This message was deleted by the player at 22:12, Tue 09 Dec 2014.

Ha! I was getting there!

It took almost a minute, and few more soft knocks on the door before it was opened and Magus Eseriel, second in command of the Temple of Wee Jas of Sasserine, stood before Celene in her nightdress.

"Celene! What is this! What time is it? It isn't even dawn prayers yet!" The old lady was still rubbing sleep out of her eyes as she stood in the doorway. Celene got the idea that she'd better have a good explanation or she would be relegated to cleaning pans in the kitchen for a month.

In reply to Magus Eseriel (msg # 21):

"Yes most esteemed Magus Eseriel, I am sorry to come at this hour. But the reason for my urgency is... I had a vision tonight. May I come in for a moment? Just to explain myself, before you judge me, which I will obediently submit myself to afterwards?"


"I have no-one else to turn to for help in understanding this vision. I fear it should fade from memory any moment. It may have just been a simple dream, if not for two things:
First and most extraordinary was that in the 'dream' I was visited by a woman of exquisite beauty and immense power, to say the least. In contrast to her intense presence and beauty, she wore a skull ring on her left hand. She commanded, and I obeyed, without a thought for anything else.
Secondly, when my vision faded, the woman told me to go to you and ask to be sent to 'Vorsh'. I have no idea what or who 'Vorsh' is! Do you - does this make sense to you?"

"And well, yes, also, in the process, I burned my bed to cinders. I am sorry - but I feel as if i am consumed by power and energy!"
This message was last edited by the player at 22:32, Tue 09 Dec 2014.

”Oh very well then,” grumbled the old lady. “But if this is a waste of time, I’ll come up with some very nasty jobs for you to see to. I hear that the toilets in the adepts quarters are blocked again. That should do for a start…”

The grey haired cleric grudgingly stepped back from the door and allowed Celene to enter her cell. Despite the lady’s standing there wasn’t much more to it than Celene’s room, it was slightly bigger and had a sitting area as well as a separate bedroom, but even the furniture wasn’t anything fancy. The privileges of rank in the church in the Church of Wee Jas were more centered around better research and spellcasting facilities, not to mention the ability to boss around anybody of a more junior rank than you. Celene did notice that Eseriel’s nightdress was definitely not standard church issue – it had little pink frilly edges around the hem of the arms and bottom – but that was the only concession to Eseriel’s place as the second ranked Magus in the city.

“You have two minutes girl. Use them well. And be warned, it takes more than a bad dream to make a ‘vision’.” The Magus sat back in one of the three chairs in the seating area and motioned for Celene to sit in the other.


Eseriel listened to Celene’s dream rather disinterestly, until the final part where the name ‘Vorsh’ was mentioned. “What?!” she barked. “How did you learn of that name? That is a very dangerous name to be using in these halls. Are you sure that is what the ‘mysterious lady’ said to you?” When Celene confirmed that this was the case, Eseriel made the girl tell the story all over again, and hovered on every detail. What did the lady look like? What was she wearing? What did the villagers say? What did the teenage boy look like? When she was convinced that she had gleaned every last piece of information from Celene, the cleric leaned back in her chair and puffed out her cheeks with a quick breath. The heat of the night had retreated as the conversation had taken place, and the bell for dawn prayers was now ringing.

“Listen to me Celene. This is very important. Go back to your room and get changed for morning prayers, then come back her after breakfast. I will cast a spell to commune with Wee Jas straight after prayers and I will check out your vision and find out what is to be done. Yes, I do know a man named Vorsh. A dangerous man. A killer actually. But a man which I must help if I am to follow Wee Jas’ will. Go. I will tell you more after breakfast if I confirm your story to be true. Oh and Celene,” Eseriel pauses. “Do not tell anyone of this. Trust me. These are not safe times in the city and we need to watch our tongues, agreed?”

“Well damn it girl! If you do not learn to channel your power it is going to be the death of you. Maybe all of us if you burn the damn temple down around our ears!” Eseriel seemed quite annoyed by this additional piece of information. “Skip breakfast. Bind up anything that is burnt and bring it with you when you return. If anyone asks say you are doing my laundry as punishment. We will find out someone to replace your bedding without the serving girls figuring anything out. No go! Neither of us should be late for prayers.”

In reply to Magus Eseriel (msg # 23):

Celene hurries from Eseriels room, and quickly gets ready for prayer. Meanwhile, she ponders if Lady Eseriel was genuine about following the wishes of Wee Jas, or was perhaps equally interested in some agenda of her own (sense motive?)

She also goes over her own recitation again, thinking of any points where lady Eseriels reactions betrayed her, showing where her main interests lay.(sense motive?)

This morning's session she spends in contemplation of everything but the morning sermon.

She again wonders that she apparently has taken no hurt from the flames, and (again) tries to remember whether this also was the case at earlier uses of her powers.

She also tries to  remember if she knew who that boy in the dream was - Eseriel showed interest in him.

Other than the dream there is not much she can do or think of. Who may this Vorsh be - he sound genuinely nasty. But Celene feels obliged to follow the command of both the mysterious lady, and lady Eseriel - if she agrees with the vision - and therefore go to this man.

Celene realises she would really like lady Eseriels assurance whether her nightly visitor was really Wee Jas - and was this a particular aspect of her, such as Death's Guardian, since the ring was so prominent?

After prayer she gobbles down some breakfast, despite having no hunger, and hurries to her room. Bundling up the damaged parts, she hoists them and goes to Eseriels room, knocking again on the door, this time at a more appropriate hour.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:22, Wed 10 Dec 2014.

:) I see this ‘sense motive’ skill check being a very popular one for you! You can use it to detect if people are lying or trying to bluff you, not if they have some long term masterplan. So you can check ‘did it seem like she was REALLY going to cast commune and ask questions of our goddess?’. Keep in mind that the Magus has spent several decades climbing through the heirachy of the Wee Jas church and is a skilled political operator, she would have a pretty good poker face – not that I am saying she WAS using that during your last conversation! So that would be a sense motive check versus her bluff, and I will roll it secretly, so you will only know if Celene succeeds and Esriel is hiding something. Failures, or if Eseriel is being totally honest with you, give the same result. Still want to give it a shot?!



:D Err, no. You can’t just keep making sense motive checks about effetely the same thing again and again, no matter how creatively you phrase them! You can take one attempt for the whole conversation.



Err. Yeah, I actually forgot to mention that she does have some minor burning around her ankles where she accidentally targeted herself during the dream. She isn’t fire proof or anything! No, she didn’t hurt herself previously when learning about her powers, but then, the others weren’t as strong as this.



She remembers that the boy/young teenager was related to the owner of the plantation. She never found out his name. It wasn’t like she ever hung out with him. Eseriel wasn't that interested in him, it was just one of the many things she asked about.



Fair enough, you can ask her about that.



Actually, she was told to skip breakfast, hmm, just couldn’t manage without her first cup of coffee, huh? ;)
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:32, Thu 11 Dec 2014.

Celene knocked but no-one answered. After a couple more knocks she tried the door but found it was locked, leaving her stuck out in the corridor with a bundle of singed laundry under her arms. An uncomfortable quarter of an hour followed as she nervously waited and tried to remain inconspicuous as servants, adepts and clerics flowed around her on their morning business, but none of them gave her a second glance. In the hierarchy of Wee Jas is it all too common for the lowly ranked to be given jobs and then kept waiting for their ‘betters’. Finally, Eseriel appeared around the corner, with a serving girl in tow. “Where were you?! I said to come straight after prayers!” she said, as she unlocked the door to her quarters. “This is Belinda.” The servant behind the Magus gave a small, but slow curtsy. Celene saw that she was a pretty girl with long blond hair tied back tied up at the back of her head. “Belinda is going to help with your bedding. Hand it over and she will see that it is replaced. We can trust her to be discrete.” The serving girl looked at Celene slyly, her full red lips turned up very slightly at the corners. She didn’t seem like the type of person that Celene would have choosen to trust.

<assuming that Celene hands over her dirty laundry>

Eseriel led Celene into her quarters and gestured at a chair. “Please sit down. We have quite a bit to talk about.” The old magus pulled another chair across the floor so she would be closer, and then sat down herself. “I have be in commune with our goddess, and I now believe your story. I asked her  if she was the ‘mysterious lady’ in your dream last night. The answer was ‘yes’.” Eseriel paused and looked into Celene’s eyes. “Such an  honour! I have received only a handful of such visitations in all my decades of service. My second question was ‘should I take Celene to Vorsh’, which is hindsight was rather superfluous, anyway, the answer was an emphatic ‘yes’. “

In reply to Dungeon Master (msg # 25):

Thanks for clearing up the sense motive skill rules, didn't know them.

Better late than never on telling me of the burns :-D

What was the name of the plantation owner, and does Celene know how they were related?

Ok, Celene will as Eseriel about Vorsh at an appropriate time

oh, must have misread your posting, I thought she was supposed to definately call on her AFTER breakfast :-(

In reply to Magus Eseriel (msg # 26):

After handing over the bedding, Celene follows Eseriel into the room.

Magus Eseriel, I am so sorry for misunderstanding your orders. I am still dazed by the enormity of all this - it is far beyond my simple level of comprehension.

I am so grateful you chose to get a confirmation of the Goddess involvement in my dream. I did not know what to believe!

>sense motive< on Eseriel to gather if she is telling the truth about the confirmation from her Communion - if that is correct usage of the skill?

But you are right, it is an immense honour - but also an incomprehensible assignment for me. But incomprehensible as it is, i am still happy you made sure we understand Wee Jas' intentions correctly.

But of course i am most anxious what you asked about in your later questions. What is most on my mind is how I should interact with this man, Vorsh. Should I give aid to him? If he is, as you say Lady Eseriel, a killer, should I instead hinder him, or spy on him?

Is he in favour with our temple, or with Wee Jas herself? Or if not, does his intentions simply run parallel with our aims? Or is his intentions contrary to ours, so he should be stopped?

So many questions. If I knew this man better, it would of course make guessing at the answers easier, but still, the intentions of our Goddess are unfathomable to me.

If you have more knowledge of this man Vorsh, it would of course help me - what is it he is doing, and why should we interact with it?
This message was last edited by the player at 19:23, Fri 12 Dec 2014.

The plantation owner was Kallum Vanderboren. A rather absentminded old man who left the running of the plantation to his overseers. The boy was his... nephew? Definitely not his son, but a more distant relation.

After handing over the bedding, Celene follows Eseriel into the room.





Sure, rolls made. As far as Celene can tell, Eseriel ready did cast commune and is telling the truth about the answers.



"He is currently working to crush the forces of chaos, or at least a small part of them working in our city. When it comes to that at least, I think we should help him."


"No, of course if he asks you to do something that would be against the teachings of Wee Jas then you must not do it. But as far as we have discussed, he is not asking for anything unreasonable."



"I have nothing more to say about him. I think you should ask him yourself - if you dare after meeting him." Magus Eseriel raises herself up and motions that Celene should do the same. "Come now Celene. We need to go to the opera."

BTW, Eseriel is a well known patron of the Sasserine opera house which is not too far away. Celene has never even been inside the building, let alone seen a show of course!

Day 2 0900

Magus Eseriel led Celene out of the room and looked the door behind them. With a conscious glance at her clothes, the young girl realised that she was only dressed in her daily novice garb and not even the single set of ceremonial robes which were at least slightly more presentable. It seemed that Eseriel noticed her discomfort. "Don't worry Celene, it isn't as uncommon as you think for young Jasdian novices and adepts to visit the opera house, at least not via the back door we will be using." The Magus seemed a little saddened as she said that, but then her face tightened and she walking through the temple to the front doors, with Celene following closely behind. Eseriel herself was only wearing her normal temple robes, but Celene noticed she seemed to have the time to dress up a little at least as she was wearing ear-rings and a necklace.

The pair crossed out into the morning sun and walked the short distance along Warlock's Run that separated the Temple of Wee Jas from Sasserine's large opera house. If the novice was expecting to get a grand tour of the building then she was to be disappointed, because Eseriel turned up an alley and they arrived at a loading bay at the rear of the establishment. At the top of the loading deck, a rough looking half-orc was leaning back on a chair, seemingly asleep despite the lit cigar in his mouth. Either he was guarding the back door or just taking a break from work. The magus climbed the five steps onto the bay quickly and seemed to be upon the half-orc before he even realised she was there. "Get the hell out of my way," she barked. He was so startled that he almost fell off the chair, and his face darkened in anger. But when he opened his eyes and saw who had addressed him he snapped to attention, and pulled the chair to one side. "Yes m'dam," he said with a lot of courtesy. Eseriel didn't even have to break her stride.

The inside of the building was a little busier, with men in leather jackets carrying crates and scenery around. Celene could hear the sound of music coming from somewhere deeper in the opera hall, and also what sounded like dancing feet. Eseriel never hesistated while navigating through the confusing tangle of ropes and small passageways, although she did bark out, "Where is she?" to one startled looking porter. "Up in one of the private boxes miss!" the poor man replied before scuttling off. The Magus took them up a winding set of back stairs until they reached the top, and then pushed through a small door. Celene had to pauses for a second as she passed through. They were now near the top of the opera house, and a grand view was spread out before her. On the stage we a group of dancers - ballerinas she saw - and she could also see the small orchestra that was helping them practice. The music was clear and sounded good, at least to her untrained ears. The mezzanine floor they were on was covered with a thick red carpet, that was also laid on the walls and the balustrade.

"Come along, we are a little late," said Eseriel, showing some irritation. The magus was now looking left and right, as though not sure which way to go. Celene saw that there were private boxes on either side with excellent views of the stage area. "Nylaria, where are you!" she called out rather loudly. One of the ballet dancers on the stage actually looked up.

A huge woman burst out of one of the doors to the private boxes a second later. "Eseriel! Over here my dear!" she exclaimed.



Eseriel's face hardened a little more, if possible, and she shook her head a little. She walked towards the obese lady with Celene at her side. "This is hardly discrete Nylaria," she chastised.

The lady called Nylaria did not look concerned despite the angry apparent on the face of the second highest magus in Sasserine. "This is a safe place, it always has been to us. AAAWWWWLLL!" the fat lady gave a squeal of delight as she fixed eyes properly on Celene. "Is this our offering as a helper?! Oh my goodness, whatever will he say?!" The diva pulled a small box from a pocket in her dress, and took the lid off. Inside were a wide range of different chocolates. "Would you like a chocolate my sweet?" she said as she held the box squarely under Celene's nose.

"Do. Not. Eat. A chocolate." said Eseriel with remarkable seriousness in her voice.

OOC: They smell delicious. And Celene didn't have a proper breakfast, what with wolfing it down and all. She is a little hungry.

In reply to Nylaria Absalee (msg # 32):

OOC: are you kidding? A chocolate for breakfast? With the magus saying a definite no? Do I need to roll a skill check to resist them or what?

"Thank you kind lady, but I must decline."
This message was last edited by the player at 23:21, Fri 12 Dec 2014.

OOC: Ha! Well, it was worth a shot!

In reply to Dungeon Master (msg # 34):

Celene holds back, waiting for the two older women to,spill the beans on what is going to happen

If Nylaria felts any disappointment at her offer not being accepted it didn't show. With an inane giggle she popped two chocolates into her mouth in quick succession. "Awwwl. You're just like a little porcelain doll," she said as she reached out to cup Celene's face in her hands. Eseriel swatted her hands away. "Which box is he in?" she barked.

The fat lady pointed down the mezzanine floor in the direction she had some from. "The Islaran booth. The old man never uses it anymore anyway." Celene recognised the representative house from the Azure district. Keltar Islaran was famous for being the harbourmaster of Sasserine, a position of immense power and respect in a port town like this, but he was old and his days were running out. Unfortunately all his surviving children were too lazy or ineffective to take over the job when he died. It was one of the scandals of the decade.

Eseriel nodded, and walked in that direction and motioned for Celene to follow. Nylaria stuffed the box of chocolates back in a pocket and wiped her hands on her dress. Now that Celene studied it, the novice realised that it was a bit scruffy and creased, almost as though the enormous lady had slept in it.

The reached the door to the private box and Eseriel pushed it open. Inside was a smallish balcony overlooking the dancers practicing below. Just like the rest of the area, it was decked out in plush red carpet so deep that Celene could feel her feet settling into it. Thin curtains of fabric hung from rails at the top of the balcony, and the curtains had been pulled closed, meaning that although it was possible to see out it would be difficult to see in. Six chairs were in the box in two rows of three. In the front row in the left hand most chair sat a figure wearing a dark hooded cloak. "You're late," said a menacing man's voice from beneath the hood.

"Only a few minutes," said Eseriel, not cowered in the slightest. She took the set on the furthest right and gestured to Celene that she should sit in the middle seat. "As we agreed, I have brought someone to help in your mission."

OOC: Are you going to sit down?

In reply to Dungeon Master (msg # 36):

Is nylaria coming into the booth as well? Are there any places that could hide a spy, or holes where eavesdropping is posible from?

are they curtains completely closed, or are there any holes in front of us, that could be a danger?

While walking to sit in the middle seat, Celene glances at the hooded man, trying to get a glimpse of his features or any other significant marks of recognition. She does her best to keep a calm, unexpressional face.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:48, Sat 13 Dec 2014.

Nylaria eased herself into the box as well and closed the door behind her. She took the middle seat in the back row. Celene saw that the box was covered in red carpet from floor to ceiling which would do a good job of stopping their conversation carrying far. That, combined with the closed curtains and the orchestra playing, made it a very private meeting place.



The curtains are completely closed but they are only net curtains.



You are in the left hand private box


This is what the interior looks like.

They are completely closed, but only made of very thin material so it is possible to see through them.

The figure in the hood turned and Celene saw a serious looking man with grey hair staring out at her. "She isn't what I expected," the man said simply.

"She can be trusted," replied Eseriel.

"It is on your head if she can't," said the man. "Very well. My name is Vorsh, what is yours?"

<assuming Celene replies>

"I am trying to root out a very strong and very old evil from this city, and I need some help in this. Eseriel has been kind enough to offer..." The old magus at Celene's right made a grunting noise at the word 'offer'. "...your assistance. Your task will be simple. You need to help a man break into a house and steal an item of evil - it is a sword - and return it to me at noon tomorrow. Do you think this is something that you can do?"

"She is ready," insisted Eseriel.

"I asked her fiend! Now be quiet!" barked the man.

In reply to Dungeon Master (msg # 40):

Did he call Eseriel fiend or friend? Celene is equally shocked either way :-)


Celene turns to the man with an icy stare.

"Yes, i 'think' i can do that - but that is only half an answer. To answer fully If I can do it, I need more knowledge of the assignment - in essence, if we are to succeed.

If things go awry, and they will, i need to know enough to improvise in the best direction. What is the purpose with aquiring the sword. Is it to be destroyed, taken somewhere, or kept away from the forces of evil?In essence, what is to happen with the sword afterwards, as i will need to know to lead us down the right path."


This message was last edited by the player at 20:08, Sun 14 Dec 2014.

It wasn't a typo, he said 'fiend'.

Vorsh pauses some time before replying. Below them the music changes and a new group of ballerinas come on stage to practice some sort of complex dance manoeuvre. Vorsh stared out at them through the curtains and made a disgusted noise in the back of his throat. "This place has always given me the creeps," he grunted.

"The weapon is an intelligent force of evil. Do NOT even touch it, as it has the power to overcome minds and control people. Yes, it will be destroyed as soon as I can figure out a way to do that safely. You need not be involved in that part of the mission though. Just help the thief bring the sword to the place I say at noon tomorrow. If you do this you will be striking a great blow against evil and chaos - isn't that what you want to do?"