Kolaiah feels unusually helpful this morning, so he adds his voice to Muziel's, "indeed, an interesting offer my friend is proposing. I will make you a similar offer, but not for a curing potion, I would purchase a potion that can reverse the effects of his, and have you throw in one of your tonics as a bonus."
+2 vs outsiders, +1 vs members of Chelish aristocracy
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Amanda after her breakfast heads off into the town. She decides that a potion shop would not be a bad idea, after all getting something that can be called on in an emergency would be a useful precaution.
She goes to a potion shop and looks around at the various bottles before looking to the proprietor and saying, "I would like to purchase a potion that cures wounds if you have one in stock."
Odmer looks disappointed at first until Muziel makes his offer, prompting Kolaiah's. "Now we're talking, gentlemen," he says grinning. "We're all in luck, it seems. I happen to have one healing potion in stock, and one minor hurting potion that I made by accident. I didn't expect to ever sell that, so I'm not even going to ask what you might want it for." He chuckles and starts arranging bottles on the cart. Two bottles of tonic, one bottle with a pleasant red hue, and the last bottle with a deep purple tint. "That'll be fifty gold from each of you, and I'll also point you to that smith you're looking for, sir. Follow that road until you get to the first right, which will lead towards Southgate. It'll be just outside the gate, a few doors down from the Jackdaw. Look for the anvil sign and the ungodly sound of banging metal. They mostly make horseshoes in a town like this, but I think they can handle whatever you throw their way." He looks expectantly, waiting for the transaction to complete.
Looking specifically for potions, you're directed to a house, rather than a traditional shop. The yard is crawling with white cats, all of which look unnervingly identical. An old lady answers the door, and you can see even more identical white cats inside beyond her. Upon your request, she produces a red-tinted bottle from one of the pockets in her robe.
"Fifty gold, and there's plenty more where that came from m'dear," she says and cackles madly. "Tell your friends and come back soon, I've got a lot of mouths to feed, you see."
After an hour or so of relaxing at the Ash House, there's the sudden sound of broken glass as the empty wine bottle Cimri is clutching slips from her sleeping grasp. She immediately startles awake pointing her knife wildly in front of her for a moment before realizing what happened.
"Probably time to get up anyway," she says, sheepishly. "I'm gonna upstairs and see if there's any news from Razelago. Wanna come?"
Kolaiah dutifully hands over fifty gold to the merchant and takes the merchandise offered. "Much appreciated good sir. Will it aid you on the mind of the smith if we tell him that you sent us to him?"
After this, Kolaiah, and possibly Muziel, will head off to the smith.
In the morning Nikolai will seek out some reliable servants so he may continue to live in comfort despite being exiled to this backwater town.
Love to, I. Am. Bored
"Sure, nice doing business with you, Odmer. Oh, one more thing - you wouldn't happen to have some smelling salts in store, would you?" If he does, Muziel purchases them for 25 gold; otherwise, he'll want directions to someplace where he might get them.
Exchanging coin for the offered potions, Muziel sniffs at Odmer's tonic, and realizes that it really is! Once away from Odmer, he shares his insight.
"So, this guy really is a snake oil salesman! The stuff's a mild poison and can make you pretty sick when you first take it. But if you can stomach the stuff, it'll help with your minor aches and pains! Pretty neat stuff, huh?"
"Hmmm, yes, as you say, neat."
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Amanda looks at the woman and sizes her up and then puts on a facade of pleasantry as she pays the money for the potion and says, "Most appreciative madame for your prompt service. I will see to recommend this place for the potion needs of my friends. Good day."
She puts the potion away and leaves, not really intending to reference the place but glad she got what she was looking for.
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Odmer does, in fact, have smelling salts and is happy to make the additional sale. He bids both of you a pleasant day and says he hopes to see you both again as repeat customers.
Moving on to the smithy, you find a mostly open building surrounding a forge. A stocky man with a thick walrus mustache is busy hammering a red-hot end of a horseshoe as the place comes into view. He dips the whole operation in a trough of water once he notices you, causing a sudden gout of steam.
"Help you gents?" he asks, wiping his hands off on his apron, then using a hand towel to clear the sweat from his face.
As you go about looking for servants to hire, an extremely well-dressed man approaches you.
"Master Sarini, I presume?" he asks, although he sounds fairly certain of the answer. "Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Festus Balbinus. I heard from a mutual acquaintance that you were in the market for hiring servants. Permit me to be bold, sir, but I believe that a traveling noble scion, such as yourself, would be best served by a single, expert valet than by a larger staff of the less skilled. The people in this backwater don't understand refinement the way you and I do, sir.
"I've been a valet since I was a very young man, most recently for this town's late mayor, making me an expert at Chelish etiquette an heraldry. I'm also an accomplished chef and tailor, and am used to having to travel at a moment's notice. Perhaps most importantly, I, unlike so many others you might hire here, understand the concept of discretion. I have never divulged an employer's secret, not even to subsequent employers. If you're interested in a gentleman's gentleman, there aren't any better candidates to be had. For all this, my price is ten gold per month, sir, with the understanding that my continued employ is conditional upon maintaing good standing with the crown."
Upon climbing the stairs there's a note tacked to the jamb of the closed door to Razelago's office.
Cimri,
I have another job for you and the crew you recruited for the tannery job. This work is quite time-sensetive, so please ensure that everyone meets here no later than half past noon. I will give the full details to everyone at that time.
-Razelago.
Cimri looks at the sky through a collapsed part of the roof. "That gives us about two and a half hours or so," she estimates as she casually sets fire to the note until there's nothing but a small corner of burnt paper, which she stamps out. "We can probably get everyone together easily if we split up and look. How about I check the inns and the Asmodean temple while you look through the shopping areas?"
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Kolaiah reaches to his back to pull out the gift-scythe, but he knicks his knuckle on the blade as he brought it into view. "Dammit," he says, "stupid thing is sharp," he thinks to himself. He holds the weapon up so the smith can see it, "are you in a buying mood today? I happened upon this thing, and I have no use for it."
As the smith takes the weapon out of his hands, Kolaiah feels a bout of nausea well up inside of his body. "It is rare that I feel ill. Physical infirmity is for the weak, not for me." Kolaiah could feel his bowels wrenching, and there was sweat starting to break through his pores to dampen the padding of his armor.
The smith made appreciative noises as he appraised the weapon, but Kolaiah barely heard him in his near fugue state. His eyes started to blur. He was unsure if it was sweat in his eyes, or the eyes themselves going out of focus. He wondered, "how many symptoms of how many diseases am I feeling right now? Why is Apollyon afflicting me thusly?" He looked again at the smith, through his blurry vision, only one thing was clear, "the scythe," he thought, "the chosen weapon of my Lord. And in an ochre color that is so appropriate, how did I miss it?" He heard the smith make a generous offer, but through clenched teeth he responded, "no deal! The thing is worth twice that in a pinch." He snatched the scythe out of the hands of the merchant, and he felt instantly better. "I hear, and I obey Lord," he prayed.
With a flourish he replaced the scythe on his back. He unslung his heavy shield and leaned it against a stanchion. He stripped the longsword and scabbard from his waist, and propped it on the shield, and finally he laid the falchion atop the whole. "Name a price for that pile of trash smith, and a deal is struck," he said with acid in his voice.
"I will be up the street waiting for you Muziel, take your time. We are in no hurry."
Nikolai looks over the man without saying anything at first.
"Festus you say, do you have any references besides the ex-mayor?" Nikolai ponders what he may know of Festus or the Mayor
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Sure Boss. Penelope pulls on her wide brimmed floppy hat, and goes out into the evil flaming ball of death to find her partners in larceny.
to find her way. Seeing the other one like her in the street before the smith, and noticing his weapon and the lack of his previous ones You look positively peasant like. she teases playfully.
Kolaiah heard Penelope, and rather than guard his tongue, he let loose with the response that begged to be released, "¥€$& off woman!"
Muziel is really surprised as Envy snatches back the scythe and dumps all the weapons he had previously! "Wait, what are you doing? You didn't just drink Odmer's Tonic did you? That thing might have more side effects than I thought!"
But it seems Envy was deadly serious about his offer. Muziel is left standing alone with the smith as Kolaiah is out on the street. "So, um . . . heard any rumors lately"
Muziel eventually does browse for some equipment, though. "Do you have some sort of metal gloves or gauntlets in stock?" If he finds something that's suitable, he'll go ahead and buy it.
Finally, he heads out to the street, just in time to see Lust and Envy getting at it. He tries to whisper discretely to Penelope, though in fact the whisper is clearly audible to both of them. "Psst. I tried to warn him he was getting confused, but he said the scythe was worth a fortune!"
Penelope laughs, getting the response she was hoping for Not bloody likely today. Our employer wants us back around noon. she winks at Greed and heads off to see if any of the others are in the market. If she finds Pride she'll relate the same thing.
The smith is extremely taken aback by the sudden and dramatic change of heart on Kolaiah's part. He offers 85gp for the other gear, probably one of the easiest, if most confusing, deals he's had in a while.
The smith next turns to the Gnome, seemingly relieved that Kolaiah has taken the offered money and stormed off. "I've got reg'lar gauntlets, what might be found on a suit of heavy armor, an' I've got some spiked 'uns, what're more like weap'ns," he says, finding a set of each and laying them on a work table for you to inspect. "These 'uns here're two gold, the other 'uns're five." He points first to the gauntlets first, then the spiked, seeming to finally have regained his composure.
Festus is wearing a fashionable courtier's outfit with at least enough jewelry to make it appropriate. The way he carries himself in your presence shows the proper feudal spirit one would expect from a commoner of his position. You can recall a bit about Mayor Julive Wottimir and Festus from the information you're absorbed about Longacre. The mayor herself disappeared about eight years ago. Archbaron Fex has never bothered to appoint a replacement mayor for the town, and in all that time Festus has been diligently keeping the house and grounds on her behalf, drawing a salary from her accounts at the Bank of Abadar in Remesiana, until just over three months ago when the account finally ran dry. Festus has been looking for work ever since, though has been famously finding it difficult to find an employer that meets his standards in Longacre.
Festus nods, not surprised by the request. "Before my years with the mayor I worked for Vokadus Fex -- he's the cousin of the Archbaron -- for about fourteen months. He felt it was inappropriate to have a valet of my talents with him when he joined the Order of the Scourge. He hired me straight out of my training in Westcrown, that would be under the training of Master Bertram Wiscrani. Both could serve as references for me, though they might be difficult to contact from here. Failing that, the Archbaron is at least familiar with me, though I've never worked for him. I have worked with his serving staff before on the behalf of both my previous employers, though."
While you're discussing things with Festus, you can see behind him as Cimri is walking around looking. She spots you, and moves a bit closer, watching and waiting. She looks like she has something to say, but won't say it until you're done here.
Knowing the town well, Cimri soon catches up with you and tells you that she's received word of another job, and to head immediately for the usual place. She'll meet you there once she's certain she's rounded up everyone else.
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"Very good Festus I shall retain your services for now. Your first order of business is to secure me a carriage, I loath walking these streets like some sort of urchin. Here is one gold piece for your services today and 5 gold to begin negotiations on a carriage." Nikolai waits for Festus to leave on his assignment then speaks to Cimri.
"So if it isn't my dear friend sloth. What "opportunity" do you have for me today? Spelunking the sewers maybe? Or kidnapping children? Thanks, but as you can see I just secured a proper valet's services and I need to make sure he knows how I like my baths."
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Amanda says to Cimri, "I am defiantly up for another job. There is tasks to be done and money to be made all around. I'll head to the usual place as soon as possible. Lets just hope this one offers more of a challenge than a sleepy tanner and few dogs."
With that Amanada heads towards the usual place to get the briefing on the operations they will be undertaking.
Once Muziel is ready to go, Kolaiah will accompany him to the meeting place.
Penelope heads back after not finding anyone for a bit.
Muziel takes the spiked gauntlets and looks them over. "Hm... you wouldn't happen to have a changing room to try these on, would you?" Muziel puts on the gauntlets in private, then begins to gather energy. Electric energy swirls all around him, seemingly unhindered by the metal gloves. It works, it works! he thinks, quite delighted. Muziel then lets the energy dissipate. He removes the gauntlets and heads back to the counter, plopping down 5 gold. "I'll take them, thanks a lot!"
After that, Muziel joins Kolaiah, heading on back to the Ash House.
Waking (unhappily) with the sun, Ismene goes about her morning routine. The memory of last night's feast makes her breakfast of mealy porridge nearly intolerable, even with the fresh strawberries. After breakfast, she practices her forms and katas, reworking some of the exercises to take advantage of her new three-section staff. And after last night's embarrassment, she spends an hour brushing up on her shuriken technique. "Snap and point, just like Sister Josephine taught you."
By the time Cimri catches up with her, Ismene is hard at work in the garden. Eager to ditch, she requires no convincing. "Another job already? I'm liking this Razelago fellow more all the time! Let's get going, then."
"I heard, I was eavesdropping," says Cimri with a raised eyebrow. "I also heard you tell him to get you a carriage. Servants and carriages aren't cheap, Gluttony, you sure you don't want to come with me and see how much our mutual friend wants to pay us?" She smirks and turns to head back to the Ash House, clearly assuming that you'll follow despite your equivocations.
Once again you all crowd into the once and former library. As last night, the creature is laying patiently in its spot and lantern light projects the shadow of a high-backed chair upon the paper screens which divide the room in two. Unlike last night, however, a small black lacquered box sits on the desk in front of the screen. Once you're all inside, Razelago leans forward, his shadow diverging from that of the chair.
“With the number of veterans who live in town, it’s not surprising that there’s a church of Iomedae in Longacre. But there might not be one much longer if Tileavia Allamar, its priestess, does what she has in mind.” Razelago's silhouette clasps shadowy hands. "There’s growing unrest in the empire, and not just in Pezzack and along the Hellcoast. Many of Iomedae’s faithful have begun speaking more boldly of the monarchy’s vices and the rights of citizens. They seem to believe this is Andoran and that the people have only to reach out to seize power. But they are wrong. This is Cheliax, and we know where true power lies.
“Fifth Sword Knight Allamar is gathering all who will listen for a sermon in front of her church this afternoon, only two short hours from now. I don’t know what she has in mind, but I suspect some revolutionary claptrap that can only sow the seeds of confusion and frustration among Longacre’s citizens. That is contrary to my wishes. So I’d like you to attend the rally. In the box," one of the shadowy hands unclasps and gestures, "are sashes marked with the insignia of Archbaron Fex. Wear them. Remind people that the lord of this town is not without supporters, and see what transpires. Afterward, report back to me. In return, you will all receive double what you did last night.”
Cimri steps forward and opens the black lid. Inside, as suggested, are seven crimson sashes, each adorned with the insignia of two stags with bloody antlers clashing, just below the circle and cross of Cheliax. She takes them one at a time and starts passing them out.
Muziel is just getting more and more curious, as Razelago stays behind the shadowy curtain. Muziel was getting paid well NOT to look, but even so, it was hard for him to resist. If he can just find a way to quietly get a small mirror in place with its reflection aiming toward the chair, he could finally get a look at the man's face. As Razelago speaks, Muziel seems distracted, spending more time looking around than listening to instructions. .
But his attention returns to his task as Cimri begins handing out sashes. Muziel takes the smallest sash of the bunch. "Wait, did I really hear right? We're getting paid to stand around outside a church? Count me in!" To Muziel's ears, that was easy money.
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Amanda cringes at the name of Iomedae and says, "Iomedae worshipers... ugh, the even mention of her sickens me. It makes me wonder why the authorities haven't put the whole lot of them in irons and put them to the lash. If the opportunity presents itself, would you be open to putting an arrow between the eyes of Tileavia Allamar, or better yet kidnap her and bring her to the "tender mercies" of a skilled torturer?"
Amanda reaches in and takes an average sized sash that would amply fit her.
"As distasteful as Iomedae has become, she's still a national hero," Razelago says in response to Amanda. "The Empire still allows her to be venerated in that capacity, so long as her adherents do not engage in treason or sedition. If indeed such things are, as I fear, beginning to stir in Longacre, then turning Sword Knight Allomar into a martyr right now is likely to make things worse in the long run, not better." The shadow holds up a finger. "I prefer to play the long game, and to never sacrifice a valuable piece in exchange for one of lesser value if I can help it. I expect it will be sufficient to provide a highly visible counterpoint to whatever her speech contains. Securing the loyalty of those whose decision is not already made can be more effective than galvanizing those whose decision already has." The shadow's hands once again return to a clasped position. "I am, however, placing my faith in you to act on my behalf. Do what you feel is necessary and prudent."
She opens the door and holds it for you all as you crowd into the room, where toppled bookshelves, a table, and some chairs half-covered in ivy suggest this room was once a library. The ashes and pulp of burned, waterlogged books lay heaped amid fallen furniture, creating a large nest of sorts against one wall. A set of folding paper screens divides the room. A lantern flickers on the opposite side, projecting the silhouette of a desk and high-backed chair upon the thin paper. Lying in the nest is an odd panther-like creature that picks its head up as you enter, but makes no other move.
There is plenty of followers in the army still, at least paying her lip service. Penelope agrees Of course, most will pray to anyone when they're bleeding out. She takes her sash, and adds to Amanda, But... if things happen to turn south, we can see how many we can make pray to her tonight.
"A sash, well its not completely hideous I guess, but I have nothing that matches. I will need to fetch my valet and do some shopping first. When are we expected to arrive? I hope my valet has arranged a carriage by then, we could all ride in with style, no more footslogging. " Nikolai asks while admiring the tailor ship of the sash.
"The time of your arrival is at your discretion, so long as you're present for the sermon in just under two hours, now," comes the voice from the other side of the screen.
Cimri rolls her eyes at Nikolai. "I figure we get there early, get a sense for how receptive the people who are showing up are, and perhaps do a little pre-game discouragement of the audience." She cracks her knuckles and grins. "Does anyone have any more questions, or are we set to go?" She straightens a sash around her own shoulders once she's made sure everyone's at least been given theirs.
"Oh very well. Let's try and look our best everyone. " Nikolai does his best to give everyone tips on how to properly wear the sash.
Nikolai tries to recall if her knows anything about Tileavia Allamar, hopefully something to discredit her in a mocking poem or song.
Ismene makes a face when Pride mentions torture, and again when Lust not-so-subtly suggests a mass homicide. Where do you find these people, Cim?
Putting on the sash, Ismene looks down at her robes, soiled from her morning routine. "Since we've got some time, I should wash up. Gotta look natty if we're representing the Archbaron!"
Good Idea still wearing the same clothes they killed dogs in last night. Is there a place close or does this place have a bath? I heard someone using it last night, but it might only be for our employer here.
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Amanda says to the group, "We should do more than that this to look the part for this event. We need to put on a show for the crowd, make it seem that we're more than a few hired swords but actually act with the authority of the Baron. One of us, most likely Nikolai Sarini needs to look like the main representative of the baron, putting on his best clothing and noble demeanor. It may highlight his status if he has an attractive lady in a courtier's or nobles outfit by his side as you know the saying, "Behind every great man is a beautiful woman". I or Penelope would fit the bill for that role. The rest of us could pass ourselves off as servants and/or bodyguards to dissuade any outpouring of violence. Doing this should give some air of authority to our presence at the event I believe."
"Ooh, I like this idea - we'll put on a great show!" Muziel clearly has a lot of enthusiasm for Amanda's proposal. He thinks for a second, then pipes up excitedly. "I know, we should pack a picnic! I'll serve Gluttony--I mean Nikolai--some of that fine food and wine while we're observing the event."
Muziel will join the others in getting cleaned up with the time they had available.
There's a subtle hint of confusion from the other side of the screen, for the first time in your interaction. "I was not aware there was a functional bath in this ruined manor." Razelago's shadow is absorbed back into that of the chair. When he speaks again that tiny seed is gone. "It sounds like you've got this well in hand without any further input from me."
Cimri strokes the sleeve of the new studded leather she's wearing. "This is the nicest thing I've got that isn't some sort of knife. It makes me look bodyguard-y, right?"
"Twice what we were paid for the last job? What does one man need with three peasant weapons, right?" Kolaiah smiles, his elongated cuspids glistening in the light of the room. "I don't need to primp to look good, so whenever you lot are ready to go is fine with me."
Longacre’s Church of Iomedae, surrounded by a wrought iron fence, sits just to the north of one of the town’s squares called, appropriately enough, the church square. The square contains a well, available for use by anyone in town, and a tall wooden post for posting notices and announcements. Shops and businesses surround the plaza, and a wide thoroughfare runs north and south through the square. A conspicuous white-clothed table stands in front of the church, apparently in readiness for the sermon, though the table is currently bare.
A few small groups of elderly locals and laborers from nearby businesses have gathered in the square, mostly around the well or along the fence surrounding the churchyard, muttering about what they’ve heard or imagined about Allamar’s announcement. As the the time of the sermon grows closer, more and more people trickle into the square, talking among themselves in knots of three to five, or so. The air of anticipation is palpable, though many people glance nervously at your sashes.
Kolaiah will start discretely scanning the crowd using detect good.
I could have sworn... she was half asleep and guesses the sounds must have been a dream.
Oh I don't think Fine Lady is the disguise for me, Amanda. I bow to you on this endeavor. she gives her best bow, trying to stamp down her natural inclination for it to be mocking. Bodyguard for me, if you don't mind, my lady.
She'll go clean up at a local bathhouse or inn if the group thinks we have time. either way, leaving her stuff at the house, but crossbow if she might need to shoot someone. Before they leave she'll lean over to Muziel Master Greed, I think you might find these more useful than me. slipping him the potion of cure light wounds and thunderstone.
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Amanda says, "Very well, just let me go fetch myself a fine dress, and some other accessories in order to touch up myself. I will play the part as the female escort for our fair. I will act with haste though although my arrival may be delayed for I have to also stash my gear for I cannot play this role carrying unsightly weapons in the process. I shall meet you at the event as soon as I can."
Amanda quickly heads to a shop and buys herself a reasonable courtier outfit and some costume jewelry (spending 100 GP total). She then goes to a more upscale tavern, pays for a room, cleans herself off, puts her things in her room and dresses in the courtier's outfit. She takes 10 on disguise to give herself a 15 for her look. She braids her hair and makes it look presentable. She takes her money pouch with her, a dagger and a belt pouch with her and the sash locking away the rest of her gear in the room's chest and then locking the room itself before she leaves. She then heads off to the event looking like an attractive eye-candy at the side of Sarini and ready to assist him in counter-acting the crowd and its activities.
Nikolai will seek out his Valet and see how much progress he has gotten on securing a carriage. If he has it will look much better to arrive via Carriage then walking the road like a bunch of mercenaries. He will also purchase a new hat in town to go with his Sash.
"Festus me and my comrades have an important meeting in the Church Square. While I am away I want you to prepare my bath."