Demoiselle spoke up to the footman. "Good sir, Lord Atterley gave his permission for the body to be borne away for Resurrection. Surely it will be alright, you might say this is Atterley family business."
Quill follows Tryma as she darts through the crowd. Despite her diminutive size, she seems to naturally maintain a space around herself amongst the press of people. Just outside the front gates she pauses and gestures to a cloaked figure. Something about his stance seems familiar to you somehow. (Make a Wisdom or Perception check, your choice)
Demoiselle: The footmen studies you for a moment, sniffs as if still not entirely convinced, and then his left hand extends, open-palmed, low near his hip. "Of course, the gentleman who requested similar services this morning came with a more... "weighty" argument."
Demoiselle: The greedy footman's eyes widen, obviously not having expected so much gold from a new maid. The money disappears into his pocket and, with his other hand, he snaps and directs the other footmen by the carriage to quickly move Tristan's body into the waiting carriage. They wrap it first in a large black blanket that looks like it was originally intended to go across the over-sized coffin. Dawnlord Wintermoon, ignoring all propriety, steps up into the funeral carriage after them. He looks back out towards you to see if you intend to come along.
Demoiselle gave the Dawnlord another wry smile and climbed in after him. "It would seem that for some, the sun shines brightest on gold." She murmured softly into his ear.
Demoiselle: The old elf smiles a bit distractedly. "Did you catch the other bit of what he said?" He rubs the side of his nose thoughtfully with one thin finger. "Who do you suppose requested similar services this morning?" The carriage moves out with a lurch and heads towards the Basilica not far from the Atterley mansion. Wintermoon glances around the interior of the black silk lined carriage as if answers could sprout from it.
Esvaris: You see your companions head off in different directions; Quill must have left during the commotion, Korlan then following after the little rotund old steward, and finally Demoiselle and Wintermoon exiting in the carriage which heads in the direction of the Basilica. The last few higher ranking nobles waiting for their personal carriages to arrive are eyeing you with curiosity. A middle-aged, morbidly obese woman, richly dressed and dripping in jewels and an ostrich plumed silk headband gives you an inviting wink before her husband, rolling his eyes at her obviously not surprising prurient behavior, steers her toward the next approaching carriage with an air of authority. As they move away she looks back over her shoulder, feathered fan spread to hide her expression from her husband, and blows a kiss toward you.
Quill: You see the dark cloaked figure meet her, seem to receive hurriedly whispered words, and lope off with unnaturally long quick strides towards the direction of the Basilica. Tryma, moving stealthily, heads toward an alley between Atterley's estate and the next one. Large stone-walled fences rising on each side cast the space between into darkness.
Quill: The young gnome druid girl is crouched down on one knee, her back to you as you enter the dim alley. She is clutching her green cloak with both hands and spreading it wide open, head tipped back and eyes closed as she whispers in a magically enhanced vibrating high voice, "Come to me, little ones. No one will harm you. This is no place for you. I will take you to cool dark woods and soft earth." She does not seem aware of you or respond to your hesitant query. As her magic summons ripples outward, you see dark wriggling shapes appear slipping over the top of the stone wall of Atterley's estate. Several snakes swarm towards her, the first to arrive slithering up her legs and disappearing into the pockets of her cloak which now ripples and moves. You recognize her use of an Animal Friendship enchantment.
"Tryma!"Quill says more forcefully, though he continues in a calmer tone.
"What exactly are you doing? You have to be aware that this" (as he speaks Quill gestures with his glowing hand, glances at it, and extinguishes the readied spell) "looks rather suspicious with the amount of snake-related mischief that's been going on."
Quill: The petite gnome startles and gets awkwardly to her feet as her cloak ripples unnaturally before settling down. Her familiar overalls and large boots seem more suited to a farm than an alley in a wealthy suburb. She frowns at you for a moment and then says, "I'm doing what I've been hired to do, of course. Relocating critters." Then she scratches her head with one dirt encrusted fingernail. "Wait, what snake-related mischief?" Tryma looks at you like you're speaking nonsense.
Demoiselle made a thoughtful noise. "I would say either Dawnlord Menges or Lord Atterley, given both gentlemen have been quite busy of late. I would perhaps lean closer to Lord Atterley as he seems quite determined to be 'king by his own hand' as it were."
Esvaris: You did see Demoiselle and your mentor, Wintermoon, have the body removed to the funeral carriage and climb in after it. They just left.
Demoiselle: Wintermoon nods, ruminating on your words, unfocused eyes staring sightlessly at the corpse. "Yet they both seemed quite shocked at their father's passing. I do believe that Atterley had something against his father, but then, oldest sons often do. I think, however, that he wished him to be more audience than stepping-stone to his success." The carriage comes to rest with a slight jolt. You've arrived in front of the great steps of the Basilica. Morning has come and gone while you were investigating the Atterley mansion and the heat of midday is making the carriage uncomfortably warm now. The old elf's eyes suddenly turn to Demoiselle and crinkle with what looks suspiciously like mirth. "Do you plan to be a servitor in the Basilica as well as Lord Atterley's mansion?" he inquires while taking in your maid's uniform. The carriage doors are opened by the same footman you spoke to earlier. He does not offer a hand to help you descend, but rather waits impatiently for your to exit so that his under-footmen may remove the body.
Quill: Eyebrows raised at your serious tone and words, Tryma holds up her hands, empty palms facing out. "The church keeps its business within its own walls. If there has been any strange doings they sure haven't shared it with the likes of me! But I suppose the summer heat may of brought out more creepy crawlies than usual." She shrugs and steps towards you, heading toward the mouth of the alley where you entered and are still standing. You hear a carriage pass behind you.
Demoiselle spoke up to the footman. "Good sir, Lord Atterley gave his permission for the body to be borne away for Resurrection. Surely it will be alright, you might say this is Atterley family business."
Demoiselle make a persuasion check.
Persuasion: 12
Quill follows Tryma as she darts through the crowd. Despite her diminutive size, she seems to naturally maintain a space around herself amongst the press of people. Just outside the front gates she pauses and gestures to a cloaked figure. Something about his stance seems familiar to you somehow. (Make a Wisdom or Perception check, your choice)
Demoiselle: The footmen studies you for a moment, sniffs as if still not entirely convinced, and then his left hand extends, open-palmed, low near his hip. "Of course, the gentleman who requested similar services this morning came with a more... "weighty" argument."
Perception: 20
And that's all I have to say about that.
Quill:
(Check your messages)
Demoiselle smiled cynically and slipped five gold pieces into the waiting hand. "This weighty?"
Demoiselle: The greedy footman's eyes widen, obviously not having expected so much gold from a new maid. The money disappears into his pocket and, with his other hand, he snaps and directs the other footmen by the carriage to quickly move Tristan's body into the waiting carriage. They wrap it first in a large black blanket that looks like it was originally intended to go across the over-sized coffin. Dawnlord Wintermoon, ignoring all propriety, steps up into the funeral carriage after them. He looks back out towards you to see if you intend to come along.
Esvaris
Seeing my friends leave, I follow to see what they are up to.
IRL: Dungeon Master--Adventures in the Cassitana Islands
PbP: Player--Esvaris Liadon, Wood Elf Monk 2/Cleric 2--Clerical Heirs: A Divine Mystery
Demoiselle gave the Dawnlord another wry smile and climbed in after him. "It would seem that for some, the sun shines brightest on gold." She murmured softly into his ear.
Demoiselle: The old elf smiles a bit distractedly. "Did you catch the other bit of what he said?" He rubs the side of his nose thoughtfully with one thin finger. "Who do you suppose requested similar services this morning?" The carriage moves out with a lurch and heads towards the Basilica not far from the Atterley mansion. Wintermoon glances around the interior of the black silk lined carriage as if answers could sprout from it.
Esvaris: You see your companions head off in different directions; Quill must have left during the commotion, Korlan then following after the little rotund old steward, and finally Demoiselle and Wintermoon exiting in the carriage which heads in the direction of the Basilica. The last few higher ranking nobles waiting for their personal carriages to arrive are eyeing you with curiosity. A middle-aged, morbidly obese woman, richly dressed and dripping in jewels and an ostrich plumed silk headband gives you an inviting wink before her husband, rolling his eyes at her obviously not surprising prurient behavior, steers her toward the next approaching carriage with an air of authority. As they move away she looks back over her shoulder, feathered fan spread to hide her expression from her husband, and blows a kiss toward you.
Quill: You see the dark cloaked figure meet her, seem to receive hurriedly whispered words, and lope off with unnaturally long quick strides towards the direction of the Basilica. Tryma, moving stealthily, heads toward an alley between Atterley's estate and the next one. Large stone-walled fences rising on each side cast the space between into darkness.
Quill stops.
"Which way, which way," he mutters, then heads towards the alley, readying a Sacred Flame, just in case.
Quill's hand glows slightly as he reaches the alley.
"Tryma?" he calls uncertainly.
And that's all I have to say about that.
Quill: The young gnome druid girl is crouched down on one knee, her back to you as you enter the dim alley. She is clutching her green cloak with both hands and spreading it wide open, head tipped back and eyes closed as she whispers in a magically enhanced vibrating high voice, "Come to me, little ones. No one will harm you. This is no place for you. I will take you to cool dark woods and soft earth." She does not seem aware of you or respond to your hesitant query. As her magic summons ripples outward, you see dark wriggling shapes appear slipping over the top of the stone wall of Atterley's estate. Several snakes swarm towards her, the first to arrive slithering up her legs and disappearing into the pockets of her cloak which now ripples and moves. You recognize her use of an Animal Friendship enchantment.
"Tryma!" Quill says more forcefully, though he continues in a calmer tone.
"What exactly are you doing? You have to be aware that this" (as he speaks Quill gestures with his glowing hand, glances at it, and extinguishes the readied spell) "looks rather suspicious with the amount of snake-related mischief that's been going on."
And that's all I have to say about that.
Quill: The petite gnome startles and gets awkwardly to her feet as her cloak ripples unnaturally before settling down. Her familiar overalls and large boots seem more suited to a farm than an alley in a wealthy suburb. She frowns at you for a moment and then says, "I'm doing what I've been hired to do, of course. Relocating critters." Then she scratches her head with one dirt encrusted fingernail. "Wait, what snake-related mischief?" Tryma looks at you like you're speaking nonsense.
Esvaris
I blush when I notice the woman blowing me a kiss. But then I will look around for Desmoiselle.
Perception: 19
IRL: Dungeon Master--Adventures in the Cassitana Islands
PbP: Player--Esvaris Liadon, Wood Elf Monk 2/Cleric 2--Clerical Heirs: A Divine Mystery
Quill frowns, not relaxing in the slightest.
"Well, there's been a multitude of snake attacks, both at the basilica and around the area. Are you seriously claiming to not know anything of this?"
And that's all I have to say about that.
Demoiselle made a thoughtful noise. "I would say either Dawnlord Menges or Lord Atterley, given both gentlemen have been quite busy of late. I would perhaps lean closer to Lord Atterley as he seems quite determined to be 'king by his own hand' as it were."
Esvaris: You did see Demoiselle and your mentor, Wintermoon, have the body removed to the funeral carriage and climb in after it. They just left.
Demoiselle: Wintermoon nods, ruminating on your words, unfocused eyes staring sightlessly at the corpse. "Yet they both seemed quite shocked at their father's passing. I do believe that Atterley had something against his father, but then, oldest sons often do. I think, however, that he wished him to be more audience than stepping-stone to his success." The carriage comes to rest with a slight jolt. You've arrived in front of the great steps of the Basilica. Morning has come and gone while you were investigating the Atterley mansion and the heat of midday is making the carriage uncomfortably warm now. The old elf's eyes suddenly turn to Demoiselle and crinkle with what looks suspiciously like mirth. "Do you plan to be a servitor in the Basilica as well as Lord Atterley's mansion?" he inquires while taking in your maid's uniform. The carriage doors are opened by the same footman you spoke to earlier. He does not offer a hand to help you descend, but rather waits impatiently for your to exit so that his under-footmen may remove the body.
Quill: Eyebrows raised at your serious tone and words, Tryma holds up her hands, empty palms facing out. "The church keeps its business within its own walls. If there has been any strange doings they sure haven't shared it with the likes of me! But I suppose the summer heat may of brought out more creepy crawlies than usual." She shrugs and steps towards you, heading toward the mouth of the alley where you entered and are still standing. You hear a carriage pass behind you.
Esvaris
I use my monk speed to try to beat them to the Basilica.
IRL: Dungeon Master--Adventures in the Cassitana Islands
PbP: Player--Esvaris Liadon, Wood Elf Monk 2/Cleric 2--Clerical Heirs: A Divine Mystery