To my regret, I am going to drop out of this game. I should have said so sooner. I wish you all the best and ask that my character be moved to ex-PCs.
Search Posts
"If he can't, I can probably talk with Tweety."
Sorry to do this, but... Sa'sori, would you please dial it back a few degrees? It's fine that you're passionate about the game, but we are supposed to be working as an adventuring party, ie. working in concert, taking time to decide on a plan together.
Cotton sticks close to Dyrm. "So, we get in, we wait until nightfall and then make our move?"
"I'm fine with breaking and entering," Cotton says, grimly. "Don't mind breaking some of those hypocrites' bones, neither. In lieu of some huge cash reward, could you arrange a quick way out of town for us if we wind up needing one?"
If there is time, Cotton will buy five potions of Cure light wounds and put on a disguise so she looks as little like her usual self - the self the Razmirans know - as possible. "You guys want me to do this for you, too?" she offers her teammates.
Cotton glances at the others as soon as the grey robe is gone and whispers: "This seems almost too convenient."
"Are we sure it was him and not Krant pulling a test of loyalty?" Cotton asks, bluntly.
"We do need to report to the Pathfinder, though, or he'll think we're dead or turned and start looking for replacements... which could get awkward. Can you guys get just me out? I'm small, sneaky and I can disguise myself. I might be able to report and get back inside, or at least survive outside while waiting to hook back up with you."
Maybe only one of us needs to sneak out, risk Krant's wrath and meet the Pathfinder. I'll volunteer.
Cotton eyes Vera. "So. We good to bust out of here and burn the place down NOW?"
"Can't we make you a holy symbol?" Cotton quietly suggests to Vera. "You're ordained. All we need is some wood, a knife, a bit of patience and your prayers to consecrate it. Yes?"
"We have something now. We were ordered in so many words to rough someone up and rob them! We can testify and the guard can move in."
Cotton listens to Krant's words with every impression of stoic indifference... but once the instructor has left, she makes sure no one is spying on the group and then turns to the others. "This is the final straw," she whispers. "I am NOT robbing some hardworking fella and wrecking his place of business because he won't give money to this lot. We need to get into those last areas and then bail."
"Don't summon any animals," Cotton counsels Dyrm when Sa'sori has left. "Only a local would know where the secret doors are."
"See if you can find me a rat. They'll know the secrets of the place and I can ask 'em. But whatever gets us what we want and out of this dump sounds champion right now."
Cotton ghosts along next to Dyrm, her wand of Magic Missiles in hand...
Cotton tiptoes up to the door, tugs it open - and freezes. "Lots of people up ahead," she whispers.
"Settle down, bird," Cotton says as she follows the hawk. "Guys? Looks like Sassy -- hel-lo! Think your holy symbol might be in here, Vera? Maybe in the box?" Cotton quirks an eyebrow and jerks her thumb at the chalk outline.
"Fair enough, kid," Cotton says. "For what it's worth... sorry. And good luck to you."
"Tie him up and put him under his bunk," Cotton sings. "Gag him and knock him out. He'll peach on us if you don't."
As soon as Moira speaks, Cotton turns on Elvar and -- starts to croon a haunting tune. The music is hypnotic, attempting to worm its way past his mental defences and hold him immobile.
Before the group goes to sleep, Cotton checks no one is spying on them, then pulls everyone close together and whispers: "What do we do next? I'm done towing the line here; let's find out what we need and then leave! Preferably after setting this dump-hole ON FIRE."
Merry Christmas, everyone. ^_^
Cotton looks out for any guardsmen she might see, and continues plying her subtle tricks. Even while she lauds the importance of civic obedience as put forth in the book of Razmir and to be monitored by the priests, she tries to project at those same guardsmen the notion of falsehood. Of someone breaking the rules. A priest. A priest of Razmir. That one!
Cotton follows a very simple pattern; she finds street corners and there she sings. She sings passages from the book of Razmir and her voice is fair enough, her recitation exact. And yet. Buried in the song are subtle stresses and tonal shifts. It's a bardic trick, normally used to exert a subtle influence so people will find favour with what the performer is singing about. This time, however, Cotton is working to cause subtle disfavour. Not enough to cause an out-and-out riot or guide violence her own way, but enough to nudge those hesitating whether to join or not towards not and deflect curiosity.
Yikes... I hope you'll feel better soon.
Cotton has a hearty meal for the first time since coming to this horrible place, but like Dyrm she slips her comrades some of her bounty. She notices Krant's discomfort, but does not comment on it; instead, she tries to make some inroads with the other 'clergy' before heading off to do the odious copying...
The urge to set this joint on fire and escape in the confusion is growing quite strong...
"He's not wrong," Cotton notes as she hops around again, putting Elvar in a flank while she kicks at his legs. "I wasn't out to humiliate you, kid! Heck, I wasn't even aiming for you when I did the Voice."
"Suit yourself," Cotton says as hops around to flank with Dyrm and then kicks Elvar - squarely between the legs.
"Bop," Cotton says, lightly tapping the two men on the heads and snapping them out of their trance. "Control is power," she tells the audience, scornful. "Control is true power."
"I win," Cotton says out loud. "I could whallop them both over the head and they wouldn't do a thing to stop me. Game over."
"So we have to determine the winner between us, using these?" Cotton innocently asks, waggling her sap in the air. "Easy! Over here, cousin. You too, kid." Cotton beckons over Dyrm and Elvar. "Floor's too rough for tic-tac-toe," she says, her voice slipping into a smooth patter, "but there's more than one way to determine winners with these things. I propose a toss-over. We keep the saps in the air between us. Drop a sap and step out. Last standing wins. Fun and less blood. What do you say, boys?"
Congratulations and all good things for your wedding and wedded life. ^_^
After two hours of struggling - and a great many ink-blots - Cotton finishes her task. It is well enough that the mask obscures her face, for her body language verges on the belligerent for those able to see...
Can I retroactively Aid Another on the Bluff check?
Cotton mumbles and fakes her way theough the prayers and steals a single glance at Krant. 'When we finally get out of here, I may end up leaving you a gift. In your KIDNEYS. It all depends on how sharp a knife I can find...'
Cotton is bored, bored, BORED, but manages to stay awake in spite of it all. She uses the time to think about what she managed to find out.
"This is stupid," Cotton grumbles to Dyrm when she is fairly sure no one else can overhear. She puts down her brush and looks all around. "This is exhausting," she sighs. "It's not getting us anywhere. And we need to find out how to get out of here or else find evidence that these people are no good. Keep cavey for me."
Provided she can find a moment to slip away without being observed, Cotton slips into the shadows and scouts out the first floor for potential exits and rooms with incriminating information about the cult. She tries not to exert herself too much after the annoying brushing, and makes a point of getting back to the others before too much time has passed.
If Cotton had not been wearing a mask already, she would have lowered her face into her hands. As matters stand, she leans close to Dyrm and whispers: "We need to start planning our escape. Fast."
"Hey, I'm the one who said you and I should hang back and play support if needed," Cotton whispers. "I'll see what I can do, but ear-boy seems pretty taken with this lot..."
Cotton joins Dyrm in the stables, using a little surreptitious magic to reduce the unpleasant smells if she can be sure no one is watching them. "I can still cast, so we're ahead of the game there; I don't need trinkets to make my spells work. Probably Sassy can cast, too,m but I'm worried. You think she's losing it?"
Sorry for not posting. It's been a... busy couple of days.
Cotton takes a cup, silent but frowning. |