As Jun returns to the table, he spots that Cassie has wandered off alone. He still sits down, but a silver-feathered hummingbird materializes on Cassie's shoulder as he does so. Those at the table with sharp eyes, probably notice Jun's glaze over.
I am assuming that Cassie is within 30ft of our table. If not, the bird materializes in flight and lands on her shoulder instead of appearing there.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Playing in: Shepherds of Truth - Thomas Roth, Shepherd of Mystra Aerovail, Cities in the Sky - Aidan Burke, Smuggler The Missing Schema - Trigger, Morgrave Trap-Breaker Echoes of the Past - Einar Barruk, Fight Club Brawler Once in Waterdeep - Nagao Jun, Windwise Wanderer
Then he glances across the room and notices that Jun is still making his way back from refilling his pitcher.
"Merde."
He gives Dekket a nudge with his elbow before standing, apparently tipsy, and making his way closer to Cassie and the woman. He glad hands a few random strangers on the way, maintaining his tipsy facade while positioning himself to intervene on Cassie's behalf if necessary.
The woman's eyes narrow at the bird's entrance. "Of course Cassie doesn't give a second thought to those who scraped by alongside her. Of course perfect Cassandra has marvelous companions to help her..." her nose wrinkles a bit at the drunkard weaving in their direction "no matter how unsavory they may be."
Cassie's eyes narrow at the snark in the woman's voice.
"What are ye' talkin' about?" she snaps back as she slams her hands on the woman's table. "I always remember those who stand beside me, and no, it's not because I need their help!"
As she slams her right fist down on the table a second time, a small jet of flame erupts upward. Cassie immediately recoils and draws her hands back close to her chest, a look of mixed shock and frustration on her face. She looks at her own hands for a moment before glaring back at the woman.
"Who are ye' and how do ye' think ye' know me?"she demands angrily, still keeping her hands close.
The jet of flame is just a "sensory effect" from Prestidigitation. I'm just trying to show how Cassandra doesn't have complete control of her magic yet.
Rue finds the woman no more or less interesting than anyone else, but as he follows Jun back to their table, he does notice their companion's interest.
"What is happening?" he asks, turning to look at Jun. He makes direct eye contact, as always, and notices Jun's eyes are glazed. He frowns, confused, and looks around for the others. "Who is this person?"
Almost hidden by Cassandra's outburst, the door to the Portal swings open again, and a curious pair walks in - curious for how different they appear to be together. One is a small dumpling of a man in a tattered waistcoat, and a filthy powdered wig. His companion is a sallow, almost ghoulish man with oversized features.
They momentarily grab the woman's attention, and she hunkers down and laughs. "Cassie...darling...I'm nobody. Just a nobody you used to know. Run along, join your friends. It's what you do best."
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
((Rant about using skill checks on party members in the spoiler below...))
As Arvel comes up to Cassie and puts his hands on her to steer her away, she roughly shoves him back. (If needed, Athletics:16)
"No, not now, you lout!" she shouts at him, at this point completely unconcerned about the volume of her voice, before turning back to the woman. "You obviously know me somehow! Tell me! Who are you?!"
I'm not sure how everyone else in the group feels about this, but I for one get REALLY frustrated when players try to use Persuasion/Intimidation to try and force other players to do something. Just because you have a high number next to your Charisma score or get lucky with a high roll does NOT mean you get to dictate what another player does with THEIR character. Take this situation. Cube, you rolled a good check to persuade Cassie. If Cassie were an NPC, you'd probably be successful. Perhaps in that case she just has a weakness for half-elven bards and can't resist their charming smiles, or maybe she just decides to blow off whoever this woman is who is clearly just trying to get to her. There are any number of reasons that check could be successful...IF Cassie were an NPC. But as the case just so happens to be...she isn't. She is MY character, with motivations and goals that I understand and which are not nearly as fluid and malleable for the purpose of storytelling as they would be for an NPC.
So...I'm sorry, but as you can see above, I'm ignoring that 20 Persuasion check. I hope you can understand/appreciate why.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
As Cassie slams her hands on the table, the hummingbird abandons its perch and flies out the door past the new arrivals. At the same time, Jun's eyes return to normal.
"I don't like where this is going."
Jun then holds out his hand and whispers in the strange woman's direction.
"If you have shared history with Cassie, why not divulge it? Surely it is better to reconcile than to spark conflict?"(If needed, Persuasion Check: 8)
Playing in: Shepherds of Truth - Thomas Roth, Shepherd of Mystra Aerovail, Cities in the Sky - Aidan Burke, Smuggler The Missing Schema - Trigger, Morgrave Trap-Breaker Echoes of the Past - Einar Barruk, Fight Club Brawler Once in Waterdeep - Nagao Jun, Windwise Wanderer
The woman cocks her head at Jun, and responds. "Conflict? I'm just hear to have a drink and take in the show. You and yours came over to me. Yes, I knew her, once...and if this is how it shall be, I care to no longer. To both of you, I say good day!"
Edit: My apologies here. I did not make that clear enough. She responded silently, as per the allowed reply in the Message. I did not make that clear enough or spoiler it, so I will leave it unspoilered.
A rather pitiful mewling reaches your ears, coming from near the stage. Bonnie hurries by with a saucer of milk, muttering "I'm comin, I'm comin...of all days o Durnan to forget."
Regarding the persuasion check, in AL player rolls are disallowed. Players can still attempt to persuade, deceive, or otherwise perform social skills, but both the action and reaction, if any, are to be handled specifically through roleplay. Rolls to influence behavior are strictly for you all to influence the people I'm driving :)
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Aerys cocks his head slightly at the pair that walked in and turns to Arvel, "Be right back." He stands up from the table and casually ruffs his hair up and unbuttons his clothes underneath his armor just a tad and starts making his way to the pair, stumbling with his ale in his hand, acting like he is plastered. ((Deception: 18 in case you need it))
Once he makes his way to them, "E-xcuseee meee, sirs *hiccup*. Yoush have a *hiccup* nice hat," Aerys will reach up to grab the powdered wig, "may I *hiccup* try it out?"
Aerys will scan their faces and their body language and try to get a sense of what they're about and who they might be.
As you reach for the wig, you are overcome with the overpowering smell of cabbages emanating from the smaller man. "Away, sot! he cries as he slaps your hand away and turns to his partner. "I wonder, don't you Dwindlejoy, if this lush knows how much this set me back?"
The taller man interposes himself between you and the shorter one. "Let us be clear here, your presence is unwelcome. Have we need for crude entertainment, that halfling seems a bigger man for the job than are you."
The combination of the name (and your high roll) strike a chord of recognition; you know of these two. In fact, you all do. Grady and Dwindlejoy are a notorious pair of low level fixers in Waterdeep. As spies, thieves, or just muscle, they work for whomever has the means to pay them. Rumor has it Grady obeys instructions that appear by magic each day inside his left boot. Dwindlejoy is not quite as odd, but he tends to ignore conversations that don't mention himself. He also is rumored to be not very fond of fire.
Edit: They also have a reputation of being quite capable at their job, despite appearances, and formidable on the streets.
((Aerys has never been to Waterdeep, so he wouldn't know who they were.))
Aerys steps back and looks at the man who smells like cabbage, "Looks like the *hiccup* only entertainment you get is from *hiccup* cabbagesh." Aerys turns around stumbles back to the table where he pretends to fall on the table and whispers to Arvel, "Who is Dwindlejoy?"
Playing in: Shepherds of Truth - Thomas Roth, Shepherd of Mystra Aerovail, Cities in the Sky - Aidan Burke, Smuggler The Missing Schema - Trigger, Morgrave Trap-Breaker Echoes of the Past - Einar Barruk, Fight Club Brawler Once in Waterdeep - Nagao Jun, Windwise Wanderer
Freed from the less-than-amusing drunk, the pair continues to walk around the taproom. Grady (the short one) spots the woman at the table, and whispers something you cannot make out to his companion.
"Dwindlejoy?! Ffffffffffffuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu....ooooooorgive me. I 'ave 'eard zee name bandied about by longshoremen as I am down zee docks working for zee Duc. I gazzer he is a bit of zee trouble, non?"
After about 20-30 seconds of further whispering, Jun stands from the table and begins walking toward Cassie. As he does so, he whispers another message, this time to his friend.
For Cassie Only:
"If you trust me, Cassie, please hold a moment."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Playing in: Shepherds of Truth - Thomas Roth, Shepherd of Mystra Aerovail, Cities in the Sky - Aidan Burke, Smuggler The Missing Schema - Trigger, Morgrave Trap-Breaker Echoes of the Past - Einar Barruk, Fight Club Brawler Once in Waterdeep - Nagao Jun, Windwise Wanderer
As Jun returns to the table, he spots that Cassie has wandered off alone. He still sits down, but a silver-feathered hummingbird materializes on Cassie's shoulder as he does so. Those at the table with sharp eyes, probably notice Jun's glaze over.
I am assuming that Cassie is within 30ft of our table. If not, the bird materializes in flight and lands on her shoulder instead of appearing there.
Playing in:
Shepherds of Truth - Thomas Roth, Shepherd of Mystra
Aerovail, Cities in the Sky - Aidan Burke, Smuggler
The Missing Schema - Trigger, Morgrave Trap-Breaker
Echoes of the Past - Einar Barruk, Fight Club Brawler
Once in Waterdeep - Nagao Jun, Windwise Wanderer
Arvel watches as Cassie approaches the woman.
Then he glances across the room and notices that Jun is still making his way back from refilling his pitcher.
"Merde."
He gives Dekket a nudge with his elbow before standing, apparently tipsy, and making his way closer to Cassie and the woman. He glad hands a few random strangers on the way, maintaining his tipsy facade while positioning himself to intervene on Cassie's behalf if necessary.
Deception (tipsy act): 12
DCI: 3319125026
The woman's eyes narrow at the bird's entrance. "Of course Cassie doesn't give a second thought to those who scraped by alongside her. Of course perfect Cassandra has marvelous companions to help her..." her nose wrinkles a bit at the drunkard weaving in their direction "no matter how unsavory they may be."
Cassie's eyes narrow at the snark in the woman's voice.
"What are ye' talkin' about?" she snaps back as she slams her hands on the woman's table. "I always remember those who stand beside me, and no, it's not because I need their help!"
As she slams her right fist down on the table a second time, a small jet of flame erupts upward. Cassie immediately recoils and draws her hands back close to her chest, a look of mixed shock and frustration on her face. She looks at her own hands for a moment before glaring back at the woman.
"Who are ye' and how do ye' think ye' know me?" she demands angrily, still keeping her hands close.
The jet of flame is just a "sensory effect" from Prestidigitation. I'm just trying to show how Cassandra doesn't have complete control of her magic yet.
Rue finds the woman no more or less interesting than anyone else, but as he follows Jun back to their table, he does notice their companion's interest.
"What is happening?" he asks, turning to look at Jun. He makes direct eye contact, as always, and notices Jun's eyes are glazed. He frowns, confused, and looks around for the others. "Who is this person?"
Almost hidden by Cassandra's outburst, the door to the Portal swings open again, and a curious pair walks in - curious for how different they appear to be together. One is a small dumpling of a man in a tattered waistcoat, and a filthy powdered wig. His companion is a sallow, almost ghoulish man with oversized features.
They momentarily grab the woman's attention, and she hunkers down and laughs. "Cassie...darling...I'm nobody. Just a nobody you used to know. Run along, join your friends. It's what you do best."
Arvel approaches Cassie, a bit wobbly.
"Cass-ee! Zere you are! 'Ow about we 'ave zat dance now, oui?"
He flashes her a grin and a wink and gently tries to steer her away from the table.
Persuasion: 20Redacted.
DCI: 3319125026
((Rant about using skill checks on party members in the spoiler below...))
As Arvel comes up to Cassie and puts his hands on her to steer her away, she roughly shoves him back. (If needed, Athletics: 16)
"No, not now, you lout!" she shouts at him, at this point completely unconcerned about the volume of her voice, before turning back to the woman. "You obviously know me somehow! Tell me! Who are you?!"
I'm not sure how everyone else in the group feels about this, but I for one get REALLY frustrated when players try to use Persuasion/Intimidation to try and force other players to do something. Just because you have a high number next to your Charisma score or get lucky with a high roll does NOT mean you get to dictate what another player does with THEIR character. Take this situation. Cube, you rolled a good check to persuade Cassie. If Cassie were an NPC, you'd probably be successful. Perhaps in that case she just has a weakness for half-elven bards and can't resist their charming smiles, or maybe she just decides to blow off whoever this woman is who is clearly just trying to get to her. There are any number of reasons that check could be successful...IF Cassie were an NPC. But as the case just so happens to be...she isn't. She is MY character, with motivations and goals that I understand and which are not nearly as fluid and malleable for the purpose of storytelling as they would be for an NPC.
So...I'm sorry, but as you can see above, I'm ignoring that 20 Persuasion check. I hope you can understand/appreciate why.
/EndRant...
As Cassie slams her hands on the table, the hummingbird abandons its perch and flies out the door past the new arrivals. At the same time, Jun's eyes return to normal.
"I don't like where this is going."
Jun then holds out his hand and whispers in the strange woman's direction.
"If you have shared history with Cassie, why not divulge it? Surely it is better to reconcile than to spark conflict?" (If needed, Persuasion Check: 8)
Playing in:
Shepherds of Truth - Thomas Roth, Shepherd of Mystra
Aerovail, Cities in the Sky - Aidan Burke, Smuggler
The Missing Schema - Trigger, Morgrave Trap-Breaker
Echoes of the Past - Einar Barruk, Fight Club Brawler
Once in Waterdeep - Nagao Jun, Windwise Wanderer
The woman cocks her head at Jun, and responds. "Conflict? I'm just hear to have a drink and take in the show. You and yours came over to me. Yes, I knew her, once...and if this is how it shall be, I care to no longer. To both of you, I say good day!"
Edit: My apologies here. I did not make that clear enough. She responded silently, as per the allowed reply in the Message. I did not make that clear enough or spoiler it, so I will leave it unspoilered.
A rather pitiful mewling reaches your ears, coming from near the stage. Bonnie hurries by with a saucer of milk, muttering "I'm comin, I'm comin...of all days o Durnan to forget."
Regarding the persuasion check, in AL player rolls are disallowed. Players can still attempt to persuade, deceive, or otherwise perform social skills, but both the action and reaction, if any, are to be handled specifically through roleplay. Rolls to influence behavior are strictly for you all to influence the people I'm driving :)
Aerys cocks his head slightly at the pair that walked in and turns to Arvel, "Be right back." He stands up from the table and casually ruffs his hair up and unbuttons his clothes underneath his armor just a tad and starts making his way to the pair, stumbling with his ale in his hand, acting like he is plastered. ((Deception: 18 in case you need it))
Once he makes his way to them, "E-xcuseee meee, sirs *hiccup*. Yoush have a *hiccup* nice hat," Aerys will reach up to grab the powdered wig, "may I *hiccup* try it out?"
Aerys will scan their faces and their body language and try to get a sense of what they're about and who they might be.
Insight: 21
Aerys will take a closer look at the ghoulish looking man with overlarged features.
Perception: 14
Kandalou Dle'tan - Level 9 Githyanki Fighter (Champion) - Rrakkma PbP
As you reach for the wig, you are overcome with the overpowering smell of cabbages emanating from the smaller man. "Away, sot! he cries as he slaps your hand away and turns to his partner. "I wonder, don't you Dwindlejoy, if this lush knows how much this set me back?"
The taller man interposes himself between you and the shorter one. "Let us be clear here, your presence is unwelcome. Have we need for crude entertainment, that halfling seems a bigger man for the job than are you."
The combination of the name (and your high roll) strike a chord of recognition; you know of these two. In fact, you all do. Grady and Dwindlejoy are a notorious pair of low level fixers in Waterdeep. As spies, thieves, or just muscle, they work for whomever has the means to pay them. Rumor has it Grady obeys instructions that appear by magic each day inside his left boot. Dwindlejoy is not quite as odd, but he tends to ignore conversations that don't mention himself. He also is rumored to be not very fond of fire.
Edit: They also have a reputation of being quite capable at their job, despite appearances, and formidable on the streets.
Orynn sinks a little lower in his chair.
((Aerys has never been to Waterdeep, so he wouldn't know who they were.))
Aerys steps back and looks at the man who smells like cabbage, "Looks like the *hiccup* only entertainment you get is from *hiccup* cabbagesh." Aerys turns around stumbles back to the table where he pretends to fall on the table and whispers to Arvel, "Who is Dwindlejoy?"
Kandalou Dle'tan - Level 9 Githyanki Fighter (Champion) - Rrakkma PbP
As the woman looks his way, Jun sends her a second whispered Message.
Message sent in PM to DM.
Edit: All of Jun's attention is on the woman. He has not even registered the two men.
Playing in:
Shepherds of Truth - Thomas Roth, Shepherd of Mystra
Aerovail, Cities in the Sky - Aidan Burke, Smuggler
The Missing Schema - Trigger, Morgrave Trap-Breaker
Echoes of the Past - Einar Barruk, Fight Club Brawler
Once in Waterdeep - Nagao Jun, Windwise Wanderer
Freed from the less-than-amusing drunk, the pair continues to walk around the taproom. Grady (the short one) spots the woman at the table, and whispers something you cannot make out to his companion.
"Dwindlejoy?! Ffffffffffffuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu....ooooooorgive me. I 'ave 'eard zee name bandied about by longshoremen as I am down zee docks working for zee Duc. I gazzer he is a bit of zee trouble, non?"
DCI: 3319125026
After about 20-30 seconds of further whispering, Jun stands from the table and begins walking toward Cassie. As he does so, he whispers another message, this time to his friend.
For Cassie Only:
"If you trust me, Cassie, please hold a moment."
Playing in:
Shepherds of Truth - Thomas Roth, Shepherd of Mystra
Aerovail, Cities in the Sky - Aidan Burke, Smuggler
The Missing Schema - Trigger, Morgrave Trap-Breaker
Echoes of the Past - Einar Barruk, Fight Club Brawler
Once in Waterdeep - Nagao Jun, Windwise Wanderer
Aerys casually nods to them talking to the woman. "They're both kind of ********."
Kandalou Dle'tan - Level 9 Githyanki Fighter (Champion) - Rrakkma PbP
Rue seems to have completely lost direction. He shrinks back to the table and sits next to Orynn, trying to observe everyone at once.