This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Poison! Of all the ways she could die, poison! Has she done something to upset Takal Demesh this much? "Thank you." She tries to say as to the one who saved Benita, but her lips move voicelessly. She uses the strength she has left to remain standing, allowing Kavalanko to pull her after him. She prays silently, hoping it's not too late to repent, even if she's not sure what is it that she did to anger the gods this much.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Seeing the last hooligan begin to escape, Ednyss sprints towards him and with a fury, swings his war pick twice more at the retreating hooligan. As he runs after the hooligan, he shouts to the prone guard #3, "Pick up all of the coins on the ground, crowds don't always handle coin lying on the ground so well."
Ednyss. The last hooligan looks over his shoulder and sees Ednyss coming. He rushes to get away, and shoves through the two guards at the end of the tunnel. Ednyss barely reaches him in time. His war pick arcs up and over, slamming the hooligan once, then twice, and the burly rogue goes down hard. He’s unconscious but he’ll live.
(Combat is now over)
The two tunnel guards near Ednyss hoist up Hooligan #3, while the guards at the arena entrance collect the gold and other coins with an eye on the other two unconscious ruffians. Once Ednyss tells the guards that he knows to whom the money bag belongs, they hand it to him, and we’ll assume Ednyss gets it back to its owner, who begins the process of paying out winners. (OR, seeing Mittens’ banner, does he head down to the floor?)
Haniah and the other acolytes have convinced the arena guard to let them pass, and they rush to Mittens, as his banner changes, drawing attention from many in the arena, but once there Haniah shakes her head sadly, as do the other two. “We are mere acolytes. Alas, Moeitu, in his wisdom, has not graced us with the power to dispel poison.”
The crowd has been watching the movement on the floor with great interest, especially Varielky and Benita’s duel, and, following Mittens’ banner change, someone shouts, “POISON!! IT’S BENITA LA CASS! She killed them all!!” And many in the crowd voice outrage, shock, or disbelief, for some recognize her, even costumed, as one of their favorites. Someone else yells “Maybe it’s food poisoning! My neighbor’s preserves went bad and killed the whole family!” The sound of the crowd is enormous and ominous, and many hundreds are looking around, frightened and confused.
A few moments earlier, Varielky sits down with Kovalenko’s support on a bench in the staging area, and her breathing begins to get very shallow. Other performers draw closer, looking on in shock. As the crowd begins to murmur and argue about what’s going on, Benita, regaining her strength, yells “GIVE HER AIR!” and shoves back the others in the section crowding around Varielky.
They part, and a new arrival is revealed behind them, a middle-aged Jenghen man in a wheelchair with spoked carriage wheels, looking at Varielky, then glancing back and forth to Mittens’ banner, then to Kovalenko.
Kovalenko, eyes bulging with anger nods firmly. The Jenghen, without removing his gaze from Varielky, says, “that banner has served its purpose,” and rolls closer. Just as she begins to black out, Varielky sees him remove his glove, and with a dark-haired violet hand, pink-freckled, strong and firm, he touches her forehead and utters a prayer to Ellosh. Varielky falls unconscious, breath stopping, and the onlookers are hushed. But then she feels a warm fire in her belly, and feels it flash outward, cleansing the poison from her entire body in a flash.
Varielky inhales deeply, suddenly, and her eyes open wide as the onlookers gasp in relief. She realizes that she knows the man in front of her, as does Mittens. It is Shirei-Kin, the brigade commander from Lokimarra. He seems much older than he had that fateful day in the North, and it is shocking to see that both of his legs are gone from just below the hips, in their place, folds of a heavy fabric kilt or skirt, just covering the wheelchair's padded seat.
Ednyss would ensure that the sack of coins made it to its rightful owner, but upon seeing Mitten's banner would immediately rush down to the center of the arena and attempt to send a mote of healing with the last of his magic into Varielky so that perhaps she can survive the poison. Once he sees Shirei-Kin though, he looks upon impressed as Shirei-Kin manages to eliminate the poison from her body with but a touch. He approaches Varielky and helps lift her off the ground once the poison is removed and says, "I'm glad you are okay." Ednyss then turns to Shirei-Kin and gives a report on the activity in his section (which I believe was controlled by this point).
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
“The mark of a successful DM is when you have caused more player deaths with doors than dragons, demons, or devils.”
"Ah, thank you. That you were here to save me means that the gods aren't done with me yet, but it seems like I have to be extra careful not to upset them." She slowly tries to stand up, then walks over to Benita. "I'm sorry about Bali, I truly am. Forget what I told you in the morning - I'm staying here until I find the detestable person responsible and send them to the afterlife. They will not reach Hallvala, I can assure you."
At Shirei-Kin's words, Mittens waves his hand, and the illusory banner fades away from the air. If Hania is close by, he says, "Sorry, I assumed you knew some magic. I was panicking and wasn't thinking right."
Hearing Varielky speak about the poison again, Ednyss is reminded of his first encounter with it and he approaches Shirei-Kin and whispers what he knows of the poison into the old captain's ear. He then backs away respectfully and awaits further orders from Shirei-Kin, although he does bump Mittens and mutter quietly, "It's good to see you little one. We'll catch up later."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
“The mark of a successful DM is when you have caused more player deaths with doors than dragons, demons, or devils.”
As Varielky’s breathing normalizes, Shirei-Kin listens to Ednyss’ report, and at that moment, two priests shout from the stands close by, asking to be allowed into the staging area, which they are, following a nod from Kovalenko.
“The banner?” they say to one another, nodding. They turn to Shirei-Kin and Kovalenko and Varielky, and one, wearing an embroidered cream and golden silk hijab over the garb of the Temple of Ulella, God of Medicine and Healing, kneels down beside Varielky, examining her closely.
“I have laid hands on her, the poison is excised,” says Shirei-Kin.
She turns to Kovalenko, and in a resonant contralto asks, “Any more?”
“No, she was the last.”
“Who else.”
“Five others. Four are dead.”
“Show me.”
And she commences examining the other bodies. If Ednyss seems about to volunteer information, Shirei-Kin quietly takes him aside, “Let us see what she says first, coming with fresh eyes and considerable knowledge.”
“You,” says the paladin, looking at the guard who had fetched him, helmetless now, despite his efforts, “Get the city guard. Tell them I will be in Staging Room 1, the Flaming Vestibule. I will meet them there.”
“And you” he continues, “Ednyss Greybeard, Varielky, and Mittens Toodaloo. I wish to speak with the three of you later today. You two collect your pay,” to Ednyss and Varielky, “and then, with Mittens, meet me after 6 Bells.”
And, scanning the crowd carefully and seeing that the situation is under control, Shirei-Kin turns to Kovalenko and asks for a complete rundown of the events he witnessed on the arena floor, in his words.
Haniah tells Mittens, “you were not wrong, we were able to help Varielky’s suffering before the security chief laid hands upon her.” To the other acolytes, she remarks, “She would have fallen unconscious much sooner without you,” and they smile and bow their heads modestly. After a moment, she continues, with quiet seriousness. “You are very brave, and smart, Mittens.” And she speaks a brief prayer, her wide face serene and glowing, and Mittens feels the pain in his ankle dwindle gently to nothing.
Ednyss nods to the Shirei-Kin and pats Mittens on the shoulder saying, "I suppose we'll see each other later after-all." He then departs to wherever he is collecting his pay. As he walks, he also spends a minute and draws a bit more on the divine power of Takal Demesh to replenish a marginal amount of his magical reserves. He gives a nod of acknowledgement to Varielky and shrugs when she asks about a god that could be responsible for these acts, although he begins to rack his mind for an actual answer to that question as he departs.
(OOC: Religion Check?)
Expending a Use of Harness Divine Power to Expend Channel Divinity and Regain a Spell Slot.
"It seems like I owe you all my life," Varielky says to Shirei-Kin, Mittens, Ednyss and the acolytes. "Although I do not know if there is much I can help you with, I hope you will never hesitate before asking for my help - I will be happy to repay you to the best of my abilities." She thinks for a long moment before continuing. "But I wonder, who would want to poison so many people? I knew very few people in this town and almost all of them are now dead, so it couldn't have been personal, I think. Could there be a God whose followers worshipping is done by such despicable acts? I have never heard of one myself. Does anyone have an idea?"
At Ednyss's remark, Mittens comments, "I'm looking forward to it."
He stands there somewhat awkwardly as he ponders what to do next. As an idea pops in his mind, he asks on the guards next to him, "Can I rummage around those bodies over there? If they were poisoned, I can probably figure out how. At the moment, we don't know if it was a contact toxin, inhaled, ingested, etc. I promise I won't be very long." Pooky hops along the same and jumps up into Mittens's shoulder as he talks.
At Ednyss's remark, Mittens comments, "I'm looking forward to it."
He stands there somewhat awkwardly as he ponders what to do next. As an idea pops in his mind, he asks on the guards next to him, "Can I rummage around those bodies over there? If they were poisoned, I can probably figure out how. At the moment, we don't know if it was a contact toxin, inhaled, ingested, etc. I promise I won't be very long." Pooky hops along the same and jumps up into Mittens's shoulder as he talks.
Persuasion: 15
(OOC: the guards let you, except that the bodies are being brought to a room under the stands. The Priest of Ulella is also examining the bodies and weapons. Do you Follow her lead and “assist” her, or do you do your own thing? Is there anything in particular you’re looking for?)
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
((OOC: I'll do my own check, and Pooky will do the Help action to give me advantage if that's ok. Mittens is trying to figure out how they were poisoned. Was it a small dart? Gas? Poisoned food?))
(OOC: Oops, I miscounted before: the melee consisted of six fighters costumed as Dreyen barbarians, and four as Bakar Elite. All were poisoned.)
Benita la Cass responds to Varielky, “I will find whatever flocking son of a Hyena did this. I will KILL THEM.” She throws down the axe she had picked up, and storms away, plainly too upset to focus on anything else, and if Varielky goes after her, Kavalenko takes her arm and says, gently, “let her be. She has lost more than any of us knew.” Varielky notices that she hasn’t even collected her pay.
The others nearby murmur brief prayers to their favored gods in answer to Varielky’s question, “Ellosh be kind,” or “only Idiwala knows,” but the Priest of Ulella says quietly, in her full-throated contralto over her shoulder as she works, “there are many tales of such curses. Of priests and high priests of Ellosh laying curses upon the winners, or losers, of battles. Yet those were in ancient times, and today, when Ellosh already stands head and shoulders above the rest in the Empire and the Provinces, what is to be gained?” And she moves to Varielky and, with her permission, examines her, dwelling for a long moment on the laceration she received from Benita before picking up the axe Benita dropped and with great care folding it into a towel.
Mittens notes that Bali, and the others, all had a greenish spittle forming on or dripping from their lips. He finds no darts, and thinking over the battle, tries to remember how each one was wounded. He is a bit stumped until Pooky pulls himself upon one of the dead fighters, and points at a nick, almost invisible but fresh, on the neck of one of them, which Pooky noticed from his position on the ground. Recalling the melee, Mittens can’t place when that small wound might have been inflicted. He checks the other bodies from the cart and finds that all bear similar wounds on various bits of exposed flesh. Mittens is convinced that the poison was transmitted to all ten fighters with weapons, although he doesn’t have enough information to call it anything other than a hunch. As to the exact poison used, he does not know.
Hania and the other acolytes quietly excuse themselves and depart for the temple. Hania says, “Mittens, I...want to talk with you. Before you leave Ishi Ammah,” and, with a somewhat saddened look on her face, she and the other acolytes leave the arena.
While these conversations, investigations, and the transporting of the victims to the arena’s interior are taking place, the crowd simmers down, and the Bakar Elite have fallen back, revealing Governor Ullaz once again, who claps his hands with amplified majesty several times to get the spectators’ attention, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM.
“That spectacle provided a valuable lesson to us all. Even though our Bakar Elite are formidable, only the Jenghen Empire is truly indomitable. The war continues with the barbaric Dreyens, and today, we have witnessed the treachery and evil they personify.” He leads a short prayer of thanks to Ellosh, and announces the end of the Beauty Games.
Another voice can then be heard by all, instructing the crowd to “Please depart in an orderly fashion, the gates will close at Six Bells!”
And, still whipped up over the day’s excitement, the 30,000 Orracans, Shians, travelers, chimps, cats, dwarves and elves in attendance stand, singly or in groups, start to chatter, laugh and shout, and, ushered by the guards, wend their way out of the arena. All in all, many call the day, “a memorable event,” although there are whispers too about the Roc riders, “the worst I’ve ever seen. That poor camel!,” the brawls “you were so brave, standing up to that terrible drunk!”, and a sense that things are much more disorderly these days then they were just a year or two before. The word “Lokimarra” seems to echo from nowhere and everywhere through the corridors, even after they are emptied and the last spectator wraps his cloak about himself and his wife of 30 years and they walk slowly across the plaza to their Inn. The sun sets, the rain gets heavier and a breeze picks up, whispering secrets from afar.
Meanwhile, under the stands, a chimp with spectacles, followed by two young Orracan men with heavy ledgers and eight heavily armored guards with great swords, has taken position outside the staging area, under the stands. He pays each performer, and then the security crew and other hires, in gold, from a strongbox.
The performers and gladiators are gathering in groups to go out drinking, meeting their fans, and likewise winding down.
Do you do anything in the 30 minutes or so before meeting Shirei-Kin at Six Bells in the Flaming Vestibule? Or do something else entirely?
As Ednyss is racking his mind, he stands in line with the other guards to receive his money. He may not have the best memory, but he does understand the workings of religion better than the common person so he thinks.
(OOC: His actions during the 30 minutes will depend on whether or not he thinks of a deity/religious following that might be responsible for this. Also, what was the pay for the guards again? Sorry if you already posted it somewhere!)
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
“The mark of a successful DM is when you have caused more player deaths with doors than dragons, demons, or devils.”
Varielky wants to pursue Benita but stops when Kavalenko hold her. "I just worry about her. Real fights aren't the same as these fights. Even more importantly, fighting while enraged often leads to fatal mistakes. I've met very few who used rage to their advantage in combat effectively." She moves her hand over her right shoulder where, under the clothes, there's a large scar she received from one of the mentioned warriors. "I worry that she's not one of those capable of doing that, and worry even more that she might become one." Despite that, she doesn't go after her. She'll try to speak with her at a later date. She then goes to collect her pay for her efforts and returns to the appointed place when it strikes six bells.
As Ednyss is racking his mind, he stands in line with the other guards to receive his money. He may not have the best memory, but he does understand the workings of religion better than the common person so he thinks.
(OOC: His actions during the 30 minutes will depend on whether or not he thinks of a deity/religious following that might be responsible for this. Also, what was the pay for the guards again? Sorry if you already posted it somewhere!)
The chimp cross-references in the ledger, says, “Ednyss Greybeard...security...MISter Abadolla” under his breath, and has one of the young men hand you 2GP for the day’s work.
Ednyss is certain poison has nothing to do with Takal Demesh, that’s a fact. He’s less sure of followers of other gods. He’s never heard of another temple using poison in this way, although the Ellosh lore from the priest of Ulella sounded like something he’d heard before.
Ednyss takes the money and places it in his money pouch. It isn't much, but he could make it worth a lot more later at the Docks and it was just nice to be doing some honest work after his discharge from the military. Pondering the history of the different religions and finding himself unable to pinpoint the nature of who might be using poison, he resigns himself to going to the temple and offering a quick prayer before he returns to the meeting place just at the strike of six bells. If he sees Ingrid exiting the Arena or wandering outside waiting for him, he lets her know that he is going to be late tonight at assures her that it's alright if she heads back without him.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
“The mark of a successful DM is when you have caused more player deaths with doors than dragons, demons, or devils.”
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Poison! Of all the ways she could die, poison! Has she done something to upset Takal Demesh this much? "Thank you." She tries to say as to the one who saved Benita, but her lips move voicelessly. She uses the strength she has left to remain standing, allowing Kavalanko to pull her after him. She prays silently, hoping it's not too late to repent, even if she's not sure what is it that she did to anger the gods this much.
Con save: 14 against 3 poison damage.
Varielky
Seeing the last hooligan begin to escape, Ednyss sprints towards him and with a fury, swings his war pick twice more at the retreating hooligan. As he runs after the hooligan, he shouts to the prone guard #3, "Pick up all of the coins on the ground, crowds don't always handle coin lying on the ground so well."
Move: In front of Hooligan #3
Free Action: Talking
Action: War Pick (Against Hooligan #3) - Attack: 12 Damage: 7
Bonus Action: War Priest (War Pick) (Against Hooligan #3) - Attack: 22 Damage: 7
“The mark of a successful DM is when you have caused more player deaths with doors than dragons, demons, or devils.”
"Get off me, you frickin' idiot!" Mittens shouts at the guard restraining him. "My friend is poisoned, and I can help her!"
Using his limited mobility, he wiggles his fingers and changes the illusion to say, SHE IS POISONED with a large arrow pointing at Varielky.
POST #10
Ednyss. The last hooligan looks over his shoulder and sees Ednyss coming. He rushes to get away, and shoves through the two guards at the end of the tunnel. Ednyss barely reaches him in time. His war pick arcs up and over, slamming the hooligan once, then twice, and the burly rogue goes down hard. He’s unconscious but he’ll live.
(Combat is now over)
The two tunnel guards near Ednyss hoist up Hooligan #3, while the guards at the arena entrance collect the gold and other coins with an eye on the other two unconscious ruffians. Once Ednyss tells the guards that he knows to whom the money bag belongs, they hand it to him, and we’ll assume Ednyss gets it back to its owner, who begins the process of paying out winners. (OR, seeing Mittens’ banner, does he head down to the floor?)
Haniah and the other acolytes have convinced the arena guard to let them pass, and they rush to Mittens, as his banner changes, drawing attention from many in the arena, but once there Haniah shakes her head sadly, as do the other two. “We are mere acolytes. Alas, Moeitu, in his wisdom, has not graced us with the power to dispel poison.”
The crowd has been watching the movement on the floor with great interest, especially Varielky and Benita’s duel, and, following Mittens’ banner change, someone shouts, “POISON!! IT’S BENITA LA CASS! She killed them all!!” And many in the crowd voice outrage, shock, or disbelief, for some recognize her, even costumed, as one of their favorites. Someone else yells “Maybe it’s food poisoning! My neighbor’s preserves went bad and killed the whole family!” The sound of the crowd is enormous and ominous, and many hundreds are looking around, frightened and confused.
A few moments earlier, Varielky sits down with Kovalenko’s support on a bench in the staging area, and her breathing begins to get very shallow. Other performers draw closer, looking on in shock. As the crowd begins to murmur and argue about what’s going on, Benita, regaining her strength, yells “GIVE HER AIR!” and shoves back the others in the section crowding around Varielky.
They part, and a new arrival is revealed behind them, a middle-aged Jenghen man in a wheelchair with spoked carriage wheels, looking at Varielky, then glancing back and forth to Mittens’ banner, then to Kovalenko.
Kovalenko, eyes bulging with anger nods firmly. The Jenghen, without removing his gaze from Varielky, says, “that banner has served its purpose,” and rolls closer. Just as she begins to black out, Varielky sees him remove his glove, and with a dark-haired violet hand, pink-freckled, strong and firm, he touches her forehead and utters a prayer to Ellosh. Varielky falls unconscious, breath stopping, and the onlookers are hushed. But then she feels a warm fire in her belly, and feels it flash outward, cleansing the poison from her entire body in a flash.
Varielky inhales deeply, suddenly, and her eyes open wide as the onlookers gasp in relief. She realizes that she knows the man in front of her, as does Mittens. It is Shirei-Kin, the brigade commander from Lokimarra. He seems much older than he had that fateful day in the North, and it is shocking to see that both of his legs are gone from just below the hips, in their place, folds of a heavy fabric kilt or skirt, just covering the wheelchair's padded seat.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Ednyss would ensure that the sack of coins made it to its rightful owner, but upon seeing Mitten's banner would immediately rush down to the center of the arena and attempt to send a mote of healing with the last of his magic into Varielky so that perhaps she can survive the poison. Once he sees Shirei-Kin though, he looks upon impressed as Shirei-Kin manages to eliminate the poison from her body with but a touch. He approaches Varielky and helps lift her off the ground once the poison is removed and says, "I'm glad you are okay." Ednyss then turns to Shirei-Kin and gives a report on the activity in his section (which I believe was controlled by this point).
“The mark of a successful DM is when you have caused more player deaths with doors than dragons, demons, or devils.”
"Ah, thank you. That you were here to save me means that the gods aren't done with me yet, but it seems like I have to be extra careful not to upset them." She slowly tries to stand up, then walks over to Benita. "I'm sorry about Bali, I truly am. Forget what I told you in the morning - I'm staying here until I find the detestable person responsible and send them to the afterlife. They will not reach Hallvala, I can assure you."
Varielky
At Shirei-Kin's words, Mittens waves his hand, and the illusory banner fades away from the air. If Hania is close by, he says, "Sorry, I assumed you knew some magic. I was panicking and wasn't thinking right."
DM- Azalin's Doom
DM- Surviving the Unsurvivable
Hearing Varielky speak about the poison again, Ednyss is reminded of his first encounter with it and he approaches Shirei-Kin and whispers what he knows of the poison into the old captain's ear. He then backs away respectfully and awaits further orders from Shirei-Kin, although he does bump Mittens and mutter quietly, "It's good to see you little one. We'll catch up later."
“The mark of a successful DM is when you have caused more player deaths with doors than dragons, demons, or devils.”
POST #11
As Varielky’s breathing normalizes, Shirei-Kin listens to Ednyss’ report, and at that moment, two priests shout from the stands close by, asking to be allowed into the staging area, which they are, following a nod from Kovalenko.
“The banner?” they say to one another, nodding. They turn to Shirei-Kin and Kovalenko and Varielky, and one, wearing an embroidered cream and golden silk hijab over the garb of the Temple of Ulella, God of Medicine and Healing, kneels down beside Varielky, examining her closely.
“I have laid hands on her, the poison is excised,” says Shirei-Kin.
She turns to Kovalenko, and in a resonant contralto asks, “Any more?”
“No, she was the last.”
“Who else.”
“Five others. Four are dead.”
“Show me.”
And she commences examining the other bodies. If Ednyss seems about to volunteer information, Shirei-Kin quietly takes him aside, “Let us see what she says first, coming with fresh eyes and considerable knowledge.”
“You,” says the paladin, looking at the guard who had fetched him, helmetless now, despite his efforts, “Get the city guard. Tell them I will be in Staging Room 1, the Flaming Vestibule. I will meet them there.”
“And you” he continues, “Ednyss Greybeard, Varielky, and Mittens Toodaloo. I wish to speak with the three of you later today. You two collect your pay,” to Ednyss and Varielky, “and then, with Mittens, meet me after 6 Bells.”
And, scanning the crowd carefully and seeing that the situation is under control, Shirei-Kin turns to Kovalenko and asks for a complete rundown of the events he witnessed on the arena floor, in his words.
Haniah tells Mittens, “you were not wrong, we were able to help Varielky’s suffering before the security chief laid hands upon her.” To the other acolytes, she remarks, “She would have fallen unconscious much sooner without you,” and they smile and bow their heads modestly. After a moment, she continues, with quiet seriousness. “You are very brave, and smart, Mittens.” And she speaks a brief prayer, her wide face serene and glowing, and Mittens feels the pain in his ankle dwindle gently to nothing.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Ednyss nods to the Shirei-Kin and pats Mittens on the shoulder saying, "I suppose we'll see each other later after-all." He then departs to wherever he is collecting his pay. As he walks, he also spends a minute and draws a bit more on the divine power of Takal Demesh to replenish a marginal amount of his magical reserves. He gives a nod of acknowledgement to Varielky and shrugs when she asks about a god that could be responsible for these acts, although he begins to rack his mind for an actual answer to that question as he departs.
(OOC: Religion Check?)
Expending a Use of Harness Divine Power to Expend Channel Divinity and Regain a Spell Slot.
“The mark of a successful DM is when you have caused more player deaths with doors than dragons, demons, or devils.”
"It seems like I owe you all my life," Varielky says to Shirei-Kin, Mittens, Ednyss and the acolytes. "Although I do not know if there is much I can help you with, I hope you will never hesitate before asking for my help - I will be happy to repay you to the best of my abilities." She thinks for a long moment before continuing. "But I wonder, who would want to poison so many people? I knew very few people in this town and almost all of them are now dead, so it couldn't have been personal, I think. Could there be a God whose followers worshipping is done by such despicable acts? I have never heard of one myself. Does anyone have an idea?"
Varielky
At Ednyss's remark, Mittens comments, "I'm looking forward to it."
He stands there somewhat awkwardly as he ponders what to do next. As an idea pops in his mind, he asks on the guards next to him, "Can I rummage around those bodies over there? If they were poisoned, I can probably figure out how. At the moment, we don't know if it was a contact toxin, inhaled, ingested, etc. I promise I won't be very long." Pooky hops along the same and jumps up into Mittens's shoulder as he talks.
Persuasion: 15
DM- Azalin's Doom
DM- Surviving the Unsurvivable
(OOC: the guards let you, except that the bodies are being brought to a room under the stands. The Priest of Ulella is also examining the bodies and weapons. Do you Follow her lead and “assist” her, or do you do your own thing? Is there anything in particular you’re looking for?)
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
((OOC: I'll do my own check, and Pooky will do the Help action to give me advantage if that's ok. Mittens is trying to figure out how they were poisoned. Was it a small dart? Gas? Poisoned food?))
Medicine: 9
DM- Azalin's Doom
DM- Surviving the Unsurvivable
(OOC: ok, roll your religion check)
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
POST #12
(OOC: Oops, I miscounted before: the melee consisted of six fighters costumed as Dreyen barbarians, and four as Bakar Elite. All were poisoned.)
Benita la Cass responds to Varielky, “I will find whatever flocking son of a Hyena did this. I will KILL THEM.” She throws down the axe she had picked up, and storms away, plainly too upset to focus on anything else, and if Varielky goes after her, Kavalenko takes her arm and says, gently, “let her be. She has lost more than any of us knew.” Varielky notices that she hasn’t even collected her pay.
The others nearby murmur brief prayers to their favored gods in answer to Varielky’s question, “Ellosh be kind,” or “only Idiwala knows,” but the Priest of Ulella says quietly, in her full-throated contralto over her shoulder as she works, “there are many tales of such curses. Of priests and high priests of Ellosh laying curses upon the winners, or losers, of battles. Yet those were in ancient times, and today, when Ellosh already stands head and shoulders above the rest in the Empire and the Provinces, what is to be gained?” And she moves to Varielky and, with her permission, examines her, dwelling for a long moment on the laceration she received from Benita before picking up the axe Benita dropped and with great care folding it into a towel.
Mittens notes that Bali, and the others, all had a greenish spittle forming on or dripping from their lips. He finds no darts, and thinking over the battle, tries to remember how each one was wounded. He is a bit stumped until Pooky pulls himself upon one of the dead fighters, and points at a nick, almost invisible but fresh, on the neck of one of them, which Pooky noticed from his position on the ground. Recalling the melee, Mittens can’t place when that small wound might have been inflicted. He checks the other bodies from the cart and finds that all bear similar wounds on various bits of exposed flesh. Mittens is convinced that the poison was transmitted to all ten fighters with weapons, although he doesn’t have enough information to call it anything other than a hunch. As to the exact poison used, he does not know.
Hania and the other acolytes quietly excuse themselves and depart for the temple. Hania says, “Mittens, I...want to talk with you. Before you leave Ishi Ammah,” and, with a somewhat saddened look on her face, she and the other acolytes leave the arena.
While these conversations, investigations, and the transporting of the victims to the arena’s interior are taking place, the crowd simmers down, and the Bakar Elite have fallen back, revealing Governor Ullaz once again, who claps his hands with amplified majesty several times to get the spectators’ attention, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM.
“That spectacle provided a valuable lesson to us all. Even though our Bakar Elite are formidable, only the Jenghen Empire is truly indomitable. The war continues with the barbaric Dreyens, and today, we have witnessed the treachery and evil they personify.” He leads a short prayer of thanks to Ellosh, and announces the end of the Beauty Games.
Another voice can then be heard by all, instructing the crowd to “Please depart in an orderly fashion, the gates will close at Six Bells!”
And, still whipped up over the day’s excitement, the 30,000 Orracans, Shians, travelers, chimps, cats, dwarves and elves in attendance stand, singly or in groups, start to chatter, laugh and shout, and, ushered by the guards, wend their way out of the arena. All in all, many call the day, “a memorable event,” although there are whispers too about the Roc riders, “the worst I’ve ever seen. That poor camel!,” the brawls “you were so brave, standing up to that terrible drunk!”, and a sense that things are much more disorderly these days then they were just a year or two before. The word “Lokimarra” seems to echo from nowhere and everywhere through the corridors, even after they are emptied and the last spectator wraps his cloak about himself and his wife of 30 years and they walk slowly across the plaza to their Inn. The sun sets, the rain gets heavier and a breeze picks up, whispering secrets from afar.
Meanwhile, under the stands, a chimp with spectacles, followed by two young Orracan men with heavy ledgers and eight heavily armored guards with great swords, has taken position outside the staging area, under the stands. He pays each performer, and then the security crew and other hires, in gold, from a strongbox.
The performers and gladiators are gathering in groups to go out drinking, meeting their fans, and likewise winding down.
Do you do anything in the 30 minutes or so before meeting Shirei-Kin at Six Bells in the Flaming Vestibule? Or do something else entirely?
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Religion: 2
As Ednyss is racking his mind, he stands in line with the other guards to receive his money. He may not have the best memory, but he does understand the workings of religion better than the common person so he thinks.
(OOC: His actions during the 30 minutes will depend on whether or not he thinks of a deity/religious following that might be responsible for this. Also, what was the pay for the guards again? Sorry if you already posted it somewhere!)
“The mark of a successful DM is when you have caused more player deaths with doors than dragons, demons, or devils.”
Varielky wants to pursue Benita but stops when Kavalenko hold her. "I just worry about her. Real fights aren't the same as these fights. Even more importantly, fighting while enraged often leads to fatal mistakes. I've met very few who used rage to their advantage in combat effectively." She moves her hand over her right shoulder where, under the clothes, there's a large scar she received from one of the mentioned warriors. "I worry that she's not one of those capable of doing that, and worry even more that she might become one." Despite that, she doesn't go after her. She'll try to speak with her at a later date. She then goes to collect her pay for her efforts and returns to the appointed place when it strikes six bells.
Varielky
The chimp cross-references in the ledger, says, “Ednyss Greybeard...security...MISter Abadolla” under his breath, and has one of the young men hand you 2GP for the day’s work.
Ednyss is certain poison has nothing to do with Takal Demesh, that’s a fact. He’s less sure of followers of other gods. He’s never heard of another temple using poison in this way, although the Ellosh lore from the priest of Ulella sounded like something he’d heard before.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Ednyss takes the money and places it in his money pouch. It isn't much, but he could make it worth a lot more later at the Docks and it was just nice to be doing some honest work after his discharge from the military. Pondering the history of the different religions and finding himself unable to pinpoint the nature of who might be using poison, he resigns himself to going to the temple and offering a quick prayer before he returns to the meeting place just at the strike of six bells. If he sees Ingrid exiting the Arena or wandering outside waiting for him, he lets her know that he is going to be late tonight at assures her that it's alright if she heads back without him.
“The mark of a successful DM is when you have caused more player deaths with doors than dragons, demons, or devils.”