Input: no further information are there any grumpkins you want us to find do you expect us to go out with no information at all to find a man with a tigers head well you seem like a well traveled unit you seem to have done well enough to find and destroy great things you spoke of as you walked into these halls prove to me that you are more than just sell swords show to me that you have the intellect that you have the skill sets that you have the cleverness to find the creature that does not wish to be found is this how things normally go around here normally i dont waste my time with the likes of you man with a tigers head is going to stand out no problem finding him lets stand here and talk about this forever or lets head out and get this over with well dwarf why dont you do your title and lead then and i should warn you you are walking with a storm wind you may not know my name but i can assure you i alone am an army so we are well protected so lead us to find this tiger man please dragonborn is a lot of talk if hes an army why not just send him out that was probably the ballsiest thing youve ever said all right storm wind people call me tibsy lets see how good you are at following and he heads out hes not very good oh hes gone as the dwarf exits and you guys follow outside of the slayers take into the center of the main quad roads thoroughfare on the outskirts of the bazaar to seek a rakshasa wherever one may be found i thought this was going to be a fun field trip well i mean rakshasa does sound fun rakshasa it does it is a tiger person so maybe we can relate i want to switch teams no it gets better whats your name again im sorry i am kashaw vesh call me brother kash everyone else does kash brother kash are you new to the guild as well im not a member of the guild yet i had something happen with someone who did something and now im here why dont we leave it at that for now thats how we got here apparently i only have to be here for another three days which will be good all right im impatient perception 20 is there anything around that indicates where which of these four directions is the best direction to go knowing the city for the while that youve been here you know there are places of open business that have a lot of traffic are also good places to ask for if anyone has seen anything that might match a certain description or an individual that you are seeking any strange behavior and so you know that the center of the quad roads where that bazaar is is a good place to start requesting information as you have currently none at your disposal just to get this clear a rakshasas not a beast its like a man its a demon its a demon creature that looks like a man but its not a beast by definition no im sorry id like to make an insight check on the dwarf not to see

Output: - The party accepted Tibsy's challenge to locate the tiger-headed rakshasa, with the dwarf leading them out of the slayer's hall into the city's main quad. They briefly encountered a new arrival named Brother Kash, who explained his recent entry into the guild, before the group decided to begin their search in the busy bazaar area. Utilizing their knowledge of the city, the party determined that the central thoroughfare offered the best opportunity to gather information from open businesses and travelers. They clarified that the target was a demon disguised as a man rather than a literal beast, setting the stage for their investigation. Finally, the dwarf attempted to make an insight check on the party's new companion, Kash, to gauge his true intentions.


Input: so you know that the center of the quad roads where that bazaar is is a good place to start requesting information as you have currently none at your disposal just to get this clear a rakshasas not a beast its like a man its a demon its like a demon creature that looks like a man but its not a beast by definition no im sorry id like to make an insight check on the dwarf not to see if he is lying but he could be can i get a gut instinct into what his deal is go ahead and make an insight check three but im gonna use my luck to try that again eighteen plus two is twenty would you like to go ahead and roll a twenty yeah uh thats a two alright just reinforce the myth man thats one better than i usually roll id say its twice as good as i usually do gruff exterior there is definitely a toughened past to him he seems driven not necessarily untrustworthy per se but definitely a man of little patience and currently does not seem to be too pleased with the fact that hes essentially babysitting in his mind is there a marshmallow center you may find out in due time yet that is too hard to read at this moment if youre in the bazaar do i have to be out of the city to cast locate creature you can cast that anywhere you want to your magic is divine this is your city and thats not just a descriptor either thank you its normally fabulous but not in this city so then how do i go about casting locate creature you can just tell me id like to go ahead and cast locate creature alright so as you guys are having this discussion youre having this weird stare off and considering where to go in the bazaar you stop in the nearby alley two buildings down from where the slayers take guildhall is and you begin just taking a small dagger from your side and carving a circle in the ground throw some runes down that are specific to your patron take a moment and concentrate on the description of this rakshasa looking at the specifics of the spell to make sure that i dont give you misinformation locate creature beautiful you guys have jazz hands rakshasa you focus your mind for a second and your holy symbol begins to drift up from underneath your armor you instinctively take and slap it down underneath and then refocus your vision your eyes closed and you can see what looks like a pulsing energy like a very dark flame something that itself you can already smell the sulfur you can smell the lineage the devil lineage that this entity is and there is indeed one not too terribly far from where you currently are its faint which means that it is on the outskirts and you know this lasts for a good thousand feet or so but it does give you a northeastern direction and the spell fades northeastern direction we should go northeast it is also unfortunately or fortunately depending on how you look at it closer than we thought in the walls of the city not

Output: - The party clarified that a rakshasa is a demon rather than a beast and consulted the dwarf, whose gruff exterior and impatience were confirmed as they sensed his driven nature through an Insight check. After determining that the *locate creature* spell could be cast within the city limits, the group retreated to a nearby alley to carve a ritual circle and concentrate on the demon's description. As the spell took effect, the caster's holy symbol drifted upward before they felt a pulsing, sulfuric energy indicating the rakshasa's presence. The magic revealed that the demon was located on the city's outskirts in a northeastern direction, roughly a thousand feet away. The party decided to head northeast immediately, noting that the target was closer than anticipated and situated within the city walls.


Input: you can already smell the uh sulfur you can smell the lineage the devil lineage that this entity is and um there is indeed one not too terribly far from where you currently are its faint which means that it is on the outskirts and you know this lasts for a good like thousand feet or so but it does give you a northeastern direction and the spell fades northeastern direction we should go northeast it is also unfortunately or fortunately depending on how you look at it closer than we thought in the walls of the city not in the walls but very close to them do we have any type of plan of attack does anyone know how to fight these things any earthly clue leader boy leader boy im sorry are you talking to me thorbir is what they meant to say listen to stormfather over here i take my social cues from other people im sorry in my experience there has not been a problem invented that cant be solved with an axe thats true weve seen that wonderfully helpful thank you youre welcome follow the axe now what i want you to do is imagine an hourglass you got that good picture of an hourglass in your heads see all that sand draining out lets get a move on okay what am i doing with this sand i agree with that are we supposed to do something with the sand yeah count it oh that would take so long can we tag team this she always like this yes stormclouds counting sand i dont know what shes doing over here northeast how about lets start walking that way and see what happens can we give that a shot i agree you did the fancy spell its not as fancy as you might think ive pulled my axe out and im sort of holding it like a walking stick and just very deliberately very demonstratively walking ahead in that direction with each footfall you know that what was once probably hundreds of years ago a nice cobblestone roadway in the center of the city has been slowly hit with mud dirt snow sleet and so each step is a slight moisture with each footfall im assuming there are no stables around not immediately those are usually to the very outside of the city why are you jonesing for a horse so i dont get all dirty thorbir leading forward in the northeastern direction that was given by brother kash eventually brings you around the side of the bazaar and you can now see why its called the quad roads there are two main roads that meet right where the bazaar occurs and then they spread off into the other sections of the city to the northeastern section from your guys perspective the district begins to drift into another district that you have not previously visited this district is youve heard it mentioned before known as the duskmeadow now previous sections youve been in have been worshipers of bahamut the platinum dragon there was the braving grounds which worships kord the god of strength and warfare and honor the quad roads which is under erathis the deity of civilization and invention the duskmeadow falls under the watchful eye of the raven queen the goddess of death that large obsidian type structure that you were led to earlier is the temple

Output: - The party followed the spell's scent of devil lineage, which pointed them northeast toward a faint demonic presence near the city walls. After a brief discussion on tactics where Thorbir advocated for an axe-first approach, the group agreed to walk toward the indicated direction while Stormcloud attempted to count sand in an hourglass. Leading the way, Thorbir guided the party through the muddy Quad Roads until they entered the Duskmeadow district, a new area dedicated to the Raven Queen. Upon arrival, the party observed the transition from the previous Bahamut and Erathis-worshipping districts to this new realm of death, spotting the large obsidian temple structure that had been mentioned earlier.


Input: your guys perspective the district begins to drift into another district that you have not previously visited this district is you've heard it mentioned before known as the dusk meadow now previous sections you've been in have been worshipers of bahamut the platinum dragon there was the braving grounds which worships kord the god of strength and warfare and honor the quad roads which is under erathis the deity of civilization and invention the dusk meadow falls under the watchful eye of the raven queen the goddess of death that large obsidian type structure that you were led to earlier is the temple that resides in the center of this district and you've heard mention before of a few of the things that exist here that being probably ravens crest which is the main temple to the raven queen this is also where the amaranthine oubliette is located which is essentially the prison of the entire city of vasselheim the what the amaranthine oubliette hammertime oubliette oh there it is this is also where most of the dead of the city are interred into a series of catacombs that are built deep beneath this section of the city far enough away from the oubliette to the point where isn't crossover and is enough of an escape because that apparently has happened in the past history of the city as you begin pushing towards the edge of where the two districts meet you can see that there is an area of the town that for lack of better term its a more jovial than expected area there are a series of stands put up along the side of the road theres a lot of beggars sitting on the side of the street that are currently panhandling to those who walk by there are a number of taverns you can hear music coming from various establishments and it seems almost the closer you get to the death oriented district on the border of the quad roads the more and more it pushes into a shadier mardi gras type experience so you make your way towards that dividing line there what you would like to do what say you thorbir lets ask around and see if anything has been a little out the ordinary or maybe in the ordinary yes i like that phrasing have to imagine anywhere this thing goes theres going to be strange deaths associated with it we might as well look there thats actually a good idea as well and where were walking are there shops and stands as well or is it residential there are many that sell jewelry many that sell very well made clothing some of them party attire there are some that sell exotic fruits that have been imported in various states of ripeness is anyone selling any masks make a perception check passive or active that would be an active perception check as youre seeking it 21 21 you do glance around and there is one cart that carries costume party attire supplies it doesnt seem to have too many customers right now but they do have a couple of masks that are on display are there any masks that look like tiger masks looking at it there are none that are tiger specific no they seem to be molded leather and some more impish goblin y in appearance is there someone working the stand there is yes you see a woman in her forties or so thin with a

Output: - The party arrived in the Dusk Meadow, a district under the Raven Queen's watch that houses the city's prison, the Amaranthine Oubliette, and the main temple, Ravens Crest. Upon reaching the border with the Quad Roads, they observed a festive yet shadier atmosphere filled with beggars, exotic fruit stands, and party attire vendors. Seeking information on recent strange deaths, the group decided to investigate the local market rather than the residential areas. During an active Perception check, the party spotted a cart selling costume supplies and discovered a few impish, goblin-like masks on display, though no tiger masks were present. A thin woman in her forties was identified as the vendor working the stand, prompting the party to consider approaching her for inquiries.


Input: seeking it uh 21 21 you do glance around and there is one cart that carries costume party attire supplies it doesn't seem to have too many customers right now but they do have a couple of masks that are on display are there any masks that look like tiger masks looking at it there are none that are tiger specific no they seem to be molded leather and some more impish goblin y in appearance is there someone working the stand there is yes you see a woman in her forties or so thin with a big toothy smile her hair is pulled back into tight bun you can see there's little bit of her blondish hair turning to gray on the sides around her ears reed richard style did you say this was the bahamut part of town too the bahamut section is far away that's another section of the city you are now on the line between the duskmeadow and the quad roads so it's erathis and the raven queen i'm pulling a mask off the wall this is a beautiful piece do you make them yourself i do i do i make them myself by hand hence the price they are quite beautiful we're travelers here i've never seen a neighborhood like this is there a festival going on here or is this pretty much the basic fare of the day here this is the localized festival of the city if you've been around vasselheim long enough you've seen there is little interest in celebration depending on some places but at least on this line some people can appreciate the fleetness that is life and grasp it by the roots and make it its own before it's snuffed out here particularly there seems to be electricity in the air almost it's very bustling this is the norm around here consistently that's why i come and bring my business here i wouldn't do very well up north i'll tell you that all them dragon types no offense all them silver dragon lovers have an issue with things as celebratory and i pull out ten gold and i spread them on her desk how many masks oh none oh i would like one take your pick i slide one coin away from the other nine and then dragging my finger across those say is there anything out of the ordinary these days go ahead and make a persuasion roll 15 15 she gives you a look like she's trying to read you looks about left and right glances at you and looks a little ugh glances at you and looks really taken aback and then comes back to you with a escape of comfort watching her i pull out another five and spread them in front of the first nine well i mean some businesses here are a bit shady i won't lie and there are some long standing businesses that have quarrels usually they end in small scuffles or one purchases the other and ousts them from the city this is one of the few areas in which the more adult pleasures can be found so there's a lot of money to be had but recently there's been at least from what i've heard a series of bodies have turned up there were a few found fished out by the bastions in the water trough on the outskirts of the duskmeadow the bastions

Output: - The party investigated a local mask vendor situated on the border between the Duskmeadow and Quad Roads, noting the absence of tiger masks and the presence of impish or goblin-themed designs. They purchased a handcrafted leather mask from the vendor, a woman in her forties who explained that the area's celebratory atmosphere is unique compared to the more somber Bahamut section of the city. After paying for the item, the party attempted to gather local gossip using persuasion, offering an additional five gold pieces to encourage the vendor to share secrets. In response to their inquiry, the vendor revealed that while the neighborhood is generally bustling, recent events have included small business disputes and a disturbing series of bodies found in the water troughs near the Duskmeadow outskirts. This information suggests a potential connection to the Bastions or other lurking threats in the region.


Input: businesses here are a bit shady i uh i wont lie and there are like some long standing businesses that have quarrels usually they end in small scuffles or one uh purchases the other and uh ousts them from the city this is one of the uh few areas in which the more adult pleasures can be found so um theres a lot of money to be had but recently theres been like at least from what ive heard a series of bodies have turned up there were a few found fished out by the bastions in the water trough on the outskirts of the uh duskmeadow yeah the bastions what are they um bastions who are like the guardians of the city from what i hear they had been mauled by some sort of strange beast mauled now beasts on the outside of the city that i can see but on the inside that is the stuff of nightmares is it not yes i would agree have you had invaders like this before i mean death is not an uncommon occurrence for like certain areas of the city and some people invite it even but such violent death like this is usually kept to the outside of the city at least with some sort of cause this seems to be a murderous rampage that me personally i dont want to go out at night without protection is there any indication of the cause of death on these corpses how do they find them i dont know ive not investigated perhaps you have to ask the bastions yourself that or um anyone who was in the vicinity and can you point us in the right direction and um you can see there isnt a whole lot of bastion presence in this portion of the city especially since the bastions are more of a voluntary guard people from the different clergies the different temples train to become bastions and fit themselves with whatever their deities armor is you do see there are two bastions armored in a very dark dark brown leather that carry a symbol of what looks like a silver raven that is embroidered on one shoulder of a cloak that is tossed to one side these guys are right here essentially yeah oh theyre across the road about maybe a block up i believe theyre bastions from the duskmeadow perhaps you could ask them does she have any masks that look like a raven a raven mask she does actually have one that looks like a raven i want that one very well a good choice it doesnt quite match the color of your attire but perhaps i have an outfit that could match for you oh my god were going clothes shopping do you have a little cloak as well a little cape cloaks i dont but there is a cloakery about four blocks that way on your left they can probably help you there thank you so much of course i notice a serpent shaped mask on the wall i just pick it up and put it on and say thank you madam much obliged and walk off and clap thorber on the shoulder and keep walking thorber hangs back a little bit and waits for them to get to the door and he looks at the shopkeep and do you have any masks that might fit a little girl

Output: - The party gathered information from a local shopkeeper about the shady nature of the district and a recent series of mysterious murders involving maulings by a strange beast. The shopkeeper directed them toward two Bastions from the Duskmeadow, who were identifiable by their dark brown leather armor and silver raven symbols, suggesting the party speak with them regarding the investigation. While the group considered acquiring protective gear, they decided to visit a cloakery to find matching outfits and masks for their companions. The party member Thorber lingered behind to inquire specifically about masks suitable for a child, while the others moved toward the shopkeeper's recommendations.


Input: there but there is a clockery about like four blocks that way on your left um they can probably help you there thank you so much of course i notice a serpent shaped mask on the wall i just pick it up and put it on and say uh thank you madam much obliged and walk off and clap thor on the shoulder and keep walking thor hangs back a little bit and waits for them to get to the door and he looks at the shop keep and do you have any masks that might fit a little girl yes of course friend dwarf and she goes and rumbles through a small bag and pulls out a mask this little purple mask that seems to have small fake gems forming the outside with a couple of ribbons that dangle where it would tie around the head it's simple but it's pretty unfortunately not many people bring children to this side of the district they don't sell very well but if you would like one i would be happy to part with it for two gold one gold make a persuasion role 18 one gold guess it is better to sell it than not at all here you are i must say i won't tell anyone but purple is a pretty color on you yes it is he walks out all right a few moments pass as you wonder where your dwarven leader has vanished to he steps out through the front of the establishment let's go great do you have potions are you all potioned up are you good on items thor i'm all right are you all right i'm just fine well we're in a rush but if it's easy how do you come by potions in this town do i know the answer to that you do they're either provided from some of your experience by the slayers take but those are usually offered at the start of a contract the fact that they weren't offered on this means either they don't have any currently at their disposal or they felt that this contract probably wouldn't require it with the construct of this group being set out other than that they are a little hard to come by a lot of them are controlled by the main temples and are pretty much given straight to the bastions there aren't a lot of individuals that are in need of them within the city and those that travel out are either members of the slayers take or members of the bastion forces so they are little hard to come by i think that if we're going to find them anywhere it might be around here might be we can take some through trade maybe some might fall off a bastion or two well let's go talk to one then shall we thought that's what we were doing are going to the two bastions over there or what yes kashaw good one other thing you need to know about them they're horribly paid so money talks with these people very well as he goes ahead i keep up my pace until i trail behind him a little bit wonderful my hood goes up and i'm gone all right as you guys step across the way it's about a block up one of them is partially inside the alley between two of the buildings you can see he

Output: - The party purchased a small purple mask with fake gems from a shopkeeper after Thor successfully persuaded her to accept one gold piece. Following the transaction, Thor rejoined the group, and they discussed the scarcity of potions in the city, learning that they are primarily controlled by temples and the Bastion forces. Thor advised that the Bastions are poorly paid, suggesting that money would be an effective tool for acquiring supplies from them. The group decided to visit two nearby Bastion locations to attempt a trade, with Thor leading the way while the narrator trailed behind. Upon arriving at the district, they spotted one of the Bastion guards partially hidden in an alley between two buildings.


Input: what we were doing are going to the two bastions over there or what yeah kashaw good one other thing you need to know about them they're horribly paid so money talks with these people very well as he goes ahead i keep up my pace until i trail behind him a little bit wonderful my hood goes up and i'm gone all right as you guys step across the way it's about a block up one of them is um partially inside the alley between two of the buildings you can see he has like one hand up on the wall and the other down one of them is relieving himself on the side of the building while the other is keeping watch arms crossed looking out across the road the one that's immediately present or before you you can see is human a scruffy brown beard around the edge of the chin the hair itself is cut very short a little heavier in appearance a little muscle a little layer of winter padding but the black leather armor definitely gives you the appearance of somebody who is a bastion of the raven queen as you approach the hooded half elf the dwarf walking with the giant axe and the bumbling dragonborn the human cleric with a very angry disposition and the awkward half elf druid stepping in pace with him gives you all a cursory look and immediately puts a hand to his side where you can see there is a rapier currently sheathed aye you walk with purpose we walk for the guild slayer's take it is it is what business have you on this side of town then aren't you supposed to be out past the walls killing creatures and such our business takes us where our business takes us our business brings us here today all right then what's your business you might be having some trouble aye what's causing you trouble and what's going to get us out of here might be the same thing the gentleman to the left of him finishes shaking off the rest of his alleyway journey any more than twice and you're just playing with it pal he turns around and throws his tunic over excuse me it's official bastion business anyway and he nods over to the bearded gentleman who's standing there there are certain bits of business that are official in this town i don't know how honestly right it is to be talking with common folk or even the guild who does what it likes i'm sorry you're not talking to common folk he wants money i know what he wants well then give it to him so we can get out of here i'm circling around make a stealth check thirty one i'm not even going to roll i'm going to ask you to go ahead and you can choose if you want persuasion or intimidation on this you're riding that line i'm equally bad at both of them but i think that thorber wants to go intimidation i'll give that a try there it is twenty what's the exact opposite of that laughter you know i've heard about it for so long i know right you can't believe that it's a real thing until you're actually there everybody talks about spontaneous combustion but i'd never believed it it's silly it's so silly to do this

Output: - The party approached two bastions of the Raven Queen stationed in an alley, one of whom was finishing relieving himself while the other kept watch. The bearded human guard immediately drew his rapier and questioned the group's presence, demanding to know their business and threatening them to leave the area. Thorber, the dwarf, chose to attempt intimidation to bypass the guard's hostility, though the guard responded with mockery rather than fear. The party discussed the guard's demand for money, with one member noting that "money talks" with these corrupt officials. Despite the guard's suspicion, the group maintained their course toward the bastions, preparing to negotiate or force their way through the encounter.


Input: to go ahead and you can choose if you want like persuasion or intimidation on this you're riding that line um I'm equally bad at both of them but I think that um wants to go intimidation I'll give that a try there it is twenty what's the exact opposite of that um you know I've heard about it for so long I know right you can't believe that it's a real thing until you're actually there um everybody talks about spontaneous combustion but I'd never believed it it's silly it's so silly to do this dice shame naughty uh I don't know what ancient uh Aztec deity's temple you defaced when you were a child but man all right so as you lean forward please just let me step into a bucket um we'll get to that as you lean forward forcing your presence on this bastion his hand is still holding the edge of his rapier he steps forward into you to the point where you're almost forehead to forehead sorry I have to lean down to reach your level but if you're going to go about asking questions and not offering proper compensation for information well then I think we have no business here um if it's compensation you're looking for let's just speak plain and I pull out four gold and while he has their attention I'm going to check out his pockets go ahead and make a perception check ew that's not good I'm going to use luck that's better that's all right perception you said twenty eight twenty eight um taking a moment as you sneak up behind the one he's talking to the two guys are shoulder to shoulder squaring off with the rest of this group the one that had been relieving himself in the alleyway is a little bit closer to you you can see as he put his tunic right and everything he jostled around and revealed a couple of small pouches on his side one of which you heard a clinking of glass on the inside go ahead and make a sleight of hand check go rogue go because I'm wearing a cloak of elven kind which I know affects stealth checks but not not sleight of hand no that's all right twenty twenty all right you reach over and find the edge of the leather loop that attaches itself to the side of this bastion's belt you tug ever so gently to the side and the loop releases and you pull it off seemingly without any noticing as you pull out the four gold from inside the bastion looks out and scoffs and goes clearly pittance fee for this what's to let me think that you aren't actually part of this murder scheme you just walk up and try and start asking questions like this first off where did you hear about it second you look like the kind that would go ahead and be mauling folks in the street do you not sir dwarf you got the eyes of one who's probably done a few dark deeds oh I have more than you can imagine then explain to me why we shouldn't take you in for questioning right now and he pulls his rapier out hold on everybody calm down hi I'm um stormwind my friend here didn't mean to offend of course the blade up toward your face and he says look dragon man I was talking to the dwarf you I

Output: - The party confronted a suspicious bastion in an alleyway, with one character attempting intimidation while another secretly offered four gold coins to secure information. While the NPC scoffed at the payment and drew his rapier, a rogue successfully used sleight of hand to steal a leather loop from the man's belt without detection. During the tense standoff, the rogue also discovered glass clinking in a small pouch on a nearby associate's side. The confrontation escalated as the NPC accused the party of involvement in a murder scheme, prompting the dwarf to introduce himself as Stormwind in a desperate attempt to de-escalate the violence.


Input: would go ahead and be uh mauling folks in the street do you not sir dwarf you got the eyes of one who's probably done a few dark deeds oh I have more than you can imagine then explain to me why we shouldn't take you in for questioning right now and he pulls his rapier out hold on everybody calm down hi I'm Tiberius Stormwind my friend Thorbir here didn't mean to offend of course the blade up toward your face and he says look dragon man I was talking to the dwarf you I have no business with at the moment so you've got ten seconds before we take you in I reach into my pocket and rattle my coins around a little bit maybe I could buy us some time and I drop ten gold out into my other hand make a persuasion roll one no it isn't three that's funny I rolled a three on this die so that's going to be a six guys I think we're fighting the bastions I feel like maybe it's going that way you rolled a one I rolled one you all have really low um self-confidence as you push forward the coins in a semi-awkward forceful manner the bastion himself also seems to be caught off guard and looks down and looks about realizing that now it looks like you are visibly out in the open paying money to the bastions he looks back people don't stand out in public and do it and he pulls you all off into the alleyway to the side of the complex out of the middle of the area into the shade between the buildings he reaches over and takes the coins from your hand and hurries them into a pocket all right look I'll tell you what we know but if you're going to be messing around with this investigation I ask that you don't let anyone know that you spoke with us this is all on your own and if you do say anything we'll deny it and we'll make sure to put you in the oubliette yourself for this all right fair enough all right now we have found a series of bodies over the past few years scattered about a few months at a time between all with a similar pattern of death to them we found large portions the meaty portions of the body had been torn away some of them apparently eaten there are marks that are indicative of some sort of beast ravaging the corpses but no signs of a beast coming or going and we've had many of our finest trackers looking for any sort of sign of a creature that may have found its way into the city they've been on the rooftops the gutters perhaps even the sewers no sign of any such creature traveling amongst any of these scenes now all of the bodies have been found wrapped up and discarded in the canals a lot of them surrounding the abundant terrace looks at the rest of you that's where Melora's eye is watchful what's really got us confused of late is the most recent murder that we found was a very powerful merchant lord from Ankharel one that's been in this city for no more than a month he's well known in these parts as bringing in a lot of business his caravans come through via various skyships and he brings with himself an influx of

Output: - The party attempted to bribe the Bastion guard with ten gold coins to delay his arrest, but the persuasion roll failed, leading to a tense confrontation. Instead of arresting them, the Bastion moved the group into an alleyway to secretly accept the bribe and warn them against interfering with the investigation. He then revealed that a series of recent murders involving mutilated bodies found in the canals had been investigated by the city's trackers. Despite extensive searches of the rooftops, gutters, and sewers, no signs of any creature or attacker were ever discovered at the crime scenes. The Bastion specifically highlighted the most recent victim as a powerful merchant lord from Ankharel who had only been in the city for a month.


Input: of these scenes now all the bodies have been found wrapped up and discarded in the canals a lot of them surrounding the Abundant Terrace looks at the rest of you thats where Meloras eye is watchful whats really got us confused of late is the most recent murder that we found was a very powerful merchant lord from Ankharl one thats been in this city for no more than a month hes well known in these parts as bringing in a lot of business his caravans come through via various skyships and he brings with himself an influx of much needed mercantile in the city whats his name im not allowed to say youre not allowed to say the merchants name is Tyrell what Tyrell Lord Tyrell if you say any of this to any of our people i swear i make your life the hardest its been in months and from the looks of you youve had a very hard few months Lord Tyrells body was found but apparently during the murder we have one beggar that apparently caught sight of this the murderer as best as we can tell it was some sort of lykanthrope the beggar was babbling but it seemed there was some sort of wolf like creature it was seen bipedal walking a man but tore this man right through the throat most of his chest but when spotted didnt run just vanished disappeared no longer in his sight no tracks left behind just gone didnt know if it was angry poltergeist ghost but the last place he was staying is at a recent establishment only been here a couple of years referred to as the Velvet Cabaret the Velvet Cabaret is a very high end place i know it well you do he gives you a look of i have heard about it from somewhere else [CHAR] have you been talking to [CHAR] dont know who that is stormshadow he likes whores okay its weird the fact that the lord had been staying at the Velvet Cabaret for some time and we were feeling pretty close to possibly finding the source of these murders our bastion force from the Duskmeadow worked with the Quadroads and we actually raided it found nothing nothing but the patrons no sign of any sort of foul play we were forced to leave empty handed thats all weve got i have a question about the bodies have you seen them ive only seen the most recent the rest ive just heard of anything similar with them are they all men are they all women are they children no children most of them seem to be well off to do folk dressed well wealthy men and women and you say youve searched everywhere including the catacombs most catacombs themselves are sealed off weve asked around and theres been no sign of movement in or out and gods forbid anyone stays in those places thats a nasty place to be staying it is indeed is there a way that the bastions could organize some kind of gathering of sorts perhaps a mandatory town meeting where all would have to gather for maybe an announcement or something official all the bastions thats near impossible the citys scattered politically enough as it is people can be rallying whenever theres some sort of force coming against the city but when it comes to nothing for any particular reason just the investigators take care of

Output: - The party learned from an NPC that recent canal murders, including that of the wealthy merchant Tyrell, are being investigated by the Bastion Force. The NPC revealed that a beggar witnessed a bipedal wolf-like creature, likely a lycanthrope, attacking Tyrell at the Velvet Cabaret before vanishing without leaving any tracks. Although the party suggested a mandatory town meeting, the NPC explained that the city's scattered political structure makes such a gathering nearly impossible. The investigation into the Cabaret yielded no results, as the raid only found patrons with no sign of foul play. The NPC confirmed that the victims are exclusively wealthy adults and that the sealed catacombs show no movement, ruling them out as a source of the crimes.


Input: or out and gods forbid anyone stays in those places that's a nasty place to be staying it is indeed is there a way that the bastions could organize some kind of gathering of sorts perhaps like a mandatory town meeting where all would have to gather for maybe an announcement or something official all the bastions that's near impossible the city's scattered politically enough as it is people can be rallying whenever there's some sort of force coming against the city but when it comes to nothing for any particular reason just the investigators take care of it themselves he serves the Raven Queen right he's got the Raven Queen patch on him yeah this part of town death isn't the worst thing in the world lots of planes other than ours might be you're a little bit closer than some of the rest of us are we're underneath the mountain you wouldn't happen to know about anyone performing any rituals or maybe opening up lines of communication that may have been made and disturbed uh I certainly hope not these sort of communion rituals are sanctified and held within the actual temple to the Raven Queen itself if anyone is doing any sort of business there is a very watchful eye over the city anything that is unsanctioned I can guarantee we'll know about it may we seek audience with this Raven Queen I mean she's a goddess oh she's not here she's not a queen she's a goddess you can see the two the two bastions are looking at each other with expression of really we're new around here listen we've talked long enough we got to get back to our posts oh wait you mentioned investigators there are different people assigned to investigate we were part of the team that was sent as part of the investigation raid on the Velvet Cabaret it's not a group of people it's just you're an investigator today kind of thing that's part of what we do as Bastions aye gotcha is there anyone else that is part of the investigation team that you think would be good to talk to they wouldn't have any more information than we do no can I do an insight check on him yeah go for it twenty three he seems forthright enough he seems impatient and a little flustered with the fact that you've been pushing these questions to him but he doesn't seem to be covering anything necessarily did he tell us where they found the I didn't write this down and Lord Tyrell factored in how can you tell us where you found the body of the merchant lord the body was found in the side alley to the Velvet Cabaret you said wrapped up or just the ones in the river were wrapped up the ones that were found in the river they were wrapped up in blankets whatever put them aside was not some beast there was some intelligence to this and they were placed deliberately which means I don't think there's just one thing doing this were the blankets the same or were they all different they seemed to be different some were just scattered cloths some were tattered sheets some were bolts of fine material really varied there was no pattern to it was anything missing from Lord Tyrell nothing more than his throat his trachea

Output: - The party questioned a Bastion guard about the city's political fragmentation and the possibility of summoning a town meeting, learning that such a gathering is unlikely without an immediate threat. They inquired about unsanctioned rituals, receiving assurance that the temple of the Raven Queen is strictly monitored and that no such activities have occurred. The guard clarified that the investigation team was temporary and revealed that Lord Tyrell's body was discovered in an alleyway behind the Velvet Cabaret, wrapped in varied, non-uniform cloths rather than blankets. Through an Insight check, the party determined the guard was being forthright despite his impatience, confirming that the deliberate placement of the bodies suggests a single, intelligent perpetrator rather than a beast. Finally, the guard noted that while the river victims were wrapped in blankets, the merchant's body was not, and emphasized that the attack involved no missing requests, only the victim's throat being severed.


Input:
the ones that were found in the river they were wrapped up in blankets whatever put them aside was not some beast there was some intelligence to this and they were placed deliberately which means i don't think there's just one thing doing this
were the blankets the same or were they all different
they seemed to be different some were just scattered cloths some were tattered sheets some were bolts of fine material really varied there was no pattern to it
was anything missing from lord tyrell
nothing more than his throat his trackeeuh
we've pumped these guys for all they've got
you're all right sorry about that
its all right just offer more coin up front next time be well and if you hear anything find any information come straight to us don't be getting into official business you're sanctified as a slayer but don't make us look bad they step around you guys back out into the main street
velvet cabberay
velvet cabberay yeah
its close so we know that this guy uh while we walk there i was talking we know that this guy is a demon from the nine hells so he seems to be targeting wealthy people do you think these are people that tried to get under his control under his servitude and it didn't go his way so he ended up killing them
folk don't go into the velvet cabberay unless they got a lot of coin someone like lord tyrell do we know anything about him does his name ring any bells for us at all
roll a history check
oh boy laughs it happened again
this is unprecedented you are the negapercy right now
just telling you im just telling you
this is impressive
you think it isn't real you think its a thing i make jokes about
you take a moment to conjecture where you may have heard the name what was the name again
oh the guy from battlestar galactica oh what was his name adama
you want to roll a history check
d20
d20 and add your history modifier
add my history twenty total of twenty
total is twenty all right you've heard of the city of ankharel its a desert city from a long ways away but you aren't specifically aware of this individual you however kashaw you know that lord tyrell has come through this city a few times in the past year or so you've only been here a short time yourself but in the time that you've been here you've heard tales of this large caravan that comes through and it is a parade he usually brings with him a good thirteen different carts that contain all sorts of jewels and materials and tapestries and fine silks and its almost a small party whenever this is this long walking caravan is brought into the city so you are aware of this individual you're surprised that the death has been kept so hushhush
and are there rumors of about him bring in anything else anything illicit or is it kind of what you see is what you get
as far as you know no information that has caught your ear per se but the fact that he's staying in this district who knows
folks tend to stay let me try that again folk tend to stay with their own class these victims are all wealthy folk and

Output: - The party concluded their interrogation of the river victims, confirming that the bodies were wrapped in varied blankets and that no such requests were made by Lord Tyrell. After being warned by the NPC Velvet Cabberay to avoid official business, the group discussed the possibility that a demon from the Nine Hells was targeting wealthy individuals who resisted its control. Kasha, a party member, successfully rolled a History check to identify Lord Tyrell, revealing that the victim is a wealthy caravan leader known for bringing fine silks and jewels into the city. The party learned that Tyrell has visited recently but found no specific rumors regarding illicit activities or his current stay in the district. Consequently, the group deduced that the victims were likely wealthy individuals who stayed within their own social class, making them the only targets for the current threat.


Input: so like the caravan is brought into the city and um you know you are aware of this individual you're surprised that the death has been kept so hush hush and uh are there like rumors about him bringing in anything else anything illicit or is it kind of what you see is what you get and as far as you know no information that has caught your ear per se but the fact that he's staying in this district who knows right folks tend to stay let me try that again folk tend to stay with their own class these victims are all wealthy folk and they seem to have the velvet cabaret in common its very likely that were dealing with somebody who is rich and powerful and what does a demon need money for who says hes after money seems to be after power and um tyrell was passing through i wonder how many people would notice him gone here in vasselheim im sure quite a few and it seems like its no secret when he comes to town it was a party every time he showed up and according to the guards these murders have been going on for the past few years so it seems like whatever were dealing with might have time to plan ahead if hes been aware of the past few times that tyrell has come through the town and could possibly know the next time hes coming through and if we could pinpoint when it actually started we know years but actually when then we can actually narrow it down to the establishments and other things that were established then would there be a place where we could inquire as to some sort of ledger like that when this guy comes in with the intention of trying to correlate it with when different murders have happened actually i take that back thorber doesnt think that deeply thats not the thing that he wants to do that sounds like a lot of thinking and not a lot of hitting things this killer could be hiding in plain sight at the cabaret could be an employee there or the owner himself how long ago did the bastions say that they raided the velvet cabaret it was a month ago wasnt it it was a few weeks back when the murder occurred yeah so heres my question do you think he would stick around after it was raided or do you think hed move on the thing is vanishing upon sight and gotten away with it for the last two or three years i dont think he cares much anymore my question is we have three days cabarets the only lead we have how do we draw this person he or she out i believe it is three days we have three days to collar it you have three days to complete the contract meaning slaying the entity youre contracted to i was going to say that you look like a man who knows wealth yes ive spent time with wealth well i never have so i would think maybe if you were a merchant coming into town very wealthy looking for some adult entertainment might be a way to bring him out to the forefront oh i agree i cast alter self on myself and turn myself into an elf youre half elf right half elves ill turn into a half elf akin to a high born half

Output: - The party analyzed the recent murders, deducing that the killer is a powerful figure targeting wealthy patrons at the Velvet Cabaret who has been operating for years. They noted that the establishment was raided weeks ago, yet the suspect likely remains in plain sight as an employee or owner since the threat persists. With only three days to complete their contract before the entity vanishes again, the group decided to lure the killer out by setting a trap. Tyrell volunteered to pose as a wealthy merchant seeking adult entertainment, casting *alter self* to transform into a high-born half-elf to blend in with the city's elite. This deceptive strategy aims to draw the dangerous individual out of hiding for the party to confront.


Input: complete the contract meaning slaying the entity you're contracted to uh i was going to say that you look like a man who knows wealth yes i've spent time with wealth well i never have so i would think maybe if you were a merchant coming into town very wealthy looking for some adult entertainment might be a way to bring him out the forefront oh i agree i cast alter self on myself and turn myself into an elf you're half elf right half elves i'll turn into a half elf akin to a high born half elf all right fair enough even in comparison to [CHAR] your attire is very nice does this mean that i should go change clothes you were going to go shopping i was you look okay thank you let's go i jingle what gold i have in a pouch in front of kyleth's face and say let's go shopping come on shopping montage as you guys go out shopping for better looking well to do attire we'll go ahead and take a quick five minute break and we'll return here and as you guys continue to the next step of your hunt for the rakshasa oh tyrell i just remembered what a silly thing to forget as the rakshasa bears down on your head last thing engraved on your tombstone yeah quick five minute break first off before we get to that guys a big thank you to negihama once again our patron saint of ridiculous gifts who purchased these sconces to put on the wall they're legit aren't the sconces awesome they are amazing the leds change colors reminder every hundred subs we're giving away a signed picture and signed full scale poster of kit's art and for the break the five minute break we're going to take real fast we have an awesome video that was presented to us by some of the critters that i think you'll also appreciate as well so we'll go ahead roll that and use the potty and we'll see you guys in a few minutes welcome back i assume we'll have a uh [CHAR] here in just a moment he's just stealthing he's stealthing he rolled a 28 and disappeared i was talking uh [CHAR]'s ear off during the break about how much i love the dynamic among the three of you and um commiserating about how you feel really naked and exposed when your whole party isn't together how weird that feels to not have everybody together at the same time i think i kept him from the bathroom oh gotcha that's okay he'll arrive when he comes we'll all awkwardly stare yeah when he does when he arrives we'll all just but in the meantime you managed to go back and stealth disadvantage on my next five attacks i love the awkward stare it was great he's actually a very generous dm if he does that i actually make my players roll damage when they upset me oh that's good to know yeah dude d6 damage if you annoy the gm wrath of the gods comes down upon you all right so you guys taken a few minutes to acquire outfits that seem a little more fitting as to the establishment you're planning to go and enter guys we should have aliases can we have aliases yeah i'll be thorber i like it it's easy

Output: - The party decided to refine their appearance to better infiltrate the town, with one character casting *alter self* to mimic a high-born half-elf before they all went shopping for wealthy attire. During a brief intermission, the group thanked their patron for sconces and discussed the awkward feeling of missing a party member, who eventually rejoined the session after stealthily returning from a bathroom break. Upon resuming, the players established aliases for their upcoming mission, with one character adopting the name "Thorber." They prepared to enter the establishment as a wealthy merchant group to draw out the target entity, though the specific contract details regarding the rakshasa were briefly mentioned as a looming threat.


Input: it was great he's actually a very generous dm if he does that i actually make my players roll damage when they upset me oh that's good to know yeah dude d six damage if you annoy the gm wrath of the gods comes down upon you alright so you guys taken a few minutes to acquire outfits that seem a little more fitting as to the establishment you're planning to go and enter guys we should have aliases can we have aliases yeah i'll be thorbir i like it it's easy to remember very easy oh you know what maybe i could would it be weird if i'm [CHAR] that's weird isn't it that's really weird okay what's a good elven name what's something common in elven you were around this stuff all of my people have weird tribal names what's good elivr is nice uh coralin oh coralin do i look like a coralin what does a coralin look like she does that just agree i will be [CHAR] shorthalt what you can be [CHAR] but i couldn't be [CHAR] no you can't do that i'm just saying it's weird that's double standard [CHAR] i'm just saying i think it's maybe because you're not his sister and it would be weird because that's his sister's name you have a sister i have a twin yes what does she look like oh but she's a female she sounds lovely humans am i right she's very nice that's what they say about all the ugly girls she's very nice i feel like i'm learning so much from you is that what they say life lessons yes velvet cabaret to the cabaret i presume that i'll play the role of your guard bodyguard yes what does that make me how about your valet you'll need one if you're wealthy would you have a human though of course of course i'll have a human being elven are we on our way there now yeah we're walking and talking and you're changed into a gnome now i change i change because it only lasts a certain amount of time boy or girl i'm a boy so are you lord [CHAR] lord [CHAR] of the shorthalts lord [CHAR] okay lord [CHAR] of the i'm sorry of the what of the shorthalts of the shorthalts okay we have a cobbling empire shoes the shorthalts okay lord [CHAR] of the shorthalts we cater mostly to halflings and gnomes everyone but specifically because they're so underserved you have a gnome shoe empire rolling in it baby where's your empire human i have no empire i'm his valet we're wonderful partners dear am i your wife do you want to be is that weird no i say it's equally no it's fine no it's fine yeah i can be your wife i can rp this i mean i can pretend to be yeah so coralin shorthalt thorbir is pulling on his beard and breathing deeply now i cast alter self alright cast and a flash of light you guys all pick up the very very heavy smell of breakfast ale emanating from the deeply breathing angry dwarf wait [CHAR] what was my role in

Output: - The party spent a few minutes acquiring new outfits and establishing aliases for their upcoming visit to the Velvet Cabaret. They settled on names including Thorbir, [CHAR], Coralin, and [CHAR] Shorthalt, engaging in playful banter about family relations and roles. [CHAR] cast Alter Self to transform into a gnome, while the group agreed on a backstory where [CHAR] owns a shoe empire and [CHAR] serves as his valet. As they walked toward the establishment, the atmosphere shifted when the dwarf Thorbir began breathing deeply, emitting a heavy smell of breakfast ale. The session concluded with the party noticing the angry dwarf's behavior and [CHAR] questioning his specific role in the unfolding scene.


Input: i your wife you want to be is that weird no i say its equally no its fine no its fine yeah i can be your wife i can arep this i mean i can pretend to be yeah so corin shortall thor is pulling on his beard and breathing deeply now i cast alter self alright cast and a flash of light you guys all pick up the very very heavy smell of breakfast ale emanating from the deeply breathing angry dwarf wait [CHAR] what was my role in this youre an advisor a financial advisor financial advisor excellent alright you guys make your way to a little bit further north this of this route five or six blocks until you get the outskirts of the velvet cabaret which based on the description youve gotten from a few individuals you asked around very easy to find the fancy house of entertainment it is a two story building of dark cherry wood with strips of what looks to be black suede bolted in a pattern along the outside of it it stands out like a sore thumb against the rest of the architecture but it looks a night club it looks very very gaudy but in a way that the garishness looks expensive and so you cant really fault it for looking the way it does it looks like cruise ship ghost club like that ill take that cruise ship ghost club thats a thing that exists really when are we going to this every year on the jonathan coulton cruise we gather in the cruise ship ghost club wow too many jokes i know as you approach the front you can see that there are two bouncers established at the very front to the left you see a meaty male dragonborn bronze scale with painted face scars he has a very very intense look about him hes thicker hes built like a barrel he sits with his arms crossed looking angrily out amongst the rest of the folks outside to the other side you recognize a burly looking female with short hair and some facial tattoos the siren who you saw battle in the cauldron apparently works as one of the bouncers of the velvet cabaret i approach right next to [CHAR] as we move up [CHAR] in draconic i go greetings and salutations friend he gives you a look of confusion for a second and leans forward and the dragonborn looks very intently at you and says back in draconic are you a member not yet we are new to this place my master here is seeking audience with his kind we were guided to this place this establishment has a high reputation we wish to inquire how to get inside looks over to the siren siren glances back and whats he saying and the dragonborn glances over and he says out loud in common now at this point hes saying that theyre looking to come in here and talk to other elvish guys i guess oh not elvish but more people of high society high society here make a persuasion check twenty one twenty one he gives a glance over well if youre not a member you can acquire membership but it has to be approved first by the owner may we seek audience with him to ask or apply or however that goes about

Output: - The party successfully negotiated entry into the Velvet Cabaret after [CHAR] used Alter Self to disguise himself as a financial advisor and spoke to the bouncers in Draconic. The dragonborn bouncer, a bronze-scaled warrior with intense facial scars, consulted with the female Siren bouncer before granting them access to inquire about membership. After [CHAR] made a successful Persuasion check, the bouncer explained that while they could not enter immediately, they could apply for membership with the owner's approval. The group decided to seek an audience with the owner to begin this application process, having successfully bypassed the initial security barrier.


Input: back and what he saying and the dragonborn glances over and he says out loud in common now at this point he saying that they looking to come in here and talk to other elvish guys i guess oh not elvish but more people of high society high society here make a persuasion check uh 21 21 he gives a glance over well if you not a member you can acquire membership but it has to approved first by the owner may we seek audience with him to ask or apply or however that goes about let me get his assistant hold on just a second siren she gives a look i be right back she rolls up her sleeves and steps inside as the door opens as i see her i turn and face outward you know her no okay as the door opens you can already hear what sounds like soft harp music coming from the interior and it hard to actually look inside because as you can see there are silks draped crossed over and in front of the entryway as soon as you step in a few moments pass eventually the siren returns and you are greeted at the doorway by a dwarf with very well groomed facial hair a beard that comes to a fine point has a little gold ring at the very bottom that kinks it at the bottom this little poof with makeup on very rosy cheeks and you can see there is eyeliner around his eyes smile to his face wearing these long white robes lots of jewelry and the rest of his dark brown hair is pulled into a dual ponytail that runs down to the middle of the back comes to door and immediately says gracious welcome to all of you i been told that you seeking possible membership to our establishment in dwarvish i say thats correct well fantastic then dont leave possible patrons outside and looks off to the two bouncers and they grumble and step off to the side come in come in follow me and he steps inside as you guys walk in behind him immediately you hit with the strong smell of exotic incense and the cooking of meat mingling with that it has this smell of everything good you ever smelled mixed into one location love the smell of these places the interior is fairly low lit with what looks like a series of faerie fire lamps dangling in small lattice cages so it has this light purplish pink glow to the general interior there are no stools or chairs there are tables that low set and the floor is nearly covered with very very expensive looking pillows all the patrons are currently sitting cross legged or laying around the tables and you can see the clientele is very well dressed and very wealthy there is laughter and conversation there definitely has a very very different air its like stepping into a whole different world from what you used to seeing in vasselheim and you get the feeling that whoever created this establishment definitely created it to provide a very different experience for most people who work here which means one it probably makes a really good killing to the small number of clientele number two it probably isnt very well liked by the people who have been living here most their life as you look around too there are dice games being played there are many gold pieces being stacked up on tables

Output: - The party successfully persuaded the bouncer to grant them an audience with the owner of the exclusive establishment. After a brief wait, a siren returned to escort them inside, where they were greeted by a flamboyantly dressed dwarf who led them past the bouncers. Upon entering, the group was immediately struck by the opulent atmosphere, characterized by soft harp music, exotic incense, and a purplish glow from faerie fire lamps. They observed wealthy patrons lounging on expensive pillows around low tables, engaging in dice games and stacking gold pieces. The party noted the stark contrast between this high-society venue and their previous experiences in Vasselheim, realizing the establishment likely generates significant profits from its exclusive clientele.


Input: very different air uh it's like stepping into a whole different world from what you're used to seeing in uh vasselheim and you get the feeling that whoever created this establishment definitely created it to provide a very different experience for most people who work here which means um one it probably makes a really good killing to the small number of clientele number two it probably isn't very well liked by the people who have been living here most their life as you look around too there are dice games being played there are many gold pieces being stacked up on tables it appears that there's definitely a lively what's the word i'm looking for my brain isn't working um gambling arrangement in this place you notice that all the guards in the inside the bouncers are common sell swords there's no unification to their adornments or any of their armor and stuff there are a few folks that are looking around keeping the peace arms crossed they all definitely have weapons visible and they're just sitting there guarding just like the bouncers were at front of the place uh how many dwarves just the one that let you inside uh i reach over and i grab [CHAR]'s hand i fold her arm in and walk forward all right i think as they move forward i would like to pull thorbir aside and say maybe since we're trying to get membership here you should cover your runes noted thank you i'd like to make a perception check to size up the guards around ten well that's a step in the right direction i rolled four times as good as i usually roll looking about they look armored it's hard to tell their skill level based on the low light in here they seem definitely keeping an eye out but you can tell they've been working here a while and they've grown comfortable what you do notice though is a lot of the servers that are walking around are young men and women dressed in very fine silk robes or gowns all have these iron bands around their neck collars that aren't chained to anything but it immediately gives you this mental image of slavery or some sort of servitude it does not appear that they are actually in some sort of servitude but the adornment they wear is almost trying to get across that atmosphere as if that's part of what you're paying for it sickens you a little i'm going to carry myself and i'm going to do what i can to give off that i'm keeping an eye on this guy that i'm the guy that's how i'm trying to carry myself okay as you guys have walked to the center of this room now the dwarf individual who let you in turns around and with a bit of a bow i would like to introduce myself my name is hosin i am the manager of this fine establishment the velvet cabaret i'd like to welcome you [CHAR] of the shorthalts where do you hail from i've not heard of them we come from emon i sell shoes we sell shoes yes coralin shorthalt pleasure very well well you have interest in membership you say we do we're hoping to sample the atmosphere here is there entertainment we heard there was great entertainment oh yes quite entertainment here at certain hours if you like

Output: - The party entered the Velvet Cabaret, a dimly lit establishment that felt worlds apart from Vasselheim, filled with gambling tables and guards who appeared to be common sell swords. [CHAR] pulled Thorbir aside to advise him to cover his runes before the group approached the center of the room, where they were greeted by the manager, Hosin. Hosin introduced himself and welcomed the party, specifically asking about [CHAR]'s origins from Emon and their interest in membership. Upon inquiring about entertainment, the group learned that performances were available at specific hours, setting the stage for their potential entry into the club.


Input: hosin i am the manager of this fine establishment the velvet cabaret id like to welcome you [CHAR] [CHAR] of the short haults [CHAR] of the short haults where do you hail from ive not heard of them [CHAR] we come from emon i sell shoes we sell shoes [CHAR] yes coralin short hault coralin short hault [CHAR] yes pleasure [CHAR] very well well you have interest in membership you say [CHAR] we do were hoping to sample the atmosphere here is there entertainment we heard there was great entertainment [CHAR] oh yes quite entertainment here at certain hours if you like for now we have more an atmospheric presentation and he looks over and you can you see that there is small stage off to the corner there sits a very beautiful elven woman dressed in a gold gown that is sleeveless and hugs to her form very well you can see that it shimmers and little bit of purple fairy light that is hanging above her and she just this gorgeous looking silver harp in front of her shes just plucking away her eyes are closed like shes just caught in the moment and theres a group of people that are sitting around her chatting softly not to be overbearing to the music but to just be around that atmosphere orion your wonderful employees mentioned membership wed like to acquire that as well i assume as well [CHAR] youre saying this to hosin [CHAR] this is thorlaxalux my financial advisor orion thorlaxalux at your service i bow gracefully [CHAR] make a persuasion roll no deception roll deception roll orion what is that 16 [CHAR] 16 all right the pleasure is mine and its not often that come across elves that have taken the time to learn the tongue of my folk orion i know many languages [CHAR] hes very well traveled very well cultured thats part why we hired him orion i was a bit of a shut-in as a child all i had were books on languages to read and whatnot and adventures and what have you [CHAR] well if you are seeking membership you should probably speak with our patron the owner of this establishment hes currently in a meeting i believe but step with me for a moment and he leads you to go to the other side of the room and you know all these draped orange and gold silks that are constantly getting in your way as you push through leads you into a doorway that is covered in these silks you push into the hallway to the right and left theres a door across the way and two doors down the left and the door at the very end is a really ornate looking door with a series of locks that currently unlocked hosin walks up to it and knocks gently onto it takes a listen ah it appears that he will be available in just a moment if youd like to sit tight and youre more than welcome to speak [CHAR] question hosin while we wait do you happen to have any wine or ale just while we wait its been such a long travel [CHAR] but of course [CHAR] thank you youre so kind [CHAR] he claps his hands and you can see one of the servants that you saw walking with a small tray enters from the side of the hallway yes hosin turns the finest wine we have available for the elven lass right here the servant immediately darts off averting the eyes a moment passes returns with three glasses of wine looking

Output: - The party introduced themselves to Hosin, the manager of the Velvet Cabaret, and expressed interest in joining the establishment's membership program. Orion, the party's financial advisor, successfully used Persuasion to impress Hosin with his linguistic knowledge, while the group observed a beautiful elven woman playing a silver harp on a nearby stage. Hosin led them through a hallway draped in silks to an ornate, unlocked door to await the patron, who was currently in a meeting. While waiting, [CHAR] requested refreshments, prompting Hosin to summon a servant who returned with three glasses of fine wine for the group.


Input: uh than welcome to speak uh question uh him while we wait do you happen to have any whine or ale just while we wait it's been such a long travel but of course thank you you're so kind uh he claps his hands and you can see one of the servants that you saw walking with a small tray enters from the side of the hallway yes him turns the finest wine we have available for the elven lass right here the servant immediately darts off averting the eyes a moment passes returns with three glasses of wine looking over you two hands one to each of you and the servant still averting his gaze from the guests smiles gives a little curtsy and then darts back into the main room cheers cling i cling and hand my glass to thor i take a sip of mine it's very good all right i'm sipping to keep up the charade but i'm not happy about it it's definitely an elvish blend which is generally too sweet for your tastes but for what you were expecting it's not too bad it's serviceable nowhere near strong enough to really do anything but it's not water so as i hand it back to you i sort of mutter wine giant dwarven air quotes the doorway at the end of the hallway opens up suddenly and as it does a servant walks out holding a tray that contains a bunch of partially eaten fruits and what looks the outer gristle of some sort of cooked meat and looks at you all awkwardly and steps past and disappears into the other room you hear a voice come down the hallway enter i ask you all to enter you are to meet me please come sit be comfortable welcome to the velvet cabaret look to thor and then look in the room i step into the room as you enter him lowers his head and offers his arms at the rest of you to acquiesce stepping into the room you see once again a room that has a square or rectangular table in the center that has a series of small platters on it with bits of previously devoured meal and there are three small cushions on the ground that you see would act as some sort of sitting arrangement the opposite side of the room has three large purple cushions on which there are two women also servants that are just lying back comfortably just resting and in the center you see a man very dark complexion ratty looking crimped dark hair very well trimmed beard and mustache ensemble and long black and gold robes very very long sleeves and jewelry adorning every ounce of his hands his fingers you can barely see the actual skin beneath there is just so much jewelry adorning him he looks up smiling with his elbows near the edge of the table have a seat we are to talk yes introduce yourselves guests are always welcome but i wish to know who it is that i am guesting for i seat corelin and have a seat myself and pretending to check out the women in the room i make a perception check and that is a 16 all right what are trying to see oh if anything sets off my alarm bells they seem to be lounging and there isn't like fear in their eyes or that they are being mistreated per se almost like

Output: - The party accepted an offer of sweet elvish wine from a nervous servant while waiting in the hallway. They were then summoned into a private chamber by a dark-skinned, heavily jeweled man named Him, who welcomed them to the Velvet Cabaret. Inside, the group observed a room containing a low table with remnants of a meal, three servants lounging on purple cushions, and a seating arrangement of ground cushions. The party introduced themselves to Him and seated themselves to begin their conversation. During the initial observation, the character Corelin made a successful perception check to confirm that the lounging servants appeared relaxed rather than fearful or mistreated.


Input: of the table have a seat we are to talk yes introduce yourselves guests are always welcome but i wish to know who it is that i am guesting for i seat coralin and have a seat myself and pretending to check out the women in the room i make a perception check and that is a sixteen uh all right what are trying to see oh if anything sets off my alarm bells they seem to be lounging and there isn't like fear in their eyes or that they are being mistreated per se almost like they're here for atmosphere and the room itself the room itself most of the walls have like a velvety texture to them all the wood has been covered with some sort of material that has a comfortable almost everything feels like it's a lounging bedroom and that's the aesthetic of a lot of the interior of this location you cannot quite see the source of the light in the room it almost feels like there's an indirect lighting accoutrement across the ceiling whatever the source of lighting is it's being spread across the top it gives this sort of dark intimate feel to this current room at least as he gestures out to the rest of you to sit i fear there are only three seats but i assume that your accompaniment are accustomed to standing anyway so do not worry very good now you say you come for membership membership does not come cheap membership does not come to anyone we have a certain level of clientele we wish to keep because in keeping this it is easy enough for us to consider it very how do i say exquisite sorry before we go on what was your name i don't believe i caught it i did not catch your name either oh i'm sorry i am coralin coralin shorthalt coralin shorthalt of the eamon shorthalts takes your hand and leans forward and gives you this ginger kiss to edge of your fingers yeah there is a slimy-ish presence but not too aggressive just a very well-trained type of dealing with guests i subversively wipe it on my robes my name is vince cyinnor and i am the owner of this house of joy and pleasure i'm the lucky man who married her my name is [CHAR] of the shorthalts we're in from eamon and reputation of this establishment is well known within all parts of the walls we're looking to possibly become members here we hear the entertainment is top-notch and we hear that business happens within these walls but i'm not convinced i'm hoping to stay for an hour to see what you have to offer when i find i like a place i stay for a long time and leave a lot of money i'd just like a little taste make a deception check using my last luck of the day that's better fifteen fifteen hosin if you don't mind and the door closes behind you guys well [CHAR] shorthalt what may i ask business do you run that gives you the liquid assets to think that you can walk and rub shoulders among such astute clientele you are well-dressed i see and well-versed in conversation but have not heard of you before and i have very acute ears for people of such heritage in this city we hail from eamon we're not very flashy we certainly don't do much

Output: - The party entered the establishment and was greeted by the owner, Vince Cyinnor, and his wife, [CHAR] Shorthalt, who invited them to sit in the intimate, velvety lounge. Coralin performed a perception check and observed that the guests appeared relaxed and the room was designed for comfort with indirect, dark lighting. The group introduced themselves as members of the Eamon Shorthalt family, explaining they were seeking membership to sample the top-notch entertainment and business opportunities. Vince questioned their background and wealth, noting he had never heard of their family despite his acute knowledge of the city's elite. To navigate the owner's suspicion, [CHAR] made a successful deception check to maintain the illusion of their status and wealth. The conversation concluded with the door closing behind the party, leaving them to prove their worthiness for entry.


Input: check uh using my last luck of the day thats better fifteen fifteen hosin if you dont mind and the door closes behind you guys well [CHAR] shorthalt what may i ask business do you run that gives you the liquid assets to think that you can walk and rub shoulders among such astute clientele you are well dressed i see and well versed in conversation but have not heard of you before and i have very acute ears for people of such heritage in this city we hail from emon were not very flashy we certainly dont do much in public in emon i prefer to make my money and enjoy my money and i dont believe in ostentation why have you come to this establishment i am made of ostentation for i do not fear what people judge or think here do what you like dont get me wrong i enjoy the form of a beautiful woman as much as the next man why limit yourself who said i do even this one here while his appearance may be rough im certain that under certain circumstances he could be persuaded to prove his weight in more than gold and weaponry mr cyinnor i think it is best that you do not make presumptions on our relationship and dealings my wife and i are businessmen and what we hear is that this is where business happens business does happen here yes quite a bit of interesting business and we are very interested in all of those interesting businesses from what i hear as my assistant has told me your business is shoes tell me why would the business of shoes require such an uh ostentatious location for business the shoes are the public face but the well runs deep we get to the meat of the matter eh so shoes is but an appearance what is your business aside from cobbling mr shorthalt i know my way around poison and i hear you have the rarest of breeds here i have come to spend some money to satisfy my clients make a deception check fifteen again what was it fifteen again poisons so you supply to what king killers supply to sell swords you apply them to your own weapons you realize this city is very very tight knit when it comes to these sorts of industries although i know you would think possibly to find it here i guarantee you what we deal with here has nothing to do with slitting of throats im not looking to sell im looking to buy i will tell you one thing that i am interested in buying im interested in buying information im interested in buying loyalty im interested in buying trust since youve walked into this room there has been an air of something not right about you and through this conversation i have come to believe that perhaps youre not telling me the truth now i will ask of you this moment whoever you may be shorthalt or not but this entire facility is very well paid to make sure that should you try anything funny you wont get but two steps before the heads leave your shoulders so lets be frank here who are you why are you here mr vince lets not play coy i am sure you have dealt with many a powerful client in your day and i am sure that it is not unfamiliar to you that

Output: - [CHAR] Shorthalt and his party entered the establishment, where they were immediately confronted by the owner, Mr. Vince, who questioned their presence and business motives. The group attempted to maintain a cover story about selling shoes, but [CHAR] made a successful deception check to deflect suspicion regarding their true intent. As the conversation progressed, [CHAR] revealed his interest in purchasing rare poisons and information, which prompted Vince to become increasingly hostile and suspicious. The owner ultimately accused the party of lying about their identity and intentions, threatening them with lethal force if they attempted any aggression. This confrontation forced the group to decide whether to continue their deception or reveal their true purpose to the dangerous establishment.


Input:
come to believe that uh perhaps you're not telling me the truth now um i will ask of you this moment whoever you may be uh shorthalt or not but this entire facility is very well paid to make sure that should you try anything funny you won't get but two steps before the heads leave your shoulders so let's be frank here who are you why are you here

mr vince let's not play coy i'm sure you have dealt with many a powerful client in your day and i'm sure that it's not unfamiliar to you that many powerful clients have many deep secrets

as she finishes that i um dispel alter self

okay as your actual dragonborn appearance restores itself he sits back

my apologies i am tiberius stormwind yes wind

i can never get it right

i merely dispelled this to show you that earning your trust is in our best interests i do not wish to deceive

then perhaps you should have walked in this form when you first arrived

many people don't take kindly to a red dragonborn by the way i just thought it was best we're in a new town and it was like standard protocol whenever we visit a new town my apologies

well one person has come clean what about this one what is your business here

my business here is the same as theirs we're here in the long run to help you

what is to help me you have not told me what your business is

we're here to stop a murderer

explain

bodies have been showing up outside this building multiple bodies we're not gonna get into the details but we've been sent here to stop that from happening any further

we're fairly sure you know of this

look at this guy does he look like he's fucking around

he winks at him

the force of the wink itself is intense enough to the point where he physically shudders and leans back a few inches

now you must be aware of this problem can't be a surprise to you people are starting to take notice in this city this was inevitable

do you still have lord tyrell's possessions

this is about lord tyrell we do have his possessions they have been investigated our establishment has already been investigated the bastions were very thorough and we have been found absolved of any sort of involvement

we are not bastions and we are not here to accuse and we are not here to investigate your establishment

interesting you come in here and lie it seems to me exactly what you're doing now are you coming to ask questions to see what involvement we have answers we've already told everything to anyone else we have no involvement i don't know what you're talking about this is ridiculous and i may have to ask you to leave

he's shutting down someone do something quick

insight check insight check uh balls

i will also make an insight check

can i do that as well

what did you get

we're all going to die

that makes my ten look like uh titanic

i'm trying to make you look good it's what thorbir does

nineteen

i rolled a two

you're going up

it's not impressive that's mythic

statistically unlikely

that's the thing you're beating math

i've been beating math

Output: - The party confronted Mr. Vince, a nervous facility manager, after he initially threatened them with violence and demanded to know their identities. Tiberius Stormwind dispelled his *alter self* spell to reveal his true Red Dragonborn form, attempting to prove his sincerity and explain that the group was there to stop a series of murders involving Lord Tyrell's possessions. Despite the party's insistence that they had no involvement in the violent crimes, Mr. Vince remained hostile, accusing them of lying and threatening to eject them from the premises. The party attempted to gauge his true intentions with Insight checks, but the results were disastrous, with one roll yielding a natural two and another a twenty, indicating that Mr. Vince was likely a dangerous threat rather than a potential ally.


Input: i may have to ask you to leave hes shutting down someone do something quick um insight check insight check balls i will also make an insight check can i do that as well what did you get were all going to die that makes my ten look titanic im trying to make you look good its what thorbir does uh 19 i rolled a two your going up its not impressive thats mythic statistically unlikely thats the thing your beating math ive been beating math for 20 years im very good yeah your the singularity that ruins the universe somewhere in the world theres a person who never rolls under 17 and i was placed on this planet to balance the math to save you all to prevent the center of the planet from collapsing and taking us all with it your welcome shes in new zealand the other side of the earth all right so as your all taking this moment to yourself its hard to read it seems like hes very thorough and offended by this circumstance you glean that there is a nervousness and there are droplets of sweat across his brow and his brusqueness does show a bit of fear in his eyes about this time i go fwoosh and i cast my wind spell and i slam the doors behind us and i slam the shutters and turn out all the lights did you say there was candlelight or did you say there was weird indirect lighting yeah indirect lighting you dont quite know where the source is coming from the door was already closed behind you hosin closed it but as the wind comes out all the silks blow against the wall pillows are lobbed to the sides both of the women in there yelp and pull back against walls trying to keep out of the circumstance and you can see vince has begun to stand up and his hair blown back what is the meaning of this now im sorry i didnt mean to do that i sometimes get a little out of control but remain calm all right jesus remain calm you calm down im sorry im trying to remain calm too doing a great job thank you okay persuasion check damn it whos in this room its the women its the women and vince hosin closed the door and left in the hallway vince is the owner but is he human hes human im going to approach him and im going to cast mage hand im going to have it float right up in front of me like now you better start cooperating because it seems to me that your getting very nervous and we dont want to do anything nor do we want to leave all we want is information i guess we want to know what you want to know too we want a lot of information so start talking and stop acting like a fool make an intimidation check hes sometimes hard to follow but you dont want to fuck with him 15 15 as you do this between you standing hes in the process of standing up and he was reaching for something under one of the cushions as you do that he glances about the room looks over to you specifically and back to the dragonborn

Output: - The party confronted the nervous owner, Vince, after the DM's NPC shut down the conversation, prompting the group to cast a wind spell that blew out the lights and slammed the shutters. They discovered that the room contained two women and that Vince, who appeared human, was reaching for something under a cushion while visibly sweating and fearful. The party attempted to intimidate him into cooperation by using a Mage Hand to float before him, demanding information about the situation. Despite the DM's failed intimidation roll, the group maintained their aggressive stance, forcing Vince to glance between them while he remained standing and tense.


Input:
okay so we just want information uh i guess we want to know what you want to know too we want a lot of information so start talking and stop acting like a fool
make an intimidation check
he's sometimes hard to follow but you don't want to mess with him
fifteen
fifteen as you do this between you standing he's in the process of standing up and he was reaching for something under one of the cushions as you do that he glances about the room looks over to you specifically and back to the dragonborn the dwarf
and i say and whatever weapon you were about to brandish you'd best wise to leave it be
you realize you may have just alerted pretty much the entirety of my gourd to this establishment they'll be descending on this room soon
and you realize that this is only because of your doing
he sits down on the cushion again
and thorbir looks at him and goes okay and pulls his greataxe out and leans on his greataxe
i disperse the magic hand
i say now our quarrel is not with you we are not with the gourd we are not with the bastions
more calm
yes still doing a great job with the calm there
i'm trying i'm sorry i get emotional i'm trying to remain calm here okay
what do you wish to know
once again do you still have lord tyrell's possessions
his possessions are not under my keeping no
there we go thank you where are they
i have no idea
i want to do a perception check
this would be insight yeah
insight check nice where are we ooh wow twenty-six
twenty-six
what's that like
that's twenty-nine of your rolls strangely enough
looking at you tense he's fumbling lie after lie right now
it's just you could easily tell
yeah for you especially all the signs are there the quivering to his voice his eyes darting from person to person he's still covering
okay you're sitting in a room now with a whole bunch of people that want to hurt you so it's obvious that you're lying what do you know or this guy and this guy are going to dragon and axe you
look what happened was unfortunate there are things beyond your understanding or control involved here
oh i don't know we can understand a lot
we fought a beeholder before
do not take us for fools who just walked in here without a clue
i walk forward i pull out dagger of venom and i drop a little bead of black down the blade and i hold it just about a centimeter under his neck i've all run out of patience friend we're here to help this city and you're going to help us talk
make an intimidation check with advantage because of this whole setup here
dear god so many come on
twenty
they'll kill me if i say anything
we're going to kill you now
now or later friend
and we could protect you from them or it
this establishment i am not the owner i am a figurehead something else currently pulls the strings from behind
something else
as we said it
and he looks off past you just over your shoulder
perception check

Output: - The party aggressively interrogated the establishment's figurehead, using intimidation and a venomous dagger to force him to speak about Lord Tyrell's missing possessions. Although the NPC initially claimed ignorance, the party's high Insight check revealed he was lying and that he was actually being coerced by unseen forces. Under extreme pressure, the terrified man confessed that he is merely a puppet and that someone else is pulling the strings behind the scenes. He warned that his threats are not the only danger, as the party's aggressive tactics have likely alerted the entire "Gourd" to their presence. The group then spotted a figure looking over their shoulder, prompting an immediate Perception check to identify the new threat.