Cheysuli Sage
[sblock=OOC]Sorry I haven't been around this weekend guys; I've been quite busy with Samhain and a wedding, but I'm back on the ball now
[/sblock]
So here's my plan. I'll say there was a coded note from the Emissary to someone called "The Shadowed One" which appears to indicate that there is a spy in Maoleth, and should provide enough information to help identify this person. Have you met any of the individuals in Maoleth itself? The directing beacon that Firete and I used led us by the town and straight to you.
If there is any risk that your contact in Maoleth could be the spy, we shall need to employ even more subterfuge. Perhaps we should create a false note?
In any case, the false process of deciphering the note should involve our moving to a remote location where the spy might think he could easily ambush us.
What do you think?
"
Well; I think that you, Yishim, have quite a devious mind in there," Chey playfully pokes Yishim's temple;
"and I like it!" She finishes with a cheeky grin.
I think this is a good plan, Firete says as they keep walking. But I have one question, what is this keep that the priest spoke of?
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If I remember correctly; it was once a military outpost in the war against the Shadow; Shaowseal Keep it was called, but it is now in ruins. Bren, did the keep not have something to do with that story you uncovered involving your god's knights and some ancient evil dragon?"
Miranna's voice is quiet, but still has a rasping edge to it. "When we arrived in town, we spent most of the night at an inn, and met a number of local folk. The town is small enough that any of them might have been the spy we seek- certainly such an agent would want to assess any newcomers. The next morning, we met the lord of the town, Lord Hashteth or something like that, and the town wizard Valthun, from whom we got this map. There were rumors of townsfolk disappearing, but we were able to learn only a little in the short time we were there."
She paused, remembering what she could. Had it really been just this morning that they set out, and last night they slept in the town? It seemed like months had passed...
"We were to put an end to the kobold menace, which I think we have done, and to investigate the stirrings of some dark power, possibly a cult associated with necromancers and the undead- that we have done little with, though I believe the Emissary may have been a link between the two. We can make our report, and turn over the Emissary's body. The map we had, and the information, noted an old keep might be tied into this- perhaps the keep whose master that kobold spoke of. I think we must go there- perhaps tomorrow if no further clues present themselves. If we wish to draw out the spy, perhaps we can use the other location our map indicates as significant- it was some kind of battle site of historic import."
[sblock=OOC] How about this? We return to town, make our report and hand over the body of the Emissary. Someone persuasive drop the hint that we've found a coded note, and that we intend to decipher it. We go to the house we were using last night, and set a trap in case the spy is in town. If they don't bite, we head out tomorrow morning and say we're headed for the battle site- but we actually go to the keep, which seems more likely to be significant. It is fairly tough to remember what happened back at the start of all this- I had to read back along the thread just for this much.[/sblock]
Cheysuli nods along with Miranna's account, adding to it when she finished; "
There was the inn's landlady; who is also the towns bard, Sakura. She was quite helpful and know a fair bit about the history of the town. She sang a woeful song that may have ties to our mission.
Ellian was an old dragonborn that Mr. Bricks got the promise of some old stories from if we were to visit him again. And a shopkeeper new to town called Bairdon, he came from Daunton I believe though we never spoke to him."
[sblock=Skill Challenge & Sakura's Song]
Discovering the cult was an open skill challenge that i believe we had made 2 successes in.
In shadowed keep of tumbled stone,
A peril lurks, for years unknown,
The Kinslayer's spirit guards it yet,
'Gainst a newfound vile threat.
The Kinslayer once was proud and strong,
Until the Night Lord came along.
The thing of evil sent dark dreams,
Nightmares wrought of tortured screams,
The vowed defender's mind did bend,
And with his blade he did rend.
Awakened to the awful truth,
Shattered bones of men and youth,
His wife and children, pride and joy,
Mistaken for demons, forced to destroy.
The Kinslayer fled to meet death alone,
For wicked deeds he must now atone,
And so the fallen Knight must wait,
For heroes to arrive and reverse his fate.
But twisted whispers echo through the halls,
And ghostly blood runs 'long the walls,
None can face those cursed remains,
Fear like water in their veins.
The Night Lords Brood from a cursed line,
Now threatens to awake the unholy shrine,
Dark power craves as men do thirst,
Confining spells to be reversed.
Storm clouds gather with the demon's approach,
And the living dead will soon encroach,
The forces of good will never survive,
For the Kings of Night will soon arrive[/sblock]
"Intriguing, but I have something else to add to this. Could it be assumed that those in Maoleth do not know that Yishim and I have joined you? As he said, we passed by the town without entering it. We could use their ignorance to our own advantage." She considers for a moment. "Perhaps, you, Chey and Brenwar could report to Lord Hashtesh and Yishim and I get some more information about this spy from the townsfolk. Perhaps even then we could give them false information, give the impression that we are not intending to go to the keep. What say you to this plan?"
[sblock=OOC]This is pretty much you plan above with an added twist so we could get some more information, and Yishim and Firete are in a good position to work behind the scenes as we came to the quest late. I realise that I have a Bluff of 11 and Diplomacy of 8 that can be pushed to 13, but this is too good an opportunity to resist even if it does means splitting the party. Besides, I love intrigue![/sblock]
OOC: That plan works well enough for me. I don't think you can pass as locals, but there are sure to be some refugees or travelers even this far out of civilization. Maybe you can even get the spy to recruit you... If we're going to do that, though, we ough to split up soon, well outside of sight from town- and it means we're back to carrying the Emissary.
"
I agree, that is a good idea, and could get us some potentially decent information that we missed before. If you two could act a bit shady (not so shady that you get arrested mind you!), you may be able to get on the inside of this cult."
Yishim considers the options. Interesting that we'd be reporting to a Lord and a wizard. We must consider the possibility that either of the two of them could be the spy. If that's the case, the attempt to pass of a coded message might be stymied if Varthun attempts to decipher it itself - and he'd quickly discover it to be a fake.
My suggestion builds on Firete's. Let's say Miranna, Firete and I stop off at the house, and prepare an ambush. Brenwar, you and Chey return to Maoleth and tell them that Miranna died, but the late arrival of a bard and wizard allowed you to carry the day. Then tell them we're holed up at the house trying to decipher a note which may name the spy in town. Run by the tavern for a drink and follow up with the same story.
Meet us at the house, and we'll see what happens. But we can always try Firete's idea without embellishment.
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I doubt very much that the Lord is involved, he is a very honourable man; deeply respectful of tradition and duty, the Scholar however... He seemed a little more withdrawn from society.
Hmmm... we have two good ideas being bartered here; the fake note to draw out the spy and the potential of infiltrating the cult. If the latter is to work, then you two," Cheysuli indicates Firete and Yishim, "
should not be associated with us, so I think you should try and arrange separate lodgings in the town and ignore us in public. Meanwhile we can approach Lord Hashtesh about this fake note and see what he has to add to the deception."
[sblock=OOC]I have +11 in Bluff.[/sblock]
