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"net.rptools.maptool.client.ui.zone.ZoneRenderer.getZone()" because
"zoneRenderer" is null error executing expression imp =
getImpersonated().
Error trace : powerBarEx@lib:BS <<< macroLink
Server started; please wait for map to refresh.
=^v^= has connected.
Riot has connected.
vonel has connected.
Ganaroth has connected.
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Ganaroth:
Aaaaaaand
then I have to excuse myself briefly, but I will be back.
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=^v^=:
ya
brb like 10-15, you can opening without me, also woo dryad
shapechagne work
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Ganaroth:
Yay!
Ok, now am back.
|
Last time on D&D, you spoke with Frank "Scrishy" Escrish Grimes, a guard
at Coalstone Prison, who revealed what he knew not only about possible
routes into the prison, but the dangers within, in particular the
warden: a hill giant named Nosnra. He also discussed the whereabouts of
the Orb, telling you that it has moved to a laboratory called The
Barrow. At least three keys, in the posession of some of the more
powerful and influential players in the city, are required to gain
access, and a total of five if the security is to be circumvented
entirely. According to Escrish, Haarken, High Lady Tynaron, who has been
heading up the research project into the orb, and Warden Nosnra are all
in posession of these keys... and then Samir and Dinesh, acquaintances
and allies who happen to be in just such positions of prominence, were
brought up. A message was sent, and they asked for you to meet them at
the Pankra Pit. Anyone familiar with the city knows about that; a venue
for a kind of legalized and regulated system of trial by combat and
civil adjudication through violence. There are many rules in place to
prevent unequal matchups, and thus giving anyone an obvious,
insurmountable edge. On the other hand, they sell tickets, and it could
be said that making sure the matches don't end too quickly is in the
system's best interest as well. The result is a kind of strange hybrid
of entertainment and trial, mostly pursued by people who enjoy the
thrill, and people who know they have little chance of winning their
case another way. This all being said, the pits, as a venue, are
essentially considered low-class entertainment, and the chances of
running into other targets is probably low.
|
Itzen:
"intresting
place to meet, though I assume at least some people of import must
frequent there, since it
is
part of the law."
|
|
|
Ganaroth:
(are
you still in the bar? Escrish is half-pretending to be despondent
in his drink still.)
|
Riot:
(( I assumed so but I'm up for
whatever ))
=^v^=:
(( I mean do we have much else to say
other then arranging ourselfs for said meeting? ))
Riot:
(( Not really, for my part, that I can
think of ))
=^v^=:
(( you got anything von? ))
vonel:
(( nope ))
|
|
Ganaroth:
(Okies.
Well, I just realized that it's easier to just mention: yes, the
matches are attended by Martial Magistrates, who are essentially
considered senior judges, despite their less than reputable line
of work, thanks to the pits being a long, long standing tradition.
People from other lands tend to dismiss them as referees, or other
kinds of sporting officials, but they wield the full force of
Adhikaari law, and are both disciplined in its use, and willing to
enact that discipline. However, it's considered gauche for the
well-to-do to attend themselves. If you're rich, you might invest
in a fertilizer company, but you probably wouldn't go shovel shit
yourself. Lucky would know this, as would anyone else that passes
a history check.)
|
|
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Itzen:
|
|
|
Itzen passes a history check
|
|
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Ganaroth:
(Many
Adhikaari proudly claim that their martial case law is every bit
as complex and regimented as any national trial law. Many other
Adhikaari decry it as a thinly veiled justification for blood
sport.)
|
|
Kaylen Fisher:
"Tch.
Well, I expect they know what they're doing, but if you don't
mind, I'm going to not pay attention to what's going on. I'm
trying not to fill up on violence before the main course, here."
|
|
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Itzen:
"I
do prefer the well-off engaging in it I suppose..."
|
|
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Kaylen Fisher:
"So,
we gonna meet them? I'm curious, you know. I'd heard you'd gotten
up to trouble with the Brothers here, but I'd never thought I
would. What are they like? Mostly I hear stories about the little
brother getting their enemies to stick out their necks with clever
plots, and then the bigger one stepping in and popping their heads
off their shoulders."
|
|
Io:
"There
was little occasion for plotting where we were. Dinesh did his
fair share of decapitation, however."
|
|
Lucky:
"Pretty
much that, and what I mentioned before. Samir, the younger one,
tries to be a smooth talker," she waves her hand to indicate that
he's not the best at it. "Sometimes it sounds like he's being
flirtatious or clever or the like, but he's pretty genuine. Dinesh
doesn't talk as much, and usually gets by on how imposing he is.
He will absolutely destroy people if he needs to, and he carries
that so that you
know
. They're also fiercely protective of
each other."
|
|
Ra'ven:
"You
all crashed an airship right?"
|
|
|
Lucky:
"
We
didn't crash it, a bunch of flying monsters did."
|
|
|
Kaylen Fisher:
"Damn
straight. Don't let her pin that crap on you."
|
|
|
Kaylen Fisher:
"...Sorry.
So I wonder if Dinesh has just been talking up Samir, or
something. I haven't heard anything about him being... (She makes
the same gesture, indicating his uncertain smoothness.) I guess
that doesn't get passed around, huh? Heh."
|
|
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Ra'ven gives a little laugh, "It
wasn't the driver it was the obstacle..."
|
|
|
Lucky:
"It
could also just have been that it's easy for me to see right
through that kinda thing."
|
|
|
Kaylen Fisher:
"Fair
enough. Maybe I'd find him charming. Who knows?" She grins. "Don't
worry, I wasn't star-struck or anything before this. I just have,
you know, an understandable affinity for underdogs slaying
tyrants. Even if the city didn't exactly become a utopia
immediately afterward."
|
|
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Ra'ven:
"I'm
sure Vul would have been tempted to crash it himself if he knew he
could rescue a dragon..."
|
|
|
Io:
"Hm.
I'm not sure how I'd feel about that. Positively, on balance? I
have purpose to fulfil, after all. But I can't say I would have
thought well of all the deaths that would have resulted..."
|
|
|
Lucky smiles at Kaylen, "You might.
He's handsome, and I'd bet charming on a lot of scales. And yeah,
from what I've heard they did a great thing, but Adhikaar is
Adhikaar, at the end of the day." She laughs slightly at Ra'ven,
"I could see that."
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"Could
you not just picture him thinking hard about if anyone was
really
going to die and just how crashy it'd have to be, plus how good of
a taile it'd be?"
|
|
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Io:
"All
things considered, if people had to die in order to free me, at
least I am glad that I may place the blame at the feet of another,
and then strike them down for their actions."
|
|
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Io:
"It
would have been awkward if I'd been forced to instead think about
Vul that way."
|
|
|
Io:
(Sorry,
I keep trying to think of what to say, and I'm having difficulty.
Apologies)
|
|
|
Lucky:
"Thankfully
it didn't work out that way, so you don't have to think on it too
hard."
|
|
|
Kaylen Fisher:
"Mmhm.
So, let's go meet our hosts. You can probably show us the way,
right? Or... shit, is that rude, asking if you know how to get to
a place like that? And fuck, is questioning THAT rude? Gaah,
socializing."
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"I
think it's fine, I mean she knows the person and is from here and
was told to meet there?"
|
|
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Ra'ven nods, "Not rude at all."
|
Riot:
(( tbf both Lucky and Pell should know
how to get there, regardless of the fact they both pretty much avoided
it ))
|
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Kaylen Fisher:
"Well,
somebody who knew my background could ask me where to find the
nearest drake-fighting match in Si En Kelar, and that would be
kinda rude. I mean, I would be able to tell them where it was, but
it's not like I want people to ASSUME that about me."
|
|
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Lucky laughs warmly at Kaylen fumbling
over herself, "Don't worry about it. Pretty much everyone who's
ever lived here could point you in the right direction."
|
|
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Kaylen Fisher rubs the back of her
head. "Yeah, ok. I'll try to relax a bit."
|
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Ra'ven:
"You
mean they have fights where they have drakes against eachother?
Hopefully not to the death but that'd be pretty neat if they both
survived."
|
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Kaylen Fisher:
"Um...
there's no rule that says that they CAN'T both survive, if that's
what you mean."
|
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|
Ra'ven frowns a bit, 'Nah I mean like
they call the fight before one of them dies, so they can heal up
and fight some more next time."
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"A
blood
sport
instead of just a killing ritual."
|
|
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Kaylen Fisher:
"They
try. I mean, a good fighting drake is an investment. They'll heal
them up if possible, but sometimes things happen fast." She shifts
uncomfortably. "I talk a pretty good game about my background,
y'know, but even back then, there are some things I thought were
pretty foul. It'd be fine if the owners were fighting, but
nobody's giving those drakes a choice on anything, poor fuckers. I
only know where the matches are because I hear things, not because
I want to know."
|
|
|
Ra'ven frowns a bit, "Perhaps I'm a
bit.. insensitive to such things, given my natu..." a pause, "...
err... healing?"
|
|
|
Kaylen Fisher:
"Hey,
I'm sure I've got opinions that would make you raise an eyebrow
too."
|
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|
Ra'ven:
"Well,
at least this place we are going to people sound like they do get
a choice somewhat."
|
|
|
Kaylen Fisher:
"I
sure hope so. I have no idea how the laws around this actually
function, just that it's something they do."
|
|
|
Kaylen Fisher:
((May
I assume that you're walking to this next destination, or are you
sticking around?)
|
=^v^=:
(( deffo walking there ))
Riot:
(( Walking works ))
|
|
Ra'ven:
"There
should be like a werewolf fighting league somewhere..." she
slightly pouts.
|
The Pankra Pits are situated within the old city center, in a building
that once served as the ministry of justice, and is therefor styled in
an imposing form that was clearly a more elaborate precursor to the
city's more modern architecture. The building, however, shows the clear
signs of age and wear. It's sound, and has been repaired time and again,
but nobody will ever mistake this for a new building. Instead, it
resembles an island of the less savoury side of the poorer class of
citizen within an otherwise affluent district. The crowd milling about
outside and crossing the threshold of building are, by and large,
roughspun. Not necessarily unintelligent, or unpleasant, but clearly
with less money than average, while the guard presence is every bit as
strong as in the rest of the central district, creating a strange
dichotomy.
* Ganaroth rolls: yup => 0
|
|
Kaylen Fisher:
Sorry!
|
|
|
Ra'ven gives a little whistle and a
pair of crows decend from one of the rooftops and land on her
horns with a loud "CAW"
|
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Io:
"Do
you plan on using those? It's a bit nostalgic for me, actually..."
|
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Ra'ven:
"Using?
Whats?" she idly tickles one under the chin.
|
|
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Io:
"....Ra'ven.
We're about to go indoors. Are you going to drag your crow friends
indoors to the middle of a crowd of shouting humanoids?"
|
|
|
Io:
"I'm
sure that you can tell them to wait, or... well, find them again.
But as a fellow winged creature, I can certainly say that I
wouldn't be going in there if I didn't have to."
|
|
|
Ra'ven pauses, "Oh, right. I mean its
an arena but if it's indoors they probably aren't terribly
welcome?"
|
|
|
Io:
"Perhaps
because it was designed first as a kind of court, and they though
it needed more gravitas? Though I suppose building it indoors
would allow you to have consistent lighting regardless of the
cycles your world has."
|
|
|
Ra'ven walks towards the door and the
crows give another caw and take back off to fly back to their
other friends, "I mean I can't actually talk to them..."
|
|
|
Io:
"Oh.
Well, I'm sure you'll find a way to correct that, if you wish it.
I imagine that druids can still manage such feats."
|
|
|
Ra'ven nods, "I mean one of my sisters
is a pixie so she just talked to them, but she also got really
upset cause they said they liked me better."
|
On the inside, you can hear the shouts and screams, smell sweat and
steel and alcohol. A match is currently taking place, and another, the
one slated for the time of your meeting, is about to begin. The board
outside of the arena declares that the match will be to the death or
"total surrender," between Benton Crol (Blacksmith) and Caj Sirija
(Grocer, proxied by Asla Sintosh) over the crime of aggravated arson.
There are also listed odds, slightly favoring Asla. The arena itself is
set deep into the floor, in a pit a good fifteen feet deep, with a
transparent cover over the top, which seems to be enchanted to shed the
food and drink that occasionally lands upon it. You hear a shout, and
see a smiling, bearded man seated about halfway towards the back corner,
next to a hulking, glowering figure that everyone seems to be giving at
least four inches of extra space on all sides.
|
|
Ra'ven:
"Private
arson?"
|
|
|
Lucky nods to the brothers, and makes
her way to them
|
|
Eileen follows lucky
|
|
Samir:
"Oh
hey, there! Us running into each other like this... how "Lucky,"
right? No? Ok, no. But seriously, it's good to see you. You too,
Io. The news out of 'Kelar is just crazy, so I was hoping you were
okay." He grins, and pushes his hand past Lucky to the rest of
you. "Samir! Half of the de-jure executive authority here in the
city, and realistically more like a small piece of a stupid
leviathan. Pleased to meet you."
|
|
|
Eileen taks his hand, "Eileen."
|
|
|
Ra'ven nods, "Ra'ven, I hear you
crashed an airship with my brother. Little white fox, guess he
flys now?"
|
|
|
Lucky groans at Samir's joke, and
points her thumb back at Pell, who is keeping a severe eye out.
"That's Pell, Patience's little brother. Apparently."
|
|
Pell flicks his gaze back to Lucky and
gives her a slight glare, but there's no real heat in it.
"That's... not
quite
accurate."
|
|
|
Lucky:
"Ah,
that's right.
Adopted
little brother."
|
|
|
Pell:
"How
in the hells did you manage to live through spending time with
her?" he says to Samir.
|
|
|
Itzen winces a bit at all the names
flying around, "Hello. I hope you wouldn't mind me not gving my
name, given the situation we find ourselves in."
|
|
|
Samir:
"I
did! Good times, good times. Myself, I just can't keep thinking
about how he one thousand percent saved us with that mount ritual
of his. If we hadn't been able to move stuff around that fast, a
lot of people probably wouldn't have made it. Disease, starvation,
something." He grabs Eileen's hand, shaking it firmly. Glad to
meet you! And you too, Pell. I guess you being related to Patience
explains that connection, but how did she blackmail YOU into
joining?" He directs the question, clearly a joke, at Eileen. He
then turns back to address Pell's question. "I didn't. I was
reanimated as a mushroom person during our final hours there, and
I'm now waiting to release my spores all over the city."
|
|
Dinesh stands with a grunt, nodding
solemnly. "I do not ask your name. I am Dinesh, and I do not need
yours to do business with you."
|
|
|
Pell looks from Samir back to Lucky,
and sighs. "Now I get it. There's two of you."
|
|
|
Dinesh:
"As
I found, to my horror."
|
|
|
Eileen:
"More
like I didn't have any thing better to do at the moment, and she's
paying for most things."
|
|
|
Pell nods in agreement with Dinesh.
|
|
|
Samir:
"Honestly,
that's as good a reason as anything. Though... you may want to
figure out an exit strategy for when you DO have something better
to do. Coming from a person who literally once comitted regicide,
she makes me nervous."
|
|
|
Ra'ven snerks, "Funny you should say
that, given what Lucky was up to just recently."
|
|
|
Eileen snickers at that
|
|
|
Itzen gives a slight bow of her head
at Dinesh, 'Thanks for that."
|
|
|
Samir:
"Okay,
vague insinuations to whet my curiosity, well played..."
|
|
|
Lucky:
"He
deserved it. Broke his own rules of engagement."
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"She
stabbed the Emir on his throne."
|
|
|
Eileen:
"Just
about cut him in half doing it."
|
|
|
Samir:
"Whoa,
whoa, whoa. Ok, back that skyship up a sec. Are we talking about
regicide or attempted regicide at this point? Also, good job! But
seriously, is the Kelaran fleet about to start bombarding this
place."
|
|
|
Pell 's eyes go wide. "Hells, Luck."
|
|
|
Lucky shrugs. "It's fine. We came to
an understanding."
|
|
|
Samir:
"Does
that understanding involve a heartbeat?"
|
|
|
Lucky:
"He's
just fine, still being a pompous, self-important ass propagating
societal inequality to this day."
|
|
|
Eileen:
"Yeah."
|
|
|
Samir:
"Oh.
Well, yeah, I know the type. Pity it didn't take. We could have
been usurper pals."
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"I
mean he sorta sold out to the Devils, so he isn't really in
charge
so much."
|
|
|
Samir:
"And
we're going to circle back to that also, because that sounds
important. But..."
|
|
|
Lucky:
"There's
still time," she winks at Samir.
|
|
|
Dinesh:
"When
the time comes, you will let us know. You have helped us, in the
past, and debts must be respected."
|
|
|
Dinesh says that as though he were not
a de jure head of state casually talking about murdering another
head of state in the bleachers of a fighting pit.
|
|
|
Lucky:
"Will
do, big guy. But for now..." she steps back and nods to Itzen.
|
|
|
Dinesh:
"So,
warrior with no name, I hear that you come seeking help."
|
|
|
Samir:
"A
specific kind of help anyway, the kind that open up all kinds of
possibilities. And, as luck would have it, we'd be perfectly happy
to provide! There is a small catch, but it's genuinely pretty
small. We'll give you ours, but for the others..."
|
|
|
Dinesh:
"We
will give you names. They are others who have what you want. You
take from them, and from none others. Kill them if you wish. We
will not force that."
|
|
|
Itzen frowns, "Hopefully a few overlap
with ones we might cross."
|
|
|
Samir:
"You
already have at least a couple, but we can help fill out the list
for you. Specifically, we can fill it out with some of the
absolute worst. People we've had to work with, but really, really
don't want to. Even just eliminating one or two would really help
us get some real progress made. Now, since you were asking about
The Barrow, my guess is that you know Tynaron has one, right? Who
else do you know of?"
|
|
|
Samir:
"The
message didn't really say what you were after, so I've only got
suspicions. Tynaron, and maybe... Haarken?"
|
|
|
Eileen nods, "Those two plus Warden
Nosnra."
|
|
|
Dinesh:
"Hmm.
Filthy slaver, she is. She can pretend it is a prison, but it is
only a work camp. Kill her, take her key, and let us be rid of
her. There are two others whom we would especially like dead. One
is a different group of siblings, but much inferior to my brother
and I. The Gravelstokes create statuary and stone golems for
security. Five of them. Some are strong, some not as much, but the
oldest sister, Xandra, is most dangerous." He pauses. "People
disappear around them. People who have crossed them. Gone. Never a
body left."
|
|
|
Samir:
"The
other one... well, the other one is a little weird. Um, so he
might possibly be the biggest crimelord in the city. "Private
Security," right? Like our public guys don't cause enough trouble.
Anyway, the head of Gray Angel Protection, the, uh, "Gray Angel"
himself. Except, and here's the thing... name isn't actually a
metaphor. Guy is a literal. Gray. Angel. And he's got basically a
full fucking choir singing at his back, playing percussion on the
ribs of the people who won't pay up."
|
|
|
Eileen:
"Dang."
|
|
|
Samir:
"Yeah,
what a world, huh? He's been here longer than any of the rest of
us, so we don't really have the story, but I figure he's gotta
have one, right?"
|
|
|
Itzen:
"Impressive
amount of showmanship at least."
|
|
|
Lucky:
"All
of them sound
lovely
."
|
|
|
Lucky 's voice is dripping with sarcasm
|
|
|
Dinesh:
"Not
all who hold keys, who hold authority here, are monsters. We gave
you these names because we wish monsters slain."
|
|
|
Itzen:
"At
this point I am a bit sadened about the current status of the
Silverfangs."
|
|
|
Samir:
"Careful,
don't give yourself away. But out of curiosity, tell me what you
mean."
|
|
|
Itzen:
"They
are in a bit of a bind right now, as they have 'successfully'
called out a rather bad policy at the Symposium, but if they were
not, that sort of folk would be helpful for a mission of kick in a
door and deal with a threat."
|
|
|
Dinesh:
"Ah.
Yes, this is unfortunate. It is too bad that you are not members
of the Silverfangs yourselves, or it would be easy to cast blame
off of my brother and I afterwards."
|
|
|
Itzen:
"Except
that you are meeting with us right now..."
|
|
|
Lucky:
"They're
meeting old friends, if anyone asks."
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"Honestly
only sounds like a blame problem if we don't succeed."
|
|
|
Samir:
"Exactly.
I mean, what, do you think we were just SILENT about our good
friend Lucky, owner of THE BEST BAR IN THE CITY, after we got back
from escaping certain death together?"
|
|
|
Lucky rolls her eyes, but smiles at
Samir.
|
|
|
Samir:
"Nobody's
gonna twitch an eyelash over us catching up over a fight or two."
|
|
|
Pell:
"That
might explain why it suddenly got busier a while back. Not that it
was ever what I'd call slow."
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
'"All
of my political enemies who also happen to be complete assholes
nobody should miss, ended up being cast into the Storm around the
same time, how fortutious." is a thing that peoeple even if they
know what happened they would
also
know what happened.'
|
|
|
Lucky:
"'Nobody
should miss' being the key element, I think."
|
|
|
Dinesh:
"They
are not all of our political enemies. Some are even political
friends. But even political friends can be personally foul."
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"I
mean people will, many have tied their lot to highers."
|
|
|
Eileen nods and looks at Lucky, "Feel
like cleaning house a little bit along the way?
|
|
|
Itzen accidently lets a long-suffering
sight at Denish's comment
|
=^v^=:
(( sigh ))
|
|
Lucky flashes a vicious smile at
Eileen, "You know it."
|
|
|
Samir:
"Cards
on table. We work pretty closely with Tynaron, but she's amoral,
and getting reckless. People have started dying under her watch
already, and nothing we say is making a difference. We can't
dislodge her peacefully, so..."
|
|
|
Dinesh:
"...When
we first began rising here, we came up through The Gray Angel's
organization. Of all the people in this city, he is the one we owe
most for our current position. He is also rot on a wound, and must
be cut clean if this city is ever to truly be redeemed."
|
|
|
Samir:
"So
yeah, cleaning house. And since those two are still technically in
our power bloc, it shouldn't be immediately obvious."
|
|
|
Samir:
"Haarken
and the Gravelstokes are against us, more or less. Nosnra is just
an opportunist. As long as the results aren't too lopsided, it
should be okay."
|
|
|
Eileen:
"Sounds
like we've got a plan of action, just need to figure out what
order to hit them in. Once one or two of the dissapear they others
will likely think there next and start increasing there guards."
|
|
|
Itzen:
"Do
you know why your watchment fail to flee when their life is
imperlied?" she says a bit quietly given the croud.
|
|
|
Dinesh:
"...No,
but we have seen this thing. Tynaron has tried to defeat fear for
years now, but some time ago, just after we returned, we noticed
that some of the guards now behaved strangely. They would bear a
grim expression, and walk slowly up the blade of a sword if they
were ordered. This behavior has spread since then. Tynaron claims
frustration that it is NOT her work, and since she is an egotist,
I do not think she lies."
|
|
|
Itzen:
"Concerning."
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"Devils
maybe then?"
|
|
|
Samir:
"We've
been trying to look into it too. At least, where we can. Coalstone
has a higher percentage of people that are affected, but it's not
JUST there either."
|
|
|
Pell:
"It
could be Iron's work."
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"They
did that somewhat bloodless coop in Sie En Kalar, after all."
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"So
they are operating somewhat large scale up here now."
|
|
|
Samir:
"I
mean... if you say so. Why are we suddenly blaming those dinks?
Not that I buy them a lot of drinks, but... wait, wait wait, what?"
|
|
|
Samir:
"The
Iron Empire did what now?"
|
|
|
Dinesh rumbles. "If the Emir's...
erratic behavior... is due to meddling from the Iron, it is not
something I have heard."
|
|
|
Dinesh:
"I
assume you have more information than we."
|
|
|
Io:
"A
long story. Whether one can call it a bloodless coup or not
depends on defining both terms, but at the very least they are
colluding."
|
|
|
Lucky:
"Dude
is literally in their pocket. Trust me. First-hand knowledge."
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"It's
currently
bloodless, not sure how long till it stops being
on principle."
|
|
|
Io:
"Oh,
without doubt. I simply mean that the exact definition of their
relationship is difficult to determine for now. We don't even know
what they are ultimately attempting to do, or why."
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"I
belive my brother still has the contract copy he lifted that
states how the Emir is going to get to be a devil lord."
|
|
|
Io:
"And
how does the Emir's service warrant such a thing?"
|
|
|
Io:
"From
what you have seen of him, can you imagine him being important
enough to the Iron Empire personally that they would offer him
immortality, and a seat in their highest halls?"
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"I
assuem something about the timing and convience of it."
|
|
|
Io:
"Indeed.
So what about the timing? Why is it convenient? What do they
expect him to do for them that would be worthy of such an
incredible, nearly unprecedented reward?
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"Good
deals with devils have catches right? Or are an act of desperation
and I don't thim my mo... err.. that woman is desperate."
|
|
|
Pell:
"He's
probably just a pawn. Having the most powerful magic city on your
side is a pretty big advantage if you're trying to wage a war.
Even a proxy war."
|
|
|
Pell:
"With...
her, at least, every deal can have more than one meaning."
|
|
|
Kaylen Fisher:
"Hm.
Well, I dunno. Si En Kelar has some completely nuts magic stuff up
its sleeve. Trust me, I've seen a few things. But it's not like
we've got the population of Lansir, or Cor Falca, or Evenbough.
And we don't have the industrial output of Mekanice or the martial
traditions of Adhikaar either. SI En Kelar could absolutely wreck
most fleets that tried to get close, but on offense... we just
don't have the fleets or the men. We'd be valuable as fuck to
them, but if they still can't move their ships from there to here,
then we're only valuable in theory. So something has to have
changed." She presses her lips together. "Unfortunately, that's a
thing that's going around lately."
|
|
|
Samir:
"Quick
question: You're really, really, REALLY certain that Si En Kelar
and the Iron Empire are working hand in glove?"
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"When
she stabbed the Emir it was because he was interfering with a test
a hero of the Iron kingdom was laying upon us."
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"Specifically
Annad."
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"A
test being administrated in the palice in one of his throne rooms."
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"Whilst
they were both present."
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
A
pause, "it's possible that
wasn't
the Emir, bu tthat
would be a strange trick to play."
|
|
|
Lucky:
"A
test we couldn't refuse."
|
|
|
Pell:
"If
she said it was him, then it was him."
|
|
|
Samir:
"Well,
that'll fucking teach him, right? But okay, second question: You
want that we should tell somebody? Like, Adhikaar is part of
Lansir now, so technically Dinesh and I report to a Lansiri
regional governor. Well, if you wanted, we could actually REPORT
to said governor. It's not like they'd just believe us without
proof, but they'd treat the accusation seriously, at least."
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"Not
if they are going to attack or the like."
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"It
is really a thing to be wary of, but there is too many missing
pieces to be a thing that requires immediate intervention."
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"I..."
a pause, "... actually... Someone else. Someone else say this.
It's bad for me to be saying this."
|
|
|
Samir:
"I
can't tell you what they'd do. They sure as hell don't report to
ME. But if you wanted to spread the word that something funny is
going on, we could do our part." He nods. "Okay, then. I'll leave
this one alone, but as soon as you have something for Dinesh to
take a swing at, you tell us." He frowns. "Uh... ok."
|
|
|
Pell:
"The
main thing we need to worry about is who's compromised, at this
point. If their plan isn't fully known, it's best not to spook
anyone."
|
|
|
Samir:
((Neither
of my NPCs who know what Ra is probably talking about are big
enough dicks to say what I would want them to...))
|
Riot:
(( I assume the mother thing? ))
=^v^=:
(( ra is suddently freaked out about
being all, "Actually you
shouldn't
try to stop the Iron plan
))
Riot:
(( Ah ))
|
|
Samir:
((Absolutely
makes sense!))
|
=^v^=:
(( and is entirelly all, "Dang it's
suspicious as shit for me to say that even if I think it so ))
|
|
Samir:
((Not
being able to trust your own motivations sucks an awful lot.))
|
|
|
Pell:
"Especially
if Anand is involved. Trying to intervene without knowing what
she's fully capable of is inviting trouble the likes of which very
few people this far upcolumn have seen. She's smart, and she's
always maneuvering, but worse - she's the attack dog."
|
|
|
Ra'ven poitns to Pell, "What he says."
|
|
|
Lucky:
"You
and Blondie both talk about her like she's a fucking myth. You
know it's weird, right?"
|
|
|
Pell glares at Lucky, the first time
you've seen him get actually angry with her, "That's because she
basically is. You haven't fought her when she's off the leash. I
have."
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"She
is extremely famous..."
|
|
|
Dinesh:
"...Not
as a myth. A nightmare they've seen in the flesh. Much, much
worse. I can tell this from your voice."
|
|
|
Lucky flinches. "Fair enough." She
looks slightly ashamed, which isn't something she's ever really
been in front of this group.
|
|
|
Ra'ven nods, "But I wouldn't trusst my
advice on Iron in general and her specifically so ask them
instead."
|
|
|
Dinesh:
"I
do not understand. But I do not need to. If you say to look
elsewhere for answers, than we shall."
|
|
|
Itzen:
"You
are quite practical about such things. It's refreshing."
|
|
|
Pell:
"If
she trusts you," he nods to Lucky, "then I'm sure there's a way to
keep you in the loop."
|
|
|
Dinesh:
((And
tis 9! It would be super cool if you guys could decide on how you
want to approach the prison, so that I can have as much useful
stuff prepared as possible. Other than that, thanks for tonight!))
|
|
|
Lucky:
"Ehhhh..."
She pauses. "I'm kidding, of course. I trust 'em."
|
Riot:
(( Sounds good. Thank you! ))
|
|
Samir:
Be
well, y'all.
|
|
|
Eileen:
night
|
|
|
Lucky:
Gnight!
|
Riot is disconnected.
=^v^= is disconnected.
vonel is disconnected.
vonel has connected.
|
Kris:
Any
ways there we go
|
|
|
Samir:
Yup
yup/
|
|
|
Ganaroth:
Aaaaand
deselected.
|
|
|
Kris:
heh
|
|
Lilium:
|
|
|
Effect:
Every enemy that can see you grants
combat advantage to you until the end of your next turn.
|
|
Apply
Every
enemy that can see you grants combat advantage to you until
the end of your next turn.
|
|
|
|
Lilium:
Took
way to long to figure out how to get it to do that
|
|
|
Ganaroth:
Huh.
I wonder why. It seems straightforward enough.
|
|
|
Ganaroth:
But
things are often not obvious, so...
|
|
|
Ganaroth:
Anneeweigh,
just start stuff when you feel like it.
|
|
|
Lilium:
Had
to make it an attack that wasn't an attack and then have it call
up a second button that should have targets but actually doesn't,
just alot of check boxes to hit and unhit to mkae sure it wan't
spitting out information I didn't want it to.
|
|
|
Lilium:
Same
method I used to make Sonliins heals so I didn't have to make six
differnt buttons.
|
|
|
Ganaroth:
Huh.
Well, I'm glad you figured it out.
|
|
|
Ganaroth:
I
couldn't have, probably.
|
|
|
Ganaroth:
I'm
honestly just slightly proud of this watchtower map. It's got a
bunch of different ways you can approach the goal, some
interesting obstacles and surprises, and actually useful terrain.
|
|
|
Kris approaches Patience cabin on the
airship and sighs, "Okay..." He knocks, "Hey Patience it's Kris
you there?"
|
vonel:
(( Yeah it looks good, also that's a
big fuck off balista at the top ))
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
((It
certainly is.
I hope figure out how to deal with it is fun. ))
|
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor is silent for a
moment before answering. "Come in."
|
|
|
Kris enters the room and closes the
door behind him, he looks around a moment before smiling at
Patience, "Soory, hope I wasn't interrupting any thing."
|
As you enter the room, you can see Patience sliding a folio of some sort
into a locked case. "Nothing that can't wait. Honestly, it's nice to
have a distraction. Now, how can I help you?"
|
|
Kris walks over looking around as if
to see if there was any one else there before sighing again and
shaking his head, "I... I wanted to ask if you were being serious
about what you said before, about possabily bringing in other
people I might know."
|
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor looks at you with
a curious look on her face. "Why would you think I wasn't
serious?" She sighs. "As long as you believe they can be trusted,
I consider the expansion welcome. After all, the larger we are,
the more jobs we can take, and increase our total profits.
Considering the sudden volatility of the region, we shouldn't lack
for work, and considering that we appear to be entangled with the
Iron, having a few more people familiar with them and their ways
should be quite useful. I will assume they have skill sets that
would make them valuable?"
|
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
"If
they are non-combatants, it's still possible to find work for
them, but those positions need to be carefully rationed to avoid
overhead."
|
|
|
Kris:
"Sorry
it's a bit hard for me to just have some one trust me this
comptely, normally I'd be long gone at this point after people
find out I'm from the empire." He nods, "They were comrades of
mine and helped me when I handed in my resignation sword as it
were, they were the only two that stood with me. I think they had
maybe had enough as well."
|
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
"I'm
not sure that "Trust" is the word exactly. You certainly SEEM
trustworthy, and you've fought with us when you really didn't need
to, but it's not as though I haven't considered that you might be
a spy or assassin, or saboteur. The simple fact of the matter is
that I don't particularly trust anyone, and you're not
substantially different from the others in that regard.
Fortunately, I have a solution. Since it's highly unlikely that
EVERYONE is a traitor, it's a simple matter to have you all
effectively watch each other. Up to a certain point, of course.
That being said, I have no reason to suspect their motivations, or
yours." She smiles faintly. "I genuinely hope you don't take it
personally."
|
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
"Besides...
perhaps it's not rational, but I have a good feeling about you."
|
|
|
Kris:
"I'm
going to take that as the backhanded complement I feel it is and
leave it at that, and besides if I tired any thing I'm sure Sera
would be kicking in that door and taking me out with that crossbow
of her's before I could finish." He chuckles, "I'd put money on
her being outside that door trying to listen in as soon as she
finds out I'm here with you."
|
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
"Better
than a backhanded insult, don't you think? You're one of us, as
much as any of us are." She grimaces. "Sera doesn't know when to
leave enough alone. She hounds me, despite my wishes."
|
|
|
Kris:
"I
see, not really my bissness to get involed in that."
|
|
|
Kris:
"But
if your worried about trusting them then know I trust them with my
life, largly because I already have. I know that doesn't account
for much right now, but myu word about them is all I've got."
|
|
|
Kris:
"The
problem is I don't know were either of them are at the moment, all
I know is that the few people who still feed me information from
the empire say that there not looking for them, I guess there
focused on finding me or they just don't know or don't care that
there still alive."
|
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
"I
think i may have given you the wrong idea. I am... not capable of
real trust. There is a lack in my. A hollowness that separates me
from most people. Empathy is difficult. Compassion is difficult.
You... are not different in this regard. I trust you to the extent
I trust anyone, and that form of trust is extended to you friends
as well. Your word is all I need. It simple fits into my mind in a
different way than it would for most." She listens to the rest,
nodding along. "I hope you understand that we cannot afford to
make this a top priority; not while we have no clues to go on.
That being said, I have a small network, and I can set them to
their tasks. If they hear anything resembling a concrete clue,
we'll make an effort to investigate as soon as reasonably
possible. Does that seem fair?"
|
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
(So
many typos.)
|
|
|
Kris nods, "Of course, I didn't expect
us to drop everything and go running around the world looking for
them, if we happen to run in to them or your people find them then
we can set up a talk and see what they think, if one or both of
them don't want to put them selfs back in danger then I'd rather
not force them, in that case it would just be good to see them
again and thank them one more time for helping me back then."
|
|
|
Kris:
"But
so you can pass it along to your contacts the first one is an
female Eladrin named Shanairra, she's got sliver hair and eyes
hair down to about her mid back and carrys a mean looking bow."
|
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor nods along with
that, taking out a small notebook and pen, writing the description
down. "Don't worry, I won't come on too strong. This will be
exploratory, nothing more. If we find word, you'll be in control
of the next step."
|
|
|
Kris:
"The
other might be a bit easier as he stands out a bit more, Terios a
seven foot tall minotaur, he's got white fur with golden eys. When
we parted ways after what happend he said he was going to take the
villagers some were else so they would be safe when the empire
came looking, also calls any one shorter then him little brother
or sister, which is everyone given that he's taller then everyone
I've ever met, but apperantly that's just something that everyone
does were he's from orginally."
|
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
"I
see. Do you know where it is that he comes from? That could be an
important clue."
|
|
|
Kris seems to ponder a bit before
speaking again, "I think he mentioned being from Evenbough at one
point. Not sure if he would have taken all the villagers all the
way back there, that would be the place to start at least see if
any one has heard of him."
|
|
|
Kris:
"As
for Shanairra can't really help you there with that one, she was
always a bit on the quite side and alot of use tended to get
weried out around her. Always felt like something or someone was
watching her and us. I asked her about it once and all she said
was that there were ancient contracts out there if one is willing
to look for them. She din't say were she was going and I have no
idea were she was from orginally."
|
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
""As
you say, it's a place to start. I don't have many agents in
Evenbough. Despite its size and crucial place in the League, it's
a largely sleepy territory, keeping mostly to its own affairs.
I'll do what I can, however. If you happen to know his clan name,
that might help as well. As for Shanairra, as you said that's not
much to go on. I'll make a note about her behavior, but otherwise
we might just have to depend on luck. If I receive word,
however..."
|
|
|
Kris:
"I
think Terios said his clan name was... Sentune... or some varation
of that, sorry this was years ago."
|
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
"It's
something to go on, at least. Someone should be able to at least
give us a clue as to their whereabouts. Actually, if he's there,
it could be quite easy. More difficult if they're nomadic, but in
that case they likely follow a seasonal schedule, and shouldn't be
hard to intercept once we have enough information.'
|
|
|
Kris nods, "That's good, and yeah if
we find her we find her and if not, then I guess she doesn't want
to be found. I'm not going to fault her on that, there were times
I just wanted to disapear for a while... and I did."
|
|
|
Kris suddenly get a serious look on
his face as he look around again, there's a nervousness about him
Rai probably hasn't seen before, "I... I have something personal I
want to ask, and I don't want it to leave this room."
|
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
"...I
probably know more about that that you realize. I don't mind
saying that the sensation of losing one's self is a unique one,
and can be either welcome or terrifying. And it's one of the few
things I believe that I have true empathy for."
|
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
"Ask.
I don't betray secrets. Ever." Her voice is firm and sharp. Not
directed at you, but like a line drawn in steel.
|
|
|
Kris:
"Do
you remember when Anand asked why I didn't just run off some were
and hide, and I said I did, ended up in some town? Well...
that's... that's were I met my wife."
|
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
"I
didn't realize you were married."
|
|
|
Kris sits down looking at the ground,
"No one does, I left when the village some how found out I was
from the empire. She wanted me to stay, said the village wouldn't
care but I didn't want to risk it if they showed up... and that
was what three years ago. I have a daughter to... she was two when
I left. She probably doesn't even remember me."
|
|
|
Kris looks back up at Rai, "I wanted
to ask if you could have one of your people check in on them...
there in Evenbough, the village doesn't really have a name, not
even on most maps from what I could tell, but it's located between
two rivers just as the merge together. I've been wanting to send a
message but now that Anand has eyes on me again I can't risk
putting them in that kind of danger, if one of your people could
get there with out letting on that you asked them to... it would
mean a lot to me."
|
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
"There
are quite a lot of rivers in Evenbough. If you could narrow it
down to a region, that would help quite a bit. Evenbough is almost
as expansive as Lansir, so searching every river fork might take
some time." She looks at you, and there is something undefinable
in her eyes, almost a flicker of passion. "I will find them,
though, if they are to be found. You have my word on that. I will
need their names, and descriptions. Also, your wife's occupation."
|
|
|
Kris:
"Thank
you, I'll get you that information as soon as I can. Maybe I'll
take a look at some maps my self to see if any thing looks
familiar from when I was there."
|
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
"It's
not a problem. You do the work on your end, I'll do it on mine."
|
|
|
Kris:
"Of
course."
|
vonel is disconnected.
Ganaroth is disconnected.
vonel has connected.
vonel is disconnected.
=^v^= has connected.
=^v^= is disconnected.