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Kioshi casts detect magic, heroism and heightened awareness on himself and tries to tail Dru and follows her.
“Do you mind if I just follow your example Dru?“ he asks.
He tries to see if he knows anything.
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And also mingles to find out more about the talk of the crowd.
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He also tries to get a feeling for the emotions in the room.
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And finally he tries to observe anything peculiar.
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He also tries to see who are the really wealthy people or if any items of worth stick out.
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He also concentrates on his detect magic spell from time to time to identify spells or items of magical power.
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Spackle moves about the celebration. His affable nature allows him to blend in like long lost relative. He laughs, sings along with the performers, and dances with merriment. Mead occasionally swipes hors d’oeuvres off of a passing platter, but also keeps watch with his keen senses.
However, he is a Pathfinder. He and Mead keep a sharp eye out for trouble. The bard also makes sure to keep tabs on all of his peers. It would be too easy ta slip sumthin' in a drink 'r poke someone in a crowd.
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Locke buys a noble outfit and shinies as well. After all, she and Tereze and Melisande are nobility after the dragon event.
Though she hadn't expected her first noble dress to be of such exotic fashion.
Afterwards, she browses stalls with delicacies and curisities, such as foreign reagents and odd trinkets.
Sorry, what's happening there?
"A wedding of course!" one of the guests replies to Dru with a laugh. They call over a serving girl to give Dru a drink. "Have more drink, my friend. Be merry for the bride and groom!"
Tereze wanders over near the dancers looking to see who is watching the dances so she can talk to them to make some contacts and maybe find a dance partner who she can impress with her dance skills to raise the Pathfinder's status.
Tereze scans the crowd of dancers with a discerning eye to look for a good dancing partner, but it doesn't take long for her to see that a tall dark-skinned man dressed in merchant clothing is swiftly approaching her directly.
"My deepest apologies, would you perhaps be Tereze Amnell?" the man asks in a very heavily Kelish-accented Common as he slightly bows respectfully. "I am Al’Jahar abu-Targos. My uncle was Targos Min-Katheer, may he rest peacefully under Sarenrae's light. My family is forever in your debt for your efforts to return him to us!"
You find the crowd to be very rowdy with the dancing and excitement. You also happen to single out guests of note in the crowd; including locating Farendir Faireven and Lujine (the bride and groom) sitting down at a table watching the combat on the coals, Bashir al-Mudaris (father of the groom) dancing gingerly as his age will allow in the crowd near Tereze, and Halman (the Priest of Sarenrae who performed the rites for the wedding) vigorously eating some meat under some shade from the patio above.
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Kioshi tries to take everything and eventually decides that wants to talk to the priest of Sarenrae.
He approches them slowly.
"Ehh ... I .. I hope that I am not disturbing you? Really nice ceremony ... you know my step-mother as well as step-brother and step-sister are all Sarenites. So ... ehh ... what are you doing now?" he asks openly.
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"A wedding of course!" one of the guests replies to Dru with a laugh
Dru chuckles in good faith at the man's remark
A most joyous event if I ever seen one! I can't refuse a drink, !it would be against my religion. Are you from the bride or the groom's family? Anyway, I'll toast to your health, sir, and if you don't mind, to the health and prosperity of the newlyweds.
She toasts and drinks, then asks to the crowd, looking at the ritual fighters
Can anyone explain to me the rules of the fight, and why they seem to be ready to dance on embers?
Didn't have proper opportunity for checks, so here goes..
she browses stalls with delicacies and curisities, such as foreign reagents and odd trinkets.
Locke would find that there are many tables and stalls on the feasting grounds that are home to many cooks whipping up dishes for the guests to taste. Due to the feast just beginning, most of the dishes available at the moment are more along the lines of first course and appetizers; aloo tikka, dahi balla, and litti chokha are just some of the local cuisine that Locke sees from their initial glances.
Kioshi tries to take everything and eventually decides that wants to talk to the priest of Sarenrae. "Ehh ... I .. I hope that I am not disturbing you? Really nice ceremony ... you know my step-mother as well as step-brother and step-sister are all Sarenites. So ... ehh ... what are you doing now?" he asks openly.
"No, you are no bother to me at all my friend!" Halman replies to Kioshi loudly to be heard over the din of music and conversation. He dabs his mouth and hands with a napkin to clean away some of the mess from the food he was eating. "It is always good to see Sarenrae's faithful out in this wonderful world! I was just finishing up my snack here before leaving, actually. I am getting on in age and can't quite keep up with these youngsters and their festivities it seems. I hope you are enjoying yourself so far?"
A most joyous event if I ever seen one! I can't refuse a drink, !it would be against my religion. Are you from the bride or the groom's family? Anyway, I'll toast to your health, sir, and if you don't mind, to the health and prosperity of the newlyweds.
"The bride's!" the man replies with a hearty toast of his drink, which is mirrored by several other men around him who reply similarly. "Half of us here tried to woo for her hand in marriage, but her father wouldn't have any of it!" This comment resulted in a wave of laughter from the crowd of failed suitors around him. "It's a shame, but the food and drink here is making up for the loss, for sure!"
Can anyone explain to me the rules of the fight, and why they seem to be ready to dance on embers?
"The coal-fighting? Rather straightforward, if you want to participate! You strip down to..." the man pauses as he looks at Dru and then at the almost naked men in loin cloths. "...Errr...just simple clothing. Then grab a club and join in! You're trying to land a hit on someone while avoiding being hit yourself. You get hit, then you're out! Last one standing with their feet not burnt off is the winner!"
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Melisande has been wandering about and overhears the comment made to Dru. I think you should go with the loincloth. We don't want anyone to claim you've an unfair advantage. She winks at the man. And if any of the jilted suitors feel the need to assuage your disappointment with me, just let me know. I'm sure I can accommodate you on my dance card.
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"My deepest apologies, would you perhaps be Tereze Amnell?" the man asks in a very heavily Kelish-accented Common as he slightly bows respectfully. "I am Al’Jahar abu-Targos. My uncle was Targos Min-Katheer, may he rest peacefully under Sarenrae's light. My family is forever in your debt for your efforts to return him to us!"
Tereze returns a small bow to the man and says seriously:
What would a successful merchant such as yourself have to apologize for? Is simply knowing my name so shameful?. She smiles to indicate she is teasing.As for any debt, Your uncle was a great traveler who brought a deadly plot to the Societies attention even as he died. Bringing him on that last trip down the Silken Way was the least the Pathfinders could do for so great a man.
But if you do feel a debt, Perhaps you can escort me today and introduce me to whom I should know here. For just like your uncle, I also am a traveler and as I have recently arrived, have not had the pleasure of meaning many that are here.
Curious, Mead hops off the bard's shoulders. Hiding in the shadows, table cloths and the occasional long skirt, the dragon makes his way toward the far side of the ballroom to inspect the carts.
Curious, Mead hops off the bard's shoulders. Hiding in the shadows, table cloths and the occasional long skirt, the dragon makes his way toward the far side of the ballroom to inspect the carts.
Mead spots a pair of white elephants from distant Vudra, several impressive lions, two dozen silken-haired dromedaries, robes of precious silk, and other treasures appear in the carts, each more exotic than the last. Cloth draped wagons promise additional wonders as well. Several guards stand around the carts, escorting the gifts into the feast grounds as the battle on the coals begins to wind down.
The dragon, realizing something may be amiss (Really, he thinks, who can tell with humanoids?) alerts the team telepathically.
'The guard escorting the lion cage is sweating. Like, quite a bit more than the effort he is expending. He also lacks focus. His eyes are scanning all around the room. Should we call a healer?'
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"Aw crapples. Suren there's trouble afoot."
Each creature within range receives a Will save (DC 10 + 1/2 the bard's level + the bard's Cha modifier) to negate the effect. If a creature's saving throw succeeds, the bard cannot attempt to fascinate that creature again for 24 hours. If its saving throw fails, the creature sits quietly and observes the performance for as long as the bard continues to maintain it. While fascinated, a target takes a –4 penalty on all skill checks made as reactions, such as Perception checks. Any potential threat to the target allows the target to make a new saving throw against the effect. Any obvious threat, such as someone drawing a weapon, casting a spell, or aiming a weapon at the target, automatically breaks the effect.
Fascinate is an enchantment (compulsion), mind-affecting ability. Fascinate relies on audible and visual components in order to function.
@GM Irish, how fast can Spackle get to the guard (or within 90 feet)? I would like to get close enough to use Facinate on him.
Spackle expertly navigates through the crowd, subtly using his bardic wiles to entrance the guard next to the lion cart. As he sways slightly on his feet while his eyes begin rapidly dilating, the man seems unable to shift his focus from Spackle!
As the bard relaxes slightly with a seeming danger averted, the audible sound of a metallic 'clank' can be heard nearby. With a slight glance that doesn't distract from his performance, Spackle notices that a pin holding one of the lion cage doors closed seems to have fallen to the ground...causing that door to swing open effortlessly by the prowling lions inside!
The freed felines let forth a deafening roar that echoes loudly across the feast. Cries of distress and alarm arise from every corner of the wedding venue as terrified guests begin fleeing in all directions before the onslaught of the lions!
Initiative Order:
Round 1
Melisande
Kioshi
Spackle
Locke
Entranced Guard (Fascinated)
Tereze
Lions
Dru
Roars assault the pseudo-dragon's sensitive ears, causing him to wince.
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"Oi! Didja see that? Sneaky git in the blue turban pulled the pin 'n ruined me plan."
Unfortunately, Spackle has bigger problems at the moment. He sees the rest of the team attempting to disable the lions. Ain't gettin' away from those boys on these stubby legs o' mine. Best bet is ta be pilin' on.
"How 'bout ya be good kitties 'n right there?" The bard laces one of the words with a spell in the hopes of stunning the lions.
It's supposed to be a party, right? No party is complete without Glitter!
Two of the lions become blinded by the blast of glittering dust that erupts in their faces, while the other lion just happened to be facing in another direction and is simply coated in glitter instead.
Kioshi moves forward to see exactly what going on behind the wagon ... and he is clearly focused on the lions and immediately casts a spell to get rid of them!
One of the blinded lions and the other with clear sight sidle out of the way as the pit magically appears beneath them. The other blinded lion is not quite so lucky, the loud thud echoing from within the aperture disproving the myth of cats always landing on their feet.
"How 'bout ya be good kitties 'n STAY right there?" The bard laces one of the words with a spell in the hopes of stunning the lions.
Spackle's booming command blasts out loudly in the air now above the pit in the ground, the intense sound causing nearby fleeing guests to cover their ears with a wince! The two lions in the vicinity get caught in the damaging radius of the effect, fortunately stunning the lion that had dodged closer to Spackle during the manifestation of the pit!
Seeing the lion situation relatively in hand, Locke advances up to the fountain in the middle of the square; pulling out their longbow and firing a shot at the stunned lion for a bit of damage!
Is it possible to keep track of the man in the turban?
Before I go does that perception identify the person in the turbin that Spackle is talking about?
The man who was previously entranced by Spackle's performance abruptly finds himself at the sloped edge of Kioshi's pit! His feet slip out from under him as he tumbles right into the pit, down to the waiting jaws of an irritated glittery lion! The man lands at the bottom with a cry of pain, and the sounds of him attempting to dodge the claws and jaws of the animal can be heard from within.
The blinded lion on the far side of the pit moves away from the sloped edges it feels beneath its claws, pawing at its eyes with a frustrated roar. The other lion closer to Spackle sways unsteadily on its paws, still coming to its senses from the blast of sound that assailed its ears. This, unfortunately, leads to it slipping down the sloped edge of the nearby pit; the heavy mass of the animal crushing the poor guard at the bottom as two angry felines now snarl at each other in the cramped confines of the pit!
Initiative Order:
Round 1
Tereze
Dru
Round 2
Melisande
Kioshi
Spackle
Locke
Tereze
Lions (Red -15/Stun/in pit, Blue -17/blind/in pit, Purple -1/blind)
Dru
With the mental image of the saboteur etched in his mind's eye, the tiny dragon flies over the crowd in pursuit.
With the mental image of the saboteur etched in his mind's eye, the tiny dragon flies over the crowd in pursuit.
The man slips into the bustling crowd moving about the streets outside of the feasting hall. As he moves what the man thinks to be a safe distance away from the fleeing guests following, he quickly glances in all directions furtively. The man spots the pseudodragon hurtling through the air at top speed behind him, causing the man to sprint off into the crowds in an attempt to shake the familiar off the pursuit.
She takes aim at purple, and lets the arrow fly.
The arrow ricochets off the edge of the pit, burying itself in the side of the cart that previously held the now-escaped lions. The lion on the far side of the pit seems to not be able to clear the blinding dust in its eyes, roaring in frustration and then blindly charging out into the street outside of the feasting hall! The sounds of screams from the passing crowd outside in the street can be heard echoing off the stone walls of the hallway leading outside of the feasting grounds.
Round 2
Dru
Round 3
Melisande
Kioshi
Spackle
Locke
Tereze
Lions (Red -15/in pit, Blue -17/blind/in pit, Purple -1/blind/in street)
Dru
Drusilla attaks the closest Purple lion, even if it's blinded for a few more seconds
Locke shoots three arrows at the purple lion.
Only the first arrow manages to barely strike the lion, the creature having a large amount of cover from being outside of the feasting grounds and the hoard of street goers fleeing in all directions around the lion!
Melisande spreads her fingers into a fan and 5 glowing motes emerge and shoot unerringly toward the purple lion.
The bolts of magical energy strike the lion at a distance, the spell expertly dodging around the collateral of the people in the street with ease!
Spackle adjusts over a bit to the left and lets loose an arrow from his bow, the precise shot piercing the lion in the street through its skull; causing it to collapse to the ground!
**Out of Initiative**
Farendir and his bride approach the group as the immediate danger seems to be in hand. "Is everyone all right? Anyone hurt?" he asks urgently while Lujine clings to his arm as if to make sure the groom won't leave her. A servant hurries up to the Pathfinder, whispering something in his ear that causes the man to grow ashen. "They're gone? You are sure?" Farendir asks, but his fears are confirmed by a silent nod from the servant who scurries off afterwards.
"You must help us!" Farendir pleads desperately as he runs his hands through his hair with panic. "During the commotion, someone made off with the relics that were intended to be donated to the Society by my father-in-law! They were part of her dowry...which means if they are gone..." the man trails off with worry.
"My father could possibly assert that our marriage contract is no longer valid," Lujine replies firmly but with an undertone of similar worry as her husband. "Reputation is very important to him. The relics were meant to bolster both your standing as well as his with your Society. He may well call everything off to cut his losses..."
"Please, help us. We will be forever in your debt if you could recover the stolen relics. If there is anything we can do to assist you, just ask." Farendir pleads once again, hope in his eyes.
He will keep in touch with Spackle for up to a mile, but attempt to follow the bad guy until he gets to his 'safe house' or what have you. Once Mead is convinced the guy is done moving, he will then head back, alerting the bard to the man's location as soon as possible.
Mead WILL NOT fight. If he can't stay out of range, he will retreat.
Mead tracks the man to a run-down building on the outskirts of the city. A weather-beaten, now-illegible sign hangs above the rusted iron-shod double door to the structure. Slinking around the outside and peering through windows, the familiar is able to see eight human individuals lurking about a large main room inside. The room itself is dimly illuminated by wan light filtering through the dirty windows, highlighting large amounts of strewn trash amongst barrels organized around the room and training dummies situated periodically around as well. A pair of stone stairwells appear to lead up to a balcony on a second level, the inside of which is not visible due to excessive dirt accumulated on the insides of the windows on the second story. Based on the action of the individuals inside the building, Mead believes that the man it was tracking thinks that he lost the creature in the crowds, as the people inside do not appear to be on high alert.
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Kioshi is clearly uncomfortable when the couple joins them and mostly looks away.
He listens to the info that Spackle has and is quite surprised.
"Wow! That is very brave and clever what your familiar did!" the wizard says.
He looks at his horned lizard familiar.
"You should be more brave as well!" and obviously the lizard is not amused.
The blunt snout of the lizard that bears bony horns suddenly shifts and waves.
And its flat, round body that is adorned with many spines raises up.
Kioshi opens his eyes wide.
"Okay, okay!! I ... I did not mean it like that!!" he says rolling his eyes.
"Okay, let us go!"
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Spackle holds up his hands and waves them a little. "Well now hold on jest a wee bit. Did 'e go 'n do that? Yeah. Okay, Ah can't be takin' that away from 'im. But did he think ta do it all by 'is self? No, he di'n't. And ease up on all the "brave" 'n "clever" will ya? Mead's already got 'imself an ego the size of a REAL dragon. He ain't lackin' confident 'r needin' a bit 'o strokin'! That'll go strait to is head, and none of us 'r needin' that."