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Cerebral Paladin's Storyhour (updated 4/22)
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<blockquote data-quote="Cerebral Paladin" data-source="post: 731951" data-attributes="member: 3448"><p>Session 1 (cont'd):</p><p></p><p>After some discussion, the group agrees to split up. Lhovrik and Aurora each make separate social appointments, scheduled for after dinner. Melania heads over to the cath Nortis home on her own.</p><p></p><p>The cath Nortis townhouse is about the same size as the Skyrnath house. Although both families are wealthy without being rich, the cath Nortis taste, if it can be called that, leaves rather more to be desired. The facade of the house is styled as an ancient manor, with large pillars supporting the roof of the two story building. Even from outside, the decor is ostentatious to the point of being tacky, with an enormous coat of arms above the main double doors and repeated on each of the doors.</p><p></p><p>Melania strides up to the door and knocks. Moments later, the door is opened by a halfling in impeccable livery. Melania introduces herself and asks whether Melor cath Nortis would be interested in hiring her as a performer. Tendros, the halfling butler, invites her into the servants' area and informs her that he handles the entertainment hiring. After a fine demonstration of her vocal and harp skills and a brief price negotiation, Melania has a job offer for 7 gold... scheduled two weeks later. Tendros is very closed mouthed to her questions. Melania pushes on whether there have been unusual people around lately, but Tendros refuses to discuss it. His response to basically every question amounts to "I cannot discuss the Master's private affairs." Melania does confirm that there was a party at the house a week ago; Melor cath Nortis is an active participant in the petty noble social scene. But, at least to hear Tendros speak of it, the party was completely uninteresting. After some further investigations are rebuffed, Melania heads out.</p><p></p><p>Aurora and Dov arrive at the cath Nortis home shortly after Melania departs. Tendros ushers them in to a sitting room. The sitting room's decor is more profuse than tasteful. Shortly after they arrive, Melor cath Nortis, a barrel-chested man whose youthful fitness has long-since given way to flab, joins them. He sports a thick, bushy moustache, somewhat unkempt hair, and moderately expensive, slightly ugly clothes.</p><p></p><p>Aurora and Dov talk with Melor for some time. He's quite a braggart, talking about his great accomplishments in the war with the kobold empire about fifteen years ago. Aurora cannot resist correcting him on his numerous misstatements about the major battle he fought in; to hear him tell it, he personally killed more kobolds than were even present. He does show off a large scar on his arm, which does indeed look like a spear wound, although not nearly as dangerous as he makes it sound. He shows off the spearhead that makes it. The spearhead is finely made and does not resemble at all the kobold spears Dov has seen in her training, but he assures them that the difference is simply the difference between the local kobold rabble and the kobold empire. Melor also talks about his son, Melor Minor, who is fighting against kobolds in the Northlands of the Empire; from his perspective, it's a pity he's simply fighting barbarians, because there's less opportunity for heroism that way.</p><p></p><p>Aurora asks to see the statuette, which Melor is only too happy to show off. They ask a little about how his family got it, but he refuses to say, except to note that it's been in his family for generations. Melor mentions that when his son faces more dangerous combat, he intends to have a special shield made so his son can carry the statue into battle. While they look at the statue, which is set in a shrine in the house's second floor, Tendros periodically slips in silently with drinks. Most of the time, they don't even notice his coming and going until a drink is at their side. Aurora visibly flinches when Melor picks up the statuette, but nothing untoward happens. If her theory about a trap is correct, she thinks, it must have an exception for the family.</p><p></p><p>Lhovrik and Ginara arrive while Aurora and Dov are still examining the shrine. Tendros shows them into the sitting room, where Melor quickly rushes in. He fawns slightly over Lord Lhovrik, and quickly calls for his daughter, Calia. Melor works vigorously to introduce the two, largely ignoring Ginara, but Lhovrik and Ginara ignore the hints. Lhovrik quickly asks to be shown the statuette, claiming that Master Verifax, his instructor, wanted him to examine it. Melor is nonplused by the suggestion that he take Lhovrik to see the shrine while Ginara talks with Calia, but he agrees, because he's so proud of his family's heirloom. Lhovrik asks who identified the statue's magical power, and Melor says that it was Father Liren, a guest of his about ten days ago.</p><p></p><p>After being shown to the shrine, where everyone pretends to be surprised to see their friends, Lhovrik excuses himself and goes to the privy. After closing the door, he casts Detect Magic, and maintains his concentration while walking back to the shrine. While appearing to look at some minor details around the shrine, he studies the aura of the statue carefully. The statuette radiates powerful holy magic. There are at least two magical auras. One is a conjuration; he is unable to identify the other, because of a deliberate masking effort.</p><p></p><p>Melor rejoins the group near the shrine. As he approaches, Aurora comments on the halfling butler. "Your butler moves remarkably quietly."</p><p></p><p>Melor smiles proudly. "Of course he does... that's the point in having halfling servants." Tendros returns to the room to collect empty glasses, and Melor continues talking about him as if he weren't even there. "But Tendros is a fine servant- completely unobtrusive. He just bought his freedom."</p><p></p><p>"When was that?" Aurora presses.</p><p></p><p>"About a week ago. He was a debt-slave, so he only needed to pay off his debt. So when he paid the 150 gold, he got his freedom."</p><p></p><p>"How could he afford that?"</p><p></p><p>"I assume he's been saving his wages. Of course, now I have to pay him more. But at least I got the 150 gold. And he is a good servant."</p><p></p><p>Meanwhile, Ginara chats with Calia. Calia is somewhat annoyed about her father's most recent matchmaking efforts, but is fairly resigned to it at this point. As she says to Ginara, "In my family, there are two types of people: soldiers and soldiers' spouses, and I don't want to be a soldier." Ginara asks about Calia's father's military background. Calia is fairly dismissive; it's not that her father didn't fight in the war, she's just pretty sure that he spent a lot less time at the front than he would have people believe. The worst is when his old military buddies are around; to hear them tell it, they personally won the war.</p><p></p><p>Ginara and Calia also talk about her father's parties; he's very fond of them. At least the last one was fairly interesting; there was a gnomish illusionist who did all sorts of neat tricks, leading up to a finale where he juggled flaming spheres and then threw them into the ceiling where they exploded harmlessly into streaks of light. Ginara asks his name, and is told Bildorinsomethingallindorf. At about this point, the people from upstairs return, and all four set out into the night to meet up with Melania and compare notes.</p><p></p><p>End of Session 1</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Cerebral Paladin, post: 731951, member: 3448"] Session 1 (cont'd): After some discussion, the group agrees to split up. Lhovrik and Aurora each make separate social appointments, scheduled for after dinner. Melania heads over to the cath Nortis home on her own. The cath Nortis townhouse is about the same size as the Skyrnath house. Although both families are wealthy without being rich, the cath Nortis taste, if it can be called that, leaves rather more to be desired. The facade of the house is styled as an ancient manor, with large pillars supporting the roof of the two story building. Even from outside, the decor is ostentatious to the point of being tacky, with an enormous coat of arms above the main double doors and repeated on each of the doors. Melania strides up to the door and knocks. Moments later, the door is opened by a halfling in impeccable livery. Melania introduces herself and asks whether Melor cath Nortis would be interested in hiring her as a performer. Tendros, the halfling butler, invites her into the servants' area and informs her that he handles the entertainment hiring. After a fine demonstration of her vocal and harp skills and a brief price negotiation, Melania has a job offer for 7 gold... scheduled two weeks later. Tendros is very closed mouthed to her questions. Melania pushes on whether there have been unusual people around lately, but Tendros refuses to discuss it. His response to basically every question amounts to "I cannot discuss the Master's private affairs." Melania does confirm that there was a party at the house a week ago; Melor cath Nortis is an active participant in the petty noble social scene. But, at least to hear Tendros speak of it, the party was completely uninteresting. After some further investigations are rebuffed, Melania heads out. Aurora and Dov arrive at the cath Nortis home shortly after Melania departs. Tendros ushers them in to a sitting room. The sitting room's decor is more profuse than tasteful. Shortly after they arrive, Melor cath Nortis, a barrel-chested man whose youthful fitness has long-since given way to flab, joins them. He sports a thick, bushy moustache, somewhat unkempt hair, and moderately expensive, slightly ugly clothes. Aurora and Dov talk with Melor for some time. He's quite a braggart, talking about his great accomplishments in the war with the kobold empire about fifteen years ago. Aurora cannot resist correcting him on his numerous misstatements about the major battle he fought in; to hear him tell it, he personally killed more kobolds than were even present. He does show off a large scar on his arm, which does indeed look like a spear wound, although not nearly as dangerous as he makes it sound. He shows off the spearhead that makes it. The spearhead is finely made and does not resemble at all the kobold spears Dov has seen in her training, but he assures them that the difference is simply the difference between the local kobold rabble and the kobold empire. Melor also talks about his son, Melor Minor, who is fighting against kobolds in the Northlands of the Empire; from his perspective, it's a pity he's simply fighting barbarians, because there's less opportunity for heroism that way. Aurora asks to see the statuette, which Melor is only too happy to show off. They ask a little about how his family got it, but he refuses to say, except to note that it's been in his family for generations. Melor mentions that when his son faces more dangerous combat, he intends to have a special shield made so his son can carry the statue into battle. While they look at the statue, which is set in a shrine in the house's second floor, Tendros periodically slips in silently with drinks. Most of the time, they don't even notice his coming and going until a drink is at their side. Aurora visibly flinches when Melor picks up the statuette, but nothing untoward happens. If her theory about a trap is correct, she thinks, it must have an exception for the family. Lhovrik and Ginara arrive while Aurora and Dov are still examining the shrine. Tendros shows them into the sitting room, where Melor quickly rushes in. He fawns slightly over Lord Lhovrik, and quickly calls for his daughter, Calia. Melor works vigorously to introduce the two, largely ignoring Ginara, but Lhovrik and Ginara ignore the hints. Lhovrik quickly asks to be shown the statuette, claiming that Master Verifax, his instructor, wanted him to examine it. Melor is nonplused by the suggestion that he take Lhovrik to see the shrine while Ginara talks with Calia, but he agrees, because he's so proud of his family's heirloom. Lhovrik asks who identified the statue's magical power, and Melor says that it was Father Liren, a guest of his about ten days ago. After being shown to the shrine, where everyone pretends to be surprised to see their friends, Lhovrik excuses himself and goes to the privy. After closing the door, he casts Detect Magic, and maintains his concentration while walking back to the shrine. While appearing to look at some minor details around the shrine, he studies the aura of the statue carefully. The statuette radiates powerful holy magic. There are at least two magical auras. One is a conjuration; he is unable to identify the other, because of a deliberate masking effort. Melor rejoins the group near the shrine. As he approaches, Aurora comments on the halfling butler. "Your butler moves remarkably quietly." Melor smiles proudly. "Of course he does... that's the point in having halfling servants." Tendros returns to the room to collect empty glasses, and Melor continues talking about him as if he weren't even there. "But Tendros is a fine servant- completely unobtrusive. He just bought his freedom." "When was that?" Aurora presses. "About a week ago. He was a debt-slave, so he only needed to pay off his debt. So when he paid the 150 gold, he got his freedom." "How could he afford that?" "I assume he's been saving his wages. Of course, now I have to pay him more. But at least I got the 150 gold. And he is a good servant." Meanwhile, Ginara chats with Calia. Calia is somewhat annoyed about her father's most recent matchmaking efforts, but is fairly resigned to it at this point. As she says to Ginara, "In my family, there are two types of people: soldiers and soldiers' spouses, and I don't want to be a soldier." Ginara asks about Calia's father's military background. Calia is fairly dismissive; it's not that her father didn't fight in the war, she's just pretty sure that he spent a lot less time at the front than he would have people believe. The worst is when his old military buddies are around; to hear them tell it, they personally won the war. Ginara and Calia also talk about her father's parties; he's very fond of them. At least the last one was fairly interesting; there was a gnomish illusionist who did all sorts of neat tricks, leading up to a finale where he juggled flaming spheres and then threw them into the ceiling where they exploded harmlessly into streaks of light. Ginara asks his name, and is told Bildorinsomethingallindorf. At about this point, the people from upstairs return, and all four set out into the night to meet up with Melania and compare notes. End of Session 1 [/QUOTE]
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