Magic and "kill zones" aren't Paritosh's area of expertise.
I hear you, Paritosh. What say we head to the Winchester for a pint and wait for this all to blow over?
Sort of kidding. I guess Moira can try to help with crowd control.
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Moira tags along, the group seems to have things well in hand.
"Let's head out early to get more scouting in and find out whats wrong in the town. It's easy enough to ask around. I don't see why we need to involve Lord Ghent in this expedition though, we have more than enough resources within our own organization for a small expedition like this. Shadow keeps us well supplied." Once we get to town, Moira will do some quiet investigation around the docks, drinking with her new crew and asking around for leads.
Didn't Rollo already start with 8th level WBL? I'd rather sell them and put them towards more flight capability.
Did we ever fully decide where that loot we got a while back would go? Slippers of speed and spider climbing(combined effect) - I don't think this went to anyone Bracers of archery+2/+2 damage - I think this went to Anzarra and would be gone now A Blue Jewel on a chain that allows the wearer to reduce up to three size categories one time per day for up to 5 minutes (super reduce person, limit to the "fine" category, throat/amulet slot) - I don't think this went to anyone small, silver flintlock pistol (+2 frost, 3 bullet capacity, can misfire but will not explode). - Lyra The shield is a +4 light Mithral shield. - Did this go to Arlo? The amulet could potentially come in handy, but it's pretty situational. I could see the slippers being useful for Arlo. Is there anything worth selling?
Moira will duck out of the party early without fanfare and return to the city proper, anxious and distracted. When Anzarra's crew approaches her over the next few days, she'll take them up on the offer, becoming a sailor once again.
Moira looks up at the flying creature with her hands casually in her pockets, untroubled by the haze. She gives Lyra side-eye, calling back, "The flyers or the guy who hasn't stopped smiling in the last three hours? I don't think I can help either." She heads over to join Arlo and asks him to crack the door for her. She'll slip in with the crowd and she raises her voice to address them, hoping to keep up the excitement level while delaying them and keeping them distracted. "Citizens of Ovium, Selium, and further still, thank you for joining us here today for this momentous occasion! Let us all give a round of applause to Lord Ghent, our gracious host and the backing force behind the amazing entertainment you've seen today!"
Moira approaches with a relaxed air. "Perhaps if we had known about you, we could have. Whom do I have the pleasure of speaking to, and where are you from?"
Moira wipes the wax off her hand and frowns at how things have turned out. She tenses up again when the complete stranger walks up and starts casting spells but slightly relaxes when she realizes it's only detect magic. "Sir, there could still be danger lurking about, this is not part of the show. Please clear the area."
Welcome aboard buddy!
Moira isn't going to let go of the man, keeping a firm grip as he tries to leave.
"Leaving so soon? You haven't even answered our questions yet."
Moira walks over and will take the "corrected" version from him, putting a hand on his shoulder. "This will go far easier for you if you tell us who you are, who you work for, and just what this is supposed to do."
Moira will dress up and play socialite for the party, flitting about and mingling, paying special attention to the artists and craftspeople. She'll play up how these movies are an amazing new opportunity for artistic expression.
Moira passes along to the group that the next good opportunity to access the tower will be a week after Lord Ghent's party. Her next course of action will be to invite Paritosh along (or to borrow the book of Redclift's poetry if he's not interested) to go pay a visit to Hernard Demoivee. She'll share the poetry with him and ask if he can help at all with their research in his ancient and prolific library.
Sorry Ive been out. But I come bearing works: Moira.
Moira will take Hattie up on her offer of a boat ride and a read through the Codex. As the two ladies sip wine beneath a breezy sky, placid water imperceptibly swaying the boat. Moira flips deep into the codex to find the passages that will lead her to things hidden and secrets unknown, and she casts her mind into the space between all that is...
slippers of speed and spider climbing as in Boots of Speed + Slippers of Spider Climbing?
Moira responds in Aklo as she moves over to the beast. Aklo:
"Who are you to know anything of souls on strings, beast?" As she gets up to him, she hops up and grabs at him.
Moira moves up to the Necromancer after the second fireball goes off and attempts to grab him.
Moira martial flexes into Kraken Style and moves closer to the dark traders while the others provide artillery support.
Moira raises an eyebrow. "Good work." She chuckles. "Ah, if only I'd taken my trip a week later, we could have asked the immortals themselves. We might still be able to actually...let's talk to Shadow about that once we get back. Otherwise, this is a fine riddle."
And Hattie takes Moira on a few small adventures on the water as well.
Moira informs the group that she's brokered the organization's purchase of a tome that allows the reader to glimpse moments from possible futures. The former owner has negotiated for access rights, but she's really quite a lovely woman and that shouldn't be an issue. Moira's morning routine shifts slightly to include an examination of the book, rather than more unrefined fortune-telling techniques. By the time the team leaves for the cabin, Moira's mood has improved somewhat. I don't suppose we're going to have too much trouble with a big beastie, but we ought to determine if it's being controlled before we up and end it."
Moira takes a seat in front of the book and tries to follow along as Hattie outlines what small meaning she has managed to glean from its pages. Moira's focus fades as she finds her mind drifting back to the First World. She takes a sip of coffee and closes her eyes, focusing on sensations to bring her back and anchor her to the present. The acrid and lightly burnt aroma, bitter taste and heady warmth of the coffee. The smooth texture and musty scent of the Codex mingling with the electric potential of eldritch power that set her hairs on end. The overstuffed plush of the antique chair below her and its subtle creaks as her weight shifted and Hattie pressed on it from behind. Hattie...her soft floral scent, the slick touch of her robe and warm press of her side as she leaned over the chair to flip through the book. The spark of her fingers unintentionally brushing over Moira's on the vellum...Moira's eyes snap open in faint surprise as she's suddenly very aware of how cramped the study is. This certainly isn't the first time she's been attracted to a person even since coming to Ovium, but in the wake of First World aftershocks she finds it hitting hard. Indulging in casual attraction was tempting, but she had learned over the years that it was all-too-often a road to heartbreak and pain. Better to keep her distance, for her own sake but even more for Hattie's. "Hattie, this is a fascinating tome, but I'm finding it a bit beyond my ken at the moment." She slips out of the chair and starts to pace the small office. "Perhaps I'm finding myself as distracted by the book as you... Much as she wants to keep her distance, she can't resist indulging in a bit of wordplay. "But all the symbols end up jumbled in my head rather than following me around. Perhaps we should take a walk and get some fresh air..."
She is about to leave the room when she glances at the book and something finally clicks. She feels a tingling at her temples and gets a flash of insight as she reflexively reaches up to touch the spots on the side of her head that she paints every morning as part of her worship of Magdh. unfortunately, this results in her dropping the coffee, which gets everywhere. "Oh! Oh no, my deepest apologies, I am so sorry. Let me get that." She scrambles to start cleaning up. As she's scrubbing, she relays her revelation. "I think I may have gained a bit of understanding in the text. It's not...it's not about the symbols. They aren't written to be understood, they're written to be read. They aren't the destination, they're the path. Every morning. I pray to the Queen of Fate, dedicating myself anew. When I do so, I try to read the thread of fate. Sometimes I cast stones. Sometimes I read tea leaves. This book is like that. But so much...MORE than anything I've come across!" She stares at Hattie in amazement.
Ugh. Just waffled on a long post for a while and lost it.
Moira accepts the gracious hospitality, sitting down and taking a cup of coffee. She listens to the woman's startlingly accurate observations and mulls over them with a zip of the coffee. "Hattie, you've been awfully kind, inviting me in like this and filling me in on this Codex Tepenec.. It sounds absolutely fascinating. First off, I must ask if you're doing okay? You seem very distracted, and I fear that you may be devoting too much of yourself to this work. Perhaps you ought to take some time to relax? Moira raises an inquisitive eyebrow and sips at her coffee. "Second, and I will get to how these questions are related, may I see the Codex? I am among a group that possesses an incredible amount of knowledge and skill in regard to the enigmatic and esoteric such as this, and we may be able to assist you in the deciphering of this text. It sounds as though we could come to a mutually beneficial arrangement, in fact. You assist us with your foresight, we provide resources and knowledge, and together we can unlock the full potential of this grimoire. What do you say?"
Although the expedition to the palace helped, Moira slips back into a funk and heads back out to listlessly roam the streets. She does ask around about this mysterious bookseller as she does so.
Before they leave the Palace, Moira has an idea. "Tolish, you are far more comfortable underwater than us. Would you mind investigating a nearby, very recent shipwreck for any evidence? The sorts of things we've been taking from here...treasures, documents, such-like. I don't think there will be any danger, but if there is, get out quickly. It's not worth your life. I would be happy to accompany you if you can carry me along, but I can only hold my breath for so long. Lyra may be a better choice."
Moira grins and throws her hand in.
Given how important this is, Moira will lend a hand to help as well.
"Hold on!" Moira grabs a few clamps and fits them around the main tubes. She spends a few moments tightening them slightly and adjusting. "Cutting off the flow looks like it would be catastrophic, but if we can throttle it, we might be able to reduce the effect at least."
Not particularly helpful with the mechanism,Moira accompanies Anzarra and Tolish back to the courtyard. "What sort of aid could you provide, Tolish? Can you tell us more about yourself and you species?"
"Tolish, everything will be okay now.. we'll do everything we can to get you out of here safely. Do you know anything about how this vessel operates? Any information would be helpful."
Moira will also ask for a cast of Mage Armor from her wand before exiting the boat.
----Before-----
----The Palace---
Moira makes preparations with Shadow to arrange for transport of the caskets to the mountains of the Tain in the First World. She does some research in doing so to try to make the process as smooth as possible.
Moira took her 4th level of paladin.
"You might be able to soften it enough to break it at least. Arlo, do you think you have the strength to do so?" Moira helps to scatter the armor pieces, but keeps close to Anzarra in case she has to intervene.
Moira's limbs writhe over the Black Knight, wrenching its arms behind it and crushing it. As she does so, ghostly shears appear around her hands and bite into the creature, and the ground rumbles around them as vines begin to crack through the floor.
Moira centers herself as the imposing enemy approaches and settles into a writhing combat stands and lunges at the black knight, saying "Fine lad, let's see how you dance then."
Moira keeps her grip on the Moneylender and yells towards Arlo, "Clear the room, get these people-!" Anzarra interrupts her with a fine show of stink, and she trails off with a "Nevermind!" Then, focusing on Vincent, she says "That's very chivalrous of you, but these guys are dangerous! I won't have you dying for someone you just met!"
Moira dances along with Vincent for quite a while, and responds, "The greatest swordsman, truly? I must be quite blessed to have you for a partner. Would you defend me, were I in danger? What would bring me to abscond with a man I've just met, even a man chivalrous as you? Think on that, and perhaps we'll meet again."
With that, Moira parts with Vincent and steps up the Moneylender. She grabs his hand and attempts to sweep him into the dance, disguising her intentions but also not about to let him go. "My dear, and who might you be, so flush with riches and mystery?"
Moira heads to the ballroom to dance as well.
Disaster averted, Moira just smiles at Lyra's "practice" and continues to prepare for the party.
"Lyra, muffin, I think you're taking this a little too far. This is a fancy dress party, it's not that big of a deal. What's going to happen if you, say, run into an unfortunate child of your 'model'? The mask looked fine, honey."
Moira frowns at the short notice they've received, agreeing with Arlo. She sighs, resigned. "It's not even enough time to get a simple skipling costume together. Not one that will look good, at least." She thinks, and heads out to do some shopping. A few hours later she meets with the group in a brand new, elegant gown, quite the departure from her typical modest and utilitarian wear. It's dark and Gothic, with long velvet sleeves and a deep v-cut. It's accompanied by a black masquerade mask with enchanted lenses to make her eyes glow faintly red. She has painted her skin stark white, with false fangs, blood red lipstick, and a line of the red lipstick emulating a blood drop down her chin to complete the vampire look.
This was a nice concise explanation. Still, its probably partly Potion Hoarding Syndrome.
Moira will use a lay on hands on Moonbeam as well, to give some healing buffer.
The light washes over Moira and burns at the weakness and foibles that lurk within her. She grits her teeth and moans in agony as the light cuts deep, but she accepts the pain. It scours over the things that make her human, fallible, and she lets it in. Life is pain, but it goes on.
She comes out the other side, sweating, breathing heavily, and looks around to gauge the damage. She lends a healing hand to Arlo, then begins to study the damaged wall with Lyra.
The spirits wash over Moira. She knows death well and has nothing to fear from it. She calls out "Guardian! We come to you in peace. The substrate has been damaged, corrupted, and we wish to set it right. You can feel that it's wrong, it agitates you and these poor spirits. Let us in, and help us restore this place to peace."
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