Elselund: Chapter One--New Frontier (IC)

[Kymme]

Calliope laughs along with Yve, her voice like little bells. As the two ladies laugh together the hum of Callie's boots and tools swells into a quick crescendo and a tiny octagonal rune blazes forth on Yve's left shoulder before vanishing.

"Sounds like a plan!" She hops a few times in excitement.

"Well, I don't need food," the young lady adds. "And I've got my hammock I can use for rest. But some kind of roof would be nice. Even if I couldn't watch the sky glow. But something like that would be good, wouldn't it?"

Spoiler: OOC

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Yve has joined the Collective!

[Decatus]

Arum watches the interaction between Yve and Calliope curiously.

We can go ahead whenever you ladies are ready. Perhaps it would be best if I act as an escort? Two ladies and their bodyguard would surely draw less attention than three strangers asking about things separately.

[Kymme]

Calliope grins at Arum's suggestion. "Yeah! That sounds like a good idea." She pauses, glancing at Yve as if silently asking permission to speak. After a few moments Callie turns back to the hobgoblin.

"Arum, would you be interested in joining my story? Yve and Korak are in it and I'm going to ask some more people, too!"

[Decatus]

Calliope's question catches Arum slightly off-guard. He eyes her warily, sizing her up, trying to see if she's mocking him, and see's nothing there but a wide grin and excited eyes.

A story, eh? Well, what kind of tale is it going to be? I'll join, I suppose, as long as it isn't going to be a tragedy.

After all, when Pelor gives you naught but Cactus in the desert, it's drink the juice or die. Some things, you just have to take on faith.

[Kymme]

"It's going to be an awesome story! Full of action," her eyes dart to Arum's chain and armor, "and adventure, and intrigue, and romance," she glances at Yve, her lips curling into a smirk for a split second, "and tons of other things I can't even think of!"

The hum of her boots and tools swells once more and the young woman gestures to a tiny octagonal rune popping into existence on Arum's left shoulder. "That means you're one of the heroes!" Callie stands proudly, pointing to herself. "It's my job as the narrator to look out for all the heroes and make sure that they stay safe! So no; no tragedy on my watch!"

Turning to Yve, Calliope nods. "I'm ready to go."

[Recherché]

Okay then, all aboard who's coming aboard?
Yve looks around to see if anyone else is interested in their little escapade

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Perception: (1d20+3)[10]

I think our first stop should be to find a tailor then a drink and any outdoors people who know about what lies beyond the town and then an outfitters. And possibly stoppign by the church to see what's going on there as well.

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Gather information about the current attitude of the town/local news and rumors (1d20+11)[18]

[Decatus]

Arum is taken slightly aback by Calliope's enthusiasm. It's your job to keep us safe, eh? Well...interesting. How exactly are you planning on keeping us safe? Knowing the capabilities of your team mates can save your life in the field - I need to know everything. Tell me on the way into town, okay?

He turns to Yve with a small bow, My lady, I'm ready to head into town whenever you are. I'll do everything in my power to bring you and young Calliope back safely. Is there anything in particular about you that I need to know to make sure that happens?

[DoctorGlock]

Aeir:

The world flickers and you find yourself in a well furnished room aboard the ship. Pushed up against the open window is a heavy desk covered in parchments, quill pens and inks. Leaning out the window is a very tall and thin man, thin to the point of gauntness and entirely hairless. He even has no eyebrows. He is wearing a flowing sack-cloth robe with a rope belt and his fingers appear stained with ink. He momentarily stiffens and turns, dark eyes scanning the room. He mutters something to himself -a chant? a prayer?- and something that sounds like a curse and "old bones" before turning back to his papers, brushing something aside on his desk.

Spellcraft-DC 17

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He just used a priestly invocation, guidance of the avatar, that borders on the arcane. It grants a huge boost in ability for a single action. Know religion DC 25.

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If you make the DC 25 check:

If he is a priest, that would imply he is not a Pelorite, only the highest ranking members of the church are allowed to mess with heresy on that level

Perception- DC 17

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He's a bad actor, he sees you and is trying to hide it

Perception, DC 40

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Something just vamoosed into his sleeve. It looked like a rosary, one of Pelor, with an inquisitor's brooch. Some sort of document, including a map also went up there.

Everyone else:

A few sailors muscle a large crate onto the deck, The lid is pried open to reveal all matter of gleaming arms within. Five sailors retrieve what look like revolvers from the crate alongside long daggers. The captain reaches in as well and buckles some of the lethal instruments to his belt.

[Kymme]

Calliope grins at Arum and Yve. "Sure! I'll tell you as we go. Lead the way, you guys."

As the crate is hoisted on deck and the sailors begin to arm themselves, Callie tilts her head to the side. Her face is puzzled. More weapons, huh? "Do they plan on getting in a fight?" She murmurs under her breath.

[Snowfire]

Aeir considers for a few moments, then allows her form to shift. Her eyes change colour, hair extending into a complex arrangement, and then she speaks up calmly.

"You can drop the act."

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Hat of Disguise to 'disable' the active camo and assume a disguise. Changing minor details only, so +5 to the check if I need to make it - which honestly, I probably don't. Roll is with mods:

Disguise: (1d20+16)[21]

Armour is active.

[Decatus]

One should never go looking for a battle, Calliope, but one should always be ready to protect that which they cherish. And, if I'm not mistaken, the captain and his men cherish their lives and livelihoods. I assure you, they will not start any trouble, but they will finish any that finds them.

We have much in common, those men and I.

Arum checks the fastenings of his chain - he tends to wear it as a second belt, though a bit looser than the leather at his waist.

I assure you, I will bring you back safe, or get you where you need to go. We will find out what is plaguing this town, and set it to rest, or i am not fit to call myself a knight of the people.

Arum starts down the gangplank, leading the way for Calliope and Yve. He keeps a wary eye out for anyone intending harm.

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Perception: (1d20+12)[32]

[Recherché]

Yve looks increasingly tense and impatient.

Well lets get going already before a small war breaks out on decks. We have shopping to do and information to gather!

Yve pushes ahead and heads off the ship close behind Arum.

[Kymme]

Calliope follows silently behind Arum. She occasionally casts a glance back to the ship, but turns away in the blink of an eye.

"So Arum, you want to know what I can do?" The little woman glances skyward, pondering for a moment. "I can do all sorts of stuff, like play my flute and skate around, but the thing I'm best at is healing. I can heal all sorts of injuries really fast." She closes her mouth, but Arum and Yve can still hear her cheerful voice. ~I can also talk to you without speaking! Cool, huh?~

[Recherché]

Okay now that is going to be useful. Is there any way for us to talk back without making any sound. Because honestly the confrontation on the ship would have been a lot easier if I knew whether or not Arum was bluffing without having to ask out loud.

Yve pauses trying to decide how much she wants to reveal to her companions. Thankfully she had been able to evade Arum's question, at least until she understood what exactly he was asking. "Is there anything in particular about you that I need to know to make sure that happens?" Was he inquiring about her past? Her skills? Her enemies?

Well at least the last of those options was safe. The rest, something in Yve rebelled at the thought of putting all the cards on the table and it wasn't like anyone would be looking for here in Volna.

That's what I do; I'm good at talking . . . and lying. I can use a sword

Yve gestured down at the rapier at her hip.

And I know a bit of Song magic, but I'd rather not get into fights int he first place. I'd much rather dazzle them with words until they don't know their own mother from the emperor of Boravia. And well organized lies help a bit with that. You have to make sure nobody can contradict you.

[Kymme]

Calliope's face brightened. "Yeah! All of the heroes can talk to each other and to me. We have to stay pretty close together, though, or else we'll lose contact."

[DoctorGlock]

Aeir

"Act, hmmmmmm? I suppose it's moot now," said the gaunt man. "I'd ask you what you are doing in my quarters, oh elf of a noble house. Aeir... I believe that was the name I heard. Slevarshi perhaps, the boat is moored outside? But what would a Slevarshi spy want with an old scribe? Not inqusition, the elves never found favor in the house of Pelor, nor do they employ sorcery beyond their lightcallers and mendicants. Perhaps you are just a peeping tom, come to see an old man in his glory, though I must disappoint here. Quiet though, very quiet, I did not hear the door, even with the bells. That implies assassin."

The man speaks with a lilting rasp, a ragged singsong that rises and falls with every shuddering breath. He certainly does not seem afraid as he raises a silver candlestick with a guttering tallow to get a better look at the intruder.

"So what does bring an armed women into an old scribe's quarters, hmmmmmm?"

[Decatus]

Arum visibly flinches as he hears Calliope's voice in his mind, but he calms quite quickly. There was a priest at home who used mind-speach, after the inquisition cut his tongue out as punishment for speaking out against some of their more radical tactics. ~A bit of warning would be nice, Calliope. I don't know how your people do things, but back home, we ask permission to get inside someone's head. I wont deny, though, that this is unexpectedly useful. Do you have any idea on an exact range for this to keep working?~

He glances back toward Yve, ~Well, m'lady, that is good. I'll leave the wordplay to you then - I tend to solve my problems in the back ally's, with my chain around their neck. If we need any evil purged or wrongs righted, I'm your man, but I'm no diplomat. I'll do my best to keep your sword in its sheathe, though, by keeping my mouth shut.~

[Snowfire]

"You certainly have a high opinion of yourself as a 'scribe'," the emphasis is unmistakable, "if you believe that a House would seek you dead." Aeir replies softly. "But it is quite wrong of you to accuse me of bearing arms, sir." She holds out her hands, showing both to be empty of any weapon. "I have no taste for unnecessary bloodshed. It complicates things so." She returns her hands to her sides, leaning forward delicately.

"And you are, again, quite wrong to name me of a House - and even more in the calling you spoke. No House would claim me." She chuckles, as if amused by the very notion. "But as to why I'm here? Well." She smiles thinly, then blows suddenly and sharply at the candle, plunging the room into shadowed half-light. "Let us say that certain interests could find you signal - and the response it garnered - to be of a...complicatory nature."

"What business does an 'old scribe' have receiving the Sign of the Sun from militiamen?" She cocks her head. "Hmmmm?"

[DoctorGlock]

Aeir:

"What business of mine is it what faith those men subscribe to?" asked the thin man, the half light in the cabin glittering off of dark eyes. "And a signal? Your paranoia could match any elven house. Perhaps I wanted to inform family of my safe arrival after a long voyage"

He turns to the desk and begins to sweep up his papers. "Unless you are a lawful authority of the city, and your entrance precludes that, I see no reason to answer your questions."

You can tell that his eyes have not left you, watching from the reflections in the window panes.

All others: I posted a list of city locations, as soon as i have an idea of what you are doing i'll post more

[Recherché]

Let's head to the high market first.

[Snowfire]

"There is law and there is law." Aeir replies smoothly. "And your justification is as threadbare as you have become with age. And," she shrugs, reaching into a pocket and sending a tiny projectile flying across the space between her and the scribe, "one with nothing to hide would not be such as you are."

The projectile burst in the air as it reaches the man, spraying choking dust across the area around him, and the comparatively young elf shrugs again before vanishing silently.

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Eggshell grenade! Roll made to hit square (AC 5) in OOC so that I could post this as is. The 'scribe' is Blinded for (1d4)[3] rounds. Aeir reestablishes stealth and then leaves the room, cutting the bells down before she leaves.

Stealth: (1d20+23)[33]
Perception (if needed considering my last roll of 37): (1d20+18)[21]
Sleight of Hand (again if needed): (1d20+12)[15]

Once she's out, she'll head back up on deck and catch up with the rest of the party as they head into town. She'll make her presence known when they get to the high market.

[Kymme]

Calliope smiles at the hobgoblin in an attempt to ease his nerves. ~Sorry about that, Arum. I didn't mean to spook you! I can end the story-link whenever I want, and I can start it just as easy.~ When he mentions the range of her ability the little woman pauses on the gangplank for a few moments.

~I don't know how far I can reach, but I do know that I have to be near you. I guess we won't know how far until we test it! But let's not do that now.~

When Calliope's feet leave the gangplank and touch the stable pier, two things happen at once. First, the young woman begins to wobble, her sea legs being completely unaccustomed to still land. Second, she begins to laugh. Though she laughs out loud Yve and Arum can hear a faint humming in their heads, like a little song of joy. "It's so weird, being off that boat! It's like I'm the one moving, and not everything else." Callie glances back to her companions. "Do you ever get used to it?"

After a few moments of silence she giggles again. "The High Market? Sounds alright to me!"

[Decatus]

Arum glances at Calliope, grinning wryly. ~Its alright, cub. I doubt you had the matriarch's around to teach you whats what. And you're right - now isn't really the time to test a resource until is breaks, we can take care of that later. For now, we'll stick close. At the furthest, I'll wait outside a shop for you ladies, but give me a call if you're going to go any further than that.~

Arum practically marches down the gangplank - a lifetime of military training is hard to shrug off, and he's only got two modes of movement, marching or ghosting. Both seem to startle people, so he just doesn't worry about it.

He watches Calli stumble upon getting off of the ship, and cant help but laugh. Cub, were you a fishermans girl? Of course the ground doesn't move - well...usually. And Pelor help us when it does. But, that's neither here nor there. You'll get your land-legs back soon enough. And the High Market? Yes...nobles often have information that the lower classed lack. It sounds as good a place as any.

[Recherché]

Yve laughes at Arum's statement.

Well my thoughts actually were that if we find a tailor, it will likely take a few hours for them to make any neccessary alterations so we might as well get that out of the way and snoop while the tailor works. But I understand your point as well Arum

Yve walks into town close behind Arum.

And yes Callie, it is usually the case that you move and the ground does not. Most of us actually have to get used to the sea and sometimes people never do . . . Lets just hope that you don't get landsick

[Kymme]

Callie smiles, tilting her head to the side. ~I didn't know I had any land legs to begin with!~ There is a faint hum, and Calliope's voice fades from Arum and Yve's heads.

She glances at Yve, perplexed. "Landsickness? Is that like a sort of reverse seasickness? Oh." Her face twists into a grimace. "I hope I don't have that."

It takes her a while, but eventually Calliope gets the hang of walking - er, skating - on stable earth. She marvels at nearly everything they come across be it dogs, cats, fresh vegetables, pastries, or really anything. After a few minutes of traveling the little woman calms down and sticks close to her companions. She shows them only smiles and grins, but there is something behind her expression. Something... nervous.

[Snowfire]

"Why so nervous, little one?" Aeir asks, gliding out of the shadow of one of the buildings ahead of them. Being able to pretty much bypass little things like walls and buildings had let her catch up with the small group relatively quickly. "I apologise for my tardiness, I had to...look into a few things. Where are we going?"

[DoctorGlock]

High Market:

The stern face of the shipwrecked lady stares down at you from her place nailed atop the gutted carcass of some ancient galleon. The flipped ship forms a series of arches that look like the bleached bones of a great beast, and the weathered figurehead's unseeing eyes look down over the half-cobbled hilltop path. One mossy hand remains outstretched, beckoning travelers to pass under those rune-scarred gates and taste the exotic offers of high society.

Beyond the archway is a vast bazaar of colored silks filling the streets between derelict ships and newer production buildings. Everywhere you can hear vendors hawking their wares.

"Faen masks from Lughsande!"

"Firearms from Chellende's forges!"

"Alchemy! Distilled phlogiston and unbound principles! Witchfire to keep the night at bay"

"Wines! Spices! Silks"

"Blade and Bow!"

A dizzying array of street vendors, inns and feasthalls await, along with old established shops marketing familiar products from the old world and raw materials from the new.


So, gather info checks alongside what you are trying to learn

[Recherché]

Yve wonders about Callie's nervousness until Aeir appears.

Ah! You should really tell people when you're stalking them. Still here any interesting gossip during your skulking?

Yve visibly composes herself and returns to her former banter.

Well, lots of people get sick from going on boats after having been on land for a while so it only makes sense that some people might get sick from going on land from a boat. Obviously this is something that we must experiment with and document closely. Or perhaps it's the skating that's protecting you from land-sickness.

Yve continues gently teasing Calliope as they head to the market. Once there she wanders slowly through all the stalls buying a few treats and trinkets simply in order to loosen tongues. A silk ribbon here, a quickly consumed candy there, but always listening and talking with merchants and patrons alike.

Rolls

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If its been less than an hour I get a +5 to Gather Info from Honeyed tongue. If its been longer then just subtract 5.
Trying to gauge the general mood of the town and listening for what stories and rumors they think are most interesting/important.
Gather information: (1d20+16)[24]

Edit: Also spending about 5 gp on trinkets

[Kymme]

"Oh, I'm just not used to all of these people," Calliope says, eyes still fixed on the path ahead. Then she stops, slowly turning to face the source of the voice.

"Aeir!" The young woman bounces on the balls of her feet, ecstatic. "You're just the person I wanted to talk to!"

-----------------

Turning to Yve, she smiles. "Huh. Well, maybe my boots are what's keeping me from getting landsick." Callie frowns. "Now I really don't want to take them off."

Calliope continues to take in the sights and sounds, and becomes increasingly mesmerized by the people of the High Market. She stays behind Yve, watching over her shoulder and casting an ear towards her conversations. It was all very confusing.

[Decatus]

Arum follows closely behind Yve and Calliope, watching for anyone who was looking too closely. He keeps a somewhat wary eye on Aier - he hasn't interacted with her too much, so isn't quite sure what to make of her. The only reason he's allowing her near the other girls so far is because Yve and Calliope seem to trust her.

He leans closer to Calliope, and whispers to her,Calliope, keep your boots on while we're in town. A proper lady does not let her feet become stained with the filth of the streets. Keep your back straight, and act like you're looking through people instead of at them. That's what people expect of a noble, or of a noble's help.

Rolls:

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(1d20+12)[18] Perception, to see if anyone is watching the group too carefully.

(1d20+10)[29] Know: Local, to see if Arum can overhear anything that will tip him off to useful fonts of knowledge.