Cicero answers Al-Ashari... "I have had the key for some time." He says with a shrug. "I found it while using the Infinite Stairs." He looks around, seeming to be a bit worried at the mention of the stairs.
In answer to the question of the Lake's name... "No name." He calls back.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Finishing his meal, the halfling takes his plate and mug to bar, leaves the plate and refills the mug, tossing Cicero another silver. "I'm thinking the stairs is mighty interestin' meself, Al'Ashari." Walking over, he takes a sip of his ale, "A fine brew, me bartender. Where's it be comin' from?" This question was tossed back casually, over his shoulder. The halfling was keenly interested in the answer, however.
Addressing the others as a group, he says, "I'm a dab hand at puzzles, so I'm wonderin' if'n I might be havin' a look at the book you all got...at the auction?" Nodding his thanks, Merric takes a seat next to Al'Ashari and begins reading through the book, looking for any clues, cyphers, puzzles, anything at all that might shed more light on what was needed next and what the book's connection might be with the 5 cards of the reading.
ooc: Assuming the book was forthcoming, Investigation 28
"Of course, have a look," Al-Ashari gave him the book. "Enjoy the reading."
The book looks shabby and is in a state of disrepair. This is the only surviving complete and undoctored copy of the Tales. The tales are fairy tales no doubt meant to entertain children. Summaries of each are below. In each chapter, notes have been made in a scribbled hand.
1. In the first tale, a bull rages free from his cage and escapes into the night, killing his captor.
2. In the second tale, a hummingbird falls asleep on the stove and burns to death.
3. In the third tale, a woman throws her own husband down the stairs, killing him.
4. In the fourth, a ball of fire is extinguished by the rain.
5. In the fifth, two twins try and seek their fortune through music, but one dies of disease.
6. In the sixth, a badger is routed out from under a house by foxes, and slain.
7. In the seventh, a skull is found under the floorboards, and explodes into flame.
8. In the eighth, a huntsman is devoured by his own pack of dogs.
9. In the ninth, a wolf eats a grandma, but gets indigestion and dies.
10. In the tenth, a dragon is crushed by the weight of all their gold.
11. In the eleventh, a rose blooms too early, and is killed by the frost.
12. In the twelfth, a girl meets a cat with eyes as big as saucers.
13. In the last, a spider flees the rain, but only causes it to build up on a roof and wash his home away.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Kale scratches his nose and tries to think hard of any building he might have seen while fruitlessly searching for the Dancing Spider that might possibly be construed as this "Infinite Stairs."
(no idea what roll to make for that... uh. Perception or Investigation of his memory? (19) History, even though it's recent? (12)
He must have being quite drunk already to even think about such possibility. From the moment Al-Ashari gave the book to Merric, she is concentrating only on the talk with Cicero - right now she wants to know what Infinite Stairs is, and where is it located.
"I can see you won't take a, forget I said that, answer." He says with a sigh. "The infinite stairs is a magical stairway that exists in this city. There are many access points to get there, but you can only use them if you know they are there, and what they are meant to do, which is to get you into the stairs themselves." He looks quite nervous as he speaks. "The people here use to use them all the time, as a safe way to travel around the city. Now though something prowls the stairs, and many who enter never come out again."
In answer to the question on the food and ail. "The Vistani get us supplies off and on, while others are brewed locally."
"There are people who can come and go to the city yet you are obediently dying in here?!" Al-Ashari stared a Cicero in a shocked disbelief. "It sounds," pointed she to Joetaro, "that we need to talk to someone and explain the wrongs of their ways in quite strong words."
She summed up what they just leaned , mostly to hear it for herself: "We have two ways to probably leave the place for good: one, is to solve the riddle, which for now means to find the girl - Cecilia, which in turn means to go to the Infinite Stairs and eliminate whatever prowls there. And another - find those ... Vistani? ... and convince them with all our charm to take us back to our plane." "Did I get it all?"
Whitegaze will chuckle at that comment, "I doubt these people are that stupid, if these others could take them out of the city, they'd have done that by now. Must be some special they alone can do. So, about that drink..."
Turning around and standing, the halfling pierces Cicero with a keen-eyed stare. He lets the silence build between them for a moment and, just as Cicero opened his mouth, perhaps to ask if the Merric needed anything further, the halfling speaks, using a voice and diction he used but rarely. "And who are these 'Vistani' and how can we find them? I and Faldo and Joetaro are but newly come to this place of madness but ourcompanions," he gestured at Al-Ashari, Kale, and the rest, "have been here for some little time now and yet you withheld this information. A whole group of people seemingly able to come and go. Why did you not provide this information earlier?" He stops then, waiting for Cicero. Again, just as the bartender is about to speak, Merric speaks first. "Please...answer my first question first, and then the second."
"Hmm," Kale says, leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms behind his head. "Be careful what you ask for. If these Vistani can come and go as easily as they want to, they surely have some kind of innate power within themselves to withstand whatever enchantment affects the rest of this entire city. And also a measure of greed, to keep coming back here despite what we see. If we're lucky, they may even be kind, but I don't bank on luck in this place. As Whitegaze said, if the residents here could've ridden out on their backs, I think they would've lied, bribed, or even strongarmed the Vistani into that. That they haven't... well. Either this city is defending the Vistani, so they're a part of the enchantment itself... or the Vistani are people whom you likely don't want to cross."
"You saw residents here. Do you truly believe they are capable of bribing or "strongarming" anyone? I highly doubt it. But there is no point to argue - one of the residents is right here. Cicero, why did not you try to go with Vistani? And have you heard about someone, who tried? Oh, and when do you expect those Vistani to come?"
Turning around and standing, the halfling pierces Cicero with a keen-eyed stare. He lets the silence build between them for a moment and, just as Cicero opened his mouth, perhaps to ask if the Merric needed anything further, the halfling speaks, using a voice and diction he used but rarely. "And who are these 'Vistani' and how can we find them? I and Faldo and Joetaro are but newly come to this place of madness but ourcompanions," he gestured at Al-Ashari, Kale, and the rest, "have been here for some little time now and yet you withheld this information. A whole group of people seemingly able to come and go. Why did you not provide this information earlier?" He stops then, waiting for Cicero. Again, just as the bartender is about to speak, Merric speaks first. "Please...answer my first question first, and then the second."
He gives you an amused smile, at your attempt to intimidate him.
"The dutchess knows more about them than anyone I would guess, but they cannot bring you out of the city. As your companion there has said, we all would have left long ago if that were an option." He shrugs. "As to where to find them, you will happen on them rarely in the city, and it is more likely that you find a room key laying on the street than find one of them."
Whitegaze will chuckle at that comment, "I doubt these people are that stupid, if these others could take them out of the city, they'd have done that by now. Must be some special they alone can do. So, about that drink..."
"Then it is settled - at the morning we are going to the Stairs (providing Cicero would share it's location). We fight the "prowler" and try to find the key, which might lead us to Cecilia. And with the news about Cecilia we can return to Duchess and get some information about Vistani."Al-Ashari sighed, "why nothing can ever be simple..."
Before retiring to her room, Al-Ashari explained her hesitation before when she was talking about the means to leave the city: "There is a ritual, allowing to communicate with the higher beings... It is dangerous and most of the time not worth it - you can rarely get something other than simple "yes" or "no". Still, we are in a tough spot and I might risk to do it. What would you want me to ask it the ritual works?" ( Contact Other Plane )
Joetaro nods as he orders another drink and watches the room. "Looking is still an option, even if it takes us a while. It's not the easiest way, sure. But its better than sitting here."
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I have an intelligence of six, I know what I'm doing.
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Cicero answers Al-Ashari... "I have had the key for some time." He says with a shrug. "I found it while using the Infinite Stairs." He looks around, seeming to be a bit worried at the mention of the stairs.
In answer to the question of the Lake's name... "No name." He calls back.
That, of course, awoke Al-Ashari's curiosity: "Infinite Stairs? A peculiar name. Why did you use it? And how, if I may ask?"
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
Finishing his meal, the halfling takes his plate and mug to bar, leaves the plate and refills the mug, tossing Cicero another silver. "I'm thinking the stairs is mighty interestin' meself, Al'Ashari." Walking over, he takes a sip of his ale, "A fine brew, me bartender. Where's it be comin' from?" This question was tossed back casually, over his shoulder. The halfling was keenly interested in the answer, however.
Addressing the others as a group, he says, "I'm a dab hand at puzzles, so I'm wonderin' if'n I might be havin' a look at the book you all got...at the auction?" Nodding his thanks, Merric takes a seat next to Al'Ashari and begins reading through the book, looking for any clues, cyphers, puzzles, anything at all that might shed more light on what was needed next and what the book's connection might be with the 5 cards of the reading.
ooc: Assuming the book was forthcoming, Investigation 28
Tandor the White, Human Life Cleric
"Of course, have a look," Al-Ashari gave him the book. "Enjoy the reading."
The book looks shabby and is in a state of disrepair. This is the only surviving complete and undoctored copy of the Tales. The tales are fairy tales no doubt meant to entertain children. Summaries of each are below. In each chapter, notes have been made in a scribbled hand.
1. In the first tale, a bull rages free from his cage and escapes into the night, killing his captor.
2. In the second tale, a hummingbird falls asleep on the stove and burns to death.
3. In the third tale, a woman throws her own husband down the stairs, killing him.
4. In the fourth, a ball of fire is extinguished by the rain.
5. In the fifth, two twins try and seek their fortune through music, but one dies of disease.
6. In the sixth, a badger is routed out from under a house by foxes, and slain.
7. In the seventh, a skull is found under the floorboards, and explodes into flame.
8. In the eighth, a huntsman is devoured by his own pack of dogs.
9. In the ninth, a wolf eats a grandma, but gets indigestion and dies.
10. In the tenth, a dragon is crushed by the weight of all their gold.
11. In the eleventh, a rose blooms too early, and is killed by the frost.
12. In the twelfth, a girl meets a cat with eyes as big as saucers.
13. In the last, a spider flees the rain, but only causes it to build up on a roof and wash his home away.
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
Joetaro is going to stand back and watch the pair read over the book.
I have an intelligence of six, I know what I'm doing.
Kale scratches his nose and tries to think hard of any building he might have seen while fruitlessly searching for the Dancing Spider that might possibly be construed as this "Infinite Stairs."
(no idea what roll to make for that... uh. Perception or Investigation of his memory? (19) History, even though it's recent? (12)
Faldo goes back to his table to finish his meal
Whitegaze is steadily getting drunk. And probably trying to talk Al-Ashari into joining him.
He must have being quite drunk already to even think about such possibility. From the moment Al-Ashari gave the book to Merric, she is concentrating only on the talk with Cicero - right now she wants to know what Infinite Stairs is, and where is it located.
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
"I can see you won't take a, forget I said that, answer." He says with a sigh. "The infinite stairs is a magical stairway that exists in this city. There are many access points to get there, but you can only use them if you know they are there, and what they are meant to do, which is to get you into the stairs themselves." He looks quite nervous as he speaks. "The people here use to use them all the time, as a safe way to travel around the city. Now though something prowls the stairs, and many who enter never come out again."
In answer to the question on the food and ail. "The Vistani get us supplies off and on, while others are brewed locally."
Joetaro nods. "It sounds like we need to find whatever is prowling the stairs."
I have an intelligence of six, I know what I'm doing.
"There are people who can come and go to the city yet you are obediently dying in here?!" Al-Ashari stared a Cicero in a shocked disbelief. "It sounds," pointed she to Joetaro, "that we need to talk to someone and explain the wrongs of their ways in quite strong words."
She summed up what they just leaned , mostly to hear it for herself: "We have two ways to probably leave the place for good: one, is to solve the riddle, which for now means to find the girl - Cecilia, which in turn means to go to the Infinite Stairs and eliminate whatever prowls there. And another - find those ... Vistani? ... and convince them with all our charm to take us back to our plane." "Did I get it all?"
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
Whitegaze will chuckle at that comment, "I doubt these people are that stupid, if these others could take them out of the city, they'd have done that by now. Must be some special they alone can do. So, about that drink..."
Turning around and standing, the halfling pierces Cicero with a keen-eyed stare. He lets the silence build between them for a moment and, just as Cicero opened his mouth, perhaps to ask if the Merric needed anything further, the halfling speaks, using a voice and diction he used but rarely. "And who are these 'Vistani' and how can we find them? I and Faldo and Joetaro are but newly come to this place of madness but ourcompanions," he gestured at Al-Ashari, Kale, and the rest, "have been here for some little time now and yet you withheld this information. A whole group of people seemingly able to come and go. Why did you not provide this information earlier?" He stops then, waiting for Cicero. Again, just as the bartender is about to speak, Merric speaks first. "Please...answer my first question first, and then the second."
Tandor the White, Human Life Cleric
"Hmm," Kale says, leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms behind his head. "Be careful what you ask for. If these Vistani can come and go as easily as they want to, they surely have some kind of innate power within themselves to withstand whatever enchantment affects the rest of this entire city. And also a measure of greed, to keep coming back here despite what we see. If we're lucky, they may even be kind, but I don't bank on luck in this place. As Whitegaze said, if the residents here could've ridden out on their backs, I think they would've lied, bribed, or even strongarmed the Vistani into that. That they haven't... well. Either this city is defending the Vistani, so they're a part of the enchantment itself... or the Vistani are people whom you likely don't want to cross."
"You saw residents here. Do you truly believe they are capable of bribing or "strongarming" anyone? I highly doubt it. But there is no point to argue - one of the residents is right here. Cicero, why did not you try to go with Vistani? And have you heard about someone, who tried? Oh, and when do you expect those Vistani to come?"
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
He gives you an amused smile, at your attempt to intimidate him.
"The dutchess knows more about them than anyone I would guess, but they cannot bring you out of the city. As your companion there has said, we all would have left long ago if that were an option." He shrugs. "As to where to find them, you will happen on them rarely in the city, and it is more likely that you find a room key laying on the street than find one of them."
He gets you a drink.
"Then it is settled - at the morning we are going to the Stairs (providing Cicero would share it's location). We fight the "prowler" and try to find the key, which might lead us to Cecilia. And with the news about Cecilia we can return to Duchess and get some information about Vistani." Al-Ashari sighed, "why nothing can ever be simple..."
Before retiring to her room, Al-Ashari explained her hesitation before when she was talking about the means to leave the city: "There is a ritual, allowing to communicate with the higher beings... It is dangerous and most of the time not worth it - you can rarely get something other than simple "yes" or "no". Still, we are in a tough spot and I might risk to do it. What would you want me to ask it the ritual works?" ( Contact Other Plane )
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
Joetaro nods as he orders another drink and watches the room. "Looking is still an option, even if it takes us a while. It's not the easiest way, sure. But its better than sitting here."
I have an intelligence of six, I know what I'm doing.