Varielky waves back to the girls, thankful for their understanding. It seems she doesn't need to answer Auger anymore.
Especially when the woman's voice calls. It seems like a quick reaction is needed, whichever they choose. Varielky gives it a moment of thought, but doesn't really consider all the consequences. It's just the action she believes is right.
Varielky steps into the lounge. "Hey. Wait, please don't call anyone." Varielky tries to look unintimidating, which is strange because it's pretty much the opposite of what she usually does. "I know we're not supposed to be here. Don't worry, we're leaving. We have caused no harm to any of the girls. We're just passing through to the castle. The man with the dogs let us in." Varielky could continue, but she awaits to see the woman's response.
If it looks like the woman is about to shout, Varielky will lunge fireward to try covering her mouth. She promised the girls she will not hurt her, but she still can't let her call any guards.
When Varielky steps into the lounge, Benita and Tamazaert following her, the woman’s expression takes on an emotionless facade. Her knitting slowly drops to her lap as Varielky speaks, and the dormitory-mother seems caught between getting angry or fleeing. But when the shield-maiden mentions the man with the dogs, the woman’s eyes close as she sets her jaw and takes a deep breath. A beat passes, then she firmly stows her knitting in a bag beside her, then rises, crossing her arms under her ample bosom as she speaks.
“The man with the dogs. Has no authority to have ‘let you in.’ I must ask you to turn around immediately and I will lock the door after you. I cannot understand how one who ‘knows they aren’t supposed to be here,’ is still here. You may explain it to the castle guards.” Her eyebrows float so high upon her brow they threaten to slip off her head like a gull taking flight, while her affronted aquiline nose points almost to the ceiling.
Snow appears at the cafeteria door only a dozen yards ahead of Granophyre and Udad. The sage is saying, “I’m sure they must be here in the hall somewhere,” and as he notes the swirl of pollen presaging Snow’s imminent appearance, he points to a spot on the floor just behind Udad. “There they are! No? Oh, I am sorry, for I thought I saw something reflecting there.” This brief distracting allows Snow enough time to complete his deception and make it into the cafeteria while Strewn releases concentration on his spell, following which the bard sees his hands and arms and the rest of him reappear.
“Aha!!,” comes Udad’s voice. “Ach, not again! I leave em in the lock here like a fool!! What an old fool! But you’ve all been here long enough, and it is late.” He bursts into the cafeteria, his eyes latch upon Snow, and then he looks all around as Granophyre follows in, his eyes now directly upon Snow looking for a cue to what happens next.
“Where dey all geh??,” Udad demands, looking quite anxious and upset now.
Varielky's tone changes as she keeps talking. She is clearly no longer asking for permission. Yet, it is not a hostile tone either. "Whether he has the authority or not doesn't really concern me. Maybe I misspoke when I said we're 'not supposed to be here'. Rather, I should have said that I realise we're probably not welcomed here. However, the only other place we're supposed to be is further within the castle, or in fact, wherever it is they keep the stolen babies. You see, we're here to retrieve her baby boy," Varielky gestures towards Tamazaert, "and I will make sure the two reunite tonight, whatever it takes.
"Don't become an obstacle I must break through. You'll gain nothing from it. Pretend you didn't see us. We're not planning to hurt you or anyone within the school if we can help it, but that will not make me stop, and surely not stop those two." Varielky hopes mentioning rescuing a baby will have a similar effect on the woman as it had on the girls, but she wasn't sure. Adults are always more complicated. Either way, she has a feeling the woman will either be of little threat if things come to that, or someone with magical powers of some sort - based on the girls they met before and the equipment they had with them. If it is the latter, she's glad she put on the shield before.
Auger steps forward to join Varielky and the others as they speak with the dormitory-mother. "My friend speaks the truth. On all counts. We must make our way. And we must save this child. Surely you can see the need for such an act. Please. Do not bar our way."
(Persuasion check, provided for convenience if necessary: 4 +8 =12)
Py, are you in range? How close are we to our goal?
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DM of RotFM | AUGER the Warlock (Archfey & the Chain) / Shadow Sorcerer in Age of Resurgence | Rahui & Javier in Sea of Memory
The dormitory-mother’s face is drawn in firm lines now as Varielky and Auger speak, doubt in her eyes, certain that, whatever else may be the case, the story does not add up, at least from her perspective. Yet Varielky and Auger also note, when Varielky speaks of the stolen baby, the woman’s eyes tremble for a moment before her haughty glance falls downward, only to rise again a moment later to hold your eyes defiantly before turning her attention to Benita and Tamazaert.
“You are derelict in your duties,” she announces to the pair, still in their borrowed imperial livery, “if you will allow these… hooligans to invade the School for Girls in this way. I never forget a face. This will be reported to the garrison captain!” She doesn’t move however, until you begin to step past her, when, in desperation, she yells while backing away toward one of the corridors on the far side of the lounge, “Siima!! Help!! Hooligans!! GIRLS LOCK YOUR DOORS!! Help!! HELP!!!”
"Tsk", Varielky lets out in frustration. "Let's just run past her." Varielky suggests to the others once the woman starts yelling. If nothing else, it should draw attention away from Granophyre and Snow.
Varielky takes Tamazaert's hand and pulls her along, past the woman, while making sure to keep her body between the two women just in case the dormitory-mother will try something beyond just yelling. She trusts Benita and Auger can get past the woman with no trouble.
I have never cared for the expression “to throw pearls before swine,” for the phrase is contemptuous, yet in this moment, let us say, Udad is not moved by Snow’s performance, even though, were she here, the School's music teacher would float in ecstasy in witness to Snow’s agile bow technique, his brilliant phrasing, his faultless execution. But as it is, Udad squints, sticks a trembling finger in his ear to clear the wax, then gives up.
“The kitchen?!?,” he whispers, rolling his eyes, and then moves to a side door which, fortunately for you, he had forgotten to lock earlier. “Fool!,” you hear him grunt in self-accusation as he opens the door and exits the room (, stage left), while Granophyre edges closer to Snow and the stage door.
Auger briefly considers taking a stronger action to silence the woman but then decides, in order for their story to have any meaning, should she choose to repeat it, any aggressive or illusory action against her would lend credence to her accusation. They were not hooligans. At least they were not trying to appear as such.
With some regret that his idea for misdirection and some hiding did not play out at all, Auger says, "Excuse me then,"as he moves past the woman with the others. Thinking of the young girls at this school, and in particular, Ulyana with her connection to Ritha Demsha, Auger pauses to turn and say to the dorm-mother, "This Captain you mention. He is not trustworthy. Keep him from your girls. Protect them from him. If there is a villain around here. He. Is. It." Auger punctuates the words as best he can before turning away and moving along their route with the others.
Py... Py... Py...
Auger keeps trying to contact Py, now upset with himself for sending the fey alyasub ahead. They needed to know what or who would be following them. And how many.
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DM of RotFM | AUGER the Warlock (Archfey & the Chain) / Shadow Sorcerer in Age of Resurgence | Rahui & Javier in Sea of Memory
Happy with his performance, Snow stops playing and lowers his violin. His mind racing thinking how they could lose Udad.
“Tenacious, isn’t he?”, He whispers to Strewn. “Ok, let’s try one last deception, can you subtly block the door he went in for a few moments?”.
He then raises his voice a little impatiently. “Where have you four been, I asked for tea ages ago? Oh, it doesn’t matter, go and make ready at the castle, we are running out of time”.
He then wanders over to stand by Strewn and calls out to Udad through the door. “Don’t worry, I sent them back outside to the castle”.
Deception: 11+8=19
Reaction:
He will use Cutting Words on Udad to distract him if he makes a move to push passed Strewn and Snow, or if he makes an Insight check to tell Snow is lying.
”You really must have your hands full here, dealing with all the students, I really don’t know how you cope with it all”.
Tamazaert follows Varielky’s lead, but Benita is already a blur, acrobatically leaping toward the dorm-mother. She takes the woman’s wrist, snapping her around, silences her with a single slap, and pulls her face-to-face, when she whispers something to the woman, whose eyes bulge in affront, and she stops in her tracks. Meanwhile, another woman—Siima, presumably— rushes into the lounge and freezes, seeing the dorm-mother in Benita’s grip.
Auger’s words then pierce the silence. Something like understanding begins to take shape in the two womens’ eyes, and you sense that the fight has left them. Benita steps away, and joins you as the two women stand together.
Benita’s eyes meet Varielky’s guiltily but determined. “Come on,” she says and you four continue onward.
‘Yes, master,’ replies Py a minute later, as you near another stairway up to the bridge across to the castle. ‘You are close to the castle but will have to make your way through it and up several stories to reach the tram.’
Granophyre produces a small green pellet from his pouch and drops it in front of the kitchen door while intoning an arcane phrase. Strong, glowing green fibers immediately shoot out from the pellet, creating a tough web between the door, frame, floor and ceiling which holds as firm as the strongest lock.
“That should do it,” he whispers to Snow. Then cheerfully calling through the door, “But Maestro! You are now late for your performance! Hurry, hurry! Tata, Udad! we must make haste!”
(OOC: anything else? If not, Granophyre follows Snow)
Auger relays the information from Py and hopes that the various delays will not cause them to miss the tram. Although he does think about Tamazaert and Sura, Auger cannot help but wonder what waits for him on top of the mountain. After letting his mind wander for a moment, Auger brings his thoughts back to where they are and what they are trying to do.
"We are entering the castle in a bit here and then through it to the tram. For our next encounter I think we should give our 'imperial' friends here a chance to lead us through. Eventually if we keep telling everyone our purpose, we will run across those who do not believe us and raise the chance of alerting those who we are trying to stop. Furthermore I would add that we do not want to bring the castle guard down on top of us. Or Tama and Sura will not be able to get away. Not from all the way above."
Auger does address everyone but hopes that Varielky is paying attention. Her honesty could betray Tama and Benita's purpose. Auger tries to convince himself that is why he is so concerned. But then his thoughts stray to the mountain again.
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DM of RotFM | AUGER the Warlock (Archfey & the Chain) / Shadow Sorcerer in Age of Resurgence | Rahui & Javier in Sea of Memory
"Yes, you are right." Varielky answers in frustration. Her actions risked Sura and Tamazaert, and only because she chose to adhere to a code of honour. While that is important, she would not forgive herself if it ends up causing so much trouble that will delay them too long, and Sura won't be retrieved in time as a result.
Although she wonders what Benita said to the dormitory mother, Varielky doesn't ask. Whatever it was, it proved more efficient than her honesty. But anyway, seeing the women do not chase after them, Varielky releases Tamazaert's hand to allow her to run more easily. Then, after running out of view, Varielky slows down to walking and catches her breath. If they run through the halls, they'll be creating more noise and drawing more attention.
Snow throws Strewn a cheeky grin, shaking his head and shrugging. They had no other choice in truth, and it was time they left, Udad wouldn’t be stuck forever and they needed to be far away by the time he raised the alarm.
”Ok, let’s go”, he says quietly to Strewn, making for the exit the others took not so long ago. He stops briefly as he does so. "On second thoughts, we should make sure we have all we need from here first, we won’t get a second chance at this”.
He reaches into his pack and brings out the book he hid the page in. He carefully opens it so he and Strewn can both scan the contents together.
Py continues, ‘There are two parallel tram lines. One has not moved. I saw the other arrive at the castle from the mountain-top, and a heavily-armored man got out. It may have been Sorakayoshi. From what I can tell, someone on the tram must cast a spell to cause it to move and stop.’
Auger, Varielky, Benita and Tamazaert rush on through the school, and soon come to another stairway, at the top of which is another bridge leading to the castle. The bridge is open, with no roof. The castle’s terraces open out just two floors above you, and colorfully costumed VIPs chat and glasses clink as music soars through the air.
Py awaits, invisibly, on the bridge’s wall, just outside the school. A portcullis stands open at the bridge’s far end, where you see two guards, within the castle, facing away from you. The bridge is slightly arched, perhaps 50’ across.
Immediately after graduation, Safiyah was appointed as an acolyte to the temple of Idiwala in Jen Patryzeh, in Khazaran, in the Empire.
She returned to Orraca u Shia as a priestess of the Temple to Idiwala in Kalahata.
She is lauded for having saved the school and the vale from rebels.
Later, perhaps as recently as ten years ago, she was recognized for donating a sizable sum to the school, at which time she was the High Priest of Idiwala in Kalahata.
“By Sandstone’s beard!,” utters Granophyre, “the High Priest of Idiwala in Kalahata? But we learned she has been accused of treason, and jailed with the Lord Abziri, in The Poppy Citadel! Come, we must help the others, and then save Safiyah before the executioner’s axe silences her forever!”
A spell to cause the tram to move and stop. Hmmm. Perhaps, it is like the cantrip battery that Snow uses to move the Animu Borongo?
Auger relays the information to the others as they move. "...and the Warlock Captain is somewhere ahead of us. He should be someone to avoid." As Auger finishes speaking he sees the castle, the VIPs, the guards. "Also a party of that sort may attract nobility, including a Lord and Lady who cannot know we are here." Auger looks down at how he is dressed and winces at how easily recognizable he would be, and probably the same for Varielky.
"Benita, Tama... lets see how far your Imperial livery can get us. Perhaps you are escorting Varielky and I to meet someone upstairs?"
(OOC: Just so I am clear. We have to pass the guards, make our way up several floors, possibly through the VIP party and then we will get to the tram, correct? From where we are on this bridge we might be able to make out the tram lines?)
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DM of RotFM | AUGER the Warlock (Archfey & the Chain) / Shadow Sorcerer in Age of Resurgence | Rahui & Javier in Sea of Memory
"My thoughts exactly", Snow says as he realises at the same time as Strewn that Safiyah, as High Priest of Idiwala, had been arrested.
"Well, at least the task at hand of saving the baby will be good practice for our next mission. I expect this will be child's play compared to getting Safiyah out the Poppy Citadel", he says scratching the hair on the back of his head. "Why could she not have led a simple life on a farm a couple of miles from here?", he says with a rueful grin as he turns and leaves, following the same corridor that the others took some time ago.
He travels carefully, not rushing headlong around corners.
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Varielky waves back to the girls, thankful for their understanding. It seems she doesn't need to answer Auger anymore.
Especially when the woman's voice calls. It seems like a quick reaction is needed, whichever they choose. Varielky gives it a moment of thought, but doesn't really consider all the consequences. It's just the action she believes is right.
Varielky steps into the lounge. "Hey. Wait, please don't call anyone." Varielky tries to look unintimidating, which is strange because it's pretty much the opposite of what she usually does. "I know we're not supposed to be here. Don't worry, we're leaving. We have caused no harm to any of the girls. We're just passing through to the castle. The man with the dogs let us in." Varielky could continue, but she awaits to see the woman's response.
If it looks like the woman is about to shout, Varielky will lunge fireward to try covering her mouth. She promised the girls she will not hurt her, but she still can't let her call any guards.
Varielky
AUGER & VARIELKY
When Varielky steps into the lounge, Benita and Tamazaert following her, the woman’s expression takes on an emotionless facade. Her knitting slowly drops to her lap as Varielky speaks, and the dormitory-mother seems caught between getting angry or fleeing. But when the shield-maiden mentions the man with the dogs, the woman’s eyes close as she sets her jaw and takes a deep breath. A beat passes, then she firmly stows her knitting in a bag beside her, then rises, crossing her arms under her ample bosom as she speaks.
“The man with the dogs. Has no authority to have ‘let you in.’ I must ask you to turn around immediately and I will lock the door after you. I cannot understand how one who ‘knows they aren’t supposed to be here,’ is still here. You may explain it to the castle guards.” Her eyebrows float so high upon her brow they threaten to slip off her head like a gull taking flight, while her affronted aquiline nose points almost to the ceiling.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
SNOW
(OOC: nothing additional needed. Brilliant!)
Snow appears at the cafeteria door only a dozen yards ahead of Granophyre and Udad. The sage is saying, “I’m sure they must be here in the hall somewhere,” and as he notes the swirl of pollen presaging Snow’s imminent appearance, he points to a spot on the floor just behind Udad. “There they are! No? Oh, I am sorry, for I thought I saw something reflecting there.” This brief distracting allows Snow enough time to complete his deception and make it into the cafeteria while Strewn releases concentration on his spell, following which the bard sees his hands and arms and the rest of him reappear.
“Aha!!,” comes Udad’s voice. “Ach, not again! I leave em in the lock here like a fool!! What an old fool! But you’ve all been here long enough, and it is late.” He bursts into the cafeteria, his eyes latch upon Snow, and then he looks all around as Granophyre follows in, his eyes now directly upon Snow looking for a cue to what happens next.
“Where dey all geh??,” Udad demands, looking quite anxious and upset now.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Varielky's tone changes as she keeps talking. She is clearly no longer asking for permission. Yet, it is not a hostile tone either. "Whether he has the authority or not doesn't really concern me. Maybe I misspoke when I said we're 'not supposed to be here'. Rather, I should have said that I realise we're probably not welcomed here. However, the only other place we're supposed to be is further within the castle, or in fact, wherever it is they keep the stolen babies. You see, we're here to retrieve her baby boy," Varielky gestures towards Tamazaert, "and I will make sure the two reunite tonight, whatever it takes.
"Don't become an obstacle I must break through. You'll gain nothing from it. Pretend you didn't see us. We're not planning to hurt you or anyone within the school if we can help it, but that will not make me stop, and surely not stop those two." Varielky hopes mentioning rescuing a baby will have a similar effect on the woman as it had on the girls, but she wasn't sure. Adults are always more complicated. Either way, she has a feeling the woman will either be of little threat if things come to that, or someone with magical powers of some sort - based on the girls they met before and the equipment they had with them. If it is the latter, she's glad she put on the shield before.
Persuasion: 8+3=11.
Varielky
Snow looks up at Udad and then around the room, his face displaying his disinterest.
"I needed something to lubricate my throat before I practice my singing, so I told them to find me some tea", he says waving Udad's concern away.
"I suspect they are in the kitchen, you might want to look there if you are concerned", he adds a little distractedly.
"Aha", he says raising his violin in triumph. "Let's try something different".
He raises the violin to his chin and starts playing an intricate piece with the aim of warding off any more questions.
Deception: 17+8=25
Performance: 14+8=22
Auger steps forward to join Varielky and the others as they speak with the dormitory-mother. "My friend speaks the truth. On all counts. We must make our way. And we must save this child. Surely you can see the need for such an act. Please. Do not bar our way."
(Persuasion check, provided for convenience if necessary: 4 +8 =12)
Py, are you in range? How close are we to our goal?
DM of RotFM | AUGER the Warlock (Archfey & the Chain) / Shadow Sorcerer in Age of Resurgence | Rahui & Javier in Sea of Memory
VARIELKY & AUGER
The dormitory-mother’s face is drawn in firm lines now as Varielky and Auger speak, doubt in her eyes, certain that, whatever else may be the case, the story does not add up, at least from her perspective. Yet Varielky and Auger also note, when Varielky speaks of the stolen baby, the woman’s eyes tremble for a moment before her haughty glance falls downward, only to rise again a moment later to hold your eyes defiantly before turning her attention to Benita and Tamazaert.
“You are derelict in your duties,” she announces to the pair, still in their borrowed imperial livery, “if you will allow these… hooligans to invade the School for Girls in this way. I never forget a face. This will be reported to the garrison captain!” She doesn’t move however, until you begin to step past her, when, in desperation, she yells while backing away toward one of the corridors on the far side of the lounge, “Siima!! Help!! Hooligans!! GIRLS LOCK YOUR DOORS!! Help!! HELP!!!”
Py is not in range at this moment.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
"Tsk", Varielky lets out in frustration. "Let's just run past her." Varielky suggests to the others once the woman starts yelling. If nothing else, it should draw attention away from Granophyre and Snow.
Varielky takes Tamazaert's hand and pulls her along, past the woman, while making sure to keep her body between the two women just in case the dormitory-mother will try something beyond just yelling. She trusts Benita and Auger can get past the woman with no trouble.
Varielky
SNOW
I have never cared for the expression “to throw pearls before swine,” for the phrase is contemptuous, yet in this moment, let us say, Udad is not moved by Snow’s performance, even though, were she here, the School's music teacher would float in ecstasy in witness to Snow’s agile bow technique, his brilliant phrasing, his faultless execution. But as it is, Udad squints, sticks a trembling finger in his ear to clear the wax, then gives up.
“The kitchen?!?,” he whispers, rolling his eyes, and then moves to a side door which, fortunately for you, he had forgotten to lock earlier. “Fool!,” you hear him grunt in self-accusation as he opens the door and exits the room (, stage left), while Granophyre edges closer to Snow and the stage door.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Auger briefly considers taking a stronger action to silence the woman but then decides, in order for their story to have any meaning, should she choose to repeat it, any aggressive or illusory action against her would lend credence to her accusation. They were not hooligans. At least they were not trying to appear as such.
With some regret that his idea for misdirection and some hiding did not play out at all, Auger says, "Excuse me then," as he moves past the woman with the others. Thinking of the young girls at this school, and in particular, Ulyana with her connection to Ritha Demsha, Auger pauses to turn and say to the dorm-mother, "This Captain you mention. He is not trustworthy. Keep him from your girls. Protect them from him. If there is a villain around here. He. Is. It." Auger punctuates the words as best he can before turning away and moving along their route with the others.
Py... Py... Py...
Auger keeps trying to contact Py, now upset with himself for sending the fey alyasub ahead. They needed to know what or who would be following them. And how many.
DM of RotFM | AUGER the Warlock (Archfey & the Chain) / Shadow Sorcerer in Age of Resurgence | Rahui & Javier in Sea of Memory
Happy with his performance, Snow stops playing and lowers his violin. His mind racing thinking how they could lose Udad.
“Tenacious, isn’t he?”, He whispers to Strewn. “Ok, let’s try one last deception, can you subtly block the door he went in for a few moments?”.
He then raises his voice a little impatiently. “Where have you four been, I asked for tea ages ago? Oh, it doesn’t matter, go and make ready at the castle, we are running out of time”.
He then wanders over to stand by Strewn and calls out to Udad through the door. “Don’t worry, I sent them back outside to the castle”.
Deception: 11+8=19
Reaction:
He will use Cutting Words on Udad to distract him if he makes a move to push passed Strewn and Snow, or if he makes an Insight check to tell Snow is lying.
”You really must have your hands full here, dealing with all the students, I really don’t know how you cope with it all”.
Cutting Words: 7+2=9
AUGER & VARIELKY
Tamazaert follows Varielky’s lead, but Benita is already a blur, acrobatically leaping toward the dorm-mother. She takes the woman’s wrist, snapping her around, silences her with a single slap, and pulls her face-to-face, when she whispers something to the woman, whose eyes bulge in affront, and she stops in her tracks. Meanwhile, another woman—Siima, presumably— rushes into the lounge and freezes, seeing the dorm-mother in Benita’s grip.
Auger’s words then pierce the silence. Something like understanding begins to take shape in the two womens’ eyes, and you sense that the fight has left them. Benita steps away, and joins you as the two women stand together.
Benita’s eyes meet Varielky’s guiltily but determined. “Come on,” she says and you four continue onward.
‘Yes, master,’ replies Py a minute later, as you near another stairway up to the bridge across to the castle. ‘You are close to the castle but will have to make your way through it and up several stories to reach the tram.’
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
SNOW
Granophyre produces a small green pellet from his pouch and drops it in front of the kitchen door while intoning an arcane phrase. Strong, glowing green fibers immediately shoot out from the pellet, creating a tough web between the door, frame, floor and ceiling which holds as firm as the strongest lock.
“That should do it,” he whispers to Snow. Then cheerfully calling through the door, “But Maestro! You are now late for your performance! Hurry, hurry! Tata, Udad! we must make haste!”
(OOC: anything else? If not, Granophyre follows Snow)
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Auger relays the information from Py and hopes that the various delays will not cause them to miss the tram. Although he does think about Tamazaert and Sura, Auger cannot help but wonder what waits for him on top of the mountain. After letting his mind wander for a moment, Auger brings his thoughts back to where they are and what they are trying to do.
"We are entering the castle in a bit here and then through it to the tram. For our next encounter I think we should give our 'imperial' friends here a chance to lead us through. Eventually if we keep telling everyone our purpose, we will run across those who do not believe us and raise the chance of alerting those who we are trying to stop. Furthermore I would add that we do not want to bring the castle guard down on top of us. Or Tama and Sura will not be able to get away. Not from all the way above."
Auger does address everyone but hopes that Varielky is paying attention. Her honesty could betray Tama and Benita's purpose. Auger tries to convince himself that is why he is so concerned. But then his thoughts stray to the mountain again.
DM of RotFM | AUGER the Warlock (Archfey & the Chain) / Shadow Sorcerer in Age of Resurgence | Rahui & Javier in Sea of Memory
"Yes, you are right." Varielky answers in frustration. Her actions risked Sura and Tamazaert, and only because she chose to adhere to a code of honour. While that is important, she would not forgive herself if it ends up causing so much trouble that will delay them too long, and Sura won't be retrieved in time as a result.
Although she wonders what Benita said to the dormitory mother, Varielky doesn't ask. Whatever it was, it proved more efficient than her honesty. But anyway, seeing the women do not chase after them, Varielky releases Tamazaert's hand to allow her to run more easily. Then, after running out of view, Varielky slows down to walking and catches her breath. If they run through the halls, they'll be creating more noise and drawing more attention.
Varielky
Snow throws Strewn a cheeky grin, shaking his head and shrugging. They had no other choice in truth, and it was time they left, Udad wouldn’t be stuck forever and they needed to be far away by the time he raised the alarm.
”Ok, let’s go”, he says quietly to Strewn, making for the exit the others took not so long ago. He stops briefly as he does so. "On second thoughts, we should make sure we have all we need from here first, we won’t get a second chance at this”.
He reaches into his pack and brings out the book he hid the page in. He carefully opens it so he and Strewn can both scan the contents together.
Investigation: (Advantage for Enhance Ability): (
6,13)+7=20VARIELKY & AUGER
Py continues, ‘There are two parallel tram lines. One has not moved. I saw the other arrive at the castle from the mountain-top, and a heavily-armored man got out. It may have been Sorakayoshi. From what I can tell, someone on the tram must cast a spell to cause it to move and stop.’
Auger, Varielky, Benita and Tamazaert rush on through the school, and soon come to another stairway, at the top of which is another bridge leading to the castle. The bridge is open, with no roof. The castle’s terraces open out just two floors above you, and colorfully costumed VIPs chat and glasses clink as music soars through the air.
Py awaits, invisibly, on the bridge’s wall, just outside the school. A portcullis stands open at the bridge’s far end, where you see two guards, within the castle, facing away from you. The bridge is slightly arched, perhaps 50’ across.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
SNOW
Quickly scanning the document, Snow reads that:
Immediately after graduation, Safiyah was appointed as an acolyte to the temple of Idiwala in Jen Patryzeh, in Khazaran, in the Empire.
She returned to Orraca u Shia as a priestess of the Temple to Idiwala in Kalahata.
She is lauded for having saved the school and the vale from rebels.
Later, perhaps as recently as ten years ago, she was recognized for donating a sizable sum to the school, at which time she was the High Priest of Idiwala in Kalahata.
“By Sandstone’s beard!,” utters Granophyre, “the High Priest of Idiwala in Kalahata? But we learned she has been accused of treason, and jailed with the Lord Abziri, in The Poppy Citadel! Come, we must help the others, and then save Safiyah before the executioner’s axe silences her forever!”
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
A spell to cause the tram to move and stop. Hmmm. Perhaps, it is like the cantrip battery that Snow uses to move the Animu Borongo?
Auger relays the information to the others as they move. "...and the Warlock Captain is somewhere ahead of us. He should be someone to avoid." As Auger finishes speaking he sees the castle, the VIPs, the guards. "Also a party of that sort may attract nobility, including a Lord and Lady who cannot know we are here." Auger looks down at how he is dressed and winces at how easily recognizable he would be, and probably the same for Varielky.
"Benita, Tama... lets see how far your Imperial livery can get us. Perhaps you are escorting Varielky and I to meet someone upstairs?"
(OOC: Just so I am clear. We have to pass the guards, make our way up several floors, possibly through the VIP party and then we will get to the tram, correct? From where we are on this bridge we might be able to make out the tram lines?)
DM of RotFM | AUGER the Warlock (Archfey & the Chain) / Shadow Sorcerer in Age of Resurgence | Rahui & Javier in Sea of Memory
"My thoughts exactly", Snow says as he realises at the same time as Strewn that Safiyah, as High Priest of Idiwala, had been arrested.
"Well, at least the task at hand of saving the baby will be good practice for our next mission. I expect this will be child's play compared to getting Safiyah out the Poppy Citadel", he says scratching the hair on the back of his head. "Why could she not have led a simple life on a farm a couple of miles from here?", he says with a rueful grin as he turns and leaves, following the same corridor that the others took some time ago.
He travels carefully, not rushing headlong around corners.