She laughs. Her laugh is high-pitched and tinny, and she speaks with a slight Brevian accent. "Rakless! I didn't know you'd be here, too! I'm sure that the mealworms will be quite lively in a place such as this, but make sure the lady knows you want them in your food. Some strange people happen to dislike mealworms for some reason." She does not seem completely sarcastic. She lowers her voice. "Have you seen some of these other people? That woman looked like her eyes could melt steel, and that man looks like a musician! What sort of job is this woman planning?"
Rakless looked about the room, taking in the many strange people assembled. He tapped his beak thoughtfully, matching the small woman's lowered tone. "Perhaps she plans to revitalize the community by opening a musical theater. We have all the elements here. That glowery man with the staff, he could be her choice for theater manager. The big fellow who looks a big impatient might be an usher. Hmm." He glanced around, then looked back at Tenze. "Which of us looks the most brooding? I don't mean to knock this production before it starts, but I don't have a lot of confidence when the writer lacks pathos."
After hearing Rakless's comment, Camris thinks It's hard to read the bird, but I think he's joking. Surely, everyone knows that we are here to help Lady Janiver bring order to Westcrown.
After hearing Rakless's comment, Camris thinks It's hard to read the bird, but I think he's joking. Surely, everyone knows that we are here to help Lady Janiver bring order to Westcrown.
Camris:
Camris: ** spoiler omitted **After hearing Rakless's comment, Camris thinks It's hard to read the bird, but I think he's joking. Surely, everyone knows that we are here to help Lady Janiver bring order to Westcrown.
Tenze laughs again as she sees another friend. "Camris! I'm glad to see you!" She lowers her voice. "Have you noticed that you're the third so far to come from the Sacred Goose? She claimed that she heard of me through gossip, but I wonder whetehr she might have been watching that inn in particular. What did she tell you?"What most would mistake as a sandy-haired, rosy-cheeked child makes his entrance into the tavern. His eyes, at first appearing impossibly sad, light up when he sees his friend, Tenze.
"How delightful! I didn't know you would be involved in this venture. I would have thought Lady Janiver would mention she approached a dear friend of mine. No matter--it is great to see you, Tenze."
He continues to chatter away at his gnome friend, and is singularly impressed with the tengu. At times, during his idle conversation, he looks around to appraise the others in the tavern.
She laughs. Her laugh is high-pitched and tinny, and she speaks with a slight Brevian accent. "Rakless! I didn't know you'd be here, too! I'm sure that the mealworms will be quite lively in a place such as this, but make sure the lady knows you want them in your food. Some strange people happen to dislike mealworms for some reason." She does not seem completely sarcastic. She lowers her voice. "Have you seen some of these other people? That woman looked like her eyes could melt steel, and that man looks like a musician! What sort of job is this woman planning?"Rakless looked about the room, taking in the many strange people assembled. He tapped his beak thoughtfully, matching the small woman's lowered tone. "Perhaps she plans to revitalize the community by opening a musical theater. We have all the elements here. That glowery man with the staff, he could be her choice for theater manager. The big fellow who looks a big impatient might be an usher. Hmm." He glanced around, then looked back at Tenze. "Which of us looks the most brooding? I don't mean to knock this production before it starts, but I don't have a lot of confidence when the writer lacks pathos."
"I doubt that she's going to open a musical theater, Rakless. The woman told me that she wanted to bring order to Westcrown and restore it."
As the group enters the main room, you immediately notice the large table dominating the chamber. The room lucks much like a repurposed tavern, except instead of containing many small tables, there is only one large table that seats up to 16. The room looks a little worn, as though it hasn't seen the maintenance that it requires in some time.
The central table has eight dinner places prepared, along with some bread and butter. No one else is in the room, but you hear the sounds of someone moving around coming from what you can only assume is the kitchen.
Grachius:
"Well, mom *choke* always told me to accept hospitality."
Camris surreptitiously wipes a sleeve across his eyes and pulls out a chair for Tenze.
"After you, Miss Tenze. By the way, Lady Janiver only told me that she was arranging a meeting of like-minded individuals to help Westcrown. I couldn't turn down an offer like that."
"Well, mom *choke* always told me to accept hospitality."
Camris surreptitiously wipes a sleeve across his eyes and pulls out a chair for Tenze.
"After you, Miss Tenze. By the way, Lady Janiver only told me that she was arranging a meeting of like-minded individuals to help Westcrown. I couldn't turn down an offer like that."
She laughs and goes inside. She stops at one of the chairs.
"I doubt that she's going to open a musical theater, Rakless. The woman told me that she wanted to bring order to Westcrown and restore it."
"This city already has order. It's not the most charitable order, but it is order none the less." The man sets his staff against the wall and places his satchel on the ground. The snake slithers off of his arm onto the pack. "Watch my things, will you Aristarchus? As I was saying, if you're going to be making statements about this city, at least make them accurate."
"This city already has order. It's not the most charitable order, but it is order none the less." The man sets his staff against the wall and places his satchel on the ground. The snake slithers off of his arm onto the pack. "Watch my things, will you Aristarchus? As I was saying, if you're going to be making statements about this city, at least make them accurate."
"I doubt that she's going to open a musical theater, Rakless. The woman told me that she wanted to bring order to Westcrown and restore it."
Tenze growls at the magic user. "Order? You call this order? People may leave for work in the morning, and never come back. Tell me, why did you come if not to stop this?"
GM
Tenze growls at the magic user. "Order? You call this order? People may leave for work in the morning, and never come back. Tell me, why did you come if not to stop this?"
"I never said this was a perfect order, did I? Besides, isn't that why we're here? Find out what's going on and stopping it so this city can get on with it's existence?"
Tenze growls at the magic user. "Order? You call this order? People may leave for work in the morning, and never come back. Tell me, why did you come if not to stop this?""I never said this was a perfect order, did I? Besides, isn't that why we're here? Find out what's going on and stopping it so this city can get on with it's existence?"
"What's wrong with this city? More like this country! I'm fairly certain that devils have something to do with all this. This entire city stinks of brimstone."
"What's wrong with this city? More like this country! I'm fairly certain that devils have something to do with all this. This entire city stinks of brimstone."Tenze growls at the magic user. "Order? You call this order? People may leave for work in the morning, and never come back. Tell me, why did you come if not to stop this?""I never said this was a perfect order, did I? Besides, isn't that why we're here? Find out what's going on and stopping it so this city can get on with it's existence?"
"Especially the roofs," Rakless added, checking his bare feet. "In fact, I think I tracked a little of it in here." The Tengu extended his foot to the "magic-user." "Oh, you're welcome to scrape some off if you like. I don't do your sort of magic anymore, but I know a pinch or two comes in handy for certain spells."
"Especially the roofs," Rakless added, checking his bare feet. "In fact, I think I tracked a little of it in here." The Tengu extended his foot to the "magic-user." "Oh, you're welcome to scrape some off if you like. I don't do your sort of magic anymore, but I know a pinch or two comes in handy for certain spells.""What's wrong with this city? More like this country! I'm fairly certain that devils have something to do with all this. This entire city stinks of brimstone."Tenze growls at the magic user. "Order? You call this order? People may leave for work in the morning, and never come back. Tell me, why did you come if not to stop this?""I never said this was a perfect order, did I? Besides, isn't that why we're here? Find out what's going on and stopping it so this city can get on with it's existence?"
Tenze can take no more. She starts laughing hysterically, but disguises it as a terrible cough.
Zareth looks at the tengu with confusion for a moment before turning away and ignoring him. "Well, there wouldn't be so many devils if my compatriots were sensible and just used them as tools and didn't worship the damned things."
Zareth looks at the tengu with confusion for a moment before turning away and ignoring him. "Well, there wouldn't be so many devils if my compatriots were sensible and just used them as tools and didn't worship the damned things."
She growls again, recovering from her 'cough' in an instant. "But why use devils as tools in the first place? They are untrustworthy creatures. If I were a mage, I would summon something that wouldn't want to harm me in the first place."
"Tenze, from talking to you these past weeks, I know your passion for improving conditions in Westcrown. I'm willing to look past motivations and some methods to make sure life improves in our city. I hope you can, too, at least until we help Lady Janiver."
Camris then gives her a tentative smile.
"Tenze, from talking to you these past weeks, I know your passion for improving conditions in Westcrown. I'm willing to look past motivations and some methods to make sure life improves in our city. I hope you can, too, at least until we help Lady Janiver."
Camris then gives her a tentative smile.
She is silent for a moment, fidgeting. Finally she laughs. "Alright, I'll put up with the devil summoner. But I can't imagine why he was invited." She speaks as if Zareth isn't in the room.
She is silent for a moment, fidgeting. Finally she laughs. "Alright, I'll put up with the devil summoner. But I can't imagine why he was invited." She speaks as if Zareth isn't in the room.
"Oh yes, I do think Lady Janiver has much explaining to do," says a black cloaked blonde haired human male wearing a Courtier's outfit, studded leather armor, a rapier, and a dagger. He then glides to the table and stands beside the chair to the right of the head of the table. "I expect this will be a most interesting exchange."
Turning his head to the kitchen and raising his voice, "Perhaps drinks would be in order?"
"Oh, how forgetful of me. I'm Grachius Alazario. Perhaps you've heard of me?"
He pointedly smiles, looks at each of you before nodding his head and moving on the next person in the room.
Mossi is silent for a while as the exchange goes on, she drifts to the back of the crowd as they ague "The wizard is correct' she says in a flat no nonsense tone "Cheliax has order, Cheliax has law and stability from the chaos of the war. Devils are creatures of order. Evil perhaps but tools none the less of order.' She walks to the table and lifts a bit of cheese off a plate. "A hungry man does not care if an evil man made his meal, he is grateful he has it. The common folk do not care if the army that protects the city has men of evil hearts within it, all they care is that the city is safe." She takes a bit of the cheese savoring the flavor. "If an evil man does a kindness, is it any less of a kindness to you?"
..."If an evil man does a kindness, is it any less of a kindness to you?"
"I think I had a role in that play... Is the next line, 'If you prick me, doth I not bleed?'" He smiles. "Such a sorrow that the play was banned right after the first showing. I particularly liked how the..." He does the finger quotes for the next word, "villian nearly turned the tables on the heroes and the entirety of the play was left open for a sequel."
Mossi is silent for a while as the exchange goes on, she drifts to the back of the crowd as they ague "The wizard is correct' she says in a flat no nonsense tone "Cheliax has order, Cheliax has law and stability from the chaos of the war. Devils are creatures of order. Evil perhaps but tools none the less of order.' She walks to the table and lifts a bit of cheese off a plate. "A hungry man does not care if an evil man made his meal, he is grateful he has it. The common folk do not care if the army that protects the city has men of evil hearts within it, all they care is that the city is safe." She takes a bit of the cheese savoring the flavor. "If an evil man does a kindness, is it any less of a kindness to you?"
Rakless squinted at Mossi. "That's the trouble we've all seen, isn't it? This city isn't safe. The order of evil is a mask, like any other, to help shed goodness of its power. When the darkness falls, evil takes off its mask and orderly escorts you to your doom." The Tengu scratched his neck, uncomfortable. "Well, that's what I read somewhere, anyway."
Rakless squinted at Mossi. "That's the trouble we've all seen, isn't it? This city isn't safe. The order of evil is a mask, like any other, to help shed goodness of its power. When the darkness falls, evil takes off its mask and orderly escorts you to your doom." The Tengu scratched his neck, uncomfortable. "Well, that's what I read somewhere, anyway."
"Why would evil do that? People march to their doom just fine by themselves."
"Oh, I never told you my name, have I? Zareth Edemont, conjurer."
Grachius:
When Grachius kisses her hand, the woman blushes, but quickly turns away.
Later, when Grachius insists on walking her home, however, she quickly declines, saying that "she has errands yet to run."
As the conversation finally seems to get going, the door to the kitchen opens, revealing the woman that you each encountered in the past few days, carrying a tray of roast mutton and another tray containing local vegetables.
She lays them down at the table and smiles at everyone. "Well, then, I'm glad that most of you came. I believe formal introductions are in order. I am called Janiven, and I openly admit that I invited each of you here for business. But for now, I hope you will indulge me and allow me to serve you dinner before we get into any serious discussion. It is the least that I can do for those of you that decided to come."
She gestures towards the seats. "Please, make yourselves at home."
Afterwards, she goes behind the bar and emerges with two bottles of local wines, and sits down for dinner.
Sense Motive DC 15
Zareth pours out a glass of wine and prepares himself for dinner.
Mossi, sits and gets a good look around the table, but makes no move to eat just yet
"I'm Benicio. You can call me Ben, if you like," he interjects, if someone actually talks to him.
1d20+4=23.
Tenze laughs at the bard. "No, so sorry."
She turns back to Zareth. "Pleased to make your acquaintance." She says, somewhat coldly. She sits down, but makes no move to eat or drink. She makes sure to sit next to her two friends, Rakless and Camris.
"My name is Tenzekila Brushketel, daughter of Tenzekil Brushketel. My friends call me Tenze."
She watches the woman warily, noting her nervous movements.
Hmm… Seems kind of strange that a 10th character with a total skill check modifier of +10 would be considered an expert when an 8th level character with a skill check modifier of +20 would not be..
It also seems kind of strange to compare that 10th level character with a total skill check modifier of +10 to a 10th level character that has put everything into it and has a skill check modifier of +30… Yet they would both be called ‘experts’?
When Grachius kisses her hand, the woman blushes, but quickly turns away.Later, when Grachius insists on walking her home, however, she quickly declines, saying that "she has errands yet to run."
"Perhaps I could assist you with your errands? If you do not allow me to escort you home, how else am I to learn of your name?"
As for her spoken Common, make a Linguistics check, please.
"I am Mossin Durren you may call me Mossi everyone seems to.' she looks over at Benicio from across the table, "My you seem prepared. expecting trouble perhaps? "
[Sense Motive DC 15Add an additional +5 to intercept a secret message. (1d20+4=13) Do I succeed?
"I am sorry Milady, I had not realized this was to be a business lunch and ate before I came. Please excuse me from partaking of the food. I will however take a drink of that wine."
Though I take a glass of wine and will occasionally pretend a sip (by bringing it to my lips), I will not partake of it until at least an hour has passed since someone else has started drinking it.
Rakless went to the table and seated himself near Tenze, adjusting his scabbard as he sat. "Oh, a fine-looking spread. My compliments to the caterer of this production."
Rakless went to the table and seated himself near Tenze, adjusting his scabbard as he sat. "Oh, a fine-looking spread. My compliments to the caterer of this production."
Tenze laughs. "Yes, it is excellent." She lowers her voice. "Rakless, have you noticed how nervous the lady is acting? She keeps glancing out the window."
"I am Mossin Durren you may call me Mossi everyone seems to.' she looks over at Benicio from across the table, "My you seem prepared. expecting trouble perhaps? "
"It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm not expecting trouble, exactly, but it sometimes comes unexpected."
He digs right in. Other characters are asked "Are you going to eat that? No? Well, pass it over here, then." He eats like the always-hungry young man he is.
In between bites of bread and cheese: "I'm very pleased to meet you Master Ben, Master Grachius, and Miss Mossi. I must say Lady Janiver has called together a rather eclectic group of...folk."
Camris smiles broadly as he looks over at Lady Janiver. Then, his mood changes to one of concern.
"Lady Janiver, are you expecting someone else to join us? I hope they have a good reason for being late. My mother, bless her soul, always impressed upon me the need for good manners."
In between bites of bread and cheese: "I'm very pleased to meet you Master Ben, Master Grachius, and Miss Mossi. I must say Lady Janiver has called together a rather eclectic group of...folk."
She snorts. "Indeed. A gnome, a bunch of humans, a halfling, and a tengu? What do we have in common?"
Tenze laughs. "Yes, it is excellent." She lowers her voice. "Rakless, have you noticed how nervous the lady is acting? She keeps glancing out the window."Rakless went to the table and seated himself near Tenze, adjusting his scabbard as he sat. "Oh, a fine-looking spread. My compliments to the caterer of this production."
Rakless followed his companion's gaze to the window and strained his neck to see what the woman saw. "Hm, yes that is strange. It's a very unremarkable view. Hardly Westcrown at its finest."
She snorts. "Indeed. A gnome, a bunch of humans, a halfling, and a tengu? What do we have in common?"
Well, are each of you performers such as I? I can already picture as least two plays for such as us.
Well, are each of you performers such as I? I can already picture as least two plays for such as us.
She snorts. "Indeed. A gnome, a bunch of humans, a halfling, and a tengu? What do we have in common?"
"Fascinating, Master Grachius. Alas, I am no performer; I'm merely a humble miller's son. Perhaps we have each suffered a tragedy in our pasts? Something that drives us to want to help Westcrown?"
Well, are each of you performers such as I? I can already picture as least two plays for such as us.
She snorts. "Indeed. A gnome, a bunch of humans, a halfling, and a tengu? What do we have in common?"
"No, I'm but a fencer. Perhaps we all stay in the Sacred Goose?"
"Fascinating, Master Grachius. Alas, I am no performer; I'm merely a humble miller's son. Perhaps we have each suffered a tragedy in our pasts? Something that drives us to want to help Westcrown?"
"No, I'm but a fencer. Perhaps we all stay in the Sacred Goose?"
“No, no… I do not reside at the Sacred Goose, nor have I ever.” Turning to Camris, “There is no tragedy in my past worth me putting to song, accept maybe… my rather late discovery of theater. Ah, to have discovered it at an earlier age…”
Turning to Camris, “There is no tragedy in my past worth me putting to song, accept maybe… my rather late discovery of theater. Ah, to have discovered it at an earlier age…”
"Well, Master Grachius, that is a tragedy of sorts. I am hoping Lady Janiver will shed some light on what we have in common, but she seems distracted at the moment."
"Fascinating, Master Grachius. Alas, I am no performer; I'm merely a humble miller's son. Perhaps we have each suffered a tragedy in our pasts? Something that drives us to want to help Westcrown?"
"No, I'm but a fencer. Perhaps we all stay in the Sacred Goose?"
“No, no… I do not reside at the Sacred Goose, nor have I ever.” Turning to Camris, “There is no tragedy in my past worth me putting to song, accept maybe… my rather late discovery of theater. Ah, to have discovered it at an earlier age…”
She cocks her head. "You don't look much older than 12."
"Lady Janiver, are you expecting someone else to join us? I hope they have a good reason for being late. My mother, bless her soul, always impressed upon me the need for good manners."
She refocuses at the table as Camris addresses her, replying "Hmm? Oh, no. It's nothing. I'm just worrying about making sure that we're done here before those... things begin to prowl."
She says 'things' with such disgust that it is almost palpable.
Sense Motive DC 20
"Well, Master Grachius, that is a tragedy of sorts. I am hoping Lady Janiver will shed some light on what we have in common, but she seems distracted at the moment."
Janiven responds, smiling, "Hmm. In common. We are all citizens of Westcrown, are we not?" She winks at Camris. "Enjoy the dinner for now, we will have much to discuss at the end of the meal."
-----
As the dinner wraps up and the table is cleared, Janiven becomes more serious. "I suppose it is time we talk about why we are all here, though I do hope you've enjoyed your dinner. If nothing else, I am pleased to serve some of Westcrown's finest citizens." She says that last part with a smile.
"Now, why did I choose you to meet me tonight? This is a good question. And aside from the fact that you are all clearly capable individuals, there is a great reason: suffering. We have all suffered, even if we might not even realize it. We are, in fact, suffering now. Suffering from fear."
She looks towards the window again. "After all, who knows what beasts will await us if we go on too late? Who knows what tragedy," (her eyes shift to Grachius as she pronounces this word), "will befall us if we step outside in the darkness, even on a beautiful autumn evening?"
She slams her fist on the table, clearly becoming impassioned as she speaks. "It's hard to believe that other places in the world do not suffer from the same fear that we do. That they can go out at night and gaze at the heavens. See the moon rise and set, much like the sun."
"Westcrown used to be like that. My parents told me about it as a child. And I always hoped to see it returned to the city it once was. Not a city of Twilight, but once again a city of Stars, of Beauty, of Greatness!"
"This is why I have gathered you all here. We have the ability to save the city of Westcrown. Not the buildings, not the canals, or the cobblestones, but the people. The Wiscrani. We, who suffer every day. And what is the source of our suffering?"
"The Thrice-Damned House of Thrune!"
Her face flushes as she finishes, and, with a look of pure conviction on her face, she looks to each of you to gauge your reactions.
Rakless cocked his head, studying the woman as she spoke. Something was wrong. As her passion rose to a fever pitch, he sensed that the time for amusement was at an end. He leaned close to Tenze and whispered.
Tenze:
"This is why I have gathered you all here. We have the ability to save the city of Westcrown. Not the buildings, not the canals, or the cobblestones, but the people. The Wiscrani. We, who suffer every day. And what is the source of our suffering?"
"The Thrice-Damned House of Thrune!"
"Dear Lady," Rakless said, "I am a proud Wiscrani, like anyone here..." He cocked his head, beady black eyes studying her for signs of madness or deception. "But I am no assassin. And all appearances to the contrary, I am neither mad...nor a fool." The Tengu placed his napkin on the table and stood, very slowly. "I thank you for the lovely meal and even lovelier mealworms, but if we're to sit incriminating ourselves while you wait for the Hellknights to come take us away, you'd best tell us now. Some of us have shorter legs than others and deserve a running start."
GM:
"Dear Lady," Rakless said, "I am a proud Wiscrani, like anyone here..." He cocked his head, beady black eyes studying her for signs of madness or deception. "But I am no assassin. And all appearances to the contrary, I am neither mad...nor a fool." The Tengu placed his napkin on the table and stood, very slowly. "I thank you for the lovely meal and even lovelier mealworms, but if we're to sit incriminating ourselves while you wait for the Hellknights to come take us away, you'd best tell us now. Some of us have shorter legs than others and deserve a running start."
Janiven softens visibly upon hearing these words, her fervor disappeared (for the moment at least).
"You are absolutely correct. Assassination is not the way. But it is also not the only way. But winning over the hearts and minds of a people in torment can often be much more effective than sliding a blade between someone's ribs."
"The people of Westcrown seem to have almost lost hope for a better lot in life, but I refuse to let that happen. Everyone should have the right to freely walk the streets of their own city, free of oppression, from dark beasts, or even the Hellknights that strike first and ask questions later."
"I will not hold you here; I would never ask anyone to join me who did not willingly believe that there is a better way. Leave if you wish, and if you do so, I wish you all the best of luck in your travels... But I do hope you'll stay."
Rakless eased back into his seat, exchanging a glance with Tenze and nodding shrewdly. "What do you have in mind, then? Are we to give Westcrown its very own swashbuckling Blackjack?" The Tengu looked over the others assembled. "Perhaps something a bit less conspicuous. We're liable to attract our fair share of attention as it is."