Malls of America: A Post-Apocalyptic D&D Adventure - GAME Thread

She will do so. "Come now, sweetie, back to the estate. I think this staff was worth the time tonight." She holds it in her hand feeling it's power.

Tolr'ax wrote:She will do so. "Come now, sweetie, back to the estate. I think this staff was worth the time tonight." She holds it in her hand feeling it's power.

Two hours later, now in the wee-hours of the morning, Nirotia arrives on the edge of the Redstone estates in Untinvale.

It would be quite the scandal if she were found out in the dark, unescorted...The Church would have a fit.

She uses her awesome stealth (+4) skills to get herself inside the estate. Grim and Reaper will follow behind.

Tolr'ax wrote:She uses her awesome stealth (+4) skills to get herself inside the estate. Grim and Reaper will follow behind.

There's no real reason to have a hefty watch, despite tensions nearer the border, so watchful eyes are few and far between. Nirotia slips into the confines of the castle walls without notice. If anyone noticed Grim/Reaper, they ignored him; being the Duchess's pup, he generally had free reign of the castle grounds.

Gaining entry to the keep itself was easier, as the house staff were absolutely terrified of Nirotia's ill will, and thus wouldn't peep about her odd comings and goings.

She will greet any staff she sees with a smile and a "Hello [insert name], fine evening we are having." She makes her way to her chambers with her dogs, on her way, she stops in to see the cook, "Have someone bring something warm to my chambers, and send something yummy for Reaper and Grim" she says as she pets the pups.

Tolr'ax wrote:She will greet any staff she sees with a smile and a "Hello [insert name], fine evening we are having." She makes her way to her chambers with her dogs, on her way, she stops in to see the cook, "Have someone bring something warm to my chambers, and send something yummy for Reaper and Grim" she says as she pets the pups.

It wasn't long before Chef had some food brought up, with Grim/Reaper kibble, too.

Nirotia will eat at the table in her room as her dogs chomp their dinner near her. She pulls out the book she found and the staff and starts trying to decipher what she can out of the text and studies the staff. This is what she will do for the night.

Tolr'ax wrote:Nirotia will eat at the table in her room as her dogs chomp their dinner near her. She pulls out the book she found and the staff and starts trying to decipher what she can out of the text and studies the staff. This is what she will do for the night.

This, the book of the "Scarlet Magus," which is the only name within, is a hefty tome of advanced and disciplined magics. Nirotia realizes that various chapters are in different languages, or perhaps - likely - ciphers of some sort. It will take ages to fully unlock the secrets of this book. [Every time Nirotia gains a Wizard level, she can attempt to crack the codes by spending a Long Rest deciphering the goodies within. There is, however, no guarantee that she'll come away with anything other than frustration.]

From what she can tell, however, is that it is part journal, part instructions-by-way-of-experimentation with the Staff of Sanguine. The remains she found must have been the (possibly) self-styled Scarlet Magus, but whomever he was, he knew his magics. His journal shows the standard wear-and-tear of any typical adventurer's journal, but not a hint of the landslide which covered it long ago, somehow protected against the elements by way of enchantment.

The Staff named Sanguine taps into the darker side of magic, not unlike Necromancy, but the yin to its yang - Blood Magic, manipulating the life force. The wielder of the Staff may draw their own blood as a sort of sacrifice, tapping into the power within to empower themselves through the staff. [Hit Die can be exchanged for Blood Points, which can be utilized for... things.]

At the end of this Long Rest, the Book has provided Nirotia a Proficiency in Medicine, and the Staff has provided her an alternate spellcasting pool.

Sanguine Service:

"Hm, this should be useful." She looks out the window looking to see if the sun was up. She looks to her bed, no so much a bed really, more of a cushioned area for her to trance. She strips to her underclothing and wraps herself in a silken robe and sits on the plush cushions. "Come sit with me, darling." She says to Reaper and Grim, who had fallen asleep. He perks up and trots to her and lays in her lap. She closes her eyes and falls into a trance.

Tolr'ax wrote:"Hm, this should be useful." She looks out the window looking to see if the sun was up. She looks to her bed, no so much a bed really, more of a cushioned area for her to trance. She strips to her underclothing and wraps herself in a silken robe and sits on the plush cushions. "Come sit with me, darling." She says to Reaper and Grim, who had fallen asleep. He perks up and trots to her and lays in her lap. She closes her eyes and falls into a trance.

And so she Trances.

Once she has recovered from her long night, she will end her trance and feel rested. Grim and Reaper will wake with her. She dresses in a knee length skirt and corset trimmed with gold and black jewels.

She and her companion go downstairs to speak with her most loyal house guard and her usual companion when going out into Untinvale.

Tolr'ax wrote:Once she has recovered from her long night, she will end her trance and feel rested. Grim and Reaper will wake with her. She dresses in a knee length skirt and corset trimmed with gold and black jewels.

She and her companion go downstairs to speak with her most loyal house guard and her usual companion when going out into Untinvale.

As she approaches the Great Hall, she can hear a heated exchange between members within.

"...has nothing to do with it! The King--" That was the Steward, Richard Kyron.
"The King has commanded. Whether we like it or not." That was Mother.
"You know, as I do, that the Electors won't abide. So why ought we?" That was the Castellan, Landron Tarn.
"Because we are not Electors, but a minor House. Tiny, really." Mother again.
"Well, that too," said the Steward.
"Right. Just say it, Richard." Mother never had much use for dancing around an issue.
"Because... you are Elvish," Richard relented.
"Oh, dandies and magical weird, sure, but unless she weds, and soon--" Castellan.
"Master Tarn, unless you'd like to see exactly how magically weird I can be, my daughter's marital status best not enter your thoughts again in my presence." Mother's voice was cold steel.
"Ma'am," for some inexplicable reason, Master Tarn sounded positively bruised. No doubt, he was knuckling his forehead in apology.
"He's not wrong, my Lady. Lord Untinvale bled himself of any political capital he had to ensure cognatic succession," Richard said solemnly.

Nirotia may linger, or enter.

Nirotia will enter the Great Hall. She said nothing to any of the people in the room. She just took her seat, rested her elbows on the table in front of her and touched her finger tips together.

Her eyes darted around the room at the others. "Mother." she greeted her darling mother. "What is Richard babbling on about this morning? Marriage again? We have discussed this time and time again, I will marry when I see fit. None of the Lords that have come to take my hand have pleased me." She holds her frustration back at having to have this conversation, yet again.

She waits for a response, but as soon as one of the three opens their mouth to speak she cuts them off with "Who is it this time?" without looking at them.

She really wanted to go to the shops and purchase supplies. She could have one of her people do it, yes, but she enjoyed her shopping time. Seeing the people that she lords over made her FEEL powerful. Influencing the common folk and playing with their lives, magic was fun and all, but the power of politics was really what she loved. She let a slight smirk creep onto her face as she thought of it.

Tolr'ax wrote:Nirotia will enter the Great Hall. She said nothing to any of the people in the room. She just took her seat, rested her fingers on the table in front of her and touched her finger tips together.

Her eyes darted around the room at the others. "Mother." she greeted her darling mother. "What is Richard babbling on about this morning? Marriage again? We have discussed this time and time again, I will marry when I see fit. None of the Lords that have come to take my hand have pleased me." She holds her frustration back at having to have this conversation, yet again.

She waits for a response, but as soon as one of the three opens their mouth to speak she cuts them off with "Who is it this time." without looking at them.

Castellan Tarn wasn't about to speak on the matter; his eyes were studiously contemplating the fine quality of his shoes.
Steward Kyron raised an eyebrow, but was quite used to Nirotia's imperiousness. Misplaced though he clearly considered it to be.
Mother smirked.

"Shockingly, no, not everything is about your Six Day Lord and Master," she said with just a touch of scorn. "The King in Columbia is leading, well... an invasion, there's no other name for it. All Southron and Dixie lords are commanded to provide warriors and supplies, and unfortunately that does include us. And, worse, they claim to be heading into the Magnolia Marches to the West, but Omar Latimer, the Crimson Lord of Tuscaloosa, has been stirring up the other Tuskers in the Confederacy. It doesn't take an Elf to figure out that the King's march will take him uncomfortably close to Latimer's domains."

"And ours," Tarn adds.

Kyron pipes in, "And again, I say we ought find some reason, some way, to excuse ourselves from this obligation somehow. An Elf House, however lowly, implicating itself in what could very possibly erupt into a race war? I don't give a damn if they're Dixie or Tusker, Elf or Human, but they give a damn, and there are an awful lot more of them than there are Elves, or friendly Humans, at our disposal."

Mother smiles. "See? Your marriage is merely one small thread - granted, an enticing thread for some of those nobles whom no doubt accompany His Majesty - in a great fabric of concern for us all."

Grim/Reaper, having taken a spot near the door, groaned suddenly. "You can say that again," laughs Tarn.

Nirotia absorbs it all in silence. Her face slowly turns to a frown. "Humans, such impatient creatures. How many hundreds of years has our family been in charge of these lands? How many times have they called upon us?" She asks rhetorically. "What are our options, Kryon?"

Tolr'ax wrote:Nirotia absorbs it all in silence. Her face slowly turns to a frown. "Humans, such impatient creatures. How many hundreds of years has our family been in charge of these lands? How many times have they called upon us?" She asks rhetorically. "What are our options, Kryon?"

Kyron rolled his human eyes, and sniffed.
Tarn kept his opinion of humans to his elvish self.
Mother glared at Nirotia.

"Theoretically, we could be forgiven a sub-par retinue or supplies if we were otherwise beset by danger. Rumors of Tenesi raiders, the pox - that'd keep an army away, or go with the truth. A version of it, anyway, and claim the goblin bands nearby have been operating without fear of reprisal. Of course, we would have to actually dispatch some soldiers to convince any of the King's eyes-and-ears." Kyron did sound like he knew what needed done when he wanted.

"Dispatch the men. I won't have the realm think that we have the pox. Could you imagine the rumors?" She stands up. "Is that all? I wish to go into town and purchase some supplies. I wouldn't want to be ill prepared if something happened. And Kyron, dear, could you give me an update on the surrounding houses? You know how I like to keep informed. She takes a bite of the meat the chef prepared.

Tolr'ax wrote:"Dispatch the men. I won't have the realm think that we have the pox. Could you imagine the rumors?" She stands up. "Is that all? I wish to go into town and purchase some supplies. I wouldn't want to be ill prepared if something happened. And Kyron, dear, could you give me an update on the surrounding houses? You know how I like to keep informed. She takes a bite of the meat the chef prepared.

Mother and Kyron exchanged glances, but it was Tarn who spoke up. "Untinvale's free company will no doubt be dispatched to track the goblins, but the Redstone garrison will remain. Of course."

Kyron cleared his throat and promised your weekly House update upon your return.

"Try not to get into too much trouble," Mother said as she exited, leaving you to your meal.

"Have the men bring some of the corpses they make to the house. I will need them for research." Nirotia says coldly. "Goblin or of our soldiers." She cuts another slice of meat as they leave.

She finishes her meal and gets ready to go to the market. She will send for her escort as she gathers her coin. "Lovey," she calls to her dog. "Would you like to go to the market with me? Or do you want to stay home?" Both heads of her dog bark indicating they want to come with her. "NO BITING." she commands. "Unless someone really needs it." She chuckles. She goes to the front garden and waits for her escort.

Tolr'ax wrote:"Have the men bring some of the corpses they make to the house. I will need them for research." Nirotia says coldly. "Goblin or of our soldiers." She cuts another slice of meat as they leave.

She finishes her meal and gets ready to go to the market. She will send for her escort as she gathers her coin. "Lovey," she calls to her dog. "Would you like to go to the market with me? Or do you want to stay home?" Both heads of her dog bark indicating they want to come with her. "NO BITING." she commands. "Unless someone really needs it." She chuckles. She goes to the front garden and waits for her escort.

"Only if you want the Church to burn you alive," Kyron snaps.

Grim/Reaper perks up at the going anywhere, but harrumphs at the no biting, nevertheless following along.

She'd be in the gardens for about half an hour before her escort arrives. A human arrives. A very large human. Fat, in fact. Clay Braxton was one of the least impressive of the Guards to look at, all droopy eyes, gap-tooted snarl of a smile, and a mess of pre-maturely thinning hair. He was not yet into his mid-thirties, but looked a man at least a decade older. He was, however, one of the greatest horse thieves in the Duchy. Or once was, anyway, before being recruited. Upon his head sat a wide-brimmed straw hat, and he wore a buff-colored coat, brown shirt, and blue denim pants tucked into leather boots that might once have been black. Or brown. Maybe.

"My Lady," he mumbled with a finger to the brim of his hat. That was as much deference as she could expect to get out of him. Ever.

"Braxton." She said with no emotion. She immediately started walking out of the garden. She picks a nice rose and slides in into her hair. "We are going to the market. I need supplies." She said, not to Clay Braxton, but more to the area around her. She assumes he follows her. "Make sure nothing happens to me when we are out." She looks at him for this. "I do not want trouble today. This is not the time for trouble. But if trouble does arise, kill whoever starts it....unless it is me who makes it." She smiles a malicious smile that would arouse a blind man.

Clay rolls his shoulders. "Tis my duty to protect the Lady, aye, not to commit murder at her discretion. I answer to The One True God first, then the Lords of Untinvale." He is unperturbed by Grim/Reaper.

At the front entrance to the estate, she turns to Clay Braxton and walks to him, very closely. She runs the back of her hand softly and slowly across his cheek to his chin. "Oh Braxton." She pinches his cheek lightly. "You are such fun. I'm glad you are my escort today." She smiles a funny smile and turns away from him and marches onward. "We will walk to the market today. I want the exercise."

She and Clay Braxton walk into the town to her favorite market, the most upscale in Untinvale. She searches the wares and the vendors. She picks up a torch, "Can't be going without these anymore. It gets dark at night, you know Braxton?" She says in a snide tone. "Remind me later that I would like to ask Kyron about our current garrison numbers. We should have everything in order in case Patrick comes to our small hold. I'm sure my sisters will be happy to greet him as well." She looks around the market and takes in the scene.

Braxton seems unphased, and merely nods to your requests.
The vendor, a short, balding human, tells you the torches are normally 2 copper each, but for you, m'lady, 1 copper each.

The market is situated in the town center. Dozens of traders, craftsmen, and farmers have appeared today, being that it's Saturday. In nearby lots there are horses, goats, and other livestock for sale. The imposing town hall is situated at the western edge of the clearing.

She will purchase 10 torches and pay the man a silver. "Keep up the good work." She wandered around the livestock. "Braxton, do you know how many heads of cattle we have currently? We might want to purchase some if Patrick comes for a visit." Grim and Reaper stay by her side, but one head sniffs the animals as the other watches Nirotia.

She looks at the horses with interest. She looks for a stable hand to help her.