"I feel badly for her. I don't think she even knows what has happened to her. I don't know how she'd react if she found out.
I think the best option is to put her in charge of watching over the Betony Estate while we are away. And make sure she is amused and entertained.
I have no doubt that the Domovoi know stories or games from the First World that last for days or weeks. If she is a construct, she might not even become tired or hungry to notice the passage of time.
Or, we could ask her to be in charge of receiving and relaying 'secret messages'. Our contacts send her packages with riddles or codes that, when deciphered, say things like 'light a candle in the south window of the master bedroom at midnight'.
I think it too risky to bring her along with us. If Bartelby knows what she is and reveals it to her, she could react unpredictably. I would like everything to go as much according to plan as possible."
"I also think we shouldn't take her with us. Another concern is how she ended up here in the first place. Did she walk on her own, or did someone bring her here? We have to consider that Bartelby might know something's up. If so, we should implement our plan posthaste.
"Let's talk to her and see what we can find out. Then we can make a definitive decision on what to do with her."
The trio of domovoi have been entertaining Veleto with their antics. She laughs airily, but turns towards you as you approach her again. "Yes, dearies?"
Katria nods as Maya finishes.
"Yes, you'll be safe here, but perhaps you can tell us more about the Windsong Palace, and even Bartelby?"
Maya nods along with Katria's question and adds, "Yes, please. Any details you can provide would be greatly appreciated."
"We accept your help, and will aid you to the best of our ability as well. However, you will have to forgive us that we will have to simply be a bit cautious for now. While we do trust you, or want to at least, when doing something so dangerous and fragile as us, you need to take every precaution." Doritan adds.
"I am sure that Your Grace is familiar with the intricacies of politics and knows how delicate this sort of operation is. So assist us in removing Bartelby, according to our plan, and you will no longer be shut away and isolated."
"Of course, darlings. That sounds like a delightful arrangement. The Palace of Birdsong consists of two stories plus the royal tower. Most of the important rooms are on the upper floor--the offices, records rooms, and quarters for both Bartelby and his lackey, Gul Gusairne. There is a vault of treasure on the first floor near the kitchens--Gul has to the key to it.
"The royal tower is where Bartelby kept me locked up. My husband's arcane laboratories are on the upper floor. There are some magical traps there to protect against entry by anybody not of the Lotheed family, but I know little of their nature.
"Bartelby himself is a selfish oaf, though he has a keen mind and a decent mastery of magic. You'd do well to be cautious in any confrontation with him."
Maya senses no deception from the duchess.
"Can you tell us more about Gul. Do you know where he keeps the key?" Katria asks. Then, with sudden inspiration, she tries a rare lie, though it doesn't seem necessary: "If Bartelby realizes he's in danger and gets that treasure, he'd be able to escape far more easily."
Veleto shrugs. "The key is probably down Gul's pants, given his obsession with the palace's security. I won't be the one to go digging for it."
Katria's jaw drops slightly at the frank observation, then looks to see if there are any other questions.
"I know you were trapped there, but you got out, even if it was due to the duke's magic. Are there any other secret ways in or out?" she asks.
"There are no secret exits or entrances that I'm aware of. I escaped the traditional way. Yes, I'm just that good," Duchess Veleto says, preening.
Maya shares with her companions that she detects no deceit from the Duchess.
"Your Grace, we humbly request that you, along with our Domovoi friends, keep an eye on the Betony Estate in our absence. It is best that you stay hidden here, so that word not get back to Bartelby of your location. We will make sure that you are well entertained with card games, stories of the First World, music, and other such diversions as appropriate to one of your station. And we shall return with even more engaging stories of our exploits once they are completed."
Veleto agrees to remain at the estate. With that matter settled for now, you journey to the town of Lotheedar to make your final preparations before assaulting the Palace of Birdsong. The first step is to visit the Grand Bank of Abadar. Archbanker Lady Paril agrees to meet with you in her office. "The Master of the First Vault's blessings upon you. What business can I assist you with, friends?"
Maya curtsies to the Archbanker before saying, "We would like to discuss a sensitive matter with you. I hope we can count on your discretion.
"The matter concerns Gul Gusairne. You and he share a common deity, so we think you're the only one whom he might listen to. Namely, listen to regarding his loyalty to Bartelby. You see, Bartelby may be worthy of Gusairne's loyalty in some sense, but we don't want to see an Abadaran caught up in a conflict unnecessarily, if it can be helped."
Maya pauses for a moment to consider her next words before continuing, "Do you think you could talk to Gusairne and convince him to help here at the Grand Bank for the next couple days? I expect it would be most advantageous for him, and it would give you extra help in tending to the Master of the First Vault's duties. What do you say? Think you could talk to Gusairne about this matter for us?"
Katria nods, but wonders if they're going to need to be more explicit about their plans. Perhaps it is better to be more circumspect still, though.
Liam also wonders. The Archbanker is no fool, and can surmise what we intend to do. I think Maya is trying to give her 'plausible deniability' without insulting her intelligence, but I don't know plausible it really is. Still, if we need to be more explicit, we can make the Law and Order and Economic Prosperity case for Empress Eutropia.
Lady Paril frowns, her mouth a thin line. "Sir Guisarne has long ago stopped acceding to my authority. His loyalty is to Count Lotheed above all others. He will not leave the palace for an extended period of time. I can keep him occupied for a few hours, at best."
She looks away. "You speak of conflict. You are planning to move against the count, then. Officially, the church of Abadar is beholden to the lawfully appointed ruler of Meratt. Unofficially..." She looks back to you. "The people deserve to have somebody in charge who puts their best interests ahead of his own. I cannot support you directly, but I will pray for a favorable outcome."
Maya smiles at Lady Paril's response. It's honestly as much as the bard could reasonably have hoped for.
"Thank you, Lady Paril. We hope for a favorable outcome as well, for the sake of the people.
"You say you can keep Gusairne for only a few hours at best, but that may yet prove to be enough. If we can separate him and Bartelby, even for a little while, we may be able to avoid unnecessary bloodshed. We have certain... procedures... in place, for the conflict to come. If you're able to bring him here, we can commence with those procedures as soon as he's safely out of the palace. Could you arrange for him to come sometime today? Or would tomorrow be better?"
"Tomorrow. I will summon him to the temple for the midday prayer service. That will provide you with the window you'll need."
Maya nods in thanks and says, "Excellent. I hope your time spent in Abadar's honor is well used. Perhaps you could say a few extra prayers on behalf of the county and the country as a whole."
"Thank you, Archbanker. That's very helpful," Katria replies, very pleased with the outcome of the meeting.
She immediately starts thinking of the next step.
You can prepare for future contingencies without defining what those preparations are until they are relevant. As a part of this preparation, while in a settlement for at least 24 hours, you can take 8 hours and spend up to 50 gp per character level, which becomes your brilliant plan fund. While you have a brilliant plan pending, you are always treated as carrying 20 additional pounds of weight, even before you define your brilliant plan.
Once per day, you can take 10 minutes to enact a brilliant plan, withdrawing an item that would have been available in a settlement you visited or procuring a mundane service that your character planned ahead of time. Once you enact the plan, subtract the price of the item or service from this feat’s fund. Any item procured must weigh 10 pounds or less. Likewise, the GM must approve any nonmagical service you gain by using this feat as being appropriate for the location selected.
Once you have spent all the money in your brilliant plan fund or procured 20 pounds of objects with this feat, you cannot use the feat again until you replenish your brilliant plan fund.
"Thank you, Archbanker. May the Master of the First Vault bring prosperity to you and to Meratt."
Once away from the Temple of Abadar, Liam says, "Let's go talk to Brigitte, the priestess of Milani, and see if she can contact the Night Swan about providing a distraction shortly after noon tomorrow."
"That's a good idea, Liam," Katria agrees. "After which, I need to get some supplies, just in case there's some more things we might need."
Brigitte quickly agrees to your plan. "I'm sure the Night Swan will provide you with something suitable...bombastic. We'll be ready to move after noon tomorrow."
The next day, you linger near the edge of Lotheedar around midday as you prepare to launch your plan. You spot Gul Gusairne riding into town, heading to the Grand Bank of Abadar. A short time thereafter, you hear shouts of alarm coming from the far side of town, and people rushing to investigate the cause of the disturbance. The Night Swan has lived up to her end of the bargain.
Seizing your opening, you move in on the Palace of Birdsong. The myriad swans and peacocks that give the palace its name still roam the gardens, but you don't spy any guards stationed at the entrances. You have Baroness Voinum to thank for that. It's time to take down Count Lotheed and reclaim the palace for Princess Eutropia!
Katria gulps, though she feels better than perhaps she ever has as she's poured focus into her belt , as they finally begin to move on the palace. She knew this day was coming, but it still seems to have been months in the planning.
Liam casts Barkskin on himself, which should last for an hour.
He kisses his holy symbol as the party moves ahead, then draws his morningstar.
This is it... time to actually lead a revolution. Hopefully with as little bloodshed as possible, but have to be prepared for the worst. Without Bernal, it probably falls to me to help out Doritan in a fight. Milani guide me.
Doritan takes a deep breath as they enter, in full Lion's Shadow kit, and looks at the walls, "You want me to head up on the outside? That window looks like it would be easy to break." he asks.
"Maya, can you cast Heroism on Doritan? And I can cast Guidance."
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Liam hopes that his contacts have managed to get the window unlocked.
Doritan accepts the spells (whichever he gets), then takes a deep breath, steadies himself against the walls, and takes a deep breath, "See you in a minute"
He manages to clamber up the wall without too much trouble, then shimmies over to the window. He silently hopes his agent succeeded on his mission to leave the window unlocked, and pushes against it.
He breathes a sigh of relief as it swings open without a hint of resistance, and pulls himself inside the office.
I really need to remember to congratulate Caurelia later. She pulled that off without a hitch.
Once inside, he looks around to get himself oriented.
Doritan finds himself inside Gul Gusairne's office. Several whips and restraints decorate the wall, looking intimidating but covered in a thin layer of dust. The desk contains lots of paperwork detailing the palace's finances, as well as a sturdy lockbox.
Doritan pulls out his tools and gets to work on the lockbox.
While he feels he almost had it, he tries one more time.
With a smirk, he pops the box open, just barely catching the last pin in time.
The lockbox contains the palace’s petty cash: 342 cp, 812 sp, 44 gp, and 18 pp, as well as a mummified pinky finger.
"Is he planning to throw down a rope," Katria asks.
She looks around to see if anyone's watching. If not, she'll call for Doritan to let them up that way.
The halfling does her best to put on a brave face as the group launches its plan. Acting is part of what the bard does, so that shouldn't be too difficult, right?
Maya shrugs at Katria's question. "I think we might should enter through the ground floor. We can meet him upstairs. I would rather not climb a rope if I can help it."
With a hint of irony, the Lion’s Shadow pulls out a few pouches from his belt and puts the coins inside, unsure whether or not he’s hoping the theft would be discovered.
"We're coming in, Doritan," Katria whispers using her magic . "Start looking for the key!"
Then she heads for the door, planning to make her way directly to the office.
"Tell him to rejoin us with any keys he can find, Katria - I don't like splitting up."
Doritan looks around for any sort of keys, if he can't find any, he leaves the room, cautiously making his way downstairs, looking for things of note.