Session 11 - Transcript

00:01 [DM (Aarya)] Okay, and we're live. So, welcome to Phantom Chain, session 11. We're already on 11, that's pretty cool.
00:01 [DM (Aarya)] Would anyone like to recap the last session? What did you say? No volunteers to recap?
00:23 [Sildir (Tris)] I am getting back to my computer so I can recap if you want to go with that. For the recording, if anyone's hearing this, please help. Help.
00:23 [Sildir (Tris)] Aria has us locked in their basement and they've been forcing us to play Strahd.
00:44 [DM (Aarya)] If that were the case, we'd be a lot further along than session 11, but you know.
00:51 [Sildir (Tris)] Well, it's the first session I've said that, so.
00:56 [Mercurio (Gui)] Maybe you just uploaded these like, you know, scattered about.
01:00 [DM (Aarya)] Oh yeah, to not raise suspicion, yeah. Interesting.
01:09 [Sildir (Tris)] Or you just got us here in the basement, which is what I'm going to assert.
01:12 [DM (Aarya)] You know, I live in New York. I don't really have a basement here.
01:18 [Sildir (Tris)] More likely to have a basement than Florida, probably.
01:20 [DM (Aarya)] Probably, but I don't own a building. New York doesn't have basements. I mean, I don't have a basement.
01:20 [DM (Aarya)] I don't own this building.
01:26 [Sylalys (Cat)] You live in a basement apartment.
01:29 [DM (Aarya)] Yeah, but I don't.
01:30 [Sylalys (Cat)] The whole thing is a basement.
01:31 [Sildir (Tris)] Are you locked in there right now? Am I locked in there? No.
01:31 [Sildir (Tris)] No, I'm asking Rod. Is Rod locked in? There we go.
01:31 [Sildir (Tris)] Aria has us locked in our basement. Aria, you live in an apartment. Of course you don't have a basement.
01:42 [DM (Aarya)] That's what I'm saying. That's what I'm trying to say. I don't have a basement.
01:45 [Sildir (Tris)] But it's not like buildings don't have basements. You can always rent a basement. Stop acting silly.
01:51 [Irredel (Sav)] Not a basement. It's actually just a warehouse. With cool pipes.
01:56 [DM (Aarya)] With cool pipes.
01:58 [Sildir (Tris)] I don't know. We were blindfolded when we were brought in here. Who knows where we are?
02:03 [Saturno (Steph)] Oh, they removed your blindfold?
02:08 [DM (Aarya)] Is this over RPing today? Not the session?
02:10 [Sildir (Tris)] Yeah, folks, we're going to be kidnapped by Aria. All right, I'll stop un-railroading us and get us back on that railroad real quick.
02:20 [Mercurio (Gui)] Is there someone here to save us? Someone's knocking on the door.
02:24 [Sildir (Tris)] Wait, wait, the floor is made of paper. Stop that. Stop that right now.
02:24 [Sildir (Tris)] Oh my god. Wait, it's him. We can just jump.
02:24 [Sildir (Tris)] It's international pop star Adam Levine, here to save us. Oh my god. Oh, Adam, you've become such a big part of my life.
02:46 [Ember (Spurthi)] I'd rather die. Oh my god. Thank you.
02:57 [DM (Aarya)] Maybe I'll make an Adam Levine themed episode at some point. I know, I'm aware.
03:08 [Sildir (Tris)] All right, all right, all right. So back on the railroad. All right, so in session 10, we're now in session 11.
03:08 [Sildir (Tris)] We start off waking up at the Bluewater Inn, which honestly, I can't even believe that was last session. I feel like we did a lot last session. But Sildur, who stayed with Silelas for the night, finds a flute laying on the bed, but no Sil.
03:08 [Sildir (Tris)] Sil mysteriously fucked off, it seems. In the other room, the gang finds a note from Irina explaining that she left early to go find help for her people who are stuck outside of town, starting with talking to the burgomaster. Or maybe it's the...
03:08 [Sildir (Tris)] Is he still a burgomaster, or is he just a baron?
04:01 [DM (Aarya)] He's both.
04:03 [Sildir (Tris)] Okay, so he's both. Anyway, Sildur goes to the other room and shares that Sil's not there, but there's also a flute in his place, and he hands it over to Mercurio, who can actually play it. It's a nice and old flute made from amber, and it's a magical item that Mercurio is going to benefit from.
04:03 [Sildir (Tris)] Oh, Mercurio, it's your turn, right? Yeah.
04:32 [DM (Aarya)] Remind me again what I said the effect on it was.
04:35 [Sildir (Tris)] It's like a... You might know better than me. You say it.
04:35 [Sildir (Tris)] Well, I know when I play it, it has like...
04:43 [Mercurio (Gui)] It's just like... Play it regularly, it has like some soothing, calming effect. And then the other thing about it was...
04:43 [Mercurio (Gui)] I think it gives a plus one to the vicious mock resave.
04:55 [DM (Aarya)] Yes, that's right. Exactly.
04:56 [Sildir (Tris)] That's what I remember as well.
04:58 [DM (Aarya)] Yeah, I had a few ideas for what I wanted the effect to be, and that was one of them. I wasn't sure if that was what I went with. Gotcha.
05:05 [Sildir (Tris)] Every time he plays it, we level up. Say that again?
05:10 [Saturno (Steph)] I said, I love the Ativan flute. What did I just say?
05:15 [Sildir (Tris)] I was saying every time he plays it, we level up.
05:18 [DM (Aarya)] Yeah, that's crazy.
05:18 [Sildir (Tris)] Yeah.
05:20 [DM (Aarya)] And Strahd also levels up, so...
05:23 [Sildir (Tris)] Yeah, but Strahd's gonna hit the level cap soon enough, so...
05:26 [Saturno (Steph)] Yeah.
05:28 [Sildir (Tris)] Anyhow, so we head downstairs, and we're greeted by Erwin. We have some breakfast. It's a really, really nice breakfast.
05:28 [Sildir (Tris)] And we kind of chat with him about how we got there, the mist, and you know, how... He tells us as well that this seems to happen every once in a while, and not a lot of people know people that he's ever heard of go home, based on the legends that he's heard. I don't think he had like a firsthand account of this, but he's heard of it.
05:28 [Sildir (Tris)] He brings up... Let's see. He gives us a tip about the disappearances, which was that there was some commotion happening in Hendrik's shop last night.
05:28 [Sildir (Tris)] So we go to investigate this, basically.
06:16 [DM (Aarya)] Why are you laughing?
06:16 [Sildir (Tris)] Before we leave... I think she's thinking of the grandma thing. Oh, yeah.
06:22 [Saturno (Steph)] Like, we literally busted into this person's house, and they're like freaking out.
06:31 [Sildir (Tris)] But Riktavio, before we leave, Riktavio comes in with a parcel for Danika. That's the other... That's the other way around.
06:31 [Sildir (Tris)] Oh, sorry. You're right. He takes a parcel from Danika, right?
06:31 [Sildir (Tris)] Yeah, he takes the parcel from Danika. And we kind of mess with him on, you know, where he's from, what he's been up to. But he's just like, nah, I'm leaving.
06:31 [Sildir (Tris)] He does let us know that he was also whisked away to this land by the mist. He's also from the Sword Coast. But it's like, he's just trying to like answer our questions, basically, and then leave.
06:31 [Sildir (Tris)] And that's what he does. But we head over to the Coffin Maker shop on the way. We discuss a little bit about the idea of going to a blacksmith to get silver weapons.
06:31 [Sildir (Tris)] And as we're finishing up that conversation, we see like a procession carrying out in the street. There's a man with mastiffs. We learned that that is the Baron, Baron Vargas.
06:31 [Sildir (Tris)] There's also like a guard with a arm that he really works out and another one that he doesn't. And they're all kind of a bunch of jerks. The one large arm guy is named Isik.
06:31 [Sildir (Tris)] But Paterno, you know, upon seeing how they treat this poor old lady who's son was arrested and was just asking how he's doing, he's in this crazy rehab center that is definitely not a rehab center. Paterno just isn't having it and starts talking some shit. I forget exactly what Paterno said, but it definitely got their attention.
08:30 [Saturno (Steph)] I took off my shoe and I threw it. I think it landed.
08:37 [Sildir (Tris)] That's right. Yeah, we got physical. Forgot about that.
08:37 [Sildir (Tris)] But yeah, serious stuff for, you know, an egomaniac ruler of the town. But luckily we're able to kind of talk our way out of this one. Sildur kind of rises him up with some talk about armor.
08:37 [Sildir (Tris)] And the group kind of debriefs on it. And we then help the woman who we try to have lunch with, but she's just too busy. Just, you know, couldn't possibly have lunch with us at this time.
09:15 [Saturno (Steph)] Can I add to that?
09:16 [Sildir (Tris)] Yeah.
09:18 [Saturno (Steph)] We also, I believe, and anyone correct me if I'm wrong, he basically, the guy we threw the shoe at, the egomaniac, was basically saying like, you know, how everything is going to be fine. Like, that's kind of like, I don't know.
09:32 [Sildir (Tris)] All will be well.
09:33 [Saturno (Steph)] All will be well. Like, that we basically should try, like, I guess it's like our responsibility now to make sure that this woman is also following that mindset. So we kind of talked to her and we're like, hey, you know, here's how you could help us if anything.
09:33 [Saturno (Steph)] And like, we didn't necessarily promise we were going to do anything with her son. I personally really want to help her son. But we basically, yeah, we gave her money.
09:33 [Saturno (Steph)] We're like, hey, take care of yourself. Like, here's some change of clothing. Like, we're going to meet again.
09:33 [Saturno (Steph)] And hopefully we give you an update on your son.
10:11 [Sildir (Tris)] I think we're all on board with that.
10:12 [Saturno (Steph)] Yeah. Even if it's just like a little peek and we're like, hey, he's doing well. This is what we see.
10:12 [Saturno (Steph)] Just something to help her. But in the meantime, we're asking her to kind of like, just play along. And we know that, you know, we totally have this bullshit.
10:12 [Saturno (Steph)] But, you know, keep the, I'm happy here.
10:28 [Sildir (Tris)] That's our mission. We were like, you have to look very happy and clean so that we don't get in trouble.
10:34 [Saturno (Steph)] Exactly. Yeah. Okay.
10:34 [Saturno (Steph)] That's all I wanted to add to that.
10:37 [Sildir (Tris)] Oh, yeah. Great. Great ads.
10:37 [Sildir (Tris)] And yeah, we do discuss helping her son. I think the party was kind of on board with that. And her name is Willa Mena.
10:37 [Sildir (Tris)] We ended up calling her Willie.
10:57 [DM (Aarya)] Can't help yourselves.
11:00 [Sildir (Tris)] And we also discussed an idea to like, rehab her, like in air quotes, rehab her. And like, show the Baron how well we did and then become the state sponsored rehab center. But like, use that more to like, build influence rather than anything else.
11:00 [Sildir (Tris)] And then finally, after all of that, we begin walking our way to the coffee makers, which is not far at this point. It's like, right there. We go.
11:00 [Sildir (Tris)] Sildur knocks. There's no response. And then Sildur kicks on the door.
11:00 [Sildir (Tris)] I think I got like a 20 on that. If I remember correctly.
11:47 [Saturno (Steph)] Yeah, that's what I'm laughing at.
11:49 [Sildir (Tris)] Which was like, a little more than I wanted. But we find that there's actually a coffee maker inside, which I think most of us were surprised about. So like, we bust in there, the door's on the ground.
11:49 [Sildir (Tris)] He's like, crying and screaming. And then Mercurio, he pulls out his flute. And he just rips a nasty solo.
12:15 [Saturno (Steph)] What was it that you played? Like, what did you play at that moment?
12:21 [Sildir (Tris)] I don't remember.
12:22 [Saturno (Steph)] I forgot, but you played like an audio that was really good.
12:25 [Sildir (Tris)] Maybe it was Careless Whisper or something.
12:27 [Saturno (Steph)] Maybe, yeah.
12:29 [Sildir (Tris)] Oh, wait. You know what it was? I think I have it.
12:29 [Sildir (Tris)] It was Take On Me, but like flute edition.
12:34 [Saturno (Steph)] Oh, yes. Yes, that it was. And he was like, wow.
12:34 [Saturno (Steph)] Wow.
12:45 [Sildir (Tris)] He's like, I'm calm now. So yeah, we just break down his door, and we're like a traveling band or something. But that calms him down.
12:54 [Saturno (Steph)] And then I was like, do you want... I was like, how do we sue them? I'm like, do you want bread or something?
12:54 [Saturno (Steph)] We were all frantic. It's that when we broke down the door, just like for those who weren't here, we were all kind of frantic because they were frantic. Because we didn't think they'd break down the door with such intensity.
13:12 [Sildir (Tris)] I also think we probably find like a criminal or something.
13:15 [Saturno (Steph)] Yeah, we didn't think he'd be there. Honestly, I wasn't expecting it. So then we're like, trying to like, you want some bread?
13:15 [Saturno (Steph)] And then like, Mikulio's ripping the flute. And then like, Sildir's like, yeah, it's okay. It's fine.
13:31 [DM (Aarya)] Aggressively tries to calm down this before starting, man.
13:34 [Saturno (Steph)] We were aggressively trying to like, yeah. And if you go back to the recording, like, I feel like it was also very aggressive in the Discord. Like we were all talking at the same time because we didn't know what we were doing.
13:43 [Sildir (Tris)] True, it was a good moment. But we eventually were successful in telling him that we're there to help more than anything. And he finally kind of believes us, probably just because he wasn't dead.
13:43 [Sildir (Tris)] Like honestly, he's probably like, all right, well, they would have killed me. Yeah.
13:59 [Saturno (Steph)] Some of us dropped our weapons, I think as well, just to kind of help with that.
14:03 [Sildir (Tris)] No, we put in a lot of work. Yeah, we did. We did.
14:06 [Saturno (Steph)] Oh, and I also wanted to mention- Y'all rolled pretty high for all that too. Yeah. For the Coffin Maker.
14:06 [Saturno (Steph)] Is this the Coffin Maker? I'm so sorry.
14:18 [DM (Aarya)] Yeah.
14:18 [Saturno (Steph)] I think it was the previous person we talked to. They gave me a halberd. Was that this last session?
14:24 [DM (Aarya)] No, it was this guy. Yeah, he gave it to you.
14:26 [Saturno (Steph)] Oh, yeah. Okay. Yeah.
14:26 [Saturno (Steph)] I just wanted to make sure.
14:29 [Sildir (Tris)] I think we convinced them that we're like the Avengers and we're going to take down the shadow government or something.
14:33 [Saturno (Steph)] Oh, yes. And we told him about what happened as well with this guy that I threw the shoe at. And I was like, yeah, I lived.
14:40 [Sildir (Tris)] Yep. Yeah, so all that's correct. Basically, finally, we do steal his journal.
14:40 [Sildir (Tris)] We'll return that at another time. But once he's calm, he takes us to the back room to discuss a little further what happened with him and Father Lucian. Basically, he tells us this story that as they were walking to go to the lake, they were descended upon by two cloaked figures with masks that had...
14:40 [Sildir (Tris)] Basically, they were like wolf masks, very realistic wolf masks, as far as masks go. And he saw this happening and he ran away. And then he was visited by another masked cloaked figure and this one told him that he needs to just hunker down, stay locked in, don't talk to anybody, and that he's going to find out what's going on with Lucian.
14:40 [Sildir (Tris)] And after some interrogation, we kind of figure out that Hendrik's story makes sense. It also makes sense that he trusted this other masked guy, despite him being seemingly very similar to the others.
16:03 [DM (Aarya)] Well, I think he wasn't wearing like a wolf mask. It was a different guy.
16:08 [Saturno (Steph)] He had a very similar cloak, I believe, to the one that Mercurio saw with what caught their attention.
16:17 [Sildir (Tris)] Yeah. But we learn later too that basically all of them have this cloak.
16:21 [Saturno (Steph)] Yeah.
16:23 [Sildir (Tris)] Everyone that this Hendrik described kind of had that cloak. And that's also we found like tattered pieces of that cloak around various like scenes or sites where crimes like took place. Like we saw the scuffle like in the woods where the guy's daughter was taken.
16:23 [Sildir (Tris)] Like we've seen this around. But we do, we talk up ourselves and we basically, yeah, the Avengers analogy was good. We're like heroes and we can totally handle this and it's no big deal.
16:23 [Sildir (Tris)] And yeah, he does give you the halberd. And we encourage him a little bit more, glaze ourselves up a little bit more. We tell him that we're going to save Lucian and that we're going to take out the Court of Wolves and Baron Vargas.
16:23 [Sildir (Tris)] And we leave. And Sildur leaves in one gulp. Finally, we read his journal after we leave.
16:23 [Sildir (Tris)] Let's see. There's like a little poem in there. Beware the Court of Wolves that watches all the time.
16:23 [Sildir (Tris)] Ruling the Loki from shadow prowl behind brick and lime. They watch you at your hearth. They watch you in your bed.
16:23 [Sildir (Tris)] Speak not a whispered word of them or they'll send the fangs for your head. And this is presumably written by Henrik who kind of seemingly lost his mind. Probably had like an anxious breakdown based on all the other random scribblings in this journal.
16:23 [Sildir (Tris)] We keep walking. We end up having like a combat with the court.
18:01 [DM (Aarya)] I will also mention that as part of what Henrik told you about the court. He basically said that like as a kid he heard stories about the court from his parents. Like basically as like a story that you tell your kids to like scare them into behaving.
18:21 [Sildir (Tris)] Yeah, I don't think that's like was particularly new information for us.
18:25 [DM (Aarya)] You've heard that before, yeah.
18:27 [Mercurio (Gui)] Yeah, it was reiterated because I think we heard it from the elf guy. I forgot his name.
18:33 [Sildir (Tris)] We heard it from... Yeah, I think we heard it from a couple people. But yeah, it's definitely corroborated.
18:33 [Sildir (Tris)] Let's see. We do fight some combat with the court of wolves it seems. People in wolf masks.
18:33 [Sildir (Tris)] We really did them dirty I have to say. So like there was multiple whole persons going on. There was a 57 damage turn from one person.
18:33 [Sildir (Tris)] We were throwing their dead bodies around and then we burned them at the end.
19:11 [Saturno (Steph)] Yeah, we were disrespectful with it. We moved their masks and then we're like ill.
19:19 [Sildir (Tris)] Pretty crazy. And Saturno takes some of the fangs from them. And then we also see that like they're old and they're also like weird.
19:19 [Sildir (Tris)] Like their bodies, their skin is like stretched over their body in a weird way. Like seemingly unnatural, I would say.
19:35 [Saturno (Steph)] Yeah, and then I had the very bright idea of like let's just take an arm and when the sun comes out maybe if they disappear and then everyone's like the sun doesn't come out and I was like, okay, nevermind. Then I threw back the severed arm. I was like, right, sorry guys.
19:49 [DM (Aarya)] It was like, yeah, unfortunately. Very unnatural, the sunlight in Barovia. But also, you also would have noted that the masks that they were wearing were actual wolf skulls.
19:49 [DM (Aarya)] And also, the boots that they had were like pretty like heavy combat boots.
20:09 [Saturno (Steph)] Oh my god, Doc Martin.
20:10 [Sildir (Tris)] Yeah, I was gonna say, were they docs?
20:12 [DM (Aarya)] They're not docs. Can we flavor them as docs? No, no, no, they're Tibbs, actually.
20:12 [DM (Aarya)] No, I'm kidding.
20:20 [Saturno (Steph)] Oh, hell yeah.
20:23 [Mercurio (Gui)] That kind of matches up, I guess, with the investigation we did in the woods where we saw the heavy boot prints.
20:31 [Ember (Spurthi)] Yes.
20:33 [Mercurio (Gui)] Maybe, yeah. True.
20:35 [Saturno (Steph)] Yeah, it sounds like it.
20:36 [Mercurio (Gui)] True.
20:39 [Sildir (Tris)] And then, yeah, like I have a note at the end which I think kind of is important for us all to consider. It's basically where the fuck is Syl still? And also, we should ask Syl about the flute when we get back and see him because it just randomly appeared on his bed.
20:39 [Sildir (Tris)] So, I don't know. Yeah, I know.
21:02 [Mercurio (Gui)] I think we know Syl is with...
21:04 [DM (Aarya)] With Irina.
21:05 [Sildir (Tris)] We learned that Syl was with Irina?
21:06 [DM (Aarya)] Yeah. That's what Irina said in her note, basically.
21:10 [Sildir (Tris)] Oh, okay. Every time I start saying Irina, like I'm about to say Iridel and I have to like catch myself. Irina-del.
21:10 [Sildir (Tris)] Irina-del. All right, so that's my recap.
21:27 [DM (Aarya)] Okay, pretty good.
21:28 [Sildir (Tris)] Thanks everyone for chipping in. It was awesome.
21:31 [DM (Aarya)] Yeah, so I think at the current moment, you all are in the streets like a little bit of a ways down from the Coffinmaker shop. You're like just coming off the aftermath of this ambush you just dealt with. Notably, you look around and see that the streets are pretty empty right now and you find that a little bit curious.
21:31 [DM (Aarya)] You note that on your way over here as you're passing through, you saw like town guards like posted here and there mainly in like more populated intersections and like market streets and whatnot. But as you went down the street to the Coffinmaker shop, you noticed that there were no guards anywhere to be seen. And for Syllabus, you have spent the morning with Irina basically asking around town for aid from various folks around trying to gather what information you can.
21:31 [DM (Aarya)] And by around this time, you and Irina would have returned to the Bluewater Inn. Irina, being exhausted from the morning's work, retires upstairs to rest. And you learned from Erwin that the rest of the party was tracking down a tip about the Coffinmaker and you were on your way there to meet them.
21:31 [DM (Aarya)] So basically, in the current scene, the bulk of the party is still in the streets and Syllabus is just now pulling up. So I'm going to bring you into the scene.
23:06 [Sildir (Tris)] Oh, wait, I have to still log in.
23:08 [Ember (Spurthi)] Yippee.
23:11 [Mercurio (Gui)] I think we disposed of these bodies but kept like one thing in disguise.
23:18 [DM (Aarya)] Yeah, you basically were able to like scavenge like one like relatively intact um uh disguise.
23:26 [Sildir (Tris)] And we burnt like we scorched them so that it would be recognizable. Sorry, I'm logged in now. I wasn't logged in before.
23:26 [Sildir (Tris)] Hey Syl, and then I play a riff on my flute.
23:47 [Sylalys (Cat)] Ah, I see you found that relic.
23:52 [Mercurio (Gui)] Ah, thank you for finding my lost flute for me. I was looking all over for that.
23:56 [Sylalys (Cat)] Your lost flute.
23:58 [Mercurio (Gui)] Ah, yes, this is a old family heirloom.
24:02 [Sylalys (Cat)] Is it now?
24:04 [Mercurio (Gui)] Uh, of course.
24:06 [Sylalys (Cat)] How did it find its way here in Breville?
24:09 [Mercurio (Gui)] Oh, I don't know.
24:11 [Sildir (Tris)] That must have fell out of my pocket in that crooked house or something. But you know how Asimovs are with their amber flutes.
24:20 [Sylalys (Cat)] I don't, but...
24:22 [Sildir (Tris)] Someone as well studied as you would know about that correlation.
24:27 [Sylalys (Cat)] I cannot tell if you are pulling my leg.
24:31 [Mercurio (Gui)] How could I pull your leg? I'm all the way over here.
24:36 [Sylalys (Cat)] It's a human expression. I thought you would understand.
24:40 [Mercurio (Gui)] Oh, we don't have that expression in my country.
24:43 [DM (Aarya)] Also, technically neither of you are human. But yeah, that's interesting. Interesting to hear.
24:48 [Sildir (Tris)] So wait, whose flute is this anyway?
24:53 [Sylalys (Cat)] I found it in the bushes many days ago. You were probably cursed and you are doomed, but it's okay. I'm sure you will feel good in ten days.
24:53 [Sylalys (Cat)] Now tell me something new.
25:10 [Saturno (Steph)] Mercurio, did you watch that before you used it? What does it mean, peeing in that bush?
25:14 [Sildir (Tris)] Oh my god, of course.
25:15 [Saturno (Steph)] Mercurio, you don't think about these things.
25:17 [Sildir (Tris)] I wiped it down with a cloth, of course.
25:21 [Saturno (Steph)] Yeah, a cloth.
25:23 [Sildir (Tris)] What if that was Ezic's flute and he blew on it?
25:27 [Saturno (Steph)] My cloth, okay.
25:29 [Sildir (Tris)] Like a bottle of instrument cleaning. Like that little alcohol spray bottle, you know? You squirt and you spray on the trumpet mouthpieces.
25:44 [DM (Aarya)] It's just like a little bottle of sake or something.
25:47 [Sildir (Tris)] It probably would. Nah, that would be gone if Mercurio had that. Sure.
25:47 [Sildir (Tris)] Moon should have some restraints.
25:57 [Saturno (Steph)] So proud of you.
26:00 [Sildir (Tris)] Sometimes I like to save a little treat for later, you know?
26:03 [Saturno (Steph)] That's true. Well, I'm glad you cleaned it. It would have been awful if it was a piss flute.
26:10 [Mercurio (Gui)] What even is a piss flute?
26:12 [Saturno (Steph)] That's when you play a flute that's been previously pissed on.
26:16 [Sildir (Tris)] Sounds like a euphemism. Crazy thing to do.
26:19 [Saturno (Steph)] Exactly.
26:24 [DM (Aarya)] Not a piss flute.
26:28 [Sildir (Tris)] Well, Sylp, how'd things go with Arena?
26:33 [Sylalys (Cat)] Yes, well, we had our own investigation.
26:40 [Irredel (Sav)] What did it uncover?
26:45 [Sylalys (Cat)] We learned a lot about the Baron of this town.
26:52 [Sildir (Tris)] Oh, what a coincidence. Us too. Yeah, we actually ran into him.
26:59 [Sylalys (Cat)] Someone's asking to open my front door. Hold up.
27:03 [DM (Aarya)] Oh no. It's the Baron.
27:07 [Sylalys (Cat)] I think it's just a random delivery guy.
27:09 [Saturno (Steph)] It's the Baron. Aria was like oversized Timbs. My god.
27:15 [Sildir (Tris)] Oh no, international pop star Adam Levine.
27:17 [Mercurio (Gui)] Drip Aria.
27:20 [Sildir (Tris)] Aria has the AR experience for us. We're graduating from D&D to actual LARP.
27:33 [Ember (Spurthi)] Oh my god. Wouldn't that be something?
27:41 [Sildir (Tris)] See two people with wolf masks at my door.
27:45 [Irredel (Sav)] Nightmare on you. Just another day in Miami. Literally.
27:49 [Sildir (Tris)] True.
27:50 [Saturno (Steph)] Do you remember the clowns?
27:52 [Sildir (Tris)] They would just have white robes instead of black robes.
27:57 [Saturno (Steph)] Do we remember the clowns in Miami? That was scary. That was not fun.
28:07 [Mercurio (Gui)] Yeah, the murder clowns.
28:09 [Irredel (Sav)] One of them showed up around my cousin. My cousin is a really big guy. He's probably like six foot three.
28:09 [Irredel (Sav)] He was a car mechanic and he's hefty. He also can run pretty fast. I think he did a football thing.
28:09 [Irredel (Sav)] I don't know. He lived in Ohio. Whatever happens in the Midwest is none of my business.
28:41 [Saturno (Steph)] Unless it has to do...
28:44 [Irredel (Sav)] That's not the cause. But anyway, so this person showed up with a clown mask and he just took off sprinting after the guy in the clown mask and was like, get out of my yard. Yeah, he universed it, chased him away and was like, dude, get the fuck out of my yard.
28:44 [Irredel (Sav)] I have kids here. You're going to scare them. Yeah, it was just some teenager who was very scared of my gigantic angry cousin.
28:44 [Irredel (Sav)] So base.
29:18 [Saturno (Steph)] Sorry. Okay. Everything okay?
29:29 [Sylalys (Cat)] Yeah, I don't know why. There was like a weird... Someone delivering a package, but I don't think they were for me.
29:29 [Sylalys (Cat)] It's fine.
29:37 [Saturno (Steph)] Oh my god, I love free packages.
29:40 [DM (Aarya)] Porch piracy.
29:43 [Saturno (Steph)] Yeah, I always return them, always. I'm winking.
29:51 [Sildir (Tris)] So what did you find out about the Baron?
29:55 [Sylalys (Cat)] Yes, well, he's clearly corrupted by some influence, probably of the Dreadlord. But...
30:06 [Saturno (Steph)] It's a piece of work, huh?
30:09 [Sylalys (Cat)] It seems he is holding festivals every week to... I don't know, promote happiness. But you are punished severely for not celebrating.
30:24 [Saturno (Steph)] Yeah.
30:25 [Sylalys (Cat)] He also has a very monstrous sounding compatriots.
30:32 [Saturno (Steph)] Yes, Iso. I forgot his name.
30:38 [Sildir (Tris)] I believe it's Isik, but you can call him whatever you like.
30:42 [Saturno (Steph)] Easter it is. Yeah. He's an asshole.
30:48 [Sildir (Tris)] That's a good name for him. When do these festivals happen? Did you learn that?
31:03 [Sylalys (Cat)] It's to be held at noon four days from now.
31:11 [Saturno (Steph)] Four days from now. I wonder where everyone is at the moment. I would have thought maybe they were holding it now, considering how empty the town is.
31:20 [Irredel (Sav)] Wait, is the day of the festival coinciding with the full moon?
31:33 [Sildir (Tris)] Well, one day has passed since we learned that the moon was going to come in four days, so the moon would be one day before.
31:43 [DM (Aarya)] No, it's the same day.
31:47 [Sildir (Tris)] Well, not according to your own world building.
31:49 [Sylalys (Cat)] Just saying.
31:51 [DM (Aarya)] I'm pretty sure I lined up the dates. I think when Irina first told you she said in six days, and that was like a couple days ago.
31:57 [Sildir (Tris)] Oh, that's true. My bad. I just wanted to own you.
31:57 [Sildir (Tris)] That's all.
32:02 [DM (Aarya)] I thought about this, Tristan.
32:04 [Sildir (Tris)] Don't try that shit with me. Quick pwnage in the chat. I'm logging in.
32:04 [Sildir (Tris)] I'm logging in. I'm sorry. I'm logging in.
32:04 [Sildir (Tris)] Enough is enough.
32:17 [Irredel (Sav)] I mean, I just think it's worthy of comment that we think a group called the Court of Wolves is running this town, and they happen to have happiness ceremonies on the same day as the full moon.
32:33 [Sildir (Tris)] Yeah. There's a lot of funny coincidences lining up. I think Saterno's right.
32:33 [Sildir (Tris)] I don't like how empty this part of town is right now with no guards. When we were attacked by the Court of Wolves. It's an interesting coincidence that no one's around to help us right now or witness this.
32:55 [Saturno (Steph)] No. I mean, when that happened as well, we talked about moving quick because who knows? Maybe someone would come and check on us.
32:55 [Saturno (Steph)] How did they know we were there? And maybe where we came from. So I think we should be moving fast.
32:55 [Saturno (Steph)] If there's someone trying to track us, we can shake them off a bit.
33:28 [Sildir (Tris)] Yeah. Where do we go from here, though?
33:31 [Saturno (Steph)] That's what I mean. Oh, sorry. Sagan?
33:37 [Sylalys (Cat)] One more thing. A potential leader on an ally that may help us. There's someone named Lady Fiona Wachter, who is apparently the only voice of resistance against the Baron and his goons.
34:00 [Saturno (Steph)] Good indeed.
34:01 [Sylalys (Cat)] Well, maybe she may be a valuable ally in this endeavor.
34:06 [Sildir (Tris)] Maybe we could just go see her.
34:09 [Saturno (Steph)] You know where she is?
34:10 [Mercurio (Gui)] That's an idea.
34:12 [Saturno (Steph)] She may be able to give us more information as to where they keep the people who, I guess, aren't happy or whatever. Like this person's son. Willy's son.
34:12 [Saturno (Steph)] Maybe she could help us.
34:34 [Sylalys (Cat)] Yeah, regardless. Even if she cannot help us, she will have information for us.
34:38 [Saturno (Steph)] Yeah, let's go see her then.
34:41 [Irredel (Sav)] Yeah, I will say we should proceed cautiously. We've been pretty open about our aims with several people, and I don't want word spreading that, you know, we're planning anything, so to speak, to try and see if we can gather as much information without showing our hand. Yes.
35:04 [Saturno (Steph)] Let's be cautious.
35:06 [Mercurio (Gui)] We also can't forget about this priest. I mean, we need to find him at some point, but...
35:12 [DM (Aarya)] Yeah, I think he told you to meet him back at the church tonight.
35:16 [Mercurio (Gui)] Oh, no, I meant the missing one.
35:18 [DM (Aarya)] Oh, that one.
35:20 [Mercurio (Gui)] Yeah. I'm a little bit suspicious of the other priest, honestly. Don't know.
35:20 [Mercurio (Gui)] Like, maybe... Maybe some intentional scheming, you know, by the people who kidnapped the actual priest. They threw in their own little substitute.
35:20 [Mercurio (Gui)] Maybe not, but it does seem suspicious.
35:50 [Sildir (Tris)] I agree. I mean, now that we know how the priest disappeared, it's like... How did this guy even know to come and assume the role?
36:02 [Ember (Spurthi)] And he knew entirely too much.
36:05 [Sildir (Tris)] Very short notice.
36:09 [Mercurio (Gui)] Very strange. Like, did someone really go running to the next town over or whatever to get this guy as soon as the priest went missing?
36:20 [Saturno (Steph)] Yeah, and if having that priest is so important at all times, like, why isn't there, like, enough to replace them this quickly? Why isn't there more of an uproar in terms of the missing priest?
36:40 [Mercurio (Gui)] True. But anyways, let's go to this locker house.
36:48 [DM (Aarya)] Okay. So where's the party heading towards?
36:54 [Sildir (Tris)] Walkers.
36:55 [DM (Aarya)] Okay. Um, I guess... I don't think any of you would know where that is yet.
36:55 [DM (Aarya)] Let me check the map. So I guess presumably you'd, like, be wandering around, maybe trying to ask for directions to the walker's house.
37:24 [Sildir (Tris)] Uh, yeah. First person I see that isn't, like, a guard or something.
37:28 [DM (Aarya)] All right, so as you're walking along the streets, you notice that you are... Actually, let me check. Everyone give me some perception rolls.
37:41 [Ember (Spurthi)] Perception?
37:43 [DM (Aarya)] Perception.
37:45 [Saturno (Steph)] Oh, perception. Just kidding, that's not my person.
37:53 [Sildir (Tris)] All right, got some good ones. I think we're okay. Nice.
37:57 [DM (Aarya)] Oh my gosh, all right. Some really good rolls. Hey, was that a 20?
37:57 [DM (Aarya)] Oh my gosh. Okay, so yeah, Iridel and Ember, you both notice pretty easily, in fact, that you are being tailed by someone who is seemingly trying to be conspicuous, just like a guy wearing a pretty unassuming trench coat and cap. I'm following you about, like, maybe, like, 10 yards behind.
38:33 [Sylalys (Cat)] You mean inconspicuous?
38:36 [DM (Aarya)] Yes, I did, yes.
38:41 [Irredel (Sav)] Hey folks, looks like we have a guest following us.
38:50 [Sildir (Tris)] How, like, are we still in the less populated area of town?
38:54 [DM (Aarya)] You're getting closer near town square where there's, like, more people around.
39:00 [Sildir (Tris)] Is there, like, an alley or something nearby?
39:03 [DM (Aarya)] Yeah, there's, like, a few alleys that you could duck into. Okay.
39:07 [Ember (Spurthi)] What does this person look like again?
39:09 [DM (Aarya)] Basically, just, like, a scrawny-looking guy wearing, like, a long trench coat and pretty, like, plain-looking hat.
39:20 [Sildir (Tris)] I'm gonna use Command-Alt unless anyone has a problem with that.
39:28 [Saturno (Steph)] Nope. No, go ahead. I'm being chillin'.
39:28 [Saturno (Steph)] As long as we're in the alley.
39:37 [Sildir (Tris)] I, yeah, I just whisper just so the person could hear it. Like, now stop right there.
39:45 [DM (Aarya)] Well, he's 10 yards away. I don't know that you can whisper that far.
39:48 [Sildir (Tris)] Yeah, I say it as quietly as I need to.
39:50 [DM (Aarya)] Okay.
39:51 [Sildir (Tris)] So it's just, like, in him.
39:52 [DM (Aarya)] Sounds good. Okay, so let me bring this guy out over here. And you're using Command-Alt.
39:52 [DM (Aarya)] That is a wisp, okay. All right, he fails to save, so he is now stopped in place.
40:14 [Sildir (Tris)] Great. Who's my other beefy person? Yeah, Saturno, help me out with this.
40:14 [Sildir (Tris)] And we're gonna, I'm gonna, like, grab him and drag him into an alley. Come on.
40:26 [Saturno (Steph)] Okay.
40:27 [Sildir (Tris)] Like, restrain him.
40:28 [DM (Aarya)] Yeah.
40:28 [Saturno (Steph)] Okay. Okay. Is that okay?
40:28 [Saturno (Steph)] Do we need a rule for that?
40:33 [DM (Aarya)] I'll say you can just do it. You guys are both strong enough to be able to manage that. And as you're, like, grabbing him and dragging him into...
40:33 [DM (Aarya)] Is it, like, just you two? Like, separate from the group?
40:43 [Sildir (Tris)] Whoever wants to come with. I would hope for everyone, but...
40:46 [DM (Aarya)] I'll come with. Okay. So is it everyone, then?
40:46 [DM (Aarya)] Or is everyone except Celos and Irithel?
40:57 [Saturno (Steph)] Maybe some people should keep watch out near, like, the outside of the alley, just in case.
41:02 [Irredel (Sav)] Oh, yeah, that works. Yeah, I'll keep watch.
41:08 [DM (Aarya)] Um, okay. All right, so as you're grabbing this guy and, like, dragging him into an alley, and he's like, Oh, oi, hey, what's the big idea? I mean no harm.
41:22 [Saturno (Steph)] Nor do we. We just want to talk.
41:24 [Sildir (Tris)] Easier ways to talk. I like what the big idea is. You've been following us.
41:30 [DM (Aarya)] Listen, one of you is Miss Saturno. Which one of you is Saturno?
41:37 [Sildir (Tris)] Why don't you say who you are first?
41:40 [DM (Aarya)] How do you know our name? Well, you see, I am under the employ of Lady Fiona Voctor, and she wishes to have a meeting with Miss Saturno and her allies.
42:00 [Sildir (Tris)] How do I know the truth?
42:03 [DM (Aarya)] Well, if you'll unhand me, I can show you.
42:07 [Sildir (Tris)] Uh, I'm gonna insight him as well.
42:10 [DM (Aarya)] Okay.
42:11 [Sildir (Tris)] Unless there's a better... I don't... My insight bonus is zero, so any insiders?
42:15 [Mercurio (Gui)] I'll insight, but we could just, like, kind of block him in anyways, like...
42:21 [Sildir (Tris)] I just don't want to get stabbed randomly, you know?
42:25 [DM (Aarya)] With a 15 insight, you can tell that he's telling the truth.
42:29 [Sildir (Tris)] What do you think, Mercurio? Or who rolled it? I mean, me.
42:29 [Sildir (Tris)] Oh, just let him show us what he's got. All right.
42:39 [Ember (Spurthi)] Okay, go ahead.
42:40 [Sildir (Tris)] I let him go and I said, don't try anything funny.
42:46 [DM (Aarya)] All right, all right. I mean, it's not like I could handle the six of you myself.
42:54 [Saturno (Steph)] You could handle one of us.
42:58 [DM (Aarya)] I don't think it'll come to that.
43:01 [Saturno (Steph)] I hope not.
43:04 [DM (Aarya)] All right, so are you unhanding him, or...? Yeah.
43:07 [Saturno (Steph)] Yeah, we did. Yeah.
43:09 [DM (Aarya)] All right, so you unhand him, and he, like, holds his hands up, like, showing that he doesn't have anything, obviously isn't anything. He very slowly reaches a hand into his trench coat pocket and pulls out a sealed letter bearing a very, like, official-looking crest on the seal. A letter of invitation from Lady Vakta herself.
43:09 [DM (Aarya)] And he hands it to Saturno, and you see that it is addressed to Miss Saturno and friends.
43:45 [Saturno (Steph)] I... I take it. Yeah.
43:45 [Saturno (Steph)] Okay. Sorry for any trouble. We did find you following us a bit...
43:45 [Saturno (Steph)] uncomfortable.
43:59 [DM (Aarya)] Well, I suppose I can't blame you for being cautious in this town. Well, thank you for letting me read this. Very well.
43:59 [DM (Aarya)] So Saturno, I assume, is going to read the letter?
44:13 [Saturno (Steph)] Yeah. Do I have it? Sorry, I don't know if you posted it.
44:17 [DM (Aarya)] I didn't actually... I meant to write this down, but we're just going to rip this. Okay, rip it.
44:17 [DM (Aarya)] Dale. So yeah, you open the letter, and basically it is... You see that it is written by someone named Lady Fiona Vakta.
44:17 [DM (Aarya)] She basically is telling you that she, in her efforts to promote civil... civil rest in Vallaki, has been searching for allies and friends to aid her in her quest against the Baron. She notes that there are few voices in this town who are willing to speak out openly against Baron Vargas, and she would like to meet Miss Saturno and her friends for dinner tomorrow evening at Vakta House at 6 p.m. to discuss a potential alliance together.
45:11 [Saturno (Steph)] I like her already. Iridyll and, like, Sililis also here?
45:19 [DM (Aarya)] Um, I guess if you're reading it out loud, then sure.
45:23 [Irredel (Sav)] And then we would have, like, probably wandered back over. What do you all think?
45:31 [Mercurio (Gui)] Sounds fine.
45:32 [Saturno (Steph)] I think we should hear her out.
45:36 [Sylalys (Cat)] How did they know specifically about you, Miss Saturno?
45:42 [Mercurio (Gui)] Well, she didn't make quite a display.
45:46 [Saturno (Steph)] You know that guy with the freakish arm, Easter? I threw a shoe at... Well, I threw a shoe at his boss.
45:46 [Saturno (Steph)] Because he was mistreating an elderly woman.
46:00 [DM (Aarya)] Yes, that was a very public display. I reported it to my lady immediately.
46:05 [Saturno (Steph)] Yeah, fuck that guy. He's a shit.
46:09 [DM (Aarya)] There's not many folks in this town who could stand up to Izzik like that and get away with it.
46:14 [Saturno (Steph)] To be fair, I did get away with it, but it was with the help of my friends.
46:22 [DM (Aarya)] Some mighty fine friends you have there, then.
46:25 [Saturno (Steph)] Yes.
46:28 [Sildir (Tris)] And who are you to Fiona Wachter?
46:33 [DM (Aarya)] I am her loyal aide and servant. Name? My name is Ernst.
46:48 [Saturno (Steph)] Can we call you Ernie?
46:52 [DM (Aarya)] No. We're not so familiar. We can be.
46:52 [DM (Aarya)] We'll see. That depends on how your meeting with my lady goes tomorrow evening.
47:09 [Saturno (Steph)] And?
47:12 [Sildir (Tris)] How should we get there? We're newer to town.
47:17 [DM (Aarya)] Ah, yes, of course. And he will reach into his trench coat once again. He's going to pull out just like a little notebook, basically, and a small pen.
47:17 [DM (Aarya)] And he's going to quickly scribble out a rough map of Vallaki for you. Which I will post in Discord. Give me one second.
47:51 [Sildir (Tris)] Is there any...
47:53 [DM (Aarya)] This is like...
47:55 [Sildir (Tris)] ...dreadful code we have to follow?
47:59 [DM (Aarya)] Yes, well, I should hope that if you're meeting someone as important as Lady Fiona Wachter, you can clean up after yourselves. Preferably not in... I don't mean to insult you, but not in such disheveled attire as you are in now.
47:59 [DM (Aarya)] Disheveled attire?
48:22 [Saturno (Steph)] Have you seen this guy?
48:23 [DM (Aarya)] He looks over to Mercurio and noticed that he's still sporting a pretty nasty looking wound in his chest where he just got stabbed like 20 minutes ago.
48:39 [Mercurio (Gui)] This'll clean right- This'll buff right out. I mean, this is nothing.
48:45 [DM (Aarya)] Yes, well, I'm sure. And on the map that he's drawn for you, he points out that Wachter House, Lady Fiona's home, is to the north side of Vallaki.
49:08 [Mercurio (Gui)] Not far from the inn.
49:17 [DM (Aarya)] Well... I take it then you accept the invitation? Absolutely.
49:17 [DM (Aarya)] Very good. I shall be on my way to inform Lady Fiona.
49:27 [Saturno (Steph)] Is there any- Hold on one second. Go ahead.
49:31 [Sildir (Tris)] Were you talking about my armor when you said disheveled attire?
49:36 [DM (Aarya)] He looks to your armor and notes that in the scuffle that ensued previously, you've got some scrapes and, like, bumps here and there. And he looks up to you and he says, Well, are you serious?
49:55 [Sildir (Tris)] Why yes, this armor was engraved by a god.
49:58 [DM (Aarya)] You've clearly just been in a fight!
50:01 [Sildir (Tris)] Oh, I'll clean it up, but I mean...
50:03 [DM (Aarya)] Yes, do clean up. We wouldn't want you to make a poor impression.
50:09 [Sildir (Tris)] I think Saturna already made a great impression.
50:14 [DM (Aarya)] Yes, she has. Don't you? I can just- But please do present yourselves accordingly.
50:23 [Mercurio (Gui)] I'll shower. Yes, that would be good. Alright, well I guess we need to go find some spiffy outfits.
50:23 [Mercurio (Gui)] Uh, is there, um, is there, like, a clothier? You know, mapped out in this map that you recommend? Oh, well, I'm sure- Get some new shirts.
50:46 [DM (Aarya)] I'm sure if you ask around in the stockyards, you can find someone selling something.
50:52 [Saturno (Steph)] Okay- I do have a question for you.
50:56 [DM (Aarya)] Uh, what happened?
50:58 [Saturno (Steph)] No, no, Saturna, you go ahead. Um, is there a specific route you, um, wish for us to take to be more, you know, under the radar or time of day for us to head out? Any recommendations?
50:58 [Saturno (Steph)] As long- Keep as low of a profile as possible.
51:17 [DM (Aarya)] You are being invited as formal guests of Lady Fiona Vector. So long as you play the part, no one should question you. Okay.
51:17 [DM (Aarya)] Understood. Just don't come looking like vagabonds.
51:31 [Saturno (Steph)] Oh, we get it, we get it, we get it, we get it, we get it.
51:33 [DM (Aarya)] Well- I need to shower.
51:35 [Saturno (Steph)] I understand, you know, like- Such a wise guy. And honestly, like, your breath- It's fine, actually.
51:43 [Sildir (Tris)] How put together does he look? Yeah, for real.
51:46 [DM (Aarya)] Um, he's- He's, like, dressed pretty simply. Like, he's clearly dressed to blend in, um, and not stand out.
51:53 [Saturno (Steph)] DM, can I get a breath check? Like, what's his breath like?
51:56 [DM (Aarya)] A breath check? Hygiene check? Yeah, like- Yeah, let's see, let's see.
51:56 [DM (Aarya)] What am I- What am I gonna roll for this?
52:02 [Saturno (Steph)] Or is it, like, crazy, like, down? Perception, and maybe- Banana rolls.
52:08 [Mercurio (Gui)] We're gonna rolls. My flute gives me plus one on vicious mockery rate.
52:17 [DM (Aarya)] I guess, uh- Oh, my. Yeah, this guy, he smells like he's been chewing tobacco or something.
52:26 [Saturno (Steph)] Look, I know we- We may look a certain way right now. We have been through turbulent times. But I do not mean to be mean, but, you know, like- We get it.
52:26 [Saturno (Steph)] I don't need your chewing tobacco breath to keep repeating it to us. We appreciate the invitation. We will be there, and we will look nice.
52:26 [Saturno (Steph)] Okay?
52:49 [DM (Aarya)] Good. Even better.
52:52 [Saturno (Steph)] Yeah.
52:54 [DM (Aarya)] Is he aggressive now? Anyway, I think if there's no further questions, I'll be on my way.
53:06 [Saturno (Steph)] You can tell Satuni's not breathing. Yeah, go ahead. Yep, we'll see you.
53:11 [DM (Aarya)] All right. So he, like, makes his way through the lot of you out the alley, and heads off on his way. Jeez.
53:23 [Irredel (Sav)] Nikola, I hope you brush your teeth.
53:25 [DM (Aarya)] Oh my gosh. He ignores you, pointedly.
53:32 [Sildir (Tris)] People wouldn't introduce themselves by stalking us. Especially if they already know what kind of people we are.
53:42 [Ember (Spurthi)] Yeah.
53:43 [Sildir (Tris)] Town is just a weird place, I guess.
53:48 [Irredel (Sav)] Honestly.
53:50 [Saturno (Steph)] So where do we go from here?
53:53 [Sildir (Tris)] Well, I guess it's whacked or settled. We'll see you tomorrow. Maybe we can go, uh...
53:58 [DM (Aarya)] Do you have a couple of leads? I think you wanted to do something about Wilhelm and his son. You're suspicious of the priests of the church.
53:58 [DM (Aarya)] Um...
54:08 [Sildir (Tris)] I was gonna say we go talk to the baron and, uh, raise him up. You know, we're supposed to just, like, kind of, like, stroke him off, basically, and then he'll like us.
54:18 [Saturno (Steph)] But wait, maybe we should, like, tidy up a bit more as well, because we do look like we were straight out of combat.
54:24 [Sildir (Tris)] Yeah, maybe we can go get our clothes now and use them for both events, or something like that.
54:27 [Saturno (Steph)] That might be, uh... Or maybe we could ask the older lady that we helped if she's got any fits. She could lend us.
54:27 [Saturno (Steph)] But there's a shop nearby. Let's go spend money.
54:48 [Sildir (Tris)] So are we going to Town Square? What'd you say?
54:54 [Saturno (Steph)] Are we going to Town Square, then? According to the map.
54:58 [Mercurio (Gui)] The stockyard, I think. Is where he said we could get clothes.
55:04 [DM (Aarya)] Yeah, he pointed that out as, like, where there are, like, shops and stuff.
55:08 [Ember (Spurthi)] Oh, okay.
55:12 [DM (Aarya)] Okay, so you're heading over there. Let me see. I don't know if I have a map for that, but let me check.
55:21 [Mercurio (Gui)] Oh my god, Chiturno. We're going to a buguero.
55:24 [Saturno (Steph)] Oh my god, I love a buguero. I hope they have lizards.
55:34 [DM (Aarya)] Um, this is a general store, but eh, we'll use this. We'll use this. Okay, let me bring y'all into the scene.
55:34 [DM (Aarya)] So you guys make your way over to the stockyards, and you find yourselves in... You, like, ask around, and you are directed to a sort of general store. And I'll bring y'all into the scene.
55:34 [DM (Aarya)] Let me get some... All right. Let's see if we can get some music for the scene.
55:34 [DM (Aarya)] I got you.
56:28 [Mercurio (Gui)] I feel like I've seen this guy before.
56:33 [DM (Aarya)] Totally not, like, a generic comment or token that I have, but yeah. Here you go, Ari.
56:39 [Sildir (Tris)] I'm sure we saw this guy at the tavern.
56:43 [DM (Aarya)] I got you.
56:44 [Sildir (Tris)] It's Ricky.
56:44 [DM (Aarya)] Oh my gosh. Ricky. Can I catch you?
56:44 [DM (Aarya)] This is so good. All right, so yeah, you guys find yourselves, like, strolling on into this general store, and you see an old man behind the counter. He looks up at you, and he says, Oh, welcome in.
56:44 [DM (Aarya)] Hey.
57:10 [Saturno (Steph)] Hi. Hi. Hey.
57:10 [Saturno (Steph)] Nice case you have.
57:14 [DM (Aarya)] How can I help you? Looking for something specific?
57:19 [Sildir (Tris)] We need to look esteemed and fancy.
57:23 [Saturno (Steph)] Yes, we need better attire.
57:25 [DM (Aarya)] Ah, you need formal clothes, then.
57:29 [Saturno (Steph)] Yes, we're infirmary overdue, I'd say.
57:34 [DM (Aarya)] Well, I know Taylor, but I do have a simple collection of plain dress shirts and such. And he'll lead you over to the corner of the store, where he has, like, a few, like, basically just, like, small racks of, like, really plain looking, like, linen shirts and such.
57:56 [Saturno (Steph)] Thank you.
57:58 [DM (Aarya)] It's a modest selection, but I hope it'll suit your purposes.
58:07 [Mercurio (Gui)] Hmm. Hmm.
58:10 [DM (Aarya)] What do we think, everyone?
58:10 [Mercurio (Gui)] There's nothing better around town?
58:14 [DM (Aarya)] Ah, yes, well, we did have a Taylor once, but she's, um, well, no one's seen her recently.
58:23 [Saturno (Steph)] I see. I'm sorry to hear that.
58:26 [Mercurio (Gui)] Another disappearance.
58:29 [Irredel (Sav)] When did that one happen?
58:31 [DM (Aarya)] Oh, it's been a couple weeks, I think.
58:36 [Irredel (Sav)] Oh my.
58:37 [Sildir (Tris)] She's not one of those rehab hostilities, is she?
58:41 [DM (Aarya)] Um, well, I, uh, I'd best not talk about it.
58:52 [Mercurio (Gui)] What's that?
58:53 [DM (Aarya)] It's, I wouldn't, um, it would be unwise to poke too much around these disappearances. But you didn't hear this from me.
59:11 [Mercurio (Gui)] Say, did this Taylor have any, any enemies that might want to do this? Or did they speak out against anybody in particular? I mean, you don't have to be that specific, but.
59:26 [DM (Aarya)] Um, I'll say roll persuasion, see if we can get this out of him. Okay, 20 persuasion check. All right, yeah.
59:26 [DM (Aarya)] So, so he's gonna, like, uh, kind of, like, pull at his, like, tug at his collar a little bit. You can see that he's kind of, like, sweating. And he'll, like, look nervously off to the side and he'll say, Well, I may or may not have heard that some folks around town, including poor Alexandra, may have been voicing displeasure with, uh, certain leadership in town.
01:00:12 [Sildir (Tris)] I think, uh, I think you said it all. We won't make you say more than that. But you catch his drift, Mercurio.
01:00:12 [Sildir (Tris)] I think we, uh, can put two and two together. Thank you for your bravery, sir.
01:00:25 [Sylalys (Cat)] Ugh, is everyone in this town a coward?
01:00:32 [DM (Aarya)] You have no idea, son.
01:00:34 [Sildir (Tris)] They've been beaten down a little bit.
01:00:39 [DM (Aarya)] Now, I should hope for, for my efforts, you might, uh, conduct some business here, support the locals.
01:00:48 [Irredel (Sav)] Of course, um, in addition to these shirts, do you, do you have any, any shift dresses or, uh, shirt over, overlays or anything like that?
01:00:59 [DM (Aarya)] Ah, yes, of course. And he'll, he'll lead you over, like, across the room to a separate set of racks, with some very simple, like, um, woven shift dresses and such. You see a couple of petticoats, some shifts, and nothing particularly fancy.
01:00:59 [DM (Aarya)] Pretty plain looking clothes.
01:01:21 [Irredel (Sav)] Is there anything in, like, a nice dove gray color?
01:01:24 [DM (Aarya)] Um, they're all, like, none of these are, seem to be, like, dyed or anything. They're all, like, plain, like, um, whites and linens and such.
01:01:33 [Irredel (Sav)] Okay, I can work with that.
01:01:37 [DM (Aarya)] Yeah, you get the impression that if you wanted anything with, like, colors or, like, dyed fabrics and such, you would have needed to see the tailor. Um, but she is not available.
01:01:52 [Ember (Spurthi)] Damn.
01:01:54 [Sildir (Tris)] Say, uh, do you have a fitting room?
01:01:59 [DM (Aarya)] Um, uh, certainly. And he, like, kind of, like, hastily pulls aside, like, um, like, a divider and sets it up in the corner of a, of the shop.
01:02:11 [Sildir (Tris)] And Mercuro's gonna, like, scoop up a bunch of clothes into his arms, so just, like, go over there.
01:02:17 [Saturno (Steph)] I whisper, don't mind him. He's just really picky.
01:02:20 [DM (Aarya)] I, I can tell. And, and, say, did he, uh, did he get into a fight or something? What's, uh, what's going on with him?
01:02:29 [Saturno (Steph)] Something like that. Fucking, sorry, I didn't mean to curse. He fell off a tree.
01:02:36 [DM (Aarya)] Fell off a tree.
01:02:37 [Saturno (Steph)] Yeah, and there were rocks at the bottom.
01:02:39 [Mercurio (Gui)] A very spiky tree.
01:02:41 [DM (Aarya)] Yes, must have been some sharp spikes on that tree. Um, say, you, you, you folks wouldn't happen to be bringing any trouble to my chef, would you?
01:02:52 [Saturno (Steph)] You know, absolutely not. We're just trying to get new clothing.
01:02:56 [DM (Aarya)] Of course. Well, uh.
01:02:58 [Mercurio (Gui)] Am I the only one who's fucked up?
01:03:03 [DM (Aarya)] Uh, Sildur's also kind of, like, scraped up, but he doesn't have any, like, as obvious wounds as Mercurio does.
01:03:10 [Sildir (Tris)] All right, we're gonna need to take a short rest or something, guys, because I can't keep getting called out like this.
01:03:17 [Irredel (Sav)] And, um, actually, as I'm sure you can tell, we are relatively new to town, and we're definitely looking to fit in. So if you have any other advice on how we can avoid trouble going forward, uh, we would be most appreciative. Um, and I'm actually going to walk up to the counter with, like, a little, like, dress or something, and be like, I would like to purchase this one, I believe.
01:03:49 [DM (Aarya)] Very good. Anything else for, for the lot of you?
01:03:53 [Irredel (Sav)] I figure Mercurio will be taking a while, but I might as well go ahead and get my purchase complete.
01:03:59 [DM (Aarya)] Very good. But that will be, um, one gold piece for the dress.
01:04:10 [Saturno (Steph)] Alrighty. One gold piece. Mercurio, callate la boca.
01:04:14 [Sildir (Tris)] Like, these aren't, these aren't even nice, nice materials.
01:04:20 [DM (Aarya)] And he says to Iridel, as for fitting in, I would suggest that you keep your, um, your weapons and arms, uh, discreet, and try not to stir any fights or, and most importantly, don't openly criticize the Baron or that, or Izzik.
01:04:46 [Irredel (Sav)] Are there any characters that we should avoid in town? Any personalities which, uh, would, say, lead us down a bad path? If you see— And I hand them the, uh, the gold piece.
01:05:00 [DM (Aarya)] If you see Izzik patrolling about the town, turn and walk the other way. You don't want to, to mess with that man.
01:05:12 [Irredel (Sav)] I see. What is his, his role exactly, in terms of the, the government structure? Um, I'm quite a rule follower, so I'm trying to figure out how things run around here.
01:05:24 [DM (Aarya)] He is the captain of the town guard and the Baron's right-hand man. All matters of, uh, enforcement around these parts are handled by him directly.
01:05:38 [Irredel (Sav)] And what types of rules are enforced, other than, of course, not criticizing the Baron?
01:05:45 [DM (Aarya)] Well, he calls it malicious unhappiness, the most serious crime in Vallaki. You must always be cheerful while you are here.
01:05:59 [Irredel (Sav)] Hmm, I see.
01:06:05 [Sildir (Tris)] Well, that just puts a big old smile on my face.
01:06:08 [DM (Aarya)] Yeah, you get it. Ha ha.
01:06:13 [Saturno (Steph)] And if we're not, if we're not all smiley and cheerful?
01:06:17 [DM (Aarya)] Well, then you'll find yourselves in the stocks at best, and whisked away to the Baron's manor at worst.
01:06:28 [Saturno (Steph)] I'm terrified. She said sarcastically. I guess I'll take one of these white pencils.
01:06:40 [DM (Aarya)] Very well. One more gold piece, please.
01:06:47 [Saturno (Steph)] Like, do I just access my inventory and stuff for that?
01:06:50 [DM (Aarya)] Um, I'll do, yeah, just like, if you go to your inventory, you can just, like, um, minus your gold pieces by one. You should be able to click on it and, like, edit it.
01:07:00 [Saturno (Steph)] Yeah, okay. All right, here you go, sir. Thank you.
01:07:05 [DM (Aarya)] Thank you, miss.
01:07:10 [Sildir (Tris)] I'll come out of the dressing room with, like, three outfits. I got some backups, just in case.
01:07:18 [Mercurio (Gui)] Here, these. How much for these?
01:07:22 [DM (Aarya)] Well, that'll run you three gold pieces in total, sir.
01:07:27 [Sildir (Tris)] Hmm, I think I saw, there was a sign back there. It said something, buy two get one. No.
01:07:27 [Sildir (Tris)] Are you not honoring that deal?
01:07:34 [DM (Aarya)] No, there's no sign. I don't know where you're getting that from.
01:07:38 [Sildir (Tris)] Come on, look at these, these lowly cloths. I mean, these materials, this isn't even, like, 100% linen.
01:07:46 [DM (Aarya)] Listen, times are tough, kids. This is, those are the prices.
01:07:51 [Sildir (Tris)] Wow, so you're gonna price gouge us because the tailor's gone missing. I had to make a living. Quite suspicious, honestly.
01:07:51 [Sildir (Tris)] I think you have the most to gain from the tailor going and missing. Careful, boy. Drew, you're killing me.
01:07:51 [Sildir (Tris)] Which one do you want? No, no, it's fine.
01:08:12 [Saturno (Steph)] I'll get one of these, so I could wear them.
01:08:15 [Mercurio (Gui)] I'll give him three gold pieces and I'll say, but we'll see how much of a recurring customer you've made of me.
01:08:23 [DM (Aarya)] Well, you might find it difficult to find anyone else selling these wares.
01:08:34 [Mercurio (Gui)] We'll see.
01:08:40 [Sildir (Tris)] Maybe Mercurio will open up his own shop to compete with you.
01:08:46 [Mercurio (Gui)] Yes, maybe we'll have to buy from the Vistani. Maybe they can get their hands on some better, you know, clothes from the outside.
01:08:54 [DM (Aarya)] The Vistani? Oh, no, you don't want to go to them. They're bad luck.
01:08:58 [Mercurio (Gui)] Oh.
01:09:03 [Sildir (Tris)] Sure, buddy. I think your shop's bad luck. I lost three gold pieces in here.
01:09:11 [DM (Aarya)] Oh, yes, heaven forbid that you pay money for your goods and services.
01:09:16 [Mercurio (Gui)] Yes, yes, heaven forbid I overpay. I agree.
01:09:23 [Irredel (Sav)] Which, speaking of goods and services, and Irinel's kind of going to, like, step a little bit in between the two of them to diffuse the situation, block the line of sight. Do you have any other information about the tailor who went missing? You said it was several weeks back, but, you know, since we are in town, we are trying to make ourselves useful, and it seems like there's been a number of disappearances which are quite upsetting to the town folk.
01:09:23 [Irredel (Sav)] And we figured, you know, we're worried that there might be a connection between them. I'm sure you've also heard about the priest going missing? So sad.
01:10:09 [DM (Aarya)] Yes, I did hear about that. Listen, I'm not really comfortable talking about these things. I'll say that if you want to try to get more information out of him, you'll have to do another persuasion check, and it'll probably be a higher DC.
01:10:29 [Saturno (Steph)] Okay. Do you have a shirt and pants set in purple?
01:10:35 [DM (Aarya)] I'm very sorry, miss, but we don't have any dyed fabrics in stock currently.
01:10:41 [Saturno (Steph)] So what colors do you have? Just, like, regular?
01:10:44 [DM (Aarya)] Just plain whites and beiges.
01:10:47 [Saturno (Steph)] Okay, I'll take this set in beige, please, and I will pass in one gold.
01:10:53 [DM (Aarya)] Very good.
01:10:58 [Sildir (Tris)] Do you have any armor? No, my bad. Do you have anything that would go good with armor?
01:10:58 [Sildir (Tris)] That's what I meant to say.
01:11:03 [DM (Aarya)] Go good with armor?
01:11:05 [Sildir (Tris)] Well... Yeah, I was thinking I would wear this, polish it up a little bit and accessorize.
01:11:11 [Saturno (Steph)] That's a good idea.
01:11:12 [DM (Aarya)] What, uh... Well, you might be wanting to visit the blacksmith.
01:11:17 [Sildir (Tris)] Well, no, I mean, do you have anything nice to go with my armor? I don't need a blacksmith. Like jewelry?
01:11:22 [Saturno (Steph)] Perhaps something we should wear under our armor that would match well with the armor that we have on top. Like, I'm probably gonna put my chainmail on top of this outfit once I get it all polished up.
01:11:33 [DM (Aarya)] I mean, I don't have anything fancy aside from the simple shirts and pants and dresses I have here.
01:11:40 [Sildir (Tris)] You don't have a little... I don't know, maybe a nice kerchief or something I could wear?
01:11:51 [Ember (Spurthi)] Hmm.
01:11:53 [Sildir (Tris)] A head accessory.
01:11:54 [DM (Aarya)] Let me see.
01:11:55 [Sildir (Tris)] A nice bracelet, perhaps. He's got a, like...
01:11:58 [DM (Aarya)] You'll see him, like, duck behind the counter and rummage inside some drawers he has there, and he pulls out a box of pretty old-looking handkerchiefs and such. They all have pretty garish-looking patterns on them, like some really mismatched polka dots and stripes and such. I don't know if you'd be interested in that.
01:11:58 [DM (Aarya)] But maybe this is what you're looking for?
01:12:26 [Sildir (Tris)] Um, you know... Not quite. Not quite.
01:12:26 [Sildir (Tris)] You really don't have anything? Maybe something I could just wrap around my waist?
01:12:40 [DM (Aarya)] You could just throw on a loose shirt over it. I mean, I don't see what the big deal is.
01:12:45 [Sildir (Tris)] Well, then it would cover the armor.
01:12:48 [DM (Aarya)] Hmm. Can't have that, I guess. No.
01:12:48 [DM (Aarya)] Listen, son.
01:12:55 [Sildir (Tris)] This is artisan-made. From the best in my town.
01:12:59 [DM (Aarya)] As long as you have a freshly-pressed shirt underneath that armor, I'm sure you'll look fine. And, uh, best polish it out, too.
01:13:08 [Sildir (Tris)] Can you polish it?
01:13:09 [DM (Aarya)] No.
01:13:12 [Sildir (Tris)] Well, then I'll just press my shirt. I guess.
01:13:19 [DM (Aarya)] All right. I don't know what you need me for that.
01:13:23 [Sildir (Tris)] I don't know. I thought maybe you could sell me something, but... I can sell you a shirt!
01:13:23 [Sildir (Tris)] Pretty disappointing. Well, you have to get creative sometimes, you know? Just give me an offering, but you didn't.
01:13:23 [Sildir (Tris)] Just as a businessman, I'm a little disappointed, but that's fine.
01:13:39 [DM (Aarya)] Well, I'll take your advice into consideration. And he kind of just, like, shakes his head at you. Ugh.
01:13:39 [DM (Aarya)] Foreigners. You have an address with pockets? I'm afraid not, miss.
01:14:01 [Saturno (Steph)] Tragic. I wanted to hide some of my daggers in there, but oh well.
01:14:08 [DM (Aarya)] Oh well.
01:14:14 [Irredel (Sav)] Well, we won't trespass here any longer. Looks like we've gotten every possible thing you could offer. Thank you for your time.
01:14:24 [DM (Aarya)] Thank you for your gold.
01:14:30 [Irredel (Sav)] And, uh, if you hear any other information that you are comfortable sharing, um, we're happy to conduct further transactions. Again, our goal here is to fit in.
01:14:43 [DM (Aarya)] Yes, well, if you wish to fit in, you best not be asking too many questions.
01:14:53 [Irredel (Sav)] All right, well, never mind then.
01:14:57 [DM (Aarya)] You seem like... You seem like a nice lady, so I'll give you a piece of advice. If you don't wish to be snatched up yourself, I suggest you keep your heads low and don't ask too much.
01:15:13 [Irredel (Sav)] Wait, understood. We don't wish to be snatched up. All right, and with that, I assume we...
01:15:13 [Irredel (Sav)] Oh, I was gonna say, at least I'm gonna kind of, like, nod and turn to walk out the door. Okay. Guy was asking something?
01:15:34 [Mercurio (Gui)] Have we maybe completed an hour of non-strenuous activity?
01:15:40 [DM (Aarya)] Um, yeah, I'll say so, sure.
01:15:43 [Mercurio (Gui)] All right, so, short rest?
01:15:45 [DM (Aarya)] Yeah, you guys can short rest. Um, and also, and I'll say in that time, um, Mercury, you can, like, change out of your shirts and, like, put on something that's, like... I assume you're, like, changing into one of your fits that you brought.
01:16:08 [Mercurio (Gui)] Yeah, I'll change into one of the ones that I bought so that I'm wearing, like, a nice... A nice little, you know, dress shirt and pants.
01:16:18 [DM (Aarya)] Yeah, so is anyone else changing into their new fits?
01:16:25 [Saturno (Steph)] I'll save mine until the event starts. Okay. I'm scared I'll spill, like, ketchup on it or something.
01:16:30 [Mercurio (Gui)] Yeah. That's why I bought backups. Nice.
01:16:33 [Sildir (Tris)] I need to look dapper now. All right, um... I'm getting roasted by random hobos in alleyways, which I won't do.
01:16:33 [Sildir (Tris)] Yeah, if we, I mean, I would say, can we make some time to, like, let me clean up my armor a little bit?
01:16:49 [DM (Aarya)] Yeah, you can, you can, like, I'll say, like, in the time that you guys are spending in this shop, you can take some time to, like, relax about, kind of, like, take a seat at the tables he has around and, like, polish up and such.
01:17:05 [Sildir (Tris)] Cool. Yeah, I have my smith's tools, too. So if we're taking that much time, I can really clean it up.
01:17:15 [DM (Aarya)] Uh, if he's, if he sees, if the guy sees you pulling out, like, smith's tools and, like, working on your armor, he might be a little upset, but you might have to go somewhere else for that.
01:17:24 [Sildir (Tris)] Maybe, can I pay him? Here, I'll pay you a gold. Okay.
01:17:24 [Sildir (Tris)] This guy, I need more of our money. Let's just go back to the table.
01:17:32 [DM (Aarya)] I mean, you could probably, you feel like you could probably bribe him if you want to do that, but yeah. Or you can go back to the table.
01:17:37 [Irredel (Sav)] Enjoy our rooms. We're already renting.
01:17:41 [DM (Aarya)] All right. So you guys are heading back to the inn?
01:17:45 [Sildir (Tris)] Yeah.
01:17:45 [DM (Aarya)] All right. Um, blue water inn. Activate.
01:17:45 [DM (Aarya)] Okay. All right, so you guys find yourselves back in your rooms at the inn, like, cleaning up and, like, getting yourselves ready to meet the baron, it sounds like?
01:18:12 [Sildir (Tris)] Yeah. Yeah, gonna go knock on the baron's door. Okay.
01:18:16 [Irredel (Sav)] I am concerned about this.
01:18:21 [Sildir (Tris)] Oh, Erdel, it'll be okay. I've worked with people like this before. Remember that one particularly nasty client we had?
01:18:21 [Sildir (Tris)] And, you know, we sealed the deal and then we never talked to him again. Hopefully we can do the same here.
01:18:41 [Irredel (Sav)] I just don't like having to flatter the ego of someone who's so patently a terrible ruler who is completely ignoring the rule of law for his own whims. Malicious unhappiness? That's the most ridiculous law I've ever heard of.
01:18:56 [Ember (Spurthi)] Yeah.
01:18:58 [Sildir (Tris)] I have to agree. I also have experience killing my old business partners, so you can do that too.
01:19:06 [Irredel (Sav)] We don't need to provoke complete civil unrest, but I don't know. I just think this person sounds so arbitrary and capricious and egotistical that I feel like any meeting we have is going to go poorly.
01:19:25 [Sildir (Tris)] Ah, Erdel, that's why I keep you around. You can use all the words that I can't.
01:19:31 [Irredel (Sav)] Yes, that's the reason you keep me around.
01:19:34 [Sildir (Tris)] Among many other things. Remind me about the rays when we get back. Of course.
01:19:34 [Sildir (Tris)] Add a bonus onto that.
01:19:42 [Irredel (Sav)] And don't forget, I can't just say the words. I can also spell them.
01:19:46 [Mercurio (Gui)] That's right. How do you spell that word?
01:19:53 [Ember (Spurthi)] Which one?
01:19:55 [Sildir (Tris)] Please don't make me say it. Capricious, perhaps? Capricious, yes.
01:20:04 [Ember (Spurthi)] B-A-P-R-I-C-I-O-U-S The human alphabet is so strange.
01:20:17 [Sildir (Tris)] Are we gonna have like a little short rest moment?
01:20:20 [DM (Aarya)] Yeah, you can do that. Sure.
01:20:24 [Sildir (Tris)] Cool. So I think while we're doing that, as long as we're okay, just to formally announce it, I'll like really do a nice detail on my armor and make sure it's spick and span, sparkling, shining, the engraving is showing nicely, and yadda yadda.
01:20:42 [Saturno (Steph)] All right. I'd like to also clean mine up, if possible.
01:20:45 [DM (Aarya)] Sounds good.
01:20:46 [Saturno (Steph)] I don't think mine's was too beat up, but yeah.
01:20:50 [DM (Aarya)] I think in that last fight, Celerio took more of a beating than you did.
01:20:53 [Saturno (Steph)] Yeah, just kind of like, you know, brush off any, you know, anything.
01:20:58 [DM (Aarya)] Yeah, so I guess I'll take an hour or so and like clean up while you're at the end.
01:21:01 [Saturno (Steph)] Wash my face a little.
01:21:03 [DM (Aarya)] By the time you guys are like finishing up and everything, it's getting to be later in the afternoon for you guys.
01:21:12 [Mercurio (Gui)] All right, time to go talk to this guy, I guess.
01:21:21 [Sildir (Tris)] Make sure you all roll your short rests.
01:21:24 [Irredel (Sav)] Yes. And everyone thinks they'll be able to keep a cool head even if the, whatever that terrible man's name is, Isik, is there?
01:21:38 [Saturno (Steph)] Yes, I promise I will grit my teeth and not do anything. I'll try my best, too.
01:21:49 [Mercurio (Gui)] We need to lie so that, you know, we can get, you know, in good with him and then once we're on the inside, we can free everybody.
01:21:58 [Sildir (Tris)] Do you guys want to move forward with the whole plan of saying what a good job we did with that grimoire? Yeah, I think so.
01:22:09 [Saturno (Steph)] I think, I think, yeah, I'm fine with that. How does everyone else feel about that?
01:22:17 [Mercurio (Gui)] I feel pretty good.
01:22:20 [Irredel (Sav)] I can't see any other reason for our meeting if we didn't have something like that to show. I mean, what else would we be saying to this guy?
01:22:32 [Sildir (Tris)] Yeah, we'll do that. We'll try to flatter him a little bit and maybe even try to get some sort of in with him if the chance arises.
01:22:43 [Irredel (Sav)] Well, oh, okay, we are coming up on the festival thing. We could frame it as we are new to town and are very excited about our first festival and because of that, we have, you know, pro bono, made sure that someone else is no longer committing malicious unhappiness and we wanted to come and introduce ourselves and share our joy at being in such a wonderful town and how excited we are to go through the motions and support the Baron's mission.
01:23:23 [Sildir (Tris)] I think that's a great starting point for the conversation.
01:23:27 [Ember (Spurthi)] That way we aren't going in and just pitching, you know, a business idea right off the bat.
01:23:34 [Mercurio (Gui)] Yeah, and the idea needs to be his.
01:23:37 [Ember (Spurthi)] I think that's going to be pretty key. Exactly. Well, are we all ready then?
01:23:56 [Sildir (Tris)] I think so.
01:23:58 [DM (Aarya)] All right. All right, so you guys are all cleaned up. Curio is dressed up in his nice clothes.
01:23:58 [DM (Aarya)] Sildur has freshly polished his armor. Everyone else is cleaned up as well. And you guys are on your way to meet the Baron at his house.
01:24:16 [Irredel (Sav)] Oh, I would also like to say that if anyone wanted their hair braided, that Iridel can pop up and braid your hair.
01:24:24 [Saturno (Steph)] Iridel, can you braid my hair?
01:24:25 [Irredel (Sav)] Yes, absolutely. Mine's new. So you guys want Dutch or French braids?
01:24:25 [Irredel (Sav)] One, two, or multiple? Updo or like lower on the head?
01:24:38 [Saturno (Steph)] Short hair, so I'll do, I guess, a short one, right?
01:24:42 [Irredel (Sav)] Yeah, like maybe like kind of like one braid on each side.
01:24:47 [Saturno (Steph)] Yeah, let's do that.
01:24:48 [Irredel (Sav)] Okay, perfect.
01:24:51 [Saturno (Steph)] My hair is pretty long, so I'll do one French braid.
01:24:55 [Irredel (Sav)] Okay, perfect. I got you. I have a lot of younger siblings.
01:24:55 [Irredel (Sav)] I'm really good at braiding hair.
01:25:02 [Saturno (Steph)] I actually can't braid my own hair. Like Iridel, like...
01:25:08 [DM (Aarya)] Me neither.
01:25:09 [Saturno (Steph)] I could only... I wanted like a single one, like I can't do it. I could do two on each side, that's fine.
01:25:09 [Saturno (Steph)] But like the one I can't do on my own.
01:25:20 [Irredel (Sav)] It's tough. I can't, but I have like a really messed up cowlick. So it like means I have to be very precise or else it just looks weird.
01:25:20 [Irredel (Sav)] Yeah.
01:25:28 [Saturno (Steph)] Yeah.
01:25:34 [DM (Aarya)] Alrighty. All right, so to the manor we go. All dolled up.
01:25:34 [DM (Aarya)] Okay, let me know when y'all are all in the scene.
01:25:48 [Saturno (Steph)] I'm in. I'm in.
01:25:52 [Sildir (Tris)] Let me just prepare myself for some of this... Me too. ...persuasion we're gonna have to do. Catching a slapshot by the seashore. And I'm like gonna start warming up. And I'm gonna cast Enhance Ability.
01:26:13 [DM (Aarya)] Oh, okay, all right.
01:26:19 [Irredel (Sav)] Okay, and then I'm gonna, let's see, who else is gonna be frontmanning?
01:26:22 [DM (Aarya)] Which ability are you choosing for Enhance Ability? Charisma. Okay.
01:26:22 [DM (Aarya)] And what was Iridel saying?
01:26:33 [Irredel (Sav)] Uh, I was saying that who's gonna be like frontmanning?
01:26:38 [Sildir (Tris)] I will not be able to hold back from yapping. My nature.
01:26:42 [Saturno (Steph)] I'm gonna do my best and not talk.
01:26:44 [Sildir (Tris)] But I feel like they will talk to me.
01:26:47 [Mercurio (Gui)] Saturno, no, please. Keep your lips pursed as much as possible.
01:26:54 [Saturno (Steph)] Exactly, exactly.
01:26:57 [Irredel (Sav)] I'm gonna grab like a little scrap of fabric and like buff out like one extra little spot on Sildir's armor and cast Guidance.
01:27:07 [DM (Aarya)] Okay, nice.
01:27:09 [Sildir (Tris)] Sildir, just, I mean, not Saturno, just remember that, you know, all of these, you know, insults that we're bearing are for the good of the other people, right?
01:27:21 [Saturno (Steph)] You're right, you're right.
01:27:22 [Sildir (Tris)] Like this is what's gonna help them the most. Keep everything for the grandma, Saturno, remember. Exactly, everything for the grandma.
01:27:22 [Sildir (Tris)] Keep that grandma in the front of your mind.
01:27:33 [Saturno (Steph)] Saturno picks up a rock and just puts it in her pocket and like stims with it. Okay, I'm ready.
01:27:46 [DM (Aarya)] All right. All right, so you guys stroll on up to the Baron's Manor. Let me see.
01:27:46 [DM (Aarya)] I think I have a description of this. Let me double check. Okay, so you see this mansion has walls of plastered stone that display many scars where plaster has fallen away from age and neglect.
01:27:46 [DM (Aarya)] Drapes cover every window including a large arched opening above the mansion's double entrance doors. So yeah, it seems to be a pretty old looking manor but must have been at once, at some points, like a pretty grand home but now has since fallen into a bit of disrepair. Yeah.
01:28:36 [Mercurio (Gui)] We knock on the door.
01:28:39 [DM (Aarya)] All right. So you knock and after a few moments you hear some footsteps coming from behind and then the door opens and you are greeted by an older looking maid woman and she looks to you all and she says, yes, can I help you?
01:29:00 [Mercurio (Gui)] Hello, we're here to speak with the Baron.
01:29:03 [DM (Aarya)] The Baron? I don't think he was expecting any guests today.
01:29:08 [Mercurio (Gui)] Ah yes, it's a bit of a surprise visit but we bring great news. All will be well.
01:29:14 [DM (Aarya)] Hmm. Um, your names?
01:29:19 [Sildir (Tris)] Of course. I am Mercurio and this is Sildir. He should recognize those names.
01:29:27 [DM (Aarya)] Very good. I will let the Baron know. Please wait here a moment.
01:29:27 [DM (Aarya)] She shuts the door. She wanders back into the manor. You find yourselves waiting for a few moments and let me check if I have all the tokens I need.
01:29:47 [Sildir (Tris)] All right. Remember, we just gotta really do some stroking here.
01:29:58 [DM (Aarya)] All right, okay. She comes back, opens the door and she says, very good. It seems the Baron has been looking forward to meeting you, Mercurio and Sildir.
01:29:58 [DM (Aarya)] Please follow me. I will lead you to the den.
01:30:15 [Sildir (Tris)] Well, that's just great. Thank you for your service. We'll be right behind you.
01:30:20 [DM (Aarya)] And she leads you down this corridor and into this room here, which appears to be a den. Where you find...
01:30:31 [Saturno (Steph)] Are we coming too? So sorry.
01:30:32 [DM (Aarya)] Yeah, yeah, yeah. She is beckoning all of you to join. Okay, so in here you find a pretty cozy looking den area.
01:30:32 [DM (Aarya)] You see padded chairs and couches line the walls of this cozy carpeted den. The room reeks of pipe smoke and mounted on the east wall is the head of an angry looking brown bear. You also see animal pelts and rugs laid about.
01:30:32 [DM (Aarya)] And seated in one chair in the corner of the room is the Baron himself, dressed in bright red, fine looking robes, wearing his shiny polished breastplate. And he's flanked on either side by two pretty angry looking mastiffs. And he looks to you all and he says, Ah, yes, Sildir, Mercurio, I was wondering when you would come by.
01:31:27 [Sildir (Tris)] Why, hello there, Baron. I must say your taste in your home complements your taste in your armor. It's quite beautiful.
01:31:36 [DM (Aarya)] Oh, yes, thank you, my boy. You do know how to flatter a man. Oh, it's not flattery.
01:31:42 [Sildir (Tris)] I thought I was going to get classier.
01:31:46 [DM (Aarya)] Yes, well, to what do I owe the pleasure of this visit? I was hoping to entrust you all with a very important task, but I'm sure you have some ideas of your own.
01:31:57 [Sildir (Tris)] Well, we have what you could call joyous news, if you will, suitable for your town, of course. Yes, do share. Yes, well, if you remember when we met, we met in relation to a certain older woman who was showing a little too much concern in a town as safe as Vallaki.
01:32:23 [DM (Aarya)] Yes, her unhappiness was polluting the air of cheer we have in this town. You have news then about her? Surely, I hope you've shown her the way?
01:32:39 [Sildir (Tris)] Why, absolutely. If you were to visit her now, you wouldn't be able to take one step through her door without hearing the words, all will be well. She is quite reformed.
01:32:50 [DM (Aarya)] Indeed, all will be well. Very good. This is joyous news indeed.
01:32:58 [Sildir (Tris)] Yes, yes, we are overjoyed as well, and we're just so happy to offer you our services in exchange for all that you've already done. We would be remiss not to offer our aid.
01:33:15 [DM (Aarya)] That is excellent news. Very good. I have a very important task that I can only entrust to capable individuals such as yourselves.
01:33:25 [Sildir (Tris)] Oh, well, we're so excited to hear it. Please share with us.
01:33:32 [DM (Aarya)] Well, let's continue.
01:33:34 [Irredel (Sav)] I would say this is the best news we've heard all day, but frankly, this whole day has been phenomenal.
01:33:42 [DM (Aarya)] Upon hearing, as soon as you speak up and step forward a little bit, you notice, Iridel, that the two Mastiffs on either side of the Baron start growling and like kind of like pawing in your direction. And the Baron looks to them and says, now, now, heal, boys. They're friendly.
01:33:42 [DM (Aarya)] I'm sorry, I'm not sure what's come over them.
01:34:07 [Sildir (Tris)] Might I say, though, having two Mastiffs at your side at all times, that is such a genius, practical, and stylish choice. They're beautiful creatures.
01:34:17 [DM (Aarya)] Yes, well, you can never be too careful. I take my personal safety very seriously in this town. There are those who would see me deposed of, as it were.
01:34:17 [DM (Aarya)] And in fact, that is precisely why I was hoping to meet with you all today. I see. Go on.
01:34:17 [DM (Aarya)] Very well. And he'll say to you all, I know that you lot have not been in town for very long, but perhaps you have heard of the dissidents of that rat snake, Fiona Wachter.
01:34:56 [Sildir (Tris)] I have heard some distasteful comments about her, but nothing in particular.
01:35:04 [DM (Aarya)] Yes, she dares to speak openly against my cheerful rule in this town and spoils the atmosphere that we've so carefully set.
01:35:15 [Mercurio (Gui)] Why would anyone do such a thing? I mean, do they love to brood and be in anger all the time? Senseless.
01:35:25 [DM (Aarya)] There is only but one explanation. She must be an agent of the devil. That's the only reason why someone would seek to depose of my cheerful atmosphere that I've established in our fair town of Vallaki.
01:35:25 [DM (Aarya)] And so I need you to do this one task. You must infiltrate her manor and find evidence of her dark deeds. She is no doubt dabbling in some illicit affairs with the devil.
01:35:25 [DM (Aarya)] I would not be surprised if she were in fact sleeping with him. Could you imagine?
01:36:02 [Sildir (Tris)] Oh, disgusting. Absolutely horrid woman.
01:36:07 [Mercurio (Gui)] Yes, we will find this proof for you.
01:36:10 [DM (Aarya)] It is unfortunate that I cannot act directly against her. The Wachters have long since been a beloved family in Vallaki. However, the current head, Fiona, has proven to be quite the disappointment.
01:36:10 [DM (Aarya)] Laying with the devil, as it were. But I cannot act against her without good reason. I must have the people see evidence of her misdeeds before I run her out of town.
01:36:40 [Sildir (Tris)] So you want us to collect some dirt?
01:36:43 [DM (Aarya)] Not dirt, just mere evidence to show that she is indeed the snake that I know her to be.
01:36:51 [Sildir (Tris)] Certainly. Truth, not dirt. Of course.
01:36:55 [Irredel (Sav)] It sounds like this task may provide difficulty. I'm thinking if she's such a snake, such as to be laying with the devil, surely she would know to at least keep that hidden. May we have leave to perhaps seriously infiltrate her?
01:36:55 [Irredel (Sav)] Go undercover, as it will. Visit her multiple times. I mean, maybe given that she's so dumb as to be opposing your regime, that she'll have her evidence out and open.
01:36:55 [Irredel (Sav)] But I fear we'll be going up against someone with great amounts of subterfuge and deceit.
01:37:34 [DM (Aarya)] Yes, yes, of course. I will allow you to use your better judgment and employ whatever means you feel are necessary. And I will instruct Isaac to turn a blind eye, as it were, so you will not face any impotence from the town guards.
01:37:53 [Irredel (Sav)] Excellent. That way we can gather the worst evidence possible to show who she truly is.
01:38:01 [DM (Aarya)] Yes, yes.
01:38:01 [Irredel (Sav)] By truly damning information.
01:38:04 [DM (Aarya)] So you see the Baron clasp his hands together and just rub his hands maliciously. And he says, yes, yes, very good. I'm pleased to see that you are on board with this task.
01:38:04 [DM (Aarya)] It is of the utmost importance.
01:38:21 [Sildir (Tris)] Well, I mean, if you need it, how could we ever turn you down? I mean, for all you've done, this is the safest I've felt since I've arrived to these lands being in Vallaki.
01:38:34 [DM (Aarya)] I am pleased to hear it, my boy. Indeed, you'll find no greater respite from the darkness of Barovia than our fair town of Vallaki.
01:38:44 [Sildir (Tris)] Yes, and we'll have to, you know, we would do anything to repay you. That your great leadership has brought us safety and happiness.
01:38:55 [DM (Aarya)] Go ahead and roll, I want to say, like, performance?
01:39:01 [Sildir (Tris)] Okay. Re-up Guidance. Yeah, so what is Guidance going to give me?
01:39:01 [Sildir (Tris)] A plus four?
01:39:08 [Mercurio (Gui)] Or a plus d4? Yeah.
01:39:12 [Sildir (Tris)] All right, and then I need a d4 on top of that. So it's a pretty good roll.
01:39:19 [DM (Aarya)] Okay, so that's a 26 performance. So with that roll, the Baron will look to you and you'll see his, like, he's already been grinning, like, being clearly quite pleased. And you'll see, like, his grin widens even further, like, threatening to split his face.
01:39:19 [DM (Aarya)] And he looks to you, ah, Sildur, you beautiful man. I am so glad that you have agreed to take on this task. I can rest easy knowing that someone as capable as you is on the case.
01:39:48 [Sildir (Tris)] Well, sure, my good man. I mean, I've, uh, you know, we're both hardworking men. We understand each other.
01:39:48 [Sildir (Tris)] It takes a lot of effort to build something as beautiful as Vallaki and we'll not see it be threatened.
01:40:01 [DM (Aarya)] It is nice to see someone appreciating my efforts.
01:40:06 [Sildir (Tris)] Yes, yes.
01:40:14 [DM (Aarya)] Oh my god, that's pretty good.
01:40:17 [Sildir (Tris)] Is there something in the discourse?
01:40:19 [DM (Aarya)] He posted a gif of... Is that Willem Dafoe? Yeah.
01:40:19 [DM (Aarya)] That's so good. Literally, the manic grin.
01:40:34 [Sildir (Tris)] Uh, yeah, Baron, by the way, what have you been doing with your hair? We have similar locks, but yours, they just look so well placed. Hopefully it's not too personal to ask, but...
01:40:47 [DM (Aarya)] Not at all, not at all, my boy. I use the finest hair oils to shine up my hair and make sure it is in pristine health.
01:40:58 [Sildir (Tris)] My goodness, where do you procure these? I'd love to visit the shop.
01:41:02 [DM (Aarya)] Well, I'm afraid a man must have some secrets.
01:41:06 [Sildir (Tris)] Oh gosh, I understand. I mean, yeah, with hair like that, it's practically a weapon of its own. Yeah, you must keep your secrets, but...
01:41:06 [Sildir (Tris)] If I find them, I will deploy them myself, I'll have you know.
01:41:21 [DM (Aarya)] Well, I fear not. I'm sure that you would only use such a weapon for the greatest of goods in the service of our fair town.
01:41:31 [Sildir (Tris)] Oh, of course. Perhaps to look extra classy as I'm infiltrating undercover in the Wachter House.
01:41:37 [DM (Aarya)] Yes, I'm sure someone as capable as you can infiltrate her inner circle without her being aware of it.
01:41:48 [Sildir (Tris)] Yes, it'll be no matter. But we will deploy as much caution as possible. We'll take it seriously.
01:41:57 [DM (Aarya)] Very good, very good. Now, is there any other task or any other aid I can provide you all, my most loyal agents?
01:42:08 [Sildir (Tris)] Well, listen, um, there was another service we were thinking to provide you with.
01:42:13 [DM (Aarya)] Oh?
01:42:14 [Mercurio (Gui)] Well, we, we found such, such purpose in rehabilitating that old woman and teaching her the ways of your, your marvelous town.
01:42:26 [Sildir (Tris)] All will be well. Ha ha, yes, all will be well! We, we just couldn't get enough of it, honestly.
01:42:26 [Sildir (Tris)] So we wanted to extend another hand to you and say that if you're busy with all of these, you know, hooligans who can't see the light, please pass them on to us and we will fix them for you promptly.
01:42:49 [DM (Aarya)] Hmm, well, we already have a system in place for handling the dissidents of our town. Go ahead and roll persuasion for me.
01:43:00 [Sildir (Tris)] Hey, hey, hey, my trap! Enhance ability! Go!
01:43:07 [DM (Aarya)] Holy shit, good thing too! Uh, so yeah, 24, you would have gotten that one, oh my god.
01:43:13 [Sildir (Tris)] Yeah, that would have been spooky.
01:43:14 [DM (Aarya)] Yeah, 24 persuasion check. And he says, hmm, well, as of late, there have been some rather disturbing developments in town. More and more dissidents, no doubt under the influence of that dark lady Fiona.
01:43:14 [DM (Aarya)] Very well, if you, if you believe that you can lend aid in rehabilitating these poor townsfolks, then perhaps I will trust your judgment. What do you propose, Mercurio?
01:43:54 [Sildir (Tris)] Ah, well, a man must have some of his secrets, you know. Um, but believe me, if you leave them to me in a private room, um, and I, like, slap the back of my hand really hard, all will be well! I'll whip them right into shape!
01:44:14 [DM (Aarya)] Very good, very good! Indeed, I, I believe we see eye to eye on such a matter as this. And in fact, um, roll me persuasion again.
01:44:14 [DM (Aarya)] All right, uh, 23 persuasion. Very good. Okay, in fact, I have one such particularly difficult dissident right here in the manor at this moment.
01:44:14 [DM (Aarya)] Perhaps I have yet been able to make him see sense, but perhaps you could make a breakthrough, as it were.
01:44:59 [Mercurio (Gui)] Absolutely, I can see to it right away. Very good.
01:45:03 [DM (Aarya)] Now, come with me, please, dear Mercurio. Um, and Baron will try to lead Mercurio upstairs.
01:45:14 [Sildir (Tris)] Oh, well, maybe Sildir can give me a hand as well. Yes, of course. And, uh, you see, Baron, I was thinking that while I've run a similar business back at home, uh, we may need our own facility for this, uh, so we can outfit it properly and I can see to it that we can, uh, let these people see the light that is the beauty of Your own facility, you say?
01:45:14 [Sildir (Tris)] No, why yes, if there's any vacancies in town.
01:45:46 [DM (Aarya)] Hmm, perhaps we can repurpose an old, uh, warehouse building or something of the sort.
01:45:53 [Sildir (Tris)] Yeah, I think it could serve us well. And we can directly outfit it.
01:45:59 [DM (Aarya)] I'll need, hmm, I'll need to be sure, I'll need to be certain that you are indeed dedicated to this most, uh, how do I say this? This most difficult task. Um, roaming persuasion, Sildir?
01:46:18 [Sildir (Tris)] Sure, well, yes, you see, um, we certainly are. And let me see how that goes. So that's a 13.
01:46:18 [Sildir (Tris)] Let me just look and see what I get real quick. You have the Guidance. 14, yeah, I know, uh, I'm gonna use Inspiration too.
01:46:18 [Sildir (Tris)] Come on, baby, more volume. Yeah, that's better, uh, plus the Guidance, so, yeah.
01:46:50 [DM (Aarya)] All right, nice, yeah, good use of Inspiration. 24 persuasion, ah, yes, hmm.
01:46:56 [Sildir (Tris)] I'll say, well, yes, we are, we are certainly most dedicated. And, uh, as I mentioned, I am experienced in this. Uh, you see, I've done this previously in another town as a business venture, of course.
01:46:56 [Sildir (Tris)] Uh, as long as you'll help us out, we'd be happy to do it, you know, at cost for you.
01:47:15 [DM (Aarya)] Ah, yes, Sildir, that's, that is quite reassuring to hear. I, I had no idea I had such an experienced individual in Correction at my disposal. Indeed, I can't, I can't trust you with this, it seems.
01:47:30 [Sildir (Tris)] Very well. And as a question of our dedication, we will likely call in some employees, as long as that's okay with you. We are, we will be busy working on other matters that we've already discussed.
01:47:30 [Sildir (Tris)] So we will have to delegate, but we will oversee and run the program that I previously run. And of course, Sildir and I will see to it for those, you know, personally, for those tough nuts to crack. You have a very good, good guard, bad guard routine that we pull on those people.
01:48:01 [DM (Aarya)] Ah, yes.
01:48:01 [Sildir (Tris)] I, like, punch my hand and, like, rub it.
01:48:04 [DM (Aarya)] You'll see, you'll see once more he, like, rubs his hands together, like, uh, very, like, in a very sinister fashion. He'll look to you. Yes, yes, of course, this is just what I was looking for.
01:48:04 [DM (Aarya)] How fortunate I am to have you two at my disposal. Very good, then. You two, please come with me.
01:48:04 [DM (Aarya)] And he will lead you upstairs.
01:48:25 [Sildir (Tris)] Excellent. All will be well.
01:48:27 [DM (Aarya)] Upstairs. All will be well. And as he leads the two of you upstairs...
01:48:27 [DM (Aarya)] That is insane. You have no idea what it's like, RPing this guy. Oh my god.
01:48:27 [DM (Aarya)] You're having fun. It's not like... So, as he...
01:48:27 [DM (Aarya)] The evil laughter ensues. As he leads the two of you upstairs, he's gonna... He's gonna look to the rest of the party.
01:48:27 [DM (Aarya)] He says, Well, I'm sure the lot of you can find yourselves most comfortable in this very cozy den. I trust that you all can behave yourselves without supervision?
01:49:10 [Ember (Spurthi)] Yes, absolutely.
01:49:12 [Sildir (Tris)] Fair enough. Oh, no, never mind. I won't say anything.
01:49:18 [DM (Aarya)] Iridel, please give me persuasion.
01:49:26 [Irredel (Sav)] Of course, we are affiliates of Sildir and Mercurio, some of their most trusted employees. We know how to comport ourselves when they are conducting important business.
01:49:39 [DM (Aarya)] Of course, if you are associates of Sildir and Mercurio, you must be. But regardless... Holy shit.
01:49:47 [Sildir (Tris)] You have inspiration, by the way. You have inspiration, right?
01:49:49 [Ember (Spurthi)] I think so, yeah. Yes, I do. Okay.
01:49:51 [Sildir (Tris)] Yeah. Oh my god. A nat 1 would be so bad, you know?
01:49:51 [Sildir (Tris)] All right, it's not a nat 1. We'll take it. A 9.
01:50:00 [DM (Aarya)] Well, I'm certain that you can indeed behave yourselves. However, I would be at ease if you had, perhaps, some supervision to put my mind at ease. Mercurio, Sildir, would one of you mind staying with your friends here to ensure that they don't get themselves in trouble?
01:50:20 [Sildir (Tris)] Oh, well, Baron, if it's Iridel you're worried about, I'll have you know. She is quite useful in recording and calculating. So we could even bring her with us, if you would like.
01:50:35 [DM (Aarya)] And what to do with the rest of them?
01:50:38 [Sildir (Tris)] Oh, well, they're all very well behaved. I don't think they need supervision, to be honest with you. But if you insist, I will comply.
01:50:38 [Sildir (Tris)] I see that your judgment is good based on how this town is just shining with happiness.
01:50:53 [DM (Aarya)] Give me Persuasion.
01:50:55 [Sildir (Tris)] It's okay. I'm so scared of all the rolls, honestly.
01:51:05 [DM (Aarya)] I gotta make it work for you, you know?
01:51:07 [Sildir (Tris)] Yeah. Alrighty, that's pretty good.
01:51:11 [DM (Aarya)] Okay, 19. Hmm, 19.
01:51:16 [Sildir (Tris)] Oh, and I need to add in my Guidance as well.
01:51:19 [DM (Aarya)] Go ahead, add that.
01:51:23 [Sildir (Tris)] How long does Guidance last, by the way? Just inform me. A minute.
01:51:23 [Sildir (Tris)] Is it a minute?
01:51:34 [Ember (Spurthi)] Um, yeah.
01:51:36 [Sildir (Tris)] Okay, my Guidance is definitely over.
01:51:38 [DM (Aarya)] Maybe it is just 15. Yeah, I'll say that's the last Guidance roll that you'll be able to use before you'll have to recast it. But a 21 Persuasion check is pretty good.
01:51:38 [DM (Aarya)] So the Baron will look to you and he says, Very well, Sildir. If someone as honorable as you is vouching for them, then I shall take you at your word. Very well, then, Miss Iridel.
01:51:38 [DM (Aarya)] You may join us if dear Sildir here has vouched for you. And I trust the rest of you all can behave yourselves.
01:52:07 [Irredel (Sav)] Yeah, that's excellent.
01:52:09 [DM (Aarya)] Very good, very good. All right.
01:52:11 [Irredel (Sav)] And I'm gonna pull out a notebook. And I'll say, as you may know, I'm a bookkeeper. So I can go ahead and start setting up the books and records for this new venture.
01:52:11 [Irredel (Sav)] Make sure everything is smooth from the get-go.
01:52:26 [DM (Aarya)] All right. Very good, very good. It would be most fortunate to have someone as studious and dedicated to the cause as yourself.
01:52:26 [DM (Aarya)] So with that, the Baron will lead the three of you upstairs. And the remaining three will be staying behind in the den. Wow, were you able to teleport upstairs?
01:52:52 [Sildir (Tris)] Yeah, I just clicked move upstairs.
01:52:54 [DM (Aarya)] Okay. I forgot that I had the funny maps like that. Okay, so...
01:52:59 [Sildir (Tris)] Yeah, and it works. So I'm seeing the map.
01:53:01 [DM (Aarya)] All right. So let me... We're gonna switch to that scene really quick and then come back to downstairs later.
01:53:01 [DM (Aarya)] This guy's not here right now. So we'll say... Okay.
01:53:01 [DM (Aarya)] So yeah, the Baron is gonna be over here. He leads you down this hallway on the upper floor. And you find yourselves walking down a narrow corridor in the middle of the floor.
01:53:01 [DM (Aarya)] And he brings you back to the very end of this hallway to a locked... What appears to be a locked closet. He's gonna pull out a set of keys and like fiddle with it a little bit and unlock this door.
01:53:01 [DM (Aarya)] And within, you can see a man who's very clearly like... He's like chained up against the back of the wall. Or chained up against the far wall.
01:53:01 [DM (Aarya)] He looks... He's like wearing like just like rags, basically. He's very clearly looks like he's been beaten and starved.
01:53:01 [DM (Aarya)] And he has like a sort of like manic expression on his face. And he looks to the Baron. He says, Oh, please, please, Baron.
01:53:01 [DM (Aarya)] Please, please let me go. Please, please let me return to my mother. I won't do it again.
01:53:01 [DM (Aarya)] I promise. And the Baron looks to you all and he says, This one has been rather possessed by the devilry of Lady Fiona Wachter, no doubt. He's been voicing displeasure with the rule that I've laid in town.
01:53:01 [DM (Aarya)] Clearly, he is a victim of malicious unhappiness. And yet, I find myself in a predicament. Despite all of my corrective measures that I've employed, he still seems, I suspect, to be harboring darkness in his heart.
01:53:01 [DM (Aarya)] I'm at a loss for what to do with him.
01:55:17 [Sildir (Tris)] Interesting.
01:55:18 [Mercurio (Gui)] Well, no matter. I mean, we will surely be able to correct this. It seems you've already started the process of breaking him down for us.
01:55:18 [Mercurio (Gui)] So it should be quite an easy task at this point. And he may very well serve us in some of our other goals we established earlier.
01:55:43 [DM (Aarya)] Indeed, indeed. In fact, if you can bring such a lost individual as himself back to the light, then you will have proved yourselves as worthy allies to me. Can I then trust that he will be safe and corrected in your care?
01:56:02 [Mercurio (Gui)] Of course.
01:56:03 [DM (Aarya)] Roll me persuasion. There you go. 25 persuasion check.
01:56:03 [DM (Aarya)] All right. Yes, very good. Very good, Mercurio.
01:56:03 [DM (Aarya)] I am most relieved to know that you are on the job. Very good. I will leave him in your custody.
01:56:03 [DM (Aarya)] And with that, he'll gesture for you to go in and grab him. And he places a bag over this poor man's head.
01:56:37 [Sildir (Tris)] Well, Baron, this brings the matter of the facility to great light, you see. We wouldn't want to parade him around town or have him somewhere in public, because perhaps this nasty, nasty thought or disease, you could almost call it, could spread. Did you have an idea of where we could set up our shop?
01:57:02 [DM (Aarya)] Well, it would take some time to set up an appropriate facility for you, perhaps if you return to me tomorrow night, I can... I can... I can guide you towards a facility that will be prepared, though it may be a rather simple arrangement for the time being.
01:57:22 [Sildir (Tris)] Oh, that's fine. We can... We can outfit it ourselves over time and we'll discuss with you what that takes.
01:57:30 [DM (Aarya)] Very good.
01:57:32 [Sildir (Tris)] So, I think for now, if you'd like us to begin right away, you could leave Mercurio and I here, or we can begin with him tomorrow. And it seems like you have already gotten him well started, so I see no issue with that. Very good.
01:57:49 [Irredel (Sav)] Or, alternatively, we could come back later tonight once it is dark. You see, we have lodgings at an inn in town, and we could use that as a temporary facility and give you more time to find something more permanent. I know you must be so busy with all the governance.
01:57:49 [Irredel (Sav)] It seems wrong of us to ask you to have something by tomorrow night. We have lodgings in an inn and with just one ward under our supervision, I'm sure that it'll be fine for now. It'll be later on when we are at scale that we'll need more space.
01:57:49 [Irredel (Sav)] Perhaps if you take more time to find a location, you can even choose an area of town that could be even further improved upon. Perhaps an area that was a little bit more run down, and we can make the facade look beautiful, which is, of course, fitting of the city here.
01:58:48 [DM (Aarya)] How interesting. Lodgings at an inn, that must be the Bluewater Inn, is it?
01:58:54 [Irredel (Sav)] Yes, yes. It was, I believe, the only one that had space at the time. If you have suggestions of any other inn, of course, we can look into that.
01:59:03 [DM (Aarya)] Well, unfortunately, the Bluewater Inn is the only inn in this town. However, I do believe that the Bluewater Inn does see a fair number of guests on each night. I am concerned that if you were to take this infected fellow to such a populated location, he may spread his unhappiness to the fine people of Wallachia.
01:59:03 [DM (Aarya)] I'm not sure it is wise to discharge him to such a place just yet.
01:59:33 [Mercurio (Gui)] Yes, very wise of you, Baron. So then maybe we should proceed with the original plan that you suggested.
01:59:42 [DM (Aarya)] Indeed. Aradel, you can give me persuasion if you wanted to press on taking him now, or you can acquiesce to leaving him here.
02:00:02 [Irredel (Sav)] Let me see, roll persuasion.
02:00:08 [DM (Aarya)] Oh my god, the roll is at 21 persuasion. I was sweating, I was sweating.
02:00:15 [Sildir (Tris)] I was like, not like this, not like this.
02:00:18 [DM (Aarya)] Well, Aradel, you are clearly a learned individual. I trust that you are experienced in containing such virulent unhappiness such as this. Perhaps I can trust you to take good care of this fellow and ensure that he does not spread his devilry to my fine people.
02:00:40 [Irredel (Sav)] Yes, yes, absolutely. And as a matter of fact, again, we'll come back at night, transport him where no one will see. We'll make sure that the inn is empty before and after he is brought in.
02:00:40 [Irredel (Sav)] So it might have to be at an odd hour. We can work out how we can enter the manor at such a time so we don't disturb you. But perhaps if he can hear the sounds of merriment downstairs, he'll realize what he's missing.
02:00:40 [Irredel (Sav)] And of course, we'll just keep him locked up in one of our lodgings until he is ready to be freed.
02:01:10 [DM (Aarya)] Yes, yes, this is most excellent. Ah, Sildur, my boy, you have found yourself some fine companions indeed.
02:01:18 [Sildir (Tris)] That's right, I only keep the finest under my employ. And Aradel here is the finest.
02:01:23 [DM (Aarya)] Very good, very good. In that case, I will look forward to your return to my manor tonight. And then you can collect this poor soul and see to him as you see fit.
02:01:35 [Irredel (Sav)] Excellent. And again, it may be an odd hour just so we can make sure that secrecy and privacy is maintained.
02:01:42 [DM (Aarya)] I will inform my staff and they can direct you here without my interference.
02:01:49 [Irredel (Sav)] Marvelous. We wouldn't want to disturb you, especially. I'm sure you need your rest.
02:01:49 [Irredel (Sav)] You must work so hard keeping this town in order.
02:01:58 [DM (Aarya)] Yes, yes, it is quite the tireless job, unfortunately. But for someone such as myself and now with new allies as you, I'm sure we can we are all quite up to the task.
02:02:10 [Irredel (Sav)] Most certainly.
02:02:19 [DM (Aarya)] All right. So with that, the Baron will lead you all back downstairs. Um, and as you are leaving the room, uh, he ushers you on out.
02:02:19 [DM (Aarya)] He locks up the closet again and the man inside will look to you all. He says, no, no, please, please don't leave me here. Please save me.
02:02:40 [Sildir (Tris)] I just say all will be well. All will be well. Holy shit.
02:02:40 [Sildir (Tris)] Fixed up right soon. And I wink at him.
02:02:51 [DM (Aarya)] And with that, the Baron shuts the door and locks it. And he shakes his head. Oh, that poor soul.
02:02:51 [DM (Aarya)] He's truly lost, I'm afraid.
02:03:04 [Sildir (Tris)] Yes, quite weak of mind, that one. But we'll shape him up. He'll be sharp as a tack when we're done and he'll see the truth.
02:03:10 [DM (Aarya)] Very good. Um, let me see. How do I want to do this?
02:03:22 [Mercurio (Gui)] Do I notice anything else, like, of note as we're sort of, like, perusing through these hallways?
02:03:32 [DM (Aarya)] Um, you can give me perception. So with a 16 perception, you note that this room here on this corridor, like, to the left, you can see, like, the door is, like, kind of, like, cracked open just a little bit. And as you peek inside, you can tell that it appears to be a pretty well-stocked library, like, a personal library of sorts.
02:03:32 [DM (Aarya)] Okay. Um, all right. So with that, uh, the Baron will guide you all back downstairs.
02:03:32 [DM (Aarya)] Uh, I'm gonna direct y'all on over. Let you guys teleport yourselves back over, I think.
02:04:27 [Sildir (Tris)] Need to be over here to do it. Yeah, there we go.
02:04:33 [DM (Aarya)] Like here, I think?
02:04:36 [Sildir (Tris)] Yep. Okay. Well, well, all will be well.
02:04:36 [Sildir (Tris)] All right.
02:04:46 [DM (Aarya)] So with that, uh, the Baron is, like, standing out in the hallway, um, addressing a lot of you, um, like, chatting as you come down the stairs. Very good. I'm, I'm so glad that we could come to an agreement and a most fortunate arrangement for how best to handle the matters of this town.
02:04:46 [DM (Aarya)] In any case, I, I trust that I will see you later in the evening, or perhaps the following, the following evening, so that we may continue our work.
02:05:17 [Sildir (Tris)] Uh, yes, that's right. We'll see you later tonight.
02:05:20 [DM (Aarya)] Very good. Very good. I, I will, I will allow you all to be on your way then.
02:05:20 [DM (Aarya)] All will be well.
02:05:28 [Sildir (Tris)] All will be well.
02:05:29 [DM (Aarya)] All right, so I guess with that, you guys can all make your exit from the manor.
02:05:39 [Sildir (Tris)] And for me, at least, I might call it here, but you guys can keep going. I know we're cutting it short, or the usual.
02:05:50 [DM (Aarya)] Um, yeah, um, how is everyone else feeling? Uh.
02:05:58 [Saturno (Steph)] Sorry, I was muted. Um.
02:06:01 [Sildir (Tris)] It is a good stopping point, um, short session, but I guess it's all right.
02:06:09 [DM (Aarya)] Um, yeah, I mean, if everyone else is comfortable with, uh, stopping here for now, I'm good with that, but if people want to continue, like, that's cool too. What do you guys think?
02:06:18 [Irredel (Sav)] Yeah, please don't let us have a, like a, you know, family thing going on for prevent. Yeah, yeah. Stuff like.
02:06:18 [Irredel (Sav)] I mean, I'm.
02:06:27 [Sildir (Tris)] You could just say Sildur stayed back and did, like, a gigantic glaze festival with. Yeah.
02:06:33 [DM (Aarya)] Um, I mean, yeah, I mean, I'll, I'll let it, let the party decide, like, who's, who's good with stopping here for now.
02:06:44 [Mercurio (Gui)] I'm okay to stop it. Okay.
02:06:46 [Sildir (Tris)] Yeah, I won't stop just because I want Tristan to have to be here for the next bit. Yeah, I agree, I agree.
02:06:54 [Saturno (Steph)] I'm gonna see the beach episode planned right now.
02:06:57 [Sylalys (Cat)] True.
02:06:58 [Sildir (Tris)] And then you see the lake, it suddenly has waves, and Irena's there. Oh my god.
02:07:04 [DM (Aarya)] Because there's fina coladas. And there's dolphins. Dolphins, dolphins in the lake?
02:07:04 [DM (Aarya)] All right, very good. Okay, good session, y'all. That's, that was a pretty good RP session that we had there.
02:07:17 [Sildir (Tris)] Yeah, it was awesome, yeah. Sorry to cut it short, I am going to see my grandma.
02:07:21 [DM (Aarya)] Yeah.
02:07:22 [Sildir (Tris)] So, that's the only thing.
02:07:24 [DM (Aarya)] All right.
02:07:25 [Ember (Spurthi)] Yeah, good session, y'all.