As Carrhae returns to Waterdeep she asks the kidnapped delegates if they knew what happened to the body of the knight from the Order of the Gauntlet that was traveling with them.
Once she arrives in the city, she heads towards the temple of Sune and gives thanks for the fact that she and her friends were able to escape the Temple of the Black Earth with their life, although she knows that the cult has not been stopped and she and her companions must return once more to put an end to the cultists. But that was business for another day. When they were wiser and stronger and the cult wasn't even more on edge after losing their prisoners twice within the span of a few days. I imagine that there's going to be hell to pay for those cultists after we rescued the prisoners. Ah well. Serves them right for joining an evil cult.
Right now, Carrhae was going to treat herself. Her and her friends had just come out of some near-death experiences, so they had more than earned this. First, Carrhae would see if Mercy's dwarf friends couldn't re-design her new armor. The burrowshark's plate armor might provide better protection than her old set, but the Cult of the Black Earth didn't know the first thing about decor. She drew up a design similar to her old armor; gold with red lining, but this time with a rose on the breastplate to represent Sune that was surrounded by six bells, one for her and the friends that she had made on this journey. "So that I'll always be showing how close you all are to my heart."
After that, she would insist that the team go out for the best food and baths that Waterdeep had to provide. "The six of us have gone through hell these past few weeks and it's only fair that we get a bit of heaven to balance it out before we dive back into it. Let's party, Jingle Belles!"
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Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
What you learned from the capture delagates: The leader of the earth cult is a medusa named Marlos Urnrayle. He lairs in a cavern to the northeast, which Mercy discovered. A staircase to the south leads down to an ancient drow temple that has been overrun by elemental cultists. That sounds dangerous. The cultists have created elemental nodes in the dungeons below. You're not sure what that means.
DELEGATES:
Bruldenthar: FOUND Desenyna: MISSING. LOCATION UNKNOWN. Rhondorth: FOUND Teresiel: FOUND Knight: MISSING. LOCATION UNKNOWN.
The two delegates you found were members of The Lords Alliance. They award you all with 1200g total for your bravery, and appreciate you service.
Go have fun at the spa, and role-play away. When you guys are ready to move on, let me know what you want to do.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
OOC: ooooooh, finally Daewen feels useful about something!
Favored EnemyPHB91
You have advantage on Survival checks to track your favored enemies, as well as on INT checks to recall information about them. You also learn one language of your choice that is spoken by your favored enemies, if they speak one at all.
Elementals
Elementals are creatures native to the elemental planes. Some creatures of this type are little more than animate masses of their respective elements, including the creatures simply called elementals.
Primordial
Daewen is furious when she learns that evil elementals are behind the lower level dungeons....and tries to recall what she can remember about "elemental nodes": (Investigation: 24).
Zephyr perks up at the suggestion of going to get food and go to a bathhouse. "I totally agree!" With his hood flipped up, he was quick to shift into the mask he had put on previously: Redheaded Carrhae. She pulls down the hood to reveal her new look and winks in the paladins direction. "If no one else wants to come along, it will be just you and me, sis!"
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Aeydof the Dragons || Wood Elf / Way of the Ascendant Dragon Monk Demetrios Zalaoras || Protector Aasimar / Paladin of Torm Hawke || Kalashtar / Circle of the Moon Druid Morticia || Half-Aasimar Rogue Yvan || Goliath / Path of the Wild Soul Barbarian | Paladin of Helm /ᐠ｡ꞈ｡ᐟ\
Mercy, disheartened by the results of her endeavors, returned to the group and was prevented from sulking by them giving her her own share of the loot.
Carrhae quickly eyes her doppleganger to get a look at Zephyr's new form and take in some eye candy. Gods, I look good. I wonder if Zephyr's got me copied down to the birthmark. "Well who's this strange beauty? Yes, let's go!"
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Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
OOC: Ok. Carrhae is assuming that someone in Mercy's other circles can give her new armor a better look.
Carrhae beams at the idea of Mercy joining them. "Oh yes, it's wonderful! You have to come. The water is warm, the baths are beautiful, and everything is clean. It's exactly the kind of thing we need after spending the last two days underground. We'll feel refreshed and ready for whatever's next."
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Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Daewen excitedly joins the group heading to the bathhouse, although she's quite nervous at being seen naked due to her apparent age. She'll stay close to Strife, obviously.
Before Carrhae heads out to the baths, she collects the 200 gold that Daewen gives her. "Thank you for this, little one. I'll make sure to find a way to repay you for this." She then heads out to purchase a pair of Goggles of Night. Then she heads out to sell her old set of armor. 'Take care of this and make sure that it gets sold to a worthy owner with a good heart. I received this armor when I became a Knight of the Ruby Rose and it's seen me through many battles. I suppose you could say that it's fairly important to me." Carrhae is slightly reluctant and sad to give up the armor that's been protecting her for the last few years, but she's able to part with it after thinking about the new armor that Mercy's friend is re-designing made for her. Then she returns to her friends with her new goggles which fit perfectly on top of her nose. "I've got 43 gold. It's not much, but if you need extra money for something, it'll help give an extra boost. It's the least I could do."
An urchin walked up and tugged Mercy's arm. When she bent down, he whispered in her ear and pressed a bag into her hand. She smiled at her and handed off the coin she'd offered months ago, should an old friend run across a Bag of Holding in his exploits, glad that she actually had the money on hand. She also handed the little girl a small pouch of dried fruit as a treat for her service, grinning as her face lit up.
Upon returning to Waterdeep, the group split up so that each of them might attend to their own personal business, but agreed to reconvene much later in the day.
Strife wasn't sure she should even bother trying to locate Augusto. She already knew just what he would say, so what was the point? But she imagined he would also give her grief if she didn't report in, so there was no good answer. She decided she would try to find him but keep their meeting as brief as possible. She had no difficulty locating him once her Zhentarim contacts said that he would be at the docks that day transacting some sort of business.
Indeed, she found him on one of the piers where several cargo ships were being unloaded under his supervision. As ever, two hulking bodyguards were close by, but Augusto recognized her from a distance and beckoned her over. "Hey, what's-your-face! Over here!" Strife had the impression from his smile and semi-friendly disposition that he was in an unusually good mood for some reason.
"Do you smell that, Stress? Take a whiff and tell me what that is."
"My name is Strife."
"Yeah yeah, whatever. What do you smell?"
Strife couldn't discern anything unusual or special. It was the expected musty stinky harbor smell that made her think of rotting wood, rancid bilge water, and rat urine. "Um, nothing in particular, sir."
"That is the smell of success. Success, and gold. Heaping piles of it! We were under contract to ensure all this crap was delivered safely, and as you can see, that's exactly what we did. I happen to know a lot of people would like to have intercepted this, and it could have been very messy. Violence, boats sunk, cargo lost. Bad for business - for everyone.
"So I put the word out, ya know? Keep it professional. I tell them how hard we will come back on anybody who tries anything, but I can tell there's going to have to be a viable alternative. Our contract is just to get everything loaded into the warehouse, then it's somebody else's problem, ya see? And just so there are not too many cooks in the kitchen, I arrange an auction. Real careful, very private, just the interested parties. Winner gets the privilege of, uh, doing a thing. The losers get to split the winning bid as compensation. Minus my commission, obviously.
"So I turn a high risk job into a no risk job, we get paid a huge fee for security I don't even have to worry about, the auction winner buys an exclusive opportunity to reduce their risk and exposure, and the losers split some cash just for doing nothing. And everybody will see what happens when you try to cut corners and don't hire the Zhentarim to handle warehouse security. Are you taking notes on my genius? You gonna write a song about my brilliant leadership? It's a great day, Stress. Everybody wins."
"If I understand correctly, it seems like the actual cargo owners will not ultimately partake of this winning you refer to."
"Well sure they are. They are buying wisdom and enlightenment. And you can't put a price on that!" Augusto laughed heartily. "Hey, you did good with that thing, bringing back that big group of prisoners, and then the second batch. They are all toasting the Harpers, but I'm making sure the Harpers themselves don't forget they owe us a huge favor, and I'm getting the word out on the street that we were the real key to saving the day. It's obvious they sent some genuine bozos you had to cover for."
"What? No they didn't! In fact, the one you warned me about, Barry, it turns out he's not even the actual Barry, but a highly capable-"
"No, no, what are you, stupid? I'm telling you how it was. I give you the facts, and you nod your head and absorb them, got it? We saved the day, just like always. The Harpers are a fine bunch of dedicated amateurs, but we're the professionals. Did you hear about that one dipshit, the Harper who pissed off that Dwarf? So then the Dwarf gets back here and takes out a restraining order! Can you believe it? What a gang of idiots!"
"Oh, wow, yeah. It doesn't really matter, though, right? Anyway, I just wanted to let you know we rescued two more of the delegates, so now there's just one left. Plus the body."
"The last one's dead? Then forget about it. I got other stuff I need you to work on."
"No, just the body is dead. The delegate might be alive, we're not sure, but we have a lead that suggests they may be a prisoner at Feathergale Spire, I think."
"Well what body are you talking about? Who's dead?"
"I don't know. It was a knight. A warrior that fought against orcs."
"The Harpers didn't say anything to me about a body. Screw that."
No, screw you, I'm going to help Carrhae, thought Strife. "Fine. I gotta go rescue the last one. But you should know there are these terrible elemental cults in bases underneath Sumber Hills and they are planning and doing horrible things. They are the ones abducting all these folks. There's this medusa guy and a lich at the earth cult monastery - just ask the people we rescued if you don't believe me. So you should really get the best people together to go put a stop to all that."
"That's expensive. Who's paying? Are you financing this?"
"No, I only just received a small-"
"This whole rescue the delegation project is taking way too damn long, and you're still not done. You need to hurry it up. In fact we may just abandon this effort. This last missing person isn't really going to do much for our balance sheet either way. Check back at the office tonight where I will leave written instructions either extending your current effort or providing a new assignment. But you've done mostly okay, kiddo. See ya."
Strife departed every bit as dejected as she had thought she would be. She headed over to a disreputable part of town and was able to replenish her stock of special herbs. But running into an acquaintance there, Strife got caught up in another errand that further soured her mood. She was a few minutes late before she managed to rejoin her friends. She had correctly assumed they would share a meal but there was now a further plan to visit a bathhouse. And Zephyr wouldn't raise any eyebrows joining the ladies for they were now in Carrhae's form, though with red hair to distinguish them.
"I think a bath sounds great, but let's do that first, before we eat." On the way to the bathhouse, Strife noticed Daewen seemed a bit anxious and clingy. Strife used a sequence of Message spells to whisper to her, "Don't worry, people of every age and description visit these places, and though you have an amazing fit and toned body, I will stand between you and the group, and you can disrobe behind me and follow me in. And once you are in the water, you can't really see anything much. If you need to converse with me, remember you can just point at the corner of your mouth, and I can do the thought reading thing. But there's nothing you have to worry about - liches and bulettes don't frighten you, so you really needn't worry when you are among your friends."
The bathhouse had multiple gender segregated rooms, and although it wasn't an especially busy time, there were three other women already enjoying the waters when the group arrived. Strife immediately made further use of her cantrip to whisper deeply depraved and unnatural ideas that quickly convinced the trio that they had had quite enough bathing, and they exited. Strife undressed slowly due to her curiosity about her companions' bodies, and with a particular interest as to Zephyr's ability to achieve anatomical correctness, though she spared Daewen from taking any glances behind her. She hoped her own myriad of newly visible tattoos and further delicate piercings wouldn't be off putting to Carrhae, but she was fairly certain the others wouldn't care.
Once she had escorted Daewen safely down the stairs into the pool, she climbed out again just long enough to extract a bar of soap and her pipe from her backpack. She loaded the pipe with a fresh supply of herb, climbed back into the pool, and ignited it with another of her cantrips. After several satisfying puffs, she offered the pipe to her friends and, after briefly submerging her head to also get her hair wet, began to lather herself.
"I love all of you. Zephyr took the longest because I was operating under many dumb assumptions. I have experienced so much prejudicial dislike just because of how I look. I'm delighted to meet somebody who can so easily disprove all of those negative beliefs. And who might assume any form I might fantasize about. And whose library exerts a gravitational pull on me stretching across all time and space.
"And you! How were you persuaded to join in a group activity with us? I mean a purely fun social gathering as opposed to our professional duties. I have been trying to win your affection from the very beginning, but at almost any opportunity, you vanish and run off to do your own thing. I am so happy you are here with us now! You don't have to say or do anything, but it means a lot to me that you came along.
"I love Trini because she's the sister I never had and she's always ready and able to remind me you can find joy almost anywhere if you open your heart. I love Daewen because she never says a bad word about me! She has a horrendous but adorable snore, whereas Mercy's slumber can lay claim to just one of those characteristics. Daewen is helping me understand more about death in spite of my fears, and I think I can find ways to harness that knowledge in my magic.
"I saved you, Carrhae, for last. I love men and all that goes with that, but I couldn't help noticing what an ideal advocate for the goddess of beauty Carrhae truly is. She listens carefully to what I say and her insightful responses have shown me that same beauty permeates to her core. We've had some good talks, and I have flirted with her, sometimes shamelessly. It's no surprise I really don't love going to cult compounds and mingling with sociopaths. But when I do, I feel much safer with her close by. Yet I am scared and afraid of taking things further. And I'm scared and afraid of not taking things further. I still have secrets, but I wanted to share that much with everyone because I think you are entitled to know. You are my family now and our lives depend on one another."
Strife submerged herself to rinse off the soap and swam underwater to reach where Carrhae was seated, surfacing next to her. Tentatively, she took Carrhae's hand in her own, intertwining their fingers.
Upon entering the bathhouse and undressing, Carrhae stole a quick glance at Zephyr to further test the authenticity of their assumed form. Well they certainly got all of the curves right, but as I expected, they missed the birthmark. She let her eyes linger on Strife for a moment as she takes in the sight of her, not even trying to hide it this time. She's certainly gotten more than a glance of all of us, I don't think she'll be too upset if I take the opportunity to get the same. Carrhae accepts the pipe from Strife and partakes in it, feeling even more relaxed as the substance begins to go to work. She feels her cheeks redden when Strife comes up from underwater right next to her. As Strife holds her hand, Carrhae gently lifts Strife's hands to her lips and gives it a quick peck, before she begins to speak words of her own.
"When I was growing up in the temple, the nuns told me that my fellow Sunites were my brothers and sisters, and while I hold them dear to me, the five of you have succeeded in stealing my heart. So long as we have to deal with these cultists, know that I will fight fiercely in your defense and if need be, I'd lay down my life for any of you.
Mercy, when we first met you were fairly distant, but as we've spent time together on our mission, I've seen moments where you show the love you have for us. Know that I have the same love for you and that I'm grateful for your clever mind and the blessing of Mask that allows me to traverse the fortresses of our enemies without alerting them of my presence.
Trini, I thank you for the bells you gave me. Even though I sometimes cannot wear them, know that I always keep them near to me as a treasured gift. I am glad to be in the presence of such a joyous individual and I hope that one day you might choose to teach me how to sing and dance like you do.
Zephyr, I am glad that you decided to open your heart to us and that you feel like you can be you. I love you regardless of which form you take, but if you wish, you can assume my likeness, although I must warn you that you'll get more admirers than you might be ready for!
Daewen, even though you cannot speak, you have still managed to let each of us know that love us in your own way. I love you too and like Strife, I must confess that I find you rather adorable. I haven't forgotten about Harold and I will make sure that before our deed is done we will give him the justice he deserves. The gold that you gave me was put to good use and once again, I promise that I shall find a way to repay you for your kindness.
Strife, you have said many kind and wonderful things to me in the time that I've known you and I feel that I will constantly be thanking you for them. Even though you profess that you aren't as brave as I am, you have never been afraid to speak your true feelings about me, while I needed to have a brush with death in order to speak my true feelings about you. In that matter, you are the brave one.
I can't say that I'm overjoyed to have fate decide that I must do battle against evil elemental cultists, but I can say that I am grateful that the gods allowed me to fight side by side along individuals who are beautiful inside and out in the way that you are."
As Carrhae finishes speaking, everyone in the tub feels enveloped by a divine aura, as if the affection that Carrhae has for them is an actual force that's providing protection for their mind, body, and spirit.
(OOC: Aura of Protection. Carrhae and all allies within 10 feet of her gain a +3 bonus to all saves.)
Mercy had never been inside a bathhouse before, so it was hard to say what she might have expected. Whatever that was, this...was not it. She blushed and averted her eyes, trying to avoid looking at anyone's nudity as she hung back. Biting her bottom lip, she thought fiercely. Though the others might find it odd that she did not wish to disrobe before them, much less soak in the same pool of water, she could not bring herself to do it. After several moments' hesitation, she pulled a bucket and bar of soap out of her new bag and scooped out some of the warm water before hiding behind a wall to disrobe, keeping her cloak over her bare form. She held the garment closed as she used her tail to pick up the soap and scrub the dirt from her body.
She listened to the words the others spoke, never once looking at them as she focused on the task of bathing. The warm water was soothing to her skin as the cold water of the rivers she usually used could not be. The environment was...awkwardly intimate and made her want to flee, but as Strife had said, she'd spent so much of their time together avoiding social niceties that she felt guilty for the impulse.
Finding herself all soaped up and unable to rinse off without disrobing completely, Mercy cringed before using her new ability to Invoke Duplicity. She sent her fully clothed duplicate into the next room to socialize with the others as she quickly shed her cloak, the mass of scars from her father's abuse at once visible. She quickly used the cooling bucket of water to rinse off the soap and toweled off before putting her dirty clothes back on her still damp skin. Thankfully, the process only took a minute, and she was able to join the others, sitting on a servant's bench near the pool in which they bathed.
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As Carrhae returns to Waterdeep she asks the kidnapped delegates if they knew what happened to the body of the knight from the Order of the Gauntlet that was traveling with them.
Once she arrives in the city, she heads towards the temple of Sune and gives thanks for the fact that she and her friends were able to escape the Temple of the Black Earth with their life, although she knows that the cult has not been stopped and she and her companions must return once more to put an end to the cultists. But that was business for another day. When they were wiser and stronger and the cult wasn't even more on edge after losing their prisoners twice within the span of a few days. I imagine that there's going to be hell to pay for those cultists after we rescued the prisoners. Ah well. Serves them right for joining an evil cult.
Right now, Carrhae was going to treat herself. Her and her friends had just come out of some near-death experiences, so they had more than earned this. First, Carrhae would see if Mercy's dwarf friends couldn't re-design her new armor. The burrowshark's plate armor might provide better protection than her old set, but the Cult of the Black Earth didn't know the first thing about decor. She drew up a design similar to her old armor; gold with red lining, but this time with a rose on the breastplate to represent Sune that was surrounded by six bells, one for her and the friends that she had made on this journey. "So that I'll always be showing how close you all are to my heart."
After that, she would insist that the team go out for the best food and baths that Waterdeep had to provide. "The six of us have gone through hell these past few weeks and it's only fair that we get a bit of heaven to balance it out before we dive back into it. Let's party, Jingle Belles!"
Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
More
Mercy slipped away from the group, spending her free time trying to...acquire additional assets.
Stealth (Theft): 11
Sleight of Hand (Pickpocketing): 19
(Forgot a couple things she tried.)
Performance: 6
Deception: 10
Yikes those rolls
What you learned from the capture delagates: The leader of the earth cult is a medusa named Marlos Urnrayle. He lairs in a cavern to the northeast, which Mercy discovered. A staircase to the south leads down to an ancient drow temple that has been overrun by elemental cultists. That sounds dangerous. The cultists have created elemental nodes in the dungeons below. You're not sure what that means.
DELEGATES:
Bruldenthar: FOUND
Desenyna: MISSING. LOCATION UNKNOWN.
Rhondorth: FOUND
Teresiel: FOUND
Knight: MISSING. LOCATION UNKNOWN.
The two delegates you found were members of The Lords Alliance. They award you all with 1200g total for your bravery, and appreciate you service.
Go have fun at the spa, and role-play away. When you guys are ready to move on, let me know what you want to do.
OOC: ooooooh, finally Daewen feels useful about something!
You have advantage on Survival checks to track your favored enemies, as well as on INT checks to recall information about them. You also learn one language of your choice that is spoken by your favored enemies, if they speak one at all.
Elementals are creatures native to the elemental planes. Some creatures of this type are little more than animate masses of their respective elements, including the creatures simply called elementals.
Daewen is furious when she learns that evil elementals are behind the lower level dungeons....and tries to recall what she can remember about "elemental nodes": (Investigation: 24).
Last to know and first to be blamed...
As a free action, can I regret my life choices?
Party time!
Don't forget to level up.
Zephyr perks up at the suggestion of going to get food and go to a bathhouse. "I totally agree!" With his hood flipped up, he was quick to shift into the mask he had put on previously: Redheaded Carrhae. She pulls down the hood to reveal her new look and winks in the paladins direction. "If no one else wants to come along, it will be just you and me, sis!"
Aeyd of the Dragons || Wood Elf / Way of the Ascendant Dragon Monk
Demetrios Zalaoras || Protector Aasimar / Paladin of Torm
Hawke || Kalashtar / Circle of the Moon Druid
Morticia || Half-Aasimar Rogue
Yvan || Goliath / Path of the Wild Soul Barbarian | Paladin of Helm
/ᐠ｡ꞈ｡ᐟ\
(1200/6=200 each!)
Mercy, disheartened by the results of her endeavors, returned to the group and was prevented from sulking by them giving her her own share of the loot.
Carrhae quickly eyes her doppleganger to get a look at Zephyr's new form and take in some eye candy. Gods, I look good. I wonder if Zephyr's got me copied down to the birthmark. "Well who's this strange beauty? Yes, let's go!"
Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
More
Mercy arched an eyebrow at the two of them. “A bathhouse? Never been to one before, but if the water is warm and clean, it’s better than my usual...”
(Gerde’s not a smith herself, but she’s got this friend who’s willing to take a look at the design and see if she can’t whip something up.)
OOC: Ok. Carrhae is assuming that someone in Mercy's other circles can give her new armor a better look.
Carrhae beams at the idea of Mercy joining them. "Oh yes, it's wonderful! You have to come. The water is warm, the baths are beautiful, and everything is clean. It's exactly the kind of thing we need after spending the last two days underground. We'll feel refreshed and ready for whatever's next."
Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
More
Daewen excitedly joins the group heading to the bathhouse, although she's quite nervous at being seen naked due to her apparent age. She'll stay close to Strife, obviously.
Charisma saving throw: 7
Last to know and first to be blamed...
As a free action, can I regret my life choices?
Before Carrhae heads out to the baths, she collects the 200 gold that Daewen gives her. "Thank you for this, little one. I'll make sure to find a way to repay you for this." She then heads out to purchase a pair of Goggles of Night. Then she heads out to sell her old set of armor. 'Take care of this and make sure that it gets sold to a worthy owner with a good heart. I received this armor when I became a Knight of the Ruby Rose and it's seen me through many battles. I suppose you could say that it's fairly important to me." Carrhae is slightly reluctant and sad to give up the armor that's been protecting her for the last few years, but she's able to part with it after thinking about the new armor that Mercy's friend is re-designing made for her. Then she returns to her friends with her new goggles which fit perfectly on top of her nose. "I've got 43 gold. It's not much, but if you need extra money for something, it'll help give an extra boost. It's the least I could do."
Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
More
Goggles of Night
An urchin walked up and tugged Mercy's arm. When she bent down, he whispered in her ear and pressed a bag into her hand. She smiled at her and handed off the coin she'd offered months ago, should an old friend run across a Bag of Holding in his exploits, glad that she actually had the money on hand. She also handed the little girl a small pouch of dried fruit as a treat for her service, grinning as her face lit up.
Upon returning to Waterdeep, the group split up so that each of them might attend to their own personal business, but agreed to reconvene much later in the day.
Strife wasn't sure she should even bother trying to locate Augusto. She already knew just what he would say, so what was the point? But she imagined he would also give her grief if she didn't report in, so there was no good answer. She decided she would try to find him but keep their meeting as brief as possible. She had no difficulty locating him once her Zhentarim contacts said that he would be at the docks that day transacting some sort of business.
Indeed, she found him on one of the piers where several cargo ships were being unloaded under his supervision. As ever, two hulking bodyguards were close by, but Augusto recognized her from a distance and beckoned her over. "Hey, what's-your-face! Over here!" Strife had the impression from his smile and semi-friendly disposition that he was in an unusually good mood for some reason.
"Do you smell that, Stress? Take a whiff and tell me what that is."
"My name is Strife."
"Yeah yeah, whatever. What do you smell?"
Strife couldn't discern anything unusual or special. It was the expected musty stinky harbor smell that made her think of rotting wood, rancid bilge water, and rat urine. "Um, nothing in particular, sir."
"That is the smell of success. Success, and gold. Heaping piles of it! We were under contract to ensure all this crap was delivered safely, and as you can see, that's exactly what we did. I happen to know a lot of people would like to have intercepted this, and it could have been very messy. Violence, boats sunk, cargo lost. Bad for business - for everyone.
"So I put the word out, ya know? Keep it professional. I tell them how hard we will come back on anybody who tries anything, but I can tell there's going to have to be a viable alternative. Our contract is just to get everything loaded into the warehouse, then it's somebody else's problem, ya see? And just so there are not too many cooks in the kitchen, I arrange an auction. Real careful, very private, just the interested parties. Winner gets the privilege of, uh, doing a thing. The losers get to split the winning bid as compensation. Minus my commission, obviously.
"So I turn a high risk job into a no risk job, we get paid a huge fee for security I don't even have to worry about, the auction winner buys an exclusive opportunity to reduce their risk and exposure, and the losers split some cash just for doing nothing. And everybody will see what happens when you try to cut corners and don't hire the Zhentarim to handle warehouse security. Are you taking notes on my genius? You gonna write a song about my brilliant leadership? It's a great day, Stress. Everybody wins."
"If I understand correctly, it seems like the actual cargo owners will not ultimately partake of this winning you refer to."
"Well sure they are. They are buying wisdom and enlightenment. And you can't put a price on that!" Augusto laughed heartily. "Hey, you did good with that thing, bringing back that big group of prisoners, and then the second batch. They are all toasting the Harpers, but I'm making sure the Harpers themselves don't forget they owe us a huge favor, and I'm getting the word out on the street that we were the real key to saving the day. It's obvious they sent some genuine bozos you had to cover for."
"What? No they didn't! In fact, the one you warned me about, Barry, it turns out he's not even the actual Barry, but a highly capable-"
"No, no, what are you, stupid? I'm telling you how it was. I give you the facts, and you nod your head and absorb them, got it? We saved the day, just like always. The Harpers are a fine bunch of dedicated amateurs, but we're the professionals. Did you hear about that one dipshit, the Harper who pissed off that Dwarf? So then the Dwarf gets back here and takes out a restraining order! Can you believe it? What a gang of idiots!"
"Oh, wow, yeah. It doesn't really matter, though, right? Anyway, I just wanted to let you know we rescued two more of the delegates, so now there's just one left. Plus the body."
"The last one's dead? Then forget about it. I got other stuff I need you to work on."
"No, just the body is dead. The delegate might be alive, we're not sure, but we have a lead that suggests they may be a prisoner at Feathergale Spire, I think."
"Well what body are you talking about? Who's dead?"
"I don't know. It was a knight. A warrior that fought against orcs."
"The Harpers didn't say anything to me about a body. Screw that."
No, screw you, I'm going to help Carrhae, thought Strife. "Fine. I gotta go rescue the last one. But you should know there are these terrible elemental cults in bases underneath Sumber Hills and they are planning and doing horrible things. They are the ones abducting all these folks. There's this medusa guy and a lich at the earth cult monastery - just ask the people we rescued if you don't believe me. So you should really get the best people together to go put a stop to all that."
"That's expensive. Who's paying? Are you financing this?"
"No, I only just received a small-"
"This whole rescue the delegation project is taking way too damn long, and you're still not done. You need to hurry it up. In fact we may just abandon this effort. This last missing person isn't really going to do much for our balance sheet either way. Check back at the office tonight where I will leave written instructions either extending your current effort or providing a new assignment. But you've done mostly okay, kiddo. See ya."
Strife departed every bit as dejected as she had thought she would be. She headed over to a disreputable part of town and was able to replenish her stock of special herbs. But running into an acquaintance there, Strife got caught up in another errand that further soured her mood. She was a few minutes late before she managed to rejoin her friends. She had correctly assumed they would share a meal but there was now a further plan to visit a bathhouse. And Zephyr wouldn't raise any eyebrows joining the ladies for they were now in Carrhae's form, though with red hair to distinguish them.
"I think a bath sounds great, but let's do that first, before we eat." On the way to the bathhouse, Strife noticed Daewen seemed a bit anxious and clingy. Strife used a sequence of Message spells to whisper to her, "Don't worry, people of every age and description visit these places, and though you have an amazing fit and toned body, I will stand between you and the group, and you can disrobe behind me and follow me in. And once you are in the water, you can't really see anything much. If you need to converse with me, remember you can just point at the corner of your mouth, and I can do the thought reading thing. But there's nothing you have to worry about - liches and bulettes don't frighten you, so you really needn't worry when you are among your friends."
The bathhouse had multiple gender segregated rooms, and although it wasn't an especially busy time, there were three other women already enjoying the waters when the group arrived. Strife immediately made further use of her cantrip to whisper deeply depraved and unnatural ideas that quickly convinced the trio that they had had quite enough bathing, and they exited. Strife undressed slowly due to her curiosity about her companions' bodies, and with a particular interest as to Zephyr's ability to achieve anatomical correctness, though she spared Daewen from taking any glances behind her. She hoped her own myriad of newly visible tattoos and further delicate piercings wouldn't be off putting to Carrhae, but she was fairly certain the others wouldn't care.
Once she had escorted Daewen safely down the stairs into the pool, she climbed out again just long enough to extract a bar of soap and her pipe from her backpack. She loaded the pipe with a fresh supply of herb, climbed back into the pool, and ignited it with another of her cantrips. After several satisfying puffs, she offered the pipe to her friends and, after briefly submerging her head to also get her hair wet, began to lather herself.
"I love all of you. Zephyr took the longest because I was operating under many dumb assumptions. I have experienced so much prejudicial dislike just because of how I look. I'm delighted to meet somebody who can so easily disprove all of those negative beliefs. And who might assume any form I might fantasize about. And whose library exerts a gravitational pull on me stretching across all time and space.
"And you! How were you persuaded to join in a group activity with us? I mean a purely fun social gathering as opposed to our professional duties. I have been trying to win your affection from the very beginning, but at almost any opportunity, you vanish and run off to do your own thing. I am so happy you are here with us now! You don't have to say or do anything, but it means a lot to me that you came along.
"I love Trini because she's the sister I never had and she's always ready and able to remind me you can find joy almost anywhere if you open your heart. I love Daewen because she never says a bad word about me! She has a horrendous but adorable snore, whereas Mercy's slumber can lay claim to just one of those characteristics. Daewen is helping me understand more about death in spite of my fears, and I think I can find ways to harness that knowledge in my magic.
"I saved you, Carrhae, for last. I love men and all that goes with that, but I couldn't help noticing what an ideal advocate for the goddess of beauty Carrhae truly is. She listens carefully to what I say and her insightful responses have shown me that same beauty permeates to her core. We've had some good talks, and I have flirted with her, sometimes shamelessly. It's no surprise I really don't love going to cult compounds and mingling with sociopaths. But when I do, I feel much safer with her close by. Yet I am scared and afraid of taking things further. And I'm scared and afraid of not taking things further. I still have secrets, but I wanted to share that much with everyone because I think you are entitled to know. You are my family now and our lives depend on one another."
Strife submerged herself to rinse off the soap and swam underwater to reach where Carrhae was seated, surfacing next to her. Tentatively, she took Carrhae's hand in her own, intertwining their fingers.
Upon entering the bathhouse and undressing, Carrhae stole a quick glance at Zephyr to further test the authenticity of their assumed form. Well they certainly got all of the curves right, but as I expected, they missed the birthmark. She let her eyes linger on Strife for a moment as she takes in the sight of her, not even trying to hide it this time. She's certainly gotten more than a glance of all of us, I don't think she'll be too upset if I take the opportunity to get the same. Carrhae accepts the pipe from Strife and partakes in it, feeling even more relaxed as the substance begins to go to work. She feels her cheeks redden when Strife comes up from underwater right next to her. As Strife holds her hand, Carrhae gently lifts Strife's hands to her lips and gives it a quick peck, before she begins to speak words of her own.
"When I was growing up in the temple, the nuns told me that my fellow Sunites were my brothers and sisters, and while I hold them dear to me, the five of you have succeeded in stealing my heart. So long as we have to deal with these cultists, know that I will fight fiercely in your defense and if need be, I'd lay down my life for any of you.
Mercy, when we first met you were fairly distant, but as we've spent time together on our mission, I've seen moments where you show the love you have for us. Know that I have the same love for you and that I'm grateful for your clever mind and the blessing of Mask that allows me to traverse the fortresses of our enemies without alerting them of my presence.
Trini, I thank you for the bells you gave me. Even though I sometimes cannot wear them, know that I always keep them near to me as a treasured gift. I am glad to be in the presence of such a joyous individual and I hope that one day you might choose to teach me how to sing and dance like you do.
Zephyr, I am glad that you decided to open your heart to us and that you feel like you can be you. I love you regardless of which form you take, but if you wish, you can assume my likeness, although I must warn you that you'll get more admirers than you might be ready for!
Daewen, even though you cannot speak, you have still managed to let each of us know that love us in your own way. I love you too and like Strife, I must confess that I find you rather adorable. I haven't forgotten about Harold and I will make sure that before our deed is done we will give him the justice he deserves. The gold that you gave me was put to good use and once again, I promise that I shall find a way to repay you for your kindness.
Strife, you have said many kind and wonderful things to me in the time that I've known you and I feel that I will constantly be thanking you for them. Even though you profess that you aren't as brave as I am, you have never been afraid to speak your true feelings about me, while I needed to have a brush with death in order to speak my true feelings about you. In that matter, you are the brave one.
I can't say that I'm overjoyed to have fate decide that I must do battle against evil elemental cultists, but I can say that I am grateful that the gods allowed me to fight side by side along individuals who are beautiful inside and out in the way that you are."
As Carrhae finishes speaking, everyone in the tub feels enveloped by a divine aura, as if the affection that Carrhae has for them is an actual force that's providing protection for their mind, body, and spirit.
(OOC: Aura of Protection. Carrhae and all allies within 10 feet of her gain a +3 bonus to all saves.)
Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
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Mercy had never been inside a bathhouse before, so it was hard to say what she might have expected. Whatever that was, this...was not it. She blushed and averted her eyes, trying to avoid looking at anyone's nudity as she hung back. Biting her bottom lip, she thought fiercely. Though the others might find it odd that she did not wish to disrobe before them, much less soak in the same pool of water, she could not bring herself to do it. After several moments' hesitation, she pulled a bucket and bar of soap out of her new bag and scooped out some of the warm water before hiding behind a wall to disrobe, keeping her cloak over her bare form. She held the garment closed as she used her tail to pick up the soap and scrub the dirt from her body.
She listened to the words the others spoke, never once looking at them as she focused on the task of bathing. The warm water was soothing to her skin as the cold water of the rivers she usually used could not be. The environment was...awkwardly intimate and made her want to flee, but as Strife had said, she'd spent so much of their time together avoiding social niceties that she felt guilty for the impulse.
Finding herself all soaped up and unable to rinse off without disrobing completely, Mercy cringed before using her new ability to Invoke Duplicity. She sent her fully clothed duplicate into the next room to socialize with the others as she quickly shed her cloak, the mass of scars from her father's abuse at once visible. She quickly used the cooling bucket of water to rinse off the soap and toweled off before putting her dirty clothes back on her still damp skin. Thankfully, the process only took a minute, and she was able to join the others, sitting on a servant's bench near the pool in which they bathed.