Anansi the Spider seems to be having an extremely important conversation with the Ancestors. The shoanti shaman's blue eyes seem to be starring out into the distance, while his halfling hands hold tightly to the shard.
He then smiles, looking around at the group.
My precious. We need ta git to da Lodge. Yes, my precious.
His eyes dart over to Ambriel when she suggests taking the shard from him!
It's mine! Mine, I tell ya! We shall rule the world!
Eh? Never pegged him as the manic villain? I have no idea whats going on so lets kick this upstairs.
Ragnar is presumably clueless.
Our mission is to bring that thing, and Mrs. Vancaskerkin back to the lodge so...
Certainly Lord Anansi, out of our Allies, Lady Heidmarsh should offer lodgings and cloths worthy our thy station?
Caroliss is pretty taken aback as Anansi starts going all crazy. She leans in and whispers to the others. "Uh, so Anansi's always been a bit weird, but definitely not greedy or power-hungry. He's starting to act like Natalya--I think it's that shard! Keep an eye out."
As with Natalya, Caroliss plays along with Anansi. "Yes, Lord Anansi--please do lead is back to the lodge!" She tries not to roll her eyes as she says this.
"Alright. No need to rush things." Krystal was as confused as anyone on what's going on pther than that Anasni really wanted that necklace for some reason.
Heidmarch rushes into the library as she finishes tying off her robe and still wearing night clothes underneath. "My gods! What happened, is she dead?" Seeing Natalya is still alive she breathes a sigh of relief.
She grabs a seat and notices the metal around Anansi the Spider's neck. "Oh! Oh. That is interesting. Where did you find it? You know, it looks like there is something missing? I have an ioun stone that would fit and really make it fantastic, would you like me to get it, Anansi the Spider?"
clearly man of the most esteemed bearing, having his current clothes, sometimes fashion-afficionado, a more impressive would certainly, my recognition, improve the regal nature of
Ranger tries to send Sheila Heidmarch a message, likely confirming her suspicions.
Ioun Stones are very powerfull and a most appropriate gift to one of your station Lord Anansi
Anansi the Spider glares at Captain Heidmarch for barely a moment, before the shaman grins.
A fine idea so say the Ancestors. Bring it to me. We have big plans. Yes, big plans indeed.
The halfling does seem to be keeping a weary eye on Ragnar....
Captain Heidmarch does a curtsy before her Lord Anansi the Spider then leaves long enough to fetch the stone, a small blue sphere marbled with a bright red. She bows then inserts the stone into the small indentation. A brief white glow fuses the two together.
"Pride then. I was correct. The next in sequence should be greed then? You were close Ragnar, but it wasn't controlling him, merely bringing out the worst of his pride. If Natalya had previously fallen to the curse it would explain her missed rendezvous. What can you report?"
She settles down with a quill and parchment to take notes and her husband, Sir Canavyan, arrives soon afterward with a tray of coffee.
Anansi the Spider looks from the now embedded shard, to Captain Heidmarch, to each other standing around him. The halfling coughs.
I do believe that whatever was in that hot pie mystery didn't agree with me. My apologies.
"Huh?" Krystal looked at the crystal, then back at the halfling. "Ohhhhhh. That's what's causing her to go crazy." She kicked the air as if that made amends for her not getting the point before she started.
"Well, her cover's been blown to bits as she's got all the Tower Girls after her. And I bet they're after that thing too. Their leader and some of their henchwomen are... wererats? Please tell me that isn't a thing," she shuddered.
"Wererats? Definitely a thing," Sir Canavyan answers. He bends down to examine the now uncursed shard around Anansi's neck. "Amazing! A fragment of the Sihedron! Where did you find this? A find of this magnitude? Do you suppose Drumholde's supposition that the shards can find the others is correct, Sheila?"
"That dusty old book was right about the ioun stone, it seems reasonable. Anansi, when you have full control of your senses again, hold the shard and focus, concentrate on it. Just bring all of your senses to the Shard." The Captain says as she takes a vial out of a pocket in her robe and dribbles it into Natalaya's mouth. The young woman sits up with a gasp, then looks down at the hole in her shirt covered in blood. "I...oh, no! Oh, gods, no!" Natalay bursts into tears, curling up into a fetal ball and sobbing on the long library table.
"I think she is going to need a minute. Would someone like to catch me up?"
Ragnar, practiced mercenary that he is is prepared to put the party in the best possible light to their employer.
We are able to pinpoint her likely location after some good fashioned snooping around, and managed to diplomatically deal with her Human employees, without resorting to violence.
Following that, we killed several of her goblins, but were in a strategically disadvantadgeous position right after, as the terrain was rather unsuitable for me in particular.
So we pretended to be so wowed by her we became her new followers, great idea Krystal. He begins his tale.
Things became complicated because at this moment one Terisha appeared with several goons, but got charmed by Natalya, apparently the amulet possesses some capabilities in that regard. This Terisha ran into our prepared position, and both I and Krystal injured her considerably, but the charm spell still worked inspite of this, indicating a good deal of magical ooomph behind it.
I managed to inform Mrs. Terishas goons of this who decided they wanted to have nothing to do with that and retreated.
He says with a degree of polite smugness.
In essence, this little encounter enabled us to get a good surprise strike in, and I Krystal simply took her out, Anansi stablizing her thereafter.
The Gobbos offered to retreat, and we let the rest go. Mrs. Kogalnica identified both several items, and the likely condition of Mr. Anansi after him taking the shard up. He says, nodding to all involved parties.
I think we killed about 4-6 Goblins, including a Goblin snake that showed up for some reason, injured zero citizens of Magnimar other then Natalya herself and Terisha, killed zero citizens of Magnimar, and dropped no indications of lodge involvement other then to Mrs. Natalya.
Mrs. Terishas location is currently unknown, some type of attack or attempt by these tower girls is likely, if they find out where Mrs. Natalya, or this amulet are.
Oh, all of my newfound compatriots have excellent capabilities in terms of increasing my own abilities, think quickly and cooperatively.
This was, being covered in s&$$ nonwithstanding, quite excellent.
I believe Karoliss, Krystal and Mrs. Kogalnica managed managed to attain additional information concerning the remaining towergirls? Them apparentl being wererats is concerning.
You would not, Lady Heidmarch, by chance have a silver 2 handed reach weapon at your disposal? My Bardiche is cold Iron, on account of foes for which this is relevant being far more frequent where I come from.
Lacing his tale with a totally reasonable request at the end.
Ragnar is happy about a job well done.
"Thorough. What about the ShardI? Where did you find it, Natalya?"
The young Varisian had been softly sobbing during Ragnar's report. She rolls off the table and slinks into the chair whispering that she is sorry over and over again whe shaking her head. Campaign Heidmarch crouched in front of her and repeats the question, grasping Natalya's shower firmly and looking her in the eye.
"It was in the Crow. Oh, no, Araya! And her personal assassin has seen your faces! Oh, I pur you in such grave danger! I acted like a total fool! She needs to be dealt with or she will come after me, and them, and even the Captain!"
Self delivered Loot Thinks Ragnar, probably unduly smugly, at the mention of Asssassins.
Ragnar is pretty certain given the woman's genuine look of shame and depression that she is actually more concerned about Ayala hurting others because of her actions while cursed. If anything, she might feel like she deserves to have Terisha come for her, just not anyone else.
"If it makes you feel better, that blood on your shirt is yours. Sorry about that by the way." She padded Natalya on the shoulder. "I don't think you've killed anyone as far as I know. Well... besides a couple goblins we may have killed..."
She did show a bit of sympathy on her face as she continued. "Curses happened and you had no idea how it would have affected you. It's not your fault, love."
Caroliss takes one of the offered coffees. "Truly fascinating," remarks Caroliss as the powers of the shard are revealed. "You really did stumble upon a powerful Thassilonian artifact, Natalya. Sorry we had to dupe you, but the way you were acting was way over the top."
Caroliss then turns to the venture captains. "I think we could use some catching up as well, Captain Heidmarch and Sir Canavyan. What is this Sihedron? And what do you mean when you say the next one is 'Greed'? Are there more of these things? If so, we should collect them all!"
"It was created by the exiled Azlanti Xin, according to histories and legends. It was a powerful defensive artifact consisting of different pieces of skymetal forming a seven-pointed star. When the Runelords rebelled against Xin, the Sihedron was broken into fragments like this one, this Shard of Pride. The next of the seven shod be greed, based on my understanding of Thassilonian sin magic." Captain Heidmarch explains as she sketches an image of the Shard into her notes.
Sir Canavyan leans in to interject, I am sorry to interrupt, but did she say 'The Crow'? Have you been inside dear lady?" Natalya nods. "Most fascinating. When you feel up to it, I would like a full account, please."
The remaining ones then being Lust, Wroth, Envy, Gluttony and Sloth?
Ragnar asks, the seven virtues and seven sins being a common enough thing to know about.
Is there some way to preempt its affecting us? I mean, I could see the wroth shard affecting me being pretty lethally disastrous. Lust could be risky as well given my ancestry.
Ragnars breathing accellerates, one hand becomes a fist, his eyes dilate slightly, as if he is recalling a highly unpleaseant memory. He seems genuinely afraid of becoming a threat to his allies, you dont recall him being afraid of anything before.
"We're lucky that shard only affected the halfling. I don't think I'd do well with the Lust share either."
If Natalya was up to it, she would let the woman speak about the place. "Oh, one more thing. We got someone named Terisha who was after us too. I bet she'd be pretty mad about getting duped.
"Excellent question, Ragnar. Just as I had to use a specific ioun stone for this piece, each of the other fragments will require the same. If my research is correct, you will need this one," The Captain says reaching into her pocket to withdraw a stone that is pale blue in color, shaped like a rhomboid.
Anansi the Spider does concentrate on the embedded shard.
I see a hazy vision, as if it was an extremely foggy twilight, of a massive piling carved with birds and winged creatures. A single crow flies off in the distance, behind it through the fog is a large city.
The shaman listens to the Ancestors.
A future viewing. The Crow is what?
"Did you see The Crow in your vision, Anansi?" Caroliss looks to Heidmarch, Canavyan, and Natalya. "If you found this shard in the Crow, it's not surprising if there are other shards in that place too!"
"The Crow.. of course!" Krystal snaps her fingers.
"That's where Natalya said the hideout of the Tower Girls is located. There's a crow statue 5hat would lead us right to it."
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The more Ambriel hears about the magical metal shard, the more fascinated she becomes. There are a couple of points she would like clarified though.
"Captain Heidmarch, you mentioned greed as the next shard. Is there a necessary order for them, and if so, why? If the order is set, what is the full correct sequence?"
"Also, what is the logic behind particular ioun stones working to dampen the curse on the shards? Must it be one kind of stone only, or is it shape, color, or the stone's effect that matters?"
Captain Heidmarch grabs a book from the stack she held and flips it open to a book.arked page. "Master of Scrolls Kreighton Shaine said, 'It is my belief that references in the Relics of Sin to the sequence of the Sihedron are based on the physical proximity to each individual component when the device was whole, moving in a clockwise direction.' Of course, we can't be sure of that based on the information we have. The Shards are less a known quantity and more snips of rumors and legends. There is no telling what exactly is apocryphal and what is accurate. It would seem that the limitationsare explorable, perhaps if Anansi would like to try again he would see a different shard?
"I don't have the reference, but the Samsaran Yi Da Som once wrote an account of a past life where she studied artificing in Azlant. She theorized that the Runelords latched onto ioun stones partly because the Azlanti did and blazed that trail for Thassilon, and partly just because they are simply so easy to work with, magically speaking. I will see if I can dig up her notes, but our best sources do list the stones that they believe function with each shard. It is possible that others may work, but so far the theory seems to have been tested and confirmed."
Her husband leans forward as she leans back in her chair. "The interior of the Irespan's pilings has always captured my attention. Please, bring me as much information as possible about the interior. Maps, sketches, anything and everything you can. We would be very appreciative."
Anansi the Spider will indeed concentrate on the Pride Shard just to see what happens.
Explore, report and cooperate!
"So this greed shard. Do we have any clue where we may find it?"
Afterwards, she added to the couple. "I'd like to talk to Natalya about the Crow when she's ready. Cat burglar to cat burglar."
Once again, Anansi only sees the piling in his mind's eye. It would seem the dusty old books are right again, each shard leads to the next, and not the others.
"It sounds like the general area the shard is in is as good as it gets," says Hedimarch. "Perhaps with research we can find a way to narrow it down more, but thats beyond klmy arcane knowledge."
"Before you say anything, thank you. For stopping me. Sir Canavyan is bringing me breakfast tomorrow, for basically the same conversation we are about to have. Except, I'm thinking you want to know more about the Girls and hazards than architecture and markings?"
"But it also means I'm behind on things. So if you could fill me up on that I'd love that."
Captain Heidmarsch, if I may make some proposals?
Our overall situation is that these tower girls may want to take aggressive action, while retrieving the next shard will only run away if the tower girls joink it before we do, as such, dealing decisively with any threat from them should in my estimation take priority.
Ragnar begins
A situation where we succesfully explore the crow, only to be ambushed on the way back is a concern, and a possible attack on the manor is another one but I do not think that they will be foolish enough to attack the manor without doing due diligence on its inhabitants first, I would not pick a fight with the Pathfinder society if I was the tower girls, but a thievery attempt is very much a possibility. In any case, your earlier indicated that open pathfinder society involvement is not in your interests, so the path should not lead back to your estate in any case. He continues, speaking quite precisly, and wheels evidently turning in his head.
First, I would prefer to leave Mrs. Vancaskerkin in your care for now. Second, we active group should set up shop midly elsewhere, a middle class inn where sensible night watch arrangement can be set up would make sense. Ideally, it should be within a not too long distance of your estate. This is to keep the Pathfinder society as such out of things, and to minimize the risk of a raid on the estate.
The odds of us escaping notice by Terisha, or her associates are limited, this is their home turf after all. Both I and Anansi stick out considerably, and while certain ammendments could be made, disguising myself is not really a part of my skill set. We could however use this to our advantadge. By being quite public, and making her focus he reconnaissance on the active group, and not on where Natalya is.
He pauses.
We can let them know we are coming, and spread the rumor that the tower girls stole from the wrong persons, and are about to have professionally violent visitors that are fully aware of their tricks and their location, which is evident on account of their silver weaponry. I assume that they have "fully human" associates who may not be entirely in the know about the whole were-rat thing, and this rumor will certainly strain their financial resources because henchmen will demand payrises or desert. Unfortunately I didnt get any names of Terishas Goon, or I could inform them of the "imprudentness of defending the tower girls" in person.
I have some additional ideas for making them expend resourcs imprudently. I can bluff quite effectively about my nature, and spread the rumor that they need cold Iron weaponry to deal with me. Spoiler, they actually dont but I doubt they know that. I can probably use Zograrthy as a rumor mill for that.
We are also fighting possibly skilled assassins, it would be prudent to operate in groups. At all times.
Anansi the Spider seems to be nodding in conjunction with everything that Ragnar states. The shoanti shaman smiles at the bloodrager's pauses.
And so sayeth the Ancestors!
The halfling then whispers to Ragnar.
When you say sayeth folks seem to pay more attention.
.
While Ragnar schemes, Caroliss tries to find a library to study what is known about the Crow.
"You can count on me too. You know your girl knows how to spread a rumor across town,"
"You won't lure them out of The Crow in force to confront you, " says Natalya through her sniffles to Ragnar. "They will likely keep tabs, yes, but would only strike with just the right opportunity. Terisha won't be over-confident next time, she will be patient. Maybe you can get them out with rumors of a big score, but even that seems unlikely at the moment. Ayala knows how to lay low, and she's going to hope you were just after me, and not interested in them at all."
"Then it may be better if we rush through in an assault." Krystal concluded. "They won't think we'd attack so soon. And with silver weapons to boot."
She decided to add something else. "How cosy are Ayala and Terisha. I recognize a Calistrian when I see one and Terisha may not have the rosiest partnership with Ayala because of it."
She listened to the conversation, but the door peaked her interest. "You know I thought you meant a different kind of hot," Krystal winked... only to wave it off. "Calistrian joke. Anyways, was it just the know or the whole door that burned you?"
Natalaya blushes, "That's, uh..." She clears her throat, "The door itself seems to somehow be burning. It is made of stone, but it sounded odd when I tapped it. Deadened taps, but not like there was hollow, but like there was another layer to it beneath the stone."
Ambriel goes to the library with Caroliss. Aside from the Crow, information about lycanthropy and, if it can be found, information on sin magic could be very helpful.
[Spoiler=Natayla]"I bet we can figure out something... oh one more thing."[/B] She tilted her head with curiosity. "Is your magic due to that shard or did you always have it before?"
Ragnar is in the library. Reading a book.
The book is on the table, Ragnars hands are behind his back. He seems increibly focused on the page that is currently turning, as if moved by the mage hand of, perhaps a very very rookie sorceror, and is sweating quite a bit. The page does move, and nearly turns but then.
Blyad he swears whisperingly in Abyssal as his concentration snaps and the page falls back to where it was.
Well, lets try again. Getting over this nauseatingly hypocritical summation of "Prelate Hulruns valorous deeds" should motivate me. Qlippoths beneath bugger that guys lovelife in particular although I dont think he has one.
He starts again, displaying some slowly manifesting telekinetic capabilities.
Though perhaps not as knowledgeable as the elf Ambriel, Caroliss certainly has an intuition for navigating libraries and proves to be a fast reader. She tries to be as helpful as possible, and she seems genuinely interested in the research.
As the day continues, Caroliss broaches a subject. "Ambriel, I've always wanted to learn arcane magic. But I've never had an opportunity to do so. In the world of the human aristocracy, my elven blood makes me a bastard and an outsider, even though it ought to make me MORE qualified to learn magic. Do you think you could teach me a cantrip or two? I know I could do it if I'm given the chance."
Anansi the Spider joins Ragnar in exploring the city. The halfling's ears picking up any gossip or rumors about The Crow, shards, or a place for good authentic shaonti cuisine.
This city really stinks of sweat, piss and alcohol.
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Ragnar was inwardly focusing on his telekinetics, when suddenly his perception stopped. He saw with a degree of clarity he never had before, something almost supernatural told him to grab Anansis head and point it into a direction he could not exactly see clearly.
Libraries are Ambriel's domain so she is all business, fast and efficient at finding the resources available. She directs Caroliss in assisting without much chit-chat except that initiated by Caroliss.
Caroliss's admission and request catches Ambriel unprepared, she is not at that time mentally attuned to the need to show empathy, and teaching Caroliss some basic uses of magic is a larger project than the woman probably realizes.
"Your experiences with them match mine. I could tutor you, but you should know that your first successful casting will be the most difficult one you'll ever face. It may be some time before that happens."
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Caroliss starts jumping up and down excitedly like a child.
The other patrons start glaring at the loud half-elf, and one of them verbally shushes her. "Oh, sorry. Got carried away there. Anyway, I think you'll find that I'm a fast learner!"
Krystal decides to join the boys in sight seeing, turning towards Ragnar. "So in case we can't get the girls to being their own silver, how are we gonna handle the wererats?"
In short order, Ambriel manages to read through dozens of references to a variety of texts. Sin magic, Thassilonian artifacts, and rumors of ancient pacts between Xin and powerful alien entities are plentiful. While she would hardly be ready to teach a class on Thassilonian Metaphysics at Sinkomakti University, she is able to understand some of the larger challenges the Society is likely to encounter in pursuit of the Sihedron.
In regards to The Crow she finds surprisingly little. It seems that many scholars take the threat of unknown dangers so close to a densely populated city fairly seriously and do not usually test the restrictions on entering the pilings of the Irespan. She does find some accounts from long before that ban was in place to suggest the possibility of nonsensical architecture and suggestions of larger, connected underground complexes.
Lycanthrophy in general is scary reading material. It is fundamentally understood to be a curse, but true lycanthropes exist as well. Of all the varieties, the wererat seems to be the more common. They are only resistant to injury when in their hybrid form, a state between that of their normal selves and that of a giant rat. When in that form, any attack that isn't silver is likely to cause little, if any, damage. In addition to their curse, wererats are known to transmit disease through their bites due to the environments they typically live in. Wererats are also able to assume the form of an extremely large rat. Curing lycanthrophy requires powerful magic, though some herbalists know a process to use wolfsbane and belladonna to poison the animal within.
Violence? He answers Caroliss and then shows off his newly acquired Alchemical Silver Bec der Corbin.
I got myself a silver smashstick, we do have 4 potions of silver sheen, which have my and your names on them, but I dont think I can apply them to my natural weapons.
He says looking at his fingernails.
I cant claim to not be concerned about contracting Lycantrophy though. Given my ehm, relatively but actually not that unique family background, my guess is that I am less likely to contract it, but that it also have more unpredictable effects if I do. It would add a third supernatural influence, in addition to the Fae and the Abyssal one, into the mix.
To my knowledge, I do not descend from Effing Dyre the Dangerously living, although the latters effing cursed Fedora was at a point in my tribes possession.
He rambles off.
"Dyre the dangerously living" was an ambitious Barbarian chief who managed to annoy Callistria (by claiming he has been with her). She awarded him with a cursed Fedora, which greatly increased his attractiveness to female entites more powerful then him which do not care about consent.
As such, the Fedora wearing Barbarian managed to become the most frequently abducted and level drained mortal in history. He disappeared in Alyushinyrra, because of course he did, and traders from Ragnars City who ventured there on an ehmm "Business trip" returned with the Fedora.
Then Hijinks happened, as the Fedora was hurriedly passed off from tribesmen to tribesmen. The result being a sudden increase of the thiefling, half fiend and half fae population, eventually resulting in a massive purge by the Mendevian inquisition, which now supposedly keeps the cursed Fedora in its custody.