+Downtiming Wizard has Magical Shorthand
+Access to spell granted by Society for Common spells (ex: Phantasmal Killer)
+GM decided the Task Level was based on the Scroll Level (ex: 7)
+Wizard succeeded at Magical Shorthand check using Assurance
+Wizard succeeded at Learn a Spell check using Assurance
= Wizard payed the difference between the spell's cost to learn and Earn Income table result, and added the spell to his spellbook.
Seems pretty legit to me but I'm wondering why there were two "checks" - I would probably do it as one.
"Þó samstarfsmenn mínir séu ósammála tel ég að þetta hafi verið dularfull panna, sem við gátum því miður ekki drepið vegna töfra." Anri adds, looking crossly at Elinil.
Skaldi:
Although my colleagues disagree, I believe that this was a mysterious pan, which we unfortunately could not kill due to magic.
Anri produces the letters, and hands to the man the one addressed "Dungrir Kelper", having re-sealed it forgerously after a "light read" back at the other village. She smiles painedly non-chalantly...
Spoiler:
Dunny,
I present the Deputy Marshals Anri Darkspur, Brennadara, Elinil Iomedaeson, Kazmukh Torson, and Revna Stigen. By order of the Kindom of Yggsdreth and by the power invested in me as Marshal of Said Kingdom, the five named individuals are authorized to utilize the Dawnsglen Lodge as they deem fit in the pursuit of justice against the criminal Akiros Ismort and any who swear loyalty to him, as well as any others actively engaging in banditry, poaching, or any other criminal activities in the area. Compensation for this consideration in the sum of fifty silver coins, presented with this letter, are to be considered down payment, with further compensation based on length of stay and amenities provided to be determined at a later date.
Gingertucker Mosswaxer
Marshal of Yggsreth
The Marshal’s Official seal is stamped in the paint she gave you for stones below her signature.
Elinil, I can recommend Sorcerer Dedication at 2nd then Basic Sorcerer Spellcasting at 4th, if you are looking to "unlock" the latent power of your blood, either deepening your access to the Occult Tradition, or expanding into Arcane, Divine, or Primal spells? Or, consider Basic Bloodline Spell (at 4th) to start looking into adding a Focus Spell from your Bloodline? Also, if you post more ideas about what you are trying to "do" with your character - Elinil's vision, if you will - I can throw you some more ideas...
Anri tenses like a constrictor snake, absorbing the "dark halo" back into her body, which sends a powerful shock of unnatural energy through her limbs, pulsing like an ichor invigorating her muscles, which momentarily swell, as if to burst from her skin. She steps towards the creature, and releasing a single hand from her spear, attempts to body slam it into the ground!
Trip (Athletics) vs Reflex DC 19:1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 5 + 2 = 20
Succeeding in knocking it prone - as if "playing" with her food - she takes a step back, and allows her party to finish it off!
I could use some exercise - been awhile since we took down that pup's progenitor...
With a firm grip, she whirls her spear, and feeling the flow of Elinil's fast-paced tune, runs it forward into her assailant. 1d20 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 2 + 1 = 161d8 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 2 + 1 = 10. Following Elinil's lightning shock, this blow is a perfect skewer, [redacted]-colored fluid spilling from the gray-skinned creature, as it slumps into the ground, and she withdraws Darkspur, now slick with [redacted], and looks around to take in the entire scene.
She laughs out loud - a hearty guffaw! - as she bears witness to Revna's powerful chop! "Dauður. Aftur?"
Anri then moves into a flanking position with Kazmukh's foe - the last standing of this pathetic ambush party! - careful to stand 5 feet away at the point of her spear, and casts a simple protective ward, yelling in a language neither the dwarf, the ulfen, or the half-elf understand, as a subtle purplish-blackish energy surrounds her like a dark halo!
Leans in to Revna "'hrokafull kona', ég held að sé það sem hann meinar" she whispers out of their host's earshot...
Anri shifts her bodies attention to "feel" her own blade with her shoulder blades to remind her that it is there, walking past this farmer's axes. Almost too frigid in temperature, she acknowledges "Your loss is profound" with neither a tone of connective empathy nor derisive sledge. She remains standing, and quite still, arms folded, and let's her teammates to the talking of business, preferably just behind Kazmukh or Elinil, space permitting.
"This is a gruesome scene. And Elinil's right - the trail is cold. Do you think it's worth paying the son a visit? Or leave him to mourn in peace?" She asks out loud.
I am assuming Anri is Investigating on a continuous basis, having posted that in her character bar
She moves to pet Hestur as her comrades decide their next move, not feeling strongly either way.
"I think it is worth trying to follow the tracks... and if they grow cold, continuing on to our original destination, yes... but do not feel strongly either way" She enjoys the hearty breakfast, this time not sharing her portion with Revna, even as her eyes likely cross over to her plate. She had forgotten just how displeasing trail rations had become, even if they reminded hr of her childhood...
Survival @ +3
Anri's preparations:
Cantrips: Chill Touch, Daze, Electric Arc, Ray of Frost, Shield, plus Sigil
First: Chilling Spray, Shocking Grasp, plus Pest Form
Consternation around why these villagers refuse to oblige certain topics flees Anri's thoughts as she silently and immovably enjoys Elinil's tunes. She is content to speak if spoken to, as well as refrain from query herself.
After the song, she writes a composition in her journal, out of sight of her comrades:
Anri's Journal (page two):
They bleed me those eyes
and were I, Oh sweet Lamashtu, to take them!
the rhythm
in my bones
stir
stir and touch me
is it You that I betray?
Oh to listen, as lullaby unto your gorgon's breath
that sleep should take me
like stone
Anri took whatever the Voretti tossed "into the pile" when she offered her weapon. No more, no less.
"Aye" Anri gladly cheers with Elinil, pocketing the silvers gladly. She secretly hopes he will play more of his music, but would never in 1,000 years deign to ask outright!
Anri wonders if Elinil - who had taken off with Hestur - will also endeavor to sell the barely-worked worgskin strapped to the horse, casually wondering if Saolmar had ever terrorized this community. Probably not judging by the casualness of how they allow their young to wander so. The games they play remind her of the elaborate play she used to engage in with her brother, in which the role of "hunter" and "prey" was a matter of voicing qualifications as a result of performing certain and varied tasks, shifting throughout phases of play, and typically terminating around dusk with whoever was in the "hunter" role having to "survive" a series of "environmental hazards" dictated by the second player, who ceased being "prey" and became the "weather"...
She continues walking with Kazmukh - and anyone else who may be following too - towards the Hearth, and, forming a bow and arrow shape with her left and right hands, honors the god of community before walking into his church to see about re-provisioning.
As Anri arrives in the little village, she follows Kazmukh to look for accommodations, and tries to analyze what sort of commerce or agriculture this settlement is supported by, what the inhabitants might do for fun, as well as what sort of superstitions they may hold.
Guild Lore +7, Gladitorial Lore +7, Occultism +7, if needed
Anri follows the group, keeping her eye out for additional bandits (Scout), while mostly keeping to herself, walking next to Hestur, guarding the company's stowed goods.
She ties the weapons to Hestur, then strides back over to humbleboast.
"And we are called Yggsdreth's Fearsome Five, although we have our sixth and seventh in training" indicating Hestur and Filtiarn "My name is Anri Winnowill Darkspur, and I am pleased to make your acquaintance." She bows appropriately for an exchange of stations "Perhaps the next time our paths cross, it will be You that will be taking Our weapons!? Strange the little ironies the world weaves in her perverse humor!"
Anri can't help but laugh a little at her own joke.
Remembering her mission now, she looks around at her comrades "It'll be getting dark soon, and we have been traveling for hours. I'm confident, at your discretion naturally, as we intend to set up camp soon, that my comrades here would be interested in hosting you and yours for some fireside chat? Elinil here is an excellent musician and storyteller, and I'm sure Brennadara would love to discuss with you the shifting politics of the region?"
Request (Diplomacy) +3, if needed, assuming my party consents as well?
Anri retrieves her own weapon. She looks on expectantly, waiting for them to surrender their weapons now, eager to collect on them, trading later for goods and services.
She feels Brennadara's gaze upon her back shoulder, fully expecting the overly-peaceful monk to use the seizure of weapons as a bargaining chip towards some greater diplomacy, robbing these Voretti of losing with simple and uncomplicated grace.
"Tugaim onóir do ghaisce agus d’eagna trí d’arm a éileamh, mar a aontaíodh"
Sylvan:
I honor your bravery and wisdom by claiming your arms, as agreed
Assuming they hold up their end, she straps the weapon cache onto Hestur.
GM, Players,
In about a week's time, I will be taking a week-and-a-half's trip to see family, and will be virtually unavailable during that period. Let me know if you'd like me to leave botting instructions for the leave of absence.
Cheers,
Anri
Forgetting herself between tongues "Our champion against their's in a fist fight. Winner takes weapons" she fills in her dual-lingual comrade "Unless you're not up to the task!?"
Anri leans first to Kazmukh and whispers "Take it easy on the kid" then to Revna "Þetta barn er að reyna að setja á sig harða andlit" finally loudly in Sylvan to everyone:
"Dearbhaím Triail neamharmtha - lig do na seaimpíní dul san iomaíocht gan airm, agus an Buaiteoir ag glacadh leo go léir!"
She tosses her magic spear into a space equidistant between herself and the young Voretti leader in front of her, as a show of good will, and steps back to allow Kazmukh to advance.
Diplomacy +3, if needed
...
Skaldi:
This child is trying to put on a hard face
Sylvan:
I declare a Trial by Hand - let the Champions compete without weapons, with the Winner taking them all!
"I agree with Brennadara. Let our champion best their's, then use that victory as a negotiation piece." Spoken with full confidence in her ally's abilities. She winks at Elinil, indicating his instrument with an expression, and walks forward to join the group, but stops just a little ahead of them.
◆) Stride, ◆) Stride, ◆) Interact to Draw
She draws her weapon none-the-less, but uses it to gird a somewhat relaxed but still "on guard" stance, spreading her feet to a foot and a half apart, and gripping the spear in two hands, drawing an equilateral triangle with it's blunt side onto the dirt path, blade pointing up, she keeps her back to her companions, facing the allies of their champion, which she tries to assess just which of these six would qualify that.
Perhaps this is a trick? And their "champion" is some beast which remains unseen now, but quadruples the might of the six of these creatures summed together? Her mind attempt to ascertain if such shenanigans are afoot!
Anri can see it now - freezing the flesh of these poor creatures with her magic and cutting them with her spear - she teeters now at the border between civility and bloodlust. With effort, she presses into her will a second wind, holding herself back, for once her blood boils with adrenaline, her mercy, a learned behavior, will recede behind the pure instinct of her id.
These thoughts, feelings, flash in a matter of moments, as Brennadara makes a heartful attempt to allow those threatening her and her's to choose between peace and war - a battle Anri knows they cannot survive - biding her time until the outcome of this negotiation becomes certain. Inevitable.
Her ear opens to Elinil's words - A rhetorical question! - she thinks to herself, grinning. It is hunter or prey; there is no true middle ground that fails to brook force. This Anri knows, but keeps to herself.
She expands her consciousness to feel Revna just at her side, her newly-awakened motherly instinct perhaps turning bestial as well. But Anri fails to sense Kazmukh - either because his reserved nature succeeds in deflecting her prying third eye, or because, like some alien, his senses are too unlike her own, coming from quite a different story, so as to deny her access to what he might be thinking or feeling.
Her hand just comes to grip her weapon. She lingers a moment longer. Until...
GM, speaking of languages (sorry Elinil!), I realized I shorted Anri one Language (she should have six total).
1) Can she "bank" it towards learning a new one via Downtime?
2) Is there a list of "suggested" languages for this campaign to choose from?
"Géilleann muid ár mbia, ach ní ár n-arm. Ní tairiscint míréasúnta é sin." Anri bargains in Sylvan, feeling as though what the Badger offers is nothing less than completely unreasonable!
"I would presume that, if you had a lead as to the location, and that it were outside of this village, that you would have shared that. Which means - we could try to track down this Kierra and/or Milva, and speak with them. Perhaps join them?" Anri puts forward the idea. "Or spy on them?"
Anri's mood is consistent through the dinner. She actually greatly enjoys Elinil's music! Some dance. Some sing. And then some, in their enjoyment, allow the music inside of themselves, to touch their soul, but neither dancing nor singing, simply have a cerebral experience. The half-elf's playing takes Anri there. And yet, from the outside, without a change in expression - and certainly without a smile - one wouldn't be able to detect the great movements therein.
At dinner, Anri confesses her crime, and with more than a hint of smugness, stands to field questions.
GM, between Society (+7), Sigil, and being able to Substitute multiple copies of Mending, times however much time she had before dinner, let me know if you need any action on my end to Reseal the four (4) letters as towards concealing the tampering she made of them.
Mosswaxer hefur mætur á þér!" Anri chuckles, teasing the new mom. She hesitates to touch Filtiarn, not wanting to lose a finger, which, he would be rightfully just in taking it from her, seeing how she felt about his biological progenitor. "Hvað gerir þú um tímasetningu alls þessa? Trúir þú því að ætlun Mosswaxer hafi verið sú að hún hverfi á dularfullan hátt og að við förum áfram án hennar og afhendum þessu fólki bréfin! Mér finnst það mjög erfitt að sætta sig við." She confides.
Translation:
Mosswaxer has a crush on you!
Then
What do you make of the timing of all this? Do you believe Mosswaxer's intent was that she mysteriously disappear and that we travel on without her and deliver the letters to these people! I find that very difficult to accept.
Anri spends the day at the Drinker's Corner, having heard from Elinil that not only was the food better, but the company quieter...
She spends her afternoon endeavoring to sneak the four sealed letters out of the supplies, unseal them gently, reading them, committing them to memory, then re-sealing them using a combination of magic, forgery, and the same materials the Marshal used to seal them in the first place, and returning them to the supply packs from which they came.
There are two party members she is unconcerned with allowing them to discover her transgression against the missing Marshal's "privacy": Revna (who encouraged her!) and Kazmukh (who seems to remain perpetually indifferent?). Otherwise, she intends to hide her deeds, only to eventually disclose the information she has gained upon reading them, when she feels her other party members are ready to coming around to her point of view about which methods are "on the table" and which methods are "off the table"...
Revna, Kazmukh, if you are of a co-conspiritous nature, feel free to spend part of your afternoon at the Drinker's Corner, and check Anri's profile for a spoiler containing the four letters, which we can consider discussing there?...
