"Good news my assistants! I found one of my sources and found out what happened the other night, apparently there was..." The man trails off as he takes in the crumpled shape of Avner's body slumped on the floor. "Good heavens. Is that one of the Meravanchi boys? He'd better not be dead. Whatever started it? You didn't try and pick his pocket did you Logan?"

Victor is about to continue when he spies the sleeping form of Angati on the floor. She is lying spread-eagled on the floor with a sleepy smile on her face, while one of Avner's companions is slumped on top of her, also magically asleep. "What. the. frac. IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE?!" he blurts out incredulously. "We are on a mission here. Please focus!"
This message was last edited by the player at 18:35, Thu 30 Apr 2015.

Angati woke up, her groggyness disappearing in a flash as soon as she remembered what had been about to happen, getting up as soon as she could and thanking whoever it was that had woken her up. She looked around and breathed out deeply, "Thanks guys".

As Victor started talking she looked at him as if he was some kind of alien creature that had started talking all of the sudden... she smirked and moved over to where Avner's body was lying "Focus you say ?... lets see if I can get more focused than this" she said softly but quite angrily as she gave Avner's unconscious body a tremendous kick in his nuts. "Next time, go and try to rape your mother... ".
This message was last edited by the player at 08:20, Fri 01 May 2015.

Avner groans, but hardly moves. It is clear that he is incapacitated.

OOC: I'll put that down as one additional point of non-lethal damage then?

I'll post an update on Monday after the rest of the group have a chance to respond.

having gently roused Angati from her slumber, and letting her have her way with Avner, Celene turns to Victor. "We are focused, trying to avert more trouble. Not every one of us is accustomed to frequenting this place. Due to our lack of experience with this kind of crowd, incidents are bound to happen while we are here. So please focus, and tell us what you learned, now!"

Logan takes a few seconds to regain his breathing, and snaps his attention back to his allies.  After making sure Angati has recovered, he turns to regard Victor again.  "Actually, I found a few things from the bouncer.  He confirmed that a woman matching Lady Vanderboren's appearance was here last night.  In fact, he said that woman was a regular, and referred to her as 'All the Way Amy.'  He even said that you two might be well acquainted."

Logan pauses, waiting for Victor's response.

"Bah! Acquainted? My job is to mingle in as many different social circle as possible, from the pinnacle of the Dawn Council right down to the dives in your neck of the woods. I can't be expected to know every regular at every place I frequent!"



"Yes, apparently Miss Amarilde Vanderboren was seen her last night and there was some sort of problem. She was dragged into one of the 'private rooms' against he will - that one up there to the left," he says, pointing to the door on the mezzanine floor that was closest to the southern wall. "Before anyone could do anything she reappeared happy and said everything was fine. She continued on dancing and eventually left through a window! Anyway, I recommend that we explore this avenue of enquiry and do so before..."

The inquisitor pauses as he sees the bouncer approaching the party, accompanied by several other staff members. They are now armed with cudgels. The bouncer is staring at the bleeding remains of Avner and his two friends who are still sleeping on the floor, shaking his head in dismay. "Frac it," curses Victor. "Follow my lead and blame everything on the rogue, and you might just get out of this without a life sentence to 'Carver's Pit'." Everybody in the party recognises the name of the notorious prison/mine in the Hellfurnances where lift expectancy was said to be measured in months.

"What the frac happened here?" barks the bouncer, staring down at Avner. The huge man is bleeding from a large gash in his forehead.

OOC: Don't be shy. What exactly did happen here?
This message was last edited by the player at 18:07, Mon 04 May 2015.

Angati clutched her womb and bent over a bit as she turned to look at the bouncer with a grimace of pain. "Ah... I was sitting there" she pointed at the now upturned chair on the floor, talking raggedly, "Just minding my own business when these men, lead by that one there, sat next to me".

"That one there... Avner, I think he said that he was, decided to have some fun with me, which I guess is perfectly understandable in a place like this, but I did not fancy him nor his lackeys, so I told him I was not interested. He continued to insist, and I said that I was under certain contagious illness that might be dangerous for them, but they just laughed it out, and grabbed me between two of them...". She paused there trying to collect her nerves, "I am not a naive young girl, and I didn't entice him in the least... but I would like to think that each woman, no matter how old she may be, can still choose for herself who she wants to lay with..."

She paused a bit and looked at the man with scorn "Anyway... when I saw myself carried away, I shouted, something about his manhood, needing to force himself on an old woman like me, with the aid of four others.... calls for that... anyway, he didnt like it and he punched me in the stomach, though I very much doubt he will be man enough to even recognise punching an old woman like me... anyway... I am old... I guess I lost conscience with his brutal hit, you must have seen me stand up just now.... but, but... anyway, none of you guys saw me ? I had thought it had been the local security that had saved me... but I don't know what happened since I lost conscience."

OOC: Make rolls as you see fit (Bluff or diplomacy at +8).... misfortune if needed.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:24, Tue 05 May 2015.

Wow, that is almost telling the truth. That's a novel approach - I thought you'd just blame the dwarfs! ;)

OK, I'll have a little think about it and post tonight. Everyone else: pls feel free to add if you want.

Logan looks at the unfortunate nobleman with a look of disdain, then shrugs and looks back at the bouncer.  "You saw me.  I was talking to you, and by the time I got over here, my friend was being attacked.  I just tried to help out."

The bouncer looks at Angati and screws up his face, trying to weigh up her story...

21:47, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 15 using 1d20+8. Angati bluff.
21:48, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 13 using 1d20-1. Bouncer sense motive.
Opps, should have been at +0, but that is still 14 and not enough

"Ahhhh!" the huge man exclaims, running a hand through his greasy hair. "And the night was going so well!" He turns to one of his collegues. "Run to Lord Meravanchi's residence and inform him that one of his sons have been involved in an altercation. And come back with a cleric for frac's sakes!"

He then looks back to the party. "I don't know the truth of what happened here but it would probably be best for all of you if you were gone before Lord Meravanchi's men arrive. If I know Master Avner he will be looking for revenge and he won't be sparing in handing it out."

The bouncer heads off into another part of the club to attempt to restore order.

"Well, that is that taken care off," says Victor. "I hope that none of you used your real names when you signed in! Anyway, let's be up to that private room and get to the bottom of this mystery. Are you with me?"

Alohan grins in remembrance of the ledger, still well aware that he may be identified simply by his looks. Yet he shrugged and turned to give Avner one last kick in the ribs as the bouncer began to drift into the crowd. "Dat be for me vest ya moe ipo." Satisfied, Alohan turned to Victor and Logan.

"Amarilde be a different Amarilde. People of me isles be practicing dark magicks. Making people not like demselves. Maybe Amarilde be victim of magiks herself. Making her forget and do de dings dat people be frownin' upon." He couldn't help put glimpse at Celene, having witnessed the lady bring the same magics down upon their common foe. He didn't understand the arts fully -his ignorance made him fearful.

"Thank you kindly sir, I know you are helping us as much as you possibly can..." she said to the bouncer, and then looking at Avner in the floor "I sure wish there was more that could be done not to let this happen to other women... but I guess it is what it is, and a noble's son... is still a noble's son".

She turned then to the others "I think we should hurry, we do not want to cause an inconvenience to this fine man".

OOC: Meaning to get on checking that room, not leaving...

The party follows Victor up to the mezzanine floor and to the first door. (OOC: This is the southern-most or bottom of the five private rooms marked on the map) Without hesistation, Victor uses the handle of his cane to knock loudly on the door. "Open up!" he barks. "In the name of truth!"

A series of crashes and bumps can then be heard from inside the room, and continue on for so many seconds that Victor knocks on the door again, even louder and more firmly. "Open up now!"

The door is finally yanked open and a young woman stands in the doorway. It is Amarilde Vanderboren!

"Great," exclaims the young noble sarcastically. She is wearing in a silky green party dress that is cressed and dirty. Her hair is greasy and unkept. "So you found me? Fine. What do you want?" she asks poutily.
This message was last edited by the player at 10:49, Wed 06 May 2015.

Logan stares at Amarilde.  "But I don't understand.  Why did you send us here, only to find you?  And how did you get here so fast, anyway?  None of this makes any sense."

The rogue shakes his head.  "Okay, let's go back to the beginning.  What's your name?  How long have you been here?  Were you here last night?"

Angati laughed a rich loud laugh, "That's a lovely case of 'le feu au cul'... let us hear you out, it ought to be entertaining".

OOC: "le feu au cul" = "ass is on fire" = "to be in one heck of a rush"? Cool! Crazily, French does exist in Mystara, it is known as Averoignese and originated on a world that was like medieval France except with small amounts of magic. Some of the magic users escaped and formed a principality in Glantri called Nouvelle Averoigne. Although native speakers are confined to that land, many of the nobility around the world speak it as a second language as it is considered a mark of sophistication and culture.

"Huh? What are you going on about old lady?" said Amarilde as she stared at Angati blankly. Although Averoignese was taught to all the children of the nobility in Sasserine, some made more effort to learn it than others.

Amarilde turned back to Logan. "I didn't send you here, what are you talking about?"




"My name is Amarilde Vanderboren you imbecille! <sigh> I was getting cold feet about the wedding so I hired an actress to impersonate me, and we switched places last night. I admit I may have taken things a little bit too far, but I am ready to face the music now. Come on then. Take me to Soren and I will tell him the truth. No doubt he will blather like a baby..."

OOC: "Le feu au cul" is to be in one heck of a rush as you said... but its used to say (for women I think mostly) you they have urgent sexual desires. Nymphomaniacs and the like. It literally means to have your ass on fire

"Never mind learning anything other than postures girl...." just how much she loved to play older when she was berating someone... it was about the only good thing that had come out of this... "at any rate that would explain why you were out of this room so quickly when they took you (or your double) here the other night hm?. Anyway, your double sent us here, when your groom cancelled your wedding because he had learned that you were a frequent player in this place, and she promised quite a hefty sum for each one of us, which I intend on cashing out, after been hit and almost raped here by that Avner fellow downstairs."

She clearly did not deserve the tiniest bit of pity, and she intended to have if nothing else her money... it might help her going.

"Now, let me say this to you quite clearly, given that you already have a double, you have a very easy way out of this mess, with your reputation intact, to make a good marriage, and even to continue with your private pleasures as long as you like..... that is of course, if we all keep silent about it, and we are all feeling pretty talkative right now... not only talkative girl... but pretty pissed... you see... maybe you fail to grasp it, but we now have two options in front of us, either help you, or screw you, both will take about the same amount of effort, but screwing you would give us the extra pleasure of not feeling like idiots and not being taken as such, in fact, this man here, works directly for your groom, and given that you have already accepted that you are Amarilde and not your double, it will take some convincing for him to betray his word and reputation."...

After a pause, as if thinking she added "And... girl.. even if you don't give a frack about the wedding, you do clearly care, about having your well, tended regularly... just how likely you think you are bound to be able to have your way, if this becomes a problem ?".

OOC:
09:21, Today: Angati rolled 25 using 1d20+8. Bluff.
If necessary Misfortune.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:33, Thu 07 May 2015.

"Well, that was obviously the double that I hired who came out of this room. She was acting obvious so everybody would notice her/me leaving."



"Oh, the wedding in canceled?! That is a shame. Well, I'd better get back and sort out this mess. No doubt I will find somebody else to marry."



"Really?" the girl started looking attentive again. "That sounds good. How would that work?"



Amarilde screwed he face up in confusion. "Who?" she said, looking at the empty spot where Angati was gestering. Victor has disappeared! Again! Then she looks sour. "So I am meant to pay you guys? Frac that! Forget it! Come on, I said I am ready to go. Sigh. Let's get it over and done with."



OOC: Dude! You're not allowed to say fuck! You have to say frac!

"Oh really? Well, that is a shame." It seems there is just no getting through to this girl.



OOC: Are you even bluffing?! No roll needed. She believes you, she just doesn't seem to care.

Victor is gone again. After the door was answer he slowly backed out of the group to the rear, and must have wandered off somewhere. Percetion checks at CD-15 if you want to spot him.

Logan struggled to contain his emotions as the vapid woman in front of him continued to speak.  She just doesn't care.  Doesn't care how her actions affect anyone but herself?  The rogue shook his head, a final thought going through his mind.  Are we still going to get a reward for this?

Finally, the half-elf clears his throat.  "Why didn't you just talk this over with your fiance?  Tell him you were having cold feet?  Were you planning on having your double go through with the wedding?  What exactly was your plan there?  Or do you even care what happens to all these other people?"

By this point Angati, was seriously considering, just presenting this girl as the double to the rest of the world and having the actress take on the real Amarilde...  which made her think"So why were you even interested on recovering the dress when you had the perfect alibi to avoid getting married ?"...

... and who the hell had been with her in that room ?.

18:36, Today: Angati rolled 17 using 1d20. Perception.
Sorry about that, I fracked it back... hmmm dont we just prefer to set mature, give you the ages and not need to worry about this though ?.

"Soren is such a bore. All he thinks about is the gladiatorial games and drinking. I can't talk to him about anything!" Now that Logan thinks about it, Soren didn't look like the talkative type...



"I don't know! I guess I didn't really think the whole thing through. I suppose it was a crazy plan really <shrug> Look, I said I am sorry, let's just go."



Amarilde looks confused. "What people. You mean the wedding guests? Oh, you mean Soren and the actress, ehhh, whats-her-name. Ahh, I'm sure they'll be fine."



"What dress? Did something happen to the wedding dress? That would be a shame, but look, if it is something that has happened since last night then I don't know anything about it. I have been in here the whole time!"



Angati looks inside the room. It is small with old wallpaper falling off the walls painted an indecent shade of crimson, and with scarlet red carpet and lampshades. The room looks empty enough, just a double bed with a medium-sized trunk at the end, and a lit lamp. There isn't even a window - this wall of the tavern must join onto the side of another building.



OOC: Nice frakking. It is not about the mature rating, it is about immersion and the colour of the world. The world 'fuck' just hadn't been invented yet!

With a resigned slump, Amarilde walks about of the room onto the mezzanine floor and heads towards the exit.

OK, anybody else besides Angati (nice roll by the way Beni) want to make a perception check to try and spot Victor? DC 15 please.

Shaking his head, Logan followed Amarilde from the private room, looking around for Victor as he did so.  "Where'd he go," Logan muttered to himself.  "Staring at the dwarven women again?"

16:13, Today: Logan rolled 21 using 1d20+8. Perception.

Celene just stands in the back, befuddled at the strange behaviour and ethics of nobles. Despite her time at the temple in the Noble district, she now realises that this obscure dialogue and bizare behaviour is utterly beyond her. She is just starting to catch that Angati is equally obscure, and well versed in the ins and outs of nobility.

She just manages to move aside as Amarilde goes for the exit, and Victors disappearence has hardly registered with her.

But strange as this all is, Celene doesn't feel confident at all that everything is as it (now) seems. She worries that someone else is still pulling their strings, and she needs to be certain that at least this woman is who she now claims to be. Trying to be unnoticed, she mumbles a minor incantation.

OOC: Casts Detect Magic and focuses on Amarilde. If time allows, she changes focus to the room, and people in the area.