Jaarn listens as his words are taken to mean an uprising, but sees it as jest...for could really oppose the Golden Hand? "Listen, my friends, it is quite simple, you will see the temple and why the elves in the north have done nothing about them. They are a joke into themselves. They have no authority nor do they suggest they might. They offer fake blessings for piddly gold...none really take their offer. They are no threat to us, even. Maybe we keep them around as a reminder that the Golden Hand are as much a joke...they are not from this land, they could not be kin or king. They own their power through providence and wealth. I am sure they will fall in their own time, but they are very much present for now. Now, honorable Sword Saint, Dmitri, you ask what can be done for now? We must find those that were sent away. They will need your help more than us. We are alright, they are not within our walls, though. I knew they were last escorted west, that is all I know."
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Brian nods at Jaarn. "If you felt threatened by them, or they played the heavy hand of the tyrant, I would lay them low and replace them with the righteous power of Propoket, but as you do not feel threatened by them, I see no need to press the matter.
Yes, of course we shall travel west and see what must be done there. I still say that this practice must stop, and in time such a government overthrown, but we can do what we can and seek out such survivors as still remain."
Then he dismisses politics and other matters from his head. He turns his gaze on Ithca and gives her his full attention. He breaths back to her, "Oh, certainly. I shall tell thee secrets and stories to sate curiosity both subtle and varied. Ah, but look, we have drained this jug. Come, a barrel of ale waits in rapt attention for us in my room, why do we not retire there where I can speak more openly of my past and my future? Besides," he rises, a bit unsteadily, and holds out a hand to her, "that is where my puppy dog is. I can introduce you two. I know you'll like her."
Back at the room he conjures his celestial dog. Crackers, being mostly beagle, is a slave to her nose and bounds forward. She sniffs her master once to make sure his still what he should be, but then her nose is drawn like a loadstone to the new arrival, and she investigates her forcefully with licking tongue and sniffing nose.
After the second strap he bends down and purposefully plants a kiss on her lips. After that it is a matter of Steady Progression--one simply continues to physically escalate, and then spend some moments at that stage, getting comfortable, until moving on to the next stage.
Much of the advice about behavior in the bedroom stated not that too much is attempted, but too little. Indeed, if a girl is in the bedroom at all, it means she is there because she -wants- to be there. And one is given leave to dare boldly.
After, he does indeed tell her his stories, as promised. There's his famous firewood story, and the stories of him in basic training, and his stories as a personal trainer and a bartender.
Eventually he winds down and says, "You know, we are off on a grand adventure in the morning. Why not come with...me. I could buy you a suit of leather armor and a good sword. You would be a warrior princess in truth."
He smiles, happy with whatever her answer is.
The german man makes a displeased noise as Brian leaves the bar with woman in tow. "Yes yes, sate your desires with woman in a realm where medicine has lacked, that shall go over quite well." Shaking his head, he turns to Jaarn. "My company and I shall most certainly investigate what's happened to those who were taken."
At this point, Toby realizes she's let the stresses of all this weirdness get to her, and that she's gone ahead and had way too much wine for her rather slender frame.
Seeing Brian leave with his new friend, she "Hmmmmm" Marge Simpson style and saunters (more like stumbles) over to stand by Spilane, et al.
He quirks a brow, looking up from his drink. "Did you need something, Frau Jaffe?"
How often are the... undesirables... escorted from town? I think after we witness this sermon tomorrow it would ease our quest if we were to follow those being escorted out, if that's at all possible, Dmitri says, sparing a glance at Brian and his new companion as they retire. I hope Lanx got us all separate rooms... he thinks to himself before returning to the conversation at hand, Whatever the case, you've been immensely helpful tonight, Jaarn. Don't worry about your drinks tonight, I will pay for them.
He quirks a brow, looking up from his drink. "Did you need something, Frau Jaffe?"
No, just...how's my friend Jerimiah doing this fine evening! she snickers, following it up with Hey, where'd that wine go!
He covers his glass, and glances at Toby with suspicion. 'What is up with this woman? Perhaps she has had her mind befuddled with arcane mechanisms, or toxins? Ah, yes. Perhaps the latter, given her inquiry. Ugh, don't tell me she's...' His thoughts trail off to unpleasant places.
"Currently, I am somewhat concerned. You should perhaps find somewhere to sit down, I feel as if you've indulged too much."
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Toby finds a seat on the floor.
Jeremiah shakes is head in exasperation, before looking to see if their new freind had anything else new to say.
Jaarn, offers his advice in the situation, "My friend, it seems your small framed friend filled herself with wine. The smaller they are the easier the wine fills you up. Just as Brian had nearly stumbled on his way out but found it prudent to retire, so might your friend, Toby, find it prudent to sleep away the wine. Maybe in time her constitution may improve against wine. None the less, she wonders about you, you should chat with your friend, it may boost your camaraderie with the lady. Regardless, on the morrow you may visit the temple as I speak with the city guard about any new undesirable citizen escort requests. In the mean time, I wish for an ale, to end my night with a stout drink is my wish." Obviously enjoying the socializing and drinks, he settles into his seat at the tavern counter. The night contcontinue with little more ale and chatter before the weary guard retires to his own house, readying for tomorrow.
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Giggling lightly as the wine effects her morale and inhibitions, I this follows the angelic looking man toward the promise of ale and stories. As she enters the room and is greeted by an exuberant inquisitive yet friendly canine, she giggles as the dog sniffs and nuzzles. Distracted by the dog and her light drinking, she it's caught off guard by Brian's request for aid with his armor, recalling times her late husband would come home late in the night requesting similar help. Pulling a few straps free as he maneuvers out of his armor, she is happy to be able to help once again in this way. "I miss being called upon to aid with armor, it has been a while. I remember feeling elated to assist my late husband with donning and removing his plate armor, your simple breastplate is a good reintroduction to that. Thank you for reminding me I can be useful." Recalling her purpose of coming with him, she looks around for the ale barrel, but than recalls her secondary purpose, saying, "You were going to offer more more stories of your adventures and your plan for the morrow, were you not?"
As your stories roll on, the wine and ale cause her to become a little sleepy, after a light yawn, she excuses herself and thanks you for the ale and the stories, wandering to the inn keep who escorts her home.
Lanx Kotan it's waiting in the empty tavern come morning, he brings a very good disguise kit with him offering to help Toby blend in. "Dear Toby, as a monk I have sworn the vow of truth, but I must say that it is a shame to disguise the wisdom you've gained through years that shows in your lines and wrinkles. It is the kindest way I can put the truth, you will be discovered if we do not disguise you. Hold still as I aid you in looking younger."
"Thanks. I wouldn't want to put the others at risk," she says understandingly. And also: "Oy, my head."
Longing for the wonder that is aspirin, Toby? Dmitri quietly says with a chuckle, doing his best to not aggravate the hangover. He acts as though he has been awake for some time, though he is not currently in his full suit of armor, only the silk padding meant to be under the armor itself and the grieves. While Lanx goes to work, he checks to see if the barkeep is around and fetches a glass of water for Toby, setting it on a table near her and Lanx for when the work is done.
After a few hours of work, Lanx takes a look at his work and offers the middle aged woman a mirror from his kit. She looks very much younger and may be able to easily pass by the eye of the powers that be in this town. (+10 disguise and bluff to seem younger)
The arcane crafter seems to be ingrained in another project, something he likely started back at the temple. Though, what little peace and quiet he had earlier is quickly fading, so it's largely just busy work for him. The function of this particular wonder is... unclear. Seeing he's likely to get much more put into it this morning, he packs it away in a satchel before turning to the upcomers in the bar.
"Yes yes, gutentag everyone. I hope we have a consensus for our plan of action for today."
Watch the sermon, follow those being escorted from town?
Humming to himself as he joins up with the others - having slept in a little later than the others. Mid-morning Justin is caught off-guard as he sees Toby and cocks his head for a moment before saying, "Make-up? How random! You're just like my mother - always had to put on make-up before going to church!" With a slight laugh, he steps over to their table and takes a seat. "Speaking of church.." the rogue pauses as he cautiously looks around to make sure no one is eavesdropping before continuing. "...Looks like Brian's going to need to head to Confession this morning after last night! Oooh, man - we need to start warning people about this guy! 'Wanna know why they call him White-Angel?' Too bad your name doesn't start with a 'C,' because then I'd start calling you 'C-man!' Get it?!"
Justin rolls with laughter in between remarks and cannot stop giggling to himself after he's finished, quickly finding himself unable to speak and struggling to breathe for a bit as he just cannot get over how funny of a situation just presented itself in front of him.
He shakes his head at Justin, "Your American humour is falling flat on me, but I assume it was riddled with numerous innuendos of which I'm proud to have not caught."
Through tears and a flushed face, Justin leans forward on the table as he tries to compose himself. Holding his hands up to Jerimiah, he barely manages to speak out between laughs in a way that he know Jerimiah can understand - Elven.
"It's lewd humour! About ejaculation!!"
Covering his face again, he begins cracking up again as he leans back in his chair, struggling out, "Isn't it grand? Oh my God! My stomach is getting sore!" With a few deep, controlled breaths, he manages to calm down enough, but still finds himself grinning and on the verge of bursting out again.
Dmitri lets out an over exaggerated sigh and throws his arm over Justin, and more quietly than Justin's own antics he says, I can't take you anywhere, can I Mr. Comedian? Come on, I need your help to make sure these plates fit right, and pulls Justin toward the rest of Dmitri's armor that was set upon a bench nearby.
Simply shaking his head, smiling at the humor of this group. "It has been a very long time since I heard any of this. I thought it might be ancient to you all."
Clinging to the samurai as they walk to his armour, Justin still snickers and laughs softly as he tells him, "I couldn't let that opportunity pass by! I had to take it!"
Arriving by the set, the rogue manages to collect himself well-enough to begin properly connecting the plates over Dmitri, though his grin would be visible from miles away.
"I won't joke like this at the temple - I swear! Else I may end up being removed from town!... Though... That may not be a bad idea - allow myself to be captured so that I can see first-hand what happens and where they are taken.. Perhaps that sort of infiltration will just have to wait until I'm more confident in my abilities!"
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Brian stumbles his way down to the common room with a head full of wool and eyes made out of cotton. He spends a full hour decimating a towering tower of pancakes and a small mountain of meat. After downing a pair of jugs of water, he stands and stretches, cracking joints and creaking muscles. Letting out a massive belch, he declares that he feels much restored.
He retreats to his room, then comes back fully armored. "So, guys, what's the plan? We just heading out to the Western town of Old, Sick, and Dying, or we gonna see the church right quick? Don't see much point to that unless we gonna front-door 'em, but I'd indulge a lark."
After sufficiently rolling his eyes in TD's direction, he turns as he speaks to make sure all are listening. "The plan I believe, should be as Dmitri suggested. We shall attend the sermon, observe the way it's performed and the reactions of those present. After which, we should try to follow those escorted from town, or possibly wait for them to go out of sight and follow their tracks. We don't want to miss anything that could be obvious by skipping the church entirely. And besides, the sermon should give you people time to overcome your hangovers."
It should be quite obvious, that Jerimiah is without one himself.
As you exit the tavern to walk toward the temple you were informed about, you can see a few people walking toward a similar or maybe the same destination. Upon entering the temple you can easily see three men clad in Silken Ceremonial Robes, each of them look like elves at first glance. Remembering what you know of the temple already and that there are supposedly no elves in town, you take a closer look to see (DC 10, at least one of you are guaranteed to succeed) the ears are very fake, those men are not elves at all. One of those you saw walking to the temple steps up to the group, they ask for a blessing to ward off illness. The "elves" all hold out their hands and a bright glow emits from their palms. (Spellcraft)
They are casting "Light" and since you know elvish you know they are saying "Give know life good deity grand story mighty"
Jerimiah scowls in Brian's direction. "Hush yourself. Senseless violence leads us nowhere. They're just using a sort of torch spell, and their words are.... highly broken elvish. As if they didn't even understand what they were saying."
So it seems these ones are as horrendous charlatans as some seem to understand, Dmitri mumbles to the group, but if Jaarn is to be believed, they're harmless enough. It looks like our quest now is to see what happens to the undesirables when they are exiled.
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Waiting as you watch the temple, sitting in silence as you see for yourself the "elves" and their harmless stupidity. As notions of the journey west come up, Jaarn steps in and offers information, saying, "I've found out about an escort going on. If you come with me to talk to my captain, your silver tongued companion could persuade him to allow you all to accompany me as I request to escort the 2 elderly and 4 beggars from the town." Gathering himself in a pose of forced gallantry, "We will do this city the service of removing these undesirables! You all will be trained well by me!" Giving a wink as he finishes.
As they follow Jaarn along, Justin whispers to Brian, "Your game worked too well - you even got the guard winking at you!"
Eager to see how this captain is, the rogue sticks close to the their companion though he fears the worst for what becomes of those deemed unworthy to live here.
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Finding the captain of the guard was a simple enough task for Jaarn, he's been to the office enough times. Approaching the captain, Jaarn gathers his confidence, saluting as he says, "Captain, i would like to request to be on escort duty. These visitor wish to contribute to the city, i would show them how the city works with on the job training, they are skilled enough to make a valid difference."
Disguise (+5 mw, +3 cha, +2 assist):
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Brian beams, putting on his number 4 Smile of Friendship. "Greetings, gentlemen, and in the words of your Holy Order, 'Nauthannen i ned ôl reniannen'. We have heard some grand tales of the civic responsibilities executed within and without and would be most gratitudinous to be shown first-hand how things that are done are done!"
Brian figures that if these hicks fall for fake-elvish, they'll probably fall for fake English too. But his disdain shows not a whit on his face, for he has mastered the Japanese art of the Nine-Layered-Fence, where your thoughts and your words are as two separate entities.
Examining the group carefully, the Captain sees good intentions in the look of the team, "You're armed and have a bit of battle under your belt, I can tell. How about we put your mettle to the test? I will take on two of you in open combat...have you a real magic user in your midst? They can make use of healing scrolls from the capitol city afterward. I think I would prefer to battle your gregarious bald one and the man that looks as if he's from the east. (Brian and Dmitri) You can tell a lot from a man in how he handles combat...in an unfair environment. I am a seasoned warrior with many battles behind me...I have need to stretch my blade arm after babysitting this settlement. If you can provide me this relief and show yourself an honorable fighter, I'll grant Jaarn's request. All you need to do is show me you are worthy trusting this good man to. A soldier must trust his life to his comrades. Will you accept this challenge of you character and honor?" Eyeing the two men with a harsh and discerning eye.
(Knowledge Local, Dungioneering, Nobility, Charisma, Inteligence, Wisdom and Sense Motive all can be used to figure out more about this man. If you roll well enough, I'll give you information directly from his character sheet. He's one of my PFS characters.)
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Dmitri bows deeply, his arms at his sides, I will accept your challenge, good captain. I request, though, that you lay out the terms of the combat before we begin. I would not wish to violate any rules you may have and disgrace myself, my comrade, or you in the process.
Sense Motive:
He is genuine in his desire for a good battle. He seems very adept at battle but a little out of practice. He is two levels higher than you but there are two of you. He seems very lithe and limber, as well, very quick and is carrying a rapier. Dressed in light leather with a blueish, sea foam hue, similar to what you may imagine a sailor to have. He seems very adept with his blade arm as it is well toned and very strong looking, but his off hand seems very lightly scared, as if it is used as well in his combat method. He pulls a buckler from behind him, affixing it to his off hand (buckler is a small shield put over the knuckles for parrying and other defense moves). He simply states, "Use whatever method you feel is needed, but I prefer no magic. If you are close to death, simply give up...I only need a stretch of my rusty skills, not a potential comrades death on my hands. You other magic user will heal you with this" handing a wand of CLW to Brian, "hand that to the magic user you have that can use that spell. It is brand new, with 50 charges still. I'll give you a new one as well when we finish healing up afterward...as a thank you." Looking at Brian, "You specialize in polearm fighting, that will be exhilarating getting through your large threatening area." Looking at Dmitri, "Ah, a blade master from the east, your curved blade techniques will be a refreshing change of pace. We can step into the training area here" walking from the guard offices toward a walled area behind "none will bother us there. When you are ready, we will begin." As he walks into a large ring drawn in the dirt, he draws his rapier, begins attacking a shadow with deft stabs, piercing the air, warming up.
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Brian is all smiles and nods, until the man mentions magic. "Ah, now, that is a large advantage you ask me to concede, to use no magic, but I shall pledge none of it unless you have already proven the victor! After all, if you can beat me with one hand tied behind my back, we'll need to know if you can win against both my hands."
Brian pockets the wand and nods at Dimitri and limbers up. As they walk out to the field he takes up a position opposite the samurai, with the Captain between them. He starts a good distance away from the Captain, 15' at least. If this puts him outside the ring, so be it. He doesn't care about some line drawn in the dirt. Sun Tzu would council against such.
Dmitri sizes up his opponent in the ring, pacing around the Captain, careful to stay within the ring as as he sizes up his form. It's not what he's used to fighting, but he supposes that makes things slightly more even. He takes a moment to set his kabuto and mempo before crouching into a ready stance, resting his hand on the hilt of his katana and nodding, as much to the captain as to Brian and simply saying, Ready.
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Brian shrugs his well-honed shoulders and gets into his fighting stance. He actually pretty nervous about this one. He's happier as a zookeeper, yelling at minions to shred something apart than just toeing the line himself. Right now he's just hoping he can be a decent enough wingman to Dmitri.
Some part of him, the Tactical part, mans its station and runs some numbers. It points out that now would be an excellent time to begin the revolution. Murdering the captain of the guard with a zerg-rush of monsters would mean that his army would already be on the field by the time resistance was organized.
He makes a mental note, but sees that the politics are not in readiness.
He takes a stance 15 feet from the captain. Ideal range."Begin," he says out loud
18 dex + improved init.
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The captain sets a dancing stance ready for the summoner to attack, seeing him holding, he puts his off hand out toward his enemy, weaving into the threaten area of the spear weilder. As he enters range, the extended spear swings in toward him. As deft as he is, he attempts to block the blow with his swashbuckling panache parry as rusty as it is...
(4 dex + 4 cha + bab 5)
Knocking the spear out of the way, he does a simple repost attack in response to his successful parry.
(Rapier 1d8 plus charisma twice)
As a standard action, he tosses a flower onto the crumpled man at his feet.