Age of Ashes (Team Alseta)

Game Master Delta Arena

Ardoinel nods.

"And now that the information is out, how long do you think the Scarlet Triad will continue to view you as useful? How long until you are another loose end to be severed the way you severed Calmont? You're a businesswoman, Voz. You know now's the best time to cut your losses. Before they cut you."

Intimidation: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20

”A lesser punishment? A shorter sentence? For what crime? Calmont was the one who set a building on fire, not I.” Nonetheless, she lowers her weapon.

”You are right, there is not much to gain now that the location of Alseta’s Ring is known. And you do, in fact, outnumber me. Even with my minions.” As she says that two skeletons walk into the cavern, one from either side.

”I’ll gather my research and walk away.” She turns her back on you and begins collecting her journal and other scattered books, scrolls and notes.

"I'd find better business partners to work with next time," Ardoinel says. "The Inner Sea is changing, and the days of treating people as property are ending. Even if you care not about others, treating them with respect and dignity will get you more profits in the long run. It pays better to be a good person."

"Oh, I'm quite sure that taking that ring could get you into trouble for theft, especially since Alseta has Hellknights descendants," Netkin says without thinking. "I guess it could be argued that you directly or indirectly influenced Calmont into committing his various misdemeanors - which is not true, of course, but harder to prove when people are already inclined to be distrustful of you."

"There's the chaos that erupted in Citadel Altaerein, a direct consequence of the aiudaras being opened into the Mwangi jungle. And necromancy - while not strictly illegal - is quite a big no-no, considering the nation's history with the, um, plague of undead. And of course, I guess that allying with a foreign power to disturb one of Breachhill's political ally could technically count as treason, depending how you twist it, of course. I guess you could make a point of directly threatening both Breachhill and Citadel Altaerein's security."

"All a matter of legalese and more or less good-faith accusations, I'm sure, but, um, I don't think... it would go well... if you returned. Realistically. If only because you've made a lot of enemies. "

"You still have the ring with you, then?"

"Netkin, it's not a literal piece of jewelry. It's a group of aiudara arranged in a circle, effectively a crossroads for the entire network of elfgates."

"Oooh! Then that's the theft part we can cross out. What a relief!"

"Um, everything else still probablyyy stands."

"But if she is leaving, should we not eat her? Raising the dead is pretty common no? Most know how to do it, though I am unsure if there is a soul to them really. Do your skeletons feel pain?" Resa ask, with a straight face.

“Undeath is uncommon and undesired, outside Geb,” Ellaeaanda tranquilly responds to Resa, unperturbed by her questions. “Forever is the cycle of life and death and rebirth, but eat you all who leave?”

She laughs at the mention of theft for the ring, shaking her head.

"I will find better business partners elsewhere. As for your false accusations, you would still need evidence for your claims. Something you do not possess. I have evidence in my ledgers detailing when the scroll was stolen. As well as marking missed work dates by Calmont. The chaos at the Citadel also began before I came, as the Bumblebrashers can attest. I also never dealt with a foreign power, merely a merchant’s guild, as their registries in different nations can demonstrate. As for necromancy being frowned upon by some, that might be the case, by you still can’t convict someone for it.”

’And no, skeletons do not feel pain. Their spirits are long gone. They are no more than puppets, no different than your little robot.”

’Now, if you’ll excuse me, I will leave this place,” she says as she tries to make her way past you. ”And I promise, you will never see me again.”

Ellaeaanda, they are resistant to burns, be they thermal or electrical, lacerations and puncture wounds.

"Oh dear - my bad then." Netkin is not quite sure that things would go that smoothly if she ever went back to Breachhill, but at least she seemed confident and knowledgeable (certainly more than he was!), and that mattered almost as much as evidence.

He has no problem letting her go where she wants - and indeed steps aside to let her through.

”And I promise, you will never see me again.”

“Promise made, promise kept,” Ellaeaanda acknowledges the half-elf, taking her at her word. “But if Breachill you abandon, a void you leave. A bear may die, but its cave lives forever, home to another. And so should it be with your store. Transfer ownership of your bookstore to Netkin and his grandmother, here and now, so that the cycle may continue unbroken.”

"With myself gone, possession of the bookstore will revert back to the town itself. From there, it will be up to the council to decide what to do with the property.”

I will wait for Cerrus and Ardoinel’s call.

"Perhaps that is a good idea though, that way we can tell them you were not a part of this? You had no idea of Calmont plans, and the pain of such betrayal you must leave? Surely they will need a story from us on why she left? Leaving the past behind IS painful, even if you have little to it. We already have so little sometimes." Resa points out

Netkin gapes when Ellaeaanda suggests he should inherit the bookshop. "Wait... What?! Why me?" His face instantly turns beetroot red.

But the halfling might have protested too much - when Voz dismisses that idea, he can hardly hide his disappointment. "Oh... Well. As I said. That, er, probably would not have been doable."

"And I think everyone kinda knows why Voz would leave, at this point... I think. It's not exactly a big secret. Or at least, not one very well-kept..."

Ardoinel shakes his head.

"Resa, your commitment to seeing the best in people is truly noble. Worthy of Sarenrae herself. But I don't think Voz wants your mercy."

He pointedly does not move when Voz approaches them, blocking her exit.

"And Torag does not take kindly to betrayals of one's clan and neighbors. At the very least, you should make amends to Breachill, regardless of what you think of the town and its people. Only then will your slate be clean enough to start over someplace else."

I read the post in OOC, I'm disinclined to let Voz just walk away.

"Make amends? I have done nothing to the town or its people.”

’I should have seen Calmont's betrayal coming. It should have been obvious he was the one who took the scroll. But it was not. I failed to notice it, and I blame myself for that. That much is painful. Leaving the town behind will not be.”

’Now, step out of the way so that I may leave.” Her voice makes it clear that the conversation is at an end.

Ellaeaanda nods and makes room for Voz to pass peacefully. “Truth she speaks. Gold from slavers and skeletons from graves, but no town did she burn. Calmont’s crimes are not hers.”

She gazes past Lirayne with eyes seeing and unseeing. “May your fate be true.”

"Make amends? I have done nothing to the town or its people.”

’I should have seen Calmont's betrayal coming. It should have been obvious he was the one who took the scroll. But it was not. I failed to notice it, and I blame myself for that. That much is painful. Leaving the town behind will not be.”

’Now, step out of the way so that I may leave.” Her voice makes it clear that the conversation is at an end.

"You spied on them, and you planned to sell them out to your 'partners.' When the Scarlet Triad would come for Alseta's Ring, where do you think they'd establish their first marketplace? Their 'warehouse?' In Breachill. And they wouldn't give the town a choice. What would stop them from making Breachill's people their first 'products?' Your actions put the town at risk, whether you care or not. And handing the Ring over to them would allow them to abuse. The power of magic and the wisdom of the elves must be used responsibly. The only reason you've avoided consequences is because you were stopped before your actions brought harm. But I'd be a fool to imagine you won't start some other callous scheme in the next town. You think anyone who'd trust you is naive and stupid, like Breachill's people. And you think the same of us, do you not?"

Netkin tugs on Ardoinel's sleeve until he bends down. "As much as I agree with you," he whispers urgently in his ear, "I don't see a way of getting her back to Breachill outside of using force... And, um, I'm not sure I want to be killing someone else today...? Do you?"

"We agreed to let her live...I won't break that promise," Ardoinel says grimly, fixing Voz with a hard stare. "But should our paths ever cross again, Voz, do not expect the same kindness, unless you have truly changed for the better."

Intimidation: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19

Then he makes way for her.

"I knew not of their dealing with slaves. My deal was to secure Alseta's Ring. That was all. Now the Aiudaras are left to you. Do with that as you will. Farewell."

She walks past Ardoinel and makes her way out, dissapearing pass the entrance of the cavern along with her two skeletons.

You are left on your own in the cavern.

With Lirayne gone, Ellaeaanda goes to examine the half-elf’s campsite, paying particular attention to any equipment that was left behind. “Reveal the unseen future,” she intones, summoning a softly glowing orb of pure white light.

Cast Light. Perception +10 to search Voz’s campsite.

Netkin goes through whatever possessions Voz has left behind. Hopefully this includes all of her research. Hopefully he beats Cerrus to it.

Perception (Aid Another): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23

Resa stays out of this one, being new to town and unfamiliar with their customs. But she did seem at ease they let peace carry the day. "Perhaps our assistance in helping one on a better journey in life will come back to help us one day. Desna gives us the freedom to assist all travelers, even those who work against us."

Cerrus stares at Lirayne as she walks away. "I sure hope letting her walk away doesn't cause even more harm to the town or those that live at the citadel."

After several long moments, Cerrus sighs and hefts his pack, setting his mind to present tasks. "Let's see if we find anything helpful here. Maybe some of her research notes found their way into a nook or corner."

+7 Perception

Most of Voz’s research was in the journals that she took with her. Fortunately, three pages had slipped off from her. Unfortunately, these pages are not written in Taldane.

There is something else, besides basic sustenance and a bedroll, that she left behind. It is a silver medallion depicting two faces in profile. The faces are looking away from each other and are connected as if they were a single head.

Netkin examines the medallion, and inspects the pages. "Oh, that's not in Taldane! Mmm.... Let me see..."

Occultism (medallion): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13
Society (decipher writing): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22

Like Netkin, Cerrus has a keen interest in both the medallion and the loose papers. He examines both with the esoteric in mind.

Esoteric Lore w/ Diverse Lore (medallion): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (3) + 11 = 14
Esoteric Lore w/ Diverse Lore (papers): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (9) + 11 = 20

Ellaeaanda quietly looks over Netkin’s shoulder at the pages and medallion.

Society (just figure out the language for the pages): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15
Religion (medallion): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11

Cast Detect Magic. Cast Read Aura on medallion.
Ellaeaanda knows Draconic, Elven, Fey, Gnome, and Goblin—are the pages in any of those languages?

Ardoinel scowls as Voz walks away.

"I hope so too, Cerrus."

As the group gathers to examine what she's left behind, he joins them and looks at it.

Society (Decipher Writing): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17
Religion (Medallion): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24

"A holy symbol, it's of Alseta. The Welcomer, goddess of doorways, portals, thresholds and the transition from year to year. While not elven herself, we venerate her too as a protector of the aiudara and a keeper of elven traditions. You can find this image on many of our doorways. It's presumably why the place we're headed is named for her."

It's obvious what the medallion depicts, but I didn't wanna just jump in and SAY it. :P

Yep, Ardoinel nailed it. The medallion is non-magical holy symbol of Alseta.

Cerrus and Netkin recognize the language as Necril.

Ellaeaanda slowly nods at Ardoinel’s explanation of the medallion. “Unlikely worshipper Voz is; though lacking magic, Alseta’s symbol may be the key that unlocks the aiudara.” With seemingly nothing more to discover here, she begins strolling towards the eastern passage to see what awaits deeper in the cave, but allows those with darkvision, like Resa, to lead.

Upon realizing that the papers are written in Necril, Cerrus shares that information with the group.

"Certainly not a common language. Those markings here and here are indicative of Necril - the language of the undead." Cerrus shudders slightly as he speaks those words. "Can anyone translate into common?"

"I can't say I've ever come across that one," Netkin shakes his head. "But if you give a bilingual dictionary, a solid grammar school, and a couple of weeks, I'm sure I could decipher it!"

Before you advance deeper into the caverns, you do get 135xp for the encounter with Voz! Also, I'm now realizing that I never gave you the 100xp, for learning Voz's version of Breachill's history. So you can have those as well!

As Ellaeaanda begins to venture into the eastern passage, it soon becomes obvious that the cave systems goes on for a very long distance, which explains why Voz had prepared herself with crates of provisions, and had established some bedding for herself.

Erratum in my previous post: I meant a grammar book.

Netkin peeks into the dark tunnels. "What do we do? Should we just return to Breachill with what we found?..."

Ellaeaanda shakes her head in reply to Cerrus. “That language is dead to me. But the dead speak beneath Citadel Altaerin, if translation we seek,” she adds, referring to the skeletons they had previously encountered. With the ageless patience of elves, she seems in no rush to immediately explore the cave.

I’m fine with either pushing ahead down the eastern tunnel or going back to the citadel to ask the skeletons to translate the pages in Necril. If there’s no time pressure, I’d probably prefer the latter—it would confirm our wisdom in leaving the skeletons alive undead.

"That seems wise...if we can keep the ruse up that we're armigers without Alak to vouch for us," Ardoinel replies. "But I'd advise we think of a way to keep people away from this place until we return. We don't want some trapper or vagabond to just wander in seeking shelter and awaken something. Many a dragon has been roused to wreak ruin from such intrusions."

He coughs more smoke, and in the back of his mind there's a dark, rumbling chuckle.

So, I take it that that's the plan? You are heading back to the citadel?

Ellaeaanda shakes her head in reply to Cerrus. “That language is dead to me. But the dead speak beneath Citadel Altaerin, if translation we seek,” she adds, referring to the skeletons they had previously encountered. With the ageless patience of elves, she seems in no rush to immediately explore the cave.

I’m fine with either pushing ahead down the eastern tunnel or going back to the citadel to ask the skeletons to translate the pages in Necril. If there’s no time pressure, I’d probably prefer the latter—it would confirm our wisdom in leaving the skeletons alive undead.

Netkin's face lights up. "Ooooh, I had not thought of that! Good idea, Ellaeaanda! We could ask them! And secure the rest of the citadel while we're back..."

Cerrus nods in agreement with Ellaeaanda. "I think returning to the Citadel is a good idea. We can potentially gain into Voz's doings if the undead are willing to translate. And, if they don't trust us without Alak, then we will be forced to make good on my offer to the goblins to finish cleaning up the citadel."

He then turns to Ardoinel. "Do you have any ideas on how to guard entrance to the cave without drawing more attention?"

"But I'd advise we think of a way to keep people away from this place until we return. We don't want some trapper or vagabond to just wander in seeking shelter and awaken something."

"Less is more," Ellaeaanda advises. "Adding cover or deterrents creates more clues to reveal the unseen. Let nature continue to conceal with her mossy vines." Satisfied that additional precautions are unnecessary for the cave, the elf starts heading back to the Citadel's basement, where the skeletons are.

"That's exactly what I was going to suggest," Ardoinel replies.

Just to clarify, there's a way to Citadel Altaerin in the cave we're in, right? I was under the impression that's why the Citadel was important, so I was kind of confused that we came to this entrance that's apparently somewhere else.

Being unable to read, Resa has stayed quiet during the discussions, primary role of hers here to just watch and try and figure out what everyone was saying with what she knew. But when the discussion of the going back comes up, she does offer forward, "But we may also need to know how these caves end. If we do not feel so tired, perhaps we can ensure that it is safe, and then go back? I am unsure really what to do next. Are we now heros? We solved the issues the town had.... What now? I somewhat like it here."

So what is the plan? Are you all heading back to the citadel? Are you doing anything in or around the caverns in the meantime?

Cerrus ponders the party's next move - back to town to share information and find a translator for the papers, or push deeper into the cave. He was about to speak in favor of investigating the cave, but seeing Ellaeaanda walking back towards town, Cerrus bites his tongue.

Before following Ellaeaanda towards Breachill, Cerrus answers Resa's questions. "We became heroes the moment we all banded together to fight the fires in town hall and save the villagers. We continue to be heroes when we put ourselves in danger. And, if you like here, then perhaps you've found a home."

With that, Cerrus exits the cave and heads back towards town.

... the elf starts heading back to the Citadel's basement, where the skeletons are.

I tried my best to make it clear what Ellaeaanda wants to do. To avoid further ambiguity, I'll state it ooc: Ellaeaanda would go back to town, through the trap door in the tavern, and into the crypt in the citadel's basement, where we met the skeletons. There she would hope that a PC with better diplomatic skills would ask the skeletons to translate the pages in Necril.

With her easy, graceful stride, Ellaeaanda continues walking ahead of Cerrus back to town.

Cerrus ponders the party's next move - back to town to share information and find a translator for the papers, or push deeper into the cave. He was about to speak in favor of investigating the cave, but seeing Ellaeaanda walking back towards town, Cerrus bites his tongue.

Before following Ellaeaanda towards Breachill, Cerrus answers Resa's questions. "We became heroes the moment we all banded together to fight the fires in town hall and save the villagers. We continue to be heroes when we put ourselves in danger. And, if you like here, then perhaps you've found a home."

With that, Cerrus exits the cave and heads back towards town.

"Wise words, Cerrus," Ardoinel adds with a nod. He follows the others back to Breachill.

The walk back to Breachill, and to the Pickled Ear, is uneventful, but you arrived at the eatery during peak hours. In spite of that, Roxie catches sight of you as soon as you enter, and rushes forwards to block your way.

”Whatcha lot doin’ back here? Nothin’ good I s’pose. If y’all are not ‘ere to eat, then y’all have no business comin’ back ‘ere,” she greets you.

Deception (Lie): 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 5 + 1 = 7 HAHA!!!!

"Oh... um, Roxie... Yes. I believe we just about... forgot something, back there?" Netkin stammers, completely thrown off balance. "I think I forgot my... er... hankie. Could you please... step aside? Please...?"