Eschton [mature] IC - Calling Arabesu

[Voidrazor]

Lord Direspirit answers the "call" from the source from the blasted planet of Bleak Lodestone, which is of most interest at that moment. the normal calls will have to wait.

"What or who could it be that would like to talk to me from the planet that is no more. and what could it be about?" wandering about those things he looks at the wierd looking skull in the march

The psychic contact has a rumbling quality, like distant thunder. "Wise and prescient Citizen, My brothers and I hail you. Our home of several centuries is no more, and we crave the boon of shelter"

 

[Voidrazor]

Landing with a loud thud on his back, Karnak tucks in his legs then snaps them forwards to right himself up (Free Stand =39 then grabs one of the trolls and attemps to throw it away from him using techniques he learned from the Setting Sun discipline. Touch Attack then Trip attack (1d20+30=37, 1d20+14=16) using the Mighty Throw manuever. If he succeeds, he will try to move away from his adversaries through the gap one of the trolls has made.

The trolls and valkyries strike savagely in the brief moment that it takes Karnak to bounce acrobatially back to his feet. Despite his supernatural speed, one of the giant winged women manages to land a blow, her blade arcing with electricity as it lacerates Karnak's thigh (10 damage).

Karnak effortlessly touches one of the trolls but between having just sprung to his feet, the slight wound and the trolls massive bulk, he is unable to get enough leverage to throw the creature.

OOC - At this point Karnak is part-way through his action. He can still take his iterative attacks or slip between opponents and move away. They've already taken AoO's this round so they wouldn't get more from the movement.

Also, don't forget to add the bonuses for the Heroic Bond with your Glimmerskin follower to your character sheet. Or let me know if you don't have MM2 and I'll jot them down for you.

 

[Avalon®]

Ooc: Could you please give me the 3.5 update for them?

 

[Vertexx69]

The T'lkt'n starts to interrupt defensively at the mention of wildside, but stops with the mention of drones being infected. When the flex-viewy comes to life, immediately showing a holographic representation of Faransil and its moons, the speaker-drone responds, "Ah, see for yourself the truth of my words."You could swear the queen is now feeling smug.

"Of course your eminence. I just wanted to put your mind at ease as quickly as possible. The thought of you doing something so blatantly in the face of our treaties, as deploying a fleet, never entered my mind." As she idly reaches out for the drink proffered to her by a stunning waitress. "As always it's been a pleasure talking to you. And of course I'll speak with the Faransi soon as well. Good night."
[sblock=OOC]

Tran'sa Kuul doesn't supply the Psi-net connection for other worlds. The feed is extradimensional and blankets known space, although Citizens can block access to it by their native populations.

ya sorry I forgot to delete that part when I was editing waht I wrote first [/sblock]
- later -

Maerealia squeezes in close, "Serraphina, You look positively dazzling this evening. Aethero, doesn't she look stellar?"
Aethero nods in agreement, grinning lasciviously.
Maerealia continues, "So are you gonna hit the dance floor with us?"

Moving the finger from her lips to theirs, she points to her sub-con and tweaks a nipple (doesn't matter whos).
[sblock=telepthically]

snip...
"There is a high probability that this nightmarish archon is gathering strength preparatory to a colonization effort in the IAO system. We believe they are using an asteroid belt orbiting a singularity a couple hundred light years off the galactic eliptic from your location as a staging area. Because this is only one of many potential threats rather than an active infestation, I have been authorized only to contact you directly regarding this matter. Although you may use the contents of this conversation to convince other to form a common defense. And if you choose to scout for the staging area, I would recommend contacting a certain Lord Karnak. His starship is in system and he is known to be a most capable warrior."

"You have my thanks for the advanced warning inquisitor. It was a pleasure conversing with you, and I'll be contacting that individual soon."[/sblock]Taking the two in hand, Serraphina leads them back out into the thumping beat and down to the dance floor without a word.

 

[Voidrazor]

[sblock=OOC Avalon]

Ooc: Could you please give me the 3.5 update for them?

Glimmerskin: Outsider; 5 ft./5 ft.; 5/magic; Bluff +18, Diplomacy +22,
Intimidate +13, Knowledge (arcana) +15, Knowledge (the planes) +15, Search
+15, Sense Motive +17, Spellcraft +9, Spot +17; Cleave, Great Cleave, Improved
Bull Rush, Improved Sunder, Power Attack; LA —.[/SBLOCK]

 

[Shayuri]

Once she's sure she's in the right spot, Sigil asks her nymphly follower to use a calm eddy of the river to cast Scry, using the first name given to her by the redcap as a focus. While the nymph does that, she and Alastor the unicorn pace the area, looking for anything out of place or out of the ordinary. If one of the abducted redcaps dropped something, she brings it to the scrying water spirit, to enhance her spell.

Finally she asks Alastor to make a pass using his innate power to sense the lingering taint of evil. A long shot, but potentially useful. Sigil herself uses her sensitivity to magic to scan for magical power that might have left an impression in the area as well.

When the scrying is complete, successful or not, Sigil asks the nymph to question the animals in the region, the birds and beasts, to see what they saw, what they remembered.

(The search, part 1: Nymph, who is Druid caster level 7 like all nymphs, can cast Scry! She does so. Meanwhile, Sigil tries Search and Spot checks, with the unicorn Aiding Another in the same. Finally doing sweeps with Detect Evil from the unicorn and Detect Magic from Sigil...both are usable respectively at will... And the nymph can cast Speak With Animals when the scrying has completed. That do for a start. )

 

[Nephtys]

"May every breath bring you closer to ascension Melanoce. I will see you soon." The link ends in a burst of pleasant sensations that mirror and build upon your own.

Melanoce smiles, admiring his demeanor, and snoops about briefly in his business.

There are a number of things that there is no law against owning or trading, but are frowned upon by society and might even provoke action by authorities depending upon the circumstances. Examples would include dangerous nanotech, captive fey and, soul destroying weapons

"There will be no corporations and no Committees. Too much oversight. This will be a service rendered between individuals, so there is no need. There is no risk to you. The cargo is legal and we pay in advance. As friend, payment of 4180 CuBs (10,000gp equivalent) is amenable, with additional payments of 1672 CuBs (4000gp) for each additional transit. Initial payment is more than single use boom tube!"

OOC - Lead wouldn't do the trick. A single-use Nondetection item usable by anybody would cost 750gp. Or you could get someone to cast it for 150gp. You are certainly free to pass up the deal. You can remove a gate from the Gate Key after it has been set up. But one of the 60 charges would still be gone.

Melanoce attempts to make the impression of giving the offer some serious consideration before gracefully declining. "I am afraid there are too many unknown variables, too many factors beyond my control. Your offer is generous, and thoughtful, but I cannot conduct any so controversial operations at this time. It is not a moral judgement, simply a practical concern. Besides, my infrastructure is unsuited for the temporary connections that this sort of transaction would require.
I am, however, willing to conduct business with you and your honoured associates on a more permanent basis. I have considerable resources for facilitating mid- to long-term interplanar trade and some financial expertise as well as excellent connections. There is likely much I can do to make your other operations more efficient and profitable.

ooc: Dip 80, Bluff 51, Sense Motive 48.

The barriers to getting on Committees are pretty low. It just requires some paperwork and an oath. The downside being that joining one could conceivably put one at risk of corruption charges if the appearance of impropiety should arise. Eschaton has its share of policy wonks who are quite happy to spend most of their time voting and debating. You could get a measure up for vote on the role of corporations within the IAO system. But you'd have to change current attitudes in that regard dramatically in order for it to have a chance of success.

Those attitudes are of course very private, shared only with those who already agree. She's too much a political animal to say anything in public that's not ultimately beneficial to her social standing.

[sblock]

OK, Vermillion puts the word out on Otajan 5 that its hiring. It will take a little while for responses to come in.

Ok.

I don't mind the sblocks. I'd like people to read as much of the game content as possible, and count on people's honor not to use OOC info. But no biggie

ooc:
I realised my posts must look pretty boring, so I'm cutting down on the secrecy for now.
-

Before departing to the party Melanoce begins investigating the potentialities of establishing a system of permanent gates on 1-5 locations on 20-30 different worlds and dimensions, all portals linked together via 1-3 central hubs on the more significant locations. She's looking to make the most of correcting any current inefficiencies in interplanetary trade between stable and reliable partners.
And makes plans for bying a Mirror of Mental Prowess for enabling more temporary traffic.


[/sblock]

Meanwhile Melanoce sends two brief messages to Citizen Sigil of Kaydia and Lord Direspirit of Atropos introducing herself and offering her services.

[sblock=Shayuri]
The psionic message carries a subtle aura of friendly professionalism and respect.

"Lady Sigil, I must begin by offering my sincerest apologies for waiting until now in offering my compliments to you, your many accomplishments and your beautiful planet. Such purity is an enviable thing, and also extremely marketable if handled with due care and respect. It is my small talent to master the humble business of the Marketplace and it has come to my attention that you seek to broaden the base of Kaydia's economy as well as usher in some needed modernisations to improve the quality of life for your people.
As a close neigbour and fellow citicen I understand some of the challenges of your position and I would love to help you and lovely Kaydia in any way I can. Please consider this an invitation into a long and prosperous relationship.

Your, Melanoce of Otajan 5 "
[/sblock]


[sblock=Rino]
"My Lord Direspirit, it is not my intention to steal too much of your precious time by discussing the low and tedious business of Commerce, so I shall present my offer briefly without the ceremony my respect for you should require. I have long been an admirer of the Craft, though my skill in such matters pales compared to yours, and in my studies and researches I have come across much that would be useful to one of your specialisation and mastery. You may have heard of the artifact Codex Mortuus, it is but a part of the goods I am able to offer you in trade. Exotic spell components, magical and technological rarities, as well as bulk goods and financial services are all at my fintips.
In exchange I want an exclusive right to your mining and trade in faerzress-infused ore as well your consideration of a long-term cooperation between equals in certain matters of security and intersphere politics. Please consider this my humble invitation into a long and prosperous relationship.

Your, Melanoce of Otajan 5
[/sblock]

 

[Avalon®]

Seeing as the troll didn't budge, Karnak tries a different tactic: tactical withdrawal. He moves through the space inbetween two of his opponents (if there is any or else he tumbles through their squares)

 

[Nephtys]

And Melanoce leaves for the party.

 

[Voidrazor]

Taking the two in hand, Serraphina leads them back out into the thumping beat and down to the dance floor without a word.

Even as the rhythym, full of cleverly designed subsonics, takes ahold of Serraphina's pulse, she notes the header on the next call in the queue. Argus Oloriel Staraeon, Governor of Kal'e'zant was inviting her to a party. She had heard that his affairs tended to feature delightful dichotomy of opportunities and diversions. But RSVP'ing right this moment was going to require some concentration, as Aethero and Maerealia were grinding up against her in a most distracting fashion.