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[D&D 4E PbP] Curse of the Crimson Throne Act 1: Edge of Anarchy (IC)
TiamatZ
Ghost punsThe Banette of my existenceRegistered User regular
Ghost punsThe Banette of my existenceRegistered User regular
Curse of the Crimson Throne Act 1: Edge of Anarchy, a Dungeons & Dragons (4E) adventure for five first level characters
This is a PbP game.
I, TiamatZ, will be your DM. Sheets are on myth-weavers (or Orokos). Dice rolls are on IC (or once again Orokos). For now, this is an IC thread. Post OOC discussions/comments/questions/etc in the OOC thread to avoid clutter and confusion.
I expect each of you to post at least once a day (except maybe on weekends [Saturdays and Sundays]) when you're able (though if it’s your turn, by all means post during the weekend; I’ll just post the updated map by Monday or so). If you'll be away for an extended period of time, let me know so that I (or you) can make arrangements to keep the game moving while you're gone (or postpone it if the majority of the party is unavailable). I'm a levelheaded person, and I won't kick you out for missing posts here and there. That being said, if you flake consistently you'll be removed from the party.
For combat, I will provide the HP, AC and other defenses (as well as any special bonuses monsters receive e.g. +2 AC when standing next to each other) of the enemies present and you shall roll attack rolls. If you hit, roll damage and work that into your post. Also color coded the monsters (makes it easier to work with, since we’re all noobs to the game, including me) by their border; red are minions, green are normal monsters, yellow are elites and purple are solos. So if you pop a daily on a red bordered monster you are going to feel really thick because it shouldn't last more than a single hit. Everyone will post their IC actions, with the rolls and results in SPOILER tags.
I will use TalonRazor’s idea (from the Legend of Novus PbP game). You must declare what you are doing in ORANGE text. The rolls must be in RED BOLD text and linked to the IC (or Orokos) roll. At the bottom of the post, still in spoiler tags, they shall post who is up next, in brackets and size 3 font that is GREEN, and who is on deck. Here is the template:
"Johnny Law swings his mighty fist, smacking the honest citizen in the face."
For immediate interrupts, remember to post them with any criteria to follow in orange as well. If one of your powers has an immediate interrupt ability, state that power as well as when to use it e.g. when a monster strikes me, I want to use power X (where X is the power with immediate interrupt, such as Wizard’s Shield utility power, or the Fighter’s No Opening Utility power).
Also link to OOC thread: here
The primary goal here is for us all to have fun. I’m new to PbP DMing and you’re all also (probably) new to PbP games, so we’re all noobs here. If you're not having fun for some reason, please let me know. Alright, now that that's all out of the way, let's go roll some dice and kill some monsters!
"Korvosa, the Jewel of Varisia, has long sparkled on Varisia’s southern shore. The city was established nearly 330 years ago by the human empire of Nerath. After the empire’s fall, the city now commands its own destiny. A line of Korvosan kings and queens emerged to rule the city, establishing an infamous seat power—the Crimson Throne. Rulers have sat upon the Crimson Throne for more than two centuries, and the city has flourished. Yet the monarchy always seems on the brink of disaster. The Crimson Throne is not a prize to be won—it is a curse. No monarch of Korvosa has died of old age, and none have produced an heir while ruling. Even though King Eodred II controls Korvosa more fully than any previous monarch, that control remains tenuous, and many secretly count the days until their latest king falls to what they call the Curse of the Crimson Throne."
Contents:
Prologue: Haunted Fortunes
Chapter 1: A City Gone Mad
Chapter 2: Welcome to the Guard
Chapter 3: The Ambassador's Secret
Chapter 4: The Scapegoat
Kay as Adran Sylvanevys, Elf Stormheart Warden- Drawn to the city of Korvosa by a desire for justice, Adran is a wilderness elf of the Shoanti Tribes, thoroughly out of place in an urban environment. Lacking in charm and social graces should not interfere in his aims, however. He wishes revenge on Gaedran Lamm for the wrongs inflicted on his kinsmen, the Sla-Mori-Quah, oblivious to the fact that a band of adventurers has already embarked upon that endeavour, and elves have a strange way of showing their gratitude.
Reg Rysk as Selena "Canary" Mediore, the Changeling Wizard - Canary was ready to redeem herself, at least for taking the innocent life. After all, she was accustomed to this life of luxury; adventuring meant giving some of that up, but not all of it. She would make sure that she did things right from here on out, but one thing stands in the way of incriminating her and exposing her lie. Using the gifts Selena had taught her she would make sure that Gaedren Lamm was no longer a threat to her by any means.
Adventfalls as Mag, the Human Avenger - The specter of Gaedren Lamm has haunted the man born Garren Varak for some time, but everything came to a halt when those that raised him were slain through Gaedren's manipulations. In that moment, Garren Varak was replaced by one who rejected his humanity, his emotions, even his own name; adopting the name of a Warforged servant: Mag. Armed now with powers divine, Mag seeks to revenge himself upon the crime lord...
SnowSquall as Rothril Shadowmane, the Gnoll Assassin – With his tribe and siblings destroyed, Rothril was raised by a guild of Assassins. He was trapped in a life of servitude until he saw the opportunity to escape when the guild was in the midst of a bloody restructuring. Now free, Rothril is searching for the people responsible for his tribe’s death all the while not turning a blind eye to who could his help. Currently, Rothril is looking at exacting some justice against Gaedren Lamm who tricked Rothril into doing some of his dirty work.
Firemanfred as Sevren Balducci, the Shadar Kai Artificer - Leaving the oppressive atmosphere of the Shadowfell, Sevren found his way to Korvosa nearly a decade ago. He knew right away he had found the perfect place to capitalize on his knowledge of arcane principles. He is constantly on the lookout for new ways to bend the arcane fabric of the universe to his will, and has recently been concentrating on a fine line of magically enhanced clothing that is sure to rocket him to well-deserved fame and fortune.
bladecruiser as Vashrun Wilderage, the Razorclaw Shifter Monk- Driven by a desire for justice for his slain family, Vashrun is immersed in The Hunt, a sacred tradition of his family to seek out their destiny and bring it fruition. His prey is none other than Gaedren Lamm, and the shifter will not be denied his quarry. While he wishes it otherwise, he knows that will most likely have to get his hands dirty in his pursuit.
Cause of death: Eaten by Jigsaw sharks at Gaedran's Fishery.
Banana-Man as Bob, the Warforged Fighter – A mysterious warforged with no memory of his past, Bob's only goal is to rescue the one real friend he has from the maniacal clutches of an evil crime lord. Armed with a preternatural ability for combat, he is prepared to 'dismantle' anyone who gets in his way, or die trying.
Cause of death: None. He has rescued Samantha from the clutches of Gaedren Lamm, but she needed medical attention from an experienced healer. He has left the group to take Samantha to the Church of St. Abadar, hoping that they would find a way to heal her ailments. His current whereabouts remain unknown.
Z0re as Jiyup the Kobold Sorcerer – Jiyup was driven to Korvosa with the death of his tribe's guardian Dragon, along with the rest of his tribe. As the former Sorcerer's apprentice, he has been put in charge of the tribe with his mentor's untimely death. Struggling to survive in the sewers the city has grudgingly granted them room in, Jiyup is also dealing with his new responsibilities as a leader and he will do anything to keep his people safe.
Quest List:
Quest items and Major Artifacts:
Harrow Points:
The Specifics
This is a PbP game.
I, TiamatZ, will be your DM. Sheets are on myth-weavers (or Orokos). Dice rolls are on IC (or once again Orokos). For now, this is an IC thread. Post OOC discussions/comments/questions/etc in the OOC thread to avoid clutter and confusion.
I expect each of you to post at least once a day (except maybe on weekends [Saturdays and Sundays]) when you're able (though if it’s your turn, by all means post during the weekend; I’ll just post the updated map by Monday or so). If you'll be away for an extended period of time, let me know so that I (or you) can make arrangements to keep the game moving while you're gone (or postpone it if the majority of the party is unavailable). I'm a levelheaded person, and I won't kick you out for missing posts here and there. That being said, if you flake consistently you'll be removed from the party.
For combat, I will provide the HP, AC and other defenses (as well as any special bonuses monsters receive e.g. +2 AC when standing next to each other) of the enemies present and you shall roll attack rolls. If you hit, roll damage and work that into your post. Also color coded the monsters (makes it easier to work with, since we’re all noobs to the game, including me) by their border; red are minions, green are normal monsters, yellow are elites and purple are solos. So if you pop a daily on a red bordered monster you are going to feel really thick because it shouldn't last more than a single hit. Everyone will post their IC actions, with the rolls and results in SPOILER tags.
I will use TalonRazor’s idea (from the Legend of Novus PbP game). You must declare what you are doing in ORANGE text. The rolls must be in RED BOLD text and linked to the IC (or Orokos) roll. At the bottom of the post, still in spoiler tags, they shall post who is up next, in brackets and size 3 font that is GREEN, and who is on deck. Here is the template:
"Johnny Law swings his mighty fist, smacking the honest citizen in the face."
Standard Action: Basic Melee Attack Move Action: Stand there
Attack Roll [1d20+4 = 16+4 = 20] Damage Roll [1d20+10 = 1+10 = 11]
[Up Next: Bobby Joe][On Deck: Chuck Norris] (or red for enemies)
Attack Roll [1d20+4 = 16+4 = 20] Damage Roll [1d20+10 = 1+10 = 11]
[Up Next: Bobby Joe][On Deck: Chuck Norris] (or red for enemies)
For immediate interrupts, remember to post them with any criteria to follow in orange as well. If one of your powers has an immediate interrupt ability, state that power as well as when to use it e.g. when a monster strikes me, I want to use power X (where X is the power with immediate interrupt, such as Wizard’s Shield utility power, or the Fighter’s No Opening Utility power).
Also link to OOC thread: here
The primary goal here is for us all to have fun. I’m new to PbP DMing and you’re all also (probably) new to PbP games, so we’re all noobs here. If you're not having fun for some reason, please let me know. Alright, now that that's all out of the way, let's go roll some dice and kill some monsters!
Act 1: Edge of Anarchy
"Korvosa, the Jewel of Varisia, has long sparkled on Varisia’s southern shore. The city was established nearly 330 years ago by the human empire of Nerath. After the empire’s fall, the city now commands its own destiny. A line of Korvosan kings and queens emerged to rule the city, establishing an infamous seat power—the Crimson Throne. Rulers have sat upon the Crimson Throne for more than two centuries, and the city has flourished. Yet the monarchy always seems on the brink of disaster. The Crimson Throne is not a prize to be won—it is a curse. No monarch of Korvosa has died of old age, and none have produced an heir while ruling. Even though King Eodred II controls Korvosa more fully than any previous monarch, that control remains tenuous, and many secretly count the days until their latest king falls to what they call the Curse of the Crimson Throne."
Contents:
Prologue: Haunted Fortunes
Chapter 1: A City Gone Mad
Chapter 2: Welcome to the Guard
Chapter 3: The Ambassador's Secret
Chapter 4: The Scapegoat
The Cast (AKA the party):
Current Party :
Kay as Adran Sylvanevys, Elf Stormheart Warden- Drawn to the city of Korvosa by a desire for justice, Adran is a wilderness elf of the Shoanti Tribes, thoroughly out of place in an urban environment. Lacking in charm and social graces should not interfere in his aims, however. He wishes revenge on Gaedran Lamm for the wrongs inflicted on his kinsmen, the Sla-Mori-Quah, oblivious to the fact that a band of adventurers has already embarked upon that endeavour, and elves have a strange way of showing their gratitude.Reg Rysk as Selena "Canary" Mediore, the Changeling Wizard - Canary was ready to redeem herself, at least for taking the innocent life. After all, she was accustomed to this life of luxury; adventuring meant giving some of that up, but not all of it. She would make sure that she did things right from here on out, but one thing stands in the way of incriminating her and exposing her lie. Using the gifts Selena had taught her she would make sure that Gaedren Lamm was no longer a threat to her by any means.Adventfalls as Mag, the Human Avenger - The specter of Gaedren Lamm has haunted the man born Garren Varak for some time, but everything came to a halt when those that raised him were slain through Gaedren's manipulations. In that moment, Garren Varak was replaced by one who rejected his humanity, his emotions, even his own name; adopting the name of a Warforged servant: Mag. Armed now with powers divine, Mag seeks to revenge himself upon the crime lord...SnowSquall as Rothril Shadowmane, the Gnoll Assassin – With his tribe and siblings destroyed, Rothril was raised by a guild of Assassins. He was trapped in a life of servitude until he saw the opportunity to escape when the guild was in the midst of a bloody restructuring. Now free, Rothril is searching for the people responsible for his tribe’s death all the while not turning a blind eye to who could his help. Currently, Rothril is looking at exacting some justice against Gaedren Lamm who tricked Rothril into doing some of his dirty work.Firemanfred as Sevren Balducci, the Shadar Kai Artificer - Leaving the oppressive atmosphere of the Shadowfell, Sevren found his way to Korvosa nearly a decade ago. He knew right away he had found the perfect place to capitalize on his knowledge of arcane principles. He is constantly on the lookout for new ways to bend the arcane fabric of the universe to his will, and has recently been concentrating on a fine line of magically enhanced clothing that is sure to rocket him to well-deserved fame and fortune.
Fallen in Battle :
bladecruiser as Vashrun Wilderage, the Razorclaw Shifter Monk- Driven by a desire for justice for his slain family, Vashrun is immersed in The Hunt, a sacred tradition of his family to seek out their destiny and bring it fruition. His prey is none other than Gaedren Lamm, and the shifter will not be denied his quarry. While he wishes it otherwise, he knows that will most likely have to get his hands dirty in his pursuit.Cause of death: Eaten by Jigsaw sharks at Gaedran's Fishery.
Banana-Man as Bob, the Warforged Fighter – A mysterious warforged with no memory of his past, Bob's only goal is to rescue the one real friend he has from the maniacal clutches of an evil crime lord. Armed with a preternatural ability for combat, he is prepared to 'dismantle' anyone who gets in his way, or die trying.Cause of death: None. He has rescued Samantha from the clutches of Gaedren Lamm, but she needed medical attention from an experienced healer. He has left the group to take Samantha to the Church of St. Abadar, hoping that they would find a way to heal her ailments. His current whereabouts remain unknown.
Reserve (to introduce soon...) :
Z0re as Jiyup the Kobold Sorcerer – Jiyup was driven to Korvosa with the death of his tribe's guardian Dragon, along with the rest of his tribe. As the former Sorcerer's apprentice, he has been put in charge of the tribe with his mentor's untimely death. Struggling to survive in the sewers the city has grudgingly granted them room in, Jiyup is also dealing with his new responsibilities as a leader and he will do anything to keep his people safe.Orokos/MythWeavers Campaign name: PA CurseOfThrone
Quest List:
Current Quests:
Completed Quests:
Completed Quests:
Main Quest: Devargo's Web [COMPLETE]
- Acquire an audience with Devargo [Complete]
- Persuade Devargo to hand the Letters [Complete]
Main Quest: On the Lamm: [COMPLETE]
- Find and defeat Gaedren Lamm. His last known location was in a warehouse at West Pier 17. [COMPLETE]
Main Quest: A Date with Royalty: [COMPLETE]
- Return the brooch to her royal highness, the Queen Ileosa of Korvosa. She has offered a fine reward for it's return...[COMPLETE]
Main Quest: Bringing down the Hammer!:[COMPLETE]
- Locate and Defeat Malder![COMPLETE]
- Locate and Defeat Baldrago![COMPLETE]
- Locate and Defeat Karralo![COMPLETE]
- Locate and Defeat Verik![COMPLETE]
- [Optional] Return Verik Alive![COMPLETE]
- [Optional] Defeat the remaining Cow Hamer Boys (Parns)![COMPLETE]
Optional Quest: The eyes and ears: [COMPLETE]
- Find and locate any information regarding Yargin [COMPLETE]
- Capture and subdue Yargin[COMPLETE]
Optional Quest: Unfinished Business: [COMPLETE]
- Finish off Gaedren Lamm's remaining gang members once and for all...[COMPLETE]
Optional Quest: Unanswered Questions: [COMPLETE]
- Pay a visit to the fortune teller Zellera at her home. She has some explaining to do...[COMPLETE]
- Acquire an audience with Devargo [Complete]
- Persuade Devargo to hand the Letters [Complete]
Main Quest: On the Lamm: [COMPLETE]
- Find and defeat Gaedren Lamm. His last known location was in a warehouse at West Pier 17. [COMPLETE]
Main Quest: A Date with Royalty: [COMPLETE]
- Return the brooch to her royal highness, the Queen Ileosa of Korvosa. She has offered a fine reward for it's return...[COMPLETE]
Main Quest: Bringing down the Hammer!:[COMPLETE]
- Locate and Defeat Malder![COMPLETE]
- Locate and Defeat Baldrago![COMPLETE]
- Locate and Defeat Karralo![COMPLETE]
- Locate and Defeat Verik![COMPLETE]
- [Optional] Return Verik Alive![COMPLETE]
- [Optional] Defeat the remaining Cow Hamer Boys (Parns)![COMPLETE]
Optional Quest: The eyes and ears: [COMPLETE]
- Find and locate any information regarding Yargin [COMPLETE]
- Capture and subdue Yargin[COMPLETE]
Optional Quest: Unfinished Business: [COMPLETE]
- Finish off Gaedren Lamm's remaining gang members once and for all...[COMPLETE]
Optional Quest: Unanswered Questions: [COMPLETE]
- Pay a visit to the fortune teller Zellera at her home. She has some explaining to do...[COMPLETE]
Quest items and Major Artifacts:
Zellara's Harrow Deck
Hand-painted images decorate this Harrow deck, the frames gilt in silver so that under lighting they sparkle and flash. Despite the worn condition of the card backs, the images on the faces are so vibrant they seem to move when viewed out of the corner of the eye.
Wondrous Item: Artifact
Property: Once per day, any player of the group may draw a card from the Harrow deck. Once the card has been drawn, you cannot choose to draw a new card until the following day. Depending on which Suite you get, each player gains a once-off +2 bonus on their next skill, ability, or power from the chosen Suite's card. A player loses that bonus once he/she uses it. Players lose this bonus once an extended rest takes place.
Example: Player 1 draws a card with the key Suite. Key represents Dexterity, so each player gains a +2 bonus on any roll that requires dexterity. You can use this bonus as a free action, but lose it after expending it.
The Suites are:
Hammer - Strength
Key - Dexterity
Shield - Constitution
Book - Intelligence
Star - Wisdom
Crown - Charisma
Property: Once per day, at the DM's discretion, Zellara can manifest an illusionary projection of herself for up to thirty minutes. In this manner, she can engage in conversation and even appear to manipulate the Harrow Deck. Creatures that view or interact with the illusion are entitled to Insight checks to detect the fact that it is false. This check’s DC equals 15 + the artifact's concordance (I.E. How much it approves of the group). A creature is allowed a check the first time it sees the illusion and each time it interacts with it. A creature that touches the illusion automatically determines that the image is a fake.
Power (Daily): Minor action. Select one of your magic items with a daily power that has already been expended. Recharge that power.
Current Concordance: 9
Hand-painted images decorate this Harrow deck, the frames gilt in silver so that under lighting they sparkle and flash. Despite the worn condition of the card backs, the images on the faces are so vibrant they seem to move when viewed out of the corner of the eye.
Wondrous Item: Artifact
Property: Once per day, any player of the group may draw a card from the Harrow deck. Once the card has been drawn, you cannot choose to draw a new card until the following day. Depending on which Suite you get, each player gains a once-off +2 bonus on their next skill, ability, or power from the chosen Suite's card. A player loses that bonus once he/she uses it. Players lose this bonus once an extended rest takes place.
Example: Player 1 draws a card with the key Suite. Key represents Dexterity, so each player gains a +2 bonus on any roll that requires dexterity. You can use this bonus as a free action, but lose it after expending it.
The Suites are:
Hammer - Strength
Key - Dexterity
Shield - Constitution
Book - Intelligence
Star - Wisdom
Crown - Charisma
Property: Once per day, at the DM's discretion, Zellara can manifest an illusionary projection of herself for up to thirty minutes. In this manner, she can engage in conversation and even appear to manipulate the Harrow Deck. Creatures that view or interact with the illusion are entitled to Insight checks to detect the fact that it is false. This check’s DC equals 15 + the artifact's concordance (I.E. How much it approves of the group). A creature is allowed a check the first time it sees the illusion and each time it interacts with it. A creature that touches the illusion automatically determines that the image is a fake.
Power (Daily): Minor action. Select one of your magic items with a daily power that has already been expended. Recharge that power.
Current Concordance: 9
Harrow Points:
Zellara's Harrowing has foretold a momentous series of events in your future, and destiny has begun to guide your path. Each party member has received 3 "Harrow Points", which may be used at any time in the coming Act to alter their fate by gaining the following benefits:
Dexterity Rerolls: Spend a Harrow Point as a free action to reroll any one d20 roll modified by your Dexterity bonus. You must keep the new result, unless you have additional Harrow Points to spend for more rerolls.
Reflex Defense: Spend a Harrow Point as a free action to force an enemy to reroll any one attack roll targeting your Reflex defense.
Speed Increase: Spend a Harrow Point as a free action to increase your speed by 2 until the end of the encounter. You may only spend one Harrow Point per encounter in this fashion.
Also, during certain events in the Act, players will receive a small bonus for a short duration. The card selected by the PC during the Choosing determines which event this is. While the PC is participating in that event, he or she receives a +2 bonus to all d20 rolls modified by the Dexterity bonus, and gains a +1 bonus to Reflex defense. The benefits expire when the encounter ends.
The affected PC also receives a single action point that can be spent during this event, and which does not count against the normal limit of one action point per encounter. If it is not used during the encounter, the bonus action point is lost.
Dexterity Rerolls: Spend a Harrow Point as a free action to reroll any one d20 roll modified by your Dexterity bonus. You must keep the new result, unless you have additional Harrow Points to spend for more rerolls.
Reflex Defense: Spend a Harrow Point as a free action to force an enemy to reroll any one attack roll targeting your Reflex defense.
Speed Increase: Spend a Harrow Point as a free action to increase your speed by 2 until the end of the encounter. You may only spend one Harrow Point per encounter in this fashion.
Also, during certain events in the Act, players will receive a small bonus for a short duration. The card selected by the PC during the Choosing determines which event this is. While the PC is participating in that event, he or she receives a +2 bonus to all d20 rolls modified by the Dexterity bonus, and gains a +1 bonus to Reflex defense. The benefits expire when the encounter ends.
The affected PC also receives a single action point that can be spent during this event, and which does not count against the normal limit of one action point per encounter. If it is not used during the encounter, the bonus action point is lost.
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Posts
Another day, another hopeless search for any information to locate the slime bag that is Gaedren Lamm. It seems no matter who you talk to; Gaedren seems to have hid his tracks well. And though some of your leads confirm he lost a great deal of favour in the criminal underworld, he nonetheless remains elusive to those whom he considered a threat. Tracking him proved just as futile, as he seemed to border on the paranoia, hiding his crimes and operations well.
Almost too well…
Talking to the city guard proved equally fruitless, as they were ‘busy’ with ‘other matters’ in the city, and don't have time to hunt for 'trash'.
However, today felt different to you. Perhaps the gods smiled on you (or perhaps you were just at the right place at the right time) as you discovered a lead through the most unlikely of sources: a Tarot card. This card appeared in your life one way or the other…
Bob:
The humans called it ‘nostalgia’. Whatever it was called, you were compelled to visit the places of the past that Samantha showed you in your life. You visited the tavern that had the singing bard in (though he has long since left to Magnimar as the tavern keeper so charitably told you), and even the bakery that held the cake that Sam didn’t like (the cake has long since been sold to a newly-wed noble couple in the Heights).
But most important of all, it was at the site of your ‘rebirth’ that you discovered a clue: a Tarot card at the exact spot where you once laid…
Canary:
“ ‘Ello poppet! Out fer a stroll, are we? Don’t mind givin’ a few cold lads some warmth in their beds to’nite?”
But those who knew her knew here power in the arcane power of illusions. With a flick of her hand, she unleashed an illusion of winged creatures upon them. Thankfully, these bandits were incredibly stupid, and rushed off the streets, crying, “Aargh! Witch! Monsters! Run fer ye life!”
She was in no cheerful mood tonight, or for any night for that matter. Gaedren Lamm cheated her (of course she would have cheated him as well, but it’s the principle that counts) of a vast fortune. A fortune that would have seen her off retired and living her dream for the rest of her life. And now she was looking for him, even as desperate to comb the streets alone. Strangely, a card was dropped from the bandits, and as she picked it up, she stared at it in amazement, for she may have found a lead to Gaedren in all these weeks.
Rothil:
As you inspected what was left of the corpse, you found what appeared to be a card in the man’s pocket. Normally, you don’t bother with card games and superstition, but the fact that it was addressed to your name (and by name, it had your secret name that only you knew and kept to yourself written on it) intrigued you to no end. Who knows, perhaps your revenge on Gaedren would be that much closer now…
Sevren:
An arriving Hellknight patrol arrested the scoundrels and moved on, but the couple could spare a few coins as compensation for saving their life. They gave you a small purse of coins and left, eager to go on with their lives. It wasn’t the gold that interested you, but the card that came out along with the gold. You stare incredulously at the words, flabbergast at what it said… to you!
Vashrun:
As you land onto the street and enter the alleyway, you notice that they weren’t just young; they weren’t even men to begin with. The two young ladies (one was probably ten years old, and the other was barely out of her teens) met you with knives, threatening to gut you if you came closer. They were slightly malnurished, as you could see their skins on their arms practically clinging to their bones. You came to realize that they were homeless poor themselves, trying to scavenge what coin they could find (or steal) to buy a meal. With two swift kicks and a quick grab, you disabled their grips on the weapons, and caught the purse of coins they stole.
“Get going! Be thankful you were women! Or I would have had the nerve to teach you some humility!”
The two rushed off, never looking back on their would-be sympathetic shifter warrior, for fear of his own wrath.
What was this city coming to? Now even the poor steal from the poor? If only my parents were here, they would know-
You stop in midsentence, as an object caught your eye. A card was on the ground, where the two ladies once stood. As you picked it up, you read the text on it with disbelief. Is this some kind of joke, or could this be the herald of your vengeance upon Gaedren Lamm?
Either way, each tarot card had something written on its back:
“I know what Gaedren has done to you. He has wronged me as well. I know where he dwells, yet cannot strike at him. Come to my home at 3 Lancet Street tomorrow at sunset. Others like you will be there. Gaedren must face his fate, and justice must be done. - Zellara”
Whether this is a trap or not, the fact that you have finally gotten a solid lead in so many weeks must have been a blessing from Avandra herself. As each of you pack your gear for the coming meeting, memories fill your mind of the terrible act Gaedren has inflicted upon you. You check the card once more. There was no doubt; vengeance (or justice) had to be fulfilled tonight.
You arrive to find yourself at a small house, with a small sign hanging above the door: "Zellara's". You also notice four other people also moving towards the house (I’ll assume everyone comes from different roads). Once everyone arrives at the building, questions begin to arise from each one…
Note:
I PMed the tarot cards to each of you in secret, so that should the time come, you might discuss with each other what cards you got, as well as what they describe. Asking anyone with knowledge about the tarot cards, they will give you the name of the card, as well as what the card represents. Note however that they don’t offer a mechanical benefit…yet. They merely offer some fluff (and perhaps foreshadow your destiny in the game ;P).
Leaning on his staff, he looks from one approaching figure to the other and says,
"Either Lamm has forced his vile ways across the whole fiber of this city, or he has chosen an odd bunch to send in his stead."
Spaceships are better than relationships
This was a thought that slipped into Bob's mind on a frequent basis (much to his dismay). They had no qualms with being inefficient, were constantly faulty in their logical reasoning, and were consistently filled with incorrect or purposely deceitful information. Logically speaking, he had supposed that he should limit his interaction with other humans as they did little to further his goal.
But he could not help himself when confronted with new people - he was always so excited. What were they like? Where did they come from? What string of seemingly unconnected events had brought them before Bob? So many variables to be processed, to be savored, as their stories unfolded in front of him like the rising sun of a new day.
However, he knew what came first - Samantha. She was important in a way that his mechanical mind could not rationalize, could not logically compute, nor could it categorize. She was his friend.
His only real friend.
Bob had been the first there, sitting obediently outside of the shop on the doorstep. He had been early - approximately 25 minutes 36 seconds before the pre-calculated setting of the sun in accordance with recent astrological summations. But he had been too excited to wait - and his eyes showed it, as they had shifted from their usual calm cerulean to a vibrant, almost playful looking shade of pink. Despite his blank steel mask, he almost seemed to be smiling in anticipation.
This person knew where Gaedran was, and where potentially Samantha was. And maybe, after he had found Samantha and 'removed' Gaedran, he would take this new person out to eat - humans liked that. And maybe then they could be friends, and it would be Bob, Samantha, and this new person. The possibilities reeled in his mind.
His eyes darkened quickly, turning a deep shade of violet. He knew he would possibly have to kill people again to get to Samantha. He did not like that. But his body moved of its own accord in battle, and before he could rationalize his actions, he was usually surrounded by corpses. Such was the sheer efficiency of his design.
So when new people began to arrive and loiter outside of this person's residence, he had a mixture of "emotions" going through him. One was excitement, as these people seemed so new and fascinating.
Another wasn't so much an emotion, but rather the subtle calculations of his mind sizing them up as potential enemy combatants, and the dark voice of his programming whispering in the back of his consciousness -
4 ALPHA CLASS THREATS. CAUTION RECOMMENDED. ANALYZING ENVIRONMENT FOR POTENTIAL ESCAPE ROUTES AND/OR DIVERSIONS. IN CASE OF COMBAT, EXECUTE ORDER A6BC211. ISOLATE AND ELIMINATE.
His oculars looked upwards from the cobbled stone streets and at the small gathering of people. He raised a steel hand and gave a small wave, his monotone voice attempting to sound as cheery as possible.
"HELLO POTENTIAL FRIENDS. I AM BOB. IT IS A PLEASURE TO MEET YOU. HAVE YOU SEEN MY FRIEND SAMANTHA?"
With a sly smile she dons her silk gloves and pulls the jade orb from her robe and hangs it around her neck. Jewelry made for a good place to hide her tool; it hung right in normal sight line, but the low cut of her gown distracted from its true purpose.
She strolls slowly up to the residence and eyes the host thinking to herself, "Not a human amongst them, this feels more like a setup. What choice do I have though?" Canary observes the host and flashes a wide toothy smile before giving a slight curtsy to the warforged and speaking with a somewhat southern drawl.
"Well good 'eve Bob, I am Selena Mediore. Cha'hmed ah am sure. I am not sure of who this Samantha is ah am afraid. Did you perhaps write the 'lil note that drew me here today?" Canary bats her lashes as she poses her question. 'Can you charm a soulless enchanted piece of metal?'
As he made his way to the invited destination, his mind worked itself into knots of various shades of conspiracies as he mulled over how he got the 'invitation'. He wasn't able to track down Gaedren as of yet, and a lead would be nice. However, he didn't appreciate how he got the message. Whoever had sent it knew a lot and probably couldn't be trusted. Not that Rothril really ever trusted anyone, but he had to watch himself from whoever this person was.
Upon reaching the address at 3 Lancet Street, Rothril noticed a few others were just arriving out front of the house. He supposed there were the 'others' that the invitation on the card talked about.
"Afraid I've never met a Samantha," Rothril responded to the Warforged, his voice sounding somewhere between a whisering rasp and a growl. The assassin stepped out into the open. As he did so, it all most seemed like the shadows, in which he was walking, clung onto him for a few more moments than they should have.
"I suppose everyone here is in for the same reason..." He let the sentence drag off. Trying to gauge how the others answered. Rather consciously, Rothril went over the position and number of weapons, tactics and positions as he waited.
Flexing his arms across his chest, the shifter grabbed hold of the edge of the roof he was on and flipped over forward and started the descent to ground level. He deftly avoided the windows of the building, using his powerful arms and legs to vault any distances between handholds and outcroppings of bricks in the wall. After a few seconds, he pushes off the building and lands on all fours, sniffs the air once, and stands up straight.
Vashrun rotates his shoulders once and they offer a soft crack as his bones shift in their sockets and pop the air bubbles that formed with his latest climb. He eyed up the others quickly and decided to keep his guard up just in case they were hanging out here for unjust reasons.
When the warforged spoke, Vashrun looked over at him and shook his head once. He spoke common, but whenever he did, it came out with a thick accent that sounded like a wolf trying to speak with growls and snarls. "I am sorry, I do not know who you speak of."
He kept silent while the others introduced themselves and then did the same. "I am Vashrun. I received a note the same as you mention, and I am here as it requested." After voicing this, he suddenly felt exposed and in a bad position. He flexed his clawed hands and crossed his arms over his chest, looking back and forth between the others.
His eyes slowly turn back to their usual blue, and he turns up to regard each person there.
"I ASSUME THAT YOU ARE THE OTHER INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE MENTIONED ON THIS OCCULT ITEM?"
He holds up his card - emblazoned on the front is a picture of a Dwarf made of bronze, stout and sturdy.
"YOU ARE AWARE OF GAEDREN'S PRESENCE IN THIS CITY? HE HAS STOLEN YOUR FRIENDS AS WELL? I HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT GAEDREN IS A-"
He pauses, a hand reaching up to tap the circular emblem on the front of his chest. There is a high-pitched whirr as a young, female voice is projected from his visor.
"A scum sucking son of a Bullywug!"
Bob's hand slowly lowers to his side at the sound of the recording, his eye color turning back to that stormy grey. His oculars look downward towards the street once more, and in a very tired motion, he returns to sitting on the steps, pulling his knees up to his chest in quiet contemplation.
He had spent almost the entirety of last night trying to pick apart the day's events, picking over each bit of what had happened with a fine toothed comb to come up with a plausible explanation. The card surely meant to entice him to get to the bottom of things...but who else knew of his motivations to begin with?
When he finally realized that most of the night had slipped away he had collapsed on his pallet amid the various flasks and bottles and pages of notes that littered the small room he rented.
Sevren looks at the warforged sitting on the stoop.
"Ahh yes. It appears we were each led to meet here by way of a note, although I'm afraid mine made no mention of anyone by the name of Samantha...instead I was led to believe I would find information on the whereabouts of that rather odious personage you made mention of...er...did you say your name was Bob?"
Turning his attention to the others standing around him in front of the residence he says,
"Have any of you been unfortunate enough to cross paths with the despicable Gaedren Lamm? He did not make off with anyone I know, but he has put me at a considerable disadvantage. I mean for it to be the last time he interferes with my work."
Spaceships are better than relationships
"You may call me Rothril," the assassin continued, "I've been...wronged by Gaedren Lamm also, for different reasons. Now I'd like to see him get his rightful reward for what he was sown."
Rothril noticed the tarot card that the Warforged had pull out. Curious.
"Hmph, I got a similar invitation, except I got was different. But if you got yours in a similar fashion, I'd be a little more than cautious around this place."
"After you mi'lady. I see you have an appreciation for fine clothing, and may have something of interest to you in that regard once our business here is concluded."
Spaceships are better than relationships
The cozy chamber within this small home is filled with a fragrant haze of flowers and strong spice. The haze comes from several sticks of incense shouldering in wall-mounted burners that look like butterfly-winged elves. The smoke itself seems to soften the edges and gives the room a dream-like feel. The walls are draped with brocaded tapestries, one showing a black-skulled beast juggling men's hearts, another showing a pair of angels dancing atop a snow-blasted mountain. A third tapestry on the far wall depicts a tall hooded figure shrouded in mist, a flaming sword held in a skeletal hand. Several brightly-colored rugs cover the floor, but the room's only furnishings are a wooden table covered by a bright red throwcloth and several elegant tall-backed chairs. A basket covered by blue cloth sits under the table. Atop the table is a simple note weighed down by a small stone:
"Thank you for coming. I had to step out for a bit, but shall return shortly. Please, have a seat while you wait. The basket under the table contains bread and drink for you."
Alongside the bread in the basket, you find a bottle of wine and a number of cups.
As he waits for them to go inside, he observes them and thinks of the card he received. Picturing the figure in his head, he wonders whether it is supposed to encourage him to pursue Lamm or provide a warning...
"I suppose it's best not to keep our mysterious host waiting."
Spaceships are better than relationships
His shoulders rise slowly, as though mimicing taking in a deep breath.
"SENSORS INDICATE LARGE QUANTITIES OF AGARWOOD-NUTMEG-COPAL-CLOVES IN THE ATMOSPHERE. TYPIFIED FRAGRANT AROMA. PLEASANT."
While the others had gone about reading the note or helping themselves to drinks, he'd immediately gone to look at the tapestries on the wall. However gruesome they may have appeared, he stared unflinchingly, soaking every detail of the artwork into his now pink eyes.
He leans closer to the tapestry of the black-skulled beast. He tilts his head, his eyes "narrowing" at the bizarre tossing of human organs.
"ACROBATIC PRACTICES OF COMBATANT 'SKULL-BEAST' NOTED. ACROBATIC PRACTICES LETHAL TO MOST HUMANOIDS. IMPROMPTU NOMENCLATURE 'JUGGLING DEATH BEAST'. SAVED."
He turns over his shoulder at the group.
"WHICH OF THESE TAPESTRIES ARE YOUR FAVORITE? BOB WOULD LIKE TO KNOW."
Canary moved with instinct into her 'mingling' mode. She flitted here and there smiling whenever she made eye contact with one of the others. "I hate waiting..."
"I don't really care for any of them," Rothril half snarled back at the Warforged, his unease easily betrayed by his tone. He reflected for a moment before hasilty adding, "I mean, I don't really care for the artwork. What the pictures represent or the story behind them...Well, that could provide to be interesting."
"Does anyone else find this situation, a little too convenient? I assume we all got a card like Bob over there had shown us, and now we're all gathered in this one spot. Seems allmost like a perfect setup for a trap," He paused, nearly on the verge of walking out of the place, but he stopped himself, "Of course, I wouldn't mind putting up with a little danger for a possible lead on that Gaedren Lamm."
Upon looking around the room, the shifter took in the different scenes depicted on the walls and that there was a note on the table. From the comments made by the others that it had something to do with waiting around, he decided to just continue looking around and getting an idea of what he, and the others, have gotten themselves into. The one that the warforged, Bob, stopped in front of was particularly gruesome and held little interest to Vashrun. He continued to the farthest one, with the cloaked figure holding the fiery sword. He gazed up at the image, his slightly pointed ears twitching just a little as he studied it. The image brought on thoughts of what his parents must have seen after they were killed, perhaps standing before a creature such as this on their final journey. He had hoped that their path was unhindered, but as is usually the case with such things, hope is all that one has.
The sound of Bob's voice brought him out of his thoughts and back to the current situation. The mechanical creature had asked a question. Something about a favorite image of the ones here. Vashrun twisted around slightly and looked at the warforged, "This one is the most powerful for me. If that is enough to make it a favorite, then this one is my favorite."
He looked back at the image once more, a pained look spreading over his face for a brief moment, and then turned around and faced the rest of the group. The comments by the gnoll rang true with his own thoughts on the situation and he nodded in agreement. "I will endure anything if it brings me closer to Lamm. He shall answer for what he has done in his lifetime. This is the first sign that I have had in a month that is more than a whisper in a storm, and I will not let it pass me by without staying and investigating."
Uncorking the bottle and beginning to decant a portion of wine into one of the cups he says,
"I agree with Vashrun. However, I value it as a reminder of the power Nera holds over us all in the end. It also seems that the shadowy figure is a good representation of the situation we find ourselves in. We all risk perceived danger in order to discover truth.
This seems particularly relevant given the nature of the card I received."
He pauses in pouring the wine and draws the card from a flap in his leather chestpiece, placing it on the table.
"Mi'lady."
Sevren offers the glass of wine to Canary, then begins to casually walk around the room exploring it in further detail.
Spaceships are better than relationships
She holds the cup up to her nose and breathes in the aroma of the wine with a decadent smile. This is what she was accustomed to. If more adventures were like this, she could get into the mystery and danger of it all a bit more often. A bit more. She takes a sip of the wine, but no more in case there is some ill effect to it. Best to keep her wits about her.
As he moved around the room, he examined each tapestry in turn, filing them away in his mind as pieces to the jigsaw puzzle that the past few days had become. Stepping up to one of the wall sconces, he licked his thumb and forefinger and pinched the smoldering end of one of the sticks. He licked the soot off his fingers and rolled the resulting flavors around on his tongue...nutmeg...cloves...agarwood and something else he couldn't quite identify. The burnt resin of the incense clung to his tongue as he shuffled the pieces of the puzzle around in his mind. One by one they began to fall into place.
"I ... believe... we may be meeting with a fortune teller this evening. The Harrow cards used to draw us here, the incense and tapestries, even the solitary table in the middle of the room. It all fits. The only thing we lack is a crystal ball to gaze into. I hope that the knowledge they have to offer is based on something more than tea leaves and smoke."
Sevren pulls a chair out from the table and retrieves his card as he takes a seat, looking a bit more skeptical than he had a minute ago as he tucks the card back into the flap it came from.
Spaceships are better than relationships
!Ready
A short while later, the door opens again, and an attractive, but tired-looking, middle-aged Varisian woman with dark hair, steps inside with a smile.
She reaches into her pocket and produces an ornate Harrow deck, which she begins to shuffle idly in her hands as she nods towards the chairs in the room.
"Thank you all for coming and my apologies for making you wait. My name is Zellara. Please, sit down."
Zellara moves to one of the chairs at the table, and waits for the others to do the same before continuing. In her hands, she still shuffles the deck of Harrow cards, though she pauses briefly to pick up the ones resting on the table. With a flick of the wrist, she shuffles them casually back into the deck (Those who still hid or kept their cards on themselves, would be surprised to find out their cards have suddenly disappeared!). Once all the party members are seated, however, she continues.
"Thank you again for coming, my friends, and for putting up with my unconventional method of contacting you. I have reason to remain hidden, you see - a terrible man would see great harm done to me if he knew I was reaching out for help. This is a man you know, for he has done something terrible to each of you as well. I speak, of course, of Gaedren Lamm, a man whose cruelty and capacity to destroy the lives of those he touches are matched only by his gift for avoiding reprisal. You see, a year ago, his thieves stole this, my Harrow deck, from me. It wass important to me, an heirloom passed down through a dozen generations, and also my sole means of support. When pickpockets stole it, my son, Eran, tracked them down. The thieves were in the employ of Gaedren Lamm, and in reward for finding them, Gaedren murdered my son!
I sought help from the Guard, but they turned me away. And so I asked around. I paid bribes. I consulted my Harrow deck for advice. And recently, I was rewarded - I found out where Gaedren dwells. He can be found in an old fishery north of here at Westpier 17, where he not only trains his abducted children to be pickpockets AND count his stolen treasures, but I have heard rumors that he intends to leave Korvosa for good, perhaps towards the cutthroat city of Riddleport.
And now, I need your help. I cannot hope to face this man on my own, and the Guard moves so slowly that if I were to go to them, Gaedren would certainly know of their coming well in advance, and perhaps even escape, denying all of us our well earned vengeance. Even if they did arrest him - what guarantee would I have he would be punished? This criminal has evaded the law for decades. But you know of these frustrations as well, for word of the street has it that Gaedren has wronged each of you, too. So there we are. It is time for him to pay."
As Zellara speaks, she continued to almost compulsively shuffle the Harrow deck in her hands. Finally, she stops, and spreads nine cards out in a row on the table, and looks at the five other sitting around her.
“If you have no more questions, perhaps you would like a Harrow reading to guide your way? Free of charge, of course. I'm afraid I've not much else to offer in way of compensation."
Passive Insight (15):
"Ladies first, gentlemen." she remarks casually with a wide smile.
"It is one thing to know of his location, but what of other dangers? Any viewings on possible on whom he has around himself? Be they thug, thief or something else," Rothril kept the growing excitement from his words, business was business and any good assassin would try to ply to get as much information as possible. He did doubt that the fortune teller would be able to supply him with the information that he requested, but it paid to be thorough.
He half stared the cards displayed on the table as he waited for some asnwers. He had only a mild interest in having his fortune told, but that interest was still there.
His eyes lit up momentarily. At the offer of a free Harrow reading, his hands grasped at his card, quickly trying to find it - he'd never had a Harrow reading before. He wondered what the experience was like?
And of course, if he'd do a Harrow reading, him and the fortune teller would have a common experience together that they could discuss. A good way to make friends was to have common interests. So what if he didn't see the logic behind interpreting a 6 inch by 3 inch piece of paper? Humans had all sorts of weird hobbies, like gardening and politics. But when Canary reached for hers first, he paused, then nodded.
"INDEED. HUMANOID FEMALES REQUIRE MORE ATTENTION AND ARE IMPATIENT."
He looks downward a bit. His eyes color over in grey once more, and he is silent, the card grasped loosely in his hands.
As Canary went to get her Harrow read, he retreats back into his mind and thinks of the best way (given his knowledge of the city) to get to Westpier 17.
"No doubt Eran met the Raven Queen's herald with dignity, having stood up to those thugs and saving your livelihood. Lamm has accumulated innumerable foul deeds during his time in the city and it is well past time he receive a dose of vengeance. Perhaps we may also be able to extract some small amount of comfort for ourselves by crushing him beneath our boot once and for all.
What perplexes me is that after so many years spent twisting his way into the criminal fabric of this city he would suddenly leave for new territory. You said yourself he has successfully evaded the law here for decades. What could Riddleport have to offer? There is likely to be strong competition from other unsavory types.
I suppose it is of little consequence. I mean to get my pound of flesh before he has a chance to step even one foot outside the gates. He has been a thorn in my side and worse for far too long!"
Spaceships are better than relationships
"Pahdon me, that may be a tad rude way to say it but you have half of it right. We do requiyah a bit more attention, as we should. Delicate flowahs should be preserved. I'll explain bettah after this if you need."
"INSULT WAS UNINTENTIONAL. OBSERVATION OF VARIABLES HAS LEAD ME TO BELIEVE THAT HUMANOID FEMALES RECEIVE PRIORITY IN FORMAL AFFAIRS DUE TO THEIR VALUE AS VESSELS FOR PROCREATION. THEY ALSO TEND TO WEAR MORE FLORAL FRAGRANCES THAN MALE HUMANOIDS, WHICH MAKES INTERACTIONS WITH THEM MORE PLEASANT TO THOSE WITH THE NECESSARY FACULTIES TO DETECT SCENTS. BUT WEARING THESE FRAGRANCES DOES NOT MAKE YOU A" - he pauses, pressing the same circular insignia on his chest, and repeating Canary's voice - "delicate flowah." "YOU ARE STILL A HUMANOID FEMALE. BUT ANY ELABORATION UPON THE SUBJECT WOULD BE APPRECIATED. INPUT IS STILL NECESSARY."
Bob's eyes lighten up slightly, a hint of that excited pink in his eyes once more. If he could smile, he would.
"ARE WE FRIENDS YET?"
When she mentioned that she knew where Lamm was currently hiding, he perked up and watched her with new intensity. As she finished telling them of her actions, and what she suspected and heard from others, Vashrun found himself ready to go out and begin stalking his prey that very instant. However, he kept himself in place to finish hearing what else she might have to say about Lamm and what he was up to.
At the offer of a reading, Vashrun smiled a toothy smile. This was something similar to what all of the members of his family did to try and get a glimpse into the future, either to see if there were bad storms or weather coming or to perhaps predict a season where they would bring in good game every night. A little apprehensive of the ways of this particular "seer", as his family called fortune tellers, he did not touch the card he chose, but instead tapped the table just below it with his index finger's claw: the fifth card, directly in the center of the nine. His reaction was almost as quick as the other woman's, Selena's, but he was a second behind her in reaching a card as he was still standing a step or two away from the table.
"Yes! Yes, a reading would be a good way to start this hunt, you have my appreciation for your offer. My choice is this one." He withdrew his hand from the table and took a step back to give the rest of the group room to lean in and pick a card if they chose to. He kept his attention on the fortune teller throughout the banter between Bob and Selena.
Zellara looks at the Gnoll, who was busy staring at the fortune teller’s cards.
“As for whom works for him I would gladly say. Gaedren has a small band of children (calling themselves the Little Lamms) working for him. Most of the children under his ‘employ’ are orphans and street urchins working under Gaedren out of terror or fear. The rest merely work for him, since he’s the only one clever enough to take them under his wing, and are offered clothing, food and basic shelter. In return, they serve under him. But there are three men working under him out of their own free will. Yargin is a human bandit who once worked as a taskmaster somewhere in the Mainland. He now works as Gaedren’s eyes of Korvosa, listening to rumors about anything regarding Gaedran. Hookshanks, a gnome of devious nature, now serves as Gaedren’s left hand, brandishing harsh punishments to children who are out of line. Lastly, there is a large Half-Orc in the employ of Gaedren, obviously serving as his right-hand man. Gaedren calls him Giggles; why he is called that I do not know. What I do know, is that he has a sadistic streak that outrivals his physical brawn. He acts as the groups interrogator and torturer, harming (and even killing) children who disobey Gaedren’s orders. Those three men are equally as vile as Gaedren, so do not expect mercy from either of them.”
Zellara waves her hand, obviously through with questions. She has told you as much as what she could. She stares at the cards that she laid on the table, and offers a half-hearted smile.
"But for now, let us do the choosing." she says, indicating the nine cards spread out on the table. With a gesture, she prompts each person to select one of the face-down cards in front of her. "The choosing will speak of your role in the events to come."
Zellara looks at each person's card in turn before shuffling the nine back into her deck.
At Bob’s choosing, a card with a giant juggling all sorts of buildings, creatures and people: "Interesting. It is The Juggler. It can represent fate, the gods, or even those who play with the lives and destinies of others. If this titanic Juggler can keep up his rhythm, he will achieve his goals. But it too has a dark side. Should he falter, tragedy and failure is assured not only for the juggler himself, but for those whose lives he meddled in as well."
At Canary's choosing, a card with a large black Kenku (bird man) standing next to men who also wear masks, disguised as crows: "The Crow. It represents a theft, a murder, or a loss of something precious for someone else. But it can also represent the means to thwart such a loss. On your travels, you will probably gain something from someone without permission, or you might prevent a theft on someone you know or cherish."
At Rothil's choosing, a card with a brightly plumed peacock slowly being turned to dull brown stone: "The Peacock. It is both proud and beautiful, but fleeting, for preserving such things can only lead to tragedy. It represents personal change, whether outwards or inwards. Your perceptions, whether you’re own or those of others, will change throughout your travels. "
At Sevren 's choosing, a card with a grasshopper-like creature shuffling cards, with a giant peach next to him, with a rapier piercing the peach: "Ah, yes. The Cricket is a grig, a creature whose mind is as quick as its body. It represents speed and quick passage. Although The Cricket is commonly associated with travel, the peach it sits by represents treasure at the end. Stay alert and on course, and you shall be greatly rewarded for your effort.”
At Vashrun 's choosing, a card with a picture of a swamp. In the background 3 different coloured lights float around the muddy waters. In the center of the watering hole, a man’s arm lifts upwards, requiring aid to escape the waters: "Curious. The Demon’s Lantern is the card of traps and tricks, the sleight of hand and the sleight of mind. These will-o’-wisps and the man who sought their light represent an impossible or intractable situation. However, it can also represent an opportunity or a guide arriving at a perfect moment to show the way. You might guide or alter someone’s own path or destiny throughout your travels”
With everyone's cards chosen, Zellara takes up her deck again, and spreads nine cards out before her in a 3x3 pattern, face down. "And now the spread. First, the left column, which represents Law, and the actions of our past, which we have taken and will affect our choices in the present and future."
She starts with the top left most card, and works her way down the spread. " Firstly, is The Locksmith. The path ahead of you is not the same path that you have walked or currently walk. Next is The Liar. It represents love at its most treacherous. This is not the love that moves mountains, this is the love that rips the heart in two and causes lovers to leap to their deaths. This lamia can mean obsession, unrequited passion, or doomed love. However, in this position, it can represent a new relationship beginning, although disguised as something much less beautiful. Finally we have The Sickness. It represents plague, pestilence, famine, and disease. It can also indicate corruption of the soul or of a multitude of souls. You have been plagued by the disease that is Gaedren Lamm, and you’ll need to cleanse yourself of his vile essence to be finally cured of this curse"
Zellara turns her attention to the middle column next. "And now the middle, to represent the events of the present. The Snakebite. It is a vile, poisoned weapon. Poison takes many forms—not all of them physical. The poison on the assassin’s blade represents the death of ideas and freedom, as well as the ability to turn friends against each other or poison the minds of the virtuous. However, in this position, it is misaligned. This means that this card can mean a mental leap, a new friendship, or a discovery. The Cricket again. Here, in the middle of the spread, it is a true match. Fate has decreed that should you stay true on your journey, that you will be rewarded for your efforts. You in particular, Sevren, shall find your road equally perilous, but more rewarding, for you have a greater destiny ahead. And finally, we have The Keep. It is a symbol of quiet strength, one that can move when necessary, yet stand firm through the greatest hardship. Those represented by The Keep are not shaken by any force. However, in this position it is misaligned. This means that something once strong will become old, and will be replaced by a new strength, whether for good… or ill."
With three cards remaining, Zellara continues. "And at last, we come to the end, which will show us glimpses into the future and what may yet come to pass. It is therefore the Chaos of the future as the past represents Order. Firstly, it is The Waxworks. It is a place of helplessness and physical entropy. The mind might be willing, but the flesh is frozen in this place of horror. It is also the card of torture and imprisonment, signifying literal inability to move or a paralysis of a more prosaic kind. However, in this position, it is misaligned, meaning that this card indicates an abundance of energy at a crucial moment that changes all. When all hope falls, you will be reinvigorated, and be ready to face any challenge once more. The Foreign Trader is the card of spies and peddlers alike. A dark bargain has been struck in Korvosa, and the ramifications of it will come to trouble Korvosa in the times to come. Finally, here is The Marriage. It can represent a union of people, ideas, kingdoms, or other distinct things. The progeny of the salamander and water weird shows that a union might bring forth new power from both parties, or it might be a ruinous joining of that which should never have been united. Once wedded, the two cannot be parted. There will be a permanent shift in Korvosa, whether for good or ill. You’ll have to be extra careful in the days to come."
The Harrowing done, Zellara looks at the cards arrayed before her for a moment. "These are great signs and omens. It seems fate has brought you together here."
Dexterity Rerolls: Spend a Harrow Point as a free action to reroll any one d20 roll modified by your Dexterity bonus. You must keep the new result, unless you have additional Harrow Points to spend for more rerolls.
Reflex Defense: Spend a Harrow Point as a free action to force an enemy to reroll any one attack roll targeting your Reflex defense.
Speed Increase: Spend a Harrow Point as a free action to increase your speed by 2 until the end of the encounter. You may only spend one Harrow Point per encounter in this fashion.
Also, during certain events in the Act, players will receive a small bonus for a short duration. The card selected by the PC during the Choosing determines which event this is. While the PC is participating in that event, he or she receives a +2 bonus to all d20 rolls modified by the Dexterity bonus, and gains a +1 bonus to Reflex defense. The benefits expire when the encounter ends.
The affected PC also receives a single action point that can be spent during this event, and which does not count against the normal limit of one action point per encounter. If it is not used during the encounter, the bonus action point is lost.
Looking at his card again he grinned at the creature wearing a top hat. If he had anything to say about it, he would be wearing the finest top hat in Southern Varisia by the time all was said and done. Thinking of the henchmen Zellara had mentioned, the grin slid off of his face. He had known it would not be an easy path to rid himself of Lamm, but the thought of dealing with hardened thugs with a penchant for cruelty struck home.
"On one thing I think we can all agree, Lamm has been a plague on all of us in some way. Although I do not know any of you, I think our common enemy and his significant following are enough cause for us to enter into a temporary partnership. I may have some talent that is of use to you, and could use a strong arm by my side should things get ugly. Speaking of ugly, I am acutely aware of the disadvantages my heritage grants me while among polite society. I think several of you could say the same."
Nodding to Canary
"I believe you stand out as a rose among the briars, my lady. No doubt you would value an entourage to compliment your charms as surely as we would appreciate someone who is easy on the eyes and ears, if you don't mind me saying so."
Spaceships are better than relationships
Spaceships are better than relationships
"Yes, I would make for a good face on our 'partnership', and no, I do not mind. I expect it.
This would be in my best interests as well; I will agree with you."
Back and forth he went between the two.
WHAT IS FATE? , he wondered. He knew of variables, and of precise calculation. He knew of estimation and probability, and that there were certain scenarios in which an event was highly likely to occur, nigh impossible for it not to occur, but never absolutely determined one way or the other.
EQUIVALENT TO PHYSICAL THEORIES? LAW OF OPPOSITION. EQUAL AND OPPOSITE. CHAOS IS RAMPANT, UNPREDICTABLE. ORDER MUST BE EQUIVALENT TO FATE. FATE IS ABSOLUTE DETERMIN-
His eyes fluttered for a moment as a the voice of his programming interjected.
LOGIC ERROR - CODE 435CB2.
He shuddered, his eyes drifting upwards. It made sense... fate should not exist. His mind told him that, mathematics told him that...
Then why did he... sense? Feel? That it was wrong?
For once, Bob doubted his programming.
"I WOULD SUGGEST WE INTERROGATE HUMANOID MALE YARGIN FIRST. OCCUPATION SUGGESTS THAT HE WOULD FREQUENT TAVERNS AND/OR OTHER PUBLIC LOCALE THAT WOULD ASSIST IN HIS GARNERING OF INFORMATION. LIKELY HE WOULD HAVE LESS DEFENSES AND WOULD BE EASIER TO SUBDUE."
Bob takes a moment to place his cards back carefully in his pack.
"TACTICAL ANALYSIS. REMOVAL OF THE EYES IS AN EFFECTIVE STRATAGEM. YOUR INPUT?"
Rothril made it a point to not pay much attention to fate. To him what happens, tends to happen whether it was pre ordained or just happens. He was more concerned with the immediate and what that meant. He was sure that he could bring some argument about fate and how some people are fated to die by another's hand, but it didn't change the fact that that person was dead whether fated or not. That's not to say that he didn't believe in fate, it was just that the concept wasn't something that was a concern to him.
The Peacock. A odd card with a description that Rothril had a hard time wrapping his head around. The telling was both specific and vague enough that the assassin didn't really what to expect from the reading. If this were to represent something that would happen in the future, he wasn't sure that it was fated by the card. Despite that, it was still something to ponder, even if he wasn't sure what it meant.
"Removing the eyes," chuckled Rothril, of course a Gnoll chuckling sounds somewhere between a growl and a bark. "Bob, I like your directness. It would indeed be effective. However, it may be that we can get to this human to talk without having to remove parts."
"I'll agree to this partnership. We all seem to be in this for our own reasons, but we share the same goal. It would makes sense to pool of resources and abilities."
The shifter watched as she laid the cards out again in a square, then flipped them over and gave a description of what the card meant and what it's position changed it to meaning. With the first three, he found himself nodding to her choice of words for Lamm. As she moved on to the next set of three cards, he turned his attention to Sevren briefly to see his reaction to his card showing up again, and then to the woman's comment.
As she started the final three, he returned his attention to the cards. While he wasn't sure what any of the reading truly meant or pointed towards, it sounded like most things where in his, and the group's, favor. As far as the current situation was concerned, anyways.
He turned his attention to Sevren as he spoke and made his suggestion as to a next course of action. Most of it seemed logical, and that was good enough for Vashrun at this point. Having a little help made sense, even if it might turn around and bite him at some point. The shifter nodded as the rest spoke, and then added his own agreement. "Rothril put it best. We share the same goal, and it is the most sensible for us to work together. Working with each other will only make our goal of bring Lamm down come faster."
What about you Madam? Do your cards tell us where to find his men?"
Canary asks her question as she stands from her chair and regathers her clothes about her to head out into the streets of the city again. She did not want to waste any time in locating Lamm and silencing him.