DM Zyren's Heart of Riddles (Inactive)

Game Master Zyrenity

The wagon rolls to the massive jet-blcak gate of the city wall - an imposing fence of doom with razor-sharp spikes on the battlements and dozens of openings just large enough to shoot one of those wretched crossbows through it.

Gadak halts the wagon and you notice that he actually looks quite nervous as a white-haired guard captain, wearing a nightmarish platemail adorned with demon faces, strides over to you

Greetings in the name of the Blood Princess. Who are you and what is your business in Zirnakaynin?

Gadak glances at you, but before you are able to answer, he flashes a brooch with an intricate spidery coat of arms and the guard nods

Open the gate!

Winter remarks to the wagoneer ,"You've learnt your place and your manners. Good"

Caterine remains silent, but inwardly wonders exactly how they're meant to make inroads into the city without a patron house...

As if Gadak was reading Cat's mind, once you are out of earshot of the guards he asks

I'll now drive to House Vonnarc, what about you? Well...I guess you are rather affiliated with House Azinrae? Those who are in control of all surface operations...maybe you should know that House Azinrae and House Vonnarc are rivals to the hilt... Gadak says that with a certain tone of insightful wisom...a tone that makes you uneasy.

"Azinrae? Sounds like a swear word. We are out of town hires, freelance bastards fresh out of contract. I suppose you thought just because we were back there that Azinrae sent us eh? Lucky guess, but wrong. We serve House Gold Piece, and right now our purses are empty and my feckin sword is dry, I seek to fix both problems. Your mouth run to anything helpful like who's who and what is where in this town?"

Gadak's smile widens

We could always need a helping hand at House Vonnarc...a house of great renown, home of the drow's most talented arcanists of all times...

Kabal slowly let out the breath he had been holding when the guard waved them through. His thick head tried to keep up with... all this damn house talk... but he was much too enthralled by the strangeness of the underground city of drow and what had to be certain, impending death... you;re a long way from Brevoy bub...Corvax woudlve nevergone for this...hmm...damn fool probably wouldve butchered it up too...

As long as the coin is good...

Caterine sits back down, having already been usurped by the males in the group to act now would seem petulant and without basis. Instead she hopes that the heirachy within the city did not follow typical drow lines - and an environment where a male would choose to speak for a female would not be seen out of sorts.

Sebastian wears a bored and sleepy expression but takes in all the sites without becomes too obvious. He occasionally nudges Sable to look at certain things or to get him/her to remain composed and close his/her slack jaw.

Sable closes her gaping jaw, thankful for Sebastian's efforts. Sable sits quietly for a few moments, allowing everything to sink in, hoping they aren't already drowned.

Bree remains silent, she could care less about Drow politics and would rather slaughter them all until she found one who could tell her where her brother was being kept. She does her best to appear simply bored, and tired and as such content to allow the men to bicker it out with the boy.

Occasionally her eyes will roam over one of her companions faces, pausing here or there as she looks for any indication that the spell isn't working properly and to commit their new faces to memory.

Perception 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (3) + 11 = 14

"House Vonnarc you say eh?" Winter ponders for a moment "We will have to check with our the mistresses, but perhaps that could be alright. Tell me, who are the main slave dealers? We need a human for a...celebration... but we need something fairly specific"

A human? Oh how boring...I had hopes you people from Umberweb might have some more special things in your repertoire...well, at House Vonnarc it is Slavemother Undamesta you have to talk to...but beware, she can be quite unforgiving...oh, did I already tell you that Zirnakaynin consists of three enormous caverns? We're in Cocyrdavarin at the moment, it holds most of the city proper and many of its most important places - like the Borken Chain, my favourite inn.

Gadak explains as if he was some kind of tour guide.

"The human might be boring, but so is any cut of meat, its what the chef does with it that makes a masterpiece, your lack of imagination is stifling" Winter answers the mans comment like a parent chiding an ignorant child.

What of the other two caverns?

Kabal was surprised at just how chatty this stupid drow was and figured he'd better milk him for as much intel as he could... dont want to come off as a complete dunce of a drow...bad enough looking like one...

Bree eyes the lad wearily, she doesn't trust how much he talks. She begins cleaning her nails with a dagger.

Gadak ignores Winter and seems glad that someone asked him a question

The other two are Rygirnan and Eirdrisseir. The first one is a lava cavern, the home of smiths and siege engineers and tinker of all sorts...not a place I like, much too hot down there...umm and Eirdrisseir is the cavern where the noble houses have their residences, that is the place we are hailing to...oh look there, that is the Garden of Chayt

he points to the right where between two black houses a wide field of obsidians carved into the form of trees and bushes spreads

Nice, isn't it? Cold, perfect beauty.

Kabal nodded thoughtfully as the dope explained the differing caverns and couldnt help but appreciate the Garden. He wasnt sure if the vile drow did like beauty or if he was supposed to act even more uncouth than usual but he couldnt resist commenting.

Looks like the gods damned surface 'cept it aint green.

Sable makes a mental note to later bring up to Sebastian why the drow would attempt to mimic surface forests.

"Tell me more of the Broken Chain."

"What of matters of religion? What temples reside here?"

Bree tenses a bit as she focuses intently on the dagger in her hand, picking at her drow disguised fingers. She listens intently for the boys response.

Never been to the surface

Gadak replies and sighs Never been anywhere else besides Zirnakaynin actually.

The Broken Chain? Oh, it's a fabulous place. You don't meet many drow there, because it is the favourite place to stay for visitors. Its owner, Pharnis Xharn is a good friend of mine and so I like to stay there and hear tales of distant lands and...ah well, I've already said too much, lt's just say it's a very good inn, I can heartily recommend. Oh, now you should only breathe through your mouth - over there is The Reek...a flophouse for troglodytes...uargh....

You pass a building that once was some sort of warehouse that was converted into a flophouse and Gadak was 100% correct, the stench is unbearable...

Once you have passed the place he is able to speak again

Temples? We have Vivirnis, The Chapel of Sovereigns...look up!

Gadak points at the domed ceiling of the cavern and you can make out a dozen dark caverns high above you.

Each of them is dedicated to one of our patrons...are you looking for a specific prince or princess? Whom do you worship?

he asks casually while driving the lizards around a band of derro haggling with a very angry looking band of duergar.

"I have an interest in architecture, I wish to profane Findeladlara, recommend me somewhere good for casting mockery at her. Which temple mocks her here?"

Caterine's eyes narrow at this talkative guard... concerned that there is some kind of deception or gambit in play...
Sense Motive: 1d20 ⇒ 11

I think its 100% certain there is a deception or gambit in play, it is more a case of what, not if. The question, as always, is 'cui bono?' I suspect we will get our answers soon enough.

Kabal continued to keep his mouth shut while the runt carried on and on about the drow place. He tried to pay attention but looking up at the ceiling and thinking that there were people and places above his head had the big guy distracted... how in the nine hells do they even get up there?...

Religions, religions,....don't know much about religion or drow religion

take 10 knowledge religion -> 10 + 7 = 17

Can probably give you an aid another if that might help?

Gadak nearly stops the cart as you speak the godesses' name

Shhh, are you some sort of lunatic?! Don't say the Forbidden Ones' names aloud! Umberweb must be a crazy place...hear they can flay you to death for such a thing...or worse...

the drow seems genuinely shocked

And no, I don't know who of the princes or princesses IS MOCKED by her...

"Well tell us who you do have, I seek to pay my disrespects"

Dadak relaxes a bit and steers the wagon around another group of duergar

If you are clever...you should either visit the temple of Nocticula or of Andirifku. Their cults are the most portent these days and as a stranger, I wouldn't show my respect to one of the weaker cults first...nearly there...any last questions before we reach House Vonnarc?

Winter racks his brain for facts...

Andirifku - Know:Religion 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14
Nocticula - Know:Religion 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21

Andirifkhu is the patron demon lord of a specific group of demons, sadistic inventors, and those who inflict pain for pay or sport. You also remember that she is usual depicted as some kind of alien woman.

Our Lady in Shadow, Nocticula,is a demon lord who concerns herself with the metaphysical qualities of darkness and lust. She excels in seduction, beauty, cruelty and sadism. Lady Nocticula appears in her true form as a curvaceous succubus, wearing her dark hair in a complex style. Her eyes are devoid of pupils, her fingers are tipped with talons, and her feet end in stony hooves that exude red-hot, liquid iron. Her bat-like wings are covered with glowing runes, and three stinger-tipped tails complete her demonic visage. Like her brother Socothbenoth, however, she often shifts her form to meet the deepest, darkest desires of those observing her. She is worshipped by traitors, assassins and succubi.

I think I have dated them both at some point.

"Sounds pleasant, but my tastes are particular, I will find my target that is for sure - from where may I obtain a map of this place?"

Kabal despised gods and the worship that they demanded and he counted drow gods as the lowest form of the sort. He kept his blasphemous thoughts to himself as he had the impression that all drow were pious. He really wanted to cut their guide into small pieces but understood the repercussions of such an action at this point. He let the fool ramble on and cracked his neck which had become stiff from sitting in the carriage for so long.

Caterine continues to watch with silent and narrowed eye visage.

Bree glances up and around at each of her companions, before sliding her dagger back into it's sheath and stretching her legs out.

A map?...well the houses have some, so much for sure...but I guess getiing one on the black market is a difficult thing...knowledge about the city, its pathways and architecture means power...so yeah, if you can afford one you'll find one I guess...but don't ask me. Ah, finally, there we are.

Gadak stops the wagon and looks to his right - seemingly grown from dark stone of this nighted abyss, a sinister place of unnatural beauty and deadly grace looms. Spires of web-like metal slice through the darkness, their heights illuminated by arcane flame, while the elegant curves of the structure's wall seem to flicker and shift in the dancing shadows. Around the compound, the barely perceptible silhouettes of dark armored shapes glide in soundless patrol upon an arcing barricade of bladed steel. Suddenly, from somewhere within rises an otherworldly shriek, a cry half scream, half bestial howl that slowly resonates and dies amid the gloom. A moment later comes the terrible noise's answer, a fluttering peal of mirthless, mocking laughter.

"I'll walk around with a pencil and sketch one myself, how hard could it be?"

Winter takes his dislike of this City and uses the anger to simply be objectionable.

"And what compensation do you expect for your services, coachwright?"

Sable sneers, trying to pass off the icy demeanor of his ebony shawl.

For the little tour? Oh nothing...but, since you asked...ah well, I just keep in mind that you asked.

He steers the wagon over to the gate and flashes his signet again...sconds later the brutally faced guard captain commands to some unseen guards to open the gate.

Inside, the place teems with soldiers...at least two hundred train crossbow shooting, sword fights or try to master an obstacle parcours.

The pride of House Vonnarc...males trained to be masterful killers and living weapons, quite a sight, eh?

Gadak says and there's an audible tone of mocking in his voice.

Uh...anything wrong? As quite as it has never been - I know it's railroady, but no questions about the house, troops, Vonnarc drow, whatever?

Kabal cast a measuring eye at the so called 'soldiers' training and couldnt help but admire some of their tactics. He also wanted to spit in disgust as he strutted over there to offer up a challenge. He tried to find a weekness in their routines.

Perception +13

How many soldiers does House Vonnarc claim?

That's what I was getting at with trying to gather some sort of map, as it might better inform the questions... if we had some sort of visual representation we might be able to identify key areas and start building a better understanding of the place... otherwise I think we're sitting back and just riding the plot-train until something 'happens' that we need to react to - ie the local boss starts talking to us, or we get a map...even if Winter has to go walk the streets and draw one. Once we have a map we can do our questions in bulk, rather than line by line Q&A that will take us ages. lets get the show on the road and into beating up Drow and rescuing the good guys! #GoTeamRiddleport

I'll test my scan powers! However that doesn't explain while Sable, Bree and Sebastian were all muted?! Mhm...Sadly the maps aren't very helpful. This is the map of the Eldreissil cave. House Vonnarc is at the far right.

Cave

Gadak shrugs and steers the wagon over to the stables

No one of us minors knows for sure, several hundreds at least...knowledge like that is a precious good in Zirnakaynin...once I have taken care of the lizards I'll introduce you to the Slavemother.

Bree just feels it's best to keep her mouth shut right now and to let the others gather what information they need. Her method of gathering the information she needs right now would be to have stopped along the road and tortured the lad until he told her what she needed, and then kill him. Also, there doesn't seem to be much of any other way to seek out the info we need without drawing too much suspicion due to our lack of knowledge of everything Drow.

And there's part of the funny dynamics, normally Winter is the talkative one, the voice of calm amongst these crazy war dogs. The 'ladies' we have in the party are the worst offenders with their tongues and blades, so its going to be a challenge when Winter has to shuddup and let them lead... I don't think the ladies in the party are silent, they are just 'brooding quietly before their next bout of bloody rampage'

Out of earshot of anyone we might have to kill over it

"A quick sketch of the area eh? Its rough, but perhaps now we can start putting this puzzle together."

"Like spiders they lair the houses in the recesses and corners, so I wonder who built something that big in the middle surrounded by a market or common area along the ridgeline, must be tough and important to have so much confidence.... and these pools..?"

"Lets find out who our neighbours are and investigate the town common when we get a chance. Perhaps Vonnarc will give us some identification markers; commoners wont give us any problems, but rivals may, so we could put them on show, but not too overt"

Cat's broodiness has been enhanced here by a full on work schedule... but I'm still here and reading.

"It would serve us well to have a sponsor of some kind here... if we are garbed with the color of a house it would likely offer some protection against opportunistic attention."

Turning to Kabal with a smirk "We need to make an impression here... Would you be willing to play along with a ruse? When the slavemother comes... speak out of turn, and I will put you in your place." pausing for a moment before chuckling "Surely it wouldn't be the first time you've let a lady whip you?"

Bree's eyes grow wide at Cat's suggestion to Kabal, and then even wider with the innuendo. It's a good thing her Drow covering doesn't blush.

After a moment, Bree crosses her arms beneath her breasts and quietly says, "There are just so many of them... We'll never get back out of here alive."

GM - for your convenience (and ours) should we just come up with a general overall plan and then take it to the abstract? Save us blow by blowing it out and you having to give us a billion lines of conversation if not needed :) Happy to provide an overall idea of what we are doing if that makes life easy for you?