The Slave and Her Sovereign

[darkbard]

Our goal here is to escape Ruffly Gelded and the descending Imperial force, with Bita-Bousseh in tow.

We will handle this as a nested SC with “significant fallout for micro-failures” and then resume the already-in-process SCs: 1. the umbrella challenge in which we just achieved the first goal, learning the goals of the 2nd Nation; the second goal—upon 8 successes—a decision between formally allying with the 2nd Nation or convincing Bita-Bousseh to separate from the organization clearly is decided now as the latter (more below), 2. Get the Girl to the Sect of Omthala, currently on hold.

Per @Manbearcat :

Nested Skill Challenge: Level +2, Complexity 1 (DCs will be for level 5 so 10, 15, 22 while ATK vs AC is 19/21 and vs NAD is 17/18)

0 Successes (0 Hard DC Available)/0 Failures/1 Secondary Skills Available/0 Advantages Available)

Chanvati has proven himself to be a clever opportunist with ambition. But that ambition does not include overturning the current social order, which he has spent his life mastering and learning to exploit. He thinks Bita-Bousseh’s brother, Bita-Bahlin, delusional for his boyhood fantasies and belief in the Legion of Ruth (the Bladeling Horde) as a vehicle for societal leveling (an undesirable outcome, from Chanvati’s vantage) and instrument to be controlled (by the powerbrokers of the 2nd Nation, from theirs).

So he rejects the goals of the 2nd Nation out of hand. Convincing Bita-Bousseh of the same remains. And Chanvati harbors deep suspicion of anyone like Bita-Bahlin, who could have held such beliefs before suddenly turning apostate and back to the cause of Empire. Yet Bita-Bahlin is correct in his conviction that the Legion must be resisted, or all will fall beneath its crushing heel.

---

CHANVATI thought his head had spun before, from the nonsense cipher and the chaos of sensation. But that was nothing compared to this recent turn of events. Bita-Bousseh’s twin brother, Bita-Bahlin, the force behind the 2nd Nation! And he a delusional dupe and fabulist-turned-suddenly-counterrevolutionary! Imperial guards! Fire and thick, black smoke! An uproar of canine howls and frightened barking.

He throws one robed forearm across his masked face and grabs Bita-Bousseh’s arm with the other. “Quick!” he cuts through the tumult, “to the back door and into the alleyway!”

He peers through the frantic throng and chaos and drags the Tiefling barrister with him.

“Pa’avu, things have gone terribly wrong here. We head for the back alley. Meet us there,” he sends telepathically to the Goliath.

---

Secondary Skill Check Endurance to persevere through the choking smoke and chaos, r(12) +2 = 14 vs 10 Easy DC for +2 buff forward to

Primary Skill Check Perception to find a back exit into the alley from Ruffly Gelded, r(10) +4 +2 = 16 vs 15 Moderate DC. Glad I made that somewhat risky SS check! Success.

Encounter Power Send Thoughts to send telepathic communication to Pa'avu.

 

[Nephis]

PA'AVU quickly looks over the side of the roof to get her bearings, analyze the situation, and - with a short whistle - get Hazard's attention. When the hound looks up alertly, she first gestures downward to where she is heading before vaulting over the wall onto the soldier below. Deftly landing after a glancing blow knocking one of three soldiers to the ground, the enormous goliath turns to glare fiercely at the trio of soldiers. In shock, they stare blankly back at her, then at the enormous shaggy hound at her side, growling softly, then they choose the better part of valor and scatter like sticks in the wind. Pa'avu can now return Chanvati's message: "We are awaiting your exit, gosb'tar. The coast is more or less clear."

---

Primary Skill Check Athletics to jump (charge) off the rooftop and knock soldier prone: r(13/12 - Powerful Athlete) + 11 = 24/23 vs. 18 Fort = Second Success

Primary Skill Check Intimidate "Drive Them Off": r(10) + 10 + 2 (circumstance bonus) = 22 vs. 15 Moderate DC = Third Success

 

[darkbard]

per @Manbearcat :

@darkbard , that is 3 successes. The last obstacle would be the panic and disarray within the membership. You’d need to resolve that to lead them out the back. You can go ahead and resolve. If you get a failure, I’ll reframe situation.

Thick smoke billows between canine cages. Flames leap from bales of straw bedding to wooden furnishings to support pillars, threatening to take down the structure. Members of the 2nd Nation panic, some pounding at the barred front entrance in an attempt to force their way out, others stumbling about aimlessly and coughing violently in the smoke and flames, knocking over cages and setting loose the dogs within.

As Chanvati approaches the rear exit to the alleyway, Bita-Bousseh in his grasp, he pauses and turns. His words seem to cut through the smoke and flame, offering a beacon of hope as injury or death threatens the assembled. "This way! There is another way out if you follow us" he calls out. "Else you perish here this day!"

---

Chanvati uses Encounter Power Inspiring Word to help the assembled fight off the smoke and flame and find within themselves the courage to persevere in this calamity, +2 bonus forward to

Primary Skill check Diplomacy to convince the assembled to follow him into the back alley, r(5) +8 +2 = 15 vs 15 Moderate DC. Success. (For a brief second I thought I had already used Diplomacy and exhausted my skill training for the challenge and had a nice panic. Then I checked my moves from yesterday. Whew!)

 

[Manbearcat]

NESTED SKILL CHALLENGE COMPLEXITY 1, LEVEL 5 COMPLETE (escape Ruffly Gelded and the descending Imperial force, with Bita-Bousseh in tow) for 1 x Success in macro-SC

XP

- 200/2 = 100 apiece

LOOT

- 70 Gold.

- Pick 1 Consumable of level 4 or less.

5 Successes (1 Hard DC Available)/0 Failures/1 Secondary Skills Available/2 Advantages Available)

---

Once outside, Bita-Bousseh corrals the remaining, thoroughly unsettled, membership of The 2nd Nation and turns to Chanvati, Pa'avu, and Hazard.

"This way!"

She weaves a labyrinthine course to a grotto gambling den where her Minotaur Stalwarts are throwing dice with a gang of others.

She tugs them off their game and looks desperately from Chanvati to Pa'avu and back, feeling the weight of the Imperial Forces that are inevitably nipping at your heels. Breathlessly, "...where can we go? My brother knows my apartments and every safehouse in the city!"

---

You guys need to get away from the rallying Imperial Pursuit and establish a secure environment before you can attempt to convince Bita-Bouseh to dissolve The 2nd Nation (her brother's betrayal puts her in command at this point) and swear off its machinations.

HARD DC

 

[darkbard]

CHANVATI discerns the architecture around them: rowhouses, tiled rooves, most everything in good repair. They are still in Middle City, clearly. Maybe Thousand Pagodas? Or Burning Row? Could they have gone so far?

Regardless, this part of the city was razed and rebuilt with more modern amenities long ago. Including an elaborate drainage system, unlike the wretched environs of Low City. That's it! Chanvati thinks back to that course on Urban Architecture and Planning at Xerxes's, largely a soporific discourse on aesthetics and the eternal battles between architects and city planners over the years. But he had always been fascinated by how the excavators who rebuilt Burning Row had uncovered the Crypt of Elders beneath Golden Pagoda and how they had to jog subterranean tunnel lines around that ancient place, noteworthy, really, only to scholars and antiquarians. Yet the work tunnels persisted, if largely ignored except by the very occasionally unfortunate crew sent out to maintain and repair such places. Surely the agents of the Imperial Guard and its network of spies wouldn't even be aware of such a place, largely lost to history. So if they can access the undercuts somewhere in the vicinity of the Golden Pagoda, surely he could recall enough from those ancient schematics to guide them to a place of refuge--at least respite to escape the immediate pursuit and chart a new course of action.

He floods his neural pathways with psionic energy to sharpen his recall.

---

I'm using an Advantage here to wager for 2 Successes (Hard & Medium) vs this Hard DC should I succeed.

Chanvati is making a Secondary Skill Streetwise check to identify salient features of the urban environment: r(10) + 3 = 13 vs 10 Easy DC as +2 bonus to

Primary Skill History check (using augmented Adept's Insight), to recall a historical place to utilize as a safe haven: r(6) +10 +2 +r(3)+1 = 22 vs 22 Hard DC. Juuuuust makes it! Success (x2).

---

As the Reward for the previously completed SC, Chanvati chooses a Four-Sided Caltrop (L3 Consumable).

 

[Manbearcat]

7 Successes (0 Hard DC Available)/0 Failures/0 Secondary Skills Available/1 Advantages Available)

---

The frightened revolutionaries settle into the subterranean work tunnels but they're anythng but "settled." Bita-Bousseh spends her time trying to establish ration logistics, get secret communiques to their family members, and rally their spirits. She doesn't even have a moment to process the emotional gravity of this personal betrayal by her brother.

It is abundantly clear, however, that she is still in "The 2nd Nation Mode." The language she is using to communicate with her people is persistently "on-message" and filled with resolve. In fact, she's already discussing conspiracy theories about how her brother has been compromised just like The Empress. She has already internalized a model of "we have to rescue him from whatever vile programming has undone his mind and his vision!"

The prospects of her responding very_very_very badly to an attempt of being convinced of an alternative model of reality looms like a Sword of Domacles (if this effort fails, the consequence is a subsequent Hard DC when dealing with the changed/escalating situation).

---

MEDIUM DC

 

[Nephis]

Up until now PA’AVU has apparently been calmly going along with the plans for escape – naturally made without her input – but within her gut there has been an ember of burning anger. While she aids Second Nation members to escape into the tunnels beneath the streets – as she earlier aided them to escape from the smoldering Ruffly Gelded, the goliath cannot help but hear echoes of the martyred dogs howling and wailing to be let loose from their burning cages. Her visage grows grim – occasionally unnerving those she is presently helping.

Hearing Bita-Bousseh’s words – seemingly ignoring that sacrifice that has been so dearly paid – compels Pa’avu to suddenly stand upright from treating burn wounds and turn to face the tiefling. The goliath’s usually calm demeanor is stormy, and her eyes blaze down at her with fury from a very great height. Shocked, Bita-Bousseh takes a step back. Then, Pa’avu growls out: “Enough is enough! Are you seriously talking about putting your people to more danger? Hasn’t the cost already been paid by those who were not able to escape the fire? Those so lowly to escape your notice? Listen to reason and stop this nonsense! Otherwise all who still follow you will join those others in death … or worse!”

Bita-Bousseh trembles under the unexpected assault.

Chanvati steps forward putting his hands on her shoulders and looks into her eyes: “My slave speaks the truth. All here know it.”

---

Primary Skill Check Intimidate to frighten Bita-Bousseh into recognizing the deadly consequences of her ill-advised actions: r(14) + 10 = 24 Success vs. 15 Moderate DC Success!

 

[Manbearcat]

With her defenses negated and overcome with the gravity of all that has transpired, Bita-bouseh collapses in tears in the arms of Chanvati. She slams fists into his shoulder as she burries her head in his chest. Whatever words come from her are an incomprehensible collection of anger, sadness, and confusion.

The rest of the group looks very...very...very frightened. They now just want to go home...see their families...and make arrangements to GTFO out of Bantouk as they all know Imperial Forces will be requisitioned to arrest them, "try them", and execute them for treason.

---

SKILL CHALLENGE COMPLETE (Learn the goals of The 2nd Nation and Convince B-B to Abandon Them)

XP

- 400/2 = 200 apiece

LOOT

- 60 Gold

- Level 2 Feet or Waist item x 1

MILESTONE REACHED

- Gain Action Point)

---

What is the play here folks?

A complex Skill Challenge to help these poor revolutionaries get to their homes > extract their families and essential belongings > egress them from Bantouk? Or back to the slave girl (the tunnels will protect them from being found for now, but their families and holdings are in peril)? Draw out the Imperial Forces and have a Wave Combat somewhere to facilitate a distraction while these families escape? Something else?

Let me know.

 

[darkbard]

Obligatory Bookkeeping Update:

*Chanvati will select Acrobat Boots as the Reward for completing the skill challenge. Chanvati now has Acrobatics +3.

*Both PCs now have 2 APs, all Daily Powers; all Encounter Powers refresh.

*Loot beyond mundane gear: 200 GP residuum, 226 GPs (+15 starting GP secreted by Pa’avu), 250 GP jade hairpin; as a slave, Pa’avu has no “ownership” of goods, so Chanvati holds all wealth for the two, excepting as noted.

*XP 3340/3750 needed for L4 (Pa’avu has 1 less XP)

---

Focus shifts from Bita-Bousseh’s frantic attempt to salvage a command and control center and structure for the 2nd Nation to her realization that the dissident group is already dissolved, requiring desperate new plans of escape from Bantouk. During this, Pa’avu informs Chanvati of the plight of the slavegirl destined for service to Omthala and entreats him to set in motion a scheme for her deliverance.

Chanvati separates himself from the milling dissidents, deep in their utterances of despair and frenzied ideas for escape. He sits cross-legged on the cold, damp stone of the tunnel and withdraws from his satchel a pinch of the rare herb “mouse mint,” an intoxicant to rodents, to entice a common sewer rat to his presence. When one unfailingly obliges, he whispers over and over again a rhythmic chant while the rat nibbles the herbs from his fingers, ensorcelling its mind to his service.

* * *

Several hours later, a skinny rodent wriggles its way through a chink in the door into Ibhea’s chamber in the Sanctuary of Light. The Lucent Messenger sits at a desk, scribbling purposefully with a stylus upon a sheet of papyrus. A half empty bottle of arak sits beside an oil lamp, and the priest raises it to his lips and takes a mighty swallow. Then another. He grumbles something incoherent: “His Radiance <something something> the Goddess besieged <something something> unlikely bedfellows.”

His mind is so numbed by the drink that he almost doesn’t notice when a rat crawls up the leg of his salvar, its claws digging into his calf and thigh, and scuttles up onto his letter. The rodent cocks its head and speaks with Chanvati’s voice, “Omthala Acolyte, taken as plunder from Issyc Sehari, enslaved to Burning Row merchant. My slave intuits something special about her. Investigate. Will contact again. Chanvati.”

Ibhea shakes some clarity into his head. Could this be connected? There had been several reports of pogroms against the outlying villages of Issyc Sehari, temples destroyed, priests put to the sword. Who would seek to take on an organization with the might to check an Empire? Indeed, he would make his investigations and locate if he could this slavegirl to learn what she knows.

---

This is use of the Animal Messenger Ritual for an automatic success in the Get the Girl to the Sect of Omthala Skill Challenge. Nature Skill check r(7) +2 = 9, so 6 hours duration and 10 gp of rare herbs expended. Enough to reach Ibhea within the city. We will then suspend the SC again for a later time, picking up with your reframing of the fiction once Ibhea has located the slavegirl in Burning Row.

---

As for the current situation, mechanically we see this as a Skill Challenge rather than a combat, for taking up literal arms against the state would surely undo any goodwill Chanvati has earned in helping deliver “heretics and traitors” for Inquisitorial judgment. (Though, obviously, combat may be necessitated as part of the SC.) I think the overall goal would be to convince Bita-Bahlin and his masters that Chanvati’s interest in the 2nd Nation was feigned so as to infiltrate the group and then expose their plans to the Inquisition, for anything that threatens the stability of the state threatens commercial endeavors—particularly since House Audaseie relies upon open trade routes under its control to ensure lines of transport for the phase spider silk harvest, so central to the family’s refinement into production of arcane residuum; clearly he never would be in favor of a conquest of the city by the Legion of Ruth. But first, we must get the remaining members of the 2nd Nation and their families safely out of Bantouk, ourselves included. So that is the present Skill Challenge: Help the 2nd Nation Make Exodus from Bantouk. The Win Condition for this challenge would be for Chanvati, Pa’avu, Hazard, Bita-Bousseh, and her Minotaur Stalwarts to evade Imperial capture long enough to arrive in Chomrok, outside of Imperial ability to do them or their properties harm. I imagine an uncomplicated (if rather unlikely) full success would ensure the same for all/most members of the 2nd Nation; micro-failures would likely diminish the number of 2nd Nation members who succeed or bring political reprisals against family/assets remaining in Bantouk.

House Audaseie controls a caravanserai several days’ travel outside the city to which we will flee, either collectively or, more likely, in small groups that might better evade Imperial notice. If making exodus en masse, however, doing so under the cover and protection of a House Audaseie supply detail could be a possibility.

First, though: to rally the flagging spirits of the failed dissidents and then lead them stealthily through the labyrinthine city while evading Imperial forces. To prepare himself for this, Chanvati spends the necessary minute and 10 gp of alchemical reagents to perform the chant and plying of zills that comprises the Glib Limerick Ritual.

---

The frightened faces of the gathered, once so bold as to challenge an Empire, turn imploringly to the Merchant-Mystic. Bita-Bousseh asks, “What do we do, Chanvati? Where will we go to escape the sprawling reach of the Empress. Or whoever controls her,” whispering the last.

“You are right, Barrister, the Empire is powerful, and its reach is long. Yet because of that reach, the dozens of intricate political games it plays every day, the 2nd Nation was but a minor nuisance, whatever we here may have thought. If we can but get out of Bantouk for a while, yes, with our families safely along, the Empress’s gaze will turn from us to these other, more pressing threats to her power. Soon, all will be forgiven as the resources of those assembled will prove far more useful to the Empire than if we were to set ourselves still against it.

“Put aside your fear, your doubts. You were willing to fight great powers for your beliefs. My family controls a caravanserai but a few days out of Bantouk to the west, Chomrok; believe that you are strong enough, resilient enough to follow my lead out of the city, where we and our families will receive refuge and respite from those who hunt us now.”

---

Chanvati is making a Primary Skill Check Bluff in the Help the 2nd Nation Make Exodus from Bantouk Skill Challenge to convince the gathered to take heart and follow his lead, rb(10,16) +8 = 24 vs 16 L7 (L+4) Moderate DC. Success.

 

[Manbearcat]

Goal: Get the slave girl to the Sect of Omthala: her role in life is not as an enslaved person to a merchant but to be in service to the Sect.

Level +1, Complexity 2 (DCs will be for level 4 so 10, 14, 21 while ATK vs AC is 18/20 and vs NAD is 16/17)

3 Successes (0 Hard DC Available)/0 Failures/2 Secondary Skills Available

The smell of anise pervades Ibhea's senses as he deliberates. At first he casts the sensory experience from his attention; a mere trick of his numbing mind combined with the arak on his lips or the remaining traces in the nearby bottle.​

​

But like an angry rebuke of his willpower, the scent grows to a powerful crescendo and then disappears suddenly.​

​

No. Not a material trace of his liquor. ​

​

A sign.​

---

Goal: Help The 2nd Nation Make Exodus from Bantouk

Level +4 (7), Complexity 3 (DCs will be for level 7 so 11, 16, 23 while ATK vs AC is 21/23 and vs NAD is 19/20)

1 Successes (2 Hard DC Available)/0 Failures/3 Secondary Skills Available/2 Advantages Available

ADVANTAGE USES:

✦ (wagered before roll) A success against a hard DC counts as two successes: a success against both a hard DC and a moderate DC.

✦ Refresh Skill Training Exhaust status.

✦ Remove a Complication (like Healing Surge loss or -2 Skill/AC forward) on a Failure.

With the group's spiritual vigor renewed, now comes the fight for the plan.​

​

As everyone is packing out the few belongings they fled with from Ruffly Gelded, the oldest member of The 2nd Nation, Cassandane The Sighted, steps forward with a smoking basin, putting it forward for each member of The 2nd Nation to inhale deeply and join her in her ritual. She does a pass with several members and then "absolves them" in one way or another; a reassuring word or a mere smile.​

​

The purported seer's milky white, blind eyes wander and then focus on Pa'avu. "I see..." she exhales very slowly. "It is this one" she says gravely. "This one is marked. She must not come with us. She is as a beacon to the Empire's Diviner who consults spirits of the earth, fire, water, and air. Her ties to the spirits of the earth will be our undoing! They will betray us!"​

​

She turns away from Pa'avu and exhorts her companions to cast their gaze away from Pa'avu...to remove her from their very thoughts!​

​

The mood does not shift, but cheeks tighten and brows furrow.​

MEDIUM DC

---

COMPANION UPDATES

Lucent Messenger Ibhea
Medium humanoid
Level 3 Lurker (Leader) Standard
HP 37; Bloodied 18 Initiative +7
AC 17, Fortitude 14, Reflex 16, Will 15 Perception +3 Speed 6

Traits
☼ The Reformation ✦ Aura 2
An ally that starts its turn in the aura can shift one square as a free action.

Standard Actions
() Kukri ✦ At-Will
Attack: Melee 1 (one creature); +8 vs. AC
Hit: 2d6 + 4 damage.

➶ Divine Flash (Radiant) ✦ Recharge when no creature is affected by this power
Attack: Ranged 5 (one creature); +6 vs. Will
Hit: 2d6 + 4 radiant damage, and the target grants combat advantage (save ends). Until the target saves against this effect, Ibhea is invisible to every enemy but the target, and its kukri deals 1d6 extra damage to the target.
Miss: Ibhea has partial concealment until the end of its next turn.

ᗕ Terrible Glow (Fear, Radiant) ✦ Encounter
Attack: Close burst 2 (enemies in the burst); +6 vs. Will
Hit: 1d8 + 4 radiant damage, and Ibhea pushes the target up to 2 squares.
Miss: Half damage, and Ibhea can push the target 1 square.

Acrobatics (Escape) + 3, Religion +10, Thievery +8

Str 10 (+1) Dex 14 (+3) Wis 14 (+3)
Con 11 (+1) Int 18 (+5) Cha 16 (+4)


Stalwart Minotaur x 3
Medium natural humanoid
Level 3 Minion Soldier
HP 1; a missed attack never damages a minion Initiative +3
AC 20, Fortitude 16, Reflex 14, Will 14 Speed 5 Low-light vision

Traits
Phalanx for Master
Whenever Bita-Bousseh is adjacent to a minotaur she gains a +2 Power Bonus to all defenses.

Standard Actions
(⚔) Axe ✦ At-Will
Attack: Melee 1 (one creature); +8 vs. AC
Hit: 5 damage, and the target is marked until the end of the minotaur's next turn.

Triggered Actions
⚔ Subduing Gore ✦ At-Will
Trigger: An adjacent enemy that is marked by the minotaur makes an attack that does not include the minotaur.
Attack (Immediate Reaction): Melee 1 (one creature); +6 vs. Reflex
Hit: 5 damage and the minotaur takes the attack instead.

Athletics + 10, Perception +8

Str 18 (+5) Dex 14 (+3) Wis 14 (+3)
Con 15 (+3) Int 11 (+5) Cha 13 (+2)


Bita-Bouseh
Medium natural humanoid, tiefling
Level 3 Minion
HP 1; a missed attack never damages a minion. Initiative Minotaurs
AC 18, Fortitude 15, Reflex 16, Will 17 Perception+5 Speed 6

Infernal Glower (At-Will), Fear
Ranged 5, Target: one creature
Attack: +6 vs Will
Hit: 4 damage, and Bita-Bousseh slides the target 2 squares.

There Will Be Order
Immediate Reaction (Encounter)
Trigger: Bita-Bouseh or an ally within 3 squares of Bita-Bouseh is knocked unconscious.
Effect: Bita-Bouseh or the ally heals 1d6 HP and saves against 1 ongoing effect.

Lawyer's Dodge
Move Action (Encounter)
Effect: Bita-Bouseh shifts 3 squares and can shift through difficult terrain until the end of her next turn.

Acrobatics +3 (Escape), Bluff +10, Insight +8

Str 9 (+1) Dex 14 (+3) Wis 14 (+3)
Con 12 (+2) Int 16 (+4) Cha 18 (+5)