"Hopefully we won't need it, at that." Cyril inclines his head a touch towards Kira. "But best prepared. I think finding a way to keep something concealed and available is a good idea."
The lightning rail trip is uneventful, although this is likely the first time any of you have actually ridden on one of the techno-magical wonders criss-crossing the continent. Gloriana Morilla is your contact in Fairhaven. Your mission briefing gave you her name, a picture, a day and time, and an address of a teahouse in the Petals District. The Academy library has maps of all the lands and major cities, so you get an idea of how to get there from the lightning rail station. Your trip is timed so that you arrive in the city a few hours before your meeting.
Gloriana Morilla
At the designated time, you arrive at the shop, the smells of teas and various herbs thick in the air. Glorianna is talking to the host near the rear of the main room, and she motions you over towards a private dining room. After a team of servers has brought in an array of snacks and drinks, she checks to ensure that nobody is eavesdropping and then addresses you.
“Nearly a year ago, I convinced Queen Amara’s sister here to assemble an Army to do battle in the Mournland and inspire others to do the same. Admittedly, we also aimed to restore some of Aundair’s lost glory, if its leaders would show initiative by funding their own crusaders. Most of the nobility here continued to sit idly and mock our efforts, yet now that the army is proving victorious, these critics are racing to claim that they were key contributors.“ A look of disdain crosses her face, then changes to a look of disgust as she continues.
“Several of the Grand Prince’s loudest sycophants— including the boorish Lord Minovitas—are in Fairhaven for the dedication of ‘The Orien Trace Commission,’ which is a new guildhall intended to host business from across Khorvaire and is scheduled to open tomorrow afternoon. One of our agents serves as an aide to Lord Minovitas, and he reports that the lord commissioned the celebrated painter Amya Illanaf to create a series of portraits to hang in the grand hall. I have since learned that these are entitled ‘The Heroes of the Mournland.’ The one this agent chanced to see portrayed that portly hound Lord Minovitas in pristine battle regalia with his foot planted on a dead fiend, as though he had slain it himself— all while the Nine sing his praises in the background.
“We cannot afford to let Khorvaire see these, for they would perpetuate the stereotype that Aundair is a land of foppish aristocrats dedicated to their own grandiose delusions. If we let this happen, we would reward the ineptitude and indolence so common in Aundair’s upper class. We would also surrender much of the credit we are due.”
“I have made arrangements to sabotage the portraits, which Lord Minovitas is keeping covered until they are unveiled to the public. If you can get to the paintings first, you might secretly deface or alter them to embarrass Lord Minovitas and send a message to other Aundarian nobles who would do the same. At present, the art waits in a warehouse in the Wise Quarter. Find a way in, do what you must, and avoid hurting innocents or being caught in the act; we’re trying to help Aundair, not start a civil war.” She stops and takes a small pastry from the platter.
Morilla knows that this is a difficult task, and she is willing to contribute material resources to help you accomplish the job. She has two scrolls of erase that she cautions will destroy a painting rather than alter it, which is less desirable. She also has one scroll of permanent illusion, and ample paints to repaint a couple of portraits. Third, she had enough warning to commission an unframed painting of her own that you might use to replace Lord Minovitas’s gaudy art. It is a fairly realistic depiction of Morilla mustering soldiers to travel to the Mournland. Finally, she gives you a tiny silver figure of a raven (a figurine of wondrous power (silver raven)), requesting that once you have completed the sabotage, you contact her via the figurine for further instructions.
Pepper in no way condones all six of us traveling as a pack, and as a result we arrive at the rendezvous in singles or pairs. She behaves herself on the trip. :)
As the briefing pauses, she is all business. “How many portraits, exactly? When are they to be moved from the warehouse? Tonight? Or in the morning?”
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he). Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. I love it so.
During the lightning rail journey Caelyn makes sure to look out of the windows as much as she can to see the blurs of passing towns and countrysides. After a while she dozes off to sleep and only wakes up when the rail makes a stop.
When arriving at the teahouse she quickly enters the building under Peppers instructions to not seem like a big pack. Having prepared some things with Andela she pulls out a small purse like bag to put some small paint samples into next to some parfume without making it to bulky.
She repeats Gloriana's words to remember better Lord Minovitas.. Caelyn will wait to hear what Gloriana's answers to Peppers questions.
"This Minovitas sounds like a pompous ass, for certain."
Cyril mutters to himself, before sipping from a glass of water. He had spent the majority of the voyage in alternating states of quiet excitement and quiet anxiety, intrigued by the rail trip and anticipating their assignment. While this was certainly not anything he would have guessed they would be doing, there was a certain enjoyment in the idea of letting the air out of some large-headed horse's rear.
Glorianna answers Pepper's question as best she can. "There are at least 5 paintings - none of which are worth saving. The paintings will remain in the warehouse overnight, then be transported to the new Guild Hall in the morning. The grand opening ceremony is scheduled for the early afternoon. Plenty of time even for you Bastards!"
Here are some things you've picked up on your trip or from your studies: DC10 Investigation:
Lord Minovitas is a Aundarian nobleman who has spent much of the past year in Fairhaven laying the groundwork for future business endeavors, though most of that time he has spent intoxicated while wining and dining influential citizens.
DC15 Investigation:
His lordship is fighting a losing battle to maintain his upstanding image in Fairhaven as several Aundarians have begun telling stories of Lord Minovitas’s habitual exploitation of his ancestral lands and its people. At least two of these rumormongers have disappeared very suddenly in the past month.
DC20 Investigation:
Lord Minovitas’s superiors have formally censured him on at least two occasions for “ignoble conduct,” which would qualify as felonies if performed by a commoner.
If you scout out the warehouse, you may learn some useful things. DC10 Perception:
The warehouse in question helps to stock shops in the Wise Quarter and Foreign Quarter, so it contains a wide variety of goods. Prospective clients visit often to rent out space or order shipments of goods, which often includes a tour of the facility.
DC15 Perception:
Lord Minovitas sent for a handful of guards to transport six flat crates from the warehouse, but they are yet to arrive at the guildhall. His lordship sent word that he intends to dispatch replacements soon to retrieve his possessions.
DC20 Perception:
Business has been slow for the warehouse, and the owner is late in paying his employees’ wages—much to the workers’ chagrin.
And Pepper will, of course, accompany the scouting group, but given she's wearing her chain, she will not approach close enough to perceive, so no roll for her.
Cyril will do what he can to try and "overhear" any information he can on this Lord Minovitas, and will certainly do his best to scout out the premises ahead of time.
Perception being much more of Ashe's forte, he picks up a good deal of information regarding the warehouse. "Underpaid workers, eh? We could use that to our advantage if we pay them enough, maybe... And we could certainly pose as the guards Minovitas is expecting."
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Climbing the rooftops Caelyn covers a good part of the warehouse and adds to Ashe's observations It seems Lord Minovitas exploits his ancestral lands and its people, two people speaking of this disappeared recently.
He has a bad image and some might be in fear of speaking of it. Perhaps the families of those that disappeared can help us as well.
"It seems that they even give tours of this warehouse to prospective clients. Perhaps a way in that way? And bad image seems apt. Seems to be a drunkard and a hedonist from what I've heard."
As the group gathers again (I presume) after all this skullduggery, Pepper looks wistful. “So, we’re not just going to break and enter in the middle of the night. We’re going to take the complicated route, instead?”
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he). Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. I love it so.
Caelyn listens intently to the group sharing all the gathered information.
With Cyrils question she turns to Pepper and smiles saying 'ofcourse we are' without even having to make a sound.
Hmm.. we should play to the groups strength. We are not familiar in these parts so sticking together will help our cause.
She walks around a bit tapping a single finger onto her lips and she considers their options. Posing as guards would seem to fit our group, however when the real guards show up it would blow our cover.
Caelyn takes a few more steps then turns around. We will pose as potential clients trying to find out if the warehouse is safe and up to par for our product.As she speaks her gaze drifts off as she visualises the plan in front of her Ashe can do most of the talking as our spokesperson. Myself and Cyril could pose as one set of clients and Kira could be other.She looks to Kira Make sure bring some of your thinkering to serve as a small sample of your product. Pepper and Pernach would be the obvious muscle.
We can spread a rumor that rebels are posing as Lord Minovitas guards to delay them, giving us more time to change the paintings. Since the workers are not getting paid properly we should be able to pay them some coins to make fun of Minovitas.
Her gaze returns to the others and she looks smug and waits the reaction of the others.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Investigation 7
Perception 16
Pernach had taken some time to wander around the warehouse with an "ear" open but didn't pick up anything not already covered by one of the others.
"The ruse gets us into the warehouse and a chance to look about. Do you plan to bribe/persuade our guides to leave us alone long enough to deface the paintings, or do you mean to return later for that task? Would they stay bribed when the fop starts looking for someone to blame?"
"I say we play that part by ear. If there is an opportunity to have some time alone with the paintings and deal with them, then good. If not, we come back later tonight under cover of darkness, forearmed with our earlier observations of the interior."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
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“I could always take a couple of pig stickers instead of good blades, l guess,” Pepper allows, talking about rapiers.
ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he).
Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. I love it so.
Pernach collects his portion of the coins before passing the bag along to the next member of the team. "We'll see what we can take with us."
"Hopefully we won't need it, at that." Cyril inclines his head a touch towards Kira. "But best prepared. I think finding a way to keep something concealed and available is a good idea."
(Ready to move on?)
The lightning rail trip is uneventful, although this is likely the first time any of you have actually ridden on one of the techno-magical wonders criss-crossing the continent. Gloriana Morilla is your contact in Fairhaven. Your mission briefing gave you her name, a picture, a day and time, and an address of a teahouse in the Petals District. The Academy library has maps of all the lands and major cities, so you get an idea of how to get there from the lightning rail station. Your trip is timed so that you arrive in the city a few hours before your meeting.
At the designated time, you arrive at the shop, the smells of teas and various herbs thick in the air. Glorianna is talking to the host near the rear of the main room, and she motions you over towards a private dining room. After a team of servers has brought in an array of snacks and drinks, she checks to ensure that nobody is eavesdropping and then addresses you.
“Nearly a year ago, I convinced Queen Amara’s sister here to assemble an Army to do battle in the Mournland and inspire others to do the same. Admittedly, we also aimed to restore some of Aundair’s lost glory, if its leaders would show initiative by funding their own crusaders. Most of the nobility here continued to sit idly and mock our efforts, yet now that the army is proving victorious, these critics are racing to claim that they were key contributors.“ A look of disdain crosses her face, then changes to a look of disgust as she continues.
“Several of the Grand Prince’s loudest sycophants— including the boorish Lord Minovitas—are in Fairhaven for the dedication of ‘The Orien Trace Commission,’ which is a new guildhall intended to host business from across Khorvaire and is scheduled to open tomorrow afternoon. One of our agents serves as an aide to Lord Minovitas, and he reports that the lord commissioned the celebrated painter Amya Illanaf to create a series of portraits to hang in the grand hall. I have since learned that these are entitled ‘The Heroes of the Mournland.’ The one this agent chanced to see portrayed that portly hound Lord Minovitas in pristine battle regalia with his foot planted on a dead fiend, as though he had slain it himself— all while the Nine sing his praises in the background.
“We cannot afford to let Khorvaire see these, for they would perpetuate the stereotype that Aundair is a land of foppish aristocrats dedicated to their own grandiose delusions. If we let this happen, we would reward the ineptitude and indolence so common in Aundair’s upper class. We would also surrender much of the credit we are due.”
“I have made arrangements to sabotage the portraits, which Lord Minovitas is keeping covered until they are unveiled to the public. If you can get to the paintings first, you might secretly deface or alter them to embarrass Lord Minovitas and send a message to other Aundarian nobles who would do the same. At present, the art waits in a warehouse in the Wise Quarter. Find a way in, do what you must, and avoid hurting innocents or being caught in the act; we’re trying to help Aundair, not start a civil war.” She stops and takes a small pastry from the platter.
Morilla knows that this is a difficult task, and she is willing to contribute material resources to help you accomplish the job. She has two scrolls of erase that she cautions will destroy a painting rather than alter it, which is less desirable. She also has one scroll of permanent illusion, and ample paints to repaint a couple of portraits. Third, she had enough warning to commission an unframed painting of her own that you might use to replace Lord Minovitas’s gaudy art. It is a fairly realistic depiction of Morilla mustering soldiers to travel to the Mournland. Finally, she gives you a tiny silver figure of a raven (a figurine of wondrous power (silver raven)), requesting that once you have completed the sabotage, you contact her via the figurine for further instructions.
Love God. Love Others. Any Questions?
Pepper in no way condones all six of us traveling as a pack, and as a result we arrive at the rendezvous in singles or pairs. She behaves herself on the trip. :)
As the briefing pauses, she is all business. “How many portraits, exactly? When are they to be moved from the warehouse? Tonight? Or in the morning?”
ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he).
Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. I love it so.
During the lightning rail journey Caelyn makes sure to look out of the windows as much as she can to see the blurs of passing towns and countrysides. After a while she dozes off to sleep and only wakes up when the rail makes a stop.
When arriving at the teahouse she quickly enters the building under Peppers instructions to not seem like a big pack. Having prepared some things with Andela she pulls out a small purse like bag to put some small paint samples into next to some parfume without making it to bulky.
She repeats Gloriana's words to remember better Lord Minovitas.. Caelyn will wait to hear what Gloriana's answers to Peppers questions.
"This Minovitas sounds like a pompous ass, for certain."
Cyril mutters to himself, before sipping from a glass of water. He had spent the majority of the voyage in alternating states of quiet excitement and quiet anxiety, intrigued by the rail trip and anticipating their assignment. While this was certainly not anything he would have guessed they would be doing, there was a certain enjoyment in the idea of letting the air out of some large-headed horse's rear.
Glorianna answers Pepper's question as best she can. "There are at least 5 paintings - none of which are worth saving. The paintings will remain in the warehouse overnight, then be transported to the new Guild Hall in the morning. The grand opening ceremony is scheduled for the early afternoon. Plenty of time even for you Bastards!"
Here are some things you've picked up on your trip or from your studies:
DC10 Investigation:
Lord Minovitas is a Aundarian nobleman who has spent much of the past year in Fairhaven laying the groundwork for future business endeavors, though most of that time he has spent intoxicated while wining and dining influential citizens.
DC15 Investigation:
His lordship is fighting a losing battle to maintain his upstanding image in Fairhaven as several Aundarians have begun telling stories of Lord Minovitas’s habitual exploitation of his ancestral lands and its people. At least two of these rumormongers have disappeared very suddenly in the past month.
DC20 Investigation:
Lord Minovitas’s superiors have formally censured him on at least two occasions for “ignoble conduct,” which would qualify as felonies if performed by a commoner.
If you scout out the warehouse, you may learn some useful things.
DC10 Perception:
The warehouse in question helps to stock shops in the Wise Quarter and Foreign Quarter, so it contains a wide variety of goods. Prospective clients visit often to rent out space or order shipments of goods, which often includes a tour of the facility.
DC15 Perception:
Lord Minovitas sent for a handful of guards to transport six flat crates from the warehouse, but they are yet to arrive at the guildhall. His lordship sent word that he intends to dispatch replacements soon to retrieve his possessions.
DC20 Perception:
Business has been slow for the warehouse, and the owner is late in paying his employees’ wages—much to the workers’ chagrin.
Love God. Love Others. Any Questions?
Pepper tries to investigate (+0): 10
And Pepper will, of course, accompany the scouting group, but given she's wearing her chain, she will not approach close enough to perceive, so no roll for her.
ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he).
Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. I love it so.
Cyril will do what he can to try and "overhear" any information he can on this Lord Minovitas, and will certainly do his best to scout out the premises ahead of time.
Investigation: 12
Perception: 16
Perception: 24
Investigation: 8
Perception being much more of Ashe's forte, he picks up a good deal of information regarding the warehouse. "Underpaid workers, eh? We could use that to our advantage if we pay them enough, maybe... And we could certainly pose as the guards Minovitas is expecting."
Climbing the rooftops Caelyn covers a good part of the warehouse and adds to Ashe's observations It seems Lord Minovitas exploits his ancestral lands and its people, two people speaking of this disappeared recently.
He has a bad image and some might be in fear of speaking of it. Perhaps the families of those that disappeared can help us as well.
"It seems that they even give tours of this warehouse to prospective clients. Perhaps a way in that way? And bad image seems apt. Seems to be a drunkard and a hedonist from what I've heard."
As the group gathers again (I presume) after all this skullduggery, Pepper looks wistful. “So, we’re not just going to break and enter in the middle of the night. We’re going to take the complicated route, instead?”
ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he).
Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. I love it so.
Cyril can't help but smile at Pepper's obvious disappointment at the prospect of a more tactful entry.
"Personally I'm fine with either. Whatever is most effective and gets us in to do the job."
He tosses a glance to Caelynn, questioning.
"Seems like this might be your speciality. Which way do you want to try it?"
Caelyn listens intently to the group sharing all the gathered information.
With Cyrils question she turns to Pepper and smiles saying 'ofcourse we are' without even having to make a sound.
Hmm.. we should play to the groups strength. We are not familiar in these parts so sticking together will help our cause.
She walks around a bit tapping a single finger onto her lips and she considers their options. Posing as guards would seem to fit our group, however when the real guards show up it would blow our cover.
Caelyn takes a few more steps then turns around. We will pose as potential clients trying to find out if the warehouse is safe and up to par for our product. As she speaks her gaze drifts off as she visualises the plan in front of her Ashe can do most of the talking as our spokesperson. Myself and Cyril could pose as one set of clients and Kira could be other. She looks to Kira Make sure bring some of your thinkering to serve as a small sample of your product. Pepper and Pernach would be the obvious muscle.
We can spread a rumor that rebels are posing as Lord Minovitas guards to delay them, giving us more time to change the paintings. Since the workers are not getting paid properly we should be able to pay them some coins to make fun of Minovitas.
Her gaze returns to the others and she looks smug and waits the reaction of the others.
Cyril nods, his expression contemplating for a moment. "This seems as good a plan as any to me. I say we go for it."
Pepper seems to be thinking, then shrugs. "It's a part I know how to play, so well enough."
ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he).
Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. I love it so.
Investigation 7
Perception 16
Pernach had taken some time to wander around the warehouse with an "ear" open but didn't pick up anything not already covered by one of the others.
"The ruse gets us into the warehouse and a chance to look about. Do you plan to bribe/persuade our guides to leave us alone long enough to deface the paintings, or do you mean to return later for that task? Would they stay bribed when the fop starts looking for someone to blame?"
"I say we play that part by ear. If there is an opportunity to have some time alone with the paintings and deal with them, then good. If not, we come back later tonight under cover of darkness, forearmed with our earlier observations of the interior."