2020-08-27

Episdoe 14: Santa Cora Days and Nights

You set out without further ado.

And your carriage soon can see Santa Cora in the distance, a sprawling city of hundreds of thousands, one of the great cities of the Empire, ancient and modern at once, always dying and being rebuilt. It has been the base of two icons now dead, and is the current home of the third, the Priestess.

Niamh gazes at it with visible trepidation.

Harrowhark visibly relaxes.

Kiara looks on it as an auld acquaintance, who she's not sure will support her or turn on her.

Niamh suddenly twitches in her seat, shifting uncomfortably.

LUKE hums a hymn cheerfully.

Samantha says, "civilization."

The City draws nearer; the land around the city is thick with farms and villages; you can feel holy power in the air, especially if you pass near a temple.

Niamh shifts more and more uncomfortably as they draw closer, seeming to have trouble sitting.

Harrowhark says, a trifle waspishly, "Niamh."

Harrowhark asks, "Your business is your business, but is your clear problem with this city going to become OUR problem at any point?"

Luke says, "I know a cure for hemmroids if that's the problem."

Luke says, "There's nothing worse than a sore butthole."

Samantha says, "..."

Luke says, "Okay, limb loss is worse."

Niamh says, "No. Not in any way that I can predict." She shrugs. "I am not wanted by the guards, I have not been banished on pain of death, there is nobody within to my knowledge who wishes me ill, I will not combust into magical flames on entry. At least I HOPE I do not. As far as I know this is my problem."

Harrowhark says, "All right then." Pause. "Is there... anything we can do, or... ?"

Niamh says, "There is nothing anyone can do. I have known this day was coming and that I would not be able to avoid it forever."

Kiara says, "SO who is your jealous lover, hmmm?"

Vendrik cocks his head. "Mother, or fiance?"

Luke says, "Does the Priestess have a record of barbequeing people named Niamh or something?"

Kiara hi-five's Vendrik.

Niamh's mouth simply tightens irritably and she lapses into a sullen silence, squirming on her seat.

Vendrik nods to himself, but does not press further.

Manny Mo'Jac says, "roll 1d10"

Result is: (1d10) 5 for Manny Mo'Jac

Santa Cora is a huge city, ringed by a gleaming white wall; there are outzones near the gates, where new construction has spilled out of the city. The World Neighborhood spills out of the West Gate, a mix of architectural styles from old ages, today, and other lands. You can hear the faint strum of the guitars of Ascolais as you pass down the road through the western outzone. Exiles from that land are probably already getting drunk and bitter in the mid-afternoon.

Samantha says, "roll 1d20+3+2"

Result is: (1d20+3+2) 20 for Samantha

Niamh says, "We should inform the gate guard immediately about the hellhole, as we pass through."

Harrowhark says, "Yes."

Harrowhark writes out a formal testimony, which she signs in the name of the Black Vestals of the Raven Queen.

Harrowhark asks, "Vendrik, add this to your pile, would you?"

Vendrik does so, and then finds the appropriate guards and hands over the reports along with a quick summary.

Samantha looks around, a little distracted for a moment, but lets it go.

The carriage drive was going to wave through, but he stops and lets you present the papers to the guards, though he flashes his own license at them.

One of the guards takes your report, gets on a horse and rides off into the city.

You then continue inwards.

As you pass through the gate, you enter the World Neighborhood proper; it's just as diverse as the outzone, but a few of the buildings lie in ruins, slowly being disassembled for their stones; one building has a big sign that reads 'Do not enter by order of the Priestess', though it just looks like an ordinary half-collapsed island (apartment building).

However, your carriage ride is now blocked by hundreds of people out in the street who seem to have chosen this moment for a dance performance. No, wait, it's a worship ceremony in front of a large pillar which contains a tiny shrine, one of hundreds in the city to obscure saints and gods. Five people in crimson and black are leading the others, who wear simple crimson robes with a few black stripes.

The carriage driver grumbles. "It's only a few hundred feet to the inn where we stop but if I leave this road, we may get lost for a while."

Kiara asks, "Who are these guys?"

Vendrik looks at the others, clearly not caring if they have to walk a few minutes.

Manny Mo'Jac says, "OOC IF you want to figure out who they are, you can roll Int or Wisdom + an appropriate background + Level, DC 15"

The driver says, "Pilgrims. Some stupid old god who probably fell down a manhole long ago." He sighs

Mike says, "roll 1d20+4+4+2x2"

Result is: (1d20+4+4+2) 28 (1d20+4+4+2) 16 for Mike

Samantha says, "roll 1d20+2+2"

Result is: (1d20+2+2) 6 for Samantha

Harrowhark says, "roll 1d20+8"

Result is: (1d20+8) 24 for Harrowhark

Kiara says, "roll 1d20+3+2"

Result is: (1d20+3+2) 12 for Kiara

Niamh, quietly pedantic, says, "Tusk-Or cultists. He hasn't been a force since the 11th Age."

Niamh says, "It is harmless enough aside from blocking traffic; they seek to appease him so that he does not send his Tusk-Men to rampage."

Kiara shrugs at Vendrik. "Distance doesn't bother me, but dunno how it's gonna be trying to push through this crowd." She grins a bit. "I mean, hey, some people are into getting groped, but I'd rather have a nice dinner first."

Luke gets a squinty face, then says, "I think his followers got in a fight with a bunch of werewolves some number of ages ago."

Harrowhark says, "We could just get out and walk."

The driver watches and sighs. "Do you want me to try and go around, or are you okay if we wait?"

Niamh says, "I am in no hurry myself."

Harrowhark shrugs.

Your ticket is good for an overnight stay at the Red Dragon Inn, but you could just bail out and go find other accomodations or try to find your way to it.

Samantha's eyes narrow with irritation.

Kiara says, "Waiting's fine with me; some of these guys could be good dancers, if they just got hep a little."

Samantha says, "I guess we'll wait for a bit, but if this goes on too long I'm taking a stroll."

You feel a faint puff of power as the rite reaches its climax, then the pilgrims march off down the road, singing loudly.

You continue on, leaving the main road and passing through an area of houses up on stilts, which surround a circular park where several brown-skinned kids are keeping an eye on giant chickens (the size of a pig). The kids have runes drawn in purple paint on their skin. Adults of similar tone, also tattooed, wander the neighborhood, about various tasks; you see one elevated shop where a man is busy carving oars out of logs with several assistants; he has a big winch for raising logs by one side of his home.

You pass out of that neighborhood into one of relatively modern architecture but everyone is a northerner, striding around in clothing too warm for this climate and sweating a lot.

The Red Dragon Inn is staffed by such folk - tall, muscular, and blonde or brown haired and pale skinned.

You check in; the common room is crowded with customers ight now and the waiters and waitresses bustle, trying to keep up, serving ale and beer and plates of grilled goat and potatoes and carrots.

The Driver goes to have his horses taken care of and to get food and drink and rest.

It is about 3 PM in the afternoon.

Harrowhark says, "We'll go to the Cathedral tomorrow."

Samantha says, "fine by me."

Harrowhark says, "There's going to be a LOT of waiting."

Kiara sniffs the air, licking her lips thoughtfully. "As long as we eat well tonight, it's cool."

Vendrik motions to Harrow. "Having connection with Priestess?"

Niamh tries to keep her back to a wall as much as possible. Possibly this is because something in the vicinity of the left side of her backside is glowing blue strongly enough to be faintly visible through her black satin robe.

Tonight's special is grilled goat, potatoes, and carrots. Barley beef soup is the other dish; you can have either, thanks to your carriage ticket.

Luke looks at Niamh's butt. "Is that vyloupor?" You know Vyloupor is a magical fungus which can grow on you if you don't bathe enough.

Niamh says, "Of course not."

Harrowhark asks, "Follow-up question: is that a forbidden color?"

Harrowhark says, "Like GANT, or mega-yellow, or hottest pink."

Niamh sniffs. "It is BLUE."

Luke says, "It looks like the Blue... did the Blue put his mark on you?" He looks stunned.

Niamh says, "...no."

Harrowhark says to Vendrik, "Not particularly no. I just understand how the clergy works."

Harrowhark asks, "Do you want one of my thicker robes, Niamh?"

Harrowhark asks, "Would that help?"

Niamh says, "Thank you, but no."

Luke says, "Are you sure it's not an exploding rune?"

Kiara goes for the beef soup and starts eating heartily. "Blue glow or not, you need to eat too," she tells Niamh, pushing a bowl over in front of her.

Vendrik shakes his head. "Connections serve as shortcuts. Will have to check if expediting process is possible."

Niamh takes a long, deeply irritated breath.

Samantha politely ignores the blue ass and eats the beef stew

Okay. Going to stay the night and go see the Priestess in the morning, or do you head down to the Navel of the World once you have eaten?

Niamh then eats the soup. After a few bites, she says, "I have a magical marking. It glows when exposed to power. The blue glow is because of Santa Cora. If we were in a center of necromantic power it would be purple. Or in the presence of the high druid in their grove, green. And so on. It is uncomfortable but not dangerous."

DaR From Another Place says, "Vendrik does have both noble and anti-demon connections. He can lean on those to possibly short cut some of the waiting to see a high ranking person that we'd otherwise endure."

Harrowhark exclaims, "That sounds very useful!"

Samantha says, "good to know."

Niamh says, "It is not."

Chris has connected.

Kiara nods in acceptance. "Well, cool enough, I suppose. What does it do for you, if anything?"

Akio says, "I have connections but not specifically ones to the Priestess."

Luke says, "Ahh, a warning sigil." He munches on grilled goat eagerly, pouring a blue sauce on it. Chris has reconnected

The sauce smells strongly of chilis and oregano

Kiara pours some of it into her soup.

Samantha asks, "does it ever glow red? or yellow?"

Niamh says, shortly, "Red for demons."

Harrowhark says, "Gold. Gold is the color of... well." She nods at Luke.

DaR From Another Place says, ""Oh, Grandma's ass!""

Luke says, "U... oh, right, the Great Gold Wyrm!"

Luke looks embarrassed and stuffs more goat in his mouth.

Kiara's mouth makes an interesting expression, then she enthusiastically takes another spoonful of the mix!

Samantha shrugs

Niamh says, "I would prefer to be shed of the item as soon as possible. It seems unlikely but not impossible that an attempt will be made on us tonight."

Harrowhark nods. "Watches," she says.

Manny Mo'Jac says, "roll d20+6 d20+8 d20+6 d20+2 d20+5 d20+5"

Result is: (d20+2) 16 (d20+5) 24 (d20+5) 14 (d20+6) 15 (d20+6) 8 (d20+8) 26 for Manny Mo'Jac

Harrowhark says, "Traps, question mark?" She looks at the rogues.

Samantha asks, "eh?"

Samantha looks around

Harrowhark says, "Should we trap the room we sleep in."

Luke says to Samantha, "She's asking if you... yeah."

Samantha asks, "you mean you normally don't?"

Harrowhark doesn't dignify that with a response.

page> Akemi [to you, Rod and The_Prof]: You all notice one of the people at another table is watching you, specifically watching Niamh and doing something with a notepad. Writing on it. His other four companions seem oblivious; they look like young men in their twenties and are busy eating and drinking and hitting on the waitresses.

Samantha sighs

Samantha says, "I'll set it all up for you lot."

Niamh says, "Good."

Vendrik continues to eat, and says softly around a mouthful of goat, "A young bravo over there has taken interest in you, Niamh."

Kiara nods. "Yeah, we could put something together." She then murmurs in a voice that won't carry to the other tables, "One of the guys at that table is watching Nimmy and taking notes."

Samantha says, "keep y'voice down about that."

Niamh frowns.

Samantha says, "everything's normal. Supper is nice."

Several more customers come in and are promptly thrown out by the waitress; it's not clear why. She goes off grumbling.

Niamh says, "Perhaps we should go upstairs when we finish dinner."

Luke says, "Goat goes well with grandma's special sauce. I don't think I put enough blueberries in it, though." He sighs.

Luke says, "It's not as sweet as it should be."

Harrowhark says, "I agree with Niamh."

Once you eat, if you want privacy, you'll need to get private rooms; your ticket includes a free stay in the common room; it's one silver each for a room.

Luke goes ahead and pays for it for everyone.

He also tosses four silver to the waitress, who looks suprised but does not quarrel with this.

Kiara adds her own four-silver tip.

You get yourselfs set up in a room without any trouble.

Samantha makes with the security traps

It's a bit crowded but it avoids splitting the party.

Manny Mo'Jac says, "OOC Roll Intelligence + Spymaster + Level, Rod. DC 15"

Samantha says, "roll 1d20+2+3+2"

Result is: (1d20+2+3+2) 9 for Samantha

Sniper Ox says, "how did i know that would fail."

Sniper Ox says, "basically on a 20 i somehow rolled a 2."

Niamh conjures alarm sprites and sets them to watch windows, doors, and anything else something could conceivably get through.

The sprites settle in to watch!

Kiara tries setting up her own traps.

Anything you want to do tonight or do you just bunker down and head out in the morning?

Kiara says, "roll 1d20+5+2"

Result is: (1d20+5+2) 18 for Kiara

You rig up rope snares.

Harrowhark takes the first watch.

Mike says, "OOC: Bunker down with a watch, head out in the morning."

Manny Mo'Jac asks, "OOC Okay! You need at least three watches. Who takes what watch?"

Samantha volunteers for mid-watch

Manny Mo'Jac says, "OOC Luke will take last watch."

Vendrik will take the middle watch.

Sniper Ox says, "already called that one"

Voice of John Biles says, "And Dan plays into my trap... my plans. My plans."

Voice of John Biles says, "You could do 2 person watches, though"

DaR From Another Place says, "We do have the people for it."

Sniper Ox says, "welll someone needs 1st watch. if you're hellbent on mid, i'll move to first"

Kiara joins Luke for the last watch.

Voice of John Biles asks, "wom say You going to go mids with Vendrik, then, Mike?"

Tobias says, "Fair enough."

The first watch goes without incident.

Vendrik and Niamh have the hardest watch, the middle watch.

But both are sturdy folk and can handle it.

At some hour of the night, there is a complex set of knocks on the door, some twenty-three in number.

page> Akemi [to you]: It's a Crusader recognition code.

Tobias asks, "During which watch?"

Voice of John Biles says, "While you two are on watch."

Vendrik's face goes serious. He raps out a code of his own on the floor with one foot.

page> DaR [to Akemi]: Counter recognition code!

A quixk sequence of six off-beat knocks.

page> Akemi [to you]: That's 'messagenger from the Crusade' signal

Vendrik gets up and carefully disarms the traps on the door, and opens it, still ready for trouble.

Niamh glances at Vendrik with a blank expression, although the hand with her wand has now come up to point at the door, ready to cast. She starts nudging people awake.

Numo begins slapping his ass, duplicating the knock sequence.

Kiara wakes up grumpily, but silently.

Samantha wakes silently,but with blades in hand

The man in the hallway wears black plate with silver runes; his helmet is under his arm, an axe on his back. He has soft brown eyes and snow-white hair cut short, a military cut, and a beard and moustache, but is clearly in his thirties, not an old man. "I am Magnus von Ironboke, son of Persifar von Ironboke, Count of Ironboke."

"Descended by long lineage from an earlier Crusder and proud Knight of the Crusade. May I enter?"

Akio says, "Vampire."

Akio says, "100% vampire."

Niamh's eyebrows go up.

page> Akemi [to you]: Persifar von Ironboke is a count up in the north and a retired Crusader; you've never met his Son but you know his son is a Paladin of Bane.

He says, "I can wait if people need to get dressed." He is very calm and very good at standing very still.

Kiara gives him the once-over, top to bottom. "Hey there." She looks to Vendrik. "You trust this guy, Vennie?"

Vendrik checks behind him to ensure everyone is at least reasonably decent, nods and waves to the rest of the room. "Enter of your own free will, Count"

Niamh says, "This house is known to me. He states its lineage truthfully."

page> Akemi [to you]: What is Vendrik's father's name?

page> DaR [to Akemi]: I never made one. Feel free to choose. It'd be vaguely germanic of some sort.

page> DaR [to Akemi]: Possibly with italian influence.

Kiara gives Niamh a raised-eyebrow look of her own. "Well, well, well," she murmurs.

For a moment, his mouth flickers into a smile. "Thank you, Vendrik zon Kurgenmarcher, son of Wolfgang zon Kurgenmarcher. I am sorry about what happened to your fiancee. A terrible death, but one day, the Stone Thief will pay for its crimes." He now comes in. "I represent the Crusader. A pleasure to meet the rest of you." He looks surprised by Luke's presence, but doesn't say anything. "I come with two items of business, both urgent, which is why I interrupted your sleep."

Akio exclaims, "Oh no! Backstory!"

Vendrik nods, and gestures for him to continue.

DaR From Another Place exclaims, "Roll for init! Tragic past goes at 16!"

He says, "The first order of business is the hellhole. I have heard report that one has appeared wet of here, on the road which eventually leads to Horizon but the Priestess' bureaucracy moves as slowly as a glacier creeping south." He plunks down a bag of coins. "I will pay for whatever you know about it, so we can deal with it while the Priestess dithers and waits for a sign." His voice is tight. The bag looks like a lot of silver.

Vendrik reaches over to his satchel, pulls out yet another copy of the report and hands it off. "With my blessing, for little worth they have."

Kiara's eyes light up, but she manages to avoid cooing at it.

Okay, everyone gets 250 SP each.

Sir Magnus von Ironboke relaxes. "Very good. Thank you, Vendrik." He tucks the report away.

Kiara will go over all her eyewitness accounts with Sir Magnus for that!

Niamh waits for item number two.

He takes any eyewitness reports anyone else wants to give him, then says, "The second order of business is the artifact you are carrying. I have to assume you plan to sell it to the Priestess, but you have to know she will do something with it like power a machine to give out free bagels to orphans when it could be used to finally deal with the giant Abyss crack which is eventually going to corrupt the Great Gold Wrym and unleash hell on the world if we can't destroy it first. The core would be a huge aid to the Crusade. I am authorized to pay you each three hundred gold and one item each from our armory for it. We can also ensure the Dwarf King cannot come and turn you all into sewer-cleaning automatons for not giving it to him."

DaR From Another Place says, "Aaaand there it is."

Akio says, "We all knew it was coming."

Count von Ironboke says, "Because you must be aware that he's been looking for that thing for literally millenia."

Akio says, "I actually didn't know that."

Akio says, "Wow, that makes Gloin even more of an idiot."

Count von Ironboke says, "I have to assume it was hidden in something amazing all this time that he could not find it."

Niamh says, firmly, "We have our own plans for the Core that do not involve 'selling' it, merely... depositing it for a time."

Vendrik makes a humming noise. "Adventuring party is too small to protect it for extended period. Especially with such interest. However, there is prophecy in motion. Will be required to destroy a threat that gnaws at Empire's roots since dawning of the ages."

Count von Ironboke says "You think you can destroy the Stone Thief with it?" He sounds intrigued at the thought. "I assume that is what you mean."

Vendrik gestures at Harrow and Niamh, willing to let them explain the more esoteric aspects of it.

Count von Ironboke listens to the explanation curiously.

Harrowhark says, wearily, "An ancient Gnomish Archmage has apparently set a ridiculous prophecy engine in motion. We don't know why we'll need it. Just that we do. It was explicitly left for us."

SIR Magnus (the Count is his Father) says, "The Priestess is not exactly the greatest at defending things. If you put it into our trust, we could defend it at First Triumph. How soon are you going to need to use it to fulfil this prophecy?"

Harrowhark shrugs languidly.

Harrowhark says, "Thank you for your time, Sir Magnus. We will take your generous offer under consideration."

Sir Magnus says, "I will be in our outpost in the Navel of the World."

Harrowhark asks, "Oh, and Sir Magnus?"

Sir Magnus says, "Yes?"

Harrowhark says, a bit acidly, "The bread dole is one of the most ancient and venerable forms of charity, blessed by nearly every god. It has been the staff of life for millions since before the Wizard King rose to power. The Emperor themself usually undertakes it on the holy and festival days."

Harrowhark says, "There are FAR worse uses for this artifact than, how did you put it? 'A bagel engine.'"

Tobias says, "Neon Bagel Evangelion."

Sir Magnus says, "They probably would not be as wasteful, though." He shakes his head. "Goodnight, then. Contact me if you are interested in furthr discussion. I will let you sleep."

Sir Magnus heads out.

Harrowhark says shortly, after he leaves, "Fuckin' inbred nobles."

Luke says, "Bane's Paladins just care about whether you can use something to stab people."

Harrowhark says, "The next one is going to be someone with an Axish accent you can bounce rocks off, the fifteenth of their name, making a clumsy offer on behalf of the Emperor."

Kiara says, "...eheh."

Niamh says, "The Counts of Ironboke date back to the crusades of the 11th Age. They're known for their wizard-paladins."

Kiara looks a little sheepish at the thought of dealing with a representative of the Emperor.

Niamh says, "Runeblade in one hand, wand or staff in the other. They have a number of contacts in the Black College."

Vendrik says, "Not entirely wrong, though. Bagel engine sounds delicious, but closing Abyss crack would be greater boon in long run."

Vendrik says, "Next, though, probably Three or maybe High Druid. Empire will be slower off mark, I think."

Niamh says, "Return to sleep. We all have a busy day tomorrow."

Harrowhark says, "Or some of Niamh's less sensible colleagues."

Akio says, "Defeating the Stone Thief had better involve a goddamn bagel engine."

Tobias says, "RELEASE THE BAGEL KRAKEN"

You all sleep well and in the morning, go down and get breakfast - hash browns, sausage, onions, and carrots. The place is full of travellers and locals getting food.

Niamh eats a light breakfast and fidgets until its time to go.

Kiara digs in with verve.

Harrowhark drinks a flagon of water and has a single boiled egg.

page> Akemi [to you, Rod and The_Prof]: That guy who was watchign you last night is here, with his notepad, looking very nervous as one of his friends whispers to him. The rest of said crew is not here, though, it's just the two of them.

The Waitress brings Harrowhark her boiled egg.

Vendrik eats heartily.

Luke eats a big breakfast and hums various hymns to himself.

As you are finishing up, you are approached by a young northerner, tall with a short blonde beard and long blonde hair in braids; he's dressed like a fairly typical city worker.

Niamh glances up wearily.

His friend is giving him a big thumbs up.

Manny Mo'Jac says, "roll 1d20"

Result is: (1d20) 6 for Manny Mo'Jac

He panics, shouts something incoherent about a prophecy, tosses his notebook in front of Niamh, then flees back to his table as his friend buries his hands in his face.

Niamh casually looks at the notebook?

Kiara says, "...aw, come on, you aren't that scary."

There is the phrase 'In the year of the Blue Axe, Kord must marry a woman who is both bountiful and glows blue or all the cattle of the south will be destroyed'. The phrase 'Prophesy of Jaybeaux' is written under that and under that 'Zazza'. Under it is a picture of Kord marrying Niamh.

The man sits with his friend, clutching his head and his friend is busy shaking his shoulders and talking to him.

Harrowhark says, "Ah."

Harrowhark says, "One of the classic lines of the aspiring rake."

Vendrik chuckles out, "Bravo is swain instead."

Mike says, "roll 1d20+4+4+2x2"

Result is: (1d20+4+4+2) 17 (1d20+4+4+2) 27 for Mike

Samantha says, "That man is the opposite of having game." She shakes her head and eats.

Niamh says dryly, "The Year of the Blue Axe was 234 years ago so this is a bit dated. I've heard of this Zazza though. Priestess of Issus who acts as an Oracle, here in the city."

Niamh says, "If everyone is done with their food, let's get this over with before one of the TRULY unfriendly icons sends an emissary."

Harrowhark says, "Agreed."

Kiara says, "Yeah, time to get a move on."

Vendrik gathers his equipment, adjusts his cloak and is ready to depart!

Kiara swings her carrysak up over her shoulder and is tap-dancing her way out.

You head out and begin the long walk; the city is U shaped around the harbor and the holiest district is at the bottom of the U.

The World Neighborhood gives way to a normal working class neighborhood, full of Islands and workshops and pillar-shrines.

Niamh leans on her staff as she glumly walks, looking about at the city with interest muted by clearly increasing nerves.

You pass a group of pilgrims around a pillar-shrine, busy flagellating themselves, but you easily go around them.

You also pass three pillar-saints, who live on top of a pillar-shrine; people are busy begging them for blessings/guidance/miracles/punishments for ungrateful children.

But mostly you see people doing craftwork in ways which you could see in virtually any city, though some sing hymns as they work.

Manny Mo'Jac says, "roll 1d12"

Result is: (1d12) 11 for Manny Mo'Jac

Manny Mo'Jac says, "roll 1d10"

Result is: (1d10) 6 for Manny Mo'Jac

Manny Mo'Jac says, "roll 1d5"

Result is: for Manny Mo'Jac

Manny Mo'Jac says, "roll 1d6"

Result is: (1d6) 3 for Manny Mo'Jac

You hear honking; a goose is running down the street towards you, clutching a silver necklace in its mouth. It is being chased by a half-dozen street urchins, shouting about theft

The goose now orients to run at Harrowhark

DaR From Another Place says, "DIRE GOOSE! VERY DANGEROUS."

Akio asks, "Is the goose... horrible?"

Voice of John Biles says, "Yes."

Harrowhark draws her mace and prepares to take a swing at the goose.

Akio says, "Pretty sure I'm about to be embarrased."

Manny Mo'Jac says, "OOC AC 15"

The goose closes in...

Harrowhark uses Healing Strike for something it was NOT intended for.

Harrowhark says, "roll 1d20+7"

Result is: (1d20+7) 17 for Harrowhark

Harrowhark says, "roll 1d6+2"

Result is: (1d6+2) 8 for Harrowhark

Manny Mo'Jac says, "OOC Add another d6"

Harrowhark says, "roll 1d6"

Result is: (1d6) 1 for Harrowhark

Harrowhark heals anything nearby that needs healing, feeling faintly embarassed.

The goose stumbles and drops the necklace; an urchin grabs it. "That goose cheats at dice!" one of them shouts. They all begin screaming accusations at the goose, which now takes to the sky, flying away.

Manny Mo'Jac says, "roll 2d8+4"

Result is: (2d8+4) 16 for Manny Mo'Jac

Samantha is healed.

One of the kids says to Harrowhark, "Thanks a lot, Priestess Lady."

Harrowhark says, "The blessings of the Black Vestals on you, child."

Akio says, "We've just made a powerful enemy."

Akio says, "That goose WILL be back."

Tobias says, "The Untitled Goose Protagonist."

"Oooh, the cool ones," she says excitedly and then the kids run around you, shouting about how you're great, then run off through the streets.

Niamh makes sure her belongings are secure through all this.

Voice of John Biles says, "If I had rolled Niamh, he would have tried to steal the Wondercore"

Without any more trouble, you go deep into the Navel to where it's basically nothing but temples and places for pilgrims to sleep/eat. You reach the gates of the Great Cathedral. Twelve guards, each wearing the symbol of a different god or goddess, stand at the entrance.

What's the plan?

Akio says, "John, I would like to use my deep knowledge of clerical politics combined with the fact that we're carrying one of the most powerful ancient artifacts in the known world to blitz us through the bureacracy and gain an audience."

Akio asks, "What am I rolling against here?"

Voice of John Biles says, "You can roll Wisdom + Clerical Politics + Level. Minimal DC is 15 but the higher the result, the faster."

Harrowhark says, "roll 1d20+8"

Result is: (1d20+8) 14 for Harrowhark

Akio sigggggghs.

Akio asks, "Welp. Anyone else got cunning plans?"

Harrowhark drops some names, but the guards seem to hear those names every day.

DaR From Another Place asks, "Same thing for Son of Nobility and/or Mercenary Captain?"

Akio says, "We might try going loud."

Kiara puts on a brilliant smile and goes up to talk to the leader of the guards.

DaR From Another Place says, "'I gotta mother fucking wondercore in my pocket, and I'm not afraid to use it!'"

Akio says, "Have Niamh whip out the core and start channeling magic through it until someone with authority comes out."

Kiara says, "roll 1d20+3+3"

Result is: (1d20+3+3) 14 for Kiara

Akio says, "Boussh style."

Voice of John Biles says, "Any of you with some kind of political background can do Charisma + Background + Level here"

Frito says, "Oh, if you add level, that actually worked."

Vendrik says, "roll d20+10"

Result is: (d20+10) 16 for Vendrik

Kiara and Vendrik are able to get you taken to a meeting room, though you end up having lunch there and then halfway throught he afternoon, the Priestess arrives.

Servants bring cups of hot chocolate and frostred spiral rolls.

Vendrik works his Mercenary Captain background, looking for someone who has fought against Demons and the like with mercnary companies he's cooperated with.

She looks just like the art of her and smiles gracefully. "Well, this day has finally come," she says.

Niamh freezes at she comes in, like a deer in headlights.

Numo gets in front of Niamh and spins around until he falls down.

Harrowhark stands and bows the precisely correct amount. "My lady."

Harrowhark asks, "I take it you already know our business?"

Harrowhark edges over and stands in front of Niamh, between here and the Priestess.

The Priestess says, "You have the Wondercore." It is not a question. Then she sighs. "I am so sorry for you all that in your youth you must bear such a burden, but the weavings of Istus do not care about kindness or cruelty. And thus, we must." Her voice is soft and somehow feels like honey.

The Priestess says to Harrowhark, "Your father sent me a long tome to give to you. I can give it to you or have it burned as I expect you would prefer."

Harrowhark sigghhhhhhs.

Harrowhark says, "Please do."

Harrowhark says, "He used to be so smart."

Harrowhark says, "The smartest man in Axis."

Niamh continues to simply stare, looking almost like she's been stunned, switched off, or possibly in the throes of a mild stroke.

Harrowhark says bitterly, "The man so smart he liched his own ass off."

The priestess says to a servant, "Toss it into the fire." The servant runs off; you soon hear a roaring noise, like someone was burning a 10 foot tall pile of logs.

Kiara moves next to Niamh and rests a hand on her shoulder, squeezing it in support.

The Priestess says, "I will take the core and hold it until your time of destiny is upon you. Istus has not chosen to reveal the hour, but it comes soon, I am sure of it."

She studies each of you in turn.

Niamh silently, hand shaking, takes out the Core.

page> Akemi [to you]: She looks impressed by your size and strength, as if she expected something not as big. But it's a pleasant surprise.

Harrowhark says, "On an unrelated matter, my lady..."

Harrowhark says, "A hellhole has opened up quite near the city, to the southwest."

She says to Vendrik, "I have reason to believe your fiancess is still alive insdide the Stone Thief, though I do not know how long that will last." She turns to Harrowhark, "That bodes exceedingly... wait, was this one of the meteorite strikes?"

Harrowhark says, "While my own pleasure is secondary in this matter, I cannot deny that it would give me a great deal of satisfaction if, after the Crusade handed over good coin for extremely basic knowledge of it, the demesne of Santa Cora demonstrated that you don't need to be half-mad zealots to seal a hellhole with speed, skill, and competence."

Numo begins kicking Vendrik in the leg and pointing at Niamh.

Harrowhark says, "I believe it was related to the implosion of the Archmages citadel, rather than the meteorites directly."

Vendrik considers the Priestess' words, but turns to look at Niamh at Numo's prompting.

The Priestess' laughter is like music. "I will have people sent at once. Hopefully, local priests have already begun containment, but you probably outraced the news."

Niamh seems much as she has since the audience started; still with the offered Core in a shaking hand, eyes wide as saucers and rather vacant or dazed.

Vendrik reaches over, plucks the core from Niamhs hand, and then pats her on the back with a very large hand.

The Priestess now produces a golden rod, about a foot long, with runes on it and hands it to Niamh. "This will allow rapid access to me when you return, needing the core."

Niamh carefully takes it.

The Priestess accepts the core from Vendrik. "Thank you." Then she looks at Niamh. "I fear the core has touched her. Niamh, can you hear us?"

Niamh blinks, and starts. "Yes. Yes, of course. I can... ah. I can hear you. My lady. Um."

Niamh shifts from foot to foot, almost trips, looks deeply embarrassed, nearly tips over the chocolate pitcher.

Kiara steadies Niamh.

The Priestess says, "I can see you are worn out from the burden of this." She studies the core. "I will ensure it is sealed properly so it cannot convince someone to build it a War Wheel or a giant machine that turns people into bacon." She sighs. "I will arrange quarters for you all, since I see Niamh is quite fatigued. And the rest of you look tired too. You may leave when you feel ready. Is there somewehre specific you plan to head to next?"

Tobias asks, "Did we have any plan for our next step?"

Harrowhark waits until they're in their characters. "Niamh? Niamh, are you all right?"

Akio says, "I had an idea."

Voice of John Biles says, "I assume you mean 'in your quarters'"

Akio says, "Yes."

Akio says, "Which is that, if we want to kill the Stone Thief, we need more dungeoneerin experience."

Tobias says, "Also, she asked us a question. The audience is still going on."

Akio says, "We should go find a Living Dungeon and murder it."

Akio says, "Just, murder the shit out of it."

Harrowhark says, "We're still figuring that out, my lady."

Vendrik says, "No stone in our plans yet." He gestures at the core. "Will need experience killing Living Dungeons, first and foremost."

Harrowhark says, "The past week of our lives has largely been dedicated to figuring out how to get this somewhere safe before getting mugged."

Luke says, "Well, I could talk to my order, see if they know one we could go after."

Luke says, "Or consult the temple of Istus for a prophecy."

Niamh forcibly seems to pull herself together, and says, "The Dwarf King has sent an emissary to demand the return of the Core. We are willing to do this... after we have done what is required with it. The emissary seemed to think, however, that you would keep it."

The Priestess says, "It would probably be for the best if this thing died taking out the Stone Thief. But the Dwarf King is a Dwarf and dwarves become far too attached to material things."

Harrowhark suggests, "You could build a bagel engine with it afterwards."

She says, "Once you come back for it, if you wish to give it to the Dwarf King, I will not stop you. I expect, htough, he will do something foolish with it."

Harrowhark says, "Bagels for all the people."

The Priestess says, "A food producing wonder engine would be quite useful."

DaR From Another Place says, "In order to make everyone happy, we need to use it to finish off the Stone Thief, whose body will plug the abyss, forcing the demonic energy trying to come through it to transmute into pure Bagel Lifeforce."

Frito laughs.

Voice of John Biles says, "Ahahahaha"

The Priestess says, "IF you wish to kill a living dungeon, you could go up the Grandfather to Eld, where one is wreaking havoc. It would mean passing through the Wild Wood, though."

Kiara smiles a bit. "That could be fun, you know?"

the Priestess says, "If you go to Horizon, there are suholars of such things who could guide you to find one."

The Priestess says, "The Temple of Ioun here could also help you."

Harrowhark mutters, "As long as Samantha doesn't steal their stones."

She then finally has some hot chocolate and begins eating one of the spiral rolls

Samantha just snorts.

Manny Mo'Jac says, "OOC ANything else to ask her? Otherwise, we cut to your quarters"

Mike says, "OOC: Sounds good."

DaR From Another Place says, "Might be a decent place to stop. We can discuss plans over the week."

You have NICE quarters with huge soft beds, a private bath and all that good stuff

Voice of John Biles says, "If you can decide where you are going now so I can prep, I would appreciate it"

Voice of John Biles says, "And then I'll happily cut; I just need to know what's next."

Akio says, "I wouldn't mind going to Horizon."

Kiara says, "...oooooh. She gives us the good stuff." She falls dynamically into one of the soft, soft beds. "I could get to like it here."

Akio says, "Getting all up in the Mages grills."

Samantha says, "It's nice but too much nice makes you soft."

Akio says, "'I've handled a wondercore. Who wants to touch me? I SAID WHO WANTS TO TOUCH ME?'"

Niamh collapses into a chair in their quarters. "Numo, get me some brandy or something."

Luke says, "Everyone needs a vacation sometimes."

Vendrik says, "I think you will find the praying all the time a bit much."

Numo runs out the door in search of brandy

Harrowhark asks, "Niamh, are you all right?"

Harrowhark says, "You don't seem... usual."

Frito says, "Horizon would be OK. I kinda like the thought of going to the place we know has a rampaging dungeon, but dunno if we'll have the skill to handle it yet."

Frito says, "She actually wouldn't mind going through the Wild Wood, though... maybe not if the High Druid has been keeping that close an eye on her. ^^;;"

Niamh says, "It's complicated." She rubs her forehead, looking more dazed than apprehensive. "I'll be fine."

DaR From Another Place says, "Niamh changes her facebook status to "it's complicated"."

Kiara says, "...uh-huh."

Luke says, "I like the idea of visiting Eld. We'd best be ready to stab a lot of murder-frogs, though."

Kiara asks, "So did the Wondercore put a whammy on you like the Priestess said?"

Kiara grins. "You ain't never had frog's legs till you have Murder-frog legs."

Niamh says, "Not as far as I know. It seemed very well-behaved."

Numo returns, not with brandy but leading a confused looking servant woman, who is holding a tray of hot cross buns and cups of warm mead. "Is this your little thing?" she asks the group, confused. Numo points at her, then at Niamh, then slams his hands together.

He then points hesitantly at Vendrik and repeats the hand-slam.

Niamh says, "I'm sorry, good lady, I asked my familiar to fetch a bottle of brandy without thinking and he dashed off."

Niamh says, "I apologize for any trouble he has caused."

Kiara surreptitiously gives Numo a thumb's-up.

Tobias says, "Horizon works."

Harrowhark says, "I'm not sure I want to go too far into the wilds."

Harrowhark says, "We want a baby dungeon."

Harrowhark says, "The Living Dungeon equivalent of killing a calf for veal."

Niamh says, "Indeed."

Vendrik says, "Small preference for Eld, but checking with Temple is very close. Horizon, less close."

Harrowhark says, "Well. As to that."

The woman says, "Ahh, my name is Brandy." She sighs. "Enjoy your stay." She goes and Numo goes to pout in the corner.

Harrowhark says, "It might behoove us to disappear from where we were last spotted holding the Wondercore and re-emerge a couple hundred leagues away, with our trail broken by salt water."

Harrowhark says, "If we can manage it."

Niamh says, "Go by ship, you mean?"

Harrowhark says, "Oh, by the veil, yes."

Harrowhark asks, "I... did you think I meant us to walk the Demon Coast?"

Harrowhark says, "NOBODY goes from here to Horizon by LAND."

Harrowhark says, "That's foolish."

Kiara shrugs. "Nothing that says we can't check with the temple here and then go to Horizon if we want to."

Niamh levers herself out of the chair and collapses with a groan into her bed, lying on her stomach, butt for a nightlight.

Manny Mo'Jac says, "OOC Okay!@"

Manny Mo'Jac says, "OOC We cut here"

Manny Mo'Jac exclaims, "OOC Next time, you can hit the temple if you want, then off to Horizon!"