Slove stays quite and ready.
A lot was going on but elf was not sure who could be trusted and who could not.
His job was protect his two friends and at moment they where not in any real danger.
So he waits.

OOC:
22:34, Today: Slove rolled 17 using 1d20+7.  Listen.
22:34, Today: Slove rolled 15 using 1d20+7.  Spot Check.

'Oh dear, how tedious.' Maelarra sighed, setting down her teacup. 'I'm somewhat the worse for spells, I'm afraid.'

'So much for wards and guards.' Duke Haldryn rose from his couch like a mountain on the move, brandishing his walking stick like the hefty iron-shod stave it was. Aged, stooped, and weary he might be, it was clear he was still a formidable warrior. So it seemed doubly unlike that the slender elf mage could possibly protect him, nor even cover him. He produced a token from his pocket and shouted into it 'There are spies in the house! Be on the alert! '

Once again, Orophear scanned the room for magic. Duke Haldyn and his fellow adventurers were all glittering figures of magic items, and the building itself was cemented with basic wards. Sorting through and eliminating these, he soon identified some unusual auras and activity behind the curtained-off area where the servants came through.

Right as there came a terrible scream from behind the curtain. Followed by another surprised scream.

[Private to Angel: I realised the Will save comes at Round 3 of detect thoughts. So, in the first two rounds, Angels learns of the presence of thoughts (duh), six thinking minds (duh), and someone has an Intelligence score of 21.

Also, the maids of the city are going to hate you. :p]

Aerin's body had gone into high-alert mode, adrenalin high and ready to strike. When the screems sounded through the curtains she set herself in motion and nearly tore the curtains in half as she separated them. Her hands were opening and closing as she took a look at the scene ...

Behind the curtain, two identical maids lay on the floor, slumped against the wall. One was still, seemingly unconscious. The other was staring bewilderedly in alarm at her.

Identical maids? Aerin may not have been the sharpest tool in the shed but she had learned by experience... and by the vivid stories Arrazin had shared from his past in Thay. "Your grace, I trust you don't have twins in your employ, do you?" she asked over her shoulder, rhethorically, and activated the magic that would allow her to see the truth and nothing but the truth before her...

ooc: Activate Scout's Headband, True Seeing 1 minute.

Kaijn had introduced himself as a arcanist and a old friend of Lady Mae and Slove, for now that was enough for the Duke to know. As he listened to the Duke speak he became aware of the magical attempt to read his mind. He got out of his chair and prepared for an hostile encounter.

 The mere fact that Tseran is likely to be a less effective combatant than the towering nobleman - on a par with his utility as a shield for the man in fact - doesn't keep him from standing to his chosen position, blade sheathed but his hand upon the hilt before remarking "Hold." in dry, leaden tones... "Tired mimicry - the same thing that was so ineptly attempted at the tavern. It's quite possible that this is the individual we were speaking of there. Might I suggest at least a modest effort be made to secure them alive and in good health?"

'Twins?' Haldyn started in surprise, seeing the two prone maids. 'I'm not too familiar with the staff, but I don't think so...'

'And how would one know if one did?' Maelarra quipped, amused. She was fishing inside her purse, producing and perusing a folded piece of paper, pursing her lips. Perhaps it was a scroll.

Meanwhile, the detection spells struggled to pierce the veils of illusion in the rotten patch of the Weave that overlaid Calaunt. But at last the auras resolved, and Orophear observed various spells on one of the maids[Secret to Orophear Mithrandir:  – the conscious and frightened one].

And Aerin pierced the illusions and saw the truth. [Private to Aerin of Damar: The seemingly unconscious maid but neither human, nor a maid, nor a twin. She was an elf woman, of bronze-tanned skin and copper-red hair, with rapier and wearing some kind of slinky body-suit.

OOC: I've obviously limited the extent of true seeing here for the sake of later storytelling and present peace in the city.]

[Private to Angel: 'You get that one for free – no more.' Angel heard in her ear, following by a familiar croon 'Then you'll be left alone!']
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:20, Wed 26 July 2017.

"By Bahamut, what a mess!" Aerin called out then carefully knelt next to the 'unconscious' maid, gently lifting her up in her arms. "Seize the other one, she's an imposter!" then added an exaggerated wink for the benefit of her companions, letting them know she actually meant the opposite. She took the feigning woman to a recliner and carefully laid her down, eventually resting a heavy hand on her chest, effectively pinning the elven lass with her inhuman strength.

"Who are you?" the dragonkin demanded to know, "I can see through your disguises, you can drop the charade."

[Private to GM: Aerin is wary of anything that resembles a command word or even a spell and is ready to press down on her chest, knocking the air from her lungs - as a defensive means and a precaution that the spy does not slip away before questioning.]

Edit OOC: Sorry! Forgot to change portrait.  Fixed now.

Thanks Jack! Angel mentally called out, thinking that her plan had worked with a little help from the god. Hadn't he promised to keep an eye on her and lend a bit of luck when she needed it? Angel felt a spring of fresh affection for her new-found deity well up in her heart... even if his words did also remind her that his followers should be making their own luck.

But when the one who had lifted and carried her placed her in the recliner and then put a heavy hand on her chest, the disguised she-elf had the sinking feeling that somehow she had been detected... and that one's words only confirmed Angel's suspicions. She can see through my disguise?! All of them?! Angel thought, that sinking feeling turning into an icy stab of fear.

The unconscious maid opened one eye, and peered up at the figure towering over her. She didn't look like she'd just seen a... well, maybe Jack was with her still. Time for some luck-making!

The maid smiled mockingly, and then her form began to melt and reshape itself. Taking advantage of the momentary distraction she knew such shifting would bring, the shape-shifting 'maid' spoke one brief syllable of arcane magic...

(OOC Edit: private part revealed based on Aerin's actions in following post)

... and promptly vanished from the chair only to reappear behind it, a heartbeat before her form solidified into the red-haired harlot that had been at the inn. "I told you before. I'm Angel. And I've only come to bring some pie." She said with a seductive pout, placing her hands on her hips to accentuate her assets, her voice the perfect imitation of the feigned little-girl innocence for which a lot of customers paid extra.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:03, Wed 26 July 2017.

Aerin was prepared to interrupt a spell or a command word, but when the body underneath her hand began to writhe and change it felt as if she had stuck her hand into a bucket of wriggling, slimy worms. She had been prepared for a lot, just not that. "Yuck!" the Rashemi exclaimed and withdrew her hand as if she had touched red-hot iron. "What in the nine hells is this?" she said as the body vanished to reappear elsewhere. Swiftly she rose to her feet and Frostbite was in her hand...

Haldyn swore at these antics. 'Gods! Was I such a fool when I was an adventurer?' he wondered, half-smiling and shaking his head in fond remembrance tinged with bitter maturity. 'Pray tell me someone knows this woman, before I call the guards? Or order you to deal with her yourself?'

Maelarra looked up from her paper. 'Tseran? Is this her?'

 "Difficult to say." Tseran answers dryly, having relaxed slightly out of his earlier stance in order to watch with obvious interest and a hearty helping of Elvish disdain "The fumbling efforts to generate enough chaos that an opportunity may present itself suggests that it is, but I never troubled myself sufficiently in the past to investigate more deeply. Were you not vouched the means to identify them when they were commended to you?"
This message was last edited by the player at 20:20, Thu 27 July 2017.

Angel momentarily frowned at the drawn sword. "You know that's the second time today one of your new friends has drawn steel on me, Tseran," she stated, seemingly ignoring the question from warrior who held that blade. "What kind of tales have you been telling them about me, I wonder." Crossing her arms across her chest in a elder-sisterly gesture.

[Private to Aerin of Damar: What in the Abyss is going on. The ginger's voice corrected in Aerin's mind, still as mocking and irreverent as before. But you're new; I won't hold it against you. ]

[Private to Tseran Tal'chiar: Tired mimicry?! Fumbling efforts?! Angel's voice nearly screeched in Tseran's mind.    ]

When the lord spoke, Angel feigned a hurt look, hand to her breast to accentuate the emotion. "Oh but my lord, don't tell me you've forgotten about that night we shared?! I'm hurt! And to think I only charged you half price!"

But when the noble lady spoke and Angel saw what she held, the harlot's eyes widened in shock for just an instant -- It couldn't be! Tseran never read it and... Oh no! I left it at the inn! She said to herself -- before a knowing, mischievous grin spread across the red-headed strumpet's face.

So she can see through my disguises can she? Angel thought to herself as her eyes flickered back to the warrior holding the sword. Let's see if she can see through this!

It was a foolish thing to let a known spellcaster have free use of hand and tongue...

OOC: I'm beginning to think Angel really is jinxed!  :(
Using Conceal Spellcasting skill trick to secretly cast Fog Cloud, centered where Angel is currently standing.
09:09, Today: Angel rolled 13 using 1d20+11.  Sleight of Hand (Conceal Spellcasting trick).
Opposed by Spot checks.   

Kaijn was no fan of spies and especially ones that had been told to stay away. His hands began weaving signs in the air and he spoke ancient words of magic. A green glow appeared around the elf.


OOC: Cast "Hold Person" DC18.

 "Acquaintances." Tseran corrects dryly, not even bothering to address the accusation that he's been telling tales out of school, so to speak - not under the circumstances currently pertaining. Instead, he concentrates upon warning the room as he remarks "She's trying to summon a fog." in dust-dry, utterly dispassionate tones.

 ---

 16:49, Today: Tseran Tal'chiar rolled 14 using 1d20.  Spot!
 With my skill bonus, 17.
 16:52, Today: Tseran Tal'chiar rolled 4 using 1d20.  Spellc.
 And again, that's 18.

Orophear focused on the auras around the young woman and recognized them from earlier. The elf let his sword drop back into it's sheath with an audible click.

As the woman began to more about the room magically the elf couldn't help but smirk at the chaos she was causing for nothing more than just to cause it. Angel seemed harmless enough to the troop and the mission but there was something about her, perhaps it was the invasion into his mind that triggered something inside him that he hadn't felt since his beloved Lysande had left. When he heard Tseran state the spell she was casting Orophear simply crossed his arms and waited to see what would happen.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:37, Thu 27 July 2017.

'It is difficult getting an exact description of shapeshifters and mistresses of disguise. I rather hoped you could do it.' Maelarra admitted, scribbling on her sheet of paper. 'Still, I think I may have something...'

Duke Haldyn grew enraged at Angel's provocation and antics. 'How dare you!' he roared with the voice of a man his size, then bellowed, sure to be heard throughout the house. 'Guards!' Guards and battle-illusionists began hurtling through the corridors of the manor-house.

When Tseran warned of spellcasting, Maelarra reacted quickly, reaching for... a biscuit! Which she promptly hurled at Angel, the hard-baked treat smacking her in the face. She might have withstood harsher distractions in the midst of spellcasting, but none quite so ridiculous as the prim noble priestess getting into a food fight. She could almost hear Jack cackling in her head, and her spell was interrupted.

Then Kaijn cast his spell, holding Angel tight. [Private to Angel: All eyes were on Angel; none saw Maelarra wink, point to the folded note, and mouth 'Don't move!'.]

'A waste of a good biscuit, I'm afraid. My apologies to the maid.' Lady Maelarra interjected, rising and approaching the captive trickster, coolly appraising her like any fine jewellery. 'If you are simply an uncommon strumpet, then I'm sure we can come to a very suitable arrangement...'

'On the other hand, if you are the Angel who wrote, ahem, "Dear Tseran, I know you probably hate me by now, and I understand if you do. I let fear, fear of the unknown, consume me, and I traded that fear of what might be for your real and present companionship—it was a foolish bargain and I dearly regret it. I will not ask your forgiveness; what I have done is unforgivable. But if you would let me, I would like to try to atone in some small way for my misdeed." Signed, Angel, then I believe you can start by holding off your spells, sitting down, apologising to Duke Haldyn, and taking tea and cake with us.' she offered, slipping the note back into her purse.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:09, Fri 28 July 2017.

Hearing Maelarra's words, the Rashemi turned to watch the noblewoman incredulously "Say again? You can't be seriously considering having tea with this woman? - For all we know she may have spiked it with poison or worse a love potion just for the fun of it!" This was getting more ridiculous by the second "The only reason this one is still breathing is because she needs to be questioned. The minimum she should be charged with is breaking and entering, if she is not spying for another duke." Aerin said and glared at the captive woman.

"In addition, if she's really this so called Angel, she has already proven to be selfish and utterly unreliable. Do you really want a person like that on the lose? Free to tell anyone about our confidential mission? This is the first step into a catastrophe, Lady Maelarra. Remember if we fail, lives may be lost, maybe not our own but it could be the duke's son or that of another noble. I strongly recommend you reconsider your offer." Aerin said, her aggravation more than apparent in her voice.

Just at the point of unleashing magic to cover her escape, a particularly crusty biscuit smacked Angel right between the eyes. Ow! she thought, blinking away a sudden flood of tears and failing to resist the urge to rub the spot -- which of course ruined her spell.

And then Jack's laughter echoed in her head... Well, at least he's laughing now instead of scolding. Angel thought wryly, failing at the moment herself to find the humor in her present situation.

And then she felt Kaijn's magic settle over her, freezing her in place. Gods above! She swore to herself. Can this get any worse?!

OOC: Yep! I'm jinxed!  :(
17:04, Today: Angel rolled 9 using 1d20+8.  Hold Person will save (bonuses included).
(Fail!)

[Private to Maelarra Hlartrym: In response to her wink and word-mouthing, the ginger woman's voice, sounding frustrated and vexed, echoed in Maelarra's head. Like I can move if I wanted to!

And when the priestess began to read her note to Tseran aloud, Angel cried out again in Maelarra's mind, continuing throughout her recitation and growing increasingly urgent. Hey! ... That's not yours! ... Stop it! ... Quit! ... Please! And finally an mentally audible sigh of relief when Maelarra read out "signed Angel", for the held shapeshifter knew what name she had really written down on that slip of paper. Thank you was the last almost whispered reply before the mental voice fell silent.  ]

[Private to GM: As Maelarra finished reading the note, a voice sounded in the duke's mind. Please call off your guards, my lord. I surrender... and I apologize for insulting you.  ]

Maelarra had looked a bit surprised at Angel's response, or lack thereof. She frowned, then heard Aerin. 'I too would like to get to the bottom of this. There's just no reason we can't be civil and good hosts about it.' she answered simply, with a Procampan's customary consideration for etiquette.

Duke Haldyn rounded on Angel, strangely responding to something that hadn't been said. 'You apologise now you're caught, you mean? And what of the trespassing, spying, and attacking that poor maid?' he retorted angrily, but his words grew guilty and grieving, full of pity. 'You foolish girl, a mage of your power. You don't want to face this city's justice...' He shook his head, gazing down at the carpet, as if the city's justice defeated even him.

The guards arrived, turning the magical holding into a very physical one. They gripped her arms, wrenched them behind her back, and slipped mage-cuffs onto her hands. These were tight mittens with manacles at the wrists, linked by a short chain, guaranteed to hamper somatic spellcasting. The guards weren't gentle; they'd probably learned their craft at the temple of Loviatar.

'Though that does make having tea difficult.' Mae observed. She crossed the room to the innocent, genuine maid still panicking in the nook, administering a healing spell and kind words.

Still held by Kaijn's magic, Angel didn't resist, though her mind was certainly active...

[Private to GM: Angel laughed at the lord's reply. Not a mocking one this time, but one filled with genuine mirth. Of course, when I'm caught! Is there any better time to be contrite? The maid wasn't harmed. Only a simple sleep spell. I even caught her when she fell to slumber and laid her down gently so she wouldn't crack her head. That and a kick to her feet to jostle her awake was all she suffered. And I would hardly call such suffering at all. As for the trespassing and spying, how far would you go to see a friend safe? ]

 "It is at that, although I think 'mistress of disguise' may be overly generous, given that one generally need only follow the sounds of chaos and confusion to discern her location.", his expression actually gaining some modest quantity of blood in it for the first time at the contents of the letter, although since he appears to be holding himself back from setting fire to something this probably isn't progress.

 "On my second day in the deep swamp, I awoke to discover that a toxic blob had devoured one of my shoes. That afternoon, a crocodile - or possible an alligator, we weren't introduced - attempted to make off with my left leg. That evening, I discovered that several of the seemingly almost-dry sources of kindling I had located were, in fact modestly hallucinogenic and in one notable case, actively toxic." he remarks, flexing his fingers in the fashion of someone imagining what it would be like to shape a good, hot lance of fire about now as he culminates the short list by remarking "On the whole, that was one of my better days and I was to look back upon it fondly before I managed to return to ci... Reach Calaunt."

"So despite you not being fond of her, you know this Angel fairly well? Clearly she wants to get in contact with you. So how about you two work it out, since I do not want anyone following us." Kaijn said, clearly very serious about his last statement.

Slove breaths in large amount of air making really horrid noise.
Well I believe we have number of servant of different gods.
So you two could choose what type of ceremony you like.