Day 28A: Street info diving

[Iron Dragoon]

Session Start: Wed Dec 03 12:18:34 2014
Session Ident: #dunes
* Now talking in #dunes
* Topic is 'Lief(27)>Man Alone(25)>Muirfinn(24)>Balyss(23)>Ellese(18) '
* Set by Kotono on Wed Nov 19 21:39:16
<Kotono> ----
<Kotono> <Moore> that that would be the case here, but... well, we want to do whatever we can to help." That last part is mostly true, at least if the city is destroyed there's no more knowledge to be found there...
<Kotono> > "Really?" He asks, "Well, we can't have that happen." Rocky rubs his chin, "You still need to visit that library," he nods to Lucy, "That's a future that needs to happen. So, how come we haven't seen this encroaching calamity, hm? How certain was your divination? What method did you use?"
<Kotono> <Moore> Moore frowns. He really doesn't want to say that some of the seers might be lying, but isn't that the most obvious reason?
<Kotono> <Pepo> 'I connected my mind to the Akashic Record,' Pepo says. 'Of course it could be interpreted otherwise. Perhaps the pirates will only visit to wave their flag and then depart, but there will certainly be strife involved.' He'll guarantee it after all.
<Kotono> <Lucy> "The important thing," Lucy says through a smile even more forced than before, "is to figure out who this group is. They are not pirates. Not with their amount of ships. Not with their training. And certainly not with their goals. Now, we have their symbol, the locations they were last spotted, and a description of two of their leaders. Use those for more focused divinations."
<Kotono> <Veren> "This will be the second mage city they've attacked as well. Could they simply be going after mage power bases?"
<Kotono> <Moore> "It seemed like they were going after Rossalund because of the dissatisfaction of the people there, almost as if they were making it their mission to liberate them." Moore suggests.
<Kotono> <Lucy> "They claimed to be on a crusade," Lucy reasons. "As they are being led by powerful mages, I doubt they are on such a crusade against mages."
<Kotono> <Pepo> 'Rosslund was destroyed, not liberated,' Pepo declares.
<Kotono> <Veren> "Crusades are typically religious functions. Could this be some odd cult having gained power?"
<Kotono> <Lucy> "Necromancy would account for both."
<Kotono> "Hmmmm," Rocky hmms aloud, like a gentle rumbling of stone. "Well, well, well. This is interesting." He snaps his fingers, "We really should do something about this, especially if there's something like a divination misdirection or block in play."
<Moore> Moore blinks. "You can do that?"
<Lucy> "How strong are your armed forces? Do you have a fleet?" Lucy asks him.
<Kotono> "It can be done," Rocky nods to Moore, "There's tricks and ways to do anything. We do," he says, "Which, if you excuse me, needs to be put on alert. We're going to be busy, but," He snaps his fingers again, a book appearing in the air before the party. It is inlaid with iron and silver, of obviously superior craftsmanship.
<Veren > "Can you do something to see the attack on Roussalund to see their tactics?"
<Lucy> 'Can you discreetly check whether our new friend is working with the teardrop pirates at the earliest opportunity?' Lucy thinks to Pepo, since there is no guarantee he isn't one of the traitors they might have in place.
<Pepo> Unfortunately dominating him isn't particularly discreet. 'I will perform another divination once privacy is assured,' he tells Lucy.
<Kotono> "We have ways and means," Rocky agrees, "Here, take this. "It's a blessed spellbook, one that lets us know where you are - in case something happens to all of you, or you're playing a scheme against us," he says openly. "This book can contact us if you utter Arimaz Tondup while holding it. It works like Sending, if you know that spell."
* Lucy nods slightly to herself. "Alright. At this point we are no longer contributing any vital information," she tells Rocky. "Unless there are any disagreements, I propose focusing on the fact-finding missions we discussed. We will, of course, contact you via this book if we think of anything else or come up across mentions of that group in your records."
* Veren nods.
<Veren > "I can assist with certain elements of information gathering and tracking."
<Moore> Moore considers why they don't just cast some sort of spell that makes people tell the truth if they have any doubts but stays quiet.
<Kotono> OOC: Okay, so what is the party's plans now?
<Veren > OOC: I wanna hit up Thieves' Guild/Assassin's Guild at some point.
<Lucy> OOC: Get the library tour, see what they might have on Rossalund or green teardrops
<Pepo> OOC: I want to plan for how to kill Lost Hero and escape in the confusion. Also divine about traitors.
<Veren > OOC: I can help Pepo with the assassination.
<Moore> OOC: I'll go with Lucy for the time being.
<Kotono> OOC: Okay, let's break into two groups for now. Pepo and Veren, in here. Lucy and Moore, in #evildunes.
<Kotono> OOC: Jetina'll head back to the ship for now, unless anyone needs her services.
<Veren > OOC: I doubt she'll want to heal us through an assassination. Doesn't seem like her thing.
<Lucy> OOC: I'll ask her to tag along with me
<Kotono> OOC: Okay, she'll join you two in #evil.
<Kotono> OOC: Right then. Pepo'n'Veren, what's your first move here?
<Veren > OOC: Well, we could try to hit up the assassin's guild for any intel on the hero. I'm sure *someone* in this place has at least made basic plans to kill him already.
<Pepo> OOC: I want to follow him and do some psicraft, see if he has much in the way of magic on him, also get a handle on his routine. We can do that first so we can show some credentials to any assassins we find? Also I need to divine if Rocky's a bad guy.
<Veren > OOC: That works for me.
<Kotono> OOC: Okay, you'll need to find him first of all. How do you plan to do that?
<Pepo> OOC: track him by scent from where we met.
<Veren > OOC: I could turn into a pixie or something else that flies and go aerial survey drone, or we could just try to track/gather info.
<Veren > OOC: Or that. I can't do that, so I didn't think of it.
<Kotono> OOC: Make a survival check then, Pepo. We'll start with that, see if it pans out.
<Pepo> roll 1d20+15
* Hatbot --> "Pepo rolls 1d20+15 and gets 33." 12 [1d20=18]
<Kotono> You find his scent. The city streets aren't good for it, too many scents clashing with it constantly. But still, Pepo is able to manage it. You follow it to a tall white tower, where it stops abruptly before it. Not like he went inside, just like it ceased altogether. The tower itself is fairly large and full of tinted windows, keeping the insides hidden and the ever-present glow out.
* Veren does his best to inspect the tower from where he is, looking for ways in and generally casing the tower.
<Kotono> OOC: Perception check, Veren.
<Pepo> Speaking of, that tower would fit fairly well with what he divined. 'He appears to have teleported from here,' Pepo informs Veren. 'We should not linger, those windows could easily conceal observers.'
<Veren > roll 1d20+13 Perception
* Hatbot --> "Veren rolls 1d20+13 Perception and gets 33." 12 [1d20=20]
* Veren nods to Pepo.
<Veren > "Just give me a second to look it over..."
<Kotono> The tower's fairly sturdy. It's not particularly hardened or sealed off - just a few doors here and there that are normally closed. No sign of extra security, but Veren does happen to glance up. The tower's perhaps ten stories high. Atop it you see a familiar green figure in armor, standing at the edge of the tower. Even from here, you can see his arms are crossed as he gazes all about the city.
<Veren > "Pepo, up top. Looks like he perches up top."
* Veren turns and begins to meander away slowly at that, to minimize the suspiciousness of his presence.
<Kotono> OOC: Making  a getaway then, you two?
<Pepo> Pepo looks up and amends teleportation to flying. Have to remember those wings are good for something. Pulling away he finds somewhere hidden by other buildings from view of the tower top, like a narrow alleyway. 'I will need to get closer to properly examine him,' he tells Veren. 'But first I should do that thing Lucy asked for. Watch over me while I do?' he asks before settling down to divine
<Pepo> on whether Rocky is aligned with the pirates.
<Kotono> OOC: Okay, CL for it?
<Pepo> roll 1d100 5+ wild surge
* Hatbot --> "Pepo rolls 1d100 5+ wild surge and gets 14." 12 [1d100=14]
<Pepo> OOC: 10
<Kotono> OOC: Link me?
<Pepo> http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/divination.htm
* Veren settles into a hiding place, changing his face and stature to a much larger, scarred, and rougher looking man to help dissuade interruptions.
<Kotono> Pepo learns the following: If any is less loyal than the stout earth, then let the ground crack asunder.
<Pepo> 'It seems as if Rocky is sincere,' Pepo declares after a few minutes. 'I am going to climb the tower so I can get close enough to examine him in more detail,' he adds, wishing he'd thought of it earlier but he was understandably preoccupied. Slowly vanishing into the shadows he manifests earth walk so he can climb the tower and get a look at Lost Hero with detect psionics.
<Pepo> roll 1d20+34 stealth
* Hatbot --> "Pepo rolls 1d20+34 stealth and gets 41." 12 [1d20=7]
<Kotono> roll 1d20+25
<Veren > "Do you want me to go with you?"
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+25 and gets 27." 12 [1d20=2]
<Pepo> 'Best not, more will increase the risk of detection,' Pepo cautions.
<Kotono> OOC: How close are you getting?
<Pepo> OOC: really I'd need to be on the lip of the roof so I could get line of sight, assuming the tower doesn't have a radius greater than 60 feet. If it does then 60 feet. Preferably from the side behind him.
<Kotono> OOC: Okay.
<Kotono> Pepo stalks up the wall. He gets to the lip and 60ft away, peering at Lost Hero's back. OOC: Go ahead. Psicraft.
<Pepo> roll 1d20+20
* Hatbot --> "Pepo rolls 1d20+20 and gets 36." 12 [1d20=16]
<Kotono> Lost Hero is surrounded by a lesser globe of invulnerability. Pepo can analyze that much - it's joined with a magic circle against evil effect woven into it. Unfortunately, that also stops deeper analysis due to detect psionics being stopped from scanning the area in the globe.
<Pepo> Well... that's certainly troublesome. Hopefully the pirates will have something to help deal with that, as Pepo retreats now rather than push his luck.
<Kotono> OOC: What's your plan now, you two?
<Veren > OOC: Well, if Pepo wants to share what he's learned with Lucy, we can do that real quick, or just try to find the Assassin's or Thieves' Guilds.
<Pepo> OOC: there's no real rush, we'll probably see Lucy at the end of the day, so we can go guild-hunting now.
<Kotono> OOC: Diplo check then, Veren. Any boosters going to be in play?
<Veren > OOC: Uh, Not off the top of my head, I don't think.
<Veren > roll 1d20+10 Diplomacy
* Hatbot --> "Veren rolls 1d20+10 Diplomacy and gets 16." 12 [1d20=6]
<Veren > OOC: Figures. I even thought about asking to take 10.
<Kotono> It takes a few hours - it's not the sort of thing that's easily asked about. But early efforts bear no fruit, just people brushing you off. The sort of thing that happens with this sort of info, sometimes OOC: You're welcome to try again if you like.
* Veren continues his crusade.
<Veren > roll 1d20+10 Diplomacy
* Hatbot --> "Veren rolls 1d20+10 Diplomacy and gets 26." 12 [1d20=16]
<Kotono> A few more hours leads you to a tavern in a quieter part of town. Not quite dingy, but less affluent. Less magic, further away from the glow. This tavern's shuttered from the outside, the interior rather dim. Almost pitch black to Veren and Pepo's vision at first, after so long in the glow's brightness. But they find themselves at the bar of this establishment, a droopy old man hearing the request.
<Kotono> He nods once, "Asking some mighty dangerous questions, fellas," He's a human in all appearances, while the other patrons are far more mixed, as is the norm.
<Pepo> Pepo is just an innocent cat nearby by happenstance. He certainly isn't asking any questions!
<Veren > "I have need of dangerous information, and possess some as well."
<Kotono> "Well, my friend," he spreads his hands out, "I got a funny visit from the city guard a little while ago. The diviners told them that someone would be asking about assassins," He takes a few steps back, spreading his hands wide. "I don't want any trouble with the law here. Please, just go step out without a fight." He lowers his voice, "Say you're a confused newborn or something. Make up a good
<Kotono> lie."
* Veren raises an eyebrow.
<Veren > "I am a newborn. Guards or not, I need to make contact. Perhaps simply another time or place?"
<Kotono> "You bleeding idiot," The man sighs and shakes his head, "Assassins aren't legal! You're committing a crime, you damned newborn. You're going to get arrested! Who looks for assassins except if you're going to murder someone?!"
<Pepo> Pepo chooses now to vanish into the shadows!
<Pepo> roll 1d20+34 stealth
* Hatbot --> "Pepo rolls 1d20+34 stealth and gets 35." 12 [1d20=1]
* Veren sighs and shakes his head.
<Veren > "And yet, we both know they are here. But very well, I will leave."
<Kotono> OOC: Heading out then?
* Veren turns and begins to leave.
<Veren > OOC: Yeah, but I'm going to change faces and watch the place from a hidey hole, if possible.
<Kotono> On heading out, Veren finds the front door, he finds a quartet of guards barring the way further out. They have spears out. 30ft back, the soldiers between you and him, is an old man with a white beard and blue robe. He looks every inch the wizard and sighs, "Hands up," he declares, sounding tired. "You're under arrest for soliciting murder. Just come along, you can tell your story to the
<Kotono> magistrate."
<Pepo> Well, if Veren wants to do that... Pepo keeps to the shadows and finds another way out. If it comes to violence he can swing around the front and help if needed.
<Veren > OOC: How far from the guards am I?
<Kotono> OOC: 10ft, they're around the door and blocking easy escape. Could potentially tumble past them, though.
<Veren > OOC: Could I shift into a Pixie and zip away?
<Kotono> OOC: Pixies are a fey, so you couldn't change into one in the first place. That being said for a moment, I'd call for init if you try to bolt.
* Veren raises an eyebrow and shifts form into winged elf before jumping into the air to try and escape!
<Kotono> OOC: Init then.
<Kotono> roll 1d20+2 guards
<Veren > roll 1d20+4 Init
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+2 guards and gets 13." 12 [1d20=11]
* Hatbot --> "Veren rolls 1d20+4 Init and gets 8." 12 [1d20=4]
<Kotono> roll 1d20+6 old wizard
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 old wizard and gets 10." 12 [1d20=4]
* Kotono changes topic to 'Guards(13)>Old Wizard(10)>Veren(8 mikos) '
<Pepo> roll 1d20+6 add me after however long it takes to get out via alternate means and swing round?
* Hatbot --> "Pepo rolls 1d20+6 add me after however long it takes to get out via alternate means and swing round? and gets 26." 12 [1d20=20]
* Kotono changes topic to 'Pepo(26)>Guards(13)>Old Wizard(10)>Veren(8 mikos) '
<Kotono> OOC: We'll say one more round, so next round I'll intro you.
<Kotono> "Oh, by..." The wizard glowers and sighs, face palming, "Knock the fool out!" At this, the soldiers whirl around, battering Veren with their staves like clubs.
<Kotono> *Spears
<Kotono> roll 1d20+6 nonlethal AC Veren, flatfooted unless you have the uncannies
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 nonlethal AC Veren, flatfooted unless you have the uncannies and gets 7." 12 [1d20=1]
<Kotono> roll 1d20+6 nonlethal AC Veren, flatfooted unless you have the uncannies
<Kotono> roll 1d20+6 nonlethal AC Veren, flatfooted unless you have the uncannies
<Kotono> roll 1d20+6 nonlethal AC Veren, flatfooted unless you have the uncannies
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 nonlethal AC Veren, flatfooted unless you have the uncannies and gets 21." 12 [1d20=15]
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 nonlethal AC Veren, flatfooted unless you have the uncannies and gets 12." 12 [1d20=6]
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 nonlethal AC Veren, flatfooted unless you have the uncannies and gets 21." 12 [1d20=15]
<Veren > OOC: 26 AC, Uncanny Dodge.
<Kotono> But Veren weaves about, dodging the blows. The wizard sighs, "Of course. Just sleep," he waves a hand at Veren. OOC: Will. This is a mind-affecting compulsion and a sleep effect.
<Veren > OOC: Doppels are immune to sleep and charm effects.
<Kotono> OOC: So you are. Off the hook then.
<Kotono> But the magic utterly fails. The wizard blinks at that, "Well, well," he murmurs, sounding far less tired. OOC: Go Iddy.
<Veren > OOC: Can I take off or what?
<Kotono> OOC: Sure, go for it. You'll get AoOed by the guards, though, but they struggle to hit you.
* Veren jumps into the air and tries to fly away!
<Kotono> roll 1d20+6 nonlethal AC Veren, AoOs
<Kotono> roll 1d20+6 nonlethal AC Veren, AoOs
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 nonlethal AC Veren, AoOs and gets 25." 12 [1d20=19]
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 nonlethal AC Veren, AoOs and gets 12." 12 [1d20=6]
<Kotono> roll 1d20+6 nonlethal AC Veren, AoOs
<Kotono> roll 1d20+6 nonlethal AC Veren, AoOs
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 nonlethal AC Veren, AoOs and gets 26." 12 [1d20=20]
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 nonlethal AC Veren, AoOs and gets 26." 12 [1d20=20]
<Kotono> roll 1d20+6 nonlethal AC Veren, AoOs crit check 1 wow
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 nonlethal AC Veren, AoOs crit check 1 wow and gets 20." 12 [1d20=14]
<Kotono> roll 1d20+6 nonlethal AC Veren, AoOs crit check 2 seriously?
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 nonlethal AC Veren, AoOs crit check 2 seriously? and gets 12." 12 [1d20=6]
<Kotono> roll 2d8+6 nonlethal
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d8+6 nonlethal and gets 13." 12 [2d8=2, 5]
<Kotono> Veren gets the butt of spears into his side as he flies up and away, escaping! OOC: Just gonna flee, Veren?
<Veren > OOC: Yep. Get a fair distance to a clear place, land, shift faces and clothes and try to disappear into a crowd, headed back towards the library.
<Kotono> OOC: I'll deal with you in a sec, lemme resolve Pepo first.
<Kotono> As Veren flies away, Pepo comes round. He sees the guards and wizard watching a winged elf fly off, and the wizard says, "Stand down, stand down. So we have a changeling here. This one's over your ranks now." He turns, "Standard formation, with me." The four surround the old wizard, as they begin to walk off.
<Pepo> Well, he escaped... for now anyway. Rather than involve himself any further with all of this, Pepo slinks off back to the boat. It's been quite a day!
<Kotono> OOC: Over to #terror, Pepo.
<Kotono> Veren flies off to an alley, landing in the darkness. Safe, at least for now? OOC: Go ahead.
* Veren shifts into a female human, changing the vestments into something more successful merchant-y, and begins moving back towards the library.
<Kotono> roll 1d100
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 52." 12 [1d100=52]
<Kotono> The trip back to the library is uneventful and long. OOC: I'll integrate you into #evil shortly, since you spent several hours info diving.