Book 1, Part 3: Investigating the Fires

[theredshirtwholive]

Kyla

AC: 19 | Fort: +7 | Ref: +7 | Will: +8
HP: 28/28 | Rebel Points: 3/3 | Perception: +10 | Stealth +7
ConditionsNone

---

Kyla can't help but startle a bit when Rexus turns to her-there's something about a burned-out home that renders even her quiet. "Yes, yes it is," she replies. "I've actually been to the Silver Star. Got my fiddle there. I can take us there if you'd like."

OOC

 

 

[Mister Doctor]

Dead Guy - Character Sheet

---

KAC: 18/17 Fort: +8 Ref: +4 Will: +5
HP: 23/23 THP: 0/4 Hero: 1/3 | Perception: +5

---

There is a horrible squealing and cracking sound from behind the group as the corpse finally joins the others at the freshly opened safe while dragging the ironwood desk behind itself stubbornly, the feet of the scraping along the burned timbers of the floor with a truly unholy sound. The corpse, already filthy with soot and ash, is now flecked with half-burned splinters likely having taken out the doorway to the ruined study the desk had been resting within in its attempt to follow the others with said desk.

Setting the end of the desk down, it looked at the safe with mild glassy interest, seemingly unbothered by the effort of hauling an ironwood desk through hallways that had not been designed for it when they were intact and not full of ash and debris. The contents were the sort of thing the corpse was profoundly no help with but it did seem aware enough to realize that its living allies might get some use out of it. "Hrn-ghk-good box?"

Edited August 7, 2023 by Mister Doctor (see edit history)

[Fletcher]

Kjersti Volden

AC: 19 | Fort: +8 | Ref: +4 | Will: +7
HP: 24/24 | Focus: 0/1 | Hero: 0/3 | Perception: +5
ConditionsNone

---

"I do not know what you are insinuatin'," Kjersti tips up her chin at Maria in fake indignation, dropping the long hammer's haft down and leaning on the head while everyone is looking at the safe that they'd discovered. Of course she knew not every solution required the application of precise, brutal force... but it had been effective lately. Just consider their Dead ally. Lending her will silently to Star's efforts, the farmgirl holds her breath while the tiefling picks at the burnt lock, and lets it out in a big smile when she is successful. "Outstandin', Star. You got a gift." She kneels down into the rubble to look a little closer, still back a row from those who are doing the real work of cracking open the treasure, and considers the things as they are removed.

Unfortunately, they have found themselves in the possession of yet another cipher, and the uncertainty of how valuable it is to translate... if they can manage to do so at all. "We'll have to leave the decodin' in your capable hands," she admits to Rexus, rising. "'m sorry we had to rummage through ya'll's ashes, Mister Victocora. But I hope that there's somethin' helpful... even if it's some closure." Kjersti claps a hand on the man's shoulder and nods, a sympathetic look on her face.

Which is cracked unexpectedly by Deadman dragging the desk over. With a chuckle and glance over to Rexus, she waves a hand. "Good box, yeah. But let's come back 'n git it after dark. With the wagon." While it might not be practical, it felt right to rescue something of Rexus' heritage from this place. It was the least they could do and might give him something to inspire his work, help him push through when he might feel like giving up.

Aiming to be the last one to get moving out of the estate's wreckage, Kjersti nods to Kyla and gestures that folks start clearing out before anyone starts to get too curious. "Lead on, Kyla. We'll be right behind."

[ccanary]

Maria Callus

Maria Callus — Human Monk (medic)

At Rexus' home

"But... how would you know which book to use? Not us, I don't mean us but even the original people sending the message and receiving them. They must have some pre-agreed upon book to use and if that's the case, how would they tell each other that? I guess it's probably as simple as meeting face to face and having an innocuous conversation about literature. It's an intriguing question to meditate on though. What book would your parent's choose to communicate a message like this? Would it have some special meaning to them?

She shrugged and attempted to comfort Rexus again, it couldn't be easy any of this, while scowling at Vendelfek.

"Regardless, it's a matter for meditation not immediate conclusions. Let's be off to this Silver star, see what else we can find for clues about the Night of Ashes."

Mechanics

Action 1:
Action 2:
Action 3:

 

 

 

[ripleycat]

Blending in with the mid-day crowds, the Ravens are able to wind their way through Redroof's narrow streets and into Jarvis End without further mischief - at least once they convince the dead man to stop dragging the huge desk across the manor grounds.

The bustling heart of Kintargo's nightlife is always more subdued during the day, but this feels unpleasantly different. Somber and sickly, not mere quiet. Gone are the eager travelers and tourists, but also the enthusiastic locals. By taking the Opera House for himself, Thrune has mortally wounded the neighborhood, putting dozens of performers out of work, and leaving those who rely on the vanished audiences for their livelihood, like the Argentbloom clan, in a precarious and worsening position.

Jarvis End sits under a funeral shroud. Aria Park still bears the scars of the riot and its brutal squashing. The dancehall crowds are a sad trickle compared to what Kyla considers normal; grim, grey-faced workers desperate for a distraction, not the saucy, mirthful throngs of gentler times. The dottari seem to be everywhere, heavy and unwelcome, like blood in water.

The Silver Star, or what's left of it - a sinkhole filled with shifting, hazardous rubble, blocked off with a hasty wooden fence - sits a few blocks from the Opera House, an easy walk to work for its missing diva proprietor, and just close enough that the erstwhile rebels can see the windows on the third floor, where Barzillai Thrune now holds court. Surely that feeling of being watched is simply paranoia, right?

Shensen was beloved as a star of the stage, Kintargo's premier opera singer, in a city that deeply loves its art and music, where that title carried weight, and she used her fame to needle and agitate and advocate in favor of democracy and against the Thrunes. She, like too many others, has been missing since the Night of Ashes. "I'm not much of a musician. I dabble. I visited once or twice when this was a shop, and not a crater. Seemed like a very nice place, if a bit expensive. Sold lots of instruments, for a place owned by an opera singer. Ms. Argentbloom's no doubt far more familiar than I was."

"Of course, the secret so badly kept that even I head the rumors was that tucked away downstairs was a secret shrine to Sarenrae. Jilia Banilius let such things slide - my mother told me once that our former Lord-Mayor was actually, very quietly, a worshiper of Cayden Cailean herself. Barzillai Thrune is not so forgiving."

The Silver Star's remnants are a mix of charred rubble, with tantalizing little bits poking out - the remains of furniture, nooks and crannies where things might survive, but unlike the Victocoras' home, they're obviously unstable, having collapsed into some sort of underground chamber, a basement or part of the sewers, perhaps. "This looks a mess. Whatever the basement might have been, it's filled with rubble now. Be very careful, please. I've no wish to see any of you crushed."

[theredshirtwholive]

 Kyla

AC: 19 | Fort: +7 | Ref: +7 | Will: +8
HP: 28/28 | Rebel Points: 3/3 | Perception: +10 | Stealth +7
ConditionsNone

---

"Some of the instruments here were centuries old," Kyla whispers. "The fiddle in the front window? It dated back to the Age of Legends. Thrune didn't just destroy a shop. He destroyed part of this city's history." On the off chance that someone's actually watching, she makes a rude gesture at the third floor windows. Then, she tries to make her way in and see what can be saved...but the situation has her a bit overwrought, and through the beginnings of tears in her eyes, she doesn't see the loose stone, and she goes tumbling down into the ruined shop in a blur of purple and red fabric.

OOC

 

 

[Mister Doctor]

Dead Guy - Character Sheet

---

KAC: 18/17 Fort: +8 Ref: +4 Will: +5
HP: 23/23 THP: 0/4 Hero: 1/3 | Perception: +5

---

A few seconds later and there was another crash as the corpse blithely followed Kyla down into the pit without seeming to make the vaguest effort to arrest its descent. It did not seem to mind the rough landing. Kyla, however, probably felt different about having a couple hundred pounds of undead killing machine falling on her.

After a second, the corpse sat up and hauled itself to its feet before seeming to realize Kyla was beneath it. Reaching down, it grabbed the tiny tiefling by an ankle and hoisted her into the air before making a perfunctory effort to knock some of the ash and debris from her, turning her upright, and setting her back on her feet. The corpse then proceeded to wander further into the ruins.

OOC

Perception to Search: 10

 

Edited August 13, 2023 by Mister Doctor (see edit history)

[ccanary]

Maria Callus

Maria Callus — Human Monk (medic)

At Rexus' home

""Kyla!!"

Maria cried out on seeing the plucky little tiefling fall, then worse seeing Deadman fall on top of her! She rushed to climb down and help.

"Are you hurt? Do you need any medical attention?"

Mechanics

Action 1: (15 athletics to climb rolled on discord)
Action 2:
Action 3:

 

 

 

Edited August 10, 2023 by ccanary (see edit history)

[Toraka_Stormheart]

Title

Temperance - Character Sheet

---

AC: 19 Fort: +6 Ref: +10 Will: +4

HP: 24/24 Rebel Points: 2/3 | Perception: +6

Ammunition: 20/20 (40 Reserve) | Alchemy PreparedAlchemical Cartridges: 20 | ConditionsNone

---

Following towards the rear, Temperance kept her gaze fixed forward, yellow eyes nearly unblinking as she was lost in some sort of thoughts. As they approached the Silver Star, the tiefling brought her focus back in, just in time to see two of their number plummet headlong into the half-sunken pit.

Sucking in air through her teeth, Temperance's eyes darted through the remains of the structure, identifying risk spots. Fortunately, it seemed they fell into a sturdier spot, so she relaxed...until she saw Deadman picking Kyla up.

Moving without thinking, the tiefling seemed to bounce effortlessly off a few pieces of rubble, sliding down to join them in the pit. The last bit was a kneeslide, just enough to catch the little purple tiefling before Deadman ended up dropping her.

"Let's try that again, hm? Watch you step, move where I say..." Speaking with a little sense of urgency, the pitborn started gesturing and pointing to some of the dodgier portions of the wreckage...

Show Mechanics

Action 1: Acrobatics to descend, success

Action 2: Lore (Engineering) to identify risky portions of the building (hopefully manifesting in benefits to make the party safer)

Action 3: Perception roll of 9

 

[ripleycat]

The chaos is louder than it is dangerous, at least for now. The Silver Ravens are attracting attention. Not from the dottari, yet, but from the locals, obviously curious about the expert and efficient investigation these strangers are making of the burn site. Gossip and advice burn Beq and Kjersi's ears as passers-by peer down into the ruins.

Despite being zombie-pancaked, Kyla is fortunately not seriously harmed, beyond the damage to her wardrobe from the ash and soot, and her dignity from finding herself hanging upside-down from the dead man's hand as he tries to dust her off. Maria and Temperance follow the tumbling pair with rather more grace. And more help is on the way.

"Kyla! I'll save you! Put her down, you gross monster!"

A young halfling girl with flyaway hair, in a green "tabard" made from a repurposed tablecloth, stands at the edge of the pit, eyes gleaming with determination as she selects her ammunition and aims her slingshot at the horrible zombie before it can devour its prey. Her aim is true, the missile swift. With a slight *squelch*, the potato lodges square in the dead man's empty eye socket, knocking the monster off its feet and releasing its prisoner in mid-air, thankfully to no serious harm. "Huzzah!"

Kyla recognizes the voice, of course, even as she tumbles through the air for the second time in as many moments, but that doesn't lessen the confusion, or the growing sense of dread. This was going to happen eventually. There are too many Argentblooms, too inquisitive, too clever, too nosy, to keep the Silver Ravens and their fledgling rebellion secret forever. But if little Jenny's already seen her, if they're attracting a crowd, then...

Granny Calix is coming...

With half the group piled on top of each other in various states of disarray, and anarchy descending from above, Temperance isn't able to pick out anything of particular value or interest, though her knowledge of mechanics and pressures helps herd them away from the more obvious dangers. Even with Temperance's guidance, there are some alarming cracks and eerie pops and rumbles from the rubble, but for the moment, things hold.

Deadman's search fares little better. There are some identifiable pieces here and there - remnants of shelves, a countertop, what was probably the entranceway, but nothing that would reward the corpse's dogged momentum. That is to say nothing of the difficulty of ending up sprawled in the rubble with a potato in his face.

 

OOC

Temperance's successful Engineering Lore roll grants everyone a +2 bonus on any Reflex saves to avoid the shifting ruins. There isn't one this turn. For the moment, you're safe.

Cousin Jenny crits vs Deadman. 😮

Edited August 15, 2023 by ripleycat (see edit history)

[theredshirtwholive]

 Kyla

AC: 19 | Fort: +7 | Ref: +7 | Will: +8
HP: 28/28 | Rebel Points: 3/3 | Perception: +10 | Stealth +7
ConditionsNone

---

For a moment, Kyla wants to yell at Jenny in front of everyone. She's told her cousin over and over again that she's not to play paladin where the dottari can see her! But...no. If the dottari can see Jenny's shenanigans, then they'd definitely be able to hear her yelling at her cousin.

 

"Guys, we really need to hurry!" she hisses. "Before Granny Calix gets here and starts interrogating me about what I'm doing in a burned out building in my best vest with my hair looking like an imp attacked it with all manner of strange persons."

OOC

 

 

[Mister Doctor]

Dead Guy - Character Sheet

---

KAC: 18/17 Fort: +8 Ref: +4 Will: +5
HP: 23/23 THP: 0/4 Hero: 1/3 | Perception: +5

---

Ponderously, the corpse hauled itself upright once more. This time it sole glassy blue eye was mirrored by a stubby potato eye sitting awkwardly in the usually empty socket. Patting its face in mild alarm the corpse felt the vegetal addition and began trying to get purchase on what little of the spud was protruding from its eye socket.

"Hrrrn-grrrhk-nnnn-no farming. Nnn-not in ground," the corpse managed as skinless fingers failed to find proper purchase on the root vegetable and only managing to dig furrows on the surface.

[Toraka_Stormheart]

Title

Temperance - Character Sheet

---

AC: 19 Fort: +6 Ref: +10 Will: +4

HP: 24/24 Rebel Points: 2/3 | Perception: +6

Ammunition: 20/20 (40 Reserve) | Alchemy PreparedAlchemical Cartridges: 20 | ConditionsNone

---

Dusting off Kyla, Temperance whirled around on instinct as a potato was launched at Deadman, her rifle in hands as she leveled it towards the source. With a hiss of her teeth, the tiefling pulled the rifle up just as quickly upon realizing it was a child. Stowing the weapon away, the musketrix brushed a lock of hair behind her ear, glancing down at the purple tiefling next to her

"An imp would wish to look so nice." Stepping towards Deadman, Temperance tilted her head as she looked up at him, holding a hand up. "Allow me?" If consented, the tiefling would reach up, gingerly plucking the potato out with a rather unsettling squelching sound....it was a soft potato.

Glancing back to the others as she worked, she made a circular motion with her free hand. "Let's finish our business and get out. This place is far less than ideally stable..."

Show Mechanics

Action 1:

Action 2:

Action 3:

 

[ccanary]

Maria Callus

Maria Callus — Human Monk (medic)

At The Silver Star

Seeing the escalating antics between Kyla and Deadman culminating with a potato projectile lodged, then expertly removed from Deadman's eye socket, she really had to work hard to stifle the grin. Sometimes things went so badly that all you could do was laugh. This wasn't quite there yet, though if the walls came tumbling down it could certainly get there quickly. Time to look the place over and move.

Mechanics

Action 1: (22 perception to search the sinkhole rolled on discord)
Action 2:
Action 3:

 

 

 

[Fletcher]

Kjersti Volden

AC: 19 | Fort: +8 | Ref: +4 | Will: +7
HP: 24/24 | Focus: 0/1 | Hero: 0/3 | Perception: +5
ConditionsNone

---

Kjersti remained at the mouth of the great collapse and watched - with growing concern - as her companions made their descent into the lower portions, practically watching sections of the rubble shift with each jarring move. "Careful, Temp'rance, she's shiftin'," she murmurs as the tiefling steps forward.. and then takes an impressive turn going down. The farmgirl snorts faintly at her unnecessary warning.

As she stands up top, however, she has a front row view of the people who come crowding around to see what the hell they are doing, spelunking into the ruins - in particular, an unusual number of halflings. She leans down faintly to Rexus and gestures with a tip of her head. "Betcha that's Kyla's folks. We're in trouble now." The hammerhead lowers to the ground with a clunk and Kjersti rests her chin on her hands there, assuming as nonthreatening a posture as she can to the newcomers. While she couldn't guess as to the importance of this place to the clan, she knows how halflings are. A faint smile tugs at the corner of her mouth with each passing moment.

"'Ey Kyla, whichun is yer Gran?" she calls out, perhaps a touch louder than the little tiefling would like. Perhaps to be a nuisance.