Search Posts
I am back... still catching up on in game items... and still in the process of unpacking. (Work also decided that it would be worth it to send me to another school now that I am in the area... yay.) I will update Pels stat sheet for the rounds of IC spent soon.
Pellius smiles and stops singing. "Well... that was... more bloody than I hoped for... but at least it is mostly finished." He looks to the enthralled cultist. "So, do you want to play tour guide for us? We have an opening for one and it even comes with the benefits of being able to walk away from this hole alive... possibly a bit richer, depending on how truthful you are with regards to traps and locks."
Posting in all of my games. We made it to CA... but finding a home that meets my family's needs (while being in price range) is proving a bit challenging... will be off the boards for a bit. Please bot me as necessary (and possibly send good vibes/prayers my way). Thanks for your continued patience.
Pellius smiles widely and nods. "Of course of course! I look forward to hammering out the details with her." As they go, Pellius attempts to keep track of anything that might be noteworthy on the way, either as a possible hazard if they have to fight their way out, or that might be worth snagging should negotiations allow them to have unescorted access to the place.
Pellius nods as the woman leaves, noticing that his companions looked ready to attack. "Good, thank you. And you are right, dear... the orchestra could be along the outside... surrounding them with sound. Hm... give me a moment, I will try a few bars more and tell me what you think." So saying, Pellius begins singing a song from the opera, but as he does it is clear that he is throwing magic into it that his companions will feel. As he does, he turns so that he is no longer facing Kira, giving her a nod as he does.
Eh, I might take that one... but then, part of the fun is the idea all of this could blow up in our faces if I low roll. ;)
Next two days will be on the road again. With any luck will be less eventful than the trip to here was (oldest apparently gets motion sick... we have since acquired children's dramamine, so hopefully that negates it). Will be stable once we get there for a little bit again before the final push.
Pellius almost looks offended as the bold one says they were not expecting them. "You were not informed of us arriving? Of our visit? He turns to Kira and gives her an exasperated look. "Honestly, what do you pay your people for if they cannot even be bothered to let the residents know prior to our arrival? That is twice now they have done this! If your half-brother was not in charge of them I would be inclined to fire them all by now." He shakes his head, turning back to the woman who spoke to them. "I am so terribly sorry about the mix up. Our people were supposed to have talked with your people by now. We are considering using this stage for the production of Count Giova, what with the main opera house being... occupied." He smiles at her and says, "Pellius, by the way. A pleasure to meet you I am sure. Now, as for ways you can help me... let me see." He tsks to himself. "Well, you can start by showing me where you find the harmonics to be the most balanced in this room. We would normally need an orchestra of at least thirty people, but given the small space I want to see if we can get away with halving that. This would require that where they are playing has natural resonances to compensate..." He shakes his head, smiling. "Oh, and you could send someone to fetch whomever is in charge as well... I want to hammer out the details on what we need and what we can logistically bring into the space."
Pellius hops up upon the stage itself and gives a few paces. "Yes... yes... I can see the statue scene happening over here... and the torch bearers coming from those alcoves over there...." The singer almost is speaking to himself as he says this, briefly looking up at Kira's counter point. Good the others are in position if they don't buy this... "I know, isn't it wonderfully atmospheric? We can hide the blood symbol until the final scene where the Count finally must pay his pact to Asmodeus and have the torch-bearing demons come from under them as they are revealed!" Turning to the nearest armored woman, he smiles. "Of course, you all will simply have to be there. It is, after all, your stage. Tell me, where would you suggest we have the orchestra to maximize the sound? Down at the foot of the stage or perhaps at the back of the room where we entered?"
Pellius finally is able to get his stomach to stop feeling upset as they open the door, but the only thing he can recognize is the room is the stage and the disrepair to its environment.
"Good afternoon, ladies. We will not trouble you long, so please pay us no mind. I am just trying to determine how much work it will be to get the stage ready for my upcoming performance of Count Giova later this month. I think the stonework here will make the acoustics sound superb." So saying, he gives a quick tonal rendition of the main overture as he heads boldly up to the stage.
"Sorry, it really sounds better when played on the proper instruments... but that even my poor rendition reverberated just fine within the space... this will do nicely!"
Pellius holds up a hand. "I will... be ready in a moment. Just need to get the... last of that smell out of... my everything." He gives them a smile that is less green than before... but still not 100% normal.
I will be stationary for this week, traveling again on the weekend. I will be doing things with the family (probably go to the zoo etc) but I am not having to drive multiple hours each day.
Pellius attempts to listen and look for signs of the mysterious whisperers, but the lingering effects of the first hallway down continues to distract him. "I doubt... they are peaceful... but they might be willing to exchange their freedom... for passage. After all.... they don't even know about... Thrune."
Pellius wordlessly follows Adonara into the next room, looking a bit less green and a bit more hale. "With any luck, their food won't cause me a second episode. Still a bit urpy though. What now?"
Pellius stumbles along behind them, vomiting further. "Ugh! I... will need... water... after..." he attempts to smile, struggling to clear the residual smell and taste from his mouth and nose.
Pretty sure that Pellius is still nauseated, though if not let me know. So I will be posting this in all my games: I am moving from EST to PST finally (this was kinda expected but has been in limbo due to the pandemic). The movers will begin being at my house tomorrow, with final pack out day being Thursday, after which time I will begin to be on the road. I am not making a straight shot, as it were, across the country. I will have a few rest periods to see family on the way. I expect that I will finish the cross country period mid OCT, after which time I begin the house hunting phase in earnest. I should be able to keep posting during this time period, but some days (especially any that I am driving) are probably going to be limited in quantity (though hopefully not quality) of posts. That said, feel free to bot me in combat it necessary to keep things moving.
Pellius attempts to put on a brave face as the waves of flies and unpleasantness hit him, but he just can't keep it in. Turning to face a wall, he vomits back to the surface his breakfast. Clutching his stomach, he keeps huddled against the wall. "Give.... <spit>... me a... <spit> moment please."
Pellius creates a floating light over Ryker's head. "Well... it wouldn't be a problem in modern Kintargo for us to look into if it was just an old tomb. Hellfire, even the old wrecks and tombs we look into show signs of active life." Shaking his head, he jumps down after Adonara and Ryker.
Pellius surveys the picked over rubble, looking for the entrance to the caverns bellow. "Hellknights don't mess around when they want to destroy a place, do they?"
So, original roll stands. ;) For now I will just use a set of the MWK Chainmail... but after we raid the place I might go get something better with the proceeds.
Hm... given I have only a gold to my name, perhaps taking one of the MWK chainmail sets would be the best action right now. Even selling both and my MWK chain shirt wouldn't be enough to get a magical set. Perhaps we will be really lucky and find a breastplate made of singing steel in the spiders' den, though I doubt it. ;)
Pellius nods. "I agree, some shopping would be useful prior. I have been meaning to get a better set of armor, and if there are traps or creatures down in those tunnels now might be a good time to do so."
OK, so took Charming Performance for my feat and Enthrall for my spell. Additionally, do we have any good medium armor laying around? If not, how much do we have set aside so that Pel could buy a set? It would help me to not be as squishy when our plans go awry.
Oooh.... so I get medium armor proficiency now with no arcane spell fail %. Yay, I won't be as squishy any more! Inspire Courage buff now goes to +2 as well...
Pellius actually cracks into a smile at Valekar's remarks. "I haven't had the chance to properly star yet... my first role that I could have had a leading part was canceled by Thrune's occupation. Still, it does warm my heart that I was able to make such an impression on you... thank you for telling me. When things are less hectic, and my voice is properly back, I will have to put on a performance for you. For all of you, if you are interested. What did these infernal people take from you, if you don't mind my asking?"
Pellius arrives at Adonara's place and begins to make himself some tea, which he proceeds to sip quietly while she lays out her informant's tips. A frown crosses his brow. "Do you think that these... Spiders... could have been responsible for Wex? It matters little, mind you, but I could see it being their version of an attempt to wrest the city from Asmodius and into the hands of Norgorber." His frown deepens. "For that matter, why did they just seal off the hall instead of raiding it then and there? Did your informants think there could be some kind of guardian or traps that caused even Hellknights to pause?"
As he says this, he thinks back to any tales his parents or fellow opera staff might have shared on that period of Kintargo's past.
Pellius nods as Ryker leaves, finishing his tea. "Be safe out there." He turns to Adonara. "I would hope that you would have been able to resist that way... but I also imagine that, over time, it would have worn down your reluctance and resistance... or it would have found someone more pliable to take it off of your corpse. Still, I am more concerned with the timing of its resurfacing. I find it to be improbable that Wex just came across it one day by chance. It is a shame that we cannot ask him any longer, but at least he is free of its influence." He sighs, brooding over questions that have no clear answers.
After a bit, Pellius smiles and says, "I am all for meeting up with less homicidal individuals, but I suggest we do it tomorrow. My voice could benefit from some sleep." So saying, Pellius heads to his bed and falls into fitful sleep.
Pellius gets a cup of tea with a few spices thrown in it and sips it gingerly. As he does he quietly does a few vocal exercises. "Sorry if this bothers anyone. It has been a while since I have had to give that... harsh... of a performance. The last time was only a few notes too... nothing quite that.... sustained." He momentarily smiles at the memory before pushing it aside. "We have seen a lot of evil recently. Certainly more than I ever expected to in my lifetime. I only ever wanted to be a singer. It feels sometimes like that rally we attended to protest all of the edicts was years ago, instead of only a few weeks." The singer shakes his head and turns to Adonara. "I am glad that you are yourself again. Again, I am sorry that I attempted to force my will on you. I stand by my intentions, but I still have residual guilt over it. You and I might have come from radically different societal positions, but I have come to view you as a friend... and trying to force your friend to do something using magic, even in their best interest... well, it feels wrong to me." He shakes his head. "I suppose that I will have to make it up to you somehow eventually." He turns to Ryker and Valekar. "I am sorry if I have not been as open with my feelings or our past with you until now. I have been having a harder time than I like to let on dealing with all of the darkness we have been facing, starting prior to having met you and seemingly continuing at an exponential rate of late. You can ask Kira or Adonara... I was the most reluctant of all of us initial 'rebels' to join this cause. In many ways, I showed up for a protest and found myself swept up in a cause that is larger than myself. I never wanted to be heroic or have tales written or sung about me... I just wanted the ability to perform the renditions of other peoples' stories." He takes a longer sip of his tea and falls silent.
"Take care with those, good sir. And with him." On their way back to the coffee house, Pellius quietly speaks to Valekar. Elven:
"My apologies about yelling at you earlier. I had to sell it, in case we were being watched. Adonara and Kira are used to having to deal with my operatic... eccentricities... so I sometimes forget that not everyone is used to them." He smiles and switches to common. "When we get back home you will have to get Kira to tell the story of our first attempt at such fun. Suffice to say, I learned a lot that day." He gives the gnome the kind of warm smile reserved for good friends.
I second Adonara's sentiments. I would not scream at you if you felt the need to drop out (for real life issues or if you just don't feel like you fit) but I will say that your character has the potential to grow into our group dynamic. You are just at a bit of disadvantage is all: Adonara, Kira, and I are the remnants of the original group... as such we have an existing dynamic that is somewhat strong. Ryker has an advantage on you in the sense that his character is pretty much filling in the party's role of Mike from Breaking Bad. He doesn't have to say much, and he can react in his head to the crazy ideas we are having. I guess what I am trying to say is that I understand your frustration, but I encourage you to continue to try to break into the dynamic in a way that feels natural. We want you to play here if you want to come on this wacky journey with us. In the mean time, don't beat yourself up over not breaking in instantly. Perhaps in the down time once we get back to the Nest we can get to know each other better IC.
"I don't think that he has anything left to salvage at this point. Implanting false memories might be the only thing left we can do for him. Well, besides deciding he deserves execution... but given it is readily apparent from his reaction to the blade's breaking that he was more the vessel for its will instead of the other way around... I am inclined to pardon him." He turns back to the blade. "I would not touch it without gloves... or tongs. Personally I would not touch it period. As for its fate, so long as it is broken and separated for a few millennia I will be content."
Pellius looks at the now drooling form of Wex. "Well... it seems any... remaining questions are now likely moot." The somewhat hoarse singer sighs and turns to Adonara. "Glad to see you... as you again. And sorry again... about trying to force your will. I just... didn't want you... to end up..." the singer trails off as he gestures to the broken tinker before them. "... like that...." He shakes his head and walks away from the broken form of a man. Mustering just enough spittle, he spits on one of the broken pieces of the cursed blade. "May you never be reassembled. May your God suffer a similar fate."
That was awesome. You know, when I got that skill back at level two... I thought... this is kinda cool and thematic, but when am I ever going to be trying to sing down an object (especially given every round spent trying to sonic an item to death is a round not spent giving everyone attack buffs for the day). Never in my wildest dreams/hopes would I have been using it to break an evil intelligent serial killer weapon bent on possessing one of my party members, ;)
Pellius smiles as he looks down upon the cursed blade's remains. "I would make sure that you send each piece separately. After sealing them in something. Preferably something hard to break through." The singer laughs, though it is clear that he is still a bit winded from the effort spent sing/shouting in that range for so long. "Thank you, Kira, for your quick action. I was not looking forward to being stabbed period. Let alone by something so vile. You quite possibly just saved my life." He looks down at Adonara. "As well as hers. Hopefully it being broken will break its hold on her, given she wasn't under its influence long." He faces Wex. "How about you, sir? Your head any clearer now?"
Pellius holds a hand up as the blade scatters across the floor. "Keep back from it. Let's see if I can't take some of the spirit out of it." So saying, he switches to Celestial and begins shouting at the blade, putting as much solemnity and finality as he can into the words.
As he finally stops sing-shouting, he takes a breath. "Whew... that took a decent amount out of me."
So I am pitching this as an ideological battle within Adonara. Which god does she want to serve? I am betting that her devotion to her goddess will outweigh all else... that she will stab me (hopefully somewhere I can recover from) and let go of the knife. Granted I will then have to deal with having an intelligent, malignant kukri embedded somewhere inside my body... but I am willing to roll that set of dice. That said, it is entirely possible that the GM (or you, Adonara) think that the compulsion of the item might be dire enough that she instead pulls it out and goes for a follow up strike... I hope not though, ;)
Pellius sighs. So much for subtlety... "Balgorrah, you are the one that needs to get out her head... not me. This, for the record, is exactly why that infernal thing needs to be shattered." He holds his hands up at her, away from his weapons. "Adonara, this is not you. You are a servant of your goddess, the Vengeful Sting. Not a servant of that things twisted deity." His face scrunches up. "I'll make a deal with you. I wronged you just now by attempting to force you to do something that, while in your best interests, was against your will. I deserve punishment for that treachery." He holds his hands behind him. "Strike me with the blade... but leave it behind, buried in me. If you promise that you will not pull it out from my flesh upon stabbing with it, I promise to accept this judgement without complaint."
Pellius tries to keep the alarm off of his face. "Adonara... dear... you really need to set the blade down on the floor gently and take a few steps back from it." As he speaks, he weaves a bit of magic into his words.
Assuming she sets down the blade...: Pellius smiles at her apologetically. "Sorry, I hate doing that to a friend." Turning to the blade, Pellius shouts at it in various decibels for a few moments.
Pellius nods as Kira explains their findings, his face sober. "Poor man. I wonder how he found the blade... or, if it is as intelligent as that, how it found him..." He shakes his head. "Did we find it? If so, who has it currently?"
"Banishment might be a good idea, though breaking it first might be a better one. I imagine it can heal itself, or is ridiculously hard to break... all the stories about items of that much will and power lead me to believe that much... but if it is possible, it would likely make it safer to transport at least." He looks over at Wex. "No sense in needlessly exposing someone to the risk of becoming like him. Speaking of which, you probably shouldn't hold it for longer than you have to, Adonara." He gives her a smile and turns back to Haetamon. "As for wiping his mind... is there a way of interrupting his connection to the blade long enough to actually ask him? You know, the real him, not this version of him."
Pellius guides the remaining party toward the room where they had managed to talk down the Dottari knight, then posts toward the entrance in order to guide Adonara and Haetamon to their captive. He motions Kira to join him. "So what is it that you found down there in his room?"
Pellius inwardly curses at having not thought this through as thoroughly, but plays it off as being frustrated with Adonara. Infernal:
"You mean you haven't sent someone already? The site should have been secured days ago for this purpose!" The singer sighs dramatically and turns to Valekar. "You. Go to site two immediately and make sure that any welcome we have is expecting our friend here." He then turns to Adonara and resumes in Infernal. Infernal:
"Am I to assume that you haven't informed our liason to be expecting us, then? Well, don't just stand around gawking! Go and fetch him! And make sure that our novice knows where he is going first.... doubtless he has not been to our second site yet... bloody novices..." Turning to Vex, he adds softly, "Do not think that their absence will make escape any easier. You try and our contact will merely have to rip your soul back and interrogate you in a more... painful... manner."
Pellius raises his eyebrows at the man's comments, looking at the others to see if they make sense to them. "Sure. The blade made you do it. Now, kindly be quiet while we move you." Taking out his Citizens group badge, Pellius adopts the arrogant walk of a man who caught his prey. If any question their moving the bound Wex he just flashes the insignia and says, "Official business, mind your own."
"Sleep now." Pellius focuses and casts magic upon the bound man, hoping to end his struggling quickly.
Hey all, posting this in my games. My school is now in the practical phase of troubleshooting (read: they break the servers and whatnot, I have to fix it) and it is eating a lot of my time. I might be a bit slower in posting the next few weeks as a result. Apologies, and feel free to bot me as needed.
Yes, have fun. As for the weapon, I could always try singing it into oblivion. Devastating Aria deals 1d4+4 sonic per round of bardic performance I spend on it to an object... in theory I could literally sing until it shatters like glass.
Pellius almost winces as the blows land on the purported murderer. "Take him alive, if you would. Our friend deserves to ask him questions before we send him to the Boneyards."
Seeing the man attempt to run, Pellius tsks. "Now now, good sir, is that any way to react to paying customers? No wonder you are living here..." As he speaks, the singer focuses his will and draws in his breath. His companions see nothing other than him mouth the word "STOP!" next, but to Wex it is like being screamed at through a megaphone.
In favor of a strike. And I was outside the residence, gm, not inside.
Pellius props himself= against the doorpost in such a way as to indicate that he had been waiting for a while, and begins to idly whistle a tune loud enough that those inside will hear him.... and hopefully anyone approaching will not hear them.
|
