Ialia Frostmoon's page

The conversation having transitioned from promising to painfully awkward in an instant, Ialia seizes the silence.

Perception, spot Samara: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

"Well, Korwen, I've changed my mind. Breakfast sounds wonderful. I trust you have coffee enough for my friends as well. Shall we proceed inside that we may converse in warmth and comfort?"

***

Basil can't help but notice an eagle flying up behind him. First the giant Rat last night, and now this massive Eagle! The bat has never felt so hunted. At least Basil has the sky this time and can easily evade the clumsy bird, if it comes to that.

CHA: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4 Go figure.

"Glanwyn's gone missing, unfortunately. I'm looking for him, on an errand from Cariamma Stillwater, advisor to Lord Morn. Any information regarding his whereabouts, even rumors or speculation, would be appreciated."

She begins looking around for Joreld and Calen.

"Ah, Korwen, these are my friends, helping in the search for Glanwyn." Ialia gives the men space to introduce themselves, if they choose.

Ialia returns the smile. "You're very kind. But I find nothing awakens the mind and spirit better than the crisp morning air in spring time. And I do know how it is, waking to the rhythm of the day. Please, if you'll fetch a coat and walk with me a short ways, I promise not to delay you overlong from your breakfast."

She wants to keep this man away from the other since she can only charm one person.

Assuming he takes his leave of the other and walks with Ialia, she asks these questions:

"My name is Ialia. What's yours? And the other person in your home?"
"Today must seem unusual, having two sets of inquiries to your farm. How often have you visited with the other party?"
"I saw them depart but did not see them clearly, and they were much too quick for me to hail them for a greeting. What are their names again?"
"The reason for my visit is that I am searching for a missing person, a lost acquaintance. Have you heard the name Glanwyn and do you have any knowledge of his whereabouts"
"The other party this morning, I wonder what business they have with you and your farm. Would you please tell me about your meeting this morning?"

With Basil covering the hooded figures as they retreat out of view, Ialia stands and emerges from her hiding spot. She can see Calen is frustrated, which must mean something coming from him.

Ialia shakes her head, approaches the door to the farmhouse, and knocks. Whomever answers, she casts Charm Person on them.

Then she tests whether her spell is successful. "Hello, my good friend! I apologize for knocking this early hour but I couldn't help but notice the other pair who were just here. Would you be willing to take a short walk with me and help me understand better the purpose of their visit?"

Players, I seek advice. What should Joreld do next?

Sorry, Joreld. If I knew I would be doing it. On one hand, there's evidence this group wants to depose the local lord. On the other hand, that's not really any of our business. I don't feel like we're any closer to finding Glanwyn. Alignment prevents us from pursuing more extreme measures. We could question the farmers. I suppose that's next.

Ialia quietly casts Message and directs it to her familiar.

Basil, follow those two.

The witch doesn't dare break cover while the hooded figures are within earshot. Like Pick, her talents lay elsewhere. She waits patiently for the others to return from the house.

Ialia continues to watch the road and surrounding area in case anyone else approaches.

Okay, that changes what Ialia was thinking. She'll just sit tight then.

Ialia nods to Samara. "I agree, with one or more of us inside watching and listening. We don't want to interfere unless lives are at stake."

She turns back to Calen and Pick. "Can you sneak inside? The two of you can intervene if it comes to that. The rest of us can take positions around the perimeter to watch for anyone else approaching from different directions. If things go wrong, whistle loudly and we'll come quick."

She takes Basil off her shoulder where the bat had nestled into her hair. Sorry, friend. The night isn't over yet. Patrol a circle around the farmstead.

Before Basil takes flight, Ialia casts Heroism on Calen, and Mage Armor on herself. Once the plan is in motion she moves out to a hiding spot around the corner of one of the out buildings with a view to the southwest. or whatever makes sense

AC 19, Daily spells updated.

Basil returns to Ialia and relays the information.

Quietly, Ialia repeats for the group. "Only two, on the road approaching from the north, cloaked and hooded. They're on foot."

She finishes tying her hair and looks to Calen.

Assuming nothing happens during the night...

Ialia wakes pre-dawn to prepare her mind and body for the day ahead. She communes with Basil to refresh her available spells, then gives the bat a short respite before sending it into the sky once more to patrol the road coming to the farm from the Inn.

She tidies up the hardscrabble camp, tearing down her tent and placing it into her bag of holding. She feels a bit exposed for the absence of the horses but it can't be helped. Finally, she tunes her mind to Basil and waits for it to emote back when the green party approaches.

I may be alone in this opinion, but for the sake of expediency, unless DM has something planned for the overnight, we're being overly thorough on things that could easily be hand-waved. My reading of DMs posts imply that all is quiet and will stay that way until the morning. This is not a criticism of any player actions, more of a general observation about pacing and taking full advantage of DMs limited posting availability.

Ialia has not revealed that she can see in the dark as well, and this is for the best, for now. She summons Basil with a subtle bleat of emotional thought. A minute later the bat perches somewhat heavily on her shoulder.

It hisses an update about Tespen.

Very well, Ialia replies in their secret tongue. With Samara well in command of that potential asset, the witch has lost interest.

You've eaten your fill tonight? It's more of an observation than a question.

Yes, Basil replies cautiously.

Good. We'll be making camp outside this farmstead, in the dark. Pick will be snooping around and I want you in the sky keeping your ears on things. If you notice anyone approach or anyone move from inside the farm, let me know immediately.

The bat springs from her shoulder without a word, eager to receive no further commands.

Basil Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17

"I'll take the first watch," she says to the group, at which point it should be obvious that she has some sense in the darkness.

I assume there's not much to do here until morning when the green people arrive. We could setup a dark camp and take normal watches. Basil will be out all night flying overhead. Pick can poke around the buildings and Lunaris can also do surveillance. It's been a long day and that's as much planning as my brain can muster.

Any chance for a map of the farm or is this totm?

Ialia nods to Pick. She can be ready to go within minutes.

Unless he's moved in the last few minutes he won't be hard to find.

I was under the impression it was already evening. Samara and Pick, I sometimes don't understand what you mean. Would you translate your intended action here re: the farm?

When the transcription is complete, Ialia nods in agreement with Joreld. "Agreed. Although my current loyalty is to my employer, our job is to find Glanwyn, not to stop an uprising. I've been down that road and it doesn't end well. If the path is the same we can decide what to do when the time comes, but I have not signed on as a mercenary and I have no stake in local politics."

She turns to Samara. "Did you learn anything more from Tespen?"

Ialia is tempted to wait to see what kind of mood Jammil is in, but as it is Pick that is beckoning she decides it is best to follow.

She casts her mind to the night sky and emotes to Basil. The bat returns a positive feeling and she assumes its surveillance was successful. She can learn about that later.

Admittedly, this was not how she imagined entering Joreld's room tonight, as a group. She couldn't help but think of the parallel with Jammil's gathering. Perhaps if they were savvy they would be eavesdropping on this group. Before entering she hisses for Basil.

Keep sharp, stay close. Alert me if anyone approaches this room.

She sensed a feeling of relief from Basil and the bat chirped in the affirmative and took to the sky again.

Inside, Ialia listens intently to Pick's report, wondering how he came to learn all of it. That question can wait.

"Recall the comment made by Tunfer at our first meeting: Lord Morn is not here. He was concealing the truth of Morn's whereabouts. This revelation adds some color to that conversation."

Ialia taps the soft spot behind her ear and considers what she might have heard of Brownrivver. K Local: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8 Nothing.

"We can get ahead of them tonight or trail them tomorrow. But for now, I'll do your writing." Many times in her previous career she had scrawled such notes. Her hand was practiced at writing very small letters cleanly. Profession (Spy): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14

Ialia changes to Dwarvish: "Spare no details." She sets quill to paper.

Ialia will metagame over to Joreld's room.

nope, Ialia is still sitting at the bar.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16

Focused on the group conspiring inside, Basil doesn't notice the massive rat approach until it's clamoring up onto the ledge. The bat takes flight for fear of its life. It will do no good to observe the gathering if it doesn't live long enough to report! Instead, Basil flies high overhead, watching the rat take its place.

Basil hisses into the wind, cursing its luck knowing Ialia will not be pleased with this turn of events. Well, there was that other person the witch had encountered earlier. What became of him? Maybe this effort won't be wasted. The bat flies in a widening circle around the Inn, as far as it needs to go. Ialia is half drunk and won't miss it for a while.

It's not clear to me that Tespen is part of the group that went upstairs. Ialia should have noticed if that was the case. Does Basil pick up the trail of Tespen outside?

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

Don't refrain on my account. I had forgotten Samara suggested the same thing. And Basil doesn't speak common so I'm not expecting much from the bat unless things get animated.

Ialia smiles as Jammil leaves. She learned almost nothing from the brief exchange but there is an opportunity if she's quick. As soon as he is out of view she rushes outside and calls for Basil. Following the run of the stairs with the line of the building, she guesses where the group may have gone.

Perch at that window and tell me what you see, she instructs the bat. They repeat this process until Basil finds the right room to spy into.

Good, now watch them and tell me what you see.

Ialia returns to the bar to wait.

Ialia is immediately unimpressed. Jammil is either needlessly coy or simply stupid. But perhaps he didn't hear her correctly.

"Mmm." She pretends to enjoy his flattery, combing a finger though her hair and recrossing her legs. "Attractive people are better together, don't you agree? But you know what I mean. How is it the two of us meet in this modest establishment in the middle of nowhere? I don't believe in chance."

She's really, really hoping she's not wasting her time with this one. Scaring Joreld away for no use would leave a bitter taste.

Ialia requests the Inn's finest spirit. Jammil may be classically handsome, but that doesn't cause Ialia to lose her mind. She's not a schoolgirl and she had been in the room with many handsome men, including the one standing behind her. She's also not offended by his wandering eyes; she had dressed to impress and it was past time someone noticed.

When the drink arrives, Ialia thanks Jammil with her eyes. "You look fun, not like the local stiffs. What brings you through here?"

Ialia hasn't moved. She's still at the bar.

SM: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21

Ialia tracks to the table and to Jammil. She's a little annoyed he's not already looking back at her; it's impossible for anyone at the Inn to not have noticed the young witch in her colorful dancer's outfit. She couldn't be more out of place. She waits for Annika to leave and then uses Message to whisper into Jammil's ear.

"Hey, come buy me a drink."

Outside in the sky, Basil watches.

Ialia is amused that these people are actually having this conversation while they stand there. Not one to interrupt gossip, she orders another round of ales and sits back to listen.

When Annika finishes she asks, "Is Jammil worth bedding? Is he here now?"

@Joreld you have a perception check outstanding otherwise we'll have to wait for Samara since she's the only one who knows anything.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9
Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14

Ialia turns to Joreld. "How's your room? Did they give you a comfortable bed?"

When Ialia and Joreld return to the Inn she observes Calen sitting back with a drink, watching the young revelers. Pulling at Joreld's hand she tugs the powerful man in Calen's direction.

"May we join you?" she asks while sitting in the next chair.

"A round for my friend and I," she says to the barmaid.

More quietly, she recounts the interaction with the half-elf to Calen. "The tall one calls himself Tespen. We happened on him by chance as he had just approached Samara. She wasn't trying to be seen - was concentrating on a spell - sequestered herself in a darkened corner outside. And yet he found her as if he knew she was there. He's charming, to certain company, but also off-putting. He mentioned having a friend across the Dales. It was an odd thing to say to a complete stranger."

She places a few silver on the bar and sips her ale. "Anyway, they went off alone together. Samara can certainly handle herself and I got the impression she's wise to him. What did you make of him, Joreld?"

Samara's words reassure Ialia that she is savvy to this stranger. No need to press her concerns.

"Very well then, enjoy your walk together. Joreld, shall we go back inside? I could use a drink."

Having decided that Samara is unhurt, Ialia immediately wonders what is happening here. The Bedouin woman was clearly looking for privacy; she's found a darkened corner of wall to slink to. If not for the pure chance that Joreld had suggested a walk around the Inn, and the open conversation between Samara and the Half elf, it's unlikely they would have discovered her.

So how did Tespen manage it? Obviously she and Joreld had arrived after the half-elf, so it remains unclear as to whether this meeting is the result of an arrangement Samara had set or accepted. But given the piece of the conversation they had heard, it seemed as though Tespen had only just approached her. Ialia had not seen Tespen's group of revelers disperse, if that's what happened. The circumstances seemed beyond coincidence. The exchange about eye color was equally strange. Was it not too dark for humans and half elves to see color? Unless Tespen is Drow blooded... And a friend "across the Dales?" Another point for Drow. But his hair color was wrong. Hmm. Perhaps he is disguising himself. Tespen is a highly suspicious character.

She wasn't about to give this stranger her name lest it be scribed into the enemy's ledger. "Indeed. When did you two meet?"

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (8) + 12 = 20

Ialia suspects spell toll, but she isn't certain of what might have been cast. At least she is confident the half elf hasn't hurt her.

Honestly at this point I'm waiting for something to happen. If there have been clues to follow I have missed them.

"Mm-hmm."

Ialia smiles and pulls herself closer to Joreld. "Have you seen the others? I thought I'd be the last to return."

Ialia hums. "We can only follow this cold trail. What's most confounding to me is what motive anyone might have to capture Glanwyn, if that's what happened. This errand may lead us to a tragic conclusion and simply an unfortunate end. I'm prepared to accept an outcome where Glanwyn was murdered by chance. Wrong place at the wrong time; it can happen to even the most skilled guide. In my experience, a plot is far less likely. But if that is the case then we need a break or we have lost the scent completely."

Ialia grabs Joreld by the arm as they walk in together. "Yes, thank you. I'm ready for an ale. If we don't find any leads on Glanwyn we can at least relax."

Invoking the 2-day rule.

The conversation with the Inkeep having gone more or less as expected, Ialia finishes her meal quickly and excuses herself. The bath prepared, she spends the next couple hours meticulously cleaning herself. The amount of dust that accumulates in her hair is truly awful, and taking care of it is one of her top priorities in life. It is her greatest asset and also her greatest responsibility.

As the day is finally exhausted, Basil arrives at the window and with a scratch it alerts the witch to allow it inside. The bat is used to seeing her naked, which is how she greets it. She continues to brush out her ivory pillar of hair while it squeaks at her.

You look refreshed, Basil observes. With the bat, there is always a small amount of sarcasm in its tone. Whether intended or not, or if that is merely its nature, Ialia has never learned.

I feel much better, thank you. And you?

Your saddle bag isn't exactly comfortable, but it is dark. Better than yesterday when you tossed me out to go and observe some wandering idiot.

Count your blessings. Today I was the idiot. I should have thrown you into the air in my place.

Just as well then.

Keep close tonight. Something is going to happen and I want to know if any suspicious individuals or groups approach this Inn. Keep a perimeter and come find me if you notice anything.

Of course.

Basil returns to the sky to feed and keep watch.

In the next hours she braids and ties her hair, does her makeup and dresses in her colorful dancer's outfit, complete with full jewelry. In the unpolished mirror she looks stunning. There will be no missing her in a place like this, which is fine. She'd already made a spectacle of herself in town. No sense hiding now, and it may draw attention away from the rest of her group if there arose a need for stealth.

Repacking her kit, she returned to the Inn proper to rejoin the group.

"Of course. Do you have a room with a bath?" Ialia picks up the room tab for the group.

"One of the people we met in town mentioned there's something happening here tonight. Seems like there's a fair number of folk here for the middle of the afternoon. Did we arrive for a local event?"

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

For real, though, how often do you just look up? I'm sitting in a cafe right now and I was finishing a bottle of water so my eyes drifted to the ceiling and there's all this ornamental glass up there I would have totally missed. I have to remind myself to stop and look at the sky more often.

Ialia sits down heavily at the table Samara has selected and accepts whatever food is put in front of her. Having entrusted Fennelseed with the others, she really has no cares at this moment. By her reckoning of the Daggerdale they had come a very long way in a circle, such that a well-planned day of riding and a little luck securing a barge on the Tesh would deliver them back to Dagger Falls by the end of tomorrow.

Unfortunately for all their travel they were not closer to finding Glanwyn, or perhaps they were but didn't know it yet. Finally able to relax, she feels road weary. And dirty. Her hair must look frightful. she shakes her head at the thought of the townsfolk in Goldfields. They assumed she was looking for a wizard. Why? They had no prior knowledge of the group's intentions. She would have appeared as a floating stranger and she had said nothing to them. But surely to see someone as unusual looking as her fly into town would have aroused suspicion. She had her bearings wrong, is all, but they didn't know that and they had reacted as if she posed no threat to them whatsoever. For all they knew she might have been a demon come to raze the village. They seemed to want to be helpful, yet the previous group could not have wanted to be less helpful. Goldfields is a strange place and she is happy to have it behind them.

"What's your read on all of this, Calen? Are we closer to our quarry?"

I found a map of Daggerdale and it looks like we've gone in a big loop. Goldfields is almost parallel to Dagger Falls, not too far south of the Tesh River. Does that follow the story so far?

Ialia looks around the Inn. Anyone else here?

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23

Yeah, I'm having fun, but this was a bit of a mixup. I've been playing Ialia to be excited by new information but she would know that most information is irrelevant and unimportant. I'll adapt.