Angati put out her hand to reach for the book on the top of the pile and it suddenly jerked off the table and fell on the ground. Sister Agnes looked up and gave Angati a stern look, then returned to rebinding an expensive text. The oracle signed, and took a step forward to reach for the book. It quickly slid along the ground and stopped just out of her reach. When she took another step the book jumped up, slammed into Angati's kneecap and then flew back a little more out of reach.

"Shhhh!" said Agnes, looking up from her work again and peering at the oracle over the top of her glasses. With a shaking of her head, the sister went back to stitching.

Stifling a curse under her breath, Angati turned away from the first book, returned to the pile and reached for the book now on top. The pile of books exploded in ten different directions sending texts flying around the room, slamming into bookshelves and walls.

"QUIET!" screamed Sister Agnes, taking her glasses off and flinging them onto the table in front of her. "QUIET! QUIET! QUIET! Why do you have to destroy almost every morning with your insufferable horseplay?!"

<response?>

The door to the library was flung open and Brother Karthach strode into the room. The bookish dwarf was leader of the shrine - or at least as close to a leader as they had. They were not a clerical order so there was no strict hierarchy, but he had been there the longest and was well loved by the other followers of Liir and respected by the nobility who visited and provided the funds to keep the temple going. The small dwarf held something in the palm of his hand with a small blue cloth over it. He walked up to Agnati, held out his hand and removed the cloth with a flourish - he held a small cake.

"Happy name day Agnati! Oh, I know you said you didn't want to celebrate them anymore, but I just couldn't resist." He caught the grumpy look that Sister Agnes was giving the oracle, but just smiled back. "Don't worry Agnes! I know my own rules, no eating in the library! I will take the name day girl out to eat this and in any case..." He looked at Agnati, "I want to tell her the surprise I have for her in private!" He grinned like maniac.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:43, Wed 11 Feb 2015.

Angati pursed her lips as the first book started moving. Without saying a word, she bent down to try to pick it.  As her sister started playing further with the book and even hitting her knee with it she whispered "Anansiiiii, please... stop it... what is wrong ?".

Then all the books moved with Sister Agnes predictable reaction. Angati's voice was soft and mellifluous, she had a way of charging her words with feeling through intonation that made for a good part of her charm "Excuse me Agnes... this arthritis is killing me" she knew there was no point explaining, and at best it would cause her a problem, so instead she went through her list of older-woman-excuses as she liked to call it, and went for the Arthritis as a plausible cause. She knew that nothing would appease Sister Agnes more, than feeling younger.

Karthach entrance was more than welcome, although as soon as he mentioned her name day, her smiled fell from her lips, and she unconsciously brought her hand to her face, as if checking if there were new wrinkles .She couldn't find any with that quick gesture, but she made a mental note to check as soon as she had a minute in front of a mirror... for sure her breasts would have sagged a bit more, or the veins in her neck would be more prominent... but Karthach was speaking and she was barely listening.

"Ohh... of course, I'd be delighted" she said trying to leave the books as organised as possible before leaving... then as she advanced with the dwarf and almost as an after thought she said "Thank you, its very kind of you".

"Not at all my dear!" said the dwarf and guided her out into the central garden. This early in the day the grounds were empty except for the beautiful marble statues and peacocks that lived there. Karthach sat down on a while marble bench and passed the small cake onto her when she sat next to him.

"Don't let Agnes get you down," he said. "She likes a quiet life and nothing more..." He pauses. "How is the cake?"

</Yellow<Yellow>>"So Agnati, I have an idea. You know how I have to run errands around the city at times? I want you to come and help out, you deserve more than to spend every day trapped in these walls, and we wouldn't have to tell your father about it." The dwarf puts his hands up. "Nothing exciting of course! For example, this afternoon I have to attend a bridal dress blessing." He chuckles. "Have you ever heard of anything more ridiculous? But we'll have to go to the merchant's quarter for it so it will be an interesting distraction and I'm sure we will find time to look in some of the book shops there before we come back. What do you say?"
This message was last edited by the player at 19:46, Wed 11 Feb 2015.

Map to help Agnatic get her bearings in the noble district

Angati tried to get some reactionary hair that refused to stay in her ponytail behind her ear. It felt cranky in her fingers and she winced a bit, was she going to start loosing it ?. She looked right at the dwarf's eyes, "I am not sure I can let go such an opportunity for getting out of here... only..." she felt a bit embarrassed saying this, so she dropped her voice even more "I'd rather skip the book shops".

She quickly started talking again so as to let that go unnoticed... she was working at the shrine, but she wasn't really a bookish person herself... and quite frankly a place like a bookstore, with her sister around and on a bad humour, it wasn't something she would look forward to. "I'd love to go though... I mean, can I go just as I am or does one need to dress differently for one of those dress blessings ?". She knew she sounded childish... but that's what she was anyway, even if people thought differently.... surprisingly enough few people noticed the inconsistencies. 'Adults were for the most part quite childish when it came down to it'

Karthach chuckled. "Alright then, we'll go through the harbour and watch the street entertainers instead. I hear there are some impressive Alphatian stilt walkers down that are worth seeing."

The old dwarf gets up and stretches. "I suppose I should be getting back to work. Meet me by the front gates at noon - no, you don't need to be wearing anything special but I on the other hand...", he grimaces. "Will have to be wearing my ceremonial toga and carrying the 'ceremonial stick of knowledge'. Please try not to laugh when you see me..."

OCC: Sorry, but I am going to fast forward a little here and make some assumptions about what Angati is going.

Angati finished her cake and brushed the crumbs off her clothes. She returned to the library and sister Agnes, but it didn't seem so bad now that she knew there would be an exciting outing in a few hours. Also, Anansi seemed to have calmed down. Whatever had been bothering her had passed or maybe she was resting - did ghosts need to rest? Angati was ready by the front gates at ten minutes before noon and saw Karthach arrive. The dwarf really did look funny dressed in a white toga that reached to the floor despite being draped over him twice, and the brightly coloured 'ceremonial stick of knowledge' also seemed oversized for him.

"I know, I know," said Karthach with slightly less than his usual cheer. "Togas are really made to be worn by tall people. If I'd known that the representative of the order had to wear this, I would've become a priest of Kord instead! So, are you ready to go?"

Angati had taken some time to refresh herself and even though she had not changed clothes, she felt more adequate with an extra combing of her hair. The morning had passed surprisingly quickly and she had finished organising the books, so Agnes had even said a brief "Thanks" as she left.

"You look fine" said Angati clearly colouring the truth "I guess that is what people are expecting right ?" she said giving Kartarch another look all over. "So... what am I to do ?, I really have never even seen a wedding. I guess the bride will be beautiful... hmmm do you know if they know me or my family enough to know who I am ?."

OOC: Sorry, long post incoming...


Karthach chuckled. “Oh no. We don’t get to go to the actual wedding, that will be held later in the day at the groom’s mansion in the champion district, we aren’t invited to that. We just need to go and shake the magic stick here,” he says, waving the big multi-coloured ceremonial stick of knowledge. “That should hopefully impart beauty and harmony on the union, or something like that. But it is a good excuse to get out of the shrine and walk around the city, and anyway, the bride’s family were important patrons of us in the past, maybe I can encourage them to become so again.”

The unusual pair headed out from the shrine and walked through the High Market done to the noble district docks. The noon day heat was brutal, but it became more comfortable when they sat on a gondola and set out on the water.


“Well, the groom is Soren Toregson, the youngest son of the champion district Toregsons. They are the second family of their district, and his father is Urik Toregson, who is rather a legend in the arena, or so I hear. Have you ever met any of them?”

“The bride is Amarilde Vanderboren, of the Vanderborens in the merchant district - they used to be an important family but have been less prominent recently. I think she has a cousin called Lavinia who is about your age,” the old dwarf pauses and looks sad. “Well, your real age. But she went to the Thenalar academy if I remember correctly, while you were at the magic academy.”

Karthach continued chatting until they arrived at the merchant district harbour market [Private to Angati: feel free to ask extra questions] and made their way onwards by foot. There was a big crowd gathered in the market to watch the various performers there despite the heat and humidity. Agnati couldn’t see much because of all the crush of people, but did manage to catch sight of the silt-walkers that Karthach had mentioned. They looked very impressive dressed in their green and gold costumes as they danced and leapt through the crowd.

They walked further through the district until they came to the western edge – this was clearly the bad part of the merchant district with the shops looking run down and much fewer people on the street. Even the Telvanta Academy, the city’s prestigious dance school, looked a lot more shabby than she imagined it would when they walked past it. OOC: See map in next post

The surroundings didn’t seem to phase Karthach. “Now let me see. We are looking to Bronson’s Bridal Boutique. Best place in the city, I hear, and much cheaper than what those scoundrels in the noble district charge. Yes, here it is.” They had stopped in front of a small two story building with the shop on the ground floor. A large ‘closed’ sign was hanging on the front door. The dwarf screwed up his face.

“That can’t be right. We are a few minutes early, but he should still be open. Bronson! Open up you fool!” Karthach banged on the door a couple of times. There was a loud crashing noise from the upper floor inside the house, and one of the upstairs windows was suddenly thrown open.

“Help me!” screamed a petite man as he hung out the window. “I’m being robbed… Again!...” With a cry, the man was pulled back from the window violently, and the window was slammed shut.

“Oh dear, oh dear me,” stammered Karthach. “What should we do?” The old dwarf looked around the street but no-one was around. “Perhaps we should go and find the district watch?”

Agnati is suddenly aware that she didn’t bring any weapons with her and is wearing no better armour than her street clothes. But it seems clear that if they go and get help, whoever is in the shop will be finished with the crime by the time they get back.

Map of the western end of the merchant district

Angati went along right by Karthach's side, mostly enjoying the sights and the people. While she had traversed the streets often, few times had it been walking them freely... it was always inside a small carriage hidden behind a curtain so that people would not see her. Those had been the instructions from her father... but now that she was on her own, and she could be hardly traced to her origins, she had a bit more freedom, although she had tasted very little of it.

And so it was that she was savouring the smells and feels of the street, silent and walking besides Karthach, just asking small questions about what was that building or that other, and where was it best to buy a dress that would not be too expensive but that would still befit a person in her position.

She did not recall having met any of the people that the dwarf mentioned, but that was probably normal, she did however remember the family name and having heard quite a bit from her father, and even from her sister... some silly talk about bulging muscles and sweaty shaven torsos... regarding Soren's older brother or something of the sorts.

All in all, the walk had made for one of the best times she had enjoyed in the last few months.

That was... until they got to the house... hearing the screams suddenly sent a chill through out her spine, and glimpses of the future passed quickly through her minds eye. She could picture the man shouting as he was pushed  and fell on a table, his neck broken.... that was but mere seconds away... and only if they left....

"Quick lets get in through this window... quick help me out" she said as she broke one of the cristals with a stone and tried to reach inside to enter.... she had to rush.. she really had to rush, the man was about to push, a distraction had to be created.

Karthach hesitated, obviously a man more used to sitting down and reading all day rather than breaking into a house to save a life, but the sound of the cobblestone smashing the window brought him to his senses.

"Yes, yes, this is the only way," he said as he moved to help her. Together the got all of the glass out of the window and were able to reach around and remove the bar from the double doors. Before they opened them Karthach grabbed her arm. "One second," he said and then muttered a few magical words. Agnati saw a glimmering shield appear around her. Then the old dwarf focused on the stick he had been carried from the shrine, and it started to glow. He passed it to her. "I think you can make more use of this than me. I think it is big enough to do some damage at least. I will use my little vegetable peeler here." Karthach produces a dagger from beneath his robes. "Let's go before the magic runs out or I loose my nerve!"

Stick of Knowledge
Club 1d6

Shield of Faith
This spell creates a shimmering, magical field around the target that averts and deflects attacks. The spell grants the subject a +2 deflection bonus to AC.

Magic Weapon (on the Stick of Knowledge)
Magic weapon gives a weapon a +1 enhancement bonus on attack and damage rolls.

The two of them pushed the doors opened and stared into the inside of the shop. The interior was a mess with cloth and garments thrown all over the floor and display cases shattered. As they watched, a dishevelled looking man with several fine silks draped over his shoulder ran down the stairs from the first floor, taking the steps two at a time. He came to an abrupt halt as he saw them. "Errr... The prem-me-seez are closed for the day," he said, paused, and then added. "Yeah, isn't they." There is the sound of a loud splash from upstairs.


Bronson's Bridal Boutique - Level 1 of the dungeon
Ka = Karthach
A = Agnati
Red 1 = Shop Assistant


The man in the shop - just your average bridal dress tailor
This message was last edited by the player at 20:21, Tue 20 Jan 2015.

"Thank you" she muttered to Karthach as she went in first through the window. It was quite a generous thing that he would think of protecting her before protecting himself, and she made a mental note to embrace and thank him if they made it out of this.

Angati ran towards the stairs, she did not want to think about it much... her own physical prowess was hampered by her curse, all those lessons she had received as a child, had gone to waste along with her physique. Still... she hoped some of what had been taught to her still remained.

She did not dare hesitate, the future had changed but not for the best... the same face she had seen loose its life as he hit the table, appeared now white, with its lips blue and his hair wet... worst of it, was the depressing certainty that she could not explain. She gritted her teeth as she prepared to smash the robber 'No', she corrected herself, 'the murderers'.

Her swing however, went a bit wide, the crates with chemicals getting in her way, she did not manage to connect with the man in front of her.

OOC: 08:41, Today: Angati rolled 6,8 using 1d20+2,1d6+2. Attack with club.

20:26, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 12 using 1d20+2. Thug 1 initiative.
20:25, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 7 using 1d20+1. Aganti initiative.
20:26, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 4 using 1d20. Karthach initiative.

Initiative order is Thug, Aganti then Karthach

The thug is able to act first, no doubt suspecting that his waver thin ruse would not be successful. With a curse the man kicks over the nearest vat of chemicals - a big tub full of blue dye - and it spills across the floor.



The thug is AC 12/12/10 so she misses, even with the magic enchantment.

Angati is surprised how incredibly slippery the floor is because of the dye. After her swing she has to pedal her feet frantically to try and keep her footing.

Make a DC 10 acrobatics check or fall flat on your back! You will need to do this at the end of any round you take an action while in the area of effect of the dye.


Karthach is not far behind and strikes out at the thug with his dagger with surprising effectiveness - he catches the rough looking man on his arm, drawing a strong stream of blood. The dwarf also struggles to maintain his footing, but just manages to do so.

20:34, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 14 using 1d20+2. Attack roll for Karthach.
20:35, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 4 using 1d4+2. Karthach damage.
20:39, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 11 using 1d20. Karthach acrobatics check.

"Frak you! You little midget," the man screams out, followed by a scream directed upstairs. "Get your frakken ass down her Marek!" But there is no reply from the first floor.

Updated battle map.

Round Two - please post the result of your acrobatics check before continuing into this round.

The thug directs his attention to Karthach, since he seems the most dangerous, and lashes out widely with his dagger in a way that displays he is no great swordsman.

20:47, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 3 using 1d20+2. Thug attacks Karthah.
Natural one, check if this is a fumble. Karthach is AC 10/10/10 at the moment since he had no armour and no dex bonus.

20:47, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 7 using 1d20+2. Confirm fumble!
:D

The thug accidently puts one of his feet just inside the big puddle of blue dye and it slides out from under him, landing the man flat on his back!
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:07, Wed 21 Jan 2015.

Angati managed to keep her footing somehow, and she even managed to drop the club with some force on the thug's head. However, as a result of this last movement, she fell to the floor falling quite unladylike on her but. "Damn it's going to be too late!!!" she said, tears almost in her eyes for her own incompetence.

09:44, Today: Angati rolled 6,8 using 1d20+2,1d6+2. Acrobatics, Round 2.
08:51, Today: Angati rolled 18,4 using 1d20+2,1d6+2.
08:51, Today: Angati rolled 12 using 1d20+1. Acrobatics, Equilibrium.

Hit for 4 Dmg

Karthach stashes his dagger back in his toga and then jumps on the prone thug. The man tries to lash out, but the stocky dwarf is far too heavy for him to have any chance of connecting. With a surprising twist of his arm, Karthach is able to flip the man onto his stomach and pin him to the floor. The thief is bleeding profusely from his forehead where Aganti's blow caught him earlier.

20:14, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 0 using 1d20-3. Thug attack of opp while prone.
20:15, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 12 using 1d20+3. Karthach grapple.

The thug's CMD is 12 so that is enough. He has 2 hp remaining and wisely decides you and Karthach are too dangerous.

"I give up! I give up!" screams the man as he opens his hand and drops his dagger to the floor.

"Get upstairs!" yells Karthach as he begins binding the man with one of the pieces of fine silk the thief had been carrying over his shoulder. "Find Bronson!"

"Sure" she said without adding anything else.

Angati stood up as best she could getting a hold of a barrel, and giving a quick glance at Karthach to check that he was in complete control of the situation before she started running upstairs with the club in hand.

She did not worry much about an ambush, the image of the white decolored and lank face of Bronson still held to her retina and refused to go. So climbing the steps by twos she tried to guess where the bathtub might be.

Agnati shot up the stairs and was greeted by an horrific sight. Beyond a small office, there was an open door into a bedroom. Inside this was a rough looking man holding someone's head down into a full bathtub! The figure with his head stuck underwater is still struggling, but it is clear her will not be able to break free.

The thug sees Agnati come up the stairs and curses at her. "Get the frak out of here old lady, or else!"


The situation upstairs


Thug #2 - he smells even worse than thug #1

Initiative - I'll roll for Agnati twice this time, sorry I forgot in the other combat.


20:22, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 15 using 1d20+1. Aganti Initiative roll #1.
20:22, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 8 using 1d20+1. Aganti Initiative roll #2.
20:23, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 10 using 1d20+2. Thug #2 initiative.

Combat order is Agnati, thug #2, then Bronson if he gets a chance. What do you want to do?

'Maybe... just maybe.... there is still time' thought Angati as she advanced just enough to get only the murderer, and not Bronson, in the cone of fear that she conjured. Speaking the words in an unearthly tone that seemed to come  out of several voices at the same time, she released the energies towards the thief.

OOC:Remember the misfortune if need be please.

Will do!

Will Save DC = 10 + the spell’s level + the oracle’s Charisma modifier = 10 + 2 + 3 = 15

Thug #2 Will bonus = -1

19:52, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 0 using 1d20-1. Thug 2 will save versus fear.

Woah. He is very very afraid.

The look on the man's face quickly changes from contempt to fear and then something even beyond that. The thug releases his grip on the man in the bathtub and then scans the room for an escape route. His eyes catch on the closest window and he darts past the bathtub and jumps out the window!

19:56, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 16 using 1d20+2. DC10 check for thug 2 jumping out of window.

He is able to somehow land on his feet, although he still suffers terrible cuts from the glass. The man runs off down the street screaming at the top of his lungs.

Meanwhile, the man in the bathtub has jerked his head out of the water and collapsed on the floor, gasping for breath. He lies there, coughing up water.