Hell Hath No Fury Like the League Scorn'd

OOC: so the plan is to smuggle the unconscious Petitioner Scorn across town, from the Gaze to Lord Lively in Rumcastle, during the middle of the day. Would anyone care to describe how you're going about that? Remember, there is no wrong answer.

Then again, there's no right answer, either...

Lizzy breaks the silence, "What we need is a diversion. Too bad Yats isn't here with his pyrotechnics! We could try to foment a riot among the goblins. That could offer the necessary cover and flush out the rum boy at the same time."

overeddie wrote:

"Too bad Yats isn't here with his pyrotechnics! We could try to foment a riot among the goblins. That could offer the necessary cover and flush out the rum boy at the same time."

OOC: you want to start an uprising to provide cover and flush out a half-elf? I think the spirit of Yatagan is with you, even if his fat body is not.

Is that the plan?

"Fire good, yes. Is always good. But not needed. Boldness, that is what called for."

Paetros produces a small and exquisitely crafted ceramic hand from one of his pouches, which he then commences waving about while he mutters, wails, and occasionally spits. After a few too many minutes of this, a vague wavering in the air takes form and sketches what might be a bow in the Porcophant's direction.

"You," he directs Artichoke, "You have muscles. Take prisoner's feet, carry like poles of sedan chair. "You, he tells the air, "Support arms, follow after Vegitable man. Someone secure arms first; take no chances."

Paetros raises his staff high, and his skin begins suddenly to glow with a intense blue light.

"Is good. Now all of you, follow self."

OOC: First casting Unseen Servant, which can carry 100 lbs. Then using "Astral Spleandor", a stance which gives enemies a -2 to attacks, and causes him to "shed bright light", somewhat more intense than a torch. Intimidate check of 21 'gainst any who stands in his way.

The member 'Rolzup' has done the following action : Dice Roller

'd20' : 12

OOC: Is there any easy way to render a warlock unable to cast spells, other than simply keeping her unconscious? Do they need to talk or wave their hands or anything?

gridley wrote:

OOC: Is there any easy way to render a warlock unable to cast spells, other than simply keeping her unconscious? Do they need to talk or wave their hands or anything?

OOC: What's wrong with just bonking her on the head every so often?

Rolzup wrote:

OOC: First casting Unseen Servant, which can carry 100 lbs. Then using "Astral Spleandor", a stance which gives enemies a -2 to attacks, and causes him to "shed bright light", somewhat more intense than a torch. Intimidate check of 21 'gainst any who stands in his way.

The crowds stare, gape, then part for the Porcophant and the body being born up by the bald mercenary and a faint disturbance in the otherwise empty air. A few people can be heard muttering 'Isn't that a Petitioner" and "I think the short one's an actor" as you pass, but no one gets in your way.

gridley wrote:

Do they need to talk or wave their hands or anything?

OOC: let's say that any class-derived magical ability requires gestures and speech . Race-derived abilities, however, do not.

overeddie wrote:

What's wrong with just bonking her on the head every so often?

OOC: "This axe kills rich woman and beats younger woman who work in magical service industries".

Mallus wrote:

OOC: "This axe ... beats younger woman who work in magical service industries".

OOC: Or scam artists, as Lizzy likes to call them.

Mallus wrote:

[ A few people can be heard muttering 'Isn't that a Petitioner" and "I think the short one's an actor" as you pass, but no one gets in your way.

Lizzy walks in front, glaring, just in case.

Mallus wrote:

Rolzup wrote:

OOC: First casting Unseen Servant, which can carry 100 lbs. Then using "Astral Spleandor", a stance which gives enemies a -2 to attacks, and causes him to "shed bright light", somewhat more intense than a torch. Intimidate check of 21 'gainst any who stands in his way.

The crowds stare, gape, then part for the Porcophant and the body being born up by the bald mercenary and a faint disturbance in the otherwise empty air. A few people can be heard muttering 'Isn't that a Petitioner" and "I think the short one's an actor" as you pass, but no one gets in your way.

Paetros takes this as a given, and continues on, snarling at anyone who lingers in his path for too long.

Definitely not my first plan, but it seems to be working, thinks Artichoke as he helps carry the unconscious and pinioned Petitioner.

Between the glowing Porcophant and glowering dwarf your little Passion play wends it's way from the tavern on Mudraker's St. in the Gaze to the rummy industriousness of Rumcastle in late afternoon. The ferry ride across the mouth of the Ossuary Flow is a bit tense. You think you spot a murder of Petitioners clad in their traditional gray robes on-board, but you manage to identity them as a group of pistol-packing librarians from the Hush before anyone winds up shot, stabbed, or cast into the drink.

The denizens of Rumcastle are busy gearing up for the celebration of "evening". None stand in your way, or seem to pay you much notice. You arrive at the Magisterial Offices and tender your request for an audience with Lord Lively to a pair of well-dressed killers. More of Lively's Bailiffs watch from the roof. Either they aren't startled by your prisoner or they making a good show of being nonchalant.

A few minutes the pair return. "You are to quit this district at once and bring the..." says one.

"No, no, no" interrupts the other. "The Lord said to deliver his message exactly." The 2nd Bailiff places one hand on his hip and gestures airily with the other. Striking a swishy and insincere tone that's a fair impression of Lively's, he continues...

"You are to quit this district at once, you scoundrels, and bring your parcel to the proper authorities." Either something just blew into the Bailiff's eye or he just winked at you. "I pay good money so I don't have to deal with such things myself. Very good money. If you can't find proper authorities, and who could blame you in a town like this, I suggest you improvise."

Mallus wrote:

A few minutes the pair return. "You are to quit this district at once and bring the..." says one.

"No, no, no" interrupts the other. "The Lord said to deliver his message exactly." The 2nd Bailiff places one hand on his hip and gestures airily with the other. Striking a swishy and insincere tone that's a fair impression of Lively's, he continues...

"You are to quit this district at once, you scoundrels, and bring your parcel to the proper authorities." Either something just blew into the Bailiff's eye or he just winked at you. "I pay good money so I don't have to deal with such things myself. Very good money. If you can't find proper authorities, and who could blame you in a town like this, I suggest you improvise."

Damn - I should have seen that coming! Artichoke nods and says, "Very well. Thank you for the ... advice." Then he turns to the others and says, "Okay, kids, let's take this one home and find out what she knows." And hope that it doesn't start raining Petitioners on the way or when we get there.

"Allright! Let's make this petitioner talk!"

You leave the Rumcastle with Petitioner Scorn in tow. You briefly consider taking her to one of the Port's infamous "interrogation hotels", which are similar to it's slightly less less infamous "love hotels", except for being more expensive, reputedly more discreet, and better soundproofed. Opting for the security of home, you decide it's safest to travel by water. A priavte water taxi is hired to carry you up the Ossuary Flow through the Shambles, to an inconspicuous dock in the Hush just below the St. Serpentine Street Bridge. Again you mistake some of the marksmen-librarians from the Dragon Library for Petitioners --hooded gray robes never seem to go out of style with the smart set-- but encounter no actual hostility on the way back.

Safe in your own formerly demon-ridden home, you set to work on Petitioner Scorn. As you finish securing her she comes to.

"What now?" she asks weakly, yet scornfully.

OOC: what now? How do you proceed?

Mallus wrote:

"What now?" she asks weakly, yet scornfully.

"Honestly," says Artichoke, "I don't know. It all depends on what information you have for us. We need to find out who hired your compatriot to steal the mask. I presume you know something about that, since you went along to help her. So - would you care to fill us in?"

"Is to be waiting," Pætros interrupts. "Have miracle to perform. Is small miracle, but Petitioner is small problem -- so is fitting."

He drops into a lotus position again, reaching into a pocket and throwing a handful of wire-like hairs upon. "Is bristles from back of Glorious Treasure of the Heavens," he says absently, arranging them in an intricate pattern, "Very full of miracle stuff." And then begins the wailing, the chanting, the burning of noisome incense....

And finally Pætros rises to his feet, an intent expression upon his face. When glimpsed from the corner of the eye, he now appears to be sporting the head of a raidant boar...but when regarded strait on, he looks no different than normal.

"Interrogate now," he snaps. "Will know lies. Will not like them."

OOC: Cast Discern Lies. This gives him a passive Insight check of...oy. With that roll of 1, that's a 36. Obviously, he's not yet learned to the right invocations to properly curry Treasure's favor.

The member 'Rolzup' has done the following action : Dice Roller

'd20' : 1

"We are a secretive faith" begins Scorn. "Even amongst ourselves. Mistress Subtle kept us in the dark. It's more than likely she didn't know for certain who made the Petition."

OOC: Bluff 27

Pætros is fairly sure she's being fairly honest. But he's absolutely certain she's holding something important back.

The member 'Mallus' has done the following action : Dice Roller

'd20' : 13

I suggest we bring out the waterboard.

Pætros shakes a finger at Scorn, and adds a truly unpleasant scowl to his assault.

"Truth," he says portentously, "Is like beautiful woman. Each part lovely, but when hacked apart from rest of body, not so good to look at. Is simile," he explains to the room, "Like poem.

"Want rest of truth. Now."

Rolzup wrote:

"Want rest of truth. Now."

"Or else what?"

Scorn's gaze shifts nervously around the room, though the rest of her remains still. Perhaps she's heard the story about the League's foray into limbless dwarf-tossing. She takes a deep breath and looks directly at Pætros.

“Or?” Paetros smiles. It’s not a pleasant smile.

“Or?”

“If you not speak, will be forced to turn to higher power. Does know of pig-god? Does know of Glorious Treasure of the Heavens, Who Tramples the Heathen Underfoot And Carries The Faithful To Paradise Upon Her Broad And Comfortable Bac k ?”

His accent is gone again, and his smile has grown even less pleasant. “Or?” His voice booms, shaking the very walls. The spirit-pig looms impossibly large behind him, seemingly far too big to even fit into this room. “Or I will give you to Her, and you can ask for ‘mercy’ from a goddess who has no love for liars. And She will chew out your tongue, rip your eyes from your face, and cast you down to be consumed by ten thousand fiends, again and again, until each particle of your soul has been consumed ten thousand times. And then She will make you anew, from the mud and the muck of Her sty, and you will have time to know that only one second of the eternity that lays before you has passed before she consumes you and casts you down again. And again. And again.”

“That,” Paetros concludes, in his familiar tone and accent, “Is ‘or’. Is good ‘or’, yes?”

OOC: Intimidate: 27, with aid of Shroud of Awe and Speak With Spirits.