IC: Kingdom of Urth

[fireinthedust]

The morning sun shines upon the kingdom of King Duncan Deleon, rising up over the peaks of the mountain range that shelters the vale, and over the hills and dales, farms and villages that feed the kingdom; and up over the walls and towers of Castle Deleon itself, white stone towers covered in red and gold banners that flap in the morning winds.

On this day Mystics of the spheres of reality will stand atop the tower and draw forth a boon upon the kingdom from the Astral Plane: Light, Life, Nature, Knowledge, Tempest, Luck, and even War, gathering together their gifts to send across the kingdom, bringing good crops, fair weather, and wise counsel to all the peoples of the kingdom.

All the nobles have come, too, from across the realm. Hundreds of smaller flags are flown over the castle walls, between the many flags of the King's Lion, each one a smaller hold within the kingdom: the knights and nobles of the realm, come to the castle to celebrate the Sun Festival.

For the Sun Festival is the day, everyone knows, that the princesses may be promised to the knight or noble chosen by King Duncan. The most worthy of them will vie for the honor, for only one wed into the house of the king may hope to one day inherit the throne!

The town outside the Castle, from the White Walls of the castle itself, all the way through the houses, the market, the shops, to the crumbling "new wall" built around the town, are decked out in red and yellow flags. The peasants all wear red or yellow clothes, the women weave red and gold ribbons in their hair, and young children carry baskets of red and yellow flowers ready to throw at the hour of the festival.

Castle Deleon is formed of a single piece of seamless stone, like polished white-gold marble. The throneroom of the king opens up to a great courtyard, a wide circle with a raised area for the Mystics to gather at various times of the year, each in their place, for their purposes. Different times sees each of them take different positions atop the dais, like planets on some map of the heavens, Nature's Mystic standing here, then there, for harvests or planting times; Light's mystic appearing at dawn, or each night of the full moon; and so on throughout the year.

The Sun Festival is the only time all gather together, each standing in a special circle on the dais they use only on that day. The entire kingdom gathers for the day, the nobles atop the rest of the courtyard in front of the doors of the throneroom, the rest of the people on the level below, waiting on the mystics to bestow wisdoms and boons.


For you, good citizens of the Kingdom, preparation for this time... is a lot of work.


"Which is why," Master Oren said, the king's wizard pacing about, twisting a moustache while he speaks to your group, "I have divined that YOU lot are needed."

He lets the moment settle.

You and five others have been gathered into the library of the King's Wizard, informed that your presence is needed and "to keep ruddy quiet about it". Now you're standing in a tower room filled with shelves (!) of books, braziers of incense, pots of strange herbs, star charts, globes of different colors with what look like maps on their surfaces (with names you've never heard of), a silver sword embedded blade-first in a block of granite... and The Master's owl, Boo, watching you with a friendly look (and occasional jolly "hoot!") as the mage paces between him and you.

"The fact is, this kingdom has a number of idiots in it. Something always goes wrong, and I need some... well, 'not-morons', to take care of it. That's you. I've seen you all in action, and you've all got common sense.

"This may seem like a simple festival, but we've got all manner of noble morons doing their political thing. Plus the preparations are very much behind. And, of course, there's the Princess... the Princesses! Amalthia's fine, knows what's up, but the others are in their own heads. Last thing we need is some disaster causing a civil war INSIDE the kingdom, or some accident ruining the boons for an entire year, or the princesses running off and becoming... I don't know... Bards?"

He pauses, thinks, then shakes his head irritably. The Owl Amulet, a disc with the symbol of a sleeping Owl, swings back and forth on his chest as he resumes pacing.

"So: I want the six of you to take care of the problems that are going to come up today. Check on the New Wall's repairs, see they don't fall on anyone during the parades. Check on the kitchens and talk to the steward, and make sure things are fine there. And, finally, make sure the princesses are gathered and ready, and get to the Sun Festival by noon, safe! I have important matters to attend to, and I can't be distracted; but I can't trust this to anyone who isn't either already busy, or a complete moron. You're the best the kingdom has, and today is important for the future of the kingdom.

"Oh, and stay together. I divined your names for this, and you'll need each other for the tasks ahead of you." He pauses, thinks, and then shrugs.

He nods, signalling that you can ask questions, or leave.

[Ramsus]

Kae takes a step forward and says with a genuine smile, "It is nice to know you think so favorably of me Master Oren. Do you wish us to carry out these tasks in the order you presented them or merely ensure they all are accomplished before midday?"

((If you guys haven't already, you should check out my character's physical description in the character sheet.))

[nerk]

"I am ready to do as you command, Master Oren," Calen says. He is a typical wood elf, slender and handsome, but distant. He wears a dark green cloak with patches of other greens and dark leathers that make him seem half a tree just standing in the middle of the room. His hair is nearly the same color as his cloak ((and his text)) and his eyes are a lighter, jade hue. A longbow is slung over his shoulder and he wears a quiver on one hip, a long, hunter's knife on the othert, and a slim dagger in his boot.

He looks at the others. A strange group for simple errands, he thinks, but the wizard was clear, they are to stick together. "The princesses are the priority," he says. "We can deal with the wall and the kitchen once we know the princesses are safe."

[Entelechy]

"Do you really think the princesses' safety is a one time job? I assure you, within an hour all kinds of hell can break loose. We should probably tackle this geographically: princesses, kitchens, princesses, walls, and then escort the princesses personally. Maybe we can skip the middle check, if things are going well. But either way, it will be a tight schedule." Idira had been idly sitting on a large, faintly glowing cushion, playing cat's cradle with a length of fleece roving. She has sharply delicate fey features, and long blond hair with razor straight bangs. She rises from the jabs it with a smallbelt knife, causing it to turn into nothingness.

"By your leave, Master," she asks with a courtesy.

[nerk]

Calen looks at Idira for a moment, puzzled. Then he chuckles and shrugs his shoulders.

"You win. We will try to find the princesses first," he says. "Lead the way, Senior Apprentice."

[Ramsus]

Kae doesn't so much ignore the other two as simply wait for Master Oren's reply, feeling it best not to assume anything at this point. He does raise an eyebrow and a slight smirk touches his lips when one of them acts as if the matter was settled simply because the two of them agreed without even waiting for Master Oren's reply or waiting for the input of the others. Which he believed included the captain of the guard, clearly the highest authority other than Master Oren in this situation. Next in line being himself of course, as he would know the rest if they were nobility or knights of any importance, not that any of them looked the part in the slightest.

[Held]

Rowley

Oh. Stay together. Rowley peered at his companions. He'd have to work together with that elf, huh. The rest... well, it really wasn't his place to judge, anyhow. There was, however, one comment he could not let slide; Rowley turned to face the wood elf.

"The princesses are safe," he said, "and will remain exactly so if we leave them to the guard for now. So we can start dealing with the wall and kitchen right away."

[Entelechy]

"I do so look forward to your explanation to the king: 'Oh, I'm sorry about what happened to your daughters, your majesty. I thought it best to ignore the Master's prophecy so I could go sneak a snack from the kitchens.'" Indira says, making her voice low and gruff to mimic Rowley. She smiles brightly an sweetly, "Why don't we compromise. We'll just check in on the princesses now, and I'll leave my familiar to watch over them."

At her words, a horned owl, as fey and etherial as Indira herself, drifts down from atop a bookcase to perch lightly on her shoulders. "Then we can carry on to the kitchen and the walls, and be back in time to escort the princesses."

[Boolprop]

Dressed in simple tunic that hides the more severe scars, Alavro stood there in silence, observing the others. The tall Goliath have seen the others around before, he's even met some on some occasions, but never given the others much thought. Folding his arms into another, Alavro gives Master Oren a concerning look when the king's wizard mention using divination to get him and the rest here. Already there seem to be some 'bickering' among the members present.

Coughing into a balled fist, Alavro looks to the old wizard and speaks. "Master Oren, I second this man's question." He nudges with his eyes to the Fire Genasi, whose name escapes from his memories.

[fireinthedust]

Master Oren rolls his eyes.

"Just make sure the damsels get to the ceremony ON TIME. Don't drag them through a construction site or through kitchens in noble finery. You'll find all manner of things to do. If you see something that needs fixing, use your best judgement. You've got from now, dawn, until the ceremony, noon, to do all this. I've got work to do, so bicker at your leisure elsewhere. That will be all!"


OOC: (arriving teleport, in the middle of the ongoing IC thread: doodly-do doodly-do doodly do doodly-do...)

...That said, I put the princesses last because you don't want to bring them with you while you're at a construction site or in the bowels of the medieval castle's servants area (kitchen, larder, etc.) while they're all getting into fancy clothes. I leave it to you, as it's your choice, but that was my thought while jotting this down. :D

[Held]

Rowley

Rowley crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow at the female elf.

"Like, what, a scraped knee? I'm sure the princesses will survive being within the castle walls, but if you must see them for yourself to be sure of that, go ahead." Are you a doting parent or something?


Rowley's actions are guided by my belief that we're holding a festival because things aren't Very Dangerous right now. Not sure why Idira's so paranoid about something happening to them!

[nerk]

Calen nods to Rowley.
"My mistake," he says. "When Master Oren referred to morons, I naturally thought of the guards. I apologize if my desire to see to the princesses' safety has somehow offended you. They are my priority. If the consensus is to deal with the walls and the kitchens first, then may we at least move in that direction? I am sure we can argue just as effectively while we walk."

[Ramsus]

"Yes, let us do that." Kae says as he begins walking. "Or rather, why not introduce ourselves instead? I am Kae of House Caergoleuni, heir to the Caergoleuni lands which I'm sure you have all heard of unless you were born into the world by falling from the sky. However I doubt my standing in society is the sole reason I was chosen for this task. I am also a mage of some skill and am a familiar face to the princesses."

He then looks to Idira and says, "I agree with the captain that there is no need to disturb the princesses ourselves quite yet, though I do think your suggestion of sending a familiar is a decent one. Perhaps mine shall accompany yours?" And at this he gives a whistle and in a moment something that looks like a falcon, if falcons had flower petals for feathers, flies in through a nearby window.

As they leave, some might notice Kae looking back at the maps and books as if he wished he could just stay.

((Those "in the know", would recognize the falcon also as a fey creature.))

[Princess]

Adorned in simply cut blue and golden silks, Mingmei, Priestess of the Light, stands and listen attentively to the discussion in front of her.

"Shall we begin, then?" she asks, and waits to hear from the others.

[Boolprop]

"I'm Alavro." The Goliath introduces himself. "Captain Rowley and Kae are right," Alavro says, folding his arms together across his chest. "If anything, there should already be guards station close each princesses. They also have umm... servants assisting them." Alavro turns around and lock eyes with each individual before moving onto the next. "Captain Rowley isn't a moron. I believe King Duncan is smart and wise enough to know who he selects to be his Captain of the Guards."

[Held]

Rowley

Rowley crossed his arms with a snort, tagging along with Kae's suggestion for now and walking along. 'A mage of some skill', and flames for hair. Well, he was right.

"I am indeed Rowley, captain of the guard," he followed up on Alavro. "Anyone who doubts the royal guard is able to defend this castle and those who dwell here is welcome to pick up arms and show us how it's really done. Until then," and he rested his gaze on Calen, "you should keep your comments about moronic guards to yourself. Show some respect to those who fight so you do not have to."

With some thought (and a look to Kae), he added, "I trust these familiars haven't been peeping on certain young ladies."

[Ramsus]

"Wow, just straight to Kae. No 'Lord or Young Lord Caergoleuni' or even 'Master Kae'. Well, I guess overly familiar is better than argumentative. And perhaps that's just natural for a.... he is a goliath right? It would probably be rude to ask. I'll try and look it up later." Kae thinks to himself.

In response to Rowley's question, he looks him straight in the eyes with a sincere and serious expression and states, "Assuredly not Ser Durandal. Not my Petalgrine at least." At this Kae looks over to Idira's owl and says, "Nor can I imagine why hers would either." Although this was not strictly true as he was now imagining why that would be the case, which led him to mentally slapping himself and damning the unexpected fantasies being his age brought on. He had better things to be on his mind now. Although presently he was having a bit of trouble defining specifically what those would be.

[Entelechy]

"Captain Rawley, the princesses are the only friends I've had since my parent's died. Surely I could just check on them real quick on our way to the kitchens? Please? It's a big day, after all, they might get engaged and whisked away! I'll just quickly make sure they are up, since they really should be getting ready already!" Indira says, looking up at the captain through her bangs with blue eyes shining with moisture. "And I'll let them know that we will escort them to the festival so they don't go ahead without us, and explain that they can send my familiar back to me if there's trouble! She's awfully smart, my familiar, but she doesn't always recognize human trouble."


Just to be perfectly clear, Indira is playing the "I'm a sad orphan card," and this is clearly not any kind of flirtation. I also won't bother rolling deception, because Indira can't quite bring herself to play this entirely straight: it's bit too Little Orphan Annie, especially considering how big a change it was from her demeanor a moment ago. She isn't mocking you, and every word she spoke was true, but she can't take herself seriously talking like that.

[nerk]

"Greetings, Lord Kae of House Caergoleuni," Calen says. "I am Calen Dae, the Falmerindi Feridir of Forodren Bereg and Lalaith Arquen, sworn protector of the Princess Dawn. But as such lofty titles mean next to nothing, you may call me Calen."

"I have nothing but respect for the King, Captain," he says, turning to Rowley. "He must have had his reasons to chose you as Captain. He also had his reasons when he tasked me with seeing to Princess Dawn's safety. As for your men, I respect them as soldiers. They are mostly obedient, often brave and sometimes honorable. When I have the occasion to be dazzled by their intellect, I will respect their brilliance. Now really, what is so dreadful about letting Indira look in on her friends?"

((I think everyone else here has been around a little while, so I know them, yeah?))

[fireinthedust]

OOC: If you speak Forest Elf, then you'd know approximately what he meant.


Master Oren clears his throat and gives you the sense that you should leave his study when he says "That will be all, thank you."

Boo, the owl, hoots happily, and seems to wave his wings with a "Boo!" as if saying "cheerio!"

[Entelechy]

"Well, we best be off then, or we might loose our 'not-moron' status in the Master's eyes," Idira says, turning and curtsying to her master, once more. She did her best to usher everyone out of his library, "For those who are new, I am Idira, the Master's senior apprentice. So. It's this way to the princesses chambers, if there are no further objections..."

[Ramsus]

"Senior?" Kae asks quizzically. This girl seemed around his age, surely Master Oren had apprentices older than her. Or did she mean she was the most talented? "That is somewhat surprising. For one, I would think Master Oren would have at least given a couple lessons on manners." he continues, his tone and body language expressing that he's simply teasing. He wasn't really expecting much formality from this group, even if he was more comfortable with it. As long as they gave him the respect someone his station was due, the words mattered little. Though it was odd for someone close to the princesses and Master Oren, who therefore must live in or near the palace, not to show the proper respect to captain Rowley. "Perhaps they are familiar enough with each other not to be formal? Or perhaps she simply lets her emotions get the best of her?" he pondered.


((To be clear anything in the text color and italics is something he's thinking to himself. Not sure if I had to mention this as it's pretty common, but I wouldn't want to risk dragging this scene out into unintended and mistakenly originated drama. I'm sure there will be plenty of time for character drama later.))

[Princess]

Mingmei stays out of the discussion, waiting quietly for the others to simply make up their minds so something substantial can happen.

"I am ready to proceed at any time."

[Held]

Rowley

For his part, Rowley shrugged.

"Did I ever say it was wrong to check on the princesses? I already said we could go check on them if it's important to you. Though the very moment you've all satisfied your needs to see Her Highnesses, we're checking on the New Wall."

[Entelechy]

"The master taught me everything he knows of manners. Why, doesn't it show?" Idira answered, in matching tone. She leads them through a fork in the corridor, "This way then."

[Ramsus]

As Kae walks along with the others, he looks at Mingmei and asks pointedly, "And who might you be?"

[Boolprop]

"This is someone I have to work with? Ugh..." Alavro rolls his eyes when Idira puts up the obvious act. Before he could comment on the sad orphan story, he's quickly ushered out of Master Oren's library.

Once outside the library, Alavro observes the rest of the party. "I don't believe you're the only one tasked for the Princess's safety." The tall Goliath says, slightly annoyed that the two elves seems to full of themselves. "Not that it isn't a bad idea to check up on the Princesses, but wouldn't Master Oren have erected some magical voodoo to keep anyone from whisking away the princesses?" Alavro says. He dosen't understand magic, the one time someone tried to enlighten the burly giant confused him. Alavro assumes that Master Oren if capable of such feats, that and hearing gossips from the men and women in town, Alavro could only speculate such things.

"Don't judge a book by its cover, see a man by his cloth..." Alavro mumbles to Calen as he passes the Elf, directing to the Rogue, while trying to recall the rest of the phrase one of the Princesses have once said. Not that he don't understand what Calen meant.

[Entelechy]

"Actually, such a ward is the domain of women and men of faith." Idira replies without missing a beat, "If he was present, he might be able to fight off the interlopers. But the only thing that stops any of us from being spirited away is the indifference of those greater and fouler than us."

[fireinthedust]

OOC: I'll post the exterior of the Princesses apartments when you lot all check in with "I head off to the princesses" plus whatever final remarks you say.

Please post HOW you arrive: do you do anything along the way? Do you send familiars on ahead? And so forth.

Keep in mind that, as this is a Sandbox and Kingdom-building game, you'll have to do what all the best teams do: overcome challenges and come together. I don't mind the back and forth (in fact, it's what made classic Fantastic Four with Kirby and Stan Lee so good): I believe that when the time comes, you'll join together as an unbeatable force. If you don't, you'll never overcome the challenges ahead of you. :bigevilgrin:

[Princess]

As Kae walks along with the others, he looks at Mingmei and asks pointedly, "And who might you be?"

"I am Priestess Mingmei. A pleasure, I'm sure."

[Ramsus]

Kae looks at at Mingmei with an eyebrow raised and thinks, "Priestess of what? Brevity? Vagueness?" while asking, "A priestess? Interesting. Of what deity?"

He gives Idira an amused smile, letting her know he heard and understood her.

((I'm fine with going to the Princesses or really wherever everyone else wants to go. Not gonna say anything more until Princess responds or the next scene begins since that'd be weird in character. Petalgrine will stay nearby, though it might fly in and out of windows on occasion.

Edit: Pffft, ninja'd while I say that.

My assumption is that all the little drama bit so far is intentional and between the characters, not players. And it's honestly more fun if we don't all perfectly get along or view things the same way. Like I love the way Alavro viewed Idira's earlier statements and that other characters saw it differently or were focused more on other things. Also, since they're disagreeing about how best to do things as a team (as opposed to just disagreeing they should be done at all or saying "screw that I'm going to do this, you lot do whatever!"), I doubt we'll see actual serious issues in functioning. Though anything that isn't an immediate problem might involve some discussion. But that's fun stuff. For me at least.))

[nerk]

"All of us are tasked with the Princesses safety today," Calen says to Alavro as they walk towards the Princesses quarters. "I do not speak for anyone but myself. When I say I was tasked with their safety, it is because I was, when Dawn was still a baby. I do not mean the King is foolish enough to trust his daughters safety to one elf alone. I do mean that I think their safety more important than lunch, despite Master Oren ordering his orders in the order he did."

[Held]

Rowley

Looked like this group was a bit dysfunctional. Had Master Oren truly divined them as somehow 'necessary'?

He did have to chuckle at the "ordering orders in order" part, if only because of how ridiculous it sounded.

And I'm fine with princesses.

[Princess]

"I serve the Sisters of Spectra," she responds simply, before addressing the larger gathering, "Shall we check on the princesses, now?"

[fireinthedust]

"Booooo!" You hear the hoot of Master Oren's owl, Boo, who flutters down out of the air, and perches over the party.

OOC: Princess, if you're okay with it, Boo would land on your shoulder and happily ride along with you. He's a very tiny, very happy little owl.

Also: In this setting, Mystics (what I call Clerics) aren't technically needed to be priests of a deity (wizards are more often in that role here), but you'd likely be a member of the mystic order of the Sisters of Spectra (who are like Sanenrae, see the OOC thread), or possibly the Order of the Astral Temple (also in the OOC thread). :D

[fireinthedust]

Moving on!

The group makes their way through the halls of the castle, through the main halls, and up towards the rooms of the princesses. An army of servants is moving about, preparing the castle for the great day, cleaning and putting into place the final touches for the feasts, the ceremonies, and the dances to come.

You move to the family's wing of the castle, and you can see the apartments of the royal family from various vantage points along the way: out windows from one tower, along a hallway, up flights of stairs, etc. The ancient citadel is tremendous, larger than even King Duncan could possibly need, and his family lives in apartments as if a collection of mansions.

Along the way the palace guards salute Rowley, and most of you get subservient nods from the servants.

You pass through a very thick stone doorway into the apartments, but as you get closer to the rooms of the princesses, you are met by the mother hen nursemaid who cares for them: Nan!

She's about five feet nothing, shaped like a barrel, and dressed in grey clothes with a white veil around her head. She leaps up out of a rocking chair that most of you didn't see (DC15 perception, each of you), and stands in your way.

Rowley: you know from experience that she's the kind of old lady who knits using steel needles, and rules with an adamantine fist in a pink-knitted-mitten.

"Rowley!" She barks, giving you a stair. Then she whispers a piercing whistle, and looks at the lot of you.

"What in good graces are you doing here at this time of morning?!"

[Ramsus]

At this Kae says nothing, waiting to see what the others will say and what kind of reaction it will get. He makes sure to be ever so slightly farther away from the nursemaid than Idira and Rowley are.

[Entelechy]

Idira [roll0]
Familiar [roll1] or [roll2] (advantage)

Idira spots Nan immediately, and makes brief eye contact with a twitch of a grin, but doesn't ruin the surprise for anyone else. She curtseys to Nan. "Just running an errand on my master's orders. I hate to complicate today's hectic scheudle, but we need but a moment with the princesses."

[Ramsus]

((Oops, misread that. Ok Perception checks.

Kae: [roll0]
Petalgrine: [roll1] or [roll2] (advantage)

Edit: Wow.... just... wow.))

[Held]

Perception check before I finish this post: [roll0]

Rowley

Rowley wasn't spooked in the slightest, being familiar with the ways of Nan. He looked down at the maid, though not because of arrogance; she was simply too short.

"Nan," Rowley replied evenly. "These two," he gestured to Idira and Calen, "wanted to confirm Her Highnesses are presently safe and sound." He steeled himself for her retort.

[fireinthedust]

Kae is entirely shocked by the old woman's sudden leap towards them... like a ninja, she was!

Nan squints at you all, then looks at Rowley.

"Well, you can tell that old owl--"

"Booooo!" says Boo.

"--And you too! Boo yourself! I've got their highnesses sleeping just now, right before some nobles show up and take them away from me... my sweet girls, so soon... And in five minutes they're going to be running around getting ready. I'm not about to let a bunch of young men into these chambers while they're in naught but their--"

"AAAAAAAAIIIIIIEEEEEE!!!!" A scream pierces through the air, coming from inside the chamber of the princesses!

Nan holds her chest, shocked, and fumbles with her keys. She cannot seem to find the correct one!

OOC: What do you do? Roll Initiative! Ooooooooooooo!

[Ramsus]

((Kae initiative: [roll0] ))

[fireinthedust]

((Kae initiative: [roll0] ))

OOC: Hey! See? 19 is better than 3, and Initiative is just as important. What is Kae's immediate reaction?

[Entelechy]

Being a lifelong friend of the princesses, Idira had seen that key many times. It had been a regular part of her childhood, and had, herself, on occasion handled it and felt its ridges. The key shining in her minds eye, she gestures and a glowing key appears in her hand. She hastens to fit it into the lock.

I would presume that Idira, growing up with the princesses as friends, would have seen the key, and even know it well. Given that the Minor Conjuration ability allows me to duplicate any object I've seen, I think this should be possible. Heck, I would even go so far as to say Idira has done this before for sneaking midnight visits with her friends, if it is possible.

Initiative [roll0]

[Ramsus]

((Unfortunately Kae doesn't have much that is of help in this situation since opening the door with a key or waiting for another member of the party to pick the lock or such is probably a better solution than him attempting to destroy the lock and...probably fail to kick the door open.))

Kae sends Petalgrine to find another entrance or a nearby window to see what is going on and prepares to assist whoever takes action quickest if he can.

((So... taking the Help action and sending the familiar. So I guess whoever goes next gets advantage on their check. If that's ok?))

[Boolprop]

Alavro listens to Idira's explanation of magic, trying to understanding it, not without some difficulty. "So I was mistaken? Perhaps we could make a petition to King Duncan for such a ward." The Goliath says to Idira, before just nodding to the other Elf's explanation of Princess Dawn's security.

Despite his height, Alavro couldn't spot Nan, mostly due to being stuck between the Elves who are offering explanations of magic and security. With nothing much to say, the tall Goliath just nods to the Elves while as the group travels towards the Pincesses chambers.


"I knew it. The princesses are still sleeping." Alavro thought, despite never voicing it. Though the abrupt scream alarms Alavro of what's to come.

Perception Check: [roll0]
Initiative Roll: [roll1]

[nerk]

Initiative [roll0]
Thieves tools [roll1]

Calen hears the scream and immediately pushes towards the door, using his thieves tools to open the locked door, abandoning his usual pose of snide detachment.

[fireinthedust]

OOC: just waiting on Held.

[Held]

I could've sworn I posted, maybe it blocked my post for posting too rapidly??

[roll0]

Rowley

Rowley heard the cry, but remained calm. "Please open that door," he said to no one in particular, even as he reached for his sword. "If you cannot, we will break it down and see to the princesses' safety."

[fireinthedust]

OOC: Forgot Princess! I'll give it until 9pm EST to roll initiative, or we'll just have you go after the Goliath. :D (Currently you're at least going after Kae and Idira and Nan; sorry, just want to keep things moving forward :) )

Kae sends his familiar out a window, swooping into the apartments. The familiar squawks loudly, and immediately flies back out, visibly spooked.

Idira creates a key using magic and her memories, and attempts to use it to open the door.

((Please roll Int to remember the shape of the key))

Nan attempts to grab the key, but her stubby fingers fumble, and the keys fall at her feet, covered by her skirts as she shuffles around.

[Princess]

Mingmei starts at the sound of the cry, and tries to think of what she can do to help.

[roll0]

[fireinthedust]

Idira shoves the "key" into the lock, but the intricate shape is a complicated one to remember under stressful circumstances, surrounded by strangers, and with Nan right there (who now KNOWS you can do this!). After all, Idira usually has more time, and Nan has usually been distracted, or dosed ahead of time, or...

The "key" makes a shuffling sound in the lock, but nothing more.

Mingmei, though wise, is stuck pondering how to help. Perhaps she could encourage her companions? Smite down the door? Heal someone? Perhaps help by creating some light? If only she could help someone get the key...

Calen pulls out his thieves tools (where are they on your person? In your backpack?), pushes past the others, and finds Idira still turning the "key" in the lock. Pulling the useless "key" out, Calen swiftly jams in what they call a "Skeleton key of the dread pirate Jimmy"...

but to no avail! The door lock on the royal apartment of the princesses is high quality. VERY high quality.

Rowley issues his statement as he draws his sword. There is now a long, pointy object in the area.

Alavro, a goliath, apparently made of living stone, watches as the smaller people stumble about at the door: one makes a key, another tries opening a lock, another sends a bird out the window, one draws a sword, and the old nurse shuffles about on the floor to her key ring.

[Boolprop]

With everyone scrambling around to quickly get into the Princesses' chambers. Alavro is all in with Rowley's idea, after all who knows that is going on in the Princesses' chambers. Despite his instincts to bash down the door, Alavro instead looks for the key Nan had briefly grabbed, before it feel onto the floor among others. Which he judged to be the quickest option, since any other attempts at the door have failed, expect for bashing it down. Which it take some time due to the door's quality.

Perception check: [roll0], or the help action to help Nan to pick up the key, if possible.
Bah humbug, poor roll...

[Entelechy]

"Hey, it's me, Idira! Can one of you let me in?" Idira shouts through the door. Hopefully, at least one of the princesses is free to open the door from the inside. She realizes that she would be better suited than most to help find the actual key, but with three people going over the keyring already, if she joined she worried they would just start tripping over each other. So she briefly closes her eyes, focuses, and tries to make the key again.




It has occurred to me that the princesses are probably not locked in.
Make Key ~ [roll0]

[nerk]

Thieves Tools again [roll0] If it fails he will step away to allow the muscle to use the "barbarian lockpick"

Calen tries again to open the lock.

"Good to see they're so well protected."

[fireinthedust]

OOC: Gah! Sorry, sick for two days running, had scripted the post, thought I'd actually written it, waiting on you guys. See? Genius!

Conjuration: nope, you get one chance to remember it, like a knowledge check. If you had a look at the key itself, you could try again. For general goods, it's fine, but specific things will take practice/precision.

Initiative: Good point. I just don't want to penalize people who take improved initiative, or have a high dex class. Plus I'm taking your answers and resolving them all at once; init will be more like primacy: if you go first, you get first crack at it, but I'll resolve when i post based on what happens. If you don't act in time (sigh, like me) then we can skip your turn (or you can give me a default action, if we're in a pinch, like smash stuff).

THE DOOR: You all fumble with the lock picks, fumble with conjured items, and fumble with the key on the floor. Nothing is going right, until the lockpicks finally click, and the door swings open.

The room beyond is a large chamber, with a stairway going up to a balcony where, undoubtedly, the princesses chambers are. In this room is a table, filled with baskets of fruit, bouquets of flowers, boxes of chocolates, purses of gold, and various gifts from various suitors attempting to court the many princesses of King Duncan. There is a window looking out over the kingdom, with a gorgeous view of the castle's gardens (with a balcony that's exactly perfect for seeing the princes, knights, and bards who call up with songs and vows of devotion.

One of the gifts is open.


Looking into the room NOW you can see it is also filled with a massive cloud of glowing purple smoke. A tiny form stands in the middle of the room, holding above her head a brass phial approximately the size of a wineskin, from which the smoke is pouring.

The top of the cloud has formed into a massive, muscular purple torso with six burly arms, and a bald head dwarfed by the thick, muscular neck. It's eyes glow with a lavender light, but its stare is blank, passionless.

At one side of the room a young lady who you recognize as Princess Dawn, crouched at the floor in fear, gives another scream. Her blonde hair is tied back for sleep, and she's still in her nightgown, but she's managed to keep away from the swirling purple cloud.

At the other side of the room, at the bottom of a stairwell into the upper bedrooms, stands the oldest princess, Amalthia. She somehow looks stunning even in this state of unpreparedness, like some kind of angel in human form, or elven queen from bardic song; as strange as the situation in which you find yourselves, her loveliness is more than enough for you to note, and attempt to quantify in oddly poetic form.

Little Lanu Deleon, the child holding the brass phial in one hand, the stopper in the other, shouts at the figure.

"I am Lanu Deleon, Princess of the Castle, and I command you: serve my family!"

The giant form reaches out and grabs Lanu and Dawn (screams from both), one in each hand, and holds them in the air; then, the other arms start to chop their backs with a "patta patta patta patta" sound.

OOC: Okay, your turn!

[Ramsus]

((Arcana for Kae to tell if this is actually a genie of some kind, if so which, and if there is a proper way to command it given the whole "genie in a bottle" situation we appear to have here.

Arcana: [roll0]))

[fireinthedust]

((Arcana for Kae to tell if this is actually a genie of some kind, if so which, and if there is a proper way to command it given the whole "genie in a bottle" situation we appear to have here.

Arcana: [roll0]))

The "Genie" is... a genie. More specifically this is a BOUND JINN, one of many genies who was bound into a container and transformed into a sort of servant-genie. There are many, many different "models" of bound jinn, with some transformed into war machines, others for tasks like gardening magical herbs for emperors and archmages, and many for guard duties, magical powers, personal entertainment, and more.

Genasi trace their heritage to creatures like this, though the actual unions may have happened several centuries previous.

This looks like some kind of... spa genie... As comedic as it may seem, it is still a creature of magic. This could turn deadly if mistakes are made.

The Jinn Bottle is likely that brass bottle Lanu is holding. She's high off the ground now, and getting the knots chopped out of her shoulder blades, so reaching her may be tricky.

[nerk]

What lunatic put a genie in a room with children? Calen wonders, as he shakes his head in dismay. And for that matter, who locks a child in with her presents?

"Lanu," he says softly. "Your sister's frightened. Tell the mysterious creature that came out of a bottle that seems to obey your commands in an obnoxious way, that may have a name, though I certainly don't know what it could possibly be, to put you both down gently and await your specific orders."

[roll0]

[Ramsus]

Kae raises an eyebrow, surprised Calen knew it was a genie ((especially since his player didn't make any rolls... but Kae in character would have been surprised anyway)), and then says, "As he says, simply order the genie to stop. I believe its function is normally harmless, but given the wrong command it could still cause harm. Asking it to serve you is.... well that is actually what it is doing right now as its function is...." and at this he gives a loud sigh because there should be limits of decency to what you bind a summoned being to do. "..to serve in the manner of a spa." He stops there, struggling with himself to not make further comments on the situation that come to mind, though the tone in which he spoke the last bit probably says quiet a bit to anyone paying attention.

[fireinthedust]

The karate-chopping is fairly intense, and neither girl is answering. From where you stand, you can see feet on one side of the giant hand, and the tip of Lanu's bottle on the other.

You may need to snag the bottle itself. It's at least ten feet up, maybe fifteen.


Nan comes into the chamber and screams in terror at the top of her lungs at the enormous masseur. A beat later, she rushes over to the corner where you can see what looks like a sledge hammer or battle axe made of blackened metal, and with a frying pan instead of an axe head. Some kind of skillet-meets-great-club?

It is at this point that you notice Nan is very dwarf-like in her proportions. And the broadness of her shoulders. And her thick arms under the long grey robes. And her height. And how female dwarves don't have beards. And that she's been the nursemaid for going on sixty years and several generations of the Deleon family.

And the swearing.

The nursemaid leaps towards the genie, swinging at the mists below the titanic body. She seems to be having zero effect on the mists, but in spreading them about the room you can smell the delicate scents, and feel the cloud clearing your sinuses and moisturizing your skin. It's lavender? Calendula? Maybe a hint of rose petals?

[Entelechy]

Idira's fingers flash through the fleece as she weaves a quick cradle.


Using Minor Illusion to create a sound, which is the sound of my voice saying "Order that thing back into its bottle! It will obey your family!"
I make the sound happen loud, and right in front of the Amalthia, so she can hear it over the screaming. I'm going to shout the words, too, in time with the illusion, so it doesn't look so strange to have the words coming from entirely nowhere.

As Idira does so, she shouts to the Amalthia "Order that thing back into its bottle! It will obey your family!"

[fireinthedust]

OOC: while we're not in "combat", I want people to take turns while we solve this. So Idira has gone, shouting to Amalthia. Kae has stated what this creature is. Calen has called up to Lanu, asking her to order the creature to put her down.

Waiting on Rowley, Princess, and the Goliath (and no, I'm not going to check those last two names before posting this, because it's first thing in the morning and I'm sick today. Guh, this cold is awful. Poor GM! Woe is me!).


Calen: your words, spoken softly, seem to have no effect on Lanu. You can't see either girl from down there, but for their feet, which aren't moving aside from the chop-chop-chop of the genie's hands.

Kae: Everyone understands what you're saying, and Amalthia in fact nods in agreement. Everyone has heard of genies like this, from stories of the Old Empire; but as they're rare, your mention of them clarifies it (like saying "this is what we call a cuttlefish" and someone goes "oh, I didn't know they looked like octopodae!" and you nod, smile, and clean your glasses (well, it's what I do when that happens)).

Idira: Your words reach the princess Amalthia, who was standing back in the archway across the room (the stairs leading up to the bed chambers of the dozen or so princesses).


Lady Amalthia stands and moves forward, calling up to the genie with (impressively) no fear in her voice. She is a true noble, in character as well as in social rank.

"Genie! I am the Lady Amalthia of House Deleon, and I command you to... OOOOhhhh-Aaaah-- PUT ME DOWN!"

The genie sprouts three more arms out of its back, snatches up the princess Amalthia, and promptly chop-chop-chop-patta-patta-patta, she's subdued like her sisters!

((OOC: Whoops!))

Nan shouts another battlecry, and continues swinging her cast iron cudgle/skillet/bed-warmer-iron/battleaxe. Still no effect on the mist of the genie.

"Och, I'll get you, ye over-sized lilly-smelling twee monster! I'll thwack ye into a thousand pieces if ye don't release me girls right now!!!"

[Held]

Rowley

Rowley stared in baffled amazement. Well, the princesses were sort of in danger... right? He resisted the urge to sigh and facepalm; this was one of those situations where you could post a hundred thousand guards around the trio and they would still get in trouble.

"Magic again," he spat under his breath, then said in a louder voice, "You! Wizards. Tell me how to stop that thing."

[Ramsus]

Kae scratches his head, which in this case involves him reaching under his hat which happens to also expose some of his fire/hair, and says, "Actually I am surprised that did not work. Perhaps we need to have the one who first commanded it give the command to stop or perhaps it is whoever currently possess the bottle? Either way, they are in little danger of anything more than getting overly pampered. Unless they fall asleep and it does not stop I suppose. Honestly I am sort of inclined to just walk in there and have it do me next. I am not used to being awake at such hours and I have the feeling this will be a very long day."

((Hope it's ok for me to respond even though some of the others haven't posted, since Rowley directed questions at us. Figured just talking would be ok.))

[Boolprop]

Alavro lets out a deep guttural grunt once he sees the strange purple creature have the princesses in it's grasp. Ready to pounce onto the muscular purple creature at any moment, Alavro prepares to draw his weapon slowly.

"A jeennie?" Alavro says in response to Kae's explanation, dragging the words as this is the first time the Goliath have ever heard of such creature. Debating whatever to join Nan in physically stopping the genie, or wait for further information, Alavro decided on the latter when he sees Nan's actions haven't change anything. Putting his half drawn weapon away, Alavro pays careful attention to the genie, the princesses and the surrounding, while keeping his ears open.

"So we just need to take the bottle away." Alavro says, once hearing Kae's statement to Rowley. Without a second to waste, the tall Goliath sprints into the room, jumping into the air in attempt to grab little princess Lanu from the burly purple genie.

Perception check the chamber before running in. [roll0]

Alavro will perform a High Jump, towards Princess Lanu moving at least 10 feet before he jumps. Can jump up to 7 feet without a check. With his arms extended, he can reach up to (7 + (1.5 * (7'2"))) 17.5 ft?

Athletics check in attempt to jump higher, if needed: [roll1]

Grapple check to grab Princess Lanu, if needed: [roll2]

Acrobatics check to land safely, if needed: [roll3]; Alavro will use his own body to protect Princess Lanu at all cost, so if he fails, he'll do whatever it takes to keep Lanu safe and sound, even if he dislocate a shoulder in doing so.

[fireinthedust]

Alavro succeeds! Leaping up to the hand with the young princess in it, the Goliath grabs her, pulls, and drops to the ground with Lanu in his arms.

The young princess is limp in his arms, stunned.

The brass bottle clatters to the floor, rolling into the thick fog bank beneath the hovering torso.

The Genie, for its part, notices the princess is missing and starts reaching towards the Goliath.

OOC: this will technically be a grapple attempt, so I suppose initiative should be rolled: you guys roll for you, I'll roll for the NPCs, and whoever has the highest rolls (average) goes first (ie: players or GM).

Post your actions, too!

[Entelechy]

[roll0]
Also, I have decided to name my familiar Hoo, since she probably named him when she was like... nine tops, and the master's is named Boo...

Also also, I am casting Mage Hand to try to grab the bottle, which I think is possible, but I am out of town at the moment and don't have my book with me.


"Hoo! The bottle!" Idira ordered her owl familiar. Then, with a few quick arcane weavings, she extends her own reach to grope through the smoke for the bottle.

[Ramsus]

[roll0]

Casting Produce Flame. Not actually attacking because he still doesn't see the situation as very serious and doesn't want to risk setting the room on fire or such if it can be avoided.


Kae, seeing what Idira is trying to do realizes it would be best not to try and "help" and make things more complicated. So instead he decides to walk over to the genie as he extends an arm and flicks his palm open where a flame ignites. He then attempts to pass the flame through the nearest arm with a princess in it and position himself so that he'd catch her if she fell.

[nerk]

[roll0]

Calen watches in surprise as the goliath jumps up to grab Lanu. Seeing the genie turn, and the others moving to action, he darts in and positions himself to catch Dawn. Or at least break her fall.

[Held]

Roll initiative every round...?
[roll0]

Rowley

Rowley interposed himself twixt Genie and Goliath.

"No," he growled. "Don't touch the princess." He lifted his sword, pointing the tip at the Genie. For all that Nan had made that seem pointless, it somehow felt right. "You do not need to attend to her. We will."

[fireinthedust]

OOC: there was a pause in momentum as we problem solved, and then Alvero initiated a more aggressive phase.

Waiting on Princess.

[Princess]

Mingmei calls upon her mystical abilities, issuing a Command to the genie, "Halt."

DC 13 Will Save or the Genie stops what it's doing.

[Boolprop]

Initiative: [roll0]

Taking a knee, Alavro holds Princess Lanu in a princess carry, with his back towards the genie. "Princess Lanu, are you alright?" He gives Princess Lanu a quick look to ensure she's alright. Turning his head towards the Genie as Rowley interposes between himself and the purple creature, the Goliath stares at the Genie.

[fireinthedust]

OOC: Okay, you guys clearly won initiative!

Familiars: Kae, you had sent yours into the room via the window earlier? It was flying around dazed, surprised by the genie. It returns to you, and looks great.

[Ramsus]

((I thought it already had returned? Well doesn't really matter since I'm purposely not having it do anything. Also Petalgrine always looks great, no need to tell me. :smalltongue: ))

[fireinthedust]

Alavro leaps up, grabs Lanu, and comes back down with her. Rowley stands between the genie and the princess. Idira grabs the bottle from Lanu with her cantrip, Mage Hand. Calen and Kae take positions beneath Dawn and Amalthia, respectively. And then Mingmei booms magically "Halt!"

The genie pauses long enough at the command, as though processing the different directives. It seems like it will ignore the Mystic Mingmei's command, and reach towards Lanu, but it pauses and looks blankly at Idira.

The pairs of arms holding the two princesses slow down to a halt, and the giant servitor genie hovers over your group.


Lanu wakes up, as if from a trance, and her blank faces beams into a gap-toothed smile.

"Idira, I did it! I'm a Withard, jutht like you!"

[Entelechy]

"Gently set down those you hold and return to your bottle," Idira commands.

Arcana check to see if I need to word my command any more precisely than this, and anything else I need to do. I'll respond to Lanu after I see if this works!

[roll0]

[fireinthedust]

Arcana check to see if I need to word my command any more precisely than this, and anything else I need to do. I'll respond to Lanu after I see if this works!


ooc: nope, you did it exactly right.


IC: The genie gently sets the two princesses down on their feet. A moment later, the cloud of cloloured gas pours itself back into the bottle, "spilling backwards" into it until it sucks in the stopper. Kae can feel the genie bottle humming in his hands. Only the smell of flower petals remains.

As the genie releases them and vanishes, the ladies wake as if from a trance, and seem stunned by the experience.


Dawn comes to her sense first. "You little monster! You deliberately opened that bottle and nearly got us all killed!"

Lanu clings to the goliath, ducking out to snap back: "Nuh-uh! You're just jealouth becauth I'm going to be a Withard, jutht like Idira and Kae and Mathter Owen, and YOU'RE jutht going to marry thum dumb pwinth and have babieth."

"Lanu! That's most unkind to Dawn, you know that," scolds Amalthia, her voice calm and disappointed where Dawn's is furious.

Dawn's lower lip curls, and she spares a look at Rowley and Calen before tears pour from her eyes, and she flees up the stairs to the chamber of the princesses.

You can see the balcony above, and several of the other princesses (yes, there are twelve) have been looking over at you.

Nan has by this time rushed to Amalthia's side, and speaks quietly, looking towards your group.

"Oh, that was most unkind, m'lady. Dawn's been promised to one o' them princes from Akadan, down south. That's what that table full o' gifts was about. No one's supposed to know, yet, not until the celebration. She's never even met th' man, but she's like to go and never come back, poor thing."

Lanu starts crying into the Goliath's shoulder. "I wath doin' it tho the wouldn' have to leave uth..."

[Ramsus]

Kae looks around at the scene, glad he didn't wind up dropping Dawn and embarrassing himself as he's hardly all that strong. As he looks around he remembers/notices the state of dress of the princesses and looks at the assembled group and realizes he's the one most likely to get in trouble, or at least the first, for remaining here for too long. He politely coughs and excuses himself with, "I.... shall go see about Dawn, I trust you all have things handled here." and fruitlessly tries not to blush as he passes by the room that is nearly a scene out of a dream and hurries after Dawn, saying only "Princesses" and bowing his head in acknowledgement of all of them in the general sense.

If there's a coat, shawl, or any other handy garment the one can simply put over someone in vaguely Dawn's size he'll grab it as he heads out, but otherwise he's making as quick an exit as he can manage.

[fireinthedust]

OOC: Actually, you're all by the door. Across the chamber you're in is a STAIRCASE leading up to the apartment of the other princesses (ie: bedchambers). You'd have to cross the room, go up a flight of stairs, and INTO the room with all the variously-dressed maidens (all of whom are between the ages of 16 and 19-and-a-half, and rate between an 8 and an 11, for their ages).

Dawn had rushed across the room, up the stairs, and into her private chamber. You'd be well aware that this is a big no-no for men to be in here, and you wouldn't be permitted to go any further.

If you're actually trying to go up there, Nan will put her hand on your arm and say:

"Stop right there, hot stuff! No men folk in the upstairs chambers! It's bad enough you're in here at all, but going up there... I'd have to call the Captain of the Guard, and have you hung, drawn, and whipped!"

Hint: female characters would have no problems going up.

OOC: The "hot stuff" was her remark because you're a fire genasi. :D

[Entelechy]

Idira's face has fallen into a impassive mask. Holding the bottle tightly stoppered she crosses the room to where the princesses' sowing supplies are kept. She winds a sturdy thread around the stopper of the bottle and knots it to keep it from coming apart accidentally, and then pockets the bottle. She puts a few stitches in the pocket to be sure it doesn't fall out, and to discourage those with sticky fingers.


If anyone asks Indira about the bottle, she will very firmly insist that it needs to be turned over to her Master to inspect before it is returned to the Princesses.

That secured, Idira casts split glances between Lanu and the staircase where Dawn fled.

"Bear with me, Hoo," Idira tells her fey owl, before passing the poor bird into Lanu's arms for comfort. Then she lifted the hem of her dress and hurried up the stairs in search of Dawn.

[Ramsus]

Kae will stop when Nan touches him and tells him to stop. At her words Kae looks at Nan and look over to Rowley and raises an eyebrow and has this expression that says "Considering he's right there and saw what happened I very much doubt he would". But he doesn't press his luck and as Idira comes by he says, "Right yes. You um... deal with that I suppose. I...will just... be going.... this way. Here. Out here this way. Yes." and very awkwardly makes his way back down the stairs and past people and out the room where he closes the door behind him, oblivious to the fact other people might also need or wish to exit, and leans back against the door furiously blushing and taking in and letting out long slow breaths.

[nerk]

Calen attempts to step out of the room, to find the door blocked.

"It seems the apprentice has barricaded us in for some reason," he says. "I think your strength is needed here, Alavro."

[fireinthedust]

OOC: Calen could easily open that door, as I'm fairly certain Kae's just dramatically leaning. I think (imho) that he meant "isn't thinking about others coming through" as opposed to actively blocking the door.

If I'm right, would Kae move aside for Calen to exit?

Also: Mingmei would also be able to follow Dawn, if you're interested?


THE MEN FOLK: So... while Idira talks to Dawn, what are you planning to do?



IDIRA: You pass through the bed chambers of the princesses, as you've done many times before, seeing many smaller rooms branch off the main area. Yet, knowing Dawn, you follow her through a doorway to the "garden of the maidens", a very nice enclosed courtyard that is filled with fruit trees, a fountain, and a marble bench under a flowering willow tree.

There you find Dawn, weeping bitterly and collapsed on the bench.

[Ramsus]

((Kae would move if he noticed someone was actually trying to open the door. Though I was expecting someone to just shove it open and send him sprawling or squished into the wall. I'll still wait a bit to see how the next person trying to door will act and will just say he didn't notice Calen's attempt.))

[Princess]

Mingmei follows quietly after Dawn.

[nerk]

((Kae would move if he noticed someone was actually trying to open the door. Though I was expecting someone to just shove it open and send him sprawling or squished into the wall. I'll still wait a bit to see how the next person trying to door will act and will just say he didn't notice Calen's attempt.))

((This time we're on the same page, but I thought Calen would give a little push, feel the resistance, and then call for someone stronger. It's up to you if Calen pushed hard enough for Kae to feel it and decide to move, or if you want to be sent sprawling. I was thinking his strength was 8 (it's 10) but I think he's still the sort to call for the barbarian. It will amuse him.))

((As for our plans: I WAS going to step out and disguise myself as a chambermaid - to go check on the princesses's safety, not to ogle anyone, you perverts. They're human for gods's sake - but with Kae in the hall, there would be a witness, so I'm wondering if I should take more drastic steps, or just trust Mingmei and Idira to get the job done.))

[Entelechy]

Idira settles down next to Dawn and wraps them in an illusion of a curtain of willow branches, for added privacy. She gathers her friend into her arms and holds her, rocking softly, until she is finished crying. She waits a few more moments until Dawn seems seems ready and able to talk, then asks, "So, Dawn, I need to ask. Is this 'I'm leaving my home and my family' crying, or 'I don't want to marry this guy' crying. I can help you with either, but I need to know what to help you with first, eh?"

Indira hands Dawn a handkerchief for drying her eyes.

[Boolprop]

Alavro gently pats little Lanu and comforts her the best he can. He begins to slowly sways back and forth. "I believe Princess Dawn don't mean it. I think she's just stressed out because of today's celebration." Alavro says, while he continues to try to calm Lanu down. "If given a choice, I'm sure Princess Dawn wouldn't want to leave to go off marrying that dumb prince. After all, who'll wants to leave you and your sisters?"

After Alavro felt Lanu have cried out to her heart's content, he gently pushes her away and gives her a big goofy smile, the one he knows that usually brings a smile to Princess Lanu. "I know you'll become wonderful wizard someday. But for now, why don't you go up and apologize to your sister? I'm sure Princess Dawn will understand once you explain everything to her. After all, you'll still be family even if she has goes away." Alavro looks over to Nan and Princess Amalthia "Would you ladies please help Lanu apologize to Dawn?" He says.

Assuming there is a goofy smile or look that Alavro knows Princess Lanu likes, he'll do so. Otherwise he wouldn't make any faces.

[Held]

Rowley

Rowley watched the proceedings in a state of half-confusion (did that all just happen?). He snapped to his senses. Yeah, no, he was not going to remain here. Calen was certainly not staying here, and he would not have a wizard barricade them in.

"Barricaded?" Rowley repeated after Calen. "I'll admire his moxie if he dares barricade us in here!" And with force, he attempted to open the door!

[Ramsus]

((Next person to post gets to decide if Kae is thrown forward onto his face, ass in the air or if he winds up getting pushed into the wall when Rowley opens the door. Since Held didn't.))

[nerk]

Calen winced as he looked through the door, at the creature sprawled on the floor.

"Well done, Captain," he says, stepping out of the room, and around Kae. "Perhaps when his lordship has finished his nap we can attend to our duties?"

[Ramsus]

Kae get up, gives Rowley a look, and spends some time adjusting his clothes (in particular the hat which reveals more of the flames for hair thing he has going on). When he's done he says, "I think it would be more polite to wait for the others, but if you are in a rush I suppose you could head on to the kitchens first. If that is what you are going to do, please tell them to prepare us all a breakfast and that I would like my eggs sunny side up. It would be best if we were to avoid conducting our business on an empty stomach."

[fireinthedust]

OOC: long day, here now. :D



PRINCESSES: Dawn is not a selfish girl, this you know despite the trouble you've gotten into together. Betrothals are nothing new to these princesses in theory, but Dawn especially avoided the topic as much as she could.

"I just," she says slowly, painfully, wiping tears off her cheeks to regain some composure. Yet she can't look either Mingmei or Idira in the eye when she speaks, her hands shaking.

"I just... I wanted to be different than just marrying for money. I wanted to be one of those princesses who meets someone and falls in love. Is that so wrong? I've had all these servants, I've been a princess and coddled my whole life, and here I am crying because I have to help the kingdom with a marriage, just like princesses are supposed to do. It's greedy of me, and spoiled, and ungrateful. But I don't... I don't want to be just another wife of some prince in Akadan, even to help my father. I... I just thought *he'd* show up by now, before it was too late, before I was... sold."

At this point Lanu, tearing up, runs up and calls out "Dawn! I'm thorry! You're not a dumb printhethh!"

The other princesses are there now, from Amalthia and Lanu, to the twins, the triplets, and Boralia, Solace, and the rest. They're quiet, watching their sister, but soon enough tears come to their eyes, followed by jokes, teasing, and more tears. Clearly the girls are sad to see their sister go, the first of them to actually be married off politically.

OOC: we can do RP for this, if you have any questions for the girls? I'm happy to do the dialogue, and assume that whatever conversations happen by the time the Detect Magic ritual is finished.


DETECT MAGIC: The rest of the material is fairly mundane, though of excellent quality: chocolates, teas, silks (wow the silks!), jewelry, slippers, rings, oils, pigments, ointments, and various things one finds in a gift basket from Akadan nobility to impress the daughter of a king.

FAMILIARS: ooooo, they wouldn't want to leave you. Nan shoo's them away, too, saying something about magical turkeys leaving nits all over the princesses.

STAIRS: By the time you're ready to go to the kitchens, both the Detect Magic ritual and the talk with the princesses is wrapped up... so we don't have to split the party. :D


REACHING THE KITCHENS: As you take the various passages down to the kitchens, you find the halls are much smaller and more clearly "work related" in their design: amazing architecture, archways, and suchnot, but it's not as decorated or showy as the main halls.

That said, what's amazing is that the back stairs of the castle really are a world unto themselves: servants can get from one part of the castle to the other, into all the various rooms, without entering the grand hallways. The doors to the back stair are not secret, but they're out of the way entrances. A servant or guards could take these stairs and get into any of the grand halls, the throneroom, the meeting rooms, dining rooms, chambers, and so forth, without using the massive proper halls and stairs of the castle. As well there are chambers here that do not connect to the castle's royal areas, including servant's quarters, closets filled with linens, washing chambers, and all the functional needs of the castle. The halls and stairs criss cross, and in a very real way you feel like mice scampering about their tunnels in the walls of a mansion.

The kitchen proper is at an intersection between stairs down to a larder, the stairs you took from the royal apartments, doors leading to the grand dining room itself, and other hallways. This intersection area (where you're at) is big enough that the army of servants can go about their business without clogging the space, which is impressive on a day like today. You can see into the massive kitchen through a doorway, you can see that the cooks and bakers and butchers and vintners, etc, are all going about their jobs. You can cross the area and go talk to them, but nothing seems out of the ordinary just yet.

HOWEVER: as you reach the area, you notice one of the OTHER archways in the area, a hallway that opens onto a wide staircase with an iron gate at the bottom. Beyond the gate is a chamber with a catwalk over darkness, and at the end is a flat wall with a massive human-like face carved onto it. The face has a line down the middle, and you're aware that this is the little-known emergency exit from the Castle.

What's odd is that you can see the doorway, which has a dim orange light at the bottom of the face right now. This is the first time there's been light there, as the gate is closed, with barrels and boxes of food before it (no one expects to need to use this hallway, and most don't know what it's for).

What's also odd is that you can hear humming coming from the light source, and some (rather humble) singing, like someone whiling away the time. "Doo be doo doo doo... I'm just a man on a doorstep, doo diddly doo doo..."

[fireinthedust]

OOC: So basically you all go down to where the kitchen is. There are lots of corridors at an intersection. At the end of one of them is the SECRET EXIT that should be completely dark, but there's a light on and someone humming.

And you're all there, as this happens after Idira and Mingmei finish their talk, and Kae finishes detecting magic... and Rowley finds and eats a sweet roll(!).


Before I forget: 50xp for dealing with the Genie and the princesses, plus 50xp for working as a team (catching them, etc.), PLUS 50xp for sticking around. Treasure: Idira has the genie; you expect to have to turn it in after the day is done, but we'll see how that goes. The rest of you: if you need treasure, we'll see what happens next!

[Ramsus]

((Just to double check, you were saying before that neither Kae or Idira's familiars would obey a command to stick with the princesses so that they can report to us if anything un-good happens?))

[fireinthedust]

((Just to double check, you were saying before that neither Kae or Idira's familiars would obey a command to stick with the princesses so that they can report to us if anything un-good happens?))

OOC: (sigh) Oookay. To be fair, I don't know what will happen next: you guys could explode something, thus risking the princesses lives; or the genie could be used improperly; or whatever. If you want the familiars there, you got it. (shrug)

[Ramsus]

(( >_< I was just trying to confirm what was being said....))

[fireinthedust]

(( >_< I was just trying to confirm what was being said....))

OOC: (waves arms like a muppet) ahhh! :smallbiggrin: Just kidding. Sorry, I meant to affirm what you were saying. I thought it was a great scene! And the breakfast thing seemed like a cue to move on... though I'd love to see Calen, Rowley, and Alavro react to being tasked with room service :smallbiggrin:

I'm good to finish up conversations, before people feel they need to go to the kitchens. But if we move the story forward, we can get through the various exposition scenes (introducing your potential followers/citizens, or those you'll have to sacrifice), and the battle, and on to building a kingdom.

In all seriousness: how can I help with the scene?

[Ramsus]

((Cast Power Word: Post on the other players? :smalltongue: ))

[fireinthedust]

OOC: Everyone okay? Hope I didn't scare anyone off with the descriptive text, or moving forward?

[Princess]

Mingmei silently observes her surroundings as she proceeds through the building with the others.

[roll0]

[Boolprop]

Knowing he isn't welcomed upstairs, Alavro watches the Princesses and ladies takes little Lanu up the stairs. Giving the room one last look around from where he is, Alavro exits the chamber and tells the other men what should be happening in the princess Dawn's room.

Giving Rowley a knowing nod once both makes eye contact after the Captain of the Guard brushes away the crumbs off his jerkin, Alavro leans in and whispers to Rowley. "Did you find any biscuits? The soft fluffy kind."


"Doo be doo doo doo... I'm just a man on a doorstep, doo diddly doo doo..." Is it just me, or did anyone else read it in Scooby Doo's voice? Especially the Doo be doo part.

[fireinthedust]

Princess: You note several doors that appear to be secret passages but on the other side (as in if you were in the castle proper, they'd be hidden from view). However, as you're unfamiliar with the Castle itself, you aren't sure where they lead. Maybe one of the great ball rooms?


Boolproop: I hear ya, though in my head he sounds more like Baloo from Jungle Book when Mowgli first meets him.

[Entelechy]

With the Princesses

Suddenly crowded, Idira dares not say much.

"Meet the fellow, and let's talk at the feast, or right after. We will figure it out, okay? I'm on your side, Dawn."

In the Hallway

"Well, Rowley, this couldn't possible be anything, don't you think? If it was, your guards would be on top of it," Idira says. Her words may be needling, but her tone is amiable.

[fireinthedust]

Dawn: The princess nods. Her sisters surround her, and you feel it's totally okay to move on (giving them space).


DOWNSTAIRS: The kitchen noises are suddenly loud, as if someone has dropped a very heavy pot. Some cussing back and forth from the head chef and the head soup-maker.

However, on the other side of the gate you can still hear the humming voice: one moment humming, then muttering to itself.

WHAT DO YOU DO?

[Ramsus]

Kae grabs something to eat, a scone or such, and then begins moving things out of the way of the glowing gate, figuring this is why they were told to come down here.

[fireinthedust]

Kae: you go to the kitchen, and see a massive room with a number of ovens, spits, tables, cauldrons, and other stations for food prep all working at maximum output to get the food ready for the celebratory feast.

The fires around the room are stoked by apprentices of the mage tower: a handful of youths in pointed hats waving their hands to grow and contain the fires of whatever stoves they are facing. The cooks and other servants are jostling around them, carrying large trays with roast beast, fried sturge, and piles of dishes and utensils to be washed in the great tub. The tallest apprentice is controlling the fire under a massive spit-roasted hippogriff, the main course for the festivities.

The head chef is screaming at the head soup-cook, shaking a massive spoon at her while going on and on about expensive spices.

You find the tray with croissants freshly baked, cooling, the perfect moment for eating.

At the exact same time, however, you see a one of the apprentices is bumped by one of the scullery maids (the clumsy young one). The apprentice loses focus for one moment... and the fire he controls flares to immense size!

[Ramsus]

Kae snatches a scone (priority 1), gives an exasperated sigh, casts Frostbite at the fire, tells the apprentice, "Calm down. Regain control.", and eats the scone.

((Not sure the frostbite thing will work. It specifies it works on creatures. I can't see how it wouldn't also make objects cold (but do no damage to them) but it's magic so it could just have no effect at all.))

[Boolprop]

With Rowley preoccupied, Alavro looks around for those fluffy and ever so soft buttermilk biscuits. Quickly grabbing one when possible, Alavro follows in after Kae once he also heard the noise; humming "Doo be doo doo be doo..."

If he's close enough when entering, Alavro will try grab any of the falling plates/tableware. If any had fall from the bump, or just hold whoever is falling over, straight up.

Don't know if you'll want a roll for those, but just in case:
Perception to spot what is going on: [roll0]
Athletics to grab: [roll1]
Acrobatics to be accurate?: [roll2]

[Entelechy]

Idira is distracted from the mysterious presence by her juniors' minor catastrophe. She strides towards the blaze.

"It's the three S's! Stop the Spell and Smother!" Idira raised her voice over the clamour. "First lesson from our Master. If there's too much fire, Stop the Spell and Smother!"

With a gesture, Idira produced an avalanche of sand over the fire. Some of the high-heat tolerance sand she'd seen the blacksmith used in forging. Then, she conjures a spectral hand to heap the sand over the fire and smother it.


Using Minor Conjuration to make a three by three cube of sand over the fire, and the mage hand cantrip to spread it around, heap it up, and smother the fire properly.

Don't worry, when I vanish all the sand not a grain will be left behind to ruin the roast!

[fireinthedust]

OOC: going to assume you guys are in the kitchen, as the buttermilk cookies would be there. :D

We'll do the singing voice next, if you like.


IC:

The sand falls onto the fire, but before it can put the flames out, a figure bursts from the fire itself!

The creature looks like a pot-bellied little man, wreathed in flames with skin made of liquid-hot metal. The little creature is screaming as it come out of the fire, and leaps onto one of the counters.

"Eeeeeeee!" Screams the little guy.

"Aaaaaaah!" Screams the head chef. "Non! Non! The little homme will set all the food aflame! Ze feeeast! Eet will be rueeened!"

The chef is correct: wherever the creature steps, its liquid-metal feet cause salads to smoke, and pots of oil to bubble violently. Seeing its handiwork, the little creature giggles and looks ready to bound about the room.

If you don't do something fast, the feast will be ruined!

OOC: Initiative again! This time state your actions and roll your initiative. If you don't post in a few days, we'll say you're struggling to get by the various commoners helping out here.

[Princess]

[roll0]

Mingmei takes her staff firmly in hand, and channels divine energy through it so that she may strike the miscreant creature firmly with it.

Casts Shillelagh (Bonus Action) on staff, attacks the creature:

[roll1]
[roll2]

[Ramsus]

Kae calmly tries to figure out what this thing is and tells the other if he does.

Initiative: [roll0]

Arcana: [roll1]

[Entelechy]

Idira takes a step back from the fire and the burning man. She narrows her eyes, trying to discern what it is.


Initiative 1d20+3
Arcana [roll0]

[Boolprop]

Alavro looks around the kitchen for something to put out the fire that is the flaming pot-bellied little man. Or better yet, an iron pan to smack the guy when violence is needed.

Initiative: [roll0]
Perception: [roll1]

Alavro will search for a bucket of water, preferably cold.

[fireinthedust]

OOC: Well, I guess Held and nerk *aren't* coming back. I'd PMd. Ah well.


IC:

Princess takes a swing at the little guy, thwacking him soundly in the potbelly. The creature makes an "Ooooof!" sound, and rolls across some salads and just past a large pot of noodles.

Alavro finds a bucket of water (just in case of fire) and splashes the wee fellow. The fire goes out in a giant cloud of steam!

The wee creature stands there, his flames gone out... including the ones that cover his, er, shiny metal cheeks. The wee bronze body is utterly revealed, and with a squeak the creature covers himself.

The Chef and all the other kitchen staff back away from the creature, as if it will explode into flames at any second.

Arcana checks: No clear identification, but probably some kind of fey or elemental. He looks kind of like a gnome or dwarf, but also like a cross between a fat baby and a wrinkled old man.

[Ramsus]

Kae looks at the.... whatever it is and says, "Well.... I have absolutely no idea what that thing is. As such I don't know what we should do with it either." and scratches his head.

((It's been kind of a while. I'd even forgotten to check the threads these past two days. You might want to send everyone else reminder PMs. In fact, if I'd remembered to check yesterday I would have just stopped checking, as that was my cut off for when I'd assume you'd just abandoned the game. So yeah, send people PMs for sure.))

[fireinthedust]

OOC: Nine days isn't too long, but I get what you're saying.

[Boolprop]

"Now that we've all settle down, how about some answers?" The Goliath turns to address everyone in the room, grabs one of the freshly baked croissants and turns back to the naked creature. Alavro kneels down, trying to get to into the creature's eye level. "Sorry about that, but we couldn't risk you setting everything on fire. Today is an important day." Handling the bucket over so the little man can use it cover himself, Alavro extends an open hand out to the little guy, offering the freshly baked croissant he had just snagged. "It isn't much, but if you're willing to calm down and work with us, there's more delicious food to eat."

Well, I usually give a game about a month of no activity before assuming it's officially dead.

Though we're still in combat, Alavro is treating the creature as if it's an intelligent animal. And will try to get it to cooperate. Too bad Animal Handling wouldn't come into play since it's not an natural creature...

I guess you may want a Persuasion Check. If so, here it is. Persuasion Check: [roll0]
Yea for the not abysmal Persuasion roll, hopefully.

[fireinthedust]

Your soothing voice and offer of food seems to work, but you're all sure this isn't an intelligent form of life: for one thing, it looks like a moron, sniffing towards your hand and looking about like an animal. Second, it certainly doesn't seem to understand your words.

Mages: you're not certain, but it doesn't look like any fiend you've heard of, and it is fiery. Could be an elemental, but there are just so many options out there.


As the bronze creature moves towards Alavro, the droplets on its body start to evaporate and turn to steam. The food scraps under its feet likewise are starting to heat up again, faint sizzling sounds and the beginnings of trails of smoke appearing wherever it steps.

[Ramsus]

Kae looks around to see if there might be a metal bucket of some kind with a lid and if there might be any sand. While the later is an unlikely thing to find in a kitchen, he's not sure exactly what is or isn't around as he generally spends little time in them. Perhaps he'll at least find something similar that won't burn.

[Princess]

Mingmei takes a good look at the creature, trying to identify it.


Religion: [roll0]
History: [roll1]
Arcana: [roll2]

[fireinthedust]

Mingmei notes this is some kind of magma-man, a "magmin", but apparently of a bestial variety. Animal intelligence, delights in setting things on fire, caused by inept conjuration (fire) spells.

If allowed to recover, it will go back to lighting "something" on fire. If these creatures spring into being, mages usually must find something to do with them, like locking them in a furnace and feeding them coal; or slaying them.

[Princess]

"We need to find some use to put this creature to or it will simply resume starting fires whenever it is able. Or we need to get rid of it," Mingmei states matter-of-factly to the room.

[Ramsus]

Kae finally finds a suitable bucket (the GM didn't say he didn't so....) and finally notices the conjured sand and fills the bucket with it. While he does so he says, "I was thinking of putting it in here and having Petalgrine take it to Master Oren. Hopefully he would know what to do with it and we could carry on with our tasks."

[Boolprop]

Glancing over at Kae and his bucket of sand, then back to the creature, Alavro had an idea. He waves for Kae to bring the bucket over and begins to backs slowly towards Kae. With the freshly baked croissant in one hand, Alavro tries his best to calm the creature with gestures and cooing it, all the while leading it towards the bucket of sand. Once close enough, Alavro places the croissant on the pile of sand and waves for the soon to be flaming creature towards it.

Would I need make to some/new checks?

[fireinthedust]

OOC: Nah, let's assume you succeed on whatever you're attempting. This scene is dragging on! Do we want to skip to the celebration?


IC: The Magman falls into your trap, and the dinner is saved.


The chef expresses his gratitude.

The apprentices seem ashamed of having failed in their tasks.

[Ramsus]

((Skip to the celebration? I thought there were a bunch of other tasks we needed to do before then. But I'm ok with it if everyone else is. Otherwise Kae will go back to trying to examine the talking gate thing.))

[fireinthedust]

There are but the pacing is dull and I want to entertain you guys. It's more suitable for a home game.

[Princess]

((celebration gets my vote))

[Boolprop]

OOC: I don't mind skipping ahead to the celebration. If that's what everyone else wishes for.

[fireinthedust]

@entelechy: I hear you! Take your time and listen to the characters. Stephen King lets them figure their way out of situations, honestly, no matter how fantastic. The fossil is there to be found, so unearth it, whatever it is.



Skipping Ahead: I'll sum up the events I'd planned, but with blanks for you lot to fill in, mad libs style. Ahem.


THE WHISTLING VOICE AT THE GATE:
Opening the gate, you find yourselves facing the massive doors to the old passage under the mountains, the secret exit but also the old trade route under ground. As civilization broke down during the dark ages, the gate was sealed up and never opened.

The voice, it turns out, is a haunted skull atop some rusted armor and old bone shards. The skull is lying sideways, facing the path.

Asking it who it is, it replies "These old bones? Son, you're looking at what's left of one of the king's guardsmen, ordered to watch these gates."
What's your name? "Name? Good question! Nope, don't know it. I'm just here watching the doors. Not much to it really, sweet cheeks."
It asks you: "Say, you mind sitting me upright? Can't see much, and the view here ain't exactly breath-taking, if I still breathed."
YOUR RESPONSE:_________


THE TOWN WALL
You get through the village, meet various peasants, get to the wall in time to see rocks fall on the workers. You save them (Yes? No?)

THE ARRIVAL OF THE AKADAN PRINCE
You see a long train of nobles from all over your lands, but also a very fancy group of foreign nobles from the desert lands of Akadan. One of them is a very handsome guy, with a trim goatee and enough muscles to shape his chain armor and the flashy silks he wears over top. Clearly he's the prince who's courting the Princess!
((Then I realized that nothing much happens here save description. Um, you describe how you watch the nobles. How amazingly boring for you, but at least you then get to ask me what happens next. See? This is novel writing, NOT role-playing. Lots of GMs screw that up. Say what you will about 4e as a system, but the emphasis on creating encounters where the players actually do stuff is a breath of fresh air. Really, even if you're playing an OSR game, never ever force players to sit there while you tell them what happens. Even worse, never tell them what they do. Awful stuff.))

You also meet charming peasants: The builders, some nice soldiers, and other people who you could choose to bring with you to The Region.

You meet a baker named ______ whose favourite _______ is _______.

The guards at the gate are all _________, except for _______ who _________.

The Prince may be handsome, but with him you see _________, who is extremely _________. You also see some __________, and some ___________.

Along the way you see something that you think the Princesses would like very much: some _________ that are __________! Your immediate response is to _____________. Once you so that, however, you ___________, and decide that __________ is __________.

That is all you need to do, and before you go to the celebration you decide there's just enough time to ___________, and for some _________ and ____________.



Ha! See? We'd have been here for months!