Cуровую зиму |
I believe it was Edmin with the torch, although I can be not far by him.
Message
'Our guest is not alone.'
Both hands are upraised to show she is unarmed, Cуровую smiles, and arches an eyebrow. Perhaps she is not as naive as was foretold.
Douglas Muir 406 |
Half a dozen sleek grey shapes surface from the river. Strange to see, so far from the ocean: it's a pod of dolphins. The dolphins spout and breathe, and then rest quietly, occasionally flicking a fin to keep station against the current.
A moment later, the Soothsayer rises from the water. It's as if she's standing on a platform: she simply lifts up out of the surface until she's knee-deep, putting her head just below the level of the Frosthamar's stern.
Actually, she is standing on something. There's something large and dark in the water, a foot or two below the surface, and she's standing on it.
It's a creature. She's standing on the back of some huge underwater creature. Hard to make out, because it's black (or at least, black on top) and the night is dark. But it's roughly oval-shaped and streamlined. And it's at least 20' long. maybe more.
Douglas Muir 406 |
The Soothsayer is wearing a tunic of some sort of silvery stuff and a coronet of what looks like polished stone inlaid with pearls. She appears to be unarmed, though she wears a small knife on her hip.
"Surovoyu Zimu! I have come to take you and Sir Edmin to sanctuary beneath the sea! Those of your companions who are willing to come, will be brought to a place of safety as well!"
Cуровую зиму |
Cуровую continues,
'I would like to hear more of your great city, Ys I believe you have called it. I would like to hear more of this city of splendors beneath the surface of the sea. Please come aboard, our Knight and I would like to know what your plans are once we arrive there.'
Diplomacy 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25
'Sir Edmin ... has trust issues, let us put him at ease.'
DM Detect Magic was cast and I am focusing on the Soothsayer.
Edmin feel free to join the parley.
Douglas Muir 406 |
The coronet is magic -- transmutation. She's carrying a magic wand and... something else magical in a little net bag, at her belt. The wand is abjuration magic, and the something whatever-it-is, is transmutation.
If you're going with Diplomacy, that's fine -- but note that you'll need a full minute of conversation with her to gain the benefits of that roll.
Douglas Muir 406 |
The Soothsayer smiles. "Dear Zimu! Truly it is upon you that the hinge of fate turns tonight.
"Of Ys, what shall I say? Though much has been taken, much abides. We are fewer than we were, but we keep the memory of ages past, and do not break troth. And we have kept the lore of those ages as well.
"But what need is there to speak of what can be shown? Bring your colleagues, such as are coming, and come down. I have prepared magic to defend you against the chill of the water. A day's quick travel downstream, then the open sea. We shall enter Ys together, and joyfully will I be your guide."
Judge Tohram Quasangi |
A minute of discussion is fine, this should still leave Morsum with 2 minutes of Enlarge Person. The Mage Armor lasts for hours, so that is not a problem.
The Judge remains hidden a short way from the stern where he can hear the discussion.
Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13
The Judge is in a good enough position to see that she is standing on something, just not what she is standing upon.
Judge Tohram Quasangi |
The Judge whispers:
I suppose someone could call the Captain, he likes jumping overboard and slaying dolphin lovers. Unless we can get her to come on board, I certainly do not plan on swimming. If we can not get her up here where Morsum can grab her, Xen, I want you to inform the Captain a strange sea elf has put his crew to sleep and is threatening the ship.
Cуровую зиму |
'I would like to hear more of your great city, Ys I believe you have called it. I would like to hear more of this city of splendors beneath the surface of the sea. Please come aboard, our Knight and I would like to know what your plans are once we arrive there.'Diplomacy Diplomacy 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25
'Sir Edmin ... has trust issues, let us put him at ease.'
DM Detect Magic was cast and I am focusing on the Soothsayer.
Edmin feel free to join the parley.
We did invite her aboard
Edmin Al'Roth |
"We think that Xenfal could be turned also. The only thing is he thinks we are trying to trick him so we can kill him. You will need to assure him as you did us my lady."
Douglas Muir 406 |
We did invite her aboard
She's naive, but not completely stupid. She's not going to just climb aboard a ship full of evil people, leaving her posse behind in the water, unless someone gives her a reason to.
I assume a minute of discussion has passed, so her attitude is now Helpful. She likes you, believes you, and sincerely wants to help you. Whether and how you can translate that into getting her aboard is up to you.
Dren of the Dark Tapestry |
How far away from the ship is she? I am not in the ship BTW per my last two posts I am waiting in the shaodws, I rolled my Stealth and used my Alter Self ability for a reason.
Not sure why Jax thought I was on the stairs.
Edmin Al'Roth |
Edmin turns and moves towards Xenfals location, stopping when out of line of site. Xenfal, the Soothsayer would speak with you but she will not come onto the boat."
Xenfal |
And I am supposed to get into the water and trust her? If I get in that water she will drown me.
Cуровую зиму |
I don't know what the Soothsayer is standing on but I'm hoping it's like a killer whale and not say a Dragon Turtle. Actually no I'm hoping she's standing on a undersea Flying Carpet that likes Aasimars.
Again I would like to point out maybe we should not attack her and wait for the captain and her to come to blows. Maybe to prove that she can protect us in Ys, maybe we can even ask her to take on the captain.
-
Waiting for the others but unless someone has a genius idea I will use her helpful attitude to ask for more time to turn the others.
If no ideas forthcoming in the next 20 hours of real time, but this is only stated if no other ideas are put forth
Cуровую will ask, 'Ys is ancient and full of splendors I am sure Gifted One. I am honored by your invitation. Now I must ask for your patience again. Ys has been around for near millennia, surely then, Ys the Great can wait a few more days, I would ask for a final three days to try to sway my comrades.'
Bluff 1d20 + 10 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 10 + 1 = 27
Alternatively I can try to Bluff her to come aboard but her 'bodyguard' is worrisome.
Judge Tohram Quasangi |
Whisper:
We are not equipped to fight her in the water. The only one who can fight is locked in his cabin.
--> This is directed at someone below decks. I want at least one person there to be able to alert the Captain if necessary. The old "The enemy of my enemy is my friend" routine.
If she is refusing to come on the ship, then we need to sent our only water fighter after her. Cy, you have thirty seconds to get her on the ship. After that, I am having Jax Or Dren or Xen, whoever is still below decks. go below decks to alert the captain that a sea elf with dolphins is attacking the ship and has put the on watch sailors to sleep.
Douglas Muir 406 |
'Ys is ancient and full of splendors I am sure Gifted One. I am honored by your invitation. Now I must ask for your patience again. Ys has been around for near millennia, surely then, Ys the Great can wait a few more days, I would ask for a final three days to try to sway my comrades.'
I know you said you'll only ask for more time if nobody else comes up with an idea, but I'll jump the gun a bit and tell you what the answer will be.
Drops of water spray from the Soothsayer's silver hair as she shakers her head emphatically. "No, Surovoyu Zimu. The time to go is now. This hell-ship has come too far already. This journey is ending. Come now!"
Edmin Al'Roth |
"You will slay innocents if you destroy this vessel. There is a halfling on board that needs to be releasesd and the crewmen are not evil, they are just following the captain. He is the biggest threat."
Xenfal |
so i am either hiding, or i said what i said i said. i am confused as to what is going on now, so i leave it to you dmdm to tell me :)
Edmin Al'Roth |
"No he is guarded in a locked cage. To release him will cause a fight and we will be overwhelmed."
Douglas Muir 406 |
At Sir Edmin's words, the Soothsayer pauses, seemingly at a loss.
She wants to get you off that ship, but she really doesn't like the idea of leaving Nimpy behind.
She's ethically torn: do what's best for the greatest number, or try to save one innocent life?
Also, she seems to have known about Nimpy somehow. Or anyway to have known that there was someone like Nimpy. She was very unsurprised by Sir Edmin bringing him up.
Xenfal |
it was out loud, but now it seems we are working a diff plot...so I am confused, we started talkin about me but now we are not
Dren of the Dark Tapestry |
sense motive 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
Dren continues to wait for things to develop, but his patience wears thin...
Via Message to the judge, I can try to force her onto the ship by clouding her mind, but it is a risky move and will cause a fight.
Judge Tohram Quasangi |
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23
Carefully watching the proceedings through the rails from his hidden position, the Judge gives a wicked smile.
Whisper: Keep working the Nimby angle. She is torn about this. I think she knew some innocent was here. Let drop a little about the cruel treatment Nimby received from the captain and the crazy witch doctor.
Xenfal |
Della had taken a lot of pleasure in torturing Xenfal three times a day for the past three days. Each day the guard seemed closer and closer to taking the bribe Xenfal offered. Finally he had caved. He had given Xenfal a sliver of metal. Xen had wasted no time in picking the lock on his mancles. He left them appearing to be chained and he waited for Della.
She came in with his a Cat-o-nine tails ready to beat him. She came in smiling. Hi sweetie. Ready for some fun? She came in with a lot cut top taunting him. He wasted no time in releasing himself and choking her with his chains. He held her until she went under, then he left his cell and retrieved his spear and plunged it through her neck. You will stay loyal to me wont you Della? Xenfal said to his spear as he wiped the blood off on the corpses clothing.
Help me on with the rest of my gear and once we are back at my safe house you will be paid.
It was easy enough to get out of the town. Xen enjoyed watching through the guards spyglass as Mordig came out of the prison raging. Yes, that was satisfying.
The next few weeks they traveled overland they were pursued and attacked almost daily. Xenfal fulfilled his promise and paid the guard his gold. Then Mordig was there smashing open the door and cutting down the guard. Xenfal wasted no time fleeing through the window and hiding with a cell of Asmodeous worshipers. A few months later the Tiadora was in his room...
Cуровую зиму |
'I am asking for more time because we have befriended a bard, and he has been sorely mistreated and undergone hell at the hands of his captors. I would see him come with us. He is perhaps the most deserving of your ... sanctuary. Your salvation.'
The words remind Cуровую of hope of escape from her Fate.
'Give us time to free him ... Return in two nights hence.'
I want to spare your life Elf. Look at my eyes!
Then remembering her eager allies around her, Cуровую summons some coldness back into her heart.
Without changing expressions, 'Or perhaps aid us in our efforts to free the bard, surely your talents will be of use where ours have been hindered.'
Bluff 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25
Sense Motive 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13
Cуровую зиму |
At this level I can only cast Message on three others, per the Judge's plan I have it on Edmin, the Judge and Jax. So Dren and Xen have to rely on the others to communicate (given my choice, since Edmin was close to me, I would have cast it on Dren or Xen).
Also, the Message is limited and has to go through Cуровую to be relayed to the others, meaning I can hear those under the spell and you can hear me, but not necessarily each other. By level five we can all be under the spell.
Along with Detect Magic, Message is a low level spell I plan to always have, I just want to use it fairly. See DM, a player not trying to bend the rules. Just this once.
Douglas Muir 406 |
Okay, couple of biggish rolls here. The Soothsayer, as noted, didn't max ranks in Sense Motive. Still, she's not an idiot, either. So I'm going to give her a circumstance bonus. She has two shots at this -- one to beat Zimu's Bluff on poor Nimpy, and one to pick up on Zimu's subliminal message. So let's see:
1d20 ⇒ 7
1d20 ⇒ 7
Douglas Muir 406 |
The Soothsayer hesitates -- then says, as if to herself "How could I stand before Wind, Sea and Stars if I knowingly let an innocent die? I must help him."
She gives a shrill, warbling whistle. The thing beneath her lifts its head up, raising her all the way out of the water. She grabs the edge of the boat, and
1d20 ⇒ 6
Douglas Muir 406 |
For all her grace, the Soothsayer is not used to climbing aboard ships. She huffs a bit, and takes several moments to scramble awkwardly aboard.
Since she failed a DC 11 Climb check by 5 or more, she's momentarily at a disadvantage. If you want to attack her now, you would get a surprise round. (If you don't want to, you might be able to get a surprise round later in other ways, for instance by another successful Bluff against her. Or you may simply want to wait until you have her flanked and surrounded... you tell me. But decide fast, because in a moment she'll have recovered herself.
Judge Tohram Quasangi |
I am on my phone and with the family today, so I cannot do much posting.
Morsum is going to jump her and attempt to grapple her. I expect Edmin to hit with his axe and anyone else with a debuffing/buffing spell to hit her hard.
I will get the full post up later, but I am not going to give her a chance to become suspicious and jump overboard.
Xenfal |
Xenfal leaps out and touches her, just as Morsum goes for his grapple
Touch attack 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18Fort Save of 14 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
Damn you dice!
Edmin Al'Roth |
Edmin grins as the ambush trips and waits for Morsum and Xenfal to attack before charging and swinging his axe at the Soothsayer. "Stupid cow! I am a Champion of the Dark Prince! Tonight you die!
Smite Good!
Power Attack: 1d20 + 8 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 8 + 2 + 2 = 17
Damage: 1d12 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 10 + 2 = 21
Edit: If able to flank, add +2 to attack and +1 to damage