[LPF] Ryall's Estate

[Qik]

OOC: No worries, jbear, thanks for trying. Since you have read magic, you would only need to make the second spellcraft check (15+spell level), which means you actually succeeded on the color spray check as well.

 

[jkason]

GM: What Qik said. You have a success for both the Color Spray and the Animate Rope. Since Read Magic lets you skip the decipher part of the process, you'd only be burning three hours total, destroying the Animate Rope scroll in the process, and spending 20 gp. No need to post in the Dunn Wright thread. Actually, I'd prefer if you didn't, since then I'd have to track you in two threads to make sure I didn't miss something (I rarely check that thread when I don't have a character in it). I'm going to fast-forward through the evening, and if there's something essential you all wanted to have done the evening before, we'll just do some time-shifting.

Hlaalen bids his farewells to the party, tired of all this animal nonsense. As Relic and Quioan find a quiet corner in one of the Dunn Wright's back rooms and begin muttering about invocation vectors and sigil viscosity, Daylily heads off to have the wolf pelts properly tanned. Kazanto, fascinated at the prospect of how the ground-bound preserve their goods, provides her own good-natured company and natural charms to the excursion. As neither is especially familiar with the city, it takes a while, but after several wrong turns and a growling match between Daylily and a large stray dog, the pair finally manage to get the wolf pelts to someone who can properly work them.

By the time they return, Quioan has retired for the evening, though Relic is still muttering and squinting by candlelight. As promised, the commander has left a note at the Inn: the party has an appointment at the Gabbiano apartments at 10 the next morning. There are directions included.

GM: I wasn't going to bother with costs associated with the pelts if they're just for fluff. If you were planning to sell them for some reason, I'll look up or come up with some costs for their preparation. It's now the next morning. You have a couple of hours if there were any other tasks you wanted to accomplish before visiting the apartments for your appointment, or if everyone's ready, I can move things along to there.

 

[Qik]

Quioan wakes to a rogue beam of sunlight in his eyes, and after a few minutes of resistance, gives in to the fact that this is the start of his day. Standing and stretching, he gives a slight chuckle at the sight of Relic fast asleep in the neighboring bed - it seems clear that the old man had been much more diligent in his studies the previous night than Quioan had been.

Having dressed himself, Quioan makes his way downstairs to the bar, orders himself a cup of coffee and some toast for breakfast, then finds a quiet corner to himself in order to prepare his spells for the morning. Blowing steam from his still-cooling coffee, he smiles to himself, relishing the pleasant change of pace that is a warm bed to sleep in and a proper, civilized breakfast. With that, he turns to his studies, wondering in the back of his mind whether their meeting with House Gabbiano today will necessitate their usage.

OOC: I'm ready to roll whenever everyone else is. Looking forward to 'seeing' Daylily all pimped out in his new hides.

 

[Systole]

OOC: That's fine regarding the pelts. My interest in them is mostly flavor. Daylily wouldn't consider wasting valuable parts of an animal, certainly not after losing all that delicious meat. He'll probably just add them to the furs he wears, maybe as wolfhead epaulettes ... unless someone else would be interested in a stylish hat.

 

[Qik]

OOC: That's pretty special, Sys. Maybe Daylily could make one for Kazanto as a gift for her accompanying him in search of a tanner?

 

[Systole]

OOC: Well, tanning actually takes a couple weeks to dry the hide and all. Maybe the uncured hides could be bartered for a wolfskin cloak for Daylily and a hat for whoever wanted it? I ask because if Daylily ever is able to afford a Cloak of Resistance, I think he'd rather have it crafted from a nice wolfpelt rather than buying some sissy silk thing off the shelf. On second thought, let's just drop the skins off and worry about hats and cloaks later. Assuming we're skipping ahead to tomorrow morning, Daylily will be munching on a hunk of barbarian chew on the way over. (Basically, it grants a round of lingering rage after you stop spending rage points.)

 

[jbear]

Relic sits down at the table the next morning with Quioan.

Thank you master Scorchsong. I have been able to learn one of your spells. Unfortunately I tried to get my head around the Monster Summons Scroll I showed you, but it is beyond. Perhaps you'll have better luck with it.

With a friendly smile he gives Quioan his Summon Moster Scroll as a gift. He then goes about learning his daily spells.

OOC: So I have successfully added Colour Spray to my Spellbook? That's awesome! Cheers. Take the Scroll Quik, maybe you'll have better luck learning it than me. If you manage to copy it, I can always copy it from your spellbook

 

[Qik]

OOC: jbear, that is very, very sweet. Enworld seems to think I've given you too much XP recently, though you certainly deserve another. Someone give this man his due.

Quioan finds himself at a loss for words at Relic's generosity. After a moment of speechlessness, he's able to find his tongue. "My...I...thank you, old dog," he says, looking the old man in the eye. "I am truly moved by your generosity. In my home of Ilumistai, the sharing of magical knowledge is an exceedingly meaningful gesture. I hope you know that I don't accept this lightly. Besides," he adds, breaking out into a grin, "once I've had some proper time with it, we can always compare notes again." With that, Quioan carefully rolls up the scroll and secures it in his pack.

* * *

The two spend the next hour in quiet as Relic sets about preparing his spells for the day. Upon seeing that he's finished his studies, Quioan polishes off his coffee and rises with a similar level of exuberance, "Now, what say we pay our visit to House Gabbiano?"

 

[jkason]

GM: jbear and Qik, when you get a chance, let me know what your characters prepared this morning.

After a hearty breakfast, with which Kazanto is once again faced with the widespread use of pork monster meat in the diets of the ground-born, the party is ready to depart.

Venza in the morning is a bustle of activity. The cobbled streets clatter from human and horse shoes as the citizenry rush to and fro. The canals practically churn with the heavy gondola traffic. Navigating the throng is a far more difficult proposition than it was in the waning day previously. A quick stop at the tanner's ensures that hide preparation is proceeding apace, and the hides should be ready for the barbarian elf in but a few days' time.

The commander's directions are straightforward enough, and soon the party turns the corner to see the well-apportioned palazzo where Gabbiano now takes up residence. A pair of artists sit in the courtyard sketching the architecture, while a few other artisans and tradesmen house their headquarters on the ground floor. The Gabbiano apartments, both the directions and a helpful groundskeeper tell you, are on the third floor. The guards are happy to let you up once you've given your names, and the coldly-beautiful elven attendant asks you to wait in the receiving area until Umberto Gabbiano is ready for your appointment.

Whether the Gabbianos own a proper House or not, it's clear they still have some level of success. The floors of their apartments are smooth marble, polished to an impressive gleam. Various paintings and sculptures decorate the receiving area, and a sprawling chandelier gleams in the morning light streaming through the tall, wide glass windows.

[sblock=Perception 15]There are a few 'blank' spaces in the decorating of the apartment. Alcoves or small pedastals which would seem to have been for more artwork but which are currently empty.[/sblock]

After a few minutes, the large double doors at the far end of the room opposite the entry open, and the elven attendant stands aside to let a middle-aged human enter. Impeccably groomed if slightly out of shape, the man smiles broadly.

"Welcome," he says. "I'm Umberto Gabbiano, Head of the House. My friend Commander Parsons seems to think you have rather pertinent information to share with me, though he was frustratingly vague. But, then, the military isn't generally inclined to share overmuch with civilians, now are they? If you'll come in and sit, Finia can bring us refreshments and you can explain exactly what it is I can help you with?" He gestures behind him to what presumably is his office as the elf nods briskly and exits through a side corridor.

[sblock=Appraise 10 or Perception 15]While Gabbiano's clothing certainly appears to be of fine make, it's also worn about the edges, as if he's had it longer than is perhaps advisable for someone dressing to impress.[/sblock]

 

[Qik]

OOC: 0-level: Read Magic, Detect Magic, Flare 1-level: Mage Armor, Gravity Bow, Enlarge Person 1st Perception Roll: 1d20+4=24 Appraise Roll: 1d20+2=4

Quioan enjoys the walk through the Venzan morning on his way to the Gabbiano headquarters, even with the crowds about; after all his time in nature, he appreciates the change of setting, even if a prolonged stay in this sort of atmosphere would never be for him. Upon arriving at the palazzo within which Gabbiano takes residence, Quioan can't help but be impressed: regardless of their current political standing, it's clear that Gabbiano has some serious resources at its disposal.

Although the apartments out of which Gabbiano operates are correspondingly impressive, Quioan picks up on some subtle signs that suggest that all is not well for them. Specifically, there are numerous areas which once seemed to have housed works of art for decoration which are now currently vacated. Perhaps they've been sold to provide the house with income. As the party files in, Quioan discreetly shares his observations and suspicions with his remaining party members. As they wait for Umberto Gabbiano to appear, the elf also finds an opportunity to slip off and discreetly cast mage armor on himself. I doubt this meeting will itself come to blows, but I'd rather be prepared.

Quioan doesn't know what to think of Umberto Gabbiano. The man seems friendly enough, but then again, it's in the nature of these political types to hide their true feelings. (Sense Motive check: 1d20+1=16) Filing into his office, Quioan takes a seat along with the rest of the party and begins to explain why they're here. "Thank you for seeing us, Signore Gabbiano. I'll get straight to the point, and be as concise as I can."

"We were hired by a farmer, Dane Ryall, to investigate the disappearance of his house. As strange a prospect as that seemed, we investigated the former location of his home, and discovered evidence to suggest that transfiguration magic was used to alter the house in a way which made it transportable. Throughout this process, we attacked in several instances by animals who were clearly trained; they bore items marked with the crest of your house, which is why we have come to you. If it helps, in pursuit of the individual who did this, we also found a rather valuable cache of gemstones at a vacated campsite of his (or hers, I suppose). Finally, it's worth noting that, on our way back into town to seek an audience with you, we found both our former employer and another victim of this house thief dead, killed by an animal which then refrained from eating its victims, which again suggest a guidance by man rather than natural instinct."

Leaning in, Quioan makes his final point: "So, Signore Gabbiano, are you aware of anyone in your house who is capable of and motivated to commit such criminal acts?"