Griever: The Ravenlords, part 2
Log Info
- Title: Grievor: The Ravenlords, part 2
- Emitter: Whirlpool
- Characters: Un'eth, Halani, Braelnoir, Cryosanthia, Thyrson, Merek
- Place: Veyshan, Tashraan; Airship; Watch Tower
- Time: Sunday, October 10, 2021, 10:08 PM
- Summary: The Ambassadors teleport to Tashraan. Merek goes off to get a list of Airships while everyone else looks around. Cryo is given the list and the group decides something fast, with headroom and no goblins. They find an airship willing to go the distance, and question the captain to make sure he's the sort that will deliver. Finding him trustworthy, they buy a few diplomatic gifts, and fruit, and depart. Approaching the Ravenlord's border, they see Charnese airships in the distance. Dropped off, they scout and head on foot towards a tower. As they arrive, a black Egalrin appears, and stares. Cryosanthia introduces the group and is met with silence. She adds that they've brought gifts. Silence.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Appearing, in Order =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Cryosanthia 6'9" 291 Lb Sith-Makar Female A dashingly tall, elegant white-scaled lizard woman. Un'eth 6'2" 275 Lb Sith-Makar Female An ebon-scaled female Sith-makar. Tenoc 7'0" 280 Lb Sith-Makar Male Tall, green-scaled Sith'Makar hunter. Braelnoir 5'11" 146 Lb Human Female A tall, pale Acanian woman, branded in silver. Merek 5'10" 215 Lb Human Male A black-haired, dusky male with golden eyes. Halani 5'4" 120 Lb Human/Xian Female Shortish, dusky skinned woman with almond shaped eyes. Thyrson Joton Male A older Jotun Mage. -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--= -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= NPCs of Note -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Little Fang 'Lily' Kobold Female A pinkscale youngling wearing a skeletonized broach. -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--= -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= As the GM =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Whirlpool Otyugh A pile -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=
Previously
The ambassadors to the Ravenlords meet in a secure place and attempt to determine the best way to get there while avoiding Charn. Teleportation and Airships are suggested, they finally decided on both. Teleport to Tashraan, then commission an airship to take them the rest of the way over the mountains.
Cryo reaches into her haversack and pulls out a small paper back. It crinkles as she holds it out towards him. "Candied Cricket throat lozenges. Might help." She pulls one out and hands one to Lily, who eagerly pops it into her mouth, paper and all.
She needs the fibre, it's fine. It'll be fine.
"Tashran then the mountains, sounds fine. We can scry a safe teleport spot for Tashran and go immediately, right? I'm all packed."
Braelnoir frowns and steps over to Merek as she notes he seems to have caught himself a cold. Her hand reaches out for his shoulder and she asks quietly, almost a whisper, "You ok, Bro?" <Merctalk>
She turns to the others, taking in their suggestions as this is a little out of her wheelhouse as it were.
Both it is then. Teleport and Airship.
Merek will nod a little bit to Brae, "I'm fine," the man notes. The blood upon that glove would probably note he isn't. All the same, he will take what Cryo offers, then a smile to Lily, while he notes that she's back. Then he's beginning the preparation for magic, "Alright. I can take a few people, if anyone else wants to take anyone." That probably to Thyrson.
Now
"This one has just one quick package to post!" Cryo says, darting outside with a small box. She engages a messenger, then pops back in. "Ok, now I'm ready."
Lily scrambles up on her shoulders and straps into the saddle. The pair line up to watch the casting.
Operating from a description and trying to coordinate multiple teleports is hard.
That said, the envoys arrive in Tashraan with ease, just a bit of time spent gathering together, before they have to coordinate finding an airship to then Raven Lords. This will be more difficult than it seems....
GAME: Merek rolls diplomacy: (10)+30: 40 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls diplomacy+5+2: (9)+23+5+2: 39 (+5 Mantel of the Speaker, +2 Ancestor Touched)
When all of the people reconvene, Merek will nod a bit to the party, "Alright. I'm going to take my time making deals for the travel." Then, he's walking with the group to find people that he can speak with, taking the time to show them money and explain the way that they plan to travel.
Teleports are a lot less... jostling than they used to be, for all the crazy things that have gone on of late. Brae nods to Merek's assurances, then turns just in time to watch Lily scramble up onto Cryo's back. With the transit complete, the Korite rolls her neck a bit, then looks around, trying to get a feel for the place and, potentially notice any hairy eyeballs that need poking/gouging as the situation demands. "This it, then?"
Tenoc accompanies the others, sketching only briefly the forever ward against Evil Things. He does his level best to support-- staying quiet. Looking stoic. Occasionally grim.
"Perhapssss?" the greenscale answers, glancing about in curiosity. "One is not sssure. Ssssk."
"Okay... this is it, yes, I think." Cryo says as Merek leaves, gazing around at the city. The sights, the air, the people. It's different! She examines what she can see of the city with stranger's eyes. Next, looking at Tenoc and Braelnoir, "So, wait for him to get back. I guess? Or, well, come on. I think I see a tout. We can take a little side trip then come back."
Un'eth is neither experienced with nor especially fond of teleport. The same holds true for cities, in general. In the current situation, she is little more than an additional pair of eyes and ears. Possibly claws, as well, though she defers that judgement to others. She will be much more comfortable once they are travelling more ...traditionally. "This is... a place that Cryosanthia knows."
"Probly best we ain't too far outta sight'n he comes back, luv." Brae asides to Cryo, idly indexing the lay of her scythe over her shoulder while she waits.
Blade up.
Blade down.
Blade up...
Halani doesn't seem too bothered by the teleport, though it does take her a moment to orient herself to the new surroundings. She claps her hands together twice, then rolls her head around a little bit to stretch her neck. "Never been here before," she admits, her eyes going to the skyline. "Might be a good time to get some food, or, you know... do the business, yeah?"
Merek looks back to the party while he comes back with a small listing to hand to Cryosanthia, notes on it about each of the pilots which he came by, as well as what they offer. He then takes a look around while he seems to consider, his scarf pulled along his face and his hair pulled back into a spiky ponytail. "We should take a look at that and pick one to negotiate with." He will assist with that, though he's bringing it to the party for them to decide.
"This one has, at least once to deal with Vampires." Cryosanthia explains. She's handed a list. She announces, "I've just been handed a list. What is this a list of? I think it's... pilots and airships."
The whitescale scans down the list, "Okay, so, pick one... at random? For airship qualities? Like fastest or largest cargo? It doesn't have headroom..." She glances around at her group, some approaching seven feet tall, "... it should list headroom."
"Okay... how about, something not from Charn, and not a known enemy of Charn or the Ravenlords, and after those eliminations, fastest? Does it list crew types? Or whether their engineer is a gnome or a goblin?"
Tenoc shudders imperceptibly. Sketch the air, ward against ill-fortune. Several times!
"One can bend," he adds, tail thumping in wry amusement. "Or sit. Or stand upon the---" He pauses, considering. "...top? Roof? Of the air-canoe." He shrugs helplessly, at a loss for what the proper name is. He glance at the list, but chuffs, shaking his head. Indecipherable squiggles to him! He remains silent, following the others' lead.
"...no goblinsss," he remarks, murmuring with a shiver.
Lily spreads her hands wide, "Kaaboooomsss!"
Tenoc shivers. SHUDDERS.
Braelnoir reaches up to scritches at Lily's headscales with a wry smirk, then looks to all the tall Sith about, "Jotun crew, mebbe?" she suggests. That would cover the headroom problem.
"Maybe no goblins," Halani agrees, though the side of her mouth curls into a half smile. "But they do make things more interesting.. and unpredictable, yeah?" Then she shrugs. "But yeah, no goblins."
"Two jotun on board, it might be easier to lift the world away from them." Cryo says, looking down the list, "well... let's... try..."
They are off, airship shopping.
Airship shopping indeed!
It's not exactly *hard* to find airships in Tashraan. They're all in one spot, after all, and while airships have never been great in number, there's a few here to the point where you've got at least some options should one of them fall through.
Nobody really seems eager to take you directly to the 'raven lords' realm. They know who you're talking about in the vaguest sense, of course. There they are, bordering Charn, a fallen domain that barely clings to existence, or so they say.
Finding them isn't hard. It's that they're reportedly extraordinarily hostile to outsiders that's a problem. Still, nothing you can't handle, right? Finally, after considerable hunting, you're able to talk to the captain of a crew who says he's been by there before and knows where to drop you so you can make your own approach, what, without getting murdered by Charn OR the Raven Lords.
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls sense motive+5: (6)+5+5: 16 (+5 Mantel of the Speaker) GAME: Tenoc rolls Sense Motive: (15)+3: 18 (Aid Another - Cryo) GAME: Halani rolls sense motive: (20)+25: 45 (Aid Another - Cryo) GAME: Braelnoir rolls sense motive+2: (18)+3+2: 23 (Aid Another - Cryo) GAME: Thyrson rolls sense motive: (2)+1: 3 (Aid Another - Cryo, fails) GAME: Merek rolls sense motive: (20)+4: 24 <OOC> Cryo's Diplo 16+2+2+2: 22
Cryo has a few questions, for the captain and for a couple others around on the dock to verify the captain's information and assure herself the group will get there. Mostly, that he delivers, there is no unexpected mid-trip toll, and the crew doesn't have piracy brands or too many missing bits.
"Is there a flag we should get, white or robin blue or black or something, that the Raven Lords would consider a truce flag? Black perhaps? Ravens are black."
Tenoc keeps watch as Cryo asks her questions and runs through the gauntlet of knowledge provided. Most over his head-- but keeping a sharper ear out than one might suspect of a scaly barbarian.
And an eye out for Lily too. No kabooming!
Braelnoir keeps close to Cryo during the negotiations, looking professionally interested in the festivities. She quietly brushes an arm once, or twice here and there in deference to some of the answers the fellow gives, mostly correlating to whether she thinks he's being honest or not in that moment.
Cryo watches her companions as much as the one she interviews, taking cues from them.
Lily meanwhile is watching a large tropical insect on a nearby wall.
Halani hovers nearby as well.. social graces may not be her thing, but extensive training has at least given her a fairly good awareness of when someone's trying to fake her out. Feint. Attempt deception. And she watches any nearby crew members as well, watching for glances, or avoided glances.. anything that might indicate that there's more.. or less.. to the captain's claims.
"'Fraid not. The Raven Lords are just what's left -- buncha warriors who've sworn eternal vengeance against Charn or something like that," says Captain Shookworthy, shrugging his shoulders. "They're a war machine, but they're known to entertain guests *occasionally*, and of course, those are just the bosses. The people under 'em are just, y'know, people, I suppose. They tend to be a bit stand offish. C'mon board."
Truth be told, he seems earnest enough. HE's had minor dealings with them and that's enough, isn't it?
Braelnoir says, "hm."
Thyrson watches, leaning on his staff, distracted and gaining in irritability. He nods along with the story, yes, yes.
Braelnoir nods, swiveling the scythe blade down so it doesn't catch on the boarding hatch, walking with her spiked gauntlet unclenched, but empty.... just in case. She gives the ship a curious once over, again checking the looks they're getting, but doens't seem too worried just yet.
"Okay! We'll take it!" Cryo announces, sealing the deal with the captain, then leaving Merek to pay for it and sign the contract. A few last-minute supplies are gathered, and a couple bottles of wine and a sack of oranges. She's ready.
Tenoc keeps watch-- Stalwart Sentinel --with half a thought for the decided slim pouch at his side. But a handful of mango left. Woe! But thoughtful as path takes among gifts, suggestions, offerings, trinkets--
"They prefer shining things?" he asks, tailtip quivering. He helps with the chosen items, packages carried aboard. "They do not seem practical, this one thinks."
A little pinkscale holds a claw-hand out for Woe mango.
Tenoc sniffle, sadly. Last, lonesome mango! But it is duty, and cherished-- to distribute Last Lonesome Mango with solemn grace!
"One shall see to getting more when we return," he says with a wry grin, placing the small fruit safely within the pinkscale's hands. A good way to begin!
With Veyshan being particularly renowned for its spice trade, Halani makes sure, once the integrity of the captain is judged as well as everyone present can tell, to aquire a parcel of a vareity of them, along with a number of teas. If possible, a few blades of Veyshan steel as well.
Piling into an airship is easy enough, but the trek will be a bit longer due to the nature of your destination. You're going to need to fly on the edge of Charn's territory and hope not to get flagged for questions.
And thatr's after crossing the inmost sea, of course.
All seems reasonable, and indeed, you fly over the inmost sea, dodge a storm or two, avoid the charn colonies and their own militarized airships, and head east. You can see the airships in the distance. There's only a few, but it's enough to make one wary.
Thyrson keeps his gifts in hi packs, and generally doesn't come out too much. Still, he likes flying, so he ends up on the deck most of the time. Keeps him distracted.
Cryo examines the airship from one end to the other. She isn't an expert on ships, or airships but she wants to see all the places she's allowed to go. She also practices the evacuation procedures several times with Lily, especially Lily, ensuring that even blindfolded her youngling can find her way out.
It doesn't hurt if the whitescale can as well.
Safety lines and lanyards are also emphasized, and Lily is to use them whenever she's on deck, if she isn't riding on Cryo's back. Which she is, currently, as the white sith'makar stands at the bow and gazes at the distant airships. "Might be time to wave our flag, and slow down a little. Does anyone have distant eyes?" She looks at Merek and Thryson, mostly Merek. Hopefully they'll have utility spells.
Halani spends the beginning of the trip out of sight, doing what she can in some of the closer confine to get through her exercises and meditations. During the second leg of the journey she starts making appearances out on deck. She's no trained airshipman, so mostly just stays out of the way as best she can, spending alot of time at the railings or up on one of the higher decks keeping a look out.
Braelnoir doubled back once the initial inspection turned out alright, picked up some knicknacks and whoosiwhatsits. Maybe something for.... medicinal purposes. Once in the air, she paid attention, and found as many opportunities to get a peep out on what was going on outsie as she could without being too much of a nuisance in the doing. Cryo's question gets a shrugged, "I don't. Never got around ta grabbing my a spyglass."
She considers the others, absently adjusting the straps on her breastplate, then, "We gonna climb down, or he touchin down, someplace? May be we get as good an idea what kinda foliage we got going on, case we need ta build shelter an' the like."
Thyrson keeps a watchful eye on the airships, ready to act if they start on an intercept course.
"Little Fang, go with Tenoc." Cryo hisses in draconic, handing the pinkscale youngling over to the greenscale hunter. "Yassss." "Sssaaaa." They go below. <draconic>
Cryosanthia remains at the front railing, adjusting the corset of her swashbuckler's gear. She's got several sets of laces in it now. She rubs down the front of her clothes, leaving a hand holding her belly. "I think we need to avoid those, they're Charn. Landing soon might be an idea."
When the other airhips get into view, Halani spends her time flicking small detritus.. discarded nut shells, a broken marble.. towards them, mimicking small explosion sounds each time.
Braelnoir isn't long in following Cryo out to take a gander out past the rails to see what else is flying the neutral skies, "Won't let'm take ya, luv." She says softly.
The whitecale leans firmly against her scale-sister, giving rubbing shoulders. "Thanks. I've got a few tricks still, but thanks. Very much." She exhales, standing firm, watching.
Unfortunately, the Lords do not have flags, per say. That is to say that they have individual flags, with individual meanings. It's lords, with a plural, and they're at least somewhat inscrutable.
They don't get out much, okay?
In the distance, you can see a single, solitary outpost. This is, apparently, as far as he's willing to go along their border. Presuming you can go to to the outpost, you might be able to make contact with the Lords, or at least their agents, from there.
That is, to say, this is where he's going to land and let you off.
Cryosanthia remains at the front rail, careful not to lean against it and standing tall. There is only so much she can do for her silhouette. Her tail lashes slowly back and forth behind her, readiness to move. She watches the ground come up and the other airships in the sky, and takes note of landmarks as best she can.
Just before the tower is obscured by their lost altitude, she takes out a compass and takes a reading for it's direction. As they come down to touch, she's checking the surroundings. "Okay, I'm going to get the others that are below."
"Everyone, we're disembarking. Grab your gear, watch the underbrush." She goes to retrieve Lily, Tenoc and her stuff, also alerting anyone else, like Un'eth, who has been napping the whole time.
It doesn't take long but it takes some time.
Thyrson moves slowly, carefully, as he disembarks. After gathering his gear, he waits at the bottom of the gangplank. "Do we want a scout up as we go?"
"I always enjoy a travel along airship," Merek notes, when they come to landing. He walks along with the party, "Alright, scouting might be the best idea although try not to bring issues with the people."
Cryosanthia says, "Un'eth is an expert Shaman. She would make an amazing scout." Hint, hint. Cryo looks at the ebonscale.
Thyrson smiles, winks, "I can always turn into a dragon if necessary."
This instantly gets the whitescale's attention, her head snapping towards Thyrson, "What colour dragon?" Her glee is tempered by practicality, "... and that might attract attention."
"I would." Brae remarks to Thyrson's question, having gathered her gear during the final approach and disembarking. She uses her anygarment sleeves to alter the cut of her attire to something better suited to the weather, then spends a moment loading her crossbow.
Just in case.
Halani has little to bring. A long stick, an overcloak, a sack for the things she purchased in Tashraan. Disembarking with the rest, she listens to Cryosanthia's instructions, nodding her assent.. though her eyes are casting about even before feet touch the ground. "Yeah," she offers her agreement with Brae to Thyrson's question. "Don't wanna be caught unawares, yeah? And if we do get.. surrounded.. might help to have someone otherwise free?"
Thyrson says, "Gold, and invisible."
Oh.
Cryosanthia disembarks beside her scale-sister. Her AnyGarment sleeves shift as well, her stark white clothes becoming duller and with pale grey patches as well as blue. She's not exactly the same colour as the desolate landscape, it's darker, but if anything that helps. She looks a little like a bright patch of snow or a sunny spot on the rugged mountain.
"Un'eth, could you?" Cryosanthia asks the ebon-scaled sith'makar druid. She'd make an excellent scout. "Don't get too far ahead, but perhaps you could trailblaze for us, in short legs or so?"
Lily squirms, settling in on the backpack saddle. She watches Braelnoir load her crossbows, then duplicates the action with her Kors-bow.
"Lily, no." Cryo says soft, "Necklace protocol. If you see something, shout and get in the pack."
"Okaaaysss." The little pinkscale says, unloading her weapon and storing it. She glances at her Tia.
"This one can teleport short distances, but I think I should be captured with you, if it comes to that as we'll have a better chance together." Cryo suggests, almost guaranteeing that if it comes to it, she'll end up abandoning them in a worse situation.
"You too Thyrson. More eyes can't hurt." She adds.
GAME: Thyrson casts Invisibility. Caster Level: 16 DC: 21 GAME: Thyrson casts Fly. Caster Level: 16 DC: 22 GAME: Thyrson rolls perception: (11)+22: 33 GAME: Halani rolls perception: (16)+25: 41 GAME: Braelnoir rolls perception: (12)+13: 25 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls perception: (12)+8: 20
Braelnoir smiles to her little niece and winks before she reaches back to set her scythe into an improvised baldric in another use of the anygarments. SHe gives a sight, then, "Chances are, that fort's already sendin' out folk ta figger out why that airship come down. Better expect somethin' at least squad sized. Worst case, they'll have caster backup. NO tellin' what kinda mounts they got, land'r air, so we should keep our eyes peeled."
Thyrson speaks from the centre of the group. "Un'eth is still on overwatch -- it's a /very/ military outpost. I'm sure they saw us through the illusion." He appears, the spell wearing off. "Still, the approach is this way and it looks clear."
"Okay, well, let's head out and be obvious then." Cryosanthia suggest, glancing across the group. "Lead on please Thyrson."
"Obvious can do!" Halani affirms, swinging her staff out a bit to knock on the occasional rock or tree.. adding some bounce to her gait to minimize the soft step she usually has. She doesn't go as far as whistling, but she does kick the occasional stone out of the way.
Approach is not that hard.
Mostly because you've long since been spotted. That is a feeling you have almost immediately. You're being *allowed* to approach. It feels as if you're being watched at all times as you reach the small fortress, little more than an outpost carved into the side of a rugged mountain and raised up into it just a bit.
Immediately, a being shimmers into view atop its rampart as you arrive.
The black-winged egalrin says nothing. He just leans forward and stares down at you.
Cryosanthia halts, her clothing adjusting to be a bright white with blue highlights, to match her scales. Casually, she swirls her left hand through a graceful series of loops. There's a sparkling of light, that starts in her chest and ripples out tracing along her left arm and scales. With glowing fingers, she touches the sides of her mouth, then speaks.
The air ripples beside her, as if dozens of maws echo her words, amplifying her greatly. "Peace on your Nests. This one is Cryosanthia, Speaker of the Sith'Makar. We are diplomatic envoys from Alexandria, with representatives of that City and the Silver Empress. We wish to share words."
GAME: Braelnoir rolls knowledge/military theory: (14)+12: 26
Braelnoir handles the march like a trooper, steady an alert, with her crossbow held low along the way.
She seems a little studious as she walks, though it could have been something she ate, as she notes, "Yeah, they know we're coming b'now. They wan'us close, only reason they ain't sent anything out ta challenge us, yet."
In time, it seems, indeed that it's true, and she regards the fellow as he breaks cover. With a sidelong glance to her sister and her display, the Korite releases her grip on the crossbow slowly, at least in that she is holding it up by the foregrip and draws it away from her trigger hand, though without any bones about unloading it, first. Her eyes sweep the highs and lows, corners and shadows as best the can manage for any indication that this is about to go south like the seasons just changed.
Halani comes to a stop, a few steps behind and to the side of Cryosanthia. She kicks one last stone, then plants her stick in the ground, shifting on to the balls of her feet to bounce a few times.. then leans on the staff and looks up at the silent Egalrin, offering a toothy grin as the white Sith-Makar speaks.
There are most assuredly snipers of some kind. They're ready to kill the group. However, if they had wanted to they could've done so well before here. Braelnoir's military theory helps her identify areas to watch, a vast number of areas where the Ravenlords have clean arcs of aim for arrows or spells.
Again, it's a little reassuring. If they had wanted to do something, they would have by now.
The whitescale waits for a reply. As the silence stretches on she's hopelessly chipper, "We've brought gifts!"
OOC
KaBOOOMsss
<OOC> Whirlpool XD
<OOC> Tenoc says, "EXPLOSIVE MAINTENANCE."
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "that engine was bad anywyas"
Snapleaf
http://www.tenebraemush.net/index.php?title=Slotless#Snapleaf
This crystalline carving looks like a hand-sized tree leaf.
750gp
Immediate action, Feather Fall and Invisibility simultaneously
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