While Angati slowly recoers in the arms of Kassius, and having the attention of Brissa, Celene quietly returns to investigating the pictures for signs of magic. However, she uses the opportunity to search the works for any portraits of Vanthus. Surely a young artist in love would be making images of her loved one.

OOC: It was DC15 to convince Brissa to spill the beans, so your roll of 11 was not enough.



OOC: :) Good, I will leave you to fill in the details of your own demise :P Avoid it?! You are an oracle of time, and one of the bad things about that is that as your get closer to the end of your own timeline you start feeling it. Well, maybe there is a way to get past it - but it would take something exceptional to change your fate...



OOC: Better to use him for catching than talking to people - we tried the later and that did not turn out well.




Brissa pauses, her face taking on a shocked look. "Vanthus. Wedding dress?" But then she smiles. "Oh, how thoughtful of him - but I want to sort the dress out myself. Oh, he said not to tell anyone, but it seems you know so much already. We're going to be married!" she gushes. "Oh, but you mustn't tell Papa yet. Even though Vanthus is a nobleman, my father doesn't approve of him - but I am sure he will come rounnd." She hugs her stomach and adds in a whisper. "I'm pregnant! We're going to make a happy family together!"



OOC: Bah! She takes the bait.

Celene looks carefully but she doesn't see any paintings or sketches of the young nobleman. In fact, it seems that Brissa only does landscapes.

No signs of magic on anything in the room.

"Oh !" said Angati... without much need to feign surprise, for she was with the news of the baby "Well, congratulations on your pregnancy my dear...".

She paused for a while trying to collect he thoughts "But... have you known him for long ?... you see, we work for his sister, Lavinia... she is dead worried about him for he has been acting strangely as of late, and there are even rumours that he is joining (if not already joined) the Lotus Dragons... she gave us the task of taking care of him and making sure he doesnt get into anything dangerous.... She is a sweet Lady, she is, you know ?. I am thinking that, maybe you would like to meet her... after all you are going to be family soon...".

"Anyway dear... it is your call, and you are old enough and talented enough to make your own decisions so, it may be that his sister is over worried about him... but if you see or think of anything that doesn't seem completely right... would you consider letting us know ?.... just... just try to keep all the options open in your mind... the way I see this... the matter with the wedding dress... well, it could be that he was trying to get it for you... or just a prank... or something else... after all, he had a relation with Amarilde, the girl he was stealing the dress from, in the past... that was time ago, so don't worry.. but just keep your options open... and know that his sister, would look out for you and the baby no matter what.... Hey, did you know that their parents were also pira... hmmm adventurers of the Sea ?..  there you go common roots and all. Now, that you are going to be a mum, you have to remember that first comes your child... before all else... I am just asking you to play it safe and to try to give him (or her) all the chances in the world. Meet Lavinia, listen to whatever your father has to say, I am sure he has your best interests in mind, keep your ears and eyes open and then judge for yourself. We are here to help the Vanderboren family, and now you are part of it... marriage or not.".

OOC: 07:26, Today: Angati rolled 20 using 1d20+9. Diplomacy Check.
So, anyway, touching on jealousy and the soft spot in the heart... trying to give her options to protect her baby.
This message was last updated by the player at 06:33, Fri 14 Aug 2015.

“Lavinia?! Lavinia Vanderboren?! That witch?! The way she has treated him is despicable! Got their parents to cut poor Vanthus out of the will. Kicked him out of the house.” She crosses her arms firms across her chest. “I’m sorry, but if you work for her then you need to leave. I won’t sell anything to that harlot! Do you know how many men she has slept with?”

“We’re going to die! Oh no, we’re going to die Angati! Waaaaaaaiiiillllllll”



“… more like she is worried that Vanthus has figured out her fiendish ways. Do not trust her!”

“… why? Why must we go there sister? Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh… <sob>”



“Well there is one thing I’ll say about my Vanthus. He is a man of the world. He deals with all sorts of people across town.” She looks down at Agnati a little scornfully. “He is having to make his way in the world and can’t just live in some fancy estate, even if that was his birthright.”

“…we must run sister! Get up and run now <crying> please, help us! Run!”



“Bah! I bet she gave you such a task. She wants to get him back under her thumb. Do you know what she did to him when they were kids? She is sick in the head!”

“…this way sister <running towards and through a wall> run this way! <knocks painting items off chair>”

“Hang on! So you’re not here to buy anything, are you? Well, the cheek of it! Hey, stop messing this place up! What, are you crazy?”



“Shut up, shut up! You stupid old lady! You’re just jealous. I bet you’ve never even been married you stupid old biddy. I bet you've never even been frakked. Pathetic! I’m going to marry a nobleman and have a family! Frak you!”

“Waaaaaaiiiillll <re-enters through the wall, knocks over more stuff> We need to run sister! It will get up. WE WILL DIE SISTER!”

"Hey, stop breaking stuff! AAAAEEEEEEEE!" Brissa screams at the top of her lungs... But nothing immediately happens (since your threat level is zero!!)

Angati:

"or just a prank... or something else... after all, he had a relation with Amarilde, the girl he was stealing the dress from, in the past... that was time ago, so don't worry.. but just keep your options open... and know that his sister, would look out for you and the baby no matter what.... Hey, did you know that their parents were also pira... hmmm adventurers of the Sea ?..  there you go common roots and all. Now, that you are going to be a mum, you have to remember that first comes your child... before all else... I am just asking you to play it safe and to try to give him (or her) all the chances in the world. Meet Lavinia, listen to whatever your father has to say, I am sure he has your best interests in mind, keep your ears and eyes open and then judge for yourself. We are here to help the Vanderboren family, and now you are part of it... marriage or not.".

OOC: 07:26, Today: Angati rolled 20 using 1d20+9. Diplomacy Check.
So, anyway, touching on jealousy and the soft spot in the heart... trying to give her options to protect her baby.

OOC: Sorry, very clever comments and excellent roll ignored because 1) I want to get your guys out of here and back into the main thread  2) Anansi is being a pain in the ass and freaking out and stops Angati using her normal crazy good diplomacy skills  3) It's more interesting   4) I'm a bad, arbetrary DM!

Please post how you get out of here. There is a window that leads out onto the balcony ringing the building. Don't forget there are people lounging around on it and Otus will be charging up the stairs at some point.

Completely baffled by Angatis earlier outburst, things falling over and down around them, Brissa screaming and the potential crititcal situation they might be in, Celene reflexisively reaches out for her arcane powers for support. Hoping to soothe the girl, Celene casts charm person.

Putting a hand on Brissas shoulder, she tries to talk her Down. "Brissa, please calm down. I now see you have heard things of Lavinia Vanderboren we haven't. We will think about what you have told us, and act accordingly. There is no reason for us to be upset now. We'll be going now and perhaps contact Vanthus to ask him about Lavinia too. Do you know where he is? Come, will you walk us down while we talk?"


OOC: Sorry, but that's how Celene would react. Jumping out a window is not for her!

We're not still in a skill contest, right? I assume only Angati can hear her sister? As you said, we're not a threat to her, right? DC16

OOC. Ha! Like she was ever going to pass that with MF on top!

14:09, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 12 using 1d20. save versus charm.

Brissa immediately calms down - and the party do not here anybody running up the stairs or approaching the room. It is pretty chaotic house so maybe people screaming isn't that uncommon?

"Oh, sorry I got excited there... it was just strange with all the stuff being knocked down. So... Vanthus. Oh, he often goes out of town for business, he has too look after the family plantations you know because Lavinia is totally incapable of doing anything but folding napkins. He said he'll be gone for a couple of days... <sigh> he's often gone."

She begins to walk them downstairs. "I don't know where he is exactely, because I've never been out of the city. But he will be back, and sure, I'll tell you when he is back in town!"

No skills contest, we need to join everybody up again. All ready for that?

OOC: ok,hope i'm not over-zealous in my party caller role, but i say we move on now, if no objections arrive before tomorrow morning, europe time (or whenever you have time to post again, GM). I believe we got what we came for: exciting news of an imminent baby-Vanthus. Lavinia will be thrilled:-) Let's go find the guys.

EDIT: but remember Angati wanted to buy the picture... Maybe to torture her sister? :-)

This message was last edited by the player at 07:46, Sun 16 Aug 2015.

Being somewhat a masochist, Angati purchases the picture titled 'Journey's End'. It is a small watercolour, only about 3 feet wide and 2 feet tall and unframed so the oracle is able to get it for ten gold (the fact that Brissa was charmed may have also helped negotiations).

The young painted then walks them down and out of the house, meaning that Celene, Angati and Kassius are able to retrieve the cat and make their way out of the Azure district in good time.

When they arrive at the tavern Angati is now living at (as to WHICH tavern this is, that is still for Beni to decide upon wink wink) they discover Logan and Alohan already waiting for them in a private room - the two young men are well lubricated with liquor by this point. All of the party members recount their stories so that everybody knows all of the day's going-ons.

OOC: A summary of what was discovered.

Vanthus has been seen in the company of a cranky dwarf called Penkus.
Penkus is well known in Shadowshore as a thief and a troublemaker.
Another cranky dwarf called Panchi sold Vanthus and Penkus a row boat, and they rowed west from Shadowshore.
Logan guessed that they were heading for Parrot Island, and this was confirmed by his contact Fartellamous.
Fartellamous stated that there were some old smugglers' tunnels under Parrot Island and that he and Penkus used to visit when they were kids. He provided instructions to allow the entry point to be easily located.

Vanthus has been 'seeing' Brissa Santos.
Brissa things Vanthus is a nice guy and they are going to get married. Brissa is pregnant.
Angati is going to die.

Kassius listens intently as the others tell their various discoveries. His own contribution is little more than the occasional agreeable grunt when Angati and Celene discuss their revelations with Brissa, but despite his silence the half-orc is clearly listening intently. He just seems to prefer not saying very much.

Kassius does particularly perk up about the smuggling tunnels and Parrot Island. He intends to run his business completely legally and above water, but keeping his eyes open once they got to Parrot Island seemed rather wise.

Despite the seriousness of their current business, Celene cannot help herself giggling at their two tipsy companions. Well, as long as they are sober when they need to be...

Discussing their findings, Celene is happy to quip in with what they learned at the Santos house. She considers going to Lavinia with these news in themselves, but drops the idea again. Their mission was to find him, and bring him back. The information could act as a slight compensation if they should fail finding him.

"So, I guess we're going after him to the island. Tonight it is? If you two are capable then?"

"Do we know anything about what to expect over there? Is it just Vanthus and Penkus, or are we going to face the Lotus Dragons as well?"

An isolated yet closeby place such as this Island seems a perfect hideaway for many secretive characters. Celene wonders if the island has been home to others over the ages, the remains of whom they might stumble upon. Not just the Lotus Dragons, but also someone like those cabbanites she has just gained a glimpse of...

Knowledge check? Pftt.
11:10, Today: Celene rolled 14 using 1d20+8. Knowledge history on Parrot Island.
Used Guidance + one Divine Vessel
This message was last edited by the player at 09:20, Mon 17 Aug 2015.

Celene wracks her memory for any historical information that she can remember on the island. Unfortunately, Celene is much better acquainted with the history as recorded in the temple library, and the murky past of Parrot Island is something that has been very much 'off the books'. Nothing comes to mind - it is just a small muddy sand bar sitting in the harbor as far as she knows.

Logan smiles and raises a glass.  "Of course we're capable!  Everything's easier after a few drinks, anyway."  The rogue smiles.  "No, I just introduced Alohan to the finer varieties of rotgut available in Shadowshore, and we had one more drink here.  We'll be perfectly capable of exploring Vanthus and tacking Parrot Island."  The rogue looks confused and shakes his head.  "Tracking Vanthus and exploring the Parrots, I mean."
This message was last edited by the player at 15:11, Tue 18 Aug 2015.

OOC: You're going at night? (DM raises one eyebrow). OK. Sure, why not.

Alohan raised a glass to meet Logans, clinking them in celebratory fashion. "De boy be havin' de right of it! Let us go dis very night. Catch dem wit dere eels in dere hands!"  The room tilted and the native found himself steadying himself. "We be catchin' dem unawares." He sipped what was in his glass and turned to the rest. "What be everyone' dinkin?"
This message was last edited by the player at 00:24, Tue 18 Aug 2015.

OOC: Alohan and Logan pls make a DC 15 fort save or enter stage one inebriation.

Logan returned the gesture, only managing to spill a little bit of his drink in the process.

11:12, Today: Logan rolled 14 using 1d20. Fort vs 15 for Drunken Fun Times.

Kassius groans slightly, rubbing his head. He glances over at Kibeti, who simply yawns, as if to say he wasn't responsible for the people Kassius chose to hang out with. Heading over in the dark, with two members drunk off their gourd seemed a recipe for disaster.

"I say we rest for the night, and then go early tomorrow morning. Let you fellows sleep off your booze, and then go while it's still dark enough to be stealthy, but there's enough light that we aren't stumbling around like a bunch of blind fools. I'll bet the hangovers will encourage you to be extra quiet." He says, with a slightly cruel grin.

OOC: FYI, Logan just has level one drunkeness which is purely beneficial I think...

Angati kept silent for most of the time... her sister's screaming had her out of her sorts and she could just stare here and there and speak softly apparently on her own, as she tried to calm her down.

She got the picture, and kept it wraped all the time, afraid to even unwrap it. She just concentrated on her sister, and other than a few 'ok's here and there, she passed her time in a near-shock state of mind.

OOC: I'd say wait for the day before leaving. I hope we don't meet the island on the trip. Angati might be a little bit more upset than ussual to take a boat trip...

Alohan frowned at the half-orc's slight. He wasn't a blind fool and could move about a jungle as well as anyone. He wasn't even drunk! Just in a good mood. Unfortunately his happy demeanor was souring, especially with Kassius's overly brash, misguided angst at the likes of him and Logan. The two of them were able to peg their next location quite easily. Alohan could only guess Kassius's mood reflected the poor luck he had during the day.

"No," he said standing. He finished his drink and set the glass down quite aggressively. "If we be leavin' in de mornin' so be it. But I be dinkin' know be de best time. We spent de day askin' about town for dis Vandus and his dwarven hoalhoa. We move now and de chance of dem being alerted is slim. Yes dere be some risk but remember how well we did at de harbor. We be quick. We catch dem unawares."

Alohan looked at Logan for some backup, not even sure if the boy agreed with him.

---

Plan': Since we are at an impasse, I think Celene has to decide. Should we stay or go.  I say we go and at least see what we see...
Boozin':07:14, Today: Alohan Nuari rolled 16 using 1d20+6. Fort Save vs Boozin'.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:28, Wed 19 Aug 2015.

Celene sighs. "Why can't these men agree on anything? They keep on bickering." Realising they were expecting to get an oppinion from her to support one or the other, she spoke up. "Drinks aside, Kassius has a point about the darkness. Most of us will be blind unless we carry torches, which will light us up for target practice. Let us go early in the morning, to take advantage of the dim dawn light. That also allows some us to be rested after our ordeal at the santos house. Any preparation we need? I heard tunnels. We need some rope for them?"

OOC: How is the party going to get out there? ie gondola, Alohan's new boat... you could even swim, it's only 100 yards.

Logan smiles.  "Going tomorrow is the best idea I've heard all day."  The rogue frowns.  "Well, maybe the second best."  He holds up his drink.  Getting this was the best idea..."  the half-elf trails off, obviously thinking.  "Or maybe getting that information from old Farty.  Regardless, that is a good idea."

"I wonder if our gondolier friend is available.  He seemed a trusty enough sort for our escapades on the boat."

Assuming Alohan mentioned his recently acquired flag ship (HMS  Alohan?) during our general talk:

"No, let us not use the gondolier again, he has no need to be involved, and we need the return boat to be available continuously. We use Alohans new yacht, and find somewhere to hide it."

Now I am no good at planning a tunnel crawl, but I am guessing we could use some rope and torches? What else?" And who can carry all this?"