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Zarabeta heads down to the docks first, to seek ships that might benefit from her magics (having left multiple spell slots unfilled today, in case she needs to quickly prepare a utility spell that a client finds needful).
Uqabi takes to the air, harrassing seagulls, as is his wont.
Using grease spells to help people move large blocks of stone, or whatever, could also be a route, but that's a highly specific circumstance. Selling access to mounts, with very specific instructions that they will vanish in 10 hours, would also be a decent proposition, for messengers or couriers who will be at their destination down the round in that amount of time anyway, or other folk who could make use of a horse for a single day's work.
She be willing to gray it up a little and sell mage armor to those about to engage in bare-knuckle brawls for gambling (in the sorts of seedy venues that won't have people checking for magic!), but anywhere where such a thing would generate *real* coin would have someone with detect magic to prevent such shenanigans. Similarly, seedy places that have animal fights for betting wouldn't really have much use for someone who can summon a dretch or whatever for all of thirty seconds. Summoners, with their minutes / level summons, would have that sort of venue covered. That sort of stuff would not only involve exposure to the rougher element, with all the risk that entails, but also probably pay crap anyway.
[Well beyond 'gray,' she could use charm person or hypnotism in conjunction with Diplomacy to push people past 'fanatically loyal' and just ask them to give her all their moneys, but even cold-blooded Z doesn't like the idea of using magic to cheat people... :)]
So, make whole, mending and prestidigitation would probably be her money-makers. The cantrips would generate barely enough coin to keep her fed and housed, I suspect, but if she can find a client with a pressing need for make whole, say to repair a ship that needs to depart *now,* not a week from now when the carpenters will be done patching that hole in the hull, she'll be able to earn some cash.
I'd recommend ignoring the 'spellcasting costs' on p. 159, since that's for PCs buying spells from NPCs, not the other way around. *Nobody* is gonna pay Z 50 gp. to clean their clothes with prestidigitation!)
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Zarabeta agrees to accompany her, concerned that this Jafmodi might have a more... clinical interest in the source of her powers.
"It sounds interesting," she says diplomatically.
"I have some thoughts about being a bit more aggressive in our campaign, perhaps leaving behind messages via magical or mundane means at sites of our accomplishments, enumerating how the dottari and Hellknights have failed to address the goblin problems, or the shadowbeast problems, or the tiefling gangs, and encouraging the children of Westcrown need to rise up and continue to address these problems on their own, and take back their city from the criminal elements and the monsters and, most importantly, the feckless authority figures who have abandoned their post and allowed these troubles to grow unchallenged." Zarabeta says. "The time does not seem right for open rebellion, or tax riots, which would just lead to a terrible retaliation from the upper classes and their enforcers, but perhaps it is time we started planting the seeds..."
"If we can make it appear as if one of the noble houses is at least somewhat involved in the 'rabble-rousing,' it may also lead to the ruling class turning on itself, and wasting resources on an internal witch-hunt, giving us a bit of breathing room."
She pauses and adds with a small grin, "Just not the Henderthanes. Akorian would probably be annoyed with me if I got his family marched off by Hellknights for fomenting insurrection..."
"Also, remind me if I do not remember, at the site of all future clashes, to clean the area of traces of our presence with magic. Spilled blood or loosed arrows could provide the means to our being magically identified or tracked later, and if we proceed to becoming a true thorn in the side of the authorities, they will begin to take us seriously and devote resources to seeking us out..."
Zarabeta heads down to the docks first, to seek ships that might benefit from her magics (having left multiple spell slots unfilled today, in case she needs to quickly prepare a utility spell that a client finds needful).
Uqabi takes to the air, harrassing seagulls, as is his wont.
Uqabi soon finds himself engaged with three particularly tenaciously pugnacious gulls set on plucking out his tail feathers. After a long dogfight he sends them packing.
The waterfront is much like any other. Warehouses, water, and ships frame carts, wagons, sailors, merchants, longshoremen, hustlers, beggars, chandlers vying for space and business. With small variations the sights, sounds, and smells carry Zarabeta back to a younger and happier time when she could walk the wharves with her father.
Perhaps this echo of another life is why she so easily recognized the Griffin's Wings, a much abused brigantine rigged ship. The figurehead was missing the beaked horsehead it had worn in an earlier life as the Hippogriff, one of her father's ships. The ship is in a bad way. Standing rigging hangs slack or in cases is missing altogether. The hull has two crude patches near the waterline. The masts tilt slightly over the quay. She presents a melancholy image in total.
"Hippogriff has never been a happy ship, Zarabeta. I hope that the new captain can turn her fortunes around," her father said for the third or fourth time, about the third or fourth captain that Zara could remember while they watched the man march up the gangplank to the ship.
The from deck she can hear the sound of fluent cursing in several tongues as a knot of men turn the capstan driving a pump which spews water into the harbor and onto the wharf.
More on 12 Rova.
Raven is up early and out into the city to see what's going on. He returns to the safehouse in midafternoon with some news. As stars of the Trial of Larazod, the party has been invited to a celebratory party at Mayor Arvanxi's manor. The party is to take place four nights hence. (16 Rova)
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Spells for working days (also in her profile);
0 (4) - detect magic, daze (Will DC 14), mending, prestidigitation
1st (4+1) - charm person (Will DC 15), mage armor, 2 slots empty, 1 slot empty (B, must be conjuration)
2nd (3+1) - make whole, 2 empty, glitterdust (B)
3rd (2+1) - haste, 1 empty, 1 empty (B, must be conjuration)
"Ahoy the ship, is your master aboard?" she calls out, hoping to locate the current owner of this ill-fated vessel.
A sullen mousy-haired woman leaning against the bulwark with her chin tucked down on her chest starts and straightens up. Aye, he's aboard. What's your business then?
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Zarabeta gestures with her fingers, causing a ripple of arcane energies to spark and flare, like luminscent smoke, coiling into the air three times and then evaporating in the sunlight.
"My business is the selling of magical services, and I wish to see if my arts can be of help in making this hard-used and long-storied ship seaworthy once again, to the financial benefit of us both." she says, patting the hull of the ship with some affection, remembering it in better days.
"Come aboard then," says the dock watch. "I'm sure he'll see you."
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Marius finally moves out of the Inn at which he had been staying.He will no doubt be required to squire his paramour around which gives him something of an in to society.
[oocv]Are we actually going anywhere with this game or am I alone in thinking we have sort of stalled on the central plot?".[/ooc]
More on 12 Rova.
Raven is up early and out into the city to see what's going on. He returns to the safehouse in midafternoon with some news. As stars of the Trial of Larazod, the party has been invited to a celebratory party at Mayor Arvanxi's manor. The party is to take place four nights hence. (16 Rova)
Raven relates to an apparently breathlessly rapt audience that the Mayor requests that you attend in character.
A word about the Mayor's parties. Their reputation is wild. Sometimes they last for days of feasting drinking other sensual vices, sleeping it off and starting again.
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In character? As what, a stagehand? Zarabeta thinks with amusement.
"It would be an interesting opportunity if we could arrange some sort of Children of Westcrown event, even a small one, such as graffiti left somewhere to be found in the morning, while at the party, so that if our other activities are ever connected with us personally, we can point to our attendance at the Mayor's party as 'proof' that we couldn't possibly be the rebellious hoi-polloi they are looking for." she says, attempting to at least salvage something of use to their cause out of this frivolous invitation.
"I don't see why we shouldn't go. If we get some influence with the Mayor, maybe we can convince him to be more sympathetic with our cause," Fiosa suggests, also wondering what costume she would be expected to wear.
In character? As what, a stagehand? Zarabeta thinks with amusement.
He slides an oilcloth wrapped bundle from a rack beside his desk and offers it to you with both hands. "Signor must value your friendship highly. These are two of the finest pieces we've produced this year. Open it."
The blades' sheathes are red-dyed leather with brass points and trim. Save the silvery gleaming traces on the blades, the swords are rather plain; they are unadorned save for a bulbous pommel on one and a winged motiff on the crossguard of the other.
"This one is just as you wanted. We added a small feature. The pommel unscrews. It is proof against water or leakage. You can hide a few gems, a message, or even a potion in it. This other one is really quite special. It is enchanted so that you can throw it in combat and it will shortly return to you."
Lorzo smiles with obvious pride and satisfaction in his handiwork. The smiles fades a little as he waits for your reaction.
Salmand was the one personnel fixture on the HIppogriff. He was a capable man, but one your father never fully trusted. He served under a dozen other masters. The last time you saw him he was shouting at your father in anger at being passed over for command again. It would appear he has finally realized his ambition.
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"I come seeking to offer my arcane services to assist in your endeavors to restore this ship to the days of her prime, for a fee which we can, negotiate to our mutual satisfaction."
As she speaks she runs her fingers along a beam, using prestidigitation to darken the wood back to it's original color, from it's faded state.
"This is but glamer, of course, the greater restorative magics I offer are sufficient to repair those patched areas of hull, and make them as good as new, and not merely touch up the varnish."
Salmand seems eager to strike a deal, but the work must be done in a hurry. He takes you below decks to examine the damage there. It looks like nine or ten make wholes along with a goodly number of mendings. He begs the paucity of his purse and offers 200 gp. He's obviously a thrifty Qadiran and the low bid is an invitation to haggle.
He'll settle at 500 if you can finish in four days; 600 if you can do it in 3.
How will you reconcile this work with Waifrin's appointment?
Zintrich Jafmodi's house on Jasmine Row is a solid, low built brick affair with a long spare garden in front. Inside is pleasantly wood panelled. Your host greets you affably and with obvious delight.
Zintrich's friends are Stilts, an elf; Gant, a dwarf; and Sly, a young woman. They are all dressed quite comfortably, but not richly, except for Stilts who is festooned with cheap brass necklaces, bracelets, bangles, and has a ridiculously large pink orchid in his lapel button hole.
Zintrich leads the way through a door which you think would lead outside, but leads into a large room. Noticing your surprise Jafmodi chuckles, "One of the reasons I purchased this house. Spaces like these were all the rage a century ago..."
Lenses, spinning orreys, pools of rippling water, a smoking brazier and a host of other equipment and odds and ends surround a chair in the center of the room.
The next few hours are spent asking Waifrin about her life and parentage, and asking her to show them what she can do and whether she could try this or that. They'll freely use spells to demonstrate what they would like her to try.
All very pleasant, but seriously focused on the pursuit of knowledge.
Session ends with an invitation to try again next week.
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Later, she accompanies Waifrin to her meeting, and mostly eyes the others as they question Waifrin about her abilities, paying special attention to the dwarf, as she's never met a dwarven arcanist before, and is curious as to whether or not their methods differ significantly from those of men and elves.
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14th Rova
Marius picks up each sword in turn testing the balance with pursed lips..his eyes tracing the shrp edge of the blades. He buckles them onto his harness in place of his own and asks to be led to the practice Yard where he tests them out on the Pells, Finally he turns to the Master Smith and grins.."The finest blades I have ever wielded Sir..you are truely an artist.."
All four seem intent and very focused on "mystical rationalization". The dwarf seems to be very interested in the responses Waif provokes in most of the doodads scattered across the room. The Stilts and Sly each have a pet piece of equipment. Sly's seems to be a bowl of mercury with black rust sprinkled on the surface. Stilts' is a pair of spectacles. Jafmodi just observes intently.
Honeyed cakes, coffee, and tea, are available on a side table.
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You're on the rails.
Zarabeta gets some rest after Waifrin's meeting ends, and prepares her 'expecting trouble' spells, instead of her 'looking for work' spells, before going to the morning bridge-meeting.
Uqabi avails himself of a honeyed cake, after silently imploring with his woobliest of woobly eyes for Zarabeta to snag one for him.
13 Rova, Bluehood meets you on the bridge. "I see you have met Felmo the Magnificent....." After a brief chat about the old halfling, she gets down to business. She's also aware you've been invited to the Mayor's party. She'd like you to do something for her, something risky and dangerous.
Somewhere inside the mansion, is a Chelaxian Crux which holds information on the wards and seals guarding te Pathfinder's Lodge of Westcrown. She's not sure where inside the mansion, but it is probably inside "the Asmodean Knot", a sort of vault of murky provenance.
She has a friend who thinks that information inside the lodge holds the key to forever removing the shadowbeasts from Westcrown.
[b]"It's possible that House Thrune doesn't control the shadowbeasts at all. That they merely took advantage of their appearance to intimidate Westcrown. If we get to the truth of this we could take back our nights."
The mission of course will be dangerous if you are caught.
Bluehood is completely sincere.
Oh, and when you kill a shadowbeast, do drop it off yourself. Don't let a gang of opportunists try to collect the bounty.
Fiosa continues helping out any other residents of the halfling quarter who might need medical help, for instance.
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Zarabeta pauses for a moment, letting the comment about shadowbeast rewards left in ditches for opportunists to collect pass by without reply, although her frown leaves little question as to her mood on that subject.
"Would it not be better to simply ask the Pathfinders for their aid, rather than find a way to break into their Lodge and steal what we need?" Zarabeta asks the Blue Hood. "Or are they uncooperative on such matters, and would the inquiry itself warn them to move the information we seek?"
Fiosa:
There's always call for a healer. And you can cast remove disease now. Yeah!
Are you doing any PR work simultaenously? If so what are you promoting?
"Thrune placed some very nasty traps on the lodge, and left it in care of the mayor. The Dotarri still patrol outside the walls. It recent years few have entered its gates and none have emerged again.
"One source relates that the details of Thrune's security were written down and given to the mayor at that time. He placed them in a Cheliaxian Crux and likely stowed it within the knot. Of course it could be anywhere in the mansion, but the Knot seems the most likely.
"My sources are fairly sure the papers can not be found at the mayor's offices or in the city archives."
[ooc] And if you need to ask more questions, I can fill in later.
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Zarabeta nods at Blue Hoods explanation, "I understand, and it seems a very worthy goal, to eradicate these shadowspawn at their source, instead of piecemeal. I will consult with my companions."
When Zarabeta next speaks with the others, she'll tell them quietly of the Blue Hood's information, making sure that none of the other Children of Westcrown are present, as she is unsure as to which among them is truly trustworthy with such sensitive information.
"The person giving rewards for the shadowbeasts corpses believes that information that may lead to the end of their presence here entirely is concealed within the Pathfinder Lodge here in Westcrown, which your countrymen have sealed, barred and magically warded. She claims that information regarding those defensive measures were entrusted to the Mayor, when the Lodge was sealed by the city authorities, and that within his vault, called 'the Asmodean Knot,' is an item known as a 'Chelaxian Crux,' which contains that information." Zarabeta relays, betraying her uncertainty about this 'Asmodean Knot' and what, if anything, a 'Chelaxian Crux' might look like or represent, since it is not a term she generally associates with a tangible item.
"If we can locate that item, and learn how to bypass the defenses sealing the Pathfinder Lodge, we should be able to find the information the Blue Hood believes can rid Westcrown of the shadowbeasts for good."
She pauses to regard Waifrin, Marius and Fiosa, "It is a truly inauspicious time for Raven to have parted ways with our company..."
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Waifrin greets her new acquaintances warmly, and is eager to talk with them about various matters relating to the occult. She mingles with the other practitioners, eager to discuss the results of their experiments. She's happy to demonstrate some of her powers, and eager to hear what the arcanists make of them. She is full of questions as to what 'mystical rationalisation' is...
She is happy to assure them that she will be at their next meeting.
At the meeting with everyone else:
"Anything that annoys the House of Thrune is something I am more than happy to participate in," Waifrin declares. "Wait, where is Raven gone?" she queries.
Fiosa:
There's always call for a healer. And you can cast remove disease now. Yeah!
Are you doing any PR work simultaenously? If so what are you promoting?
She's just touting the idea of self-reliance, working together and standing up for your community. If anyone seems particularly trustworthy, she'll tell them about the Children of Westcrown.
Raven stirs in the corner. " I can volunteer some information. A Chelish Crux is a puzzle box. Often shaped like one of the ideal geometrical solids or a sphere. They were something of a fad in the city shortly after Thrune took power. You don't see them much outside of Royalist houses these days."
"I'm not sure I like the sound of this. Seems we're likely to be caught searching the mayor's house when it's full of guests. Celebrities or not he's likely to take a dim view of it. We could be tried as thieves or worse."
"I'm not sure how we can casually ask the mayor 'By the way, can I see your crux?' But I agree that's better than getting caught rummaging through his house and breaking into a vault."
"Searching the house with you disguised as the mayor is a fantastic idea, Waifrin. It would certainly confuse anyone who found us long enough for us to silence them."
Any of the interludes can be assumed to have finished up amicably, so that we can get on with this.
Waifrin's Magical Mystery Tour -- the wizard's are stumped, but eager to try some more. They are sincerely excited. You're something ver different in the world of magic. If you want a standing engagement with them, they'd be very pleased.
Zara, the working girl. On the 15th Salmand seems very agitated. After you patch up a couple holes and straighten some hull strakes, he gives you the cash and hurries you off the boat. You're hardly on dry ground before they are pushing off.
Zara, international woman of mystery. Have a tastefully written scroll of a second level spell unknown to you.
Afternoon of the 16th, a heavy downpour sends water rushing through the streets and gutters of the city.
You've got a long slog from the safe house to the Mayoral Manse.