Volcano's Land - Forged in Blood (Inactive)

Game Master Miner Cotren

"And what if he does? We weren't exactly subtle out in the streets earlier, and these folks seem to be the kind to keep tabs on their more reluctant membership. I bet you a hundred gold the place is cleaned out by the time we get there, whether we go tonight or tomorrow."

Iniga raises her eyebrows "I'm not murdering him, and its not like he can come with us either. I'd rather we all go to check the place out rather than splitting us up. If hes betrayed us, then he knows that he has nowhere to hide from me. If its cleared out, then there will be evidence of this. We know who most of the ringleaders are anyway, its just a matter of proving it or just letting the Blessed know so they can do another purge - they are certainly popular enough with the people to get away with that sort of thing."

"So are we venturing out there after him, or not? That was... That was more exhausting than I expected it to be."

Abby gusts out the door, then gusts back in a few minutes later. "He is eating bread in the Temple-place where there is lots of bread to eat. Also, I think he was crying a little."

She shrugs. "He seems boring now. We should chase after these efreet monsters and kill them, or maybe kill a few and take tribute from the rest."

"I agree. Sounds boring. We can wait until the morning." Samen lies down on the bed and sighs wearily. The adrenaline from his discovery has worn off, and he is genuinely drained. "We paid for the whole night, so I think I'm just gonna lie down here. See you all in the morning."

Samen is understandably tired from the spellcraft and the constitution damage. It's only seventeenth candle, so dinner time more or less. Iniga and Wamblee, let me know your plans (if any) for the evening. Marianne will likely tag along with Iniga.

Left to my own devices, I'd probably check the place out now with Iniga - because I'd rather strike quickly just in case. If Samen is out though, then I'll probably go see the Dragon council member (probably privately rather than a formal session). I want to talk to him about the Blessed

meeting with the dragon/drake sounds great. I'm still hoping Wamblee will rejoin us, so I prefer doing individual stuff like this for right now

roll a social check of your choice (and tell me roughly your course of action -- bluffing your way to an informal meeting, sweet-talking guards, bribes, etc?) to gain an informal audience with Karoff the dragon.

Bluff: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (12) + 12 = 24

Iniga probably just tries to bluff her way into an informal meeting. Since some of the guards might not have been present during the Council meeting - I can claim that I have things to discuss. Or I could always charm my way past the guards but Bluff / Intimidate is more her style

(meanwhile, Samen and Abby are resting. Feel free to RP some conversation if you'd like. Wamblee is keeping watch around the inn.)

Iniga, you fast-talk your way through several guard postings, Marianne in tow, looking for a dragon. The old conversational sleights of hand come easily to you, the tricks and subtleties of body language that you have learned from the Red-Tongues and your own experiences. After the last pair of guards you pass, Marianne shakes her head in disbelief and a bit of awe, muttering under her breath how you can shovel merde and have everyone believe it is gold.

You find the young drake in the Military District, in one of the many sparring circles scattered about the rows and rows of barracks. You hear the beast before you see it - a roar of saurian defiance echoing down the streets.

Within the circle, Karoff the drake lunges at his opponent, a muscular ifrit el. Grabbing the soldier around the legs, Karoff picks him up and throws him a good ten feet through the air. He lands with a clunk of armor and a whoosh of expelled breath, well outside the circle.

"Ha ha! Dueling every day I say! Uncle will not want us to grow weak while he is away!"

As Iniga and Marianne depart for further adventures, and Wamblee keeps watch for danger, Samen takes the opportunity to indulge his cravings. He grins at Abby. "Finally, they're gone."

"Give me a moment, dearie, and I'll slip into something more comfortable."

He concentrates for a moment and channels some of his elemental energies.

(Using spell recall and 3 points from the arcane pool to restore the infuse self spell slot.)

"Let's see how this fits."

(Cast infuse self: Efreet)

As he takes on the new form, he confidently puts his arm around the smoke elemental's stolen waist. "Forget the staff, Abby. Infuse me, and we shall mingle our essences. Taste the efreet nature, and let me drink deeply of all you are."

Iniga watches the dragon with a hooded gaze. "I do hope that you understand that strength is more than just physical might alone - for instance, even I'm stronger than I look."

Considering things for a moment, Iniga makes a deduction. "I presume that by Uncle you mean one of the Blessed? I have information that they should know about. They might not be here, but I'm willing to bet that they have friends and allies that are. Can you tell me who these people are and where I might find them?"

"Yes, Uncle is teaching me these things as well, the different kinds of strength and power. But I am sometimes a slow learner." It taps one of its claws against its chin, a curiously elen-like gesture. You notice the drake has only three fingers--or more accurately, talons--on each claw, spread in radial symmetry. "I am speaking of my Uncle Ibinu, yes, he is one of the Blessed. They are the strongest in the Land, and that is why they rule. The Darkness cannot hurt them!"

Stomping its feet on the packed earth, it says, "And I am Karoff, borne of Ssarkofaugos!" The names are pronounced and accented strangely, almost like barking sounds.

The drake crouches low, its long, scaly arms outstretched. "And you will push me out of this circle before we have any more of your "politics" talking! To victory!"

you think this is a friendly challenge - it does not seem angry

the night passes uneventfully for Wamblee's watch. I'll have to think about the consequences of Abby being exposed to efreeti magic.

Iniga, I want you to have time to talk to Karoff, so my plan is to continue this conversation with you for a few more days, then likely make it a new day sometime over the weekend.

Iniga smirks at the dragon. "It seems that you really have no idea about what you are getting yourself into - challenging me to a strength contest"

Iniga concentrates, before unleashing her Song of Strength, tattoos flashing as she shoulder charges the dragon with all the strength she can summon.

Strength Check: 1d20 + 5 + 2 + 3 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 5 + 2 + 3 + 6 = 36

Boom.

"Now, about what I said about the Blessed and their friends and allies" she remarks, peering at the dragon after her show of strength.

Karoff throws its head back, showing two rows of teeth as it laughs in basso. Yellow smoke drifts from its nostrils, and a guttering of flame shows for a moment or two.

"You elens are such surprises! Yes, a good lesson in strength. Thank you."

It stands up, stretching and groaning, flexing its back in a strange, inelen way. Breathing deeply, it suddenly shouts, "TEA FOR ME AND MY-"

But just as suddenly, it stops, and mumbles to itself. Then, in a more moderated tone, the drake says to a nearby attendant, "Ah. Please bring tea for me and my guest. She has beaten me in a test of strength, and I would show her honor! Bring something sweet as well, to celebrate!"

the attendant brings food, a table, and chairs for you and Karoff. No chair for Marianne, but she says nothing, just rolls her eyes and keeps watch all around.

Karoff takes the time to properly set up the ifrit tea, with a thin layer of oil on top, which the drake lights with a puff of fire. It passes one of the fiery cups to you. Saluting you with its own cup, Karoff drinks the boiling beverage in one swift gulp.

your fire resist means you take no damage from this, if you choose to partake, it's a relatively common thing in higher society

"Now, the things you wanted to know. Uncle Ibinu has two close allies - his chief guard, her name is Sophia. There is a funny sylph who does things with potions, called Culkin. You can find them both at the Temple, though I think Culkin sometimes visits the, err, Mister Makers? The alchemists who make things? Some kind of lab."

"Inam, the one with the annoying bird, she also has an important guard, her name is Edoardo. She has very good manners, knows to treat me and the bird as the emissaries of Volcano that we are." It shines its scales with a napkin as it says this, like a preening parrot.

from its comments, you think that Karoff is not especially well-versed in the gender of elens

"Inam also trusts an old priest. His name is Antioco, and he sits in on the Council in Ianm's absence."

"Kallik, I do not know so well. There is a child I have seen her with, but if I understand elen breeding customs correctly, it is not her offspring, which I find strange. There is an old ele who sits on the council for her right now. Her name is something like Down How Eep, but it does not stay in my mind. She lives in the Stems, where the Steam used to be and where the big tree is now."

I don't have Fire Resistance

Ah, you are an emissary of Volcano? That would mean that you would know all about the Efreeti, their king, and why Volcano exiled them correct?" Iniga asks curiously. She had received the information she was after, but she was greatly interested in whether the dragon had access to any knowledge she wouldn't otherwise get.

Karoff rumbles its laughter once more. "Yes, the dragons know of this..."

The drake's segmented talons scratch at the scales of its lower snout once more, thoughtfully. The smoke escaping its nostrils changes to blue, then a pensive purple, still thinking. "But this is another form of strength, is it not? I have something you want, that you did not wrestle for, yes?"

Iniga's eyebrows meet as she frowns in irritation. Her tattoos glowing again, she shoves the table forward like a battering ram, aiming to piledrive the dragon off his chair and into the dirt.

Basically attempting another strength check by shoving the table to knock him down since we are not in a circle anymore

Strength Check: 1d20 + 5 + 2 + 3 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 5 + 2 + 3 + 6 = 35

If successful

Iniga stands over the dragon before kneeling and putting a knee on his chest. "Thats twice you underestimated me and that twice that you ended up flat on your back. I didn't wrestle you for information, I wrestled you before you issued a formal challenge as a condition of speaking to me - which you still are. Besides, don't play coy with me. No doubt you converse with the Blessed and others all the time and I doubt anyone needs to prove themselves each and every time by putting you on your ass. So show me, a little respect please instead of asking me to prove myself each time. People are watching don't forget - it doesn't do to see you bested over and over again.

There is a dim glimmer of rage in the lava-red sclera lurking in the eyes of the dragon. "You would not treat me so when I am fully grown...!" The drake tries to twist out of your hold, only to trumpet in pain as you apply more pressure to its arm.

"You want to know, eh? Mitera has always said you elens are endlessly curious, and she is right, as always. Very well! The efreet fell from grace because they had the audacity to try and protect Sky when Volcano had decided that Sky must die. Sky is Fallen due to the will of Volcano."

assuming the conversation with Karoff ends soon after this revelation ; it has another round of meetings to get to, etc

Iniga, back at the inn, you are surprised to find the main room nearly empty. You notice the same drunk sylph is asleep at the same table, just as this morning. She sits up suddenly, looking you in the eye with her yellow-black sylph-owl eyes, and you can see she is not drunk. If anything, she looks bored. Putting on a pair of rectangular glasses, she motions for you to come over. "Ms. v'Breda, can you make time for a message from the Council?"

Apologies, had a move and a job interview come up.

With Karoff

Iniga glares at the dragon. "You aren't fully grown yet though are you? Until then, take heed of your arrogance. It is our experiences that make us strong, not just size." she mutters before relenting the pressure on the dragons atm.

"Seeing as you dont yet understand that, I'll give you some advice. You need allies in this city and on this council. I'm sure some elens are furious that they were passed over in favor of someone not from here and I'm equally sure that the Blessed have made enemies. While they are gone, I'm sure someone will attempt to make the most of the opportunity. From what I see, I think you are still coming to terms with your new role which makes you vulnerable. I don't mean you any harm or ill will, but I would recommend that you surround yourselves with people the Blessed trusted closely - at least you can be sure those friends are reliable."

[ooc]At the Inn

Iniga glances at the sylph asleep on the table with narrowed eyes. The fake drunk routine had put her a little more on edge than usual. "Sure, what is the message that the Council has for me exactly?" she enquiries.

The sylph ele does not seem to notice your ire. "Captain Dove says that you are twice a romantic, and once a fool." She stands up, inclines her head, and walks to the door.

you recognize the reference to a popular ifrit play that runs seasonally at the local Hearth theaters. The character is one that is killed due to their ambition. You are unsure if this is a threat or simply a warning.

Iniga shrugs at the sylph ele."Feel free to tell Captain Dove that if he feels jealous at the lack of attention then he is welcome to approach me directly about a beneficial arrangement - but up until now all I have heard are warnings or threats. He should know how the game is played and now he can choose to act offended at the slight or offer a better opportunity. Sending a messenger to make his threats for him doesn't raise my esteem of him though."

The sylph ele inclines her head once more, a touch of humor on her lips from your comments. "You have my respects, Ms. v'Breda. Have a good evening."

***

You are all keeping busy -- Iniga's intrigues ; Samen's magics ; Wamblee's meditations -- but somewhere along the days and candles, you realize it has been too long since you have seen Marianne.

You go to her room at the inn, and find two things out of place: a note, and a drop of blood on the floor.

I realized something, brothers, cousin. All of our stones and staves and charms and grisly hand-trophies...they all have something in common. I feel the truth of it. There is deep magic in these heirlooms, but... however Father came across them, for good or ill, they were all the product of sacrifice; all forged in blood.

kiss kiss,
Mari

to be continued in Volcano's Land - Mercury Morn