for work there.

SOUTH
Luthien
Dala
Alyna
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:10, Tue 14 Feb 2023.

Luthien, now with his sub team of 3...had to think about how best to lure out Hargenites and slave traders.

"Alright. Here's the general plan. We're going to start out looking as non descript as we can...hoping illusions help with that. From there, either they'll try to attack us to make us slaves, or they'll attack someone else. We might be able to identify them by clothing or things like shackles. And for me personally, people that do such things have black souls.

Once they realize what I am, they'll try to run away. I want you two on a higher vantage point so you can snipe in relative safety. Like, get on a roof if you can. Remember the idea is to take them alive if possible, so an arrow through the knee is ideal. If you don't think you can hit that small a target, better dead than escaped, so go for a standard chest shot."

So, with this general plan in place, he need only wait to get the illusion up before they get going. Hargenites aren't going to approach a heavily armored Knight after all.

At this point, Alyna set about explaining what was and wasn't possible:

"Eh, sir, I'm sorry to disappoint. But I've got no spell that will change your appearance. I've one for myself, but it doesn't work on others.  I can make any of us invisible.  But it doesn't mean you're silent. More useful for us stealthy types."   Further:

"I can make an illusion of all three of us, or of other people, including some sound.  Which, for example, we might send down a path or alley, while we hide, so we can check for ambush, or mislead an enemy."   

"Now, I do have skill in non-magical disguise, as well.  With that, I might make you look more like a common mercenary, or such.  Maybe. That armor of yours is mighty fine, and would be hard to hide."   

Does Luthien wear the symbol of any of the known gods?   Does his accent/manner suggest any well known place?    (it's in Alyna's nature and skill set to note stuff like that)   

 Dala looked up tot he   north west. The mountain sloping and  riings,  and there was a bit of  a gap as she   saw the other  peaks , clouds  hung close to those peaks, the  sun was  just barely  rising.. down in the desert, and plains, the sun was starting to cover the lands. it  would be a few hours before  Yad   found the sun.

 Pulling up her hood, Dala says,I know the   Captain wants them alive, but it does not mean they have to be ...'unharmed.'

In reply to Alyna Redveil (msg # 3):

"Hence, arrow through the knee. Don't want them fleeing. Arrow through the arm, they can still run away."

Back to the illusionist.

Luthien wore gleaming, magnificent looking full plate. The heraldry on his shield contained both his holy symbol (Tra the huntress), his family lineage, and other personal identifiers. By a shield is a Knight known after all. He also has the crimson arrow badge, the modified version for heavy armor. He also carries two long swords and an axe, and the axe seems especially fine. He was a holy knight built to deter people from even wanting to make trouble at the sight of him.

Having spent a lot of time in the palace lately, his manner of speech still reflects that, like he hadn't quite downshifted back to field work yet.

"It is said the path to greater skill involves challenging yourself as much as possible. It seems this will be a challenge. Do all you can."

He's content to be disguised however she sees fit. Perhaps she will even surprise herself.

"Aye, very well then."

She glanced over toward Dala, noting she had the look and bearing of aristocracy about her, and based on what she understood thus far of Luthien, that made sense.    Brave girl, taking to the road to support her man, when she might have just stayed home.

"You're the fiance, aren't you?"  She smiled, "Pardon me for getting a little handsy with him.   This is strictly practical."       Then to Luthien:

"Well sir, hope you aren't averse to a little dirt."   So said, she went about applying some dirt and mud to Luthien's clothes, to give him a more rugged appearance.

From her pack, Alyna then retrieved her disguise kit. She used makeup to darken his complexion and create fake scars, as well as a false tattoo. Additionally, she used hair dye to darken his hair, and changed the style, tying it back into a ponytail. To complete the look, she took her belt knife and tattered his cloak, and added some accessories, including leather wrist bands and a bandana.

"There," she said, once finished.  "Now remember, it's not all in the look, eh? Details like posture, mannerisms, and language are part of it.  And you have to do those.   You've surely met common mercenaries?  Try to keep in mind how they move, talk, and behave."   

Luthien didn't clarify on what Dala really is. He did add, "It would be prudent to disguise her too."

But...that's not how mercs talk.

"I mean, we don't want no one recognizing her face, y'hear?"

Hopefully that's better. Belatedly he remembers to slouch a little bit, abandoning his normally perfect posture
This message was last edited by the player at 06:06, Tue 14 Feb 2023.

  like the others, they see  some people moving   around.  but most look like towns  folks, a few look lik sailors.

  The see the  Building  'Molts'.. there are a  couple  men on the porch with a hot bowl of   food  and  tea, there  are  skulls on the  wall above the Portch roof, of   small dragons  and  large  birds of  prey.

While the two ladies sorted out the rest of the disguises, Luthien scanned the people around him, looking for souls of purest black. The building looked promising, so he'd at least look inside if the guys outside didn't show him the black he was looking for.

  As Luthien and his people moved towards  Molt's . The  men one the porch eating hot  bowl of something, were dressed in a very nice leathers  that  had a  fur lined hood, which was  down. they hand short swords and Knee high boots to go with thick breeches

 they seemed 'grey' to  Luthien, though they were laughing  as they talked.

Alyna assisted Dala with a disguise, in the same manner that she had the knight, wondering some what this one's story was.

Meanwhile, she waited for Luthien to assess those they came upon, and suggest a course of action.    Alyna was many things, but not particularly a leader.   Especially not so in this kind of company.   She would offer her council, however, where she felt that to be a good idea.

Alyna too would seem 'grey,' in the event Luthien ever does that on her.  Her skill set makes that not so surprising, probably.

Luthien didn't see what he was looking for, so he entered the building, once again scanning for the targets he was looking for.

He waited for the other two to join him before entering, so they wouldn't be separated unnecessarily.

Having concluded with the disguise work, she made certain her weapons and spell components pouch were positioned where she liked them, and then followed Luthien as he entered the structure.

 there  are 14 people  eating and  drinking. 6 of them are dressed like the  fellows on the porch .

 The other   folks look like  labor  types. A few of the  uniform  folks   eye up the  woman.Daka says, as they talk a table,Those  are Wyvern riders. They  , almost all,  are cocky, ebcause of there place in the Ironmound service.

Luthien scans them with his other eyes. If they worked for Ironmound, they shouldn't bear obvious stains on their souls. He does notice them eyeing Dala. He is grateful she is disguised. They don't need her being recognized.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:03, Sat 18 Feb 2023.

 Luthien doesn't get much, greys .. it appears that the  men are looking over 'new talent" that have  arrived, bit  they are more  or less restrained at the moment

 Dala flicks  her  cloak  to reveals the hit of a sword, it was not an accident.

In reply to south (msg # 16):

"What we're looking for isn't here. Let's try somewhere else."

Without the stain of slaver black, these aren't the guys he was here to find.

 Dala  looked  about, perhaps?  I think this is a place for the   Sky Riders to   get drunk  and brag about their  contests in the air.

Luthien acknowledges that...

"You think they might have seen something from the air?"

Maybe they aren't what he's looking for, bit they've seen who they are looking for.

He will show some patience, and listen for a bit.

Seating herself, Alyna was intrigued by meeting some actual wyvern riders, and the thought of what they may have observed from an aerial vantage.

Evesdropping another of her specialties, she too tried to see what she might discern of their conversation.   Her demeanor was friendlier than Dala's, and it did cross her mind to perhaps approach, and speak to them, if she couldn't learn anything by being covert.

In reply to Alyna Redveil (msg # 20):

Luthien chooses to see what his subtle news friend can accomplish. She is probably much better suited for this then his forthright manner, particularly when he must disguise himself.

Seeing that Luthien didn't seem bent on stopping her, she gave a slight 'alright, let's see' kind of shrug to her companions.   And then got up and walked toward the riders, with an amiable smile.

On the way over, Alyna quickly assessed them.  She did her best to pick one who looked cheerful and reasonably clean.  Avoiding any who were scowling, or gave signs of being unsocial.

"Hello there," she hailed, to one of them that fit her criteria.   "I don't mean to bother you.  But, I've always wanted to meet a sky rider."