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Sounds fun. It'll be nice to have the healbot pressure not completely on me. Anything you can share flavorwise, or is it a surprise?
Oh, also: I opened up a Carrion Crown recruitment. Any of you all should feel free to apply if you're interested
What can you tell us about yourself, Glubglub?
Imagine it: an adventure path where the world is controlled by Amatsu. Any idea what kind of character the new person will be playing?
Update: I got selected for the campaign, so I'm not going to be running one. Sorry! I still might end up running a Carrion Crown campaign though if I feel up to it.
I've applied to a Strange Aeons game and if I don't get it I'm thinking about running it myself. Would any of the three of you be interested in playing?
My move's done and I have internet again so I'll be able to post in the next scene
I am moving so I will probably not be able to post this week, sorry!
Victory! Hail Mazmezz! On to the church, I believe?
There's nothing on the needle. I figured that Charm Person would solve the problem so I decided to take the opportunity to have a little fun. Amatsu's trying to get Bo to do a version of Mazmezz's obedience on Denton. Because have you heard the good news about spider demons?
The woman was alone, lonely little creature with no horde of friends to protect her, no one to notice when a spider's web ensnared her. This would be easy--so easy, that Amatsu could not help but take the opportunity to toy with her prey. "Greetings, dear Boluisia," says Amatsu, stepping forward and bowing, far lower than what would be required for a gatekeeper--or even a king. And when her bow reaches its lowest point, she looks up at the gatekeeper--and the words she speaks are neither Taldan nor Minkain, but the guttural language she used back at the tannery. "Dearest Boluisia, my friends and I come on behalf of the Archbaron, who bares a simple request: that the gate be closed, and that this notice be placed upon the gate. Such a simple request, is it not? And so easy to fulfill," she says, as she stretches back up, like a snake uncoiling itself before striking at a mouse. "Denton--he may disapprove. But I am sure you can do a simple favor for me and convince him to do this, yes? The decrees are so minor--surely you can persuade him." "And of course, I would never ask a favor without offering something in return. There is a secret remedy we use in Minkai, to relieve the pains of a long day of labor. I will tell you this secret," she says, reaching into her robe and extracting a bone-white needle from Hime's body. "Do this for Denton, and I promise you will face no objections from him. Tonight, when you sleep, take this pin, and press it into his skin, where the shoulder meets the neck. He will find it painful at first, but do it enough and all his pains will be relieved, I promise you that." Amatsu smiles, tight lipped, and stretches out her hand, offering the needle to the gatekeeper,
I'd definitely love a monstrous transformation for Amatsu at some point. Of the corruptions, accursed, lich and vampire all really speak to me (and sidebar: why are spider vampires not more of a thing?)
I think the gate was next?
Alright, now we bar the door, burn the place to the ground and on to the next place, right?
So do we have a plan c?
Sounds like a plan. Anyone else, feel free to take the lead; Amatsu has neither the spells nor the skills to clear this room. Unless you want me to start spoiling all the food that's already been served.
So what's our plan B? I have charm person prepared and this guy seems like the low will save type but even if that works when it wears off he can just tear the post down. Should we beat some sense into him?
Maybe "start a riot" shouldn't be my go to plan for everything but I am Chaotic Evil...
Unsurprisingly, the bartender seems to have turned hostile, which makes Amatsu smile to herself. She considers simply setting back and watching what unfolds, but a plan has begun to form in her head and Justimar is doing an excellent job distracting the oaf. Glancing one last time around the bar, Amatsu skitters towards the kitchen, getting as close to the pot as she can--though still leaving about ten feet between it and her, and attempting to find a spot where she can still be unnoticed. Once she does, she begins to chant, gesturing at the pot and whispering to herself in a strange, foreign tongue. Abyssal:
Wormturn fleshfall maggotreign poisongrow
When she finishes her chant, she walks to the pot, not bothering to be subtle, and dips her finger into the brew. "My lord, it seems that you have greater things to worry about than decrees," she hisses at the proprietor before turning to the rest of the tavern. "The food this man is serving is spoiled! Who knows what he has been trying to pass off as meat? Praise be to Asmodeus that the Archbaron has protected us with his decree!"
The corruptions are sounding extremely disappointing from browsing the product thread. I had high hopes for that book but it's sounding like a pass.
Anybody gotten hold of Horror Adventures yet?
As the party enters, Amatsu lightly brushes against Justimar's shoulder before finding a quiet corner in the bar to observe its patrons; she looks for anyone who might cause trouble--people who look like the fighting type, or anyone who was at the priestess's rally the day before.
Works for me as well
"I have no objections to this plan," says Amatsu, as she begins to comb her doll's ragged hair. "Kyandoru can stay behind, and ensure that the mansion is not disturbed. For now. But soon she'll have to make her debut, won't she?"
From the description, I'm not sure anyone would be able to recognize her, but I'm fine with leaving the ghost behind regardless; gotta have something to whip out for when we really need to start crushing the peasants. With regards to splitting up the party, I worry about a character getting cornered with something they can't deal with or conversely someone getting left out from an encounter, so I'd vote stay together, but I'm fine with whatever everyone else wants to do.
"Stay here, hungry daughter. I will be back to fetch you in just a moment," says Amatsu, following the others to Razelago's office.
"She is this mansion's owner," sighs Amatsu, smiling as she returns to stroking the creature's cheek. "Quite a fearsome landlady you have, Cimri, but I think I've convinced her to forgive the lack of rent. For now."
Without a word, Amatsu reaches into the tub to pick out the metal from the liquid remains.
"The dead envy the living. They fear us and hate us and most of all they love us because they yearn to be us and the only way to do that is to devour us," whispers Amatsu, smiling, as she reaches out a hand to touch the creature's face, pressing against it, smoothing out it's skin like wax. "Oh, you are so beautiful. Beautiful daughter, what happened here? Did you spill your own blood, or did another?" she continues. "Can you speak or has death taken your tongue?" "She had a name, once, when she was a son or daughter of this city, but I fear death has stolen it from her--and what kind of mother would deny her daughter a name? Kyandoru, you are so beautiful--are you ready to serve your mother?"
It's just like Pokemon Go!
Amatsu watches as Justimar and Arruk attack the poor pathetic creature. She had never seen an undead monster before, only dreamed of them and listened to Hime's whisperings to her in the night, so she had no idea if this monster was undead or not. But she had a hunch--this place was supposed to be haunted, after all. And wouldn't it be a joy to find a new playmate for Hime... Without a word, Amatsu retrieves her doll from between the folds of her robe and a needle from her hair, which she then plunges into her doll with her eyes still locked on the advancing creature.
Also still here
Just posting to confirm that I am still around. I don't feel Amatsu has anything to add at the moment.
Amatsu had stayed towards the back of the crowd during the speech--a speech she found incredibly distasteful, of course. She was more than disappointed that such talk of rooting out evil and restoring honor was allowed in a nation in thrall to the Ruby Throne but she was going accustomed to such laxness. At least it allowed her to do her work more easily. She was looking for an opportunity to cause a little chaos when the woman disappeared back into the temple. At first she thought she would have to abandon her plans--but the woman had left her two sons at the front of the church--they might be even more easy to turn the crowd against. She wasn't about to denounce the evils of truth and love herself, of course. During the speech she had watched the crowd, looking for anyone who looked like they might not have appreciated the words of the priestess--and looked like they were willing to argue the point. Standing as far back as she can she chants quietly in Abyssal, weaving a spell over them before approaching.
"Excuse me. This speech. The woman's words--are they not treason? She seeks to bring an army--this Reclamation--down on our heads. And she expects us to do so based on--a mask? She must think us all fools, yes?" says Amatsu, exaggerating her accent as she speaks. "This is not my country. But if it were--I would never allow such words to go unchallenged. The woman leaves her children," says Amatsu, mockingly describing the young men who are probably older than her, "Children to watch over us. She thinks so little of this town, it is clear. I can say nothing. But you--you could say something, yes? Show them that this town does not need her as a mother hen, not when she seeks to lead us all into the fox's den."
"Kanojo wa shūkyōde wa nai nodesuga, watashi wa akuma sūhai ni kanojo o henkan suru tame ni nozonde imasu," says Amatsu, smiling and speaking rapidly in Minkain. Of course, no one can understand her, and once everyone looks suitably perplexed she laughs before speaking again. Minkain:
She's not religious but I'm hoping to convert her to demon worship "I am sorry, I forget how far away I am from my home sometimes," she says. She looks at the sheriff and at Cimri--so there was familial drama between the two; the aunt a sheriff and her niece a criminal! How utterly delightful. She could not resist but to pluck a string or two between them. "And I know so little of your ways. This Sword Knight--she is a priestess. But not of the Crimson One--Asmodeus? You are not here to arrest us for hearing the priestess speak, are you?" Cimri had not told us of you either. I am not surprised that she is the niece of the sheriff--I can see the resemblance between the two of you," she says--and now comes the chance to twist a knife, if only slightly, to sow a little strife. "She was a customer at my apothecary, you see--we were chatting while she browsed my wares, and soon I found my first friend in this strange land. She was buying herbs for childb---for pain, as I recall. But I have spoken out of turn; forgive me."
"We do not have such a luxury in Minkai," says Amatsu, admiring the filigree and the intricate carvings of the carriage. It was a bit baroque, especially compared the more austere fashions of her homeland, but Amatsu was still capable of knowing luxury when she saw it. And she had not expected such an ostentatious show of loyalty from the driver. She wonders--how much of this is sincere, and how much of it is for show. "I would sometimes take a palanquin when visiting other estates. This--I imagine that it is much better. Horses are so much faster than people. Less fun to break, I imagine." On the ride over, while playing with her doll, she notices Justimar watching her speak to Hime; she smiles at him while bringing the doll closer to her chest. I take it that as a Lord of House Leroung, you are a cultured man. This luxury must be no novelty to you, of course. Going at such speed--little Hime is a great comfort to me," she says, as she puts her doll back into the folds of her robe. "On journeys back in Minkai, I would sometimes compose poetry to pass the time. The events of the past day have given me much for inspiration. Are you fond of poetry, Lord Leroung?" before continuing to speak. "Hungry ghosts now wait
Hey, the great thing about spiders is that all those extra arms makes them the best at hugging!
Amatsu rides with Vance and Justimar ; she says almost nothing on the ride back to Longacre, except to occasionally mutter something to the strange doll she keeps with her at all times and quietly giggling. Once they arrive in Longacre, Amatsu mingles among the crowd. As Justimar suggested, she does not wear the sash that Razelago gave them, though she does keep it stashed in the folds of her robe, just in case. If she bumps into anyone, she quickly bows and apologizes--entirely in Minkain, of course--before scurrying off. Occasionally, she speaks in stilted, heavily accented Taldane, inquiring as to the nature of the gathering, but mostly she is silent--and mostly, she is unseen, given that she is a good deal smaller than most of the Chelish people. She looks for any citizens that seem particularly enthusiastic about the upcoming events--they would be more likely to get caught up in the moment and reveal what the purpose of the speech was--and with any luck, they might even say something treasonous. The things people would speak of when they thought no one was listening could be so delightfully venomous.
"The church of Iomedae. I am surprised that Thrune allows the inheritor to be worshiped openly at all. Her followers are a troublesome lot," hisses Amatsu. She had heard much of the cult since her arrival in Avistan--she had hoped that at very least a nation devoted to Hell would have had the good sense to chase them all from its soil. "But perhaps--let a hundred flowers bloom, if only so you can cut them all down in their height? So--delightful." "I must agree with Lord Leroung, at least in part. While the people must know that House Fex is watching--some eyes are better if they are unseen. It's one thing to hear what people say when they know that you are watching--much better to hear what they say when they think you are absent. Perhaps some of us could wear the sashes, while the others keep them hidden--the better to strike unseen?"
"Such a delightful meal you have prepared for us," says Amatsu at the spread of food that Cimri provides them. "It reminds me a bit of home. You must excuse me though, if my table manners are lacking--I am a stranger in this land still," she says, as she begins to partake of the food. She fills her glass half full with wine, but she does not partake of it during the meal, only occasionally bringing the glass to her lips and feigning drinking it. She laughs as Justimar so swiftly imbibes his drink--always trying to stay two steps ahead, that one is. "As I said before--our patron has the most excellent taste," says Amatsu as she withdraws her treasure from its case. "Blue whinnis. A lovely flower. The petals, when ground with a mortar and pestle, produce a sap that is quite--potent. The slightest prick--and you are asleep, just like a princess in a fairy story. It is quite useful for--surgery." "Oh, I am afraid I must demur; I've had far too much to drink," says Amatsu with a little laugh, holding her sleeve to her face. She watches as Justimar and then Arruk take their turns. "It looks like your competition will be quite fierce, dearest Cimri. Show these boys how to make proper use of a knife, yes?"
"Oh, dear master Justimar of House Leroung, you say you don't mean to dance with your words, but they bely so much. You ask what I am but do you mean my race? My nation? My power? You speak of the creatures we summoned so I shall assume the last. I am a mage, like you, though your power and mine are not the same, I suspect. The creature you summoned lasted quite long, indicating a conjurer of some power--yet the creature itself was fairly weak in the grand scheme of things, was it not," says Amatsu, raising Hime to her lips to cover her mouth as she laughs--a quite girlish giggle, considering the circumstances. This noble was intrigued; how delightful--it was time to weave her web. "And my dear little Yurei is no monster. She saved us from that cur back at the tannery, did she not? There are spiders far worse than my sweet little ghost, I can promise you that," continues Amatsu, pulling Hime away from her mouth. "And surely a krenshar is not so strange. A little frightful, perhaps--but this is a nation of frights, is it not? The things I have heard--well, best not to speak them aloud."
"Such a lovely mansion. All the stories say that it haunted; I do hope that is true," says Amatsu, smiling slightly as they enter the ruined building. As they do, she removes from the folds of her robe a doll--it is dressed in a tiny white kimono, stained with dirt and something dark red, and someone has stitched two extra pairs of arms to it. "The whole thing could collapse at any moment, killing us all. Wouldn't that be beautiful?" Despite her words, Amatsu follows after Cimri with confidence, ignoring the creaking of the stairs under her feet.
"A krenshar. Our employer has delightful taste in pets," says Amatsu as they enter what appears to be an abandoned library. "Master Razelago. It is an honor to at last meet you. We had heard so little about you--but I am glad that you seem to have heard of us already," says Amatsu, not bothering to bow despite her words. "In Minkai, the true rulers so frequently sit behind a veil when they give their orders. So good to see that some things are true the world over. I am eager to see what sort of prize our veiled master has in store for us," she finishes with smile, following Cimri back out the door.
Justimar's slave, I think
"I look forward to proper introduction to him." hums Amatsu. "Such a strange choice of meeting place for government business. Do you Avistani do all your ruling in the shadows?" Amatsu summons up a new set of lights, glowing sickly green and heads towards the edge of town to avoid prying eyes on her way to the Ash House.
We might, as a group, want to consider tweaking our skills/traits somewhat, to cover the niches that Ghivinus and Ryde were going to fill.
Upon hearing the eagle's cry, Amatsu gives the room one more perfunctory look over, this time activating her magic as she does, before turning to leave the room. As she does, she touches Arruk on the arm, just for a second. "It is time for us to fly, less we become trapped in another spider's web," she says, glancing back at the others and then looking at Louslik. "One might want to hit that one over the head before we do, though," she whispers, her voice only audible to Arruk. "Lest he try and warn the sheriff of our escape." Amatsu heads to the hole in the wall where they initially made their entrance, wriggling through the gap just as she did when they first arrived. Once she passes through it, though, she does not immediately start to run; instead, she summons up her magic, and four ghostly green lights spring out from her hand, circling around her--but slowly their light shifts, becoming a more comforting dull yellow, like that of lanterns or torches, and they descend to a few feet off the ground, lining up in a row. The lights then march northwest, shaking as if they had hands carrying them along--and only then does Amatsu flee into the darkness.
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