[4e] drothgery's arcane game - Clash of Steel

[drothgery]

Following the obvious main path leads you from the shanty town through the city gates and in to a much less run-down town.

GM: At the center of the great plaza stands a sumptuous edifice of massive timbers adorned with stonework: the Hall of the Circle, seat of the city’s government. Uniformed guards flank the heavy front doors, and squads of the city watch ostentatiously patrol the plaza and the wide street that rings the hall. Surrounding the hall, across the circular street, are several smaller buildings that house the machinery of government: the court, records offices, andthe like. To the rear of the hall rises another impressive structure, almost as richly built as the government building itself, and with its own complement of guards. These are the offices of the Circle members.

 

[drothgery]

After presenting your credentials, a guard escorts you to Lady Stella's office.

GM: You are ushered into a richly appointed antechamber, hung with the insignia of the city watch as well as the noble device of the Lady Stella Daybringer. An officious secretary asks your names again and instructs you to wait, disappearing behind a highly polished and gilded wooden door. After a few minutes, the secretary reappears and gestures for you to enter. The door closes behind you with a solid thunk. This room is immense, with high ceilings and leaded windows framed by heavy brocade curtains—which are currently drawn. Several chandeliers illuminate the space, which contains a small number of expensive-looking art objects: exquisite vases, old-looking paintings, delicate ivory sculptures, and the like. Behind an antique desk sits a slightly built female eladrin of indeterminate age, dressed simply but elegantly. A jeweled patch, its gems outlining the form of a cat, covers her right eye as she gazes appraisingly at you.

 

[Knowledge Checks]

Soril

Taking care not to wipe the mud off his boots, Soril steps inside her office and takes a moment to look around. He glances over at Lady Daybringer and then walks over to the windows, using his heavy rod to lift aside the curtain to look outside. "Nice view." He says and then turns around. "You can hardly see the squalor pit from here."

He walks over to her desk and stands besides it, tracking more mud prints across the floor, and cross his arms, rod slowly tapping against one shoulder. The shoulder that the thugs cut in the fight, with the blood still staining his shirt. His allies recognize the look on his face; reserved and neutral...which means that he's angry and trying to control his temper. He opens his mouth to say something and then pauses, chooses instead to let his allies open discussion with her, though his glare doesn't waver far from her.

[sblock]I suppose he's being passively Intimidating, if that makes sense.[/sblock]

 

[Inspiratorium]

Althaea Ripace

Althaea takes in the signs of Lady Stella's affluence with some degree of respect; even with here experiences amongst the Celandrian nobility, this sort of display was rare, particularly to a "lesser noble" of House Ripace, as they called her.

She notes Soril's thinly veiled anger with concern, but chooses to leave it be for the moment. Mud was easy enough to wash out of most fineries.

As the party enters Lady Daybringer's offices, she glances over their prospective employer. Another fey noble like herself, though seemingly in a better position; she thinks it only fitting that she introduce herself. "Good Morrow Lady Daybringer, I am Althaea, friend of Silas and lesser noble of House Ripace," she gives a short bow and looks towards the rest of her companions to introduce themselves.

 

[Walking Dad]

Teclis Stormborn

Teclis makes a formal bow, his robe shimmering in all kinds of greens and blues. "Enchanted to make you acquaintance, Lady Dabringer. I'm called Teclis Stormborn, member of House Lyrandar."
He doesn't say anymore, waiting for the Lady to react.

[sblock=OOC]


[sblock=Quick Sheet]
Teclis Stormborn
Perception: 23 Insight: 23 Low-light Vision
AC 27 Fortitude 27 Reflex 24 Will 30
Initiative: +8
Hit Points: 92 / 92 Bloodied: 46
Temporary Hit Points: -
Resist: Lightning 10
Saving Throw: +2 vs slowed, immobilized, and restrained; +1 vs death
Action Points: 1 Second Wind: 1
Milestones: 0.5
Healing Surge: 23 Surges per day: 11 / 11
At-Will Powers: Elemental Bolt, Howling Zephyr, Ignition, Eldritch Strike
Encounter Powers: Elemental Escalation 4/4, Wind Burst, Lightning Shift, Fog Form, Bracers of Mental Might
Daily Powers: Zephyr Wings, Robe of Scintillation

Condition:

[/sblock][/sblock]

 

[stonegod]

Silas waited impatiently for the guards to let him into the Lady's presences; the seal on the paper was clear it was from her, and the markings of his staff clearly indicated his office. Eventually, they were lead into the well appointed (probably too much so; so much display often indicated insecurity in person or position) office. As Soril made his display, Silas signed internally a made a wide smile and bow to draw attention towards himself.

My Lady Daybringer, it is I, Auditor Silas of Kellestren, at your request. Apologies for the state of our dress; the welcome of the your dock's shantytown was not what one from the Empire would expect, though we are none the worse for wear. He makes some brief introductions then, Now, I believe you had some pressing matters you wished to discuss?

 

[drothgery]

GM: Lady Stella thanks you for accepting her invitation and looks you over with a merchant’s eye.

"My apologies. The council has never had enough resources to truly patrol that area, and I fear bringing in Imperial troops would make things worse." She said. "I trust they did not give you much trouble?"

OOC: The negotiation with Lady Stella is presented as a multi-stage skill challenge in the adventure. However, I think explicitly spelling out what skills should be used in a challenge tends to make things overly mechanical, so if you think your character has a useful skill for what you're trying to say, roll it.

 

[Inspiratorium]

Althaea Ripace

"They were hardly a threat to us, though the city guard might have understandably had a problem," Althaea states, attempting to exude an air of confidence to impress Lady Daybringer with their perceived ability

 

[Phaezen]

Vanri takes in the surroundings, clearly designed to impress and intimidate others.

"Greetings Lady Stella, my name is Vanri, Janissary of the Djinn. The unfortunate ambush as we arrived was a minor inconvenience. My companions and I have spent several seasons together and are skilled combatants.

We examined the corpse of one of the thugs who appears to have been magically altered. Have your guards reported any similar findings?"

OOC: Vanri is trying to be polite and trying to phrase the question as diplomatically as possible, showing some of the info the group has already retrieved and hoping to coax some information in return. I will roll Diplomacy and Insight as he will be listening carefully to her answers and watching her body language for any clues.

 

[Walking Dad]

Teclis Stormborn

Teclis follows Vanri's lead: "Trust us, we are professionals. The more we know, the quicker we can solve your problems."
It was more the sound of his voice and his smile that made his words so convincing.

OOC: Don't forget your +1 bonus to diplomacy for traveling with a half-elf.

[sblock=OOC]
Vanri and Teclis both rolled a 20 on diplomacy

[sblock=Quick Sheet]
Teclis Stormborn
Perception: 23 Insight: 23 Low-light Vision
AC 27 Fortitude 27 Reflex 24 Will 30
Initiative: +8
Hit Points: 92 / 92 Bloodied: 46
Temporary Hit Points: -
Resist: Lightning 10
Saving Throw: +2 vs slowed, immobilized, and restrained; +1 vs death
Action Points: 1 Second Wind: 1
Milestones: 0.5
Healing Surge: 23 Surges per day: 11 / 11
At-Will Powers: Elemental Bolt, Howling Zephyr, Ignition, Eldritch Strike
Encounter Powers: Elemental Escalation 4/4, Wind Burst, Lightning Shift, Fog Form, Bracers of Mental Might
Daily Powers: Zephyr Wings, Robe of Scintillation

Condition:

[/sblock][/sblock]