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The sun rises on a warm spring day in the fallen capital of Westcrown, once the center of Chelaxian civilization, its golden façade now crumbling under lethargy and disrepair. Who dares stand against the Thrice Damned House of Thrune? Shadowbeasts stalk the streets at night preying on those seeking redemption for this once great empire. Will the light break through the darkness of these diabolic times? A revolution is brewing.
Semenya and Del
You are not alone in your concerns for the people of Westcrown. Meet me at Vizio's Tavern in Rego Scripa this afternoon for dinner.
Janiven
Arodio
You are not alone in your concerns for the people of Westcrown. Meet me at Vizio's Tavern in Rego Scripa this afternoon for dinner.
Janiven
Eklektos
I would like you to meet a friend by the name of Janiven. Dinner this afternoon at Vizio's Tavern in Rego Scripa.
E.K.
Derek
Arodio , with no mind at all for the peasants working,buying,and doing market stuff shouts "Thanks lots girl"
Scratching his head, then looking at all the stuff hung from his large torso and back he thinks "Sooner or later i'll have to find a way to settle all of this, and even thought this sounds a bit too mysterious,maybe even illegal, i can always refuse, or break a head or two. And a job is job anyway"
He then heads for Vizio's.
Dm
Derek decides to walk over to Regio Scripa and see if he can find the tavern so he can be sure to not miss the appointment (no gentleman would keep a lady waiting after all), and while in the vicinity he might also see if he can learn a little about Janiven, maybe someone knows here there?
If he can learn anything he will then return to the temple and wait there for some time, heading for the meeting about one hour before afternoon so he can be there a little early. He'll bring one of his bottles of fine wine with him.
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Derek and anyone else with a DC 10 Knowledge local or Diplomacy check
Dm
Derek will then head back to the tavern-chapel and wait til the apointed hour (one hour before the meeting so he can be early, and maybe talk to Janiven alone).
Derek and anyone else with a DC 10 Knowledge local or Diplomacy check ** spoiler omitted **
DM & Semenya
For now, Del decides to treat the message with the discretion with which it was delivered. He indicates to Semenya that they shouldn't discuss it until they're in a more secluded spot:
"Ah, bugger! I seem to have left my coinpurse at home. Can you get this tab [handing the note across the table] and I'll pay you back when we swing by the office?"
When they get to a secluded spot, Del hands her coins for the breakfast, and says, "Sorry if I seem too cautious. I don't know why Janiven felt she needed to send this cryptic note, if it's really from her. I'd like to track her down this morning, if we can, see if she's making movements towards this meeting, or if someone's used her name as a lure to some kind of trap."
Semenya picks up the tab without a quibble, chatters a little bit with a local contact, and then walks out, leaving in the opposite direction that Del did. Taking the usual "Two routes to the same shade tree by the well" routine, she meets up with him.
"Del, I've learned to respect that itch on the back of your neck. No need to apologize for caution. Do you want me to be your lookout when you head in, or should I dress up, and try to be charming while you watch the door?"
She gives him a smile that would almost be coy, if she didn't outweigh him by 30 lbs. "I need to know how to accessorize."
DM & Semenya
"Dress inconspicuous. We'll just be casing her place or tailing her before dinner. If she meant to be so subtle, she may feel she's being watched. I don't want to bring ourselves any unwanted attention by contacting her in the open. But while we keep an eye on her, we can see if anyone else is tailing her, too."
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DM & Semenya
** spoiler omitted **
Del, Semenya and Arodio
Semenya will talk to a few people about the district. Not asking any direct questions about the ownership, just listing it as one place among many she's investigating for a client recommendation.
Diplomacy for gathering information.
If she gets very lucky, she hopes to find out what the legal authorities think of the tavern, albeit second or third hand.
She is also going to 'case' the joint, and when there's a suitable opportunity, stash a parcel inside the front door. (The parcel is going to be a change of clothes wrapped around a greataxe.)
Stealth to stash the parcel.
When it's closer to supper time, she's going to put on her explorer's outfit; the crossbow will be with her under the cloak. Hopefully, her stashed axe will still be there as well.
After that, she'll head home and change clothes to her explorer's outfit.
She'll meet with Del, and do her part of the usual routine when they work together - looking into the shadows from across the street for people tailing them, and relaying information via the Message spell.
(Unless there's ever a situation where casting it would be noticed, Semenya will be using the Message cantrip as a routine action, so that she and Del can remain in communication.)
As the sun sinks lower in the sky, Theron gives a growl. Eklektos looks at the big cat, then pulls the note out again. "Who is this EK person? And who is this Janiven he wants me to meet," he wonders to himself. He turns to the cat, shows him the note. Theron sniffs it, then gives a short grunt of a growl.
"You think so? Well, perhaps this will be interesting. Come. Let us see what we can find out from this Janiven." With that, Eklektos sets off to find Vizio's Tavern, and to find out what he can about this Janiven. With a low growl that Eklektos doesn't hear, Theron follows.
After asking around for some time himself Arodio fells like going to seat down a bit, eat and drink and talk of getting a job,better if in company of a woman he already like from what he heard.
He'll enter Vizio's Tavern and wait to see who comes to greet him, since he has no clue about who he has to address to.
Del, Semenya and Arodio
** spoiler omitted **
DM & Semenya
Legitimate or not, the note sounded a little more... political than Del is usually concerned. He'd just been bothered by a larger number of unsolved missing persons cases lately. But maybe Janiven has info on them. He heads back to the office to refresh his memory of his most recent unsolved cases, and see if the missing persons have anything in common. (Perception: )
Everyone who arrives to the dinner on time
He picks out the hostess and greets her first: "Well met, Janiven. Your messenger has a flair for the dramatic. He had me suspicious of your invitation. Listen, I know an acting troupe I could introduce him to, if he'd like to try legitimate theater." He acknowledges the guests that have already arrived, singling out any if he recognizes them, including Semenya if she's already arrived before finding a seat.
DM
Once at the tavern he will take a seat and look around, if Janiven is around he will greet her warmly, and probably flirt just a little with her. Then he will settle back and wait til' it's time for the meeting.
Being a man of action however he is likely to get bored quickly and instead start strumming his lute and singing, pretending to be a hired minstrel while he scans the tavern for any newcommers.
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Knowledge Local or Diplomacy about Vizio's DC 10
Derek
Del & Semenya
Eklektos
Arodio
As people begin to drop into the small Tavern Derek takes note of them all during his performance, as the song of "Lawrence the hooded king" dies down he stands and bows deeply to the other occupants, sweeping his broad brimmed hat of his head and at the very depth of his bow allowing the plumed feather to lightly brush the floor.
Greetings to you one and all, a truly auspicious meeting this may yet prove to be, for it is written in the placards of wisdom that any day you have a chance to make a new friend is a fine day indeed. After this Derek smiles and runs a finger over his trimmed mustache and goatee before continuing.
My name is Derek Keegan,a humble priest of the Drunken hero, Cayden Caleian and it is my very good honor to meet you all. He then pulls out a bottle of what appears to be a fine wine and smiles even broader.
In fact, it is tradition to share a toast when first meeting strangers, please, allow me to supply the drink for such a toast.
Derek is a bit of a dandy, dressed in tight blue pants; a white silk shirt with a red vest, around his neck is a red stole with a golden mug symbol on it and around his neck hangs a small silver tankard. On his hip is a rapier and in his hand is a lute of fine craftsmanship. His hair is black, shoulder length and pulled back in a ponytail.
His most striking feature is his clear purple eyes, hinting at a strong Azalanti heritage in the family.
As his usual, Arodio doesn't make much attention to his surroundings, at least when he isn't swirling his flail at someone's skull.
He immediately tries the strength of Janiven with a firm and strong handshake :"Pleasure's all mine Janiven, i was eager to know you personally, and ale and meal is always welcome too"
"Sorry for taking all that stuff along with me, usually i stash it somewhere but something was under repair and just retired , something i bought just for the occasion, and something else ....well you never know when they may come handy"
This bulky young human male is very tall and muscular, but he is obviously not used to high ceremonies or important occasions.
He continues "And of course good to see the two of you, if i remember correctly, Del and Semenya ? How's going ? And for the rest of you, name is Arodio Ambusta, my job, simple may it appear, is smashing heads"
""
If your tastes run to malachite green, Semenya is striking and beautiful, with straight glossy black hair, and eyes that seem to have no whites, just a dark brown iris and a pupil.
She's a good inch taller than Del.
She's wearing dark brown trousers that are loose fitting, a bloused tunic of light green, and a charcoal grey vest with multiple pockets on it. At her feet is a bundle that could be nearly anything, though it looks like it's got a handle sticking out of it. If you look closely, there's a fine tracery of something metallic over the backs of her wrists, and peeking over her throat from her shirt.
"Ahh. Arodio, good to see you." She glances at the man with the lute, and then glances out the door. As the wine is passed around, she smiles at the follower of the Carouser, and makes a hand gesture similar to the flapping of wings of a butterfly. "Shelyn's blessings upon you; outward beauty is evidence of her intentions, inner beauty is a sign of her intervention." She sips the toast and passes the mug to Del.
"I'm Semenya Carbachon. Del and I often refer work to one another."
Del thanks Keegan for the drink, and nods his acknowledgement to Arodio and Semenya. He looks at this diverse group and wonders what they have in common.
"I guess we're all introducing ourselves. My name is Del Vane. I'm native Westcrown, so I know the area fairly well. I guess you could call me a locator. I find people who've gone missing, or I reacquire lost items that the owner wants back. I'm here because lately I've hit dead ends on too many missing persons to blame on the shadow beasts. Janiven has a good reputation, so I'm glad to come and hear her out."
Del wears a suit typical of a working class Westcrown professional. His clothes are shades of dark grey, except for his belt, boots, and sheaths, which are unpolished black leather. He wears a short sword and dagger at his left hip. His short-brimmed hat is sitting on one of the empty tables nearby, since the coat rack that used to stand by the front door is now gone.
Derek smiles and nods his head towards Arodio. And a usefull talent it is at the right time indeed, and by the look of your arms I would say you have some real force behind your swings my boy!
He then turns to Semenya and offers a deep bow and a wink. Truly a pleasure to meet a worshiper of Shelyn, and I must say that as much as I like to think I mirror my lord in courage, you certainly mirror your lady in beuty.
He then turns to Del and gives him a nod. To be a succesfull locater as you dub yourself in a place like Westcrown you need wit, guile, a soft step and a strong arm, all qualities that makes for a usefull and appreciated ally indeed.
As he pours a cup of the wine for each person he grins widely.
Why I do believe that the occasion might call for a song!
Who has good wine should not be mean,
but pour the bad stuff down the latrine!
So come, my lord, flagon it out!
And let your merry companions shout...!
THIS SONG WANTS DRINK!
When I see wine into the gobblet slip,
how I yearn to drown in it!
My heart sings best at the thought of booze,
then this contest I'll never loose!
I thirst for a sup, come circle the cup!
THIS SONG WANTS DRINK!
After the performance he turns to Eklektos and waits for an introduction there as well.
When Eklektos walked in, it was immediately apparent that there was something very different about him. His survey of the room greeted each person with glowing amethyst eyes that had no whites and only the suggestion of pupils. After Janiven's greeting, he says, "Thank you. I assume you are the Janiven I was asked to meet?" After her response, he looks around again, then makes his way across the room.
As he walks, it emphasizes that he is likely the tallest, and skinniest, person in the room. His clothing is rustic and simple, practical as opposed to fashionable. It is brown, dirt-stained and travel worn. Halfway across the room, he stops and turns back to the door. He clicks his tongue, and in walks a cat that stands to Eklektos's hip. The cat is just over five feet long and is the mottled black of shadows on a moonless night. The panther stops, looks up at Eklektos, then paces past him to a booth on the far side of the room. It hops up and lies down on one seat, facing outward. Eklektos joins the cat in the booth, facing outward on the other seat. He leans his spear against the wall next to him.
As each person introduces him-/her-self, Eklektos watches them in turn. He doesn't stare exactly, but his eyes do appear to be looking through their words into their minds. His gaze in intense, and could be unnerving to those who don't know what to expect.
When Derek turns to him, he stays silent for a minute, then speaks. "I am Eklektos Apofysi, a simple man from the Barrowoods. This is Theron, my friend and companion." At the sound of his name, the panther lifts his head and gives a half-growl, half-snort. Despite his claims of being a simple man, there is something very different about Eklektos. The glowing eyes are part of it, but his emphasized height and leanness are also unnatural. His bronze hair seems to rustle occasionally in a breeze that isn't there, and it shimmers like a metal curtain from time to time. His features are delicately shaped, but formed hard.
Derek nods to Eklektos and grins. The barrowwoods you say, that is the birthplace to many stories, perhaps one day your story shall be added to the pile and sung by ne like me, who can know? Anyone who has lived there alone...well almost alone and prospered, not to mentioned made a companion and friend of an animal like you Theron certainly has skills. He nods and passes Eklektos a cup of wine as well.
He then bows his head, clasps his hands together and mutters a short benediction over the meal and the meeting in general. While certainly curious about the rest of the people there, he was confident that before the day was over he would have answers to some of the questions.
Seeing as that the time has nearly come and nobody else seems inclined to join us dear Janiven, can I assume this means we are all here? If so I am most eager to know what this rag-tag band of individuals could possibly have in common?
Arodio listened to the other's introduction, while waiting for the serving girls to bring the first plates on the table.
"Derek, you hit the point, your song surely whet my appetite thirst"
He got rid of the shield, that was somewhat making moving the arms awkward,at least at a dinner.It hit the floor with a loud CLANG
"The minstrel his right, i'm curious myself about this reunion"
"Hardly a reunion for myself and Theron, given that we've never met any of you," Eklektos muses out loud. Theron just puts his head on his paws and looks like he's napping. Eklektos takes a sip of the wine, swirls it around his mouth, then swallows and takes another sip.
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”Ah yes Derek. It seems you all have met our ecclesiastic showman.” Janiven answers, heading back into the kitchen. As she reappears from the kitchen with trays of various meats, cheeses and vegetables, she gestures to all of you. ”Please come over and have a seat. This table has been prepared for our meal.” Janiven then sits at the head of the table watching you all as you approach and take your seats, as if evaluating you again.
Sense Motive DC 15
Giving a wide smile self-deprecating smile Derek bows and winks to Janiven before taking his seat finally, then he begins to tuck into the meal with hearty appetite whilst watching the others with curiosity.
As usual Arodio cares for nothing but food and drinks, and now that he is on them, he barely listens to his surroundings.
Del picks up his hat and moves to the indicated table. He takes a seat facing the front window and steers Semenya to do the same.
"We expecting another, Jan? It's just that you keep stealing glances at that front window."
Semenya follows Del's lead, and keeps her bundled kit by her feet. She's sitting with a good view of the door, but not quite a direct line of sight from someone barging in.
She completes Del's sentence. "Or are you expecting trouble?"
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Seeming a bit agitated at Del's question, Janiven shifts in her seat. "Those damned shadow beasts. I know the House of Thrune brought them here to oppress the citizens. They leave only key streets lit, letting the beasts roam free through the city. Their power increases every minute. I assure you, we will not be here past nightfall, but if you would like to stay we can make arrangements as appropriate." Janiven then resumes eating and listening to the conversations around her.
" i heard, if we want to stay i just need a hole to put some bag in, what i need is already all on me;i never pull back from a good slashing and smashing. Otherwise i have to go few minutes to my place"
"You think the Shadow Beasts have been more active lately? I've wondered that myself."
It is certainly true that this city is one particularly oppressed in a country seen by outsiders as oppressed in general, and having fallen so far is something that has inspired more than a few tragedies, I myself have played in more than one of them previously. Yet...surely you do not mean that our meeting here has something to do with them my dear Janiven? Derek frowns, hoping that his custom of playing the protagonist is spilling over too much in the conversation, after all, he is more interested in the others than in himself at this point.
"Keegan... is that any relation to Olek Keegan of the theater? We met one of your actors - Ferguson - the other day. How would you rate him?
Looks up in surprise at Del. "Why yes, that name belongs to none other than my grandfather, a man of such acting talents that he had no peers during his heyday". Derek stops to scratch his beard thoughtfully. "Ah yes, my grandfathers new "protégée'", he has a lot of heart, but I am not yet convinced he has ANY talent, I suspect my grandfather might have taken him in more out of pity than anything else...then again, he does see further into the future than I do..."
"Well, so far, Ferguson's wife and kids still want him to come home. So if he can't cut it, your grandfather might do him a favor by letting him go now, while he still has a life to go home to."
"Hmmm, did not know he had children, suspected he might have a woman, but not a wife...tsk, there are enough orphans in the world without men running of in that fashion. I'll tell my grandfather about it and we will see what happens".
"That's awfully decent of you. I appreciate it.
Eklektos, what brings you into town from the Barrowoods? Surely Jan's messenger didn't find you out there?"
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"Well Derek, not directly no." As everyone finishes their meal and talk amongst themselves, Janiven rises slowly from her chair and walks over to the windows securing the shutters tightly and locks the door. She arrives back at the head of the table, takes a deep breath and clears her throat waiting for your conversations to finish. As the last words are spoken, she looks at each of you.
Eklektos comes over and sits, preferably with his back to a wall, but doesn't eat much. He nibbles on one or two of the vegetables, listening and continues to sip on his glass of wine. He listens more intently at the talk of the shadow beasts, glancing almost unconsciously at Theron, still feigning sleep in the other booth. When addressed by Del, he starts.
"I was not in the Barrowoods when I received the message, actually. I was in the town on...personal business. And it didn't come from Janiven, although it did mention her." At this, he reaches into his belt pouch and pulls out the note. "I would like you to meet a friend by the name of Janiven. Dinner this afternoon at Vizio's Tavern in Rego Scripa. E.K." After reading it, he looks around. "Would EK happen to be one of you?"
"Perhaps Janiven knows someone with those initials? Jan, the food's been good, and I've enjoyed the company, but if there's something in particular you want to talk about, we'd better get to it so we can get home before dark."
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Del
"Again, thank you for agreeing to meet with me here and I assure you we will be done before nightfall so you may get home safely. As for E.K., they are a friend from when I was younger. We can talk later Eklektos. 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!”
Janiven's speech is given with an intense passion, after which she sits and drinks from her glass of wine, waiting for any responses and questions.