Downtime: Fortnight at Baerny's

1) Baern will inquire with Ilga and the Spark's tinkers if his new electric truncheon can be mended or fabricated.

2) Baern will quietly catch up with Marcus Weatherby from his list of submitted NPCs to inquire if the recent events in Owl's End have created waves in the city, or if JP has successfully clamped down on the rumor mill.

3) Baern will buy a bouquet of flowers, don his least tatty shirt and ask Melly Copperkettle to dinner. Antics will ensue. Vecaal will wait tables. Veracity will croon like no crooner has crooned before. Fun will be had by all.

Here's a preview of #3:

https://www.bing.com/videos/se...detail&FORM=VIRE

Bravo, Vecaal. My heart is warmed!

I can picture it now... with Vera playing the accordion!!!

Frack's downtime plans:

1. Lighten his load by trading in his chainmail (too heavy) for whatever coin can get, then buy some leather armor instead. Disappointed by how unpaladiny leather armor looks, he will attempt to "upgrade" it with an over-layer of chicken wire (if such a thing exists*). This is entirely for looks.

2. Return to the Church of Tyr, which serves as the command post for the paladins (Shield Headquarters, if you will). While nobody there really cares what he's doing, Frack will insist on checking in, just in case he is needed elsewhere (which he won't be). If nobody is there (which is likely), Frack will leave a message to the best of his ability (he can barely read or write).

3. Do whatever Procz suggests. As a defender of law and order, Frack views the constabulry as a highly respected organization. He therefore trusts that Procz always knows the right thing to do. So if Procz explains to Frack that he may jeopardize everyone's well being by walking around Coglinton (see 1 and 2 above), he will instead stay put.


* We didn't have chicken wire until 1844 on Earth... but we didn't have Sprazzle Cognelius, either!

1) Investigate the Descendants and the Luminescent Athenaeum, tapping underworld contacts and gathering info from the rumor mill.  Mainly trying to find info about their members, where they're located, and what they've been up to... or at least where to go and who to ask to find out more.

2) Attempt to throw off J.P. And Steel Resolve's investigation and pursuit of Procz, Kreo, and Frack via all manner of obfuscation, obstruction, and chicanery.  Forge documents and bribe/impersonate officials to clear their names.  Start rumors and send in false leads to misdirect the search and cast doubt on whether they were even involved.  Find who the lead investigator(s) are and cause them personal troubles.

3) Give Baern a makeover by getting him a dashing outfit but accentuating the rough edges to make him into a gentleman with an air of intriguing danger.  Reserve a booth at a nice inn (but not TOO nice) and work with the staff to ensure they get primo service.  Romantic background music will be provided to set the mood, but not steal the spotlight.  Stage a scene where Vera disguises herself as a drunken lout attempting a crude pass at Melly, setting up Baern to heroically defend her.

1. Procz wants to make his way to a location where he can report to his superiors. He will join Frack in finding a route where they can both get to their respective headquarters without being seen, perhaps utilizing both Fracks knowledge of hidden passageways and Procz' badge and big brain.

2. In his report, Procz will describe the altercation at the factory with the Steel Resolve posing as constabulary and the Descendants' attempt at kidnapping a worker. Procz will officially request to continue investigating the Descendants, while staying low and out of sight of the Steel Resolve.

3. Procz will suggest to Frack that they keep working together, although he is not clear on what their next moves should be.

1.  After hearing all this talk about the Luminescent Athenaeum Vecaal would try to learn more on his own, especially if they really do know something about real dragons.  Speak with some contacts, others of his kind, etc.

2.  Pick up a bounty if available, and run down the miscreant for the reward.  One has to keep their name in the ring or clients begin to forget about you, you know?

3.  Help out Baern as possible, with some sensitivity to his own limitations in the hospitality industry. ;)

Recounting the adventure at Owl’s End, Frack reached a surprising conclusion: While celebrated as the armor of choice for the Shields of Crimson Dale, chain mail was heavy. That’s fine if you’re Inada Bluestar, the very founder of the Shield, or even Tharck Broadfoot (who, while scrawny in appearance, was in fact, still quite powerful for his size). The problem for Frack was he was not just small, but what a generous person might call wanting for strength.

So it was settled. Frack was going to trade in his ceremonial chain mail for something lighter.

Stal Solhammer’s shop wasn’t the finest in Coglinton, and Stal certainly wasn’t its best blacksmith, either. In fact, he wasn’t even in the top twenty. But what he lacked in quality of goods, he made up for in affordability. Plus his smithy was close to a rat tunnel, making it easier to access inconspicuously than many of the higher end blacksmiths. And Frack just liked the way it smelled.

The goblin walked into the shop to find the aproned proprietor cursing, waving his fingers in the air before eventually dipping them into a cup of water. Frack set his armor on what he thought was a table, but was actually a loose board sitting atop a corroded anvil. The chain mail, wider than the board, slid off almost immediately, falling to the floor and taking the board with it.

Frack winced, giving a pained grin to the blacksmith, who provided the goblin with an annoyed look in return.

“Didn’t you read the sign?” the man grumbled. Wiping his face with dirty towel.

“I looked at it,” Frack replied. “It’s a nice sign. The letters are very straight and important looking.” He winced again. “But I can’t read.”

The man huffed, blowing a drop of sweat off the tip of his broad, often-broken nose. “It says, No buy-backs. NO RETURNS!”

Frack blushed. “Oh. Well. I wasn’t returning it. I was just seeing if I could get a little money for it.”

“That’s a buy-back!” Stal protested. “That’s exactly what a buy-back is.”

“But I didn’t buy it from you. I didn’t buy it from anyone. It was a gift to me upon my induction to the Shield of Crimson Da-“

“Look, I don’t care if it was a gift from Spazzle Cognelius himself. Somebody made it. Chain mail doesn’t grow on trees.” He hobbled over to the armor in question, still waving his burned fingers in the air, and picked it up to prove a point. “Somebody made it. Somebody bought it. And now you’re trying to sell it back to somebody who makes it. That is a buuuuyyy back.” He extended the armor toward Frack to emphasize his lack of interest, but then pulled it back as something caught his eye. “Is that? Onatar’s glory! That is a fine weave they’ve used there.”

Frack looked up hopefully, eyebrows disappearing under the rim of his helmet.

“I’ll tell you what, little Shield. I don’t do buy-backs, but I didn’t say nothing about not doing trades.” Stal paced to a desk in the back corner of the room and began sifting through tools, weapons, an oven door, and what looked to Frack like a rusty, metallic face. Eventually, he unveiled a small suit of leather. “Ah, here it is. Now this here is a fine specimen. Not as protective as the chain, but lighter and faster. And if I know the likes of you, you still want something for protection, but you need to get around fast. Am I right?”

Frack nodded. “How much?”

Stal looked upward. “Well, this is a fine suit of leather. Boar leather. Most of what you’ll find around here is rat hide. Or hyena if you’re lucky. Ain’t neither of them half as good as a boar leather.” He sized up the goblin, both size-wise and size-of-leather-pouch-that-hopefully-contained-some-coins-wise. “And it’ll need alterations. You know. To fit right and proper. Now if you want, I could stud it. Makes it more effective against the blade. Still lighter than the chain, though.”

“How much would that be.”

“Give me the chain, and I’ll give you the leather, fully studded, for twenty-five gold.”

Frack peeked into his pouch. “I haven’t got any gold. How many silvers?”

The blacksmith leaned back and raised his palms to the ceiling. “Oh, for Onatar’s mighty hammer! I’m not an abacus!” He paused to concentrate. “Two hundred silvers.”

The goblin picked through his pouch. “I have forty-eight. And a few coppers.”

“Forty-eight? That won’t even cover the cost of the studs, let alone the work to put them in. Look. Why don’t we call it an even trade? The chain for the boar leather. I’ll have the missus do the alterations.”

Frack mulled over the offer. The thought of a lighter armor, even if it was as boring as the blacksmith described, was enticing. But he was a Shield of Crimson Dale, and with that title came an obligation. A call for a certain level of professionalism. If not chain mail, then at least a studded leather. Or maybe…

He pointed to a roll of mesh leaned up against the wall. “How about that?”

Stal looked to the wall, but didn’t understand. “How about what?”

Frack slid over to the wall, picking up the roll he had spied. “This,” he blurted, astonished at how light it was.

Stal massaged his forehead. “That’s for keeping chickens in the yard. Not for keeping sharp blades out of your ribcage.”

Frack was not discouraged. Instead, he carried it over to the leather suit and unrolled a sample over the top. “It looks like a chain mail… kind of.”

“But it doesn’t-“

“How much for a layer of this beautiful metal wire?” Frack interrupted, unable to contain his excitement.

“You mean this layer of chicken-proof but not-any-kind-of-weapon-proof wire?”

“Yes. How much?”

Stal sighed. “I suppose about 48 silvers. You can keep the coppers.”

Frack smiled. “Brilliant! I’ll take it.” He dumped his pouch on the floor, sorted out the coppers, returning them to his pouch, then scooped up the silver in his hands and pointed them toward Stal, spilling several coins on the floor as he did.

Stal gave the goblin a look that was a combination of annoyance, confusion, and eventually acceptance. “Give me a couple days for the alterations and to… figure out just how in the hell I’m supposed to attach this useless chicken wire into a perfectly good suit of boar leather.”

Frack’s smile widened. “But it won’t be so boring after you’re done, will it?”

The blacksmith thought about clarifying exactly what boar leather was, but refrained. “See you in a couple days, little Shield.” 
This message was last edited by the player at 21:49, Thu 21 Mar.

1. Set to work earning his keep. By Performance, Survival or Entertainer background Kreo is able (normally) to scratch a living out. I doubt the thieves' guild will let him turn tricks but he's proficient in lute and flute for

2. Treat any people in the safe house who need Medicine, here more to ingratiate himself and convince more dubious allies to give his workers group a try. Also every day the cleric spells can be reworked to what can help, if needed

3. Use disguise kit to aid Frack and Procz in their leaving. Perhaps if checking in needs doing with the union, Kreo will disguise himself

3.

Ilga concludes it's possible, but only with a special crystal custom-cut for the purpose (the one in this device was irreparably fractured). The easiest way to acquire such a crystal would be to get your hands on another truncheon. Even if it were also broken, it might be broken in a different sort of way, such that the crystal still functioned.


On your way there, you pick up on someone tailing you. It's a half-elf whose name you don't know but whom you recognize as a fellow Spark. Frankly, you wouldn't put it past Amara to have you followed, and you are, in fact, on your way to meet with a member of a rival Guild. You can make a Stealth check to try to shake him if you like, but even if you succeed, he'll know you shook him, which would probably rouse suspicions with Amara and Baz (if she tells him, which she might not). If you choose to meet with Marcus anyway, he's going to expect some information from you in exchange: what will you offer him?


Could I get Performance checks from all three of you please?

Investigation check please.


Deception check please.


Addressed on Baern's post - will need a Performance check.

The die roller recognizes efforts to support True Love!  :D

16:27, Today: Vecaal Alifras rolled 20 using 1d20+2.  Performance.

Success! It is, if anything, a bit disturbing just how close Frack is able to get you to your constabulary outpost via a network of tunnels you had no idea existed.


The superior you trust most is a heavyset ogre woman named Lieutenant Ironstrider. She gives you a look like What kind of problems has your insistence on real police work created for me now? and is particularly displeased to hear about the dustup with the Steel Resolve. "I can't protect you from the Steel Resolve, constable," she says in a tone that tells you you ought to know that already. "But... I would like to know what the Descendants are up to, and whatever the Resolve knows, I don't expect them to share. So yes. But constable... see to it that you do stay out of sight of the Resolve."

Investigation check please.


Performance check, but with Dex as the relevant skill, please.

13:50, Today: Veracity rolled 21 using 1d20+3.  Investigation.


Rolled with advantage in case Actor feat applies for impersonation attempts, but the first roll was higher so the result is the same either way:

• 13:51, Today: Veracity rolled 21 using 2d20+7, dropping the lowest dice only with rolls of 14,7.  Deception (advantage?).

Didn't roll Actor advantage since the attempt involves other non-acting factors:

• 13:54, Today: Veracity rolled 8 using 1d20+5.  Performance.

Noooo, sorry for messing up the date, Baern ;P

No worse than me, Veracity :)

8 13 from Baern after bardic inspiration.

21:17, Today: Baern Snagglehorn rolled 8 using 2d20, dropping the lowest dice only.  Performance (Inspiration).

09:07, Today: Baern Snagglehorn rolled 5 using 1d6.  Inspiration.

@DM, Baern will opt not to contact Marcus. He'll use the outing to walk the perimeter of the Spark's holdings instead, or at least whatever section he usually watches over.

@Frack, that was terrific. If you don't have inspiration you certainly deserve it after that worthy little vignette.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:09, Tue 08 Aug 2023.

I can't believe you two wasted my superb stint as a waiter!  Zees ees inexcuzzable!  :P

Don't worry Baern, we'll get another shot, for sure!

21:27, Today: Vecaal Alifras rolled 6 using 1d20+2.  Investigation.
21:28, Today: Vecaal Alifras rolled 4 using 1d6.  Psi-bolstered Knack.

Used the psi power to prevent myself from falling into a pit of lava that broke through the caldera.  Otherwise, that was a dead end!


21:29, Today: Vecaal Alifras rolled 20 using 1d20+5.  Performance (DEX).  That's better!

Lumenescent Athenaeum

I added a section about the Lumenescent Athenaeum to the History & Overview thread. That reflects what Vera learned about it. Additionally, she learned:

1. The Descendants make their headquarters on one of the islands in the caldera lake. She's even found a smuggler who claims he could take them there - for a price.

2. The Descendants have narrowed their search down to a few likely locations. They were trying to learn more, but after the flubbed kidnapping attempt at Owl's End, they are feeling pressure to act soon. There is some speculation they may raid one or more of these locations in the next few days.

3. The Descendants are not the only ones who have been asking around about the Athenaeum. After speaking with a few orphans who showed a sudden, inexplicable interest, Vera found they'd all been hired by a strikingly well-spoken, bespectacled orc.

Kreo

Upon hearing Vera's description, Kreo recognizes the aforementioned orc as Nurghed Scalebane, a secretary and personal assistant to Crock Cognelius himself.

The Spark insist upon you keeping a low profile while you're staying with them (which is probably wise anyway, given your run in with the Steel Resolve). But your lute is a welcome distraction for those others stashed at the safe house, and you notice that one of the Spark operatives, a tiefling man named Bryseis, takes a shine to you. It's not especially flattering - his primary interest seems to be the exoticism of satyr anatomy - but there might be an opportunity to develop a useful source of information here, if you're inclined to lead him on.

If so, please make a Performance check with advantage, followed by a Deception check. If the Performance check is 12 or higher, then you can roll the Deception with advantage. If there's any anything in particular you'd like to try get from Bryseis, you can let me know, but I can also just come up with something.

Baern's Date

Melly accepts the date but arrives with a chaperone, an ancient, humorless woman who gives the lie to all the stereotypes about halfling hospitality. The evening is salvaged only by the waiter, who arranges for the chef to make a special Crackleberry Tart for the old woman, which happens to be her favorite dessert. She's so charmed by the gesture that she accepts the invitation to go back into the kitchen to compliment the chef personally, buying Baern and Melly just enough time to steal a smooch before her chaperone returns.

Frack

Frack has his new armor, and inspiration to boot! Great story.

Vecaal

You collect 6 gold for your bounty and the good will of a Crock Cognelius factory manager who could have gotten in quite a lot of trouble if the materials stolen while he was slumbering hadn't been quietly located and returned.

Kreo is inclined as such, with a 21 to Performance and a 15 to Deception (not skilled in the arts beyond natural charisma ;) ).

Kreo, you learn that Bryseis idolizes Baz but is not so keen on unions.

"I'm all about freedom, babe," he explained in a moment of post-coital clarity, sitting up in bed to take a puff from his pipe. "I don't want my hard-earned money going to a union anymore than I want it going to some fat cat gnomish princeling."

Kreo knew Bryseis's "hard-earned" money came primarily from knocking over jewelers on The Rim, but he also knew enough to keep quiet when he had mark talking. "Baz's dream is to make unions unnecessary. Mine too. That every hard-working man, woman, and child be remunerated in accordance with the value he creates. After that..." The tiefling exhaled a cloud of smoke and grinned. "Let 'em be free to do as they please. That's how I see it, anyway."

It's tricky to distinguish how much of this is Baz's philosophy as opposed to Bryseis projecting his own ideas onto his idol, but one line in particular stood out to Kreo when he later replayed the conversation in his head. "Man, woman, and child" was a common turn of phrase, but Baz had lost his arm as a child working in a Cognelius factory, so Bryseis's use of it in this context is notable.

A half day isn't enough time to schedule another date :)

Baern will seek out Ilga to discuss the dragon construct. She has piqued his interest in the Gearlord and he'll actively seek to learn more.

It clearly pained Ilga to see critical components of her dragon lying disassembled in Baern's calloused palm. "What more can I tell you?" she asked. "Looks like you found the most important parts without any help. I guess I'm grateful the Descendants no longer have it. It's just... it's hard to think of him out there all alone. In pieces. Helpless."

She sniffed back a tear and reached to take the components from Baern. "Onwards and upwards, I suppose," she said with a weak smile.

When there is time to spare, Procz researches the mask, albeit without Identify.

Baern bowed his head in respect. After a few moments he cleared his throat.

"It was a Him then, was it? I sort of thought of her as a, well, Her."

"Something special though. Felt like a crime to do it."

"Maybe... maybe you could teach me more about the Gearlord?" he asked. "Can't say I knew much of anything about it, 'fore I met you."