Agents of the Citadel (Inactive)

Game Master EltonJ

Cari raises her hands and lowers her head, saying nothing.

Caring nothing either way for meals, Lambda-42 looks on impassively.

GQ hands out some cards, showing your way cool codenames. You can pick these yourselves. Lambda-42 does need a cool codename, though.

"These are your code names on this mission."

"GQ! When did the King order you to grow a sense of humour? Wow ..."That said, Ceneth smiles and nods his head rather deferentially

" 'Skyfall' ... I would say that 'you just can't make this stuff up' yet, someone did." GQ raises an eyebrow and gives just a touch of side-eye to the elf

"Well it's a new group, I wasn't sure they could handle Skyfall-69 ... or that much wit from the boss."

Ceneth is clearly impressed AND amused

"Moonraker" Cari says, resigned to her fate.

Zoa's tail twitches, impaling the nearest card and swinging it up to Prosperity. They briefly open one eye. Well, since we've got a theme going... "Spectre."

Lambda-42 looks down at the card in its hand. Its eyes shift from green to amber, and it nods. "Goldeneye it is."

Opi looked at her card. "Null."

"Good. Before you leave, there are refreshments in the commissary," said GQ. "Oh, you will have your own Lightning Rail Coach. It's outfitted with the latest weapons and gear. Q, our magic item specialist, will explain all in detail."

"Thank you sir. I know they feed you well here, let's all go to the commissary, maybe have that chat Agent Null suggested."

"Sir: it's our own coach ... that will be mounted into normally routed Orien Lightning Rail routes? We don't get out own engine & operator do we?"

"I'd prefer to get going, we can chat on the ride." Cari "Moonraker" doesn't care much for refreshments. " Maybe we can get our drinks to go."

"No, you won't," says GQ. "No engine or operator."

"No, you won't," says GQ. "No engine or operator."

"But a secure car added to the line, brilliant, thanks chief; and we appreciate the invite, but Moonraker isn't wrong either, there will be food on the train as well. Let's get to it. We need to speak to the Quartermaster, correct?

"Yes."

"Then let us be on our way." Agent Goldeneye says, before turning to head out of the room.

Agent Spectre's eyes flick open and they're on their feet in an instant, showing none of the earlier frailty of a person their age. "Divinations are ready. Scrying itself will take another hour, but I'd hazard it's worth doing before we try to enter the vineyard. If Mr. Big wanted to run he's had three days to do so — for all we know he skipped town and left behind a death trap. But I should be able to handle that in the coach."

Zoa slips back into their satchel, and they follow Agent Goldeneye to the door. "I'm keen to meet this Q, I myself have taken some interest in the creation of magical devices during my retirement."

GM, a couple questions: does the dossier on Mr. Big say anything about his known capabilities — whether he's a magic user, any particular spells, weapons, areas of expertise, etc.? And did GQ ever respond about the possession or body part Prosperity asked for to help with scrying?

Opi nodded, hopping down from her chair and following along with the party. A train should be useful, although she wasn't sure why they'd need the additional armament unless the area was treacherous. Perhaps they could position themselves as buyers for something and lure the target into the car's range?

GM, a couple questions: does the dossier on Mr. Big say anything about his known capabilities — whether he's a magic user, any particular spells, weapons, areas of expertise, etc.? And did GQ ever respond about the possession or body part Prosperity asked for to help with scrying?

The dossier says he's a gnome that is an illusionist. But he knows some spells of the transmutation/alteration school of magic, particularly change kind (works like the Changeling ability, but doesn't last as long). He carries daggers, though his favorite weapon is a rapier. One thing about him is that he isn't House Sivis. They do have some of his blood, if that helps.

Awesome, thanks! Spectre accepts the vial of blood from GQ with an appreciative nod.

As they reach the door though they pause, frowning. "Oh my. Civilian life has left me quite sloppy indeed." They produce a series of hissing sounds that seem directed toward Zoa, who is once more visible only as a head protruding from the bag at their side.

Nope, Opi's Hat of Disguise is basically her Emergency plan - too many targets can see through illusion, or at least detect that an illusion is there. She can lie about her parents being adventurers or the like for why she has several items on her, but her appearance is mostly nature with some makeup to help.

Awesome, thanks! Spectre accepts the vial of blood from GQ with an appreciative nod.

As they reach the door though they pause, frowning. "Oh my. Civilian life has left me quite sloppy indeed." They produce a series of hissing sounds that seem directed toward Zoa, who is once more visible only as a head protruding from the bag at their side.
** spoiler omitted **
Then Spectre chants an incantation, pressing a thumb and forefinger briefly to their eyes. Casting detect magic. They turn slowly in place, carefully scanning the entire group, including GQ. They'll take 10 on all the Knowledge (arcana) and Spellcraft checks, since we're not in combat and there's no point trying to sort through dozens of rolls. Hmm... auras present of course... over twenty, some strong... and... Goldeneye's clear... Skyfall's clear... illusion magic from Null's clothing, but what about... Opi, is your hat of disguise currently active? And Cari or GM, either of you know whether Cari's Minor Shape Change (Su) would have a transmutation aura constantly when she's in a form that's not her natural one, or only when she's actively switching between forms? Finally, GM, what auras does Spectre detect from GQ or his gear? Or anything else in the room, for that matter. They get the school of each aura, and the properties of any item below CL 14.

So wait, can Zoa take a scent also, like a police dog sorta? If you let them sniff the blood, would that give them a bonus to perception? Just kinda wondered, I know they aren't a dog, but still.

Prosperity Jann wrote:

GM, a couple questions: does the dossier on Mr. Big say anything about his known capabilities — whether he's a magic user, any particular spells, weapons, areas of expertise, etc.? And did GQ ever respond about the possession or body part Prosperity asked for to help with scrying?

The dossier says he's a gnome that is an illusionist. But he knows some spells of the transmutation/alteration school of magic, particularly change kind (works like the Changeling ability, but doesn't last as long). He carries daggers, though his favorite weapon is a rapier. One thing about him is that he isn't House Sivis. They do have some of his blood, if that helps.

Does change kind let him change his height to medium?

Nope, Opi's Hat of Disguise is basically her Emergency plan - too many targets can see through illusion, or at least detect that an illusion is there. She can lie about her parents being adventurers or the like for why she has several items on her, but her appearance is mostly nature with some makeup to help.

Cool, Prosperity's just checking to make sure nobody's currently using magic that might suggest they're an imposter, so Opi doesn't raise any concern. Jury's still out on Cari though.

So wait, can Zoa take a scent also, like a police dog sorta? If you let them sniff the blood, would that give them a bonus to perception? Just kinda wondered, I know they aren't a dog, but still.

Oh good question! The rules for scent do say "creatures with the scent ability can identify familiar odors just as humans do familiar sights" but maybe he'd have to actually be bleeding or have blood on his clothes? At the very least I'm assuming Zoa's been around gnomes before and can distinguish their smell in general, so she should be able to help spot him if he's invisible/disguised as another race/behind an illusory wall/etc., which is the sort of thing I'm mostly worried about. But she'll definitely take a whiff when Prosperity uses the blood for scrying.

Opi wrote:

Nope, Opi's Hat of Disguise is basically her Emergency plan - too many targets can see through illusion, or at least detect that an illusion is there. She can lie about her parents being adventurers or the like for why she has several items on her, but her appearance is mostly nature with some makeup to help.

Cool, Prosperity's just checking to make sure nobody's currently using magic that might suggest they're an imposter, so Opi doesn't raise any concern. Jury's still out on Cari though.

Yes, I might have a funeral to go to this week. But you should only detect Cari's change self when she uses it to shapechange.

Got it! Of course no worries if real life things are getting in the way of posting, but when you get the chance let me know if I detect any auras from GQ.

Spectre relaxes slightly as their teammates show no signs of being disguised or polymorphed. Before leaving they add, "I might ask any of you for a confirmation number at some point in the future to verify your identity. Let's say... nineteen plus the number of letters in your code name. And yes, Null counts as four, don't try to get clever. Please figure out your number now and remember it, because if you can't provide it when asked I will assume you've been impersonated or possessed. I hope you'll do the same for me."

Got it! Of course no worries if real life things are getting in the way of posting, but when you get the chance let me know if I detect any auras from GQ.

Spectre relaxes slightly as their teammates show no signs of being disguised or polymorphed. Before leaving they add, "I might ask any of you for a confirmation number at some point in the future to verify your identity. Let's say... nineteen plus the number of letters in your code name. And yes, Null counts as four, don't try to get clever. Please figure out your number now and remember it, because if you can't provide it when asked I will assume you've been impersonated or possessed. I hope you'll do the same for me."

"Loving the numbers ... maybe pronouns would work for you? Does anyone else besides the team know that Zoa identifies as 'she' because, with love, most of us couldn't tell by looking. Test #1 could be calling her 'him'. Similarly, Test #2, if any of us were to address you using a gender-based pronoun, and you didn't correct us, I would be willing to grab you, fly you up 100 feet, and drop you on your head."

Spectre grins. "I appreciate that, but I couldn't care less what pronouns you use for me, and I don't have any particular desire to spend time "correcting" people. Please don't misgender Zoa though." Zoa hisses inscrutably. "I can use the same number method as the rest of you. I do like the idea of being able to check in without making it obvious that it's a test, but pronouns won't work for the same reason as code names — if someone is impersonating one of us, they'd be able to pick them up quickly just by listening to our conversations. How about this: if any of us asks another "how's your leg?," no matter the context, they're asking that person for their confirmation number."

"Simpler is better," she agreed cheerfully, although code names and numbers could easily enough be taken with spells and powers. The mortal mind could often be easy to loot, she understood, although her own powers were more...explodey.

"In that case dear Prosperity, since OUR numbers would be the same, I will use the number assigned to me by GQ, which I will also not repeat."

"Sure. Goldeneye's and Moonraker's are also the same — I think it's fine for them to repeat, just so long as they're not repeating in an obvious way that an imposter could untangle before it gets to their turn in a group check-in."

"A similar system we used in the Army was to have a designated number, say 19. I would say to you a lower number, say 11. You would respond with the number that adds up to 19, 8 in this case. We can change the base number as often as necessary, as long as we all know it."

Moonraker doesn't speak up at first. All this talk of infiltration. Should she reveal she's a changeling? It's ended badly before, but her allies might need to know. She chooses to stay quiet for now.

"Wait ... is there a good image in our dossier? I am better at morphic changes than illusion, but couldn't we practice impersonating this gnome also? I am willing to try at least. It might come in handy at the vineyard while we are being clandestine."

"That's risky without a sample of his voice." Moonraker speaks with some experience."Worth trying, I suppose."

"That's risky without a sample of his voice." Moonraker speaks with some experience."Worth trying, I suppose."

"VERY true, and my apologies, I am also not an expert at divination: Prosperity, is it possible to divine a voice sample, like now that we have his blood? Really just wondering: looking like him could be good, sounding like him could be amazing."

"It's down to luck I'm afraid, how much I happen to hear him speak during the seven or eight minutes my scrying lasts. And as I doubt I could pull off this particular disguise myself, you'd be relying on whatever secondhand imitation I can manage."

Your scrying on GQ shows no lasting magical effects.

Spectre is glad for the continued conversation, as it gives them a chance to finish scanning the room for auras. Finding nothing else to raise concern they relax a bit more, but don't drop their spell. Assume Spectre has detect magic up at all times unless I say otherwise or they're doing something else with their standard actions — let me know if and when they spot any auras. "Well, time to go see Q and this coach of ours?" Ready to change scenes if the rest of you are!

"Let's get going" Cari says.

Let's go see Q

Q is in a large room stacked with swords, daggers, other weapons, and magic items. He's distinct that he looks a bit younger, with dark hair and glasses. He's wearing a white lab coat over khaki pants and greets you with a hi!

Q is in a large room stacked with swords, daggers, other weapons, and magic items. He's distinct that he looks a bit younger, with dark hair and glasses. He's wearing a white lab coat over khaki pants and greets you with a hi!

"Of course, Skyfall. What an interesting code name. I have some special items for you of course," said Q.

He picks up a telescope. "This little gadget is made by the Gnomes of Zilargo. It's a telescope. You look in there, and it makes it so you can see things far away. It's magical of course, say the magic word, and your teleported to a point you can see."

He then picks up an ordinary coat. "This, Null, is the coat of many things. Supposed to compliment your hat of disguise. Try it on."

Opi waved. "Hello Q. We've been told you have fun new toys we might like. Can we see them, please?"

Q shows Opi a new, but ordinary coat. "This, Null, is the coat of many things. Supposed to compliment your hat of disguise. Try it on," said Q.

Spectre studies the first two gifts with curiosity. "Hello Q, I'm Spectre. I don't think we've met — I wasn't exactly at the center of the Citadel's social life during the war. Your work looks amazing though, can't wait to see what you've got for me."

Opi tried the coat on, looking it over with Detect Magic as she did.

"OMG I want to teleport somewhere now. This telescope thing is almost better than flying, I mean, for me, they're like a slam dunk together: I can look miles into the sky above where I really want to be, teleport, and fly the rest of the way. This is genius. But I guess it would work the same way with recon too: look into the bedroom window, teleport in, take care of business, teleport out. Brilliant!"

Goldeneye quietly looks over the racks of weapons, nodding occasionally.

Cari lets the others have their turn, then asks "Hello, Q. I'm Moonraker. What do you have for me?"