Session Start: Wed Oct 21 05:40:41 2015
Session Ident: #blackbury
[05:40.41] * You have joined #blackbury
[05:40.41] Channel modes for #blackbury are :+nt
[05:40.41] Channel Created on: 10:37 PM 10/21/2015
[05:53.18] * Peel (somebody@sorcery-ejo6vr.range86-189.btcentralplus.com) has joined channel #blackbury
[05:53.39] <Peel> I saw Acat last night in about four hours from now, but I was about to go to bed
[05:54.01] <Peel> So it seems like he's just not on at the time
[05:54.05] <Peel> you could try PMing him
[05:54.36] * BM sets mode +o Oseng for #blackbury
[05:54.38] * BM sets mode +o Peel for #blackbury
[05:55.53] <Oseng> Well at this point I'm either going to run without him or just do an epilogue. I'm not in the best mood at the moment - work was crazy today
[05:57.20] <@Peel> I'd like to see the end
[05:57.38] <@Peel> so I'd rather run without him, though we'll need to survive without a fighter
[05:57.47] <@BM> Big issue is that we're two in a gam designed for 5
[05:58.10] <Oseng> yeah - I've been pulling punches to account for that but...
[06:02.32] <Oseng> I'm giving him about 5 min - after that do you guys want to run the whole session or do the epilogue version (which will skip the boss fight)?
[06:02.56] <@BM> Up to Peel
[06:03.04] <@Peel> hmmp
[06:03.53] <@Peel> You'd have to reorganise the boss fight, and a lot of the strategy comes from organising ourselves behind Malak
[06:04.05] <@Peel> who's tough, but no so tough we can leave him to it
[06:04.40] <@Peel> If you're fine with it, an epilogue would probably run better, though it's a pity
[06:06.58] <Oseng> We can just do it in here then if we're not going to worry about the boss fight
[06:07.52] <@Peel> Well, my choice is based on my idea of what would work better, but I'm not behind the GM screen, so you should run what you prefer
[06:08.54] <Oseng> Let's run the epilogue version then - I balanced the fight around having three players, including a front line fighter.
[06:09.12] <Oseng> ＋http://swiki.fancruft.com/index.php?title=Blackbury_Troubles，
[06:10.02] <@Peel> ok
[06:10.07] * Peel is now known as Jahan
[06:10.56] <Oseng> Name on when you are ready BM
[06:11.04] * BM is now known as Carlton
[06:12.52] <Oseng> (Short recap - The party is escorting Mayor Thurgood to Sarton to present the evidence they've gathered before the Council of Lords. Said Council doesn't have any outright political power but pretty much all the major players of the Silver Coast will be there)
[06:14.26] <Oseng> After dealing with the Silver Scale kobold tribe the party pressed on towards Sarton, and soon arrived in the largest city any of them had yet seen along the Silver Coast.
[06:15.06] <@Carlton> "Finally."
[06:15.18] <@Jahan> "This scale reminds me of home..."
[06:15.23] <@Carlton> "I was thinking we'd be in podunk burbs and woods forever."
[06:15.26] <Oseng> The massive port city appears to be well kept and is surrounded by a low wall built of large gray blocks of stone - the same type of stone used for most of the construction in the city.
[06:16.05] <Oseng> You can see the fortress of the local ruler on a hill - overlooking both the city and the bustling harbor below.
[06:16.48] --|Minow|-- logged in with account (|Minow|)
[06:17.15] <@Jahan> "Does the local ruler favour any of the lords, or work for them? Or is he one himself?"
[06:18.07] <Oseng> "The local duke?" Thurgood said. "He's one of the most powerful lords in the area, closest thing the Silver Coast has to a king."
[06:20.20] <@Jahan> "I see."
[06:20.31] <@Jahan> "I pray he is a man of reason."
[06:21.28] <Oseng> Thurgood leads you up the paved trade road to an imposing gatehouse where you are stopped by one of the guards, whose tabard bears what appears to be the local heraldry - a stooping grey hawk
[06:21.45] <@Carlton> "Or at least not swayed by noble sob stories."
[06:22.27] <@Jahan> "We must pray for small mercies."
[06:22.41] * Jahan lets Mayor Thurgood take the lead, being foreign, and without title
[06:22.43] <Oseng> "He's not the only one we'll have to worry about. Nearly every noble, priest, or other major figure will be here."
[06:23.29] <Oseng> The guard speaks with the Lord Mayor for a moment then bows and steps out of the way, allowing you to travel into what is clearly a trading center.
[06:23.50] * Jahan keeps her hand on her coin purse through the city
[06:23.55] <@Jahan> and her eyes open for assassins
[06:24.21] * Carlton isn't sure Jahan knows what to look for regarding assassins!
[06:24.38] <@Carlton> "Stop looking like you're afraid of being mugged."
[06:24.56] <@Carlton> "You're gonna get us robbed."
[06:25.04] * Carlton whispers to Jahan.
[06:25.17] * Jahan tries to relax
[06:25.21] <@Jahan> "X("
[06:25.34] <Oseng> "Outside of the Duke we'll need to pay particular attention to the Matriarch and Patriarch of the Twins. They are the highest ranking priests of the Ten in the Silver Coasts and the council is held in their temple."
[06:26.14] <@Jahan> "I see."
[06:26.23] * Jahan has learned to suppress her disapproval of paganry
[06:26.46] <@Carlton> "And what are we gonna do if they start favorin' money?"
[06:26.58] <@Carlton> "Because I left my bribing spells back in my other robe."
[06:29.14] <Oseng> "It's 'bout the only neutral location everyone could agree on." Thurgood said with a shrug, leading you through maze like winding streets as he spoke. "And we can but hope and pray that they are fair."
[06:29.28] <Oseng> "I've dealt with the Duke a few times though, he seemed like an honest enough man."
[06:30.53] <@Carlton> "Well, I'll leave praying to Lady Sunny here."
[06:31.11] <@Carlton> "The things that tend to answer my prayers aren't known for their fair contracts."
[06:31.17] <@Jahan> "Wise, then."
[06:32.00] <Oseng> As you near the center of the city the Mayor stopped for a moment and looked around before turning left, heading to what is evidently a temple district. Temples of a dozen different faiths line both sides of the street, though the largest seem to belong to the Ten.
[06:32.22] <Oseng> There's also a rather sizable building that appears to be dedicated to the Four Faced Goddess
[06:32.27] <@Carlton> "Huh, I always thought I'd be on the other side of this kind of trial."
[06:32.42] <@Carlton> "Guess the planes have a sense of humour."
[06:33.52] <@Jahan> "One never knows what the sunlit earth has in store."
[06:34.07] <@Jahan> "I've prosecuted such trials before."
[06:34.08] <Oseng> The party makes its way through the thronging crowds until you come upon what has to be the Twin's temple.
[06:34.11] <@Jahan> "If for lower stakes."
[06:34.19] <@Jahan> "But that was in a different place."
[06:34.36] <@Carlton> "Yeah, well, if you wind up passing judgement on me, go easy on me, for old time's sake."
[06:35.41] <@Carlton> "And it is a distinct possibility."
[06:35.41] <Oseng> It is the largest and most ornate temple you've seen so far, and it is well guarded. There are some troops with the crests of various lords, but most of the warriors seem to be temple guards.
[06:35.58] <@Jahan> "We'd better hope they don't turn against us."
[06:36.06] <@Jahan> "This will come down to the court decision."
[06:37.00] <@Carlton> "If they do, well, it wouldn't be the first time I'd have to run from th elaw."
[06:37.15] <Oseng> Jahan can sense that several of them are either clerics or paladins of fairly significant power, and both of you can sense the potent wards, both divine and arcane, surrounding the compound.
[06:37.27] <@Carlton> "At least this time there are no doppelgangers."
[06:37.30] <@Carlton> "...I think."
[06:38.17] <@Jahan> "And nobody involved appears to worship Shaitan himself."
[06:39.25] <Oseng> The mayor strides confidently up the stairs to the temple - heading for the main gate, rather then the smaller side-gate most of the common worshippers seem to be using.
[06:39.43] <@Carlton> "You never know with money."
[06:39.49] <@Jahan> "Mm."
[06:39.59] * Jahan follows, trying to radiate the authority of her office
[06:40.00] <Oseng> "Halt!" One the paladins barks as you come to the top of stairs. "Who comes before the house of the Twins and the Council of the Lords?"
[06:40.38] <Oseng> "Lord Mayor Thurgood of Blackbury and escorts, bearing evidence to be heard before the Twins."
[06:40.51] <Oseng> He nods at you two to introduce yourselfs
[06:41.30] <@Carlton> "Carlton. No titles or nothing."
[06:41.52] <@Jahan> hmm
[06:42.07] <@Jahan> do I know if the local churches have a particular hostility to foreign religions
[06:42.56] <Oseng> (They don't appear to, especially in a trading region like this. You passed temples from multiple corners of the world as you came in after all)
[06:43.03] <@Jahan> ah, of course
[06:43.09] <@Jahan> I'm just projecting my prejudices
[06:43.15] <@Jahan> "Jahan, Priestess of the Lord Ydans."
[06:43.52] <Oseng> "Then pass, but act with honor and respect." The palading bows slightly to Jahan before escorting you into the temple.
[06:44.19] <Oseng> The mayor is pulled aside for a few moments but several importent looking men and women while the two of you are shown to a comfortable room to wait.
[06:44.33] <Oseng> (Anything you want to do or prepare before you hit the court?)
[06:45.16] <@Carlton> Nah, I've got all my spells and coming in enchanted up would set off alarms
[06:46.22] <@Jahan> hmm
[06:46.37] <@Jahan> I don't think so
[06:46.43] <@Jahan> I have Zone of Truth prepared
[06:46.48] <@Jahan> and healing
[06:48.09] <Oseng> Time ticks by as you wait, though a pair of acolytes brought in refreshments. But after an hour or two have passed you are asked to follow a cleric - this one dressed in grey robes unlike those of the Twins.
[06:48.47] <@Jahan> hmm
[06:48.50] <@Jahan> do I recognise them?
[06:48.50] --Mal-- logged in with account (Mal)
[06:49.25] * Carlton naps
[06:49.46] <Oseng> hmm..
[06:50.03] <@Jahan> I have +3 religion
[06:50.17] * Jahan passed the time in quiet prayer
[06:51.24] <Oseng> Jahan has met a few members of this order in the local cities before. This cleric is a priest of Corthane - the local goddess of wisdom, secrets, magic, knowledge, etc. They seem to be taking your claims somewhat seriously as Corthane is one of the three gods called upon during major trials.
[06:51.46] <@Jahan> well then
[06:52.00] <@Jahan> do they have a reputation for honesty?
[06:52.03] <@Jahan> secrets? no
[06:52.05] <@Jahan> :(
[06:52.55] <Oseng> To some extent - they're pretty famous as scholars, educators, mages, and similar types. This cleric probably has some knowledge of the arcane arts as well.
[06:53.28] <@Jahan> we'll have to see how well we can do
[06:53.35] * Jahan follows the cleric
[06:56.09] <Oseng> You are led into a massive room where you find the Mayor of Blackbury waiting for you in front of a large table set up on a dais.
[06:56.36] <Oseng> An assortment of very important looking priests and lords are sitting behind the table
[06:57.00] <@Jahan> any sign of our target? Though I guess I don't know what he looks like
[06:57.09] * Jahan draws herself up and looks respectable
[06:57.57] <Oseng> (brb, sorry)
[06:58.38] * Carlton doesn't look respecctable.
[06:59.20] * Jahan smoothed Carlton over in the waiting room
[07:02.16] <Oseng> (Back)
[07:02.47] <Oseng> Thurgood nods encouragingly to you before turning back to the table as one of the better dressed men clears his throat
[07:05.39] * Carlton is fussed over and is fine with this
[07:05.55] --Mal-- logged in with account (Mal)
[07:05.58] <Oseng> "The Good Mayor has asked this body to hear certain accusations against his neighbor, Count Sutton of Oris." The man, likely the local duke, said sternly. "I ask you to lay out your evidence that we, the assembled lords of the Silver Coast, may consider your claims."
[07:09.36] <Oseng> (poke)
[07:09.50] <@Jahan> oh you want us to
[07:09.53] <@Jahan> right
[07:09.54] <@Jahan> ok
[07:10.09] <@Carlton> what's our evidence?
[07:10.11] <@Jahan> We caught that guy who was communicating with the goblins, and read his letter
[07:10.18] <@Jahan> I forget what the contents were though
[07:10.38] <Oseng> (hazard of all the canceled sessions
[07:10.44] <Oseng> Here's the evidence so far:
[07:11.00] <@Jahan> I'd have forgotten over the space of a week too, don't sweat it :v
[07:11.27] <Oseng> You questioned the messenger between the Red Hands and the Count, learning about his plan to pay the goblins to raid blackbury etc
[07:12.01] <@Jahan> ah yes
[07:12.41] <Oseng> You also discovered two scrolls that you had to unseal/remove the traps on them. One scroll deals with the Red Hands' demand for more gold and discusses the prisoners they took to try and force the Count's hand as well as the possibility they might raid into his lands if they don't get said extra gold.
[07:13.50] <Oseng> The other is from Count Sutton himself, detailing a plan to have a few minor raids into his land (to cover his tracks) and to step up the raids while the Lord's Council is going on.
[07:13.51] <@Jahan> aha
[07:14.07] * Jahan steps forward
[07:14.17] <Oseng> (Feel free to come up with some suitable stuff as well if you need to, expand on what is in the scrolls)
[07:14.39] <Oseng> "Speak, Preistess of Ydans."
[07:14.58] <@Jahan> "My colleagues and I, at the Lord Mayor's request, undertook to investigate the recent attacks by the Red Hand."
[07:15.29] <@Jahan> hmm
[07:15.34] <@Jahan> was there a name for that forest we went to?
[07:15.40] <@Jahan> I can improv one if not
[07:15.57] <Oseng> hmm
[07:16.17] <Oseng> ah, here is is - the unimaginatively named Greenwoods
[07:16.20] * Carlton stands besides Jahan, willing to step in.
[07:16.37] <@Jahan> Ed Greenwood!?
[07:17.45] <Oseng> (heh :P)
[07:17.52] <@Jahan> "We proceeded to Greenwood Forest, where we located a Red Hand encampment. Observing them, we saw a human present, who appeared to be in discussion with the goblin leader."
[07:18.09] <Oseng> (Remember the Red Hands rarely raid this far north - they are usually found farther south)
[07:18.13] <@Jahan> ah yes
[07:18.25] <Oseng> This catches the attention of several of the nobles - likely from the southern reaches of the coast
[07:18.50] <@Jahan> "We waylaid him on the road out, and secured both his person and two communications."
[07:19.15] <@Jahan> "The Red Hand do not normally raid this far north. The contents of the communications and the prisoner's testimony shed light as to why."
[07:19.21] <@Jahan> *why this has changed
[07:19.37] <@Jahan> hmm
[07:19.43] <@Jahan> why did Sutton do all this again?
[07:19.46] <@Jahan> What was his goal
[07:20.47] <Oseng> Sutton is trying to expand his influence and power by bullying or coercing the smaller, less powerful, towns and cities near him into swearing fealty to him. He's managed to get a few to bend the knee but Blackbury is his largest target yet.
[07:21.17] * Jahan takes a deep breath and steadies herself
[07:21.17] <@Jahan> "The prisoner testified that he was to arrange payment from Count Sutton to the bandits that they would raid Blackbury, in order that they be forced turn to him for protection."
[07:21.29] <Oseng> IE send goblins to raid, force Blackbury to go Oris for help as they can't deal with it on their own, then force them to swear fealty to get that help, after that pay off the goblins and put on a show of driving them out
[07:21.48] <@Jahan> "Once the oaths were retained, he could pay off the goblins and make a show of driving them out."
[07:22.00] * Jahan displays the documents
[07:22.57] <@Jahan> "These are the two letters. One from the Red Hand leader to Sutton - you can see their mark here - demanding additional money and discussing how the prisoners, innocent men and women of Blackbury, are to be disposed of."
[07:23.35] <@Jahan> "And one from the Count himself organising a plan for the goblins to raid Sutton's lands to cover his tracks and step up their raids while the Council is in session."
[07:23.44] * Jahan delivers the documents to a clerk
[07:24.03] <Oseng> A clerk steps forward to take the documents, bowing slightly before taking them to the duke
[07:24.07] * Carlton observes the clerk carefully.
[07:24.47] <@Jahan> "Check the documents however you like. I speak in daylight."
[07:25.04] <Oseng> He seems to be a fairly young man, likely the son of a minor noble in service to one of the great nobles you are speaking to
[07:25.23] <@Jahan> "The prisoner is still in custody in Blackbury Gaol, awaiting the Council's pleasure."
[07:25.24] <Oseng> A muttering sweeps through the assembled lords as the letters are passed around.
[07:25.26] <@Carlton> I'm observing to see if he switches them or anything.
[07:25.31] <@Carlton> Criminal!
[07:25.49] <Oseng> Doesn't look like it - he didn't have time to do so in the short walk between Jahan and the table
[07:26.47] <Oseng> "Would you consent to having a truth spell placed on you if need be to verify your tale?" A priest in the red-orange robes of the local sun god asked in a deep, booming, voice
[07:27.01] <@Jahan> "Of course."
[07:28.24] <Oseng> "I see no falsehood in your words or your willingness to verify what you have said."
[07:28.46] <@Carlton> "Yeah, I'm down with it."
[07:29.21] <Oseng> "Can you add anything to these claims, wizard?" Another noble, this one dressed in mage's robes, asked Carlton.
[07:29.23] * Jahan has an accent, but practiced her speech to eliminate stumbling with words or grammar
[07:30.12] <@Jahan> well acat just appeared :v
[07:30.37] <@Carlton> "I can add that the spells on the parchment, designed to destroy documents and injure interceptors, are the standard practice of noble agents of less repute, but not of goblins who lack the resources for such advanced magic."
[07:31.54] <Oseng> "Can you describe these spells in detail?" A very senior priestess of Corthane asked with some interest.
[07:31.59] <@Carlton> "I can also add that such bankrolling would be done through a local moneylender to deflect suspicion - I would recommend you send for them in secret and offer amnesty to them."
[07:32.29] <@Carlton> "They're not going to jail for someone jus for some gold - no offense meant."
[07:32.44] <Oseng> Several of the lords nod in agreement
[07:32.48] <@Carlton> (Oseng remind me what I discovered)
[07:33.38] * Acatalepsy (chatzilla@sorcery-r8ru1s.hr.cox.net) has joined channel #blackbury
[07:33.43] * Oseng sets mode +o Acatalepsy for #blackbury
[07:33.55] <@Acatalepsy> I blame Oseng.
[07:34.05] <@Acatalepsy> For linking me to #blackbury!
[07:34.23] <@Jahan> We're just presenting our evidence to the court
[07:34.51] * Malark (Mibbit@sorcery-r8ru1s.hr.cox.net) has joined channel #blackbury
[07:34.55] <Oseng> (Feel free to fluff this, but they were trapped with modified flame bolt cantrips. 1/2 damage but destroys the scroll and burns anyone near or holding it. Favorite spell used by local Corthanite mage-priests as well as those who studied under them, such as most of the local noble mages)
[07:34.56] * Acatalepsy (chatzilla@sorcery-r8ru1s.hr.cox.net) has left #blackbury ((""))
[07:35.03] * Oseng sets mode +o Malark for #blackbury
[07:35.24] <Oseng> (We decided against doing the last boss fight and are mainly doing an epilogue to wrap things up)
[07:35.41] <@Malark> Environment?
[07:36.09] <@Carlton> "The spells were a solidified Flame Bolt spell, a basic cantrip infused into standard enchanted ink. Such a practice is often used by Corthanite mage-priests to ward sensitive illuminated manuscripts, if I recall, and is quite distinct due to the use of a particular shade of blue."
[07:36.36] <@Jahan> (the council chamber of the Lord's Council)
[07:36.48] <Oseng> You are standing in the main temple of the two chief gods of the local pantheon, facing a tribunal of the Silver Coast's great nobles. These are the guys who can really put the screws on Count Sutton
[07:36.50] <@Carlton> "That would suggest the aid of somene familiar with Corthanite procedures and access to local scriviners. It's quite easy to track if one is to contact an expert."
[07:37.07] <@Carlton> "Your Grace could verify it yourself should you look."
[07:37.13] <@Malark> "...."
[07:37.35] * Malark mutters about mumbo-jumbo that doesn't mean thing....
[07:37.38] <@Carlton> "Admittedly, I've only seen it a few times."
[07:37.48] <@Jahan> We've told them about the prisoner and the letters
[07:37.56] <@Jahan> now Carl is giving expert testimony
[07:38.01] <Oseng> "Such spells are often taught to those nobles who chose to study magic in our schools." She said with a firm nod, taking a close look at the parchment as it reached her. "And not typical of the ... more savage arts practiced by the goblins."
[07:38.12] <@Carlton> "But it's fairly common to disguise, say, blackmail and kidnapping letters as Corthanite leaflets where I come from. Don't ask how I know that."
[07:38.21] <@Carlton> "Or do, it's not like I can lie."
[07:39.01] <@Carlton> "Just don't ask me where I was when Sei the Abominable sent her undead hordes on Greywater."
[07:39.10] <@Carlton> ":)"
[07:39.14] * Jahan tries not to facepalm
[07:40.12] <Oseng> The Corthanite high priestess raises an eyebrow but lets the comment slip by.. for now
[07:40.42] <Oseng> "And what can you add to these claims, sir monk?" The duke, lord of Sarton, asked.