The Day the Daevan Stood Still [IC]

[lostsole31]

A good binding, and you are now aware of the bless constellation aspect of Ubro. Tomorrow will be more experimentation with Ubro ...

Evening work is uneventful.

---

Wealday, 9 Gozran 4708 AR

Today's first study will be concerning understanding the baseline theory of transmutation (of which you have a solid concept). From there, going into the psionic concept that is similar called psychometabolism. From there is understanding that like this discipline of psionics and psychic power, there is also a gestalt-mind known simply as 'Psychometabolism' which is a key to goetic studies of auto-transmutation, polymorph research, and understanding the properties of shapechangers. The afternoon will cover the same for Telepathy, of which you have had more than a taste regarding your 'rider' (that's what Master Philby calls Tall Man).

The last bit before you leave will be you binding Ubro again. Ubro's powers were given him in life because of his unwavering compassion and faith, and there were some few times that he had to take up arms against creatures made of Evil manifest. So in many ways is it with any spirit of the Angel. In this binding, he wants you to bind Ubro for the constellation ability righteous cause, which will allow you to cover a single natural weapon (one bite or one claw, not your entire body) or manufactured weapon with Ubro's distilled goodness so that were you to fight such a creature, you would be better armed.

Binding check ...

[meemaas]

Another Binding Check away!!!! (1d20+7)[15]

[lostsole31]

Unfortunately, Daevan got too ahead of himself and excited, almost expectant. Of note, his thought process was more about what tomorrow's binding might bring rather than focusing on the present, and it is a poor binding. Daevan is bereft of any protections from the constellation of the Angel. Which means, of course, that this happens...

Spoiler: Signs & Influence

Show

Physical Sign: Your eyes become opaque as if you were blind. When you activate one of Ubro’s granted abilities, a mark of healing stretches across your chest and your palms.

Personality Influence: You dote on your allies without criticism or contempt. You must put the pains, troubles, and needs of all creatures (except hostile ones) before your own by doing whatever you must to keep them well-fed and groomed, entertained, and pleasured.

Master Philby is hard to read on the matter. "Well, you did just learn to bind Ubro the other day," he says flatly.

You head out to go back to work, dropping off the 2 pinch for the ferryman. He seems despondent and tells you some story about one of his chickens being stolen. You can't help yourself, you want to give him a copper, but that was your last copper (no, really, I've been counting it off every day). This is obviously a sign, and you give him a silver. He is most gracious.

You report to work, and when Saul takes you to the side to find out why your eyes look the way you do, you start to explain and he just shakes his head. "You know what, no. I can't have you acting the part of a bouncer if people think you're blind. Doesn't matter what your eyes are, it emboldens folks. Take the night off."

You protest, because that would really put someone else out as far as being fatigued, but Saul insists so you go to bed.

---

Oathday, 10 Gozran 4708 AR

Vancaskerkin calls you down in the morning and you are there with Dirk, Samaritha, Lini, Seltyiel, and Sajan. Saul states that the floor manager Larur Feldin has apparently gone missing. The last Saul knew, Feldin was going to stop by the office of a local moneylender to pay off a chunk of debt that Saul owed. When Larur didn’t show up for work this morning, Saul sent a runner to Larur’s apartment only to discover that his one-bedroom flat was empty—the front door hanging open and its contents burgled, with no sign of Larur at all. Saul fears that Larur might have met with some sort of trouble, and suspects that trouble might have something to do with Lymas Smeed, the moneylender Larur was going to visit.

Vancaskerkin reluctantly admits that one of the ways he was able to finance the Gold Goblin’s refurbishment was by taking out a loan from Lymas Smeed, using the Gold Goblin itself as collateral. The loan itself, Saul sheepishly explains, was for 2,000 gp, and he’s barely been able to pay back any of it. Larur was to pay 500 gp of the loan yesterday evening, the largest payment yet—something Saul’s only been able to afford with the PCs’ help. He further muses that rumors hold that Smeed works for Clegg Zincher, and wouldn’t put it past the man to ask Smeed to do something to Feldin as a warning to Saul.

Saul asks if folks are willing to look into this. Sure enough (and to save post turnaround time) Devil-Dave seems surprisingly eager to help! (In truth, if there is one person that DD might want to help, outside of "adventuring buddies," it would be Larur Feldin with all of the kindness he has shown Daevan, anyway.) Saul asks Dirk, Samaritha, and Seltyiel to stay here at the Gold Goblin. They had long shifts yesterday and need to be refreshed tonight. Meanwhile, Lini and Sajan will go with DD to look for Feldin and to act as Devil-Dave's backup.

Vancaskerkin gives the PC's directions to Lymas Smeed's townhouse on Rat Street, and advises they begin their search for Feldin there. Lini recommends the trio stop by Feldin's home anyway, just for clues or anything, but when you get there you find that the place has already been claimed by a drunk squatter. In any event, after a careful search, there are no clues at Feldin's house. His house was seemingly left open last night for thieves to pillage. And pillage it was. The three of you are able to figure out that Feldin probably wasn't accosted at his hom since even with the house in some disarray, it hasn't been "turned" ... just gone through by thieves ... and there doesn't seem to be any sign of real breakage or struggle.

Lymas Smeed occupies a townhouse crammed in among the tenements on Rat Street in a rundown section of Riddleport. A sign out front of Lymas' front door shows a stack of gold coins above a name: "Rat Street Loans--by appointment only."

Okay, how do you want to do this?

[meemaas]

Devil-Dave will suggest that one of the others (probably Lini) knock on the door. It's clear that he will be considered heavily threatening if he was the first person seen at the door. The general plan is to just start asking questions about if Larur had been seen lately.

[lostsole31]

Lini (and Droogami, because Riddleport is too dangerous for a gnome like her alone) comes back down the street to where Devil-Dave and Sajan are waiting. "He must have recognized me," she says. "He said, 'Tell Saul that what he owes me is gonna double if he ever dares send his thugs to my place again!' He never bothered to open the door."

[meemaas]

Daevan growls and heads back to the door, yelling loudly as he approaches. "Smeed!! We are here about a payment that Saul sent out. Talk to us for a minute and we'll be out of your hair."

[lostsole31]

No answer ...

[meemaas]

Daevan starts knocking on the door. "We're here to find out what happened to YOUR money. It's in your best interests to talk to us!!"

[lostsole31]

No answer ...

[meemaas]

Daevan growls and starts away from the door, returning to the rest of the group. "Clearly I'm too intimidating to threaten, because he's either ignoring me or gone. It doesn't look like we're going to get any information from here."

[lostsole31]

What do you do/ suggest?

[meemaas]

Was actually looking for any suggestions. Short of breaking in, Daevan doesn't have any ideas right now.

[lostsole31]

Your two compatriots shrug. What now?

[meemaas]

I guess our only option to stake his place out. Pretend to leave, find a good place to watch from, and wait for him to leave to ambush him and talk it out. (Not literally ambush, just swoop in and talk to him before he can escape)

[lostsole31]

All three of you (four with Lini's snow leopard)?

What about as it gets to be the evening and it's time to go back to the Gold Goblin for work?

[meemaas]

If he doesn't leave we better return for work in time. Skipping work definitely won't help profits

[lostsole31]

When you report to Saul he nods. "I had the others sleep during the day - told them to forgo any of whatever they do. When shifts end tonight you'll get your sleep, but I'll send out Dirk, Seltyiel, and if she's willing, that Samaritha chippee to take a look."

Uneventful night at work, and you take your rest.

Meanwhile, the DM has things to do offline for this ...

[lostsole31]

When Daevan gets up the next day, he'll find out that the other group met with success. Near the back door to Smeed's place were a pile of barrels and old crates containing garbage and refuge. They searched one of the barrels that uncovered a poorly hidden green cloak trimmed in sable - Larur Feldin's cloak, instantly recognizable. The cloak itself was slashed and bloodstained, the blood being fresh by a little over a day. Though there his body was never found, it seems to confirm the worst: Larur Feldin is dead.

The others hung back while Dirk went in with a magical disguise, claiming to ask for a loan. When he went in, shortly after the front door flew open and Dirk whistled in the others. They killed Larur's "watchdog" (actually, it was a baboon). Though Smeed, even faced with the cloak, refused to confess to Feldin's murder, was beaten nearly to death and he said he'd forget about the money Saul owes him. Seltyiel forced him to write it out in a legally binding contract, brought it back in the late morning, and the group only recently got to bed again.

Saul feels that he is avenged of Larur's death by being given full loan clemency, and he has an announcement he'll make at payout on Sunday.

What does Daevan do with this information, the knowledge of Larur's death, and his day in general before tonight's work? I assume he binds Lady Jarah (roll).

[meemaas]

Besides beating himself up inside for giving Smeed the benefit of the doubt, Daevan isn't exactly as compassionate as Delta was, so he doesn't particularly care about the death of someone he wasn't really close to.

Binding Check Lady Jarah (If I had had her bound in the first place I would have done more, but since Devil-Dave REALLY stands out, there was only so much he could do.

(1d20+7)[9] vs DC 19?

[lostsole31]

Fireday, 11 Gozran 4708 AR

Not a good pact. The hideous, odiferous Daevan is a vain peacock fishing for compliments today.

You pay 2 pinch to the ferryman and go to Philby's place. Once you get to the door, you knock ... as usual. But after a couple of rounds of knocking and a few minutes, there has been no answer.

You know you were supposed to meet Master Philby today. What do you do?

[meemaas]

Daevan is going to look around for someone else who lives nearby and ask if they know when Master Philby last left.

[lostsole31]

You've never seen anyone else on this floor. In fact, you've never even heard signs of life from this floor other than Master Philby's place.

[meemaas]

Daevan relents after some time of searching, and opts to wait for about an hour to see if Philby returns. He's sure that Philby must be out for now and will likely be returning in some time.

[lostsole31]

He waits for an hour ... nothing.

[meemaas]

After waiting long enough, Daevan gives up and starts back to the ferry, classifying today as a waste and going to see what he can do with the rest of his day.

[lostsole31]

There is a clicking sound and a creaking of the door as Daevan turns to leave ... coming, of course, from Master Philby's door.

[meemaas]

Daevan turns around to see who or what has opened the door.

[lostsole31]

The door is not open. Merely ajar (not to be confused with "a jar".)

[meemaas]

Daevan steps back to the door and pushes it open quietly, looking inside to see if there is anything he can find.

[lostsole31]

There, 10' from you against the wall, is a black humanoid. When I say black ... I mean, a humanoid - or at least something humanoid-shaped - seemingly made of blackness itself.

In Daevan's mind comes a "foreign voice" of telepathy: "I was curious what boundaries you held for your former master."