Male Medium Human Gestalt Brawler (Snakebite Striker)/Unchained Rogue 1 | HP 12/12 | AC 17, T 15, FF 12 | CMD 16 | F+4 R+7 W+0 | Init +6 | Perc +4 (+5 vs traps) | Speed 30ft | Active Conditions: None.
Arrus nods knowingly at Renzio. Then, he looks to the side, again entering a thoughtful reverie while continuing to speak to the Arvanxi children.
How prominently do you believe you stand out to her? I'm sure she's made many enemies, but what we'd like is for her to not have an obvious idea of who mind have put out the "job" on her. Or, better, if there are others she would think of more immediately to blame.
His gaze returns to the table as he takes another drink from his ale mug.
"I expect that at this point, I'd be the first person she expects. I'm perfectly okay to plan and bide some time in order to let her make new enemies," she says, keeping herself calm. "Perhaps we work on the sewer situation as we gather resources."
Male Medium Human Gestalt Brawler (Snakebite Striker)/Unchained Rogue 1 | HP 12/12 | AC 17, T 15, FF 12 | CMD 16 | F+4 R+7 W+0 | Init +6 | Perc +4 (+5 vs traps) | Speed 30ft | Active Conditions: None.
Arrus nods again, feeling like this plan has some space to breath now with that diversion.
Yes, no need to rush things. We should continue collecting information on her and following up on rumors. I'd like to confirm that she does, indeed, have additional enemies by the time that we get back to this.
DM: Are the above leads basic Gather Info attempts?
Renzio listens through the door from the private room wherein his new allies discuss Lady Felina Imvius, outward to the common room. Lady Sascar Tilernos has left Vizio's Tavern, and so has Rance Lucca of The Devildrome.
But the new Duxotar of Westcrown's Dottari, Lord Iltus Mhartis, drinking straight from his pitcher of wine, is still there and getting louder. Renzio easily overhears him fire Stiglor from the ranks of the Dottari, and a silent pause as those in the common room react to such a bold decision. Lord Iltus doesn't slur his words as he pronounces that Stiglor is unfit to represent Westcrown's wardens and, indeed is too uncouth to live among polite society. In his mind's eye, Renzio can picture the Duxotar removing the badge of office from Stiglor's shoulder, and hear Stiglor's heavy boots stomp out of Vizio's Tavern.
A happier sounding Lord Iltus Mhartis is easily overheard next, as even the Baroness Delor Aulamaxa and her party are silent, as the Duxotar elevates the young Dottari girl who entered Vizio's Tavern a moment before to the ranks of the Dottari officers-- the Durotas. "Savois Tiri, as I, Lord Iltus Mhartis, Duxotar of Westcrown's Dottari put this badge on your shoulder, I promote you to the rank of Durotas. May your tenure in this post be met with glory and honor, and may you continue to prove your worth to Me, to Westcrown, and to Her Infernal Majestrix." Renzio, on his side of the door, does not witness whether the Duxotar gives a pinch on the new officer's bottom.
After the announcement it is much more difficult to overhear Lord Duxotar, Iltus Mhartis in conversation with his two present Durotas, Saria Roccin and Savois Tiri.
Male Medium Human Gestalt Brawler (Snakebite Striker)/Unchained Rogue 1 | HP 12/12 | AC 17, T 15, FF 12 | CMD 16 | F+4 R+7 W+0 | Init +6 | Perc +4 (+5 vs traps) | Speed 30ft | Active Conditions: None.
Arrus leans towards Renzio, asking What do you hear out there? Has the commotion died down? This night is as good as any to circulate amongst the tavern goers and extract some information on the good lady. I have to admit I won't be able to figure out much about her in my usual, non-noble haunts.
He rolls his eyes, clearly feeling a little out of place at this tavern.
Male Medium Human Gestalt Brawler (Snakebite Striker)/Unchained Rogue 1 | HP 12/12 | AC 17, T 15, FF 12 | CMD 16 | F+4 R+7 W+0 | Init +6 | Perc +4 (+5 vs traps) | Speed 30ft | Active Conditions: None.
The next time Janiven Key re-enters Arrus pulls her aside.
So... I know I'm not one of the usuals here, but I could us some information on a specific noble. Can you help me with that?
He tries to give his best cordial smile.
diplomacy:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19
If it works...:
Great! My subject is Lady Felina Imvius... First I want to know who's been spreading rumors of her conducting illegal sacrifices. What would you know about that?
As cordially as she can, Janiven Key feigns her shock at being asked about a Noble's illegal sacrifices, and even pretends to ignore that blunt of a question. Instead, she shakes her head and answers Arrus Volso's inquiry with what she does know.
"Lady Felina Imvius has come to Vizio's Tavern a few times recently. I think she's like most Nobles, ambitious -- and trying to find an 'in' with those Nobles more powerful than she. For example, I think she's trying to get The Lord Mayor's attention, looking for a way to make him notice her. Only a few nights ago, here in this very room, I mentioned the obvious, that Grand-Count Aberian loves the opera, and Lady Imvius looked as though she had just been inspired. Perhaps she will try to ingratiate herself to him by showing a love for opera."
Renzio Arvanxi continues to listen to the goings on in the main room of Vizio's Tavern, through the private room's closed door. Only a minute or so after the boorish Lord Iltus Mhartis, Duxotar of the Westcrown Dottari, publicly fired the officer, Stiglor, and promoted the inexperienced Savois Tiri to his position, Renzio overhears the young Dottari buy a round of ale for those few left in Vizio's Tavern and, only a moment after that, the younger girl asks the famous opera singer, Baroness Delour Aulamaxa, to sing with her for the tavern to hear. Within a moment, Vizio's Tavern is filled with song, as two parties beginning singing aloud together.
A moment later, as Janiven Key continues talking to Arrus Volso about Lady Felina Imvius, and Renzio Arvanxi listens at the door to the goings on in the main room, all of you can hear a startled expression gasp from the crowd beyond the door.
Immediately after the collective inhalation of shock from those in the main room of Vizio's Tavern, a three-second moment of inertia follows, as complete silence weighs down upon those who, an instant before, were singing together in celebration.
Next to you, Janiven Key sharply whips her head to the closed door in concern at the sudden silence, and takes a step to swing open the door to see what has just happened.
Male Medium Human Gestalt Brawler (Snakebite Striker)/Unchained Rogue 1 | HP 12/12 | AC 17, T 15, FF 12 | CMD 16 | F+4 R+7 W+0 | Init +6 | Perc +4 (+5 vs traps) | Speed 30ft | Active Conditions: None.
The brawler frowns and furrows his brow as his direct question is dodged.
Hmm, the opera. I suppose that's a lead. I need to figure out who she is not so tight-lipped with. Are there any nobles she might have upset? Say, she used them at first and climbed over their body to get to the next better noble, so-to-speak. He looks at her expectantly, hoping for any more direct clue.
Request (diplomacy):1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11oof
Arrus glances back and forth between the door and Janiven after the sudden silence sets in, waiting to see if she'll open it (until she does!)
When they hear a collective gasp from the room next door Tiknesr giggles, a bit nervously. He makes sure that he stands just behind Arrus (a bit further back from the door) and his oversized ears twitch toward the sounds of commotion.
In that moment when Arrus Volso's discussion was interrupted by the abrupt and conspicuous silence from Vizio's Tavern, his first thought may likely have been one of regret that he had worded his question to the young bar-maid a bit too bluntly, without the subtlety or guile so often necessary for Chelaxian-style intrigue or conspiracy. A non-Noble talking to another non-Noble about an aristocratic family member, a Lady of the Nobility, is something perhaps best done with more diplomacy, more innuendo and craft. He instinctually feels his question was poorly worded, or poorly intoned with the wrong emotion. Perhaps, indeed, Arrus Volso feels a bit of relief as Janiven Key sharply turns her head to the main-room and steps to swing open the door to discern what is happening. Could he get away with his diplomatic blunder?
But as she opens the door to see what's going on, she also turns her head toward Arrus Volso, a queer look on her face. Is she intrigued? Interested? It is not a look of one offended. Nervous? Hopeful?!
Inside the main room of Vizio's Tavern, from your vantage point looking from within the private room, nothing obvious appears any different except for the brief moment of stunned faces from the customers.
You can see Baroness Delour Aulamaxa and some of her sycophants, mouths agape in a pause as they stare at something or nothing -- interrupted from the operatic diva's singing.
You can see the new Duxotar, Lord Iltus Mhartis and the other Westcrown Dottari, including officers Savois Tiri and Saria Roccin, also briefly interrupted from their revels.
While you don't have line of sight to the fastidiously clean Dwarven tinkerer, Rolan -- or the young, beautiful girls Amaya & Tarvi -- you assume they are still in their tables.
Of course Vizio is likely behind the bar though you don't see him.
It is also possible that young Lord Lodros Mhartis and Harbormaster Casarus Vitallain are still present, talking about the Scion's upcoming campaign to rid the sewers of the Xvart 'king' Whitechin -- though they have probably left a minute ago.
You know Stiglor -- the disgraced Dottari 'Durotas' has left -- as well as Rance Lucca of the Devildrome and Lady Sascar Tilernos have left several minutes ago.
. . . .
Then your gaze shifts to what everyone is looking at on the floor -- presumably what has stunned their party: Haphazardly rolling or tumbling on the floor are several wood-carved coins, each carved with the Holy Symbol of MAMMON, the Arch-Devil.
Presumably, these little wooden coins just manifested in Vizio's Tavern and have fallen to the floor or on tables -- causing everyone in the main room to astonishedly cease their party for a second and look at them.
Out of the corner of your periphery, hard to see from your angle, you see the young girl Tarvi stoop to pick one up for inspection. The Dottari officer Saria Roccin has one in her fingers, having just picked it up. Little coins with the Holy symbol of Mammon, Hell's personification of greed and the lust for gold and gems.
Lore(cosmology):1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20 Lore(society):1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16 What do I know of Mammon, and his relation to Asmodeus. Is he allied with the ruling parties in Cheliax in general, and Westcrown in particular?
Male Medium Human Gestalt Brawler (Snakebite Striker)/Unchained Rogue 1 | HP 12/12 | AC 17, T 15, FF 12 | CMD 16 | F+4 R+7 W+0 | Init +6 | Perc +4 (+5 vs traps) | Speed 30ft | Active Conditions: None.
Arrus laughs sheepishly when Janiven gives him a look. He stands and turns to watch events unfold in the common room, purposely avoiding her gaze.
Oh... never mind. he mutters as the new scene takes hold.
Male Human Rogue(Phantom Thief)/Inquisitor(Urban Infiltrator) 1
Renzio, standing near the door so he could more easily overhear the Duxotar, peers out into the common room and spots the coins. "Hmm, that's a distinct possibility, but aren't they usually left at the scene? I don't think this is a crime scene at the moment." The young nobleman says in reply to Tik.
He then steps out of the backroom, and into the tavern proper. He draws his dagger, just in case.
Renzio takes the 'standard' precaution of drawing his dagger and, as he starts to take his first step to 'Move' into the common room of Vizio's Tavern, he sees a glowing, fiery marble or beed flying through the air through the window.
It bursts in a massive ball of eldritch fire that covers the entire common room of Vizio's Tavern. Luckily, all of you are in the private room.
Those singing in celebration a moment before, however, are all caught in the instantaneous inferno of eldritch flame.
"OOOOOOhhh, deary" Tik's whiskers stand on end, and he looks left and right, scanning for both foes and sources of cover, should another fireball come in.
Male Medium Human Gestalt Brawler (Snakebite Striker)/Unchained Rogue 1 | HP 12/12 | AC 17, T 15, FF 12 | CMD 16 | F+4 R+7 W+0 | Init +6 | Perc +4 (+5 vs traps) | Speed 30ft | Active Conditions: None.
Well... this just got interesting. Janiven! To the back of this room! The order may seem uncouth or abrupt against what she's used to from nobles that frequent this place, but the situation certainly became less than polite.
Outside of Vizio's Tavern looking in, Palaveen, Tiefling Cleric of Asmodeus, smiles under his soft-skinned horns, confident in his ambitious plots. His rottweiler, Scabby, stands guard beside him, jaws firmly clenched in a readied snarl, looking ready to pounce.
Palaveen shifts his head slightly to his left where two Tiefling twins stand-- Vethamer having just thrown a bead from a Fireball Necklace into Vizio's Tavern, and Ostengo having just conjured the wooden coins of Mammon. "Well done, Bastards." He looks right to yet another Tiefling standing nearby, "Dravano, remember to leave at least one survivor. The Bastards have a reputation to build."
Dravano The Digger turns to his soft-looking boss, Dravano's thick, oversized fangs creating a perpetual grin that hides his disappointment at Palaveen's instruction of mercy. "The Digger isn't good with remembering about survivors." Dravano looks hungrily at Vizio's Tavern, his jagged claws and horns as menacing as the spikes on his armor.
Palaveen of Asmodeus shrugs off The Digger's complaint. "Very well, Dravano, you can return to the lair with the twins and me -- Gornych is an ambitious Bastard; he will gladly lead the assault in your stead." And Palaveen begins to walk briskly away with the Tiefling twins, Vethamer and Ostengo -- an outraged Dravano The Digger with nothing to do but follow the Cleric and leader of The Bastards of Erebus, perhaps with the lesson of not talking back to Palaveen when given instructions next time.
For his part, Tiefling Gornych smiles with such a task, leading the assault on Vizio's Tavern instead of just following Dravano The Digger.
Janiven Key 24.8: Moves into the main room of Vizio's Tavern and yells in horror and fear at seeing her boss and friend, VIZIO, apparently dead from the Fireball blast.
Arrus Volso 23.6:
Baroness Delour Aulamaxa 20 : Prone on the ground with a few sycophants, burned and hurt
Bastards of Erebus -- Two Tiefling Rogues 16.6: about to run into Vizio's Tavern with their rapiers
Talia Fireskin 15.6 :
Renzio Arvanxi 14.2 :
Lord Iltus Mhartis, Duxotar 13.6: Failed his Ref Save and took all damage from the Fireball
Gornych, Bastard of Erebus (lieutenant) 13.1 : Getting ready to enter Vizio's Tavern, wields a nice battleaxe
Savois Tiri, young Dottari Officer 12.3 : Failed Ref Save, has a Staggered look in her eye
Saria Roccin, Dottari Officer 10.5 : With excellent Reflexes, avoided much of the Fireball damage
First to react, Janiven Key opens the private room door and, after looking back at Arrus Volso with whom she was talking, races into the main room of Vizio's Tavern.
She immediately rushes to the bar and yells out in sorrow, fear and anger, "Vizio, Nooo, not Vizio!" And you can hear tears and chokes as though Vizio's Tavern no longer has an owner.
Inside the main room of Vizio's Tavern, from your vantage point looking from within the private room, five Dottari troops are dead. Lord Iltus Mhartis, the drunk Duxotar of the Dottari has apparently suffered the the full effects of the Fireball blast and looks badly hurt -- and more than a little flat-footed.
The two Dottari officers, young Durotas Savois Tiri looks half dead from the blast, a Staggered, glazed look over her eye. The other Durotas, however, Saria Roccin has apparently taken very little of the Fireball's blast.
The famous opera diva, Baroness Delour Aulamaxa, has fallen prone on the floor from her burns, her partying sycophants look dead on the floor.
You can not see the other customers: the Dwarf tinkerer, or the two young women.
. . . .
From inside the private room you can easily enter the main room of Vizio's Tavern and ready yourselves for Gornych and The Bastards of Erebus -- or Move out the back of Vizio's Tavern and take the "long way' in.
Male Medium Human Gestalt Brawler (Snakebite Striker)/Unchained Rogue 1 | HP 12/12 | AC 17, T 15, FF 12 | CMD 16 | F+4 R+7 W+0 | Init +6 | Perc +4 (+5 vs traps) | Speed 30ft | Active Conditions: None.
Arrus stares at the scene and takes in details as he starts to back away, inching towards the back door. He finally breaks his attention and turns to open it and exit through the back.
Just outside the door he stops to tighten the cloth wraps on his fists. Clenching them he heads towards the front, thinking to come into the main entrance and flank the entire common-room scene with his companions.
Just as he approaches the last corner to the front-side of the tavern, he slows down and just pokes his head around to peek and survey the entrance...
[double move] circling around to the front of the tavern
Janiven Key 24.8: Moves into the main room of Vizio's Tavern and yells in horror and fear at seeing her boss and friend, VIZIO, apparently dead from the Fireball blast.
Arrus Volso 23.6: Moves out the back-entrance to circle around the Bastards (in order to Flank)
Baroness Delour Aulamaxa 20: Prone on the ground with a few sycophants, burned and hurt
Bastards of Erebus 16.6: With Rapiers drawn two Roguish Tieflings run into Vizio's Tavern -- both immediately go to where the young girls, Amaya and Tarvi are hiding in fear, half-burned to death, with the Dwarven tinkerer, Rolan. The Bastards move in position Flanking Rolan, and raise their wicked needles and squeak in a surprisingly high-pitch voice, "Looks like you're first, Dwarf!" You can see they're using their Flanking advantage to find precise vulnerabilities in the fastidiously clean Dwarf's stocky frame -- the jugular vein or groin or other tender spot on the Tinkerer where they can sneak in their blades. Rolan, Westcrown's watchmaker, lock-maker and all-round tinkerer, may only have another six seconds of life.
