(5.5e PBP) Red Wizards' Gambit (IC) Gr1

[VLAD the Destroyer]

Morgrim quickly scans over the kenku the table and the automaton. He makes a quick assessment and nods taking the offered seat. The dwarf takes a long pull from his mug before speaking.

"Well met my friend. Names Morgrim, I've been in the city goin' on three weeks now." Morgrim smiles at the kenku and takes another sip. "Just arrived you say? You here on business or pleasure?"

As Morgrim exchanges pleasantries with his new acquaintance he over hears some locals discussing the dedication and the presence of one of the Wychlaran. The event sounded interesting at least. There would also be important people there and might gain him some more contacts in the city proper. He turns to his new companion.

"Sounds like there's a ceremony going on near the new well. One of them witches is supposed to be there. Sounds like most of the town will be there. You want to join me?"

Morgrim drains his mug and places it on the table. He then stands and looks at Macquarrie.

"What do ya say laddie? Ya can see the town and meet some folk in the process."

OOC: Morgrim: AC:15 HP:28/28 HD:3/3 PP:11 PED(d6):4/4 TkM 1/1 SW/TaM 2/2 StC 2/2 ActS 1/1

 

[Kobold Stew]

"Well met indeed!" says the hearty voice coming from Macquarrie's beak.

When the dwarf asks him, "Business or pleasure?" You can see Macquarrie's head turn sideways, setting a single eye to look directly at him. The words come out in scattered phrases, none of them quite being pronounced correctly. "Not the one nor the other." "Off on Furlough." He shakes his head to correct himself. "Escape." He seems satisfied with that, and he nods his head. Speaking takes effort, but he stumbles through the small talk before Morgrim suggests going to the well. "I'll catch you up," he says, as he begins to fold the kerchief so none of the loose parts get lost.

When he's ready, he slides it into the pack that is at Ivory's feet, and her head looks down. She picks it up and casts it on her left shoulder. The right arm rests with a hand in the jacket pocket. If the Morgrim has stayed this long, he'd see that Macquarrie is careful around Ivory. "Let's have a look-see, shall we?"

OOC:	Macquarrie: AC 15 HP24/24 HD 3/3 PP13 SS(1)3/3 KR2/2 HF2/2 Ivory: AC 18 HP20/20 HD3/3 PP11(60dk) Toppy: AC11HP6/6 PP15(120dk)

 

[Byrd]

Passing through an area with some merchants, Aril pauses to make a couple of minor purchases.
His nose leads him to a food vendor⁽¹⁾ with cooked-protein-cubes⁽²⁾-on-a-stick, and he buys four of them.
Munching on one contentedly, he follows the people to the location of the new well.
Huh. No touts in this place.
He notices one being in the gathering crowd that captures his curiosity, and begins steering both himself and his foot-locker toward the...fungus creature?

ARIL:

My Grand-Dame taught me it was rude to stare at people, so I hope you won't be offended by my curiosity. My name is Aril, and I am a kind of being known as an elf. I have not before seen one of your kind. Will you share with me the name with which you call yourself?

---

Edit: added in approaching Vast.
(1) An associate of CMOT Dibbler, no doubt.
(2) Aril actually likes Rat-on-a-stick.
Food is food, when you've lived in Sigil for a while ... Aril seems to have the constitution to handle it.

 

[Byrd]

ARIL (Group 1)

Hmmn. Perhaps if I try again, but in elvish this time...​

​

[Speaking to Vast]

Talar þú tungumál álfa?

---

Spoiler: Aril's Minisheet

AC:16 HP:19/19 HD:3/3 Init:+0
Move:35' DarkV:60' PsvPercpt:14
SpellSlots-1 (4/4) SpellSlots-2 (2/2) Longstrider (1/1)
SpellAtt:+4 SpellSv:DC12

 

[FitzTheRuke]

The Dedication Ceremony

A crowd formed around the new well and fountain, consisting of both reverent locals and enthusiastic foreigners. Children played, dodging between the legs of taller folk, laughing. While the weather was not ideal, it was not raining, and the cool wind that had been blowing from the lake stilled as a Rashemi woman strode through the crowd. She wore a mask of exquisite craftsmanship, with a colourful plumage that swept back over her braided hair. Her dress was similarly patterned and hand-knit in finely-woven wool. Despite its length and warmth, it was clear that she could move well, as she deftly hopped up onto the marble of the fountain and addressed the crowd in a voice that was clear and filled the square - nothing of the muffle that one would expect from the mask.

"I bid welcome to all. Today, we honour the work of our Master Stone-crafters! May the sprits guide them, always."

Two large Rashemaar pulled a tarp off of the statue in the centre of the fountain, revealing a masterfully carved Pegasus in white marble. They then removed a wooden plug and the fountain began to fill with water. The woman, who no one would mistake for anything other than a Wychlaren, one of the famed Rashemi Witches, waved her staff and the water swirled up and about before returning to the fountain. Children, and many foreigners, clapped, while most of the Rashemi bowed their heads in silent contemplation.

After a moment, she said, "We ask the blessing of the Pegasus! The spirits of Rashemen and the souls of its people are represented by these beasts: full of power, both natural and magical. Let these statues remind us of who we are and what we must always be. Glorious and Free!"

She was about to go on, but her voice was interrupted by a sudden shriek that was loud enough to ring the ears of most of the onlookers. Then, a man from near the back of the crowd stepped forward and scoffed, "Free!? Pshaw! You will kneel before your Thayan Masters!"

He doffed the hood of his cloak, revealing a bald head covered in arcane tattoos. As he did, the white marble of the Pegasus statue began to blacken and twist, and in its place was a bat-winged animate creature that looked like a cross between a bat and a griffon. It lashed out at the Wychlaren, who had been preparing defensive spells, and she was thrown into the crowd of panicking citizens.

OOC: I will return soon to post a combat map & "round-roller".

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

(Before the combat)

Vast had watched one being approach them and make those clumsy air sounds, first in a language Vast understood, and then in one they did not. Vast considered the meat creature before him, who appeared somewhat like the tinker yet was different, as different parts of them considered the sounds and their meanings. Finally, Vast forced an opening in his body and made his own clumsy sounds.

We hear you, Aril Elf.

Vast stopped. Then they reached out to the mind of the creature.

We are Vast of the Endless Dream. We are sent to explore. We greet you, Aril Elf.

At that moment, Vast fell silent as the ceremony began.

OOC: Purple when Vast is talking out loud. Green for telepathy.

 

[Kobold Stew]

The crowd is thick by the time they reach the ceremony, and the speeches are just starting. Macquarries hangs back, not wanting to be jostled between bystanders. A whir begins, and separating from Ivory's upper back, from beneath the pack that she carries, is a small steel disk. A cover dilates back and from the top of the disk, to mothlike wings appear and star fluttering, lifting the disk into the air. It's relatively quiet, but it does not appear that Macquarrie is hiding anything. His eyes close, and suddenly, he can see the crowd and the dignitaries at the fountain unobstructed. The aerial view he has through Toppy shows him the fountain, and the crowd, and ther he himself is, with Ivory now draping an arm over his shoulder. He also see the collonade on the far side of the square, from which the hooded figure emerges, before revealing himself to be a Thayan Priest.

At the noise, Ivory presses her free hand against Macquarrie's chest and guides him behind her, interposing herself. "Behind me," she says. Macquarrie reaches for the crossbow attached by a clip to his pack, and removes it.

 

[Byrd]

ARIL (Group 1)

Aril's conversation with Vast is paused by the beginning of the festivities.

He appreciates the Wychlaran's display of magical prowess, and imagines that it has a much greater impact on the local people, given their reverent reactions.⁽¹⁾

When revealed, Aril admires the statue of the pegasus, and notes the cultural significance.

The interruption of the ceremony, and the transmutation of the statue provokes...

OÏ, KILLJOY!
THIS IS WHY NO-ONE INVITES YOU TO PARTIES, YOU FRELLING BERK!⁽²⁾

---

(1) That's a jaded Alphatian/Sigilian for you. (With expertise in Arcana)
(2) Bit of Planescape, bit of Farscape. Eric's grandma...

 

[FitzTheRuke]

Crowds of people pulled back toward the edges of the town square, leaving stragglers to fend for themselves. There would be only seconds to act before the fell beast on the former statue's dais would rend some helpless sap in twain...

GM: Group: 1 Encounter: Dedication Ceremony in Immilmar Square Time: ~14:10 on 24 Leaffall 1501DR

Spoiler: Map

(General Features)
Difficult Terrain Benches, Commoners.
Cover Walls
Hazards Crowds
Visibility Bright Daylight.

Spoiler: Allies

(PCs)
Aril AC:16 HP:19/19 HD:3/3 Spd:35 PP:14.DV60 SSdc12:4/4 2/2 LS.1/1
Macquarrie AC:15 HP:24/24 HD:3/3 Spd:30 PP13 SSdc13:3/3 KR:2/2 HF:2/2
Morgrim AC:15 HP:28/28 HD:3/3 Spd:30 PP:11 PED(d6) 4/4 TkM:1/1 SW/TaM:2/2 StC:2/2 ActS:1/1
Vast AC:16 HP:24/24 HD:3/3 Spd:40 PP:15.DV120 SSdc13 FP: 3/3 GBerry:1/1 PRap:1/1 SkMeld:1/1
(NPCs)
Commoners AC:10 HP:4ea PP10
Crowds AC:10 HP:40ea PP10
-Cr1:40 Cr2:40 Cr3:40
Ivory AC:18 HP:20/20 HD:3/3 PP11.DV60
Toppy AC:11 HP:6/6 PP:15.DV120
Rashemaar AC:13 HP:32ea PP:11
-R1:32; R2:32
Zorri (Whychlaren) AC:13 HP:50/66 HD:8/8 Spd:30 PP:13

Spoiler: Enemies

(BGs)
Darkenbeast AC:15 HP:60/60 PP:12.DV60
Thayan (Red Wizard) AC:12(15) HP:52/52 THP:11/11 PP:14

GM: Begin Round One

 

[Byrd]

OOC: Should Aril be beside Vast?