"That doesn't sound good!" Kayleigh frets aloud. She pauses a moment to allow the swifter of foot (a.k.a. 'less armored") amongst the party to climb the stairs first before heading up after them.
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Brig doesn't mind that most forget that she can step lightly, being the type that hammers steel and flesh it is easy enough to do so. She normally would offer to go with Vedika, but she still looks at their newcomer with suspicion, and does not want to leave Kayleigh alone with her and the strange elf. Kayleigh obviously doesn't share Brig's suspicion of Emi or even Laori, waving the newcomers onto the stairs after her examination reveals they're surprisingly sturdy.
Happy and Healthy Holidays to one and all!
Kayleigh thinks for a bit and then turns to Emi. "How are you at sneaking? You don't look heavily armored, so maybe you could accompany Vedika on a reconnaissance mission up the stairs and defend her if it came to that?"
"Um...maybe go two at a time? That way, we won't be putting too much weight on those stairs at one time." After making that suggestion, Kayleigh casts guidance on herself and gives the staircase an examination for integrity.
Kayleigh starts moving toward the only obvious entrance, thinking as she goes. "Maybe we can say we're emissaries of the Queen, sent to see how well the blood veil has been contained or eliminated on the island," Kayleigh suggests. "Maybe we could even say that Queen Ileosa specifically wanted us to check in with the new 'emperor' who's pretty much in charge of everything hereabouts--give Swastel an air of legitimacy in his position." The look on the girl's face gives away that she doesn't have the heart or the guile to be the one to tell this little white lie.
It might be best to do a soft reset and have the party arrive at the 'palace' sans Zahur and then have Emi encounter them there. Though I admit I wasn't paying the closest attention, having decided early on that having the healer be the last person up the rope made sense in case anyone else fell.
"Yes--Brig's on the rope. Someone saw us up to no good but doesn't seem inclined to make a stink about it. A friend or acquaintance of Vencarlo's. I'll try to get her to help us break in and rescue Salvator. Oh dear--she's standing right next to me and probably heard that! I'll send Ariadne up presently!" Turning to Emi, Kayleigh manages a smile and asks, "Want to help us strike a blow against the wicked jerk who runs the island and maybe help find Vencarlo? If you're good at climbing, head on up; our friend Vedika has company hiding up above and could use some aid!"
Kayleigh's friendliness is put on hold as she tries to figure out the best way to proceed--information-wise--with Emi. "Well, we're looking for Vencarlo for sure...though we're actually here now trying to get an audience with someone we'd heard Vencarlo had talked to fairly often in recent days. Ever heard of...Salvator Scream?" Not waiting for Emi to reply, the cleric admits that perhaps Vencarlo might be found inside the 'palace' as well: "There aren't a lot of people on the island capable of taking Master Orisini off the streets, I wouldn't think...unless he ran afoul of one of Swastel's patrols, maybe."
"This young woman here says we're making a big mistake breaking into the palace," Kayleigh whispers to those close enough to hear her. "Um...she seems trustworthy," the Milanite adds a bit belatedly. She reaches out a hand toward the stranger, smiles, and says, "I'm Kayleigh. Nice to meet you! What do you know about this place and this Pilts Swastel guy who thinks he's an emperor?"
Kayleigh mostly muffles a "Yeep!" when the figure steps out from the shadows and beckons her. Likewise, Laori's elf eyes apparently fail her as well. Tragedy is averted when the spooked Kayleigh nearly hops into the other priestess's arms, but she holds back the reaction and likely avoids impaling herself on the spiky Kuthonite. Not sensing any malice from the stranger and admitting to herself that she and her comrades are almost certainly going about things the wrong way, the young Milanite decides to strike up a whispered conversation with the vaguely familiar young woman. Trying to sound confident (and knowing she can't fake sounding tough), Kayleigh nods. "Yeah--we're breaking into the Emperor's Palace. He's taken someone we want to speak with prisoner, so we're hoping to either rescue him outright or get an audience with his highness. We're prepared if things turn violent. In fact, we've already put down some of the imperial patrols and, uh, wouldn't mind seeing the Emperor overthrown and his reign of terror over the island ended abruptly." Turning to Laori, the blonde gal adds, "How was that? I didn't give too much away, did I?"
Kayleigh keeps lookout down below as Ariadne and Brigita use the rope to scale the wall. She casts a quick guidance cantrip for Milani's blessing on her endeavor.
OK, here's what the potential player said: Since Emi would be coming in late, maybe she could still be a protégée of Vencarlo's like that one guy we ran across a few times after Vencarlo disappeared? I could rebuild her as a Slayer still, but go with a rapier and buckler TWF strength build. I could also just switch to Swashbuckler, very tanky with good damage there. A couple of other thoughts from looking at what party doesn't seem to cover... There's no arcane full-caster. Is that by design (sometimes they can be viewed as too powerful eventually so they're avoided)? It also looks like ranged combat isn't really covered, ranged weapons but no ranged feats etc., so a sort of "if we must" situation. I could bring in a ranged Inquisitor of Cayden Cailean, which is a great way to merrily stick it to the man. I have a favorite not too bright but very enthusiastic Sanctified Slayer Inquisitor that I used in a Kingmaker game for a while. She's fun and good for occasional comic relief. In a follow-up message, the player said he was leaning toward the inquisitor build.
I heard back and the player's definitely interested in joining. He's got a few ideas for a character, and I asked for his permission to post them here for everyone to consider and maybe make suggestions about. Will do so once I hear back and get an OK from him. In general terms, his two current leanings are a TWF slayer or a ranged-combat-based inquisitor.
I know of a good and reliable player who was in a previous CotCT game with Kayleigh. His character for that game was a slayer; and that game ended with the PCs right around our current level IIRC. I'll fire off a PM.
"After you!" Kayleigh says to Laori with a polite smile...one that falters a bit when the cleric realizes she's been left alone with the way-too-happy Kuthonite with a spiked chain. Nonetheless, Kayleigh casts guidance on the woman and motions toward the rope.
Up, Up, Up the Rope We Go....:
Sorry to see you go, but I understand your reasoning/feelings on the matter. Good luck with the sale and whatever comes next for you in life.
Kayleigh waits semi-patiently for a knotted rope to drop down from above to make any climb she might have to make a lot easier.
Kayleigh picks up Vedika's litter with a sigh before suddenly realizing that maybe there's more to the ball of paper than just being a piece of trash. She stifles a gasp after reading the message and then turns to Ariadne...then Brigita...and finally Zahur before handing the note to the latter...the party member she judges best able to climb the rope and swiftly go to Vedika's aid. "Vedika fears she's not alone up there," the cleric whispers to Ariadne and Brigita. "There must be a staircase around here somewhere! I'm going to find one and go up to help her! Or at least create a distraction!"
Kayleigh is preoccupied with a potential upcoming climbing test and doesn't notice anything else.
After casting guidance to aid Vedika, Kayleigh joins the discussion between Zahur and Brigita. "Plus, we don't want to burn down the whole neighborhood by accident...or half the island!" she says softly. Climbing being something she's really bad at, Kayleigh waits to allow others to follow Vedika before she has to.
"Hmm...this certainly feels like some sort of trap or ambush," Kayleigh comments softly as the group creeps into the outskirts of Pilts's palace grounds. "I guess the only thing we can do is spring the trap and then try to counter it, maybe while certain members of our group launch a counter-offensive." Turning to Laori, Kayleigh asks, "What sort of mayhem can you bring to this mission if we can't negotiate an audience with the Emperor? I'm mostly just a healer and amateur diplomat, but hopefully I'll be able to undo any damage these creeps cause if they try to ambush us."
Kayleigh gives Ariadne a nervous nod. Nonetheless, the cleric tries to think of some brilliant tactics the party can use when they confront the Emperor of Old Korvosa. Swastel probably knows about the five of us being on the island by now.... Maybe we could approach openly but have Laori hang back...our 'ace in the hole' if things go south. She could sneak in after us and.... Kayleigh spots a flaw in her plan. No--I'm sure Laori jangles as much as I clank when she tries to move stealthily....
"So... what's the plan?" Kayleigh asks the others a bit uncertainly. "Do we fight our way into the Emperor's palace, ask for an audience, or play it by ear?"
KAYLEIGH’S LEVEL-UP CHANGES (9TH LEVEL) hp: +7 (5 +1 Con +1 Fast Learner)
Positive Energy Channel: 5d6
When Laori leaves the room, the smile leaves Kayleigh's mouth and her eyes widen; the new look across her face screams: Is this really the sort of person I want to make friends with??!! When she hears the elf returning, though, the smile's back on her lips and seems genuine. Kayleigh casts a guidance orison on herself before examining the piece of cloth Laori presents her with. "Holy Roses! This could belong to the missing seneschal, Neolandus Kalepopolis!" As she tries to figure out exactly what such a revelation might mean, she suddenly remembers to be polite. "Thank you, Laori. This gives us some food for thought!"
"So... I guess it's time to pay a visit to the Emperor of Old Korvosa?" the cleric asks the others. As an aside to Laori, the young Milanite adds, "We may not be popular with him, as we've killed several of his rude footsoldiers since arriving on the island."
"It looks like we're all willing to join forces with you," Kayleigh tells the spiky elf lady with a smile. "So...what is it you found here that you thought might interest us?"
"I think we should give serious thought to her plan," Kayleigh tells the others. "I thinks she's being honest...," the cleric adds, taking great pains not to look at the skulls on the table, "...even about finding those other artists already dead." "And I guess that if you want to get information from them, well...this is a functional--if distasteful--way of doing it." The look on the young Milanite's face betrays that this is NOT something she'd personally ever do.
Kayleigh listens intently to Laori's exposition. "Milani have mercy! What a mess!" she explains, working a spell into her words to get her goddess's insight into the Kuntonite's words. As she processes the elf woman's words for honesty and/or believability, Kayleigh makes one demand of her: "We'd need to be present when you ask Salvatore your questions. Is that acceptable?"
Kayleigh gives the strange Kuthonite elf a polite smile before calling a sidebar with her friends. "I think we should give her a chance," the Milanite whispers. "She may have some hidden ulterior motive, but as far as I can tell she's being honest and forthright in her offer to help us deal with the Emperor...." Breaking the huddle while flashing another smile, Kayleigh introduces herself and meekly inquires, "So...what are you seeking Salvatore for, exactly?"
Kayleigh looks at the stranger and her eyes widen when she realizes who the elf woman apparently worships. "Um...hello! What brings you to this place? What's your interest in Salvatore?"
Kayleigh casts a quick guidance spell on Vedika in case her friend needs to move in quietly, check the door for traps, or pick a lock. That done, she casts detect magic and scans the otyugh pit for buried treasure before turning to take in the artist's shambles-for-a-home.
Kayleigh steps forward a bit and casts sound burst in the midst of the monsters.
Kayleigh casts guidance both on those trying to lead the infiltration and those hanging back, to help shield them from curious, prying eyes.
Though she may have heard Salvatore's Scream name in passing, the two walk different paths and live and socialize in very different circles. Kayleigh silently defers to her friends in this matter.
Kayleigh looks to the other with uncertainty. Then (unless someone stops her) she opens the door and lets the visitor inside. Immediately, she starts studying the person's words and mannerisms, checking for anything that seems deceptive.
"I don't get many guests here," the cleric whispers to the others. "I'm guessing it's more of the Emperor's sycophants. If so, do we smash them some more or try diplomacy?"
After the meal and a bit of sleep, Kayleigh awakens the next morning for prayers, finding out that Milani has granted her greater power. When she meets with the others, she tells them about her power-up, adding a thought she's had. "I have the power to cast a new, more powerful spell--scrying--which would allow me to look in on Vencarlo...maybe seeing some clue as to where he is currently. Unfortunately, the spell has a pricy material component--a silver mirror worth a thousand gold or more. I'm not sure we can get one in Old Korvosa. Maybe the 'Emperor' has one that we could claim were we to overthrow him...."
"Well, there used to be a lot of pop-up market stalls in the neighborhood--especially just on either side of the bridge--but that was before the plague and before the "Emperor" seized the island," Kayleigh tells Vedika. "The Reefclaw Run Market was the most reputable--if you like seafood--but there were also several stalls near it that sold vegetables and spices and the like. I'm not sure it'd be wise or safe to venture there now; we're pretty close to Pilts's headquarters, and I imagine his thug patrols will become more regular and maybe larger as well."
Kayleigh leads the party to her rented flat on Wave Street, located about a block and a half west of the old Temple of Aroden. (Assuming that it hasn't been burned down during the recent troubles.)
"I agree with Zahur--staying here would make me nervous," Kayleigh chimes in. "I have a rented flat on Wave Street we could use. It's small and only has one bed...but maybe folks could sleep on the floor if we were to buy some bedrolls. Any food I had there has probably spoiled by now, though."
Kayleigh considers Brig's question a bit before shaking her head. "Though that's certainly an outside possibility, I think it's more likely they came after Vencarlo for much the same reason we did: because he might have valuable information about the Queen and/or the missing seneschal. They probably want to silence him, though. Hiring assassins--especially ones dressed up like giant bugs--seems consistent with Queen Ileosa's dramatic personal tastes...I'm thinking of her Gray Maidens and bird-masked physicians." Remembering that she's acually wearing one of those masks at the moment, Kayleigh removes it briefly to both get some fresh air and give one of her encouraging smiles to her friends.
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