Byron and Norbert do a brisk business selling magical trinkets and potions making a joint sum of 1000 GP after paying for resupply, unfortunately this town is relatively poor as most of the citizens are artists who send their profits back to Galt to help their family. The town was primarily founded by Galtan exiles fleeing the constant chaos of their homeland. The recent visit by the Avorals has prompted a flurry of inspiration and is seen as a good omen by all.
As it was mentioned before, I also share the knowledge geography, after discussing it with Finnigin and making sure my memory is correct.
A few minutes before sunrise, Sixth and Seventh will walk a bit around town, looking for anything weird, or maybe nothing specifically, just to exercise.
Later in the Inn with everybody:
"Well, the Avorals are flying along the coast, and they are pretty fast, much more than our horses. There is a strip of coast on the western side of Andoran where the Arthfell forest comes close to the coast, between the cities of Augustana and Alvis, that looks like the vision place mentioned. Of course visions are literal, but if that's our best guess, we should hurry up. Does anyone have a teleport or fast travel method?"
"Furthermore, the Avorals are not a frequent visit, and some may call it luck, but I say it could be trouble ahead. They may be the prime defense of the land, and they appearance means it needs to be defended, i guess. So, what do you want to do?"
The Avorals are in need of saving then? Think of it everyone! We could be HEROES to this city. We save the Avorals, take in a little swimming, Bada Bing we are in the history books. That might stop some bad rumors dead when they reach here.
Finnigin stand on a table and mimics a commoner.
Did you know that those people set fire to a city?
He does a quick turn.
There's no way, they saved the Avorals!
He turns to the group.
See, it would not only help us, but these people would love us too!
I think the vision was more prophetic of Cheliax crushes Andoran over a Pit Fiend destroying all the Avoreals.. But i suppose it wont hurt to go take a look.. Say would yall like to travel through Almas? Id love to see what kinda business i could pull off there..
|
Returning from her walkabout at sunset, Balik joins the conversation.
"I hate to be a killjoy, but there may be a problem with the Avorals. I didn't find any of them to study, but the birds saw them several days ago, and were afraid. The birds believe there is something wrong or corrupted about the Avorals."
"So, Finnigin, we may have peasants crying at us, 'you took the Avorals from us!'. Probably not going to increase our popularity."
@EVERYONE
As a quorum collects around the table (I assume Kyoki is out doing her thing..) at the inn, discussing options, Balik tells them, "I have seen this town before - the streets, the people and their outfits. When I dreamed it, they had set a guillotine in the square - though instead of chpping necks, it was chopping blades. A black raven - I can't help but think it's me - snatched one of the blades before it was chopped. The blade was saved, but the raven was wounded by the blade she had saved."
"I haven't decided if we're unsafe here, or if we're meant to prevent a violent revolution. Perhaps now that we know more of the town we can judge better. And perhaps Grim or Seinal have received more insight?"
----------
Later in the evening, after the group pow-wow, Balik goes out on the town with Finnigin. Though she doesn't have any frilly dress, she does have a different set of clothes, and some accessories to soften the harshly functional edges. Somewhat reluctantly, Balik sets aside her klar - but as she steps out of the inn on Finnigin's arm, she feels lighter, more feminine, and more civilized than she has in some time.
Anyone noting Balik and Finnigin head out together, will notice that Balik's outfit is more revealing than her armor and travel gear. Aside from well-turned ankles and delicate elbows, her clothing also reveals extensive tattoos of various sorts - though almost uniformly well executed and intricate.
"Might i suggest before we leave to aquire another carriage and some horses so everyone can ride.."
Love your tatoos. I am sure there are wonderful stories with all of them. Would you like to share any?
A swarthy rather drunken man comes to your table at Norberts most recent comment, "Another carriage eh? I've got a wager for you stumpy! If you on your best horse can beat me on mine I'll give my carriage but if you lose you have to give me mine.. I mean yours.." He sticks out his apparently forgetting his racial slur with a wide smile on his face.
Kyomi comes back soon, you not see has some fine new artistic jewelry, she johns the group,
"Well this town, I must say, is beyond dull, no Local nobility to speak of, just fat merchants, trading the local crafts, some exiles from Galt, and the odd 'name' artist, one of which makes the most wonderful jewelry"
She says this while inspecting a new ring.
" But the local burgers of this place are little more than paid for puppets of the cartel of merchants, who pay them to keep low trade tax's, near monopolistic control over art shipments and you know what the local crafters love it, because it meant for some years, work for all and a stable local economy. This lot really seem dullishly happy, not a spot of strife other than merchant competitiveness to be found, nope if your looking for where a conflict is going arise here, your going to have to look for an outside element I'm sorry to say, I think that whole darn flock of what evers, could be ripped to shy sherds by Asimodasus himself and all you would get here is some mild grumbling and finger pointing"
She orders a light white wine and poched fish.
Seinal looks at Sixth speculatively, "I, too, would be cautious of such a literal interpretation, but I suppose it would be reckless to ignore the avorals. Unfortunately, I have no means of rapid magical transport, myself. Perhaps a few days spend gathering information would be better than haring off after creatures we have no hope of catching."
He stares up with distaste at the newcomer "What sort of wager are you planning on offering my companion and while fleecing those too drunk to stand is usually an enjoyable passtime, you're insulting as well as drunk which is a boorish combination."
Kyomi discreetly moves away from the drink, placing her back to a wall, she starts looking to see is this an act? Are there others here with the so called drunk, she slips a hand into her clothing and pulls one of her daggers, unseen but ready wile doing this, she scans the room.
has news gotten here so fast?
"You have a good point Seinal, as I also don't think we can catch them, maybe a little more patience would be appreciated."
"Balik, are you sure it was this very town? Cause maybe you were dreaming about Cassomir and Pharasma's Pulpit, and in that case we should have saved someone there... If we are in correct place, we should try to figure out who will the blades be..."
At the drunk man offer, Sixth gets up to get another drink. He casts Message (To Norbert, Seinal, Grimward and Finnigin) when out of earshot from the drunk man, whispering to his targets.
"I can haste the horses for some seconds. We could use one more carriage."
Seeing no others Kyomi relaxes, slipping her fine blade back into place.
She walks up to the so called drunk,
"I know you, I've seen you before, didn't you win a house and cart race the other day? The guys you beat where really upset, said you had cheated, some think about being a pr.. Professional some thing now what was that word"
She says sweetly and all innocent.
" it's on the tip of my tongue, I do remember they where 'very' upset, be such a shame to upset others again don't you think"
She holds his eye with a cold hard stare, all innocence gone, it's the kind of look a snake gives before it strikes.
The drunken man pales quickly and begins to stumble backwards. "Uh.. Uhm Nevermind!" as his voice raises in pitch and he begins to scramble out of the tavern. Several folks laugh and through breadcrumbs after him.
"Kyomi, you certainly have a way with words."
He chuckles ruefully and shakes his head.
"Now would one of our more stealthy companions be interesting in following the sot? I wasn't sure if he was lying, but something was strange about his sudden offer."
Cilian tips his hat, and walks out after the man following him as stealthily as possible.
Byron watched in annoyance. This man insulted his intelligence, it was not enough that he simply run away in shame.
Byron calmly wiped his face off and then disappeared into nothing, then appeared in front of the running man. He placed himself in the mans path giving only a small opening for him to run around.
In another swift movement Bryon called for a spark of ambient magic, possessing it and bending it to his will. It allowed his mind to exert force, not much, but enough to move a chair at just the right moment.
The man stumbles around the Gnome suddenly in his path before tripping over a chair and tumbling to land flat on his back. He recovers quickly soiling himself in the process and runs outside.
Cilian following the man finds him breathing heavily next to a wagon and a set of horses. One horse off to the side being a charger so black it shone blue in the moonlight, clearly a prize horse.
|
|
Sensing the opening chords of a bar brawl, Balik looks to Flinnigin, "I believe that may be our call to go dancing. Elsewhere." And with that she'll take Flinigin's arm, and allow him to escort her around the commotion, and on to the dance hall.
Balik is flattered by his notice of her tattoos. As they walk, she recounts the history and life's milestones associated with several.
Seinal smiles watching Balick lead Finnigin to the dance floor.
After they're out of earshot he chuckles and says, "It's good to see some of us are still enjoying the pleasant things in life."
Seinal glances over his shoulder mutters under his breath,
Cilian walks to a hidden doorway, and suddenly turns into a tall, and ratish looking man who has brown hair, and is wearing semi-fine clothing with spectacles.
Walking up to the man when no guards are around 'Cilian' smiles.
"Hello good sir. I see you have had a run in with some bad times, but don't worry like the phoenix being reborn it's about to get even 'worse'. You see I represent some interests in this city. Interests who have begun hearing about your little 'racket', and I must say we're not pleased. You seem to have forgotten who actually runs this city. My order will not be made a fool by some drunk with a horse. You have two choices here 'good' sir. Either sign a document giving away your prized horse for 100 gold completely and utterly legally, or you can continue on your way. Without a care in the world."
DC 20
"They wouldn't even know where to start looking for your body."
Finnigan and Balik enjoy another night of dancing and even manage to get some time to dance and walk under the stars.
The man stares at you and looks as though he is about to vomit. He begins stammering about 'orders' and 'outsiders' as he begins untying one of the average horses from the wagon. "This bloody country isn't worth losing my hide!" He shouts before riding off leaving his wagon and horses behind.
Oh dear. I think I may have made my sweetling mad. I wonder if she can hear this? Well now I have a cart and a horse at least.
'Cilian' takes the remaining horse and cart back to the inn and pay five silver for the night. He then shoos the stable boy away and climbs into the back of the cart, and begins to look around for anything valuable.
As he looks he whispers.
"So you angry, or happy about what I just did darling?"
EDIT:
"I'm going to take that as happy."
Attempting to look for traps then picking the lock if no traps found.
Cilian tastes honey strongly for a moment for some mysterious reason.
Byron saw Cilian about to take off with the cart so he made another shift into the back of the cart before it had taken off. For all his pomp he was still a curious gnome at heart. Though at two jumps he was pushing it, his nose would probably bleed all night.
He pulled out his workgloves from a package. They were perhaps his most useful invention. One touch would make all clear
Cilian looks at the small gnome inside of the cart.
"The gold, and chest are mine, the silk is Kyomi's, you can have the wands, Norbert gets the cart, and horse. Fair deal?"
If Byron agrees Cilian gives him the wands, and leaves the cart with the gold, chest, and silk. He places the gold in his pouch, and walks towards the tavern.
"I for one would not be opposed to leaving," Canim pipes up between bites, "it's like the locals don't even know how to read... such a dearth of books on interesting topics."
Byron let the moment take him, now would be a good time to start planting seeds. Though, if you do right by me and Norbert then you may very well reap the fruits of that research. The knowledge itself is what I'm after, the items are a byproduct.
Cilian smiles.
"No problem I will keep a lookout for any information that I find. I do have some info for you right now though. One, that marble I gave to Norbert has the soul of a man stuck inside of it. Which might be interesting to you. Two, that man I got this from said something about orders from some outsiders. Which I think means either we have a devil to deal with, or those avorals aren't that good."
With this Cilian walks out of the cart and into the tavern.
Cilian enters the tavern with a chest slung across his shoulder, and four bolts of silk under the other arm. Smiling as h walks to Kyomi's table he indicates the silk.
"Have I ever mentioned how beautiful you are? Well, if I haven't lately here is some silk for you and Oraine to make new dresses."
Still smiling Cilian hands the bolts of silk to Kyomi (or if she indicates somewhere else he puts it there), and while walking around he stops by Norbert.
"There is a shiny new cart in the stables with one horse for you. It also includes one gnome wizard who might want to see that marble I gave you."
Cilian walks over to the rest of the tables passing along a message to each.
"The man who tried to get Norbert to lose his cart was working for some 'outsiders'. I think we might have a problem."
Finally done with regaling his information Cilian walks to his room and tries to carefully disable the lock.
After the House thief ran off Kyomi looks after him for a moment as the Byron plays with him and Cilian gos after him to have hes fun to. Seeing the courting couple slip away she smiles.
"All fun and games tonight"
"I for one would not be opposed to leaving," Canim pipes up between bites, "it's like the locals don't even know how to read... such a dearth of books on interesting topics."
At Canims comment from behind her she looks back, then comes over and sits next to his bulky from. Patting him on he leg, once more all sweetness and smiles she says.
"I'm so sorry to hear that, Canim, may be we will have better look at the next place"
She sips her wine, Then on Cilian
Still smiling Cilian hands the bolts of silk to Kyomi (or if she indicates somewhere else he puts it there), and while walking around he stops by Norbert.
"O Cilian its lovely and your so thoughtful. I know just the dress make here who can use this, Ill wake her tonight and get two made, I know Balik's sizes, it will be a wonderful if you could slip Balik the dress so he could surprise Balik with it when she gets back"
Then as his words
"The man who tried to get Norbert to lose his cart was working for some 'outsiders'. I think we might have a problem."
"Thank you Cilian, that is kind of what I suspected, its good to have it confirmed"
Finishing her food she picks up the silk
"I will be back shortly just need to drop this off so it can be made tonight"
with that she heads out for find the dressmaker she had spotted in the day
she comes back 30 mins later
Seinal notes the bolts of silk and raises an eyebrow.
"I suppose those came from our hastily departed friend? Did you learn anything about him, Cilian?"
"He donated it to the Church of Sling. He was also working for some 'outsiders', so that's never good."
Seinal nods thoughtfully, "Perhaps he's involved with the fiends behind our visions.
He pulls out his deck of cards and begins shuffling before laying them out on the table before him in an odd pattern.
Staring at the cards, he shakes his head, frustrated. Nothing is clear.
"So you know, or at least suspect, that fiends are behind the visions?"
to see what kind of fiends might be involved in such dealings (also what they might have to gain, although that might be out of the scope of a planes roll)
to see if there is a precedent for this sort of behavior by fiends in the past.
At the Dress shop, Tells the owner a old Gnome, what she wants in the way of a new Kimono and dress for Balik, then she takes out her sisters doll, Still now and lifeless looking,
"I would also like a Kimono made for my child's little doll, she so loves to see her dressed as me"
She lets the Gnome measure up the doll for her dress then puts Oraine away again.
She pays for the work to be done over night, then looks on for a wile a small magic tools work and the lady's get on with working.
Happy its being done right she heads back to the inn
Norbert starts to formulate a response but the man is cut off and ran out rather quickly by some quick wordings.. Seeing Cilian follow the man Norbert would have jumped up and done the same.. Watching it all unfold he'll approach while Cilian is talking to Byron.. "Nice work there.. Thought you were just gonna do him in for a second.. I see we've acquired another cart.. Excellent! Now no one will have to walk. Here Byron have a look at this.." He tosses him the marble.. "Well it seems barely a day in we've just about wore out our welcome here.. A shame.. The market had decent coin to spend.. Oh well.."
Sixth hears Cilian talking with Norbert, but keeps quiet about it.
Later after the message has been received, he asks after Canim:
"Donated, hun? Sure, why not. Anyway, wouldn't those outsiders mean someone out of town? Not plane-related?"
On her way back Kyomi is spotted by three dunks, One gives the toothy smile, She looks at them for a moment
Two daggers, one old long sword, baggy pants and old boots, clean shaven and drunk, Caravan men, must be out before the head back who knows where with crates of art, lets see if they know whats good for them.
She try's to carry on head down hoping to not arousing them, but one steps in her way, another to her right and one behind. In a trait fight she would lose, they where stronger and three in number, she spotted the side street t the left.
Arr they are going to be silly after all.
She was not alone on the street a few others where walking past but she could see they wanted no part of this,
No help there yet then, well lets play shall we gents
She stopped and looked up
Toothy spoke
"Well now, what's a nice lady like you out and about his time of night a?"
Chuckles form the others, they could almost feel her flesh, now many times had these three done this, she wondered, gone out as a pack looking for flesh.
She up of a innocent voice,
"My sister is ill and I was seeking the apothecary, I must hurry bac to convent as fast as I can sirs, I bid you good eve"
She put her head down again and want to move one, Toothy moved to step once more in front of her,
still no one paying any note, humm, time to change that
the hopeful repast behind her move up and placed a hand on her shoulder,
Arr the old spin a grab, well I will not disappoint
She span around at the touch but unlike most who would have fended off the hand, with her's she slipped, one hand by her side.
Toothy made is move, Arms came round and linked around her, Then there was a clicking sound, Some like big daggers with nice big hilts and some like Kyomi liked thin stiletto blades that fit as in the case, a spring loaded mount. The 'CLICK' sound was the blade shooting out and back in again. Not to hurt but to cut, cut in fact Toothys belt. Baggy pants are all well and good on the road on a hot day, but when they fall around boots on the street, showing the world you butt and more, well he did what any man would do, instinctively let go of Kyomi and tried to step back to pull his pants up. At the very moment he bent so did she. her butt hitting his head and with at the ability to step, he fell over into a mud puddle, to a stratifying Splat sound.
Other in the street where now looking at the sight of a man sitting in the mud show the world all he had to offer in manhood.
O he was excited she said to her self, but she was not finished yet.
"O I am so sorry, let me clean you up sir"
She whipped out a length of silk cloth and waved it to unwind it ready to clean his muddy face. Exaggeratedly she flicked it back woulds to the sound of a dull "Crack!" as the end of the silk hit the head of the man behind her. There was a crack sound because this silk happen to have a sap hidden in its folds. The man behind splatted as a number of teeth flow out of his face and he went into shock, He friend came over not understanding what was going on. Only to be meet by an up-would swing into his privet parts.
"O dear I am most sorry, I really must be going"
No there was a number of passers by looking at the three, one bent other, one holding his bleeding mouth and another site on the floor wiping mud from his eyes.
She move to the right and into the very alleyway they wanted to take her into, looking to see non was spying her, she changed form and dress into a copy of one of the dress makers, a mid-aged human. She turned and walked back out the ally way. One of the on lookers, there was a number now, spotted her,
"O hello Pegs, ha have to see this its funny"
She looked at the three men trying to help each other and failing, one fell back into the mud.
"Cur hell's what happ-on here den"
The woman also a crafter said
"These three out a town Burks tried to have it with a fine lady, seem she new out ta deal with em"
No was her chance, she called out at the three in another's voice.
"HERE I SEEN BIGGER, SWORDS ON THE QUIREBOYS UP THE TEMLE, HAHA YOUR NOT STICKING ANY ONE WITH THAT LITTLE THING TA NIGHT A GIRLS"
All the woman looking an started to laugh and point at Toothy and his mates. The woman next to Kyomi called out.
'BEST GO PLAY WITH YOUR DONKEYS, YA BE GETTING NO FUN HERE OTHER THAN THAT" She picked up some mud and slung it at the three, hitting balls busted by full on the back. Soon the three ballyhoos where running down the street being chased by a pack of laughing woman.
Kyomi waiting behind then when no one was looking slipped away back to the Inn.
An arriving she headed to the stables and came out moments later back out as her most used form. She Cleaned herself off with a spell and then headed in.
As she re enters the inn she sits down and saids to the others
"Such a fine night to take in sights and cool air"
"Oh, and before I forget, did you knew the drunk man already? You all seemed to know who he was..."
"Oh, and before I forget, did you knew the drunk man already? You all seemed to know who he was..."
Kyomi replays to Sixth question simply and matter of factly.
"who he was no, Sixth, what he was o yes, his whole drunk act was weak, small signs like, he held a drink, acted drunk, yet his breath did not smell like a drunks. Once you know it's an act, you then have to ask why? Here's where going up agents supernatural powers comes into play, By the looks of it some of us suspected, mr drunk wager mam did not pick us by ascendent, and once we had a little chat with him, it seems our suspicions where correct. The question now is, Sixth, who are the outsiders he was working for, and why are they so keen to stop us?"
She looks at the others.
Byron raised an eyebrow to Norberts comments Killing isn't really my style, not when it comes to incompetent oafs like that. If he is with some sort of force that is targeting us it is to our advantage to let him leave alive. People like that will only do our enemies disservice.
He caught the marble. It's currently above my skill at this point but trapped souls generally are used in advanced sorcery. I would be interested in whose soul resides within.
There may be a way for me to find out. Back in my lab I was attempting to create a familiar. Generally you do this by taking a piece of your soul and fold it into the soul of an animal, but my poor collection of animals were all in their cages when the fire tore through our lab.
I have heard of wizards who chose to impart their soul on objects instead of living creatures to the same effect. Perhaps I could do something between the two. At the very leaste it would give me an empathic bond with whoever is in there... If it works.