Then he wanders over to Axonia and asks if the angels and devils planned to hang out in the grove until the vote was resolved or if they planned to reconvene later to try for another vote and a decision.
Axonia sighs. "No, I don't think a vote will happen tonight. I have not seen a lot of negotiation happening,"she says. "But things might just be starting slow. So we shall see."
The Eladrin’s eyes shifted towards Tristan and, as he looked away from the Half-Orc, Llyr snapped his fingers, killing the force suspending the wine bottle, and thereby having it begin to fall to the ground. The Half-Orc wasn’t far from it, he told himself, he’d catch it.
“Now there’s a thought.” — he told Tristan — “You wouldn’t happen to know whoever it was that crafted this play, would you?” — Llyr’s focus snapped to this one detail in the Bard’s speech, before finally acknowledging the rest of it — “What I’m after, my dear Bard, is precisely who is offering, and for what.”— he paused, looking at the Goblin squaring off against the Devil — “Besides, I would’ve imagined most of you’d be happy with this result. Divine war would ravage your lands, and before any of them fell, most of you would.” — a blink, then another, before the Bladesinger tilted his head in mild confusion once again — “I mean, you can’t imagine they’d do that at their doorstep, when they have a perfectly decent world to ruin right here… could you?”— as his voice trailed off, Llyr’s eyes narrowed at Tristan and he fired off this latest, fairly accusatory question, almost looking to be reassured.
The Eladrin made his way past the party, to finally address the would-be representatives of Limbo, before turning back at Tristan one final time. “… Still. You’ve been more agreeable than most, so I’ll offer you a piece of advice. Until you come to understand why they need you, storyteller, you should sit the discussion out. It’s hard to barter for a fair price when you don’t know your worth, after all. And, if you’re to believe anything that comes out of my mouth this day, let it be this: a bad deal here could easily prove the worst decision you’ll ever make.” — offering a shrug that implied, what you choose is up to you, he was off, a few steps ahead, now much closer to yet another group of large, winged beings.
“Good evening once again.” — the Elf bowed to the cluster of Divine Ambassadors he approached, every bit as lazily as he had the mortal party — “I imagine you’ve said your piece more than once, so I’ll keep it brief, if that’s alright. Might I hear the going rates for an expedited decision?” — his gaze panned through the Angelic/Fiendish party —“One that might involve a Dragon, perhaps?”
”Some guidance on where a hopeful might want try their hand at greasing some proverbial wheels would go a long way, as well.” He smiled, shameless as ever.
Fierlinaste, angel of Silvanus, nods. "The gnome is a bit of a knob,"she says with a cheeky smile.
Decidurus, angel of Mielikki, laughs. "That he is,"he says. "He would fit in well in the hells for that alone."
Dendrida, angel of Chauntea, remains quiet.
"I do like the dragon as potential god," Fierlinaste says. "It is a traditional choice, as far as gods can have traditions. But It does not matter which of them ascends. We move to the Limbos either way."
Decidurus gives a little shrug. "That seems to be the way things are going,"he says. "So be it."
Neither Decidurus nor Fierlinaste seem concerned about which candidate gets the nod. "Silvanus will vote with the majority,"says Fierlinaste.
Decidurus nods in agreement. Dendrida sighs and finally speaks. "The dragon will probably make the better ally as a god, but Chauntea thus far abstains from taking a position."
"If you are looking to nudge a few votes," Fierlinaste says. "Talk to gods of the hells. Jal'gennoch said that Talona supports the mage and Valibatasha says Beshaba supports the dragon."
"I heard Feizu'ul saying that Leira still supports the mage," says Decidurus.
"Mis said the same thing about Loviatar."
"Glaum voted for the mage but I haven't heard if that has changed."
"Nothing has changed, Decidurus. Torm supports none, as I hear it."
"Malar could change his mind," says Decidurus.
"Maybe. Bhaal won't. Mask won't."
"Cyric?"
"Hard to say with the god of lies."
Llyr follows the angels gazes and pointing fingers as they list off the gods and their devils and angels.
Tristan watches the Elf saunter back across the glen, continuing his dance with the representatives of the gods, with a small shake of his head “Rather full of himself isn’t he” he turns to Gash, Kulloda, and Dog. “I tried to save him the effort. We have the wish list for most of the gods willing to change their votes, we have but to settle on a course of action. Supporting the Dragon brings the Traveler back into play.” He remembers Martin telling them that he was going to conduct some research on the fallen god. “Perhaps we should check in with Martin to see what he has found on that front.”
“I have a contact that sometimes travels through Jaspertown, the hammer may be a good place to start, although perhaps we should ask why they want it.” He turns to Gash and grins “If you want to be even more brash, tell Talos that you will be able sway a vote if he grants you a boon to help you retrieve the hammer. May make the retrieval a little easier and a little more worth the effort”
Finnegan startles a bit when Dog approaches but composes himself quickly. Upon hearing his question, he scoffs. "I don't need a team of mercenaries to defend my dig sites any more, my dear boy," he says. "We are well beyond that. The gods themselves are in negotiations here."
He lets that hang in the open for a moment as he ponders, then says, "I suppose if you can affect the outcome, though...somehow...I would happily reward you with my mage tower and all it contains. Hundreds of years of arcane research, magical items, spells, historical artifacts, and more. I would have no need of it. So by all means, boy, if you have the ear of the gods themselves, you can have it all if you help out papa Finnegan."
The dragon has a similar answer, although delivered in a much less condescending way. "I have accumulated wealth over hundreds of years," she says, her voice purring. "But no heirs to speak of. It is an earthly boon, to be certain, but it is one I can guarantee."
Gash:
Typhorus scoffs. "So has the wizard and the dragon. Should Talos just grant boons to whomever seems able enough? I doubt you can even recite the Prayer of Shelter at Sea."
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Religion (24): 10
Indeed, Gash has no notion of the prayer named. "No?" Typhorus says. "What loyalty have you shown to Talos, then, that he would trust your intentions."
“you’re right. I don’t know this prayer. And you’re right about something else. I have no loyalty to Talos. I have no loyalty to any of you or who you represent. But that is exactly why I am a powerful ally. I hold favor with the crown. I am loyal to the Queen. I am a trusted emissary and one of the protectors of The Queen. I hold sway. Should you want things to go your way then you should do what you can to please me and my friends. To protect and honor the crown. To protect the child Queen and her mothers. For once, I hold the power. And I’m not going to beg you or any other god to take it from me. So, if you do not wish to afford us favors. To afford us gifts. Then we will simply sway the vote differently.”
Gash speaks with a confidence that he rarely gets to show off but in this instant he feels like he’s on top of the world. He believes the words he says and he says then plainly as possible.
Typhorus snorts in response. He shows nothing of the temper displayed in his argument with Bael earlier this evening. Instead, he reaches out a flat hand and, in a rare display of actual magic during one of these gatherings, displays an illusion of dragonchess pieces, textured with rippling electricity.
"You fancy yourself a dragonchess player, then mortal?"the devil says. "Let's say Talos accepts your bargain. How much does your loyalty cost? Well, that depends on how much you can get from someone else across the glen, of course. Talos offers a boon and Bhaal offers two. So why not offer two to start with, you say? Well, because Bhaal will just offer three, so I might as well offer 8 on behalf of the god of storms. But, of course, Bhaal will raise it to 9. The problem with your loyalty-free mercenary position, little goblin, is you cannot offer your loyalty for a price, because that price can always be beat when the near infinite resources of the gods. Bhaal knows this, as does Waukeen, as do the rest."
The lightning illusion dissipates and Typhorus leans forward, though not threateningly. "You can't find an advantage here, Gash, emissary of Queen Gentoa. If you want to help, you need to find an angle you're comfortable with. Do you want a favor from the god of storms or the god of murder? How about the goddess of magic? The god of hunting? If you feel nothing for the domains of the gods, then consider what they ask you to do. Will you kill a unicorn for Malar or build a new temple for the goddess of pain? Or are you more comfortable invoking a novel spell for the goddess of magic?"
Typhorus gives a little shrug. "I don't really know what would move them, of course, but those favors must not all sit well with you, Gash, from what I have heard of you and yours. But maybe you really are willing to do anything. In which case, flip a coin, I suppose, and earn your boons from whomever will grant them, no matter what they are."
Gash leans forward looking up at Typhorus, his own hand held out flat. Gash then spits toward his hand and catches it with shape water forming his own crude dragonchess piece. "You have been around the gods too long. Mortals do not wish for the infinite. Sure some. But most of us remember where we came from. Most of us have a goal in life. I don't wish to start a bidding war... no I just want my time to be worth while. I remember where I came from. Do you? I came from the muck. I ate diseased and rotting meats, rodents, things that would kill any human if consumed... I have killed. I have mamed. I have done unspeakable to many. But I did it to get where I am today. As soon as first chance I left the muck and never looked back. I wanted a better life. I wanted to be integrated into society and now look. So you tell me... what am I willing to do for what I want? Anything. I embraced my role as a protector. I fought off demons and devils and became stronger and stronger learning more magicks. Magicks that a goblin from the muck can't even imagine. So, it is not a bidding war I'm after. I've become a part of society. Now its on to the next goal, what was always REALLY the goal. To prove that a goblin, that anyone, can be just as good as anyone else. To take a stand against those who wronged, to those who make their own rules as they god, and to those who take the lives of good people... all because they can. I want to make those things right."
Gash moves his outreached hand and waves his dragonchess piece spit letting it fall to the dirt. He looks down at it. "That is me, that is where I'm from. It isn't my job to work for the gods and devils when they never once worked for me. If you and your god and your side doesn't see fit to even make an offer for my help then why offer to help? You're gods, you're not the goblin from the muck. I will always offer a hand to those who need it, but I will not beg a king to let me help." Gash then turns his back to Typhorus.
"Doggear, I think it's time we gather the others." Gash looks around for Everlily, if she is around she will ask her to gather her friends and any other mortal who has been involved in vote negotiations to meet for a discussion away from the heavens and hells.
Kulloda snatches the falling wine from the air, popping the cork, and tilting it up and into his mouth in one motion.
He pauses and swishes it around in his mouth for a moment before swallowing.
The half-orc than finds somewhere to sit down and put his feet up while he waits for the others to finish all their talk with the angels and devils. With Centulia occupied by all her own conversations and no work to prepare for, this is the first moment of anything close to free time he’s had in years.
With a smile on his face, he drinks from the bottle and follows the elf’s and Gash’s movements.
When Gash mentions meeting elsewhere to Dog, Kulloda finishes the bottle, leaves it sitting on a stone and makes his way over to join them.
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Typhorus smiles, his eyes crackling with lightning at the intense debate. "Your motivations are your own, little Gash,"he says. "Between you and your god. If that is ever Talos, he might help answer that prayer."
He bids the goblin a farewell, no animosity in their parting.
There is no immediate sign of the sprites who have adopted him here in the clearing filled with celestials and fiends. Sitting wearily on the ground near Kulloda, the goblin looks over the towering angels and devils, his sharp little mind cataloging each on their stances and what they have to offer. There is a large number of them they know little about.
Eventually, Galadra finds him. At his request, she zips off and returns a few minutes later with her cousin Everlily. They have one more thing to do before they sequester themselves. With Dog's help and the two sprites, they very quickly, flatly, and straightforwardly pose a bargain to as many of the angels and devils as they can to determine what they would give in exchange for a change to their vote. What is more important to them that they would make that concession?
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Finding the Sprites fluttering about amusing, the Eladrin politely bid his goodbyes to the Gods of Nature’s Ambassadors — very happy to have met them, and noting that, in fact, Elves are most at home in nature, evidently even the Divine kind. The Envoy calmly walked a bit further, asking some questions of the Devils as instructed, here and there, before hunkering down below a tree a ways off from the fanfare, and producing a black, leather-bound book and a pencil, which he used to sketch the sight. A rough one, that he’d refine in the comfort of his home at a later date, but something that might help anchor this place to memory.
The sketch finished, the Bladesinger closed the book, and drew an Emerald Pen, alongside another book, similarly bound, and where he proceeded to write his thoughts on the matter, and key details he might come to forget.
Hemovarico: Myrkul will accept no bargain as he favors neither candidate.
Fraust: Auril desires a contested item. Gaining it will sway her favor from the dragon to the mage. The Eternal Cold Flame is in possession of the Wood Elves in Northern Poria. Deliver it to one of the few remaining shrines to Auril and you will have her vote.
Arroch: Malar desires the head of a white elk that lives only in the Feywild. It is the last of its kind and has defied any who has hunted it. Kill it and mount its head in the lodge outside Alciondria for all to see. Then he will change his vote to the dragon.
Afratus: Torm will sway is vote for sufficient prayer and self-sacrifice. Give a piece of yourself, your memory, your wealth, your health, your intellect or speed or strength. Sacrifice something you cherish at the Temple of Torm. He will vote for whomever you wish then. Until then, he will abstain.
Mis: Loviatar wants your allegiance. Become a cleric of Loviatar and spread the word of pain. She will grant your vote to the dragon. If, instead, you can sway others to Finnegan, she will reward you for that instead.
Syn: Mask will not waver from his support for Finnegan. He will reward you for swaying the vote in his favor.
Glaum: Shar would have you travel to the plane Selune and steal a shard of moonlight. Then you will have the vote of the dragon. She will reward you for swaying the vote in Finnegan's favor, however.
Onyn: Savras has received urgent prayers from the oracle at the top of Mt. Daldas in the Cloudspire Mountains. The path to her temple has been blocked by a landslide. Clear the path and Savras will change her vote to Finnegan. She will reward those who sway the vote to the dragon, however.
Falstrienne: Leave me alone. Cyric wants nothing to do with this nonsense.
Morrikal: Kelemvor is willing to change his vote to the mage. He wants more than a shrine to the dead in Alciondria. Devote a temple to Kelemvor in the capitol and his vote will go to Finnegan. He will provide a reward if you sway people to the dragon, however.
Valibatasha: Beshaba favors the dragon. If you want her vote to go to the mage, find 10 lucky items and curse them to cause misfortune. Distribute them to the unwary as you see fit.
Aeryx: Sune will vote with the majority. No favors need be earned.
Feizu'ul: Leira's primary temple was destroyed by another god. It was a traveling circus. Most of her ardent followers were killed. If you can locate the survivors and finance the reforming of her traveling temple, she will change her vote to the dragon.
Hexody: No favors need be earned. Milil will vote with the majority.
Axonia: Oghma will vote with the majority.
Centulia: Bring me the head of a sitting king and you will have Tempus' vote for the dragon.
Adrigo: Azuth requires nothing and will vote with the majority.
Bael: Bhaal has made his decision and will not change it.
Orbinata: Selune will vote with the majority. No favors necessary.
Condolus: Ilmater favors the dragon. He would change his vote if you rescued a town suffering from the effects of poisoned groundwater entering their wells.
Kystra: Tymora will vote for the dragon and sees no need to change her mind on that.
Ezath: Bane supports Finnegan the mage. Nothing will sway that vote.
Surpha'at: Umberlee desires a temple to the sea. Build one at the docks in Alciondria or Delphendria. She will change her vote to the mage if that happens.
Ja'gennoch: Talona will change her vote to the dragon if you poison the wells of a dozen villages. They need not be fatal. Make 12 villages suffer the sickness of tainted water and she will change her vote.
Having had enough of the celestials and devils, the party finds a cache of unopened wine. It is fine stuff indeed and they manage to abscond to another clearing to partake and discuss what they know. There is more of the former than the latter after a few bottles. They can hear some of the angels and devils in the adjacent clearing eventually, sometimes with angry voices and other times with laughter. But this pushes them to find more distance rather than less as their wine-drinking becomes less joyful at the interruption.
At some point, they end up passing through the Feywild, just for 10 minutes, on the way to another spot in the material plane, a spot protected by Llyr's magic. It is a grand manor in the middle of the woods some distance from the queen and the celestials. Fortunately, Gentoa is fast asleep and well-protected and the celestials are well-bound by the Accords. So the emissaries fall into a commiserating-turned-light-hearted-turned-blurry appreciation of the royal stock of wine.
Come the morning, well past breakfast, Dog, Gash, and Tristan find themselves back at the palace in Alciondria ready to meet with the Regent about the previous night's discoveries. Martin has already arrived and is sitting in conversation with his team about the progress with the giants that have been mangling the King's Road. For reasons that seemed perfectly sound in the haze of wine a few hours before, Kulloda and Llyr are present as well, though their reasons now for standing here are their own.
The Regent is looking a little harried as well, although more out of sleep deprivation than hangover by the looks of it. Still, she is quite presentable due to the attendants that are in charge of such things. She listens patiently at what Martin and then the rest of the party have uncovered. She reports that it was mainly politics as usual on her end of the evening but that an intruder took advantage of the queen's absence last night. Someone broke into Tock's, now Tristan's, office. He may need to check on it to see what was taken. This is a rather stunning admission of a security lapse, but it is not the first time and it has always been the same person who has infiltrated the castle: The black-furred tabaxi woman. She was working for Finnegan, the last anyone knew...
To Martin's queries about celestial artifacts, the Regent has no immediate knowledge. "I will message an expert in Poria," she says. "I will have something for you within a day or two, I suspect."
To the rest of the party, she gets that look on her face as if she is about to give them a serious direction or question, but then thinks better of it. "Do you have anything else?"
Kulloda's frown looks even deeper this morning than it did during the play last night. Even with his experience in drinking wine and ale like they're water, his head feels too small and his tongue too big today. He suspects the wine may have been left by the pixies and fey last night as a last parting joke.
When he informed Centulia that he was going to the palace this morning she had merely nodded and smiled at him. He disliked that more than having orders barked at him with her usual haughty demeanor. To Kulloda this meant that even if he thought he was doing his own thing he was really already doing Tempus' bidding.
He looks around the palace chamber and takes in what he's gotten himself into. Attendants and servants scurrying about, an awful lot of talk about what feels like every angel and devil that ever was, that damn smug elf, and the high and mighty royalty. A valet had even tried to take his great sword. A baring of his tusks and deep growl had put an end to that, but he could tell the palace guards were keeping a close eye on his every movement. If putting up with all of this gets him a step closer to his freedom then so be it.
Kulloda sratches his shoulder, then side, and finally his backside, before letting out a sound that manages to encompass a growl, a groan and a sigh all in one.
He makes his way over to Gash and looks down at the goblin.
"This place is too clean," Kulloda says. "Good to get little dirty. Make strong."
He nods at Dog and Tristan, and even acknowledges Llyr.
"More all day talking?"Kulloda asks. "Or finally act? Time to do big deeds and make gods do what we want."
Martin walks next to Kulloda and smiles faintly. “It’s always been like this, until there’s action to be taken. Then it becomes a real test. We are a bit… spoiled for choice. You might only get to choose once, so it’s good to choose the best bit of action.”
He pauses but not long enough for Martin to answer.
"Any choice better than all talking," Kulloda says. "Not want to hear more about which god better. Just get new god, any new god. Then Tempus goes to Limbo and Kulloda get free of priests' hooks."
”Kulloda…. I’m Martin. I like your style, but I’d like to know enough to go find the god that doesn’t end up getting us all screwed. I have a gut feeling that’s the Traveler.” He extends a hand to shake
Kulloda looks at Martin's hand for a moment, looks up at Martin's face, frowns for a moment as the wine cloud fogs up his mind for a moment and then shakes the hand.
"Traveler. Not Traveler. All okay to me," Kulloda says. "If you want Traveler and others want Traveler, then let's get Traveler. What ever gets Limbo done."
He does his best to think back to all that was discussed around the fire while he downed bottle after bottle of wine last night.
"Where look for Traveler?" Kulloda finally asks. "Kulloda think go take cold flame from wood elves. Two gods want. Go either way. And always crap king around. Tempus like wars. Knows killing king starts war. But Kulloda happier kill lousy king and take head than dump poison in wells."
He pauses for a moment then smiles for the first time today. "Maybe Kulloda replace king. Any way, can look for your Traveler on the way."
When Kulloda refuses the offer to take his greatsword, Dog, standing behind and to the side of him, gestures at the porter, really a guard, to make a strategic retreat, with a huge palm facing outward and patting the air between them.
”It strikes me, Regent, that we are all quite irreligious and unattached to gods, and are being asked to help pick a new one. Did you have any sense Finnegan was interested or qualified? And what if the red dragon, do you have any information about them? We could try to track down Quai, he knew more about the Traveler. I’m inclined to explore that option. Mostly because I know least about it, and what I do know of the other options, I don’t like.”
"Don’t underestimate the power of talk, my friend. Used correctly, words can crumble walls and bring down kingdoms”Tristan sighs, “But in this case, I fear you are correct, if we wait too long to decide on a course of action, we may lose the opportunity. The angels told me the Traveler was cast out for raising their sibling to godhood, tipping the balance of power. We should seek out the Traveler, they may have some information or insight that can change the negotiations a bit. But how do we find them?”
Even as he spoke, Tristan’s mind raced at the information that Tock’s office was broken into, and by a suspect tied to Finnegan. What were they looking for, and did they find it?Tristan had not been back at the capital long enough to move any of his own belongings into the office, but neither had he gone through what Tock had left behind in any great detail. It warranted further investigation.
Gash finds a comforting spot next to his new large orc friend and his old large Goliath friend. Gash too was feeling the effects of last nights wine. All he could remember is insisting Kulloda join them tomorrow because he ‘apart of this now.’
“It’s proper like this for business dealings. They like the mess to stay outside the walls.”
Gash then addresses Dog, “I really don’t know what we should do here. So I’m just going to back you up.”
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Gash- Lvl14 Goblin Wizard - The High Court of the Aasimar Queen
When Kulloda refuses the offer to take his greatsword, Dog, standing behind and to the side of him, gestures at the porter, really a guard, to make a strategic retreat, with a huge palm facing outward and patting the air between them.
”It strikes me, Regent, that we are all quite irreligious and unattached to gods, and are being asked to help pick a new one. Did you have any sense Finnegan was interested or qualified? And what if the red dragon, do you have any information about them? We could try to track down Quai, he knew more about the Traveler. I’m inclined to explore that option. Mostly because I know least about it, and what I do know of the other options, I don’t like.”
"I'd never met Finnegan until yesterday," the Regent says. Then, with some irritation, adds, "Although you seem to know him, so I'm not sure I'm the one to be asking about foreknowledge of his motives. Of the Red Scourge, I only know her by reputation. She is old, and smart enough that she does not invoke our wrath in her occasional raids."
Regarding Q'wai, she says he still consults with the crown as an emissary to the heavens. He helped set up yesterday's events, in fact. He is probably around the palace or at least the city.
"If you are going to seek out the Traveler, Martin's leads from the library seems your best option. Find a pilgrim of the Traveler or locate a divinely imbued item, right?" says the regent. "What were they? The supposed celestial Sextant? On Mt. Ulaa, if I recall. What else was there? Oh, the graveyard of the fallen gods. And then the sheath for that dagger that Q'wai was looking for. Or else you can wait a day or two and I will see what my expert in Poria can unearth for us."
"I suppose alternatively you could pursue one of these divine quests," the Regent says at seeing the emissaries, and Kulloda and Llyr, hesitate to proffer any immediate suggestion. "Which is the least offensive in support of the dragon? I sense that is who you would back at a moment's notice. I feel the same, frankly."
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Axonia sighs. "No, I don't think a vote will happen tonight. I have not seen a lot of negotiation happening," she says. "But things might just be starting slow. So we shall see."
The Eladrin’s eyes shifted towards Tristan and, as he looked away from the Half-Orc, Llyr snapped his fingers, killing the force suspending the wine bottle, and thereby having it begin to fall to the ground. The Half-Orc wasn’t far from it, he told himself, he’d catch it.
“Now there’s a thought.” — he told Tristan — “You wouldn’t happen to know whoever it was that crafted this play, would you?” — Llyr’s focus snapped to this one detail in the Bard’s speech, before finally acknowledging the rest of it — “What I’m after, my dear Bard, is precisely who is offering, and for what.” — he paused, looking at the Goblin squaring off against the Devil — “Besides, I would’ve imagined most of you’d be happy with this result. Divine war would ravage your lands, and before any of them fell, most of you would.” — a blink, then another, before the Bladesinger tilted his head in mild confusion once again — “I mean, you can’t imagine they’d do that at their doorstep, when they have a perfectly decent world to ruin right here… could you?” — as his voice trailed off, Llyr’s eyes narrowed at Tristan and he fired off this latest, fairly accusatory question, almost looking to be reassured.
The Eladrin made his way past the party, to finally address the would-be representatives of Limbo, before turning back at Tristan one final time. “… Still. You’ve been more agreeable than most, so I’ll offer you a piece of advice. Until you come to understand why they need you, storyteller, you should sit the discussion out. It’s hard to barter for a fair price when you don’t know your worth, after all. And, if you’re to believe anything that comes out of my mouth this day, let it be this: a bad deal here could easily prove the worst decision you’ll ever make.” — offering a shrug that implied, what you choose is up to you, he was off, a few steps ahead, now much closer to yet another group of large, winged beings.
“Good evening once again.” — the Elf bowed to the cluster of Divine Ambassadors he approached, every bit as lazily as he had the mortal party — “I imagine you’ve said your piece more than once, so I’ll keep it brief, if that’s alright. Might I hear the going rates for an expedited decision?” — his gaze panned through the Angelic/Fiendish party — “One that might involve a Dragon, perhaps?”
”Some guidance on where a hopeful might want try their hand at greasing some proverbial wheels would go a long way, as well.” He smiled, shameless as ever.
Fierlinaste, angel of Silvanus, nods. "The gnome is a bit of a knob," she says with a cheeky smile.
Decidurus, angel of Mielikki, laughs. "That he is," he says. "He would fit in well in the hells for that alone."
Dendrida, angel of Chauntea, remains quiet.
"I do like the dragon as potential god," Fierlinaste says. "It is a traditional choice, as far as gods can have traditions. But It does not matter which of them ascends. We move to the Limbos either way."
Decidurus gives a little shrug. "That seems to be the way things are going," he says. "So be it."
Neither Decidurus nor Fierlinaste seem concerned about which candidate gets the nod. "Silvanus will vote with the majority," says Fierlinaste.
Decidurus nods in agreement. Dendrida sighs and finally speaks. "The dragon will probably make the better ally as a god, but Chauntea thus far abstains from taking a position."
"If you are looking to nudge a few votes," Fierlinaste says. "Talk to gods of the hells. Jal'gennoch said that Talona supports the mage and Valibatasha says Beshaba supports the dragon."
"I heard Feizu'ul saying that Leira still supports the mage," says Decidurus.
"Mis said the same thing about Loviatar."
"Glaum voted for the mage but I haven't heard if that has changed."
"Nothing has changed, Decidurus. Torm supports none, as I hear it."
"Malar could change his mind," says Decidurus.
"Maybe. Bhaal won't. Mask won't."
"Cyric?"
"Hard to say with the god of lies."
Llyr follows the angels gazes and pointing fingers as they list off the gods and their devils and angels.
Tristan watches the Elf saunter back across the glen, continuing his dance with the representatives of the gods, with a small shake of his head “Rather full of himself isn’t he” he turns to Gash, Kulloda, and Dog. “I tried to save him the effort. We have the wish list for most of the gods willing to change their votes, we have but to settle on a course of action. Supporting the Dragon brings the Traveler back into play.” He remembers Martin telling them that he was going to conduct some research on the fallen god. “Perhaps we should check in with Martin to see what he has found on that front.”
“I have a contact that sometimes travels through Jaspertown, the hammer may be a good place to start, although perhaps we should ask why they want it.” He turns to Gash and grins “If you want to be even more brash, tell Talos that you will be able sway a vote if he grants you a boon to help you retrieve the hammer. May make the retrieval a little easier and a little more worth the effort”
Gash leans forward looking up at Typhorus, his own hand held out flat. Gash then spits toward his hand and catches it with shape water forming his own crude dragonchess piece. "You have been around the gods too long. Mortals do not wish for the infinite. Sure some. But most of us remember where we came from. Most of us have a goal in life. I don't wish to start a bidding war... no I just want my time to be worth while. I remember where I came from. Do you? I came from the muck. I ate diseased and rotting meats, rodents, things that would kill any human if consumed... I have killed. I have mamed. I have done unspeakable to many. But I did it to get where I am today. As soon as first chance I left the muck and never looked back. I wanted a better life. I wanted to be integrated into society and now look. So you tell me... what am I willing to do for what I want? Anything. I embraced my role as a protector. I fought off demons and devils and became stronger and stronger learning more magicks. Magicks that a goblin from the muck can't even imagine. So, it is not a bidding war I'm after. I've become a part of society. Now its on to the next goal, what was always REALLY the goal. To prove that a goblin, that anyone, can be just as good as anyone else. To take a stand against those who wronged, to those who make their own rules as they god, and to those who take the lives of good people... all because they can. I want to make those things right."
Gash moves his outreached hand and waves his dragonchess piece spit letting it fall to the dirt. He looks down at it. "That is me, that is where I'm from. It isn't my job to work for the gods and devils when they never once worked for me. If you and your god and your side doesn't see fit to even make an offer for my help then why offer to help? You're gods, you're not the goblin from the muck. I will always offer a hand to those who need it, but I will not beg a king to let me help." Gash then turns his back to Typhorus.
"Doggear, I think it's time we gather the others." Gash looks around for Everlily, if she is around she will ask her to gather her friends and any other mortal who has been involved in vote negotiations to meet for a discussion away from the heavens and hells.
Gash - Lvl14 Goblin Wizard - The High Court of the Aasimar Queen
Kulloda snatches the falling wine from the air, popping the cork, and tilting it up and into his mouth in one motion.
He pauses and swishes it around in his mouth for a moment before swallowing.
The half-orc than finds somewhere to sit down and put his feet up while he waits for the others to finish all their talk with the angels and devils. With Centulia occupied by all her own conversations and no work to prepare for, this is the first moment of anything close to free time he’s had in years.
With a smile on his face, he drinks from the bottle and follows the elf’s and Gash’s movements.
When Gash mentions meeting elsewhere to Dog, Kulloda finishes the bottle, leaves it sitting on a stone and makes his way over to join them.
Typhorus smiles, his eyes crackling with lightning at the intense debate. "Your motivations are your own, little Gash," he says. "Between you and your god. If that is ever Talos, he might help answer that prayer."
He bids the goblin a farewell, no animosity in their parting.
There is no immediate sign of the sprites who have adopted him here in the clearing filled with celestials and fiends. Sitting wearily on the ground near Kulloda, the goblin looks over the towering angels and devils, his sharp little mind cataloging each on their stances and what they have to offer. There is a large number of them they know little about.
Eventually, Galadra finds him. At his request, she zips off and returns a few minutes later with her cousin Everlily. They have one more thing to do before they sequester themselves. With Dog's help and the two sprites, they very quickly, flatly, and straightforwardly pose a bargain to as many of the angels and devils as they can to determine what they would give in exchange for a change to their vote. What is more important to them that they would make that concession?
Investigation: 24
Finding the Sprites fluttering about amusing, the Eladrin politely bid his goodbyes to the Gods of Nature’s Ambassadors — very happy to have met them, and noting that, in fact, Elves are most at home in nature, evidently even the Divine kind. The Envoy calmly walked a bit further, asking some questions of the Devils as instructed, here and there, before hunkering down below a tree a ways off from the fanfare, and producing a black, leather-bound book and a pencil, which he used to sketch the sight. A rough one, that he’d refine in the comfort of his home at a later date, but something that might help anchor this place to memory.
The sketch finished, the Bladesinger closed the book, and drew an Emerald Pen, alongside another book, similarly bound, and where he proceeded to write his thoughts on the matter, and key details he might come to forget.
Painter’s Tools check for sketch: 13
Hemovarico: Myrkul will accept no bargain as he favors neither candidate.
Fraust: Auril desires a contested item. Gaining it will sway her favor from the dragon to the mage. The Eternal Cold Flame is in possession of the Wood Elves in Northern Poria. Deliver it to one of the few remaining shrines to Auril and you will have her vote.
Arroch: Malar desires the head of a white elk that lives only in the Feywild. It is the last of its kind and has defied any who has hunted it. Kill it and mount its head in the lodge outside Alciondria for all to see. Then he will change his vote to the dragon.
Afratus: Torm will sway is vote for sufficient prayer and self-sacrifice. Give a piece of yourself, your memory, your wealth, your health, your intellect or speed or strength. Sacrifice something you cherish at the Temple of Torm. He will vote for whomever you wish then. Until then, he will abstain.
Mis: Loviatar wants your allegiance. Become a cleric of Loviatar and spread the word of pain. She will grant your vote to the dragon. If, instead, you can sway others to Finnegan, she will reward you for that instead.
Syn: Mask will not waver from his support for Finnegan. He will reward you for swaying the vote in his favor.
Glaum: Shar would have you travel to the plane Selune and steal a shard of moonlight. Then you will have the vote of the dragon. She will reward you for swaying the vote in Finnegan's favor, however.
Onyn: Savras has received urgent prayers from the oracle at the top of Mt. Daldas in the Cloudspire Mountains. The path to her temple has been blocked by a landslide. Clear the path and Savras will change her vote to Finnegan. She will reward those who sway the vote to the dragon, however.
Falstrienne: Leave me alone. Cyric wants nothing to do with this nonsense.
Morrikal: Kelemvor is willing to change his vote to the mage. He wants more than a shrine to the dead in Alciondria. Devote a temple to Kelemvor in the capitol and his vote will go to Finnegan. He will provide a reward if you sway people to the dragon, however.
Valibatasha: Beshaba favors the dragon. If you want her vote to go to the mage, find 10 lucky items and curse them to cause misfortune. Distribute them to the unwary as you see fit.
Aeryx: Sune will vote with the majority. No favors need be earned.
Feizu'ul: Leira's primary temple was destroyed by another god. It was a traveling circus. Most of her ardent followers were killed. If you can locate the survivors and finance the reforming of her traveling temple, she will change her vote to the dragon.
Hexody: No favors need be earned. Milil will vote with the majority.
Axonia: Oghma will vote with the majority.
Centulia: Bring me the head of a sitting king and you will have Tempus' vote for the dragon.
Adrigo: Azuth requires nothing and will vote with the majority.
Bael: Bhaal has made his decision and will not change it.
Orbinata: Selune will vote with the majority. No favors necessary.
Condolus: Ilmater favors the dragon. He would change his vote if you rescued a town suffering from the effects of poisoned groundwater entering their wells.
Kystra: Tymora will vote for the dragon and sees no need to change her mind on that.
Ezath: Bane supports Finnegan the mage. Nothing will sway that vote.
Surpha'at: Umberlee desires a temple to the sea. Build one at the docks in Alciondria or Delphendria. She will change her vote to the mage if that happens.
Ja'gennoch: Talona will change her vote to the dragon if you poison the wells of a dozen villages. They need not be fatal. Make 12 villages suffer the sickness of tainted water and she will change her vote.
Having had enough of the celestials and devils, the party finds a cache of unopened wine. It is fine stuff indeed and they manage to abscond to another clearing to partake and discuss what they know. There is more of the former than the latter after a few bottles. They can hear some of the angels and devils in the adjacent clearing eventually, sometimes with angry voices and other times with laughter. But this pushes them to find more distance rather than less as their wine-drinking becomes less joyful at the interruption.
At some point, they end up passing through the Feywild, just for 10 minutes, on the way to another spot in the material plane, a spot protected by Llyr's magic. It is a grand manor in the middle of the woods some distance from the queen and the celestials. Fortunately, Gentoa is fast asleep and well-protected and the celestials are well-bound by the Accords. So the emissaries fall into a commiserating-turned-light-hearted-turned-blurry appreciation of the royal stock of wine.
Come the morning, well past breakfast, Dog, Gash, and Tristan find themselves back at the palace in Alciondria ready to meet with the Regent about the previous night's discoveries. Martin has already arrived and is sitting in conversation with his team about the progress with the giants that have been mangling the King's Road. For reasons that seemed perfectly sound in the haze of wine a few hours before, Kulloda and Llyr are present as well, though their reasons now for standing here are their own.
The Regent is looking a little harried as well, although more out of sleep deprivation than hangover by the looks of it. Still, she is quite presentable due to the attendants that are in charge of such things. She listens patiently at what Martin and then the rest of the party have uncovered. She reports that it was mainly politics as usual on her end of the evening but that an intruder took advantage of the queen's absence last night. Someone broke into Tock's, now Tristan's, office. He may need to check on it to see what was taken. This is a rather stunning admission of a security lapse, but it is not the first time and it has always been the same person who has infiltrated the castle: The black-furred tabaxi woman. She was working for Finnegan, the last anyone knew...
To Martin's queries about celestial artifacts, the Regent has no immediate knowledge. "I will message an expert in Poria," she says. "I will have something for you within a day or two, I suspect."
To the rest of the party, she gets that look on her face as if she is about to give them a serious direction or question, but then thinks better of it. "Do you have anything else?"
Kulloda's frown looks even deeper this morning than it did during the play last night. Even with his experience in drinking wine and ale like they're water, his head feels too small and his tongue too big today. He suspects the wine may have been left by the pixies and fey last night as a last parting joke.
When he informed Centulia that he was going to the palace this morning she had merely nodded and smiled at him. He disliked that more than having orders barked at him with her usual haughty demeanor. To Kulloda this meant that even if he thought he was doing his own thing he was really already doing Tempus' bidding.
He looks around the palace chamber and takes in what he's gotten himself into. Attendants and servants scurrying about, an awful lot of talk about what feels like every angel and devil that ever was, that damn smug elf, and the high and mighty royalty. A valet had even tried to take his great sword. A baring of his tusks and deep growl had put an end to that, but he could tell the palace guards were keeping a close eye on his every movement. If putting up with all of this gets him a step closer to his freedom then so be it.
Kulloda sratches his shoulder, then side, and finally his backside, before letting out a sound that manages to encompass a growl, a groan and a sigh all in one.
He makes his way over to Gash and looks down at the goblin.
"This place is too clean," Kulloda says. "Good to get little dirty. Make strong."
He nods at Dog and Tristan, and even acknowledges Llyr.
"More all day talking? "Kulloda asks. "Or finally act? Time to do big deeds and make gods do what we want."
Martin walks next to Kulloda and smiles faintly. “It’s always been like this, until there’s action to be taken. Then it becomes a real test. We are a bit… spoiled for choice. You might only get to choose once, so it’s good to choose the best bit of action.”
Paladin - warforged - orange
Kulloda looks at Martin, sizing him up.
"I Kulloda," he says. "Who are you?"
He pauses but not long enough for Martin to answer.
"Any choice better than all talking," Kulloda says. "Not want to hear more about which god better. Just get new god, any new god. Then Tempus goes to Limbo and Kulloda get free of priests' hooks."
”Kulloda…. I’m Martin. I like your style, but I’d like to know enough to go find the god that doesn’t end up getting us all screwed. I have a gut feeling that’s the Traveler.” He extends a hand to shake
Paladin - warforged - orange
Kulloda looks at Martin's hand for a moment, looks up at Martin's face, frowns for a moment as the wine cloud fogs up his mind for a moment and then shakes the hand.
"Traveler. Not Traveler. All okay to me," Kulloda says. "If you want Traveler and others want Traveler, then let's get Traveler. What ever gets Limbo done."
He does his best to think back to all that was discussed around the fire while he downed bottle after bottle of wine last night.
"Where look for Traveler?" Kulloda finally asks. "Kulloda think go take cold flame from wood elves. Two gods want. Go either way. And always crap king around. Tempus like wars. Knows killing king starts war. But Kulloda happier kill lousy king and take head than dump poison in wells."
He pauses for a moment then smiles for the first time today. "Maybe Kulloda replace king. Any way, can look for your Traveler on the way."
When Kulloda refuses the offer to take his greatsword, Dog, standing behind and to the side of him, gestures at the porter, really a guard, to make a strategic retreat, with a huge palm facing outward and patting the air between them.
”It strikes me, Regent, that we are all quite irreligious and unattached to gods, and are being asked to help pick a new one. Did you have any sense Finnegan was interested or qualified? And what if the red dragon, do you have any information about them? We could try to track down Quai, he knew more about the Traveler. I’m inclined to explore that option. Mostly because I know least about it, and what I do know of the other options, I don’t like.”
"Don’t underestimate the power of talk, my friend. Used correctly, words can crumble walls and bring down kingdoms” Tristan sighs, “But in this case, I fear you are correct, if we wait too long to decide on a course of action, we may lose the opportunity. The angels told me the Traveler was cast out for raising their sibling to godhood, tipping the balance of power. We should seek out the Traveler, they may have some information or insight that can change the negotiations a bit. But how do we find them?”
Even as he spoke, Tristan’s mind raced at the information that Tock’s office was broken into, and by a suspect tied to Finnegan. What were they looking for, and did they find it? Tristan had not been back at the capital long enough to move any of his own belongings into the office, but neither had he gone through what Tock had left behind in any great detail. It warranted further investigation.
Gash finds a comforting spot next to his new large orc friend and his old large Goliath friend. Gash too was feeling the effects of last nights wine. All he could remember is insisting Kulloda join them tomorrow because he ‘apart of this now.’
“It’s proper like this for business dealings. They like the mess to stay outside the walls.”
Gash then addresses Dog, “I really don’t know what we should do here. So I’m just going to back you up.”
Gash - Lvl14 Goblin Wizard - The High Court of the Aasimar Queen
"I'd never met Finnegan until yesterday," the Regent says. Then, with some irritation, adds, "Although you seem to know him, so I'm not sure I'm the one to be asking about foreknowledge of his motives. Of the Red Scourge, I only know her by reputation. She is old, and smart enough that she does not invoke our wrath in her occasional raids."
Regarding Q'wai, she says he still consults with the crown as an emissary to the heavens. He helped set up yesterday's events, in fact. He is probably around the palace or at least the city.
"If you are going to seek out the Traveler, Martin's leads from the library seems your best option. Find a pilgrim of the Traveler or locate a divinely imbued item, right?" says the regent. "What were they? The supposed celestial Sextant? On Mt. Ulaa, if I recall. What else was there? Oh, the graveyard of the fallen gods. And then the sheath for that dagger that Q'wai was looking for. Or else you can wait a day or two and I will see what my expert in Poria can unearth for us."
"I suppose alternatively you could pursue one of these divine quests," the Regent says at seeing the emissaries, and Kulloda and Llyr, hesitate to proffer any immediate suggestion. "Which is the least offensive in support of the dragon? I sense that is who you would back at a moment's notice. I feel the same, frankly."