With Remi gone, Alohan was spending more time with his companions. It wasn't that we was lonely- no- more he wanted to develop a closer bond with those he had shed blood with. So when Celene explained that she was going to take point on finding the dhow in question, Alohan offered his assistance. He simply escorted her to the various districts (not that she needed an escort) and helped as an extra pair of eyes filling the silence with small talk and jokes. They conversed about the past, the weather, and their favorite foods (coconuts for Alohan).

When they had spotted the dhow, their excitement carried them back to the harbormasters but as Celene checked the registry, the air began to turn warm. Alohan stared wide eyed at his friend while he could only assume she had put the pieces together on who owned the ship in question. There was an immediate rise in temperature, comparable to how he himself felt when often angry and could only assume she was releasing her own inner pele. He kept his silence for as long as he dared.

"It... it not be lookin' good?" he asked, raising a curious eyebrow. "Ya be lookin' a bit red in de ears."

Celene turned to face Alohan ”Things are not good Alohan.” she said her breath coming out with plumes of smoke as if the room were extremely cold ”The woman who owns the Dhow is my sponsor and mentor at the temple of Wee Jas. Magnus Eseriel.” She said the name as if it were a curse. ”I need to calm down. Then I’ll need to speak with her alone. I’ll need you nearby though in case things go wrong. I have seen her take care of things before. She is a powerful woman but perhaps I can goad her into revealing information.” she said.

OOC: So, off to the temple of Wee Jas to visit Magus Eseriel? Any particular precautions or tactics I should be aware of? The time is currently mid-afternoon. Eseriel should be in her rooms or at least somewhere within the temple complex.

I don't have much in the way of precautions to use. Other than making sure Alohan is within shouting distance. The ship is called the Lonely Diva correct? I know that Eseriel was friends with the Opera singer was she ever a singer or dancer herself?
This message was last edited by the player at 18:57, Tue 18 Oct 2016.

But yes on to the temple unless Celene knows she was a dancer/singer in which case I might swing by the opera house first.

Hmmm, tough question. Eseriel is famous for her generous patronage of opera in the city, and yes, she appears to be 'friends' with Nylaria Absalee, the manageress of the opera house. Celene has never heard that Eseriel was an opera singer or dancer herself though. Does that help?

You can get Alohan into the temple, but not into the private quarters. He will be within yelling distance though.

I think I want to question Nylaria first. Under the guise of wanting to buy Eseriel a gift.

Alohan frowned as the idea of him tossing with magic users. He didn't quite understand the arcane but knew enough that if he couldn't get to them in time they packed enough lethality to destroy him. That or turn him into a goat or permanently curse him. He knew from previous experiences his mental fortitude was a bit lacking. Regardless, his friend needed him and he would assist her in what she wanted to do.

"What if de be wantin' dis artifact for study or maybe dey be wantin' to lock it away in de dungeon," he asked. "Maybe dey had de good intentions but Vandus be drowing de coconut into de oceana, so to speak. Now why dey be calling demselves de House of Poop-ery I not be knowin'. Admittedly der be some secrets afoot."

"So we be going to de temple? Should I get me dings?"
This message was last edited by the player at 01:43, Wed 19 Oct 2016.

Celene thought about Alohan's word as they walked back through Sasserine. Finally she spoke up "Why would the church send a privately owned vessel? If they were intending to capture the pearl for the greater good why wasn't there a contingent of guards? Why didn't anyone follow up when it wasn't delivered?"

Celene took a deep breath "Someone who wanted to serve this Prince of Tides would want to release the pearls power in a city like Sasserine. It would cause the most chaos in the name of their Lord; spread much more quickly."

"I still think this might have something to do with Karthach Feldspar-Ash. I recall overhearing a bit of conversation between him and an ambassador from some city, I can't recall the name, that spoke of green gas clouds and savagery destroying cities along the coast. What stands out is that he gave no credence to the man's words. Showed no remorse. That's not the way a cleric of Love and Beauty should have reacted. Why would he not even worry that the same thing was headed this way?" she let her words sink in.

"The reason is he already knew what caused the problem and intended to do the same here. Perhaps there are a number of high ranking cleric's involved. Maybe they have created their own alliance. The Hose of Prophyry; led by Karthach himself and employing my own mentor." she looked intently at the barbarian "Does it sound so far fetched?"

Celene looked determined she strode ahead of Alohan looking back over her shoulder she said "Yes. Get your things."

Heading to the opera house first to ask a few questions.

Alohan shrugs at Celene's question. Was it far fetched that some of more prestigious religious leaders in Sasserine followed some demon lord capable of spreading some poisonous disease that mutated and drove mad? Maybe. But to Alohan, it seemed more likely the actions of a select few went unnoticed rather than a unified effort to dismantle society. Regardless, he kept his opinions to himself and went to fetch his belongings, newfangled magical stick included.

As they set out into Sasserine, Alohan broke his peace. "I be rememberin' you speaking about your..." he paused, looking for the word. "... mage day party. De day ya be getting into de church of Wes Jas. Ya be seein' purple flames and talkin' about how de party seemed a bit off. If dis Magus be workin' for this demonlord den would her deception be drowin' off de ordination? I not be knowin' much of dese magic types but if dis Magus be evil, how do she be going about her duties so freely?"

"And dis be de same woman who be restorin' Logan from de dead... twice! Can she be doin' it if she serves some evil demonlord?"

---

referencing thread: 1C - TiNH - Part Three: Celene's Ordination. Any hints in there? Maybe a Religion check to see if it is possible?
This message was last edited by the player at 15:44, Wed 19 Oct 2016.

”You’re right Alohan. My anger is causing me to forget important details.” Celene closed her eyes  and recalled the Ordination ”I was given a crystal by Eseriel. It was supposed to shine white showing that I had been accepted by the Goddess. Everyone in attendance was shocked that it was taking so long and then finally it glowed purple. The same color as the ships sails.”

”Eseriel was upset about it at the time. When I questioned her later she brushed off the whole event saying that the crystal turned orange because of my innate ability with fire.”

”What if the crystal wasn’t reacting to me but to Eseriel instead. Giving some kind of warning?” Celene was silent for a while ”When I implied that it would take something equally divine to cause such an occurrence she brushed my worries aside. I remember clearly she said ‘And forget any silly thoughts about intercession from another divine power. We are in the center of the Temple of Wee Jas – only one goddess held sway over that ritual, and I am sure which one it is.’ Exactly what one would expect from someone who feared the intercession of another Divine being.”

The mounting evidence that Magus Eseriel was somehow in league with the this Savage Tide was growing and Alohan was immediately beginning to frighten. A few bad clerical eggs could be dealt with but Eseriel was a different beast. He had watched her bring his friend back from the dead on multiple occasions. She commanded magics stronger than he could fathom. All he commanded was a bad temper and a fetish for women.

"I.. I be dinkin' you solved dis mystery... at least, workin' to de important parts. Ya be known' dis lady better den any of us. I be trustin' your mind." He continues on for a bit more, maneuvering around Sasserine citizens and parting the stubborn with girth and taiaha, following Celene as she directed them. "But how do dis be tyin' into Feldspar-Ass? I admit I not be remembering much about dat one other den what Logan be saying but hasn't she helped his Makuahine? Do Ass and Magus be knowin' de oder?"

---

Onward to the opera house then.

Yep.

”Volsh even called Eseriel a fiend once. We know him to be an honorable and just man. Why would he do so if he didn’t know something of her past? I’m starting to think we have even more questions to ask. I wonder if Volsh is still in Sasserine?” she asked rhetorically.

OOC: Johannes followed it up immediately after it happened and couldn't get much info - Eseriel was tight lipped about it and said little more than to not worry about it, and that it was just Celene's sorceress powers having a slight effect on the ceremony. A check in the library just revealed that it might indicate some sort of interference by unknown forces.



OOC: Yes!



OOC: Yes!!



OOC: Oh hallelujah, yes! Somebody is actually reading their character arc story!



OOC: :D Logan knows the answer to that question...

The odd couple head over towards the opera house. Alohan already has all of his stuff with him (do you really think he would leave anything valuable in that hovel he calls home in Shadowshore?) so they waste no time and reach the large building within a quarter of an hour.

The front door is locked, what with the evening performance not being for several hours, but Celene knows another route. She shows Alohan round to a small side alley where a raised loading dock leads to a set of double doors. The doors are open, and a man sits in the doorway, indolently smoking a self-rolled cigarillo that looks like it is in imminent risk of collapse. Celene sees that it is the same half-orc that Eseriel shooed out of the way during their last visit.

Celene approached the half-orc confidently ”Please stand aside. I have official business from the Temple of Wee Jas and need to speak with Nylaria at once.” Celene didn’t wait for a response instead moving directly towards the doors and through if allowed.

Let me know if a roll is required.

The half-orc looks up in surprise, a firm scowl on his face. "Huh? What?" grunts the man. "Oh, you're with Magus Eseriel, aren't you little miss. What you doing here, now?" he asks, seemingly surprised about something. "Well, heh, if you be sure that you want to see Mistress Nylaria, then that can be arranged. <chuckle>. She's downstairs, finishing off some business, Just ask inside if you want to join in."

The doorman moves to one side and let's them both pass, a sly grin on his face.

Celene steps inside and walks down the corridor before stopping "This is either some kind of debauchery, the woman enjoys her indulgences, or illicit activity. Let's be on our guard in case its the latter." she started off again before stopping once more "Don't get any ideas about the debauchery either." she added.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:03, Thu 20 Oct 2016.

Alohan smirked and chuckled but otherwise remained quiet. As they moved about the corridor, he watched the doors, one hand gripping his taiaha in white knuckled anticipation. There was a certain mystery afoot that could prove to be their undoing -the kind he wasn't particularly equipped to handle. If there was a threat, he would do what he knew best, body slams and elbows. He kept alert, moving ahead of Celene around blind corners and doing as she asked when needed. Debauchery or not, he was there to protect his companion. 

---

Hovel: And I would imagine Alohan has graduated from Shadowshore to their new Lotus Lair, especially now that he is less of a tourist and more of a "I am about to save the city from uncertain horrors."

The pair enter the backstage area and Celene uses the same bluff to extract some directions to Nylaria from a small group of stagehands who are busy moving furniture around in preparation for the night's performance. One of them gestures towards a large goods elevator and grunts 'downstairs'. As Celene and Alohan move off, they hear crude comment about 'midgets and natives? Is it some sort of theme night?' followed by some crude chuckling.

The elevator is a strange device - a room which you walk into and are then slowly lowered by means of counterweights, dwarven engineering, magic and <DM waves arms in the air> other stuff. The opera house has one of the few examples of this technology in the city and it is used to bring up the heavily props from the downstairs storage. Just as Celene is about to flick the switch to set the contraption in motion, a hand appears from outside, forcing the door open.

"On second thoughts, I think I'd better join you," says the coarse man who'd given them the directions. With dismay, the sorceress sees three more men entering the lift. Then the metal door is swung closed. The man flicks the switch and the floor starts lowering, making the walls start slowly sliding past. The elevator creeks alarmingly - with six people in the lift it is very crowded in there and probably close to its maximum weight capacity as well.

"Oiy, bud," says the man, looking at Alohan. "No weapons down below, even if they are props. It's the mistress' orders." He holds his hand out expectantly, waiting for Alohan to hand the taiaha over. The rest of the men glower at the native. They are all cut from the same cloth - orc blood and tough looking faces with at least one facial scar each. Celene sees one of the men slip his hand into his pocket on the side of his body facing away from Alohan. When the hand returns from the pocket it is holding a metal knuckle duster in it.



OOC: We're gunna try something different here. We're going to do everything as 'free text', yes, even the combats. No dice rolls needed. Just tell me what you think happens.

Celene locked eyes with the half-orc leader her irises turning bright purple for a moment "Have you forgotten that my friends prop is the reason we need to see Nylaria? She will be ever so angry if she is unable to inspect it. After all it is essential if one wants to perform the Mwangi Fertility Dance." she said.

Casting charm person on the leader. Wasn't sure the name of Alohan's people so I borrowed from Golarion.

"Wha...what!" explains the man. "Fetility dance? There ain't no dancing down there!"

The man's indignation is cut off as Celene begins the chanting of her spell. The man's face drains of blood, and his fellow ruffians don't look happy either.

"Oiy! Cut that out, you ain't casting no spell on us!" The man reaches out and grabs Celene's shoulder with one hand, while covering up her mouth with the other, instantly interrupting her spell (charm person takes a round to cast so he has plenty of time for this).

"What do ya think you're playing at. You ain't one of the sisters. You ain't got no right to do that." He shoves Celene back against the wall of the elevator shaft and holds her there, both knocking the breath from her and causing her back to scrape painfully along the surface as the elevator continues its crawl downwards.

Shoot. Forgot about that. Wait sleep is one round. Charm Person is a Standard Action.

Also I meant a dance in the performances/shows not down in the basement.

http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/...pells/c/charm-person

http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/s/sleep
This message was last edited by the player at 13:23, Thu 20 Oct 2016.

Well, whatever, he slaps his hand over Celene's mouth and spoils the spell. Welcome to the wild world of free style roleplay.

Oh, you meant that Alohan was being taken down to the villain's secret lair so he could show his crazy native dance so it could potentially be used in an upcoming performance in the opera and ballet house? Yeah... that was far too cerebral for the thug. He is just following orders.

The good thing about this style of writing is that you are free to write yourself out of trouble anyway you like, and of course you have Alohan's heafty support as well.

<orange>Yep. I'll wait on him to post. Before acting again.<orange>