Shadow over Riddleport

Game Master Joana

Quipping "Which would suggest Gristav's away..." Phillip keeps following Braddon as he leads on to Daynadrian's room. To the halfling the corridor feels not forlorn, as he is happy for Samaritha to have followed the self... well that and the fact that his own paramour is resting peaceably in his room.

The three move quietly down the corridor; as they approach Daynadrian's door, they begin to hear the sounds of muttered conversation and the quiet clatter of crockery. As they tap at the door, the sounds abruptly stop. After a moment, Gristav cracks open the door to see who it is; seeing only the three of them, he ushers them in quickly. As they crowd into the room, Daynadrian comes out from behind the door, a mug of black coffee in his hand.

It's the first time Phillip has seen the elf since his curse. It's still recognizably Daynadrian, if one has been forewarned and is familiar with his long-nosed face, but the angles are softened by youth, the fair hair almost white-blonde, the tips of his ears nearly translucent in the lamplight. He is barely taller than the halfling, though much more willowy, and is wearing clothing cut for a human child, which leaves his wrists and ankles exposed while billowing around his thin chest and hips.

Reading Phillip's regard of the retrochron elf, Gristav hushes, "Phil: Dayn."

"You lot parse a plan. I'll go to the door of my room, where I just might be sought, and it wouldn't do for any to get too close to this door. What you all agree on, I'll agree to."

Braddon turns to Dayn when the door is closed.

"Sorry I had to run last night. Are you okay? What happened? Is there anything I can do to help? Snake said something about Shorafa meeting us. What's with that?"

Phillip looks over Daynadrian appraisingly before nodding a greeting to the youthenized elf. His countenance already traced with intensity, he shows no mirth or sorrow at the situation... just acknowledging it as a fact of the moment.

After Gristav's words Phillip shakes his head "No, stay... there is more at play than just Daynadrian." pausing a moment before adding "You didn't find Larur did you?" with a flatness to his voice that suggests a concern bedded within what he wants to speak of.

To Braddon's inquiry Phillip adds "Aye, with as much detail as you can remember."

"No, but clues are he chose to leave. I wouldn't be welcome to have explained some of that, but somebody brought in the pastry, and neither had any, nor brought it up, nor started a fire. As if; perhaps, they had been leaving?"

Distant look in his eyes as he nods, Phillip is clearly adding the information to what he already knows. "Did anyone speak with Saul or Bojasc yesterday evening? and if so, did anything seem 'off'?"

Remaining silent during all the exchange, Snake steps out of the 'shadows'. "Now, regarding the elf. In a nutshell: The elf put some coin in the hands of a couple of boys so they could have some fun. Well the whore queen took exception. Dayn here called them her 'children' but I have no idea whether or not he meant biological or metaphorical. Either way, she wasn't happy. Anyway, he obviously didn't realize it because he went to see some other whore who apparently was key in helping him find Lil's hideout and instead of her, he found Shorafa. Next thing he knows... he's a kid." He looks over at the elf, thinking how pathetic he looks as he can only shake his head at the situation. Better him than me, that's for sure. Continuing on, "She told him if he ever wants to get back to 'normal', then he needs to convince Saul's men to speak with her and listen to her demands. And she doesn't want Saul to know anything about it. She doesn't want to deal with him at all."

Then, in response to Phillip, "And regarding the fat man, yeah, I did speak to him. But I was mainly looking for the dwarf so as to get a key made for myself. Now, nothing about the conversation itself with the fat man seemed off, but when I was making my way up there I overheard a bit of conversation that didn't sit to well with the dwarf. I heard Saul tell him to 'Calm down' and 'There was nothing to worry about'. But that's where it ended because the dwarf noticed me as I was nearing the office. I then stepped in, asked for a key, he got angry, and then just stormed out." He shrugs. "No idea what it could've been that had the dwarf so riled up. Whatever it was... it wasn't good."

Snake's explanation on his overheard conversation seems to put Phillip much at ease, leading to a significant relaxation of posture and exhaled sigh. "That is a relief then... I had thought worse of it and that there might have been a link to other matters." running a hand through his tousled hair "Probably just business then, and likely easier for Gristav to query Larur on if there's lingering concern... Saul was fairly plain to me that he had no interest to share the burden."

To Snake's explanation of Daynadrian's predicament and Shorafa's message, the halfling looks to Dayn for confirmation as it's laid flat. Pondering as he smooths his mustache he presses the elf "Did she say where she intended the meeting to be? Was there an expectation we'd seek her out, or another means of contact given?"

Snake's explanation on his overheard conversation seems to put Phillip much at ease, leading to a significant relaxation of posture and exhaled sigh. "That is a relief then... I had thought worse of it and that there might have been a link to other matters." running a hand through his tousled hair "Probably just business then, and likely easier for Gristav to query Larur on if there's lingering concern... Saul was fairly plain to me that he had no interest to share the burden."

"Easier for Gristav to deduce than to query. Query failed, yestereve, when Larur avoided dinner. That would have been on the heels of Snake's asking for a key. Their friction may be a fire I started. Although, if I could start a fire with a spark, it was already banked and tindered. At least a fire, will bring light.", Gris mused grimly. "If you might gain favor by knowing more, I'll share it. It's no secret, I'm Larur's ally, and only Saul's, sequentially."

To Snake's explanation of Daynadrian's predicament and Shorafa's message, the halfling looks to Dayn for confirmation as it's laid flat. Pondering as he smooths his mustache he presses the elf "Did she say where she intended the meeting to be? Was there an expectation we'd seek her out, or another means of contact given?"

"Doesn't a queen, always hold court?", Gris interjects, in notes of rhetoric.

"Did she say where she intended the meeting to be? Was there an expectation we'd seek her out, or another means of contact given?"

"I'm supposed to bring you in to see her today," Daynadrian responds, "at the temple." He looks as if he had been steeling himself for some more ribbing when the halfling saw him and is pleasantly surprised to be wrong.

Gristav's words on Larur are waved on and off in equal measure "Favor with the dwarf is something that I wouldn't seek to curry. He knows what I am..." pausing a half step before finishing "until he takes the first step I'll not try dancing."

Nodding again to Dayn the mental wheels in Phillip's head continue to whir around as he runs his hand through his hair again "Aye, a queen does generally hold court... but it'd be an injustice to think her royalty. More a hungry spider inviting us to tangle in her web."

"Don't think the colours I carry will earn me either malus or benefit with her either... that is if she's worth the position at temple." turning back to Dayn and pausing a moment before asking quite seriously "Daynadrian, are you asking for our help upon this matter?" his eyes showing that he would not have any personal issue assisting, but that there is an importance to the halfling that Daynadrian explicitly confirms the request.

Gristav's words on Larur are waved on and off in equal measure "Favor with the dwarf is something that I wouldn't seek to curry. He knows what I am..." pausing a half step before finishing "until he takes the first step I'll not try dancing."

"I meant with Saul."

"Ah, that explains why I didn't see Larur last night. I told Saul about dropping off the scribe at dinner but I didn't see Larur. I was kinda in a rush."
Braddon rifles through his pockets and pulls out a note. He lowers his voice.
"Also, Malkith left me this note. I found it under my door after I brought in the bakery basket this morning."
Braddon looks about guiltily.
"I only had one."

Braddon passes the note around.

"I've got the other one with me too."

"Well, impetuous duty, indeed.", Gristav observes, perhaps in praise. "Do we burden ourselves with knowledge of the other note, before we speak with she who might wrest its secrets from us? I'm presuming we'll all read it; this is Riddleport. But if we trusted one of us, to judge for the rest, when the rest would read... but I think that one, has left for the Cypherlodge."

Phillip looks up harshly and shakes his head "No. Samaritha had no desire to be entangled with whatever we have managed to be here... let her choice to move on stand." before turning back to Braddon "And better to read now regardless" holding out a hand for the second note.

"I meant no trespass on her distance, nor to recruit her return to our risks, only wry reflection on our relative respect. in ratio to our redhaired runaway." Waiting some too-short moments for his turn at the written revelation, Gristav stands in silence, looking about the room. He graces Braddon with a happy smile.

Braddon looks about as the eyes fall upon him and thinks for a long few seconds before reluctantly pulling out Malkith's second note.
"I don't think it says anything really new. The scribe told us she was on a ship."
Braddon unfolds the note and examines it carefully as if searching for something. After a moment he shrugs.
"Maybe there's something I'm missing that someone else might see."
Gingerly, he holds forth Malkith's second note.

Phillip takes the note, and as he reads tries to remember fragments of story and fable from growing up in Underbridge among the Sczarni...
Knowledge (Local): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22 To see if he recognizes any telltale symbolism of the harrow in the vision.
...taking first impression on gut feel before passing on the note "Half meanings and shadow... but Malkith did have the sight." smoothing out his moustache after the note is taken.

He waits until all including Dayn have read before offering his first impression "I've not the harrow in my blood, but my guess on the portent is that Lil is coming back to Riddleport with a friend in tow..."

Reading the prophetic note, Gristav translates for Braddon, "This adds that she's in the company of... let's say, the red man. And she leaves the shark-boat through it's teeth. A possible interpretation: The boat is a dangerous situation, and when it kills her, her soul is given to Asmodeus. Or perhaps some more material suitor, rescues her from it? You know, I can spin words all day, to match conjectures. But I'd think one of those two."

Daynadrian frowns up at Braddon. "That note we stole from the harbormaster's office: It was addressed to a ship that had something to do with teeth. Something Teeth or Teeth of Something?"

"Araska, I believe. Hmm..." Gristav knits his brow and buttons his lip, and ponders silently. "Yes, it was Araska, under the command of Treeg, I believe. So, the toothed ship, might be explained. And perhaps she sails to meet with the red man? That description, is familiar... but not familiar enough."

"We already know that."
Braddon frowns trying to concentrate.
"Dayn and I got the letter that the scribe gave to the harbour guy. It was addressed to her, on that ship, with that guy. The scribe asked her to meet him at that place. Though I guess she'd have to come to this place to get that letter in the first place."
He looks around confused.
"Is that right?"

turning back to Dayn and pausing a moment before asking quite seriously "Daynadrian, are you asking for our help upon this matter?" his eyes showing that he would not have any personal issue assisting, but that there is an importance to the halfling that Daynadrian explicitly confirms the request.

Just a reminder Phil hasn't had this question answered.

Shrugging and seeming to tangibly put the matter of the fled Lil to one side "Outside of knowing that she might return and keeping an eye out for the Teeth or the seeming devil incarnate there's not much actionable from the sight." musing before reasoning on further "Malkith clearly didn't think it worth deep introspection as he left it's interpretation to hazy musings and didn't speak a word to a soul. I would've hoped that if it actually fortold a tangible outcome he might have spent the five minutes it would've taken to find one of us to speak explicitly to rather than leave the vaguest warning note he could think of."

Shrugging and running a hand through his foppish hair "Eyes open, ears unplugged and carry on regardless? We've Shorafa to speak on right now at any rate."

"True," Daynadrian nods emphatically. "We already knew Lil was on the Teeth of Araska, and we assumed they'd be back or Weatherby wouldn't have left word for her at the harbor. If there's some other clue in there that Malkith has gone off chasing, I'm not seeing it." He addresses Phillip more specifically, as the only one to whom he hasn't yet directly appealed. "She said if I wanted her to remove the curse, I should bring Saul's new men to meet with her. Snake and Samaritha don't know of any other way to undo this."

Puckish smile turning at the corner of his mouth Phillip puts his arms wide "And who am I to refuse a personal invitation from the spiritual leader of my faith... even if I have no desire to pay her homage." winking at Dayn before turning to the others "I would go, would you all also?"

"I concur, Dayn, that if it's a curse, it may be hers to lift. But it may also be yours, especially if she cast it in a rant, used words like 'until' or 'while', or other conditionals. Curses have power, great power, but they have to follow rules, also. And speaking of..."

"You still have to ask us to help you. You've said she wants it, you've said you need it. But you haven't yet asked for it. There's power in that, also. One you should give us."

"And Phillip? If Malkith were here alone, when his vision found him, he may have had no idea how long it would be, until any of us returned. The note may have been the best he could do. Or he may have been drunk with reverie? I've never had a waking vision."

"Of course I'm helping Dayn. He was with me at the harbourmaster's office. He helped me bring in the scribe. And he's infuriated Shorafa."
Braddon grins.

"And, while we're here, we should split that gold from the past week. We get paid tomorrow and I don't wanna get confused over who gets what."

He turns to Dayn.
"Did we give Malkith his share of the scribe's stuff?"

"I concur, Dayn, that if it's a curse, it may be hers to lift. But it may also be yours, especially if she cast it in a rant, used words like 'until' or 'while', or other conditionals. Curses have power, great power, but they have to follow rules, also. And speaking of..."

"You still have to ask us to help you. You've said she wants it, you've said you need it. But you haven't yet asked for it. There's power in that, also. One you should give us."

Daynadrian sighs impatiently. "There was no rant. Honestly, I think I'm smart enough not to stick around while an angry priestess berates me. She didn't even seem that fussed. She just spoke a short word I didn't recognize and...." He gestures dramatically at his new stature.

"And what do you want me to say? 'Oh mighty heroes, I beseech thee, take pity on mine affliction and take arms in my cause, for ye art mine only hope?' You've listened to too many bards telling tales around the campfire. I'm not a princess in a damned tower. Worse comes to worst, I can go back to Crying Leaf and have the spell broken by my own people ... though I'd prefer not to go crawling back in this condition."

"I suppose, that will do!", Gris says, smiling.

"Then we're ready to go?" Daynadrian asks, with a sigh of relief. "The sooner we can do whatever it is she wants, the better."

"Thuvalia has taken ill, or unsocial, or both. Choose, do you rush past her closed door, or have me annoy her at it, and wait for the slam? I have a promise, also, to force some contact, tho I won't be long..."

Snake is just about to explode on the ridiculous sounding magus until Dayn responds with his own bit of sarcasm. Good one. Too bad he didn't have a bow handy to shoot him with ... I would've.

"Then we're ready to go?" Daynadrian asks, with a sigh of relief. "The sooner we can do whatever it is she wants, the better."

"Let's roll. Too much hot air in here for me." He glances over at Gristav, shaking his head in irritation. "I'm going to get my pack and I'll meet you all out back." Snake leaves the room and proceeds to do just that.

"Yup. I'll just gear up."
Braddon grabs his pack, arrays his many daggers and swords, and joins Snake out the back.

"We've got some spare stuff if anyone needs it. Daggers, swords, saps and the like. Best to be ready for anything."

He grins.
"I'm ready. Let's go stay out of trouble."

Showing some kind of impatience for the first time to Daynadrian Phillip gives him a steely eyed glare "A simple confirmation would have done."

On the topic of the gear split Phillip delays "Magnimar's on the case selling what we don't need and won't have the takings until tonight at any rate, so lets leave that talk till then. He'll see your gems monetized at the same time as well Braddon."

He was also about to add something else before Serpe excused himself, and half thought of calling after before shaking his head and muttering "Words best spent upon the walk" To the topic of readiness he adds "I'll be there in a moment." intending to leave back to his room and attend it's contents momentarily before departing.

"Cozy as peas in a soup", Gristav mutters, as the third of the five makes their exit.

"Dayn, a statement and a question follow, and you ought to answer the last. I am about to go see if Thuvalia has taken the pastry I left by her door, and if not, to get a key and put it inside. Do you desire to arrange some advantage to your exit's path or timing, thereby?"

Whatever Dayn's answer or lack of, Gristav stopped at the door, saying, "I don't think you'll fit, through the window."

Phillip joins Serpe and Braddon in awaiting Gristav outside and remarks "So... do you want to see Shorafa naked?" with a playful lilt, sparkle in his eye and the corner of his mouth curled into a smirk.

"Naked and in chains, perhaps," Braddon mutters.
"Can you do that?"

Chuckling "Chains might be a stretch... but I was thinking that when we get to the Silken Veils we don't seek Shorafa at her chambers. Instead, take a private bath and send one of the whores to fetch her..." pausing to see if any twig on what the implications might be to that invitation... not just that Shorafa might need to disrobe, but also that present companions would need present tackle out so to speak. "We can show each other that we've nothing to hide in the conversation."

"Sounds like it puts us at more of disadvantage where she can just magic us. Isn't that just what happened to Dayn?"

"Yeah I'm with the eater," he motions toward Braddon. "Because if something goes wrong, then we will be at a disadvantage. I don't trust it." Snake then thinks on it a moment before, "I guess I should be saying: I don't trust her. You said it yourself, Raccoon: 'A hungry spider inviting us to tangle in her web'. And last time I checked, trusting a spider when it invites you to its web is for fools."

The pastry was still on the plate, still at the door.

"I'm going now, to get the key, and prove to myself you're well.", Gristav declared to the door. "Or you could take the pastry now, or in a moment, while I'm gone after the key. Be as willful as you like, but I begin to worry, and I'll work for weal, even if that must be against you." Gristav waited a beat. "Well, see you soon.", he said cheerily, making for Larur's office.

When he returned with the key, the pastry was gone, along with the plate. Smiling, Gristav moved to look down the long hall, and wave Dayn past. When he'd passed, Gris impulsively went to his room, and took the bundle of terrible trophies from the butchered Beltias. If anyone in this town would care, perhaps it would be the wasp's wardress.

A bow to Desna, a glance at Thuvalia's door, a moment replacing the key in Larur's office, and Gristav presented himself to the collected clique.

"Have we a plan?", he asked, starting out in the direction of the temple.

Phillip laughs again "Oh aye, much better to just ask to see her in her chambers then... deep within the building and where she'll not only have her art but her belongings as well... plus likely hidden chambers behind walls where listeners would lurk, and with the rest of the clergy near by." the curl at the edge of his mouth showing that the sarcasm is not meant maliciously, but more as a demonstration that merely by choosing to arrive they will have already put themselves wholly at her mercy.

Gristav arrives as he closes his follow-up statement "I'd wager she only cursed Daynadrian as a means to an end, that being to draw us out to talk to her..." shrugging to suggest he's no idea why, before responding to Serpe's words and Gristav's "Plan? - don't end up dead or indebted would be a start. There's little we can do but arrive and listen, and hope what she's asking of us can be endured or twisted to our benefit. I would advise against pissing her off though..." expecting that Daynadrian's present condition would be explanation enough.

"How best, that, then?", Gristav asks Phillip.

Raising an eyebrow "How best what? Not end up her puppet?" before shrugging "Act as you think fit, Calistria is a goddess of the self after all. Just measure your words before spending them..."

"If the goddess, is of the self, then can one not have some faith, that the priestess, would not be of enslavement?"

Speaking warily now as Gristav makes a foray into his religious beliefs and seeking a way to have him understand without entering into an unwanted philosophical discussion on the nature of his own worship "No... it means that she may do whatever it takes to further her own desires or whims. The self, above all else and all other concerns. The Wasp Queen places your destiny in your own hands..."

Long moments pass. "Is it fair, then, to say, the priestess is less the servant, of the Goddess, and more, the student? That the Goddess, more the exemplar, and less, the benefactress?"