything good?"

OOC, holy shit man. -slow clap-

No scroll 12, just 11 total

Soliel scanned through the scrolls, the slightest of frowns overcoming her countenance as she took in their contents. The first scroll she casually handed to Ian. Have you died more than once or is this just the dead man's fantasy?

The level of surveillance and data in many of the scrolls brought begrudging respect. After quickly reading through them she handed them to Wraxus and Edmond. He had clearly been targeting Tower personnel, even Masters, for some time. His death is a blessing. These will go directly to the Tower.

Finally, she took scroll three for herself. Too long to fully digest now, she nevertheless was intrigued with the topic, anatomy and it's vulnerabilities being something of an interest area. Scroll two she handed directly to Wraxus, along with scroll ten and eleven. Perhaps useful to your summons, yes? I would assume as well you possesses knowledge of planar creatures. Finally, she handed scroll four to Edmond, uncertain if he could use it but feeling it perhaps best fit.

Ian grunts, "No, it's real."

He holds out his hand. "Can I have that one?" he asks Soliel for scroll five.

Wraxus looks over the scrolls as Soliel hands them to him. "Indeed, this is quite in depth work that he has been executing. And this strange religious text, perhaps from the order he was affiliated with? Perhaps in its passages we could find some clue to other parties involved?"

Looking over the scrolls she intends for his use, "I will spend some time in the study of these, though I am loathe to wield such creatures unless absolutely necessary. They pose as much as threat to those that try to manipulate them as to those they are unleashed upon."

Still, Wraxus works to secure the scrolls safely in his pack for travel back to the surface.

Am I forgetting something? I only recall Ian and Serelina dying once, when we fought the Thieves' Guild.

Soliel gave Ian a long, inscrutable look, though whether it was in regards to claiming the veracity of the 1st scroll or his request to have the 5th one was unclear. After an extended moment he handed the 5th scroll to him as well. Master Bellafini should receive that, when we return the other scrolls related to the Masters.

After giving the room a final once-over to ensure nothing was missed, Soliel recommended to the others returning to the Tower. When the group neared the surface, she cloaked herself in invisibility for the rest of the journey. The scrolls contained no mention of her, and for any other would-be note-takers she intended to keep it that way.

Remember Ian's tortured previous body we recovered? I think they did something along the lines of resurrecting the old bodies, which brings into question what the f&&$ we are now. Clones? Were they just souless bodies? Are there two souls now? It's real weird and dark and f%+*ed up and I love it :D

Ian takes the scroll solemnly and does his own search of the place, trying to find Serelina's body anywhere. If no luck, he'll agree to go back to the tower.

With nothing further of interest uncovered the group returns to the tower to report.

Masters Isul and Hast meet with you for the debriefing.

Examining briefly the corpse Ian brings in Master Isul comments, "One more threat taken care of, or maybe multiple ones in this case, all connected to this man. Well done."

Master Hast nods in agreement. "He is aged, but this was Elmod."
reference "Given the matching descriptions though, I think this is also Bannali."

"We will want to get copies of those scrolls made for further study."

"Yes, this is an interesting discovery."

yeah i can use the scroll 4

Very interesting. I do remember finding Ian's body (though Ian may have done that on his own) though I didn't recall torture signs on it. I had just assumed the Thieves had thrown the body in the sewers to get rid of it. At least in 3.5 D&D, it was not possible to Raise Dead/Resurrection on anyone that did not want it from you, the soul could simply refuse to return. Likewise, Ian and Serelina were Resurrected by the Tower very shortly after they died. So...yeah, not sure how the Raise/Torture/Kill event with Serelina and Ian actually took place.

Soliel assisted Ian in searching the sewers for Serelina's body, but finding nothing returned to the Tower.

Meeting with Masters Isul and Hast, Soliel gave a detailed review of the events the group experienced. She also handed over the scrolls, but after a pause left it to Ian to hand over or not the scroll detailing the deaths of he and Master Bellafini. She stood at attention while the Masters reviewed the evidence, both body and scrolls, and could not help but smile briefly in satisfaction as Master Hast identified the man as not only the wanted Bannali but also that he was one of the Exiles as well. A successful mission, Master Banest would be proud of the Friends today.

After they had spoken, Soliel responded. Sir, Ma'am, do you have a priority next target? If not we will continue with our intended missions as outlined previously. After awaiting the answer, she also added. I...also believe that Master Bellafini should be immediately advised of the Scroll contents, she glanced over at Ian while speaking, as her prior experience may make some of the content particularly salient for her.

Can Ian do a detour to his quarters before reporting to the masters? I imagine Soliel would have no trouble spying if she chose.

Very interesting. I do remember finding Ian's body (though Ian may have done that on his own) though I didn't recall torture signs on it. I had just assumed the Thieves had thrown the body in the sewers to get rid of it. At least in 3.5 D&D, it was not possible to Raise Dead/Resurrection on anyone that did not want it from you, the soul could simply refuse to return. Likewise, Ian and Serelina were Resurrected by the Tower very shortly after they died. So...yeah, not sure how the Raise/Torture/Kill event with Serelina and Ian actually took place.

I don't recall the exact HP totals for that fight with the thieve's guild, if it was just negative HP or negative con/death.

When Ian went looking for the bodies it was something I decided to add in to the story telling. Assuming negative HP and not negative con, the thieve's took the two, kept them alive, but then handed them over to Bannali as they had met with and had some limited interactions with him.

If they had been at negative con, then yes I have broken the formal rules here.

Master Hast takes great interest in the scrolls on various daemons and the summoning of them as well as the scroll specifically about him. "I may need to rethink my day to day routines a bit here." he muses.

Master Isul takes some time looking over the scant comments on Master Veray, but keeps her thoughts to herself.

"Given todays success, I see no reason to deviate from the plans you have outlined thus far. Firyin was the next target if I recall?"

Ian and Serelina both failed a Fort saves to avoid death on coup de graces after Slumber Hex.

"Coup De Grace: You automatically hit and score a critical hit. If the defender survives the damage, he must make a Fortitude save (DC 10 + damage dealt) or die."

Personally I don't mind rules being fudged for story. I liked the mystery of whatever weird shit was going on. I mean Resurrection doesn't normally let you change RACES either.

Ian makes a stop back at his quarters before meeting with the masters. Wraxus cleaned him magically, but he still thought he could smell sewage.

After bathing, then cleaning and oiling his armor and storing it, he sat in plain clothes on a chair in front of the small hearth, staring at two rolled up scrolls, the ones detailing his and Serelina's torture.

Unless Soliel is spying and steps in...

Finally, he tosses Serelina's scroll into the fire and watches it burn.

After it's completely gone he crushes the ashes with his boot and walks out to meet the masters.

I agree with Ian RE: the situation with Ian/Serelina after the Thieves' fight. Makes for a great story; morbid, but very much in line with the tenor of the campaign. The only question it does leave is whether Raising others unwillingly for interrogation/torture is an option. For example, if we wanted to do the same to Bannali for more info on the other exiles, could we? Might be easiest to just Retcon that Serelina and Ian were captured alive rather than Coup de Grace'd and keep to RAW as it relates to raise/resurrection.

Prior to the meeting with the Masters....Soliel paced the hallways after arriving at the Tower, mentally clicking off the main points of her briefing. Never a particularly subtle man, it was rather easy to spot Ian make an unexpected detour towards his room. She caught the ex-guardsman looking back over his shoulder and locked gazes for a moment. But she said nothing, simply a look that acknowledged and accepted. Certainly not a common countenance for the woman, but there it was. She made no effort to call the man back, and said nothing when he arrived later to the briefing sans scrolls. @GM: Retcon the comments Soliel made in my last post regarding information needing to get to Serelina.

Sir, yes sir! Soliel's response to Master Hast directive was accompanied by the usual salute. But instead of leaving she pushed ahead. Sir, Ma'am, permission to ask a question and make two requests? Granted as one would expect, she continued. One scroll had written in some other person's handwriting "Cena blood is life". What would this mean? Second, request that an additional copy of the scroll referencing Firyin be made, as I have some ideas on how we might use it to draw the man out. Third, the informant that is suspected of being Diguri is expecting funds for her role in leading us to Bannali. Request the Tower support with funds to maintain this ruse. She then waited for the answers, acknowledging each in turn.

Know: Local for more info on Mariann Sorrin and Elena Neriya. 1d30 + 16 ⇒ (27) + 16 = 43 As the meeting broke up, Soliel purposefully glided over to where Master Isul was walking away dawn a corridor. At a place where no one else could hear she stopped the older woman. Ma'am, please forgive the intrusion, but I could not help but notice the significant increase in concern you displayed looking over the scroll regarding Master Veray. Is the source of that concern something you could share?

Wraxus accompanies the company and listens silently as the mission, its objectives and findings, and its follow up are discussed. Though a dutiful servant of the city, he was new to these halls and his role here, and still knew little of those he served alongside. The human soldier is a skilled warrior, but seems capable of little else. The mad halfling, he is keen to destroy his foes, and I believe they mentioned his ability to heal as well. And the woman, trained in multiple tongues, a master of stealth and subterfuge, and equally talented with the blade, she seems to be the leader of this cohort. I will work to know her more, and how better I can serve the city.

After Soliel's questions are answered, Wraxus calmly chimes in. "Pardon, but given my reassignment during the midst of the team's last mission, I am a bit ill equipped regarding foreknowledge and strategy. Would someone be so kind as to fill me in on who Firyin is?"

knowledge (local: Firyin): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (13) + 12 = 25

@GM: Is there a mix-up on names of the Exiles we killed? Back on pg 72 (near bottom), Elmod is named as the guy we chased down and killed after the Maklo execution. But here Elmod is stated as Bannali's real name.

"Yes, I could use a refresher as well."

Ian and Serelina taken alive, no res without consent.

Sorry, I referenced my notes incorrectly. That should have been Achkal/Bannali.

Master Hast responds to Wraxus and Edmond's query. "Ian may be able to better fill in the details, but what we know of Firyin is that he is a drow that attempted a coup against Shannath Diguri but failed. We also know that Diguri, or her subordinates, killed Firyin's lover, another drow by the name of Volundeil."

"Firyin has provided some leads to us previously, out of his desire for revenge, to the location of some of Diguri's gang. If he is of no further use in that regard, then it is time to deal with him. As a once trusted lieutenant of Diguri he is no doubt guilty of many crimes worthy of death."

"There was also a half-elven waif named Ellenora over on beggars street that had some connections with Firyin if I recall correctly."

Ian will be 'studying' the record of his torture every day.

At the meeting... "I'd rather take down current threats than dish out justice for past crimes. We really gotta take down Firyin right now? I liked Soliel's leads on the Mistress. And I still want Anthony and his gang dead. They're f%&+ing dangerous--AND it's personal."

He crosses his arms.

@GM: Did the Master's respond to Soliel's question and requests (3rd paragraph) of my last post?

Back at the meeting.... Soliel glanced at Ian as the man spoke. She recognized that not everyone conversed with the Masters with the same level of reverence as Friends of the Tower did, but the man sounded almost pouty. Still, he made a fair point. Looking back at the collected mages she added, Sir, Ma'am, permission to discuss the next course of action within our group? Firyin will be eliminated, but those of which Ian speaks were almost certainly involved in the recent raid on the Tower. Eliminating Anthony and his cohorts would be a worthy goal, and Firyin may be our best lead to them. Additionally, I am wondering if the other exiles are more involved in our recent woes than we have thought. Could Eris be behind the possession or actions of Radgar, or others? Could Asol be the harpist who attacked the church? Could Lia have returned to the criminal world? Could Tanney have been involved in the attempt to blow up the building in Tiny Town? These are also concerns that may be more pertinant than Firyin.

With no pressing threats and valuable benefits for 3 of the 4 PC's to be had, let's shoot for 3 days' downtime before moving on. Assuming all agree....

Soliel frowned slightly with arms folded. These Zon-Kuthon zealots have the solar plexus nerve bundle two centimeters off Still, studying the scroll she had pinned to the otherwise bare walls of her small quarters, she had to admit the detailed and utilitarian assessment of anatomy they provided was useful. She had, to her chagrin, learned a few things in a domain she felt already well-educated. Another weapon in her arsenal. Glancing back at her bubbling alchemical equipment, she adjusted the flame under an alembic to ensure the poison would not fully boil. Nothing else to do but let it wait. She had two other errands to run today.

Grabbing the letter on the table, she exited her room, closing, locking and activiting the trap on it as usual, she walked briskly upstairs to the ground floor of the Tower en route to the stewards. Their numbers replinished following the massacre, they again had resumed mailing correspondence when requested. Tomlin would be disappointed to hear of his mis-steps, but a fellow member of the Friends would far prefer to correct a mistake than to remain oblivious. Soliel was confident the halfling would take the knowledge that Bannali had discovered details of him in stride, and regardless he needed to ensure it never happened again. Bad news is almost often better known, and confronted.

Often, but not always

En route to the stewards was Ian's room. She knew from his past habits that the man would be in, and she knocked on the door.

Assuming Ian answers....

Exiting the room, Soliel made her way to the stewards, dropped off her letter to Tomlin, and proceeded back to chamber. There was, afterall, more poison to be brewed.

Ian was sitting in front of the hearth again, this time reading over the detailed notes of his own torture and death, but his mind was elsewhere. He was thinking about Tavrus, his old colleague, and what happened to him. Did they torture him too? Where's his body? Did the Mages bring him back and send him on some other job?

Lowering the scroll to his lap, he stares into the flames of the hearth and wonders how Tomlin's doing, Little Brother. He'd always remember chasing Hezek through those dark tunnels and Tomlin racing ahead, bringing him down...

He decides to pen a couple letters.

He peers at his crude writing, and all of the blank space on the parchment. How the hell do people fill the whole page? With what?

There's a knock on his door and he stands to answer it.

"Soliel...Yeah sure," he steps aside and shuts the door behind her, watching her suspiciously. Noticing her letter, he gestures to his desk. "If you're dropping off some letters, take mine too." His letters could be easily read at a glance, as they're still face up on his desk.

He gets visibly defensive when she talks about the destroyed evidence, his jaw set, but his expression goes blank when she says it was the right thing to do. When Soliel turns to leave, he takes a heavy breath and says quietly, "Miss Bellafini is...proud, and fierce. She's an unshakable b!+@#. And at this point...probably my oldest friend," he thinks. "Only friend left. Even if she doesn't think of it that way, I do. I don't know what that scroll would do to her, but nothing good. Glad you agree."

Ian looks taken aback by the unexpected earnest compliment, and stares after her as she makes her hasty retreat. He steps up to the doorway and looks out, but she's probably vanished by then. Still, he says to the hallway, "You too sis..." and closes his door.

Man, I've been sloppy with the details lately. Both should have stated Shelyn.

Master Hast sounds out the words, "Cena blood is life." and shakes his head. "What is cena?"

Master Isul provides a possible starting point though, "Not what, who. Cena is the name of one of the librarians. Could be any number of others with that name though."

She continues, "We will provide the funds for the payment to Diguri, or her pawn, as the case may be."

At Ian's outburst both Masters raise their eyebrows slightly. "You have a much better read on these two then we do. It seems both have sought to use the tower to eliminate the other in providing leads and information. We leave it to your decision as to which you wish to target first, and which to save for more intel if needed."

Will pass the 3 days time here unless anyone has anything they want to go over in the interim.

Soliel making the payment to Ky at the Iron Gullet in that time frame?

Edmund spends his time studying the scroll he was given. Other than his study, he goes about his normal routine of eating, drinking, and otherwise enjoying himself. The terrible time in the sewer had taken time to wash off physically, but he was a mentally unflappable sort.

Dropping off payment to Ky is pretty much a solo mission at this point so she'll do that during the downtime

Taking precautions to ensure her disguise was the same as last time, Soliel used her innate stealth to ghost her way to the Iron Gullet. She dropped back into view rounding a corner so no one saw her re-appear just near the entrance. Opening the door, she adopted a cocky smile of one self-assured and newly wealthy. Sauntering over to the barkeep, she ordered a boilermaker and two glasses of the finest wine they had, and proceeded upstairs to where Ky and her friend awaited. Assuming they are there...

Well, hello Ladies! Setting the boilermaker down nearby, he proceeded to hand each a glass of wine, and set a fat bag of coins near the base of Ky's chair. She did so with an air of subtlety, so as to not let others' see the action, but not to give away her actual skill with sleight of hand.

Ya came through with the goods, so I came through with the goods. Jus' as we agreed. Might be more o' that later if my employer comes through with anything. Will let ya know. In tha meantime, try not to spend all that in one place, ha! Soliel drank the boilermaker and turned to leave, but then pivoted back. In quieter tones she asked Ya know, there might be one other thing. Could be good money in it for us both, dunno yet. The name Lia mean anythin' to you? Woulda been neck deep in stuff the guards don't need to know about 'fore disappearin' for a while then comin' back. Ring any bells?

Sela raises an eyebrow hands over the glasses of wine, but takes a sip as Soliel sets the bag of coins down. "Looks as though Ky's information proved profitable to you."

Ky responds, "Of course it was Sela, I was only wrong that once, and how was I supposed to know Jamil had an identical twin brother."

"But good to see you again Lyle." She takes a sip of the wine. "Good taste this."

"Lia? That names not ringing any bells for me, you Sela" the other woman shakes her head. "How long ago was it she disappeared?"

Likely under an alias then....still, odd that those connected to the underworld would have no knowledge of one who was previously so prominent...unless perhaps Lia has not returned to the criminal world except in disguise... Soliel let the idle thoughts crawl across her mind as she casually responded with a dismissive wave. Ah, never mind then. The buyers was headin' back to the Hold, never really got a contract, jus' passin' conversation. Finishing off the rest of the beer, she added. Well, you ladies have a nice evenin'. Will be in touch if we can do business again. Whistling a happy tune as if one very happy with his present lot in life, "Lyle" headed back down the stairs and out the door.

Soliel doesn't want to look like Lyle is trying to get away, so she would stay longer to maintain the ruse. But she would just as soon leave now that the "deal" was made and she had the chance to ask about Lia.

Also, is there a crime syndicate in Isstus Hold? I'm guessing their would be something, but if not disregard that reference in the post. Soliel's trying to elude to Isstus Hold crime bosses being Lyle's occasional employer.

Ky adjusts her glasses, "I may be able to find something out if you want...?"

"In the meantime, you still want information on your army pal? I may have located him, but I'd like to do some double checking first to verify its accuracy. Should be able to give you details tomorrow afternoon if you wish."

There is a crime syndicate in the Hold.

I had forgotten we asked about Lt Banmor too. Soliel wouldn't have forgotten that though....

"Lyle" produced a grunt of mild surprise, the Army feller, eh. Figured I'd jus' have to let that one go. But, yeah, you got somethin' on his wherabout I can probably get us both paid for that too. As for the Lia stuff, not sure the buyer wants it or not. We're business-types you an' me, wouldn't wanna waste your time. But if somethin' turns up I can see if the buyer's interested.

Heading out, as previously stated, if nothing else comes up in the conversation. As is usual for Soliel, she remains hidden and changes guises not long after leading the bar. She will also thoroughly check herself for anything that might have been slipped into a pocket that wasn't there before.

Soliel does not find any unwanted items in her pockets.

"Tomorrow then" as Ky takes another sip of her drink.

Next plans for the group?

Soliel returned to the Tower, not changing her guise back to her true appearance, or even to truly appear at all, until inside Tower grounds. Once there however, she rounded up the members of her group and provided details of her interaction with "Ky" and "Sela". She then turned to the group's next path.

We have many leads but there are 4 I believe we should take a moment to consider. First, the possibility of finally discovering the identity of, and then eliminating, the rebels' Lt Banmor should be a priority. Nothing to be done about that until tomorrow afternoon however, when "Lyle" would meet with them again.

Second, Ian has expressed an interest in dealing a sharp check to Diguri's thugs. This seems more than appropriate given the rather personal injury they caused him, but even more so because of their extremely likely role in the recent Tower assault. I would suggest using Firyin to locate them. He would be inclined, and a message to his flunky Ellenora regarding the unflattering Bannali scroll should get his attention.

Third, it would behoove us to speak to the Librarians about this Cena. Specifically why the Bannali scroll would say "Cena blood is life". Is there some old grudge between the Exiles and this Cena's family? I wonder if the librarian who was killed when Library was attacked had any connection. Glancing over at Wraxus, she added, this information does not require stealth or subterfuge of any kind, just an inquisitive mind.

Finally, I would like to conduct some information gathering on the streets regarding House Seris, the merchant house related to the Exiles. While the house itself is gone, distant relatives may remain, and if they could point to favorite haunts of Tanney, Asol or Eris, that could allow us to end those threats as well. I would do this tonight, so as to allow us to focus on other leads tomorrow?

Having spoken her suggestions, she looked to the others for agreement or arguement.

Chime in if you have a different plan, just setting up a few ideas. Basically, she's suggesting that she does some recon tonight related to the Exiles (likely solo as it'll rely alot on bluff and disguise). Then tomorrow we split up and tackle the first three parts. After we have all the info we can decide which of the leads sounds more promising.

Ian listens attentively. He seems a bit more focused and determined.

After she finishes, Ian nods slowly "Sounds like you're in charge, Sis. Just say where you need me and I'll be there."

Try this post again.

Given there are several info gathering things you want to do, we could split the party up and run them concurrently.

Soliel looking into house Seris? Ian tracking down and talking to Firyin? Edmond and/or Wraxus talking to Cena?

Works for me. Firyin has already shown a willingness to be seen meeting with us while he is in disguise. Ian could find Ellanora, show the scroll from Bannali and say FYI your "friend" is dead, here is what he thought of you. We want to work with you to take out Anthony and his crew, where can we find them now. Edmond could go either with Ian or Wraxus. At the library, Wraxus' ability to leverage knowledge skills while openly querying the librarians about "Cena" and his/her history with the Exiles and/or Daemons would be a good fit.

That evening, after the group agreed to plans, Soliel studied portions of the black journal she held and queried Serelina regarding the rebels the group had seen meeting with Hezek. Using that data, she formed a disguise based on the ifrit woman Rocosmia. The aasimar's notes were oddly detailed about that one. Using a combination of stealth and disguise to exit the Tower unseen, she headed to the streets utilizing her own knowledge and that scribed by Tomlin. Once in the right locations she began subtly inquiring regarding House Seris lineage members.

She'll also drink an elixir of Chameleon Scales (no penalty for disguising as another race) before actually interacting with anyone.

i could talk to Cena but i only have a +9, not sure if Wraxus has more. Also i am not sure what info we need from him? it's hard for me to keep track of all the leads and stuff

Have not been able to get into the site for a while.