DMDM's Hells Rebels

Game Master Douglas Muir 406

Sholti reads through the document. "Hm, hm, of course."

She looks about to see whether a portrait of Queen Abrogail is in place in the coffee shop.

K Local: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

Well I guess Sholti won't be risking a bribe.

You also got a whopping high Sense Motive check. So:

They don't know. They're acting on this strange tip, but they're not looking for rebels, or the Wasps Nest.

...which is not to say they might not find them, if they look.

Sholti see a portrait? Her idea is to find a small infraction and try to explain away the tip the dottari received by pointing to it as the cause. A portrait of Queen Abrogail is a new requirement in every shop.

"Are you telling me you think I'm going to kill myself with these?" Zeldana asked with a small raised eyebrow. "Because I've had these cards for years.."

"I'll accompany you all, since as you may have noticed, we are rather busy at present." the alchemist remarks.

Sera thinks quietly for a moment, before murmuring to the dottari present. "This much be such a drag for you actually, in hindsight. I don't mean having to search businesses, but having to follow up on such an vague document. Surely a serious, or even a more common or standard notification contains details as to what it is that we might have done wrong. Can we get you a drink anyway?'

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22

I'm just trying to get into good graces as much as possible really, even though my modifiers are not really up for this.

"Are you telling me you think I'm going to kill myself with these?" Zeldana asked with a small raised eyebrow. "Because I've had these cards for years.."

"They've been... let's say asleep. They're asleep right now." She taps your deck again with one finger. (You feel an irrational surge of irritation. You wish she'd stop doing that.) "You think you've been using them. But it's like taking a wizard's tome full of magical spells, and using it to prop up one leg of a table."

"Now,this presents me with a small dilemma --"

Sholti see a portrait? Her idea is to find a small infraction and try to explain away the tip the dottari received by pointing to it as the cause. A portrait of Queen Abrogail is a new requirement in every shop.

Reasonable -- but wouldn't you have put up a portrait early on, to avoid exactly this sort of attention?

Zeldana let one of her hands cover the cards between her taps. "I shall ask kindly that you please stop doing that." She said, though she didn't let her voice raise. "What dilemma does that put you in?"

We just use the Wasp's nest and the back. It's Laria's place and we've done nothing to alter it. She might well have taken care of it. Sholti's fishing. If there's a portrait up, she'll next ask Laria if she's still serving mint in any form :)

Zeldana let one of her hands cover the cards between her taps. "I shall ask kindly that you please stop doing that." She said, though she didn't let her voice raise. "What dilemma does that put you in?"

"Whether to wake them up for you, of course. You're not likely to manage it on your own." She leans back in her chair and folds her arms. "Again, the first option would be for me to walk away. Check back in a generation or two to see if the cards have found a more -- "

"Irin, my dear!" The woman approaches your table. She's short, blonde, and wears a very expensive looking sundress with an enormous hat. She is carrying an enormous handbag. "Here I am! Are you early? Am I late?" She has one of those singsong voices. She pulls out the other chair, seats herself without asking. "It's been some time! The last we'd heard, your, um, caravan thing was completelydestroyed and nobody knew what had become of you! Then I heard through the Sisters that you were in this Balingarde place! And now you're back! Are you back for good?" Without waiting for an answer, the strange woman turns to you. "Oh, who is this? Have you taken a new apprentice, then? Starting up the old business once more?"

The woman could be -- might be? -- just a silly noblewoman with a very large hat. But this close, she radiates... vitality. Her cheeks glow with health, and energy just seems to bubble off her.

"No, she is not my apprentice," says Irin (?) firmly. "She is a... junior..." She pauses for a moment. Then, "colleague. A very junior colleague."

I'm just trying to get into good graces as much as possible really, even though my modifiers are not really up for this.

+9 Diplomacy looks pretty good, actually.

It's difficult to move on-duty dottari from Indifferent to Friendly; the DC stays at 20, +2 because they're on a specific task. But since you addressed the sergeant particularly, I guess she doesn't get the +4... so, again, you succeed!

"Well, citizen, you know we have to follow up every lead. We're not allowed to drink on duty." You have the distinct impression that she'd take that drink if she didn't have her men here. "Just a routine check..."

While you're chatting, Laria has quietly slipped away to join Rexus downstairs. Her stealth roll: 1d20 ⇒ 14 Okay, the dottari's collective Perception check: 1d20 ⇒ 10 She's not been noticed.

"So, you don't... claim her?" The woman turns and looks at you. Her eyes are very bright blue.

Please roll a d20.

"Countess. You wanted to meet here for a reason." Irin's voice has gone flat.

"Oh but of course! Two things, yes. First," she reaches into her large handbag and pulls out an envelope, "here's your list. In print. My husband helped write it all down. He's very organized, you know. It's good to have a tidy mind around the place."

"Ah yes," murmurs Irin. She pulls the envelope across the table but does not open it. "I did hear that you'd married again. How pleasant that must be for him."

"I haven't heard him complain," smiles the Countess.

"All right," says Irin. "Here, then." She lifts the large satchel that's been sitting on the table and passes it to the Countess.

The noblewoman looks inside and purses her mouth. "It's smaller than I thought! Will it really...?"

"I make no guarantees. But what I have said is true: the man who designed it was later the most powerful High Priest of Asmodeus his land ever knew. He built it to hold a demi-lich. And it did just that, for nearly thirty years." She shrugs. "It should more than suffice for your purposes. But if you want to call off the deal..."

"Hmmm... no, no. You do have a reputation, my dear. I'm sure it will work just fine." The Countess sets the satchel beside her chair. "Now, as to that other matter..."

Team Upstairs: attempt to diplomatize, bluff, or otherwise distract the dottari further? Or hope that Laria and Rexus have had time to clean up downstairs, and let them go about their search?

Sera rolls her eyes "This isn't a tavern darling, this is a coffee house, surely someone isn't going to call it unprofessional of you have something to drink while on duty. Look, its hot outside, and you are all in dressed in full dress uniform, let me get you a glass of water each, at the very least."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20

Sera rolls her eyes "This isn't a tavern darling, this is a coffee house, surely someone isn't going to call it unprofessional of you have something to drink while on duty. Look, its hot outside, and you are all in dressed in full dress uniform, let me get you a glass of water each, at the very least."

[dice=Diplomacy]1d20+9

Nice. -- Okay, the dottari accept glasses of water, with murmurs of gratitude. They're now Friendly. You probably can't make them Helpful at this time, so you've reached the limits of diplomacy for now. However, I will say that your pleasant chit-chat is mildly distracting; it will give them -2 on their eventual Perception checks.

Anyone else, or shall we just roll this?

Might as well roll this, since I think its impossible to actually stop the search via the diplomacy skill.

Might as well roll this, since I think its impossible to actually stop the search via the diplomacy skill.

Diplomacy makes people friendly towards you, which includes being willing to listen to what you may have to say. But diplomacy *alone* won't stop this, no.

Stricia puts her head down and goes back to her task of sweeping up the shop. Coincidentally the area she's cleaning up happens to be right in front of the stairs heading down. A lot of dust accumulates on landings!

1d20 ⇒ 20

"I'm Zeldana, it's nice to meet you." Zeldana introduced herself with a kind nod. Honestly she was slightly confused but there was little she could do to not seem rude. Though she did collect her cards from the table. "I hope I'm not interupting..."

Whoa nat 20 for Zeldana!

Okay, as the Countess sits down next to you, you suddenly feel the distinctive tingle of magic. Someone just cast something, on you or at you.

Take a Spellcraft roll, if you like, to see if you can tell what it was.

Meanwhile:

"The other matter," Irin says. Her voice has gone flat; her manner, impassive. "You really want me to confirm. The prophecy. Of a troll."

"Well, not for free, my dear! I said I would pay! I have it right here!" The Countess reaches into her handbag again and removes a small box, of the sort that would normally contain a ring or some similar small piece of jewelry. She places it on the table.

You find yourself stifling a gasp. Inside the box is an enormous gemstone -- nearly solid black, but with glints of red. You may make a Knowledge [Arcana] check if you like.

Yeah, I think go on with it.

Sholti moves aside to let the patrol do its thing.

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30
Knowledge Arcana: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11
Holy hell! Two Nat 20s followed by a Nat 1... you know I'll take that! XD

Zeldana shook her head slightly and she noticed the feel of magic upon her skin. Putting her cards away she sought through her mind to remember what spell that was. So much so she missed the item being placed upon the table as "payment".

Wow two nat 20s!

Okay: the Countess just cast some sort of enchantment on you. (What does it feel like? A prickling of the skin, a faint sweet scent, a sudden nauseating taste at the back of the tongue like rotten meat and copper.) Your mental reaction is reflexive and instant: a sudden internal withdrawal, a slamming shut. The spell slides across your mind like oil, fails to find purchase, dissipates.

But two nat 20s in a row, now... okay.

As it happens, you had both hands protectively on your cards. You feel them suddenly... throb? Pulse? A sudden movement without motion, instant, strong. Your hands go numb with the force of it.

As to the Countess: for just a moment, a fraction of a second, you see her differently. She is drenched in blood: literally drenched in it, as if she'd just climbed out of a tub of it. Blood all over, her face a mask of it, hair matted, clothes sopping. Her chair sits in a dark red puddle. There's a trail of blood from her seat all the way to the door. The thick coppery scent is overwhelming.

And then it passes. The Countess, elegant and clean and dry, is smiling at you.

Zeldana felt her grip tighten upon her deck even with the numbing feeling and as she, politely as possible, scooted her chair away from the noble woman. Many spells fell under enchantment and the ones that came to mind where not friendly. "Allow me to give you two more room." Zeldana said with small nod.

Taking her cards into her hand she began to busy herself with them though she looked up between the noble and the varisian woman... who where these ladies? While one had made her attentions know, more or less, her mind turned more to the noble woman. Zeldana thought on the noble woman as she pulled the top card of her deck to see what it said.

Taking her cards into her hand she began to busy herself with them though she looked up between the noble and the varisian woman... who where these ladies? While one had made her attentions know, more or less, her mind turned more to the noble woman. Zeldana thought on the noble woman as she pulled the top card of her deck to see what it said.

Hmm... okay. The deck seems to pulse in your hands again, though much more faintly this time. 1d20 ⇒ 15

The Liar

Chaos
Evil
Charm / Desire / Force of Personality
Obsession / A desire carried to horrific or loathsome extremes
Star-crossed lovers / Tainted love / Unrequited love
Lust requited by force or trickery
Shapeshifting / Disguise / An unpleasant reality hidden

This one has a bunch of secondary meanings that can appear depending on its position and what cards are around it; for instance, the lamia in the desert can symbolize the absence of all emotions except one dominant, bad one. It's also associated with literal desert places, with actual lying, with things that have a dual or multiple nature, and with poets and bards dying young.

Zeldana tapped the card in contemplation before she returned it to the middle of the deck and shuffled again. She need more than that to read it properly. So while keeping her mind upon the noble woman and the card she pulled from the deck again.

The pulse or throb is much fainter now.

The Tyrant

Law and order
Evil
Force of Personality
Tyranny
A ruler who harms those he rules
Domination through force or fear
Predation / Parasitism
A legitimate power (the state, parental authority, religion) turned to evil
Sadism / masochism / obedience that harms the one that obeys
Evil that cannot be resisted

Again, a bunch of secondary meanings, including "a dragon", "addiction", "separate things that make a larger thing", and "painful physical contortion".

You notice that Irin is watching you, green eyes bright. It's hard to judge her expression, but it might be somewhere between "faintly surprised" and "faintly amused".

Okay, big roll time here! The dottari are going downstair!

How well have Laria and Rexus cleaned up the basement?

Is there any evidence of the Wasp's Nest, or anything else?

1d20 ⇒ 17

They've done a pretty good job, it seems. Good enough that the dottari won't notice anything?

1d20 ⇒ 1

Um.

Well, apparently you guys did an amazing job relaxing and distracting these guys. They basically trot down the stairs, look around vaguely for a moment, and trot back up.

Within another couple of minutes they've left the premises.

Whew!

Zeldana raised an eyebrow at the new card before she looked up and noticed Irin's eyes. Returning the card to the deck she could only shrug and say, "Don't mind me, just something to pass the time." Zeldana then shuffled the deck once more as she thought of the cards she had pulled. The Lair and The Tyrant, walking hand in hand was never a pleasant thing... whomever this noble woman was she was not one to be messed with. Between the cards and the magic before hand that was easy to conclude. This woman was evil, no doubt there. Now the question upon her mind was, why did she cast a spell upon her?

Keeping this in mind she pulled from her deck again.

Stricia steps aside to let the dottari through and watches them as they leave. She raises an eyebrow at the rest. The unspoken question is clear. Are we safe for now?

Keeping this in mind she pulled from her deck again.

The Owl

The wisdom of the natural order, which can either heal or --

Irin reaches across the table and takes your hand firmly. "Don't bother," she says. "You're tapped out. You'll start drawing cards like the Owl or the Foreign Trader, again and again. Or if you're too... demanding... the Mute Hag or the Lost. Not a good idea."

Sholti gives Sera's arm a "thank you" squeeze, and heads for downstairs. As she passes Stricia she nods an affirmative and smiles.

For extra safety's sake she waits for another ten or fifteen minutes, in case the dottari return for some reason. After the wait she opens the passage and goes down to let Laria and Rexus know the coast is clear.

The Countess frowns. "Now dear", she says to you, "please don't distract Miss Irin here! Grownups doing business now."

She turns to Irin. "Yes! I got one of those nice trolls from Kaer Maga -- an old one, the very best, they said. But, you know, trolls. So if you could just confirm -- "

"Not necessary. I already did it."

"Really?"

"Yes. What the troll told you? Three things, yes? You can't be killed by any blade forged by mortal hands. You can't be killed by day or by night. And you can't be killed as long as you're standing on the soil of your native land."

"I confirm. It's all true. And I'll add this, free of charge: that trick you're doing, with putting a bit of dirt in your shoes, so you're always standing on native soil? That counts."

Irin's voice has gone very flat indeed.

For extra safety's sake she waits for another ten or fifteen minutes, in case the dottari return for some reason. After the wait she opens the passage and goes down to let Laria and Rexus know the coast is clear.

"Oh, thank goodness."

"Phew."

There's a pause.

"Okay, who wants a drink?"

"Well that's just lovely!" says the Countess brightly. "My sincerest thanks, Irin dear. It's worth a little extra to deal with a professional, is what I always say."

The Countess stands up. Irin does not.

"Well, my dear, it's truly been a pleasure. I do look forward to doing business with you again." She turns towards you and there's an expectant pause for a moment. Then, "Hm," she says. She picks up the satchel, gives a little fingers-only wave. "Have a lovely day, ladies!" And sweeps out of the coffee shop.

Zeldana slid the card back into her deck and gave a nod as the woman left. "She isn't human... vampire?" Zeldana asked as she looked to Irin. "I ask because I saw her covered in blood... only for a moment but... I did." Zeldana confessed as her attention was now focused on the woman who had summoned her here. "And that little bit about the day and dirt..."

"You did? How interesting." Irin leans back in her chair, rummages in her rucksack, then pulls out a slender cylinder made of dried leaves, tightly wrapped. She places it in a holder of some sort of green stone, snaps her fingers. The end of the cylinder glows, smolders. She puts the holder to her lips, inhales, holds it for a long minute, then breathes out a slow exhalation of smoke.

"But no. It's broad daylight outside, see? She doesn't love the sun -- you noticed the hat? -- but it doesn't much harm her. Not a vampire. But yes, the same general... topos. A parasite." Her green eyes half close. "And now... I owe her. She used me as a second opinion. To a troll." She inhales again, blows smoke slowly out her nostrils. "That is disrespect to the Art... and disrespect to me. She will regret it."

"I can agree there. I would be rather upset as well." Zeldana said with a sigh. "She tried to cast a spell upon me, an enchantment... did you notice?" Zeldana asked.

"She tried to cast a spell upon me, an enchantment... did you notice?" Zeldana asked.

"Did I notice? Child, very little escapes my notice." Irin leans back in her chair, green eyes half closed. "For instance, I have noticed that you're starting a fumbling attempt at rebellion against the Thrune. -- Oh, calm down. 'This bucket has six scorpions in it, but none of them are mine.'" [Varisian proverb, roughly equivalent to 'I don't have a dog in this fight.' "Yes, there's much to admire about the legions of Hell -- their focus, their complete lack of the weaker feelings such as love or mercy, above all their discipline. One must respect it.

"But they're so... tedious. Yes, they have their little pleasures: torture, corrupting the innocent, and so forth. But all so narrow." Irin takes another slow inhalation. "Also, some recent events have left me feeling rather jaded towards Hell at the moment. So rebel, don't rebel, whatever. I can't be bothered."

"What was she trying to do with her spell?" Zeldana asked. "I only got that is was an enchantment before the magic was gone..."[/] She admitted with a sigh. Normally she would be worried about the fact someone so powerful knew what she and her friends where up to but... honestly she believe this woman's words.

[b]"You also said that I was tapped out, do you mean out of favor with the deck?" Zeldana asked.

"However!" She raises one finger. "You used the cards. You wielded them. Without even knowing what you were doing.

"The Countess is a jackal, but her glamours are strong. You should have been swept up in it, to follow her, docile as a sheep to the slaughter. But you were not. And then you tried -- in your weak, incompetent way -- to wield the cards. In the most basic way possible: to gain knowledge of a threat."

Irin sighs slowly, a long exhalation of smoke. (What is she smoking, anyway? Just the scent is making you a bit lightheaded and dizzy.) "Well then, it is so. You are feeble and naive, but... you are a Bearer. Knowledge is your birthright."