You each recieve a letter from an old halfling woman. She hands you the letter and introduces herself as Kora.
It Reads
My name is Lavinia Vanderboren, and I humbly request your attendance at dinner at my estate on Festival Street and Blue Skink Lane tommorrow evening. I think that I can present you with an opportunity uniquely suited to your skills. Please inform the carrier of this letter of your response to this invatation, and I hope to be speaking to you soon! - Lavinia Vanderboren
Byonc unconsciously pulls his hood lower over his face and begins to move away. At last he turns, blows out a deep breath, and shrugs his massive shoulders. Peering down at the tiny woman he mumbles, "Read it to me, Kora."
Lyssa takes this in stride, unusual as it is in her neighborhood. "Festival and Blue Skink? Hoo, we're going upscale! Tell her I'll be there to listen, at least."
Background note for GM:
Kora reads the message aloud for Bynoc, pausing for breath quite often.
She gives a weak cough after she is finished, and says, "so what do you say?"
Kora bows before Lyssa and says, "very well, I shall inform my mistress"
GM note: these visits take place at different times of the day. she is not visiting you all at once.
after seeing Bynoc's disheartened look, Kora says sympathetically "now now dear, don't be cross. Reading isn't all that important anyway, in the grand scheme of things. Why, you do quite remind me of my son. He was an adventurer like you, but a woman with a tatoo of a lotus dragon killed him years ago," Kora sniffles, "he spoke highly of her, but I was sure she was a vixen. They never did find proof of his murder, but I know it was her."
Kora gives another wheezy cough and waits for an answer.
Be a pleasure, my dear. Tell her I'll be there.
Bynoc leans forward to comfort Kora, but then self-consciously checks himself. Shrugging, he acquiesces, “Maybe it will be a ticket out of this place, and if not, at least it means a hot meal.”
"aye-aye Mr. Talonshift," says Kora cheerfully as she trots away, coughing occasionally.
"I'll let miss Vanderboren know you are coming Bynoc. Oh, and take this." she hands Bynoc a ring. "It was my son's. May it help you more than it helped him. You make an old lady very proud."
She trots away, wheezing and coughing.
any of you can make an knowledge(nobility and royalty) check using invisible castle. the DC is 10, so untrained is fine.
on 10
on 15
Background Note:
"Thank you, Madam Kora," and Anders unfolds the note to read it quietly to himself. "Hmm. Vanderboren, eh?" he thinks to himself. "The name sounds vaguely familiar, but nothing important leaps to mind. No matter. I'm sure this old hag, Lavinia, will make everything clear in due time."
"Thank your mistress for me, Kora. And tell her I will gladly attend and hear her proposition."
Quickly panning about to be sure he isn't being watched, Bynoc scrutinizes the surprise gift. Smiling wistfully, he quickly secrets it away on his person and heads off to change into his traveling clothes.
you might want to
a. make your avatar as the character.
b. make a knowledge check to see if you know lavina is in fact
DC 15
"Thank you Anders," says Kora,"Im sure Lavinia will appreciate someone as young and- attractive as you"
DM note: ^you have high CHA
Lavinia Vanderboren, eh?, Lyssa thinks, Better dress up -- this might pay! Lyssa goes to the room she keeps in her social club's hangout and chooses some of her better clothes and some simple jewelry.
thanks lyssa.
good job guys
Knowledge roll to recognise Lavinia
"Thank you Anders," says Kora,"Im sure Lavinia will appreciate someone as young and- attractive as you"
Thought to himself: So, this old bag Lavinia likes younger men. Well, if she's not too unbearable to look at, I suppose I can let her fawn on me, if it makes her happy, and more inclined to offer me a favorable proposition...
"Again, thank you, M'lady Kora. Should I bring... anything?"
"Well, I shouldn't tell you this, but I suggest you prepare for some company. Lavinia is inviting several others. You might find one, what was her name? Oh yes, Lyssa Storm! You might find her attractive."
no problem. I'm new to the Invisible Castle myself..
everyone can make
Knowledge Local but dont bother if you don't have ranks.
DC 15
well, ballast, the gnome, and that cleric dude (jk)are still AWOL, so they will arrive at the manor a bit late... possibly.
"Well, I shouldn't tell you this, but I suggest you prepare for some company. Lavinia is inviting several others. You might find one, what was her name? Oh yes, Lyssa Storm! You might find her attractive."
"But of course. With an invitation such as this, I was already planning to arrive in my evening finest."
Kora giggles at the flower you pick her.
"Mistress Lavinia will be happy to hear that. Until then, I must depart."
To the Stragglers(just kidding)-Ballast,Eldin Farstrider, and Harven Whisperfeet
You recieve your letters last, and Kora seems more tired and irritable.
Kora simply hands you the letter, says "Be there or be poor."
She runs away before you can answer.
Knowledge-nobility
Knowledge Local
Wonder who this "Vanderboren" chick is? I hope this isn't a waste of time, I need to keep surveying the merchant district and making sure the animals being treated humanely......*wanders off*
As Night falls, passes, then falls again (TOMORROW evening), Bynoc and Anders arrive nearly at the same time.
Kora answers the manor door and asks you to wait in the atrium until all the guests arrive.
The manor is rather large, and the atrium Kora leads you to is very comfortable.
Lyssa and Terin arrive several minutes later, but the others don't show up for quite a bit.
feel free to introduce yourselves to one another.
(At the door) --
"Ah, good evening, sir. I presume you are also a guest here of the lady Lavinia."
Anders is youthful, but striking in his appearance, with his bald head and dark goatee. He is dressed in a fine outfit, colored in blacks and purples, consisting of a shirt, trousers, and a fine long coat with a short, almost nonexistant collar, and sharp, straight lines that flare below the waist.
Note: you are all in the atrium now.
Lyssa smiles at Terin. "Why, thank you, sir. Yes, I did get an invitation from Lady Vanderboren. I take it you did as well?"
On being brought into the atrium, Lyssa introduces herself by first name, with a smile and a delicate hand for all (even Bynoc).
Lyssa is a tall, attractive young woman, with long, straight black hair. Her dress is a rich green color, under her rather ordinary brown cloak.
"And good evening to you both. I see Madam Vanderboren has invited several of us to her chambers this evening. I was intensely curious as to what her proposition might be. Now, moreso."
*To Lyrssa*Why yes, I did get an invitation to this...affair. I wonder what our host is seeking? A lovely shade of green my dear and the cloak compliments perfectly. A fashion statement or is that a reflection of a more woodland lifestyle? I should find it an honor to give a tour of the Standing Stone Park to ye. I myself happen to be one of those who tend to natures whim within the Park. *continues to make small talk, laced with minor seductiveness*
As am I sir, Anders, is it? I am Terin, some call me "The Beast". I wish our host would help to illuminate our cloudy thoughts. "To clear the water one must remove the detris that adds murk to its depths", an explanation would do much to clear the depths, as it is.
I'm not doing much else for the next few days, I suppose I will check out who this Lavinia Women is. Plus the free meal can't hurt at all.
"Wise words indeed, friend Terin. Although some things are becomming more illuminated as we gather. Such a diverse collection of people, with apparently more to come. Surely there is some errand the matron of House Vanderboren cannot accomplish on her own. One requireing multiple hands and heads, and a variety of skills and talents."
"Wise words indeed, friend Terin. Although some things are becomming more illuminated as we gather. Such a diverse collection of people, with apparently more to come. Surely there is some errand the matron of House Vanderboren cannot accomplish on her own. One requireing multiple hands and heads, and a variety of skills and talents."
I agree,*turns to Lyssa* and I can see by your bearing that you are one who is used to being unobserved, although such rare and natural beauty must be hard to conceal, o' lithe jungle cat. *gives her a wink, and turns to address Anders* I am sure that our host will let us know in due time.
Four figures walk past the atrium. The leader of this group, a jaunty male half elf in leather armor, with many daggers strapped to his outfit. He pops his head in and says, "Hmm. You must be the help Lavinia's bringing in to do the chores. Best of luck to ya!"
Knowledge(Local)
DC 10
A beautiful young woman enters the room. Her commanding presence echoes throughout the room. She is garbed in a silk dress.
" My name is Lavinia Vanderboren," she introduces herself
Well met, my lady. My name is Terin Talonshift, druid of Standing Stone Park. Thank you for the dinner offer.
Anders betrays the slightest hint of surprise with an arched eyebrow.
"Ah. Good evening Miss Vanderboren. It is a pleasure to make your aquaintence."
Lyssa returns Terin's flirting, without ever getting serious about it [I can't keep up!]
"Lady Vanderboren," Lyssa acknowledges. "I am Lyssa Storm, but I suspect you know that," she smiles.
Lavinia clears her throat and says, "As you may have heard, I recently Inherited my parents' estate. Along with this fine house, unfortunately, came a fine amount of debt owed to the Dawn Council, the harbormaster, and quite a few guildhalls. It seems my parents, for all their success as adventurers, were not as skilled at finance as one might expect. If I'm to get these taxes paid, I'll need to access my family's vault under castle Teraknian."
"And thats the problem, you see. The vaults are magically locked-keyed to special signet rings. Both of my parents had these rings, at least, until recently. My mother lost hers a few months ago. She arranged for a replacement, but it won't be done for a few months, too late for me. Which leaves my father's ring. He never wore it-he had a thing about men wearing jewelry. He kept it hidden somewhere on his ship, the Blue Nixie. The problem is that the harbormaster's seized the ship until someone pays for the last 4 months of mooring. I've paid the fines to the man the harbormaster's put in charge of my ship, a brute named Soller Vark. Yet when I went to claim my ship, Vark's men would'nt let me board, claiming that I hadn't yet paid the fines. I spoke to Vark again and he denied ever recieving my payment. My complaints to the harbormaster have fallen on deaf ears - hes a doddeering old fool who trusts his man and won't relent."
Vark and his men are up to something on my ship, I know it. What I need is to find out exactly what they're up to. Unfortunately, Vark's not the type to react well to diplomacy or logic. I need someone who speaks his language...which is where you come in. If you can find out what he's using my ship for, or even better, recover the money I paid him, I'll pay you each 200gp once I can access the vault"
"any questions?"
Holy cow my hands hurt after that!
all 7 of you are in the atrium as of now, with lavinia
"I presume this man Vark did not have posession of your ship by himself. Do you know roughly how many men he has with him?"
"He has seven thugs in his service, and he is a formidable opponent himself."
Like you didnt know anyway... :P
He is also the mightiest of enchanters.. some know him as... TIM!
http://www4.ncsu.edu/~seyuter/people/TimTE.PNG
Joke post