The Elder Snail

post in construction

Geneva Persuasion roll

Geneva flushed with embarrassment at her feeble attempt at trickery. She wasn't well versed in sleight of hand tricks, lifting purses was just not in a nobleborn's portfolio of skills, and somewhat against her interests as a formal rogue. Though her Gran's stories of adventuring had always shined a positive light on the raiding of temples for jewels, or the theft of a powerful item to thwart an evil foe, blatantly taking items from someone directly did feel a much lesser glory. Even if all her instincts screamed that this elven spy had been listening on their conversation, she discreetly returned the stone to the table, ignoring any reactions from Vhu'Thig. "I wonder how best to report these items of espionage used against the Seat of Mendoza?" She glanced at Fifi, as Geneva picked up the thimble "Or were they intended against the Lord of Sails?" Inez smoldered with barely contained anger at the intrusion into her garden home "House DiBussi most certainly frowns upon the clandestine observation of its most prominent heir with great disdain." She placed the thimble down and picked up the stone and earpiece "Though my House may not equal the legacy of my Mendozan sister, combined with Lady DiCarlotta's testimony, I believe sufficient pressure could be applied to make your City Watch detainment lengthier than you expect." She replaced the stone to the table and coldly stared at Vhu'Thig as she finished her postulating, the earpiece in hand. "Or perhaps we state we never saw you, you leave now with my two friends and our concerns for you cease."

Sleight of hand on call stone roll Sleight of hand on ear piece roll No clue how to edit that so here's a new one. call stone roll:1d20+4

ENDENTURED CITIZENs: Much like me, Thabo despises slavery in all concepts and forms, and dreams of its utter and eternal destruction. Much like Thabo, I know I cannot do that alone, or ever, without a paradigm shift in the entirety of our existence. The sorrow is deep upon the probability. As Thabo has endeavored to do in most of his life, he seeks to do what he can with what power he has, with the goal of never intentionally endangering the lifes of innocent civilians, biosheres and wonders of the world, be it creatures, places, or things. To attempt to crush the slave trade, he requires far greater numbers and influence than possible to gather in a short span of years, especially if he hopes to avoid the least amount of death among the said population he seeks to relieve. Taking and controlling Lowtide is the first step on that long road. As the Zheng philosophy has proven, integrating into an existing social structure can be far more effective in gaining power with less loss of resources. This does not remove the truth that in many scenarios, an amount of brute force is required to gain access to a new situation. ---Though a extremely effective method of eliminating the entirety of Lowtides command structure, collapsing Skull Rock is out. Too much collateral damage. Improving the status quo is our goal, not chaos and destruction. ---Taxes are big ask but showing what taxes are best used for (improving society’s civic structure in the broadest manner) will make them sting much less. Better slave conditions mean better prices for sellers. The massive jail dump the Duke plans can be turned to advantage as well. Taking cue from our own vile prison system, the Duke and Thabo can use work gangs to both compete with the slave trade for a market share in the physical labor sector and as a initial tribute offering to Illithid faction for use in their ceremorphosis. They can get a first pick kind of deal. Improved specimens through a better regulated slave trade is Thabo’s biggest angle with the Illithid. And that he and the Duke won’t destroy them. The City of Cordoba is expanding, no matter what Lowtide can do to try and stop it. The Deity grows and Thabo attempts to offer the least painful transition. By taking the chance at joining the new power structure instead of fighting it, their chances of longevity increase. ---New construction: HIRE GOBLINS, KOBOLDS, Get organized labor operatives involved eventually. ---Recruit a Zheng goblinoid squad. ---Thabo thinks he’ll go challenge the Lizard dude that Hardlock fought and submit him to get him to join or acknowledge Thabo’s dominance. More to follow

roll Geneva Investigation roll Geneva Perception roll Inez investigation roll Inez perception

Inez was already thinking of her father's schedule and when she could inquire about visiting Ehessual's ship when Penny asked if she could acquire tickets. Geneva's mind had done much the same, knowing the scope of Lord DiCarlotta's shipping empire. "Of course I can! "Of course she can!" Their voices were as one to answer Penny. They both could see she was an anxious mess and they felt horrible that Penny harbored any doubt that they would come to her aid. Geneva took her hand and looked firmly in Penny's beautiful molten eyes. How could anyone not see how amazing tieflings were! "We feel terrible that we didn't help you with this the instant you asked, but we can lay that blame at Coli's feet. Have no doubt that we will do all we can for you. You are our friend and sister, and no one, I mean NO ONE, will make it otherwise. I'm certain Lord DiCarlotta's favorite daughter can take her friends to see any ship in the harbor. We just need to make sure it's a busy casino night on our boat of choice, to keep our mischief under wraps." In the Garden Geneva whispered close to her priestess "Inez, are we certain our visitor didn't overhear our 'plans'?"

Thabo has 102,107 GP worth of coin and gems on hand. This does not include the armory from Lord Specter's will, nor several weapons he might sell. He goes to Twine Street to discover what's in the deposit box from Lord Specter.

Thabo Bonus Recruitment roll roll Advantage roll Thabo 20th level bonus recruitment roll advantage roll

roll Geneva History roll Geneva Insight on Vhu Thig ADD +3 to the result, as she has a +6 insight, instead of the +3 I mistakenly posted.

roll Geneva Knowledge History for Shining Star roll Inez Knowledge history for the same. I assume Inez could find out, considering her Father's influence.

roll roll roll roll roll roll

It burned her biscuits that Thabo was off again and away from her. Her critical mind knew that he was on an urgent quest to discover more of the entity behind the horrors of Festival Day, but that did nothing to appease her desires. She didn't want Thabo in her life just in order to NOT spend time with him, she enjoyed what it felt like to be together. And she knew he felt the same. He always returned with a gift for her, not as an appeasement, but because he thought of her while they were apart. He spoke with purpose and conviction about his hopes for their partnership. She felt it too, the drive to achieve the goal they had discussed. She wanted a betrothal, but they both wanted it as her family required. He needed a title first, as the wealth he was amassing would not alone grant the approval of House DiBussi. Especially in the manner of how that wealth was acquired. Now she knew that the vast proportion of his wealth was from his travels with his companions, but significant stacks of coin flowed from his "organized labor" associations. Through the joining of their minds through magic, Geneva was given glimpses of his deepest thoughts and hopes. He was earnest to use his power to benefit the less fortunate. She saw the overlay of his childhood in the brothels of Crescent when he spoke of how halflings, tieflings, and others were treated here in the City of Thieves. She was startled at the ferocity of his feelings on the matter, to be honest, but his conviction was a boon to her trust of him. She knew the why of what he did and it matched how she felt about those who weren't blessed to be born to wealth. The farmhands and workers of her family's ranches had given Geneva the gift of a grounded worldview. Thabo grasped the power that he did, not for power itself, but to use that power. To see it turned with favor towards those that made it all possible in the first place, to temper its thirst for more at the expense of the lesser. She also glimpsed his tightly bound contempt for his Zheng affiliations. Loyalty was paramount to Thabo and Snake Eyes asking him to join was all he needed, despite his dislike of some of the Zheng's known specialties. That Snake Eyes had assembled mostly former soldiers was a good thing, and her lover's pride in soldiering was enough to want him to have an influence in their use. She knew he dreamed of his own mercenary force, used justly and wisely, with soldiers growing old from victories defending the downtrodden, rather than dead in fields as fodder for greedy lords. Strom as an old man, bouncing a laughing child on his knee, was a concept Geneva could get behind. Especially if that child could be her and Thabos. "Uncle Strom" had a nice ring to it, she thought to herself as she sipped tea and enjoyed the company of her dear friends. These contracts were a troubling bit of business, but not thankfully too horrendous in nature. With a bit of wool gathering between her girls, they could weave a wise knit for the issues. Other than the Ducal commander, Geneva felt all the signees were worthy of being given their contracts to do with as they see fit. Well, except Coli. She still had puppies on her mind, and she wasn't about to rip that contract up, just to see Coli robbed of his mother. Nor any of the others falling to ruin. She said as much to the girls, adding that she thought the Commander's contract might be discussed a bit more. She thought the Duke should know of a potential catastrophic compromise in the City's defense. But that wasn't something they could come waving at Court. Maybe Fifi's noble connections could yield an avenue. Thabo's partner Anna was supposedly in the employ of the HellGuard, but Geneva didn't want to give her any extra attention. She knew Thabo didn't desire her, however that was no reason to shine light on any woman other than herself. But first and foremost, Penny's problem needed addressed. Geneva had felt terrible that they couldn't immediately help when she first came asking, but Coli's predicament was wisely judged the priority. Show this Geneva wants to shop for puppies and visit the Barber for sword enchantments. Backing Strom and Rob's business startup by pressuring Thabo to back it ASAP. Operation Uncle Strom will succeed!

Geneva DiBussi Human female 7th level rogue swashbuckler, NG Age: 21 5'4" 122lb. EXP: 14,001 xp Geneva 17 16 15 15 14 13 STR: 14 DEX: 18 CON: 16 INT: 16 WIS: 16 CHA: 18 Background: Far Traveler Tool Proficiencies:gaming dice, thieves' tools Languages: Common, Dwarven, Backhand, Comprehend Languages 1/Long Rest Inspiration Points 3 Initiative: +8 Passive Perception: 19 Proficiency Bonus: +3 AC: 19 Hit Points: 59 (7d8 (38)+21) CURRENT:39 SAVES: STR +3 DEX +8* CON +4 WIS +4 INT +7* CHA +5 +1 to saves vs. poison SKILLS: *Proficient **Expertise +10 Acrobatics** +4 Animal Handling +3 Arcana +8 Athletics** +4 Deception +3 History +6 Insight* +4 Intimidation +3 Investigation +3 Medicine +3 Nature +9 Perception** +7 Performace* +7 Persuasion* +3 Religion +4 Sleight of Hand +10 Stealth* +11 Thieves Tools +3 Survival Emberblade (longsword) +8 d8+3 +1D6 radiant vs undead +1 cutlass+8 d6+5 +4d6 sneak attack +1 hand crossbow +8 d6+5 range 30'/120' Msk dagger +1 Atk +8 d4+4 Emberblade* Weapon, Uncommon (requires attunement): This +1 longsword deals an additional 1d6 radiant damage to undead. It also sheds bright light in a 30 ft. radius and dim light for another 30 ft. If a creature suffers from Sunlight Sensitivity, the light from this weapon is treated as if it were sunlight Hat of Disguise periapt of health* Silk lined cloak of protection* +2 studded leather armor, Dyed green with leaf motif, and Gaultan mares etched on pauldrons. 10 throwing daggers Dardanian Sapphire Bracelet These stones have been soaked in poisonous resins repeatedly and the wearer is imbued with a +1 on saves vs poison and can add +3d6 poison damage to a damage roll 1/day. The target receives a Constitution Save (DC 14) for 1/2 damage. Brassiere of Death's Defiance: This undergarment imbues the Death Ward effect on its wearer until triggered. It refreshes after a Long Rest. Equipment & potions: Explorers Pack Msk Thieves Tools 1 potion of superior healing 2 potions of greater healing 2 potions of healing Abilities: Expertise 1st lvl: acrobatics, perception Sneak Attack +4D6 Thieve's Cant (Backhand) Cunning Action: Starting at 2nd level, your quick thinking and agility allow you to move and act quickly. You can take a bonus action on each of your turns in combat. This action can be used only to take the Dash, Disengage, or Hide action. Swashbuckler Archetype: A Swashbuckler excels in single combat and can fight with two weapons while safely darting away from an opponent. Fancy Footwork: When you choose this archetype at 3rd level, you learn how to land a strike and then slip away without reprisal. During your turn, if you make a melee attack against a creature, that creature can't make opportunity attacks against you for the rest of your turn. Rakish Audacity: Starting at 3rd level, your confidence propels you into battle. You can give yourself a bonus to your initiative rolls equal to your Charisma modifier. ** You also gain an additional way to use your Sneak Attack; you don't need advantage on the attack roll to use your Sneak Attack against a creature if you are within 5 feet of it, no other creatures are within 5 feet of you, and you don't have disadvantage on the attack roll. All the other rules for Sneak Attack still apply to you. Expertise 6th lvl: Stealth, Thieves Tools Evasion: Beginning at 7th level, you can nimbly dodge out of the way of certain area effects, such as a red dragon's fiery breath or an spell. When you are subjected to an effect that allows you to make a Dexterity saving throw to take only half damage, you instead take no damage if you succeed on the saving throw, and only half damage if you fail. Feats: Fey touched Your exposure to the Feywild's magic has changed you, granting you the following benefits: Increase Wisdom 1, to a maximum of 20. You learn the misty step spell and Comprehend Languages. Once you cast either of these spells in this way, you can't cast that spell in this way again until you finish a long rest. You can also cast these spells using spell slots you have of the appropriate level. The spells' spellcasting ability is the ability increased by this feat. Skill Expert: Increase one ability score (DEX) of your choice by 1, to a maximum of 20. You gain proficiency in one skill of your choice. (PERSUASION) Choose one skill in which you have proficiency. (ATHLETICS) You gain expertise with that skill, which means your proficiency bonus is doubled for any ability check you make with it. The skill you choose must be one that isn't already benefiting from a feature, such as Expertise, that doubles your proficiency bonus. Equipment: One set of traveler's clothes, well-made ivory and peridot dice set (10gp), poorly wrought maps from Gaulta depicting her family's lands, a hair clip made of gold and set with red jade and tiger eye agates, and a pouch containing 5 gp Geneva is from Gaulta, famed for it's horses. Her family are cattle farmers more so than horsemen, but she does have an eye for horseflesh.