Jyoti Inamdar's page

'Now all we have to do is to keep them busy talking until the guards come. Dad wouldn't exactly be proud of the way we're handling this situation. He's always told us to be honest with our dealings with others. Surely he did not mean wicked people, though?' Jyoti fidgetted a bit on the spot. Her thoughts drifted to her brother, Asim. 'Asim, on the other hand, would think it as a prank of a magnificent nature on the thugs.' She could almost imagine him in this situation when the guards came. Asim would cheerfully tell them that they were free to go, and would not stop them, as the city guard took them into custody, as per the letter of the bargain.

"Pass them one of their men as we agreed, Gosk. Vita, you could start by telling us how all of you came to be in this house."

The more important part would be why they attacked us, but the point of this whole exchange was to drag for time until the guards came.

Jyoti whispers to Lajja, "Do you know any other exits from your house other then this one?"

She then addresses Rasji in a whisper, "Change of plans, could you bring Lajja to the city guard, and have guards come swiftly and quietly and blockade all exits to this house?"

If Rasji leaves with Lajja, Jyoti will quickly run around the house to see if she can spot any other exits.

Jyoti listened to Lajja's rambling. Her heart went out for the old woman. So many shocks in such a short time. Firstly her son had dissappeared, then her son's friends turned out to be hooligans, who were willing to commit murder to cover their misdeeds. "I don't understand, either. Maybe he didn't know the true nature of his friends" she replies. That was the kindest thing to say.

Or maybe she did. Love makes fools of us all. But even so, to endanger his mother-the one who had brought him up single handedly just to be with his lady love...rephrehensible behaviour. Jyoti would like to think that he truly didn't know his friends were hooligans, but he did arrange Yamuna's kidnapping after all. Jyoti decided if they ever managed to rescue Ilya she would have some harsh words with him.
She hoped that Lajja would be all right.

Gosk seemed to have more experience in dealing with the situation in the house. He had managed to weasel the leader's name out of them. Might be his military experience, but better for him to take the lead. He sounded like he knew what he was doing.

Jyoti pops her head into the doorway. "Yup, we won't harm any of you as long as you give us what we want." Secretly she gave Minali the hand signals to guard Gosk. If the cultists below decided treachery was in order and tried to overpower Gosk, they'd be in for one nasty furry surprise. She then popped her head out of the doorway.

Diplo aid: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20

If Gosk is using bluff, use the above roll, subtract 6 from it.

The fire goes out of Jyoti's eyes on Gosk's words. "I misjudged you, I'm sorry. I thought for a moment you were one of those who would sit back and let evil doers go free..." her voice trails off uncertainly.

"We're going out and we'll be back soon. If you come out of the basement, we could be inclined to show you guys clemency." she hollers.

diplomacy assist: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25

"Lets help Lajja out of here." and tries to assist Lajja in standing up and moving out of the house.

If Mirode can assist we can each support her on either side.

Once outside, Jyoti informs Rasji softly, "We need your help in calming Lajja down. We ran into some trouble in the house and are in the process of fixing it. Don't call the guards, we can handle it. We'll pop out again when we're done." before leaving Lajja in Rasji's hands.

"Rasji is a guard, don't worry, she won't let any harm befall you. We'll be back once we settle the problem." Jyoti reassures Lajja, before leaving Lajja in Rasji's hands.

"You would let those black hearted thugs get away to prey on others in Padiskar?" she whispers to Gosk angrily, her eyes flashing. "They deserve to be locked up until they learn their lesson." she hisses to Gosk.

Sorry, no assists from me. Jyoti believes these thugs deserve their jail stay. May means a possibility of them walking free.

"Mirode, can Lajja be safely moved? I fear the scene in the house is causing her distress. It's better for her to be outside with Rasji. Also, Gosk thinks the thugs in the basement are lying," she whispers to Mirode.

"We'll get these bad people out of your house, without damaging anything, don't worry, you can trust us." she assures Lajja.

Jyoti moves quickly towards Lajja, checking on the old woman to see if there is anything she can do to help.

Heal: 1d20 ⇒ 13

"Mirode, I need youur help here!" she yells.
"Don't worry Lajja, we can handle ourselves, and we won't let those bad people get anywhere near you," she mummurs comfortingly as she holds Lajja's hand and tries to comfort Lajja.

Thinking about those heartless b@stards in the basement just made her fume. What kind of people would hide in an basement to ambush unwary passerbys and drive an old woman to a heart attack? They deserved to be punished by the law, they did. And asking us to go off for 5 mintues so they could get away scott free to commit more nerfarious deeds in the future? No way.

"By the laws of Padiskar, you are guilty of battery and assault. If you drop your weapons, come up the stairs singly and surrender to us, we will take you to the guards where the laws of Padiskar will decide your fate." she commands. Clearly though, Jyoti could use quite a lot more practice.

Intimidate: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

I'm not supposed to do so many actions in a round, but it felt like it made narrative sense.

Jyoti stands up, then addresses the people at the basement.

"We've got two of your companions up here. I promise that if the rest of you come up and surrender peacefully, we can settle this with no more bloodshed."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15

"I don't wish to hurt you, but I will defend myself and my friends," Jyoti says with steely determination in her voice.

She gives Minali the hand signals to attack the man in the storage room.

Perfect colourspray position, though how they hit us from there is a tad odd, unless they threw their daggers.

Jyoti yelps in pain as the dagger connects. She turns to face her attackers, utters an incantation and a fan of rainbow coloured lights emits from her hands.

Colour Spray = Will Save DC 14 for both thugs. If they are still standing, Jyoti will order Minali to attack. Sorry, I can't move tokens or draw on phone, I tried, made a horrible mess about it. The colour spray squares include 1 square west of Jyoti and the 3x2 block after the block west of Jyoti.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13

"We'd be glad to accept your invitation, good mother," and clasps her palms at chest level, and bows. After the party has entered the house, she closes the door. "We don't want to let the night drafts in," she comments, then sits cross legged on the mat. Jyoti is secretly relieved that she does not have to keep up the pretense, as lying made her feel bad inside. She also feels sorry for Ilya's mother as she must be frantic with worry about her son.

"I'm Jyoti, and these are my companions, Colonel Tipper, Gorsk and Mirode. How may I address you?" She then takes a drink from the small bowl before continuing, "I was not being entirely truthful with you outside, but now we are free from prying eyes, I can speak my mind.We have been sent by the Rajah to find his missing daughter, and we believe that your son has gotten assistance from worshippers of Naderi so that he and Yamuna could elope together." She takes out the letters that they had found in Yamuna's residence and shows it to Ilya's mother.

"I'm sorry you had to hear the news from us in such an abrupt fashion. We have determined that Yamuna was taken in the direction of Old Padiskar. If Ilya and Yamuna are together, we'll try to bring them home safe," Jyoti attempts to console Ilya's mother.

Jyoti is taken by surprise by the old woman's words. She has a strong suspicion that this old woman is Ilya's mother. Yet this led to more questions. Did she know anything about her son's highly probable affiliation with Naderi?

Sense motive does the old woman really not know about Naderi?: 1d20 ⇒ 19

"Those pilgrims are who we seek. I knew Yamuna, and knew of Ilya's plan to be together with her." her left hand holding Colonel Tipper's. "His companions," she gestures at Gorsk and Mirode, "helped us find you. We can't just leave them."

"Good mother, could you please tell us more about the pilgrims and the directions they might have taken? We wish to meet them." she pleads.

Using roll twice, once per day on diplomacy for Favored (Daughter) Trait

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 10 = 18

Jyoti is taken aback by Mirode's urgent whisper. It was not usually in her way to lie, but if she didn't give the password, they might not be allowed entry into the house.

She answers in Vuldrani,"Greetings. We are pilgrims, who wish to learn more about the ways of Naderi."

Bluff: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23

There. When lying, best to keep it simple. If the speaker wished to question Jyoti's purpose for being here, there would be ample time to spin a long yarn about how her parents forbade her being with Colonel Tipper because he was not the same caste and race as she, besides being one of those heathen Taldan colonizers.

Sense Motive: 1d20 ⇒ 4

Setting defend trick on myself on entering poor quarters.

Jyoti takes out a day of trail rations from Minali's packs and splits it among the orphans. She would give them money, but in these poor quarters, it might do them more harm then good, as it may attract unwanted attention.

"Rasji, I would never want to cause any trouble to anyone. Any information we could find about Yamuna's whereabouts would be a boon," she reassures Rasji.

"Also, I think it's better if we escort you back home, after this. It's not advisable for anyone to go around alone at night." she says to Rasji.

She walks up to the house and knocks on the door.

Jyoti helps Mirode out of her breastplate. "Oof! How do you take the weight off it? It's heavier then a net full of fish!" she exclaims.

"My brother Asim, wrote about his adventuring companions being able to summon invisible armor made out of force. Totally weightless, but still able to protect its wearer. I wish I knew how to do that, it would come in handy."

She answers Colonel Tipper, "I don't see anything wrong with one more Taldan at the pier. "

Probably a ask GM moment time.. with regards to whether Colonel Tipper was supposed to be around with a Rasji meeting.

"No. You can come along as well, Colonel Tipper. What Rasji said was a ruse, to throw off the attention of any who might have been listening. I've known Rasji since we were little, she's never displayed any kind of foreigner dislike, Taldan or otherwise. Besides, she went with Yamuna to the Shallows, where there are people of many ethnicities. If she were to hate Taldans, would it not be trying on her everytime she entered that quarter?"

Jyoti stands up, heads for the door."The bath can wait till we have finished conducting our business with Rasji. I fear, if you were to wait for me to finish using the bath, we wouldn't be going anywhere tonight," with a twinkle in her eyes.

On hearing Colonel Tipper talk business, Jyoti becomes serious."It appears that Yamuna's kidnapping was done by a well organized group. They not only have eyes on the street, they have planted henchmen in the ranks of Yamuna's servants. This does not bode well." Her hands betray her tension by squeezing the corner of the pillow she's currently lying on.

"Your friend, Raseed, followed one of them and is not back yet? I'd better ask if anyone in the marketplace has seen him, first thing tomorrow morning. Could you tell me how he looks like? Padiskar is generally safe, but my mother has warned me about staying out too late at night, as there are thugs on the street who would rob anyone they could get their hands on for coin."

She reads the letters Colonel Tipper hands to her, her expression sad."Why would Yamuna even contemplate such an act? Who is this Ilya person that she could not tell the Rajah about? There is no shame seeking out your love. The Rajah is a kind man, he would not deny his daughter her happiness."

Jyoti answers Gosk, "Naderi is the goddess of forbidden relationships. She is usually worshipped by couples who face circumstances that do not allow them to be together. It could be possible that Yamuna's kidnapping was arranged by cultists of Naderi, so that she could be with her Ilya. But from the letter, it seemed that Yamuna had second thoughts at the last moment."

"If Yamuna was kidnapped by cultists of Naderi, perhaps it could be why they do not fear pursuit. The direction they have taken - Old Padiskar, is a dangerous place. I've heard of a horrible beast that roams the street some nights, howling and screaming. My friend's aunt's daughter's husband went inside the walls and was never seen again. That was a few years back." Jyoti's face is shadowed as she recounts the incident.

She addresses Gorsk again,"Did you mean Rasji? Did she ask to meet us? If she asked to meet us, she surely has her reasons. Did she mention when and where she wanted to meet?"

"The Three Lemons is perfectly safe and respectable. It would not have the reputation to house visitors of the Rajah, otherwise."

You're asking the wrong person, lol. Jyoti is a little naive when it comes to adventuring life.

Jyoti tucks into the meal with gusto, but some vegetables surreptitiously end up being fed to Minali. She also asks the hostess to bring Minali a few fresh fish, or some raw meat.

Jyoti smiles at Minali indulgently. "Next, she'll be sniffing you out for cat-treats. It's not the first time it's happened, and won't be the last. She's really a curious kitty."

Jyoti examines Minali, "In fact, she might be about to enter another growth spurt soon, no thanks to my brothers feeding her on the sly."

"Minali, if you keep begging nice people for snacks, you're going to get fat," wagging her finger at Minali with mock severity.

"Cool, thanks!" she beams at Mirode.

"Oh Minali, first Gorsk and now Colonel Tipper, what am I going to do with you?" she sighs in mock-resignation, as she flops on another pillow.

"Go ahead and give her a good scratch, at the base of her ears. She likes that, and will be your friend for life. " Jyoti shakes her head at Minali, with a wry smile on her face.

"Well, if there's a stream or river near the cave, usually there's fish to be caught in there. I brought along my fishing gear, so we don't need to survive on biscuits if we can find a water source."

Jyoti pays the hostess the remaining bill. "Mirode, do you mind if Minali and I share the room with you?"

Jyoti looks at the bath with undisguised longing. After the dust and smells of the street, a hot lemon bath to wash off the stench and massage those sore muscles would be sooooo appealing....

On hearing Gorsk flop on the pillow, Jyoti turns to look at the party, "Before we start our discussions, we should clean up. A bath would be ideal, but perhaps should be left till after dinner."

"However, that doesn't mean we can't freshen up some. You don't mind if I take a hand in that, do you?"

She closes the door behind the party,then uses Prestidigitation on the party.

"A useful little cantrip. I believe my powers are tied to the land, like my mother. But it's not the sort of thing you bandy around in public."

After thinking on Gosk's question for a while, Jyoti replies "We could stay in the Three Lemons. Its a place that many of the Rajah's visitors use. Its private, the food is good and the lodgings comfortable. Lets go and pick up your stuff and we can head there."

She gives Mirode a mischevious grin, though her eyes are looking sideward towards Colonel Tipper, "Monkeying around certainly draws attention."

Then the grin fades. "I don't know if anyone from the palace has followed the trail, and I have no idea why the kidnappers would leave one...unless they have set a trap at the end of it? Wouldn't being bait be dangerous, Gorsk?", with a worried expression on her face.

Taking 10 for 17, or 20(if possible) for 27 on knowledge local to find a more private place to stay for the night. Preferably cat friendly, NO unwanted insect guests in the room and good food. Probably a little upmarket, but oh well, somethings gotta give.

"Hmm. We could check the shrine, gather what information we can in town before setting out for old Padiskar. Is there any place you can brief me on your findings thus far?"

Jyoti will think about what she has heard about old Padiskar.

knowledge local: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

"She was taken in the direction of the Old City. There, her kidnappers managed to hide their trail. "Jyoti's eyebrows crease for a moment as she informs the party, then it smoothens.
She gives Minali a piece of dried jerky as a reward for her efforts."Don't worry Gosk. Minali is very friendly, and wouldn't harm you."

"You're right, Gosk, with Chamidu's blessing we may still have a chance to pick up her scent later,"she continues.

"Heading to the town sounds great! I could use a hot bath and meal after all that tracking." she goes cheerfully."Are you staying at any particular place in town at the moment?"

"Yes. Should her kidnappers have passed through this, it will make my job a lot harder."

"Minali, stay with Gosk", she addresses her cat.

Jyoti goes to Yamuna's room, to look for something that is small, light and easy to carry that has her scent.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25

If Jyoti finds something that might have Yamuna's scent, she will pick it up with one of her waterproof bags, to prevent contamination of her own scent, and bring it down to Minali and start using the "Track" trick

"Yes, you're right. Have you worked with trackers before?" she asks Mirode, pleased by her knowledge.

She continues,"Also, it does not necessarily need to be a pillowcase, any item with her scent, like a used hankerchief, will suffice. However, the passage through running water, or other powerful odors could mask her scent.", giving the compost heap a dirty look.

"I believe the Rajah also wanted someone local with the expedition, so that you would have knowledge of local customs and not give offence by mistake."

"The Rajah, of course. No fancy titles here, I'm just Jyoti, the fish seller. I sell the best fish in town!" Her expression becomes somber, "Unfortunately, we have pressing matters to deal with at hand, so, it is not a good time to talk about my trade."

knowledge local on Taidan Exploratory Services: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12

"I'm unfamiliar with the Taidan Exploratory Services, what do they do?" She pauses, then continues,"One of the reasons I've been chosen is probably for my companion's ability to track missing children. The other time, one of my neighbour's children, Asok, snuck off to play, I managed to find him by giving Minali one of his toys to sniff, then following Minali as she followed his scent. Though I would never have been able to do that without Minali," and beams fondly at her fishing cat.

"Anything that has Yamuna's smell would be good, maybe a pillowcase. With luck, it won't have been contaminated by other smells."

Jyoti won't be using sense motive on her friend

Jyoti puts her hands together, in front of her chest, and bows to the party. "Namaste. I am called Jyoti, and I'm pleased to meet all of you." Behind her comes a small sized fishing cat, tailing her like a shadow. "Please do not be alarmed, this is my companion, Minali. She's really friendly and wouldn't harm anyone,"and bends down to give Minali a scratch under the chin. "We've been sent to assist you in the search for Yamuna. Could you brief me on your findings thus far?"

Jyoti greets Rasaji enthusiastically,"Rasaji! I haven't seen you around the store for a while!", and moves over to give her friend a hug. "Work's been keeping you busy, I see. How have you been?"

On hearing her friend's predicament, she looks up to see one of the foreigners on the roof. Her mouth forms a silent-O shape.

If the foreigners are climbing around like monkeys, its no wonder they're causing quite the stir. Perhaps their behavior is some kind of strange custom to pay homage to their foreign gods..., Jyoti thinks to herself.

"Hi there, we've got lots of monkeys out there in the jungle. I assure you, we don't need any more here," she waves at Colonel Tipper, her grin infectious, inviting everyone to share the joke. "The Rajah sent me. I've found that rooftops don't make the best conversation venues. You might want to come down."

Ready, shopping's done. Man, that's a helluva lot of presents from the family. Along with all those hugs and kisses. Thanks for the well wishes.

Manifested, still working on gear.