OOC: Since this is a skills challenge, making the spellcraft check is enough!

Celene realises at the last second that there must be some way to open this side door of the chest without triggering the rune - otherwise how would the owner of the trunk get their things in and out if the main lid was trapped? She studies the rune hard with the last moments of her detect magic spell and sees that the blue swirling rune doesn't cover all of the door - there is just enough space for her to slip her fingers in either side, and if she used the latch as a hinge rather than trying to unlatch it...

The sorceress is sucessfull in opening the side door and the head of a young lady, bound and gagged, flops out. It is Amarilde Vanderboren!! She is breathing heavily through the gag, and sweating heavily into some skimpy white cotton clothes which appear to be her underwear. She makes some groggy noises and looks up and Celene, a terrified look appearing her face.

OOC: Well done team Alohan! Celene gets the last point for a win! Now you just need to figure out some way to capture the imposter without the dwarves ripping her apart.


CURRENT SCORE - ROUND THREE
AMARILDE      2/3
PARTY         8/8

AMARILDE   <TURN TAKEN>   <MF USED>
ALOHAN                    <MF USED>
ANGATI     <TURN TAKEN>
CELENE     <TURN TAKEN>
KASSIUS
KIBETI
LOGAN

Unaware at what is happening outside - but confused at seeing the same woman here yet again - Celene figures that this must finally be the true miss Vanderboren. "Why is she so terrified? She shouldn't think me as a danger", Celene wonders in her own mind. Did the magical fear effect touch her, somehow? Or is it something else - Celene quickly turns her head, looking behind her for an ambush, her last spell power tense in her mind, ready to spring forth.

Assuming nothing threatening appears, Celene does her best to comfort her. "Be at ease, I'm here to free you. We are catching your captor and imposter as we speak." Celene then delicately removes the gag. "Please tell me what the last thing you remember is. And how far ahead of your wedding date with mr. Toregson this was."

While the woman hopefully gets a grip of herself and starts to reply, Celene moves on to remove the bonds.

OOC: edit, sorry, just realised we're still in turn order - can you just stall my post until my turn next round?
This message was last edited by the player at 13:08, Tue 12 May 2015.

Logan strides confidently onto the stage.  He reaches up into the light of the magical spot, eclipsing the symbol of Abagvar with a shadow of a devouring moon, and with some more deft finger-work, transforms the shadow into that of Kagyar's rune once again.  Holding his pose, he awkwardly turns to face the rumbling crowd, make a bow that involves only his head.

"Just a reminder, my fellows, of how the Great Betrayer can be found anywhere, even in the places you least expect!  Be wary, for even a dancing girl..."  Logan reached out for the fake Amarilde's arm, spinning her, and dropping her too-large dress even lower across her frame, with expected results from the ogling dwarves.  "Even a pretty lass like her may not be what she seems!"  Logan spun the changeling again, dropping her into a dip.  As he brought her back up, he clasped her arm tight and brought her ear close to his face.  "Listen up," he whispered in a sharp tone. "You're leaving with us, and going to explain exactly what's going on, or we'll leave you for these dwarves."  Logan walked purposely offstage, dragging his captive with him, waving to the dwarves as he made for the exit.

13:50, Today: Logan rolled 11 using 1d20+3. Bluff.
13:50, Today: Logan rolled 9 using 1d20+8. Sleight of Hand.

And there's my bad rolls!

Celene sees no ambush being sprung and when she double checks the rune with the last of her detect magic spell she can see it has not been disturbed. The girl must be frightened for another reason.

OOC: Like being kidnapped by dopplegangers. That would do it...



Amarilde looks up at Celene, wild fear still in her tear streaked eyes, but she gives a gentle nod.



"Are you really not one of them? This isn't some sort of trick? <sob> Thanks be to the goddess! They kidnapped me last night, and have been holding me here since then. I don't even know how much time has passed... there's no window in the room. Please say I haven't missed the wedding! <sob>"



Naaaaah. The skills challenge is finished and we are back to the old fire at will style.

Shadow animals were never Logan's best trick as a child and Kagyar's symbol is a complex octagon with lots of wiggly bits in it. Logan's attempt to merge the shadows of his fingers with Angati's evil symbol turn it into more of a blob than anything else.

"Ehhh! What's that meant to be?" scowls one dwarf, tilting his head to one side. "A bunny rabbit?"

OOC: I am not sure what the DC for that would be, but it is more than 9!



"Oiy! What is the funny half-elf going on about?" mutters another dwarf.

"Yeah, just hurry up and get her kit off," shouts another. At least Logan's clumsy shadow animal show has distracted them from the symbol of Abagvar the mighty evil one.



"Booo!" "Get off the stage you daft elven twat."  "Booo!"  "I didn't come here for a religious lesson."  "Booo!"  "Take YOUR clothes off mate! Ha ha!" Objects start arcing over the top of the crowd and landing on the dancing stage. Bottles. Drinking mugs. Helmets. When the first hand axe sails over, Logan knows he's in trouble.

OOC: And likewise '11' is not enough to persuade a crowd of horny dwarves over to your side... Jeez, are you even TRYING?!




The crowd roars in appreciation and laughs at the show. Sure, it is a pretty crazy strip act, but anything that breaks up the monotony of the standard acts is a welcome relief.




"OK, OK! If you get me out of here alive and with my regenerated maidenhead intact you have a deal, buddy," grunts the small dwarven figure in a surprisingly deep voice. The Amarilde imposter makes no effort to resist Logan dragging him away, and this time the rogue is careful to keep a tight grip on the captive.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:45, Tue 12 May 2015.

Celene stares into the beyond for a second, while her mind wraps around the information. Looking back at the young woman, who in Celenes eyes now seems a very different, fragile and innocent girl from the brash and flirtatious wench she has so far known, she ask "So, I gather you have never seen me before?" Celene looks around for some clothes for the girl, finding some fairly decent scraps, and puts them around her far too obvious body.

"It appears several players have been trying to alter the events of today. Yes, today was the day of your marriage. But it is not finished yet, and from what I hear," Celene tilts her head while listening to the outburst outside, "I think my companions are in the process of securing our evidence. Come, raise your spirit again, and take comfort, people are fighting for you. Who was that goddess you gave thanks again?"

Getting a thought, she adds, "but others may still try to ruin your wedding. Say, do you know a man called Victor Saint-Demain?"
This message was last edited by the player at 19:23, Tue 12 May 2015.

Angati, entered in the room to see Celene with Amarilde, the real one... probably. "Oh, it figures they had several different mimics posing as Amarilde... " she said at Celene, as she knelt and helped Amarilde stand up... "Anything hurt that might need mending girl ?... by the way, my name is Angati... let's get you out of here as Celene says, we will let you know along the way to your home... do you know who else might be involved in this?, and why did they get you here though ? do you know ?"

The girl shakes her head. She clasps the clothes around her body gratefully.



"The goddess of justice, Wee Jas. And... isn't she also the goddess of love sometimes as well? <sob> I really need help with that too. But if the wedding isn't finished then there is still a chance to get there in time. Let's go!"



"The greatest sleuth in Sasserine? Is he on the case as well? Then I feel much better! No, I don't know him personally but I have read about him and the amazing mysteries that he has solved."



"No, they made me answer lots of questions and shoved me in that chest, but otherwise I am OK."

"Good to meet you Angati, I am Amarilde Vanderboren."

"But I don't want to go home! We need to go to my beloved's house where the wedding is going to be held and make sure he marries me! The right me, I mean. Let's go, right now please!"

Amarilde climbs to her feet and almost drags the two women out of the room, then down the stairs to the exit.

Meanwhile, Logan and Alohan push through the crowd towards the exit. As the half-elf goes past the bouncer, the brawly man grabs his shoulder. "Hey! Look, we don't appreciate people just getting up on the stage like that, well, not unless it is amateur night. But I think you have the beginnings of one hell of an act there! Come back next dwarf night with something a bit more polished and there'll be a first silver coins in it for you, al right?"

The pair finally manage to arrive at the entre, with their firmly escorted prisoner held between them.

The changling baulkes as they reach the threshold. "If we're going through that anti-magic zone then my true form will be revealed. Can't we go out the back way? Or though the window?" says the imposter in a deep barritone voice. Seeing the look on their faces the creature sighs, and travels across the area as quickly as possible. As soon as he takes a step into the polish floor marked with blue runes, the little dwarven maiden's skin begins to crawl and develop a grey sheen. She increases in size and within three steps the barbarian and the rogue are holding a tall, grey figure with elastic looking skin between them.

"Let's get out of here then!" exclaims the creature. "I will need a rest before I can shift again and I'll get torn apart if these dwarves see me. At least let me put on a cloak so I can blend in a bit."

Celene and Angati escort the real Amarilde out the same way. The young lady shys away from the tall doppleganger and needs a lot of convincing from the two spellcasters that everything is under control before she will go anywhere near the creature.

Kassius is waiting for them outside, still soothing Kibeti with a gentle patting. The party heads back to the gondola station and then sets out back towards the champion district and the groom's mansion. Victor is still no-where to be found.

"I am Vrinn by way," says the changling, offering his hand towards Alohan.

OOC: Whew. Long post again. But had to move things along and get the team back together. Now is the time to ask anything you like - the gondola ride will take as long as needed.

This message was last edited by the player at 10:29, Wed 13 May 2015.

Picking up on what Amarilde asks, Celene nods, "yes, the Goddess is also the protector of true and sanctified love, espcecially in those relationships that seem to be against all odds, and I think you qualify for this. I hope and pray for the just outcome of this evening, as I am sure Lady Eseriel will as she hears of this."

Changing the subject, she expands, "The reason that I mention this Saint-Demain is that he was with us up until a moment ago, yet he hurridly left before we got to you and your captor. I don't know - perhaps he drew some wrong conclusions, and left to report on this. Or he left to take credit for solving this prematurely, which is of no significant consequence. Or is it something else..." she trails off. Brushing away the concern, she adds, "either way, we will see this through, that is the most important thing."

"One thing, though. We, that is Alohan, Logan, Angati and I," Celene nodding to each at their mention, "have been emplyoed by you earlier this day, to save your marriage, while Kassius here was asked by your fiancee to see matters straightened. Only - you were not you, you were one of these changeling." Celene indicates the strange creature. "This would apparently mean that their plan was to carry out the wedding, not ruin it, as was tried earlier today. Perhaps their plan was to infiltrate the nobles of this city - perhaps they already have elsewhere?"

"Or am I overlooking something?" She looks around asking for the oppinions of her companions.

"Or should we pry the information from you? Alohan could easily crush your hand that you so eagerly offer him..." she asks pointedly towards the gray crature

OOC: any roll to get Vrinn talking, or is he already talkative?

quote:

13:27, Today: Celene rolled 20 using 1d20+4. Intimidate roll?

Yeah, dice roller just fine :-)

It is the creature that identifies itself as Vrinn that speaks up. For the first time Celene notices something funny about him - he only has one eye. The spot where the other eye should be is just a smooth mess of scar tissue, as though it has been burnt at some time in the past with fire or acid. The changling seems shy about it, and stares to one side of her as he answers so the ruined eye is hidden from view.

"We weren't trying to infiltrate the nobility! Just have a good time. This is our occupation in a way. The other changling is my life companion Trym. We travel to a city, find a good young target who is either wealthy or marrying into wealth, and then we take turns switching. We make sure to find somebody who enjoys the sort of lifestyle we like... Parties, drinking and hanging out... So that no-one notices any change of behaviour."

This message was last edited by the player at 12:05, Wed 13 May 2015.

Amarilde sobs. "What?! That isn't me!"

"Whatever baby," answers Vrinn.



OOC. Impressive.

Vrinn cowers under Celene's suddenly terrifying vissage. "Look! We weren't looking for any trouble! I swear that we were never going to hurt a hair on her head. We were planning on keeping her around for a couple of weeks to make sure we had all the info we needed and then we'd sell her into slavery."

The doppleganger takes in the disguised looks from the party and Amarilde's choked back sobs. "Oh come on. A pretty one like her would end up in some sultan's harem in the Emirates of Ylaruam in the blink of an eye. She'd have a great time."

Angati raised her gaze up from the channels, they were traversing "So it was not just having some fun... you wanted some info, so, what info was that and who was it for ?".

'[Language unknown: Ulil Naeclaos]...' Alohan thought, involuntarily shuddering at Vrinn's revelation. On Nuari, legend has it that this tropical creature comes out of the rainforest to steal your identity. No one knows why they do it but Alohan could count several tales of these critters ruining the lives of others for no particular reason other than sport. But the Nuari had a way to distinguish who was of the Volcano and who wasn't -face changers were cool to the touch. Deathly cool. Nuari were, of course, warm, burning of an inner fire many have come to attribute to their volcanic upbringing.

It was this reason that Alohan avoided Vrinn's 'friendly' gesture. That, and he was afraid the creature would somehow be able to steal his face. Despite Celene's threat, Alohan did not take the face changer's hand. In fact, the only reason he didn't split the creature in two was his companions reluctance. Their need for information was priority in Alohan's mind. With Amarilde now safe in their possession, the could go back to the estate and....

'BY DE GODS, I KISSED ONE ON DE HAND!' The sudden realization made Alohan weak in the knees. His step faltered and for the first time, the native began to sweat in nervous anticipation. 'Did dis mean de[Language unknown: Ounil Omendeastous] had his face?' he asked himself. He looked to his companions for silent help but none were looking at the Native's mental breakdown. He had just hoped upon returning, the second face changer didn't look like himself. He would be hard pressed getting justice for himself in a place like Sasserine.

---

11:54, Today: Alohan Nuari rolled 10 using 1d20. Untrained Knowledge (Errrthang)
Knowledge: I wanted to make some shit up about dobblegangers/face changers so here is a blanket roll. Also, please don't get any ideas from my post. It would be cruel and send this Native off the deep end, so to speak.

"Huh? Oh no, not information like that. I mean, sometimes people get suspicious and ask tricky questions like 'what was your best friend's name when you were five years old', then you need to go back to the mark and find out from them. It is just good business."

"<sob> you were going to ruin my life!" interjects Amarilde.

"Well no, we were just going to live your life," answers Vrinn smoothly. "At least until it got boring or too complex, then we would've moved on. And I don't know what you are complaining about, you nobles never appreciate how good you have it anyway."


The One-eyed Changling

OOC: What a good idea!



OOC: Ha! I had totally forgotten about that. Thanks for reminding me! From now to the end of the campaign you and Logan will be suspect since you both touched the doopleganger. Assuming he gets to live...


OOC: Super stuff. I am learning more and more about the Pearl Island of Nuari all the time and looking forward to going there.

Surely there must be more questions?

Logan considers everything the changeling has said, most of which makes sense.  Finally, the rogue clears his throat and speaks.  "But I don't understand one thing.  Why did Trym send us here to try and find out what happened at the Mermaid's Secret?  Surely she'd know that we'd discover you in your Amarilde disguise, and possibly even discover Amarilde herself."  The rogue paused, considering the situation more.  "Obviously, you wanted the wedding called off, right?  It'd be more fun to live Amarilde's life if you weren't married.  So, was all the commotion last night in The Mermaid's Secret a ploy to cancel the wedding, or was it simply you two getting carried away enjoying yourself?  Or just you enjoying yourself, Vrinn?  Worried that Trym was having too much fun being Amarilde while you were stuck here?"

Vrinn pauses in concentration for a second, then stares at Alohan with his one good eye. "[Language unknown:  Ntee Enctheoulore]? That means 'face changer' in the tongue of the Pearl Islands, right? I always thought that was a funny name for us. You come from a beautiful country Alohan Nuari, I hope to visit it one day..."

If the changling is offended by the barbarians refusal to shake his hand he gives no sign of it, and merely sits on the bench in the gondola and watches the water slip by.



"*ahem*" interjects Vrinn. "He... technically we are all males..."



"First of all, I assume that it wasn't him that volunteered the place where I was staying? I take it that something went wrong? Trym and I have been doing this for so many years now that we have developed rules and contingency plans, and rule number one is behave naturally like your mark would. Since the real Amarilde would have tried to get a team to prove he innocence, so did he. Then he would have used the distraction to escape, and trusted that I could manage the same at my end." Vrinn looks sour. "And I should have gotten away. I still can't believe that you managed to catch me. But I am sure that Trym is long clear by now. <smile> He is the clever one."




"Ha! Shows what you know! Trym and I share the fun of being Amarilde fifty fifty. It was ME that you dealt with this morning at the dress shop!" The doppleganger turns back to Alohan. "Ha! You didn't know that it was me you kissed on the hand this morning, did you, LOVER BOY?! Trym and I switched after lunch. As for the wedding, we thought it would be interesting to go through with it. Amarilde would have gained status and wealth from being married into Soren's family, and that seem like more fun to us."

Amarilde quietly continued sobbing.

The gondola made good time and they arrived back at champions district before the clock had stuck eleven. With Vrinn under very careful guard, and the real Amarilde being support by Celene and Angati, they made their way back to the Toregson mansion and into the chapel.

I lot had clearly happened while they were away, because most of the guests were now crowded into the side room that had served as Amarilde's changing room, and members of the dawn guard had now joined them. The crowd parted with hushed tones as they saw the changling was with them, and the party get close to the front they begin to hear Victor Saint-Demain addressing the assembled guests with a showman's flair.

"That is it, ladies and gents. I caught this miserable beast trying to flee the scene of the crime through yonder window, but I managed to drag it to the ground. It pleaded for its pathetic evil life, but I pulled out my trusty cane sword..." The sleuth draws a slender sword out from the top of his fancy cane. "...and then thrust it into its heart! Oh you should have seen it cry out in terror. And now I will take up a quick donation for my favourite charity, the Dawnlight Orphanage in Sunrise district." The man takes off his dainty cap and doffs it to the crowd surrounding him. "Please give generously, and every little bit helps."


Note his cane sword... it doesn't look very easy to use, huh?

Vrinn screams as he finally reaches the front and sees his friend's lifeless body lying on the floor, surrounded by a puddle of crimson blood. "Why? Why did you do that? He would have surrendered!" The changling tries to lunge at the inquisitor, but two of the brawly guards step forward and hold him back. Victor is also quick to bring his sword up and keep the tip facing towards the doppleganger.

"Ah-ha! I see my trustworthy assistants are back with the other culprit. Very good! We can bring this one to trial or dispense justice now if it keeps struggling. Ha!" The dapper man does not appear to have even noticed Amarilde's return.

PM from Celene:

OOC: hmm, i'd have Celene make an argument for putting Victor before a judge (because he's so annoying) for killing without just cause which he just admitted to. But you might throw it back in her head, if the laws are different from what I expect, e.g. it may not apply to killing other creatures than human, elves, dwarves etc. (i.e. not doppelgangers). I would guess Celene would know, but would she? If she knows, can you please tell me? (and should this be in a public post instead?)?

Yeah, this is worth a separate response. It is not a crime to kill a monster. Monsters are everything that aren't in the following list: humans, demi-humans (including half-orcs), livestock, beasts of burden, pets... There are more legal repercussions from killing a dog than killing a monster - Victor has committed no crime.

OOC: Is the boat ride too far back to skip in? If so, just ignore.

Seeing the islander uncomfortable, Celene speaks up, making an educated guess. "Hey, Face changer. If you ever try to read MY mind, you'll regret it - for a very short time!" Celene tries to steel her mind against invasion in any way possible that she may have learned during her training.

Trying to put Vrinn a bit more off balance, she adds "so what happened there, one-eye?", pointed at his disfigured head.


OOC: As I don't know if she can use spellcraft when Vrinn concentrates, she just makes an educated guess - not really important, is it?