The Blot as its called, is a shadow in the sky, and floats high above Riddleport, appearing to be kind of a dark cloud, but fuzzy at the edges. When it first appeared in the sky over Riddleport several weeks ago, the whole city was abuzz wonder and excitement. Since then the novelty has worn off, but various scholars and students of esoteric knowledge have been streaming into the city to witness and study it. For the more unscrupulous citizens (which is a good portion of the population), this has provided an unlooked for bounty of easy marks.
It's there every day, never seeming to get much bigger or smaller, or to move very far from its general area.
What is it? And what does it portend, if anything? Is it just a random, crazy occurrence, or is it the symptom of a deeper, darker disease?
If you have ranks in the skills below you can make a check and know the following facts about the Blot from the highest DC your check equals or exceeds, and from all those lower than it:
Knowledge (arcana)
DC 10:
DC 16:
DC 20:
Knowledge (local)
DC 10:
DC 14:
DC 18:
Knowledge (nature)
DC 10:
DC 15:
DC 21:
Starday, 17 Arodus AR 4708.
The day starts like any other Starday in Riddleport in midsummer. The sun is burning the mists off the the harbor and the Velashu River, but some fog still lingers is the streets and alleys. The Cyphergate, arching 350 feet above the entrance to the harbor, casts a long shadow over the western part of the town.
The tops of the Calphiak Mountains are lost in clouds, as they usually are this time of year, and they will probably grow larger and drop rain in town later in the afternoon, which happens most days in summer.
The Blot is where it always is, unchanged from what it was the day before.
But today is different. Today is the day of the Cheat the Devil and Take his Gold gambling tournament at the Gold Goblin.
In order to cheat the devil, you must first know the devil. Or at least that is Kelne's line of reasoning for approaching the tournament. As a result, he's spent the past couple of days asking around about this Saul Vancaskerkin fellow and the Gold Goblin, ever since he roped himself into looking out for a friend at the event.
Personally, his opinion is that the devil is going to win in any case. Devils generally do, in his experience. Still, he's gotten himself into this, and he may as well get any background he can. He may not be in the tournament to win (unlike Zavos, who seems to think the pot is his for the taking), but he's not in it to deliberately lose either.
Sorda takes his breakfast in his room, then decides to take a stroll around the streets, perhaps stopping in the park to admire the Blot.
He walks around with hands clasped together behind his back, and paying little attention to his surroundings. Those piercing blue eyes are mostly on hold as if dazed or deep in thought.
In her attic "den", Zindit woke from an unusually serene night of sleep, yawning and stretching before crawling off the pile of blankets that served as her bed.
She went through her morning ritual of peering through cracks in the walls that she kept plugged with rags to keep the light out. She eyed the streets for ten minutes, making sure everything was normal before venturing out. Or at least as normal as things could be with that spot in the sky. Zindit had stayed indoors for a week after it first appeared, fearful of what it meant.
Deciding that it was safe enough, she creeped downstairs and waved to the shopkeeper on her way out. She tried to stay out of his affairs as much as possible in hopes of treatment in kind. Still, it was important to give him money when she could, to pay him back in more ways than just keeping the rats out of his store.
Zindit was beginning to get tired of rat.
She quickly and cautiously made her way through the streets towards the Publican's House. She knew there was something big going on at the Gold Goblin and a friend was staying there, but she hoped some familiar faces might be at the temple tavern that knew something about any work that could be found there. That and she was hungry and she actually had a little money left to buy real food with. What food they did serve there, at least. She needed a full stomach to keep her mind focused. It tended to wander enough already, and she needed to focus on finding work and making some money before winter came again.
Amunyet awoke at first light, as she typically did. She was still trying to get used to the climate of the North; though in midsummer the temperature reminded her of home (in the winter), the humidity was new to her (and decidedly unpleasant).
After washing and dressing, Amunyet went down to the common area of the Golden Goblin to get breakfast. Surprisingly, she was able to get foods that approximated those she would have eaten back in Osirion; though the bread was far different from the flatbread she was used to, it was filling and tasty. Saul Vancaskerkin greeted her, as any good owner would do, and reminded her of the gambling competition that evening. "I thank you for the pass to attend," Amunyet replied to him. "I have always enjoyed observing competitions at home, and this looks to be a pleasant diversion."
Once she has finished eating, Amunyet will find a good location to observe the blot. Should she run into Sorda, she will nod in greeting.
Tessirda skipped uneasily from her heels to her toes and back again as the day slowly began to stretch out into infinity. Why was she putting herself on the point like this? What was she even trying to achieve with it? She had made her choice, hadn't she. No more savored stings for her, just some more light. Some more kindness. Some more good to be done.
Her dress was belying her newfound conviction. A shoulderless tight-fitting dress. Revealing enough to show the wasp tattoo on her left shoulder entirely. To all appearances, she seemed just another elven thrillseeker out for a wild night. She had decided on this particular, dark blue dress because - well. It was the most outrageous one she possessed. All the more the challenge not to relapse.
She looked at bags she had put down besides the door to the room she had occupied for so many years now. A human generation had passed here, she was considered an old fixture. Humans. They probably would all be shocked and incredulous. Truthfully, she herself was.
She exited the room, with one of her swords strapped on her tight. Quickly and decisively made her way across Riddleports streets. There would probably quite a line to wait through - and maybe a few patrons to get to know - see if any needed help. That was the point in the visit. Make sure noone lost more than they could afford - not if she could help it.
Kelne:
What time of day will the tournament start?
Amyunet:
|
Uzès has not been in Riddleport for more than a few weeks, one might think that this morning was going to be different, but it wasn't. The tiny closet-like room he rented down by the Wharf above a cheap grog-house was only a cut above sleeping in some alley over in Rotgut. Waking, the half-orc offered his prayers to Desna for a successful day but only half-heartedly. He moved about his morning tasks in what had become a monotonous routine already. Once cleaned up at least a little bit he headed out the back stairs to the street below. A quick bite from a stall selling something it was best not to dwell on and Uzès wandered down to the docks. It'd be best to make a little coin that morning if he was going to take the devil seriously.
As the first rays of dawn slant through the boarded-up flophouse window, Ulli groans and lifts his head. Slowly the big Ulfen barbarian rolls off of the hard pallet that had served as his 'bed' while he slept off the effects of the previous night's escapades at the Publican's House. Reaching out carefully, the barbarian feels the comforting haft of his greataxe right where he left it. A close call with a Varisian thief the month prior insures that Ulli sleeps lightly, and never out of reach of his numerous weapons. Deciding that the daylight's not going to go away just by wishing, Ulli slowly begins dressing. Then, a memory penetrates the barbarian's throbbing head. Cheat the devil and take his gold! The tournament! The thought swiftly banishes any hangover effects, and Ulli is out the flophouse door with a smile on his face and a spring in his step.
As he passes along the streets of Riddleport, Ulli can't help but lift his head and have another look at the blot. He has no idea what that ominous shadow in the sky may be, but he's convinced it can't be anything good.
Sorda takes his breakfast in his room, then decides to take a stroll around the streets, perhaps stopping in the park to admire the Blot. He walks around with hands clasped together behind his back, and paying little attention to his surroundings. Those piercing blue eyes are mostly on hold as if dazed or deep in thought.
Just then, Ulli spots his wizardly friend Sorda coming toward him, lost in thought as always. Ulli finds that those thoughts run a bit too deep for his tastes sometimes, but he's still a good enough sort. Ulli had promised the man some nights ago that he'd go along with him to the Gold Goblin's reopening. Maybe some kind of a steady job that played to Ulli's strength would be in the offing. And even if not, it should still be a lot of fun.
"Ho! Sorda!" Ulli approaches and claps the smaller man on the shoulder with jarring force. "Cheat the Devil! Take his gold! The tournament is tonight, is it not so? Most exciting, yah?"
Zavos rises from the rumpled bed at around noon, yelping when he steps on the base of the discarded pewter goblet on the floor. He dresses quickly, then leans over the still dozing figure of his companion of the past few nights.
"No need to stir, love, I can find food to break my fast on the way out. Thank you for the food, the wine, the seed money for the tournament, and the... accomodation, but I'd best be on my way before your husband's ship returns."
He wanders the streets, eating his brunch and occasionally glancing up at the Blot. Zavos makes his way to Publican House and the House of the Silken Veil, where he makes is obeisance and donates a gold coin at each place, hoping the gods will bless this evenings ventures, one way or another. He also stops at the temple/shrine of Desna , and says a prayer thanking The Lady of Stars for all of his previous luck, and hoping for its continuance, donating 5 more gold pieces.
The gods (hopefully) appeased, he makes his way to the Gold Goblin, in hopes of arriving there in time to get his lucky seat.
Perception check on the Blot (1d20+3=19)
"Hmm, intriguing," Amunyet says after some time spent observing the blot. Eventually, she realizes she will learn no more here, and decides to head back to the Golden Goblin as the afternoon approaches.
As she walks back, she notices her acquaintence Sorda, talking with a very large blonde-haired man. Approaching the two, she says in slightly accented Common,"Please excuse my interruption, Lord Sorda. Are you and your friend preparing to head back to the Golden Goblin for the competition? If so, I was hoping I might accompany you as I am still very new to the city." She turns to the large man (Ulli), holds out her hand with her palm down, and says, "I am Amunyet Meretshiri, Priestess of the Lady of Graves."
Perception check on the Blot (1d20+3=19)
Amyunet:
DC 10: The Blot changes shape and size somewhat, but is generally ovoid in shape and hovers alternately over the harbor and gulf just south of Riddleport. It is dark like a shadow but does allow some light through, albeit dimly, and flying objects can faintly bee seen through its obscuring haze. It casts a faint shadow on the ground beneath it depending on the angle of the sun.
DC 15: The Blot hangs at a fairly constant altitude of about 2500 feet and appears to be roughly 250 feet long by 130 feet wide.
DC 18: The Blot seems to move in a pattern that appears erratic until studied closely. It follows an elliptical orbit traveling north over the town and south over the gulf, shifting north and south as the tides shift. It is closest to Riddleport at high tide.
By late afternoon, Kelne is leaning comfortably against a wall across the way from the Gold Goblin. An imposing man with a dour look upon his face and a sword at his hip, he manages to fend off company with little effort.
Seeing the person he's been waiting for, he pushes off from the wall and makes his way over to join Zavos, "Still set on this, then?" he asks mildly. At first glance, the pair have little in common beyond their age, and their friendship might be something of a mystery. Still, Kelne has known Zavos for years, and there are few better ways to cement a friendship than to tell a rebellious teenager that someone's a bad influence on him.
Seeing the person he's been waiting for, he pushes off from the wall and makes his way over to join Zavos, "Still set on this, then?" he asks mildly. At first glance, the pair have little in common beyond their age, and their friendship might be something of a mystery. Still, Kelne has known Zavos for years, and there are few better ways to cement a friendship than to tell a rebellious teenager that someone's a bad influence on him.
"Of course, my friend" Zavos replies. "After all, what's the worst that can happen? I lose some gold? No lady notices me? I have too much to drink? All outcomes that I can live with."
"You always worry too much. Remember, Desna smiles on us."
"Now let's go in, have a meal, then Beat this Devil."
Zavos swaggers towards the entrance.
He also stops at the temple/shrine of Desna (assuming there is one in Riddleport), and says a prayer thanking The Lady of Stars for all of his previous luck, and hoping for its continuance, donating 5 more gold pieces.
While there isn't an actual temple of Desna in Riddleport, almost every gambling den has a small shrine or statue, and there are several wandering priests.
Kelne shakes his head but falls in with Zavos nonetheless. He's probably right about the worst-case scenarios, truth be told. And while a little more financial discipline certainly wouldn't go amiss, he knows a lost cause when he sees one.
Sorda:
As she walks back, she notices her acquaintence Sorda, talking with a very large blonde-haired man. Approaching the two, she says in slightly accented Common,"Please excuse my interruption, Lord Sorda. Are you and your friend preparing to head back to the Golden Goblin for the competition? If so, I was hoping I might accompany you as I am still very new to the city." She turns to the large man (Ulli), holds out her hand with her palm down, and says, "I am Amunyet Meretshiri, Priestess of the Lady of Graves."
Ulli turns to the attractive Osirian newcomer and his face lights up. "Sorda, for shame! Why haff you not introduced me before to this pretty lady, eh?!" Ulli reaches out and grabs Amunyet's outstretched hand in his huge, meaty fist and forcefully pumps her arm up and down...heedless of any cultural offense he may be committing. "Hail to you, Amunyet Meretshiri Priestess of the Lady of Graves! I am Ulli Dagmarssen! Many men, and many more women, call me The Ox!" Ulli grins, showing off the prominent gap in his teeth.
"I insist that you must come with Sorda and me to the Gold Goblin tonight! We will drink ale and sing and haff a wonderful time, yah?"
Sorda:
** spoiler omitted **
DM
Sorda looks up and around at Ulli. "Yes, it's the height. Look at these sums. I must work out the height to the Blot. It maybe higher than I think. I believe I read somewhere about the Osirion's measured the circumference of Golarion once. Do you remember that? You see?"
A parchment filled with numbers sits before the mage. His eyes refocus briefly, "oh Cheat the Goblin, yes, this evening, Saul has kindly invited me and I think my friend Zindit too."
"Oh, Amunyet, sorry I met her when I was at the House looking for help for Zindit. Do you know that he sleeps rough and I have a room for him. His mind you know. It needs help. Medical help. Its like a tool that has had the end snapped off and needs resharpening. I would suggest magic but well spells of the mind are not my forte. Now the height of the Blot that is much more my thing. Maybe a flying carpet...I wonder where..."
Sorda returns to his piece of parchment and inks another note.
Having bought and eaten a human-portioned meal, Zindit slid off her chair and looked around for any familiar faces, the kind, blue-eyed wizard in particular. She remembered something about him being invited to the Gold Goblin and her being able to tag along. She couldn't remember for certain. She got confused sometimes.
She approached those people that looked familiar, asking what they had heard about the game at the Gold Goblin. She heard a devil's gold was at stake but she didn't want to get involved in that. She didn't need any devils angry with her. But with all those people and the Gold Goblin itself going through such a big event, there could be real opportunities for work to be had.
She stuck only to those faces that were familiar to her, which weren't many at this hour.
Afterwards, she left for the park, or what passed for it in Riddleport. The wizard looked at that spot there sometimes, and she wanted to try and find him before going to the Gold Goblin alone.
When she finally caught sight of him, he was with two people...a vaguely familiar Ulfen man and a tanned human woman she had never seen before. She paused in her tracks before approaching, just within sight of them.
Ulli turns to the attractive Osirian newcomer and his face lights up. "Sorda, for shame! Why haff you not introduced me before to this pretty lady, eh?!" Ulli reaches out and grabs Amunyet's outstretched hand in his huge, meaty fist and forcefully pumps her arm up and down...heedless of any cultural offense he may be committing. "Hail to you, Amunyet Meretshiri Priestess of the Lady of Graves! I am Ulli Dagmarssen! Many men, and many more women, call me The Ox!" Ulli grins, showing off the prominent gap in his teeth.
"I insist that you must come with Sorda and me to the Gold Goblin tonight! We will drink ale and sing and haff a wonderful time, yah?"
Amunyet withdraws her (now sore) hand and rubs it a bit. She manages to suppress a bit of surprise at the somewhat forward hand shake and says, "Hmmm, yes, well I thank you, Master Dagmarssen. Though I do not sing, the ale here is similar to Osiriani beer, and I find it quite acceptable."
Sorda looks up and around at Ulli. "Yes, it's the height. Look at these sums. I must work out the height to the Blot. It maybe higher than I think. I believe I read somewhere about the Osirion's measured the circumference of Golarion once. Do you remember that? You see?"
She turns to Sorda and replies, "You are correct, Lord Sorda. My people did, in fact, calculate the circumference of our globe. However, I have been observing the blot myself today, and can confidently assert that it sits at a height of approximately 2500 feet, and is about 250 feet long by 130 feet wide. I was also able to determine that it follows an elliptical orbit traveling north over the town and south over the gulf, shifting north and south as the tides shift. It is closest to Riddleport at high tide."
When she finally caught sight of him, he was with two people...a vaguely familiar Ulfen man and a tanned human woman she had never seen before. She paused in her tracks before approaching, just within sight of them.
Sorda gapes at Amunyet.
Then without thinking he pushes one beer and plate towards Ulli and the others towards the approaching Zindit.
"There you are, Zindit. Did you know what a useful Amunyet we have here? She knows the path, size and [/i]height[/i] which the Blot orbits at. Let me write all that down."
He writes then looks up, "you haven't a flying carpet on you? no, ah well."
When she finally caught sight of him, he was with two people...a vaguely familiar Ulfen man and a tanned human woman she had never seen before. She paused in her tracks before approaching, just within sight of them.
Zindit instinctively took a step back once she realized what was on the woman's shield. She quickly looked around her, expecting to see more priests around her.
She slowly tried to make her way out of sight, to try and circle around and keep an eye on Sorda until the priest woman left. She hoped none of them had spotted her.
Why is he talking with her? Why is she talking with him?, her mind frantically worried. She's asking about me I know it I know it I know it no you don't maybe they're just talking no Sorda is tired of me and he's selling me out no he wouldn't do that he... She shivered as she tried to move away.
Then without thinking he pushes one beer and plate towards Ulli and the others towards the approaching Zindit.
"There you are, Zindit. Did you know what a useful Amunyet we have here? She knows the path, size and [/i]height[/i] which the Blot orbits at. Let me write all that down."
It was at that moment she heard Sorda call out her name. She froze in place, looking back at them, waiting to see what happened next. Oh no, run, no it'll be okay, no it won't, run! Sorda wouldn't sell you out!
Sorda waves again. "I've got fried something or other here for you! woohoo!"
Zindit circled around the others, keeping distance from the tanned woman and trying to keep her eye off of her. Don't make her suspicious don't make her suspicious. She stopped when she was near Sorda's leg, keeping it between her and the stranger, while she held her hand out. "Thanks." she said quietly.
Amunyet withdraws her (now sore) hand and rubs it a bit. She manages to suppress a bit of surprise at the somewhat forward hand shake and says, "Hmmm, yes, well I thank you, Master Dagmarssen. Though I do not sing, the ale here is similar to Osiriani beer, and I find it quite acceptable."
Ulli laughs heartily. "Master who? I'm just Ulli the Ox, master uff nobody but me. Here's to acceptable beer!" Ulli raises his axe exuberantly, but his enthusiasm diminishes as Sorda and Amunyet start talking of flying carpets, orbits and tides. His eyes glazing over, Ulli scratches absently at his beard until he happens to spot the approaching Zindit.
Heedless of the gnome's timidity, Ulli shouts louder than ever. "Ho! Zindit! Remember me? It's Ulli the Ox! Join us, and let us talk uff beer, yah?!"
To Amunyet, Ulli adds, "That's Zindit, eh? I like her, she's funny."
Amunyet holds her hand up in greeting to Zindit, saying, "Mistress Zindit, is it? I am Amunyet Meretshiri, Priestess of the Lady of Graves. A pleasure to make your acquaintence." Amunyet smiles as she says this, noticing Zindit's hesitation towards her, believing that it may be because Amunyet is obviously quite foreign to Riddleport.
Zavos stops dead in his tracks, causing Kelne to almost run into him.
"Kelne, do you see the elf woman? Blue dress. Wasp tattoo. I think that my new lucky seat is as close as possible to her."
He continues towards the doors of the Gold Goblin, hoping to follow the elf and get a seat near her for the tournament.
Zindit's eye lit up a bit at Ulli. She remembered seeing him sometimes at the Publican House. He was loud and big but he was Safe. "Hi, Ulli. I can talk about beer but I can't have any today because it makes me sleepy and I have to be awake today." she said in the rambling fashion she spoke in sometimes when she was nervous.
When Amunyet introduced herself and confirmed she was a priestess, Zindit reflexively shrank back just a bit behind Sorda's leg. "Hi." she said shyly, the slight bit of confidence that had crept into her voice as she spoke to Ulli died away as soon as she turned to Amunyet. Oh no no no Pharasma she'll put you in the ground in the ground don't let her find me out don't let her find me out
She bowed her cowled head jerkily. It was obvious something was making her nervous. "We're going to the Goblin tonight right?" she quietly asked Sorda, looking up at him.
Zindit's eye lit up a bit at Ulli. She remembered seeing him sometimes at the Publican House. He was loud and big but he was Safe. "Hi, Ulli. I can talk about beer but I can't have any today because it makes me sleepy and I have to be awake today." she said in the rambling fashion she spoke in sometimes when she was nervous.
"I know what you mean, if I drink twelve or thirteen mugs, I start to get sleepy too, eh? It's okay, I will drink one for you Zindit!"
Ulli looks around at his three companions. "For what are we waiting? Let's go the Gold Goblin and take that devil's gold right now!"
Zavos stops dead in his tracks, causing Kelne to almost run into him.
"Kelne, do you see the elf woman? Blue dress. Wasp tattoo. I think that my new lucky seat is as close as possible to her."
He continues towards the doors of the Gold Goblin, hoping to follow the elf and get a seat near her for the tournament.
"Naturally," Kelne says. Well, it's taken Zavos all of a minute to set his sights on a woman. Given whose symbol the wasp is, he suspects she'll be at least somewhat tolerant of his advances. Whether showing off for a woman will lead Zavos to even greater heights of folly remains to be seen.
Amunyet, not usually one to beat around the bush, looks to Zindit and says, "I apologize, Mistress Zindit, if I have made you uncomfortable by my presence. Being a long ways from home, and knowing almost no one in this city, I was merely hoping to attend the competition with Sorda who I knew as a fellow researcher of the blot. However, I have no desire to ruin anyone's evening, so if you prefer, I shall take my leave and attend on my own." Amunyet looks expectantly at Zindit, obviously waiting for a response of some sort.
Tessirda turned her head towards the two men who were so obviously looking into her direction. Natural, expected, but not unwelcome at the moment, either. Might even make the evening more pleasant.
With a nod, she motioned them to come closer. "Top of the evening to you."
The handsome Varisian strides forward and bows low.
"Greetings, my lady. Are you here to try your luck in the tournament, or are you just here to watch?"
He glances up and grins mischievously, "Personally, I much prefer to press my luck than to spectate."
The elven woman laughed, from the deep of her body. "How implicating would it be to confess i like to watch? Seriously though - yes. I am mainly here for the event itself, not to lose or win a lot of money."
She gave the man a good-natured shrug, and fell in step besides him. "So, you intend to have a hell of a night, playing on the devils own turf? Sure you can manage your losses?" Somehow, she managed to make these sobering words sound halfway playful and pleasant.
"Ah, lady! What losses? Surely meeting you is worth far more than whatever coins are the stake for tonight!"
Zavos grins again, infectiously.
His rapid patter speech continues, "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Zavos Szmyr: entertainer, gambler, dancer, drinker, favoured of Desna, Calistria, and Cayden Cailean, type of man you have no doubt been warned against, and lover of all that is beautiful."
"And this is my disapproving friend, Kelne."
"Flatterer!" Tessirda scolded, finding herself in that coy playful mindset again. Just a few months back, she would have immensely enjoyed it, as a break from the much harsher, punishing work she usually did. Maybe that, too, was a bit of a gift.
"Besides, i will very much be surprised if I was the only lady in attendance tonight." She added, in a somewhat more serious tone. Then her attention drifted over to the man whom Zavos had just introduced. Looked him over from heads to heels. Her first verdict matched the introduction rather well. That man really did not look too much like someone out for a wild night.
"So, if it is not for the jingle of coin, or the socializing, what exactly moves him to participate?" She asked. Some called her direct, but it just worked better than layers and layers of indirect speaking, which only served to trip up her words. "Oh, and before i become altogether rude: I am called Tessirda. If you have to add an "of", "the" or "from" to my name, just take your pick."
The Gold Goblin gambling hall is located in the wharf district, next to the Velashu River. A wide veranda runs along the front between two short wings of the building and a massive, tarnished, brass dome sits atop it. In front of the main entrance is an 8-foot tall golden statue of a grinning goblin, using a dogslicer to balance atop a pile of gold.
Appraise DC 12:
The large double doors are made of dark wood and are covered with carvings of good-luck symbols. They stand open, and a good sized crowd has already gathered in front of the building, with some already entering the doors.
Just inside the doors to the Gold Goblin are two beautiful scantily clad women dressed up like Succubi, with fake wings on their backs, devils horns and tails. They register contestants and take their entry fees, protected by armed guards standing behind them.
Appraise 1d20+2=9
Knowledge (Local) 1d20+7=8
Zavos pays his entrance fee, smiles at the ladies, and reads the document.
"Charmed," Kelne says, before being confronted with a contract. He gives it a detailed perusal, but very much doubts it's genuine. Still, you don't grow up in a household where selling your soul is a perfectly acceptable career choice and casually go around signing it away. If nothing else, he's fairly sure that he could hold out for a better price.
Instead, he signs his name as 'Unnul', the Infernal word for 'nobody', secure in the certainty that nobody here actually speaks the language. Come to think of it, maybe whoever wrote up the contract does speak Infernal. He's managed to get the layers correct and in order, after all. Still, too late now.
Signing complete, Kelne hands the contract back with a flashed smile, along with the required entry fee. No way to subvert that, unfortunately.
Sorda follows Ulli still thinking about the Blot's dimensions. He casually wanders in doing whatever is asked of him. Once the contract is signed he stops and asks of no one in particular, "What is this?"
Then he pays another gold and signs again for Zindit. "There you go, you are in the competition, see if you can win some treasure!"
Ulli, impatient after having to wait in line to get into the Gold Goblin, charges inside, blazing a trail for Sorda, Amunyet and Zindit to follow.
"One gold to get in? Sure, here you go!" The barbarian casually drops the coin on the table as he stares at the beautiful demonic-clad woman in front of him. "Sign what? Oh, okay." He grabs the offered pen in his hamfist, and scrawls some big, blocky letters on the document without even reading it.
Offering his best smile to the woman, he adds, "I am Ulli, called the Ox. Let us meet up later, and you can find out why."
Amunyet, not usually one to beat around the bush, looks to Zindit and says, "I apologize, Mistress Zindit, if I have made you uncomfortable by my presence. Being a long ways from home, and knowing almost no one in this city, I was merely hoping to attend the competition with Sorda who I knew as a fellow researcher of the blot. However, I have no desire to ruin anyone's evening, so if you prefer, I shall take my leave and attend on my own." Amunyet looks expectantly at Zindit, obviously waiting for a response of some sort.
Zindit quickly shook her head, quickly replying, "N-no, there's nothing wrong why would there be anything wrong?" Don't make her suspicious! She fell silent and turned her attention to passers-by, hoping to make the priestess think there wasn't anything bothering her at all.
She later followed them to the Gold Goblin. Her eye widened at the sight of the gold statue, and further when she was startled by the sight of the two women dressed like devils. Not real not real. She was busy eyeing them with suspicion, and looking back at Amunyet in the hopes of aiming her attention towards the two obviously-up-to-no-good women, when Sorda told her he had paid and signed off for her to enter.
"Thanks." she said, smiling up at him. The suggestion from a friend to try winning treasure momentarily distracted her from what she came to the Gold Goblin and the fear of infernal reprisal for it. She followed closely behind Loud Ulli.