Starfall Game

[Polyphemus]

Aedric Mollens

---

AC: 15  |  HP: 36/36 | Initiative: +8 | Passive Perception: 14 | Spell Slots: 3/3 (1st)

---

Aedric smiles amusingly at Lerisel's uncivil greeting, noting how guarded Eandri's companions were toward strangers.

"Pardon my caution, Officer, it seems there are mixed opinions on Emprin in town," he casually gestures back to the entrance towards where he saw Nululia. "I hope you'll forgive my faulty memory, but could you remind me of your name? I know we've met before in the service, but afraid it's escaping me." Aedric presents a look of embarrassment. He knows many members of the Shahim go by different names out in the field, and the last thing he wants is to blow her cover, regardless of whether he eventually deems her a threat to the Shahim or not.

"I don't mean to get off on the wrong foot, perhaps I could buy you all a drink to remedy my interruption and hear what brings you to town?" he adds, hoping a promise of a free drink will help with her companions' demeanor.

 

[TheRaconteur]

Eandri Venos

---

AC: 16  |  HP: 32/32 | Initiative: +0 | Passive Perception: +13 | Pact Magic: 2/2 |

Spell Slots: 3/3 (1st)

---

"In the service" was certainly one way of putting it. Was he playing with her, or did he truly not remember her name? She doubted that it was the later, the Stalkers were not known for their inattention to detail. If he was here, he was hunting, and she wasn't aware of any other agents of the Shahim operating within the city. That left him a quarry of exactly one, her. Not a comforting thought. She swallowed, suddenly aware of the lump in her throat.

"Officer Eandri Venos, Special Assignments."

She answered, using the same cover story of "Special Assignments" she'd used with the Empirin Vanguard she'd encountered. He knew what her "special assignment" was, but hopefully if he used the same terms it would cause less friction with Lerisel and Jarren. They were technically the same rank, but that was a technicality that mattered little if he decided that she was a problem.

"Sadly, we don't have a lot of time for socializing, we're on official business."

Would he insist on joining them? If he did, there was little she could say to ward him off, and doing so would cause vastly more trouble than it would avert. Besides, the work that she was doing was honest and true service to the Empire, what need had she to fear him?

"Dark Heresy."

And not the woman who'd been preaching outside.

"A threat to the Empire in the formation, that we're looking to cut out at the root. We could use your bow, if you've freedom from duty to lend it."

[Guardian Angel Haruki]

Nululia Ashteross

Level 4 Cleric of Peace, Accursed Acolyte

---

AC: 18 | HP: 26/26 | Initiative: +4 | Passive Perception: 16 | Passive Investigation: 10 | Passive Inisight: 16 | Cleric Spell Slots: 4/4 1st Level, 3/3 2nd Level | Channel Divinity: 1/1

---

After the loud sermon was completed, Nululia set the soapbox back to where she found it. Unless anyone in the crowd had any questions or comments for her to answer, she would make her way into the Mercenary Guild. As she enters the Mercenary Guild, the party would see her:

She is wearing a simple peasant white blouse and brown pants, with brown tall boots that cover the calves up to the knees. The white blouse is clearly adorned with cloth patches of various flower designs. The holy symbol of Ouarus is clear for everyone to see as a necklace. A simple dark blue cloak hangs around to shroud her figure. Her long bright pink hair is tied in a pony tail, with a simple ribbon around the hairband. Her eyes don't meet anyone's yet, but a careful observer can see that they are both beautiful and strange. They seem to shimmer between pink, blue, and purple, but her pupils are slitted like a serpent's.

It's clear that she has been traveling for quite a while before she gave that sermon.

She makes her way to the front and looks at the board, intent on finding something, or rather someone.

She thought that maybe...she can find some hint of an expert who can help her.

---

OOC: Let me know if I need to add or roll anything. ^_^
The Psalm would sound something like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBjQOm269Tw

Edited September 7, 2023 by Guardian Angel Haruki (see edit history)

[Polyphemus]

Aedric Mollens

---

AC: 15  |  HP: 36/36 | Initiative: +8 | Passive Perception: 14 | Spell Slots: 3/3 (1st)

---

"Ah of course, I thought that must have been where we crossed paths," Aedric replies enthusiastically as if her name had been just out of reach in his mind.

Oh good, we're doing this the easy way then.

"Sounds like important work, I suppose the drink will have to wait. I can't say I'm tied down at the moment, I'd be happy to join you."

Aedric responds before Eandri's companions can voice any grievances with her invitation. His eyes briefly follows Nululia's entrance, wondering what business a priestess like her has in a mercenary guild.

[Unkabear]

Jarren

---

AC: 16  |  HP: 41/41 | Initiative: +2 | Passive Perception: +12 | Battle Meditation: 3/3

---

Keep your friends close...

Jarren accepted Eandri's choice, but he would be keeping his eyes open. There was much about her employment with the Empire that he did not understand and felt that this interaction carried an unspoken conversation and words of warning. He would need to speak to Eandri later about it when they had more privacy.

Then a pink haired woman entered. Jarren already was not sure what to make of her. She both had an air of authority and that of someone on the run. Quite the combination, and one that Jarren was quite familiar with. He would have tipped his hat to her as she entered, but he was not sure that the showdown with this new Empirim was over.

 

[TheRaconteur]

Eandri Venos

---

AC: 16  |  HP: 32/32 | Initiative: +0 | Passive Perception: +13 | Pact Magic: 2/2 |

Spell Slots: 3/3 (1st)

---

Eandri's focus was on Aedric, but the flash of pink in her vision was enough to draw her gaze. Was that the Fire Genasi she'd been tracking? Surely not. She looked quite feminine, and the target had been described as "he." Besides, her hair was startling, but it wasn't literally aflame. Large flaming hair and red skin didn't seem to fit the bill. The Fellstaff didn't react at all to the woman either, its strange intensity focused entirely on the gnome who'd been hurling magic around when they'd entered. If she had magic, it wasn't of the sort that concerned her.

She turned back to Aedric, speaking quietly so that they wouldn't be overheard.

"We're looking for a few marks, but found nothing but dead ends here. The ones we're after have been buying up wood and metal scrap. We were going to head to the Scrap Shack next, if you'll join us."

She turned to Jarren and Lerisel then to see if either was about to raise a fuss.

 

[Sunless Echo]

Merc Guild

As Nululia begins her moves about halfway into her sermon speaking about the emperor's arrogance and hypocrisy is when people begin to stop and turn their heads. Some stop to listen at the beginning and you surmise most are Followers of Ouarus. Those who arrive later seem to be interested in what you have to say on Emprin. You can see some people scowl while others just seem confused or whisper amongst themselves. Some murmurs can be heard questioning you and your sermon. Are you some kind of zealot or just trying to besmirch the Emprin and Emperors name? Is she some kind of false follower or Harlequinn...what does she mean by metal? These questions float about and the general populace seems confused by your Preaching for the time being.

As Eandri and Aedric come together to speak after some time passes within the conversation, they both feel a strange sensation. The feeling of hunger within the arcane weapons nearly subsides for moments. There seems to be an almost magnetic force that neither draws nor pulls the two weapons together. Eandri and Aedric find themselves are to move with their weapons as if they are stuck in place for only a few seconds before they release and return completely back to normal.

The only one to notice this immediately would be Aedric. The Minotaur who sits next to the door is sitting in a different position. He has his hands on his club and is watching the events of everyone in the guild, including both your group. he seems entertained and ready for something.

Upon Nululia's entry into the Guild and the Side-eye's she receives from her appearance. The changeling who is still at the counter is now giving a death stare with inky black eyes at the Gnome Calziver. They look infuriated with a Map rolled out on the counter and his boot sitting on the corner of the Parchment. To which he quickly removes it and gives a nervous chuckle before hopping down and scurrying off towards the opposite side of the room near the empty Hearth. Only now does the Changeling notice Nulalia, as she passes the Changelings skin and eyes both show a wave of cute pink scales wash over their face as the entirety of their eyes turn pink for only a second. The sight of such a person must have flustered them perhaps?

The Quest Board

@Guardian Angel Haruki

Searching through the various requests, Nulalia doesn't seem to find anyone specific who can aid her. The Board seems to be filled with requests for help, such as finding a thief, fixing a roof or helping with minor repairs, needing extra work hands, killing a wolf pack outside town, escorting some caravans north and south of here (those seem to be extremely well-paying). You get the idea this is More of a Poster board of people asking for much needed help rather than to find specific people. Luck be on your side if you do.

The closest thing you find to someone who might help you at all is a horribly scribbled note off to the far-left side and it doesn't seem promising.

DOCTOR:

WILL TREAT SICK AND ELDERLY!

CHEAP PRICES EXCELLENT RESULT!

GO TO DOCTOR'S LODGE

 

Edited September 12, 2023 by Sunless Echo (see edit history)

[Polyphemus]

Aedric Mollens

---

AC: 15  |  HP: 36/36 | Initiative: +8 | Passive Perception: 14 | Spell Slots: 3/3 (1st)

---

There was so much Aedric didn’t know about his Fellstaff’s inner workings, so the sudden change made him uneasy. Whatever just happened, perhaps connecting somehow with Eandri’s, he didn’t like it. He only felt marginally more relaxed once his seemingly staff returned to normal; it was clear to Aedric that this merited further thought and examination, but he was preoccupied at the moment.

His Fellstaff tugs on his senses like a marionette, directing him to pick up on the Minotaur’s strange movements in his peripheral vision. From there, his eyes subtly scan the room, noticing the strange tension that has fallen on the guild hall.

Doubling down on his efforts to relax his posture and present a casual demeanor with a cheerful smile, he quietly says to Eandri, "Get ready, we may be about to get caught in the middle of something.” Or be the target. He didn’t know what sort of enemies Eandri or her companions have accumulated while out in the field.

He gives a slight nod towards the Minotaur, "Looks like trouble.”

[Guardian Angel Haruki]

Nululia Ashteross

Level 4 Cleric of Peace, Accursed Acolyte

---

AC: 18 | HP: 26/26 | Initiative: +4 | Passive Perception: 16 | Passive Investigation: 10 | Passive Insight: 16 | Cleric Spell Slots: 4/4 1st Level, 3/3 2nd Level | Channel Divinity: 1/1

---

The Minotaur's peculiar demeanor did not escape Nululia's notice, along with the various side eyes. She quickly tried to assess if anyone was likely to attack anyone else here. It was better to be safe than sorry. As she made her way to the board, she also noticed the Changeling's demeanor with the appearance of pink scales and pink eyes for a moment. She gave the Changeling a smile before focusing her attention back to the board.

While she is willing to help others, she was disappointed that she couldn't find someone who could help her in turn with her...dilemma. Then, she saw the notice for the Doctor. Upon seeing this note, she couldn't help but hum pensively, "Hmmm..."

She wasn't sure if the Doctor could help, but she does have a way to consult with her deity. After taking stock of her surroundings, she would look around to see if there's anywhere she can sit and perform the spell she had in mind.

---

OOC: Rolling Insight on the Changeling, the Minotaur, and the rest of the crowd, before I think of doing any ritual casting.

[TheRaconteur]

Eandri Venos

---

AC: 16  |  HP: 32/32 | Initiative: +0 | Passive Perception: +13 | Pact Magic: 2/2 |

Spell Slots: 3/3 (1st)

---

 

Eandri’s eyes went wide as the alien sensation washed over her, trying to process what it meant. 

Satiation? 

Could the Fellstaff ever truly be satisfied? If it could, she’d never experienced it before. She’d drunken deeply of the magic of a pair of Wizards when she’d still been under the Old Hound’s thumb, and her Sorcery had even been the one to strike one of them down. That was close to what she was experiencing now, but even that had only been a momentary, fragile thing. Did she even remember the young Mage’s name? Clarence… Clarret? She couldn’t recall, though the expression of horror on their still face was something that still visited her in her dreams sometimes.  

She did not sense the source, but when Aedric made mention of the Minotaur she focused her gaze on the thing.  Whatever came next, she strove to be prepared. 

 

[RpgNott]

 

Black Lerisel Fallen Aasimar Oathbreaker Paladin (4) - >>CHARACTER SHEET<<| FeaturesSaves Str (+4) Dex (+1) Con (+2) Int (+0) Wis (+3) Cha (+5) Racial features – Fallen Aasimar Darkvision Celestial Resistance Healing Hands Light Bearer Necrotic Shroud Class - Oathbreaker Paladin Divine Sense Lay on Hands Fighting Style : Dueling Divine Spellcasting Divine Smite Divine Health Channel Divinity-Control Undead Channel Divinity-Dreadful Aspect Languages: Common, Celestial, Abyssal, Primordial|   Condition: Normal AC: 19| HP: 36/36 | Initiative: +1 | Speed: 30ft | PP: 11   While she had not noticed the exchange she was accustomed enough to battle to recognize the signs of people getting ready for a fight. She decided to intervene. She was about to voice her opinion when the smell drafted by her. At firt she took a few tentative sniff then they became more pronounced. She smelled her believing it may have come from her and then, not to subtly, smelled Jarren which proved to be a dud also. She finally turned to the pair pointedly smelling.   ""AW, COME ON! What are you 4 years old? I don’t care who cut the cheese but couldn’t you have done it outside before causing a stink here! Finish your business fast so we can have some fresh air! " "It’s like running around with little kids " she mumbled.

 

Edited September 17, 2023 by RpgNott (see edit history)

[Sunless Echo]

Merc Guild

At the moment...there seems to be nothing that threatens anyone for those in the group that are wary of danger that any of you can see.

The Changeling only realizing too late that she was staring turns and covers her face with the hood she wears. Wiping some dirt away from the corner of their map from where the gnome Calziver had been sitting. She takes a piece of charcoal and begins making long marks across the map hastily.

Calziver the gnome is still next to the non-existent fire in the Hearth and the minotaur continues watching with a grin. Most seats in the guild are taken by drunks or those who look to be lazing about early in the day. A stool and rocking chair next to the Hearth look open unless Nululia wants to join someone drinking.

Throughout this randomness today, Black Lerisel's comment on Farts breaks through some of the noise and the man nearest to them sitting alone at a table near the door does a spit take as he nearly chokes on what looked to be a small mug of beer. A few chuckles ring through the people coming in and exiting the building. The Desk attendant smiles.

 

Bad Poker Face

During the Awkward and silent stare coming from the Changeling towards Nululia. Eandri being the only one who can naturally see magic, Calziver over by the hearth is leaning forward a bit in his chair. This gnome has the biggest smile you have ever seen anyone have in your life, ear to ear and mouth agape. His eyes stare at the changeling and dart back and forth until Nululia turns away from the board to look for a seat in which case he stares back at the changeling once more.

Calziver pulls out a Copper coin and starts flipping it in his hand with that same expression and makes a poor attempt at hiding a smile. As a practitioner of the arcane, Eandri would know the casting of a spell when she sees one. This gnome is subtly casting more magic (you notice a swirl of divination magic envelope the Gnome's head). His eyes widen a bit as they dart back and forth between Nululia and the Changeling...mostly the changeling. This continues for a bit unless interrupted.

 

[TheRaconteur]

Eandri Venos

---

AC: 16  |  HP: 32/32 | Initiative: +0 | Passive Perception: +13 | Pact Magic: 2/2 |

Spell Slots: 3/3 (1st)

---

 

This had gone on long enough.

Calziver was everything she had been trained to hunt. He was rash with his magic, boldness crossing the line into brashness. Arrogant in its use, and heedless of the consequences. She felt the intensity of emotions whirling within her, the utterly unknowable and indecipherable psyche of the Fellstaff mixed with her own emotions. Her own fear.

Calziver had not earned a death sentence, not yet.

But she had her eyes on him now.

“We should leave, now, before it gets worse.”

She said to the others, her eyes locked on the Gnome’s as she made to leave. If the Mage dared turn his gaze in her direction, he would surely feel the intensity and scrutiny of that gaze like a pair of hot irons. Except even as she tried to form her thoughts into the iron she had been trained to mold them into, she felt her own doubt and fear manifest. She was trying to do her job, wasn’t she? At least making the motions of a loyal servant of the Empire, even if her heart was filled with doubt. Why then was Aedric here?

Why had she been sent a Stalker?

Edited September 18, 2023 by TheRaconteur (see edit history)

[Polyphemus]

Aedric Mollens

---

AC: 15  |  HP: 36/36 | Initiative: +8 | Passive Perception: 14 | Spell Slots: 3/3 (1st)

---

"Fine by me,” Aedric replies to Eandri "Off to the scrap shack next?”

Unsure of what to make of Lerisel's outburst, he watched Eandri's silent focus on Calziver, perhaps picking up something that Aedric wasn't aware of. He wondered if he was just here to scare her into obedience, or if she really did prove a threat. Time will make that clear sooner or later.

Edited September 25, 2023 by Polyphemus (see edit history)

[Sunless Echo]

Scrap Shack

Lerisel after attempting to ease some tension with a joking remark is startled at the sight of a small imp. *POOF* with a small puff of smoke there is an imp covered in gold, jewelry, and wearing a horned helmet. He loudly declares to the Guild "I AM TEP: THE PIT PITHIEST FIEND OF POOF!" For a moment he turns to everyone smiling and looks back at Lerisel. "I'm having a party with Toregene... Master wants you to join." Tep waves at Jarren happily and gives a knowing grin to the two Black Hounds Eandri and Aedric. "Are you coming...Great let's go!" only giving Lerisel a brief moment before he reaches out and grabs her.

Lerisel turns to you guys and the last thing she says is "I hate this demon brat. Toregene's with him.... ugh I can handle it. NO DON"T YOU TOUCH ME YOU LITTLE MOTHERF-" *POOF* With that they both disappear into non-existence.

 

With Toregene in relatively safe hands and a path mostly set out ahead of you. The Scrap Shack seems to be your best shot. Upon leaving the guild, it takes a bit of time as the day begins its livelier activities. People are flocking to stands, buying exciting foods, playing more games, looking at unique or interesting items. At one point you even pass by a small pet stand with an assortment of small critters and animals available. As you move towards the center of the city to get to the proper side, you begin hearing a thunderous sound and it is like that of a small and focused explosion. A few times in quick succession every few minutes. Eventually you all move away from this, but it was easily heard for quite some time.

 

The scrap shack is a fairly easy place to find and an even easier place to recognize. It looks like a massive haphazardly constructed garage with an extended fence spanning a good distance around the back of the workshop/garage. There are large piles of junk, scrap, materials and as many other things that could make this scrapyard look like a junkyard. The front of the building has a tin door that doesn't look as stable as it is. There is a side entrance on the right, and it looks like it would be easier to hop the fence in that particular spot than the rest of the perimeter.

 

image of tep-

Show this

Tep the Imp

 

 

---

 

Merc Guild

(events after the party separates)

With Nululia Resting in the moment to prepare for her spell. The Gnome Calziver slowly grows less interested in the current events but snickers a lot at the Imp's entrance and prompt exit. He eventually calms himself and stares at the changeling occasionally glancing around to enjoy the atmosphere. The changeling who was in their original form now seems to be of a lither and thinner figure. They have changed and have long blonde hair; they look to be a Half-elf Woman. The Changeling in Half-elf form rolls up their maps and heads into the back room. A short exchange between the receptionist and her reveals her name. She is called Opal.

Nululia is able to watch the events of the guild unfold for the next 10-20 minutes as she remains to finish some business. Calziver is strange in his liezure, he moves around the room and occasionally messes with his magic to a mostly unharmful degree. The Minotaur keeps everyone in line with snorts, stomps, and the thuds of his weapon on the ground. Ruby the Changeling remains in the back for this whole time. Many people come and go and the two mercenaries who had caused and awkward scene with Jarren return. Nululia sees most of the Guild eyeing them warily but you don't know why.