Seeing Dolkum walking away, Mittens says to Varielky, "I've never really liked opera. It's too screechy, ya know? Never understood why people would pay money to listen to it..."
Toward the middle of the pool and across it, standing atop the steps of the Bank of Ammah, Varielky sees two cloaked figures peering toward her, the cloaks covering their entire forms and cowls over their heads, their faces impossible to discern. Could one of them be the figure who pursued Varielky and Benita the prior night? As she tries to get a better look, several hand women walk in front of her, obstructing her view. In the moment it takes for them to pass, the figures seem to have disappeared behind tall pillars at the top of the bank steps.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries //Dev Horndin Curious Critters
Instead of replying to Mittens, Varielky gets up and tries to look for them behind the woman, but they're already gone. "I could be wrong, but I don't think tonight is going to be only music and singing. I've had bad feelings ever since we entered this place. Be alert, I saw some suspicious figures. I don't see them anymore, however. Not knowing where they are, it makes me worry more than I would have I known they're right in front of me."
(OOC: Whoops. Varielky almost knew too much about operas. I started writing about arias and recitatives but then realised there is no reason she'd know that. Sometimes you need to be careful when the subject is something you've learnt about in the past.)
Ednyss puts his hand out to stop Dolkum from chasing after the other two fellows as they make a run for it. "We don't know who they are or who they work for. We need more information before we can just rush into fights without caution." The irony makes Ednyss shake his head, a priest of Takal Demesh telling one of Idiwalla to refrain from conflict and instead seek information was just odd. Regardless, Ednyss lets them both go, but he keeps an eye on the direction that they walk in and tries to see their faces. If Varielky points out the figures that she noticed as well, then Ednyss will attempt to see their faces as well, calling upon the favor of Takal Demesh to aid his vision.
Ednyss puts his hand out to stop Dolkum from chasing after the other two fellows as they make a run for it. "We don't know who they are or who they work for. We need more information before we can just rush into fights without caution." The irony makes Ednyss shake his head, a priest of Takal Demesh telling one of Idiwalla to refrain from conflict and instead seek information was just odd. Regardless, Ednyss lets them both go, but he keeps an eye on the direction that they walk in and tries to see their faces. If Varielky points out the figures that she noticed as well, then Ednyss will attempt to see their faces as well, calling upon the favor of Takal Demesh to aid his vision.
The two flower-liveried footmen mind their own business, but keep a careful eye on Ednyss from a distance. Keeping an eye on the bank steps, you see no one. A few people come in and out of the College entrance and Temple of Ellosh, some wearing cloaks, but they're not the ones Varielky saw. Mostly the area is quiet, but still with several dozen various footmen and hand maidens in the vicinity.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries //Dev Horndin Curious Critters
5 Bells toll from around the city below you, and perhaps after another thirty minutes, as the sun begins to set in the west, lamplighters move around the reflecting pool, where street lamps now light the gravel lane. Meanwhile, most visitors to the palace grounds have left -- you hear a footman relate that the palace grounds are only open during daylight hours.
Applause is heard from within, and the doors open for intermission. A few audience members come outside, chat excitedly about what they have seen, smoke a pipe, or walk around the plaza for a few minutes. You see a Khazaran man, finely dressed all in embroidered white, tall, handsome, muscular, with a pointed moustache, come outside and drink deeply from a flask in his breast pocket. He wears a fur-lined cap low over his eyes, which dwell on Varielky hungrily from a distance. He then frowns and turns his gaze to the other women in view, his appetites clear to anyone. He then returns inside with the others as the usher lady rings her bells once more.
A few minutes later, applause can once more be heard from within as the second half of the performance begins. You notice light emanating upward from the interior of the theater--magical, no doubt, and one of the footmen comments that one of the Eyes is inside, lighting the stage. Kieu-Lan Trinh’s voice drifts over the sound of the small Southern orchestra, soaring, achingly beautiful, in an aria of incredible sadness and longing.
Not long after the second half begins, night falls in earnest, and stars peer down through clear black skies. Footmen and hand women mostly stay closer to the amphitheater now, l under the lamps. The four muscular and breastplate-wearing Bakar Elite, with longswords and large round shields, remain in place at the amphitheater entrance.
Ednyss:
It is then that Ednyss thinks he sees movement he can’t explain, just where the aqueduct passes through the ramparts. Barely visible from the small plaza in front of the amphitheater due to the large statues of the Orracan Queens at that end of the reflecting pool, it’s as if a series of black shapes, possibly humanoid, possibly not, fall from nowhere from the aqueduct to the ground. If something fell, it is now obscured from view behind the statues, the aqueduct buttressing, and the trees in the little arbor there.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries //Dev Horndin Curious Critters
Varielky ignores the man while he's out, but remarks on his behaviour after everyone are inside. "Men, always the same." She's quite oblivious to the fact she is surrounded by males. "Even I can remember stories told to me when I was young about heroic knights risking their lives for the heart of a woman. This culture is so pathetic. Of all the things you can sacrifice your life for, someone who might as well reject you. But even then, at least they were out fighting, proving their worth. Now all they try to show is how much wealth their ancestors made long before they were even born. Back where I'm from when a man wanted to show his love to a woman, he'd slap her face with flowers. If she didn't love him back, she'd just slap him back, using her hand. If a woman wanted to show she loves a man, she'd make him a shirt. It may sound weird to you but that's how we did it. When a man ran across the town with flowers in his hand, all the girls would stand still, waiting to see who'll get slapped and whether she'll slap back."
(OOC: I only did a quick search on the matter but it seems like this really is how Vikings did it, most of the time. Weird folks they were.)
Ednyss is frowning at the man leering at Varielky the entire time that he is outside and is more than happy to see him go. Ednyss grins at Varielky's story and is about to tell a story about the Core, but is shocked back into the real world by a strange movement. He points it out to the rest of the gang and motions for them to follow him towards the statues. Glancing back and seeing the Bakar Elite still guarding the entrance, and knowing that they have at least a few minutes, Ednyss figures that they should investigate. As they begins to walk he whispers under his breath to the others, "I thought I saw something fall here. Just keep your eyes peeled."
This dawns on you just as the music swells inside the theater: the two floral-liveried gentlemen you saw earlier, when you last looked around, were at the end of the pool near the statues of the queens. Now however, they are no longer there. That spot, where they were, is between you and where those dark shapes would have fallen.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries //Dev Horndin Curious Critters
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
If a dwarf lass wants my attention all she has to do is tap me on my fore head with a hammer ;) But every one has their own courting rituals I suppose...
Aye now Ednyss, weren't those 2 layabouts at the end of the pool? And those shapes fell just past there, yes? What say we schlepp on over there for a look see?
Seeing the way the nobleman was eyeing the ladies, Mittens is almost tempted to flip him the finger (or the equivalent of this world), but he decides against it. He mutters, "Looks like a real nice guy..."
When he hears of the suspicious activity and the two slobs from before, Mittens says, "Let's not jump to conclusions. It could have simply been the shadows playing tricks on your eyes. If you're sure you saw people, I could call out with a spell that makes me loud to alert the guards. Since it would be loud, if there was someone doing illegal stuff over here, knowing they've been seen could discourage them from carrying out whatever they were planning on doing. If we don't want the area in alert, I could conjure some lights to help us see if we want to investigate." He shrugs, "I'm just giving us options."
Ednyss shakes his head when Mittens mentions taking a look around, "We don't necessarily know that something is going on. It is best not to distract the guards in case it is nothing. Lets just check it out ourselves, although light might help Varielky see a bit better as it is starting to get dark. Options are always good. Any other ideas?" Ednyss' eyes are fixed on the spot where the dark shapes would have fallen. If there is still something there, it isn't going anywhere without him noticing it, he thinks to himself.
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.”
"That's all good but at least one of us needs to stay here when the ones inside are finished. You three go investigate, I'll stay here and keep watch. Besides, if you carry light with you just for me, you'll be seen from very far away in the darkness. If someone doesn't want to be seen, they'll know exactly where you are. It's best if I stay here. You're all capable fighter, you can manage something like this without me. Besides, if something happens and you really need my help, you can always use that loud trick of yours and I'll come. As long as it's not too loud, just calling my name probably wouldn't alert everyone around too much."
Here is a more detailed map. Each of the statues of the Orracan Queens sits on a pedestal in the center of a fountain, perhaps 30' in diameter. You start at the blue star, and the red X is where Ednyss thinks he saw something. The route I indicated is how you go in order to keep line of sight with that spot.
Varielky remains at the star, keeping a keen eye on her companions and their surrounding area. Does she move at all?
Ednyss, Dolkum and Mittens, prowling with night vision, move toward the red X, which is a dark corner under the wall and aqueduct buttresses. Are weapons drawn?
Is anyone doing anything else in addition to the above?
The performance continues, and the music is now quiet and mysterious. If the first half was any indication, the show should go on for another 30 minutes or so.
ALL four, please roll 1 Perception saves. Prowlers, please also roll 1 Stealth save and 1 additional perception save.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries //Dev Horndin Curious Critters
Varielky will stay put. She trusts that the others will call her shall they need her help. She keeps watching on the entrance and the area for the dark figures she saw earlier. If she hears her name called, she'll quickly run after the others. (Taking the ready action to dash towards them, if you want to think of it that way.)
Pooky will assist to give me advantage if that's okay. Perception: 8
Perception 2: 21
As they begin to walk forward, Mittens mutters a few words and waves his hand.Pooky shudders for a moment, and a small, cat-shaped light appears. With another arcane phrase, he sends the light through the air. If he's in range, the light begins to spiral slowly around the aquaducts, traveling along their length. With his night vision, Mittens pays close attention to the shadows the lights create. If there was someone hanging on the other side of the aquaducts, the lights might make a shadow of them on the ground when the pass above them. All the while, he tightly grasps his small staff with a faintly glowing crystal at the end of it. He is holding frostbite every round. He will launch it at anything that attacks them.
((OOC: Pooky casts his weakened form of dancing lights))
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Stealth is not one of Ednyss' forte's so he calls upon the guidance of his god to aid him in his attempt at silence and keeps his eyes peeled for any movement at all.
Ednyss just waits and watches Mittens to his work. He is constantly prepared to place himself between the aqueducts and the cat should anything dangerous appear (Readying a Dash to place himself between Mittens and danger should it present itself.)
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.”
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
Perception: 5
Varielky
Dolkum starts moving towards Ednyss, to find out more of what is going on, and to give the 2 layabouts a piece of his mind.
...drinking on guard duty, my word....
If it falls in the crrrapper on his way there he will change course and move to trouble at his best speed.
Perception: 4
Seeing Dolkum walking away, Mittens says to Varielky, "I've never really liked opera. It's too screechy, ya know? Never understood why people would pay money to listen to it..."
DM- Azalin's Doom
DM- Surviving the Unsurvivable
Varielky:
Toward the middle of the pool and across it, standing atop the steps of the Bank of Ammah, Varielky sees two cloaked figures peering toward her, the cloaks covering their entire forms and cowls over their heads, their faces impossible to discern. Could one of them be the figure who pursued Varielky and Benita the prior night? As she tries to get a better look, several hand women walk in front of her, obstructing her view. In the moment it takes for them to pass, the figures seem to have disappeared behind tall pillars at the top of the bank steps.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters
Instead of replying to Mittens, Varielky gets up and tries to look for them behind the woman, but they're already gone. "I could be wrong, but I don't think tonight is going to be only music and singing. I've had bad feelings ever since we entered this place. Be alert, I saw some suspicious figures. I don't see them anymore, however. Not knowing where they are, it makes me worry more than I would have I known they're right in front of me."
(OOC: Whoops. Varielky almost knew too much about operas. I started writing about arias and recitatives but then realised there is no reason she'd know that. Sometimes you need to be careful when the subject is something you've learnt about in the past.)
Varielky
Ednyss puts his hand out to stop Dolkum from chasing after the other two fellows as they make a run for it. "We don't know who they are or who they work for. We need more information before we can just rush into fights without caution." The irony makes Ednyss shake his head, a priest of Takal Demesh telling one of Idiwalla to refrain from conflict and instead seek information was just odd. Regardless, Ednyss lets them both go, but he keeps an eye on the direction that they walk in and tries to see their faces. If Varielky points out the figures that she noticed as well, then Ednyss will attempt to see their faces as well, calling upon the favor of Takal Demesh to aid his vision.
Perception: 18
“The mark of a successful DM is when you have caused more player deaths with doors than dragons, demons, or devils.”
The two flower-liveried footmen mind their own business, but keep a careful eye on Ednyss from a distance. Keeping an eye on the bank steps, you see no one. A few people come in and out of the College entrance and Temple of Ellosh, some wearing cloaks, but they're not the ones Varielky saw. Mostly the area is quiet, but still with several dozen various footmen and hand maidens in the vicinity.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters
POST #8
5 Bells toll from around the city below you, and perhaps after another thirty minutes, as the sun begins to set in the west, lamplighters move around the reflecting pool, where street lamps now light the gravel lane. Meanwhile, most visitors to the palace grounds have left -- you hear a footman relate that the palace grounds are only open during daylight hours.
Applause is heard from within, and the doors open for intermission. A few audience members come outside, chat excitedly about what they have seen, smoke a pipe, or walk around the plaza for a few minutes. You see a Khazaran man, finely dressed all in embroidered white, tall, handsome, muscular, with a pointed moustache, come outside and drink deeply from a flask in his breast pocket. He wears a fur-lined cap low over his eyes, which dwell on Varielky hungrily from a distance. He then frowns and turns his gaze to the other women in view, his appetites clear to anyone. He then returns inside with the others as the usher lady rings her bells once more.
A few minutes later, applause can once more be heard from within as the second half of the performance begins. You notice light emanating upward from the interior of the theater--magical, no doubt, and one of the footmen comments that one of the Eyes is inside, lighting the stage. Kieu-Lan Trinh’s voice drifts over the sound of the small Southern orchestra, soaring, achingly beautiful, in an aria of incredible sadness and longing.
Not long after the second half begins, night falls in earnest, and stars peer down through clear black skies. Footmen and hand women mostly stay closer to the amphitheater now, l under the lamps. The four muscular and breastplate-wearing Bakar Elite, with longswords and large round shields, remain in place at the amphitheater entrance.
Ednyss:
It is then that Ednyss thinks he sees movement he can’t explain, just where the aqueduct passes through the ramparts. Barely visible from the small plaza in front of the amphitheater due to the large statues of the Orracan Queens at that end of the reflecting pool, it’s as if a series of black shapes, possibly humanoid, possibly not, fall from nowhere from the aqueduct to the ground. If something fell, it is now obscured from view behind the statues, the aqueduct buttressing, and the trees in the little arbor there.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters
Varielky ignores the man while he's out, but remarks on his behaviour after everyone are inside. "Men, always the same." She's quite oblivious to the fact she is surrounded by males. "Even I can remember stories told to me when I was young about heroic knights risking their lives for the heart of a woman. This culture is so pathetic. Of all the things you can sacrifice your life for, someone who might as well reject you. But even then, at least they were out fighting, proving their worth. Now all they try to show is how much wealth their ancestors made long before they were even born. Back where I'm from when a man wanted to show his love to a woman, he'd slap her face with flowers. If she didn't love him back, she'd just slap him back, using her hand. If a woman wanted to show she loves a man, she'd make him a shirt. It may sound weird to you but that's how we did it. When a man ran across the town with flowers in his hand, all the girls would stand still, waiting to see who'll get slapped and whether she'll slap back."
(OOC: I only did a quick search on the matter but it seems like this really is how Vikings did it, most of the time. Weird folks they were.)
Varielky
Ednyss is frowning at the man leering at Varielky the entire time that he is outside and is more than happy to see him go. Ednyss grins at Varielky's story and is about to tell a story about the Core, but is shocked back into the real world by a strange movement. He points it out to the rest of the gang and motions for them to follow him towards the statues. Glancing back and seeing the Bakar Elite still guarding the entrance, and knowing that they have at least a few minutes, Ednyss figures that they should investigate. As they begins to walk he whispers under his breath to the others, "I thought I saw something fall here. Just keep your eyes peeled."
Perception: 10
“The mark of a successful DM is when you have caused more player deaths with doors than dragons, demons, or devils.”
Ednyss and Dolkum
This dawns on you just as the music swells inside the theater: the two floral-liveried gentlemen you saw earlier, when you last looked around, were at the end of the pool near the statues of the queens. Now however, they are no longer there. That spot, where they were, is between you and where those dark shapes would have fallen.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters
If a dwarf lass wants my attention all she has to do is tap me on my fore head with a hammer ;) But every one has their own courting rituals I suppose...
Aye now Ednyss, weren't those 2 layabouts at the end of the pool? And those shapes fell just past there, yes? What say we schlepp on over there for a look see?
Perception taking another look around - 8
Seeing the way the nobleman was eyeing the ladies, Mittens is almost tempted to flip him the finger (or the equivalent of this world), but he decides against it. He mutters, "Looks like a real nice guy..."
When he hears of the suspicious activity and the two slobs from before, Mittens says, "Let's not jump to conclusions. It could have simply been the shadows playing tricks on your eyes. If you're sure you saw people, I could call out with a spell that makes me loud to alert the guards. Since it would be loud, if there was someone doing illegal stuff over here, knowing they've been seen could discourage them from carrying out whatever they were planning on doing. If we don't want the area in alert, I could conjure some lights to help us see if we want to investigate." He shrugs, "I'm just giving us options."
DM- Azalin's Doom
DM- Surviving the Unsurvivable
Ednyss shakes his head when Mittens mentions taking a look around, "We don't necessarily know that something is going on. It is best not to distract the guards in case it is nothing. Lets just check it out ourselves, although light might help Varielky see a bit better as it is starting to get dark. Options are always good. Any other ideas?" Ednyss' eyes are fixed on the spot where the dark shapes would have fallen. If there is still something there, it isn't going anywhere without him noticing it, he thinks to himself.
“The mark of a successful DM is when you have caused more player deaths with doors than dragons, demons, or devils.”
Friend Mittens, you speak good sense. Let us have a little discrete light on the subject, if you please?
"That's all good but at least one of us needs to stay here when the ones inside are finished. You three go investigate, I'll stay here and keep watch. Besides, if you carry light with you just for me, you'll be seen from very far away in the darkness. If someone doesn't want to be seen, they'll know exactly where you are. It's best if I stay here. You're all capable fighter, you can manage something like this without me. Besides, if something happens and you really need my help, you can always use that loud trick of yours and I'll come. As long as it's not too loud, just calling my name probably wouldn't alert everyone around too much."
Varielky
POST #9
Here is a more detailed map. Each of the statues of the Orracan Queens sits on a pedestal in the center of a fountain, perhaps 30' in diameter. You start at the blue star, and the red X is where Ednyss thinks he saw something. The route I indicated is how you go in order to keep line of sight with that spot.
Varielky remains at the star, keeping a keen eye on her companions and their surrounding area. Does she move at all?
Ednyss, Dolkum and Mittens, prowling with night vision, move toward the red X, which is a dark corner under the wall and aqueduct buttresses. Are weapons drawn?
Is anyone doing anything else in addition to the above?
The performance continues, and the music is now quiet and mysterious. If the first half was any indication, the show should go on for another 30 minutes or so.
ALL four, please roll 1 Perception saves. Prowlers, please also roll 1 Stealth save and 1 additional perception save.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters
Perception: 13
Varielky will stay put. She trusts that the others will call her shall they need her help. She keeps watching on the entrance and the area for the dark figures she saw earlier. If she hears her name called, she'll quickly run after the others. (Taking the ready action to dash towards them, if you want to think of it that way.)
Varielky
Stealth: 13
Pooky will assist to give me advantage if that's okay. Perception: 8
Perception 2: 21
As they begin to walk forward, Mittens mutters a few words and waves his hand.Pooky shudders for a moment, and a small, cat-shaped light appears. With another arcane phrase, he sends the light through the air. If he's in range, the light begins to spiral slowly around the aquaducts, traveling along their length. With his night vision, Mittens pays close attention to the shadows the lights create. If there was someone hanging on the other side of the aquaducts, the lights might make a shadow of them on the ground when the pass above them. All the while, he tightly grasps his small staff with a faintly glowing crystal at the end of it. He is holding frostbite every round. He will launch it at anything that attacks them.
((OOC: Pooky casts his weakened form of dancing lights))
DM- Azalin's Doom
DM- Surviving the Unsurvivable
Stealth is not one of Ednyss' forte's so he calls upon the guidance of his god to aid him in his attempt at silence and keeps his eyes peeled for any movement at all.
Stealth: 12
Perception: 7
Perception: 23
Ednyss just waits and watches Mittens to his work. He is constantly prepared to place himself between the aqueducts and the cat should anything dangerous appear (Readying a Dash to place himself between Mittens and danger should it present itself.)
“The mark of a successful DM is when you have caused more player deaths with doors than dragons, demons, or devils.”