Kuzan's eyes fairly bulged out of their sockets at the utterly absurd accusation. "Sir, the farmer left with that man last night," the priest pointed at Dimitry while addressing Burgomeister, "Everyone in the inn saw him. I don't understand the plunder he's talking about. If the farmer didn't want us on his land, we would've moved on without any complaint."
He shook his head. "We came to stay here the night and a few of our number wanted to learn a little more about your lands, so we considered staying on another day or two. But last night, after this man," again he gestured to Dimitry, "sang his song -- and a very well-done song, I might add -- the farmer, Stefan was it? He'd had a little too much to drink and came up to start a fight. I could tell by his swagger. I've lived among enough sailors to know when someone's looking for a fight.
"Anyway, we tried to talk to him and calm him, but he threatened to throw a punch. One of our number got a little overzealous and clubbed him good," Kuzan's face soured a little at the memory, "but when all was said and done, we did our best to make sure he was all right. Tried to help him out, make sure he was okay, and help him get out of the alcohol haze. You know how drunks can be both before and after an impending brawl, I'm sure. But then the bard interrupted and walked with him out of the inn, and we didn't see anything more of it."
Kuzan shrugged and took a deep breath after his long tale, "Then we wake up this morning and have our excellent breakfast interrupted by a mob and now accusations of murder."
The priest glanced back at the party. He hadn't left his room all night, and if Dieter did, the young man was quiet enough to let Kuzan sleep. Then he turned back to Sandeluscu.
"I can understand if we were unwelcome to begin with, and if we'd been asked to move on, I doubt any of us would have a problem with it."
Diplomacy 18
The Eye of Anubis: Book Two
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Kaitou Kage
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Nathan of the FoS
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"Well done," Charles says to Kuzan. "I don't think I was having the desired effect...maybe I should have undertaken my diplomacy unarmed?"
He accompanies the priest to where the burgomeister stands and bows politely to him, nodding at the soldiers with him as well. Koroviev he ignores entirely.
"Thank you for your timely intervention, Burgomeister," he says. "We are all very glad that violence was averted. Despite the words of this...rabble-rouser, we are peaceful and law-abiding travelers. The Reverend Kuzan's summary of last night's events is quite accurate. If there is any evidence, any evidence whatsoever, that any of us were involved in what this man claims to be the murder of one of your citizens, we will certainly subject ourselves to the lawful authorities. Despite his brave assertions, Goodman Koroviev has not bothered to offer more than innuendo on this point."
Let's try this again...Diplomacy 22, which I suppose goes to 17 with the OR penalty?
He accompanies the priest to where the burgomeister stands and bows politely to him, nodding at the soldiers with him as well. Koroviev he ignores entirely.
"Thank you for your timely intervention, Burgomeister," he says. "We are all very glad that violence was averted. Despite the words of this...rabble-rouser, we are peaceful and law-abiding travelers. The Reverend Kuzan's summary of last night's events is quite accurate. If there is any evidence, any evidence whatsoever, that any of us were involved in what this man claims to be the murder of one of your citizens, we will certainly subject ourselves to the lawful authorities. Despite his brave assertions, Goodman Koroviev has not bothered to offer more than innuendo on this point."
Let's try this again...Diplomacy 22, which I suppose goes to 17 with the OR penalty?
[b]FEAR JUSTICE.[/b] :elena:
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yalenusveler
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Andre was trying to figure out exactly when he stopped living in a world which made anything even remotely resembling rational sense, and started living in a world run by strange crazy people. Oh, he had had his suspicions of this before, but this was the first time they came anywhere NEAR being confirmed.
A Lynch mob...a sodding bloody lynch mob! the young scholar thought to himself as he peered out into the teeming mass, trying desperately to see who was at the head of the unruly crowd...and seeing who was the agent provocateur caused Andre to mutter something in Pharazian to himself which was a word that would most likely get a visit from the confessors, were they in that particular land. Right now though, it sounded like he had gone to clear his throat and instead sneezed, or something similar.
Either he's a sociopath of a magnitude which would...would have made Josette happy..or something else is afoot he thought to himself, Tomas' sudden bout with what appeared to be the royal disease piquing his curiosity. The Detect Magic flowed from his lips....and when he saw not quite what he was expecting, his reaction was rather akin to Tomas'...just with far less blood.
"Nothing...absolutely...nothing" he muttered, hoping the smooth tongues of some of his compatriots would prevent them from getting slaughtered, especially as the Burgermeister, or whatever they had in Barovia showed up. Because if he were to speak up, he was likely to have them building the bonfire in no time. Though the young scholar's face was showing something he was quite unaccustomed to showing...namely, fear.
A Lynch mob...a sodding bloody lynch mob! the young scholar thought to himself as he peered out into the teeming mass, trying desperately to see who was at the head of the unruly crowd...and seeing who was the agent provocateur caused Andre to mutter something in Pharazian to himself which was a word that would most likely get a visit from the confessors, were they in that particular land. Right now though, it sounded like he had gone to clear his throat and instead sneezed, or something similar.
Either he's a sociopath of a magnitude which would...would have made Josette happy..or something else is afoot he thought to himself, Tomas' sudden bout with what appeared to be the royal disease piquing his curiosity. The Detect Magic flowed from his lips....and when he saw not quite what he was expecting, his reaction was rather akin to Tomas'...just with far less blood.
"Nothing...absolutely...nothing" he muttered, hoping the smooth tongues of some of his compatriots would prevent them from getting slaughtered, especially as the Burgermeister, or whatever they had in Barovia showed up. Because if he were to speak up, he was likely to have them building the bonfire in no time. Though the young scholar's face was showing something he was quite unaccustomed to showing...namely, fear.
"Sometimes, Mr.Liquor cabinet is my only friend"
Tomas is looking more and more confused at this point, as the Balok goes flying from person to person. He feels ignorant, foolish, useless, a burden, and enraged with himself for not listening to Sir Uffington's lessons better. The old man may have been mad, but he would've known what to do here, too...
...he actually notices his bloody nose a moment later. Flushing with humiliation, the Lamordian moves in that unobtrusive way large men of a certain personality type quickly master, tearing off a bit of stray handkerchief to stick to his face. There, he can pretend he cut himself shaving...
Andre's reaction registers on the side of Tomas's vision; the Lamordian inches his way towards the Professor, "Pardon me, Herr Professor." He murmurs shyly, "But...you are a learned man, ja? I..." Tomas pauses, again, wishing he could've held onto his little secret a bit longer. He had gotten used to being tolerated, or at least looked at as something becides a magnet for trouble. "...is there some, ah, common ward I am being ignorant of? Some protective charm that makes such a...sight, I think the word is being."
...he actually notices his bloody nose a moment later. Flushing with humiliation, the Lamordian moves in that unobtrusive way large men of a certain personality type quickly master, tearing off a bit of stray handkerchief to stick to his face. There, he can pretend he cut himself shaving...
Andre's reaction registers on the side of Tomas's vision; the Lamordian inches his way towards the Professor, "Pardon me, Herr Professor." He murmurs shyly, "But...you are a learned man, ja? I..." Tomas pauses, again, wishing he could've held onto his little secret a bit longer. He had gotten used to being tolerated, or at least looked at as something becides a magnet for trouble. "...is there some, ah, common ward I am being ignorant of? Some protective charm that makes such a...sight, I think the word is being."
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yalenusveler
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Andre noticed the bleeding young Lamordian heading near him. He listened intently, Tomas' words thankfully snapping him out of making the drowning fish face. He switched to Lamordian, wanting to get this across perfectly clear. "Tomas..I've no clue what you're talking about. I saw...nothing. Literally nothing. I expected some enchantment, some trick. Be it influence on him, or him influencing the crowd. But I saw nothing!"
The young professor's voice rose a little frantically at the end, like he was still trying to grasp the nature of what may or may not be at hand. He then compsed himself, or at least tried to. "Now..what did you see such as to make you bleed?" He asked, his Lamordian a touch accented, but otherwise impeccable.
The young professor's voice rose a little frantically at the end, like he was still trying to grasp the nature of what may or may not be at hand. He then compsed himself, or at least tried to. "Now..what did you see such as to make you bleed?" He asked, his Lamordian a touch accented, but otherwise impeccable.
"Sometimes, Mr.Liquor cabinet is my only friend"
"Oh, uh..."
Tomas switches into Lamordian, honestly glad to be expressing himself in his native language. "Since I was a child, I...would sometimes See. It is difficult to explain, but sometimes a place can look...wrong. Posessed, you might say. Or a person will have the tangable innocence you normally only see in children. Or I might be able to tell if they are...inward focused, or otherwise inclined. Not, ah, evil or anything, just some insight into their personality. I'm. I'm not crazy or anything!"
Tomas pauses since, gosh, that sure did sound like something a crazy person would say, didn't it? "Do you remember Sir Uffington? He, ah, taught at the university for a short time. I thought I was crazy until he helped me learn how to control it, focus it, and when it can be fooled."
"I'm not very good at it." Tomas admits sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head and sighing, "But I saw...the same thing you did. It was like trying to get insight into the soul of a chair, or a truly dead body...not even the absense of character."
Tomas switches into Lamordian, honestly glad to be expressing himself in his native language. "Since I was a child, I...would sometimes See. It is difficult to explain, but sometimes a place can look...wrong. Posessed, you might say. Or a person will have the tangable innocence you normally only see in children. Or I might be able to tell if they are...inward focused, or otherwise inclined. Not, ah, evil or anything, just some insight into their personality. I'm. I'm not crazy or anything!"
Tomas pauses since, gosh, that sure did sound like something a crazy person would say, didn't it? "Do you remember Sir Uffington? He, ah, taught at the university for a short time. I thought I was crazy until he helped me learn how to control it, focus it, and when it can be fooled."
"I'm not very good at it." Tomas admits sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head and sighing, "But I saw...the same thing you did. It was like trying to get insight into the soul of a chair, or a truly dead body...not even the absense of character."
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NeoTiamat
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Karl's Folly
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"I went with Alexei to see if Stefan was alright this morning, when we discovered..." Dimitry shook his head sadly. "Alexei is even knowing standing watch over my departed friend."
The three Barovians behind Koroviev nodded their agreement. The group suddenly recognized them as three of the men who had helped the Bard take Stefan home the previous night.
"For you see, there was a witness, that one of your men left the inn in the night. A man in dark armor, and with a head-scarf, and was seen on the path to Stefan's farm." The Bard of Barovia smiled softly. "Likewise, a weapon was left at the scene of the crime, a dagger of most curious design, bloodied and nicked. Of evidence, my silver-tongued scoundrel, Barovia has a surfeit."
Koroviev swooped over to the fourth member of his entourage, a young woman, pale and sobbing. "Tell me, my dearest Ekaterina... who was the man you saw from your window? Who was the foul murderer who slew Stefan, ripped him untimely from this world, who tortured him to death?"
"Who," Dimitry's soft voice asked. "Was it?"
Sobbing, the young girl, for she couldn't be more than sixteen, raised a hand, pointing a finger at one of the Expedition, before turning and burying her head in Dimitry's chest, wiping the tears away on his tartan sash. A faint look of triumph crossed Dimitry's features, and was gone as quickly as he soothed the young woman.
For her accusing finger had pointed at Khalil al-Atim.
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"Ah, but my young miss..." Dimitry Koroviev's soft voice was hypnotic, weaving his accusations like a maestro. "When I left Goodman Stefan, I was with a quartet of good men, honest and true, who saw me to the village square. Stefan was alive when we left him, though a bit the worse for wear where your assassin hit him."Rock wrote:"Ask anyone you like who was in the inn last night, and they can tell you it was this bard and his comrades who took meister Stefan home last night, while we remained here. Perhaps you should look elsewhere for murder suspects."
"I went with Alexei to see if Stefan was alright this morning, when we discovered..." Dimitry shook his head sadly. "Alexei is even knowing standing watch over my departed friend."
The three Barovians behind Koroviev nodded their agreement. The group suddenly recognized them as three of the men who had helped the Bard take Stefan home the previous night.
"Excellent." Dimitry smiled, looking much like a snake about to explain to a rabbit that continued existence was not in the cards. "I am so glad you are as... law-abiding as any man of Barovia."Nathan of the FoS wrote:If there is any evidence, any evidence whatsoever, that any of us were involved in what this man claims to be the murder of one of your citizens, we will certainly subject ourselves to the lawful authorities.
"For you see, there was a witness, that one of your men left the inn in the night. A man in dark armor, and with a head-scarf, and was seen on the path to Stefan's farm." The Bard of Barovia smiled softly. "Likewise, a weapon was left at the scene of the crime, a dagger of most curious design, bloodied and nicked. Of evidence, my silver-tongued scoundrel, Barovia has a surfeit."
Koroviev swooped over to the fourth member of his entourage, a young woman, pale and sobbing. "Tell me, my dearest Ekaterina... who was the man you saw from your window? Who was the foul murderer who slew Stefan, ripped him untimely from this world, who tortured him to death?"
"Who," Dimitry's soft voice asked. "Was it?"
Sobbing, the young girl, for she couldn't be more than sixteen, raised a hand, pointing a finger at one of the Expedition, before turning and burying her head in Dimitry's chest, wiping the tears away on his tartan sash. A faint look of triumph crossed Dimitry's features, and was gone as quickly as he soothed the young woman.
For her accusing finger had pointed at Khalil al-Atim.
Ravenloft GM: Eye of Anubis, Shattered City, and Prof. Lupescu's Traveling Ghost Show
Lead Writer & Editor: VRS Files: Doppelgangers; Contributor: QtR #20, #21, #22, #23, #24
Freelance Writer for Paizo Publishing
Lead Writer & Editor: VRS Files: Doppelgangers; Contributor: QtR #20, #21, #22, #23, #24
Freelance Writer for Paizo Publishing
Allikhain kept her eye on Dmitry. When he accused Khalil of murder, she tried to gauge Dmitry's words and body movement. Knowing she'd reappear soon she moved closer to Khalil in case the crowd got out of hand.
OOC: Sense Motive on Dmitry 23. On the girl 19.
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Ulsaon stepped outside after eating her breakfast. Sweet Mystra there sure is a lot of excitement outside. I'd better keep alert in case something goes awry.
As she steps outside, Dmitry accuses Khalil... the girl pointing him out. Ulsaon frowns but says nothing. She moves closer to Khalil.
OOC: Sense Motive on Dmitry 23. On the girl 19.
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Ulsaon stepped outside after eating her breakfast. Sweet Mystra there sure is a lot of excitement outside. I'd better keep alert in case something goes awry.
As she steps outside, Dmitry accuses Khalil... the girl pointing him out. Ulsaon frowns but says nothing. She moves closer to Khalil.
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yalenusveler
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Andre turned from Tomas "Just a moment." Looking at the whole scene of J'accuse with an expression blending disbelief and bewilderment in equal measure. He then turned back to the young Lamordian, still speaking his tounge. "Tomas, I do not think you crazy. Far from it. Now...do it again, but not directed at our nationalistic friend, but instead at those with him. Especially the girl."
Andre's mind was going a mile a second, already halfway into the mists, and coming out somewhere near Paridon. This makes no sense..and wasn't one of his knives stolen? Is this a delay, or an actual attempt to thin our ranks? His paranoia starting to rise like a tide coming in, turning to check Tomas' reaction. "The girl...just said she saw Khalil as the man who killed the farmer from last night. This makes no sense, no sense at all."
Andre's mind was going a mile a second, already halfway into the mists, and coming out somewhere near Paridon. This makes no sense..and wasn't one of his knives stolen? Is this a delay, or an actual attempt to thin our ranks? His paranoia starting to rise like a tide coming in, turning to check Tomas' reaction. "The girl...just said she saw Khalil as the man who killed the farmer from last night. This makes no sense, no sense at all."
"Sometimes, Mr.Liquor cabinet is my only friend"
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Rock of the Fraternity
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"Bah!" Lia hisses. "We have only your word and that of your cronies for that! For all we know, you took Stefan to his home, murdered him, then had your bullyboys lie for you today. As for this girl" - Lia levels a basilisk glare at Ekaterina. "She seems to cling to you rather strongly, bard. I find that suspicious. The bardic talent for charming people into doing as they like is well-known throughout the Core and, I should hope, beyond it! You are not convincing, bard. You are preposterous."NeoTiamat wrote:"Ah, but my young miss..." Dimitry Koroviev's soft voice was hypnotic, weaving his accusations like a maestro. "When I left Goodman Stefan, I was with a quartet of good men, honest and true, who saw me to the village square. Stefan was alive when we left him, though a bit the worse for wear where your assassin hit him."
"I went with Alexei to see if Stefan was alright this morning, when we discovered..." Dimitry shook his head sadly. "Alexei is even knowing standing watch over my departed friend."
The dismissive gesture Lia makes at Dimitri now is borderline insulting in its contempt ...
"Please don't tell the others." Tomas mutters in Lamordian again, stooping over and looking discretly nervous, "But...allright."
Tomas takes a shaky breath, feeling static electricty running up and down his limbs; he's placed a hand on his head to keep his hair from frizzing out as he focuses on his higher senses, connecting, briefly...
("The Sight" sounds good. Anyway, rocking that on the girl, burgomeister, and those immediately around them if that's possible.)
Tomas takes a shaky breath, feeling static electricty running up and down his limbs; he's placed a hand on his head to keep his hair from frizzing out as he focuses on his higher senses, connecting, briefly...
("The Sight" sounds good. Anyway, rocking that on the girl, burgomeister, and those immediately around them if that's possible.)
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Nathan of the FoS
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"Even if the young lady is correct, and it was, in fact, Goodman al-Atim she saw leaving the inn last night, I can hardly see that this proves him guilty of anything," Charles says flatly. "And as for this dagger of "most curious design", which the murderer left so conspicuously behind him--why link it to any member of our expedition? For this you raise a lynch mob and threaten the peace of the community and the lives of dozens of your "friends", to slaughter strangers unknown to you? M'selle Mournewaith is quite correct to say it is preposterous."Rock wrote:"Bah!" Lia hisses. "We have only your word and that of your cronies for that! For all we know, you took Stefan to his home, murdered him, then had your bullyboys lie for you today. As for this girl" - Lia levels a basilisk glare at Ekaterina. "She seems to cling to you rather strongly, bard. I find that suspicious. The bardic talent for charming people into doing as they like is well-known throughout the Core and, I should hope, beyond it! You are not convincing, bard. You are preposterous."
The dismissive gesture Lia makes at Dimitri now is borderline insulting in its contempt ...
[b]FEAR JUSTICE.[/b] :elena:
Khalil stands arms crossed with his (almost trademark now) quirked eyebrow as he watches the most recent unwelcome events unfold.
Facing the Burgomeister he addresses him with a short bow of respect, "Affendi, I have been dishonoured, I can tell you I have no recollection of the deeds I have been accused of. Last night I spoke at some length with my friend before retiring. I slept and woke with the dawn this morning."
He falls silent waiting to see the reponse.
Facing the Burgomeister he addresses him with a short bow of respect, "Affendi, I have been dishonoured, I can tell you I have no recollection of the deeds I have been accused of. Last night I spoke at some length with my friend before retiring. I slept and woke with the dawn this morning."
He falls silent waiting to see the reponse.
"I had a dream, which was not all a dream.
The bright sun was extinguish'd, and the stars
Did wander darkling in the eternal space..."
The bright sun was extinguish'd, and the stars
Did wander darkling in the eternal space..."
Being better prepaired for the null zone that is the Bard, Tomas mentally marks the boarders of the strange not-a-man's...aura, he supposes, as he focuses his enlightened will...
Possibilities whisper in his ear: Flashes of broken hearts, bruised minds, the every day tradgeties of life that wear away at one's innocence until a person is locked in the cynical mold of an adult, the chains of world wearyness even wrapped around the little girl...the visions are there for less than a heartbeat, and Tomas has no idea who each one belongs to, lacking the distinct stench of the unearthly...and the divine mathematics intensified, not speaking Truth in the sense of "This was done." but "This could be done." for two people...
"Where was I, last night?" The burly man's face flushed, even as he calmly sat down next to his wife, putting an arm around her shoulders, "If I told you, that would spoil the surpise..."
Suprise: A hand-carved gift inspired by nothing in particular, a new ox, an axe in the back of the head while his child-like mistress giggles...
"Mama mama mama!" The girl sang out, dancing around her mother's skirts with a fire in her eyes, her hands flicking, "Watch me, mama!"
Was she just playing, or stealing her mother's purse for sweets? Did she just want attention, or misdirection?
This is not Truth, Tomas spoke to himself, closing his eyes and willing the Sight to calm down like his mentor instructed him, it is possibility. Two plus x equals four, but you do not know for certain that x equals two.
"They are all...adults, spiritually speaking." Tomas is suprised at how depressing that thought is. What could have broken that poor little girl's...? "Two of them have...spontenaity prominantly in their souls. That is all I can sense." The Lamordian sits down, suddenly, and blinks, privately hoping that he didn't just start a fight with his quick movement.
Possibilities whisper in his ear: Flashes of broken hearts, bruised minds, the every day tradgeties of life that wear away at one's innocence until a person is locked in the cynical mold of an adult, the chains of world wearyness even wrapped around the little girl...the visions are there for less than a heartbeat, and Tomas has no idea who each one belongs to, lacking the distinct stench of the unearthly...and the divine mathematics intensified, not speaking Truth in the sense of "This was done." but "This could be done." for two people...
"Where was I, last night?" The burly man's face flushed, even as he calmly sat down next to his wife, putting an arm around her shoulders, "If I told you, that would spoil the surpise..."
Suprise: A hand-carved gift inspired by nothing in particular, a new ox, an axe in the back of the head while his child-like mistress giggles...
"Mama mama mama!" The girl sang out, dancing around her mother's skirts with a fire in her eyes, her hands flicking, "Watch me, mama!"
Was she just playing, or stealing her mother's purse for sweets? Did she just want attention, or misdirection?
This is not Truth, Tomas spoke to himself, closing his eyes and willing the Sight to calm down like his mentor instructed him, it is possibility. Two plus x equals four, but you do not know for certain that x equals two.
"They are all...adults, spiritually speaking." Tomas is suprised at how depressing that thought is. What could have broken that poor little girl's...? "Two of them have...spontenaity prominantly in their souls. That is all I can sense." The Lamordian sits down, suddenly, and blinks, privately hoping that he didn't just start a fight with his quick movement.
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yalenusveler
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Andre looked over from Tomas doing his...thing, and over to Lia. His words were simple, direct, and to the point. "Lia, shush, lest you prove a liability.", speaking High Mordentish for that rebuke. He then switched back to Lamordian, his attention returning to Tomas.
"Thank you, Tomas. Your Gift, if you could call it that, is one I am glad I am not burdened with."
"Thank you, Tomas. Your Gift, if you could call it that, is one I am glad I am not burdened with."
"Sometimes, Mr.Liquor cabinet is my only friend"