Rylka Sarna's page

Rylka takes a deep breath, "I'm in town on the request of the Everbloom. Things around here need to change. These new rulers don't belong in Varisia. It is time to shake things up. I've started here in the Bottoms, trying to rebuild the Freemen. Turns out some of them are still around, but the blood jackets have a few."

"Your name came up, highly recommended."

She looks him in the eyes, "What do you say. Willing to help me out?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (12) + 13 = 25

Rylka leans close to the door, "I work for the Everbloom. Any more and I seek a trip to the old armory."

Rylka sighs, "I have money, I was hoping to give him some. But I can't take the time to travel to Magnimar. Perhaps you'll have the skills I'm looking for. I'd appreciate coming inside to discuss it. There are things the are unfit for Chelish ears, or Blood Jacketed ears for that matter."

She takes a quick look over her shoulder as she speaks. "And I'm feeling quite exposed out here."

Rylka looks around to make sure nobody is paying her too much attention as she walks up to the overly secure edifice. With no obvious method of opening she resorts to a classic formality.

This is definitely the right place. Hopefully he'll hear me out.

She reaches out a hand and knocks.

Leaning in towards the door she speaks clearly, "Master Paq, I would like to discuss the possibility of engaging your services."

I wish I could recapitulate what I thought I'd posted before. This will have to do.

"Thank you. I hope I can convince him to help us." Rylka stands and clasps Sirel's hand. "Wish me luck."

I just realized that the post I thought I made days ago isn't there. I was waiting for you, and you were waiting for me. :(

I was checking in to let you know I'm going on an unexpected business trip tomorrow morning. I'll be away for the week, back next Thursday. I don't know what my posting schedule will be like while I'm away. No idea about free time or connectivity. Sorry.

Rylka nods, "Tikal's been in there long enough, no time like the present. Unless you can get us an up to date floor plan and guard schedule, we have all the info we can get."

"A lockpick would be more useful, if you have one available."

Rylka whispers back, "I ain't gonna tell anyone. There are plenty who agree with you though." She continues at a more normal tone, "I'll be back in a week to check up on those." With that she hurries out of the shop and loses herself in the crowd.

She takes a round-about trip back to the Bottoms to fill in Sirel. "Do you happen to have a locksmith who could help out tonight? I think I've found a back door to the armory."

Bluff: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (10) + 14 = 24
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (4) + 13 = 17

Rylka attempts to gloss over the details while fishing for more information about the armory.

"Oh, she's not very important. I couldn't even begin to tell you what she does. But she does like her ballroom well lit. You know, the twist on this piece here," She points to a spot on the drawing, "should look something like this hinge here." She walks over to the small door to the armory. "Where does this door go anyway? Does it go into that massive building? It sounds like you don't really approve of what's been done to it recently, why is that?"

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (10) + 11 = 21 Trying to get a gauge on whether he's getting suspicious. And if he might be inclined to assist.

Rylka approaches the blacksmith shop. Best see what I can find out about that door.

She enters and waits to the dwarf to acknowledge her. "Sir dwarf, m'lady wishes to commission ironwork sconces for her mansion." She shows the hastily scratched drawings that had been made earlier that morning.

Then as he examines them attempts to engage about the neighboring building. "You certainly are located next to a massive building, what is it? I don't think I've ever been in this area before."

Diplomacy (Gather Information): 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (13) + 14 = 27

Sorry, it's been a very busy week. Trying to work on a plan of action and get a post written up.

Seeing that the area is much busier than other districts of Kaer Maga, Rylka realizes that a ruse may be unnecessary (and unnecessary complications can frequently make things worse). So she hurries along, blending in with the crowd. A few blocks further on she crosses over room the street behind the armory and heads back the way she came. Once again studying the massive building for weaknesses.

She keeps an eye out for people who may be watching her suspiciously and will look for an appropriate shop to duck into in an attempt to lose any tail.

Perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (2) + 12 = 14

Rylka nods, "Very well, I guess today I will be paying a visit to a blacksmith. I'll need to change into something less comfortable."

She begins to outline her plan. She will be playing the part of a house servant, sent to make an order for some decorative sconces with oil lamps for a manor being redecorated. While there, she hopes to scope out the lay or the land and see the armory for herself.

Rylka looks over the sketch. "Do you know anything about the sewer system underneath? Or do they just dump their waste into the canal?"

Yeah, I've been fishing for information in character. I think I'm going to try the prison break. It plays to Rylka's strengths.

"I hope they're well. Let me know what you find." Rylka turns back to Bloom.

"I've never done a proper jailbreak, but I'm better at that than trying to sneak into the Blood Jackets. I can't stand them." She stands up, hands on the table.

"Now, does anybody have a map of Old Crumble Street? What's nearby to this old armory?"

Rylka considers. "An armory, they chose well. Though usually those are built to keep folks from getting in, not out. We might be able to work with that."

She shudders, "You're right, I don't think I can get away with that. We'd either have to find a way to steal them, or find a way to turn a new informant."

Rylka finally smiles, "Last night I helped two men escape from the ropeworks. Our route was supposed to lead us through a home in Bis. However, the occupants had been evicted about a week ago." She frowns, "If we could get our hands on that location, it might work as a safehouse."

Rylka fixes her gaze on Bloom. "I trust Milani and few others. But I can understand your issues. Maybe one day I can earn your trust. Until then, common courtesy is all I ask."

She shakes her head, "Jailbreaks are risky, what can you tell me about the prison here?"

"I'd offer to join up to get those Blood Jacket passwords, but I doubt they'll take a halfling into their ranks. I might be able to do something else though. Can you explain more about their organization?"

Rylka grins, "As for safe houses, I know a place in Bis the just got foreclosed, how much do you think it'd take to buy it?"

Rylka watches the downtrodden people of the Warrens and the Bottoms, knowing that somewhere else in the city there were those for whom this poverty was unheard of. She grimaced at the thought of those in power standing upon the lives of others.

As they enter the chandler's and descend into the basement, Rylka gathers herself for the meeting.

She looks over the ill tempered halfling as he impunes her reputation.

Slowly taking the seat offered by Marc. "I could say the same thing about a man clearly living in excess while so many starve."

"But we are not here to verbally spar. There is little I can do to prove my intentions." She begins rolling up her sleeve. "So, let's jump right in. I am sent by the Everbloom to do her bidding."

Rylka holds out her arm, practically thrusting her birthmark into Bloom's face. "Do I need to perform like some show dog before you can trust me? What can you do to earn my trust?"

Makes sense.

I'm going out of town for the weekend. I don't know what my network connectivity will be like. Just FYI.

Rylka sighs, "We didn't exactly get off on the right feet. I mistook his thugs for Blood Coats when they ambushed us in a dark ally." She gives a small smirk, "His men did not make a good showing, but he certainly packs a metaphorical wallop."

With a glance out the window at the lightening sky Rylka yawns, "Let's get what sleep we can before that meeting across town. Don't want to be late."

Sounds good.

Possibly generous, but since it was the first job it might be fair.

Freed two slaves, I'd put that at 2-3 fame. But it may depend on how Sirel spins it to the other cell.

Rylka enters Sirel's living space. She wearily drops into the corner where she had first met Pane. "Definitely an interesting night. I hope your friendly family is ok. They've been evicted. The place is still empty, so we were still able to use it, but I don't know how much longer that'll be the case."

She looks up at Sirel, "Also, we had a run in with one Inego Karpol and a few of his men. Can you tell me anything about him?"

Rylka pulls up the rope and stows her gear back in her pack. Dusting off her hands, she checks the window for signs of their escape.

With a careful peek outside before exposing herself, she leaves the apartment and carefully places the boards back in place as loosely as possible. Hopefully nobody will notice that these have been disturbed.

With extra caution, Rylka works her way back to the Warrens, heading towards Sirel's place.

Perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (4) + 12 = 16
Stealth: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16

Rylka pulls a 50' length of silk rope from her pack along with a grappling arrow. Securing the rope to the grapple, she wedges the arrow into the corner of the window. She throws the loose end of the rope out the window and steps aside nodding to her two charges.

She pulls her heavy crossbow from her pack and watches the darkness, covering their retreat.

Rylka nods to the slave and steps out of the way. She keeps her attention on the street and other dwellings, making sure no-one comes to investigate the noise.

Perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (9) + 12 = 21

If her Int wasn't average, I'd consider multi-classing into Investigator (Infiltrator). Perhaps a dip into Rogue (Liberator) or Rogue (Sanctified Rogue).

It looks good. For a lot of events the two scales will probably just be the inverse of each other, but they'll start to diverge pretty quickly with other, more focused events.

Rylka quietly examines the boarded up door looking to see how well it is sealed. She sighs inwardly, Wish I'd been a better study at locks when Iozif tried to teach me. Just couldn't keep all the little tools straight.

Perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (15) + 12 = 27

Given what she knows about the city, can she figure out which doors here might also lead to an exterior opening?

Doing better. Very busy, kids are more antsy as summer is ending, we are trying to buy a new house. Upgrade and better schools. I'm enjoying this, sorry my posting hasn't been more regular.

"Sorry, that could have gone better." She shakes her head too clear out the lingering traces of the music.

Rylka gathers herself and gestures for the two men to follow once more. "I'll get you outta here." Then softly to herself, "Gotta be more careful, don't know the lay of the land yet."

She moves ahead, more careful now, checking the route, having her charges wait while she scouts ahead and returns, trying not to let them out of her sight.

Stealth: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28
Perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (14) + 12 = 26

Yeah, bad rolls happen. And good ones.

Will save: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 8 + 2 = 16

Rylka stands and listens to the music.

And the dicebot gives half of the needed roll.

Rylka steps towards the unfixed creature. "I don't know what you are, but you are profiting on the suffering of others. It will not stand." She concentrates on the shifting figure, "Luck is not with you tonight"

She'll close half the distance to the boss figure, up to 20' (whichever is less). Then activate her Halfling Jinx. It gets a Will save (DC 13) to negate, otherwise it will take -1 to saves, attack rolls and initiative.

Realizing she may have made a hasty misjudgment, Rylka let's the Bane drop and turns to the entrance of the ally. "Blast it. Show yourself "boss". I've had enough of your city's Blood Jackets tonight. Do you wear red?"

She wills her vision to reveal evil and takes a quick look around the ally.

Standard action to activate Detect Evil as a Spell-Like Ability.

Oh, she's just as at home with diplomacy and politics as the battlefield, but given the intel she's gotten, this did not seem like a good time for it.

Rylka, now revealed, calls to Milani for assistance, "The weak cry out for your Justice!" Stepping up to the thug with the dagger, she takes a swing again.

Morningstar attack: 1d20 + 6 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 6 + 2 + 2 = 23
Morningstar damage: 1d6 + 1 + 2d6 ⇒ (6) + 1 + (5, 3) = 15

Swift action to activate Judgment of Justice, granting a +2 sacred bonus to hit. Move action to close (assuming he's still less than 20' away in the ally). Standard action to attack.

Maps can be useful, but in this case the terrain is pretty close, so I don't think it's necessary.

Rylka draws her morningstar from her pack. The head well made weapon formed in the shape of a blooming rose. As she slips through the shadows towards the unprepared assailants she gathers her will to imbue her weapon with the Everbloom's might.

As she closes on the thugs and prepares to swing, she silently asks Milani to bless her weapon. Using Inquisitor ability to make the morningstar Human Bane for 5 rounds. She hefts her weapon and swings it at the man's knee.

Morningstar attack: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 6 + 2 = 11
Morningstar damage: 1d6 + 1 + 1d6 ⇒ (2) + 1 + (5) = 8

Sorry, thought I posted this yesterday. Either I forgot to actually hire Submit, to the boards ate it. Either way here it is now.

Spotting possible trouble, Rylka quickly signals for the two men following her to stop and get down while she attempts to blend into the shadows.

Stealth: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16

Was pondering do we want some sort of ' Fame' system, to help you gain notice in the Underground? Not sure how it would work yet, but it would help track your notoriety.

Thoughts?

Hmm, probably a useful system to have. There might be something in Ultimate Intrigue, I don't have it yet, so I haven't been able to check. I'm not sure if we'd need two axes to track both the underground fame and the Chelish notoriety, or if those would both use the same score.

Sorry I've been a bit slow lately, I've been a bit under the weather and trying to keep my RL from breaking down too much.

Rylka listens intently as Sirel shares the path to safety. As he finishes she clasps his hands, "Thank you. You do your people proud. I hope to see you again."

With that she turns and follows Pane through the labyrinthine twists and turns of the Warrens. Finally arriving at their destination she looks at her new charges. She reaches into her pack and pulls out a small blue wooden scarab. "May Khepri bless us and our journey." She kisses the symbol and replaces it in her pack. Facing the two dark humans she bids them to follow. "Now we go. Follow my lead. We must hurry."

She steps to the entrance and gets her bearings. She discreetly touches her wrist. And may the Everbloom watch over us tonight. Searching the darkness for signs of anything amiss, she waves the others forward and they begin their trip to freedom.

"I'll need to learn how things are done here eventually. No time like the present." Rylka reaches for the door. "Lead on friend Pane."

Rylka scurries off after Sirel, until she is out of sight and sound of the Blood Jacket, when she resumes her normal pace.

Once she catches up to the other halfling she exclaims, "Those Blood Jackets are annoying, I'd ask how you can put up with them, but I know the answer, you have to."

She looks back over her shoulder, "Let's hurry."

Rylka Sarna wrote:

Yeah, I don't need to do the 'grimdark' thing. I have to admit I go get a bit of a Casablanca vibe from the description.

Good idea. I'll go more for Nazi Paris then ghetto Warsaw?

Sounds good.

Rylka puts on her 'good little slave' face, "Y-yes sir, just returning from delivering a message. Master is expecting his reply." She says quietly and subserviently.

She looks up at the young man with a frustrated look, "But I keep getting stopped by you toughs. I'll never make it back to the Master before dark at this rate." She starts to get a little bit hysterical at the end.

Bluff: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (18) + 14 = 32

Blood Jackets is good. Not sure if they'd call themselves that, seems a little derogatory, the sort of thing they're called behind their backs.

Yeah, I don't need to do the 'grimdark' thing. I have to admit I go get a bit of a Casablanca vibe from the description.

Very early, but I already like your posting style.

Thanks, I try. :)

Rylka sighs, "More work than I expected, but we can work with it. Step one is going to be organizing what remains of the Freemen. And those sympathetic if we can. I don't want to get them all in one place, that's too dangerous now. But if we could get them coordinated, work on expanding to new cells."

She stops, "My apologies, as you said, you've had a long day. More than one I'd wager. Let's get you home. I'll stay in the Warrensburg if it's all the same. Keep everything distributed for now."

She stands and holds out a hand, "C'mon, let's get out of here. Time to get some rest."

I did a bit of reading when I was crafting my application. If I'd wound up building a character from Kaer Maga I needed to know something about the city to write up a background.

I assumed that his comment about Marc being "recently unemployed" meant that he was a recently freed slave. I was trying to imply that I was there to help free others.

Ah, safe. Rylka relaxes as well. "Shelter and introductions are appreciated." She traces the carving on the doorframe with her finger. "I was hoping to smuggle more slaves to freedom, maybe assist those who are willing to do so as well." She turns back to look at Sirel as she sits in the offered seat.

"Sabotage is also an option. I need to get the lay of the land first, what resources do we have? How small have the Freemen become? I know you took heavy losses during the invasion."

Rylka carefully slides the bright flowing silk sleeve up her arm exposing a bloody rose upon her wrist. On close examination its texture and definition make clear that it is not a tattoo, but a birthmark. A glint of bright silver shines under her colorful and flowing blouse, a peek at the mithral shirt worn beneath her Varisian styles.

With more presence and self confidence than she has shown to this point, Rylka stands straight backed before Sirel and speaks clearly and forcefully. "The Everbloom sends her servant to make more men like Marc underemployed. If the occupation were to suffer an employment problem perhaps more could be done to see this ancient edifice under its own rule once again."

She lets the sleeve fall once more to her wrist. "This place needs help. I am here to help."

Rylka curtsies and nods to them in turn, "Marc, Sirel, we'll met."

She sits and takes a sip of her port. "I may be many things." She says with a smile. "I am Rylka Sarna, recently arrived. I had heard that Kaer Maga had fallen on hard times," she looks around the room, "but I hadn't thought this bad."

Once again looking over her shoulder, "Is there someplace more private that we can get acquainted?"

Rylka is wise, but not especially smart. However, being perceptive can be useful in seeing moves that others miss.

Rylka leans forward, elbows on knees, chin resting on one fist, and examines the board. "It's a long shot, but you may be able to get a king with this one. You'd have to get lucky afterwards if you want to keep it."

Rylka stands and calmly slips the flower back into her hair. She picks up her drink and slowly walks over to the game of checkers. She stands, watching them play, or more accurately glare frustratedly at the board for a few moments before breaking the silence. "Thank you sir."

She pulls over a chair and settles into it looking over the board. "Who's turn is it?"

... She had replaced the wilted daisies in the bud vase at her table with a solitary bluebell. A signal that an agent of the Bellwether League wanted to meet with the Freemen. The barmaid stopped at her table once again. "Can I get you anything else dear?" She asked.

Rylka replied simply, "Another glass of port, if you would, thanks." She didn't really notice as the young woman left and returned with her drink. It's been too long. She thought with fear. If the Freemen are gone, this may not be possible. She realized her inattention and went back to watching the common room attentively.

If the Chelaxians have learned this sign, I'm waiting here for my arrest and execution. How much longer can I safely wait? She begins to fidget nervously as she drinks what she has decided is her last glass.