Episode 1: Pradesh

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Apr 28, 2018 3:17 pm
"Let's get outta here!" Erden calls to his friends, moving out the door, "Ybus will find his way out, he always does!"
Apr 29, 2018 11:46 pm
Quote:
There's a half-eaten plate of poutine on the counter but you'll have to get past the growling dog to get to it. Peering down the stairwell there's flickering torchlight down there. Listening, you hear nothing. It's probably the cellar/larder. Then again, could be something else.
What do you do, Ybus?
Apr 30, 2018 5:23 am
Ybus holds his hand up, twiddling the fingers in greeting. Of course, his true intention is revealed by the spectral Mage Hand that clasps the poutine and carries it in mid-air towards his waiting arms.

Not one to skimp, Ybus tosses the dog a few pieces from the plate, and heads downstairs.
Apr 30, 2018 7:48 pm
Ybus: Heading down the stairs you find a small, rat-infested larder lit with oil lamps. Beyond is a large, darkened cellar. You can barely make out a door set in the south wall. On closer inspection you find the heavy iron door engraved with two intertwined serpents. The door is ever so slightly ajar.

What do you do?
Apr 30, 2018 8:06 pm
Ybus eats the poutine, savoring the gravy no matter how well (or unwell) it is. Spying the door, he sends his Mage Hand with bits of food back up the stairs to tempt the dog into the larder. Assuming the mangy mutt follows, Ybus will fling the food into the opening.
Last edited April 30, 2018 8:06 pm
Apr 30, 2018 8:13 pm
"Quickly now, get th' cousins home. Me boys an' I'll lead th' guards on a merry chase." Valrakas laughs. The minotaur turns to Aishwariya, "Ye'll find th' Kestrel in Smuggler's Cove. Bring th' contract an' th' goods." A crash and a thud at the door tells you the guards are moments from breaking through the barricade.

You melt into the night and make your way back to the Aunties' house. You all are spared a scolding when Ash reports on the success of the negotiations with Valrakas. Auntie Sunitha wastes not a single moment before setting things in motion: runners are immediately dispatched to Smuggler's Cove to see to the loading of goods onto the Kestrel.

Auntie Rasya tells you the Golden child is sleeping in the room adjoining Aishwarya's.
Rydler's pickpocket gains:

Ramirez's doeskin purse:
• 5 gold goins
• a silk handkerchief
• a single pearl earring worth 48gp
• a vial of perfume worth 5gp
[ +- ] • a love letter
Chalmun's cracked leather pouch:
• a hairball
• a piece of stale cheese
• a bone talisman
• an iron key in the shape of two intertwined serpents

Dopey's black sealskin pouch:
• a severed finger wearing a ring worth 50gp
• 4 silver coins
• 3 copper coins
[ +- ] • a crumpled parchment

OOC:
Ybus' side-adventure will continue. Anything else the rest of you want to do before finally calling it a day?
Apr 30, 2018 8:26 pm
Ybus: After only a moment's hesitation the mutt squeezes through the door and scarfs down the food, then returns to peer at you expectantly. The passageway is dark, but there's an unlit torch in a sconce.
Apr 30, 2018 8:39 pm
"Come on, pup," says Ybus to his new friend, and makes his way through the door. His Mage Hand picks up the torch, and he casts Light upon the business end.
May 1, 2018 12:18 am
Rydler throws the pouches into his backpack for later division, keeping the crumpled parchment, and makes his way to Aishwariya's room. He stops briefly to look in on the Golden Child before knocking on Aishwariya's door, softly as to not disturb the child in the next room but loud enough to be heard.
Last edited May 1, 2018 11:22 am
May 1, 2018 5:31 am
Baracus smiles all the way back to the Aunties' house. He collects small, smooth stones along the way.

Once inside, he pays the Golden Child's room a visit. He offers the sleeping child-god of war an offering, leaving the weapons of the Adamantine Chefs at his doorstep. Then he makes his way to the roof with his stone collection, where he intends to meditate under the stars stacking the stones in sacred geometries before going to bed.
May 1, 2018 7:17 am
As he walks into the passage beyond the door, Ybus shares his poutine with the dog. His Mage Hand floats obediently ahead to illuminate the way.
May 1, 2018 7:41 am
Ybus

By the light of your magically lit torch you follow the featureless stone corridor for several hundred feet. The mangy mutt at your heels seems accustomed to this place. The underground passage twists and turns but seems to be heading west. At length you come upon a T-intersection. A corridor similar to the one you've just come through leads north and south. In front of you is another door engraved with the twined snakes, except this one is made of bronze, and locked tight.

What now?
Rydler

"Just a moment!" Ash calls breathlessly from inside. "Oh, it's you.." It's obvious she was expecting someone else, but she quickly recovers, "Can't sleep either? That was some crazy shit, huh?"
May 1, 2018 11:21 am
"Sleep finds me just fine; I'm a late sleeper. I'm sorry to interrupt but I felt it best to give you this now, in case it holds any worth to you, and give you a chance to sleep on it." Rydler holds out the crumpled piece of parchment "I know not if this is a wide spread call or a hired hit, if the latter though, I could see it beneficial for the relationship to your new business partner if you inform him."
May 1, 2018 12:24 pm
OOC:
Yo, DM Jabes. Sorry I've been radio silence. Trying to catch up.
Below are ideas, but at a bit of a rewind; not sure if it's too far gone. I'll adjust however is necessary if it doesn't fit.
When the group escapes and rallies outside of the tavern, Urban is fully satisfied. It was a thrilling brawl, and he is still relishing the excitement.

When the confusion dies down, Urban does a head count and sees to no surprise that Ybus is missing from the line up. He remembers last seeing his halfling companion heading towards the kitchen.

Urban checks with Aishwarya. She was already stunningly beautiful. Now that Urban had seen her in action, he was all the more enamored with her. "Are you alright?" he asks. "What a city! Thanks for taking us through all of the charming local spots." Urban is briefly lost in her eyes. "We should come back to this place again sometime when it's less crowded," he says with a wry smile, nodding sarcastically across the street at the ruckus with the guards bursting out wrangling with rough-housers.

After the short talk, Urban circles with Erdan. "I'll hang back and scoop up Ybus when he gets out. We'll catch up back at the manor shortly."

Urban gives a pound (fist tap) to Rydler and Barracus each, and quick comments about the brawl. With that, Urban parts ways with the group and tries to find a few hidden spots for overwatch. He takes up a stakeout stance, falling back to avoid any the sweeps of the guards as necessary, but returning to look for emergence of Ybus from the upper floor balconies or windows, front or back door, or possibly a door that emerges out from the kitchen or basement.

Urban also keeps eyes among any of the crowd who are arrested, knowing it is even possible that Ybus ends up being one of them.
Last edited May 1, 2018 1:50 pm
May 1, 2018 6:23 pm
"What do you think?" Ybus asks the dog. "Will we find something interesting down this way, or that? This door's very nice, though; I bet it would make a wonderful masthead!"

Almost as quickly as the thought was voiced, Ybus' expression changes. "Eh. Don't like snakes." He heads south.
May 4, 2018 5:32 pm
Rydler:

"Oh, Valrakas will just laugh that off! Lots of people would love to see him dead, plus he's wanted by the law. Heck, even Auntie Sunitha put a hit on him once!" Ash chuckles. "Then again, this says they want him alive, and his first mate along with him. Maybe whoever put this out is owed money. You're right, we can show this to him and he can owe us. Thanks, Rydler!"
Ybus:

You reckon north would head towards the bay, while south would head inland. As you turn left and head south, you begin to wonder what Chalmun uses these tunnels for. They appear to be much older than the tavern. Perhaps even he doesn't know whatever secrets they hold. Eventually, after more twists and turns, you come upon a set of stairs leading up to another iron door. Pushing through you find yourself in another cellar, but this one is spotlessly clean, and stocked with fine wines. From upstairs you hear soft music and laughter. You spot the other person in the room shaped like a man with the furred shanks of a goat, an instant before he spots you.

"Who might you be?!" the faun asks in a honeyed voice. A beringed hand fingers the fine gold chain resting on his bare chest. "Well hello there, Bruno," he says, recognizing the mutt you came here with. The tone towards the dog is friendly though accompanied by a wrinkling of the nose. "Where's Chalmun, huh?"
Urban:
You stake the place out for an hour but there's no sign of Ybus even after things quiet down. You do learn a few things though from overheard snippets of conversation:

"...gang war in the lower east quarter...quieted down come Dasai but word is it's the calm before the storm..."

"...contract on that bastard Valrakas...350 gold is a lotta money..."

"...new drug floatin' around them posh places like th' Mandala an' th' Tumescent Faun ... Blue Sky, they calls it...wizard what cooks it calls hisself Heisenberg..."
May 4, 2018 8:50 pm
"I'm the dog walker," Ybus replies. "Chal-Mein's kinda busy. Ain't tol' me the dog's name." As though still on the job, Ybus heads for the stairs.
May 5, 2018 12:30 pm
"The dog w--" The faun, confused, moves to bar your way up the steps. Recovering quickly, he continues, "Any friend of Chalmun's is a friend of mine. I am Archelaus, and this is my place, the Tumescent Faun." he bows elaborately, then chuckles, "Well, this is the cellar, anyhow. If only Chalmun had directed you to the front door instead, you would have been given a proper welcome! But I daresay etiquette has never been our friend Chalmun's strong suit!" Archelaus beckons you up the stairs. "Come, my friend, I am sure we can find something here to suit your appetites."

http://pm1.narvii.com/6620/58f4aad6cfb63bd1e6ec994737f10e48a2519ab3_00.jpg

As Archelaus leads you on you realize the Tumescent Faun is no inn or tavern, but an upscale brothel. The common room is richly furnished with fine tapestries, curtains, and artwork. A harpist plucks at his instrument sensuously as patrons recline languidly on cushions in various states of undress and arousal. Servers criss-cross the floor bearing fine food and wine, as well as other enticements. The Tumescent Faun caters to every taste, staffing both male and female prostitutes, any of which will provide pleasure to men or women, if the customer is so inclined.

From a divan in the center of the room a figure rises sinuously, enrobed in diaphanous silks and opium smoke. Her hair is coiffed to show off her exquisite features and sensuous neck. She glides up to whisper something in Archelaus' ear.

https://entertothematrix.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/31666003599622555_yofd76gs_c.jpg

"My friend, this is Satsuki. She runs the place for me when I'm...err, otherwise occupied. Everdearest blossom, this is a friend sent here by Chalmun. What did you say your name was?"
May 5, 2018 3:10 pm
As the first hour leads towards another, Urban faces it that he must have missed Ybus somehow. Maybe the halfling ducked out earlier with the crowd? Maybe he slipped by on one side of the building while Urban was watching the other?

At this point though, Ybus is on his own. Urban remains a bit worried, but turns the corner on it and starts making his way back to the manor house.

On the way Urban keeps his eyes peeled for would-be nighttime bushwhackers, but his mind drifts off again to Aishwarya. What a woman!

Then his mind drifts off to something else: the ongoing debate between Carminius of Leiden and Prior Alvin Noyan who writes under the sign moniker of "Pink". These two wise men had been corresponding by letter for more than six years now, debating predestination versus free will. The letters had been made available for rewrite in Cadarnle, and Urban had read copies of them all last year.

Both men made sound arguments, but Urban could not decide which claim was more compelling. They could not both be correct though. Impossible! The assertions were mutually exclusive to one another.

It had been a real quandary for Urban, and he was often quite melancholy about it all.
Last edited May 5, 2018 6:15 pm
May 5, 2018 4:43 pm
Ybus pops another bit of poutine into his mouth, then shakes any offered hands with greasy abandon. "Dog Walker," he says again. "That's D-A-U-U-E-G V-A-U-W-L-K-R. The V is silent."

He lowers the plate to Bruno's level, letting the dog lick and gobble up the scraps. "Well, your Pubescent Fawn is lovely decor, but the dog needs his potty break and he ain't housebroke... Unless you're into that."

Once again, with the dedication of a job still to accomplish, Ybus makes for the exit.
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