Once Kethaera released the halfling he straightened his clothes and addressed them again.
"Do not get me wrong Kethaera, this will end in open conflict. However it must be precise and controlled. Violence will be necessary. Tarnagius is not wrong."
"I know. I only hope that we will be strong enough to withstand it. I know you said that don't believe in the gods much, but I'm know I'm blessed by Shelyn to have friends like you, Tarnagius (even if he doesn't act like a friend, I know in his heart he's trying to be a better person), Phillip, Rexus, Laria, Pylos, Nisha, our ratfolk friends, and everyone who wants to stand up to Barzillai and his cronies. I think I would be lost without all of you. Thank you for being a part of my life. Thank you."
She kissed Jules again saying, "This world may be filled with hopelessness and darkness but I believe we all have the ability to light the way for all and make the world a better place. It'll take time but I believe like all Shelynites that one day the world will be beautiful for all."
"Hey, I'm level headed too!" Says Vendalfek as he escapes Blosodriette's clutches. "No you're not. You're fey, that means you're almost completely insane." Blosodriette retorts. "I'm not fey, I'm a dragon!" He replies, proudly. "A dragon the size of a kitten with no offensive magic to speak of, who nearly loses his mind the moment anything... "exciting" happens." Blosodriette rolls her eyes.
"I have been to many courts before, both Infernal and Human. The Human ones can be kind of boring, but the food is infinitely tastier." Blosodriette comments.
Vendalfek voices "A treasure hunt sounds really really fun! When do we leave? Do you know what kind of treasure it is? Gold? Jewels? Magic Items? Aged Wine? Oh this is gonna be great!"
When Kethaera lists her good friends, Vendalfek feels insulted. Blosodriette gives her a sly grin and asks "What about me, Kethaera?"
Phillip has his arms crossed as he leans against a wall, no one sees his forefinger and thumb playing the smallest violin.
Kethaera laughs a bit replying, "You both are. Yes, even you Blosodriette. Begrudgingly admit it I do but I think the impish girl has grown on me. Just don't do something that'll you regret Blosodriette, such as betray us. I know that Pylos has high hopes for you. And Vendalfek, you are indeed my friend as well. I'm so glad you've join us."
She hugs them both before going over and hugging Phillip, Rexus, Laria, the Skritts (if they're present), Pylos and Tarnagius, thanking them for being her friends. She gives them all a kiss on the cheek or forehead (depending on their height). She does give both Kritki and Borr kisses on the lips though since they are her lovers. Her heart had plenty of room for a crush on Strea and lovers like the two ratfolk, and maybe a few others.
Kethaera does tell all present, "I know that some of you like Tarnagius, may think of me as a dandy, dreamer, fool, or weakling because I choose to follow Shelyn but I can tell you I'm not, well except for the dreamer part, but anyhow! Do you know what weapon Shelyn carries with her? It is the glaive Whisperer of Souls that she wrestled from her dark brother Zon-Kuthon and claimed the weapon for herself. She keeps it as a reminder of her brother's transformation but also to show both her worshipers and others that is necessary to fight for the things and people you love and hold dear. So yes, Tarnagius, I will fight to protect this city and all who dwell in it just as I will fight to protect you and everyone in this room. I know I'm preaching here, but I consider myself a priestess of Shelyn. So...well there you."
She sighed a bit. The whole well conversation had left her emotionally drained a bit.
She then said to Jules, "Maybe tonight you and I can help Rexus with translating those documents some. Which reminds me, how goes it Rexus?"
Blosodriette accepts Kethaera's hug and whispers in her ear "I will not betray unless I find something more fun and I get the upper hand. Despite the whole vigilante save the people stuff, this has been pretty entertaining."
Rexus straightens in a hurry as he's called. Seems the man had been dozing off. "What? Oh good. Good, I've been onto something I think. The problem is there's more than one cipher used. Anyways, there is much to learn about the old Ravens. I am almost certain that they were allies with the archivists that my parents were part of. I just need to find proof. Soon. Soon I'll have it all figured out."
Tarnagius throws his hands in the air and walks over to the door again.
Such a child.
I'm going. See you at court, Pylos.
Kethaera was glad that the imp had decided to stick with them. Although a small part of her still was wary about the imp.
She smiled at Rexus, nodding before saying, "It's okay Rexus. With both Jules and I helping we'll get these documents translated in no time!"
Well let's see about yanking Brazzali's chain by messing with his edicts. I've located likely spots where the dogs that are brought in are kept and we can spring them to maybe get them working for us or just set them loose.
"Can you train them Phillip? If we just let them back onto the streets they'll just get recaught and freeing them would have been for nothing."
She thought for a moment before adding, "But you're onto something. I could use my art skills to do paintings of Queen Thrune and we could hand them out to business owners so they don't lose their businesses and homes and go to jail or worse...and the paintings would only cost one or two silver pieces. Then we use that money to help find homes for the dogs if we can. I don't know how much the Dottari and Hellknights and Chelish Citizens Group has trained and hardened those dogs but we'll have to be very careful.."
Brazzali isn't that dumb to keep paying for the dogs to be recaptured so there will be no incentive for people to haul them in once it gets too annoying to pay for them when recaptured. I reckon that it will be quietly dropped. I am no good at training but if we can use them as guard dogs they would be useful. Plus we can get around some of the other edicts, what were they all? There was that tea thing. Since people want their tea, the more social ones here can look into getting it and pas the word around that tea will be offered at certain spots at certain times.
There was some party thing going on in a city I was act called the 'Sprint Mob' basically word gets out for people to gather at a spot for some quick party and then they run off again. If we can do a 'Sprint Tea-Time' say by spreading rumors and little pamphlets we can yank the law's chain by serving tea and biscuits at certain locations. We serve people their tea, they have a fun time feeling naughty and we can potentially distract the law.
Mint as well. My brother was quite upset at that one.
Jules stepped out of his seat once people started to move. "Everyone has a job to do. Let us get to them. Pylos and Tarnagius, measure the nobles. Philip and Kethaera, general distraction in places far away from the nest. Grafitti, tea, freeing dogs what have you, just don't bite off more than you can chew and always escape and evade rather than fight."
He set out his disguise kit and made ready to change anything his companions needed masked.
Well let's let the dogs out. Phillip heads out.
Kethaera smiled and said to Jules, "Think you can disguise me to look like a Ulfen trader? Always wanted to play the part of a Ulfen."
"Mint will be difficult to do though. It might be better to start small but I'm up to undermining the edicts."
She then snaps her fingers. She slowly turns and looks at both Tarnagius and Pylos with a smile of pure mischief on her face.
"Heh heh heh," she says, still smiling.
She then casts a spell at them!
Their hair becomes neatly combed and cleaned, any blemishes are removed from their faces (), any dirt on under their fingernails disappears, their clothes look pressed and clean like they hadn't been worn at all, and any facial hair is neatly trimmed.
"Now, you look ready for the ball. Just be back before the stroke of midnight," she laughs a bit.
Tarnagius thinks for a moment.
Studious as always. Never quite sure what he's planning. Doubt we'll see him at court though.
Phillip does get some cheap meat when they find the dogs, he knows the best way to get dogs quiet is to toss them meat. So he gets Ramsey's Doggie Chunks with extra gravy for the rascals.
Tarnagius goes home and gets some much-needed rest.
Phillip figures that the best place to find captured dogs without storming the castle would be at the various Dottari barracks. There is one barracks per district in Kintargo, plus one for each gate or bridge. The Villegre district's barracks is one of the old abandoned houses in the neighborhood. It is a two story building made partially of stone, and partially of wood. The dogs are kept outside in large cages and bark constantly. There is a single guard at the front door, and you can see another guard walking about upstairs. Many of the surrounding buildings are houses, most of them long abandoned.
Along the way, Kethaera hears some citizens say to one another "I thought Clenchjaw's was going to shut down any day now, but it looks like the brawls have really dropped. Still bloody crowded since the badger burnt down, but I can live with that."
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Phillip comes up behind the house and to the cages. Hey there doggies, got some snacks for you. He waves the Bolton bites at them and pitches them over the top to keep the dogs busy and then gets to work on the locks, he plans on loosening as many locks as possible and then opening the cages all at once for maximum who let the wargs out.
You and Blosodriette head back to your homestay, The Tanessens. If you are not aware, Count Geoff Tanessen is a humorless man dedicated to the art of military command. The family pledges a significant portion of their wealth to the national military, and are very dedicated to Thrune. The Count is about to begin his fencing training. Is there anything you would like to do at home? And would you prefer Blosodriette to be invisible?
If you wish, you can gain the full effects of a full day and night's rest. That would mean you gain 4+(twice you Con mod) in hitpoints.
Your full family (brother, mother, and father) are all at home. Is there anything you would like to do?
Phillip goes the long way around the houses and arrives at the back. Before he approaches the dogs, he notices that there is a guard patrolling around the entirety of the barracks. After the guard passes by, Phillip quickly sneaks up to the cages. The locks are very easy to pick, and Phillip does so quickly and efficiently. After ripping off the picked locks, the dogs charge out of their cages.
The guards hear the opening of cages and the dogs running out, and run in Phillip's direction.
After spending the required 1 pinch to cross the bridge, you arrive and Vendalfek arrive at the Asmodean Graveyard, also known as the Temple Hill Gardens. Contrary to the term, the only thing planted here are the bones of the dead. You can see a few people praying at various tombstones. You can also see a few Asmodean acolytes making rounds of the graveyard, and workers preparing or tending to the grave sites. There is also a creature patrolling the gardens, it looks like a lanky wolf, but with reddish fur, pearl white claws/teeth, and bright red eyes.
Phillip runs away!
Count Tanessen has always had conflict with you. Loyalty to Thrune, looking after a bastard child of Thrune. Especially now that Barzillai is in power, the Tanessens never really know if they should respect you or not. You've known for a while that if you stay on the Count's good side you're fine, but if you mess up you're quickly discarded as a bastard.
"Ah, young master Thrune. You have good timing today. I am about to begin my daily fencing practice, and could use a dueling partner. I trust you are knowledgeable in one of the fencing schools? Come, pick a weapon of your choice and I will blunt it for you."
The room Count Tanessen is in is a small "dojo" with various weapons lining the walls. All of the weapons are single hand, or hand and a half swords, as the Count detests heavy "barbaric" weapons.
Here is a list of weapons you can choose, they are all masterwork:
- Short Sword
- Rapier
- Scimitar (saber)
- Longsword
- Estoc
- Dueling Sword
You may also include either a buckler or a dagger if you wish.
The guards catch a glimpse of Phillip just as he dashes away at top speed. Depending on Kethaera's distraction, they may follow him.
Kethaera quickly set her plan in motion. Hiding just barely out of sight but enough so the guards could hear, the diva immediately cut herself on the neck just enough to draw blood, and then headbutted herself against the wall until her head started bleeding. She also ripped and ruffled her clothes a bit to add some authenticity to the act. The next part she had to do quickly one after another. She let out a blood curling scream and whispering a presdestigation spell she cause some boards and boxes to fall over and make a large crashing sound and look like someone had caused them to fall, before she herself fell to the ground knocking over some boxes while dropping her coin purse on the ground making sure a couple of coins fell out as a final touch. She then clutched her head in pain, gritting her teeth, using the massive headache she had inflicted onto herself to aid her acting.
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The guards stop their chase (meaning Phillip is freer than a fart in a thunderstorm) and look at Kethaera. They hesitate, look back to where Phillip was last seen, then run up to Kethaera. She hears them say "Trex ain't gonna like this." as they approach. One of the guards kneels down beside her and says "Hey there, pretty elf, what's going on with you?" She hears the other guard pick up her coin purse and give it back to her.
The Count takes the rapier and his own dueling saber (scimitar). He then casts a spell to blunt them temporarily. "You are correct. Our excellent Lord Mayor has seen our dedication to his decrees. Already, our business increases in profit due to his recommendations, and I look forward to speaking with him tomorrow in court. But enough of that, let's begin."
The two of you square up and enter your starting guards. You know that the Count is mainly a wizard, but that he's far more experienced than you. It will prove to be a difficult battle. When the two of you agree to begin, you react first with your superior reflexes. What do you do?
Phillip is the wind!
Kethaera thanked the guards for returning her coin purse.
Acting like a upset Ulfen merchant woman, Kethaera told the guards, "I was almost mugged! The thief ran with his tail between his legs when he heard you running. He went that way down that alley!"
The half-elf diva pointed down the alley she had caused boxes and boards to fall over in.
"I couldn't see his face due to it being covered but he looked like some sort of half orc or a big human with some orcish blood in his family tree wearing black clothes and a huge scar across his face. Spoke with a Kelish accent. Darn fool took me by surprise. And to think this city would be safe with martial law in place. But no! Muggers everywhere. Well I guess you should be thanked for coming to my aid."
Kethaera gives 8 gold pieces and 2 silvers each to the guards before saying, "Well don't just stand there! Go after that thief before he mugs someone else!" She hoped her acting like she was distraught would convince the guards to go on a wild goose chase.
Let's try these questions in this order of priority:
Question #1 How long are contracts without a definite end condition or time limit?
Question #2 If a contract changes persons (ie Blosodriette changing from the old Silver Ravens to us), how honest is the fiend in question forced to be when talking about the contract itself?
Question #3 If a contract like this is fulfilled or destroyed what happens to the fiend? Since Blosodriette was in pain, does that mean she would have been destroyed? Sent back to Hell? Knocked unconscious and left here on the Prime with no chains anymore?
The two guards exchange greedy grins and race out in the direction Kethaera pointed. She doesn't see them come back again. In about an hour from now, Kethaera will notice that she's short another 10gp from what she thought she had. She's not entirely sure if it was one of the guards, or some thief on the way home that took them. Perhaps she simply miscounted?
"No." the Count replies while effortlessly parrying the thrust. "First to 15 points. 5 for the head, 10 for the heart, 2 for the torso, 3 for the limbs, and 5 for a disarm." He makes a downwards slice to your chest.
I'll answer all 3.
1: Eternity or until broken or until changed by all parties consenting
2: Depends on the terms of the contract. If the terms bind her tongue, then her tongue is bound. Otherwise, she is always free to talk about it as she desires.
3: Again, depends on the terms of the contract. All of those guesses are possible.
Pylos' rapier slips from his grasp and clangs onto the floor. The Count stands there, looking from the sword to Pylos. "Are you certain that you are trained in fencing? Go. Pick it up. We'll ignore points for that one."
This time the Count plays more aggressively and cuts to Pylos' arm. His movements are precise and well planned.