The Four Lands

[J. Alexander]

Tour of the Courtyard

As Angelo tours the courtyard he notices many pieces of silver and fine copper ware set in the rooms and the furniture in the Main Reception Parlor is just as fine as the Mallard in his bedroom and it looks familar to him also (roll another knowledge check). The rooms are full of fin
porcelin and original works of art. The courtyard in not just cobblestone but is in fact fire hardned brick laid out in an intricate pattern that gives Angelo a sense of peace and a feeling of safety (make a roll spell craft). The ground floor seems to have been giving over to large common sleeping rooms / a kitchen/ a dining hall as well as stables and storgare. At one time, angelo figures these rooms were used to store bulk merchandise and or trade goods.

After about an hour of being away, the Bodie flies back to you with his impression of a lot of local young toughs prowling the neighboorhood and even has a few instances of them bulling local shop keepers and residents. Bodie seems to think it looks like they are trying to establish and enforce a local protection racket.....

 

[Scotley]

Angelo Human Mage

"Thanks Bodie, I'm sure you had no trouble spotting a protection racket in progess given our history. I'll try and snag you a nice piece of fruit later. I think this is a mystery worth examining further. We will be going out after dinner." Dressed nicely and smelling fresh from his bath Angelo will arrive promptly at six for dinner. He'll bring his instrument and his appetite.

OOC: Knowledge History (1d20+8=15)

Spellcraft Check (1d20+10=20)

 

[J. Alexander]

For Angelo

As Angelo wanders thru the house he begins to relazie that the furniture in the parlor has been made by the master furniture makes Belker. Belker is to parlor sets as Mallard is to bedroom furniture. The double parlor set with all the extra pieces would easily sell for 50, 000 gp and as Belker has been dead for almost 150 years it would perhaps command and even higher premiume.

Studying the design in the courtyard, Angelo is starlted to realize that the intricate pattern or brick work is actualy forms a very powerful combined ward of protection, serenithy, peace, and health. It is very old and he senes it is most cleverly done so as to avoid detection by church authorities.

As Angelo enters the dining room he is greated by Mrs. Abigail who then in turn introudce him to his fellow lodgers. The meal is a simple one of roast chicken and new potates with sweet ice tea being served as the beverage.

After dessert and just befor coffee, Abigail announces to the assembled guests with a slight smile, that you have aggreed to entertain them all in excahnge for supper for your cat>

"Master Angelo, the venue is now yours"

 

[Scotley]

Angelo Human Mage

He brings out the unusual staff that is a musical instrument and begins to play. He starts with a piece that was popular some 20 years ago, but has stood the test of time and works into a contemporary piece that is light and pleasant and ends with a more soulful contemplative tune. He will try and gage his audence's reaction to each piece and then choose a song to sing accompanied by lute based on which of the three first pieces was best received.

OOC: Perform Checks (1d20+9=17, 1d20+9=13, 1d20+9=18)


Lute to aid vocal performance (1d20+7=27)

Vocal (1d20+11=21)

 

[J. Alexander]

For Angelo

The music is well recived and Angelo gages the light airy piece to be the one most liked. As he plays and sings, the air becomes somewhat light and festive, and Angelo finds himself playing several more lite and cherry pieces. The assembled ground wants more, but Abgail speaks up and says "The cat has truly earned it's supper, I thank you Master Angelo" "It has been a rare evening for us here and it is appreciated, but we shall not bother you for another song as you have more than lightined our evening whith your music and song.

At her words, the guest rise and thank Angelo, s ome slapping him on the back. The table starts to be cleared soon after that and by 7:30 dinner is over, the table cleaned and the quest returing to their respective rooms or the den.

 

[Scotley]

Angelo Human Mage

Angelo will make his way to the den and make small talk with the others. He'll try and get someone talking and hope to get some information about the neighborhood and current problems.

OOC: Gather Information Check (1d20+7=23)

 

[J. Alexander]

The Parlor

As Angelo is talking to the other boarders, it becomes apparnt in their casual conversation, that the neighborhood has been plagued with local street gangs for many years. Just recently however they have become more organized and sophiscated and have started to run a protection racket. In general the neighborhhod was very prosperous up till 15 or so years ago when it sufferd the loss of it's leading merchant "Abigails husband" and as he was the linchpen, his loss started the slow decline as other merchants were driven out of business or moved to up and coming neighborhoods or simple went out of business due to bad luck. Then there was an influx of middle class mechants looking to better themselves and as the old homes were subdivided and subdivided again the working class arrived bringing it to it's current state.

Angelo catches wind of several disreputable gambling halls and bordellos opeartiing just a few blocks away as well as cheap taverns where the young hooodlums hang out.

The most interesting comment he hears is that Ms Abigail has refuse many offers to sell her home to them or any of her other propety despite many threats of violence agains her and her property. In fact Angelo hears the statement "It was a shame the way they killed her two dogs, she loved them dearly, and at their age they were nothing but bark instead of bite"

 

[Scotley]

Angelo Human Mage

Angelo will sympathize with their plight for a bit and then retire to his room. Once alone he will set Bodie on watch and lock the door. Then he quickly takes out his spell books and studies for few minutes to learn some disguise and alteration magic. He will change into dark clothes over his armor and take a hooded cloak which he will carry over his arm until away from the house. Then he will find a secluded spot to don the cloak and alter his appearance with disguise self to appear older with darker hair and skin and place a distinctive tattoo on the back of his hand and make his staff look to be smooth oak bare of adornments. Then he will stroll to nearby bar or gambling den to quietly gather more information.

 

[J. Alexander]

The Cracked Chalice

Angelo makes his way into a very seedy tavern/gambling hall that is only three of so blocks from Ms. Abaigais. As he is walking the streets, his practiced eyes notes that all the houses are boarded up tight and the only people on the steet are those who have been caught out after hours and those who truly belond to the night. Unlike the daytime, the streets are fair crawling with low life thugs and wanna be toughs. Angelo has seen their ilk all his life. As he passes one or two groups he get the feeling that he is being sized up.

Entering the common room of the Cracked Chalice, Angelo discovers it to be a room roughtly 30 by 30 feet with several 5 x10 alcoves along the perimeter. Along the back wall is a long bar and to it's right is a double door leading to what he would suspect would be the kitchen. Along the wall to the right of the entrway is a staircase leading up to a second stroy from which he can hear loud cursing and groans and teh occaisional cheer.

Some 10 or 12 people are in the common room.

 

[Scotley]

Angelo Human Mage

Angelo will have a beer and sample the games upstairs wagering a few coins. He'll try and talk with a few patrons and get some idea of who the important figures are in the local rackets. If he doesn't have any luck here he'll try another place.

Gather Information Check (1d20+6=10)