Eberron: Shadows of Breland (Fantasy Noir)

Game Master Elton

Assuming he could, Kyndril would have prepared a shield and a burning hands for 1st level, as well as ray of frost, detect magic, and daze, for 0 level spells.

Xov gets detect magic as an unlimited spell-like ability from drow feats...I doubt we'll need it multiple times in a round, but we'll see:)

Oh! I did not know that! I'll go edit that.

"Well we're here now, so we might as well get the package delivered and then see what fate has in store for us. It seems like this is all a lot of effort to go through if the Brelish wanted to kill or imprison us- we could have just been 'lost in transit' with far less effort."

Danir looks around town for places where he might be able to acquire basic gear or a forge where he might find employment for when they were done.

[dice=Perception]1d20+5

Result 20 is an automatic success. Yes, there are places where you might find employment. Including the House Orien Concourse. There is also the local House Sivis -- where a barrister with the Barrister Guild is looking for para-legals (House Sivis has a monopoly on the Legal Industry, interestingly enough).

The Local Mages Guild is looking for signatory members, and the local fighters guild isn't advertising. And, a round about way, you found the party with which you need to deliver the package. He lives in a small town house that is across the river from the lightning rail station. Hurrah!

Yay, Danir is awesome

"Shall we go deliver the package now?"

Bout time!
"Certainly, better to be done and free at last..."

"Then let us go, but stay ready for anything."
perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25
ven'xol perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22

Nothing escapes your sight, but you see nothing out of the ordinary. (Xov, you really scare me.)

The front door has two small gardens beside it. In the gardens you see tulips and honeysuckles growing. The dirt is black, like potter's dirt. It even looks rich and beautiful. The flowers also look happy, and their colors are so full of life.

The door is a simple wooden door. The house is painted in white and the only thing that is not painted is a large wooden beam that the whole roof is built on. The roof is covered in thatch, and the siding is made of wooden tiles. There are windows, and the windows are made of clear glass. The smells coming from the house happens to be a recreational drug that is pulverized and smoked, probably cannabis (marajuana).

Kyndril frowns as he glances about the place. A drug user? While it was hardly evil, it was certainly a breach of discipline... Flame knows, though, that he's hardly the most disciplined person himself. Running a hand through his hair, he nods at Xov's words.

"Yes, keep your wits about you... Depressing though that may be. I thought the War was over... we shouldn't need to keep our eyes constantly trained on threats..."

The magus sighs sadly, shaking himself. The defeatist sentiment was hardly welcome here, he needed to keep his spirits up. Flame help him...

"Perhaps...perhaps they are not nearly as cautious as us, given the apparent use of reaction-decreasing substances. Let us enter."
Xov starts to approach.

After you knock on the door, a man opens the door and yawns. He's slightly overweight and looking a little better for the wear. He's also shirtless. "Yes, what do you want?"

We have come to deliver a package, although why someone would us to deliver something to a slob like yourself is beyond me.

He burps. "A package, for me?" he says. "Are you going to let me look at it?"

"Pardon sir, would you happen to be Ressir Colworn?" Danir inquires politely while sizing the man up discreetly.

Sense Motive check: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 = 20

"Yes, I am Ressir Colworn," said this man. He burps and hands you his I.D. papers, opened. They have a picture of this man with the name RESSIR COLWORN stamped on it along with a notarized House Sivis signature.

He's telling the truth.

Kyndril takes a long, quiet look at the man, arching a brow at his shirtless state, wondering whether all drug users were this... careless with their garments. It would, he muses, provide an interesting experience if the drug user in question were female... Quickly, he shuts down the thought, refocusing on the present.

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
...

Ebran will hand the package over once the group decides this is the right guy.

Ressir opens the package and reads the notes. "Ah, very interesting. It says that the bearers of this package are to be inducted into the Citadel save one, and that you six will follow my orders. Are you all promising to follow my orders?"

He even looks at Xov, with an authorative stare.

"We have brought a package for you from Hatheril," Danir says while indicating to Ebran that this is indeed the correct man.

Braining fellow party members is frowned upon, correct? :)

Yes.

"Well so much for freedom..." Danir thinks as he hear's Ressir's proclamation.

He looks around at the others and wonders what they will do- maybe he should just go back to the house and apologize and beg for re-admission into the house... "No," he thought as he remembered nearly two years in chains "If I go back, it will be on my own terms.

"Well, fighting the Aurum is something you can do very well yourself, but you'll miss out on the benefits," said Ressir. "Benefits like 500 gp for each of you, a private lightning rail coach for your use as long as you are a member of the citadel, plus license to unlimited travel . . ."

He then turns to Xov and says, "Except for your Drow friend here, he's a special case."

He then returns to Danir. "So, Danir d'Cannith, you really really want to fight the Aurum all by yourself and restore Sovereignty to your people? Or do you want your standing with House Cannith restored?"

Ressir waves a document guaranteeing Danir's full reinstatement as a Scion of House Cannith. "Do you really think they ignored you while you were a prisoner of war?"

Would we even know what the Aurum is?

"Pardon my forwardness, but if we were not inclined to join the Citadel, would it be safe to presume that you do not actually have our letters of Repatriation here?"

Would we even know what the Aurum is?

"Pardon my forwardness, but if we were not inclined to join the Citadel, would it be safe to presume that you do not actually have our letters of Repatriation here?"

"Even better, license to unlimited travel with House Orien," he said. "The letters of repatriation guarantees safe travel to your country of origin without pay. With this you can go to any country or nation, even Droaam and Valenar."

Xov knows, or will know . . . what the Aurum is.

He then returns to Danir. "So, Danir d'Cannith, you really really want to fight the Aurum all by yourself and restore Sovereignty to your people? Or do you want your standing with House Cannith restored?"

Ressir waves a document guaranteeing Danir's full reinstatement as a Scion of House Cannith. "Do you really think they ignored you while you were a prisoner of war?"

"Sovereignty? I'd rather first my people had a nation that was not a blasted wasteland, as for the House, the thought that they were ignoring me had crossed my mind more than once- the alternative being they were having a good laugh at my expense."

"You really don't know what happened to House Cannith," said Ressir. "To put a long story short, when you were captured and Cyre destroyed, House Cannith went into chaos, and just now they stablized around three individuals. Only in the last three days have they been able to petition for your release."

Kyndril arches a brow at this. Why is it that secret organizations keep on proposing he join them? An irrational surge of fury makes him clench his fists. He wanted to go home, dammit, and see if his mother had survived the conflicts! Nevertheless, he takes a quiet breath, calming himself. He sighs, then asks Ressir.

"Pardon, but who are the Aurum, and why are the Citadel fighting them? As well, why should we bother fighting them ourselves?" His voice is curious, though. That someone was willing to pay so highly means that they consider it important.

At the mention of Danir's last name, he pauses, eyes glittering. Most intriguing. A drow, a human with the Mark of the Storm, a member of House Cannith, and a shifter. That just left him, of course... And he was no one nearly as important or exotic as these new companions. Oh, and the Blood priest. Flame forgive him, but every time he had to think of the... man, he felt a mild surge of disgust. Really, was the idea of being a part of something greater all that abhorrent? The fact that he proclaimed proudly that he had slain Thranes in the Last War did nothing to help his case, naturally.

And we would know the Citadel as the intelligence service of Breland? Assuming that's what it is, of course.

"And to whom in my family would I be paying thanks for that petition?"

I never wove in any details about Danir's parents and their standing in House Cannith so feel free to decide that for yourself...

Kyndril arches a brow at this. Why is it that secret organizations keep on proposing he join them? An irrational surge of fury makes him clench his fists. He wanted to go home, dammit, and see if his mother had survived the conflicts! Nevertheless, he takes a quiet breath, calming himself. He sighs, then asks Ressir.

"Pardon, but who are the Aurum, and why are the Citadel fighting them? As well, why should we bother fighting them ourselves?" His voice is curious, though. That someone was willing to pay so highly means that they consider it important.

At the mention of Danir's last name, he pauses, eyes glittering. Most intriguing. A drow, a human with the Mark of the Storm, a member of House Cannith, and a shifter. That just left him, of course... And he was no one nearly as important or exotic as these new companions. Oh, and the Blood priest. Flame forgive him, but every time he had to think of the... man, he felt a mild surge of disgust. Really, was the idea of being a part of something greater all that abhorrent? The fact that he proclaimed proudly that he had slain Thranes in the Last War did nothing to help his case, naturally.

And we would know the Citadel as the intelligence service of Breland? Assuming that's what it is, of course.

"You saw the slaves at Hatheril, right?" said Rassir. "Now imagine all your countrymen in that position."

"And to whom in my family would I be paying thanks for that petition?"

I never wove in any details about Danir's parents and their standing in House Cannith so feel free to decide that for yourself...

"Merrix d'Cannith. The other two are in Aundair and Karrnath, respectively."

Essar focused his will into his form to strengthen his voice. casting Enhance Diplomacy using it to give a 2+ bonus to my intimidate check.

Intimidate1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17

I might be tempted to join the Citadel however a question of note enters my mind. What are the rules with treasure we find on the Aurum, as I do know one thing about them...they are as wealthy as a Dragonmarked house.

Furthermore though you need to understand something. If you intrude upon my own affairs in the Blood or in whats left of the Emerald Claw, it will be your spies who wind up bleeding not the Aurum. As I have neither the time nor the inclination to deal with spies in a kind and friendly manner.

"I see... maybe could we come inside? Talking of such things on your doorstep seems awfully foolish, does it not?"

Danir considers this turn of events- if the House had really petitioned for his release and if Merrix was the one behind doing so, he didn't see how he could refuse this offer without severing any chance of ever returning... and he was curious now of this Aurum- who ar they and why did they pose such a threat?

Kyndril growls, eyes hard, but then regains control of himself, a cool expression coming over his face.

"You are very good at giving reasons." The Khorvar's voice drips sarcasm. "I mean, Flame forgive me, the level of detail is simply overwhelming! I don't know if I can handle all of this information! I fear I might go mad!"

While his acting is rather hammy, it serves to better contrast the sudden seriousness that comes over him.

"Perhaps you'd better explain further?" He suggests.

Kyndril growls, eyes hard, but then regains control of himself, a cool expression coming over his face.

"You are very good at giving reasons." The Khorvar's voice drips sarcasm. "I mean, Flame forgive me, the level of detail is simply overwhelming! I don't know if I can handle all of this information! I fear I might go mad!"

While his acting is rather hammy, it serves to better contrast the sudden seriousness that comes over him.

"Perhaps you'd better explain further?" He suggests.

He brushes off the intimidation from the Blood Priest. He's deadly serious, "Before I let you all in, I need to speak with the Royal Eye of Aundair you have among you."

Danir turns to Xov, realizing that as a "Special Case", Ressir must surely mean him...
"You have been spying on us?" he asks the Drow, with some amount of interest.

Othan stands back and listens to the exchange of information, ready to react if things go wrong.

It is now the time to gain the first member of my inner circle...

Ah a Royal eye eh? Perhaps it is a good time for you to switch your alleigance, for a sorcerer can raise himself to great heights among the Blood.

Kyndril frowns at this, sighing. Aundairian Royal Eyes, again? Were they trying to follow him, still? With mild interest, he turns his face to Xov, eyes flicking back and forth across the group. Flame help him, why wouldn't these "secret" organizations leave him alone?

Xov was stunned. What happened? Had they plucked a hair from his prison cell? Were they using it to scry on him? Even then, how could they have known? He only spoke of his affiliation through message spells, and covered his mouth during those times to prevent anyone from seeing. Could they detect his thoughts? What was going on? Why would five foreigners just released from prison be admitted into the Citadel? How much did the citadel know of him? Weirdest of all, if they were able to gain enough information on him to determine his loyalties, how in the name of the Five Nations could they be so oblivious as to the anti-Brelish loyalties of the other five? Unless...unless the entire group were plants. But then...huh?
After a moment, he asked the biggest question on his mind:
Could you please explain what is going on? I'm confused.
sense motive: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

Ressir said, "This would be so much easier if you just promised to follow orders." He pulls Xov into his house and slams the door.

Ebran didn't care about a royal eye around. He had done some work with them in the past, he thinks. Not sure, since he never got recruited. Perhaps his loyalties or spirits too fleeting.

"Well, with all this talk of what you know about the others, I'd like to know what you know of me" he says to the man. "And I wouldn't mind discussing such in the comfort of a home, rather than a group of suspicious folks jammed around your doorway."

"Your offer seems nice, certainly I do enjoy travel. I prefer not by train, but I will take what I can get. What arrangements do you have with House Lyrandar?"

Ebran didn't care about a royal eye around. He had done some work with them in the past, he thinks. Not sure, since he never got recruited. Perhaps his loyalties or spirits too fleeting.

"Well, with all this talk of what you know about the others, I'd like to know what you know of me" he says to the man. "And I wouldn't mind discussing such in the comfort of a home, rather than a group of suspicious folks jammed around your doorway."

"Your offer seems nice, certainly I do enjoy travel. I prefer not by train, but I will take what I can get. What arrangements do you have with House Lyrandar?"

"I'll get to you in a moment," said Ressir. "Well, Xov?"

Tell me my companions, how many of you have wished for immortality and a life devoid of the fear that accompanies death?

I despise the Aurum as much as you, they are a treacherous lot who wish to overthrow our sovereigns. Yes, I will aid you in defeating them.

"Okay, all of you, including Mr. Emo over there, come on in," said Ressir opening up the door to all of you.

Typical of the Brelish, thought Xov, as he walked inside. So rude, even when dealing with allies.

To Essar: "Death holds no fear for me, truth be told- a life lived without meaning is a far worse fate than death. And I would rather cut out my own heart and spill my blood into the soil of Breland, as much as I dislike being here, than ever pledge it to your cult of insanity."

"I don't wish to become a zombie. Come see me in 80 years! hahaha"

Danir enters the home and waits for their host.

Perception check: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18

Lichdom, Ha. That is the path of the weak and stupid, for other methods of achieving immortality exist. After all why should we embrace the exact opposite of life? The key is not undeath, the key is to purge ourselves of imperfection. For we mortals are much like unrefined iron, we possess qualities that make us strong. Yet we are weighed down by imperfections that need to be purged. For it is not contempt of the flesh that I advocate, nay I advocate for the purification of the flesh.

Kyndril doesn't even dignify Essar's question with a response, entering with Danir and Xov. He takes a moment to take the place in, green eyes darting around to take in as much as he can, before he settles down, resting his hand on the hilt of his scimitar. In general, he remains skeptical. The Brelish intelligence wanted to hire him, hm? Well, they'd better have a damned good reason.

Dice, don't you dare give me a single digit...
Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20
Hey, it worked!