Still seeing from the way that bitch laughed, Scarlet stops, pondering what she has just seen. Who's that woman? Erikus' mother? Girlfriend? Something else?

And what is it to her? How is a mere servant, and a boy, and one unable to hold a normal conversation at that, relevant to Scarlet's task, now that she doesn't even need to fool him to gain entrance into the kennels?

And yet. Curiosity bites.

As silently as possible, Scarlet approaches the door and steals a look through the keyhole, while listening for any conversations on the other side.

Scarlet peeks through the keyhole to see the woman holding her hand to Erikus' cheek in a comforting, motherly way.  "Are you sure, Ricky?  She looks like a noble girl.  I think I've seen her at the fine tables with the other nobles.  I just don't want you to get hurt.  She's a big, important, girl and doesn't have time for folks like us."

"Yes, Mamma.  She is my friend.  She was nice to me, and she wanted to hear about the book -- she asked me about it.  She is my friend, she is, she is, she is."

Scarlet can see the woman walking back towards the door.

Scarlet raises an eyebrow. She has been nice to Erikus? Surely he hasn't been too unpleasant, for a highborn dealing with a servant. But, a friend? Well, who cares. If Scarlet is to learn anything from lady Marano, it is the fact that being nice to servants can come in handy.

And she's mere seconds away from being caught eavesdropping, which would be somewhat embarrassing in spite of the social differential, so she resolutely knocks on the door.

"Good day. I thought I saw Erikus come this way?" she greets the woman with a smile, carefully crafted to look friendly without being too familiar. "He's not busy, one hopes?"
This message was last edited by the player at 09:24, Thu 05 May 2022.

The woman barely opens the door enough that she can slip outside, then pulls it closed again behind her.  "G'day, miss," she says, as she gives a bit of a curtsey.  The woman is short, just even with Scarlet.  She has a matronly, somewhat doughy body, but with the underlayer of muscle you see in servants who are familiar with hard work.  She has the same large, strong nose that Erikus has which looks good on a man but not so much on a woman.

She watches Scarlet for a few seconds, not saying anything, but doing her best to look into the girl's soul.  Finally she tries to answer the young girl's questions.  "Yes, miss, he is here.  I ...  You ...  He is ..."  She pauses to collect her thought, looks up and to the east, her mouth moving in silent prayer.  Finally she turns back.  "Please, Miss.  My boy is special.  He's a little different; and he's, uhhh, very fragile.  Please don't toy ... don't hurt him."  Her eyes are glistening.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:31, Thu 05 May 2022.

Here's a woman who's painfully aware of what an excellent scapegoat her son is, Scarlet thinks as she smiles.

"Hurt him? Now, why should I? He's a very good boy. And very smart, isn't he? I know he can read," she says, friendly smile on, the last bit said as if it was some shared secret.

"How and why did he learn that? It seems unusual."

The woman's tears dry up instantly, and she puts on a wary look, but hopeful.  "Yes.  It seems he taught himself.  He found this old book, Raising Savannah Cats and Other Large Felines and he just figured it out.  My husband, rest his soul, was angry that the boy obsessed over it so much that he burnt the book, but Erikus already knew every word of it.  It's that what got him his job at the kennels, he knew so much about the cats."

"Burning books is what savages do," Scarlet observes coldly. The implication is that the woman is better off as a widow. Whether she misses her brute of a late husband or not is irrelevant: book-burners deserve no respect whatsoever in her book, pun intended.

"I found a kitty the other day," she lies with a sweet smile. "Not savannah, of course. Just a cute little street cat, but it's sooo lovely! I hope Erikus can give me some pointers to take good care of it. Is he busy at the moment? I can send for some other servant to do his work, if need be."

She still seems wary.  Unusual interactions between nobles and working class rarely work out well for the latter, and it is clear that she will do all in her power to protect her boy.  Finally, she looks down in resignation, recognizing that "in her power" is a huge stumbling block.  "Of course, Miss, he will do all he can to help you.  He is ...  He does not ...  Please be patient with him.  He is a good boy, and does not mean to be, umm, awkward."

After one more long second staring at Scarlet, she turns to open the door.  "Ricky," she calls, but he is waiting just inside the door, "The lovely Miss would like you to help her with her kitten.  You be good and answer all her questions."  She turns back to Scarlet, her face turning red, "I am so sorry, Miss.  What may we call you?  I am Sindae, and you know Erikus."

I will assume that you will be spending time with Erikus, and will listen to him recite the entirety of the book.  When you are done, it is up to you and your conscience how you treat him, and this will likely affect your alignment, if that ever matters.  Assuming you spend at least 10 hours of time with him, you gain a free trait:  +1 bonus in Animal Handling when applied to felines, and Animal Handling is always a class skill for you.

You had to work a lot harder for this than the others.  They both found a book.  :-) 

That's remarkable, considering how Scarlet is probably the most likely of the three characters to be actually literate? Yes, I'll be spending some time with him over the next few days. I'll fix the character sheet. Erikus will be fine for now, but if and when Scarlet decides to "borrow" one of those kittens, he's going to be the fall guy :)

"I know he will," Scarlet reassures her, smiling a bit more as Erikus appears. "And 'mistress Scarlet' is fine, I'm not my mother," she adds, charmingly modest. "Come, I have so many questions!"

That much is true, and for the next days she takes notes of Erikus' instructions, keeping them under her matress, with a view to destroy them as soon as she is done with the mission. Meanwhile, she machinates how to get back at Alyssa, and prepares to attend one of those fencing lessons... not so much to learn the blade, but to have an excuse to get closer to Xavin.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:34, Mon 09 May 2022.

True, but the others all had literacy built into their back stories, one only just barely, but it was there.
Surely you can see that I plan to give you a cat.  You won't have to steal one.  :-)

[Private Scarlet: It looks like you are the only player left.  I guess Urvan was not happy about me calling him a 'get a lifer,' or maybe he just got bored.  (I DID include myself in that group, after all.  I didn't think the name would have any sting.)]

I'm not sure what sort of relationship you hope to have with Xavin.  I guess you could become like a little sister to him, but with a certain sexual tension that he is too good of a person to allow to manifest.  I think I'll play his father as a little more creepy, in that he doesn't see anything wrong with his 19-year-old son pursuing a 12-year-old beauty if it is politically advantageous.  But definitely nothing is going to happen, per RPoL rules as well as my own.

To get the lessons in swordplay you'll need permission from Anne.  I just looked up forgery rules:  https://www.d20pfsrd.com/skill..._or_Detect_Forgeries  It uses Linguistics skill and is trained only, so that really isn't an option.

You can try a bluff, but the DC will be pretty high, since the swordmaster has run into young nobles before whose parents don't want them training.  I suspect, though, that you could tell Anne the truth about why you want to do it and she'd be all for it.  Getting back at some b**** for some real or imagined slight is right up her alley.  (Diplomacy with a pretty reasonable DC.)  You can assume the gold piece for a month's of lessons, or you could probably get yourself included in the family plan via your father, so the cost won't be an issue. 

Ah, that's a shame, but I'm not surprised. Ghosting happens all the time here, the more interesting and unusual the game, the more it happens, it seems. I'm sick and tired of the n-th DnD game, but every time I get excited for an original system or setting... everyone vanishes within a month and it gets canned, sometimes the GM leading the exodus. Sadly it's just the way things go, alas.

Regarding Xavin, I suppose Scarlet is having a first crush sort of thing, impossible as those thigns tend to go, because of age differences, etc. It's another way to hate on Alyssa, too, so it tracks. And yes, as you correctly say, nothing sexual can or will happen there, agreed. And you suggestion is good, yes.

"Why, you haven't been notified, master Usuul?" Scarlet wonders, the next day, putting on her best surprised and shocked and even mildly offended face when she shows up for the fencing lesson as if she belonged in there. "I suppose Mother must have been too busy with courtly matters. But she would be displeased if I missed a lesson just because of some... minor technicality," she says airly, implying that nobles like Mother and herself have more important things to do than signing authorizations or dealing with sword-teachers.

Risky, but she would try this first before she has to go all the tedious way of Mother...

Scarlet d'Ardelle rolled 21 using 1d20+8.  Bluff.

It is a little before lunch on Zeus' Day (Thursday) when Scarlett returns to the training room.  She is there in time to see the advanced class leaving, including Xavin.  He is drenched in sweat, or maybe he poured a bucket of water over his head, but has a big smile on his face, as if he had just made some sort of accomplishment.  (You can retcon a conversation, here.  He will recall seeing you from two days ago, but doesn't know who you are.  He is generally friendly, and you ARE beautiful, so he will be happy to chat politely, at least for a couple of minutes.)

"Miss, uhhh, Scarlet is it?  No, I haven't received anything, so I will not be able to allow you to have a full lesson with gear on.  However, if you are quite sure that the permission will be forthcoming, then I will let you come in for most of the beginners' lesson.  You need to learn basic stances before you can do any sparring, anyway, so you will not need equipment, yet.  I have to get some lunch, and then we will start."

He is gone for only 15 minutes, during which time 9 boys ranging from 8 years old to mid-teens show up, a few that Scarlet already knows.  Some are already wearing the fighting gear, some go into one of the separate rooms to change.  Usuul calls the class to order, the boys lining up without any instruction, and indicates that Scarlet should join the back row.  Of course, the boys are eyeing her and whispering when they think they can get away with it.

Usuul leads the group through some stretching exercises, then walks them slowly through a set of stances:  The Ox, the Plow, the Fool, and the Roof.  He quizzes the boys on them, asking questions like, "Which would you use against a large man with a greatsword?" or "What stance do you use just before running away?"  He corrects each person's stance, obviously expecting different levels of perfection from the different students.  He spends half an hour on different exercises, switching from one stance to another, slowly, then quickly.  Finally, he hands out wooden swords but refuses to give Scarlet one.  "You're welcome to watch, but I can not let you use the weapons without permission."

There is a strange flutter in Scarlet's stomach as she makes small talk with the boy, something she can't quite place, or she can but doesn't want to admit to herself. The little shiny droplets on the boy's chest are strangely distracting, and she can barely follow the conversation with the effort of not staring at them. When the chat is over, she can't really remembered what each one of them said, but she's smiling and there's a warmth in her chest.

"Mother is a very busy lady," she says with a nonchalant shrug by way of explanation to the swordmaster, hoping it sounds sincere because it is absolutely something she'd do, if she actually knew.

If she felt some sort of self-consciousness during her previous chat with Xavin (she did), it is dispelled by the obvious attention she is attracting from the other boys (which she revels in); being used to not feeling seen at all, it is a welcome change to be the center of attention.

The mood is somewhat spoiled when grumpy old Usuul refuses her a wooden sword.

"That is very well, master Usuul, but this is not a weapon," she says as if speaking to a child, flicking the wooden sword with a finger. "It is a piece of wood. I couldn´t hurt myself with this if I tried. And believe me, Mother wouldn't be bothered."

Again, that much is true.

Nonchalantly, he says, "Oh, it's a weapon, young Miss.  I have killed men with less."  It's clear that he isn't going to back down on this.  Two of the younger boys are standing there with their mouths agape.

(You can decide if you stay to watch the rest of it or leave early.)
When Scarlet leaves the lesson, she turns the corner to head back upstairs when she nearly runs into Alyssa standing there with her minions, two girls who are a little younger and less pretty than she.  (They were both also in the dance troupe.  Let's call them Anastasia and Drizella.)  "Oh, why, if it isn't little Miss Scarlet the flying girl.  Is she taking sword-fighting lessons, now?  I guess she looks like a boy, so she might as well act like one, too."

Scarlet stands back and watches the rest of the lesson in silence, following Xavin's movements with a fluttering feeling in her stomach...

...which turns sour when she spots the mean girls. She does a theatric sigh of weariness, sarcastically doing a slow clap.

"Amazing, you managed to remember your line. Well done, Ass-lysa. And now you two are supposed to laugh, right? Hurry up, flunkies, she needs to feel clever," she says tartly.

Just to be clear, Xavin was in the class before lunch, which is an advanced class.  Then Usuul took a short break for lunch and came back for the beginner class, which you participated in partly.  Xavin wasn't there for that one.

23:16, Today: Zag, for the NPC Alyssa, rolled 10 using 1d20+1
This wasn't a real attack; it would only have done 1 point of non-lethal damage if it had succeeded, and it didn't.

Drizella starts to laugh, then stops immediately when Alyssa gives her a look.  Alyssa turns back to Scarlet, "I've had quite enough of you and your mouth, you little bastard.  I think it is time to teach you a lesson."  She puts her hands on Scarlet's shoulders and pushes hard.  If she had been a bit quicker, she might have caught the younger girl off balance and banged her against a wall, but Scarlet was ready and did not move significantly.  It did, however, buy the other two girls time to move forward so they are on either side of Scarlet.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:19, Sun 15 May 2022.

With a jolt, Scarlet realizes some sort of physical violence is going to happen. Up unitl that second she thought it was just going to be some shit talk and that was going to be it... but then again, this is the evil bitch who could have caused her to break her neck by sabotaging her harness during that ballet performance. Not very wise to assume she was above hurting her.

"Wait, you are that Dreez?" she says in faux surprise, adressing Drizella, with an amazed chuckle. "That 'No Tits Dreez' she was badmouthing the other day?" she says, pointing at her and then at Alyssia. "'Flatter than Flatelle D'Ardelle, dumber than a dumbbell'? I had no idea you two were supposed to be... 'friends'," she finishes with a sneer, doing the air quotes.

Scarlet d'Ardelle rolled 9 using 1d20+8.  Bluff.

Oh FFS... O_o

21:31, Today: Zag, for the NPC Drizella, rolled 7,3 using d20,d3

Drizella shouts, "Bitch!" and swings her fist at Scarlet, who easily avoids the blow.  The other two are standing there, smirking.

...In hindsight, that might not have been such a great idea, Scarlet considers, as she avoids Flat Drizzle's fists.

Fighting is not her thing. Nothing physical is really her thing: she's a charmer and a thinker, not a warrior.

So, as much as she'd like, in her mind, to give Alyssia and her minions what for, she beats a hasty retreat, running for dear life.

21:26, Today: Zag, for the NPC Alyssa, rolled 8,3 using d20+1,d3+1.  non-lethal AoO
21:28, Today: Zag, for the NPC Drizella, rolled 13,3 using d20,d3.  non-lethal AoO
Although all three could have gotten an attack of opportunity, Anastasia wasn't really engaged in the fight, yet.

Scarlet turns to run, ducking neatly under Alyssa's punch.  However, Drizella manages to land a solid kick from behind, coming between Scarlet's legs and nearly lifting her off the ground.  Anastasia either does not choose to participate in the fisticuffs or is too slow to figure out what to do; she just stands there with her mouth agape.

Which way did you run?  You can head back towards the combat training room, and you'll probably take another attack getting the door open, but you'll be safe in there.  You can continue past it, but you're not really sure what is down that hallway; it might even be a dead end.

Let's say Knowledge Local, DC 13, to know what's down there.  ...
21:46, Today: Zag, on behalf of Scarlet d'Ardelle, rolled 8 using 1d20+6.  Knowledge Local.
... You have no idea.

If you continue the way you were headed, up the stairs, then you might get be grabbed before you escape.  Since you didn't specifically activate your Adrenaline Rush in that round, they might get one more round of attacks no matter what you do, but they will have a small advantage if you take the stairs.  I should have specified that it's a Swift Action to activate. 

Let's go down the hallway: that's what movie characters do when in danger, head towards the unknown.

Well, now I have to figure out what's down there.  I'm going to give you a luck roll for this (which I haven't rolled yet) but let me lay out the parameters first.
We know you're in the ground floor, directly under the main hall.  There are no exits or windows on the ground floor because it is a well-built castle, but I did already say that the hall continues in that direction, so it has to go somewhere.  Since you don't know, we'll assume that it at least turns a corner, or you would have seen where it goes.

I started describing the layout, and it sounded both confusing and boring, so I made a map:  http://zag.net/Pathfinder/Ellada/Castle%20Lower.png
The squares are 3 feet wide, making 6-ft-wide hallways, which is pretty wide.  The blue doors are ones that you know are unlocked.  The red doors are locked.  The green door you don't know, nor do you know where it goes.  The top edge of this map lines up with the front of the castle.  That is, straight up is the main hall and the main doors to outside, where there are stairs down to the ground.

For what is beyond the map to the right, since I don't know, I'll make a luck roll.
<4: Dead end at locked doors (storage)
4-7:  Unlocked storage
8-11:  Lesser servants' quarters (You already know where some servants' quarters are.)
12-15:  Entrance to the dungeon, including guards on duty
16-20:  Another set of stairs up

I know that I had said that the Adrenaline Rush had a requirement of BAB +1.  I had thought that Unchained Rogue qualified for that, so just ignore the prerequisite.  I'm just going to drop it, and let me know if you want to invoke it.

OK.  Now to roll. ...  I've been known to fudge a roll here and there, but I did this one straight.
18:36, Today: Zag rolled 20 using 1d20.  Luck.

Scarlet has only a couple of steps lead before the older girls give chase.  She turns the corner and races down the hallway past the probable safety of Usuul in the Training Room.  She wants to handle this on her own.  Staying barely a step ahead of Alyssa, Scarlet turns the next corner to see a set of stairs going up that matches the other set.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:42, Wed 18 May 2022.

Thanking Olympus that bitch Driz was wearing soft leather slippers instead of heavy boots, Scarlet hurries down the corridor. She eyes but discards that door - if it turns out to be locked, she's done for.

Naturally, considering her luck, her evasion leads to stairs up - never a good idea to escape upstairs, but that's the only place she can head towards. Grabbing her skirts to avoid tripping on them, she climbs four steps at a time, feeling the adrenaline pumping in her veins...

Activating Adrenaline Rush, good suggestion, ta!
 +2 DEX, +2 STR, +10 movement, +2 AC (dodge), +2 initiative for 5 rounds.

Scarlet suddenly finds an incredible burst of energy, and pulls away from the other girls as if they are standing still.  She tears up the stairs and turns into the main hall.  There are several people milling about, but Scarlet barely slows until she is able to turn another corner and observe whether the hussy and her minions follow.  Once her breathing slows, she finds that she is exhausted, and that she is starving.  Fortunately, the kitchen is right nearby, and she is able to grab a loaf of bread and some cheese.  She realizes that she had best be more careful, she might not get away so easily next time.

What is wrong with that bitch? Scarlet wonders, wolfing down the snacks. The sabotage at the ballet performance she can chalk down to envy at Scarlet's central role, but whatever has she ever done to her? Why is she out to get her like that, at the helm of a Mean Girl Squad? Scarlet can't fathom that, she couldn't have figured out she was planning to use her newly acquired skills to ruin her prospects with Xavin or whatever additional damage she manages to inflict.

And right now, Scarlet is Very Keen on finding ways to ruin not just her betrothal but her whole life... She just needs a way.

Perhaps Idalaiz will help, or whatever she can teach her, once the Savannah cat thing is over and she'd duly impressed with Scarlett?

Jas set, she goes back to Mother, to ask her for that authorization. She frames it as "all the eligible noble lads are there", and goes on to highlight fencing as a unique skill that would make her stand out from the crowd of debutantes; every lass dances and sings and plays the lute, after all.