Snow nods as Varielky and Auger speak of leaving their companion behind if he takes too long, “Very well, I would not normally rush you, but on this occasion time is not on our side. Some of the inner gates have already been closed, and I worry that they will stop canal traffic before sundown as well”. He motions towards the sloop encouraging them to board.
As Auger asks about the price, Snow feels a little pang of concern. He was just beginning to think his luck had changed, but if these folk couldn’t afford passage…
“Well”, he says holding his hands out palms up and giving a shrug, “the price may seem high, and I hope they explained that tow and gate fees are additional, but in the current situation I am not sure I have any competition to drive the price down. And even if there was, there is no boat more suitable to travelling upriver than the Animu Borongo with myself at the helm”.
He looks them over for a second paying particular attention to Varielky. “However, you both look like useful sorts, if you would be willing to help crew the boat on our travels I could knock say, 10 gold off the price”, he finally says to Auger matching his smile.
He carries on swiftly, “Speaking of which, if we are to leave soon I will need to pay that charming lady over there her 30 gold in docking fees”, he says motioning towards the older chimp lady glaring at him.
(Not sure how player vs player checks work here, but will roll the same checks: Persuasion: 22, Deception: 18)
(OOC: The Animu Borongo holds a closed sunken forward cabin containing two narrow bunks.)
Just as the two bargemen who were helping unstep the mast debark, the task having been completed by them and Snow together after another 20 minutes, the boat suddenly jiggles more than one would expect from their steps up to the landing, with a clinking noise. The cabin door seems to come loose and flies open, then as the boat jiggles again, the door falls shut again.
No one notices for certain that an invisible third passenger has just embarked and quietly occupied one of the bunks in the little cabin. If anyone found any of those movements and sounds odd, they might immediately find themselves distracted from further investigation, as the third bargeman has just returned from the city, leading a large ox and driver, who now ties a lead rope from the sloop to the ox harness.
The driver holds out his hand to Snow for 10gp for his services — in advance — and to cover canal and gate tolls.
The dock manager stands beside the ox driver, holding out her beige-furred hand to Snow in demand of the 30gp in slip fees.
“Where is my gold!?,” she growls, “You should pay me extra for making me get the guard!,” and the two burly chimps beside her uncurl their lips from their venomous smiles, curling down now into deep frowns, incisors showing, and place their hands on their hilts threateningly.
Downriver, the two thugs have returned, with backup. They now number four, all of them standing menacingly just out of crossbow range. One of the newcomers wears the orange floral livery of the Amazighs.
Snow holds his hands up to the old chimp and ox driver, gesturing for patience and turns to Auger and Varielky. "I am afraid your companion is a little late, we must go immediately if we are to reach the north of the city before it is locked down. If my terms are acceptable, now is the time for payment", he says a little nervously, looking from the dock manager to the thugs down river and back to his passengers.
He wants to tell the old chimp where to go to get her extra coin, but he couldn't afford the delay, or to make another scene. "If you could at least give the dock manager here her 35 gold, and the ox rider here 10 gold, we can get moving", he adds, throwing another nervous glance downriver.
Auger suddenly agrees and hands the 90 gold over to Snow, smiling to him and to the chimps. "That should cover your ahh -- issues and allow us to get moving. Crewing your ship sounds -uhh - I'm sure its fine. As it happens I have some experience with carpentry and have done some work on ships. If an issue of that sort arises I'm sure I can be of assistance. At any rate, perhaps if you can see us through the city quickly we can discuss a-- a bonus."
Auger looks around the docks and up into the surrounding areas. "Well Varielky, I do not think Greybeard is going to make it, lets get going with the fine Captain here."Auger nods to Varielky and, payment made, he turns and boards the boat.
Py, remind Strewn that we are using his assumed name from here on.
(OOC: Auger intends to inform the Captain that their third friend, Greybeard made it aboard after the boat gets moving)
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM of RotFM | AUGER the Warlock (Archfey & the Chain) / Shadow Sorcerer in Age of Resurgence | Rahui & Javier in Sea of Memory
Varielky almost steps in, finding it wrong and unneeded to have guards, especially ones that look like more threat than security. She was about to reach back to get her shield when Auger speaks. Right, they need to get out of the city before the curfew starts. She's confused for a moment when the name Greybeard is mentioned, but then she catches on. Right, that was the name he used, too. "Right, let's get on." She trusts Auger knows what he's doing, even if it originally was her idea, more or less. "We'll have to do it without him, then."
The dock manager takes the gold, counting it exactly, then passing it quickly to the chimp to her right. She calms down a notch, and as she eyes Auger up and down, seems to shrink somewhat from his presence now that her mind is free to think of anything but what she is owed. She looks back at Snow too, and her eyes soften just a bit. Chewing her lip, she barks, more softly than before, “Nex’ time you’ll pay daily! C’mon!,” she now commands the burly chimps, the first of whom answers, “Yeh, Momma,” and the three turn and file back to a large covered shed where she keeps her office.
The boat is now ready, the ox driver, paid and awaiting Snow’s command. Zigza, the Benepota amboule guard, keeps the crossbow he holds loaded, and follows Snow’s gaze toward the four Amazighs downriver. His face hardens as he offers, in an undertone, “I’ll walk you as far as the city gate. After that you’re on your own.”
Snow breathes a sigh of relief as he receives the coins from Auger and passes the 35 gold on to the dock manager, finally paying off his debt and then some. “As you wish”, he says with a short bow as she mentions paying daily next time. He then gives the ox driver his 10 gold.
He turns his attention to Zigza, and shakes the guards hand firmly. “Much obliged”, he says and puts his fist to his chest, and then gives a three fingered salute from his temple, unsure which if either was appropriate here. Lastly he jogs over to the bargemen, “My thanks for your help prepping the mast my friends, have some drinks on me when you reach Ishi Ammah”, he says and gives one of them 3 gold.
He jumps back onto the Animu Borongo and makes his way to the tiller, before calling out to the ox driver, “Let’s move!”, holding his hand up and pointing towards the city.
“I am sorry your friend didn’t make it in time, but please make yourselves comfortable”, he says to Auger and Varielky, “It is likely to take a while navigating the canals through the city, and you look like you could use the rest, if you don’t mind me saying”.
“How far up river are you looking to travel?”, he asks as it occurs to him that he never enquired as to the journey he was being hired for.
"Oh as far north as you are planning to go I suspect,"Auger says, smiling. "We have business to attend to in the far north of the Vale. We can discuss it more if we can get through--" Auger sniffs, "--the City of Stink I think they should call it. And I would not worry over much about our friend. He is resourceful and will find his own way I'm sure."
Auger clears his throat and looks around for a place to sit. "Do call out if you need assistance with anything."Settling for a position where he leans against a gunwale, Auger takes his pack off and sits down, a little cloud of dust raising from his pack as Auger lets it off his back and sets it on the deck. "Varielky and I are both quite capable. In our way." Auger briefly tilts his head to the side.
Py, the Captain seems friendly enough. Let me know if Granophyre would like a word with him.
Auger leans back and closes his eyes for a moment but a vision of his cousin in his deceptive lair comes to him unbidden. That was... yesterday? That would take time to process. A lot of time. Auger opens his eyes and tiredly begins looking through his pack to see if everything is still there and arranged just so. Looking up and around Auger notes the followers at a distance and asks his own questions.
"Tell me Captain, what is your business in the north? And does it have anything to do with the Amazigh and his 3 companions back there?"
Snow chuckles at Auger’s mention of the city of stink. “I can’t argue with that, I am certainly not going to miss the smell when we leave”, he says with a grin.
He notes the dust as Auger sits after offering assistance, assuming they must have travelled across the desert recently. “Thanks for the offer, once we get through the city, I will need some help erecting the mast, but for now just relax. Oh and keep an eye out for your friend as we travel through the city, if you spot him he should be able to jump aboard as we travel”
He twists and looks behind him as Auger mentions the Amazighs. “No, those gentlemen aren’t related to my business, but just to warn you they may try and cause trouble”, he says turning back to Auger and Varielky with a sigh.
He decides it is best to be open with his passengers. “It is an unfortunate business really. I hired some crew down in Ishi Ammah, but when we arrived here at Kalahata they felt they would be better off stealing my funds and gambling them away. That extended to putting up the Animu Borongo as collateral, and losing”, he says shaking his head. “It didn’t go well for my former crew and they turned up face down in the river, and I’m pretty sure the Amazighs put them there”.
“Anyway, those folk think they have a claim on the Animu, I disagree”, he says hooking a thumb in the direction of the Amazigh and their thugs.
Zigza offers a grim nod in reply to Snow’s thanks, then at the bard’s command, the ox driver’s whip cracks lightly in the air, the beast strains forward for a moment, the lead rope tightens, and then the Animu Borongo is in motion, slowly pulled upriver and then through a canal gate until the city opens out before you, at the same moment that three dead rats slowly float downstream past you.
The guards at the gate now shout down to you — the canal runs perhaps 5’ beneath street level — announcing the curfew in no uncertain terms, laughing derisively, but in their tone a note of tension, too.
You float slowly northward, the stomach-wrenching stench of sewage assaulting you through ventilation grates in the canal walls. Flies buzz over the ox, whose tail swishes to discourage them, to no avail.
The ox driver is silent as he walks, but the sounds of the streets echo down, and, from just under foot level you see Kalahati-ur on the street, rushing, frenzied, to finish errands before sundown, and squads of garrison fighters trying to flush out conspirators, perhaps, to screams and shouts of fear, anxiety, and indignation. Sundown is theoretical here, as you float in the shade of the canal walls, the shade of the four-story homes lining the canals, and that of the soaring city walls which at this hour allow not a hint of direct sunlight.
Varielky looks back the way they came. Now... those two were really left behind. "Let them come, if they so wish." Varielky calls back. "I would be happy to send the Amazighs a message myself." Those words are not said very kindly, clearly more a threat than anything else, even if they were no longer able to hear her. Though it had already been over a month since then, Varielky did not forget. It's only unfortunate to know that the treacherous snake must still be in Ishi Ammah alive and well.
Snow hears the threatening tone to Varielky’s words and feels a little relieved. Not just because she didn’t seem to mind his having an issue with the Amazighs, it seemed to go further than that, as if she had issues of her own with them maybe. She had the look of a fighter about her, and one accustomed to the field of battle. She would definitely be an asset if she got her wish and the Amazighs did come.
The other passenger, whose name he realised he did not yet know, was more of a mystery. He didn’t look like a fighter, but he had an air about him. There was something more than meets the eye with that one.
“You sound like you have history with the Amazighs. It’s Varielky, right? I overheard your friend call you that”, he says as he absentmindedly holds the tiller.
Py sends back to Auger after a minute. ‘Granophyre thinks it best to wait until Kalahata is behind him before chancing an introduction. He warns too, that his device’s power is low and he is now quite visible in the cabin.’ Auger notices that the tiny portholes allow practically no view within.
Thank you Py, I will need you to stay with Granophyre. Let him know that I can again make him invisible at need or if he is willing to stay on the bunk I can createan image of sorts to make the bunk appear unoccupied. In fact that is exactly what I will do at the next opportunity. Also please ask, has Strewn been able to send his own message yet, to let Ednyss know where to drop the funds?
At next opportunity when Snow appears occupied with other matters, Auger closes his eyes and passes his senses into Py's. Then he attempts to create a Minor Illusion that will hide Granophyre's position on his bunk.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM of RotFM | AUGER the Warlock (Archfey & the Chain) / Shadow Sorcerer in Age of Resurgence | Rahui & Javier in Sea of Memory
"That's right, Varielky," Varielky confirms. "And yes, as far as I'm concerned, the Amazighs have earned themselves the right to visit the afterlife as soon as possible, where they'll pay for all those they killed in such a detestable manner." The captain said he passed through Ishi Ammah, right? Maybe he happened to hear. "The poisoning during the Beauty Pageant, if you heard of it." She explains.
The captain said he passed through Ishi Ammah, right? Maybe he happened to hear. "The poisoning during the Beauty Pageant, if you heard of it." She explains.
(OOC: Word of the poisoning did not reach Snow — despite the uproar at the time — although Snow did hear that the Games {dubbed a “Beauty Pageant,” for they took place on the first day of the Jenghen month of Beauty (IRL, March)}, were spectacular, despite the fact that many of the arena warriors died, and the roc flight formation was terrible. Most striking to Snow, perhaps, was hearing that the famed Opera performer from The Conquest, the beautiful Kieu-Lan Trinh, performed Orracan anthems with an orchestra and choir of children during the afternoon-long festivities, which had moved to tears some in the audience while others gritted their teeth in boredom.)
Snow pauses for a moment thinking back. “There was talk of the Beauty Pageant as I travelled through Isha Ammah yes, but I didn’t hear anything about a poisoning”, he says with an apologetic look. “By all accounts it was spectacular though, and I heard Kieu-Lan Trinh’s performance was inspired”, he adds with more than a little reverence in his tone.
“Although there was talk of the roc flight going a bit wrong, as well as a larger number of arena deaths than anticipated, but I just put that down to people’s natural proclivity for fault finding”, he adds with a smile.
“I would like to hear more about this poisoning though, if you would care to tell the tale?”, he asks Varielky, intrigued by what it was all about.
Looking through Py's eyes, Auger casts an illusion of an empty bunk in the approximate position that Granophyre has occupied. Grateful that the illusion should provide some protection, Auger momentarily relaxes and then when Py eventually reminds him that the illusion did not last very long he does the same thing and creates the illusion again. As the process repeats, Auger mentally shrugs, trying not to let his disappointment show on his real person.
Auger keeps a close eye on the Captain and ensures he is ready to cast the cantrip should it be required but he will let the illusion lapse after the second casting (~2 minutes later). Py, he instructs to stay with Granophyre, on his shoulder.
"I have not heard much about the events of that day either if you are interested in sharing, Varielky."With his senses to himself, Auger keeps an eye on the following Amazighs.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM of RotFM | AUGER the Warlock (Archfey & the Chain) / Shadow Sorcerer in Age of Resurgence | Rahui & Javier in Sea of Memory
As you converse, you pass under the soaring inner city wall through a dark tunnel where a narrow side passage leads to dim chambers filled with the groans of destitute and hopeless serfs. You come out again in Ksar Gilane amboule, where, as you float under another bridge, Auger and Varielky recognize the ravenblack ponytail and lythe form of Benita La Cass, leaning against its railing, her back to you, casually looking from side to side, then back over her shoulder and down to the canal. Her eyes shine with determination as they lock with Varielky’s for a moment, and then she sets her jaw, and turns away just as casually as before, holding a small bag behind her, hanging it over the edge of the bridge to surreptitiously drop it down to the boat when no one seems to be looking.
(OOC: To see the bag drop, all three please roll perception vs DC10 (La Cass’ Slight of Hand roll), Varielky and Auger with advantage, Snow with disadvantage. If you spot it, roll Sleight of Hand vs DC 10 to catch it before it hits the deck at your feet. The first one to post a successful roll catches it.)
Snow nods as Varielky and Auger speak of leaving their companion behind if he takes too long, “Very well, I would not normally rush you, but on this occasion time is not on our side. Some of the inner gates have already been closed, and I worry that they will stop canal traffic before sundown as well”. He motions towards the sloop encouraging them to board.
As Auger asks about the price, Snow feels a little pang of concern. He was just beginning to think his luck had changed, but if these folk couldn’t afford passage…
“Well”, he says holding his hands out palms up and giving a shrug, “the price may seem high, and I hope they explained that tow and gate fees are additional, but in the current situation I am not sure I have any competition to drive the price down. And even if there was, there is no boat more suitable to travelling upriver than the Animu Borongo with myself at the helm”.
He looks them over for a second paying particular attention to Varielky. “However, you both look like useful sorts, if you would be willing to help crew the boat on our travels I could knock say, 10 gold off the price”, he finally says to Auger matching his smile.
He carries on swiftly, “Speaking of which, if we are to leave soon I will need to pay that charming lady over there her 30 gold in docking fees”, he says motioning towards the older chimp lady glaring at him.
(Not sure how player vs player checks work here, but will roll the same checks: Persuasion: 22, Deception: 18)
(OOC: The Animu Borongo holds a closed sunken forward cabin containing two narrow bunks.)
Just as the two bargemen who were helping unstep the mast debark, the task having been completed by them and Snow together after another 20 minutes, the boat suddenly jiggles more than one would expect from their steps up to the landing, with a clinking noise. The cabin door seems to come loose and flies open, then as the boat jiggles again, the door falls shut again.
No one notices for certain that an invisible third passenger has just embarked and quietly occupied one of the bunks in the little cabin. If anyone found any of those movements and sounds odd, they might immediately find themselves distracted from further investigation, as the third bargeman has just returned from the city, leading a large ox and driver, who now ties a lead rope from the sloop to the ox harness.
The driver holds out his hand to Snow for 10gp for his services — in advance — and to cover canal and gate tolls.
The dock manager stands beside the ox driver, holding out her beige-furred hand to Snow in demand of the 30gp in slip fees.
“Where is my gold!?,” she growls, “You should pay me extra for making me get the guard!,” and the two burly chimps beside her uncurl their lips from their venomous smiles, curling down now into deep frowns, incisors showing, and place their hands on their hilts threateningly.
Downriver, the two thugs have returned, with backup. They now number four, all of them standing menacingly just out of crossbow range. One of the newcomers wears the orange floral livery of the Amazighs.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Snow holds his hands up to the old chimp and ox driver, gesturing for patience and turns to Auger and Varielky. "I am afraid your companion is a little late, we must go immediately if we are to reach the north of the city before it is locked down. If my terms are acceptable, now is the time for payment", he says a little nervously, looking from the dock manager to the thugs down river and back to his passengers.
He wants to tell the old chimp where to go to get her extra coin, but he couldn't afford the delay, or to make another scene. "If you could at least give the dock manager here her 35 gold, and the ox rider here 10 gold, we can get moving", he adds, throwing another nervous glance downriver.
Auger suddenly agrees and hands the 90 gold over to Snow, smiling to him and to the chimps. "That should cover your ahh -- issues and allow us to get moving. Crewing your ship sounds -uhh - I'm sure its fine. As it happens I have some experience with carpentry and have done some work on ships. If an issue of that sort arises I'm sure I can be of assistance. At any rate, perhaps if you can see us through the city quickly we can discuss a-- a bonus."
Auger looks around the docks and up into the surrounding areas. "Well Varielky, I do not think Greybeard is going to make it, lets get going with the fine Captain here." Auger nods to Varielky and, payment made, he turns and boards the boat.
Py, remind Strewn that we are using his assumed name from here on.
(OOC: Auger intends to inform the Captain that their third friend, Greybeard made it aboard after the boat gets moving)
DM of RotFM | AUGER the Warlock (Archfey & the Chain) / Shadow Sorcerer in Age of Resurgence | Rahui & Javier in Sea of Memory
Varielky almost steps in, finding it wrong and unneeded to have guards, especially ones that look like more threat than security. She was about to reach back to get her shield when Auger speaks. Right, they need to get out of the city before the curfew starts. She's confused for a moment when the name Greybeard is mentioned, but then she catches on. Right, that was the name he used, too. "Right, let's get on." She trusts Auger knows what he's doing, even if it originally was her idea, more or less. "We'll have to do it without him, then."
Varielky
The dock manager takes the gold, counting it exactly, then passing it quickly to the chimp to her right. She calms down a notch, and as she eyes Auger up and down, seems to shrink somewhat from his presence now that her mind is free to think of anything but what she is owed. She looks back at Snow too, and her eyes soften just a bit. Chewing her lip, she barks, more softly than before, “Nex’ time you’ll pay daily! C’mon!,” she now commands the burly chimps, the first of whom answers, “Yeh, Momma,” and the three turn and file back to a large covered shed where she keeps her office.
The boat is now ready, the ox driver, paid and awaiting Snow’s command. Zigza, the Benepota amboule guard, keeps the crossbow he holds loaded, and follows Snow’s gaze toward the four Amazighs downriver. His face hardens as he offers, in an undertone, “I’ll walk you as far as the city gate. After that you’re on your own.”
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Snow breathes a sigh of relief as he receives the coins from Auger and passes the 35 gold on to the dock manager, finally paying off his debt and then some. “As you wish”, he says with a short bow as she mentions paying daily next time. He then gives the ox driver his 10 gold.
He turns his attention to Zigza, and shakes the guards hand firmly. “Much obliged”, he says and puts his fist to his chest, and then gives a three fingered salute from his temple, unsure which if either was appropriate here. Lastly he jogs over to the bargemen, “My thanks for your help prepping the mast my friends, have some drinks on me when you reach Ishi Ammah”, he says and gives one of them 3 gold.
He jumps back onto the Animu Borongo and makes his way to the tiller, before calling out to the ox driver, “Let’s move!”, holding his hand up and pointing towards the city.
“I am sorry your friend didn’t make it in time, but please make yourselves comfortable”, he says to Auger and Varielky, “It is likely to take a while navigating the canals through the city, and you look like you could use the rest, if you don’t mind me saying”.
“How far up river are you looking to travel?”, he asks as it occurs to him that he never enquired as to the journey he was being hired for.
"Oh as far north as you are planning to go I suspect," Auger says, smiling. "We have business to attend to in the far north of the Vale. We can discuss it more if we can get through--" Auger sniffs, "--the City of Stink I think they should call it. And I would not worry over much about our friend. He is resourceful and will find his own way I'm sure."
Auger clears his throat and looks around for a place to sit. "Do call out if you need assistance with anything." Settling for a position where he leans against a gunwale, Auger takes his pack off and sits down, a little cloud of dust raising from his pack as Auger lets it off his back and sets it on the deck. "Varielky and I are both quite capable. In our way." Auger briefly tilts his head to the side.
Py, the Captain seems friendly enough. Let me know if Granophyre would like a word with him.
Auger leans back and closes his eyes for a moment but a vision of his cousin in his deceptive lair comes to him unbidden. That was... yesterday? That would take time to process. A lot of time. Auger opens his eyes and tiredly begins looking through his pack to see if everything is still there and arranged just so. Looking up and around Auger notes the followers at a distance and asks his own questions.
"Tell me Captain, what is your business in the north? And does it have anything to do with the Amazigh and his 3 companions back there?"
DM of RotFM | AUGER the Warlock (Archfey & the Chain) / Shadow Sorcerer in Age of Resurgence | Rahui & Javier in Sea of Memory
Snow chuckles at Auger’s mention of the city of stink. “I can’t argue with that, I am certainly not going to miss the smell when we leave”, he says with a grin.
He notes the dust as Auger sits after offering assistance, assuming they must have travelled across the desert recently. “Thanks for the offer, once we get through the city, I will need some help erecting the mast, but for now just relax. Oh and keep an eye out for your friend as we travel through the city, if you spot him he should be able to jump aboard as we travel”
He twists and looks behind him as Auger mentions the Amazighs. “No, those gentlemen aren’t related to my business, but just to warn you they may try and cause trouble”, he says turning back to Auger and Varielky with a sigh.
He decides it is best to be open with his passengers. “It is an unfortunate business really. I hired some crew down in Ishi Ammah, but when we arrived here at Kalahata they felt they would be better off stealing my funds and gambling them away. That extended to putting up the Animu Borongo as collateral, and losing”, he says shaking his head. “It didn’t go well for my former crew and they turned up face down in the river, and I’m pretty sure the Amazighs put them there”.
“Anyway, those folk think they have a claim on the Animu, I disagree”, he says hooking a thumb in the direction of the Amazigh and their thugs.
Zigza offers a grim nod in reply to Snow’s thanks, then at the bard’s command, the ox driver’s whip cracks lightly in the air, the beast strains forward for a moment, the lead rope tightens, and then the Animu Borongo is in motion, slowly pulled upriver and then through a canal gate until the city opens out before you, at the same moment that three dead rats slowly float downstream past you.
The guards at the gate now shout down to you — the canal runs perhaps 5’ beneath street level — announcing the curfew in no uncertain terms, laughing derisively, but in their tone a note of tension, too.
You float slowly northward, the stomach-wrenching stench of sewage assaulting you through ventilation grates in the canal walls. Flies buzz over the ox, whose tail swishes to discourage them, to no avail.
The ox driver is silent as he walks, but the sounds of the streets echo down, and, from just under foot level you see Kalahati-ur on the street, rushing, frenzied, to finish errands before sundown, and squads of garrison fighters trying to flush out conspirators, perhaps, to screams and shouts of fear, anxiety, and indignation. Sundown is theoretical here, as you float in the shade of the canal walls, the shade of the four-story homes lining the canals, and that of the soaring city walls which at this hour allow not a hint of direct sunlight.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Varielky looks back the way they came. Now... those two were really left behind. "Let them come, if they so wish." Varielky calls back. "I would be happy to send the Amazighs a message myself." Those words are not said very kindly, clearly more a threat than anything else, even if they were no longer able to hear her. Though it had already been over a month since then, Varielky did not forget. It's only unfortunate to know that the treacherous snake must still be in Ishi Ammah alive and well.
Varielky
Snow hears the threatening tone to Varielky’s words and feels a little relieved. Not just because she didn’t seem to mind his having an issue with the Amazighs, it seemed to go further than that, as if she had issues of her own with them maybe. She had the look of a fighter about her, and one accustomed to the field of battle. She would definitely be an asset if she got her wish and the Amazighs did come.
The other passenger, whose name he realised he did not yet know, was more of a mystery. He didn’t look like a fighter, but he had an air about him. There was something more than meets the eye with that one.
“You sound like you have history with the Amazighs. It’s Varielky, right? I overheard your friend call you that”, he says as he absentmindedly holds the tiller.
Py sends back to Auger after a minute. ‘Granophyre thinks it best to wait until Kalahata is behind him before chancing an introduction. He warns too, that his device’s power is low and he is now quite visible in the cabin.’ Auger notices that the tiny portholes allow practically no view within.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Thank you Py, I will need you to stay with Granophyre. Let him know that I can again make him invisible at need or if he is willing to stay on the bunk I can create an image of sorts to make the bunk appear unoccupied. In fact that is exactly what I will do at the next opportunity. Also please ask, has Strewn been able to send his own message yet, to let Ednyss know where to drop the funds?
At next opportunity when Snow appears occupied with other matters, Auger closes his eyes and passes his senses into Py's. Then he attempts to create a Minor Illusion that will hide Granophyre's position on his bunk.
DM of RotFM | AUGER the Warlock (Archfey & the Chain) / Shadow Sorcerer in Age of Resurgence | Rahui & Javier in Sea of Memory
"That's right, Varielky," Varielky confirms. "And yes, as far as I'm concerned, the Amazighs have earned themselves the right to visit the afterlife as soon as possible, where they'll pay for all those they killed in such a detestable manner." The captain said he passed through Ishi Ammah, right? Maybe he happened to hear. "The poisoning during the Beauty Pageant, if you heard of it." She explains.
Varielky
Py sends back, ‘Yes. Granophyre’s Golden Bird flew to meet Ednyss and Benita. They wait for you in Ksar Gilane amboule.’
The bunk is within range. What exactly is the illusion Auger attempts to cast?
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
(OOC: Word of the poisoning did not reach Snow — despite the uproar at the time — although Snow did hear that the Games {dubbed a “Beauty Pageant,” for they took place on the first day of the Jenghen month of Beauty (IRL, March)}, were spectacular, despite the fact that many of the arena warriors died, and the roc flight formation was terrible. Most striking to Snow, perhaps, was hearing that the famed Opera performer from The Conquest, the beautiful Kieu-Lan Trinh, performed Orracan anthems with an orchestra and choir of children during the afternoon-long festivities, which had moved to tears some in the audience while others gritted their teeth in boredom.)
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Snow pauses for a moment thinking back. “There was talk of the Beauty Pageant as I travelled through Isha Ammah yes, but I didn’t hear anything about a poisoning”, he says with an apologetic look. “By all accounts it was spectacular though, and I heard Kieu-Lan Trinh’s performance was inspired”, he adds with more than a little reverence in his tone.
“Although there was talk of the roc flight going a bit wrong, as well as a larger number of arena deaths than anticipated, but I just put that down to people’s natural proclivity for fault finding”, he adds with a smile.
“I would like to hear more about this poisoning though, if you would care to tell the tale?”, he asks Varielky, intrigued by what it was all about.
Looking through Py's eyes, Auger casts an illusion of an empty bunk in the approximate position that Granophyre has occupied. Grateful that the illusion should provide some protection, Auger momentarily relaxes and then when Py eventually reminds him that the illusion did not last very long he does the same thing and creates the illusion again. As the process repeats, Auger mentally shrugs, trying not to let his disappointment show on his real person.
Auger keeps a close eye on the Captain and ensures he is ready to cast the cantrip should it be required but he will let the illusion lapse after the second casting (~2 minutes later). Py, he instructs to stay with Granophyre, on his shoulder.
"I have not heard much about the events of that day either if you are interested in sharing, Varielky." With his senses to himself, Auger keeps an eye on the following Amazighs.
DM of RotFM | AUGER the Warlock (Archfey & the Chain) / Shadow Sorcerer in Age of Resurgence | Rahui & Javier in Sea of Memory
As you converse, you pass under the soaring inner city wall through a dark tunnel where a narrow side passage leads to dim chambers filled with the groans of destitute and hopeless serfs. You come out again in Ksar Gilane amboule, where, as you float under another bridge, Auger and Varielky recognize the ravenblack ponytail and lythe form of Benita La Cass, leaning against its railing, her back to you, casually looking from side to side, then back over her shoulder and down to the canal. Her eyes shine with determination as they lock with Varielky’s for a moment, and then she sets her jaw, and turns away just as casually as before, holding a small bag behind her, hanging it over the edge of the bridge to surreptitiously drop it down to the boat when no one seems to be looking.
(OOC: To see the bag drop, all three please roll perception vs DC10 (La Cass’ Slight of Hand roll), Varielky and Auger with advantage, Snow with disadvantage. If you spot it, roll Sleight of Hand vs DC 10 to catch it before it hits the deck at your feet. The first one to post a successful roll catches it.)
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer