Madness, Blood and Thunder in Ravens Bluff IC

[TheFallenOne]

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Since you didn't roll GI in the skip you can easily assume you asked around about apartments or went straight to Mirielle. There are apartment buildings from spartan to luxurious, and you get better prices than at the inns made for short stays. Though buying a place would be rather expensive. What kind of price range per day or quality do you have in mind?

[Jeff the Green]

Mirielle chats with Aya on the way to the High House of Magic, filling her in on the rumors she'd overheard over the past tenday. She keeps the new information about Black Sorrow to herself for now, however. No sense in risking being overheard; there would be time enough for that later.

At the High House, Mirielle heads straight to the receptionist, or whatever passes for such. She ensures her holy symbol is prominently displayed, hoping it might lend some authority in case the mages are inclined to be uncooperative.

"Excuse me," she asks. "My friend works here, Miss Keeva LeCor. She works late on occasion, but she didn't return to our flat last night and I'm a bit concerned. I'd like to make sure that she's still here and alright. Who might I talk to about this?"

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Mirielle shares the three clue cards she got with Aya. Also, TFO, you never posted what I got on the fires or what if anything I found in the library.

[rypt]

Foreign District

Like the ravens, Cael keeps his distance from the Thayan embassy, shaking his head and and sighing as he passes. There was a time when the elf would have been surprised -- angered even -- to find a Red Wizard enclave beyond the Tannath's. But that time had long since come and gone. With Thayan outposts popping up throughout the northeast and beyond, such a discovery was only a disappointment now, especially so when the building was as large as this one. Rounding the corner, he wonders just how much the city's governing body knew of Tharcions and Zulkirs, and more so, how much they had chosen to ignore.

Although he would have liked to have gotten a better look at the Aglarondan embassy, the scrutinizing guard presence in the district is enough to deter a second pass. The spellcaster registration also weighs heavily on his mind, and so Cael decides to exit the Foreign District through the same gate he entered, heading south past the gates of Ravendark Castle and into the Silverscales.

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Cael will familiarize himself with as much of Silverscales as he can while he attempts another pair of Gathers Information checks. When those checks are done, he will head to the Lucky Coin Inn for dinner.

Knowledge (local) to get an idea of how the Thayans are regarded in Raven's Bluff: (d20+11)[23]

Knowledge (local) regarding the practice of slavery in the area: (d20+11)[28]

Gather Information to learn what is involved with the spellcaster registration: (d20+5)[19]

If the previous result is below 15, a second try at the spellcaster registration. Otherwise, this will be just another attempt to learn about major news and local gossip: (d20+5)[21]

[TheFallenOne]

High House of Magic

Surrounded by a pleasant garden of almost unnaturally green grass and exotic flowers, this huge needlespired building is made of a curious stone the true color of which can only be guessed at, for it transitions through all shades of the rainbow, appearantly depending on the way the light of the sun meets it. It has a low-cut entrance hall, at least compared to the left and right wings easily four stories high, and the central part reaches another twenty feet over this. The five towers, placed rather chaotically over the structure, vary in height and shape, some thin and round, another made of staggered segments with varying number of corners.
The guild indeed has a reception, though duty there is perhaps not the most coveted position among the guildmembers. The mage on duty sifts through a huge pile of unsorted parchments, appearantly looking for something to help with Mirielle's inquiry, when a voice from behind makes Aya and Mirielle turn.
"If it's up to old McGreggor we'd have a central register where everyone has to check in and out every day", says the figure, and Elf of black skin and white hair in skyblue robes. Spinning a curious blue rectangle between his fingers, he's leaning casually against the wall right next to the door you just entered, somehow slipping by you unnoticed. "Bit bothersome, wouldn't it be? Guess I have to help you then if I don't want to give him another card to play, right?" His pert smirk looks like something that would have an effect on some ladies, provided of course they're not unsettled by his obvious drow heritage.

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I know, I'll get around to it

Lucky Coin Inn

Recently renovated, this place looks spartan but welcoming. A small shrine to Tymora is placed on the inside next to the door. The bar is well filled and raucous, despite the wine being a bit too watered down. The portions are generous, though the meat is tough and stringy beneath the rich seasoning and oil-soaked garlic.

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The Red Wizards are rather disliked, especially since it seems they were involved in a recent assassination attempt on a High Priest.

Slavery is long out of fashion; previously one could buy slaves in the docks right where your ship landed. There is indentured servitude though, which you can be forced into if you can't pay debts. The debts and thus the servant can be traded without his consent.

registration came up some pages ago, you can see the practice and form there

[rypt]

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Would Cael's knowledge check have garnered any information about the punishment for practicing magic without a registration? I went back another page and found the "at the discretion of the judge" bit. If possible, I'd still be interested in learning what a typical sentence might be.

Knowledge (local) for corruption within the city guard (mainly, susceptibility to bribery): (d20+11)[15]

Also, any objection to the use of "defy" as a Tymoran watchword to be answered with "dare much"?

[candycorn]

The Posh Paladin

Alaister awakens at his usual hour, quite a bit after the city is up and moving. Only sensible, really; no sense being out and about while nothing's happening, and besides, nothing worth doing happens early. He stretches, begins his daily preparations, and then heads out, to begin to ponder ways to make a bit of coin. After a moment's thought, he decides that others may know more than he about it. So he heads to his usual haunts, grabbing a light snack of fruit along the way, and decides to spend the early afternoon checking leads on work that needs doing.

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Daily Disguise: (1d20+12)[31] - Craftsman
Gather information: (1d20+15)[33]

Looking for work that plays to information gathering or the like.

[Jeff the Green]

The drow reminds Mirielle of the young men who used to court her what feels like ages ago—his race excluded, of course. Her face twists into a half-smile despite herself, and she makes a small mocking bow toward the young man. "I would greatly appreciate your help, even if it does interfere with establishing a more efficient system," she says teasingly. "I am Mirielle Greyhome; this is Aya."

[TheFallenOne]

High House of Magic

"Another disciple of orderliness then, but flexible about it when it suits your purposes?" he asks with a chuckle. "A pleasure to be sure. Mycion Starfire, Dean of Divination."
With a subtle motion he breaks from the wall, now standing straight. He flicks a strand of hair out of his face with a snap of his right hand, the object previously held there sneaked into a pocket along the way as Aya noticed. On second glance, he seems to be no full-blooded drow; while darkskinned, it is not the obsidian black of the drow, and by his ears one may surmise him to be half-drow.
"You may guess this makes me quite decent at acquiring information, but I assure you this one I learned in a quite mundane way; Miss LeCor stayed well into the night, sorting raw materials for her current project. If she didn't return home, she's either missing or fell asleep in the workshop, in which case the other crafters starting their day should clear her out right about... Now." He looks exectantly down every corridor, but nothing happens.

rypt

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If you commit a crime with the spell, the usual sentence is heightened. If it's just the casting things get muddy.

Nothing on corruption.

Can do, but it's not necessarily common knowledge away from where you learned it

Candycorn

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usually you have to demstrate your expertise in a skill before getting a job, which is somewhat harder with Gather Information than, say, Profession and Craft.

You can start with some DC 20's to show your aptitude, then we get to the juicier and better paid parts. Could you narrow down what you look for; spying OK? Working for the authorities? Against them? Any people or institutions you'd rather not work for or against?

Also, when you disguise and talk to people, what name do you give?

[candycorn]

@DM:

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I left it open because I wanted to give you flexibility in what I found. I'm fine with espionage, detective work, working with or against authorities. Only individuals I don't want to work for is Ambrath, and Black Sorrow, due the negative experiences of my companions.

[TheFallenOne]

Candycorn

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alright. Beat DC 20 GI five times; then you're 'in the know', have some contacts and they think you decently capable. After that there'll be offers for work.
You won't make that much money with it(see skill specialists in DMG II) unless you take tasks with some level of risk to it.

[Sallera]

High House of Magic

Aya nods slightly, her face shadowed but her grin plainly visible. "Aya Llewellyn. Pleasure to meet you, Dean."

Making a show of looking down the corridors as Mycion does, Aya sighs lightly as it becomes clear nothing is forthcoming. "Such a pity the world has no sense of dramatic timing. Perhaps it's being saved up for tomorrow night." Rolling her shoulders back, she glances down the hall once more. "Should we check for ourselves, or move straight to the unfortunate assumptions?"

[candycorn]

@DM:

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Shall I assume that my first check above was one of those 5? If so, I'll spread the rest over a few days, since GI takes a while, and I'd like to be available if anyone actually looks me up.

GI 2 for today: (1d20+10)[24]

Name given for today will be Neil Caffrey, and I'll be 'representing an individual that specializes in finding out things that aren't common knowledge'.

[TheFallenOne]

High House of Magic

The halfdrow cocks his head sideways; he seems a little surprised by something or the other, but pleasantly so. "If you wish it so. We have magical means of communication available for emergencies; I sadly didn't prepare the spell today, little preoccupied with my current project." There's the slightest hint of an accent to the last word, indicating he's not talking about some official guild business. "Still, a new employer not ending up in his or her usual bed doesn't qualify really, especially with dear Belliande around. But I surely can call in some favour or the other to get the spell. Which sadly would leave me one favour short, and they're such useful things to have." He pauses expectantly, looking from Aya to Mirielle and back.

Candycorn

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rightyright.
At the moment it is vague where you are and who you talk to, so no scene to play out. If you want one you just need to know where you want to go.

[rypt]

Cael is hungry enough that he nearly misses the shrine as he walks through the door. Turning back, he takes a copper coin from his pocket, and with a twist of his fingers, sets the coin spinning on the surface of the pedestal. Without waiting to see how the coin lands, he steps away, pressing through the lively crowd in search of an open table.

Finding one near the far wall, he enjoys his dinner at a leisurely pace -- not that he could have rushed through meat like this. A pitcher of wine makes for pleasant enough company once he's finished, and so situated, he waits for the crowd to thin out, lending an ear to the multitude of conversations taking place around him in the meantime.

Once most of the other patrons have left, Cael moves to the bar. "Whiskey," he says when the barkeep approaches. "And pour one for yourself?" He trades a small stack of silver coins -- two drinks' worth -- for a glass which he then raises toward the barman. "Defy," he toasts, with a nod and a smile.

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Whats the guard presence like in Silverscales? Are there any guards in the Lucky Coin? Spots checks as necessary:

(d20+7)[26]
(d20+7)[13]

My last GI check of the day will be to learn about any recent developments specifically within Silverscales: (d20+5)[9]

[candycorn]

@TFO:

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Hard for me to say, since I don't have any idea on what kind of information I'm gathering. If I'm gathering info on useful contacts, then I'd be in a different locale for each success. Say the first one making contacts within bureacracy, the second, looking at places that influential merchants would frequent, and looking for behavior that would reveal more than is meant (such as identifying a secret tryst via exchanged glances that last just a bit too long, or seeing that two people are going out of their way to be nonchalant or distant with each other).

[TheFallenOne]

Lucky Coin Inn

"Sorry man, I'm kinda preoccupied right now, busy day", the proprietor answers while collecting some plates and mugs. "You look for some people who dare much, try the Halls of Luck in Temple. Easy to find, ask anyone."

[Jeff the Green]

Mirielle's face betrays the slightest hint of a smile. Mages' guilds apparently don't function all that differently from merchant houses. "Well, owing a favor to you doesn't seem all that onerous," she says. "Particularly as it is to ensure that Keeva is safe."

[Sallera]

High House of Magic

Aya barely stifles a giggle at the thought of Keeva being ensnared by Beliande. "Well, favours are a common enough currency among friends," she replies, letting the suggestion dangle simply for the sake of seeing what happened. "We work that way ourselves often enough."

[rypt]

Lucky Coin Inn

"An adventure for the morning then," Cael replies, suddenly feeling as though his smile has overstayed its welcome. Seems the spark has gone out in this one... Gulping down his shot, he places the empty glass atop the stack of coins and slides them across the bar top. "Will that cover a room for the night?"

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If Cael trances for only 4 hours instead of 8, can he make an extra GI check the following day?

[TheFallenOne]

High House of Magic

"I'll see to it then. It will take a bit, the spell requires 10 minutes, not to mention the persuasion." It takes maybe about 20 minutes before Mycion returns to the entrance hall with a twisted smile. "She's alright enough, she just right now dropped into her bed because 'Keeva need sleep badly'. It seems the guard picked her up and she spent the night in prison because of some alleged act of vandalism." He pauses, pondering the information. "She doesn't seem the type really. Unless she spontaneously decided to suck the magic out of a lantern."

[Sallera]

High House of Magic

Aya manages to avoid another giggle - this man seemed to have a gift for getting to her, but perhaps that was to be expected, given his title. "Really, now? You're going to have to get the story behind that one out of her for me, Miri. Well, for the moment, at least, it seems there's nothing to worry about. Thank you for your assistance, Dean Starfire."

[Jeff the Green]

Mirielle doesn't even bother trying to hide her bafflement. "Yes, thank you," she tells the dean. "I imagine, given your field, you would be able to find me when I can repay the favor, but if I might borrow a pen and parchment I can give you my address." She does so, and takes her leave.

Once they reach the street again, Mirielle turns to Aya. "I'm going to seek out Alaister and Jorran; I found some information on our mad monk that might help us find him. Perhaps we can have a drink at my apartment after we've returned from meeting with the Lady of Mystery?"

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Where exactly is Mirielle's apartment? It's getting troublesome having to elide the question every time it comes up.

[Frog Dragon]

Gowntown ---> About Town

Remembering the accursed spellcaster registration act, Jorran goes to the registration office to report a new address in Gowntown. Then he ponders his other problem. The monk was still out there, and he'd have to find him again. The monk's information sources were likely dry, so he'd be looking for alternate avenues. There were gatherings of the shady in this town.

Knowing it's a long shot, Jorran goes to Seeman's Death, and asks anyone suitably out of the way about anyone of the monk's description.

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GI: (1d20+1)[6]

[TheFallenOne]

High House of Magic

"Been a pleasure. I'm sure we meet again, as soon as tomorrow maybe in Aya's case. I hope your fellows bring that delicious rumcake again." He touches two fingers to his forehead in a mock salute, then departs.

Seaman's Death

Placed in the rather quiet Seaglimpse district, this tavern is frequented by rougher clientele, many of them sailors. A blue circle about twenty feet across is painted on the middle of the floor, though currently covered with wooden tables and chairs.
"Sorry, never heard of such a fellow", comes the predictable answer. "Pity really, sounds like a good guy for the Blue. Many like to see the boisterous brutes duke it out, but I prefer the silent, menacing type. Give him an invitation if you find him, will you?" The gaptoothed man laughs, giving Jorran a slap on the shoulder.

[Sallera]

About Town

"Ooh, persistent. Well, I can admire that. It's not like I haven't spent weeks on an assignment myself. If you think he's still worth chasing, I'll join you to listen, at least. I'd figured after he gave up on trading the last time, he'd just have spent the money, though." With a half-wave, Aya turns to depart. "I'll meet you outside the Halls of Mystery an hour past sundown, then."

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Should be able to get three GI checks into the intervening hours, I guess.
(1d20)[9] - Order work
(1d20)[10] - Aya will have lunch at Flirin's Sea Morsels, see if she can overhear anything to determine what sort of business is conducted there
(1d20)[16] - expected arrival time of the Veil this year

[Jeff the Green]

Mirielle nods and leaves in the direction of the Posh Paladin where she leaves a note for Alaister:

I found some information this past week that might lead us to our mad monk. Perhaps you could visit my apartment three hours after sunset?
-Mirielle

She then heads to Jorran's, where she leaves an identical note before heading to investigate Black Sorrow further.

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Gather Information, boosted by divine insight:
Where in Shadystreets can he be found: (1d20+15)[35]
Any known associates? (1d20+15)[35]
Where has he frequented? (1d20+15)[27]

[candycorn]

The Posh Paladin, Out and About

Shortly after arriving, Alaister sees the note left for him, and sighs. Likely what she has is no more than what I was able to find out. Still, can't hurt to touch base, and I can hopefully swing by the Silverscales area afterwards. With that, Alaister heads out to Mirielle's, well early of the requested time.

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Alaister will case the area, see if anyone is paying undue attention to the apartment, as well as check the area for any signs that someone's holed up or kept an eye on Mirielle's place.

Spot: (1d20+12)[13] (looking for anyone paying attention to Mirielle's apartment building)
Search: (1d20+10)[11] (signs of someone spending an undue amount of time in areas ideal for scouting Mirielle's Apartment)
Sense Motive (on anyone that looks to be paying attention to Mirielle's Building): (1d20+9)[15]

[Frog Dragon]

Seaman's Death

"Hah. I doubt that will happen. But if you know nothing about him, I should just go." He says, turning around towards the door.

Gowntown
Finally something. Jorran thinks as he sees the note. He removes it from the apartment door and tucks it in his pocket before going in. He definitely wasn't going to miss this opportunity.

[rypt]

Luck Coin Inn

Cael pays the innkeeper the remaining sum of silver and then heads upstairs, where he conducts a practiced, almost ritualistic inspection of his room and the furniture contained therein:

Beginning along the wall nearest to the hallway, he maps the room's noisiest floorboards by walking from one end of the room to the other, slowly weaving his way toward the opposite wall. After committing the map to memory, he positions the mattress so as to maximize the number of noisy floorboards between himself and the door. He then moves to the window, gauging its ease of motion and testing for any accompanying noises. He likewise assesses the adjoining shutters, and recognizing that there is no lock, loops a length of twine through each of the wooden panels to tie them shut. For good measure, he slides the shelf in front of the window, leaving the door as the room's only entrance or exit. Finally, he crouches beside the small table, tapping the blade of his dagger along the length of each of the table's wooden legs as he listens for the sound of any hollow compartments.

With his inspection complete, he takes a seat on the floor and begins to work the surface of a copper coin with the blade of his dagger. Across one face, he scores two parallel lines, and on the other, he gouges two shallow pits. He repeats the procedure on a second coin, only this time, he marks three lines and three pits.

As he rises to leave, he cuts a small section of the mattress' stitching and removes a piece of straw. He trims the straw to roughly the length of his little finger, and, as he closes the door behind him, he pins the straw between the door and the doorjamb, a hand's length above the lowest hinge.

Stepping out into the cool evening air, he turns onto Wallwalk Lane and begins to search for the district's most destitute inhabitants.

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Cael will take 10 on the autohypnosis check to memorize the floorboard pattern.

The straw should just barely stick out from the doorjamb and is intended to fall out if the door is opened.

The coins are marked so as to be distinguishable by the locate object spell.

Cael will walk north along Wallwalk Lane, checking the alleyways primarily on the eastern side of the road (the ones that lead toward the city wall). He is looking for people who are very poor, preferably homeless, and even more preferably displaying symptoms or exhibiting behavior that would indicate a drug addiction.

[TheFallenOne]

Silverscales

There are plenty of people around who are more than obviously poor, judging from their ragged clothing and an aura of either desperation or resignation. Some of them may be homeless, or at the very least have no proper bed to sleep in. Drug addiction on the other hand is more difficult to judge; a middleaged man constantly twitching and obsessively scrubbing his chinlength hair out of his face might suffer from addiction, another with unfocused eyes leaning against a wall might be currently high, or perhaps their behaviour isn't born from drugs. A couple people in various states of inebriation are easier to identify on the other hand.