[LPF] Escort Service

[Systole]

The crowd titters as Abbandando gracelessly knocks over a small potted palm next to the dance floor, and a few of the guests have to skitter out of the way. The young lord sneers and attempts to plant a foot behind Cythera as she backsteps, but the battle dancer deftly avoids the trap. However, the movement does not go unnoticed by the onlookers, a few of whom mutter in disapproval.



[sblock=GM]Cythera makes Abbandando stumble. You didn't roll to check the crowd reaction, so I did it for you. The crowd did respond positively, and is now Friendly toward Cythera.

Once again, my dice were kind to you. Abbandando attempted to dirty trick, but failed both the dance roll and the stealth roll. Crowd is still Indifferent toward Abbandando, but they're watching him more closely now.[/sblock]




[sblock=Modified performance combat]Rounds will go like this:

1. Choose whether to ‘cheat’ – whether you’re going to actively attempt to trip or just try to unbalance through normal dance moves.

a. If you fight fair, make a DC 22 dance check.
b. If you want to play dirty, make a DC 17 dance check. Then make a Bluff OR Stealth check to conceal the cheating from the audience. I’m not disclosing the DC of the Bluff/Stealth check yet.
​

2. If the dance check was successful, Cythera has made Abbandando look bad. He’s stumbled or mis-stepped – anything short of knocking him on his ass. Then roll 1d20+3 to see if she got audience favor.[/sblock]
​

. Abbandando Boraga .

.

 

[perrinmiller]

Cythera e'Kiernan, Bronze Dragon Disciple

Cythera starts a complicated series of steps and manages to just barely get the noble into a compromising position.

"Tsk, tsk, you will have to do better than that." She murmurs for his ears.

But then she fails to cover the maneuver very well and most likely people will not like what they see.

[sblock=Rolls]Perform Dance (1d20+12=17) & Stealth (1d20+10=11); I wasn't sure to roll audience reaction since I don't know the results of the opposed checks on the Stealth. But here you are this time Audience reaction (1d20+3=10)
The dice hate me this round. Freakin' 5, 1 & 7. [/sblock][sblock=Mini Stats]Initiative: +4
AC: 22 (19 flat-footed, 14 Touch)
HP: 54 Current: 54
CMB: +8 CMD: 22 (23 vs. Sundering) Fort: +5 Reflex: +6 Will: +5 (+1 with Resistance)
Conditions in Effect: Arcane Strike (+1 dmg), Power Attack (-2 Att/+6 dmg), Furious Focus (no penalty for 1st PA), Overhand Chop

Current Weapon in Hand: A poop-in-jay
Chakram: 8/8 Claws: 4/5 rounds remaining

Battle Dance: 8/8 Rounds Remaining
Spells Remaining: Cantrips: (Read Magic, Detect Magic, Resistance, Light, Prestidigitation)
1st Level 3/3 (Cure Light Wounds, Timely Inspiration, Grease(DC13))[/sblock]___________________________

Cythera e'Kiernan

 

[Systole]

Abbandando stumbles, but the Cythera's hand in the misstep was obvious. A couple of the onlookers roll their eyes. As she sweeps by, Cythera hears one of them whisper, "Oh, it's one of those nights..."

However, greater disdain is reserved for Abbandando, who not only fails to force his partner/opponent to stumble, but does it a blatant and ungentlemanly fashion. Some of the other guests snort derisively.

[sblock=GM]Crowd is back to Neutral toward Cythera, the DC to improve attitude has increased.

Abbandando failed the Dance check and the Bluff check, and then completely shanked his Performance check. Crowd is Unfriendly toward Abbandando, then DC to improve attitude has increased x2.[/sblock]




[sblock=Modified performance combat]Rounds will go like this:

1. Choose whether to ‘cheat’ – whether you’re going to actively attempt to trip or just try to unbalance through normal dance moves.

a. If you fight fair, make a DC 22 dance check.
b. If you want to play dirty, make a DC 17 dance check. Then make a Bluff OR Stealth check to conceal the cheating from the audience. I’m not disclosing the DC of the Bluff/Stealth check yet.
​

2. If the dance check was successful, Cythera has made Abbandando look bad. He’s stumbled or mis-stepped – anything short of knocking him on his ass. Then roll 1d20+3 to see if she got audience favor.
​

[/sblock]

. Abbandando Boraga .

.

 

[perrinmiller]

Cythera e'Kiernan, Bronze Dragon Disciple

Cythera is not pleased that she lost some favor of the audience, but at least the buffoon is doing worse. She begins a complicated series of foot placements and the attempt to trip Abbandando up is so artfully disguised to be virtually unnoticeable.

"Come along, milord. Try this-... Oooo, that looked bad, you okay?" She smirks for his benefit as her concern is obviously false.

[sblock=Rolls]Perform Dance (1d20+12=19)
Stealth (1d20+10=30)
Audience Reaction (1d20+3=19)[/sblock][sblock=Mini Stats]Initiative: +4
AC: 22 (19 flat-footed, 14 Touch)
HP: 54 Current: 54
CMB: +8 CMD: 22 (23 vs. Sundering) Fort: +5 Reflex: +6 Will: +5 (+1 with Resistance)
Conditions in Effect: Arcane Strike (+1 dmg), Power Attack (-2 Att/+6 dmg), Furious Focus (no penalty for 1st PA), Overhand Chop

Current Weapon in Hand: A poop-in-jay
Chakram: 8/8 Claws: 4/5 rounds remaining

Battle Dance: 8/8 Rounds Remaining
Spells Remaining: Cantrips: (Read Magic, Detect Magic, Resistance, Light, Prestidigitation)
1st Level 3/3 (Cure Light Wounds, Timely Inspiration, Grease(DC13))[/sblock]___________________________

Cythera e'Kiernan

 

[Systole]

Cythera artfully maneuvers Abbandando into a group of merchants watching the performance. The young lord collides with one of the group, who stumbles backward and drops his wineglass. The merchant lands safely on his expansive buttocks, but the wineglass splashes down the back of Abbandando's breeches before crashing onto the floor. Signor Franco, standing barely two paces away from the crash, guffaws loudly.

"Laugh all you want, fat man!" Abbandando snarls, clearly losing it. He attempts to force Cythera into the other side of the crowd, but the wine on his shoes causes him to slip.

"Don't mind if I do!" Franco calls back, grinning broadly. "And I must say, if your performance in bed is anything like your performance on the dance floor, it would certainly explain why you need a different woman every week!" Several of the guests chuckle at the comment, and one nobleman who was caught with a mouthful of wine chokes and begins half-wheezing, half-laughing at the merchant's comment.

[sblock=GM]Crowd is now friendly to Cythera. The DC to improve attitude has increased x1.

For the second round in a row, Abbandando failed the Dance check and the Bluff check, and then completely shanked his Performance check. Crowd is now Hostile toward Abbandando, and the DC to improve attitude has increased x3.

A successful check should end it.[/sblock]


[sblock=Modified performance combat]Rounds will go like this:

1. Choose whether to ‘cheat’ – whether you’re going to actively attempt to trip or just try to unbalance through normal dance moves.

a. If you fight fair, make a DC 22 dance check.
b. If you want to play dirty, make a DC 17 dance check. Then make a Bluff OR Stealth check to conceal the cheating from the audience. I’m not disclosing the DC of the Bluff/Stealth check yet.
​

2. If the dance check was successful, Cythera has made Abbandando look bad. He’s stumbled or mis-stepped – anything short of knocking him on his ass. Then roll 1d20+3 to see if she got audience favor.
​

[/sblock]

. Abbandando Boraga ..... Signor Franco ........

.

 

[perrinmiller]

Cythera e'Kiernan, Bronze Dragon Disciple

Back on track once more, Cythera feels that things are going well enough that she no longer needs to resort to being tricky. She plans to finish with a flourish and just out dance the nobleman.

She holds Abbandando's hand and spins herself and twirls quickly. Completing the complicated maneuver with a slight bow, she says, "I thought you said you can dance, milord. There isn't anything wrong with your foot or leg, is there?" While she is teasing him, she tries to make the concern in her tone to be real and innocent.

[sblock=OOC]Perform Dance (1d20+12=26)
Audience Reaction (1d20+3=15)
Bluff to fake concern (1d20+2=17)

I was figuring to play it straight this time to improve the odds of winning Audience favor. If she doesn't play dirty and fails the audience check, I figured she would not lose ground at least. BTW, what's the +3 modifier based upon?[/sblock][sblock=Mini Stats]Initiative: +4
AC: 22 (19 flat-footed, 14 Touch)
HP: 54 Current: 54
CMB: +8 CMD: 22 (23 vs. Sundering) Fort: +5 Reflex: +6 Will: +5 (+1 with Resistance)
Conditions in Effect: Arcane Strike (+1 dmg), Power Attack (-2 Att/+6 dmg), Furious Focus (no penalty for 1st PA), Overhand Chop

Current Weapon in Hand: A poop-in-jay
Chakram: 8/8 Claws: 4/5 rounds remaining

Battle Dance: 8/8 Rounds Remaining
Spells Remaining: Cantrips: (Read Magic, Detect Magic, Resistance, Light, Prestidigitation)
1st Level 3/3 (Cure Light Wounds, Timely Inspiration, Grease(DC13))[/sblock]___________________________

Cythera e'Kiernan

 

[Systole]

Abbandando's feet go out from under him just as the music ends, putting him into a brief, but painful-looking split before he spills forward gracelessly, cracking his chin on the marble floor. He clamps his hand to his mouth in pain. "Ooo 'ich!" he mumbles at Cythera.

The crowd is silent, definitely having enjoyed the show, but unsure whether to applaud or not. It takes Signor Franco a moment to put down a tray of canapes before he starts clapping enthusiastically. The tension broken, the rest of the crowd joins in as Abbandando struggles to his feet, glaring at the merchant and muttering a string of vowels that sound somewhat like curses. Signor Franco merely chuckles and picks up the canapes again.

Emi sweeps forward with a huge grin on her face, "Now, Abbandando, that was a terrible spill you took. I'll have my servants get some ice for you..." she says, but the young lord shrugs her off and stumbles through the crowd toward the front door. Cicci's mocking laugh follows him. "It takes a big man to get beat by a pussycat, 'Dando!"

Lord Gabbiano steps forward and bows deeply to Cythera. He unbuckles his rapier, and presents it to the battle dancer. "Truly, that was the most exceptional dance I have ever witnessed, my lady," he says with a deliberate smirk for the benefit of the audience. "Please accept this humble gift as a token of my appreciation." A wave of surprised and approving murmurs sweeps the crowd during Lord Gabbiano's announcement. The subtext is immediately clear: that the lord somehow engineered what happened on the dance floor, while maintaining plausible deniability. Gabbiano:1, Boraga:0.

After a few minutes of congratulations for the battle dancer, during which time the servants clean the spilled wine and sweep up the potted palm, the music begins anew, and a few couples tentatively go out onto the dance floor. Ben returns to Cythera's side, but he doesn't have a chance to speak before Emi exuberantly bustles in and takes Cythera by the arm. "Marvellous, dear! Simply marvellous! It's been such an interesting evening, wouldn't you say?



[sblock=GM]The +3 is because bonuses are given in performance combat based on BAB (+1 to +5 -> +1 performance check) and the highest performance skill (6 to 10 ranks -> +2 performance check).

I've got to check with GE on the exact CR of that encounter. Holding off on an exact XP/GP award for the time being.[/sblock]

. Abbandando Boraga ..... Signor Franco ....... Emiliana Forenicci .....

..... Cicci Boraga ........ Benevolent Seeker ..... Umberto Gabbiano ...

.

 

[perrinmiller]

Cythera e'Kiernan, Bronze Dragon Disciple

Cythera graciously accepts the rapier, giving Lord Gabbiano a curtsy while replying, "It was nothing, milord. I am merely a battle dancer." So goes ahead and gives him a wink as she fires an indirect insult at the heckling sister as well, "He might have been bested by a pussy cat, but that hideously painted cow with two left feet wouldn't know it."

She hands the jeweled rapier to Ben, as she doesn't want to be armed with such a weapon if the duelist decides to make issue of her insults.

As Emi takes her arm, Cythera is starting to warm slightly to the old bat, thinking she is not as bad as she thought. However, she still is not so trusting as looks around the room to get a sense of the vibes.

Giving a light laugh, she replies, "Indeed, Lady Forenicci, thank you for the compliment. You are too kind. I must say I expected better of the Bore-raga siblings. I guess you could say I am underwhelmed."

Cythera uses a cantrip to chill her goblet of wine that she took from a passing waiter's tray.

[sblock=OOC]Sense Motive (1d20+6=19)

Sorry, went to bed earlier than intended last night.

I am of a mind to take a run at Cicci too, just for the fun of it. I have not being hearing if Fury is getting close to being done so dealing with her might be good for timing as well.[/sblock][sblock=Mini Stats]Initiative: +4
AC: 22 (19 flat-footed, 14 Touch)
HP: 54 Current: 54
CMB: +8 CMD: 22 (23 vs. Sundering) Fort: +5 Reflex: +6 Will: +5 (+1 with Resistance)
Conditions in Effect: Arcane Strike (+1 dmg), Power Attack (-2 Att/+6 dmg), Furious Focus (no penalty for 1st PA), Overhand Chop

Current Weapon in Hand: Goblet of wine
Chakram: 8/8 Claws: 4/5 rounds remaining

Battle Dance: 8/8 Rounds Remaining
Spells Remaining: Cantrips: (Read Magic, Detect Magic, Resistance, Light, Prestidigitation)
1st Level 3/3 (Cure Light Wounds, Timely Inspiration, Grease(DC13))[/sblock]___________________________

Cythera e'Kiernan

 

[Systole]

Cicci appears either too stupid or too self-absorbed to notice Cythera's comment. Or, for that matter, to realize that her entire house was just thoroughly embarrassed.

Dame Forenicci's eyes flick over Ben's shoulder. "Well, dear," she says quietly to Cythera, "if you're finding yourself underwhelmed, the night is young."

"You've been eyeballing me all night, boy," Furros growls by way of a greeting. "Let's get this over with. What do you want?"

Ben jumps, startled by the old man's approach. "Why, uh, Signor Furros! Uh, a pleasure, to meet you!"

"Get your nose out from between my cheeks. What. Do you. Want?"

Ben nods, and his features harden. "Niceties aside, then? Very well. A chapel in the Lower Guild for Serroth. A closet, if nothing else. I've preached in worse. A mission for Serroth and your guild gets clerical services free of charge. That's what I want. That's what I'd offer. But you've been avoiding me."

Furros guffaws. "I wasn't avoiding you, boy. I was ignoring you. Avoiding you would mean I gave a damn. And my answer is no. There ain't going to be none of you god-botherers in my guild. Not while I still draw breath."

Emi says nothing, watching the exchange with barely restrained glee.

. Emiliana Forenicci .. Benevolent Seeker ....... Enza Furros .....

.

 

[perrinmiller]

Cythera e'Kiernan, Bronze Dragon Disciple

Cythera looks on as Furros is being rude and belligerent. She sips her wine and interjects in a nonchalant tone, "Surely, milord, you do not wish to be dead. From what I hear, duels are acceptable behavior when one is being a rude arse."

Her expression is neutral as she meets Furros's in the eyes.

As an aside, Cythera replies to Emi, "Tis true, there is plenty of time for anything to happen."

[sblock=Mini Stats]Initiative: +4
AC: 22 (19 flat-footed, 14 Touch)
HP: 54 Current: 54
CMB: +8 CMD: 22 (23 vs. Sundering) Fort: +5 Reflex: +6 Will: +5 (+1 with Resistance)
Conditions in Effect: Arcane Strike (+1 dmg), Power Attack (-2 Att/+6 dmg), Furious Focus (no penalty for 1st PA), Overhand Chop

Current Weapon in Hand: Goblet of wine
Chakram: 8/8 Claws: 4/5 rounds remaining

Battle Dance: 8/8 Rounds Remaining
Spells Remaining: Cantrips: (Read Magic, Detect Magic, Resistance, Light, Prestidigitation)
1st Level 3/3 (Cure Light Wounds, Timely Inspiration, Grease(DC13))[/sblock]___________________________

Cythera e'Kiernan