What say you?" Es Sarch's voice comes out raspy and cold.
Xanrym says, "I look on this alliance favorably since Bruthwol Coalhauler spoke highly of you, but while I'm speaking here on behalf of our Company, I must put any new 'contract' to their vote before I can agree." He pauses as if to consider something and then continues, "In thinking about how I will present your offer to the rest of our Company, your proposal seems to place all of the risk on our side of the alliance. We must complete all of your tasks before you deliver the information. Even if you want to provide us with the information, it's possible that you fail to discover anything helpful to our Company. That hardly seems reasonable. Is there anything that you can offer in recompense to our Company as we complete each these tasks? Some form of payment? Or maybe some sort of collateral or surety, delivered up-front? Perhaps you could provide us with other information, less valuable and crucial to our missions, but still something that you'd normally only reveal for a price? I think that it would be easier to convince my associates to accept this alliance if they were not risking everything for a hope of an answer."
Persuasion: 17 (min value from Silver Tongue feature) - Xanrym tries to bargain for some sort of up-front or incremental payment for The Company's services.
Persuasion: 24 - second roll in case Khessa is able to help is this negotiation, giving a final result of 24
Es Sarch nods, "If you accept my errands, I will be slightly looser with other information I bequeath to you." A sinewy and gaunt hand comes out from the robe in a gesture for you to shake.
Khessa doesn't lose her smile despite her interlocutor's relative coldness, because the proposed agreement seems good to her, all things considered.
'Not to mention,' the blonde arcane warrior thinks to herself 'if the company establishes good relations with Es Sarch, once our joint hunt is over, I can also turn to him for my own personal hunt—that of those who enslaved my family!'
The tall adventuress, however, leaves it up to Xanrym to decide whether or not he's satisfied... so far, she hasn't had any regrets about letting him play the main role in the negotiations.
Es Sarch nods, "If you accept my errands, I will be slightly looser with other information I bequeath to you." A sinewy and gaunt hand comes out from the robe in a gesture for you to shake.
Xanrym glances at Khessa and sees that she seems to approve of this offer. He concedes, "That seems fair. Maybe you can demonstrate this information sharing by telling us about the history of the Plagueburst and what the people of Pedestal mean by the 'Plaguelost'? I gather that the Plaguelost are not gone and are still active in the city. If we are going to be doing tasks for you within the plague-ridden city, we would like to know what to expect!"
Xanrym moves forward, but before shaking Es Sarch's hand, he says, "I accept this alliance -- provisionally. I must still get the agreement from the rest of The Company before it's final. I will check with the others momentarily to confirm."
(OOC: I'm tempted to haggle more, but I don't want to push our luck. Just trying to unblock things to move the story forward. Let me know whether I should roll a new Persuasion check to convince Es Sarch to share info about the Plagueburst and the Plaugelost.)
Es Sarch doesn't lean forward as Xanrym comes closer, and puts his hand away, "Of course, I understand what it must be like to work in a group. Of course I can tell you of the Plagueburst. The Plagueburst is the name for an explosion 20 years ago that ruined a section of Noble's Bluff, the disease that emanated from it, and the crater that now stands there. The people use the term for all three, and they give the crater a wide berth in fear of a renewed outbreak. The Plagueburst is still infectious, and it taints those who approach too closely with a disease called ash doom. A victim of the illness gradually disintegrates into luminescent green ash, becoming one of the Plaguelost. The plaguelost are ghostly beings that despise the living and exist to spread ash doom. The origins of the Plagueburst remains hotly debated. The top contenders among competing explanations are a brief manifestation of an awful god of pestilence, a mundane disease accidentally magnified by an alchemical accident, perhaps within the Necromancer's Spike, or a magical attack on the city by illithids or another enemy."
Es Sarch then leads forward, "Now this information is not as well known, but I have reason to believe that the Plagueburst is suffused with viral magic. No matter how many plaguelost creatures are destroyed in and around it, within a day, new entities are born in the bowl. They are spawned from the thousands that died all across Pedestal in the original burst. Every once in a while, the Assassin's Guild or House Dusklorn will lead an assault on the Plagueburst, and if they knew it was worthless, they might choose to focus their energies on others in the city. So it is in everyone's best interest if that information doesn't come out."
Khessa winks at Es Sarch: "I agree with your analysis—we certainly wouldn't be the ones to spread such information."
The tall adventuress's mind, meanwhile, imagines how effective it would be to unleash the Plagueburst on drow who oppose her family's release... Apparently, the Plagueburst has the potential to wipe out an entire drow city... Unfortunately, however, there would be no way to protect her family from the magical threat. Perhaps the Plagueburst could be used as a 'parting gift' to the drow, to delay a potential pursuit (as well as to thank them for their 'gracious hospitality'). But in any case, uncovering the Plagueburst's secrets is far from a given.
"Now, would you like to tell us what service you'd need from us?" the blonde arcane warrior smiles, returning to the present "Knowing what's required of us will help the rest of the Company decide, I think; right, Xanrym?"
Khessa winks at Es Sarch: "I agree with your analysis—we certainly wouldn't be the ones to spread such information."
"Certainly," Xanrym says, "no one will hear it from us."
"Now, would you like to tell us what service you'd need from us?" the blonde arcane warrior smiles, returning to the present "Knowing what's required of us will help the rest of the Company decide, I think; right, Xanrym?"
Xanrym asks whether there's a room where the whole group could speak with Es Sarch in private. Unless Es Sarch prefers to conduct all of his business in the common room, in which case, Xanrym proposes that he brings the whole Company over after they settle up on the bill for their dinner.
Either way, Xanrym would briefly relate that Es Sarch is already tracking down information about the arrival of Xeron's followers in Pedestal. "Es Sarch proposes a temporary alliance: if we will do some small jobs for them, then they will share what they learn about Xeron's cult and Fhadheela." If no one has any major objections to such an agreement, then he asks them to join Khessa and him to talk to Es Sarch about the first task that The Company must undertake.
(OOC: trying to get the whole group back in play...)
Es Sarch will greet you all with an explanation of his first errand, "It is a simple job. An immense island of fungus glimmers atop the Sullen Sea west of Pedestal and I have been told that it releases dangerous digestive and luminescent spores into the air around it. These spores create a dim blue light, but they also slowly destroy fleshy creatures, including my agents. Those who live in this so called Great Grotto are more susceptible to these spores. Sending anyone from Pedestal to the isle to collect what I seek would mean that creature's death. But for you surfacers, the threat should be minimal. Growing upon Rikaryon's Isle, as it is called, is a mushroom for which those here in Pedestal pay dearly. Its cap is a sovereign remedy against the plague. Journey down to the dock west of here on the Sullen Sea, find a seaworthy craft - a few are left - and head out to the isle. The mushrooms I seek are obvious, black with red spots in the shape of tiny hands. You can't miss them, though you might have to venture to the isle's center to find them. Bring me at least ten and I will consider this half of our agreement complete."
Coriana tries very hard [[Deception: 21]] to not visibly freeze or tremble at the thought of going into that black, black water, where that thing waits.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Coriana - Company of the Grey Chain Wagner - Dragon Heist: Bards. DM - The Old Keep
Theldrin rubs his beard thoughtfully, then ventures, "Thank you for your offer... If I may ask, what might we expect these minimal effects for surface dwellers to be?"
Khessa isn't entirely convinced by Es Sarch's 'theory' regarding the Surfacers' supposed greater resistance to the island's spores... For some reason, despite the other's information-trading, he doesn't give her the impression that he's conducted extensive experiments on surface dwellers' resistance to parasites.
'Our armor, however,' the blonde arcane warrior thinks 'should limit the spores' contact with our skin. The most exposed and at-risk part will be our face; we'd better protect it with a large handkerchief or something similar, as long as we're near that biological threat.'
The tall adventuress promises to propose this precaution to the company, but for now she's awaiting a response to Theldrin's question, who also seems to have more than a few doubts about the matter.
Es Sarch whispers, "Perhaps you should just be as fast as possible. That way you limit your exposure to any harmful effects." He doesn't seem too worried about your health, but you do feel he's being truthful that you're less likely to be hurt than those that live in the grotto.
Khessa agrees: "That sounds like good advice, Es Sarch." And mentally she adds: 'Even if a bit too obvious... we already figured it out ourselves'.
The blonde arcane warrior begins taking notes in her spellbook with its spiderweb-patterned cover... there's so much to jot down... the Plagueburst, with its magical component... Rikaryon's Isle, with the mushrooms that help fight it... The dangerous digestive and luminescent spores that seem more dangerous to the inhabitants of Pedestal than to outsiders...
Meanwhile, the tall adventuress turns to her fellow adventurers: "Do we have any more questions for our new ally? If not, we could rest so we can be in top form tomorrow, for the start of the job."
When Es Sarch mentions the Sullen Sea, Xanrym is much more visibly affected than Coriana. He stands there, unhearing for a moment, as he remembers horrible images of the Aboleth's projection and its horrible intrusion on his mind and will. He wonders whether it can still sense him, and will it come for him if it feels him approach the Sullen Sea again?
Finally, Xanrym shakes off the memory and drags his attention back to the present conversation. He asks, "Why is it called Rikaryon's Isle? Who or what is Rikaryon?"
Avery ponders upon the description of these plague and spores, "hmm, reminds me tales of an ancient chaos deity known as Nurgle, who was the lord of pestilence. Plagues and spores, sounds like his kind of place."
Es Sarch responds, "Rikaryon was the name of the drow druid that ran the island, centuries ago. The man apparently left long before the Plagueburst, and the island went wild with the mushrooms and spores. Was there anything else you needed of me? If you are requiring rooms, that can be arranged." And the robed figure waves a server over with a withered hand.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
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Xanrym says, "I look on this alliance favorably since Bruthwol Coalhauler spoke highly of you, but while I'm speaking here on behalf of our Company, I must put any new 'contract' to their vote before I can agree." He pauses as if to consider something and then continues, "In thinking about how I will present your offer to the rest of our Company, your proposal seems to place all of the risk on our side of the alliance. We must complete all of your tasks before you deliver the information. Even if you want to provide us with the information, it's possible that you fail to discover anything helpful to our Company. That hardly seems reasonable. Is there anything that you can offer in recompense to our Company as we complete each these tasks? Some form of payment? Or maybe some sort of collateral or surety, delivered up-front? Perhaps you could provide us with other information, less valuable and crucial to our missions, but still something that you'd normally only reveal for a price? I think that it would be easier to convince my associates to accept this alliance if they were not risking everything for a hope of an answer."
Persuasion: 17 (min value from Silver Tongue feature) - Xanrym tries to bargain for some sort of up-front or incremental payment for The Company's services.
Persuasion: 24 - second roll in case Khessa is able to help is this negotiation, giving a final result of 24
[] OOC: Well... I hope so. In my intention, Khessa's conversation was meant to role-play her Helping Xanrym ]]
Es Sarch nods, "If you accept my errands, I will be slightly looser with other information I bequeath to you." A sinewy and gaunt hand comes out from the robe in a gesture for you to shake.
Khessa doesn't lose her smile despite her interlocutor's relative coldness, because the proposed agreement seems good to her, all things considered.
'Not to mention,' the blonde arcane warrior thinks to herself 'if the company establishes good relations with Es Sarch, once our joint hunt is over, I can also turn to him for my own personal hunt—that of those who enslaved my family!'
The tall adventuress, however, leaves it up to Xanrym to decide whether or not he's satisfied... so far, she hasn't had any regrets about letting him play the main role in the negotiations.
Xanrym glances at Khessa and sees that she seems to approve of this offer. He concedes, "That seems fair. Maybe you can demonstrate this information sharing by telling us about the history of the Plagueburst and what the people of Pedestal mean by the 'Plaguelost'? I gather that the Plaguelost are not gone and are still active in the city. If we are going to be doing tasks for you within the plague-ridden city, we would like to know what to expect!"
Xanrym moves forward, but before shaking Es Sarch's hand, he says, "I accept this alliance -- provisionally. I must still get the agreement from the rest of The Company before it's final. I will check with the others momentarily to confirm."
(OOC: I'm tempted to haggle more, but I don't want to push our luck. Just trying to unblock things to move the story forward. Let me know whether I should roll a new Persuasion check to convince Es Sarch to share info about the Plagueburst and the Plaugelost.)
Es Sarch doesn't lean forward as Xanrym comes closer, and puts his hand away, "Of course, I understand what it must be like to work in a group. Of course I can tell you of the Plagueburst. The Plagueburst is the name for an explosion 20 years ago that ruined a section of Noble's Bluff, the disease that emanated from it, and the crater that now stands there. The people use the term for all three, and they give the crater a wide berth in fear of a renewed outbreak. The Plagueburst is still infectious, and it taints those who approach too closely with a disease called ash doom. A victim of the illness gradually disintegrates into luminescent green ash, becoming one of the Plaguelost. The plaguelost are ghostly beings that despise the living and exist to spread ash doom. The origins of the Plagueburst remains hotly debated. The top contenders among competing explanations are a brief manifestation of an awful god of pestilence, a mundane disease accidentally magnified by an alchemical accident, perhaps within the Necromancer's Spike, or a magical attack on the city by illithids or another enemy."
Es Sarch then leads forward, "Now this information is not as well known, but I have reason to believe that the Plagueburst is suffused with viral magic. No matter how many plaguelost creatures are destroyed in and around it, within a day, new entities are born in the bowl. They are spawned from the thousands that died all across Pedestal in the original burst. Every once in a while, the Assassin's Guild or House Dusklorn will lead an assault on the Plagueburst, and if they knew it was worthless, they might choose to focus their energies on others in the city. So it is in everyone's best interest if that information doesn't come out."
Khessa winks at Es Sarch: "I agree with your analysis—we certainly wouldn't be the ones to spread such information."
The tall adventuress's mind, meanwhile, imagines how effective it would be to unleash the Plagueburst on drow who oppose her family's release... Apparently, the Plagueburst has the potential to wipe out an entire drow city... Unfortunately, however, there would be no way to protect her family from the magical threat. Perhaps the Plagueburst could be used as a 'parting gift' to the drow, to delay a potential pursuit (as well as to thank them for their 'gracious hospitality'). But in any case, uncovering the Plagueburst's secrets is far from a given.
"Now, would you like to tell us what service you'd need from us?" the blonde arcane warrior smiles, returning to the present "Knowing what's required of us will help the rest of the Company decide, I think; right, Xanrym?"
Theldrin considers ordering another glass of wine but thinks better of it, as he bides his time keeping an eye on the conversation with Es Sarch.
"Certainly," Xanrym says, "no one will hear it from us."
Xanrym asks whether there's a room where the whole group could speak with Es Sarch in private. Unless Es Sarch prefers to conduct all of his business in the common room, in which case, Xanrym proposes that he brings the whole Company over after they settle up on the bill for their dinner.
Either way, Xanrym would briefly relate that Es Sarch is already tracking down information about the arrival of Xeron's followers in Pedestal. "Es Sarch proposes a temporary alliance: if we will do some small jobs for them, then they will share what they learn about Xeron's cult and Fhadheela." If no one has any major objections to such an agreement, then he asks them to join Khessa and him to talk to Es Sarch about the first task that The Company must undertake.
(OOC: trying to get the whole group back in play...)
Es Sarch will greet you all with an explanation of his first errand, "It is a simple job. An immense island of fungus glimmers atop the Sullen Sea west of Pedestal and I have been told that it releases dangerous digestive and luminescent spores into the air around it. These spores create a dim blue light, but they also slowly destroy fleshy creatures, including my agents. Those who live in this so called Great Grotto are more susceptible to these spores. Sending anyone from Pedestal to the isle to collect what I seek would mean that creature's death. But for you surfacers, the threat should be minimal. Growing upon Rikaryon's Isle, as it is called, is a mushroom for which those here in Pedestal pay dearly. Its cap is a sovereign remedy against the plague. Journey down to the dock west of here on the Sullen Sea, find a seaworthy craft - a few are left - and head out to the isle. The mushrooms I seek are obvious, black with red spots in the shape of tiny hands. You can't miss them, though you might have to venture to the isle's center to find them. Bring me at least ten and I will consider this half of our agreement complete."
Coriana tries very hard [[Deception: 21]] to not visibly freeze or tremble at the thought of going into that black, black water, where that thing waits.
Coriana - Company of the Grey Chain
Wagner - Dragon Heist: Bards.
DM - The Old Keep
Theldrin rubs his beard thoughtfully, then ventures, "Thank you for your offer... If I may ask, what might we expect these minimal effects for surface dwellers to be?"
Khessa isn't entirely convinced by Es Sarch's 'theory' regarding the Surfacers' supposed greater resistance to the island's spores... For some reason, despite the other's information-trading, he doesn't give her the impression that he's conducted extensive experiments on surface dwellers' resistance to parasites.
'Our armor, however,' the blonde arcane warrior thinks 'should limit the spores' contact with our skin. The most exposed and at-risk part will be our face; we'd better protect it with a large handkerchief or something similar, as long as we're near that biological threat.'
The tall adventuress promises to propose this precaution to the company, but for now she's awaiting a response to Theldrin's question, who also seems to have more than a few doubts about the matter.
Es Sarch whispers, "Perhaps you should just be as fast as possible. That way you limit your exposure to any harmful effects." He doesn't seem too worried about your health, but you do feel he's being truthful that you're less likely to be hurt than those that live in the grotto.
Khessa agrees: "That sounds like good advice, Es Sarch." And mentally she adds: 'Even if a bit too obvious... we already figured it out ourselves'.
The blonde arcane warrior begins taking notes in her spellbook with its spiderweb-patterned cover... there's so much to jot down... the Plagueburst, with its magical component... Rikaryon's Isle, with the mushrooms that help fight it... The dangerous digestive and luminescent spores that seem more dangerous to the inhabitants of Pedestal than to outsiders...
Meanwhile, the tall adventuress turns to her fellow adventurers: "Do we have any more questions for our new ally? If not, we could rest so we can be in top form tomorrow, for the start of the job."
When Es Sarch mentions the Sullen Sea, Xanrym is much more visibly affected than Coriana. He stands there, unhearing for a moment, as he remembers horrible images of the Aboleth's projection and its horrible intrusion on his mind and will. He wonders whether it can still sense him, and will it come for him if it feels him approach the Sullen Sea again?
Finally, Xanrym shakes off the memory and drags his attention back to the present conversation. He asks, "Why is it called Rikaryon's Isle? Who or what is Rikaryon?"
Avery ponders upon the description of these plague and spores, "hmm, reminds me tales of an ancient chaos deity known as Nurgle, who was the lord of pestilence. Plagues and spores, sounds like his kind of place."
Theldrin nods with his characteristic frown, not looking very enthusiastic about the new mission, but agreeable.
Es Sarch responds, "Rikaryon was the name of the drow druid that ran the island, centuries ago. The man apparently left long before the Plagueburst, and the island went wild with the mushrooms and spores. Was there anything else you needed of me? If you are requiring rooms, that can be arranged." And the robed figure waves a server over with a withered hand.