Day 4 - Oaths and Consequences

[Iron Dragoon]

Session Start: Wed Oct 08 11:50:42 2014
Session Ident: #dunes
* Now talking in #dunes
* Topic is 'Moore(29)>Ice Para-Elemental(25)>Veren(22)>Pepo(15) '
* Set by Kotono on Thu Sep 25 12:15:16
<Kotono> -----
<Kotono> "No objection," Flanagan says, as the  magic is cast. These amulets aren't magical - but the one on Flanagan is, along with his staff.
<Lucy> roll 2#1d20+16 spellcraft in order
* Hatbot --> "Lucy rolls 2#1d20+16 spellcraft in order and gets 59." 12 [2#1d20+16 = 29, 30]
<Kotono> The amulet's protective - like a ring of protection, along with deeper magic that requires a command word. The staff looks to be mildly enchanted, a minor metamagic rod of empower. Flanagan raises an eyebrow here, as Veren can detect a note of annoyance and anger. Yet his voice is cordial, "Doing that in polite company here is a serious social blunder," he remarks.
<Lucy> "Please excuse any infraction," Lucy tells him. "I was merely wondering why there were so different. Is there more than one tier of mages?"
* Veren raises an eyebrow.
<Veren> "If we are all working for the same goals, why would knowing your magic be offensive?"
<Kotono> "No," he settles back, "As I said, these are temporary ones until better ones are given to you." Standing now and dusting off his clothes as he rises - oh, that's a flash of genuine anger, right at Veren. "Because," his voice tightens just a bit, "It's really none of your business."
<Lucy> "Ah, then it was my misunderstanding. You have my sincerest apologies, Mister Macklen."
<Veren > "Then why is an evaluation of our abilities considered differently? I apologize if my questions are offensive, but as I've said, I am no mage. I do not understand the difference."
<Kotono> "Consider it a way to determine how you can best serve," he says, his thoughts consumed with anger. Oh, Veren can tell he be pissed now. "Now, about that dinner," he begins to head off. OOC: Are y'all ready to skip a long a bit or do you want to do anything else here?
<Veren > OOC: I got nothing.
<Moore> OOC: Me neither, really
<Lucy> OOC: Let's skip ahead
<Kotono> Dinner is pleasant but unremarkable. There's really no evening, the light of the sea stays steady and bright. But soon you're taken to another room within the same building, this one an austere hall. It's pillared and wide, undecorated and imposing. Flanagan leads you down it. At the far end is a table with a cornucopia of fruits and vegetables. Standing before it a beautiful woman clad in a
<Kotono> white toga, save for her head. Her head is hidden behind a transparent veil, that yet lets nothing above her neck show. "Mistress De'natha," Flanagan bows to her, "Let me introduce these newborns."
<Pepo> Pepo sticks close to Lucy's feet, occasionally rubbing his head against her shin and just generally being a cat.
* Lucy follows Flannagan bow with her own after pausing for a moment to see if he would speak or leave it up to them, saying, "I'm Lucy, Mistress De'natha."
* Veren bows as well, taking the moment to take in the details of the room.
<Moore> Moore follows suit with the others!
<Kotono> A hiss is heard, like that of a snake before prey. "Welcome," The voice is as sweet as honey and twice as intoxicating. "What do we have here? Tell me, Flanagan." OOC: Quick perception, Veren.
<Veren > roll 1d20+12 Perception
* Hatbot --> "Veren rolls 1d20+12 Perception and gets 26." 12 [1d20=14]
<Kotono> "Lucy introduced herself, but this is Veren and that is Moore," He introduces, "They've agreed to citizenship and are highly valuable citizens, Mistress."
<Kotono> Veren can note the pillars give a lot of cover - and about 20ft to the left and 10ft behind the party, he can glimpse a shadowy figure hiding behind one, watching. He knows what he's doing, looks like, but Veren spots him anyhow.
<Veren > OOC: Can I mind scan him? It says 1 foot of stone will block it.
<Kotono> "Good, good," A hiss underlines the woman's words. She slowly approaches, holding both hands out as she walks towards Lucy. As if she wants to put them on Lucy's cheeks. OOC: You'd have an angle, so go for it.
<Kotono> roll 1d20+5 Will
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+5 Will and gets 21." 12 [1d20=16]
<Kotono> roll 1d20+7
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 and gets 17." 12 [1d20=10]
<Veren > OOC: DC 18, so failed that one.
<Kotono> OOC: Second one wasn't a save. He was doing something in reaction.
<Lucy> "Mistress De'natha?" Lucy asks curiously, staring at those hands. "Being new here, I must profess I'm not quite certain what I should be doing. Am I to describe my meager talents with magic at this point?"
* Veren focuses his mind on the intruder and tries to scan it.
<Moore> Moore simply hovers in place, occasionally making a glance at Veren before his attention returns to De'natha and Lucy.
<Kotono> "Silence," Mistress De'natha hisses low, as she puts her hands on Lucy's cheeks. Her hands are as cold as ice, causing her face to go numb in moments. "Oh, such powerful blood in this one," she croons, a single droplet of clear liquid falling from beneath her veil and to the ground. It shatters like ice once it hits the ground. But she doesn't stay long, going towards Moore next, hands out, "And
<Kotono> this, one of nature. Come to me, pixie." OOC: Trying again, Veren.
<Kotono> ?
<Veren > OOC: Sure I guess. I guess I misunderstood, but sure, I'll try again.
<Kotono> roll 1d20+5 Will
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+5 Will and gets 6." 12 [1d20=1]
<Lucy> While put off, Lucy maintains a polite smile despite the numbness in her face.
<Pepo> Pepo leans forward and sniffs at the shattered tear.
<Moore> Moore flies over as he's told! He tries to hide his nervousness with a smile.
<Pepo> roll 1d20+15 concentration to null display as I manifest detect psionics
* Hatbot --> "Pepo rolls 1d20+15 concentration to null display as I manifest detect psionics and gets 29." 12 [1d20=14]
<Kotono> Veren can hear the man's mind. It's a ball of tension, focused right on Veren. He's trying to pin down what he did and if he should sound an alert over it. He can sense the man's also focusing on silently drawing a blade of some sort. OOC: It's magic. Spellcraft, Pepo. Psicraft. Whatever
<Kotono> .
<Pepo> roll 1d20+18 psicraft
* Hatbot --> "Pepo rolls 1d20+18 psicraft and gets 21." 12 [1d20=3]
<Kotono> Mistress Da'natha's hands rest on Moore's sides. He goes numb immediately, the cold sucking his breath away painfully. "Oh, such energy in this one. Yes, yes, yes," she hisses, "Yessssss." Meanwhile, Pepo can tell that the fluid is lightly enchanted with fading magic. It's a basic bodily fluid - think saliva or the like - momentarily frozen by frigid power around the Mistress. It might also be
<Kotono> poisonous based on the magic.
* Veren thinks aloud to Pepo, 'We have a spy. He is alerted to me and drawing a blade.'
<Moore> Moore does his best to not grimace at that, but that's a bit of a challenge!
* Veren tries to focus on the man's mind and get his name or an image of his face.
<Pepo> Not making an attempt to read Veren's thoughts, Pepo is ignorant of them. Having learned little from the tear, he retreats back to his previous posture. Certainly don't want to lick it up though!
<Veren > OOC: What's the man's distance from me? 20 foot?
<Kotono> OOC: 20ft to the left and 10ft back, so 30ft total.
<Kotono> Moore is released, sensation slowly returning. Mistress De'natha goes towards Veren this time,  hands to his cheeks, "And this one," she hisses, starting to sound happy. "Oh, this one here!"
* Veren speaks lowly to De'natha.
* Moore catches himself before he hits the ground and starts to fly again. Whew!
<Veren > "There is a spy hiding behind the pillar behind me and to the left. He has a drawn blade."
<Kotono> Like that, De'natha hisses and steps back. "Flanagan," she declares, "At my side. Uran, present yourself," she declares with mounting anger. Veren can feel a tidal wave of dread erupt out of the hidden creature's mind as he steps out into the open, bowing low with his head against the floor. He looks elven, albeit with one pointed ear missing and a jagged scar there. "Forgive me, Mistress
<Kotono> De'natha. Their perceptions and skills are supernatural!"
<Moore> Oh boy... Moore just continues to fly, suppressing his urge to just become invisible and get the heck out!
<Kotono> Stepping past the party and going to stand over him, Mistress De'natha gestures. Uran rises, face a mask of panic that matches what Veren senses. "Do you think I care for such an egregious failure?" she hisses, "Your one task, your one labor is to be unseen and protect me! A newborn ferreted your presence out!" she gestures with an arm towards Veren. "Unacceptable!"
* Veren remains standing passively, but tries to subtly palm his blade.
<Kotono> OOC: Make a stealth check here, Veren.
<Kotono> Flanagan sighs and shakes his head, murmuring low, "What a pity."
<Veren > OOC: Is this a thing I can take 10 on?
<Kotono> OOC: If you like.
<Veren > OOC: I would! That makes it a 22.
<Moore> Moore frowns and looks at Veren. Was this his intended outcome?
<Pepo> Pepo yawns and sits down, starting to clean himself, though admittedly it's interesting to see how 'valued citizens' are treated here.
<Kotono> Another protest is cut off, "No Uran, you have failed me for the final time," she says, kneeling. Her veiled face leans in...and slowly Uran goes limp. Her face is against his neck as his body shrivels up like a dried raisin. There's a soft sucking sound as this happens, and soon nothing but an utterly drained husk of a corpse remains.
* Veren eyes this impassively, trying to subtly inspect the corpse for anything useful.
<Moore> Moore shifts incredibly uncomfortably at this particular display.
* Lucy raises an eyebrow.
<Pepo> 'Now do you understand my desire for anonymity?' the cat's voice booms into Veren's mind.
<Kotono> There's clothes and possessions that now lie on the floor and around the dried out corpse. There's really not time to look as Mistress De'natha rises, her voice chipper. "Aaah. Excuse that. An unpleasant condition from an old battle," she says smoothly, full of energy. "Don't worry, he'll be back soon." A chortle follows.
* Veren mentally responds to Pepo, "I understood it before, which is why I attempted to claim you as a companion in front of Flanagan."
<Veren > "Will he?"
* Veren sounds genuinely curious.
<Kotono> "Oh yes, yes." A hiss follows, "Even death fears my power, and thus Rossalund."
* Veren turns his mental focus on Flanagan this time.
<Veren > OOC: Mind scan, DC 18.
<Kotono> roll 1d20+11
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 and gets 31." 12 [1d20=20]
<Lucy> "Your power is mighty indeed, Mistress De'natha," Lucy feels compelled to say, wondering if she found a kindred spirit here so quickly.
<Moore> Moore swallows and takes a breath in through his nose and out through his mouth.
<Kotono> "Yessss," she drawls, coming to stand before them again. "Now with that done, let's get to this. Kneel before me and repeat after me."
* Veren kneels, keeping his face blank.
* Lucy comes to one knee, looking up at De'natha expectantly.
<Moore> Moore flies down to the ground to do this kneeling thing!
<Pepo> Pepo continues cleaning himself. A cat couldn't be expected to understand, after all. And that walk into town did get a lot of dirt on his coat.
<Kotono> Mistress De'natha slowly intones odd words. They aren't in a language any of you know, but she says them slowly and with painstaking enunciation.
<Kotono> OOC: Check that, forgot tongues.
<Kotono> Mistress De'natha slowly intones odd words. They aren't in a language any of you know, but she says them slowly and with painstaking enunciation. Yet Lucy's magic lets her understand. "Before the might I kneel and accept my place here. I vow to serve now and forever, and may my soul be torn apart if I dare towards treason."
<Pepo> OOC: any magic/psionic component to the oath? I'll still have detect up
<Kotono> OOC: Doesn't look like it, Pepo.
* Lucy repeats the oath, feeling strangely nostalgic. She doesn't enunciate as well as she could have, however, and merely does her best approximation as someone unfamiliar with the language might.
* Veren attempts to repeat the words. Likely poorly.
<Moore> Moore will do his best to follow suit with the words, even though he doesn't understand them!
<Kotono> This goes well enough. Once done, "Flanagan, take them to the suite," she commands, "See to proper housing tomorrow."
<Kotono> "Of course," Flanagan inclines his head and turns back, "Come with me now, all of you."
* Veren rises and begins to follow.
<Lucy> With a curtsy, Lucy makes to follow Flanagan.
<Moore> Moore takes one last look at Uran with a frown before he goes to fly after the others.
<Pepo> Rising up lithely, Pepo pads after Lucy like the obedient pet/familiar he's pretending to be.
<Kotono> The suite is a well decorated and comfortable suite of rooms. Some refreshments have been left there along with clean clothes and a bathroom with a heated bath. OOC: Go ahead, I presume all of you would like to chat a bit and figure out what you're going to do?
* Veren looks at the magically inclined members of the group.
<Veren > "Was that oath magically binding?"
<Lucy> While her own clothing had been adequately cleaned with prestidigitation, Lucy still delights in the chance to try the local fashions. After a lengthy bath, of course! Halfway there, she pauses, glances at Veren and shrugs. "Only a promise to give away your immortal souls. Nothing binding!"
* Veren nods and relaxes a bit.
<Pepo> 'There was no magical component to it. Mere words,' Pepo broadcasts disinterestedly.
<Veren > "That is easier to deal with than a magical enforcement is."
<Moore> Moore blinks at Lucy. "You understood all that hissing and nonsense? Huh." He shrugs and goes to sit down. "I don't like this town... bright and sunny on one side, but actually held in place by fear..."
<Lucy> "I'm a scholar~"
<Pepo> While others bathe or eat or dress, Pepo just finds a comfy spot to curl up in and relax. More so.
* Veren chuckles at Lucy's comment.
<Veren > "You are more than a mere scholar, but that is your business."
<Moore> "It seems like we all have pretty different skills... I don't know how in the world they'd manage to keep us together as a group." Moore says with a sigh. "I guess we'll have to see..."
<Pepo> 'So do you all intend to remain here and be good citizens?' Pepo asks the group.
* Veren glances at Pepo.
> "I will remain as long as it beneficial to me. They have resources I need access to. I dislike not having my memories."
<Lucy> 'For the time being, until I learn of all the options,' Lucy responds to Pepo from the bath.
<Moore> "I'd really rather not, if I had a choice..." Moore says. "But I suppose we can gather information while we're here... and maybe find alternatives."
<Veren > "The current alternatives are to live in caves or find passage on a lightskimmer to one of the other isles."
<Pepo> 'I may not stay long. The wizard is too suspicious already. But I will speak to the other cats of the city later and see what there is for me here.'
<Moore> "We can't be sure there are just caves out there." Moore says. "But we have no way of knowing right now."
> "Flanagan was deeply curious about how a familiar gained psionic powers. Likely to apply to his own familiar. I imagine you will be the source of much research for him in the coming days."
<Pepo> Pepo's tail flicks from side to side in agitation at this prospect.
* Veren turns to face the bathroom.
<Veren > "I also suspect he believes to have Lucy in his palm, as one scholar to another. It will... amuse me to see you disabuse him of this notion."
<Lucy> "Maybe they have exciting new magic here~"
<Veren > "I imagine they do. Your access on it will depend on how much loyalty you display, I imagine."
* Veren looks down at Pepo.
<Veren > "If you decide to leave this place, I might well go with you."
<Pepo> Pepo looks back. 'There is strength in numbers,' he agrees.
<Kotono> The night, as far as it goes, is a peaceful one. Breakfast is brought by servants - mmmm, sausage and toast - and soon the party has a guest. A pretty young woman, perhaps 20 to 25 as humans reckon it. She's short and has flaming red hair and freckles. She's unremarkable otherwise and wears mage's robes in a soft, silky black. "Lucy, Veren and Moore, right?" she says cheerfully, "Adaea, Mr.
<Kotono> Flanagan's apprentice. I'm here to help you settle in today," she says.
> "Thank you for your assistance."
* Lucy looks her over inconspicuously for any signs of the snake pendant, introducing herself politely.
<Moore> Moore gives a polite wave.
* Veren inspects the woman, looking for signs of nervousness or anything out of the ordinary.
<Kotono> She's wearing a necklace of some sort, though it's hidden by her robes. She comes on in and sits, "So I'm sure you have a lot of questions, big and small?" OOC: Perception.
<Veren > roll 1d20+12 Perception
* Hatbot --> "Veren rolls 1d20+12 Perception and gets 23." 12 [1d20=11]
<Pepo> Having helped himself to half a sausage earlier, Pepo is sated for now and lies resting on whatever comfortable spot he most likes in his surroundings.
<Lucy> roll 1d20+20
* Hatbot --> "Lucy rolls 1d20+20 and gets 21." 12 [1d20=1]
<Lucy> "How much freedom I have in choosing my duties, what sort of further divide there exists in the ranks of the magically-inclined citizens... nothing too complicated."
<Kotono> Veren doesn't detect anything awry. "Oh sure," she says, looking at Pepo. She cracks a smile, "Is he yours?" she asks, "Good kitty! What's his name?"
<Pepo> Hearing a voice directed at him, Pepo looks up at the apprentice and wonders if she's a cat person...
<Pepo> roll 1d20+14 it's the only motive that matters!
* Hatbot --> "Pepo rolls 1d20+14 it's the only motive that matters! and gets 23." 12 [1d20=9]
<Kotono> She looks friendly and nice to Pepo.
<Lucy> 'Any preference?' Lucy asks Pepo, agreeing with Adaea as she smiles. "Isn't he just?"
<Pepo> Yawning, the cat gets up and stretches, sauntering over towards her. 'My name is Pepo,' he booms into Lucy's mind, starting to rub his head against Adaea's legs and walking around them with his tail cheerfully upright. Not everyone here is bad he supposes.
<Lucy> Not skipping a beat, she asks her fellow mage, "Would it be too much trouble to get some fish for Mister Pepo?"
<Kotono> "It's no problem," she says, leaning down to stroke Pepo, before taking a chance and picking him up for a lap trip, with all petting expenses paid. "As much freedom as spells you can learn. If you need time to adjust your spells for a different task, you can get that."
<Pepo> Pepo submits to this, and even starts to purr quite happily.
<Lucy> "My preference runs more towards research into entirely new spells, or ways to use existing spells better," Lucy muses. "Merely going through the existing records of such research here would make me happy, but that is hardly a job. Still... researcher? Is there a position open?"
<Kotono> "There's always a need for more spells," she nods, "I'm sure that'll be fine."
> "And for Moore and I? Would we simply be Lucy's assistants?"
<Lucy> "How agreeable!" Lucy chirps. "What of the various divisions amidst the mages? Please excuse the question, but would serving as Mister Flanagan's apprentice reflect on you in some way in your interaction with other mages? Are there cliques, to use an ill-fitting term?"
<Kotono> OOC: Perception, all.
<Kotono> roll 1d20+1
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+1 and gets 11." 12 [1d20=10]
<Lucy> roll 1d20+20
* Hatbot --> "Lucy rolls 1d20+20 and gets 22." 12 [1d20=2]
> roll 1d20+12 Perception
* Hatbot --> "Veren rolls 1d20+12 Perception and gets 22." 12 [1d20=10]
<Pepo> roll 1d20+16
* Hatbot --> "Pepo rolls 1d20+16 and gets 27." 12 [1d20=11]
<Moore> roll 1d20+12
* Hatbot --> "Moore rolls 1d20+12 and gets 20." 12 [1d20=8]
<Kotono> The party can hear some commotion outside. Feet moving, something pounding, that sort of thing. Meanwhile Adaea goes on without seeming to notice, "Well, it depends on how skilled you are and how useful you are," she says, "I'm only an apprentice, so Mr. Flanagan's more important than I am."
<Veren > "... Excuse me for a moment."
<Moore> Moore blinks and turns his attention to the commotion. "Ah... is something going on outside?"
<Lucy> "So it would not be a faux pas to discuss magical theory with any mage?" Lucy inquires, ignoring the commotion herself.
* Veren stands moves to the door, opens it a crack, and tries to unobtrusively peer out to see what's happening.
<Pepo> Pepo remains on the girl's lap being petted. If the disturbance comes here then he'll involve himself in it.
<Moore> Moore flies over to peek out too!
<Kotono> "Eh?" Adaea looks as the others, save Lucy and Pepo, go to the door. Outside in the hall people are running full tilt. Some sort of commotion seems to have them stirred up.
* Veren keeps an eye on the hallway.
<Lucy> "Flighty people, easily distracted. Please ignore them, Miss Adaea! Now then, might I see a proper map of this fine city?"
<Moore> "People are running from something." Moore says as he turns his attention to the others. "Is there some sort of... I dunno, special happening today that would have their attention?"
* Veren moves to slip out into the hallway when Adaea looks back at Lucy.
<Kotono> "There shouldn't be?" Adaea says as she pets Pepo, frowning. "Sorry  kitty," she murmurs, gently placing him down before heading to the door. "Hold on!" she calls once outside, to one of the running people, "What's going on?"
* Lucy looks genuinely angry for a moment, before it gives way for a fierce pout.
<Pepo> Pepo mewls unhappily pads after the others to see what's going on in the hallway.
<Kotono> One of them men turns to shout, "Pirate attack!" he says, before running off.
* Veren looks confused.
<Veren > "Pirates?"
<Lucy> "What."
* Veren moves to follow, palming a dagger as he goes.
<Kotono> Adaea pales, "P-pirates?!" she sputters, turning back to the others, "P-pirates on lightskimmers!"
<Moore> "Er... is that... ...normal?" Moore asks.
<Lucy> "Is this mighty city afraid of a mere pirate raid?" Lucy asks incredulously.
<Kotono> "Of course not," Adaea begins, "But we still need to defend it!"
<Lucy> "That is a job for the soldiers, surely!"
<Veren > "I wish to observe, at the least."
<Pepo> Pepo supposes he might protect Adaea if she's determined to go into a fight. She's a cat person after all.