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Very glad you are doing better Faustinia! Giuseppe, you've managed to keep a game moving faster than any other I've been through. All the while making it live and breathe. It has been lovely. If you ever want to bring it back (with Catina, when her real life settles, cause without our tielfling it would not be the same)... well I agree with Varius, I'd be more than happy to start up again. bye, bye. Hopefully only for now.
Ah well, I guess that is it then. I understand completely though, real life gets us all in the end. Thank you all for excepting me midway through. You are all great writers, made me laugh out loud on several occasions, made me smile a thousand times more.
It has been slow lately, but even with my wife's surgery I would never call this a burden. A very pleasant distraction from laundry and dishes, all the things being a mostly single parent hates that never ends. :) I don't want it to end, but ultimately this is your game sir. If you are not having fun anymore then that should always be the deciding factor. You've done a great job Giuseppe, no matter how we decide.
The site still seems to hate me, but checking up to make sure everyone is still out there and well. Hope all of you had a happy Halloween, if you have Halloween where you're at that is. If not, hope you had a happy Tuesday!
Taking a deep breath, she pull her hammer back, quietly thanks Catina and Shelyn for the strength, she brings it down with all she has.
I believe the plan is as follows. Start: Petals goes back, tells them no, we won't enter, unarmed and naked. Try to get them to come out and negotiate. If they do, go to path 1. If they don't, go to path 2. Path 1: They come outside. We try to talk to them into selling the ashes. If they agree, path 1.1, if they don't, path 1.2 Path 1.1: Make a deal, go home happy, with no violence.
Path 2: Petals says let her try one more time to convince the others to go inside. We go just out of sight, casts an illusion of us talking to make them think we are still there. We head for the other door, Faustinia summons an earth elemental and intructs it to attack the first door when Petals starts pounding the other door (after Catina casts Bull's Strength on Petals). Go to Violence. Violence: we fight. Hope that is right.
Sorry about the bad day, but am jealous about the convention. ENJOY!!!
Petals nods in agreement, being naked and fighting is a bad idea. Listening to the rest of what they have to say, glancing back and forth between Varius and Catina. She shakes her head and then asks "I'm a little confused, sorry. Am I going to talk to them and push for a location to see their reaction?" she gestures to Varius since she believes this is what he is saying, "Or am I casting an illusion as a distraction, while we go bash open the other door?" nodding to Catina.
talking:
"Hello again" she'll give an easy smile, "Sorry we've decided entering unarmed is too great a risk. Even for a negotiation. Instead we'll say our goodbyes to you all and hope the location of the Pathfinder Coriana's ashes is enough to turn a profit" she'll pause to get their reaction.
actions: cast silent image of the group still chatting, far enough away the silent part of the illusion shouldn't matter, DC 13. Then attack the door with her hammer and the increased strength. -
I could cast an illusion of us still talking, and then we could go around to another door. Petals offers, but there is no surety they will fall for it. Best bet would be to tell them sorry, not going naked and defenseless for that amount of coin. That we'll just sell the location of the relic to the party interested and let them negotiate. Otherwise they'll just be waiting for us to come back. When we do come back and attack the door. she'll look to the others to see if they agree.
Petals will give nod, "Let me confer with my associates to see if the terms are acceptable. One moment please..." she'll head back to street, after a brief curtsy. To her friends, "I'm sorry, I was unable to pick the lock. Alessandro was much better at this." Guilt will play across her features, as she tells them about the Sister's terms. "I'm willing to try but I have little hope of my ability to convince them for a long negotiation, or if once they hear what we want, they won't just kill us. We could agree, I can re-offer just me and then you all rush them once the door is open?"
"Um... Hi, possibly but I...um.. " flustered because of her own failure more than being startled, she takes a deep breath, finding her courage and deciding to try the negotiation route. She meets the fiery black eyes with her own steady blue ones.
"A venerable and loyal house of Westcrown is seeking certain historical artifacts from key periods of change." Petals finds lying easier when peppered with truth. Faustinia's house is venerable and loyal to Westcrown at least, and she is looking for the ashes, which was involved in a key period of change for the city. "There is a lot of coin involved for whoever can fulfill their requests. It has been determined that you, the renowned Sisters, may have at least one of the items. So if you have the item, then I have a buyer. Can we come inside and talk?"
Stressed, and missing Alessandro a lot, she keeps trying.
She mumbles a worried prayer, sacrificing being a quiet as possible for something she hopes will work better. A twist here, a small thump there...
Petals will sneak to the door, search quickly for traps, and then get to work with her tools.
Petals smoothed down the crisp white fabric of her skirt, wondering, not for the first time, why they picked white for the color of rebellion. Since we always seemed to be fighting to achieve it. Blood is such a horrible thing to get out of white fabric. She listens to Catina's worry and tries to help, "By all accounts, these Sisters embraced violence as a religious experience. I don't think they will mind if we give them the opportunity to pray." she gives a wry smile, letting her friend know she is far from serious. "We have no idea where the ashes are inside that place. So if we fight, we will have to fight them all, while searching the entire place." she sighs at the prospect. "Sneaking in, by skill or invisibility, has the same problem. No idea where they are stored. At least when violence erupts we might be in a better position to deal with it." She pinches her outfit "Lastly, trying to bribe them in these symbols of hope and freedom, will just make them slam the door, fight us to the death, and in a last ditch effort pour the ashes into the sewer..." she wrinkles her nose at the thought. Pulling her tools, gleaming well cared for picks only slightly showing their age, she suggests "I vote we try the sneaking bit as far as we can, then improvise if it fails."
"It looks like a fortress" Petals breaths in wonder and dread. "We could attack the place or attempt to sneak in... but both seem pretty unlikely to succeed. We could knock and offer to buy the ashes? If they are more like the Bastards than the devote assassinating nuns they once were, the coin might mean much more than anything else." she offers as suggestion while never taking her eyes off of that thing in front of her. It radiates blood in her mind, probably just the stories of what the Sisters were but still she can't help to be worried about going in.
HA! Yes, you are correct Faustinia!
Happy with the suggested distribution of items. Plus yeah, I agree very much with keeping the cup, even though it is of no use statistically.
I think the next day sounds much much better. :)
My wife has surgery today, so I'll be less than active. Plus a bit of recovery, hopefully no more than this week. Meaning I get to be both Mom and Dad and will have less time for posting. I'll try though, just warning.
Petals feeling out of her depth here, looks to Cataina and Faustinia, but if asked will suggest finding out more about the artifact or Coriana since he seems obsessed about her, he might know things we'd need to know to find her.
Okay, sounds good to me. Petals agrees.
Going on vacation tomorrow morning, don't know how well I'll be able to keep up, though so bot me as needed. And have a lovely weekend!
"Do you think he will know he is dead?" Petals wonders, having never summoned a spirit before. Listening to the questions, she believes Catina has a handle on what we need to know, giving an extra smile/nod/mini clap at the last one. She does suggest another "Maybe we should ask if he knew where Sivanshin would have fled. Didn't the letter mention him fleeing with a stolen relic. We might need whatever it is."
"That was... " a flurry of horrible puns cross her mind, but she stamps them down with practiced sense. "No one likes puns." she reminds herself. She'll go over to Thrax with Catina as their cleric makes sure the madman doesn't die. She'll remove a belt from the slightly chared muscle bound mage and bind his hands, afterward as well. "This was his everything, and we took it away. I can understand his anger, even his hatred, but killing us wouldn't have got it back for him." She'll look up at Catina "I don't understand people at times." When Lucca interrupts them, she notices Catina's wariness, and takes a closer look at the regretful lord.
But decides he seems forthright enough. She is happy Faustinia takes the lead again in communicating with him though. Noticing her singed clothes and hair, she'll busy herself with using her magic to clean herself and her companions up a bit. Can't have the heroes of the arena looking like they lost to a campfire.
The dark swimming up the corners of her eyes has no chance against the warm comfort of Catina's magic. After a quick smile of thanks to her friend, she corrals her wavering singing voice into a high pitched rage "I am an elf." she thinks as she drops her heavy hammer, pulls, and draws her bow. "I should be good with bows... right?" sighing in her mind. "Just picture him being the broad side of a barn and maybe..."
Bamf and the man is gone. Petals barely has time to hunt around to see where the wizard disappeared to before the world explodes in fire. Then darkness...
OPEN UP, stupid door! Petals mumbles inside her own head, while continuing her improvised song, including bits about Thrax's questionable relations with a hedgehog. Click! The door swings open and they are free. She is not wasting a moment. Grasping her hammer in both hands, the elf charges, skirts flaring as she runs, and...
...slams her beautiful silver mallet into the dirt. Looking up with smoldering anger in her blue eyes, she dares the over-swollen man to laugh.
Locked? Petals hears wondering at that. Why would it be locked? She feels around to the others, slipping out her picks, and kneeling in front of the door. Lifting, twisting, slipping it a little more to the right, she is thankful picking locks is mostly about feel. Through it all she keeps up her song, just in case their army is having any more luck.
The wizard ignores them, making the elf swear in annoyance. The spell he used was bad if Faustinia's reaction was any indicator, but not lethal. Petals can't bring herself to loose the arrow. Not yet. He casts again, she hesitates again, then gold is all she can see and the option to fire is gone. Hoping the next one isn't a fireball, she starts singing again. If they are all blind, the conjured army is their eyes. Might as well help them.
she wasn't demoralizing, she was trying to get him to stop before they had to treat him like an enemy and kill him. Lawful good, give people a chance. But moving on.
Yep, that is what I was asking, didn't know how many turns took place between winning and getting attacked.
Sorry things are rough at the moment Catina. Hope they get better soon.
Petals spins gracefully, raising her voice wordlessly in delighted harmony. WE WON! is what is pouring from mind, body, and soul. Spending all air in that one tune saved her a bit. As the horrid nauseous cloud erupted around them, she was just finishing up, not breathing in. Catina's sudden wave of clear cool air dispersed the stench, as she sang her last.
Eyeing the wizard across the arena, Petals draws her bow, fits an arrow and draws. "Stand down, coward! Or You Will Die!" she is very tired of people trying to kill her friends, lending steel to her melodious voice. If she can be heard amidst the screams, that is.
Petals continues her song of the strength and courage of the solders of their nation, modifying it a bit to change the enemy general to be named Thrax and know for his gut like a marshmallow.
--- The earth elemental catches just a bit of the weird pointed ear elf's song, especially the marshmallow part and lets a low grumble of a laugh, small pebbles rumbling off its massive shoulders. Than smashes its stony body into the devil in front of it, with a great and satisfying crunch.
I believe the confusion is our time zone difference. Unless I'm working from home I do not post during work hours. Your assignments were during the work time frame. I posted my regular turn yesterday evening and my next turn was not up when I left for work this morning. Saying that of course bot me whenever you need. I love this game and do not wish for it to die in any way.
Petals will raise her voice in song, choosing a famous Chelaxian war song, very rousing and upbeat. And LOUD. Hopefully to inspire their dear outnumbered earth elementals to crush the horrid little demons.
Petals reaches through and touches an earth elemental, casting a quick spell bolstering him into a true hero of his rocky proportions. "May the demons feel your might" she whispers her encouragement to it.
Petals gives a semi polite glare back to the noblewoman, along with an anything but sweet smile. In the arena, her cheeks are rosy with anticipation. She pivots in a gracefully bow to the crowd, blowing a exaggerated kiss to anyone shouting their names over the champions. She nods to Faustinia when they are ready, waiting until she summons something before casting anything.
The wink makes Petals smile wide. With a nod of thanks, she relaxes a bit, choosing to ignore instead of radiate disdain. But ready to back up her friend, if she needs it.
Sounds good to me!
Petals instantly slides into a "I don't like you" posture when faced with Lady Drovenge. Arms folded, mouth held in a firm line, eyes glaring. Petals is fully aware her position in society is at the bottom, but a bully is a bully no matter how dressed up it is. Because of her displeasure, she doesn't react at all to the thoughts of wagers or offers of advice.
After several days work, Petals bounces in with a wide smile. Our dear champion Thrax does change his strategy it seems, when he needs to. A lovely but smelly drunk at the bar told me, he switches when he knows a good conjuror was coming to try and take his crown. No more 'prone to being beaten by celestial critters' lemures, no no no... she'll dash her eyes back and forth See? Faustinia's never shown her good summoning to the eyes of the public has she? So it would come as a complete surprise! Maybe... she'll add the last suddenly unsure about it all. It occurs to her she never did ask what Thrax shifted to from demons. And despite changing he has still always won.
I can turn them invisible! Petals points out excitingly And if they like music, do the same as I normally would, sing Shelyn's magic. Oh! Can we call them Shelyn's marching hordes! she says mostly as a joke. Or should it be dancing hordes, do earth elementals dance?
Outside Lucca's office Petals gushes a bit. Thrax's lemur rush is legendary! It is like a sea of little devils pouring over Everything! she says excitingly, then blushes a little Or so I've heard. I've never been to one of these, but people talk about them ALL the time. I guess Faustinia will be casting every conjuration she can, while me and Catina support them with magic. Varius will be the general shouting orders on how to attack? Petals will muse. We could ask around about more details on Thrax's attack strategies. Most people color their descriptions on what they like, so most of what I've heard is one sided. Former opponents sore about losing might be able to give advise. She is practically bouncing, and probably won't sleep for the next two days.
Petals leans against the wall with her arms crossed, listening to the man explain. She nods her head enthusiastically, thinking YES but keeps herself from shouting assent. Despite her fangirl desires, she does has reservations about whether they can win or not. Being completely new to the arena. Still it doesn't sound like he is requiring us to win. If they do though they would be the heroes of the stage AND the heroes of the Devildrome! She does manage to stay quiet though, leaving it to Faustinia to continue the discussion.
Petals will give a suitable curtesy to the man and a smile. And then promptly lets Faustinia do all the talking. Standing out of the way. She's never been to this place, but has heard a hundred tales. The elf is truly bubbling with excitement, doing all she can to contain it and not be an embarrassment. Bloodsport is not something a good person wants to see. In truth it isn't the blood part of it, but the gladiatorial combat. Heroes of the ring, the patrons would gush about.
"Oh no" Petals moans in obvious distaste at the mention of the sewers. "I've... ended up down there before and never ever want to go back... unless we have to." Thankfully there are other options. At Faustinia's mention of a guard free wall she pipes up "We could leave the city proper, and enter through a breach in the walls. The whole area has fallen in disrepair so there are plenty." |
