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For those of you with the Conspiracy hunter trait.
You have heard the stories like all other Wiscrani's. The Council of Theives runs the government, Devils roam openly in the streets of Regicona, the Westcrown island of the rich surrounded by walls that only the rich can enter. The Dottari (city guard) are almost as bad as the Hellknights. Well whoever is ruling this city they suck at it! People go missing at night and bribes grease the wheels of goverment. You don't like it and you have said maybe a little too publicly how you feel about it.
Sorsha Brittleflower
After Till broke up with you, you have been looking for a change. Going to taverns you would not normally go visiting other parts of the city. Getting as far away from the docks as possible. You have not hid the fact that you are sick of the way this city runs. This has been eating at you even more since the breakup. You would leave but there is your family...
Nilus Romani
Your search for your sister has taken you all over the city. Asking your questions has raised some eyebrows but has not gotten you anywhere. Your frustration has seen you speaking ill of Westcrown leadership.
Adria Darkling
After your discovery its hard to find the light at the end of the tunnel. You thought you lived in the most lawful city in the world to only scratch the surface and find the rotten heart of corruption. It it makes you sick and you are at the point you don't care who knows!
Garrand
Fame is not that great. Especially when your famous only for being related to someone famous. It would not even be so bad but the goverment has let almost all of the Opera houses close down except for those on Regicona that you can't access yet. It isn't right someone should do something about it. Everyone should have access to the arts!
Haruk
Westcrown...the once holy city turned to the devils of hell for power. Westcrown has fallen from power hard! It needs a strong hand to bring it back and why should it not be my hand to do it? Just need to get the common idiots to start trusting Tieflings that's the first step.
So all 5 of you are publicly fed up with the government.
Ready to go!
Each of you are approached by an attractive woman who calls herself Janiven. Conversation starts casual but Janiven quickly steers it to the topic of what concerned law abiding citizens can do about the state of affairs. You are concerned and interested in this as well. Before long
Janiven has invited you to Vizio’s Tavern that same afternoon for an early dinner (customarily about 4 o’clock), there she tells you other like minded individuals plan to meet.
Dotting
Vizio’s Tavern, a DC 10 Knowledge (local) or Diplomacy check (I am assuming all of you pass) reveals it to be named for the family that once ran the establishment. Vizio’s was a place where merchant guards went to relax, gripe about their employers, and look for more work. Several months ago, however, the Vizio patriarch passed away, and the surviving family moved out of Westcrown to go live with kin in distant Corentyn. The tavern has stood empty since.
More checks will reveal more background.
Ready to go!
You ok with what I wrote for you to get started?
You can find the tavern easy.
First one to post is the first to arrive.
Its a normal fantasy tavern.
Janiven motions you to have a seat while she prepares.
So sit down have a drink.
Describe what you look like and introduce yourself to the party.
You ok with what I wrote for you to get started?Ready to go!
Yes. It's right in line with what I've started.
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A slender women dressed in the tight black leather of Calistra but the flowing red cloak of asmodeus strides in and sits down. She is not used to the heat of the day after years of comfortable service in the Archival buildings. Everyone in the tavern recognizes her for what she is, a priestess of some rank.
I doubt very much they will talk treason with one such as me in the room.
She feels the eyes of tavernites on her as she sips her cold ale. She slams the drink down hard, frothy foam spilling onto the table.
If I were a spy for the hell nights would I come in here dressed like this??
[ooc]ouch! all bark and no bite:([/dice]
You and Janiven are the only ones in the bar at this point so no need for the slamming down of mugs.
Sorry I did not make that clear.
Janiven
Your the first here please sit and rest 4 others should be arriving shortly. with that she returns to preparing the food.
A rather short person slips into the bar. She seats herself at the table in a seat closest to the wall.
"Hi! I'm Sorsha! You're a really tall lady!" Sorsha beams at Adria.
"And you must be Janivan. Pleasedtameetcha!" She turns and smiles at her.
"Can we eat while we talk? It's almost time for first supper."
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Indeed, Sorsha, you speak the truth. It will be difficult to overcome the denizens of Asmodeus on an empty stomach. Though I doubt they serve proper sacrificial meat sanctified with the rituals my diet requires in this place. It looks like fruit and vegetables again for me...
I am Adria Darlking. Pleased to meet you as well.
DC 15 Knowledge (local) or Diplomacy check
A young man scowls to himself in the corner of the tavern.
This better lead me to Lily. Westcrown will rue the day it took her from me.
As he hears the attractive Calistrian walk into the bar blustering, Nilus cracks a grin. His patron would like this one he thinks.
Hey there pretty lady, buy you a drink?
Yes dinner will be served shortly we are just waiting on 2 others. Please make yourself comfortable while we wait.
Janivan busies herself with minor repairs and cooking.
Perception DC20 Pass
A tall elven youth, 6'2" 130 lbs with black hair and grey eyes confidently enters the tavern. He's dressed in Lamellar armor and carries a Longbow and Longsword (A perceptive observer might notice a dagger in a spring loaded sheath on his wrist).
"Afternoon all. Can't say I've attended many abandoned taverns lately. Is there anything to drink?"
Spotting Adira he takes a seat across from her with an easy smile, "Well at least I see there's attractive company. My name is Garrand, nice to meet you."
Nilus eyes the Calistrian, Elf and Halfling warily.
To the assembled group Nilus says Do any of ya know why we are here?
A young Tifeling male walks in last he introduces himself politely and eats quietly.
Hello, Haruk if you please.
Janivan
Thank you all for comming. You are all here to discuss how a small group of concerned citizens can make the lives of the people of Westcrown better. First let us eat and get to know each other.
She serves the food and sits down to eat with you.
Nilus plays around with his food. He doesn't eat a bit.
How exactly do we Nilus gestures around the table fit into this plan?
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"Well at least I see there's attractive company. My name is Garrand, nice to meet you."
Adria smiles at Gerrand's comment. She motions for him to lean in closer. Then she whispers At the temple of Asmodeus you can sleep with a priestess for 500gp. But there is always a 50% chance she will sacrifice you to during the night. She pulls out a long wavy blade from her cloak and touches one ear, then the other. But it is nice to meet you too!
Adria looks over at the Tiefling in the room. Well met, Haruk. Have I met you before? You look familiar to me.
Sorsha tucks in. She eats with proper manners, uses utensils, wipes her mouth and doesn't gobble her food. She also does not stop eating. She may be taking small bites and she is chewing thoroughly, but still the food in front of her is vanishing rather swiftly.
Sorsha's eyes lit up when the elf entered, but when he addressed the tall, sweaty woman (She has to be sweaty, that's leather!) and ignored her, she looked down, then looked around at the other new comers.
In between bites she answers Nilus.
"I'm here because Janivan invited me. Did she not invite you? I'll share my food, if you are worried about eating uninvited."
"Well at least I see there's attractive company. My name is Garrand, nice to meet you."Adria smiles at Gerrand's comment. She motions for him to lean in closer. Then she whispers At the temple of Asmodeus you can sleep with a priestess for 500gp. But there is always a 50% chance she will sacrifice you to during the night. She pulls out a long wavy blade from her cloak and touches one ear, then the other. But it is nice to meet you too!
Adria looks over at the Tiefling in the room. Well met, Haruk. Have I met you before? You look familiar to me.
He merly smiles at you.
Nilus plays around with his food. He doesn't eat a bit.
How exactly do we Nilus gestures around the table fit into this plan?
She sighs deep.
Well I guess we will jump right in then.
She stands and locks the door an and makes sure the windows are closed.
Again, thank you for agreeing to meet with me here. I have chosen each of you for a singular reason—everyone here, myself included, has suffered, whether we realize it or not. I have lived in Westcrown my whole life, and although I love this city, I must admit, as must you, that despite our peace and prosperity, we continue to suffer. Fear should not be an expected part of life, and yet each night brings fear to our doorsteps. Yes, Westcrown has been safe from war and famine for nearly seventy years, and yes, our businesses has prospered—but this safety and prosperity has been bought in the coinage of fear and prayers to Hell. Other lands live free from tyranny. Other cities do not fear the night. Other governments do not cede the streets to monsters of the infernal shadows. Westcrown was once such a place, and she wants to be such a place again. Westcrown is not only her buildings and canals and docks and history—she is also her people. Westcrown is our friends and neighbors, our mothers and fathers, our siblings and cousins, our sons and daughters! With but a small group of supporters and dedicated brothers and sisters, we can earn the trust and admiration of those people. A Westcrown free of these shadowy beasts that stalk our streets is one step closer to a Westcrown free of the devil that is the Thrice-Damned House of Thrune!
Yeah, what about wen tha Ellnights come bashing through your door
Nilus interjects eyeing the door as he speaks.
To the young halfling Nilus says brusquely
Yeh, we wuz invited. But why?
When Janivan concludes her speech, Sorsha actually stops eating. Her eyes are wide and she forcibly closes her mouth.
"She has no fear, Sorsha whispers, almost to herself.
Collecting herself, she asks "What is your plan then? Are we to hunt the shadow beasts? Others have tried that. Do you have special weapons for them? That would be helpful."
Seemingly startled she said so much to big people, Sorsha resumes her meal.
Garrand starts in surprise when Sorsha speaks, "Excuse me miss, I didn't see you there. You seem to have a talent for going unnoticed.
"Hard words. Words that might get you killed if you're not careful. And us for that matter, if we're caught listening." In spite of his challenging words Garrant makes no move to leave.
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Others have tried that. Do you have special weapons for them? That would be helpful.
Seemingly startled she said so much to big people, Sorsha resumes her meal.
Adria regards Sorsha with understanding, the Halfling's seeming insecurity reminding Adria of those first days at the Temple, taken from home at such a young age. The Priestesses there all seemed 10 ft tall she remembers.
Lady Sorsha speaks the truth. We do nothing but conspire uselessly if we cannot find enough force to get the job done. That said, there are many kinds of force. Arcane, divine, political, martial...
Nilus and Gerrand both seem anxious. Below the table, Adria unsnaps the strap holding her whip on her belt. If the Hell Knights or Deathdealers were to break in the door now, at least she would die fighting.
We truly believe that a small group of like-minded friends can improve the lives of the people of Westcrown, but we must take care not to appear as rebels or rioters. We must form our own band of protectors, and must work to win the admiration and support of the citizens by doing good
works and providing what aid we can. Key to this tactic is the fact that Westcrown is largely ignored by the rulers of Cheliax as a home-in-exile for the old nobility. As long as we work to win the hearts of Westcrown’s citizens by good deeds and avoid as many direct entanglements with the government as we can, the House of Thrune will continue to ignore what they’ll interpret as “petty squabbling” in the old capital. We may be able to duck under the radar of the Hellknights entirely.
Nilus mumbles under his breath
Burn the whole thing down
A sudden excited pounding at the front door disrupts the meeting. Immediately adopting a defensive posture, Janiven peers through a window at whoever’s knocking, then swiftly moves to the door, unlocks it, and opens it. In stumbles an out-of-breath and frightened-looking teenager.
JanivenMorosino whats wrong?
MorosinoThey've got Arael! the youth calls out, then immediately doubles over in a fit of coughing brought on by his long run. Janiven’s face grows grim as she comforts Morosino and asks him to explain himself; in a moment the lad recovers enough to spurt out,The dottari (city Guard) nabbed Arael, and the Hellknights of the Rack are trying to get custody of him! There’s a bunch of Hellknights on their way here now! I only just made it in here; they’ve already surrounded us!
You now hear the sound of clanking armor advancing on the tavern. Anyone who glances out the window sees a large group (18) of heavily armed and armored Hellknights advancing down the street, yet Janiven remains calm.
I apologize for involving you in this matter. But if those Hellknights find you here they will question you as tratitors. We must leave quickly!
The Hellknights start hammering on the locked doors of the tavern and demanding in booming voices for those within to come out and give themselves up.
Follow me.
Janivan and Morosino swiftly move behind the tavern’s decrepit bar, where they lift up a heavy trap door in the floor. As the pounding on the door
increases, Janivan breathlessly says This shaft drops down into the Westcrown sewers. By fleeing along this route,we should be able to lose the Hellknights quickly. I have marked the walls to make our way. The marks will lead us to a safe house. Please come quickly you do not want to be caught by the Rack!
Haruk drops down into the sewer without a word.
The shaft goes down about 20 feet on an iron rung ladder.
Sorsha scrambles down the ladder and looks around.
"Unless someone can see in the dark, I call dibs on point" she whispers.
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Janiven, I know you wouldn't call a meeting like this without planning an escape exit. A trap door? Teleportation Circle? Adria rises to her feet.
Because if you didn't, then I fear Westcrown will have to wait for other heros in another age.
Nilus, can you flank that front door for me? Remove the head off the first creature that comes through.
Adria prepares a spell.
Janiven, I know you wouldn't call a meeting like this without planning an escape exit. A trap door? Teleportation Circle? Adria rises to her feet.
Because if you didn't, then I fear Westcrown will have to wait for other heros in another age.
Nilus, can you flank that front door for me? Remove the head off the first creature that comes through.
Adria prepares a spell.
Please down the shaft we will make our escape through the sewers. It would be suicide to attack 18 Hellknights! She motions you all again to the trapdoor behind the bar that the Halfling and Tiefling have already went down. I have some items that will slow them down so we can make our escape