The Shackled City - Golarion Prelude

[jkason]

Caytis Maggerin, half-elf magus

Caytis hesitates a moment.

"The lady of the house back there seemed pretty overwhelmed by all she was juggling," he says. "I'd rather not go back to her without at least a little more information. Maybe we can do the sweep of the orphanage, then make a report to her, then ask about clerical aid when we're there?"

[sblock=mini stats]Caytis Maggerin
HP: 10/10 AC: 15 AC(T): 12 AC(FF): 13 Init: +02
BAB: 00 CMB/CMD: 00/12 ACP: -1 ASF: 00 Spot: +05

Conditions: None

Saving Throw Total Base Mod Misc Special
Fort: 03 2 +1
Ref: 01 0 +2 -1*
Will: 03 2 +1

* -1 Reflex (Wyrm Blooded trait)
** Conditional: Immune sleep, +2 vs enchantments, +4 vs acid

Weapon Attack Damage Critical Special
Quadrens +2 1d6 19-20/x2 1 pt bleed on crit
Quadrens, Spell Combat +0 1d6 19-20/x2 1 pt bleed on crit
Composite Shortbow +2 1d6 20/x3 Range 70 ft.

* Conditional: +1 attack with Arcane Pool enhancement.

Arcane Pool: 5/5 remaining

Spells Prepared:
* 0 Level (3): Prestidigitation, Detect Magic, Light
* 1st Level (2, DC 15):Shield, Shield

Arrows: 19/20 remaining[/sblock]

 

[Walking Dad]

Wilbur

"I'm with Caytis. We should give her something to proof our worth before starting to make demands." Wilbur agrees with the magus.

[sblock=OOC]

----

HP: 11 / 11

Spells:
1: 5/5

Gift of Madness: 6 / 6

Wilbur 2
Wilbur Warrington

[/sblock]

 

[Shayuri]

"Dere be no reason to go back to da church widdout results," Nia intoned. "De smart place to be startin' is de place de crimes were committed. And just to make sure you people are clear...I didn't mean I wanted more gold for doin' dis one chore. I meant I needed more gold, for doin' more. What de church be payin' is fair for the work, as I be seein' it."

 

[ahayford]

The group discusses their plans over bowls of fragrant chicken and rice and weak coffee. Before long, a consensus is reached to visit the Lantern Orphanage, the scene of the crime. Ghelve’s Locks was also singled out by Svexyn as a possible source of information. From his all to brief apprenticeship, Svexyn knew there were few in Cauldron that knew more about locks then Keygan Ghelve.

The sun is still low in the sky when you leave the relative comfort of The Drunken Morkoth. The night folk have long since stopped plying their trades in the open and have slithered off to the darker corners of the city. Full rain barrels and some standing water are all the remain of last night’s rainfall. The sky appears to have cleared and the sun is just already beginning to bake the cobblestones to an uncomfortable temperature. The humidity is oppressive and makes your skin feel sticky and damp.

The early morning vendors are in full swing, selling everything from salted fish to “magical” amulets. The path to the Lantern Orphanage takes you to the corner of Lantern Street and Lava Avenue. Its not in the greatest part of town, but sits one street over from the caldera lake. The building is old, but in surprisingly good repair. The charcoal-colored stones are held together with mold-encrusted mortar. The windows on both levels are tightly shuttered, whether to keep the children in or invaders out is hard to tell. Lanterns hang on either side of the oaken front door ,mounted to which is a green copper knocker shaped like a smiling gargoyle’s visage, its nostrils pierced by a large copper ring.

Verifying that the address matches the information Jenya gave you, you raise the knocker and strike the door with several sharp reports. Children can be heard laughing inside, quickly followed by the authoritative screams of a female voice silencing them. The sound lock tumblers and deadbolts sliding can be heard for a solid 20 seconds before the heavy door finally opens a crack.

At first, it appears no one is at the door. A sweet, motherly voice addresses you from about waist level.

Yes? Something I can do for you? This is an orphanage not a flophouse. If you need a bed, try Minuta’s Board on the other side of the lake.

 

[jkason]

Caytis Maggerin, half-elf magus

Caytis looks down to the (gnome? halfling?) and does his best not to bristle at the rejoinder. He imagined if he spent his days with an orphanage full of rowdy children, his temper would be shorter than it naturally was.

"The lady of Seranae sent us. To help look into the abductions? The lady of the temple told us she'd send word," he says, deciding directness is probably better than an attempt to sweet-talk. Especially from someone like him.

[sblock=mini stats]Caytis Maggerin
HP: 10/10 AC: 15 AC(T): 12 AC(FF): 13 Init: +02
BAB: 00 CMB/CMD: 00/12 ACP: -1 ASF: 00 Spot: +05

Conditions: None

Saving Throw Total Base Mod Misc Special
Fort: 03 2 +1
Ref: 01 0 +2 -1*
Will: 03 2 +1

* -1 Reflex (Wyrm Blooded trait)
** Conditional: Immune sleep, +2 vs enchantments, +4 vs acid

Weapon Attack Damage Critical Special
Quadrens +2 1d6 19-20/x2 1 pt bleed on crit
Quadrens, Spell Combat +0 1d6 19-20/x2 1 pt bleed on crit
Composite Shortbow +2 1d6 20/x3 Range 70 ft.

* Conditional: +1 attack with Arcane Pool enhancement.

Arcane Pool: 5/5 remaining

Spells Prepared:
* 0 Level (3): Prestidigitation, Detect Magic, Light
* 1st Level (2, DC 15):Shield, Shield

Arrows: 19/20 remaining[/sblock]

 

[Maidhc O Casain]

Val stands beside Caytis, doing his best to radiate calm self assurance. He smiles down at the woman who's greeted them.

 

[Walking Dad]

Wilbur

Wilbur stares with a strange gleam in his eyes at the woman, mumbling for himself.

[sblock=OOC]

detect magic if there is something going on with her.

----

HP: 11 / 11

Spells:
1: 5/5

Gift of Madness: 6 / 6

Wilbur 2
Wilbur Warrington

[/sblock]

 

[ahayford]

At the mention of the Temple of Saranrae, the short woman opens the door a crack more, revealing her face. The halfling woman’s evil eye belies her otherwise motherly exterior. The smile marks a the corners of her mouth hint at the fact that her sour mood is not her normal disposition. Her brown hair is cropped short, and is speckled with what appear to be hand made barrettes and hair clips. She wears a simple green smock covered in various unidentifiable stains and colorful hand sewn patches. Her face is neither particularly young or old, but the age of halflings can sometimes be difficult to determine.

The lady mentioned she was sending some more experienced investigators to look around a bit...But you don’t look particularly much like her usual agents....no offense.

If you are agents of the Dawn Flower, you won’t mind answering a few questions before I let you in. Otherwise, you can push off, agents of Jenya or not.

The woman, looks at you for confirmation, then continues speaking.

First, you are the last in a line of great emperors. For generations, your family has maintained a holy garden and cemetery to honor your ancestors. Imperial law decrees that anyone not of imperial blood that sets foot in the garden is to be executed. One of your enemies has arranged for an assassin to hide in the garden, as your personal guard is forbidden from entering. Suspecting a threat to your person, your personal body guard enters the sanctuary and saves you from the blade of the assassin. However, by law, he is sentenced to die. How do you rule?

Second, you are the magistrate of a small frontier outpost. The son of a lower level officer, and a personal friend, is caught stealing supplies from the military storeroom. The penalty for such an offense is serving in the kings army for a time no less then 2 years. You know this will crush your friend, as he is his only son. His wife passed away this last winter. How do you rule?

She taps her foot impatiently....awaiting your response.

 

[Maidhc O Casain]

Valinnan considers the halfling matron's questions carefully, looking to the others briefly before replying and carefully considering what he knows of Sarenrae's tenets and those of his own patron. Careful, now . . . the Bright Lady is death on two legs to the unrepentant but believes that no one is beyond redemption, and rewards valor in the service of what is right. Cayden Cailean doesn't give a fig for the law so long as he's serving the greater good. OK, I think I've got it.

He looks down at the woman and smiles gently.

"For the first, I would rule that the guard must have imperial blood in his lineage to display such bravery, and that as my ancestors' spirits did not strike him dead for daring to enter they surely meant for me to acknowledge this blood and adopt him into the imperial family.

"For the second, I would rule that he must enter the army, but would attach him to a division serving my garrison in the service of the magistry. I'd then proceed to work his little thieving arse off until he learned better, and then work him twice as hard for the remainder of his two year term."

 

[Shayuri]

Nia scowled. "You questions be nonsense. We here to help de children. Would you turn us away because we have different points of view from you in how to handle deese absurd situations?"