Alusair: “If she used to be a Sensate factol, she’s anything but helpless. Might not be as useful as a Mercykiller justiciar in a fight, but.. well.. probably infinitely less likely to draw bad attention.”
Alusair: “Probably more fun to have around, too.”
Arothir: She giggles, which is almost lyrical.
Arothir: Granted, last you knew, she was a sensate factol almost a hundred years ago.
Alusair: A hundred years is the blink of an eye on the planes.
Alusair: and its not like the planes were appreciably safer that long ago
Alusair: my assessment remains
Arothir: This is true
Arothir: I’m just reminding you of the last time she has had tried to survive
Arothir: :P
Arothir: ish
Alusair: “I suspect we can have you back in sorts fairly quickly. Might even be able to teach you a few tricks you didn’t know before.”
Arothir: “Oh, and I bet I could show you things you never would dream of.”
Shenvallei: “Zero may have some tricks to show her.”
Arothir: ”...wait…did you say Zero?”
Arothir: She looks suprised.
Alusair: “You know him? This should be good..”
Shenvallei: “Yes we are friends with him, he seems likeable.”
Arothir: ”...likeable? Sure, I used to like him, but he was the one who got me to quit the Sensates, and look where THAT ended me up! He says to me he says, “Jesebel, darling, love, if you quit the Sensates I can make sure you’ll be set for the rest of your life. I’ll just need you to do a few things for me, and then I can make sure you never have to lift a finger for yourself again.’ That bastard!”
Alusair: “I suppose thats what you get for trusting an Anarchist..”
Alusair: “But the insight is appreciated.. I’ll keep it in mind with my dealings with him.”
Shenvallei: “Alas we need him at the moment anyway do we not?
Shenvallei: “
Alusair: “But we can at least know to be more cautious.”
Arothir: “Oh, he keeps his word, when he gives it. He’s like a fiend that way.”
Alusair: “Unfortunately, Shen is correct.. we happen to need him for the moment.”
Alusair: “But it may be less than prudent to bring you to his safehouse, given your history.”
Arothir: She snuffs, expressing your thoughtfulness, as well as a reluctance to stay by herself.
Alusair: “Then again.. it may be less than prudent to stay there ourselves, as well..”
Alusair: “Besides.. our target is supposed to be in this area anyway..”
Alusair: Does this tavern also happen to rent rooms?
Arothir: It does, indeed.
Arothir: in fact, when you ask about the rooms
Arothir: The barkeep simply hands you three keys.
Alusair: thank him profusely
Alusair: return to the table
Alusair: and lay the keys in the middle
Alusair: “Nice place..”
Shenvallei: “Agreed, this is my new favorite bar.”
Arothir: It is a rather good bar, all things considered.
Arothir: It’s clean, there’s an Abishai, a deader, and no shortage of food or ale.
Alusair: “There’s still the matter of.. ah.. Harthe, was it?”
Arothir: She looks at you both and shrugs.
Alusair: time of day?
Shenvallei: It must be night by now
Arothir: It’s a bit before night, actually
Alusair: “Zero said he stayed in that bar all day and only left at night.”
Alusair: “Might be best to head out and start keeping a lookout.”
Shenvallei: “Agreed.”
Shenvallei: “Lets go. Jess dont wait up.
Shenvallei: “
Shenvallei: I head over to the barkeep to pay for the tab.
Arothir: The barkeep looks at you like you’re a Yuan-ti who’s grown a ninth head.
Arothir: Barkeep: What’re you talking about, tab?
Shenvallei: “Dont I have to pay for the hospitality? Food, drink, rooms?”
Shenvallei: “Most bars here charge gold.”
Arothir: “No, of course not! I’m running this bar under a new business model!”
Alusair: ”...”
Shenvallei: “Oh? how does it work?”
Shenvallei: “Favors?”
Arothir: “My grandfather was too into gold, and everything was so expensive, nobody would come back! I figured, this way, everyone keeps wanting to return. The more customers, the more profit, you see?”
Alusair: “Well.. thats a business model I can believe in.”
Alusair: “I suggest you do too, Shen.”
Shenvallei: “I see so your compensation is the joy you bring others?”
Alusair: “Aye, aye, thats it. Don’t question it, just believe it works.”
Alusair: “After all, the evidence is all around you. Can’t doubt that.
Alusair: “
Shenvallei: “That is fantastic, I will always return here!”
Arothir: “That’s excellent to hear!”
Arothir: “Tell your friends!”
Shenvallei: “You have made a friend this day!”
Arothir: Make spot checks, boys.
Alusair: [1d20+5<!- Official Roll ->] => [13,5] = (18)
Shenvallei: [1d20<!- Official Roll ->] => [19] = (19)
Shenvallei: +4
Arothir: You both notice, Shen especially
Arothir: That the bar is substantially more populated than when you come in
Arothir: Came in, rather
Arothir: You didn’t exactly see or hear a lot of traffic coming in
Arothir: but parts of it are virtually packed.
Arothir: people are even sitting with the deader.
Alusair: “See, Shen.. its all in Belief.”
Arothir: The bar itself is actually a dark, dark, polished wood

• Shenvallei looks around fascinated and overjoyed. *
  
• Alusair stands up and puts her left foot up on her chair, brushing her skirt aside and unstrapping the dagger from its place on her thigh. She spins it around so she’s gripping the sheath and offers it grip-first to Jess. “Its not safe to wander about unarmed.. we draw problems.” *
  Arothir: She opens the cloak you gave to her and reveals more than enough perfectly toned skin and muscle, and not nearly enough clothing to be called decent. “Not exactly much place to keep that.”
  Shenvallei: (afk 1 sec)
  
• Alusair shrugs and puts it back, “Well then, you know where it is if you need it, eh?” She smirks slightly. *
  Arothir: She laughs.
  Alusair: “Well then.. time we moved. It’ll be night soon, and then we miss him, with our luck.”
  Shenvallei: “Until morning then.” bow slightly and head out the door.
  
• Alusair shrugs and follows Shen. *
  Shenvallei: Make our way back to the fat candle.
  Arothir: You exit the door and trudge across to the Fat Candle
  Arothir: You see a lone figure, almost invisible in the shadows, duck out of the bar and start heading down the street. It was the same man, from all appearances, who was sitting in the corner with a goblet of wine.
  Alusair: “Bets?”
  Shenvallei: “Going to confront him. Direct approach time.”
  Alusair: “Get to it.. you’re better at that than I am.”
  Shenvallei: I move to confront him.
  Arothir: You head to confront him
  Arothir: He’s nearing a building, which has a rather unassuming front
  Arothir: You’re a bit away, but you can catch him if you run and shout.
  Shenvallei: I will. “Harthe, wait.”
  Arothir: The man wheels about, the smoglight hilighting his delicately pale features
  Arothir: “What do you want from me?!”
  
• Alusair keeps making her way closer. *
  Shenvallei: “I have a message for you.” I slow to a slow walk and pull out the wine bottle with the message around it.
  Arothir: He looks warily at the bottle, then reaches out a tentative hand for it
  Shenvallei: I slow down to let Al catch up.
  Alusair: ...I’m not catching up
  Arothir: Do you let him take it?
  Shenvallei: yes.
  Arothir: He does, and he looks at the note suspiciously.
  Arothir: What did it say again?
  Shenvallei: hmm let me scroll up
  Arothir: Just a rough outline would be good to refresh the DM’s memory
  Alusair: ...a rough outline would be longer than the actual note
  Alusair: :P
  Arothir: Undoubtedly
  Shenvallei: “A gift for Magneo Harthe, your services are recognized.”
  Arothir: ”...services? Who is this from?”
  Shenvallei: I glance around is anyone else about?
  Arothir: Not particularly, no.
  Shenvallei: Charm person
  Arothir: What’s the DC for you? I can’t remember.
  whispering to Arothir, [1d20+5<!- Official Roll ->] => [14,5] = (19)
  Alusair: 15, I imagine.. int bonus + spell level?
  Shenvallei: since hes not been threatened or attacked I think its 15
  Shenvallei: its a level 2 spell?
  Shenvallei: since its extended or level 1?
  Alusair: ...should be level 1 anyway
  Arothir: The man takes one look at you before dropping the bottle and running towards the building behind him.
  Shenvallei: I sprint after him
  Alusair: uh..
  Alusair: hang on
  Alusair: casting
  whispering to Arothir, [1d20+5<!- Official Roll ->] => [18,5] = (23)
  Arothir: The man keeps running
  Arothir: You’re moving at the same speed as he, Shen.
  Arothir: Initiatives?
  Arothir: Or do you just plan on giving chase?
  Alusair: [1d20+2<!- Official Roll ->] => [19,2] = (21)
  Shenvallei: Im going to cast sleep if hes in range.
  Shenvallei: [1d20<!- Official Roll ->] => [15] = (15)
  Shenvallei: +4
  Arothir: He’s in range
  whispering to Arothir, [1d20+6<!- Official Roll ->] => [3,6] = (9)
  Arothir: Alusair, go
  Alusair: A humanoid, faintly glowing shape appears between him and the door to the building he’s running into
  Alusair: (dancing lights)
  Arothir: Shen, go
  Alusair: keep chasing
  Shenvallei: Move at max then cast sleep.
  Arothir: Alright
  whispering to Arothir, [1d20+4<!- Official Roll ->] => [17,4] = (21)
  Alusair: never a Power Word, Kill when you need it..
  Arothir: The sleep spell doesn’t seem to take hold on him.
  Alusair: the light is moving to keep between him and the door, by the by.
  Arothir: He wheels away from the light, facing Shen, teeth bared, revealing two pointed canines, his hands poised to strike like claws.
  Shenvallei: Screetch to a halt.
  Alusair: Lol
  Arothir: The man hisses “What do you want from me?! LEAVE ME ALONE!”
  Arothir: His last scream, while loud and forceful, requires you to make a will save.
  Shenvallei: [1d20<!- Official Roll ->] => [18] = (18)
  Alusair: This a Fear effect?
  Arothir: Newp
  Alusair: just checking
  Alusair: [1d20<!- Official Roll ->] => [1] = (1)
  Alusair: LOL
  Alusair: w00t
  Arothir: ...nice.
  Alusair: by the way
  Shenvallei: -2 wis +2 elf so its just 18
  Alusair: “Eeeeeeeerrrr…”
  Arothir: Alusair, your go again.
  Alusair: Close in.
  Alusair: can I get in striking range?
  Arothir: Sure, why not.
  Alusair: *shrug
  
• Alusair takes a somewhat ackward swing, which she manages to make look like an intentional feint rather than a horrible miss. *
  Arothir: Shen!
  Arothir: Your go.
  Shenvallei: Hmm
  Shenvallei: Daze
  Arothir: Will save again?
  whispering to Arothir, [1d20+5<!- Official Roll ->] => [17,5] = (22)
  Shenvallei: yes 14 DC
  Arothir: The spell goes off without a hitch, but leaves the man unfazed.
  whispering to Arothir, [1d20+5<!- Official Roll ->] => [5,5] = (10)
  Arothir: The man takes a hard swipe at Alusair, but comes up a bit short.
  Shenvallei: *cry 3 failures in a row.
  Arothir: Alusair!
  Arothir: Too true.
  Alusair: four, counting mine
  Arothir: Alusair takes a slice at the man’s chest, leaving a gaping wound, his heart exposed, unbeating, in his ribcage.
  Arothir: You can slowly start to see the skin knit itself back together
  Arothir: Shen, your turn.
  whispering to Arothir, [19<!- Official Roll ->] => 19
  whispering to Arothir, [4d12+3-15<!- Official Roll ->] => [4,2,5,8,3,-15] = (7)
  Shenvallei: I command Luna to attack. And cast Alter self on her.
  Shenvallei: I want to alter her into a cat humanoid female.
  Shenvallei: i.e felicia from dark stalkers.
  Arothir: ...mmkay.
  Arothir: You do so, and Luna attacks
  whispering to Arothir, [1d20+2<!- Official Roll ->] => [20,2] = (22)
  whispering to Arothir, [1d20+2<!- Official Roll ->] => [17,2] = (19)
  Arothir: ...somehow, her inept clumsy swinging has her clawing through another part of his chest
  whispering to Arothir, [1d2+1<!- Official Roll ->] => [2,1] = (3)
  Arothir: It’s not a lot of damage, but it hurts him a bit.
  whispering to Arothir, [6<!- Official Roll ->] => 6
  Shenvallei: Well at least shes big enough to do some damage now right.
  Arothir: Most of her wound seems to close up, while his body still seems to be working on Alusair’s strike.
  Arothir: Well, sort of.
  Alusair: if she’s still small, its only gonna be about 1d4..
  Arothir: She’s also got the mind of a cat, mind.
  Arothir: :P
  Shenvallei: Did alter self make a diff is what Im asking. She went from tiny to small size class aye?
  Arothir: Yeah, she did.
  Alusair: Which would be an increase to d4, IIRC
  whispering to Arothir, [1d20+5<!- Official Roll ->] => [7,5] = (12)
  Shenvallei: right better than d2
  Alusair: much
  Arothir: lol
  Alusair: positively double!
  Alusair: :P
  Shenvallei: now I need to learn chill touch and she will be useful…
  whispering to Arothir, [6+5<!- Official Roll ->] => 11
  whispering to Arothir, [6+5+2<!- Official Roll ->] => 13
  Arothir: Alusair, it’s your go.
  Arothir: He botched his swing again.
  Alusair: you apparently need to learn something with fire damage, actually
  Alusair: :P
  Shenvallei: wizard damage is weak until lev 3 spells
  whispering to Arothir, [4<!- Official Roll ->] => 4
  
• Alusair takes another swing, which the enemy apparently dodged into, judging from how close she was to missing. *
  Shenvallei: but I wouldnt mind em :)
  Arothir: Another spray of blood, the man is looking fairly weak, but not down by any means.
  Arothir: Shen!
  Shenvallei: Ill move into melee range and cast mage armor on myself.
  Shenvallei: while drawing my dagger.
  Arothir: Alright.
  Arothir: You do so.
  Arothir: Luna takes another crack at him
  whispering to Arothir, [1d20+2<!- Official Roll ->] => [2,2] = (4)
  Arothir: And almost trips over her own feet.
  whispering to Arothir, [1d20+5<!- Official Roll ->] => [20,5] = (25)
  whispering to Arothir, [1d20+5<!- Official Roll ->] => [7,5] = (12)
  Arothir: The man brings his arm back, flicks his hand open, then slashes across Alusair’s chest, hard, causing [1d6+4<!- Official Roll ->] => [6,4] = (10) points.
  whispering to Kiergath, +1 Negative Level
  Shenvallei: This guy is kicking our ass.
  Alusair: ... you have no idea
  Arothir: To be fair, that’s his first hit.
  Arothir: :P
  Shenvallei: One more fail and we might want to retreat and tell Zero to shove it.
  Arothir: Alusair, your go.
  whispering to Arothir, [6<!- Official Roll ->] => 6
  Arothir: Alusair takes a stab at the man, the tip of her sword barely piercing his unbeating heart before he crumbles into dust, which mixes with the blood and wine on the ground into a muddy cocktail.
  
• Alusair staggers backwards *
  
• Shenvallei quickly searches the body. *
  
• Alusair prays briefly before running a hand over the claw wound. [1d8+2<!- Official Roll ->] => [3,2] = (5) *
  Arothir: Unfortunately, Shen, there isn’t a body to search.
  Arothir: Just a pile of muddy ash.
  Alusair: start staggering my way back to the tavern, leaning on the wall of any handy building as I go
  Alusair: ...
  Alusair: keep an eye out for razorvine
  Arothir: Jess appears from the shadows to give you a hand, with mutterings of “poor baby” all the way.
  Shenvallei: I follow offering Al help.
  Alusair: ...depending on how sincere she sounds, either accept her help or shoo her away
  Alusair: “Powers damn that Anarchist.. can’t trust the berks to ever tell the whole story.”
  Shenvallei: “He resisted everything I threw at him.”
  Alusair: “You.. don’t know.. half of it…”
  Arothir: She’s mostly sincere.
  Arothir: ..mostly.
  Arothir: Since she thinks you’re mainly playing it up.
  Alusair: “Claws.. weak.. feel so very.. very weak.”
  Arothir: Jess: Oh you big baby…if you’re trying to sucker me into taking care of you tonight, it won’t work. I will drag your sorry ass to a priest, if that’s what it takes.
  Shenvallei: “Are you poisoned or do you need rest?”
  Alusair: “Not poison..”
  Alusair: “Just.. gone.. spells gone.. blessing was .. weaker.. than it should be..”
  Shenvallei: “Lets get back to the bar. In the morning we will head to Zero to discuss this.” “Come along Luna.”
  Arothir: Luna follows, marvelling at her new form
  Arothir: Jess stares at her jealously
  Alusair: ( Half of the stammering seems as much from shock as from anything else. )
  Alusair: we get back to the inn?
  Arothir: Yes.
  Arothir: The Bartender welcomes you back with a hearty pie
  Alusair: “Looks wonderful.. but I’ll pass..”
  
• Alusair sighs at Jess before shaking her off and staggering to one of the rooms. *
  Shenvallei: “Oh wonderful! yes I am still a bit full from dinner though. Ill have mine in the morning if you please.”
  Arothir: Barkeep: Very well! Have a good rest!
  Alusair: Slump onto the bed.. probably don’t remember to even close the door behind me.
  Shenvallei: I head for a room as well. Meditate and rememorize.
  Arothir: Alright
  Alusair: and sleep without so much as giving the room a once over
  Arothir: You do so
  Arothir: Morning comes, and you are rememorized, Shen.
  Shenvallei: Can I assume from now on that when ever I rememorize I cast a familiar pocket and mage armor prior?
  Arothir: Yeah.
  Arothir: Treat it as such, number one.
  Shenvallei: I exit the room after gathering my belongings and seeing to my morning routine.
  Arothir: You head downstairs?
  Shenvallei: And yes head downstairs.
  Shenvallei: I order a pie and 2 cups of milk and water.
  Arothir: The two of you are greeted at the bottom of the stairs by a friendly Barkeep with a warm, sizzling meat pie for breakfast, and two frothing mugs of what could only be described as cirder.
  Arothir: *Cider
  Shenvallei: Thats nice too.
  Alusair: “Got another mug laying around, by any chance?”
  Arothir: As you move to the table, you hear thumping from the stairs, as Jess comes tumbling down the stairs, wrapped up in Alusair’s cloak.
  Arothir: Another mug is proffered.
  Arothir: She’s swearing as she makes her way over towards you
  
• Alusair meets Jess at the stairs with the third mug, “Ah.. I was about to come back up with food, but I see you’re awake.” *
  Arothir: “Unfortunately, yes.” She shoots a glare at Shen, but it’s not entirely unfriendly.
  Arothir: The barkeep plonks a fourth mug down on the table and begins serving you all portions of breakfast, before sitting down with you
  Arothir: Barkeep: So, whats on the agenda for today you two?
  
• Alusair mutters to Jess before heading back to the table. *
  
• Alusair slumps into a chair, “Not sure… a bit of business we have to take care of in the Hive, but after that…” *
  Shenvallei: “Im sure something will present itself. If nothing else we need to go shopping…” shoots a look at Jesebel.
  Arothir: “Neither of you two happen to know any musical instruments, do You? I could swear, you both look like some travelling musicians that were here some years ago, I’d bet my beard on it.”
  Alusair: “Afraid not..”
  Alusair: “I’ve been told I can sing, but I’m terribly out of practice.. and I’m not a professional or anything by any means.”
  Arothir: “Ah, damn. Well, if you could, keep an eye out…I’m always looking for new talent to liven up the crowd! Gotta make the mortgage somehow!”
  Shenvallei: “Not I, best I can do is a trick or two.”
  Arothir: “Well, shucks. I do hope you enjoyed your stay, though!”
  Alusair: “I imagine we’ll be back fairly frequently.”
  Alusair: “Quite possibly on a nightly basis.”
  Arothir: He flits off, leaving his mug, and heading to another table, after leaving a gold piece.
  Arothir: “Finally, some regulars!”
  Alusair: “I, uh, don’t suppose you could hold those rooms for us?”
  Arothir: “Oh, just hold onto the keys! I don’t have spares!”
  Alusair: ”...”
  Alusair: “My thanks.”
  Shenvallei: “For every horror here an equal wonder.”
  Alusair: “Sigil at its finest, mate.”
  Alusair: “Sheer chaos.. but always balanced.”
  Arothir: Jess: So, what’re we doing first? Are we hunting more Athar?
  Alusair: “Gods, if only..”
  Alusair: “Too many of those heretics running about.. their very existance is an insult.. an affront to everything.”
  Shenvallei: I finish up breakfast, have Luna hop in the pocket and patiently wait for the others so we can depart to Zero’s safehouse.
  Alusair: “I’m afraid our next destination is probably to speak to Zero.”
  Alusair: “You should probably not come along.”
  Arothir: Jess looks at Shen.
  Alusair: “blinks, looks at Shen Ah, right. Why am I offering you advise?”
  
• Alusair sighs wistfully and stands up after draining her mug. *
  Shenvallei: “Why would it matter? Lets have her along. Zero is old enough to handle an old encounter.”
  Alusair: “Possibly because everything would go more smoothly if we did NOT present him with an old… ah.. friend?”
  Alusair: “We impose on him enough as it is, we already have left a Harmonium officer in his safehouse..”
  Alusair: “It would be best not to provoke him, if we mean to continue friendly relations.. and as far as I am aware, we are not meaning to offend him just yet.”
  Arothir: “Oh, I can just make conversation with Tybalt, his Kobold.”
  Arothir: “That should be good enough…”
  
• Alusair arches an eyebrow, shrugs, “So be it.” She heads out the door, staying infront and keeping a bit of distance between herself and the group *
  Shenvallei: “It was happenstance that we met Jesebel, and happenstance that Zero knows her. Very well Ill take your counsul Al, it hasnt failed us thus far.”
  Arothir: So you leave Jess behind?
  Alusair: no, it appears she’s coming
  Shenvallei: Where is the merchant district closer to, this bar or zero’s safehouse?
  Alusair: Well..
  Alusair: the clerk’s ward will have better shopping opportunities
  Arothir: That’s true
  Arothir: And I think Zero’s is closer
  Arothir: I can’t remember how the bloody disc fits together
  Shenvallei: Yes we need to procure her some equipment.
  Alusair: I thought we were already IN the clerk’s ward?
  Alusair: zero’s is in the hive
  Arothir: Oh
  Arothir: Yeah, you are
  Arothir: I was thinking you meant the Lady’s Ward
  Alusair: Short of heading for the great bazaar, this is probably one of the best shopping ops in the city
  Arothir: That’s true.
  
• Alusair shrugs **
  Arothir: Down the street, in fact
  

Return to Session Three

Return to Session Three – Part Three

Continue to Session Three – Part Five