Psalm Nackle's page

It was fun. Thanks.

Thus falls the Republic.

Anyone else feeling that its about to get REAL.

Psalm looks both ways down the hall still attempting his lost patron act.

Psalm continues his search for the privy walk. Keeping the others in view.

performance nothing to see here: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15

When the other's make their move Psalm curses his dull brain for not being an animal this whole time. He moves casually toward the stairs. Looking for a moment out of sight where he might shift to a mouse form. If none presents itself he follows like a visitor in search of a privvy.

You have been given a "key" to enter. Assuming Zutir was referring to the "meet" we now know when and where. Which was the goal of tracking Zutir down.

Is it too much to ask that we thought of a follow me guys signal before starting this like rubbing your hip like its sore when you want us to follow.

Psalm heads to the Kraken and finds a place where he can keep an eye on things and does his best to fit in and not look out of place.

Deception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16

Why would we get caught? We just want information, and Quint wants to join 'em. I don't plan on beating it out of him in front of the whole tavern if we fail.

"Right. Plans don't always go according to plan. Just looking at the worst case scenario."

"Don't suppose we have another choice if the guard gets us, do we?" Nikeisha asked. "Pretty sure that'll be the end of this whole thing for us if we do. No chance this cult doesn't have ears in the Guard. Or cults. Or whatevers."

"Perhaps. The other option is to flee. But we risk hurting good men and women if we have to fight the guard. We can leave word with our contact for the Senator to keep an ear out for us or scuffles that might be near the Kracken as we may have stepped in it following her leads." He grows serious. [b]"

Can we assume I prepped Invisibility and Pass w/o trace.

"The rest of us will follow soon Hack." He pauses a moment. "If things go to crap. Plans likely do. If the authorities become involved we can hope Zurtir has something incriminating on him. If not we simply come clean with what's going on that we are agents of the Senate and are following leads and have them reach out to the Senator."

Psalm thinks a long moment. "Maybe we should use what we know against them. They have considered you as an asset Quint and have taken notes of your skills. Let's play to what they know. A gnome good at infiltration got wind of things going down and wants a seat at the table. Meet him, show him the goods; the amulet and the stone. Pitch it like a job interview. The sending stone and the non-detect amulet prove you have the skills to be of service and you figure there is the opportunity for advancement. If it works you go to the meeting and we follow. If he spooks we spring on him and Hack gets to beat it out of him." He sighs, "He plays at the Kracken, we can make our ways there separate and be ready for the meet. If it goes well we can follow you, if not we take him down and learn what we need."

I think there are a few things that have slowed us.

We are being too careful. Judging by recent admonitions from the DM.

We aren't dealing with the sandboxiness well, or are playing characters that aren't suited for what might be called for.

There is a bit of what do we know when and did the character share it with the rest. I think for the most part we are operating in the open with each other. But even if we assume people are going to share all the details. Do we assume that they returned safely to tell us.

Lastly if we were at the table this would be long conversations in and out of character where we would get to pepper the DM with questions about what we know, don't know, and idiosyncrasies of the Republic. So we don't ask and try to go off what we can know certainly.

That said I like this game and would hate to see it go. It had a great deal of promise at the start.

"We can hope he knows and follow. Though that has an obvious flaw. He might be waiting for contact before going to the meet."

"Yes that is definitely the way to go Hack. We need to figure out if we can get the location of the meeting from Zutir. He might not know of the meeting. Whoever was intended to receive the sending stone message might be his contact but we need to figure out if Zutir can get us the information."

I'll be honest I was thinking we had the crucial info and it was a matter of gathering together to learn it. Hack master investigator again.

"Well we know that there seems to be large half-elf element to all this. Whether they are half-elf or half-drow may be something of interest. Avariel the smith who owned the weapons shop. She had interesting features, red eyes." He shrugs.

"Jun suggested passwords or phrases. I suggest, 'There is a bustle in the hedgerow.' To be answered by, 'Its just a spring clean for the May Queen'." He looks at them, "It's a gnome nursery rhyme. Obscure enough."

RPGs suffer a great deal from analysis paralysis. Add to the the need for secrecy. A state of Marshall law that is on edge (at least that's how it feels) I think that is why we are hesitant.

I find this game very interesting. Were it at the table we'd pepper you with a bunch of questions and move on. That process is slow in PBP even frowned on from time to time.

Just wanted to confirm. Drow look like sterotypical drow.

If so Avariel at the araments store is likely a half-drow.

"Finding Zutir would my guess reveal information about Jun."

Just my 2 cents. I am open to the hybrid method. I really like this site for one glaring reason. I open one page and can see all the activity across all my PBP games. I joined a game once that used a different site and it was often off my radar.

Psalm looks gravely concerned. "I am not from the Republic. I have a distaste for bureaucracies. But such is necessary for large kingdoms. What you are suggesting does indeed sound troubling. I must ask. Forgive my conspiratorial question. Has this Elise benefited from unrest. Our enemies have benefited at every turn from what appears catastrophy. If the answer is yes. This is cause for pause."

Psalm Nackle wrote:

He looks to Quint to hash out all the various nuances of property, sects and how they appear to be in conflict.

Quint's not eager to share the details of how he learned what he did. As for what he learned, I think he's already given a pretty good summary. Is there something specific you had in mind?

Credit where credit is due. Your efforts have yielded biggest returns.

Psalm taps his chin and begins to step by step go through the things that they have learned. "Well at first we looked for some more academic regarding the Dragon Queen and the heavily redacted history of Aranon Ethalion." He continues spelling out many details. "I would love to talk to an elf who lived through these events because there seems to be a shared desire to erase what happened in detail. Quint I must say learned more than any of us. I am not even sure I follow all the twists and turns he has uncovered." He looks to Quint to hash out all the various nuances of property, sects and how they appear to be in conflict.

Worked.

I am getting an Invite Invalid message.

I am enjoying it. Very much and certainly there are some things about to happen.

We are going to feel the loss of Jun pretty heavy. Quint is doing great but they are the both the heavy social/intrigue players. So a lot of that is hitting Quint now.

Bonus points for Hack stepping into a bruiser role for investigating rather than face smashing.

Psalm tilts his head. "That's a lot to chew. So sects of a cult are warring in our midst. Or branches of the same group are operating in seeming opposition?"

Sorry guys. I missed that the senator was back with us. It is not something I would have expected and I missed the last paragraph. Psalm has already added to what he learned. I was not trying to add to the confusion. Hack thank you for trying to get me the message. Luna thank you for the slap that forced me to take notice.

That said I was intending this paragraph as during the week not at the conclusion when we all met back up.

In addition to the other investigations of the week Psalm pulls aside their contact at the Pegasus. "I need to get a message to Senator Akassa. We need more reports. We need a bigger picture, reports from other provinces, troop movements and what need is pushing such matters. Any and all info. We are not sure what we are looking for so we need as much as we can get."

This is what I said to the group and while I out of character missed the point that the Seantor was there its in keeping with us meeting back together and answers her question.

After the investigations resolve and the team gathers again. Psalm gives a run down of the rather boring results. "The only thing we ran across was that Diamond imports was supplying the herbalist."

Psalm looks concerned when the Senator mentions Jun, "It is ill news. He had packed a wagon. A bug out buggy." Psalm chuckles darkly at the phrase. "If things became dangerous. Perhaps we should check if he needed it. I can't imagine him leaving without notice."

Psalm: I think we can assume that we all shared our info, and we are now in front of Akassa.

I imagine we will but people might take steps in the investigation that get them into trouble and not come back. Nikeisha has shared about her friend now but I wasn't sure if she was going to share. Some people play close to the chest. As for the Senator, I thought she said she can't come that often.

In addition to the other investigations of the week Psalm pulls aside their contact at the Pegasus. "I need to get a message to Senator Akassa. We need more reports. We need a bigger picture, reports from other provinces, troop movements and what need is pushing such matters. Any and all info. We are not sure what we are looking for so we need as much as we can get."

After the investigations resolve and the team gathers again. Psalm gives a run down of the rather boring results. "The only thing we ran across was that Diamond imports was supplying the herbalist."

Leaving room for others to share info. Not sure what Nikeshia would have told Psalm.

"You're not wrong my gnome friend. You're not wrong. It appears, though as if this patient group is swiftly running out of patience. I do fear things are progressing at a pace that may make our investigation pointless before long. It may be that this five headed dragon shows its heads before we can truly discover any of them." Jun says, tapping a finger on his chin as he looks at Quint's disturbing revelation of the five points of interest surrounding Castle Redwood. The half-elf then lets out a long and loud yawn, stretching his arms high. "I think we should all go and get some rest, inasmuch as we are able. Quint, I do believe you are the best person among us to hold onto the sending stone, and the magic amulet of scrying protection. Perhaps you can discover who is on the other end of that stone, without them discovering you! Hack, you should take the chest of gems and coins, for now. Until we can decide anything better to do with it. I don't yet trust Thjorvar or his staff completely. Perhaps find a hidden place in your chambers to stash it." As Jun shews people out of his room so that he can get some much needed shut-eye, he says, "After we break our fast in the morning, perhaps we'll have more solid plans to further our investigation specifics." Then he waves everyone out of his door, and closes it.

Psalm thinks a long moment, "Perhaps we need to look at this another way. Our opponents have gone to great length to pull their asset out of custody. Is this a value to them, were they afraid of something, was this part of the plan, what else has gone on that is on the surface unrelated? Did they just expose their hand in rescuing/removing their politician from the board?"

Psalm watches Quint work and offers a few questions that Quint in his insistence ignores. About the 3rd point on the map. Psalm looks up with a smile. "He's on to something."

"I think Jun your theory has to adjust for the level of patience we are seeing her. I mean. How likely even over a year are they not only able to accomplish but to lay themselves out on a map like this. Given money setting up 5 fronts or business that can work with them and for them. But to lay them out mathmatically."

Take care Jun. Save travels.

I am hoping that now that you have smashed the box open for us we can enjoy the freedom you modeled for us. I learned a lot about gaming from the last week or so of your posts.

"Well we have our work cut out. I will go with you Luna to the scribe shop. I think Nikeisha and I will also look into old elves. Though I think we should also look into all the targets of the distraction attacks. Perhaps we should come up with a shopping list. . . or it might be wise that no one group go to all the sites. They might know something is up."

"Your time has indeed been fruitful but I can't say I don't see how there isn't a plan. I mean they have taken power positions in aged institutions that alone is evidence of strategy and given the nature of those institutions they were setting people in place prior to getting things rolling. We are dealing with an organization that worships a monster of 5 heads. So it is fully possible that is how they act. Seemingly disparate but in the end a single enterprise. Or a command structure that has 5 (or more) seemingly distinct leaders."

Psalm takes a moment. "I have once . . . had experience with Drow." He holds up a hand palm out slowing the incoming questions. "Not direct. No. I stumbled into a meeting. I was in a cave in the mountains near our circle. I small group of orcs and drow speaking. Odd. Whether or not it has any import to our present conspiracy I could never say with any certainty. I digress perhaps a tangent."

Psalm thinks a moment. "Well at the same time the warehouse was attacked other sites were attacked as well as their puppet Senator spring from prison. So the attack was part of their distraction. Having been there for the attack. I noted that the warehouse guards were surprisingly unhelpful. The melted with resistance. So given the nature of the rather massive conspiracy we see. It is not out of possibility the warehouse soldiers were ready to abandon post or that the attackers were familiar enough with the nature of the guards that they would flee in a crisis." He shrugs, "I mean that's why investigating the other targets is so crucial. I mean they could have hit targets they were familiar with for strategic regions, they are just that careful, or they accomplished multiple goals with the strikes. By hitting several sites sure they drew out the attention of the guard and overwhelmed their resources leaving the prison vulnerable. But they could also have destroyed evidence at each of those sites that linked to the larger conspiracy AND used it as a distraction for the prison break. Worse might it be some mixture of the two."

He taps his chin thinking. "I don't think we will ever get a full picture of this down to the letter. Also we must ready ourselves to not be believed. This is an outlandish conspiracy. I mean its easy to explain bad guys hit a bunch of sites to free bad guy from prison. But this goes far beyond that. There are many and rightly so in the Republic which that will be leary of the massive doubt this will put in the institutions of government."

"We need to speak to some elves who would be willing to talk about history that elves want hidden, preferably someone old enough to remember the Dragon War."

Are we aware of any strongly pro-republic elves who are known to be that old.

So Aranon Ethalion was the leader of the elves that became the Drow after the Dragon War?

"Luna do you know anything of this Aranon Ethalion? Is it something the elves have a view on?"

"I do have some small skill in cartography and the necessary tools. I could replenish my supplies and use that as a reason to check out this Skiara's Sketchbook business. Would anyone want to come with me? You know, two heads are better than one."

"I would be happy to go with you."

Okay. So the person who told me the story did them mean people in town or at the fortress wore the symbol?

Psalm listens and takes notes on all that was discussed.

He leans back and explains, "I found out something of the Star symbol. It is known by some as the Star of Aranon Ethalion. An elf of great legend. A mix of divine champion, mad wizard and tyrant from a variety of stories. The star symbol is carved on the walls of a fortress. Rumored to be an impenetrable dungeon. Apparently near the fortress there are some who wear the symbol."

Mended I trust that is a good paraphrase of the rumors. To clarify people in town can be seen wearing the symbol or at the location of the Fortress.

Psalm smiles, "I will be happy to take a look at things." He looks down again at the rune stone. "5 . . . as in the 5 types of evil dragons?" He looks puzzled and continues to ponder the stone rubbing it and tracing the rune with his finger.

Religion: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19
Arcana: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Psalm chuckles, "We could hock the items at the stores listed."

Happy Holidays! Merry Christmas!! Have a great new year.

I have not looked into the other site yet. I will. The biggest draw back another site would have for me is not that it would or wouldn't have cooler features but if it is active and has updates those updates don't show up on the one screen I have on this site that shows me all my games at a glance.

"Right the archers were with the aggressors. But the defenders. Hack and Jun's co-workers melted away and ran. The casters you are right were certainly not legendary wizards."

Hack places th ed chest on the table and scratches his head.

No, can't say I noticed the other guards hidin' anything.

"Did they seem like hired thugs who would run for it as soon as trouble arose or were they professionals? From what I saw a number of guards and sentries abandonded their posts. Where they folks used to a scrap who normally would adapt and respond or were they untrained and unorganized.?"

"They have some high ranking members of the Arcane Order in there ranks. One of them, anyway. Are there two groups? I'm confused." Nikeisha rubbed her eyes.

"We faced one. But there were other attacks and other fires. The senator that was a part of the cult was broken out of prison in the chaos."

Psalm broods and taps at his chin with his finger beneath his lip. "Hack, Jun. You have been around many of the guards who were protecting the wagon and the building that was attacked." He pauses a moment mulling an idea. "Does it strike you strange that they fled so easily? Or were they worth that little in a tussle? Could it all have been a stunt? Burn their own evidence cause a commotion. Perhaps throw suspicion off?"

"Oh there was a big answer. This is an organized and large cult. Multiple across the city. One of the spellcasters had a holy symbol of the Dragon Queen. I left it behind, didn't want it on me if we were stopped. But this is disturbing news. The Dragon Queen is alive and she has clerics."

Psalm as a squirrel makes a squeak and then points at Nikeisha with his paws with the index fingers aimed at her. "*SQUEAK*"

He lags behind the group running along the edge of rooves and stopping to 'check out garbage' as he makes his way keeping an eye out for those who might be following.