[IC] Death & Taxes (Session 3)

On standby for Tronus's grumbling.

So, I'd like to Conjure an Ally, to send after Anzila... but it's not clear to me 1. the intelligence level, or 2. communication capabilities of a summons... Ally is +P over base Dif, and I can command it but it's not clear if it can communicate back. So, could I add another +P to endow it with adequate intelligence to observe/report back to me, her activities? And if necessary as determined by you GM, another +P to ensure I can communicate back and forth with it/it can relay whatever it sees back to me?

I think everyone missed the mayor talking to you. Please reply to him before you decide what you want to do. Getting away is not going to be as easy as just declaring that you leave. Or if you ignore him and just start marching off, he's going to react, so let me know if that's really what Tronus is doing.

As for Bruv's Conjure spell, you can always say he's summoning an intelligent spirit of some sort for no additional difficulty. Whatever feels most appropriate to his brand of magic. Being able to communicate with it in real time would need +PP, I think, but it is pretty Druid-y, so feel free to try. Otherwise, the conjured creature can report back as long as it's not discovered and destroyed somehow.

The other issue is that summoned allies by default are visible and appear engaged with you. If you want to summon something that won't be obvious, you may need to add the Range effect to have it materialize at least Medium range from you, somewhere hidden. Or maybe add +PP to make it invisible? If it's mundane creature, we can roll Stealth for it if you want it to slink away unnoticed. Depending on what it is (like a natural creature), it may get a boost to getting away if it's not out of place.

In short, yeah, add +P to make a non-intelligent creature intelligent, or +PP to communicate in real time with something, and +PP to make something invisible. Lots of options, so think of what you'd like to try and we can finalize a difficulty (or adjust after you roll).

No worries, mcneils5. Thanks for the layup regarding those who wish to leave the scene. If Tronus and Nera want to just exit stage right, we can run with that. Let me know if that's still the plan, somebox and Remnant.

Yep I'm sticking with the walking away.

RYY for Deception, but Nera doesn't suspect that the mayor will back down from putting guards on the house, not after Tronus stormed off and was pretty clear earlier about his suspicions of Anzila. The mayor made it clear he wanted you to drop that line of inquiry, so the guards are part of his demonstration/assertion of authority in the village. (And this is no value judgment on any PC's actions. Just extrapolating what the autocratic leader of a small village would do in such a situation).

In short, you can try Deception to reassure him you're on the level, but he'll still put guards on you. Your better bet might be to try to slip by them undetected.

After the fact but Tronus is not going into the house but the stable to get his sword and to camp out there.

So, the path to the barn lies to your left, but you are welcome to try an upgraded Daunting (RPPP) Perception check with two setbacks for darkness to gather information about what's going on at the cottage straight ahead as you pass from Long range. If you want to get closer, the difficulty will fall to Hard (RPP) at Medium range, and Average (RP) at Short range, or Easy (R) at Engaged (basically peering in through the window). All of these except for Engaged will get two setbacks for darkness.

You know you're being followed, though. So you can either go brazenly and try to lie about it when the guards inevitably ask you what you're doing, or Nera can try to sneak away unnoticed if she wants to get closer to the cottage. Sneaking away is Easy, but with two boosts and three setbacks, as it's dark, and there are four folks behind you.

Y'all had expressed some reservations about eating the local food earlier. Is everyone eating and drinking? Trying a spell or two to determine if the food is OK? If so, what spell?

Also, when would you like the mayor to serve the wine you brought?