The wind cuts down as the group makes its way through the streets, blocked by the many buildings and towers. But there is still a chill in the air, or possibly that is just each person's nerves as they contemplate the future to come.
But the chill quickly vanishes as the group enters Savia's. The lobby is warm and the whistling wind can no longer be heard. The room is stylishly decorated. Off to the left side, the group sees about a dozen women of various races, reflecting the culture in Lower Menthis, sitting in an equally stylish parlor. There are also a few men in the parlor. Most of these people are fairly attractive and they quickly stop their conversation and look in the direction of the lobby as such a large group enters.
On the opposite end of the lobby from the entrance door is an ornate desk with an extremely attractive, well coifed and well dressed Elven woman sitting behind it. Off on each side of the desk, a corridor leads further into the building directly away from the door.
"Welcome to Savia's. My name is Lorella. How might I be of assistance? the woman purrs in a throaty, but still refined voice.
[sblock=Skill checks]
There is an information skill challenge involved here and will be for many of the places in Lower Menthis that you visit. All of the places that you visit here will be considered components of a single large skill challenge.
Feel free to make Bluff, Diplomacy, Perception, Insight, Intimidate, Aid Another, Streetwise, or any other skill checks that you want via Invisible Castle. The results of the rolls can contribute to the direction and results of the roleplaying. The first two rolls posted of each skill will be used, the rest of the rolls will be considered Aid Another. So if you want to help out and have a poor modifier to a given skill, use Aid Another instead. It will help more.
Also, be cognizant of what other PCs are doing. For example, Intimidate and Diplomacy might cancel each other out.
In the case of two way communication skills like Bluff, Diplomacy, Intimidate, Streetwise, and Aid Another for these types of skills, make sure you add your side of the conversation to your posts. It's not just about rolling the dice. Each player need only make one skill check of each type they want to attempt at this location. And remember, this adventure is supposed to be challenging. You will need to roleplay skill challenges well to get the necessary information out of the NPCs. They might not just blurt it out for free if you ask a question, even if you rolled high on a skill. Feel free to post more than a single sentence and really communicate with the NPCs. The skill checks are there to assist the roleplaying, not take the place of it.
Especially for the more obscure skills (but also for ones like Bluff), explain what you are thinking of within the OOC. For example, if you want to make a History check, explain why you think it is appropriate within this skill challenge.
Also, Streetwise is an hour long skill check (as per the rules), so the information acquired during a short conversation here from it will be limited. A single roll here will roll over into other locations visited, and I will supply more information from it throughout the next "in game hour" at each location if appropriate.
I will try to post frequently in response to posts during conversations for the NPCs as if a real conversation is going on and will not wait for posts from every or even most players first.
[/sblock]
