A Cultural Tour Gone Wrong [IC]

[JNAProductions]

You've rushed in, and you and the princess have dispatched her guards. Those who were meant to be keeping her safe have turned traitor, and you don't know where the next strike will come from.

The princess' room is not too far from where the celebration is being held. It's not a massive affair-the city still has to work, after all-but there are plenty of people there who are eagerly awaiting a sight of her.

---

OOC Thread

[Riggdgames]

Nilvalor

"Highness! Are you hurt?" Nilvalor asks, offering her a purple-gloved hand for support. "What's happened to you? Your men?"

After examining the princess for any sign that she's been injured, Nilvalor looks around at the bodies of her former guards, then at the other newcomers to the room. Knowing full-well that the remaining people (and construct) on their feet had just fought in her defense, Nilvalor nevertheless valiantly places himself between the princess and everyone else. With a sideways glance back at her, he says, "Princess, I am Nilvalor Piniago, Marquess of Tsurlagol, son of the Duke of Procampur. I will keep you safe while I yet live. Do you know any of them?" he asks, looking over the rest carefully. "Who are all of you?"

[Lentrax]

The spearhead was bloody. There hadn’t been time for the sword, so Kyra didn’t draw it.

Thrust. Step. Thrust.

That was how the armies of her hone fought. A wall of men, thrusting, stepping forward, and thrusting again.

There was always the moment where the phalanx broke apart. A lucky arrow volley taking some of the front down. Spears or shields breaking. Morale breaking.

Those were the times to let your spear fly and do the work with the sword.

This was not one of those times.

Kyra knelt down and picked up her helmet from where she had let it fall. Like the sword, there hadn’t been time for the helmet, so let it drop to the ground to bring her shield to bear. With a quick inspecting of the crest and finding it relatively free of blood, she tucked it under her arm and turned to the princess.

Your highness, are you alright?

[Illven]

Yes, yes! I'm fine. Princess Katrina Eversea let out with a pant, adrenaline fading from her system.

I don't.... I... She started looking around the room, before Nilvaor walked over. Um.... She took a moment to formulate her thoughts. Yes. She answered him, rubbing her head to clear it. They all sought an audience with me. She remarked. Where's Shelly!? She realizes looking at the floor her eyes wide in panic, before a turtle lurches out from under the bed. Katrina gleefully picks up her pet. Oh, Shelly, it's okay. It's over! She assures the turtle. Do any of them have notes? Katrina asks starting to lean over the closest assailant.

[Pyrophilios]

Wendelstein surveyed the scene and took absentmindedly a pull from his pipe. With annoyance he realized a splatter of blood had put out the expensive pipe weed. Putting his shield on his back and dropping his staff in the cradle of his arm, he laboriously started to clean and restock his pipe. If he was honest he had to admit that he liked this process actually more than the smoking itself.
Absentmindedly he spoke a word of power to heal a cut on the princess' arm.

"You'll live. And if you want to stay that way we better get away from here, as it looks like someone higher up here wants your head.
There's a nice inn a few minutes away from here with good wine and very service oriented wen... ah 'waitresses'"

To the other men he said: "The name is Wendelstein, Master Smith of Gond."

[Niobaran]

Bastion

Spoiler: Description

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Character Image
Bastion is about as tall as most humans, but he sometimes seems taller, given his broad shoulders, upright posture, and the fact that he is seemingly made entirely of metal. A deeper observation reveals that this metal plating is merely his outer shell, and that his somewhat artificial body contains strands of wood and other, indefinable organic matter. Apart from the metal plating, Bastion wears only few items of clothing -- a green cloak with a hood, and a belt and green cloth around his waist. Regarding weaponry, he wields a glaive as his primary, and has a rapier and two hand axes on his side.

During the fight, Bastion had fought vigorously, first cutting and bashing a path towards Katrina's vicinity, and then focusing on those next to her, protecting her from incoming strikes as good as possible.

As the battle had died down, Bastion stood calmly for a moment, his hands resting on the polearm. As some of the others had introduced themselves, he springs into action himself.

When he greets her, his bow shows respect and humility despite the slight lack of elegance in the Warforged movement.

"Salutations, Her Serene Highness Princess Katrina, my name is Bastion, and I come with the best wishes of House Cannith. As a gift of the House, I shall put myself under Her service until She dismisses me from it."

While his voice sounds slightly mechanical, and the phrase has more memorized than natural, the intonation hints that he is more than capable of intellect and not only repeating words back.

[Riggdgames]

Nilvalor

Nilvalor puts on an air of greeting the others warily, particularly the powerfully built mechanical creature standing a hair too close for his liking. It's not as if they didn't all just have their best opportunity to harm the princess if that's what they wished, but for appearances it wouldn't do to greet them warmly and beg for their help. He was the son of a Duke, after all. Better to appear dignified and capable, but willing to listen to the advice of his lessers when it proved sound.

"Wendelsmith is right, your Highness," Nilvalor says, purposefully getting the name wrong. "We really should leave as soon as you're able, although...it's much too dangerous for you to walk the streets as Princess Katrina right now. If you'll permit me, Highness, we need to disguise you.

"Ella!" An owl glides across the room from its perch on the window and lands gracefully on Nilvalor's outstretched arm. "Go down the hall and look for any sign there are more traitors laying in wait."

Eager to be the first to find something of use, Nilvalor joins the princess in searching over her attackers.

Spoiler: OOC

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Investigation: (1d20+3)[7]

[Pyrophilios]

Wendelstein was too distracted by the warforged to care for a correction of his name.
"By Gond's burning left testicle - you are not just a construct. You are an honest to Gond Warforged! Is it true? Do you posses a soul? And there I thought this day was a bust."
The glee in Wendelstein's voice and face is severely at odds with the carnage of this little battlefield around him.

[JNAProductions]

Spoiler: Nilvalor

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Your investigation does not turn up anything useful.

Your familiar does determine that you're alone, for the moment, though.

Searching through the attackers, you're unable to find anything indicating who sent them, or why this attack was carried out now.

Spoiler: OOC

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So, for situations like this, where you're all working towards the same goal, I'll allow a maximum of two checks. You can Help one another, but think carefully about who performs what actions. Because Nilvalor made his investigation check BEFORE I announced this ruling, you can still make two more to investigate the scene.

[Niobaran]

Bastion

After any potential dialogue with Princess Katrina, Bastion will turn to Wendelstein.

He nods politely and speaks composed.

"I am Warforged, yes, Gorgon-J, 3rd generation. There have been instances of successful resurrection rituals, suggesting that we do, in fact, possess a soul, yes. Regarding me as an individual, I can only be as certain as any other being."

[Pyrophilios]

"Good enough for me. We must have a little talk once this business here is sorted out."
Wendelstein smiled as he turned to the Princess and that... Elf? Nah, to little sharpness to the ears. A halfer than: "I might not be a professional in the area of intrigue and political assassination, but even I would ask my would be assassins not to carry notes and addresses with me. Look in their purses if they carry foreign coin. And while you are at it, keep the purses. And other small valuables. Maybe you can buy off the next wave of assassins - or hire your own mercenaries to discourage them."

[Riggdgames]

Nilvalor

Swallowing a command for the tall human to watch his foul language around the princess, Nilvalor contents himself with pretending he hadn't heard as he finished up his search. Gond's burning left testicle? He grimaces to himself before rising to his feet, hiding his distaste. "Nothing," he says, rejoining their conversation. "You're likely right that we won't find anything, but it never hurts to be sure."

He usually didn't notice feeling small around others, but among present company, he found himself fidgeting nervously. The tall human had an air of authority that he sincerely hoped others felt he had. The warforged appeared capable of holding Nilvalor's head in his hand and cracking it like a walnut. It's fine, he reassured himself. If they were going to do anything hostile, they would've done it already. You're the son of a duke, you're the son of a duke, you're the son of a duke...

Clearing his throat, Nilvalor asks, "this inn you speak of, you've been there recently? Did they have rooms available? We can't go bouncing around from inn to inn, that's sure. If anyone recognizes the princess after we leave here, no doubt whoever's behind this will be able to buy that information for a flagon of ale, or less.

[Pyrophilios]

Wendelstein shrugged: "I didn't look into every room, but I certainly have one - and for some coin I'm sure the proprietor will make some more for the princess. If worst comes to worst there's always a place with the horses, I guess."

[Lentrax]

Kyra steps up to the princess and bows formally, her dark blonde braid falling over her shoulder as she does so. Your highness. I am Kyra of Keliposos. It would be my honor to escort you wherever you wish. By my honor as a Champion of Tyche, I will see you safe.

[JNAProductions]

Spoiler: Investigation DC 22

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Looking through their belongings and rummaging around the room, you fail to find any written orders or anything. But, you notice a small bit of foam at the corner of their mouths-looking more closely, it seems they were drugged, or poisoned.

[Illven]

Wendelstein shrugged: "I didn't look into every room, but I certainly have one - and for some coin I'm sure the proprietor will make some more for the princess. If worst comes to worst there's always a place with the horses, I guess."

If we trade on my title however, then whoever hired this group will be able to trace my steps. I'm sure they will assume I'm alive when their hit squad fails to return... but maybe they expected it? See this foam at the mouth's that suggests poison. Katrina purses her lips as she goes over poisons that could mind control, or trigger a berserk state.

Spoiler

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Knowledge nature (1d20+8)[13] +guidance (1d4)[3]

Kyra steps up to the princess and bows formally, her dark blonde braid falling over her shoulder as she does so. Your highness. I am Kyra of Keliposos. It would be my honor to escort you wherever you wish. By my honor as a Champion of Tyche, I will see you safe.

May you grace me with good luck and fortune. Katrina kisses Kyra's gauntlet hand.

Would any of you be able to disguise me? I have some magic to such effect, but it is not unlimited.

[Lentrax]

Whatever grace there is, Highness, it is yours, I am sure.

Pleasantries done for the moment, Kyra gestures to the others.

If there is any skill at disguising, it will likely be they that can do such. I have had little need to learn the skill myself. What little I could offer would likely be my clothes, if you do not possess anything that could be more suited to a disguised flight.

[Pyrophilios]

"Yes, just take a cloak from one of them that isn't as blood spattered and put the hood on.
Also, if they were poisoned to bend their will we just slaughtered a bunch of innocents. One more reason to get out of here. I could fit you some armor, but I guess that wouldn't do your ability to do magic much good."
Wendelstein now looked with pity on the vanquished and drew the sign of Gond in the air.

[JNAProductions]

Spoiler: Nature DC 16

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You can't tell for sure with the limited time, but you're pretty sure it's not so much poison and more addictive drug.

Spoiler: OOC

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So, what's the plan? Just make it clear here or in the OOC thread, and I'll move it along.

[Riggdgames]

Nilvalor

Ushering the princess over to a chair by the vanity, Nilvalor says, "If I may princess, we don't have time for a debate. Let me make a few changes and we can be on our way."

Pulling out a small leather case, Nilvalor flips it open revealing a variety of cosmetics and an assortment of dyes. As he begins to work, he distracts himself by forgetting his own advice, and starts to debate Wendelstein even as he's supposed to be busy fabricating a disguise. "It's perfectly understandable why you would think a simple cloak with a hood would suffice given that you're not of royal blood. For us," Nilvalor says, emphasizing the word heavily to link himself to the princess, "a hood may hide part of the face, but when you're as recognizable as we are in and around our lands, you can't hide behind a simple hood. You have to hide in plain sight. Show people what they expect to see and let them keep searching for the real you elsewhere.

"My family has been doing this for generations. It's the only way to travel inconspicuously in our own city, or the rest of the Vast for that matter. Thankfully," he says, reaching for the hair dye, "we're nowhere close right now so I can travel without a disguise and still avoid the bother of being hailed everywhere I go.

"Oops," Nilvalor says, smudging the foundation he spent too much time applying. "I mean, perfect. Certainly no one could recognize you like that," he says, trying to give his voice real conviction and falling a bit flat. "Maybe grab a cloak just to cover that bit up is all."

[Pyrophilios]

Wendelstein raised an eyebrow: "I'll admit that it never occured to me, that... what's it called? Make-Up? ... could be used to hide someone. With so much stone in the city, shouldn't you go for a lot more grey in the face?"

Spoiler

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If the others haven't, Wendelstein starts to collect all the small metal objects, including coin, that the fallen men carried with them.

[JNAProductions]

Spoiler: OOC

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Make a Disguise Kit (Intelligence) check, please. Help and Guidance are possible.

As for gathering valuables... Look, I ain't gonna track minor expenditures, like housing, food, replacing arrows and such. But I will also not bother with figuring out insignificant loot.

You all bundle the princess up, and head out. You try to take the back streets, but they're pretty crowded.

Spoiler: OOC

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Make a check to try to avoid anyone noticing the princess. Stealth would make sense from Katrina, but feel free to make any kind of check you think would be appropriate and I'll adjudicate from there.

You're gonna have to do good to keep Katrina concealed, since you only got 11 on your disguise check.

[Lentrax]

Just keep your head down, Highness. And maybe don’t hold yourself up. Hunch your shoulders.

Spoiler: OOC

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Trying to Aid on a stealth check for Katrina.

[Illven]

Katrina listened to Kyra, after a moments thought kicking off her heels. With the hunch and the baggy cloak disguising her, she was suddenly several inches shorter then anyone would expect the princess to be. Divesting herself of her necklace and rings she turned to the group.

Whose carrying Shelly? She beams to the group, carrying the Turtle.

[Pyrophilios]

"I'll take her. Turtles usually have interesting stories to tell - even if it takes them a while to get to the point."
Wendelstein replied and put the reptile into his shoulder pack.

[Lentrax]

Well. With that sorted, we should go.

And putting action to her words, Kyra leads the way back downstairs, heading for the exit.

[JNAProductions]

You manage to make it away from the festival area, towards a middle-class part of the town. There's a few people walking the streets, and while you get some looks, it's not much directed at Katrina.

You find an inn, and quickly get a room or two, then head up. You feel safe enough for the moment, though the Princess is supposed to be making a public appearance soon.

[Riggdgames]

Nilvalor

With the princess tucked away in their rooms, Nilvalor puts his hand gently on Princess Katrina's arm and guides her to a chair. "Give me but a moment, Highness, and I'll restore your matchless beauty." As he removes the make-up from her face, Nilvalor smiles proudly and says, "thank the gods I was there to help keep you safe Princess. I would never have forgiven myself had anything happened to you this night." Trying to catch her eye, he continues by saying, "in fact, until I am sure you're safe, that can be my only thought."

Standing back up to his full height, Nilvalor exclaims. "There now, much better. You truly are radiant, my Lady. Are you feeling alright? No doubt this has been a trying evening to say the least, but if you have the strength, we cannot rest yet. Your family has many enemies, I am sure, but do you have any idea who could have perpetrated this outrage? Any investigation must start right here with you since we could not, out of necessity, keep any of those brutes alive."

[Pyrophilios]

Wendelstein had purchased a bottle of strong whiskey before joining the group in one of the rooms. Now he prepared a pipe after filling a cup for himself.
"First things first: I get that you are a princess and that that means you are important somehow. But what is it that you exactly do - in general and here in this city? Have there been attempts on your life before?"
He took a long pull from his pipe and blew a smoke ring in the general direction of the half elf.
"For that matter, did you travel here alone? It seems to me you don't actually know any one of us and we all kinda stumbled over this situation accidentally."

[Lentrax]

Shame you took off the makeup. It did such a wonderful job accentuating her features, Kyra says, setting a pack filled with Katrina’s things down.

As for random happenstance, I happened to be in town for the games. I heard the princess was visiting, and couldn’t pass up the opportunity to meet her. But Tyche has blessed me with the fortune to be here to help it seems.