You don't see anyone outside with you, nor any real windows with a good enough angle to see you. After catching your spell, you don't see anything new in the environment around you, nor in the kitchen.
But as you return to the others, hovering about 10 feet above the Baroness you see a glowing orb, roughly the size of a fist.
"Of course," she replies, watching Kal carefully. "So, how are you all finding the food?"
"Not to my liking actually." Kal says, pushing the plate away from him slightly. He won't directly look at the orb, but he'll keep it at the edges of his vision. If it disappears before his spell runs out, he'll give a nod to the Baroness, and a small thumbs up half hidden by the table.
"What're ya talkin' about?"Usul says, digging into seconds. "This is great!"Then looking up to the Lady adds, "We'll bring you more spices next time we're in Sonatide." He didn't notice the note, as he's just focused on the food
Having also seen the note, but not quite knowing what the knight has planned, Sylnora reaches a hand below the table, into the pouch on her belt containing the psi crystal. To each of the party member's in turn, she will say telepathically, 'we're being watched, the Lady suspects divination magic. Be careful with what you openly say.'Next, she'll contact Kal, 'did you do something? Is everything alright?'
"I think maybe I'm just not used to food cooked like this,"Kal says to Usul with a shrug, keeping the conversation up for the sake of appearances. "Most of the food I usually eat isn't even seasoned at all."
He's a little weirded out to hear Syl's voice in his mind, but responds nonetheless. 'There's some kind of orb above the Lady. It's invisible. Could it spying on us?"
That would definitely sound like a divination spell to Sylnora.
Lady Anet's attention stays on Kal for just a moment longer, before turning to Usul. "You'd be a hero to the cooks, they might just erect a statue for you in the kitchen if you did that."
For the next five or so minutes, you continue to eat and make small talk. At some point during this time span, the orb vanishes from your magically enhanced sight. Looking around the room, it seems to have gone entirely.
Lady Anet gives a sharp snap of her fingers, pointing towards the door you came in. All the servants in the room and the two guards immediately stop what they're doing and move to leave. As soon as the door closes, a scowl takes over her features as she drops the prim-and-proper veneer she had been keeping up. "You're smarter than I might have thought."
She pushes herself up out of her chair, hands on the table. "What we spoke of earlier today, are you able to find these creatures that can hide themselves as others?"
Velyra straightens in her seat a bit, answering the Baroness' question. "The knight is capable of picking them out. Admittedly, we have already checked around the city and this keep. We've yet to find another."
With Velyra's words, her tension seems to fade a bit, though she remains standing. She looks to Kal again for confirmation that they aren't being listened in on again, and then continues. "Quickly then."
"Calmaius has my son." Her hands ball into fists, showing white on her knuckles. "I haven't been able to do a damned thing. Those ******* imperial soldiers in my barracks, that advisor in my keep! I knew House Astre could never be trusted - we should have killed them down to the last man than give up kingdom."
She glances towards the doors, then makes an effort to quiet her voice. "He took care of my arcanist Thrane weeks ago - probably the only person here who could have stopped him."
"Except now for you."
"That little bald prick was furious with the things you told us. He's making preparations in the city to leave tonight for those ruins. I have the soldiers and most others I've suspected detained in the barracks. If you bring me Calmaius, detained and alive, I can get the proof I need to take to Lidae. He'll give me permission to personally ram my sword up Valerius' ass. I'll pay you whatever the hell you want, just bring me that little worm."
Kal leans back in his chair, taking in the information being thrown at them."So the reason for the inaction against the undead...It was this advisor?" He looks to his companions, gauging their reactions before looking back to the Baroness. "And you think this involves the High King, not just Calmaius or some splinter group?"
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Silthras has been intently following the conversation, interested perhaps as much as the baroness in the backgrounds of his companions. He smiles at Usul's enthisiasm, and the baroness' lack of reaction to his minor transgressions pleases him. Not obsessed with manners, and dressed for practical purposes. The mercenary in him appreciates both.
When Syl contacts him he gives a slight start, but tries not to react otherwise. "Ask the baroness what she wants." he says in reply, before taking another mouthful of food. Talking in your mind while chewing always feels so wrong.
(( RP Insight: 20))
He waits patiently, assuming Syl and the baroness were conversing, but looks up in concern when Kal says he feels unwell. He quietly places his utensils on his plate and stops drinking the wine. "Do you need help?" he asks with genuine concern.
((Assuming Kal says/said "no"))
He spends the next few minutes picking at his food without eating it, and taking his goblet to his lips without drinking. He is immensely relieved when Kal returns, even more so when the the reason for the strange behaviour becomes apparent. He takes a large gulp of the wine as he listens to the ensuing revelations.
After a moments reflection, he says "He may merely be their servant or ally. If so, do you still want him apprehended -- possibly killed -- with no evidence?" Thinking of Usul he adds, "We may also have means of gathering that evidence if you could keep him occupied."
At the sudden shift in conversation Usul suddenly stops his eating, mouthful of food, and looks up at the Lady and the others. Swallowing in a big gulp he begins to process all of the information being discussed, then adds, “We… might be able to find the information you need. If you can tell us where to look.”
"I was encouraged to keep the soldiers confined to Silverfair, and I suspect he's been intercepting pleas for help. I certainly never received a word of it." At the mention of Valerius, she scowls. "The bastard's entire bloodline is plagued with mental weakness, this whole thing reeks of his insanity. Lidae is blind to it, that's why I need a confession."
"The most important things are to act with speed and discretion. The longer I keep the solider's detained, the more likely it becomes that word gets out and then we have a tiny diplomatic incident on our hands. Likewise, if Calmaius catches wind of what's going on and escapes, my son..." She stops, and shakes her head. "I would rather Calmaius dead and have to face down the might of Evanicea alone than let that bastard send word to have my son killed. Capture him if you can, kill him if you must."
"I can show you his quarters. He'll be on the road tonight, so he won't be returning to them. I've already had them searched, but perhaps you can find something my men missed."
Velyra's mind goes to their dark elvish friend, currently traveling the same road this advisor would have to in order to reach the ruins. She tilts her head, asking the Baroness, "does he have any others with him?"
Regardless of her answer, she'll then send a message to Elixyr:"You're going to have unfriendly company behind you. Calmaius, the Baroness' advisor. He's already dispatched one arcanist, take care. We'll follow shortly." (if there's any others with him, she'll also add in the number)
"None that I'm aware of." Lady Anet says slowly, "But there is much potential for the things he's kept from me."
After sending the message, there is a brief pause before the reply. "I'll have this place cleaned out by the time he arrives. Interesting ruins. Wish I had more time to explore. Thanks for the heads up."
"If it's just him we should be able to take him easily, especially if he doesn't see us coming." To the Lady she'll ask, "Do you know if he's still in the city?"
"An hour ago he left the keep's grounds to make preparations for the journey. It's possible he's still in the city." The Baroness tilts her head, considering something before continuing, "But as much as I would love to string him up in the square...I think taking care of this outside the city's limits is in our best interests."
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Before saying anything, Usul looks at the Lady closely to see if there is anything he thinks she might be not saying ((insight 17)), then adding, “We haven’t had desert yet…” clearly a bit disappointed, continuing, “Though if the plan is to follow him, we saw some shortcuts on the way here through town that might get us to him quick. Or we could sneak after him outside town. He’s probably not gonna be racing to get there. Is he?” He then thinks for a second, and looking to the team says, “You all need horses yeah? We have Muad, and he’s kinda quick, but he can’t usually keep up with those fancy horses…”
Feature: City Secrets
You know the secret patterns and flow to cities and can find passages through the urban sprawl that others would miss. When you are not in combat, you (and companions you lead) can travel between any two locations in the city twice as fast as your speed would normally allow. —— if we need to race through town.
You don't see anyone outside with you, nor any real windows with a good enough angle to see you. After catching your spell, you don't see anything new in the environment around you, nor in the kitchen.
But as you return to the others, hovering about 10 feet above the Baroness you see a glowing orb, roughly the size of a fist.
"Of course," she replies, watching Kal carefully. "So, how are you all finding the food?"
"Not to my liking actually." Kal says, pushing the plate away from him slightly. He won't directly look at the orb, but he'll keep it at the edges of his vision. If it disappears before his spell runs out, he'll give a nod to the Baroness, and a small thumbs up half hidden by the table.
"What're ya talkin' about?" Usul says, digging into seconds. "This is great!" Then looking up to the Lady adds, "We'll bring you more spices next time we're in Sonatide." He didn't notice the note, as he's just focused on the food
PbP 🎲: Tyekanik; Moneo Noree; Korba Muris; & occasional DM:
Having also seen the note, but not quite knowing what the knight has planned, Sylnora reaches a hand below the table, into the pouch on her belt containing the psi crystal. To each of the party member's in turn, she will say telepathically, 'we're being watched, the Lady suspects divination magic. Be careful with what you openly say.' Next, she'll contact Kal, 'did you do something? Is everything alright?'
"I think maybe I'm just not used to food cooked like this," Kal says to Usul with a shrug, keeping the conversation up for the sake of appearances. "Most of the food I usually eat isn't even seasoned at all."
He's a little weirded out to hear Syl's voice in his mind, but responds nonetheless. 'There's some kind of orb above the Lady. It's invisible. Could it spying on us?"
That would definitely sound like a divination spell to Sylnora.
Lady Anet's attention stays on Kal for just a moment longer, before turning to Usul. "You'd be a hero to the cooks, they might just erect a statue for you in the kitchen if you did that."
For the next five or so minutes, you continue to eat and make small talk. At some point during this time span, the orb vanishes from your magically enhanced sight. Looking around the room, it seems to have gone entirely.
Seeing the orb disappear, Kal will lean forward over the table towards the Baroness and lower his voice. "We're unobserved now."
Lady Anet gives a sharp snap of her fingers, pointing towards the door you came in. All the servants in the room and the two guards immediately stop what they're doing and move to leave. As soon as the door closes, a scowl takes over her features as she drops the prim-and-proper veneer she had been keeping up. "You're smarter than I might have thought."
She pushes herself up out of her chair, hands on the table. "What we spoke of earlier today, are you able to find these creatures that can hide themselves as others?"
Velyra straightens in her seat a bit, answering the Baroness' question. "The knight is capable of picking them out. Admittedly, we have already checked around the city and this keep. We've yet to find another."
"Do you have a particular suspicion?"
With Velyra's words, her tension seems to fade a bit, though she remains standing. She looks to Kal again for confirmation that they aren't being listened in on again, and then continues. "Quickly then."
"Calmaius has my son." Her hands ball into fists, showing white on her knuckles. "I haven't been able to do a damned thing. Those ******* imperial soldiers in my barracks, that advisor in my keep! I knew House Astre could never be trusted - we should have killed them down to the last man than give up kingdom."
She glances towards the doors, then makes an effort to quiet her voice. "He took care of my arcanist Thrane weeks ago - probably the only person here who could have stopped him."
"Except now for you."
"That little bald prick was furious with the things you told us. He's making preparations in the city to leave tonight for those ruins. I have the soldiers and most others I've suspected detained in the barracks. If you bring me Calmaius, detained and alive, I can get the proof I need to take to Lidae. He'll give me permission to personally ram my sword up Valerius' ass. I'll pay you whatever the hell you want, just bring me that little worm."
Kal leans back in his chair, taking in the information being thrown at them. "So the reason for the inaction against the undead...It was this advisor?" He looks to his companions, gauging their reactions before looking back to the Baroness. "And you think this involves the High King, not just Calmaius or some splinter group?"
Silthras has been intently following the conversation, interested perhaps as much as the baroness in the backgrounds of his companions. He smiles at Usul's enthisiasm, and the baroness' lack of reaction to his minor transgressions pleases him. Not obsessed with manners, and dressed for practical purposes. The mercenary in him appreciates both.
When Syl contacts him he gives a slight start, but tries not to react otherwise. "Ask the baroness what she wants." he says in reply, before taking another mouthful of food. Talking in your mind while chewing always feels so wrong.
(( RP Insight: 20))
He waits patiently, assuming Syl and the baroness were conversing, but looks up in concern when Kal says he feels unwell. He quietly places his utensils on his plate and stops drinking the wine. "Do you need help?" he asks with genuine concern.
((Assuming Kal says/said "no"))
He spends the next few minutes picking at his food without eating it, and taking his goblet to his lips without drinking. He is immensely relieved when Kal returns, even more so when the the reason for the strange behaviour becomes apparent. He takes a large gulp of the wine as he listens to the ensuing revelations.
After a moments reflection, he says "He may merely be their servant or ally. If so, do you still want him apprehended -- possibly killed -- with no evidence?" Thinking of Usul he adds, "We may also have means of gathering that evidence if you could keep him occupied."
At the sudden shift in conversation Usul suddenly stops his eating, mouthful of food, and looks up at the Lady and the others. Swallowing in a big gulp he begins to process all of the information being discussed, then adds, “We… might be able to find the information you need. If you can tell us where to look.”
PbP 🎲: Tyekanik; Moneo Noree; Korba Muris; & occasional DM:
"I was encouraged to keep the soldiers confined to Silverfair, and I suspect he's been intercepting pleas for help. I certainly never received a word of it." At the mention of Valerius, she scowls. "The bastard's entire bloodline is plagued with mental weakness, this whole thing reeks of his insanity. Lidae is blind to it, that's why I need a confession."
"The most important things are to act with speed and discretion. The longer I keep the solider's detained, the more likely it becomes that word gets out and then we have a tiny diplomatic incident on our hands. Likewise, if Calmaius catches wind of what's going on and escapes, my son..." She stops, and shakes her head. "I would rather Calmaius dead and have to face down the might of Evanicea alone than let that bastard send word to have my son killed. Capture him if you can, kill him if you must."
"I can show you his quarters. He'll be on the road tonight, so he won't be returning to them. I've already had them searched, but perhaps you can find something my men missed."
Velyra's mind goes to their dark elvish friend, currently traveling the same road this advisor would have to in order to reach the ruins. She tilts her head, asking the Baroness, "does he have any others with him?"
Regardless of her answer, she'll then send a message to Elixyr: "You're going to have unfriendly company behind you. Calmaius, the Baroness' advisor. He's already dispatched one arcanist, take care. We'll follow shortly." (if there's any others with him, she'll also add in the number)
"None that I'm aware of." Lady Anet says slowly, "But there is much potential for the things he's kept from me."
After sending the message, there is a brief pause before the reply. "I'll have this place cleaned out by the time he arrives. Interesting ruins. Wish I had more time to explore. Thanks for the heads up."
"Check his quarters quickly and then make haste to catch him on the road?" Kal offers up, looking to the others.
"If it's just him we should be able to take him easily, especially if he doesn't see us coming." To the Lady she'll ask, "Do you know if he's still in the city?"
"An hour ago he left the keep's grounds to make preparations for the journey. It's possible he's still in the city." The Baroness tilts her head, considering something before continuing, "But as much as I would love to string him up in the square...I think taking care of this outside the city's limits is in our best interests."
Before saying anything, Usul looks at the Lady closely to see if there is anything he thinks she might be not saying ((insight 17)), then adding, “We haven’t had desert yet…” clearly a bit disappointed, continuing, “Though if the plan is to follow him, we saw some shortcuts on the way here through town that might get us to him quick. Or we could sneak after him outside town. He’s probably not gonna be racing to get there. Is he?” He then thinks for a second, and looking to the team says, “You all need horses yeah? We have Muad, and he’s kinda quick, but he can’t usually keep up with those fancy horses…”
You know the secret patterns and flow to cities and can find passages through the urban sprawl that others would miss. When you are not in combat, you (and companions you lead) can travel between any two locations in the city twice as fast as your speed would normally allow.
—— if we need to race through town.
PbP 🎲: Tyekanik; Moneo Noree; Korba Muris; & occasional DM: