Today: Irfan rolled 21 using 1d20+11.  Sense motive, temptation to steal.

Irfan, politely waited for the flustered attendant to collect herself and waited in silence as she epoke her mind, deeming not to reveal his secrets. When she presented them a highend backroom, and aquired as to the future and custody of the item, Irfan replied after a sense malice intent, "Thank you, entrusting it to Romco would be an honor. As for the arrangement ( For this one. ) that would depend on the arrangement reached, however no impromptu auction should be required.

Irfan doubts Romco would openly swindl, but rather that such a item is tempting to individuals. The credit of the item is such, that it could be borrowed against eventual sale, if auctioned, and a propper auction should be more profitable then a rushed one.

The problem was tme was a matter for Loki, that said the chance to refresh would be more ideal. Let alone eat, given the breadth of cuisine in town.

 Irfan looks at Loki to determine if any private conversations where required now, before asking if (X) Inn/Hostel/Hotel was still in reputable business, taking into account Loki's prestige, and if they could inform it in advance of their pending arrival.

Scribbing another note For Romco's consideration while they wait. Irfan records that Loki, the barbarian king priest would appreciate, as a matter of the exchange, a through look into the disappearance and currrent circumstances of his Elder sister

Trait: Excellent Penmanship, The clarity and elegance of your script helps your influence people, +2 to Influence when using written words.
Influence, pass secret message. 1d20+13 rolled 25.

Pausing, Irfan selfishly adds, , and the eventual service of a servant to bring Shade to Loki's younger sister who had been waylaid in the desert. imply his sensetive request for a council shadow to be contract to aide this forgeiner's family member as part of the sell price, internally of course. No Arcadian would dare talk of shadows with outsiders.

Sealing the letter he passes it as they the tradehouse, intent on heading to lodging, to keep Loki in the upper district districts, while he gathered the rest of the party at the skimmer.


Trait: Trifler, being Raised by a magical old nanny has it's benefits, you've figured out how to cast prestidigitation 3/day at caster level 1

 #328  Irfan had a heart to heart about the destroyer scales after rescueing Loki and a side adventure.

This message was last edited by the player at 04:57, Thu 02 Nov 2023.

Fuck yeah she's tempted.

You knew that magnanimously entrusting such a precious item to such an influential council member of the hegemony for safe keeping would be giving him great face, subtly snatching some social credit from him to later hold over his head. But you've also been baked and deep fried in these lands so you knew Arcania was the country of shortcuts and facades. Assuming that nobody would get tempted when a large amount of wealth is piled up in a single place would be foolhardy. Which is why you ever-so-politely "reminded" the hostess to give you an explicitly written writ of the item placed in trust. This would ensure that nobody could replace the scale with a lower quality scale of the same Exhalted and feign ignorance later that the initial evaluation was a fluke. And even if the hostess or someone on Romco's staff got itchy palms, it would become his problem while you got reimbursed the same as if he'd bought it from you except worse because, in a rare case of public disclosure of trade records, the reimbursement would depend on the amount he sold the scale for, and that's not even getting politics involved where there'd be no shortage of other council members who'd want to cut him down a peg by siding with you in the dispute and favoring you in the "post purchase" haggling process. Long story shot, a headache Romco would not want to deal with no matter which way you spun it. And you can bet your ass he'd take it out on the perpetrator. People might be tempted to scam/steal from a no-name stranger, but Ramco? Nobody's that stupid/greedy.

You were pleasantly surprised to discover that the "Dry Fish" inn was not only still around but had expanded into a small franchise chain. It's prestige had also grown while maintaining it's "a place where anyone can stay" reputation. No doubt they'd try to fleece "the foreigners" by up-charging the prices, however you were quite sure you could bring that down to more reasonable and acceptable prices.

The hostess assured you she'd bring your message and letter to Marco Aolp at his earliest convenience. Translation: She was about to sprain an ankle running up the stairs as soon as you left. And left you did. And had you lingered for a moment longer by the door you would have also heard the "Ouch" of high heels encountering uncooperative laws of physics.

---

You decided to meet up with the others on your way to the Inn. Not a difficult task when it came to Horus and Shifu. Especially Shifu (what kind of an idiot wore full-body armor in the middle of a desert at high noon?), especially especially when that armor was the trademark of the Purifiers (something this city was very VERY familiar with). You practically couldn't stop people from telling you where they were when you so much as hinted you where curious in finding them.

Turns out Horus was playing in the yard with the kids from the orphanage while Shifu sat next to a young nun (probably conversing), watching from a healthy distance away. Aside from his size, you couldn't tell the blue-haired young-man from the little children.

No sign or word from or about Milkweed anywhere from anyone. People couldn't even confirm if they'd seen a tall, dog-like kitsune for sure, let alone a brown-white one in green robes with a walking stick and an avid drinker.

Shifu casually inspiring panic since who knows how long ago. A symbol of protection, a Symbol that there are bad things to be protect from nearby. ---> 

Approaching the nun, Irfan inquires after Greppa, the previous nun that ran the the orphanage, curious about what she would make of Horus. He had always figured the old witch would out live the city, but death truely waits for no woman, no matter how stubborn.


Donating 5 gold coins to the orphanage, Irfan approaches Shifu, Letting her know where they were lodging for the night. Confident she would be able to find it if she wanted to, he took a moment to contemplate Horus, smiling at Horus's joyous rabble raising.

Half assured Milweed had been the tail they had earlier or atleast impossible to find, Did he even own a pair of nice boots? It was time to eat good food, and relax into a deep soak.

After laundring with prestidigination, and cleansing bubble bath, Irfan slipped into his arcadian clothing to get a feel for everything going on since they had left wingheld, and the state of the trade in general as he hit the streets, pubs, and lunch. It was good to be back in a connected trade city, pulsing with rumors of places and events.

Standard Gather info check.
Trade skill gather info check.
Noon + 1 hour + 5 hours = 6,7 pm.
Irfan rolled 15,3 using 1d20+11,1d4.  Gather Influence information.
Irfan rolled 23,2 using 1d20+10,1d4.  Gather Lore:Trade information.


Sunset at the Sand River, or return to the hotel, or check back in on horus who might still be distracted while Shifu casualy observes him.
40  40  20  1d100 rolled a 9.  River it is. Sightseer trait go burr.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:00, Sun 26 Nov 2023.

Shifu is like a plague doctor from the middleages. He's there to help (and people are thankful for that) but also he's associated with death and it's considered bad luck to be anywhere near them. Panic and awe in equal measures.

You hear a familiar faint whistling sound, growing louder. An old, nostalgic sound just out of reach of recognition. You might have been able to place it a fraction of a second after hearing it you weren't smacked on the side of the head.

Briefly befuddled but otherwise unharmed, you looked around frantically to make sense of what just happened, and then you saw what hit you. A slipper. A very, very old slipper you wished you could forget. Realization and a smile on your face dawned hand in hand as you turned around and saw, "You rascally whippersnapper! Always hopen to bury me before my time. Well ya ain't gettin rid o' me that easily, ya hear!" a stooped, barefoot familiar nun, who was ancient back when you were a kid, waiving around menacingly a second projectile. She leaned heavily on a cane as she made one slow step after another towards the returning prodigal "son". "^Oof, well don't just stand there gaping like fish, HELP ME! I'm an old woman...hey hey, where's the fire, not so fast!...Well faster than this."

Despite the mask of grumpiness Mother Greppa was trying to put out, the obvious joy at seeing you again was peeking out until it it crumbled completely once you were all seated and she proceeded to give you a big hug. "Awww, my little Irfan is all grown up, I always knew you'd come out ok. Look at you. Have you been eating well? You look so skinny."

-"Shifu greets old matron of the hive" the walk ball of metal / purifier addresses the nun.
-"Well, what do we have here, a purifier? Haven't seen one of you in...20? 30? 40 years? Ugh, time gets a little fussy when you get to my age. Hey, are you back to finally finish the job? There's still some of that miasma lingering around on the lower levels of the city. Ah, I swear young people these days, *humph* never do a thorough job. Back in my day when you started something you did it right or not at all. *Harrumph* _{Good enough,} ^tch, whose ever heard of "good enough"? You ether do it or you don't or don't bother-"
-"Shifu was not present at the purification of this city, honored elder. If Shifu was, Shifu assures honored elder that Shifu would have indeed left no traces of the taint for when Shifu says something Shifu does exactly what SHifu says for Shifu is never wrong."

The old nun gives the dwarf/halfling/gnome/midget(?) purifier a long look, then she turned to Irfan, "You travel with interesting company these days," she comments then rests her gaze on the playful Horus who was lost in a world of his own and the kids. "Quite interesting indeed. I was worried when one of the kids, that rascal Chico who's taken after you, ^{there's always at least one in each generation,} dragged in a stranger to the yard for them to play with, later followed by a purifier of all things, but he...I don't want to say he has a kind soul even though it looks that way. More like an innocent one," she said as she appraised him for a long, long while. "As much as I'd like to believe you've come back to Cruilla after all this time to visit this poor orphanage again, I sincerely doubt that is true. So tell me young Irfan, what winds brought you here?"

I'll assume you came here after you deposited Loki at the Inn and you did the info gathering after you left the nun. What you uncovered is that the people are worried something weird is brewing in the Kwon homeland. They had always tried to keep a "presence" in these parts, an unofficial neutral ground between the Alliance and the Kwon where they'd poke in occasionally to feel out what was happening on this continent and a reminder to Ironia that they are not afraid of them (since they're officially not suppose to be there at all) so don't get any ideas. You'd see soldiers and officials around every once in a while, check in at an inn as a group for a night, poke around the market a bit, basically mark their territory or (who knows) get in touch with spies or trying to recruit some to be their spies? These last month or two though they just vanished, like overnight (aside from the fort at the southern-most edge where the gate was). People are speculating all their forces must've been diverted elsewhere in the world, but given that no news have come from Kwon being spotted in other parts of Hestia people have concluded that something must be going down ether in the open seas and islands or (more likely) within their own borders. And then all of the sudden they reappear again except instead of doing what they've always done they started roaming the open desert aimlessly.

Trade: Ramco Aolp appeared out of the nowhere and rose to power so fast by being an arms dealer for both the Alliance AND the Kwon, specifically Exalted remnants because those are used to create battle-mages (when a person attunes to it) which is usually the most potent presence on the battlefield. Though he's never been caught and no one can prove anything, he's likely kept doing that to this day. He has ties to the Kwon and seems to be the only trader the Kwon are willing (or trust enough) to trade with. He's well known for purchasing large quantity of relatively common fruit (like apples) and exporting them to the Fort in the south (probably as exotic goods), but the Kwon don't seem to have a demand for any staple foods. Which is just as well since Arcania (being a desert) imports the vast amounts of its staple food demands hence why mundane food is on average more expensive here than elsewhere. There isn't a high demand for metals, even rare ones, or alchemical reagents like sulfer ect... from the Kwon, in fact it seems like Ramco is importing that kind of stuff from the Kwon (at even cheaper prices than Ironia) hence why he pretty much has that entire market cornered in South Arcania, though he doesn't seem to import enough to satisfy demands for all of Arcania let alone beyond. This limitation seems to be artificial (ether the Kwon can't or won't trade more of that stuff with him). Glass is not in demand from the Kwon, but it is for the rest of Hestia. Unfortunately glass can't be exported as a raw resource and the glassblowers of Arcania don't seem to be skillful enough (not a profession that is promoted around here) to make luxury goods that are good enough to satisfy the tastes of Hestia.
This message was last updated by the GM at 19:01, Sun 26 Nov 2023.

Huh, Irfan would have assumed the city had atleast a cleaner organization or three. But pure hysteria and good enough works too, it's not like it was the only cursed city, just one of the most asymptomatic cursed cities. Arguably SOMEONE spent too much cleaner labor attacking the heart, instead of cutting off mouths.

Then there is Romco, who took over his home, and is aiding the Kwon that kidnapped Hana, and is associated with two factions that may have killed his mentor. Irfan is hurt.



img src=https://moesucks.files.wordpre...jpg?w=1024&h=576

Irfan had run, run outside the desert even, and yet for all those years of planning, building, running. Here he was, full circle, Stuck with a Child Man-god and a man child-savant. Years wasted.

Horus playing.png,  Hana godess.png,  no not wasted. Years waiting, training. Irfan inhales to steady himself, "Aye, winds is apt. I years trying to leave the desert and as soon as I left I found myself blown back as if by a exalted themselves, some times a bit too litterally." pressing the spider scars on his abdomen, "Everywhere I look I see trouble, confusion, hubris. Everywhere except him(Horus), them(children), you(Greppa), and her(Shifu)."


Looking darkly at his feet, "Ever sense I've been back, my dreams have been surreal, chaotic even. As soon as I get any bearing, they change, unknown people, sensations, conversations. I don't even know if it's me or some one else, or someones. It scares, me, even even more so since We ,Horus and I, were forced to shelter in Shambala."


______________________________________________________________________________________

Optional Path: Curse of Cruilla. Initiated by Horus.

Irfan rolled 27,32,12 using 3d20,1d4,3d6 with rolls of 14,20,3,4(hours),(3),5,(3).  Influence(Gather Info)+11 +2 Shifu, Knowledge Engineering +7,  Profession Calligraphy +9.
Add Inspiration die if plausible (only for knowledge rolls)
Irfan rolled 21 using 1d20 with rolls of 12. Profession Calligraphy +9.

Canvas with Shifu for Curse information, Apply first hand experience and engineering skills with Shifu's expertise and instincts,  Draw a map of the curse layout and structure. 2 days.

Acquire detailed Curse map of Cruilla. Theoretically we just have to collapse the tunnel networks leading to the city, and eliminate the remaining tendrils/elements inside the city.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:03, Sun 26 Nov 2023.

Cruilla basically has 3 tiers. The top tier for the rich and influential. The mid (ground level) tier for those who can afford it. And the low tier (below sand level) which is the closest to subterranean tier that has all the lingering cursed mist. Only reason people live there is because they are destitute and this tier is basically free. The orphanage is just on the cusp between the mid and low tiers.

Mother Greepa was silent for a long, long time. When she finally spoke, "My my, what a strange place this world of ours is," more to herself before turning her gaze on you, "Would you believe me if I said this isn't the first time I've heard something like this. I've met a lot of people in my life. A lot. From every facet of life. Right now...you sound just like one of those touched by the Exalted.

Oh yes, I've known many who have boasted the great power or privilege or place in society such a bond had granted them, but you listen to them long enough, encounter them at just the right moment and you will see it. See beneath. The realization on the price they paid. The lamentations over the loss of their fate. Or sometimes it humbles them, finding themselves part of something greater. Mark my words young scholar, those are the good ones. And as blasphemous as it may sound hearing this coming from me, you are unlikely to find those in great chapels or castles."

-"Alright kids, time for dinner!" further ruminations were cut short as the young nun, sister Mary, left Shifu's side and roused the kids in the courtyard, the announcement being met with both cheers and groans at the interruption of their game.

The old nun just chuckled at that under her breath, "So, will you be joining us for a meal?"
This message was last updated by the GM at 19:03, Sun 26 Nov 2023.

As she mentions touched by the exalted his hand goes to his satchel, recalling flashes of his encounter with the lonely one.
 
 
 

Irfan honestly had little reason to refuse, the meals were meager at best, and he could always eat later. It's not like he needed them to put out a place for him either, but it had been his home once. It might mean something to the kids to see him, grown up, not that he would have had that impression. Somehow tired again even after bathing earlier, Irfan puts up a polite smile, "I don't see why not, mind if i set the table?" Still a bit rattle from ealier, Irfan tries to slip coinage under each plate, but just doesn't have the spotless faster then the eye speed he usually has.



Irfan rolled 10 using 1d20+7.  Finesse  Hiding 3 Coppers under the plates.
Irfan rolled 15 using 1d20+11.  Influence keep a secret.  Winky.

- 3 copper per X orphan.

Irfan takes 10 on perception and heal checks during dinner.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:03, Sun 26 Nov 2023.

Make it transparent and bigger (the 1st two images) and you pretty much got it nailed down. It is pretty (unlike the Cruel One who's basically a lamprey, the size of a skyscraper with a spiky/rocky exoskeleton)

Sister Mary smiled knowingly and graciously allowed you to do the honors. Shifu had declined to partake but Horus' zeal mirrored that of his newfound friends. You were worried the nuns might take offence but it washed off the old woman like water off a duck's back. Funny she hadn't been that forgiving/understanding with you when you got in trouble.

The meal however...was not as meager as you remembered them. Come to think of it the children were wearing fairly decent clothes rather than patchwork rags. So much so that even the socially awkward purifier took notice, "Shifu inquires as to why in this location persists, the mistress does, when means by charity for alternative domicile sufficient appear?From the hex, distance is most advisable. For the young ones most especially," the brick-like question was dropped on the table, drawing the mood to a still. The kids from hearing the armored person talk funny, and the rest from the cultural faux pas.

Again, the old nun was far more magnanimous with these strangers than you recall her being towards the kids while you were growing up. She hadn't been mean, quite caring in fact, just very "no nonsense". "The fruits we currently enjoy are charity from the Wingheldian princess as she toured the world to aid the downtrodden others overlook. While most welcomed, such generosity is not something we can expect on a regular basis to sustain better accommodations longterm. I know it's not ideal, but it's better than having orphans living amid the cursed mists itself. And we do what we can to shield them from it."
-"Yes, it works perfectly...provided they listen when they're told not to go there," Sister Mary added, then turned a glowering glare at 1 child that by now you identified as 'Chief troublemaker Chico'.
-"But it's just so cool!" the trouble child in question protested, then quickly turned at his new giant friend to share even more exciting stuff, "There's this one guy down there, he has no face! And adults stop chasing me when they see him-"
-"And why were adults chasing you, Chico?" an annoyed young nun interrupted the story. The boy froze as he recognized the dangerous tone in her voice. Slowly he turned to face her. "You haven't been pilfering stuff off the stalls at the bazar again, have you?"
-"...no?" The boy looked guilty as sin
-"Wait, back up. Did you say a Wingheld princess came to see you? Wingheld as in pretty girl with wings and feathers and stuff?" the childishness thawed off Horus as something pulled a cord in his memories.

Desperate to use any excuse to derail the current conversation, Chico jumped at the chance, "Yeah, that's her. She was here. Really nice too, didn't even get angry when I kept asking her to play with us even after Mother Mary and Grandma Greppa told me not t- oh! ^{Shukity darns}" he placeholder cursed under his breath after telling on himself twice in as many minutes.

-"We're looking for her. Do you knew where she went after she came here?"
-"I'm afraid not. As soon as she left these walls I know not what she did afterwards," the old nun apologized sincerely.
-"That's not true, I know where she went," Chico piped in again.
-"How-?"
-"I followed her after she left. I figured she'd agree to play with us if I asked her when you weren't around to stop her."
-"You did wha-?! Even after I told you repeatedly not to-"
-"Do you remember what happened? Can you tell me what happened?" Horus was ignoring the young nun and bore down on the child. Perhaps it was the fact that he nolonger recognized his "new friend" in the adult that was Horus right now, or perhaps it was because he didn't want to tell on himself a 3rd time, Chico seemed to shrink in his seat.

-"Well, er, um...I saw some weird people approach her. They were dressed funny, like those that occasionally come from the south," he eventually opened up.
-"Kwon soldiers? Did they kidnap her?" Horus asked but the boy shook his head.
-"No, they were Kon but they weren't soldiers. I've seen soldiers before, they were not soldiers. These wore nice clothes. Very nice clothes. They talked to her, talked to each other for awhile. I couldn't hear about what, but then they walked over to the docks and boarded one of the ships. The pretty princess went with them," he was getting more fidgety by the second.
-"Which ship? Do know where it went?" Horus pressed on, though it seemed obvious nobody in the room expected a small kid to know that much. Still, he had to hope against hope.
-"Yes," answered the kid to everyone's surprise. The room was quiet. He glanced at the adults in the room all staring at him, as well as the other kids and "...am I in trouble?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:03, Sun 26 Nov 2023.

Irfan tense, have worried he would have to (icy) restrain Horus from interrogating the boy for information about Hana, before he made it clear to Irfan that this was his goal all along. A cruel plan, but effective. Now convinced Horus wouldn't have a emotional outburst, Irfan let the drama play out.


As the silence played out, Irfan looked askant towards Greppa, Among the other worrying thing about the faceless man, he needed answers. Elaina had been targeted specifically, no one in nice clothes would have been willingly anywhere near the lower level otherwise. The mood for dinner would largely be gone no matter what now. Pushing his food, onto the plate of the adjacent child. Irfan sighed, "I think, that it is best we have a personal chat. Mother, may we be excused."


Irfan takes his plate to the kitchen, washes it, and putting it up to dry. Irfan instructs him to follow, and quietly takes Chico to a Hawawshi street vendor and orders two, handing one down to the child, Irfan then takes him to where he assumes the gap was, probably the same gap he used to use.

Squeezing through, Irfan finds a improvised seat, getting down on the boy's level. Taking a bite of the desert style sandwich, before continuing.

"I can guess you have as many questions for me, and I have for you right now. How I know where this passage is, why Mother Greppa left your punishment to me, why is your punishment food, among others." Irfan said, Believe it or not i was once the one always sneaking off, coming back to the orphanage bruised and dirty. I reckon she hopes I'll put some kind of sense into you. The punishment is food, because punishing you isn't going to change anything, and I want you to hear me over the sound of your belly rumbling.

Irfan takes another bite of the Hawawshi, then lifts the corner of his shirt, showing the pink scars where the spider had bitten him before dropping it once more. "Just as I'm sure your worried about Miss Helen, Horus is just as worried about both her and her younger sister Hana. She went missing searching for her sister Helen, and I got this wound to helping her." Irfan finishes off his food, waiting for Chico to speak up.

Chico may know where, but we still didn't know who took Helen, some mysterious high ranked Kwon? Impersonators? With any luck Irfan could have Chico take Horus and Shifu to where Helen was approached, and see if they could learn any more details, while he meet with Romco.

Perhaps Chico could help describe them, or atleast their attire, well enough for a sketch.
Irfan rolled 11(2) using 1d20+9.  Craft: Calligraphy,  Sketch artist.

Eh bad idea, wrong medium, and shoulda taken 10.

This message was last edited by the GM at 19:03, Sun 26 Nov 2023.

Confused as any kid his age would be, Chico calmed down quite a bit when he was nolonger in the spotlight. After munching on his snack and thinking it over for quite a bit he looked around to see if anyone was peeping on or eavesdropping then, satisfied the coast was clear, he motioned for Irfan to lean in. He whispered, "The thing is, that ship belonged to important man everyone is scared off. Romko Olp? And it wasn't just one of the minor ones, but the BIG one. The one he pilots himself. The only one allowed to go to the Kwon base in the south. I know because it always comes back filled with goodies from across the ocean and I occasionally..." he hesitated, "pick up, some of the stuff that fall off while they unload it. They're very juicy." He realized he was straying from the topic so he thought back to what he was saying. "Yeah, uh, so I followed and saw the pretty princess that gave use all the presence go on the ship with the weird, girly guy from the Kwon and the scary man was there. They talked for a bit and then they sailed off south for the base. I thought I might have a chance to pick up some more stuff as they loaded the ship, but the didn't. They never do that. Romko is famous for always trading and he never leaves with empty ships. Especially when he goes to the Kwon base."

When Irfan spoke to him about Hana, her likeness and the jackass who took her, the boy was very, very confused, "Noo_ooo, I haven't seen any other pretty bird princesses since the one that gave us presence. A large group of Kwon with weapons passed by, but that was a long time ago, and they didn't come on Romko's ship. He usually gives them a ride when coming back from there. Haven't seen any since then," he was forgetting to whisper since none of this sounded like stuff that could get him in trouble.
This message was last updated by the GM at 19:03, Sun 26 Nov 2023.

Actually valid point, but I was assuming Irfan knew that based on the trajectory they hustled away at. Verifying Hana didn't get passed through here is important.


Irfan ponders.

Irfan was beginning to dislike Romco, his boats(caravans?) were wrapped up in Hana's disappearance, add his being the only trader the Kwon dealt with, add it being part of his debut success story was all suspicious. Throw in the coincidence Romco Headquarters was right where his home had been, add in that the curse should be far weaker then it was commonly believed by now, and that Helen abductors were some kinda special Kwon and approached her in such a curse zone. It was all adding up to one big conspiracy he didn't like, and the man had a king priest to harass instead of just princesses right now. Well That was Milkweed's concern at the moment.


Irfan did know none of the other orphanage members knew what Chico had seen before yesterday, or atleast didn't believe him, but on the other hand, he may have told others and just not been believed. Well unless Romco puts out a bounty on information and he is intent on cutting any loose strings.

If Romco really was a more of a traitor then a business man, it could get messy, but someone had tipped off who ever had nabbed Helen from the Kwon after leaving here too.

Rather then spend the night brooding about things beyond his control, Irfan pushed down on his staff to stand up. Chico liked to talk about things that he liked a bit too much, and he liked the masked man. He would certainly have a perspective on the lower city, assuming of course he wasn't a curse ghost.



"Mother Greppa will probably be getting worried, on the other hand, it's not every day you get to see this side of the city at night. Would you care to introduce me to your masked friend before we head back?" Irfan inquires, leaning back and forth on his staff towards the exit hole, then towards the street.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:03, Sun 26 Nov 2023.

How exactly? Am I missing something?

If you mean Cruilla in general being a "cursed place" then yes. But if you mean they met all cloak-and-dagger-like on a subterranean level where the hex mist was still around, then no. They met on the same level you are on now.

Also we're making a slight retcon in the turn of events for a bit more of a smooth flow of events. 1st you went to Ramco's HQ with Loki, then Loki went to the Inn while you gathered info (inns, bars, market ect...) and THEN you got to the orphanage where Shifu and Horus were playing.

"Sure!" Chico exclaimed, literally jumping for joy. It started pulling on Irfan's arm as it enthusiastically motor-mouthed how awesome it was someone wanted to play with the kid and make friends with the faceless man because he was thought he was so lonely because all the adults avoided him and nobody wanted to play with them ect...

Moving down into the subterranean level of the city, it was identical to how Irfan remembered it from his early childhood (except for the stone ceiling above his head instead of the open sky). And that wasn't a good thing. It's like the misery of those days when the hex had been dropped on the city had been sealed in a time capsule, like the renaissance that the city had went through never made it down here. And then there was "The Wall". Once the only protection that the citizens had had against a supernatural malicious force made physical in a gaseous miasma, a flimsy band aid of a solution against an evil force they barely understood, now still standing there as a remained, a monument, to half measures and shortcuts. Thankfully he wasn't seeing the signs on pandemic insanity and suicides from depression, so it wasn't THAT bad I guess. And Chico was taking them straight for it. He was the lone ray of oblivious sunshine in an otherwise wary graveyard. It wasn't that far, the old Cruilla had been much smaller than the new one (what with the massive influx of people since the hexing of Shambala). Suspicious eyes followed Irfan as he made his way through the murky streets, ever more so the closer he drew to The Wall while the people living there were making damn sure to get into shelter before nightfall. One old woman even called out a warning to Irfan as he passed by before shutting and bolting her windows, "^{Don't go there young man! Sometimes the spirits of the damned leave the ghetto and roam our streets, and they have been more restless this day than I have ever remembered them in all my years!}"

Now that Irfan was so close to The Wall he could make out individual tiles, he did began noticing discrepancies from his childhood memories. Namely the number of access points to the quarantined infrastructure beyond. Back in the day there had only been 1, a means for the Purifiers to enter and leave, and it had been heavily guarded. Now there were numerous and no guards -heck Irfan just saw someone in the distance leave through them!- signifying that people were possibly living inside the now "safe and cleansed" part of town.

The young orphan lead Irfan right in there without a care in the world! And indeed the scholar did see signs of people occupying this place, but unlike the precious section of the city where the people had simply been poor, this place was destitute and an absolute squalor. Dark, filthy, ominous, in disrepair, holy fuck was that a cockroach the size of a cat that just ran by?! If there was anyone here right now, any permanent residents, they were making damn sure to keep out of sight. After a very brief investigation Irfan did find there to be a surprising amount of goods behind mere lock an key though, these (mostly?) empty buildings being used as warehouses maybe? But he also saw some serious and very recent signs on vandalism? Public destruction of property? Fighting? The type of damage wasn't the kind you'd find from a simple street brawl though. Was it perhaps the "restless spirits" as the old woman had said earlier? But then again as far as Irfan knew and could remember, the manifestations of the hex only affected the living and had no interest in the inanimate. His own recent encounter with a fully active hex in a satellite ruin of Shambala had been proof of that since, apart from the ravages of the elements and time, the place had been in pristine condition.

Chico seemed lost. No, wait, not lost but at a loss. He looked left and right with a frown as if not knowing where to go or find the faceless man but then a smile cracked on his lips and he yelped in joy again, running off towards the freshly destroyed part of the ghetto. From the corner of an alley a figure emerges. A tall, very tall and build like a shit brickhouse man rounds the corner. Chico ran up to him and began yammering away at him like they were old friends catching up, even called over for Irfan to come so he can introduce them and expressing how glad he was that his friend would finally have some new friends. The "man" on the other hand just stood there, quit, it's head down looking at the boy, motionless save for a bit of a way like a wind blowing at crops. It didn't take Irfan long at all to realize there was something off about that "man". He wasn't so much as "build like brick shithouse" as much as weirdly proportioned. And his clothes...it was like they were a part of him. Skin made to be a facsimile of clothes. And of course, "he" really was faceless.

"His" face raised from the child's an settled upon you, as if just becoming aware he was there.

Roll me a Knowledge (religion) DC 20 or Hex lore check DC 10. If success you can choose to try to "become invisible" to your enemy by "calming all negative emotion towards it" with a DC 15 Wisdom check, +1 per round you spend in its presence (if you roll over 20 on the Lore check you can make it a Will save with a +1 per minute instead). There's a difference between "controlling" your emotions and having a natural innocence like that of a child hence why Chico is fine for now.

If you fail, roll initiative.

In addition to that you have an optional Perception check, Knowledge (local) and (dungeoneering) checks, you already know that this place isn't connected to Shambala from your previous checks so this place's curse is its own, optional Lore (trade) check, another Perception check and anything else you deep prudent.
edit: initiative 17

After a moment of staring at you blankly it rushed at you.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:02, Sun 26 Nov 2023.

I'll assume the scout sphere ability would have returned the same information, that it has lead as it's primary weakness, and that Irfan knows and or believes this thing is deadly if it touches him 2-5 times. You mentioned a perception check leading up to this presumably for the Environment itself.

Irfan rolled 30(19) using 1d20+11.  Perception.

If this is anything like the previous encounter, physical stop may not stop it, but should slow it down, and it would have help on the way. Stealth is useless without Lead or significant material between them. Spell resistance lead cap knack looking profitable, Irfan's magical fixation knowledge plus Shifu's lead/curse knowhow.

Irfan needs to disarm this encounter fast, or turn it into a chase. Only the weak would signal Horus with a signature flashbang, and therefore shifu to come deal with this. Wait Irfan is weak.


Irfan opened his mouth to curse, but didn't dare exhale, as he processed what he was looking at, at the same time the void finished processing him back. If he could have seen it coming he could have gotten ahead of it, but the nature of the ghetto made seeing anything a ways off impossible. Here he was with only a pocket full of lead dust, and harming the thing may even make the situation worse.

Ignoring Chico for the moment, because as long as The Thing continued to ignore him it for the best. Irfan needed (Lead) something, anything, that was already half way set up to be a tripwire trap, that he could appropriate quicker then cobbling one from scratch. A bale of wires, rope already anchored, a storefront/stall with a shade canvas. Anything he could use to trip it up and maybe even entangle it.

Irfan rolled 13(2) using 1d20+11. Optional roll. Craft: trap  / Craft: trapsmith. /pray.

Irfan May need to withdraw to somewhere that does have what he needs.


Irfan Withdraws to look for a trap he can assemble as a standard action instead of a full round action, Or he tries to Move to one he could in this area.

Rather then risk losing his chance getting hit creating(casting defensively) his barrier, irfan tried to dodge the 'curse wraith' claws as he stepped back, failing to dodge.

irfan rolled a 10 on tumble check. Roll for AoO, Touch Ac 12.

While the fade was preoccupied recovering from the swipe, Irfan quickly expended martial focus to put up a salt barrier.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:02, Sun 26 Nov 2023.

The scout sphere reveals that it is vulnerable to sunlight, and that it's mistbound (meaning it suffers 1d6 dmg per round when not in a cursed mist are). This is why it can (as the old woman said) briefly roam the undertown streets at night even beyond the wall, and why using wind (continuously) could potentially make it take 1d6 dmg per round if you keep the mist out. It cannot be tripped, unless you are using magic traps or something that could affect an incorporeal (like salt or especially lead). Physical attacks are only half as effective as per the usual incorporeal type.

You also now know why all the Purifiers were jacked. Their fullplate armor is made out of lead meaning the standard human-sized armor weighs well over a 100 lbs.

You see 2 more "faceless" men beginning to coalesce in the far, far distance (especially the 3rd one) meaning that the encounter does draw more attention from the mist itself, but it's a very far cry from what you experienced back in the ruins hence confirming this hex is far far weaker. And why that curse manifested other types of undead instead of this one (light sensitivity).

As the mistborn abomination drew closer and closer, it began changing, it started sprouting tentacles -no wait!- spider legs, from its back! It began more and more reflecting that which plagued your subconscious the most. That explained why it was "faceless" to Chico, the child's innocence had nothing the dark mirror could reflect back.

Unfortunately your usual tactics of misdirection failed against a thing that didn't thing, didn't have eyes, didn't perceive you as anything more than a nebulous cloud of emotion and soul, an antithesis of its existance that it had zeroed in on.

Suddenly you found yourself in the grips of that thing unable to break free. You felt every fiber of your being be violated as the physical manifestation of all this malicious dissolve again and invade your body through every orifice, through the very pores of your skin!

You could feel your consciousness slipping away, falling into a deep precipice...no, wait. It was like...you were in a dream. But not lucid dreaming, just a dream where everything made sense in a different way.

You have been possessed. You have taken 42 Constitution damage and will continue to take 1 more Con damage each week until you die or the entity gets exorcised (or leaves voluntarily). While it has a host the entity isn't vulnerable to light.

You are still you, but alignment has changed to Chaotic Evil and your sole goal is to cause as much suffering in the world as possible (again, it's like you're in a dream except it's not lucid dreaming just regular dreaming). Normally this usually means a possessed person immediately starts (or at least tries to) killing those around them, but because you have a VERY high Intelligence and are in a non-typical situation, you can get much more creative with the suffering you can inflict upon the world. Namely, why start randomly killing and immediately get discovered when you have the opportunity to start a war and plunge the entire world into chaos? And the best way to do that would be for the Kingpriest Loki to be caught invading/spying the Kwon. Ideally on their native soil (who nobody has managed to pull off till now!)

Keep playing like you have been until now, just keep in mind Irfan's new objective. He will not do anything that would jeopardize him getting Loki through the gate to the Kwon (which was the intent all along ever since he found out Elena had been teleported to the Kwon homeland through the Gate at the southern fortress) and would act nice or perform short term "good acts" if doing so would get him closer to the goal, but he will not do anything altruistic or good like he had up till now that doesn't immediately get him closer to his goal.

"Uh, um...Mister? A-Are you ok? What happened?" you hear a shaky voice as you open your reborn eyes. A little child was standing there, frightened, looking up at you concerned. It disgusted you to look at it. Nothing would have brought you more joy that snapping its neck with your bare hands. And you were far away from prying eyes so it's not like anyone would even see you do it! ...ah, but wait. Those people at the orphanage and your teammates might ask questions. They saw you depart with the young boy. You can't kill him, but you must make sure he doesn't breathe a word of what had happened here.

How do you plan on preventing Chico from telling anyone what happened here, at least until your party is gone and it nolonger matters? Intimidation seems like the obvious solution but perhaps you have a better idea.
This message was last updated by the GM at 19:02, Sun 26 Nov 2023.

The touch made him feel sick, but only for a moment. Emotions came flooding through, righteous anger against the kwon how dare they, jealousy over Romco's wealth and stature on his mentor home, his apprenticeship his inheritance. Betrayal by the nations that used the barren Arcadia that was hard enough to survive in like a disposable shield. The incompetent leadership, fat on their asses letting the world devolve. Loki diving head first on a whim into the desert, just because he could. Wingheld laughing at him, denying him, ridiculing him. No more, no.  Irfan would bring a end to this farce, this slow bleeding of arcadia. He would change the status quo so irrevocably, and it would be by his own hands. Loki lording all that power over everyone yet using so little of it, if he wasn't going to use it, Irfan would surely would.

Whatever magic the kwon had, if they had to wait for the moon to be full, and it could affects so many, it had to be powerful, powerful enough that it was a time of stress and vunerablity. Secrets they wanted kept, Secrets they didn't want out, Secrets they didn't want a King-priest knowing, and here he had the perfect opportunity, not only to break the whole systems holding everything together, to free Arcadia, but to spread the curse beyond it's wildest dreams.


This possession will serve as the catalyst for unlocking the spell hacking knack, maybe even be relevant as soon if Loki does stuff.

He just needed to keep it a secret from that pesky woman, and that cursed Shifu. The plan of a thousand dreams starts with a simple truth. He needed to befriend and isolate the boy, a task Irfan needed to see too. His silent friend, who always came running to Chico aide when chased by angry people, who always listened.  His new friend, a traveler who cross the desert, who roamed freely. A magic man and a magic friend. Everything the naive boy wanted, it was perfect. He had the the connections, the trust, the means to adopt the boy, away from those that knew him, and in with those that didn't. He could keep him isolated and entertained while he worked on his little surprises,  till the big reveal. Horus had even hurt the boy already, enough of a wedge to keep his nosey little nose out.

Sure the curse would strain his body, but he could easily counteract it.


As for the boy, Irfan sneezed visibly, shaking his head. It seemed the boy didn't know there were multiple faceless, and just assumed it was always the same one he encountered.

Blinking a few times looking past the concerned Chico, "Chico? ah.. you don't say. I didn't know. I understand." Finish his blinking, Irfan looks directly at the boy, "Your friend tells me you want to see what the world is like beyond the city, pulling out his journal, Irfan opens it to his sketch of the lonely one, and the osasis. "He couldn't leave before, but now We can make that happen." it was a wOnder or rather wAnder lust Irfan himself was all to familiar with.

Irfan rolled 17 using 1d20+11.  Influence diplomacy,  Chico. Raise Chico's opinion if needed.
This message was last updated by the GM at 19:02, Sun 26 Nov 2023.

Seeing Chico was more frightened then curious, taking a half hearted step back, still pale from shock.



ooc" Kill him now before he ruins everything.
No that will ruin everything.
He knows.
They know.
The curse took him, he is unruly.
And let Shifu know we where here?
FIX HIM, Quickly."



Irfan took his book and staff and moved laterally to some crates to sit, putting down his journal. Drawing would be easiest, but drawing leaves clues. He this had to be words, "The Masked Man, you always talked to him but he could never talk back, He protected you but could never follow you. He wanted to talk to you, to follow you, and protect you. He can do that now. Take you to see the ocean, blue as big as the desert. To see mountains higher then bird flying. To see forests full of plants as big as houses. He is here now, tapping his heart, a part of me, able to take you on adventures, leave the city.
This message was last updated by the GM at 19:04, Sun 26 Nov 2023.

The shadow-host Irfan convinced the little boy he was going to be adopted, he just needed to keep in under his hat for a few days to wrap up some things. The boy was on cloud nine and he was sure it would eventually tell someone as more and more people pestered it about why it's in such high spirits, but it was probably ganna keep quiet for the next few days at least since by then they'd have to leave the city regardless whether with Romco's help or taking a chance at the fort on their own (what with the full moon so close and all). The boy would soon learn the very harsh reality of disappointment and lies and being abandoned, having hope given to it then snatched away. If all went well, it might cause that poor little soul to become bitter and spread the cycle of hate. (Influence success 23 vs 16 (+5 DC due to retry))

You now needed to decide whether to send it back to the orphanage alone while you dabbled a little down here, or don't waste time and go directly to Loki to share with him what you had found out about Romco. Hopefully he'll fly into a rage and barge his way to Romco's, hurting people along the way. He was a kingpriest so Cruilla wouldn't stand against him, but it might sour their relations with the Alliance in general. The more discord the better, provided it wasn't SO bad that it prevented Romco from smuggling you all into the Kwon. Can't lose sight from the bigger picture over smaller delights, so he'd probably have to reign in the kingpriest a bit.
This message was last updated by the GM at 19:02, Sun 26 Nov 2023.

Irfan rolled 23 using 1d20+14.  Self Heal,  medical training, Con damage. 15 = 1, 20 = 2, 25
=3
Irfan tops off any hit points and cures 2 ability damage.


Irfan will see the boy back to the orphanage with a new hat from his outfits, and the journal if he shows any interest. Not intending to risk revealing anything to the piercing eyes of Greppa, Irfan will feign business after seeing Chico home.

-> Craft poison, Sleep for Romco encounter.
-> Partial Debrief Loki that the kwon stole Elaine and left via a tradeship.
-> Give his rotten mother a present. Do you even know where she is?  Draw attention that your looking for her? Shes more likely to find her 'rich' Son.
-> Spend the night crafting bombs, and fireworks.
This message was last updated by the GM at 19:02, Sun 26 Nov 2023.

Returning to the hotel, Irfan attempts to avoid interacting as he prepares for tomorrow's encounter,  Ghost willing, Loki Willing  assuming Horus hasn't spilled the beans.


Ifran sets his daily (spell preperation hour) alchemy items to

Salve, Foam, Bomb, Bomb, Bomb, Itch, Itch, Itch

<orange> Irfan rolled 61 using 4d20+13 with rolls of 32,14,20,29.  Bomb Bomb Itch Itch.


Alchemy Items Til  tomorrow night: Salve +1, Foam +1, Bomb, Itch, Unassigned, Unassigned, Unassinged, Unassigned, Unassigned, Unassigned.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:02, Sun 26 Nov 2023.

Con dmg caused by possession cannot be healed while still possessed. Think of it as a temporary reduction in the max Con score.

Irfan's mother is in another city. She left after hooking up with the sailor guy (is this why you thought Cruilla was a costal city with a port?).

You returned with Chico back at to the orphanage. The boy seemed over the moon even though he had that cheeky "I know something you don't" grimace that invited more inquiry than in it did to protect a secret. It would only be a matter of time before he blabed, you knew this, but for now, seeing the new hat and his precious book, people seemed to believe his elated mood stemmed from the treats you had given the boy on your walk.

You kept your responses to Horus and especially Shifu as vague and mundane as possible so as not to raise any suspicion. As the 3 of you made your way to the hotel you stumbled upon your lanky kitsune bodyguard. He seemed to be limping a bit and, hooo boy, reeked of booze. Like he bathed in it or something. He spun a tale of how he found the best speakeasy in the desert and had stubbed his toe after betting buzzed, but then got kicked out for getting a bit to handsy with the finest serving wenches Arcania had to offer, giving you a bawdy ok sign as if to praise you or something. (for the sake of brevity I rolled Perception for you and...success)

As the 4 of you now made your way to the hotel, and Milkweed gave his name to the receptionist for bookkeeping purposes, "Scott McTabish, nice ta meet'cha, er with a 'K' dear. 2 K's in fact. Yes I have a casino. What're you ganna bet against the house?" your eyes narrowed in suspicion. While the story might as well have been spoken in a foreign language as has as Horus was understanding it, and the typical indifference from the stumpy ironclad cleaner, given what you knew of your homeland, Cruilla, recent events, being accustomed to the kitsune's shenanigans, multiple devious misdirections with half-truths and most of all you new clarity of mind...you knew something wasn't adding up. You knew firsthand the swordsman was much more competent, heck downright dangerous, than the goofball façade he tried to portray. Yes he smelled of booze, but you hadn't actually smelled any of it on his breath, just his clothes. Almost as if he had a lot of it spill on him or vice versa. You knew the mutt liked to drink, you've seen him do it, but why pretend he did when he didn't? Adding to the fact what had happened below inside the quaranteen area not to mention, now that you think about it, the shape of the figure that had ran away from there did would match his size and build, you suspected the beastman had had a fight with someone or something down below and the booze was probably from some of the smashed stored pots and goods.

Milkweed clearly had some kind of secret agenda, something beyond just "I got hired by a kingpriest to be a bodyguard", come to think of it even that had been a bit too serendipitous. Loki running into a blade for hire who didn't ask questions, in a dinky little town where he himself was a stranger just when Loki was about to embark on an impulsive hairbrained journey with unknown dangers and ramifications? Well *shrug* didn't change anything as far as your plan to plunge the world into chaos so whatever the kitsune's motives and plans were, they were complete irrelevant and benith your concern.

You decided to wait till supper (which was going to be pretty soon anyway) to selectively debrief Loki when all of you were together, hoping to leave most of it to Horus and Shifu so as to make it seem like you hadn't really uncovered much when you had went out with Chico. Well, at least not until the time was just right anyway.

And that's when you saw a very frantic and familiar hostess practically storm into the hotel, immediately demanding the receptionist direct you to 2 individuals whose descriptions mirrored yours and Loki's. "Are they back yet? I know they're here. I had a runne-Oh thank the-" and that's when she saw you and practically ran up to you "*ahem* Greetings again honored patron ^*pant*. I was sent by Mr.Romco to express his sincerest regrets at being unable to entertain you and the noble kingpriest of the plains at this time and the foreseeable future. Intransigent circumstances make any business or other transactions impossible at this time as he believes his humble self has nothing worthy enough for such a noble figure and asks you to please direct any further petitions to the authority of the Aranian council where they could be given the deference and attention befitting of a most welcome figure such as the Kingpriest of the Plains," she went into this long monologue of political doublespeak, then held up one of the 2 large cases she had been carrying with her. "He wishes to return the artefacts you had deemed him worthy enough to be entrusted with. And as both an expression of gratitude at this faith you had deemed to place upon his unworthy self and recompense for any inconvenience he may have unintentionally make you suffer, Mr.Romco wishes to bestow upon you a gift," she held up a second case.

It was around this time that you heard the unmistakable heavy stomps of too much metal falling upon wooden boards that heralded Shifu's arrival. Which means the others couldn't be far behind. You had to make a choice on how to play this. Get rid of the hostess and act dumb or tell Loki EXACTLY what was going on.
This message was last updated by the GM at 19:02, Sun 26 Nov 2023.

In reply to GM (msg # 378):

I set up Cruilla to be the port city, with water fowl, where ifran grew up, with port access to the desert trade routes. I think you swapped it at somepoint early on, but that is the lore that stuck for me. One of the orphans went to sea as a pirate, another stayed as a dockman, and the other i forgot, smuggler or something.

Irfan doesn't know what is in the second case, but he was sure it was probably less useful. Romco was dodging them, specifically, foreseeable future his worn sandals. The poor wench was probably scolded by Romco, not that it was Irfan's problem, better for him even. She was perfect tinder for that flame Loki had been swallowing for weeks. "I see, this is probably best to inform him directly, would your bearing gifts, would you mind carrying those upstair? It's been a long trip for traveler.

Hope she bites 1d20+11 = 15 Influence.

Planning on having her recite her speech to Loki himself, with a interjection.
"...transactions impossible at this time as he believes his humble self " "humble self let the Kwon escort your fiance out of town without her entourage on his not so humble ship.
This message was lightly edited by the GM at 19:02, Sun 26 Nov 2023.

Alternatively:

If she is unwilling to meet with loki, Irfan takes offense to both her public posturing, and refusal. They had tried dealing in good faith, but this so called merchant would sell out women to the kwon, but would dismiss a patron from wingheld and the grasslands without even meeting them. This wouldn't do at all, by now the quality of the trade goods must have been the talk of the town, if not just Romco's company and the hotel. It's not the kind of money or opportunity one would say no to.


"So your words are Romco's, yes? We come paying and seeking His aide and he won't meet with us? While he sold out a foreign patron he to the kwon, shipping her out like cattle on his flagship no less. Then he tries to hide behind the council the moment someone comes looking for Helen(Elaina?)?df I suggest you take that blood money and start a new career with as honest merchant, rather then return that Kwon slaver."

One does not simply diss a council member,  in their own city no less, publicly no less, unless one means bad business. Irfan considers knocking the case the the ground to reveal the exalted part to onlookers, but doubts he could manage it.

Irfan rolled 24 using 1d20+11.  Influence Intimidation.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the GM at 19:04, Sun 26 Nov 2023.

RIGHT! Helen. That was the name of the older sister.

It was a simple enough request, one that she would have done anyway had she run into the kingpriest first, her task had been to deliver the message, it didn't specify to whom. Heck the hostess probably viewed Irfan as a kindred spirit, a fellow middleman. Things like these probably happened among big wigs often enough, and the generous magnanimity of Ramco should curb any hurt feelings. This was probably a political issue rather than a business one anyway, which she was sure her boss wasn't too interested in hence why he redirected the ignorant ruler to the proper governing body (as it were) of Arcania. And so, when the kingpriest arrived, she pretty much repeated the message verbatim.

Until you threw her off the bridge. Reference to: "humble self let the Kwon escort your fiance out of town without her entourage on his not so humble ship."

Suddenly finding herself implicated wronging one of the most powerful men in the world while standing at arm's length of said man, the woman's instincts kicked in. Contrary to popular belief, there were actually 3 responses. Fight, flight...or freeze. The hostess' eyes went wide, she stole a glance at Irfan at the vicious betrayal, but otherwise went mute as all she could do was stare (like a deer in headlights) at the greater-than-life man before her as the kingpriest's features slowly shifted from one emotional state to another the longer realization of the words sunk in.

"Where is Romco now?" Loki demanded with a low, throaty growl. The woman stood transfixed. Breathless. Unblinking. "Is he still at the HQ?!" he barked, drawing curious glances from the other patrons, the serving staff at the hotel, and Horus and Milkweed who were seated at at table in the dining area in the next room, waiting for supper. The hostess whimpered, but...there was the ever so slight nod from her. That was all the confirmation the building storm needed. He turned and waked straight out the door. He wasn't running but his stride was unmistakably with purpose.

"Hm?" the kitsune raised an eyebrow, which still wasn't enough to lift the bangs off his eyes.
-"Where's Loki going? Isn't he ganna join us for dinner?" Horus asked since neither of them been close enough to have heard what had happened thus had no context for the kingpriest's sudden departure.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:04, Sun 26 Nov 2023.

Irfan suppressed a grin, that was intimidating, delicously scary. He had been the same way when he first meet the prince, not that he cared anymore. It wasn't his job to walk on egg shells anymore.

 Still, what do to do with the terrfied wench, sure he could take the money anyways, but he couldn't easily spend it in town after this. No, how best to sow seeds of discord with it. "We will no longer be settling this matter in Arcadian fashion, I Honestly suggest quickly finding new or self employment somewhere else which whatever staff you trust. tearing up the voucher for the destroyer scale in front of her, underscoring the total worth of Romco's magnanimity. Rumors that the Kwon had captured Helen probably originated from within Romco's own company and dockhands, so the truth should have shocked her so much as imminent death itself. Turning to follow Loki, Ifan openly muses, "Silly me, perhaps the forger of Bond's counterpart would have turned out better." Short chuckle.
Irfan rolled 25 using 1d20+11.  Parting Influence?







"It seems Loki is not pleased with Who, How, or Why Helen left with town, and Romco telling him to Wait indefinitely was also a sore point." Irfan said as he walked past, explaining barely half of it, but conveying the idea.

Everyone except maybe Shifu, knew how short strung Loki had been with being unable to take action this entire time. Nevermind that Milkweed, his 'bodyguard' had been out scuffling, and may not be in the best shape to bodyguard, not that Loki though he needed one, still Irfan needed to get Loki on the boat, preferably Romco's with the skimmer to fully light the powder keg. Which meant he needed to make sure Loki got to his target.

"I believe I may be needed to keep negotiations.. Civil. and with that Irfan leaves.


Irfan may not remember the bouncer, but with the curse stirring up all his issues, Tall and Jacked doesn't change much over time, thin and scrawny is a dime a dozen.


To Flashbang (ray, fort save vs Blind, and Deafened), Glacial Flashbang(add Staggered, Ice damage), or Ice (ray, fortitude save vs paralyze) the bouncer. Ice Ray is most promising.

Could Irfan predict Romco's escape route?
Did Irfan Prepare Alchemy items today?

Before the night was out (or early the next morning ether is fine, just keep in mind the longer you stay up the later you wake up, unless you want to risk fatigue again from insufficient sleep.) you are approached by a skinny old man with giant glasses. You recognize him as the one who was with the boisterous and half-naked Cleaners. "Young man, am I to understand you wrote this?" he asked you as he held the familiar piece of paper with your quick scribbles on it relating to the potion and its relation to the curse. "Don't suppose you can spare some time? We have a lot to talk about."

quote:

ooc: Romco didn't heavily invest in the mines, that's all Akira's doing. Romco wanted to stick his greedy finger into the honey pot and have exclusive (or at the very least much larger) distributing rights. But yes, he did have high interests in the "mines" all the same.

Btw you can use the Alpine staff as a staff for your scholar stuff after 8 hours of work on it. Oh and we can skip the whole "raw materials" for your class ability stuff now. After familiarizing myself with the class I can see the build it limitations (like how it takes 15 minutes per 5~6 formulae and stuff). Instead we can treat the grenades as if they were formulae as well (to limit the unlimited use of them). So from now on when you craft formulae just write how many and which did you craft like:
30 minutes, 12 formulae:
3/3 Grenade
2/2 Panacea
1/1 Salve
6/6 Instant Foam

or something like that. And when you use one just tick off the numer on the left.

This message was last edited by the GM at 19:04, Sun 26 Nov 2023.

The hostess looked like her whole world had collapsed on her as she slumped down on the floor, rethinking he life's decisions. You weren't sure what she did after that since you had to catch up to Loki who, while not running was still making very quick progress to Romco's trading company's HQ. The sound of chairs scraping floors signaled that Horus and the kitusne had also came to the conclusion that they should join before things get out of hand.

Too late.

You were just in time to see Loki stomping his way towards the HQ's entrance. The meathead bodyguards was still there and he recognized trouble coming a mile away, "Stop! Only business partners may meet with Mr.Romco and only in working- Gah?! GUOO!!! *^{feewww...thud*}" Without even slowing down, Loki had extended his hand forward, palm open, then made a fist. The sentry froze up at this as if suddenly encases in spiderweb as tough as iron. Then Loki swiped left and the sentry yanked sideways, flying like a ragdoll until it collided with the wall across the street. Several steps later and Loki waved his hand again at the door, causing it to fly off its hinges inwardly as if rammed by a dozen siege breakers with a personal grudge they had nursed over an entire lifetime.

You lost sight of the kingpriest very briefly because he immediately turned left up the staircase as soon as he entered the HQ, but the cries of "^{Wait! What are you-}" and "_{No, that's Mister Ramco's-}" made it very easy to locate him again. Seems he had stopped very briefly to "question" yet another servant/employee which one of these room's Romco was in so that he wouldn't have to go through them 1-by-1, which gave you enough time to catch up. By the sounds of it, Milkweed and little-boy-blue were almost here as well (the sight of the destruction must've given them some pause). However you were also quite sure that by now the regular private security that patrolled the posh streets had been made aware (this wasn't a common occurrence so you could understand their delayed reaction time) so whatever you were to do it would have to be soon.

B-lining it to the office he had been directed to, Loki once again forwent the formality of using the door handle. Inside you did indeed find a man dressed in opulent clothes, in a room that thieves dreamed the (good) afterlife's waiting lobby would look like. Seems like this was more than just an HQ but Romco's living quarters and that must be the man in question.

One very odd thing that gave both you and even Loki cause to stop and think twice was the fact that the man seemed completely calm. Annoyed certainly, sneering with distain at the intruding kingpriest, but definitely not someone whimpering and afraid for his life.

Roll me a perception roll. And a general intelligence ability score roll.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:49, Sun 26 Nov 2023.