Krystallos: Blue Quartz

Game Master JGray

Action summary for ROUND 3.
@24: Leiko ceases her Inspire Courage (meaning everyone loses the +1 bonus for their actions this round) and ralphs on (or near) Milo.
@14: Kintal attacks the red dot Masker.
@13: Dawna makes a five-foot adjustment and stabs the green dot Masker.
@9: Telthes make a five-foot adjustment and swings his ax at the blue dot Masker.

In short order, the rain-soaked heroes deliver a series of vicious blows. Kintal's blade stabs into the prone Greyscale Masker. Dawna's sword-blow sends another spinning to the ground, unconscious and bleeding. Telthes' axe is most telling of all. Blood pour from the open wound of his enemy, as the Greyscale Masker doesn't so much fall as collapse to the ground. The final Greyscale Masker, the only one not unconscious, doesn't so much get up and run as scramble away on hands and knees, seeking to escape the halfling chef who torments him so.

Mysterious roll for GM purposes: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (10) + 15 = 25
Penalties in the rolls below are for rain and for distance (and, in Leiko's case, for being Sickened).

Dawna's Perception: 1d20 - 1 - 2 ⇒ (12) - 1 - 2 = 9
Kintal's Perception: 1d20 + 8 - 1 ⇒ (5) + 8 - 1 = 12
Leiko's Perception: 1d20 + 16 - 1 - 2 - 3 ⇒ (17) + 16 - 1 - 2 - 3 = 27
Milo's Perception: 1d20 + 1 - 1 - 3 ⇒ (7) + 1 - 1 - 3 = 4
Telthes' Perception: 1d20 + 5 - 1 ⇒ (8) + 5 - 1 = 12

"Well done!" calls a rather sultry female voice over the splattering of rain. "Especially you, dwarf. How much would I like to lick the blood that's splattered onto that bald head of your's? Mmmm. But not tonight. The Cleric lives because we wish it to be so. Not because of your misplaced bravado. Take these words back to your temple, Cleric! The children are lost and are no longer Emerald's concern!"

Only Leiko, even as sick as she is, notices just where the voice comes from. A woman, her features obscured in black clothing, clings to the side of a building like a spider. When she finishes speaking, the woman skitters up the side just like an insect and vanishes onto the rooftops.

Leiko, I've put a yellow square where you saw the woman.

Even as the mysterious woman with the sultry voice vanishes, the Cleric of Emerald drags himself up to his feet and begins to hobble over towards the group of you.

"Please," the Cleric begs, voice weak, as he staggers through the rain, "Help me get close to the men you have injured, so I can stabilize their wounds. There should be no deaths tonight. Please."

END OF COMBAT

If anyone wants to pursue the last, fleeing Greyscale Masker you're welcome to. We'll set up a chase sequence. Otherwise, we're in open RP with the five of you and the Cleric of Emerald.

"let the coward run. What is he going to do? Report to the authorities that he and his friends lost a fight after trying to kill a priest?"

Telthes turns to the cleric, "You would heal those who tried to end you life priestess? Let us at least secure them before we return them to health."

Kintal stares at the man as he gets up and flees, then looks at his bloodied weapon.
Great. Now I am going to have to disinfect this. Do you know how long you have to boil a weapon to get it clean enough to eat off of?

Knowledge(local): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12

When the spider woman finishes, the halfling scratches his head.
Sounds like some of those people who have been reported missing recently. Sounds like spider girl knows where they are. The question is, who is spider girl.

He then looks at the cleric.
Can I help you father? I don't have any healing magic, but can prepare a good meal if we can get out of the rain.

A sexy voiced woman wants to lick blood off your head and you don't respond at all, Telthes? Cold. :)

Telthes is socially awkward at the best of times. And this isn't the best of times.

Suddenly realizing what else the woman said, Kintal yells after her:
I don't know where your palate was trained, but I would recommend the Giant's Step, the Twisted Painting, or the Red Brush. All serve a fine plate, much better than uncooked blood off of the wet head of a dwarf.

Theoretically speaking, what would happen if Leiko commanded Miss Fancy Pants to approach. If she rolls a one on her save, will my doing so and engaging a combat kill us all?

Dawna listens to the strange woman while she wipes off her sword at a usually hidden fold of her tunic, slides it back into its sheath and walks over to the wounded priest in the rain. The shield remains at her left arm for now. "You may be a bad looser, but you certainly do have an appealing voice and a sense for drama, beautiful." she calls after the lady and adds in a mumble: "What does she think makes the dwarf's 'misplaced bravado' more impressive than mine?"

And a little louder to everyone, as she leans down to reach the priest a hand. "Everyone alright? Personally I have to disagree with the lady in black, your bravado was very well placed. I wouldn't have thought to find so much spirit gathered in one place."

She helps the priest up. "Of course, sir, though it may be too late for some of them. Name's Dawna... I'm a paladin of Amethyst. You're a priest of Emerald I presume? What was that about children? Sounded almost like a challenge, she sure must have liked the show." She kneeled down with him at the first masked guy. "I am not much of a healer but I can assist you. I suppose this mask comes off first." Carefully supports the thug's neck with one hand and removes the mask with the other.

In spite of the rather ominous speech that seemed to come from everywhere at once, Milo was only half listening. He was presently too busy being mortified at what had just happened to him, frantically scraping the previous contents of Leikos stomach off his head with one hand, while the other was jammed awkwardly down the back of his shirt to try and dig out that which had slid down there.

Finally giving up on his current method, he walked to the fountain, put his equipment down and jumped into the water. lying down, he took a few breaststrokes, an expanding cloud of green and yellow particles making the water hazy in his wake.

Getting out and sitting on the edge, he looked up at Dawnas comment "Yes, it is actually quite remarkable if one stops to think about it. Most cries for help in the streets all over the world go completely unanswered. To have five people respond beats the odds almost to the point of being fated...If one belives in such things."

"So..." He said after a few moments of silence, looking around at everyone. "..Im just going to get the obvious question asked instead of dancing around the subject." He looked at Dawna. "Clearly, the paladin will be wanting to do something about these children. Wouldnt be much of a paladin if she didnt. Now, Im not brave, not really, but I came here all the same, and though I might struggle with some indecision on the way, I think I will help." He held his arms around his body, suddenly realizing how cold he had become after his soak. Teeth chattering he added. "Now it may just be all those tales the Bards keep telling me that are messing with my though processes and getting my hopes up...But who else will join in this, well, this quest?"

@Leiko: In theory, you'd tick her off. What would happen then? Maybe she'd lick your dwarf? :) The point is moot, though, since she's out of range our your Command spell. You're more than 25 feet away from her and she's already moving.

Kintal, you don't know she's a spider woman until Leiko actually tells you she is. All you heard was a voice.

I'll wait for Leiko to post before having the Cleric respond.

And small corrections. I apologize for being anal. The word priest doesn't exist in Krystallos. Cleric is the formal title. Also, there are no "fathers". A Cleric is a Brother or Sister, depending upon gender. Again, I apologize for this but I'm hoping the right terminology will help set the tone for the world.

"I love quests!" *sploosh*

The Cleric turns out to be younger than one might expect. He's probably no more than sixteen or seventeen. A human male with light sky blue hair that feathers just so and gorgeous sapphire colored eyes. He'd be a heartbreaker if he wasn't absolutely covered in bruises right now.

"I took an oath to heal whomever needs it." The Cleric of Emerald says as he gratefully takes Dawna's arm. "That includes these men, even if they attacked me."

[bigger]The Cleric closes his eyes and focuses, his fingers moving to the holy symbol hanging from his neck. It is a simple, wooden cross painted green in the very center.

"Mildred the Quiet, I beg of you. A servant of your example asks that you intercede with the Totem Emerald so that I may shine healing light on those who have been hurt. Please."

The Cleric's words are simple and sincere and, as he speaks, a shining green light radiates out from his body until it envelopes all those who are nearby.

The Cleric's channel energy roll: 1d6 ⇒ 3

The two Greyscale Maskers and Dawna each receive 3 hit points back.

The Greyscale Maskers' wounds seal and bleeding stops, though they remain unconscious. Dawna, too, finds her bruises shrinking and aches fading until they are only shadows of what they were only moments ago.

When Dawna pulls off the Greyscale Masker's mask, she finds a man she doesn't know. He has dark blue hair and his face is rather homely. There's nothing to identify him, however.

"My name is Brother Ruphus." The Cleric introduces himself. He, too, is looking somewhat better. He stands up straighter, though his face is still bruised. "Thank you for coming to my rescue. Truly, Emerald's blessing was upon me today. I don't know about meals, friend halfling, but I would like to invite you back to the Temple of the Quiet Hand. We can't really afford a reward but we can get you out of the rain, at the very least. I'm sure Sister Jenya, who runs the Temple, will want to meet and thank you. She can also explain about the missing children better than I could."

"I love quests!" *sploosh*

Not sure how to interpret the *sploosh*...another bout of vomiting? She jumped in the fountain? She pushed Milo back in? So many possibilities!

"Well I guess such a big question can wait a bit after all." Milo said, getting up and moving to stand by the cleric. On the way he looked back at Leiko, a puzzled look on his face. "Getting indoors seems like it should take priority right now, atleast for me." His teeth kept chattering as he talked, causing some of the words to come out in a stammer. "Im liable to catch a dreadful cold this way."

Fountain.

While she realizes full well, that the rain on her face and hair does her compliments, it also does feel cold and she would very much like to get somewhere warm. "I will gladly take you up on your offer; I am eager to find out what's behind all this, Brother Ruphus. But we need to turn them over to the authorities, lest someone else gets attacked by them. There are more thugs, but the less are on the street the better." She gestures towards the wounded one at her feet. "I would very much like to question them as well, but it's not my place to do so. That is city guard business and this isn't Amethyst, I can poke in local affairs unless on request or to face an immediate danger."

She gets a rope and her water skin out while she speaks, hands Leiko the first without a comment, but a somewhat excusing smile and uses the latter to tie the hands of the thug in front of her. "Does anyone else have a rope? Otherwise I'll have to make do with that one and tie them together."

"tied together they will be easier to control. And getting out of this rain seems a good idea. What will we do with these men?"

Kintal looks up at the others.
Yes, drying off would be wise. Although I'm rather doubt anything will take the sour taste out of my mouth that these dirty thugs have created. How am I supposed to create culinary masterpieces if I have a sour taste in my mouth?

Dawna finished tying the hands of their prisoners with her rope, removed all their masks and searched them for weapons. Doing so she also checks the other two, to find out whether they are evil.

Perception: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (2) - 1 = 1
Looks like she overlooked that subtle greatsword...

She collected what she found and then woke them up. "Up! You're coming with me." She didn't reply to the halfling, the last thing she wanted to think about right now in the face of mayhem was eating. Instead she replied to the dwarven warrior: "To the next guard post. Could you help me watch them? I don't really have a lot of hands free." She had her shield strapped to one arm and and the rope strapped twice around her right wrist with the end in her hand. To draw her sword she would have to let go of it.

A bit louder she called out: "Guard!" and started to make her way to the nearest post, looking in the direction of the central parts of the city.

Like any city, Blue Quartz has her richer and poorer areas. The Back of the Left Hand is primarily lower-middle class but as it edges closer to the Palm of the Left Hand the dwellings become less affluent... with predictable results.

Neither of the two Greyscale Maskers are evil to Dawna's Totem-enhanced senses but obviously they are criminals. They say nothing as they are trudged through the streets of Blue Quartz to a guard station... which turns out to be unmanned. The second guard station is the same. The third's the charm, however, and the guards there take charge of the prisoners, promising to call on the Temple of the Quiet Hand later to take Brother Ruphus's statement.

Dawna's Sense Motive check: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (20) - 1 = 19
Kintal's Sense Motive check: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
Leiko's Sense Motive check: 1d20 + 4 - 2 ⇒ (15) + 4 - 2 = 17
Milo's Sense Motive check: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 21
Telthes' Sense Motive check: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

Once the criminals are delivered to the authority, for weal or woe, Brother Ruphus leads the party through the streets to a rather worn looking, two-story building perched precariously on the outside edge of the Left Hand, between the palm and the back. Above the door words have been branded into the wood in Amethystian:

GOOD HEALTH BELONGS TO ALL

Once inside, an acolyte takes charge of Brother Ruphus and leads him off to report to Sister Jenya. Warm, wool blankets and hot tea are brought out by another acolyte, who invites the group of you to sit in front of the fire and warm up.

I'm going to give y'all a moment here to introduce yourself to each other and do a little getting to know you RP before we move forward.

"Cleric as much as I may want to help you with your problems, my current financial situation prevents me from working for free."

Dawna drinks from her tea and then dries her hair with a blanket and tries to get into the angles of her armour with it. While the way she arches and fiddles with her gear does look a little awkward she doesn't seem to think about it much. Nor that she sprays water all around as she shakes it of her half-long, but dense chestnut coloured hair.

"The totems were certainly with me when I ran into you. I'm Dawna as I've said before. I don't know how people deal with injustice and crime in this place, but I will certainly not tolerate it. Well, not counting apples stolen by starving kids and maybe an accidentally borrowed mug, that is." she grins roguishly to Leiko. "Hope you feel better, nightingale. May I have my water skin back?"

She looks into the round again, examining the dwarf, who was indeed quite a powerful warrior a moment longer. The image with licking his bold head still stuck in her mind, though, and it was not an image she needed. "Who are you guys? None of you seems to be from Blue Quartz, right?" She ponders for a heartbeat, everting her lower lip. "Did any of you hear anything about this gang before, or about missing kids?"

"Telthes is my name. I only recently arrived here, work is scarcer for my line of work than I expected."

Milo accepted his blanket greedily, teeth still chattering as he wrapped himself from head to toe. Slumping on the nearest chair, he exhaled contently as the chattering slowly stopped. "You know, as fascinating as this whole "city on giants" thing is, it sure doesnt help one realize when a downpour is about to rear its ugly head." He looked around at everyone, expecting to see agreeing faces. "I mean, when the skyline doesn't warn you."

Falling quiet to listen to the others, he interjected himself in the conversation before the subject of names became to far removed. "My name is Milo, Milo Quinn. I am indeed not Blue Quartz. I am here on business of sorts, looking for interesting trivia." He gestured at Telthes. "Unfortunately, much like the good dwarf here, I havnt been finding much." He shrugged, an almost apologetic look on his face as he looked at the clerics. "As fascinating as art is, there doesnt seem to be much else for the curious mind in this land. Id be lying if I said my curiosity isn't half the reason Im joining Ms. Dawna here in her pursuit of justice."

He wrapped himself tighter in his blanket, looking at Kintal. He waited for the Halfling to introduce himself, his face wordlessly saying "well?".

She nods to Telthes. "In order to live from the axe in the hand it requires someone to pay for it. Given the state of crime prosecution, if we help those people, there remains the possibility to requisition assets of our enemies, should we be successful. While I hope this gang is not all too resourceful, I fear it is." She arched her head considering the possibility. This seemed to be a criminal organization that runs deep and the guard made a somewhat corrupt, or at least too-frightened-to-care impression on her. Consequently there was no just and orderly approach to dealing with property they found. Leaving it to the gangsters was out of question and there was no other rightful owner, the authorities might be very well themselves in it or return it to who they took it from instead of paying them a fair reward. She did not like that kind of compromise, but justice has to start somewhere. "Either way, I am glad you came along to hear them out."

Dawna blinks twice as Milo speaks, leans back and smiles nonchalantly. It appears she find the answer somewhat confusing, but is not about to let that unsettle her. "Well, I presume you're not a patron of arts, then. There will be lots of first hand justice alongside me, that's for sure." She smiles defiantly, obviously thinking of justice by the sword.

Still fiddling with his rapier, and trying to unsuccessfully get every bit of blood off the weapon, Kintal looks up rather surprised when he realizes that Milo is looking at him.

Um, oh, sorry. Yes, my name is Chef Kintal Kwikblade Tormsil. I am a cuisine artist known throughout the world. I have performed for audiences and hungry people in many nations. I once performed and cooked for Ali'i Liliʻuokalani in the Pearl Islands, and for Dauphin Louis the Bald in Alexandrite.

Milo shook his head at Kintal with a smile, as the Halfling waxed poetic about his many travels. "I wonder how much is the truth, and not a spruced up version of it." He thought to himself. "So, what of it Kintal? Will you be joining us in doing a bit of good? Id feel alot better about my involvement in this potentially dangerous endeavor with you by my side." Looking at Kintal expectantly, he suddenly sat up straight, eyes wide with realization. "Uhm, not that the rest of you arent nice and competent people, of course." He looked at everyone apologetically, his eyes lingering on Telthes, searching for any sign that he had somehow offended the axeman.

"Hah, no offense, I didn't make a very good first impression. I'll not be trying to keep up with Dawna's constitution again." Leiko raised her tea and nodded slightly to Milo and Dawna in turn.

"I'm in, rain or shine. Abduction is not something I'm going to tolerate."

She raised her cup as well and drank from it. She regarded Leiko with mild concern and reached with an armoured glove out for her shoulder.

"You're too hard on yourself, Leiko. Your singing was most beautiful and actually helped me feel glorious, and your courage to step up and fight for what you believe admirable. I am glad you were there with us and would very much like to call you my friend."

Dawna held the look from Leiko's eyes a moment longer and then squirmed around in her place by the fire to the whole again.

"We don't have to make any decisions before we hear what this is all about, of course, though I have no doubt what my decision will be - if I can help, I will."

"That is good, child. Very good."

Broad feet covered in curly white hair hobble down the stairs. They belong to a halfling woman of advanced age. The lines on her face and the snow in her hair tell the tale: she's seen quite a bit of life. Like Brother Ruphus, the woman is dressed in simple green robes and wears a holy symbol that declares her both a follower of Emerald and a member of the Cult of the Quiet Hand.

Picture of the old halfling woman.
Picture of the Emerald/Cult of the Quiet Hand holy symbol.

"Good evening, friends. Be at peace." The old halfling woman approaches you. She takes the time to shake each of your hands. As she does a green glow surrounds her and infuses into your bodies, bringing warmth, comfort and a fleeting moment of memories...

That was all just fancy exposition for this woman's potent Channel Energy ability. Dawna, the rest of your HP are restored. Leiko, you are no longer the slightest bit drunk and you won't have a hangover in the morning. Milo, the beginnings of the cold you were feeling are gone. The rest of you, you're bright and alert but feeling relaxed.

"My name is Sister Jenya. Welcome to the Blue Quartz Temple of the Quiet Hand. Thank you for saving Brother Ruphus. We have tended to his injuries and he is resting now. I cannot reward you with coin but I can give each of you a token of our good will as well as a simple meal and a place to rest for the evening. No one should have to go back out into that storm."

Sister Jenya motions and the acolyte who helped Brother Ruphus upstairs earlier steps forward with a wicker basket. Inside the basket are five bottles of liquid that shine and shimmer like a heath fire.

"These are potions we have crafted here at the Temple." Jenya explains, "They carry the blessing of Emerald. Drink them and they will heal your wounds. They have no date of expiration."

Each of you can add 1 Potion of Cure Light Wounds to your inventories.

Milo took a deep breath as Sister Jenyas peculiar power and the tingling sensation it had brought with it slowly faded. He looked surprised. "That is quite the talent Sister Jenya. I feel right as rain again." He smiled widely. "My thanks."

Listening to her words and accepting the potion, he eyed the bottle with curiosity. "You know, ive never actually had cause to own one of these, let alone drink one." He turned it in his hands with a curious look, before opening it and smelling the contents. "Mmh, berries!" He said excitedly, sniffing it several times more before corking it again.

“Thank you!” Dawna stood up and curtseyed deep as she accepted potion, not because protocol demanded it, it did not demand of her to bow or curtsey at all, but because she felt she needed to show her respect for the elderly priest how had some much devotion for those around her, as well as the practical fact that she wanted to meet a woman that was half her height on eye level. It helped her play over the embarrassment for that memory, as thankful as she was for it.

The memory had been of the night of her first anniversary with Galadar. She had had only a small gift for him, she couldn't even remember what, but he had been gorgeous that night and taken her on a level of fulfilment she didn't even know existed. His gift had been a beautiful dress and a night in one of the suits in the visitor's wing of the queen's palace. Zullia, his pegasus, who was in on the plan and had taken them there. She also cast thoughts of Angélique out of her mind, which had come with no obvious reason after the actual memory faded.

“I am just glad that we were in the right place at the right time. There is more that concerns me however. If you have nothing to give, but the Emerald light which can be taken no more than that of Amethyst from me... why then was Brother Ruphus attacked? There was a woman. Her voice was as alluring as her words were cruel. She mentioned children; it sounded as they had been abducted.”

As much as she appreciated the comfort that the Quiet Hand provided them with, she was anxious to learn what this was all about and a little less quiet hand would be most welcome.

Telthes sits quietly in the corner drinking his tea This tea would be better if it had some strength to it.

at talk of the fight he seems to perk up. "Indeed it was weird. attacking a cleric in the open like that is very bold for a couple of thugs."

"I think they'd have to personally assault the guards for anyone to raise a hand to defend him."

"Strange things have been happening in Blue Quartz, I agree."

Sister Jenya hobbles over to a bench and sinks down upon it. She sighs and takes a moment to let the fire sink into her weary bones.

"In the last month a disturbing number of people have gone missing from the city." Sister Jenya explains. "I am not sure on exact numbers but the number is too large to be explained away as artists leaving Blue Quartz to seek fame and fortune."

"The Cult of the Quiet Hand has a mission. To provide for and heal those on the fringes of our society. The poor and the destitute, the homeless and the forgotten. As part of our mission, this temple serves the health needs of the Lantern Street Orphanage on the Palm of the Left Hand. Three nights ago four children, two boys and two girls, were kidnapped from the orphanage. Deakon, Evelyn, Lucinda and Terrem. I asked Brother Ruphus to speak with the staff of the orphanage and look around, to see if he could find any... well, clues, I suppose. He found nothing exceptional except that the staff and children were upset, that the children had been locked in their dormitories and sleeping at the time of the kidnappings and that the locks seemed intact and in excellent condition."

An acolyte brings Sister Jenya tea. Jenya takes it with a hand that trembles only lightly with age. She offers thanks to the acolyte before continuing.

"He was assaulted on his way back to the temple. By Greyscale Mask members, apparently. This suggests they were involved but I can't see what profit they gain from kidnapping orphans."

"You seem capable and the truth is, we are in dire straights. The town guard has obviously been unable to stop these kidnappings and I doubt they will have little time or sympathy for orphaned children from the wrong side of the Hand. The Cult of the Quiet Hand can't afford to pay you except in free healing but the Mayor has offered a reward of three thousand gold pieces to anyone who can put a stop to the kidnappings. Perhaps that can make up for our lack of funds?"

“Hmmmm...” made Dawna and run her fingertips thoughtfully through her hair. “I will help, of course. So, the Greyscale Masks exposed themselves when they attacked Brother Ruphus, for he had no idea that they were behind all this. He must have stumbled across more than he realized. The children might have been taken by means of magic. Or someone of the staff is corrupt and let the kidnappers in. Or they managed to sneak in, steal the keys, sedate the kids... well, there is a number of possibilities it would depend on the exact layout and circumstances of the location.”

Dawna was exemplary in many ways, and she knew it. But while she wasn't stupid, she was not particularly smart either and magic was beyond her. Why did the Greyscale Masks attack Ruphus if he had not found anything but riddles? How did they even know about it? “I will need your help on this”, she turned to the others, “I am not so much the kind of paladin that asks questions, I am more of the kind that smashes evil where it's obvious and looks good in a ball gown. Maybe, we should go there, right now, lest more children get lost. Shake the Masks' tree a little, see what falls out... too bad I didn't keep the prisoners myself, but I didn't know where to take them, nor which questions to ask. None of them had an actual evil aura, maybe the gang has some kind of lever on them... Does anyone know anything about this gang?”

"Do we know of anywhere these greyscale masks operate? Perhaps we should pay them an unpleasent visit. Or at least one that will be unpleasnt for them."

"Considering the attitude of the guard towards the prisoners we gave them, I dont think finding some gang members will be that difficult. Surely they have members doing their business all over the city. Provoking them into revealing themselves however might prove a tall order." Milo said, looking thoughtfully at Dawna and unconsciously imitating her by twirling the tip of his ponytail around his index finger.

"The fact that the Masks have not put forth a ransom demand, either through letter or when they accosted Brother Ruphus, suggest that this is not a matter of extortion." He got up and shuffled around in front of the hearth, still draped in his blanket. "I would not have been surprised if the Quiet Hands generosity somehow interfered with their profits."

He stopped and looked thoughtful a moment. "Three possibilities spring to mind. Either the Masks intend to recruit the children, start them off young and indoctrinate them, though I must admit I am ignorant of their usual recruitment practices. A second option could be that they intend to profit off the children somehow, though the possibilities there are not ones I wish to ponder for any length of time." His eyes grew dark as he readied himself for the third of his ideas. "Last, and possibly worst, would be the possibility that the Masks require the children for some nefarious purpose, or are acting upon the behest of someone with the funds or power to compel them to do their bidding. I especially fear that this might be the case, based on the woman who was present at the scene." He sat down again, content with the heat he had gathered from the fire. "Criminal guilds tend towards a focus on solidarity amongst their members. For her to simply leave her stricken allies suggest they were mere pawns to her."

He looked around at everyone. "That is how I see it atleast, though id be relieved to hear some other plausible explanation that does not bode so ill for everyone involved." He looked genuinely scared, his eyes flickering as if he was already continuing the trains of thought he had not wanted to follow.

Knowledge (Local): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12

Added a knowledge roll to this post after reading yours kind GM.

Sister Jenya speaks over her tea.

"Most members of the Greyscale Maskers are youth. They come from a range of backgrounds, ranging from the wealthy to the poor. The poor see it as a way of climbing out of the gutters. The wealthy pursue the "philosophy of moral grey" as a way to experience the world and gain inspiration for their art. The wealthy members tend to leave as they grow older which means if you run across more experienced Maskers you're dealing with men and women who were born hard and grew up hard. This is what poverty does. It builds walls around hearts and destroys."

"I do not think you can blame the situation for the heart." Leiko raised quiet dissent to the moral of Sister Jenya's story. She established she did not agree, but made no attempt to derail the focus of their efforts into an argument.

Dawna listens to what the others have to say and thinks about Milo's words. "I don't think the first option you name applies. It seems unnescessarily complicated. There is a quarter full of street kids, many of which would join them willingly. They have no reason to abduct children to find recruits. And given the circumstances it does not sound like the children simply ran away."

While she finds Leiko's comment a bit of a simplification, she is ultimately right and seems to be of a pure heart herself. Dawna gives her radiant smile.

Temptation easily leads to evil. For someone who constantly has to struggle to survive and is surrounded by evil it is considerably easier to succumb to evil and those who showed true kindness under such circumstances were more often than not those who did not prevail, which was why the Guiding Hand was so important. Provide the poor with an alternative, show them that compassion is a hard, but viable way in a place where kindness is all but forgotten.

But in the end, evil is evil and one could indeed not blame the situation for what was inside one's heart and there was a differences between compromises, just to survive and getting one's kids through, and having no compassion at all and only cruelty.

"I find that concept of 'philosophy of moral grey' a bit strange, given the context of beaten up clerics driven by nothing but their compassion for others and claimed children. What does moral grey mean? A young wealthy woman who wants to break out of her chains, be a bit nasty and deliberately work as stripper or even high class prostitute or dominatrix may be morally grey. Theft, breaking and entering may under certain circumstances pass as morally grey. Vandalism to make a political statement and indict society of its own narrow mindedness may be morally grey. In an arranged marriage I might even consider adultery, in the context of an actual romance, morally grey. But what I have seen and heard so far is outright evil. What kind of action would one usually attribute to the Greyscale masks? Are they primarily a profit oriented, or a political or a quasi religious organization, or simply a subculture with the flair of a secret society?"

"They are what almost everyone in Blue Quartz are." Sister Jenya says with a bitter laugh. "Artists. They have convinced themselves from their lowest ranks to their highest that what they do is art. At their lowest levels they engage in vandalism, yes, and sell gnomish drugs. They run errands for the higher level Maskers and some do hurt others in small protection schemes."

Sister Jenya sighs and the sound is a weary one. "Those in for life? I don't know for certain. Prostitution isn't illegal in Blue Quartz and neither is gambling but I have heard that they fence stolen goods and act as thugs for hire and arsonists. I've heard some consider themselves "artists of blood." A fancy term for murderers."

When Sister Jenya finishes speaking, Kintal steps forward and bows low, so low that he could easily have look a mouse in the eyes, although this is not difficult for a halfling.

It is an honor to see a servant of the Emerald Totem here. I love the Emerald Shire and seek to bring its teachings of the culinary arts everywhere I travel.

He stops and pauses for a moment:
Perhaps if you should have some fresh vegetables together, I can prepare a fine meal while my new friends decide how to proceed with this investigation. If nothing else Sister, it will remind you of the vibrant hills of the Shire.

Sister Jenya offers Kintal a bright smile and speaks to him in Emeraldish, the language of their mutual homeland.

Dawna ponders about this for a moment, if everyone and everything can be a Greyscale Mask and then not again, what are the Greyscale Masks then? Did they have a power structure? "This Greyscale mask may be yet another mask. I mean, it is a mask, but more deluding than it seems."

She stands up swiftly and rearranges her armor with its brand new dents.
"As much as I would like to taste the whatever culinary delights you may summon, Chef Tormsil, I don't feel like sitting still while people, children, are taken. So, with our strength renewed, I'm going to that orphanage to guard it over night. Hm, Leiko, will you come with me? I don't think they'll hit the same place twice, but it would feel more comfortable to make sure."

Kintal begins to respond in Emeraldish:

Suddenly Kintal stops as Dawna speaks and looks at her, his mouth hanging open in utter disbelief as she discounts the choice of fine food, especially fine food cooked by him.

What do you mean you want to skip a fine meal? How will you survive without the evening repast? Why, your stomach will rumble so much that it will keep all the orphans awake. And, then you will be so hungry that you will not be alert enough to see the Greyscale Masks sneaking up on you.

Deciding that the conversation is concluded, he turns back to the Sister.

Point me to the pantry, and we shall all have a fine meal before returning back into the rain.

Sister Jenya will lead Kintal to the kitchen. It is a large, stone room with cheap wooden counters, a simple stone sink and a large hearth for cooking as well as a simple but large griddle that can be heated with coals from the hearth. A good fire is already going in the hearth. The larder is actually a series of free standing cabinets, one spelled to permanently seal in the cold. A tag on that cabinet indicates it was donated by a patron from the city of Rose Quartz.

"Need a hand Kintal?" Milo asked with a intrepid smile. "I mean I dont do much cooking, but I can cut ingredients for you." Milo really just wanted something to busy himself with, unwilling to ask for reading material which was sure to be on subjects he didnt much care for, namely religion and art. "Ive had my fill of painting guides for a lifetime."

looking to Dawna, he added. "As for the lovely ladies, if you intend to do as Dawna has proposed, may we agree on a time and place to meet on the morrow?" He smiled apologetically. "Though I fear being out of your presence may cause my courage to falter." He looked at Telthes regaining some confidence. "But if the good warrior Telthes remains with us here for the night, Im sure his dwarven demeanor will help me keep to my promise."

"It's not like I have the money to spend the night anywhere else." Telthes mutters to himself.

"Of course I will stay here for the night, it will allow us to get started earlier in the morning."

Kintal smiles at Milo:
I can probably show you some tricks. It has taken me years to develop my palate and skill with herbs and vegetables, but I am sure that I can find something for you to help with.

With that, Kintal straps on an apron and begins to chop and dice with a speed that unnerving, it appears that half the time he is about to remove a finger or wrist, only to end up with finely diced onions and tomatoes.

Profession(chef): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19

When he finishes, Kintal samples the dish before serving it to the others.
I apologize, not my best, but it should give you all a taste of the Emerald Shire, with a little Jade Kingdom twist thrown in.

"Mmm.. I think we should meet together in the morning and see what we can do with a fresh day. Dawna, how about we wait for the meal, and then I'll accompany you there, just to make sure we are together in case something happens. It wouldn't do for one of Amethyst's finest to fall alone in a dark alley for lack of allies."

Then, smirking at Milo, "That should alleviate you of any concerns, yes?"