PC Central - Homecoming: Kith and Kin
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Berlinne Toews: "We're moving up to the Witch and Seer, like you suggested. I'm sure Aelthasson will be pleased to see us."
Devlin, Autonomist Enchanter: "Sorry. No layering. You'll have to pick one story for the memory tailoring. And then expect the dread doppelganger to come after you, so you better make it good bait."
If the party intends to use George's ship as the "strong-point" to bait and fight the Unreal, it should confirm as much in this thread. The Autonomist enchanter will tailor the party's memories, and bring the real black steel to the Witch and Seer for hide-away.
[DM Xanatos Gambit]
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"I was going to suggest my ship as well. I can sail it out onto the lake and leave it anchored away from shore to help sell it, too.
Can we layer a fake memory beneath the fake memory? If the Unreal suspects foul play, and doesn't believe the first, or if it does bite and we can't catch it, can we have a second fake if it tries to pry? Given its own skill, it might not fall for that, of course."
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"And third, as an alternative we can use if the Unreal 'doesn't' bite - I still have a piece of cloth with its vile ichor on it, for scrying attempts."
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"Two things - first, given Harlow's lead pointed us in this direction and knowing he's currently in doppler captivity, I don't recommend the Autonomists keep using this same hide-out, just in case it all goes topsy-turvy. It might also be best that we genuinely don't know where they'll contain it, if the Unreal's memory skills extend to recognizing others handiwork in tailoring.
That said, I'm in agreement of the plan as a whole. 'Normally' we'd stash anything of this sensitive nature at the Witch and Seer, but we could have our memories tailored to a double-bluff on that count, given Berlinne may wish to utilize that if she so chooses. So! We'll pick what we think we decided was an 'unexpected' location, yet still relatively secure. We'll have to remember having thoroughly ascertained the nature of our illicit goods, as well, to avoid the risk that some nosy nelly goes to double-check.
So we'll want a secure location, and one where there's little to no bystanders risking hurt. George's ship, in a chest lined with lead for non-detection? Cormac's place, for our canny reasoning that he's the least likely suspect to have it? I'd like it to be somewhat remote, but it does have to make sense to our own reasoning too..."
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The Crazy PDCDS Switcheroo Gambit
Deep below the ruins of an underground Unseelie garden, the Golden Geese have finally located the missing Permanent Death Causing Danger Steel aka the PDCDS aka the Black Steel. They have found it in the hands of the Autonomists, under the leadership of Berlinne Toews, who have been hiding out in the depths. Now they must decide what to do about it, for their enemy, the memorybending doppelganger known as the Unreal will surely read their minds upon their return and discern the location of the missing shipment.
Upon being informed the Autonomists have an enchanter capable of tailoring memories, Reyhenna, after a healthy screaming match with Berlinne, puts forward one idea.
"We know the Unreal doesn't know about Berlinne and the Autonomists, so we should leave the PDCDS in their custody. However, we can't leave here knowing that they have it. Since the Unreal is probably expecting us to find and retrieve the steel, I propose we fool it into thinking we did just that.
However, in order to fool the Unreal, we must fool ourselves. Everything we know, it knows.
We've come down here, found the black steel daggers, verified it's the real deal. So I propose we take some decoy daggers back up with us. Berlinne's mindbender there can ensorcel us to think we're leaving with the real daggers - the Unreal will read our minds, think WE have the steel and be forced to try and attack us directly to try and relieve us of them. It is so used to working with perfect information, this will be a prime opportunity to bait it into a mistake and take it out.
Obviously, this plan doesn't work if we realize at any point before the Unreal that our daggers are fakes - it'll just read our minds and rumble the plan that way. To avoid this, we need to plan out exactly what we will do with the daggers now, so that we'll carry that plan out immediately after leaving here with our memories altered.
I am thinking we pick a strongpoint to contain them, the Unreal will expect us to put them somewhere we think is relatively secure from its reach, we should do just that. Then it is only a matter of waiting for the inevitable attack from the Unreal on that strongpoint. We'll also need Berlinne's enchanted to be ready to restore our memories once the Unreal has attacked, if possible.
Thoughts? Alternatives?"
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Isolde, in the days after a certain interrupted performance at the Commons, slips out towards the Docks district instead, red hair covered and dressed casually (for her) to blend in. Should she find the black-haired bard playing, she'd listen well, making sure to give the performer a tip and a subtle wink before leaving to analyze the song with care.
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OOC Note: I have mistakenly used the name Whitedune, in reference to that noble family involved in the plot, when I should have used the name Kildarn.
That is my error.
I will be updating this thread, including your posts, to read "Kildarn" throughout.
In character, please act as though the family involved was always Kildarn, and not Whitedune. That includes the last name of the murdered Cedric, as well as Antony, whom Aoth visited.
[DM Xanatos Gambit]
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Isolde, in reviewing her notes after a talk to the usual suspects at the new and improved table outside the Mermaid, jots the following down:
"Priorites:
-Kildarn estate, basement: are those blasted doors in use or not?
-Find Rowe
-Learn whether Snydders golems were stolen or remain at the house's estate"
With that written down, Isolde then slips out after hours, hooded and masked, to reach out to a few of her more elusive contacts.
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Back at the Ladies Detective Agency after a long and arduous investigation into (and under) the home of Kingsguard Richard Gale, Isolde writes up the following details, available to any trusted ally collaborating with the investigation:
"42 Birch Street
I had worried we'd taken too long in following up on the search of the dopplerized Kingsguard, but the clear indication of magic added to a sturdy lock on the front door soon saw my interest piqued. Detect magic revealed generalist and transmutation magic present, presumably some manner of Alarm spell which unfortunately, repeated attempts at dispelling saw going off. Aoth and I both concluded the original caster is someone quite powerful - I'd wager the same caster responsible for the Lessor Spellfire that saw the flagship go down in blue, unquenchable fire.
Within, a normal and unremarkable home awaited, but hidden by an illusiory wall was a small square space, in which a rope was suspended. Pulling this, we shifted a large cabinet which had been shunted into the false wall and found a recently dug tunnel leading down to a hidden basement. Whoever had been operating there was long gone, but we soon saw the following:
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A hole, going deeper, in the center, with a pulley/rope system set up near it.
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A large orb, next to a desk, with some stray papers and notes strewn about.
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A forge and alchemical tables and notes near it.
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Lastly, a small ash pit. The ashes were fine and thin, bringing Wilkes' assassination instantly to mind. Were these the remains of the real Richard Gale?
A closer study of the forge and alchemical tables supported that grim assumption. Necromantic symbols and glyphs littered the papers, though it looked like the user's attempts at combining certain necromancy spells or effects with weaponry had, so far, failed. Though it should be noted that some papers were missing, others scattered as though someone took off in a haste. The forge, the chimney of which had been connected to the residence's normal chimney, dug through, contained old twisted bits and pieces of metal, and the residue of spent arcane ingredients from necromantic spells, specifically black onyx.
Near the big orb ahead stood a pair of cabinets and a book, on the ground, alongside some scattered, seemingly blank papers. The book's spine was damaged from someone having torn certain pages out. Aoth, skimming slowly and with care though, found a few relevant pages the tearer missed in their haste. A faint sheen revealed the use of a near invisible ink. We collected everything we could for later examination.
The cabinet's top three drawers were empty, the bottom two full, but of blank papers, while the large drawer contained clothes - specifically fanciful noble clothes, fit for a man of medium build. The orb, now inactive, resembles Jonni's scrying ones. A later examination of the notes showed the use thereof in chilling detail, as Aoth held the pages up against the light:
The pages with hidden content appears to be a log of actions and dialogue, taken in note form, and also sketches of Kasimir Fisher and King Thalaman - the latter from the papers strewn near the scrying orb. The sketches are extremely detailed and from different angles. Profile, face-first, above, to the side. . . as well as certain sketches being up close - eyes, nose, mouth, etc. Enough, perhaps, for a Doppelganger to assume a believable guise without stealing it directly, up close and personal.
A direct transcript from the original notes, written in shorthand, is added below:
Page 1.
"KASIMIR FISHER (KF): I simply don't think we should be complacent. Urgent situations require urgent action.
THALAMAN FISHER (TF): I've heard enough.
KF: You know she's dangerous. Even the clergy say so.
TF: I said that that's enough.
KF: You expect us to do nothing. While she returns? Without punishment or decree? The clergy say so. Even my own Kingsguard says so. They all say so. They're all worried. And what do you? Ignore it? Go off hunting? Stick your head in the sand?
TF: Not another word from you. Or anyone, on this.The shorthand notes read: (The King shouts. The room is silent. Other councellors are also silent, for a time. Eventually the King continues)
TF: The next person who suggests exiling Reyhenna Jorino or anyone from her group is no longer a member of this Council. I don't want to hear about it, anymore. We have other matters to attend. Let us attend to them."
The back of the first page contains the following note: "King Thalaman Fisher, taken during a caravan ride, on the King's hunting trip, in the company of Kasimir Fisher and certain members of royal council."
The other pages are apparently for different contexts/conversations, each one taking shorthand notes of not only actions, but detailed notes of words used, dialogue, and inflection.
Page 2.
"Enenan Snydders (ES): I don't know the King's brother to be so generous. (Nasal, suspicious, dry, slow.)Richard Gale (RG): A token of appreciation for all that you've done for the monarchy. And your loyalty, despite the trying times. From what I was told to say.
ES: How thoughtful. Thank you. I expect I shall drink it tonight. (Addendum: RG has, after return, indicated that Snydders was lying, based on his immediate thoughts in the moment at the time.)
RG: "Of course. Until next, Councillor."
The backside of page 2 indicates: "Conversation took place outside of Snydders estate, following delivery requested by Kasimir Fisher."
Page 3.
"Thalaman Fisher (TF): Have you felt it?
Kasimir Fisher (KF): Felt what?
TF: Something feels different.
KF: And what's that?
TF: I don't know. Wrong, somehow. Not quite how I remember it.
KF: You're getting older. We both are. Memory is unreliable.
TF: I don't like getting older. I miss when we were younger. Actually.
KF: Do you? What, you want to be a child, again? Better to be in the now. Now you can actually do as you please.
TF: Everyone was around, when we were younger. That was nice, wasn't it? Everyone all together.
KF: You're not thinking straight. I think you need some time off to clear your head. Why don't we organize another fine evening? I can have a mage contact those Suzail noblewomen you liked so much last time.
TF: "... You ever wish you could do something differently, from before? Make a different decision- (Thalaman Fisher is cut off by Kasimir Fisher, who spoke the foregoing)"On the back of page 3, it reads: "Spoken at the royal estate, on the balcony, overlooking the courtyard dining area."
Final note: Aldous Pliskin confirmed the ashes found in the hidden basement are indeed human remains. Whether the dead person or persons can be resurrected remains to be seen, as does definitive proof of the metal remains in the forge being a match to the stolen shipment. But everything points that way so far. And while our persuit of the perpetrator down the hole leading into the Underdark proper was a bust, we 'did' run into a nasty clutch of Drow - leaving one alive to ponder our Doppelganger warning.
~Isolde~"
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"Mm, please do! My reputation's going to go down the drain if I forcibly bleed everyone I suspect to be faking it, heh. Likely my non-caster friends could be well served with the same, so give me an estimate and we can work on it as a group I bet."
She smiles and sips the tea, lingering for some chitchat. Next on her list is Garric Hemway, but clearly this is someone Isolde seems keen not to antagonize by midnight visits out of the blue.
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Frewin frowns a bit, then smiles. "Could you have an answer for me by next tenday? The King's tournament is soon, and the window of opportunity for me to reach out to Easthall is closing."
[DM Xanatos Gambit]
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Visum, as usual, presents as a well-dressed arcanist, with clean-cut hair and a skeptical and wary look in his eye.
He welcomes Isolde inside. After they're both seated for hot tea, he listens to her request. He pauses for some time before replying.
"I see. How concerning," he notes, in response to her indication of doppelgangers.
"Scrolls of sending are no problem. I will see about scribing two for you."
"A permanently enchanted true-seeing apparatus is not feasible, from what I understand of the current arcane. Only consumables can work. And they are extremely expensive to craft, and require very peculiar ingredients. If you like, I could put together a list of those ingredients, for you to make additional consumables?"
[DM Xanatos Gambit]
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Hrresh hails George.
"Aye, George, what news have ye?" he inquires. When George asks him to call all hands on deck, Hrresh squints at him. He protests only somewhat that they're in the "middle of changing course."
After George's insistence, however, he does, indeed, call all hands on deck. The 20 or so troops on the ship make their way to the deck, and line up...
[OOC: For the remainder of this action, we will proceed next time we are both in-game!]
[DM Xanatos Gambit]
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Isolde, back at the detective agency with her boots up on the desk and her eyes staring at the ceiling, ponders her next move. On the open notepad resting on her lap, two names are written: Garric and Visum. Her dark blue eyes flicker towards the window, assessing the time, before finally rolling out of her slouched position and stretching, heading for the door.
In the midnight blue of approaching night, she slinks out of the city and towards the Witch and Seer, there to seek out Visum with a special request - after having made certain he is himself, through one means or the other.
"I need your help, Visum. Perhaps you've already heard of the whole stolen shipment of 'doom' issue, but a complicating factor's that there's a whole bunch of deliberate misleading and scape-goating action going on. We've revealed at least two Doppelgangers at play and suspect many more, which is making me pretty anxious, I've got to say. My True Seeing gizmos will soon run out at this rate, so I was thinking, do you think there's a way to create a handy tool to use? Like... a monocle or glasses, cut from spellcrystals or the like to see 'clearly'? Or just something that goes 'ping' in the proximity of a predetermined threat like doppelgangers, let's say?
Oh, and can you procure a scroll of Sending or two for me, pretty please? I figure letters aren't ideal these days, but surely a Sending will always reach the intended party!"
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At the earliest convenience, George sails out to meet with H'resh. Given the infiltration by Doppelgangers, he does not wish to take any chances with a mere letter. He leaves word with Isolde about his whereabouts, in case he happens to disappear.
He brings with him the rod of True Seeing he still needs to return to Rey, but keeps it out of sight.
Approaching the ship with colours raised, he boards when given permission and requests the captain out on deck.
"Hey cap. Could I ask you to call all hands out on deck? And I do mean all hands, even the ones on bilge pump duty and Tim catching forty winks in between the stacks of ham like we can't smell that's where he's been. Don't worry, I've got a point to make, but I'd hate to ruin the surprise."
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After hearing Frewin Ashald out, Vernadetta seemed pensive, finally smiling at him
"Let me think about it, si? It's a big decision. Is there a deadline on when you need an answer?"
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Danson inspects the candy. He takes particular note of the wrapper, and of the brand.
"I like the name 'Limonetti,'" he notes, before unwrapping it and taking a bite of the candy bar. After chewing and swallowing, he goes on.
"The doppelganger in question remains captive. I'm unaware of whether Motley Gray dipped her paws into any doppelganger files. She did not steal them. Whether she copied or consulted the information, I couldn't say."
[DM Xanatos Gambit]
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The Kildarn estate is modest and small. There is only one domestic servant - a dark haired maid of middle-age. After that there are five guards, who seem rather reluctant to be here, in Peltarch, and in service to the Kildarn house.
After being let in, Aoth ultimately is met with only one noble: an elderly man, with a frail frame, and a severe shake to his hands. That is despite the numerous other portraits upon the wall of younger men and women of various ages.
The elderly man invites Aoth in to sit for wine and bread.
He the nobleman introduces himself as Antony Kildarn.
"Forgive the cold and empty house," he says. "My grand-daughter, her husband, and their children, have decided to leave this place. For greener pastures, in Hoarsgate. It's just me and my grandson Cedric now."
He wags a few letters of correspondence, which he keeps nearby on a small table.
He listens to Aoth's news, and then grows quiet for a long while.
Eventually, he murmurs, more to himself, as an objective, than anything else: "I'll meet with the Temple to arrange for resurrection. It will work."
The sullen old peers at Aoth, after she remarks about the potential for strange happenings and visitations. He replies: "No, no strange visitations, that I'm aware of..."
After a few moments, he seems to remember, and continues: "There was one woman who came by, asking about Cedric and the Snydders girl. A peculiar woman, didn't seem from around here, you know ... apparently works for City Hall, as Herald."
"She also asked about my son's activity, with respect to certain occult practices, eh, wondering, about the basement ..."
"Some detectives, a pretty woman, and a halfling, eh, put an end to my son's misbehavior, many years ago. In that basement."
He is quiet for a bit.
"I told the Herald the truth. The door, down there. It held magic, once. It used to lead elsewhere. Another place. Somewhere unreal. But the magic's gone. It's been sealed shut. Hasn't been opened in years."
"I let her inspect it. She took a while to look at it. She seemed satisfied, and left."
Should Aoth ask to see the basement and the door for herself, Antony Kildarn says, "Not today. I have business, with the Temple, with respect to Cedric."
[DM Xanatos Gambit]
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Isolde hears Danson out, urging him most empathically to steer clear of any close contact with the alleged 'nerdification table' in question. She taps her crimson nails, processing the news on Motley Grey's two-timing of the Smiling Monkey without much surprise - then leans across the table and pushes a particularily finely branded candy-bar across, the name "Limonetti" written in swirly yellow lettering across the black wrapper. It seems to hold a chewy lemon bar of fine quality. She affects her most dectective-styled voice and says:
"You're a peach, Danson, but for the win I need the Doppelganger dirt, see. In particular, the one that did me in, after messing with people's memory and even books. The bastard's still in lock-up, right? And did Motley Grey dip her paws into any doppelganger cases that you know of?"
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A few days after the death of Cedric, the gray druid pays a visit to the Kildarn residence dressed for the somber occasion. She begins with a bowed head. “I am Aoth Sepret, and I wish to extend my condolences and my apologies for your loss. I was unprepared and as such unable to shield your kin from the creature’s full attack. If there is anything I or my associates can do, you have but to make a request.”
If the family will hear her out, she will continue. “You may know my name from the rumors of my association with the Bravickus family. I wish to extend to you the same courtesy I gave them and young Cedric in the infirmary: my belief. Like them, I fear you may be subject to strange visitations, unusual requests, and improbable accusations. If any of these are familiar or become so, I urge you to share so that we may bring this conspiracy to its end and avenge Cedric.”
((Persuade: 12+22=34))
