Shattered Star

Game Master Zesdead

Same here

With little more that can reasonably be done, the watch is re-established and people get the sleep that they need. The rest of the night passes with no incident and, all too soon, the sun creeps over the horizon bringing with it the noises of a quayside morning... Looking out of the window at the scene, few would think anything out of the ordinary had happened overnight - of the midnight chase, of the discovery of illicit substances and the narrow escape from an unscrupulous gang, of robbery, of murder and of the peculiar case of the melting collector of antiquities...

As thoughts turn to breakfast, a groaning noise from a corner tells you that your captive has awakened...

...and a knock on the door announces the arrival of Kyrot, "I have sent word to Lady Fairfax - alluding to last night's events. I expect a response within the day. Also, I have much that needs to be moved to the Bronze House today...would anyone assist me in this?"

"Well," Teldon answers emerging from his chamber, "I believe I could accompany you with my team to lend some aid... but first I believe our 'guest' needs some attention..."

Briana's spell selection for the day: Bless, Comprehend Languages, Cure Light Wounds, Sleep.

After strange dreams involving melting and reforming people, Briana wakes and quickly makes herself presentable before heading out of the bedchamber to join the others and see what can be learned from their 'guest'. Now that she has had some sleep and is feeling more alert, she regards the thief curiously, wondering what his story might be.

"Should we let Joanna and Zee speak with him? They could likely scare the information out of him," she wonders aloud.

"Scare? No, It's more like coaxing. If he let's it all out at once, it's about as intelligible as if it'd come from his bowels. Besides, I'm not cleaning up any messes he makes," Joanna says with a laugh as she enjoys a piece of fruit for breakfast.

A series of dreams, all involving the shard, occupy Nalathi's imagination throughout the night. She awakes feeling rejuvenated and invigorated. Just what I needed after running around the whole night. After dressing, she spends a few minutes practicing her magic-- making objects float around, opening chest drawers from across the room. No less excited by it than the day she first realized she could do magic, she keeps practicing in the hopes she'll improve over time. Maybe someday I can be as good as my brother... Eventually, she heads down to breakfast.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"I'm sure Zee can get him to tell us what we need to know. She seems pretty good at talking to people. Joanna... Well, you're kinda scarier-looking."

"Wait, I'm scary looking," Joanna asks, a look of concern on her face.

How am I scary looking? I'm seventeen and I look like I stole my father's armor... Which is true I guess.

After some rest, Arsith comes back for breakfast, tucking her long white hair in a bun as she walks

Hello everyone.How are you this morning?

Okay, in light of leveling up, here is Briana's spell selection for the day: Orisons - Create Water, Daze, Guidance, Stabilize, 1st Level - Bless, Comprehend Languages, Cure Light Wounds, Sleep, and 2nd Level - Bull's Strength, Cure Moderate Wounds, Spiritual Weapon.

"Well no, not scary looking...just...you can be rather intimidating when you put your mind to it," Briana hurriedly breaks in. "But that is part of being a warrior, is it not? Sometimes you have to be stern rather than kind, to get the results that you need?" She looks up with relief as Arsith joins them, thankful for a distraction. "Good morning! Everyone seems to be quite well despite all of the excitement last night...including our 'guest'," she nods in the direction of the restrained thief. "We're trying to decide how best to find out what he knows."

Zee smiles at Nalathi's assessment of Joanna's intimidation skills. "Joanna, you are anything but scary-looking... although you can certainly be scary when you wish to! I think you and I might be a good pair to interrogate our... friend. Have you heard of the 'good cop/bad cop' interrogation technique? I think that technique would be especially effective if you would dress in your armor and be sure your symbol of the Inheritor is hanging over your breastplate."

She draws a card from her spell deck and holds it up.

She smiles a very devious-looking grin. "I would be happy to play the 'bad cop.'"

She twirls the card in her fingers, and the image appears to change.

Zed: I hope it's OK that I'm playing that Zee can have the very card she wants in these out-of-combat situations without having me roll Sleight of Hand checks or cast minor magic. I just think that a mysterious ability to always be able to draw the card she wants for dramatic effect is cool. Let me know if you want me to stop.

Looking up from his uneaten breakfast and a pile scribbled notes, Teldon asks "Do you think perhaps I could try being the 'good cop'? I speak a little Vudrani... plus I've been studying how people ingratiate themselves to one another and would like very much to see if my theories have any merit..."

After some rest, Arsith comes back for breakfast, tucking her long white hair in a bun as she walks

Hello everyone.How are you this morning?

"Coming to terms with being scary-looking," Joanna says with a chuckle.

She listens to the others and shrugs.

"I guess it is part of being one of Iomedae's swords, but I still feel like I'm playing dress up every time I put on my armor. I can talk to him, but I don't know how effective I'm going to be, especially if he thinks I'm just putting on an act."

"Alternatively, I could attempt to use magic to cloud his judgement and make him think that I'm one of his dearest friends."

Scary looking isn't the first words that comes to mind when trying to describe you, Joanna.

"I know I haven't demonstrated the best ability in dealing with others in the past, but I really have made a study of it since the unpleasantness leaving the Crow..." Teldon says with some boldness, "if you're planning to enchant him anyways what harm could it do to let me try first? Testing and observation is the only way I'll improve..."

Nalathi shrugs. "I don't know, you've got lots of armor and a sword. If I was the thief, I'd be more scared of that than someone waving Harrow cards at me. Not that you can't do some pretty awesome things with them," she adds, before Zee can object, "but I'm talking about appearances."

To Nalathi, "True, although he did see me use magic to light him on fire last night. The threat of sorcery is what I was going to use to try to intimidate him."

To Teldon and Joanna, "Teldon, if you'd rather join the interrogation instead of Joanna, that would be fine with me."

"Normally I would agree with Nalathi's assessment, but if you actually set him on fire with your magic...perhaps that would work just as well," Briana offers, trying and failing to keep a straight face. "And I think Teldon should try speaking with him as well. He's right, the only way to improve is put what you know into practice. If the two of you fail, then perhaps Joanna or myself could try speaking to him," she adds, giving Teldon an encouraging smile.

"Sounds like we have a plan then. If Briana and I fail, through, do you think Nalathi and Arsith can take a crack at it?"

"Excellent" Teldon exclaims with a grin, "aside from the fact that he got burned during the chase is there any thing I should know before beginning?"

I could try to put some fear in him if needed, while Nalathi get some information out of him...

Kyrot waits bemusedly whilst the method of questioning is debated, every so often his hands brush over the hilt of the short sword... Clearly, Devin's bodyguard does not favour a delicate approach - indeed, from his manner, he may be looking for vengeance.

Teldon gathers some food and heads to speak with their prisoner. He wakes him as gently as possible and offers him breakfast. Speaking Vudrani, he apologizes for the burns and restraints, and for the unfortunate necessity of searching him...

perception: 1d20 + 10 + 1d6 ⇒ (1) + 10 + (4) = 15

Failing to find any important clues of the man's identity, he asks "What's your name?" and if/when he gets any response tries to place it...

know(local or nobility): 1d20 + 8 + 1d6 ⇒ (5) + 8 + (2) = 15
ouch... two in a row

Giving up on learning any information which might be an advantage in trying to win the man's favor, he begins explaining why he should be seen as an ally in a bid to sway the man's attitude...

diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 + 1d6 ⇒ (17) + 8 + (5) = 30
lol, i guess if i was only going to make one of those that was the one to make :-)

Zee waits on the other side of the door, out of sight, listening intently. She seems surprised at Teldon's honeyed words.

Zed: I asked this the previous night, but I think it got lost in the shuffle-- Zee rifled the thief's pockets looking for identification and/or valuables. Did she turn up anything?

Ziomarra - apologies, I missed that one.. Searching the unconscious prisoners pockets, Ziomarra finds a small vial of liquid - similar to the liquid that was smeared on the man's weapon, a set of keys on a ring and a scroll tube. A cursory look at the parchment within the scroll tube confirms it to be an arcane inscription.

Teldon's initial attempts at convincing your captive to cooperate are spectacular failures, in an attempt to search him, he reopens the barely closed wound that Nalathi's trident had made in his midriff...blood soaking the man's clothing before Teldon can staunch the bleeding. And then, when the man grudgingly tells his name, 'Sh'lekki of the Sleeping Snake', Teldon fails to make any cultural connection...

Seeking an altogether different approach, Teldon then starts to convince the captive that he is indeed on his side and, compared to the alternative (who is waiting just the other side of the door), he would be much better served by answering Teldon's questions. The approach yields some results, the man admitting that he and his brother had been seeking the item that was stolen from Devlin Fairfax for over three years - the events of last night were the culmination of a plan to set themselves up as merchants, build a relationship with those damned Fairfaxes and then, when their treasures were least guarded, strike. His role in the previous night's escapade was to act as a distraction and to draw Kyrot away from the apartment so Devlin and his treasures were unguarded...

...after a while, Sh'lekki starts to become more guarded with his responses, "I won't tell you anymore - you can let that devil loose on me but I've cut him once and I'll do it again... You are getting youselves involved in something far bigger than the avarice of the Consortium - it would be better for you if you quietly let me go and forget this ever happened"

A voice from the other side of the door says, "No, it would be better for you if you cooperated."

Zee pushes the door open, her face stern. Dressed in traditional Varisian garb, she approaches the tied-up thief. She fans her Harrow cards. "Mr. Sh'lekki. I am going to give you one more chance to tell us what you know. I should warn you, though—I am a seer, and I will know if you are lying. The spirits of the Harrow whisper me their secrets... and will also do my bidding if asked."

She suddenly draws a card and displays it to him.

Simultaneously, she fixes him with a baleful glare, staring into his very soul.

Evil Eye hex: -2 to ability checks for the next 6 rounds; DC 14 Will save to reduce that to 1 round.

She then proceeds to explain exactly how she would use her powers to twist his fate to have him meet one of many possible grisly ends.

Intimidate: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

"So. Who are you working for and what are they trying to do?"

Ugh. DC is 10 + his HD + his Wis mod.

The captive, just for a moment stunned into silence as Ziomarra puts on a convincing display of arcane mystery, stares at the 'seer' for what feels like a minute or two...his visage slowly transforming from one of vulnerable captive to one of pure impetuosity. His silence ends as he breaks into laughter - unbridled guffawing in Ziomarra's face - and then, changing again in an instant, fixes her with his cold steel-grey eyes...

"You Varisians...Hah!!! You, of all the Avistani, are the worst...scuttling around on the top of the remains of a great civilisation...occasionally picking at the ruins as a uncomprehending child might pick at a scab", he spits on the floor, "I don't know which is worse, the Pathfinders who seek to find and document the treasures as some elaborate oneupmanship upon their fellow members, the Consortium who would sell their parents if it yielded a profit or maybe it is your kind...yes you, 'Seer', with your parlour tricks and your cheap deceptions pretending to harness powers way beyond your understanding"

"I shall tell you who I am...once more as your dimwitted companion failed to recognise the name...I am but one of many...one of a bloodline that has come from a nation that is millennia older than yours to retrieve the weapons that your forebears left in the ground...and to take them from you before your neanderthal-like poking brings calamity upon the entire world"

And then, rather imperiously given that he remains tied up, "I believe I would like a drink of water..."

Hearing things not going well for Zee, Joanna grabs her sword and wraps the belt around her waist. That done, she moves into the room, just in time for him to ask for a drink of water.

"You insult my friends then demand water as if you were a king among servants. I'm afraid that is far from your situation, thief," Joanna tells him, arms crossed in front of her chest.

"The age of one's line does not make one wiser, nor more worthy, than anyone else. I would suggest you keep that in mind before opening your mouth, understood?"

EDIT: Ninja'd! Jo's action doesn't change Zee's action.

Thinking of what she knows of the Vudrani...
Knowledge (local): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12
...scant little beyond common knowledge.

"Ah, yes, you've found us out. All Varisians are charlatans and cutthroats. Just as all Vudrani wear turbans, lie on beds of nails, and dally with rakshasa. I tried to be reasonable. Now, let me show you some parlor tricks."

Evil eye hex. -2 to saving throws for 6 rounds. Will save DC 14 reduces that to one round.

After fixing the Vudrani prisoner with a gaze that would melt lead, Zee draws a card from her spell deck. She casts a spell, and then tosses the card at the bound prisoner.

ranged touch attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21

Spell is touch of fatigue. Fort save DC 14 or be fatigued for 3rounds.

The card strikes the prisoner in the face, bounces off while still spinning, and returns to Zee's hand.

"You are getting tired."

She then casts another spell, and dozens of ghostly cards appear before man's face, twirling in a pattern.

Casts hypnotism. Affects 2d4 ⇒ (3, 1) = 4 HD. Probably not enough, but if so, Will save DC 15 negates.

If that doesn't work, casts charm person. Will save DC 15 negates.

i assumed i failed my local or nobility check because i assumed he was nobody... i did have a 15, which might be enough if the sleeping snake is as significant as he thinks it is...

As the interrogation grows serious before hypnotism goes off Teldon interjects, "मुझे लगता है मैं तुम सही अब एक सहयोगी करने के लिए है निकटतम बात कर रहा हूँ ... कहा था। मैं आपकी मदद कर सकता है, लेकिन आप मेरी मदद की जरूरत है ... जहां अपने भाई है ?"

Unable to sit still and drawn by insatiable curiosity, Briana quietly moves to the door to listen to the interrogation as well. She catches bits and pieces of the conversation, including the thief's name. Her brow furrows in concentration as she tries to remember if she's ever heard or read of anything concerning Vudrani nobility or of Vudrani culture.

Kn. Nobility (Vudrani Nobility): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14
Kn. Local (Vudrani Culture): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13

Nalathi stays calmly nearby, not really knowing what she's supposed to do. Joanna said that if she fails, then it's up to me and that other woman Arsith. So I guess I'll wait my turn. Not that she's had any experience with interrogating someone, or has the slightest idea how she might succeed if the others fail.

Arsith was waiting patiently, her mind wandering while she watches Briana.

Sometimes, she seems about to speak to the shaman, but the words never manage to get out.

She focus herself on her weapon, losing herself in contemplation of her deceased lover's name.

Briana / Teldon - your Knowledge Rolls haven't been enough to determine anything about this supposed 'Sleeping Snake' - whether it is a regional organisation associated with Vudra, whether it is a noble house or even if you have ever heard the name in the circles you have moved in up until now

As Joanna storms in, the man attempts to stare her down - his impassive face set in a position of defiance...yet he wavers as Ziomarra starts to call upon the power of the Harrow...and eventually crumples...

Sh'lekki, Intimidate: 1d20 ⇒ 6

As he starts to look drowsy, Teldon tries to ask something in the native language... Through half-lidded eyes, the man slurs back, "ਤੁਹਾਨੂੰ ਬਹੁਤ ਦੇਰ ਹੈ, ਉਹ ਹੀ ਚਲਾ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ ਕਰ ਰਹੇ ਹੋ ... ਆਪਣੇ ਆਪ ਨੂੰ ਤੁਹਾਡੇ ਨੂੰ ਬਚਾਉਣ ਲਈ ਸਾਡੇ ਯੋਜਨਾ ਦੇ ਪਹਿਲੇ ਹਿੱਸੇ ਨੂੰ ਹੀ ਪੂਰਾ ਹੋ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ"

Sh'lekki, Will Save: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11

...and then, his eyes snap open again...staring at Ziomarra...an impassive look upon his face as the Varisian has him under her power...

"σκατά" Teldon mutters...

"Do what you will with him, but I fear we are too late. He says his brother has already departed... and, since we are currently engaged in another more pressing matter, there seems to be little we can do other than report the theft to the authorities and the strange details to some interested contacts."

Nodding at Teldon's assessment, Zee steps much closer to the now-hypnotized Vudrani.

With as honeyed a tone as she can muster, Zee asks, "Mr. Sh'lekki. Let's start from the beginning. Please tell us who you are working for and what your employer's plans are. I'd especially like to know why you targeted Devlin and what you did to him."

Let's have some fun here...

Perception (Does Briana notice Arsith watching her?): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18

Gonna go with 'Yes, most likely!'...

As Briana continues to listen to the others interrogate their prisoner, she feels a strange prickly feeling on the back of her neck, a feeling of being watched. Glancing around curiously, she catches sight of Arsith gazing in her direction, looking as if she might speak...but upon noticing Briana turn around to look at her, the pale-haired woman busies herself examining her weapon.

That is odd...why was she staring at me like that?

Arsith smiles, for herself, as she remembers.

And for the first time, she speaks.

Please forgive me, Briana. I never was really discreet... Reminds me how fast your cousin, Lenore, spotted me looking at her. I still remember vividly the first time I saw her, near that fountain. The picture of her exquisite face, the sound of her laugh and her soft voice, the way the sun played in her hair.. all this is engraved in my memory.
I was walking in the streets, minding my own business, and the world stopped.
Everything I thought important, my name, my fortune, my small time occupations vanished,suddenly there was only Lenore. Suddenly I felt my heart beating wildly, as if it was trying to expand so it would be big enough to house, shelter and cherish this unknown and lovely woman.
Of course Lenore saw me, standing dumbfounded in the street, eyes wide open in her direction. She was so calm and shy she first sought, among the people that were with her, who I was looking out. Then she realised she was the center of my attention, and walked up to me.
I couldn't move. And when she first spoke to me... I couldn't tell a word.

Arsith openly laughs at the memory
I would have ran away, if I could, but she told me to stay here, and I obeyed her. She went back to the fountain, and put some water in her cupped hands... I drank that water from her hands, and no priceless wine ever tasted half as sweet. I feel madly, totally, exquisitely in love with her, and to my complete surprise, she loved me back.

She sighs, fighting back some tears
Sometimes, when I look at you, I catch some glimpses of my beloved, in your attitude, some facial features, or the way you talk. Sorry if that disturbs you.

Joanna frowns as Zee takes over the investigation. Using spells that affected the mind on monsters was one thing. Using them on a person, no matter how despicable, was something else. She'd have to have a talk with her after this was done.

"I am but one of many...one of a group called the Sleeping Snake - we are not of this land although we walk amongst you. We are in the Society, in the Consortium and in the great Universities of your land - our goal, to take the most dangerous Thasslionian treasures from you before you bring on a cataclysm... Lord Fairfax was nothing but a pawn in this great game, a casualty of a war he didn't even know he was fighting in..."

Your prisoner, his tongue loosened to Ziomarra's questioning starts to talk about Devlin's fate, about luring him into showing off the artefact, about the use of a poison when Ziomarra feels her hold on Sh'lekki loosen and then the control wrenched entirely from her grasp. The Vudran slumps forward in his seat as Ziomarra's eyes glaze over.

"Zee? ZEE! What's wrong?!"

Joanna finds herself in a near state of panic as she notices things going awry.

Nalathi smirks, oblivious to Ziomarra's sudden trouble. "Yeah, 'dangerous' only if you don't know how to overcome the treasures in question," she says, forgetting that she was not, in fact, the one who figured out how to rein in the shard's will.

Meanwhile, just outside the interrogation room...

Briana listens to Arsith's sudden outpouring of emotion with amazement on her face...and tears slowly building in her own eyes at the woman's obvious pain. Suddenly, so much about the troubles she had only been vaguely made aware of within her family made perfect sense...as well as Arsith's odd behavior around her ever since meeting at Heidmarch Manor.

So that is why there was a falling out between Lenore's family and my own...Arsith was a noblewoman and Lenore had her own station in life to consider...they were meant to marry off to the benefit of their families, not become lovers. It seems the Kaddren women are born troublemakers...aren't we, Lenore?

"Arsith, I...I am sorry. My parents never made me aware of the true nature of their falling out with Lenore's part of the family. I had no idea...and yet, now that I know this, everything makes perfect sense," she sighs sadly. "I am also sorry that my presence is a...distraction, a painful reminder for you at times. People did always say that Lenore and I looked and acted as though we could have been sisters, at times." She looks up Arsith, noting that the pale-haired woman seems to be fighting back tears. "But you do not disturb me. I just wish I could do something to help, to make things more comfortable for you...especially since it seems we will be working together for awhile longer yet. Perhaps...I could change something with my own appearance. In fact, it might be for the best if I did."

Suddenly looking nervous, she lowers her voice slightly. "I have my own secret to share...even though I still carry the Kaddren name, I likely no longer exist as far as my parents are concerned," she says haltingly, trying to find the right words to explain. "When my powers manifested, my parents were...not pleased. They were ashamed and told me in no uncertain terms that I was to cease consorting with spirits like some sort of barbarian...so I left. I took Rowenna and what I could carry and I ran away. And ended up joining the Pathfinders," she finishes, the words tumbling out in a rush. She shoots a guilty look towards the interrogation room where the others are. "I haven't told them yet...not even after Joanna's true background was revealed. They did not seem to mind, everyone treats her the same as before...but for some reason, I can't bring myself to tell them. And I do not know why," she finishes up, looking miserable.

Arsith rises from her seat and walks to Briana.
For a few seconds,it seems as if she was about to touch or caress her cheek, but stops her hand in mid air.

Oh no, please, don't change your appearance, Briana. You don't have to. Even if Lenore is dead, I still love her. And I'm glad to catch a few glimpse of her through you, if you can understand that.But I know you are Briana, and not Lenore, if that is a confort for you. I'm not ...attracted to you.

She nearly blushes saying that.
And i'm truly saddened by your own story. You aren't responsible for who you are, for what or who you love, for what you can or must do... You are only responsable about how you behave.

She softly kiss Briana's forehead and opens her arms to ythe shaman
Need a hug?

Zee's arms go limp at her sides as she suddenly stares into the distance, her expression blank. That expression slowly becomes fear, and then her eyes roll back. He heads drops forward, then she seems to regain her senses. She staggers backward a moment, looking at the prisoner with an expression of shock and fear.

"I think we have crossed paths with something extremely dangerous. Some... thing entered my mind. I believe it was this man's master. I think perhaps it used the mystical link I'd established with our prisoner to reach back into my own mind. That was... disturbing. But I have some more information."

She pauses, sitting down in a chair. She fishes out a steel flask from one of her many pockets, removes the cork, and takes a swig. And then another. She then holds the flask out, offering it to any of her friends.

"It would seem that our friend is a member of something called the Sleeping Snake. The... thing warned me that this organization has existed since before the time of Thassilon. It said we are treading into an ongoing war that has waged for millennia, and that if we oppose them, we will be destroyed like insects."

She then smiles. "I, for one, like a challenge."

Standing, she continues, "So, what are we going to do with our friend here? I would suggest that we hand him over to the city guards. He did, after all, attack Lord Fairfax and steal from him. Of course, if we do that, we'll have to give the guards our real names... and that could make it harder for us to continue with our ruse with the Consortium..."

"I'll go. My appearance is common enough that they shouldn't make a connection, but when I return, you and I need to have a talk, Ziomarra," Joanna says, giving the other woman a stern look.

"Why don't we simply give him to Kyrot to deliver to the watch? Then we avoid any involvement whatsoever..."

Zee gives Joanna a puzzled look, then replies to Teldon, "Good idea, but can we trust Kyrot not to exact vengeance upon him?"

"I trust him... although it appears I am less concerned with the assassin's safety than you are..." Teldon answers with some obvious vexation. "Is your mistrust of Kyrot really that much greater than your sense of duty to complete the task entrusted to us? Besides, what cause for vengeance does he have? His master is safe and sound wherever he meant to be- destroying a simulacrum is hardly cause for an execution."

"I think it's less for his safety than we'd prefer not to be a party to a vengeance killing. If you think that Kyrot won't kill him though, I guess it shouldn't be an issue then."

Joanna looks at Ziomarra, "In that case, I'll take him to Kyrot and let him deliver the assassin to the guard. After that, Ziomarra, we need to have a talk."

That said, the paladin carries the captive assassin to Kyrot.

"He passed out," She explains as she walks into the room. "We felt that as the wronged party, that you should be the one to deliver this one to the guards. IF that's alright with you."