Vixia The Wealthy And Righteous Swords

Talinian looks at his companions and then steps forward to speak first.  "Greetings, Council.  First, we do not need to 'say anything for ourselves'.  That implies we have done something that needs to be justified and we have not.  Second, I admit to curiosity about a number of things, such as your compound, the knowledge such...experienced persons have, you purpose here and your plans for the town, but that is a personal matter.  Our," he gestures at his companions, "purpose in coming to the town was already satisfied when we stopped the bard, Davey.  Aside from a wish to satisfy that curiosity, I have nothing further to add."

During and after his speech, the wizard tries to gauge the reaction of the vampires.  When he's finished, he steps back but does not sit.

Perception: 17
Insight: 9

ooc: Would it be possible to retcon a bit and say Talinian used one of his Mage Armor scrolls before they left the prison cottage?

Mialee, true to her silent nature would do just that, remain quiet. Talinian had all the words for her covered, and she trusted his judgement. She stood tall and firm in her position at her companions side, her gaze scanning the group of individuals before her. They indeed were quite different from one another, that was obvious. Mia would simply offer a wink of her own in return to the woman that blew a kiss her way.

Perception: 21
Insight on the council: 13
(To try her hand at reading the room and preparing for anything.)

Bones coughs a little as he stands and steps forward, "As my counterpart said here, we've done nothing to warrant explaining. Just pursued a lead. Mayor Raymond, in fact. I'm curious as to what value you found in teaching him necromantic abilities? He put a great deal of people in danger. I thought that was not what you and your league were all about? Or did Maxer tell us incorrectly?"

Quote from SpieltJoos >>

Bones coughs a little as he stands and steps forward, "As my counterpart said here, we've done nothing to warrant explaining. Just pursued a lead. Mayor Raymond, in fact. I'm curious as to what value you found in teaching him necromantic abilities? He put a great deal of people in danger. I thought that was not what you and your league were all about? Or did Maxer tell us incorrectly?"

 I do not recall Maxer saying anything about them teaching Raymond necromancy.

And yes we can say Talinian has mage armor up.

(OOC - my bad, I meant Dalton. He talked about Raymond wanting to be a vampire (pg 75, post #1501). But the question about them teaching him is a searching question nonetheless.)

The Boy looks to you all “We are not accusing you of anything.  This is to judge your intent of being here.  You must understand that we have had guests before who came, claimed good intentions and then tried to kill us all.  While we might hate what we are, we don’t want to die.”

The half elf humps and says something under his breath. (perception check if you want to know DC 17)

“As for Mayor Raymond WE have taught him nothing!  He came to us.  He knew of our situation, shortly after his wife’s death, he happened to stumble upon us.  We have turned everything that he has wanted from us down.  And we would never teach an outsider anything. I accept what you have said, at this point the council will take a short leave to determine your intent.”

The council all stands up, bows to the crowd, turns away from you and walks out of the main hall.  A few conversations start up in the crowd, allowing a soft rumble, Ingon stands from his seat and he starts to talk with Dalton.  None of the remaining vampires get up to come and talk with you, and the guards behind the vampire council stay standing still.

Talinian as you look through the crowd you see a human man who is also wearing robes of Golin and Oriteath.  With just one look you recognize the man: the smaller frame, the curly blond hair, and the slightly confused look on his face… Thomas, Thomas was here and sitting in the crowd of vampires, while you are looking at him he turns to look at you and quickly averts his eyes when he sees that you are looking at him.  He slightly slumps down and tries to hide from you a little.

Is there anything you wish to do while the council is out of the Main Hall?  You have about 30 minutes

(Could I use Mia's insight check? She has the same modifier for perception and Mia was actively reading the crowd.)

Talinian's Perception: 16

Talinian starts at seeing his old friend, here of all places.  Immediately he walks over, a warm smile on his face.  "Hello, Thomas.  I am so happy to see you.  How do you come to be here?"  He chooses not to address Thomas' efforts to avoid him.

Bones Perception Check: 9

As Talinian wanders off, Bones leans over to Mia, "So our mayor found his skills elsewhere, curious as to where. What do you make of all this, my silent friend?"

Talinian as you get to Thomas 3 of the Council guards approach you and start to say "Sir you must retu...." but were cut off by Thomas.  "Thank you guards, you may leave I will take care of this guest."  Thomas turns to you Talinian and continues.  "Talinian I was really hoping you didn't see me, but you did.  I will talk with you later, but for now, until the council determines your intent is not to kill you do have to return to your place."

Mia and Bones your feel of the room is a generally positive one, with a mix of level of positivity there are of course a few groups that seem to be less sold on your intent but no one looks to be reading an attack or like they are fearful of the group.  Unlike the council the crowd is mostly humans, there are a few elves, and dwarfs, you do see a pair of Gnomes that you have to take a double take when you see because they are identical twins wearing matching clothing.  In the back of the room is a Goliath and sitting on his shoulder is a goblin.

OOC: did we roll high enough to hear what the elf muttered?

WOW my bad I forgot all about that.

Yes you all heard him wisper.

The Boy looks to you all “We are not accusing you of anything.  This is to judge your intent of being here.  You must understand that we have had guests before who came, claimed good intentions and then tried to kill us all.  While we might hate what we are, we don’t want to die.”

Half Elf "Speak for yourself."

Quote from coachmanak >>

Talinian as you get to  Thomas 3 of the Council guards approach you and start to say "Sir you must retu...." but were cut off by Thomas.  "Thank you guards, you may leave I will take care of this guest."  Thomas turns to you Talinian and continues.  "Talinian I was really hoping you didn't see me, but you did.  I will talk with you later, but for now, until the council determines your intent is not to kill you do have to return to your place."

 Talinian, a bit stung by the abrupt dismissal, nods, says "We stated our intent.  Perhaps your council is so steeped in deception they cannot see honesty when it is offered."  He states this matter-of-factly, without rancor.  The tiefling wizard nods, turns, and walks back to the others.

"Be ready for any anything.  They see deceit everywhere and I cannot be certain they will not see it in us.  I am going to link with Baltor."  He speaks very quietly, to be avoid being overheard by vampires who have who knows what in the way of enhanced hearing.  He then sits down in a slouchy manner, trying to convey tiredness.  He closes his eyes, then links with his familiar.  He sets the owl to flying around the building, seeing what's around, if there are troops setting up, anything like that, seeing and hearing anything there is to see.

ooc: What does Talinian see and/or hear through Baltor?

Baltor flies around the village is preparing for bed, there are 2 pairs of roaming guards on the streets, and the guards on the wall. There is no force forming in the courtyard or anything else along those lines.  Baltor hears three different louder building, the first is the Bloods building, the second is what must be the local tavern, and lastly is the guard base.  Baltor hears nothing interesting from the Bloods, in the tavern people are drinking, in a much more moderate fashion than you are used to, there are a few conversations about the party. 

"I hope this group is not like the last one." 

"Yeah, my wife was on guard and was killed during that battle."

An other conversation

"They are a small group, I saw them with Maxer, they didn't look overly aggressive."  

“Well that's good.  I wonder if they are here looking for a specific master, or bringing news.”

“I’m not sure but but I hope that nothing comes from this.”

And a last conversation that Ill quickly run through.

“Aye I saw the demon man, looked like he had on som school robe.  The Gnome caught me eye, but the woman in armur she looks like fun in a fiught.”

“I’d put me money on her over you. HAHAHAHAHA”

Baltor then flyers over to the guard post.  There are about a dozen guards in there changing out of light armor with natural looking colors, along with them there is a Dwarf man and Lizardfolk woman.  When Baltor gets in this is what he hears.

A small human man speaking as he strips off his clothing.  “Yeah sector 4 is the same clean I found no traces of any smart mortals.  We did have to kill a pair of Death Dogs, which always sucks.  But if they are setting up an ambush of any kind we didn’t see any signs of it.”

In a hissing voice the Lizardfolk woman says “Ooooohhhh kaaayyyzzz.  I will report to the council what you all have reported.”

The Lizard folk woman gets up and walks out of the guard’s post and starts to walk to the castle.

Does Balot follow?

ooc: are we in the castle?

(Correct)

Talinian instructs Baltor to return to the castle and then withdraws, calmly standing and then quietly and equally informing his companions of what he learned.

"Any thoughts?"

Is he coming to you or following the Lizardfolk woman.

OOC: you said we are in the castle and that’s where the lizard person is going.

Bones strokes his beard as he listens and thinks, "Yes, well, it appears that they're checking up on us. It doesn't sound all that sinister, but then just because they didn't find anything, doesn't mean they'll trust us." He stops and thinks some more for a moment, "They did wonder if we're looking for a master or just bringing news. Perhaps we can use that? So far we've had several missions surrounding undead in some manner. I'm not overly deceptive, unfortunately, however I could use my position with the priesthood of my order and knowledge of the various religions about to garner something..." Once again, he scratches his beard, "But the question is, what do we hope to achieve here? What do we want to walk away with?"