Even Angels Weep

Game Master DragonBlood472

Jess does her best to smile in return. She accepts the locket and letters from Silian, and gives a pained sigh as she looks over them. To Vannevar she says, "I don't think that we'd be able to make it through the city carrying a body. I hate to leave him for the neighbors to find, but I don't see a lot of alternatives."

Silian shrugs as he pilfers the apartment. "I could set fire to the place to cover our tracks..."

"That would endanger the innocent. Better to make it look like a robbery or...." with a burst of inspiration, Akasha looks around. "Grab anything of value!"

Grimacing slightly she takes a knife, slashing the artery on the dead man's wrist. A blood slowly trickles out she waits for it to pool before using it to scrawl a message on the wall.

PAY WHAT YOU OWE.

Jonah winces at the actions, but looks around for valuables anyways.

perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

Jess watches Akasha with fascination before shaking her head with a smile. She looks around the room and when she can't find anything of particular value she takes things to make it look as if something is obviously missing and knocks other things over.

Jonah, you don't really find much else of value. I pretty much gave it all up with Silian's perception roll. You are welcome to take whatever else in the house that can be useful even if not valuable. Clothes, linens, cutlery etc.

Silian grins, "One step ahead of you, love."

Once the place is significantly turned over to help disguise the crime committed, you make your way out of the apartments and back into the night. You can't be sure who all might have seen you coming and going from the apartments, but with a place as big as Sharn you don't think it really matters much.

For some of you, the nights events weigh heavily on your mind as you play them over and over again wondering what you could have done differently. Wondering if it was the right thing to do at all. Fearful of retribution, either by man or by gods for your actions.

For others of you, you walk in the night air laughing and smiling already having put the event behind you and unconcerned with any repercussions. Others are a little more somber, but secure in the idea that it was what needed to be done, even if that knowledge doesn't make it any more pleasant.

The cat purrs in Silian's arms.

You arrive back at the Cracked Mirror, and the party is still in full swing. Jessamin tells you that it will go on until dawn chases everyone back to their homes and beds... or someone else' home and bed.

"I know you might not feel up to it, but it may be a good idea to change back and be seen around the party for a bit, or at least heading off by witnesses. " Akasha whispers to Jess,"Besides me enjoying the sight of you in that dress of course."

Before returning to his room, Silian gives Jess a reassuring hug. "If you need anything, never hesitate to ask." Donning his costume once more, Silian places the cat upon the counter, "Mrogab, you have acquired a new tavern cat... it's here for the party." And Silian melds back into the crowd, seeking the Thuranni woman of earlier.

Jonah heads back to his room to wash up lightly and leave his gear.

He then puts his masque back on, and with a thought is back in his gargoyle costume.

By the host, I tried. However, what is done is done.

He then heads out and wanders around the party again, quietly hoping to run back into Marianna.

Jess nods her head to Akasha, "I need a few minutes to check on some things. I'm afraid that the dress is covered in Pax's blood and still wrapped around her body but I think I can find something you'll like."

She leaves Akasha for the moment and disappears towards the back of the Inn.

It does not take very long for Jonah and Silian to spot the women they had been entertaining earlier in the evening.

Jonah wanders up to Marianna.

I do hope that you pardon me for my absence, but I had something that came up that I just had to deal with.

Jonah offers her his hand.

Akasha heads back to her room to change, keeping A dagger strapped to her thigh, as she resumes her raven costume, heading back to the ball to await Jess.

Silian sends a drink Akasha's way before he mingles again, approaching Ava. "The night is still young and Sharn grows lighter. How have you been enjoying the party?"

Marianna accepts Jonah's hand with a smile and a dip of her head, "Of course, I understand. I'm glad to see you've returned to me. Is everything alright now?"

Jess returns a little while later, and instead of wearing the flowing, shimmering gown with her dragon mask she has put on an outfit made of fitted, golden, supple leather. It draws the attention of many eyes as she makes her way back to Akasha. The twinkle in Jess' eyes says that she is well aware, and amused by, the affect she has on others.

"Well, Lord d'Thuranni, I must admit that things were starting to feel a bit droll without you. Have you taken care of the crisis that pulled you away so swiftly?"

Yes, everything has been sorted out.
Jonah finds a drink table, and picks up a pair of drinks and offers her one.

Akasha's eyes widen for a moment before her lips curl into a deeply appreciative smile as she feels a warmth flow through her that has nothing to do with her drink. "I never thought I'd enjoy having a ballroom full of people hate me this much." she says with a grin, slipping her arms around Jess' waist. "And like is an understatement."

"The Shadow covers all." Silian gives his infatuate a mock salute. "By the way, do you know of a scholar named Geldem? An elderly human."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

Vannevar holds his mask idly in is hand as he finds a good spot to position himself to watch the room and Silian.

Marianna graciously accepts the drink from Jonah and sips at it quietly, not sure what else to say to the dashing stranger.

Jess tilts her head back and laughs, "My dear Raven, I do believe I've seen more than a few eyes on you this night as well." She moves in close to Akasha, pressing her body against the other woman's, swaying gently with the music. "Ask, I'm sure you're curious," She whispers softly into Akasha's ear.

Ava chuckles lightly at Silian's mock salute and then frowns in concentration as she considers the name Geldem. "I cannot say that I do, I'm sorry. Should I know something of this Geldem, of import to the House?"

The cat retrieved from the apartments has found its way through the crowded room to take that moment to jump up on a small shelf near Silian's shoulder. It spans the chasm between Silian and the shelf by reaching out to plant its front paws on the elf's shoulder. It then meows in his ear and before rubbing it's head against the same ear.

A drunk woman stumbles and falls into Garotte she titters and says, "Oh, sorry. So sorry." It seems to be taking her an inordinate amount of time to right herself again.

Otirry, the half-orc dressed as 'prey' spots Tava as she reenters the tavern. He decides to seek her out, carrying a drink with him he approaches and extends the drink towards her before saying, "Trinken?"

The feel of Jess' warm breath against her ear sends a slight tingle through Akasha. "Well not that it matters, btu are al of your friends from tonight changelings?" she whispers without a trace of judgement or prejudice as they sway rhythmically.

There is a pause as Jess weighs out the answer she will give your question, "Normally, it would not be my place to speak of them but as you held Pax in her last moments, and avenged her with as much wrath as if she were your own I think that it would be forgiven of me to tell you that they are."

She is quiet for a moment and then you hear the almost pleading statement whispered in your ear again, "Ask."

Sensing her tension Akasha runs her hand along Jess' back in a soothing manner. "Are you?"

Jessamin trembles slightly under Akasha's touch. You have seen the strength and skill that this woman posses and you doubt that it is a fear for her safety that makes her tremble - she is more than capable of defending herself. You doubt that it is even fear of rejection that makes her pause - you have made your feelings of acceptance of changelings quite clear in your words and actions. Yet there is a worry there that is quite clear, as she balances on the precipice of sharing her greatest secret with you, "Few who are not, know that I am."

Akasha considers what she's witnessed tonight, the sheer brutality and downright bigoted evil she'd witnessed, the burden a lifetime of secrecy could be to bear. Feeling a woman as strong as Jessamin generate fear strikes a chord with the very essence of Akasha's being, filling her with the urge to protect.

"I guard your secret as if it were my own." she whispers back. "We all choose who we want to be. Some people just get to choose a few more details than others. Doesn't change the person inside....besides...... I happen to very much enjoy your choice." she whispers into Jess' ear holding her close.

"You need fear nothing from me Jess"

Jess chuckles, "Indeed, but make no mistake, my kind rarely choose only one face - one person to be for the entirety of their lives. This woman dancing with you now is not all that the changeling called Nim becomes. In this moment, while I wear this face, I am wholly and completely Jessamin. When a changeling changes, for most of us, we immerse ourselves completely in the new person we change in to."

She pulls back enough to hold Akasha's gaze, "Thank you."

"You're welcome, beautiful." Akasha says returning the gaze with a genuine smile."You are quite the fascinating woman, Jessamin" she says reacing up to brush a lock of hair away from her face.

Jess smiles before leaning in to kiss Akasha. It seems that even with the horrible things that she has seen and done this night, she still has every desire to be as close to Akasha as she can before the night ends.

Sometimes the best way to deal with death and loss was to embrace living. Returning the kiss passionately, Akasha was sure that she would remind Jess how good it was to be alive tonight. "Just say the word whenever you want to get out of here." she says as they come up for air before kissing those delightfully soft lips again.

Silian idly pets the cat as he talks. "To the House? No, not particularly, unless the Shadow Network was connected to his demise. We came upon his body earlier when we went to fetch the wine. Murder is as common as rain in Sharn, but my curiosity was peaked."

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20

Garotte assists in uprighting the inebriate.

"Nothing of value to find. Move along."

Marianna, although I am not good at it, would you care to try a dance?

Jess smiles and leads Akasha off to her quarters. When the door is closed she gently pulls away Akasha's mask as well as her own, tossing them on a nearby table. She sits on the bed and pulls Akasha down onto her lap. Where her kisses become deeper and filled with passion and her hands explore all of the most sensitive areas. Soon, the two women are lost in each other and oblivious to everything outside of their four walls.

"Had he been robbed?" Ava asks simply as she moves closer to you so that she can reach out and pet the cat, too.

The woman, now righted on her own two feet with Garotte's help looks at him in confusion, "What?" Her speech is slurred and she sways on her feet. She brings a hand up to her face and pulls away her mask, "I don't feel so well," she says before stumbling again and dropping the mask from her hand.

Marianna smiles, "I'd be delighted!" She finds a place to set her drink down.

Vannevar spots the man moving towards Silian and turns to his right, steps up on a stool and onto the bar. "Apologies," he says to the startled patrons and to Mrogab as he knocks over a few glasses along the way. A few quick steps across the bar and Vannevar hops back down, having deposited himself a few feet from Silian.

Perception 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25
Climb 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21
Acrobatics 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23

"If any possessions were taken before he died, they disappeared to the depths." Silian glances to see Vannevar moving, and spots the out-of-place patron. He lowers his voice and speaks to Ava in Elven, "Mae'r dyn yn mwgwd y fenyw yw hyd at rywbeth. Byddwch yn wyliadwrus."

Silian laughs, his hand at the ready with a spell.

Bluff: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26

Three assailants.

Reaching to steady the woman, "Inebriate, you are being observed." Moving in between the drunk and the three men. "State intentions."

Jonah leads Marianna out onto the dance floor.

I do hope that you forgive me if I misstep, as I am very unpracticed at this.

The man's movements hesitate as he takes in Vannevar's sudden, forced appearance. He slows his pace, keeping his empty hands visible as he continues to head straight for Silian.

Ava raises an eyebrow and glances over her shoulder casually, "Oh? Pa hwyl! Mae'n ymddangos fel pe gennych chi ddawn am ddod o hyd i drafferth."

-----

Lmfao @ calling her Inebriate.
The rather confused woman is able to mumble out another, "What?" She tries to look around her to make sense of what Garotte is saying but the room spins and she has to grab onto Garotte's arm to keep from falling flat on her face. The three men cower away from Garotte's presence, the pull back further into the crowd moving towards the exit. He hears one of them curse, "Damnit. She was perfect."

-----

Marianna smiles and says, "Well, then I am rather pleased to help you practice!" She giggles as you start to dance and before long you fall into a rhythm which isn't too difficult for you to hold, and you only make a few mistakes. This is exceptional, considering that almost everyone else in the room is falling over each other in their intoxicated states.

Vannevar moves to intercept the man in the woman's mask, placing himself directly in his path and blocking his access to Silian. "How may I assist you?" He asks with his hand resting on the pommel of his sword.

Intimidate 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20

Jonah continues on with the dance, being completely oblivious to what is happening by the bar table.

The man pauses in front of Vannevar, glancing over Vannevar's shoulder at Silian. He then takes a longer look at Vannevar's face, "You were there, too."

Here, the man says slowly reaching into his cloak with one hand while the other is held up in a wait gesture implying that he has no intention of pulling a weapon. Vannevar notices a signet ring on the man's hand, that of House Cannith.

The man pulls a folded piece of paper from a pouch on his belt and holds it to Vannevar. "You are with Lord d'Thurrani and the others who found Geldem. I thought you might be interested..."

As soon as Vannevar accepts the paper from the man, he turns and makes his way back through the crowd towards the exit. His back to you, you see him reach towards his face and then deposit the mask on a table near the exit before slipping into the night.

Waiting with Ava, Silian calls to Vannevar, "Ukhall jiak feavch ul oavheruk, Julcle?"

Vannevar watches as the man retreats, holding the folded pieces of paper between his fingertips. Only after the man has left does he turn towards Silian. "Nu cred că va fi necesar încă, Nephew. Știe ceva despre omul am găsit ucis mai devreme în seara asta. Părea intenție care ar trebui să aibă acest mesaj."

Vannevar approaches and bows to Ava, "Please, forgive my interruption." He extends the note out to Silian.

Silian smiles curtly. "Ava, I would like you to meet my bodyguard, Vannevar Thurrani." Silian opens and reads the note.

Ava smiles and returns Vannevar's bow, "So much excitement in one night for you."

Jonah suddenly realizes that Marianna is standing a lot closer to him as they dance than she was a few moments before.

Silian tucks the note away. "All in the life of a traveling heir, my dear." He kisses the back of her hand. "Once more you must excuse me, I need word with one of my associates. I shall leave you in Vannevar's watchful graces." As Silian makes his way through the crowd, he notices the lack of Akasha and Jessamin, and that the door to the room he spent the previous evening in is closed. He instead makes his way to the bar, and waits until Mrogab can spare a moment. "When you have time, please inform the lovely ladies beyond that I will be visiting the Broken Anvil upon the dawn and that Lady d'Deneith is welcome to accompany me if she is... untangled from current affairs. You need not interrupt, a note with breakfast should suffice." Silian pours himself two glasses and turns about.

Silian passes by the warforged ward, "Broken Anvil at dawn. It is a tavern. We may learn more of your sister there."

Moving his way back through the throng, he pauses by Jonah's dance just long enough to say, "Speak to the Tin-Man at some point. No rush, I don't think they are built with impatience." And smiling, he brings a drink back for Ava, and gives what remains of his own glass to Vannevar.

Jonah relaxes a bit, and continues to hold her in the dance.

He nods his head at Silian after hearing what he had to say, and then continues to dance.

Mrogab chuff's, "I wouldn't be goin' in there and interruptin' those two if ya paid me, boy. I'll let 'em know though."

Ava seems thoroughly amused with the whole thing; a sly grin on her face and a sparkle in her eyes.

Vannevar accepts his fate as Silian's placeholder as stoically as he does anything else. "That is a lovely costume, Madam."

When Silian returns, and hands Vannevar his half finished glass of wine Vannevar's brows twitch every so slightly before he schools the expression. He stands there with the glass for a moment before setting it down on a nearby table. With a bow he says, "If you will excuse me, Madam, Lord Silian." He then removes himself to stand guard nearby but out of obvious range to overhear the conversation with ease.