Karnakiid: Valley of Mist and Flame (Campaign Thread)

MistSonata · Post by **MistSonata** » Tue May 24, 2011 8:39 pm

Sensing possible danger, Elliah cautiously approached the guard, being very careful to stay out of lunging reach, but close enough to still seem not so suspicious.

"I do not mean to distrust, good ser, but I couldn't help but notice that you neglected to take some sort of identification from those travelers when you took their weapons. How do you know which weapon belongs to whom?" Her hands, hidden under her shrouds gripped the handles of two of her darts as she watched the guard unblinkingly, keeping a keen eye on his reaction. Aesenyth, sensing the tension, dug her claws in, ready to leap at a moments notice.

[QUOTE="Sense Motive"]Roll(1d20)+2:
12,+2
Total:14[/QUOTE]

Annette · Post by **Annette** » Tue May 24, 2011 9:09 pm

Elliah
The guard blinks in surprise, then scowls as he draws his sword. "Son of a bitch," he mutters. His companion follows suit, drawing a hand crossbow from a cloak pocket and taking careful aim.

The first one says, "Listen, dwarf. None of us want trouble, so just get your ass out of here and we can forget this ever happened. Or, me and my buddy can forcibly remove it for you. Which'll it be?"

(Each guard is wearing chainmail. The first one is wielding a greatsword, the second a hand crossbow.)

malinzaro · Post by **malinzaro** » Wed May 25, 2011 1:14 am

While wandering the streets towards the obvious noise of the inn, Westan checks the architecture of the city trying to recall more from the style of the buildings.

Out of game: I am not sure if I get any circumstance bonuses for already identifying the history of the city, otherwise I will add my bonuses from the sheet as appropriate. Up to the DM!

Knowledge (architecture): 1d20+3=16

Westan enters the inn and sits at a table in a slight remote position, facing the door and giving quick glances at the persons at the tables around him. He notices them all and tries to identify their races and professions judging from their looks and clothes or special items they are wearing (like the cleric symbol of their deity per example). He also tries to make bits of information through their conversation.

Out of game: I am not sure if I overheard the discussion between Shar'ra and the half orcs for example.

Knowledge (geography): 1d20+3=9
Knowledge (religion): 1d20+4=23
Listen: 1d20+0=8
Listen: 1d20+0=17

When the serving girl approaches I smile to her: Good evening miss. I would like a hot meal and some fresh water. Also a room for the night. How much would that be?
Then I continue with a slightly lower tone: Quite noisy in the inn tonight compared to the silent streets outside ... any particular reason for that? How about the guests around here ... any rumors circulating around tonight?

Question 1:
Gather information: 1d20-1=7
Gather information: 1d20-1=4
Sense motive: 1d20+0=11

Question 2:
Gather information: 1d20-1=9
Gather information: 1d20-1=17
Sense motive: 1d20+0=4

Annette · Post by **Annette** » Wed May 25, 2011 8:59 am

Westan
(You would get a bonus, but it's negated by the darkness.)
Knowledge (architecture)-Sucess!- You are unsurprised to see that Karnakan architecture is very similar to that of the Locasthian Empire, though the Karnakans use mud brick as well as stone. The buildings are gridded, with the more "touristy" district to the front and the ghettos in the back.
Knowledge (geography)- Partial Success- While you recognize the cleric's accent as Torman, you have no idea where the asherati is from.
Gather Information-Failure!- The serving girl ignores your first question...
Gather Information-Success!- ...focusing instead on your second. "Yeah, everyone's talking about that tomb that opened up. You'd have to be suicidal to go down there, or really stupid. For everyone who gets rich, a full score never come out. Anyway, I promised that guy," she points to the priest speaking with the asherati (Knowledge (religion)-success!-You recognize the holy symbol of Pelor around his neck), "that I'd talk to him after I got your stuff. I had a feeling this is where our conversation was going, though, so why don't you take a seat with us?"

Ehren and Shar'ra
(The two of you are currently conversing at Ehren's table.)

Elliah
(You are a bit further back on the timeline right now. Your exchange with the guard is happening while Shar'ra, Westan, and Ehren are making thier way to the inn.)

malinzaro · Post by **malinzaro** » Wed May 25, 2011 1:02 pm

Thanking the serving girl, Westan moves to the table where the red hair priest of Pelor and the strange creature were sitting and with a friendly gesture introduces himself: "Good evening fellow adventurers. My name is Westan Krest and I hail from Lovincia, but I am a bit on the road lately searching for some ruins. Mind if I join your table following the suggestion of our serving girl here?"

Siberys · Post by **Siberys** » Wed May 25, 2011 1:14 pm

"Very well, but might I ask why you seek these ruins?"

MistSonata · Post by **MistSonata** » Wed May 25, 2011 1:50 pm

Elliah silently cursed her big mouth. "Belay, gentlemen, I meant no harm." She said, trying to remain calm, and perhaps sooth them as well. "I simply wished to know how I might go about obtaining my weapons again upon leaving, nothing more. I keep them only for protection, and they're not so important to me that I would give up the prospect of warm food and a soft bed." She offered them a soft, modest smile. "Besides, I should think that I have nothing to fear with such capable city guards keeping the peace." She seriously doubted that they were city guards at all, but she hoped that if they still thought she believed they were, they would decide that their cover hadn't been completely blown.

She pulled out five of her ten darts an held them out to the two, handles outward, carefully gripping the blades. She was very careful to pick the ones that were the least well hidden on her body, hoping that the men wouldn't suspect her of hiding more. If they did, and they decided that was a good reason to attack, she was poised to make a quick retreat—remembering to zigzag a bit to make it harder to stick her with a crossbow bolt.

If they let her pass, however, she would walk into the city with a sigh of relief.

[QUOTE="Diplomacy"]Roll(1d20)+0:
19,+0
Total:19[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE="Bluff"]Roll(1d20)+0:
11,+0
Total:11[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE="Hide"]Roll(1d20)+3:
17,+3
Total:20[/QUOTE]

Annette · Post by **Annette** » Wed May 25, 2011 3:41 pm

Elliah
Hide-Success vs Spot!- Neither guard notices you reach for your weapons.
Diplomacy-Success! (result shown below)
Bluff-Failed!-He actually laughs at that. "Don't play with me," he smiles. "I'm no fool; I know you're on to us. My own fault, really, for forgetting something like that." His face suddenly lights up. "Say, you and your pet look capable. Before we start jumping to conclusions about this, I don't suppose you'd be interested in hearing our side?" His companion bristles at this, but remains silent. Neither sheaths his weapon.

Everyone Else
(You are about 5-10 minutes in the future, talking at the inn.)

MistSonata · Post by **MistSonata** » Wed May 25, 2011 4:47 pm

Elliah seemed more relieved to hear that from them, and slightly amused that she wasn't very convincing. She never did have much of a silver tongue. Aesenyth relaxed a little as the tension eased, although the change in her appearance was nigh imperceptible. She began slipping her darts back in place on her person. "Lending my ear robs neither my purse or my health. Very well, you have my attention, good sers."

Annette · Post by **Annette** » Wed May 25, 2011 5:15 pm

Elliah
Sighing with relief, Guard the First returns his weapon to it's scabbard, though his talkative friend doesn't move.
"We're not bandits, if that's what you're thinking," the first one is quick to explain. "Quite the contrary, actually. We're loyalists," his chest puffs up with pride, a difficult task in a suit of armor, "sworn to defend the King from any and all threats to him or his country's well being! As you've probably heard, we sort of failed in the first task, but we still have the interests of King Arluss at heart! That bitch who killed him," he literally spits at this point, "deserves a dagger in her heart, not the throne! Our task, granted by the gods themselves, is to rid Karnakiid of her taint!" He glances at the weapon sack. "And we plan to use these weapons in our revolution. The crap the government hands out to us tends to break after a few swings at a training dummy."
The second guard clears his throat loudly, and the first winces. "And I shouldn't have mentioned that. Uh, anyway, I'm Dannis, milady," he bows low, trying to hide his embarrassing. "So, what do you say? Want to help us out?" While he doesn't mention an alternative, the second guard's crossbow spells it out rather clearly.

Everyone Else
(Still talking, awaiting a response from either Ehren or Westan.)

MistSonata · Post by **MistSonata** » Wed May 25, 2011 5:56 pm

"I am always sympathetic to that of the greater good. If you truly know that you are in the right, then you have nothing to fear from me." Elliah said, more to the man holding the crossbow than anyone else. She held up her hands, as if to emphasize that she had no weapons in them. "There is no need to keep that crossbow trained on me, I assure you. Besides, supposing I was loyal to the new crown, recruiting me under coercion would be a mistake. You wouldn't be able to keep me in front of you forever. Obviously, your best wager is allow me to pass if I wish. At least then you would have time to get away should I be off to inform the guard. If I have all options available to me, then you'll have no need to question my loyalty to the cause."

[QUOTE="Diplomacy"]Roll(1d20)+0:
15,+0
Total:15[/QUOTE]

Annette · Post by **Annette** » Wed May 25, 2011 7:10 pm

Elliah
Diplomacy-Success!
"Uh, don't bother talking to him," Dannis points at his companion. "Not all here, if you know what I mean. And I don't have to worry about you turning us in," he explains. "Most of the Guard is on our side, so trying anything would be risky as hell. And besides, we are in the right. Arluss was chosen by the gods, Arlenna wasn't. There's no other way about it." Looking around to make sure no one is listening, he continues. "Listen, we won't turn down help. If you're interested, just come to this address," he hastily scribbles something down on a sheet of papyrus and offers it to you, "and say I sent you. In the meantime, can we get your weapons please?"

(You gain 200XP for successfully avoiding conflict with the guards.)

Everyone Else
(Still talking.)

MistSonata · Post by **MistSonata** » Wed May 25, 2011 8:00 pm

Elliah smiles to the first man, taking the note with the address. "Thank you, I shall let you know of my intention as soon as I've gathered enough information to make an informed decision." She pocketed the paper, and then began to extract the darts from their hiding places, two of which she had kept in a very intimate place. She was able to get to them without exposing her bosom to the men. There was no reason to seem indecent.

Once surrendered, she would make her way into the city, struggling to remember the directions to the inn that she had overheard earlier. Upon entrance, she makes her way to a seat at a table and sits down with a sigh. Aesenyth deftly jumped from her shoulder and onto the table, stretching her legs and wings before curling up on the table in front of her master, watching the rest of the room with wide yellow eyes.

malinzaro · Post by **malinzaro** » Thu May 26, 2011 4:37 am

Siberys wrote:"Very well, but might I ask why you seek these ruins?"

Westan turns his attention to Shar'ra and he started to speak with a soft voice so no one except the persons at the table could hear:

These ruins I am talking about are not some tombs where a few golden pieces lie on the ground like these simpletons found. There is knowledge to unravel and these things can only be truly appreciated by enlighten minds.

As Westan spoke his eyes were glowing with passion and for a second a trained eye could notice the arcane traces only an initiate could have.

Siberys · Post by **Siberys** » Thu May 26, 2011 6:44 am

"A crypt is not a place one would expect to find knowledge, how can you be sure there is anything else other than the deceased and their belongings?"

Annette · Post by **Annette** » Thu May 26, 2011 9:00 am

Elliah

As soon as you sit down, you hear the conversation taking place at the next table. The three you "met" at the gate are sitting here, discussing an ancient tomb of some kind. Then one of the humans lowers his voice, possibly to prevent you from overhearing...

The serving girl sitting with them notices you, and springs up from the table. "Hey, how's it going! What can I get you?"

Everyone Else
(Still talking.)

malinzaro · Post by **malinzaro** » Thu May 26, 2011 9:31 am

Siberys wrote:"A crypt is not a place one would expect to find knowledge, how can you be sure there is anything else other than the deceased and their belongings?"

Westan takes a pause before replying

That is also correct, though as far as I am aware no one knows who actually built this tombs, their purpose or what they might hold within them. I for sure don't want to spend more than necessary in this tight ass city. Is there anything that worries you about them?

Siberys · Post by **Siberys** » Thu May 26, 2011 11:00 am

Continuing this conversation in the player thread.

MistSonata · Post by **MistSonata** » Thu May 26, 2011 5:34 pm

Elliah looked up as she was addressed by the serving girl. "Merry meet, m'lady." She said, smiling wearily. "Forgive me, as these lands are foreign to me, but you wouldn't happen to be able to fetch a plate of roasted meat—avian or fish would be preferred—a bowl of whatever fruit is local to this area, and some fresh water?"

She smiled politely to the girl as she either left to fulfill the order or perhaps asked something else, then turned to the strange woman who was now addressing her.

Siberys · Post by **Siberys** » Thu May 26, 2011 6:38 pm

@DM-

So far it seems Ehren and I are going to discuss matters of the tomb with the Adventurer's Guildmaster tomorrow morning in game. This much is definite, though I don't know if Elliah and Westan plan on joining us or not.