Mikhail Templeson |
Mikhail begins to cautiously move around the plant.
I have Barkskin on and I would move defensively and try to just walk around it.
Alister Medvyed |
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (15) + 16 = 31
Alister eyes the plant mass. "Uh, I think it's letting us pass, but it's still wary of us. Hurry, it might change it's mind." Alister waves to the others and quickly shuffles past the plant toward the interior of the castle.
Aristu Medvyed |
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 = 20
Very cautiously, Aristu follows the others past the animated plant mass. Once past, he pauses to give a bow of thanks to the creature, then moves to catch up with the others.
GM Tarondor |
This long, flowing chamber includes both a kitchen and a dining area. A fireplace dominates the southern portion of the room, facing a moon-shaped well. To the north sits a heavy table of darkwood, surrounded by a dozen chairs. Gnome sized open barrels near the well hold water.
Working busily in the kitchen are two men with brawny arms, thick beards and the legs of goats. "Here! What're you doin' out there?" one asks, waving a cleaver menacingly.
Piotr Denisov |
Piotr looks at the creatures, wondering how to respond.
Knowledge (Nature): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14
Piotr is at a loss, but mentally readies himself for combat if required.
Alister Medvyed |
Knowledge, Nature: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22
Alister bows to the Satyr. "Pardon the intrusion, Master Satyr. The Queen desires some food and drink for our meeting. She speaks highly of your culinary skills and we are eager to be impressed. We would be happy to deliver it ourselves to avoid inconveniencing you further."
Bluff: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (19) + 12 = 31
Mikhail Templeson |
Mikhail approaches the door and looks around to see if there are any obvious dangers.
I look for traps that are not magical or other potential things that might attack us.
Perception: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (14) + 15 = 29
GM Tarondor |
Satyr Perception, with bonus for sheer incongruity: 1d20 + 18 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 18 + 3 = 30
Satyr Perception: 1d20 + 18 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 18 + 3 = 24 You lucky bastard!
The satyrs slow their aggression and stare dumbfoundedly at Alister, trying to work out why the Queen is using human messengers who come from the rooftops. But, it's Faerie and they're used to all sorts of allegorical nonsense.
"Uh... Her Majesty said that? I... I... Of course, Sir. What would Sir like for his meal?"
Mikhail doesn't spot anything immediately dangerous. There are several doors leading away from this combination kitchen/dining hall.
Alister Medvyed |
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (14) + 16 = 30
Knowledge, Nature: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12
Alister smiles. "Some fruit and cheese for us and the Queen, perhaps. Do you have any breads or cakes to go with it? Oh and wine. She's waiting for us."
GM Tarondor |
"Right. Cake...cake...cake... Oh, I think there's some in the larder."
"That's lard," says the other.
"No, in the blue tin."
"That's the Undeserved Praise."
"Oh, right. Where's the cake, then?"
"You et it two nights ago."
"Right. No, no cakes Sir. We can do the fruit, cheese and wine, though."
After a few minutes, the satyrs hand you trays of food and flagons of wine.
Alister Medvyed |
Alister bows again. "My humble thanks. We will deliver this to the queen quickly."
He turns to the multiple doors. "Um, we got lost on the way here. Mortals have trouble navigating this place. Which is the best way back to her room?"
Grimnir Hammerhand |
Grimnir does his best to look inconspicuous, or at least not to convey that everything Alister said was a complete and utter lie. He shifts from foot to foot uncomfortably.
sense motive: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17
Aristu Medvyed |
Aristu shifts into a hunched over, meek posture and takes one of the food trays. "Yes, we've taken so long already, she'll be cross if we don't get this back to her quickly."
Bluff check: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (16) + 14 = 30
Piotr Denisov |
"So," asks Piotr to his companions in a quiet voice. "Would the Queen be in the Throne Room or elsewhere? And, do we wish to confront her immediately?"
Alister Medvyed |
"I'd say the Throne Room is a great place to start. Something tells me if the Queen isn't there, she'll be nearby." Alister says once they have left the kitchen. He heads through the door to the northeast, following the satyr's directions.
GM Tarondor |
The satyrs don't know where the queen is and they seem to be getting suspicious of all your questions.
As the group follows Alister through the dining hall and the door beyond, revealing a great round ballroom.
Celebratory strains of a violin orchestra fill this large chamber as dozens of masked partygoers dance to the tune. Multicolored flames mimic their rhythm from small braziers lining the walls. Their light also illuminates artful tapestries of forest animals and fey sprites along the western half of the room. A wooden stage takes up the northwestern wall.
Strange and beautiful, the fey that dance here are graceful and refined, dressed in silks and gossamer. Amid them stands a tall woman of regal mein in a gorgeous silk gown. She inclines her head slightly as Alister enters. "Business later, Your Grace," she says, her voice a heady mixture of honey and wine. "Such things can wait up on we who make the fashions. Come, let us dance!" She hold out a slender hand, waiting for Alister to join her.
Alister Medvyed |
Alister starts to protest, but maybe it's the heady mixture of honey and mead that has him take the woman's hand. "You know who I am? Then you have me at a disadvantage. What should I call you, miss?"
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (11) + 16 = 27
Alister Medvyed |
Uh oh
Alister's mouth drops open. He looks down at her hand in his. Part of him wants to draw his sword and hack her to bits. But here, in her Realm, something in the back of his mind told him to preserve the courtesies...for now.
He lifts her hand and kisses it lightly. "Very unexpected, Rhoswen. I'm sure you know why I'm here." He begins to dance with the fey queen
Perform (dance): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10
Mikhail Templeson |
Mikhail opts to join in and tries to mimic the free flowing fey in his heavy armor to poor results.
My first thought was no. But Abadar is all about community and dancing is a communal event and all. Wow...that was bad. Also, depending on how you rule it the Bastard Trait gives me a -1 to Charisma checks vs nobles. I am not sure if Perform counts or if its only skills like Diplomacy and Bluff.
Perform (Something I lack): 1d20 ⇒ 1
Alister Medvyed |
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (20) + 16 = 36
Knowledge, Planes: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26
I don't know...'Queen of Roses' might not mean literal plant roses. But Alister does think her manner is odd for a powerful fey.
Alister considers the fey queen he is dancing with. "You called me, did you? If so, you didn't make it easy to find you. Tenzekil led us right to the staff, though. That was easy enough to destroy. What will you do now?"
Bluff (Bastard): 1d20 + 12 - 1 ⇒ (1) + 12 - 1 = 12
Ah crap
Aristu Medvyed |
Though his immediate instinct is to warn his brother against dancing with the Queen, Aristu decides to withhold his objections. If she wants to engage in some sort of battle of wits...well, that's a battleground that plays to Alister's strengths. He watches the two of them, ignoring the distractions of the ball. So instead, he holds himself ready to draw on his arcane source if he sees any sign of malicious intent on the Queen's part.
Alister Medvyed |
Realization comes to Alister's eyes as he continues to dance with the Queen. "Ah of course." The lord of Stagfell turns as he dances, looking around the room.
GM Tarondor |
"Ah, you know," says Rhoswen, quite casually as if she can read his thoughts. "Keep dancing, my lord. Keep dancing. Must keep up appearances!"
"My lord Treasurer," she says to Piotr. "I am queen and I bid you dance." She points to a statuesque blonde over whom Piotr can imagine many a blood duel being fought. "The Lady Celwynia shall be your partner for the evening."
"And you, my lord Magister," she says to Aristu. "One of your blood should know the gentle arts I feel sure. Can the son of the Dancing Lady not dance? I feel sure you will do our best for the Lady Eriale." She indicates a slight elven woman with pale blue eyes the color of a lake in summer. They perfectly match both her gown and her hair.
She looks at Grimnir sourly. "Well, you can't have everything. I suppose you may as well stand there and glower."
Alister Medvyed |
Alister smiles at Piotr and Aristu. He walks over to them. "Come dance with out hosts, gentlemen."[b] He leans in close. [b]"It's all an illusion. Play the game with me and help me find the source." He winks at Mikhail and Grimnir. "Stay alert."
He turns and walks back to the Queen. "Come my lady, you haven't introduced me to your many retainers. Please, introduce me."
Piotr Denisov |
Piotr also looks more intently at the room, alerted by his companions reactions.
Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (17) + 11 = 28
"My apologies, Queen. And to you, Lady Celwynia. I have not danced since my late wife's illness ... I fear that I will be a poor partner to your grace."
Piotr hangs back, trying to understand what is happening in the room.
Knowledge (Arcana): 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (17) + 15 = 32
GM Tarondor |
"I command you to dance!" shouts Rhoswen in a most unqueenly manner, stamping her foot and looking furious.
I've put an image of Rhoswen in the maps link. It's just below the palace map.
Aristu Medvyed |
Aristu puts on his his most charming smile and gives a bow to the Lady Eriale. "But of course, I would be delighted." He takes her hand and joins the dance. As they spin and weave around the other dancers, Aristu alternates between complimenting Eriale on her skill and beauty with searching through the others looking for whoever is behind the illusion. Noting the number of winged fey in the room, he makes sure to look up to the ceiling as well.
Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
Piotr Denisov |
"If I must," says Piotr as he walks stiffly onto the dancefloor. He clumsily joins the dance, suggesting that he danced rarely in the past and never well.