Robin's Taldoran campaign

[robin]

Adjunta and Halsanna

Spoiler:

I assumed you did not go and see Astorion . so this is indeed another wizard . I'll wait for (the real) Halsanna to react before proceeding

About the Halsanna/Vivaeris confusion , we'll just say the repartition was the one I assumed since it gives you a diplomatic person in each group and that that was the division asked for .

[Halsanna Firdraes]

Robin and Adjunta:

Spoiler:

Halsanna for the most part, chose to defer to the priest of commerce, thinking that he would know better than she. While she was good at being the intermediary between her sister and their father, her approach was often as direct as her training, both professional and occupational. So she was more accompaniment than anything, having little training in the arcane side of things that did not brush up against her occupation. She did look around for this wizard's familiar, however. Halsanna tried to be unobtrusive in doing so, but it was likely that she was just as curious about the inside of a wizard's dwellings as well.

[robin]

Adjunta and Halsanna
[spoiler] the wizard seems quite surprised by what you tell him .
He then says 'There must be some misunderstanding . When I established shop here , Astorion did see me as a competitor at first but since he is much more powerfull than me , we did aggree I would take the easier demands freeing him from more challenging jobs . Paying for a familiar would just be pocket money for him . Frankly , I do not see him doing any shemanigans , he is a straight guy. There must be some mistake '

[Adjunta Paul]

Adjunta nods:

Spoiler:

"Then again wealth and power breeds contempt. Why pay for something if you can just take it? Why not make things more interesting by seeing if you can make someone else pay for the familiars? Perhaps tormenting a young apprentice is amusing for him? I'm not saying that this is the case, quite frankly I've never met the chap, but who's to say what lies at the heart of any man? The face we present to the world is often different from the one we own in private.

"Would you say that it's odd that a wizard of Astorion's level not to have a familiar yet? For that matter is it odd to ask for such a wide selection?"

[robin]

Adjunta and Halsanna :

Spoiler:

Adjunta Paul wrote:

"Then again wealth and power breeds contempt. Why pay for something if you can just take it?

is this any kind of talk for a priest of Abadar ? :) ( just joking)

No, that does not semm like him. While he is not the kind of man giving alms to beggars , he would not kick a man down. As for him not having a familiar, there are two schools of thoughts on this . Some wizards prefer actually not to have an hostage to fate . They say that having a familiar is like keeping a moving target around for your adversaties . Especially given a persistent myth around men at arms and such people that killing the familiar does incapacitate the wizard somehow... So they say that the advantages are not worth the bother to lug around a pet . I must admit that they do have a point even if I don't aggree . As for asking for differents races , no wizard would do so . having the choice of several specimens of the same race is only logical but several races , this is ludicrous !

[Adjunta Paul]

Robin and Halsanna:

Spoiler:

"Thank you, you've been most helpful," Adjunta says, "I have but one last question: would you say Astorion has a good relationship with the sheriff?"

[robin]

Adjunta and Halsanna

Spoiler:

I think they respect each another even if they are not friends

[Vivaeri Firdraes]

Vivaeri was still distracted by thoughts of what she could manage to get away with without angering her sister until Ahnault voiced his concern over taking a child's pet away.

"Yeah, it's a shame..." She thought for a bit. "I think I might be able to convince her we're looking for a missing pet, but...do we have time to pick up a kitten somewhere?" She hated to leave a child empty handed.

Okay, he has an idea of how children work at least. He doesn't dislike them at least. Some potential there, maybe... Vivaeri secretly preferred the idea of having nieces and nephews rather than her own sons and daughters. Most of the benefit and little of the baggage, she felt.

Are there any places to buy pets here? If there's time, she'll ask around to see if anyone has any kittens they're looking to get rid of.

[Ewald Salodar]

"Good idea...lets go with that"

She"s compassionate,he thinks to himself good with children,and her sense of humour, if a little strange, could brighten things up at home..but, she doesnt seem the marrying type. Then again neither does her sister which makes me wonder why father arranged this marriage in the first place

[Vivaeri Firdraes]

"Lovely!" she exclaimed as she fished around for her coinpurse. She wasn't very mindful of exactly how much money she had on her, but she was sure she had enough.

I guess we're looking for a deal on a kitten at the moment then.

[robin]

Alas , asking around for a kitten to buy doesn't seem to work

[Ewald Salodar]

"It would be best if we speak to the childs mother first...even if we have no sucess we at least know where the animal is"

[robin]

will be unable to post till Wednesday/thursday

[Amunrel]

Ewald Salodar wrote:

"It would be best if we speak to the childs mother first...even if we have no sucess we at least know where the animal is"

"We will need to make sure it is the same cat, I can put some money towards recompensing for the loss of the cat if it comes to that choice of separating the child and the cat," Amunrel mentions to Vi.

[Vivaeri Firdraes]

Vivaeri couldn't hide her disappointment. Gods...I hate to do this to a child...

"Right, might as well be direct. But we could use some leverage." She walked over to the corner of the closest building, leaning against it as she removed one of her boots, and hesitated for a moment as if to steel her nerves. After a few deep breaths, she kicked the corner with her bare foot, taking the brunt of the impact on her smaller toes.

"Ow! Oh gods, oh gods!" she cried out softly, tears already welling up. She didn't deal as well with pain as her sister, and her easy tears had been something of a defense machanism during their childhood. She fumbled to put her boot back on, and limped back to Ahnault, placing her hand on his arm. "Okay...*sniff*...I can keep this up for a while. I'm your blind sister with a bad leg and my cat has been missing for ow...ow...quite some time." She reached up to wipe away her tears but caught herself, letting them flow down. "I can keep this up for a while...just didn't think it would be convincing if I started right outside their door. *sniff*" She knew from experience that parents eventually became savvy to such tactics. She would have to remember to keep putting her weight on her stubbed toes on the way to their destination.

She'll use a Disguise Self before they reach the place to make herself look more human(round the ears), change her skin and hair colors to be closer to Ewalds, and make her eyes milky pale.

[Ewald Salodar]

Ewald looks in amazement as his companion deliberately injures herself..

"Ahhh...what..noooo wait..."

Too late the deed is done..he listens to her overly complicated plan in disbelief

"well I think it might be over egging the pudding a bit but..I don't suppose I have a choice now ..not now that you have starteed it"

And with that he sets off, supporting his 'sister'

[Amunrel]

Ewald Salodar wrote:

Ewald looks in amazement as his companion deliberately injures herself..

"Ahhh...what..noooo wait..."
Too late the deed is done..he listens to her overly complicated plan in disbelief
"well I think it might be over egging the pudding a bit but..I don't suppose I have a choice now ..not now that you have starteed it"
And with that he sets off, supporting his 'sister'

"How much is this mage paying for these pets by the way?" Amunrel asks

I'm assuming the lad is with us rather than the others, do I make a Diplomacy check if he's hesitant to answer that is if he knows?

[Vivaeri Firdraes]

Amunrel wrote:

Ewald Salodar wrote:

Ewald looks in amazement as his companion deliberately injures herself..

"Ahhh...what..noooo wait..."
Too late the deed is done..he listens to her overly complicated plan in disbelief
"well I think it might be over egging the pudding a bit but..I don't suppose I have a choice now ..not now that you have starteed it"
And with that he sets off, supporting his 'sister'

"How much is this mage paying for these pets by the way?" Amunrel asks

I'm assuming the lad is with us rather than the others, do I make a Diplomacy check if he's hesitant to answer that is if he knows?

"He better be paying a lot." Vivaeri mumbled as she limped alongside Ahnault. Okay, maybe this isn't the best idea I've ever had. But I've had plenty that were worse! That somehow worked out as a solid positive from Vivaeri's perspective. "Ow..."

[Amunrel]

Vivaeri Firdraes wrote:

"He better be paying a lot." Vivaeri mumbled as she limped alongside Ahnault. Okay, maybe this isn't the best idea I've ever had. But I've had plenty that were worse! That somehow worked out as a solid positive from Vivaeri's perspective. "Ow..."

Amunrel takes a closer look at his niece.

"You do realise that the child would have thought your ears were cute don't you?" he tells her with a critical air.
"Admittedly the mother might be more forthcoming and by the way I actually meant how much it would cost us so the child wouldn't have to lose their new pet if that is the same missing cat, of course," he added as he stroked back a hair behind her newly fashioned ear.
"Every thought of making your hair colour a little closer to Arnhault as well?" he asks.

Amunrel might not be a spellcaster but he has lived amoung some especially his older sister and whilst unaware of what spell Vi had cast would have been aware of what Vi can cast, well I am assuming he does...

[Vivaeri Firdraes]

Amunrel wrote:

Amunrel takes a closer look at his niece.
"You do realise that the child would have thought your ears were cute don't you?" he tells her with a critical air.
"Admittedly the mother might be more forthcoming and by the way I actually meant how much it would cost us so the child wouldn't have to lose their new pet if that is the same missing cat, of course," he added as he stroked back a hair behind her newly fashioned ear.
"Every thought of making your hair colour a little closer to Arnhault as well?" he asks.

"Yeah...ow...it takes a bit to fine tune...damn that hurts!" Vivaeri managed between hissed curses. She tried to avoid answering the earlier question, partially because it would mean admitting not having thought things through, which was hardly something she had to admit in order for it to be evident to others, but also because using her half-elven heritage to get what she wanted was a bit of a complicated issue for her. It was a difficult thing to explain, especially to family.

"That would be good to know though...the price that is." She added, aiming her remark mostly at Ned. "You know, so we don't have to lie to ow...ow ow ow...lie to a little girl to take her cat away." She neglected to point out that they didn't precisely have to lie.

[robin]

That depends , the bat and snake cost around 40 gp the toad 25 and the cat and the rat 10 gp

[Amunrel]

robin wrote:

That depends , the bat and snake cost around 40 gp the toad 25 and the cat and the rat 10 gp

"Well we have the rat and the toad so if necessary I can compensate you for the cat if it is the right one, provided that would be acceptable?" Amunrel asks.

[robin]

I'm not sure , my lord , the wizard is waiting for all the animals .
But maybe if we don't have them all , he will be content with the ones we have

[Ewald Salodar]

"That's if the Wizard really did order the animals in the first place....there's still something I'm not happy with here but I just can't put my finger on it"

Ewald supports his 'Sister' down the road towards the childs home.

[Adjunta Paul]

Adjunta turns to Halsanna:

"I think we've discovered about as much as we're going to discover here, perhaps we should rejoin our companions and find out what they've discovered."

[Halsanna Firdraes]

Halsanna's agree was a brief nod, her silence and expression agreeing with Adjunta's assessment of the situation. As the exited the wizard's domicile, her eyes swept their surroundings out of habit, before she set off in the direction of the inn they had departed from. Her gloves remained tucked in her belt and her thumbs joined them, walking at an easy amble, somewhat similar to this town's inhabitants, but she knew she stood out and played on it, carrying herself with a good deal of confidence, making herself distinct.

A casual green-eyed glance was given to the priest, with a slight furrow of her brow in confusion, her footsteps scuffing dust from the ground. The only thing she needed was a long stem hanging from the corner of her mouth to complete the image she was projecting. "Do you think that we are going after the wrong things?", she began, her manner of speech at odds with the persona she was practicing. "We are retrieving the lad's merchandise, and attempting to figure out who would scatter them as they did..."

A tilt of her head and a deeper frown gave voice to another thought. "I thought that the magic of summoning a familiar rather.. called one to you?" She spread her hands in a shrug, and chewed her lip as the thought was lost.

[robin]

[ooc] Halsanna, just for the player information , my interpretation there is that the calling of a familiar calls the nearest suitable type of creature available. This would be a problem if there were not this kind of creature near . To be frank , this has always been a gray area in the rulebooks . But since wizards are supposed to have an high intelligence score , I figure any wizard would seek to cheat the rules there ... /ooc]

Ewald and Vivaeris : you go to the adress you have. This is a small house of one storey . You knocking on the door and after a moment a woman (around 30 in age ) opens the door . Behind her you can see a room where the family must live and sleep (obviously this is not a wealthy neighboorhood) . Behind her you can spot a girl about 5 playing with a well groomed cat with a pink ribbon.
The woman seems surprised to see you and says : "Gentles , what can I do for you ? "

[Adjunta Paul]

Halsanna Firdraes wrote:

A casual green-eyed glance was given to the priest, with a slight furrow of her brow in confusion, her footsteps scuffing dust from the ground. The only thing she needed was a long stem hanging from the corner of her mouth to complete the image she was projecting. "Do you think that we are going after the wrong things?", she began, her manner of speech at odds with the persona she was practicing. "We are retrieving the lad's merchandise, and attempting to figure out who would scatter them as they did..."

A tilt of her head and a deeper frown gave voice to another thought. "I thought that the magic of summoning a familiar rather.. called one to you?" She spread her hands in a shrug, and chewed her lip as the thought was lost.

"Ah, this is the nature of magic I'm afraid, it is very difficult to understand and purposely so. I don't think the answer to that question will help solve our mystery though . . ."

The priest seems lost in thought.

"Ideally Ned's master," Adjunta seems to mutter to himself, "is who I'd like to question next but he's unavailable . . ."

[Vivaeri Firdraes]

Vivaeri dwelt on her uncle's idea. She would much rather leave the child with her new pet if they could. That would mean she would feel like more of a fool that she did already, but at least she wouldn't have made any children cry.

But then she was also a performer at heart. [smaller]"Look...if this wizard doesn't need the cat, we can bring him back later, right?" she asked before they approached the door.

After they were greeted, she immediately began sobbing. "Oh...this is the right place, is it not, Gerald?" she asked her "brother" as she looked "blindly" a bit too far to the right and above their greeter's head. "W-we're trying to find my precious Ahnault! He's been missing for so long and I've been worried sick about him! We...we heard there was a cat that looked like him here, o kind lady...*sniff*...He is so dear to me...I just had to know for certain..."

Gods, I'm selling it too hard, she thought. She suspected a bit of guilt was throwing her off her game.

Bluff: 13

[robin]

The woman seems a little taken aback by your sobs.
"oh ? is this your cat ? how did you lose it ?"
Meanwhile the little girl seems alarmed , pick up the cat in her arms and glare at you . The cat is unconcerned about the situation .

[robin]

Vivaeris and Ewald ?

[Vivaeri Firdraes]

Sorry, I was hoping to give Ewald and Adjunta time to weigh in on the situation.

"I-I'm not sure...I can't see...my brother could tell for certain. He-he just disappeared one day...he never left my house for long..and one night he *sniff* he never came back and I've been so worried..." The tears were flowing freely now, even as she thought to herself, Oh gods, I feel like such an ass...

[Adjunta Paul]

I think we're all still separated still.

[Amunrel]

Vivaeri Firdraes wrote:

Sorry, I was hoping to give Ewald and Adjunta time to weigh in on the situation.

"I-I'm not sure...I can't see...my brother could tell for certain. He-he just disappeared one day...he never left my house for long..and one night he *sniff* he never came back and I've been so worried..." The tears were flowing freely now, even as she thought to herself, Oh gods, I feel like such an ass...

Amunrel exchanges a glance with Arnhault.

Whether or not the ranger could tell what the elf was thinking, Amunrel wonders which side of their respective families she picked up that trick from...

[Ewald Salodar]

Ewald doesn't have much trouble in looking suitably embarrassed...

"I'm dreadfully sorry about our intruding on you like this goodwife but my sister has been totally distraught since the cat vanished..perhaps we might be allowed to see the animal you have here

[robin]

Well , all right , if it is yours ...
She is interrupted by the little girl : 'No , Miss Paws is mine , not them ! She wants to stay with me not bad people ! '
Mother : Now , Aurela ... , you have to be reasonable , the lady seems distraught there... '

[Ewald Salodar]

Ewald stares from the woman to the little girl,who stares back defiantly at him , to his 'sister' and then back to the woman again.He seems to make up his mind about something then and there.

"My apologies again goodwife...it would appear the cat is not the one we seek..I give you goodday"

With that he whisks his companion away from the door almost dragging her down the path away from the cottage

[Vivaeri Firdraes]

Oops, sorry, meant Amunrel. :)

"Oh...oh gods...I'm so sorry..*sniff*...I'm sorry to have been a bother!" Vivaeri managed as Ahnault ushered her back to the streets.

She quickly dropped character. "Well that was pointless..." she complained as she limped, though she couldn't hide the relief in her voice. "Thanks." she said sideways to Ahnault, now standing on her own. "I guess four will have to do, Ned."

[Ewald Salodar]

Once out of earshot of the house Ewald turns her towards him, his grip is tight almost painful on her arm

"Enough...there has been enough lying today..." His eyes bore into hers and it's obvious he is on the verge of an explosion of temper"...I know you are not Halsanna, though what you and your sister thought to do by that lie I do not know. It matters not,I have but one question of you at this point and I wish a truthful answer. Which of you is the betrothed of Ewald Salador"

[Amunrel]

Ewald Salodar wrote:

Once out of earshot of the house Ewald turns her towards him, his grip is tight almost painful on her arm

"Enough...there has been enough lying today..." His eyes bore into hers and it's obvious he is on the verge of an explosion of temper"...I know you are not Halsanna, though what you and your sister thought to do by that lie I do not know. It matters not,I have but one question of you at this point and I wish a truthful answer. Which of you is the betrothed of Ewald Salador"

"So does that mean your name isn't Arnhault?" Amunrel replies laying a hand on the ranger's shoulder.

Rolled a 9+5 for 14 on a diplomacy check to ease the situation

[Vivaeri Firdraes]

Vivaeri's eyes widened at the man's sudden change of mood, unable to regain her footing as he continued to speak. As angered as she was by his grip on her arm, she couldn't help but feel some guilt for having taken what she thought was a harmless game so far...until he mentioned the "betrothed of Ewald Salodar."

She gasped, and immediately her face twisted in disdain. "YOU?!" It took Amunrel's words to truly drive it home. "You're the one?" She batted his hand away. "Oh GODS!" It was only Amunrel's tone that kept her from continuing. The...the nerve! This guy has been lying to us the whole time!? Vivaeri had a hard time spotting her own hypocrisy at the best of times, and now she certainly overlooked the double standard.

Her thoughts are all in a blender at the moment. ;)

[Amunrel]

Vivaeri Firdraes wrote:

Vivaeri's eyes widened at the man's sudden change of mood, unable to regain her footing as he continued to speak. As angered as she was by his grip on her arm, she couldn't help but feel some guilt for having taken what she thought was a harmless game so far...until he mentioned the "betrothed of Ewald Salodar."

She gasped, and immediately her face twisted in disdain. "YOU?!" It took Amunrel's words to truly drive it home. "You're the one?" She batted his hand away. "Oh GODS!" It was only Amunrel's tone that kept her from continuing. The...the nerve! This guy has been lying to us the whole time!? Vivaeri had a hard time spotting her own hypocrisy at the best of times, and now she certainly overlooked the double standard.

"I did wonder back when we first met, but before we play "Paladin" perhaps we should resolve the current situation first, hmm?" Amunrel sighed.

Back when that sense motive wasn't answered to be precise, but Amunrel doesn't mean Arnhault is Ewald only that he might have been hired to find out about Vi, just in case I wasn't clear

[Ewald Salodar]

"Ewald's head whips round and he stares at the elf...."hmmph..yes you have a point..lets resolve it...and no my name isn't Arnhault..he's my Sergeant"

He looks around and picks a prosperous looking citizen.

"Ho, Sir can you tell me where I might find the dwelling of the wizard Astorion"

If he gets no good answer he will next head for the town hall to cosult the tax rolls

[Amunrel]

Ewald Salodar wrote:

"Ewald's head whips round and he stares at the elf...."hmmph..yes you have a point..lets resolve it...and no my name isn't Arnhault..he's my Sergeant"

He looks around and picks a prosperous looking citizen.

"Ho, Sir can you tell me where I might find the dwelling of the wizard Astorion"

If he gets no good answer he will next head for the town hall to cosult the tax rolls

"He must really like his sergeant..." Amunrel mutters in passing to Vi.

"Perhaps we should not alert Astorian if thats the mage with the red bauble on his staff to whats going on quite yet, lets see if Adjuntel and Halsanna can keep the lad occupied whilst our colleague here talks with Astorian," Amunrel suggests.

And no there is absolutely no intent on humour on Amunrel's part with that remark!

[Halsanna Firdraes]

The crease of a 'thinking' frown was still between Halsanna's brows as she walked with the priest back in the direction of the inn. To her, there was something missing that she did not know about, and she was thinking that it was magic. Probably. Of course, she did not have much beyond the basic soldier's knowledge of magic, which left her mildly frustrated. They still had no idea about who would be going about freeing the (pampered, she thought) animals, and as for herself, she was beginning to think that retrieving all of the animals was an exercise in futility. She was also willing to go out on a limb and say that they would likely be unable to recover one of the animals.

A long, annoyed sigh voiced her frustration, throwing her hands up and letting them fall by her side, losing all trace of the country amble she had before, not that it was that authentic. "I'm out of ideas", she conceded. "I hope the others have managed to find something." That said, she continued to walk a more proper gait, hands laced behind her head, chewing her lip as they continued on.

[Adjunta Paul]

Halsanna Firdraes wrote:

A long, annoyed sigh voiced her frustration, throwing her hands up and letting them fall by her side, losing all trace of the country amble she had before, not that it was that authentic. "I'm out of ideas", she conceded. "I hope the others have managed to find something." That said, she continued to walk a more proper gait, hands laced behind her head, chewing her lip as they continued on.

"Out of ideas?" Adjunta says as if the very concept was strange to him, "my dear we haven't even run out of questions yet. How can you think of answers when we know so little?"

[Halsanna Firdraes]

The frown faded like the sun being revealed from cloud cover, and her eyes widened slightly, speechless (for the moment) at Adjunta's revelation. "...That would explain why I have not been able to come up with any adequate reasons!"

The sunny smile that made its way onto her face would probably be a bit.. odd, considering Halsanna had been wearing its previous expression for the past few minutes. Even her step seemed to lighten, and while she was not quite on the verge of skipping along, there was a bit of a bounce every now and again. "Good sir", she smiled, "when we return to the inn, I shall see to your first cup of refreshment."

Adjunta had just brightened her day.

[Vivaeri Firdraes]

Vivaeri could only manage a closed mouthed "Hmphf!" in response to her uncle, but followed after him nonetheless. She was still fuming, all frowns and cross-arms, glaring at the back of the strange soldier's head, as if staring hard enough would make it explode.

Of all the....gods! Why here? Why now?! If the situation had been different, she would have taken the opportunity to hitch a ride out of town right then and there, but she couldn't do that to her father again. And then...there was the fact that she had pushed her sister towards this man....Oh gods! What have I done?! She quickly reassigned any guilt she suddenly felt back onto the man she assumed to be Ewald. She was blaming him for plenty already as it was. She even blamed him for not being the useless fop she had expected. How dare he pass for somewhat likable?! Rational thinking had checked out of her mind for the moment.

[Ewald Salodar]

"Very well , I'll hear what the priest has to say on the matter but I still think we'd be better striking at the heart of the problem instead of creeping around it. Ohh..Blessed Barleybrew..I need a drink anyway so we might as well go back to the inn

[Amunrel]

Ewald Salodar wrote:

"Very well , I'll hear what the priest has to say on the matter but I still think we'd be better striking at the heart of the problem instead of creeping around it. Ohh..Blessed Barleybrew..I need a drink anyway so we might as well go back to the inn

Amunrel glances around looking to see if the town has a church with a bell tower something that might serve as a roost for a bat...