"Teacher, I have come to offer homage to the Seldarine", Jhaartael says in common, reaching into his purse and pulling out 50gp which he distributes as an offering before shrines to Corellon and to Angharradh. "... and perhaps, for some guidance?"
"Might an observant faithful of the fellowship of brothers and sisters of the wood be able to tell another faithful anything about yon tower", he gestures toward the Serpent's HQ, "and how one might safely gain entry to it?"
Tamryn smiles at the half-orcs and his companions' decision. "Ingratitude is dangerous when the universe offers its gifts. Let's follow and see if we can't draw these gentlemen into a dark alley to give them a lesson in proper discretion."
The cleric regards you silently for a few heartbeats, then says, "... safely gain entry? Other than by joining the cartel and working your way up to a position of authority, I assume you to mean." He falls silent again, and then says, "I am called Nyblond. You don't seem like a city-born human. You are shabby, but not filthy. You wear rags, yet you have a purse full of gold. You seem to have little station in life, yet you hold your head erect and look me in the eye. You have some knowledge of the Blessed Seldarine, and you entered here despite my anti-human illusion that causes your fellows to walk by day and night without ever noticing our humble temple. You have an air of open sky and golden sheaves about you. Tell me, how goes the harvest this year?"
Jhaartael raises an eyebrow a hair's breadth, but gives no other indication of his surprise. "Well Master Nyblond, I am afraid there are weeds aplenty, the fields must be burned." he replies with a feigned sigh.
Mina smiles at the idea of them taking those crazy orcs place. But she keeps looking towards the church and starts getting a nervous feeling with one of them out of communication. Rubbing her hand over her mouth, she looks back to the rest of them.
"Well, there are four of them and now five of us. If you're all alright with it, I'd like to go check up on Jhaartael, make sure everything is fine. But yes, I agree with Tamryn, and hey! Maybe the more we pretend we are those we are not, the better we'll be at it." she winks at Akyan as she says this.
"If you want to telepathically link with me when you do with the others, that'll be fine. And if you all don't want me to follow Jhaartael, let me know, but I just don't want him in a bad situation on his own." She waits for their response before heading off after him.
Kyrsa pauses, "Akyan, perhaps you should make a link with Jhaarteal. ...I don't think he is in immediate danger at the moment...." She trails off, letting out a long sigh, "This is why we need to communicate with each other before rushing off, each with our own plans that no one else is privy to." She rubs her temples, "Four against four is a fair fight, which means its up to chance who will win. I don't like those odds. But, I agree that we shouldn't leave Jhaarteal to fend for himself."
She looks to Mina, "You can follow him, but don't try to join up with him yet. If he's started infiltrating the church, it will look suspicious for you to show up if he isn't expecting it."
She turns to Akyan, "Can you create a link with Mina, but hold off on creating one with any of us until needed? Would that help keep you from expending that ability? I just don't want you to make a link that is unnecessary. Since Mina and Jhaarteal are going to be together, they don't each need a link. But since the four of us are together, I want to make sure that you don't expend your energy maintaining a link with one of us unless we get split up. And right now there is no way to tell if that will happen, or who will be with whom if it does."
Finally, she turns her eyes back to the orcs they are following, "Let's just hope that our training is superior to theirs."
The drow sighs at the sea elf's first comment, then replies to her second, "No, I agree with you. I'm not sure what he is planning on doing at the church, but he shouldn't have gone alone." Focusing on Mina, he creates a link between his mind and hers. "I can't make one with Jhaartael at the moment. I actually have to be able to see the person I'm making a link with. Holding two links take the same amount of energy as maintaining one, but I'll save the second link until we think we need to split up again."
He nods to Mina then focuses on the half-orcs, "Training means nothing if you're caught off guard. Hopefully we can take them by surprise."
(I can probably get up a map of the alleyway with the half-orcs tonight)
Nyblond allows a smile onto his face. In Elvish, he says, "Greetings, brother. Have you a name? You may remain anonymous if you like. I suppose you are not here to bring me a message? No? No, you probably wouldn't have entered as you did if you were specifically seeking me. Then I assume you to be from the Athkatla station. I was sent here by Percival to surveil this tower of which you speak. He came across some information, months before the attack on the Farm, suggesting that a member of the traitorous Team 1 has secured a position as one of the seven leaders of this cartel. I am here to attempt to verify that intelligence. I left you and your compatriots alone- so as not to distract you from whatever you have been working on; but it appears that our objectives may have fortuitously aligned. If it will not interfere with your mission, perhaps we might work together?"
Jhaartael remains silent for a moment. Then, slowly responding in common, so as not to reveal more about himself via dialect or word choice, he replies "I thank you for your offer of assistance. I seek a way into that tower, or information which will help formulate a plan to safely enter. For instance, what defenses are there that are not easily apparent? If you are unable to provide either, I am sorry for wasting your time.", being careful to neither confirm nor deny his association to the Circle or expose his party.
So you are welcome to fight the orcs, but there might be other ways to incapacitate them, if you wanted to use guile instead of strength. For example, there is a tavern that serves alcohol nearby.
Jhaartael remains silent for a moment. Then, slowly responding in common, so as not to reveal more about himself via dialect or word choice, he replies "I thank you for your offer of assistance. I seek a way into that tower, or information which will help formulate a plan to safely enter. For instance, what defenses are there that are not easily apparent? If you are unable to provide either, I am sorry for wasting your time.", being careful to neither confirm nor deny his association to the Circle or expose his party.
(As far as Jhaartael can discern, the cleric is sincere).
Nyblond's smile fades slightly. "Very well,"he says, returning to Common. "The cartel is not so foolish as to think the only way they might be attacked is on foot. They have magical wards surrounding the entire height of the building that prevent interlopers from flying, levitating or teleporting inside (although they do not prevent walking or carrying a ladder to prop against the building, thus the watchmen). The same wards deflect ranged attacks, both magical and not. In the interior, each level is occupied by a different department, which are each in turn controlled by one of The Seven. To ascend or descend from one level to the next, one must prove they have legitimate business there, usually by presenting some sort of token from the department they wish to visit (if ascending) or have just finished visiting (if descending). Money and valuables, which you are probably not interested in, are stored in special magically-locked rooms, that only a few accountants have the combinations to. The head of each department has his or her office on that level, which is usually well guarded. At the top is also located a special conference room, where department heads can meet with The Seven, and receive their instructions. It is rather rare that any of The Sevenspend much time in the tower, they are too cautious and secretive to expose themselves for long or in any predictable manner. But they each make an appearance at least weekly, and all together four times each year.
"The outer guards are not particularly bright or vigilant, they mostly rely on the fact that everyone fears the cartel and would not dare to incur its wrath. More than thieves, they worry about potential assassins from the other cartels in the city. I... I have come across some information about an access tunnel that bypasses the two guard stations and accesses a secret interior stairway used only by The Seven and a few of their trusted servants. It would be an option for you to enter quite unobserved."
Jhaartael nods to Nyblond's information, then waving his hand before his face, his visage appears as his real elvish features (minor illusion to super impose his real features over his disguise while maintaining disguise self). This fades away before he continues speaking again, now in Elvish"Thank you Nyblond. I am Jhaartael Qinmenor. Based upon what you have shared, I think you can appreciate my need for discretion. This tunnel sounds promising, if even simply as an exfil route. I think perhaps it might be best to work together, would you mind coming with me?"
So you are welcome to fight the orcs, but there might be other ways to incapacitate them, if you wanted to use guile instead of strength. For example, there is a tavern that serves alcohol nearby.
(My thoughts exactly I was thinking on keep serving ale until they pass out)
“May I suggest a different approach this time? They are lazy and obviously want to party, prioritizing that to their duties. Let’s follow them to te tavern, but then as many ale as they need to pass out and then help them out to an alley. There we can dispose of them and assume their identities quietly and without danger to ourselves. Perhaps even let them alive so they can take the blame for the fire. Honedtly, no matter what we do, we are not going to be able to burn that building down. If it has magical barriers to prevent flying things to enter it will have wards against fire. Perhaps one of the auxiliary buildings could sustain some damage but I would not risk further action. Let’s think for a second on this particular mission. Sounds more like a fool’s errand or even a suicide mission to me. No doubt the leader of the other cartel knows this. We could succeed… to some degree, to both impress her and gain her confidence which is our goal, but to have too much success could expose us as the Circle and it’s activities. No way two people could achieve that. So let’s be modest… we must thread carefully between the waters of the cartels and their politics. “
He looks back to the others and realizes that was more than double of all the sentences he has spoke since they’ve met
”sorry… I am trying to… improve our communication…”
"Don't apologize for proposing a perfectly good plan," Kyrsa says, putting a hand on Lyndaran's shoulder. "I've had my mind set on fighting this whole time, so much so that I hadn't even considered other possibilities..." She gives a halfhearted smile, "Old habits I suppose. I'm not really used to having other options." She shakes her head, "Anyhow, I like the sound of that plan much better then simply trying to attack these four. It definitely shifts the odds in our favor."
Jhaartael nods to Nyblond's information, then waving his hand before his face, his visage appears as his real elvish features (minor illusion to super impose his real features over his disguise while maintaining disguise self). This fades away before he continues speaking again, now in Elvish"Thank you Nyblond. I am Jhaartael Qinmenor. Based upon what you have shared, I think you can appreciate my need for discretion. This tunnel sounds promising, if even simply as an exfil route. I think perhaps it might be best to work together, would you mind coming with me?"
Judging by Nyblond's facial expression, he is not at all surprised to discover Jhaartael's Tel-quessir heritage. (Continuing to speak in Common):
"Of the Qinmenor family? I once knew and admired a Nanthaliene Qinmenor, she was a junior acolyte at the temple where I did my training. Very intelligent, and strikingly beautiful if I remember correctly... But I digress, Yes, of course I will accompany you. Although, I am not prepared to enter the Tower of the Seven Serpents myself. I can perhaps offer some divine blessings to you if you choose to do so. And if you decide to enter, I have a favor to ask, as a quid pro quo for the information I have provided."
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Mina heads off towards the church that Jhaartael disappeared into. Leaving the others to deal with the orcs, she approaches the door and tries to decide the best way to join him. She decides to try and quietly open and enter the church to hopefully not disturb anything he has going on inside.
"Well, that certainly is an option." The young drow replies to Lydaran after a brief pause. "And yes, I agree with you in that we don't want to overdue this task. I'd say just burning some of their important documents would get the job done." He nods to the half-orcs, "Anyway, shall we proceed? Any particular way you want to go about doing this?"
"Teacher, I have come to offer homage to the Seldarine", Jhaartael says in common, reaching into his purse and pulling out 50gp which he distributes as an offering before shrines to Corellon and to Angharradh. "... and perhaps, for some guidance?"
"Might an observant faithful of the fellowship of brothers and sisters of the wood be able to tell another faithful anything about yon tower", he gestures toward the Serpent's HQ, "and how one might safely gain entry to it?"
Eryndor - Red Dead Annihilation | GM - Volo's Trade Franchise - PF2e Adventures set in the Forgotten Realms
Tamryn smiles at the half-orcs and his companions' decision. "Ingratitude is dangerous when the universe offers its gifts. Let's follow and see if we can't draw these gentlemen into a dark alley to give them a lesson in proper discretion."
Tamryn - lvl 4 Wood Elf Rogue - Circle of Light Campaign || Drusilla - lvl 1 Half-Elf Ranger - Sleeping Gods || Grrzark - lvl 1 Goblin Barbarian - Danger at Darkshelf Quarry || DM - LTG - Curse of Strahd
Jhaartael:
The cleric regards you silently for a few heartbeats, then says, "... safely gain entry? Other than by joining the cartel and working your way up to a position of authority, I assume you to mean." He falls silent again, and then says, "I am called Nyblond. You don't seem like a city-born human. You are shabby, but not filthy. You wear rags, yet you have a purse full of gold. You seem to have little station in life, yet you hold your head erect and look me in the eye. You have some knowledge of the Blessed Seldarine, and you entered here despite my anti-human illusion that causes your fellows to walk by day and night without ever noticing our humble temple. You have an air of open sky and golden sheaves about you. Tell me, how goes the harvest this year?"
Jhaartael raises an eyebrow a hair's breadth, but gives no other indication of his surprise. "Well Master Nyblond, I am afraid there are weeds aplenty, the fields must be burned." he replies with a feigned sigh.
Eryndor - Red Dead Annihilation | GM - Volo's Trade Franchise - PF2e Adventures set in the Forgotten Realms
Mina smiles at the idea of them taking those crazy orcs place. But she keeps looking towards the church and starts getting a nervous feeling with one of them out of communication. Rubbing her hand over her mouth, she looks back to the rest of them.
"Well, there are four of them and now five of us. If you're all alright with it, I'd like to go check up on Jhaartael, make sure everything is fine. But yes, I agree with Tamryn, and hey! Maybe the more we pretend we are those we are not, the better we'll be at it." she winks at Akyan as she says this.
"If you want to telepathically link with me when you do with the others, that'll be fine. And if you all don't want me to follow Jhaartael, let me know, but I just don't want him in a bad situation on his own." She waits for their response before heading off after him.
Kyrsa pauses, "Akyan, perhaps you should make a link with Jhaarteal. ...I don't think he is in immediate danger at the moment...." She trails off, letting out a long sigh, "This is why we need to communicate with each other before rushing off, each with our own plans that no one else is privy to." She rubs her temples, "Four against four is a fair fight, which means its up to chance who will win. I don't like those odds. But, I agree that we shouldn't leave Jhaarteal to fend for himself."
She looks to Mina, "You can follow him, but don't try to join up with him yet. If he's started infiltrating the church, it will look suspicious for you to show up if he isn't expecting it."
She turns to Akyan, "Can you create a link with Mina, but hold off on creating one with any of us until needed? Would that help keep you from expending that ability? I just don't want you to make a link that is unnecessary. Since Mina and Jhaarteal are going to be together, they don't each need a link. But since the four of us are together, I want to make sure that you don't expend your energy maintaining a link with one of us unless we get split up. And right now there is no way to tell if that will happen, or who will be with whom if it does."
Finally, she turns her eyes back to the orcs they are following, "Let's just hope that our training is superior to theirs."
The drow sighs at the sea elf's first comment, then replies to her second, "No, I agree with you. I'm not sure what he is planning on doing at the church, but he shouldn't have gone alone." Focusing on Mina, he creates a link between his mind and hers. "I can't make one with Jhaartael at the moment. I actually have to be able to see the person I'm making a link with. Holding two links take the same amount of energy as maintaining one, but I'll save the second link until we think we need to split up again."
He nods to Mina then focuses on the half-orcs, "Training means nothing if you're caught off guard. Hopefully we can take them by surprise."
(I can probably get up a map of the alleyway with the half-orcs tonight)
Nyblond allows a smile onto his face. In Elvish, he says, "Greetings, brother. Have you a name? You may remain anonymous if you like. I suppose you are not here to bring me a message? No? No, you probably wouldn't have entered as you did if you were specifically seeking me. Then I assume you to be from the Athkatla station. I was sent here by Percival to surveil this tower of which you speak. He came across some information, months before the attack on the Farm, suggesting that a member of the traitorous Team 1 has secured a position as one of the seven leaders of this cartel. I am here to attempt to verify that intelligence. I left you and your compatriots alone- so as not to distract you from whatever you have been working on; but it appears that our objectives may have fortuitously aligned. If it will not interfere with your mission, perhaps we might work together?"
((Insight check: 14 in log))
Jhaartael remains silent for a moment. Then, slowly responding in common, so as not to reveal more about himself via dialect or word choice, he replies "I thank you for your offer of assistance. I seek a way into that tower, or information which will help formulate a plan to safely enter. For instance, what defenses are there that are not easily apparent? If you are unable to provide either, I am sorry for wasting your time.", being careful to neither confirm nor deny his association to the Circle or expose his party.
Eryndor - Red Dead Annihilation | GM - Volo's Trade Franchise - PF2e Adventures set in the Forgotten Realms
Random spoiler
So you are welcome to fight the orcs, but there might be other ways to incapacitate them, if you wanted to use guile instead of strength. For example, there is a tavern that serves alcohol nearby.
(As far as Jhaartael can discern, the cleric is sincere).
Nyblond's smile fades slightly. "Very well," he says, returning to Common. "The cartel is not so foolish as to think the only way they might be attacked is on foot. They have magical wards surrounding the entire height of the building that prevent interlopers from flying, levitating or teleporting inside (although they do not prevent walking or carrying a ladder to prop against the building, thus the watchmen). The same wards deflect ranged attacks, both magical and not. In the interior, each level is occupied by a different department, which are each in turn controlled by one of The Seven. To ascend or descend from one level to the next, one must prove they have legitimate business there, usually by presenting some sort of token from the department they wish to visit (if ascending) or have just finished visiting (if descending). Money and valuables, which you are probably not interested in, are stored in special magically-locked rooms, that only a few accountants have the combinations to. The head of each department has his or her office on that level, which is usually well guarded. At the top is also located a special conference room, where department heads can meet with The Seven, and receive their instructions. It is rather rare that any of The Seven spend much time in the tower, they are too cautious and secretive to expose themselves for long or in any predictable manner. But they each make an appearance at least weekly, and all together four times each year.
"The outer guards are not particularly bright or vigilant, they mostly rely on the fact that everyone fears the cartel and would not dare to incur its wrath. More than thieves, they worry about potential assassins from the other cartels in the city. I... I have come across some information about an access tunnel that bypasses the two guard stations and accesses a secret interior stairway used only by The Seven and a few of their trusted servants. It would be an option for you to enter quite unobserved."
Jhaartael nods to Nyblond's information, then waving his hand before his face, his visage appears as his real elvish features (minor illusion to super impose his real features over his disguise while maintaining disguise self). This fades away before he continues speaking again, now in Elvish "Thank you Nyblond. I am Jhaartael Qinmenor. Based upon what you have shared, I think you can appreciate my need for discretion. This tunnel sounds promising, if even simply as an exfil route. I think perhaps it might be best to work together, would you mind coming with me?"
Eryndor - Red Dead Annihilation | GM - Volo's Trade Franchise - PF2e Adventures set in the Forgotten Realms
(My thoughts exactly I was thinking on keep serving ale until they pass out)
PbP Character: A few ;)
“May I suggest a different approach this time? They are lazy and obviously want to party, prioritizing that to their duties. Let’s follow them to te tavern, but then as many ale as they need to pass out and then help them out to an alley. There we can dispose of them and assume their identities quietly and without danger to ourselves. Perhaps even let them alive so they can take the blame for the fire.
Honedtly, no matter what we do, we are not going to be able to burn that building down. If it has magical barriers to prevent flying things to enter it will have wards against fire. Perhaps one of the auxiliary buildings could sustain some damage but I would not risk further action.
Let’s think for a second on this particular mission. Sounds more like a fool’s errand or even a suicide mission to me. No doubt the leader of the other cartel knows this. We could succeed… to some degree, to both impress her and gain her confidence which is our goal, but to have too much success could expose us as the Circle and it’s activities. No way two people could achieve that. So let’s be modest… we must thread carefully between the waters of the cartels and their politics. “
He looks back to the others and realizes that was more than double of all the sentences he has spoke since they’ve met
”sorry… I am trying to… improve our communication…”
PbP Character: A few ;)
"Don't apologize for proposing a perfectly good plan," Kyrsa says, putting a hand on Lyndaran's shoulder. "I've had my mind set on fighting this whole time, so much so that I hadn't even considered other possibilities..." She gives a halfhearted smile, "Old habits I suppose. I'm not really used to having other options." She shakes her head, "Anyhow, I like the sound of that plan much better then simply trying to attack these four. It definitely shifts the odds in our favor."
Judging by Nyblond's facial expression, he is not at all surprised to discover Jhaartael's Tel-quessir heritage. (Continuing to speak in Common):
"Of the Qinmenor family? I once knew and admired a Nanthaliene Qinmenor, she was a junior acolyte at the temple where I did my training. Very intelligent, and strikingly beautiful if I remember correctly... But I digress, Yes, of course I will accompany you. Although, I am not prepared to enter the Tower of the Seven Serpents myself. I can perhaps offer some divine blessings to you if you choose to do so. And if you decide to enter, I have a favor to ask, as a quid pro quo for the information I have provided."
Mina heads off towards the church that Jhaartael disappeared into. Leaving the others to deal with the orcs, she approaches the door and tries to decide the best way to join him. She decides to try and quietly open and enter the church to hopefully not disturb anything he has going on inside.
Stealth 18
"Well, that certainly is an option." The young drow replies to Lydaran after a brief pause. "And yes, I agree with you in that we don't want to overdue this task. I'd say just burning some of their important documents would get the job done." He nods to the half-orcs, "Anyway, shall we proceed? Any particular way you want to go about doing this?"
Or you could challenge them to a dance-off. Or Three Dragon Ante. Or a riddle-contest a la Bilbo.