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>>5731191
The Hall of the Elders is nearly empty at this hour. What few clerks and judges remain are on their way out, or at the cusp of completing last-moment duties. Despite this, the guards stationed at the front insist that you are required to relinquish your weapons while inside, a demand which you grudgingly acquiesce to. Searching high and low, you keep the evidence given to you by Emitia Rouzet close to your chest and comb the halls for the red-haired mage or his apprentice.

"Arright, hit me!" Exclaims the gruff, throaty voice of Sten Silvershard, the city's High Captain and de facto leader of the council. You follow the sound to its origin, the office of the same man, and peer through the door left slightly ajar. This room, so utilitarian that you would be inclined to describe it as 'barren,' is weakly illuminated by wax lights, serving to highlight four figures seated at a circular table. There is, of course, the paladin, still in his armor even at this hour. Flanking him is Dulnur Darkshadow, as mirthless as ever, and the boy Lael, with an exasperated Amaranth sitting on the opposite end.

Each holds a hand of cards, drawn from a deck which rests at the table's center. With a confident smirk, the paladin takes a drag from his cigarette and expunges the tobacco smoke through his nose. "I got a good feeling about this one. Tymora's gotta be smilin' at me right now." The dwarf waggles his pipe at the human in admonishment. "I say horseshit, Silvershard. Yae've all the luck of whoreson cursed by Beshaba."

"That... is not quite how I would have phrased it, but Dulnur is correct. It may be best if you cut your losses for tonight, Sten," remarks Amaranth, brushing a stray strand of hair from his face as he gestures for his apprentice to pass him another card. The paladin pounds his armored fist against the table twice. "Shaddap! You guys are starting to sound like my wife. Y'know what? I'm goin' all in!"

It suddenly occurs to you that you have a unique opportunity to eavesdrop on the men before you make your presence known to them...
>I can spare the time to listen in on this conversation.
>No delays. I must show them the letters immediately!

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>>5731193
Previous Adventures:
https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?searchall=Forgotten+Realms+Adventures

The Rules™:
https://pastebin.com/VRQHDHSr

Jezyrene's Abilities:
https://pastebin.com/0kjsLuHW

>>5731193
>I can spare the time to listen in on this conversation.
I mean, at least refrain for barging in on their card game

>>5731193
>I can spare the time to listen in on this conversation.

Was Jez particularly quiet when moving to where they were? Every single person in that room has years upon years of experience, I'd be quite surprised if they weren't particularly perceptive regarding people sneaking around.

>Character pic is brick!Jez
lmao

>>5731193
>No delays.
Gotta make sure Tenpenny doesn’t sic his minions on Ilanis.

>>5731193
>>No delays. I must show them the letters immediately!

>>5731193
>No delays.

>>5731193
>>I can spare the time to listen in on this conversation.

>>5731193
>No delays. I must show them the letters immediately!

>>5731193
>I can spare the time to listen in on this conversation.
A matter of two minutes here or there, right?
Also, ofcourse the paladin is married and henpeckled by said wife, heh.

Hey Ed! I missed out on the end of last thread due to being neck deep into BG3. I have to say, it was quite fun being adressed as a Darthiir by a certain Drow lady, playing as a high elf paladin, after having read the expression so often in this quest. And fun to hear how it is pronounced.

Secondly, saw the bit about the quest having less ahead of it than behind. Given how much text got us to this point, I hope that still means we have quite a bit left. There's still so much left that we/Jez wanted to do. We havn't really travelled to the big metropoles. Found a way to get a daughter. Or learn the song of friendship/ally with a dragon to incinerate our sister.

Oh, and have you had time to play BG3? I just about lost the entire weekend to it.

>>5731193
>>I can spare the time to listen in on this conversation

Vote closed.

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>>5731199
>>5731200
>>5731219
>>5731237
>>5731256
>>5731275
>>5731813
>>5731825
>>5731871
The paladin produces a small purse which emits the telltale clink of coinage, emptying it atop a small pile of currency that has accumulated on the table adjacent to the deck. "Let's see 'em, boys." Laying his cards out on the table, he scans the faces of his compatriots and nods confidently. The others follow suit and assess the hands of their competitors. Dulnur chews his pipe with silent rage as Lael furiously tugs at a lock of his own blonde hair. The paladin shakes his head as Amaranth makes the coins vanish into thin air with a sweep of his hand whilst wearing the visage of quiet satisfaction.

"Looks like you just got cleaned, old timer," quips Lael, despite being at a loss himself. Sten smothers his cigarette against the table and releases a cloud of fragrant smoke through his nostrils. "Dammit! Looks like I'm out for the night. This armor's temple property, and I ain't gonna risk losing it playin' cards with the boys," he grumbles.

Grinning immodestly, Lael leans toward Sten and taps his knuckle against the paladin's pauldron. "Hmmhmmhmm. If you're afraid of walking out of here with nothing but your smallclothes, why not wager your daughter instead?" He taunts, collecting the group's cards to reshuffle the deck. The High Captain punches the apprentice's forearm, producing a meaty thump. Lael shrieks. "You lay even one finger on my precious daughter, Twinkle, and I'll snap ya like a twig. Got it?"

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>>5732265
"Oh, come on!" Protests the boy. "She's twice my age, and a mature paladin of Helm atop that! She could crush my head between her thighs if she wanted to - not that I would mind if she did," he adds. "Nu-uh. Little princesses never grow up. They cry when they scrape their knees and ask pa to carry 'em on his shoulders forever," clarifies the paladin. You suspect that he is attempting a jape, though one can never tell with surfacer 'humor.'

"Nay, the lad's got the right of it," laughs Dulnur boisterously, displaying a hearty smile that you have never seen on his otherwise rocky features. "Tessele's grown inta a damn fine woman. Wouldn't mind laying her meself, if I were a hundred years or some younger." The dwarf blows a ring of smoke at the human and smirks, well aware that Sten is frustrated by their jeering.

Lael distributes cards to each of them and sets the deck in the center of the table, and a new pile of coins quickly materializes adjacent to it. "I suppose that the High Captain will be wagering his daughter, then?" Asks Amaranth with a whimsical tone, likely in jest. Sten grimaces as he places a fresh cigarette in his mouth, an expression that falls away instantly as he inspect the faces of the cards before him.

"Ah, to the Hells with it. Sorry sweetheart, but your pa's got a real good feeling about this hand..."

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>>5732268
The four resume their game, partaking in light banter as they play. After several minutes of listening in on insignificant prattling, you rest your hand against the door and make to push it open. That is, until the High Captain broaches a most unusual topic that may be of interest to you.

"C'mon, there's gotta be plenty of other sexy warrior women in a big city like this that ain't my little Tessy," he remarks, clearly still upset by the jokes made at his expense. "What about the drow? What was her name again? Sindara?"

You are poised to present your evidence at any moment now.
>Enough. I cannot waste any more time listening to this nonsense.
>Wait, this is very... important. I definitely need to hear this.

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>>5731825
>There's still so much left that we/Jez wanted to do.
Jezyrene might be delusional about what she can accomplish, in much the same way that her expectation of what it would be like to speak with animals was skewed. She is a very unreliable narrator.

>Oh, and have you had time to play BG3? I just about lost the entire weekend to it.
That's right. I've been roleplaying as everyone's favorite wild mage.

>>5732269
>Wait, this is very... important. I definitely need to hear this.

>>5732269
>Wait, this is very... important. I definitely need to hear this.

Time for Amaranth to fucking stomp on a heart. I hope I'm wrong

>>5732269
>Enough. I cannot waste any more time listening to this nonsense.

>>5732280
Dreams are not delusions!

>>5732269
>Enough. I cannot waste any more time listening to this nonsense.

>>5732269
>>Wait, this is very... important. I definitely need to hear this.

>>5732269
>Wait, this is very... important. I definitely need to hear this.

Vote closed.

>>5732282
>>5732417
>>5732478
>>5732561
>>5732588
>>5732676
"Can't trust that murker. I know what they're like," answers Dulnur without a moment's hesitation. Stretching his neck, Lael yawns, plucking a card from the top of the deck to fill his hand. "What about her?" Drawls the apprentice. "Flat chest, skinny buttocks, arms like a gorilla and all the personality of a harpy. Hard pass. Now, Tessele, on the other hand..." he trails off, letting the matter lie as the High Captain shoots a stern glare in his direction.

You've half a mind to separate the half-breed's head from his torso. It should be the natural consequence of his brazen disrespect, you reason. Firmly gripping the hilt of the Dark Fantasy, you still your mind and breath deeply, suppressing your urge to visit death upon the insolent apprentice. Tilting your body toward the gap in the door, you continue to listen in on the four.

"Sindiira merely requires the time to adjust to our culture," explains Amaranth. "She comes from a very repressive society, and it is admirable that she has chosen to leave it behind to live with us." Lael clicks his tongue. "Am I hearing this right? Does Master Cywir have a soft spot for the drow?"

>>5733737
The dwarf snorts. "Bah! Gingey won't tell the truth about a damn Zhent if it meant having ta say a hard word ta them. He's got ta be the biggest bleeding heart I've ever met in some three hundred years. The man shits sunshine and rainbows, I reckon." Amaranth gestures at Lael, who passes him a card, and inclines his head toward Dulnur. "She is a wonderful person in a very... unique way. Sindiira does her best despite her eccentricities, and I've come to see her as a reliable friend," he says with a chiding tone.

You? A 'friend' to a darthiir? Your pulse quickens as your body's temperature rises unexpectedly. Is this disgust?

The dwarf wags his pipe in the half-breed's direction as if to say 'I told you so.' Lael nods vigorously in agreement. "Is that so? Well, I happen to know something about her that will make your jaws drop," he announces. The paladin rests his elbows on the table and leans in closely. "Hey, hey, hey. C'mon, don't hold out on us, Twinkle. We're all ears," he says burgeoning excitement, which provokes odd looks from his companions. It would seem that Sten has an ferocious appetite for gossip that defies his holy mien.

"Well," starts Lael with a Cheshire grin, allowing a moment's silence to permeate throughout the room to build anticipation for his reveal. If you wished to intercede, now would be the time.
>That is quite enough. I must get on with my quest to win the council over.
>Just a moment more! I can feel in my bones that I will learn something very valuable!

>>5733739
>That is quite enough. I must get on with my quest to win the council over.
Nope. Nuh-uh. Not happening. A confession is a sacred thing, and there's no way Lael's going to going to ruin ours. Sune gift us with the ability to shoot lasers from our eyes, cause we're going to stop this right now.

Also...
>Lael, could you please define what a gorilla is, and may I please demonstrate what one might do to you?

>>5733739
>That is quite enough. I must get on with my quest to win the council over.


SHUT YOUR MOUTH LAEL
Chance on Lael noticing Jez outside of the door and drawing her in this way?

>Your pulse quickens as your body's temperature rises unexpectedly. Is this disgust?
Despite all of Jez's escapades with her twin and all, we still get stuff like this lmao

>>5733739
>That is quite enough. I must get on with my quest to win the council over.

PANIC

>>5733760
Jez probably didn't 'love' her twin bro, at least not in the same way. He was nonthreatening and convenient.

>>5733737
>>That is quite enough. I must get on with my quest to win the council over.

>>5733739
>That is quite enough. I must get on with my quest to win the council over.

>>5733739
>That is quite enough. I must get on with my quest to win the council over.
HI LOVE, ONLY ME

>>5733739
>That is quite enough. I must get on with my quest to win the council over.

I get the strange impression that nobody wants Lael to say anything. Vote closed.

>>5733743
I will support, the gorilla comment is amusing
>>5734205
Ah, nevermind. Still, whatever gave you that impression, Ed?
I'm a bit amused that wizards would fit the role of playing the "bank" in a card game. The many uses of a pocket dimension? Maybe we'll get a Maverick remake set in Forgotten realms one day...

>>5733743
>>5733760
>>5733788
>>5733916
>>5734014
>>5734120
>>5734166
>>5734989
The somatic heat building in your body reaches its zenith, spurring you into action. You ram your shoulder against the door, sending it crashing into the nearby wall. Now aware of your presence, four pairs of befuddled eyes fall on you as you stride up to the High Captain and set the letters down in front of him, smacking your palm against the top of the stack. "Read these," you say, prompting him to reluctantly set his cards face-down on the table.

"Uh..." Sten scratches at his beard and looks up at you in bewilderment, shifting his gaze from your face to the pile of evidence. "What's all this supposed to-" You slap the stack again and scowl, cutting him off. "All of you. Now," you state, glancing at Dulnur and Amaranth as you step away to shut the door and lock it twice for good measure. The dwarf's demeanor sours as quickly as a jar of warm rothé milk as the magician waves his hand and mutters an incantation, filling the room with artificial light. Each of them appraises the letters individually as the upset caused by your unexpected arrival dies down.

"Yeah, this is Tenpenny's handwriting," states the paladin, as the three council members share a look of recognition. "Where in the Nine did you get these?" You fold your arms and lean your back against the door. "Emitia gave them to me. We talked," you answer vaguely, divulging only as much information as necessary. Better to avoid risking your credibility by informing them that you indirectly purchased such important documents from an anonymous thief, you feel.

>>5735100
"Go-rilla?" You ask the half-breed, staring daggers at him as the council men work through the letters one by one, discussing the contents amongst themselves in hushed voices. Turning his chair to face you, the boy pantomimes your body language, an undisguised act of mockery. "Never seen one before? I have a hand mirror in my pocket, if you'd like to have a look." You grit your teeth and squeeze the hilt of the Dark Fantasy, electing to pass the time without uttering a word.

The paladin breaks into a coughing fit that pollutes the room with toxic haze, his eighth cigarette of the night flung from his mouth onto the table's surface. "Gah! That what I think it is!?" He asks of his peers once he finds his breath. "Hrrrmph," grunts Dulnur, blowing smoke from his nostrils in affirmation. "I do believe that it is," confirms Amaranth, who pinches the bridge of his nose in frustration.

"That two-faced fat piece of shit's been skimming council funds to pay off his little doxy!" Growl's the High Captain, the letter in his hand crumpling under the pressure of his clenched fist. Following this violent eruption of emotion, he comes to realize the object's value - and clumsily stuffs it back into the envelope from whence it came. "We're gonna nail this sonovabitch to the wall right now. I know my guys are good for it."

>>5735101
On his feet, Sten places the letters in Dulnur's hands. There must be an implicit understanding between the two, as the dwarf wordlessly pushes past you and leaves the group to go about his business. "At this hour, Rupert should be at his estate," explains Amaranth to those who remain, "however, Lael and I will secure the city as a precaution, to prevent him from escaping via spell."

"Sounds good. Gimme three hours to lock the city down and do some prep to deal with Greycastle and his guys. A little after midnight, we'll hit 'em nice and hard while they're snoring," says the paladin, placing a fresh cigarette between his teeth. "And Sindra, we can handle things from here, but I know you're no rookie. If you wanna-"

"I will," you say earnestly. It would be a lie to deny that you have been waiting for an opportunity to punish the swollen half-man since the moment when he first put his hands on you.

"Works for me," he replies. "Meet at the big bell, on time, and not a minute later. Let's get on it, people!" At the High Captain's command, you file out of the Hall of the Elders, splitting off to make ready for the night raid. This leaves you with several hours to prepare. Retrieving your belongings from your room at the Phantom Knight is a given, although how you decide to spend the remaining time is your decision.

What will you do?
>I have been busy from the morning hours until now. It would be good to rest at the inn before facing danger.
>I am eager to put my boot to Tenpenny's throat, and will wait by the market's bell in anticipation.
>The All-Faiths Hall is open, even at this hour. I shall pay visit and ready myself for what is to come.

>>5735102
>Head back over to the “Dreaming Dragon” and explain the situation to Ilanis.
We spooked her with all the “Stay inside” business, we should tell her the current situation so she’ll understand why we were on edge.

>>5735102
>I have been busy from the morning hours until now. It would be good to rest at the inn before facing danger.
Can't be suffering penalties during such a raid. Who knows what magical defenses Tenpenny's purchased? Emitia was able to fill her manor with some pretty spooky traps and minions despite only having the money Tenpenny could manage to sneak away without anyone noticing, so he OWN manor must be a terrifying dungeon indeed.

>>5735102
>The All-Faiths Hall is open, even at this hour. I shall pay visit and ready myself for what is to come.

>It would be a lie to deny that you have been waiting for an opportunity to punish the swollen half-man since the moment when he first put his hands on you.
Glad to see this hasn't been forgotten

>>5735102
>>I have been busy from the morning hours until now. It would be good to rest at the inn before facing danger.

>>5735178
>>5735462
You guys sure we should rest at the inn owned by the guy we’re bringing in for embezzlement? Seems kinda iffy to me…

>>5735102
>>The All-Faiths Hall is open, even at this hour. I shall pay visit and ready myself for what is to come.

>>5735479
Why not vote yourself?

>>5735479
Fair play.

>>5735102
If we can still rest there, I'll change my vote (>>5735178) to...
>Head back over to the “Dreaming Dragon” and ask to rest there tonight
We can tell Ilanis a bit of what's going on if we must, but ignorance is probably bliss for the most part until Tenpenny's neutralized.

>>5735102
>Head back over to the “Dreaming Dragon” and explain the situation to Ilanis.

Vote closed.

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>>5735175
>>5735445
>>5735462
>>5735871
>>5736094
>>5736114
Taking a leisurely stroll across the city, you once again find yourself at the Phantom Knight Inn, half expecting to encounter some form of resistance on the way to your room, yet the establishment operates as normal. Gathering your belongings, you must now decide what it is that you will be wearing over the bustenhalt before you depart. Though the toga's practicality is more than sufficient, that elastic outfit - the 'catsuit' - which that gnome swindled you into purchasing does intrigue you. Easily slipping into the garment and its complementary footwear, you discover that despite its taut fit, the flexible material affords you a full range of motion quite unlike anything else you have worn to date.

Why isn't everyone wearing this?

Electing to spend the remainder of your time at the Dreaming Dragon, you make your way through Everlund's streets, which become more lively by the moment as hundreds of armed warriors clad in laboriously polished steel that bears a passing resemblance the High Captain's armor mobilize as night falls. Each carries themselves with an unusual discipline that is hard to qualify. With upright backs and steely expressions, they march with measured steps in rigid formations, their behavior more akin to complex machinery than organic beings. The thought unnerves you, however, you cannot place why.

https://vocaroo.com/1QqxB9dOUT6w

A spectrum of polychromatic lights bright enough to blind pours through the windows of the Dreaming Dragon as some horrid noise likely meant to resemble 'music' belabors its walls, as if desperate to escape. Turning your eyes away from the near-lethal glare that rivals the sun's radiance, you grip the door's handle and recoil as the vibrations caused by the racket travel through it and pass into your bones. Just what in the Nine Hells is going on in there?

Hmm...
>[Will] I am a proud warrior versed in the martial traditions of ancient Ilythiir. A few colorful lights shall not deter me.
>Upon further consideration, I have decided to instead enjoy a walk before the appointed hour.

>>5737930
>>Upon further consideration, I have decided to instead enjoy a walk before the appointed hour.
This is hell

>>5737930
…I really, really hope this isn’t a prismatic wall.

>Grab a passerby, point at the Dreaming Dragon, and ask, “does that happen a lot and is it considered normal here?”
>Upon further consideration, I have decided to instead enjoy a walk before the appointed hour.
…just arrive early and inform Amaranth about it so he can confirm the normalcy of the situation.

>>5737930
>[Will] I am a proud warrior versed in the martial traditions of ancient Ilythiir. A few colorful lights shall not deter me.

>>5737930
>[Will] I am a proud warrior versed in the martial traditions of ancient Ilythiir. A few colorful lights shall not deter me.

Aurora borealis?

>>5737930
>[Will] I am a proud warrior versed in the martial traditions of ancient Ilythiir. A few colorful lights shall not deter me.
I admit, failing this roll would be fun just to see what it entails.
also, nice music

>>5737930
>Upon further consideration, I have decided to instead enjoy a walk before the appointed hour.

>>5738021
>I really, really hope this isn’t a prismatic wall.
Worse. It's disco.

>>5737930
>>[Will] I am a proud warrior versed in the martial traditions of ancient Ilythiir. A few colorful lights shall not deter me.

Vote closed.

Rolled 7 (1d20)

(Will 13, -3 Light Blindness) Success on 10 or lower.

How does Jezyrene fare against Bladee?

>>5738741
The unbeaten streak continues

>>5738760
As long as it doesn't fail when we need it most.

>>5737990
>>5738021
>>5738240
>>5738415
>>5738511
>>5738512
>>5738553
You are an Ilythiiri warrior. A virile female versed in eight fighting styles, capable of wielding every bladed armament from the humble dagger to the exotic scythe with deadly proficiency, and any other weapon should the need arise. Brought up from a young age to kill, you are a veteran of a thousand battles, a seasoned commander, and the slayer of Malar's werebear champion. What have you to fear from some gaudy lighting? Absolutely nothing! Clenching your hand around the door's handle, you forcefully throw it open, ready to venture forth.

What a fool you are.

A nightmarish flood of technicolor pours into your retinas, striking you blind as your brain is set ablaze. Though your first glimpse of the vile sun once incapacitated you, it has been possible to manage this impediment by concealing your eyes whilst your body adapted to tolerate - not accept, but tolerate - the agonizing burn of exposure. Yet this... phenomenon, radiating from the heart of the Dreaming Dragon, is 'evil.' There exists no other descriptor which can accurately portray the nature of this devilry. This light is evil.

A blunt pain across your back informs you that your legs have given out. Indeed, having found minds of their own, your limbs convulse, rebelling as you desperately attempt to exert your will over them. It is only by sheer force of will that you manage to resist slipping into a seizure, managing to regain enough somatic control to find your footing and stumble unsighted through the city's streets, propping yourself up against a wall.

>>5742476
Time elapsed becomes a mystery to you as you wait patiently for your sight to return. Next to revolt is your stomach, which forcibly expels its contents, slathering vomit across the building's surface. Humbled, you ruminate on the singular flaw of your biology. You are fortunate - had your resolve faltered, even slightly, you would have lost consciousness. Still, you take some solace in knowing that this mishap did not occur mid-battle.

As your vision returns, you hobble along until you find an empty square and lay yourself on one of Everlund's many benches to fully recover. Retrieving your makeup kit, you locate a hand mirror and give your face a once-over; the... 'incident' did not leave you looking worse for wear, much to your relief. You rest your aching head and gaze idly at the crystals that have appeared between the gaps of the clouds as they break up, content to let this embarrassment be forgotten.

>>5742479
Assembled by the market's overlarge bell are Sten, joined by a dozen abnormally formidable human warriors - his paladins, you suspect - and Lael, who plays the part of the odd man out, doubly so with the absence of his mentor. As you approach, the High Captain's jaw drops, while his subordinates chatter amongst themselves. Hushing them, he clears his throat and addresses you. "Well... good to see you're, uh, prepared." He scratches his beard. "A-anyway, we're all here. Cywir's gotta handle a few more things, but we're good on our end. C'mon," he says, leading the way to Tenpenny's estate.

"Arright, Sindara, you got here last, so here's the quick rundown," he begins. "We already encircled the streets around Fatty's house and I got my guys running some 'special military training,' so the city's locked up tight. All that's left is bringing the fucker in." Lael clicks his tongue. "Bringing him in alive, obviously. Careful you don't kill him with that acid dribbling out of your mouth," he says, pointing out a drop of vomit on your chin that you must have missed. You scowl, biting on your tongue as you wipe it away.

One day, this boy will get what is coming to him.

"Shaddap, Twinkle," barks the paladin, who places a new cigarette in this mouth. "Anyhow, my guys here are gonna storm the place while the kid here handles the wizard stuff so we ain't blown up or cursed up to our eyeballs. One group kicks in the front door, and the other group goes in through the garden in the back. I know you fight like the Hells, so you can go with whichever group you like."

"Or," sings the apprentice, "I know of a way to send you directly to the third floor, if you'd like." You squint at him, skeptical of his offer. Yet his serious expression conveys a rare sincerity to his words, and you can most definitely exploit the advantage afforded by utilizing a 'non-traditional' entrance.

So? What will it be?
>I will take the front. I've some aggression that I need to work out.
>Entering through the garden sounds promising.
>The boy says that he can get me to the third floor? Then I shall do just that.

>>5742483
>>Entering through the garden sounds promising.
We wasted an action when we could've gotten a blessing. Just great.

>>5742483
>Entering through the garden sounds promising.
If the kitchen is in the back, we can grab some acidic fruit for later...

>>5742496
I'm sure Amaranth would be most appreciative about how we cared enough about Ilanis to risk getting a seizure.

>>5742506
Supporting, including spoiler.

>>5742483

>>5742483
>The boy says that he can get me to the third floor? Then I shall do just that.

Good thing jez didn't die to porygon

>>5742506
I just realized something... If we could lure our sisters and their followers into chasing us into the Dreaming Dragon and we were able to both set off the disco lights when they enter and cover our own eyes, we could have them writhing on the ground long enough that they'll be easy pickings for the guards. It took us ages to recover even with a successful roll, they'll either stumble around disoriented and sickened if they pass, or just straight out have seizures and aneurysms if they fail!

>>5742748
And thus, the trap was set.

I mean, is it just Jez that's vulnerable to epileptic seizures, or is it all drow?

>>5742483
>>The boy says that he can get me to the third floor? Then I shall do just that.

>>5742767
Living in underground caves makes your eyes extremely sensitive to light. It's definitely a drow thing.

>>5742483
>Entering through the garden sounds promising.

>>5742483
>>Entering through the garden sounds promising.

>>5742496
I mean, we learned about a way to weaponize drow weaknesses to take down our siblings. We could probably get some wizard to mcguffin up a spell to help us in that fight.
>>5742483
>The boy says that he can get me to the third floor? Then I shall do just that.
Having unsupervised access (at least a bit of time without the paladins looking over our shoulders) to the inner sanctum, so to speak, sounds useful. Plus, the focus will be elsewhere when the troops attack. Though I realize the votes are stacked against me already. I'm good with any of the three approaches really.

>>5742483
>>5742506
I’ll switch to
>The boy says that he can get me to the third floor? Then I shall do just that.
Because I realized the good stuff to steal would probably be in his room and safe, and we have an actual acid flask we can torture him with. Gonna steal his cigars and blow smoke in his face while rating his embezzlement ploy “five outta ten”, too.

>>5743214
Serves me right for phoneposting…

>>5742508
Now what is this anon voting for then?

Vote closed.

>>5743275
The dumb spoiler joke going through my head when I made that was that when Jez eventually got to Tenpenny, she would threaten him with a whipping and an acid bath, but the acid was going to just be rare and expensive (in the Underdark anyways) “acid juice” from lemons being splashed over his wounds, to the relief of the council. Mama Delyl just did that to torture us, not outright melt us. Using actual acid would be dumb.

>>5743275
Well I'm down for >>5743464, but I was thinking for drinks later.

>>5743699
Considering what happened earlier when we tried to enter our preferred drinking establishment, I think we should fall back on our dear mother's habits and have a refreshment nearby while whipping, at least for tonight.

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>>5742496
>>5742506
>>5742508
>>5742588
>>5742957
>>5743038
>>5743075
>>5743164
>>5743214
>>5743218
"Fine. Take me up," you say, scrutinizing the boy. Pretending diffidence, he smiles bashfully and presses his palm against his chest. "Does this face look untrustworthy to you?" He asks, making the effort to sound reassuring. "Yes," you reply instantaneously, causing him to feign offense. "Why, I never! You had better learn to mind your manners soon, Sabrina, or else one of these days that tongue of yours will get to into some serious trouble."

You grind your teeth and walk in silence.

"We're here," grumbles Sten, gesturing at Tenpenny's mansion. The Master of Guilds, it would seem, has more utilitarian tastes than the audacious Emitia. Enclosed in unassuming stone walls is a paved, open area with patches of greenery dispersed throughout, a three-tiered structure of clean brickwork emerging from its center. Certainly, it does give a certain businesslike impression, and the subtle indentations that run across the ground suggests that Tenpenny frequently receives visitors traveling via coach or wagon.

As you study the building which you are to be raiding in mere minutes, a hideous winged statue with a vaguely humanoid shape catches your eyes, carefully concealed behind a plant. There is another still, on the roof, at an angle which makes it difficult to spot. There are dozens, perhaps more than a hundred of them, all strategically placed out of sight toward some unknown end. Picking up on this, the apprentice hums. "Don't worry. I made sure that the gargoyles will be sound asleep tonight. The outside is clear - but once you get in, you're on your own."

'Gargoyles?' You deduce that they must be creatures of some sort, though that is the furthest extent of your knowledge.

>>5748517
Sten's paladins take their positions by the entrances under his supervision as Lael works his odd magics, drawing a glyph on the street with luminous paint as he mutters an incantation in a lost tongue. Guiding you to its center, he purses his lips and awaits his cue. Exhaling sharply, you draw the Dark Fantasy and admire the blade's sheen in the muted moonlight that slips through from the sky above, knowing that your weapon thirsts for blood.

"Now!" Bellows the High Captain. Synchronously, the holy warriors force their way into Tenpenny's home, demonstrating not even the barest hint of fear as they rush onward. The telltale sound of clashing steel informs that they have met with armed resistance, but you are to remain in place a minute longer at the boy's insistence. You gulp, wary of his intentions.

"All right. Just keep still and try not to throw up again," he remarks, catching you off-guard. How did he-

You are not afforded the time to complete that thought. Abruptly, you are catapulted into the air, launched like a projectile at one of high-up windows at breakneck speed. Reacting in an instant, your animal brain seizes control of your body, contorting your muscles such that your legs face your target. The glass shatters as the rigid heels of your shoes collide against its surface, a sound muffled by the tumult of battle two floors below.

>>5748517
You brace yourself for a hard landing which never occurs. Instead, your momentum dies until you come to a gentle stop in midair, allowing you to land on your feet. Distracted by the paladins, whatever guards may have been on patrol tonight are absent, giving you the run of the building, or so you would like to believe. You take in your surroundings; this is an expansive estate.

Where to begin...
>Over there, that large room looks like a mage's study, all filled with books and lights.
>An enormous with several windows and some sort of garden, just down the hall.
>That room right there, it is unlit and I can see dust on the floor nearby. Is it abandoned?
>I see... a staircase just around the corner, leading downwards.

>>5748520
>That room right there, it is unlit and I can see dust on the floor nearby. Is it abandoned?

>>5748520
>>An enormous with several windows and some sort of garden, just down the hall.
An enormous what?

>>5748520
>I see... a staircase just around the corner, leading downwards.
Drow brain say go down.

>>5748617
An enormous room, I'd wager.

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>>5748617

>>5748520
>Over there, that large room looks like a mage's study, all filled with books and lights.
Might as well make the best use of Jez's mage killer trait. That way if there is a mage, Jez can subdue them before they start seriously screwing things up for the paladins.

>That room right there, it is unlit and I can see dust on the floor nearby. Is it abandoned?
I bet this is his previous wife's room

>>5748520
>>That room right there, it is unlit and I can see dust on the floor nearby. Is it abandoned?

Vote closed.

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>>5748549
>>5748617
>>5748638
>>5748834
>>5749401
Weapon at the ready, you skulk toward a door left ajar, peering into the unlit room which lies beyond. No foes to be found; that is sufficient reason to enter, you suppose. Slipping inside, you shut the door behind you as a precaution, and take stock of your surroundings, leveraging your ability to see through the darkness to your advantage. This lavish bedroom would be perfectly tidy, were it not for the layer of dust that has settled on every surface. With a cushioned bed covered with silken sheets fit for a monarch and the furnishings to match, it is a wonder that this room has ended up abandoned.

Yet the closet tells a different story. A full room in and of itself, contained within is an expansive wardrobe of dresses and hats and hosiery of the most expensive sort tailored to fit a half-woman, all sequestered away in this forsaken corner of the Tenpenny Estate to be forgotten. This, you reason, must have been Petunia's quarters prior to her untimely demise. Alas, there remains nothing here of value to you, and you honestly could not care less about the woman.

Content with your investigation, you make to leave, coming to a halt as the room's sole oddity enters your awareness. One painting depicting the greatly embellished likeness of the Master of Guilds rests slightly ajar against the wall, and the absence of dust on its frame betrays that it has been disturbed recently. With the tip of your blade, you knock the portrait from its place, revealing an iron panel with two rows of six small switches each, all of which have distinct sentences of dwarvish text carved into the metal below them.

Tapping the Dark Fantasy against the wall reveals that the other side is hollow.
>[Intellect] My curiosity has gotten the better of me. Mayhaps I could try solving this puzzle?
>[Use Acid Flask] If I utilize this intelligently, I should be able to bypass this mechanism.
>Enough wasting time. I cannot afford to divert my attention from the hunt for Tenpenny.

>>5750129
>>[Use Acid Flask] If I utilize this intelligently, I should be able to bypass this mechanism.

>>5750129
>[Use Acid Flask] If I utilize this intelligently, I should be able to bypass this mechanism.

>>5750129
>[Use Acid Flask] If I utilize this intelligently, I should be able to bypass this mechanism.

>>5750129
>[Use Acid Flask] If I utilize this intelligently, I should be able to bypass this mechanism.

Who knows, perhaps Tenpenny will end up coming to us in order to get rid of any documents that might be in here.

>>5750129
>[Intellect] My curiosity has gotten the better of me. Mayhaps I could try solving this puzzle?
Just because I dont want to damage what's behind with the acid. Either works for me though

Vote closed.

>>5750177
>>5750306
>>5750377
>>5750445
>>5750456
Acid flask in hand, you commence the delicate process of applying droplets of the corrosive liquid within to the panel's surface. Voraciously, it eats away at the iron as though it were paper, leaving behind a maroon fluid as byproduct. Now revealed to you is the internal mechanism, an array of brass tumblers that much resemble the interior a lock. Setting them is a simple task, rewarding you with a satisfying 'click' as a large vertical gap appears along the nearby wall. Pressing your palm against it opens the wall - rather the hidden door - and shows you your prize; a claustrophobic spiral staircase of chiseled stone wide enough for one to descend into the unknown.

Having come this far, it is only fitting that you follow this mystery to its conclusion. Tightening your grip on the Dark Fantasy's hilt, you boldly venture forth. Further and further you journey, until the sound of combat originates not below, but above you. Either the paladins have cleared a floor and ascended to the next, or, more likely, you are now below the ground.

The all-too-familiar yet ever revolting stench of decomposing flesh and rancid bodily fluids grows thicker the further you descend. A feminine voice cries in anguish, carrying with it a wave of despair that races upward. Inured by your exposure to regular torment, you quicken your pace undaunted, ready to face whatever lies ahead.

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>>5751277
You emerge into a stony dungeon faintly illuminated by gentle violet flames suspended in midair. All around are crates and barrels filled to bursting with dismembered limbs, severed heads, and mutilated torsos, all left to rot. Piles internal organs are carelessly strewn about, spreading their perverse decay as they leak their fetid contents. These remains must have once belonged to dozens, perhaps even hundreds of individuals. Instinctually, your inner warrior shunts the unpleasant sights and odors from your thoughts, allowing you to investigate your surroundings with a still mind.

Another dolorous scream draws your attention to the dungeon's far end. Beyond the sea of gore is an island of immaculate cleanliness. Here, is a human girl with blonde hair and fair skin in her early years of adulthood, gagged restrained against a torture rack. She is garbed in tattered rags that hardly constitute clothing, creating a stark contrast with the figure set beside her. Seated unnaturally still - or perhaps merely dead - upon a silver chair is a youthful woman whose skin is as porcelain, and her hair as fire, clad in a masterfully woven garment of scarlet silk and golden thread. Far from an exact replica, she bears a superficial resemblance to Emitia Rouzet.

From the shadows emerges a third figure, concealed by a night-dark cloak that melds seamlessly with its surroundings, likely by magic. He brandishes a disk-shaped blade that can be held in one hand, wrought of dark metal with an indigo hue. The horrific memories you carry of that war which you endured a decade ago emerge in the strangest of circumstances. That is the symbol of a surfacer goddess, a hateful goddess not wholly dissimilar to Lolth, whose followers you met in open battle. Though you know next to nothing of the lore pertaining to her, you recall that her fanatical devotees could match the elite of the Ilythiiri in weapon skill, spellcraft, and deception, and your victory over them costed you dearly. He must be a priest, then.

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>>5751279
"Magnificent," he remarks with a soothing voice that feels like still water on a quiet night. "Drink deeply of despair's sweet nectar, young one, and through it you shall come to appreciate the Lady of Loss." Addressing the girl, he gently runs the edge of his circular blade across her partially exposed abdomen, careful to draw blood without inflicting an injury. She yelps and fidgets in vain.

"The senses are the affliction; from the eyes, you receive naught but sorrow. Oblivion is the cure; wherefore would a man that cannot witness tragedy weep? The agony of body and spirit alike that consumes you must be insufferable. Only the Nightsinger's embrace, then, can be your salvation." Humming to himself, he lovingly caresses her cheek, glancing at the facsimile of Emitia.

"Yet there is one here whose despair is sublime," continues the priest. "He gives generously to the goddess, asking her to ease his sorrows, and I have been sent to offer the comfort that only she provides. All I ask is that you, a thing of uncommon beauty, lend of your flesh to another in need," he sings, holding the blade to her throat.

>>5751283
Glancing over your shoulder, it occurs to you that you have escaped the priest's notice up until now, especially given that it is impossible to hear the paladins above at this depth. It is plainly obvious that the girl he holds in captivity is to be the victim of his latest butchery, to some unknown end. Still, you have no obligation to her, and his escape is nigh impossible with the area encircled by the High Captain's soldiers.

Drawing his attention away from her would be a simple matter, though same could not be said of battling the priest of a dark goddess. Ambushing him is also an option, though whether or not he will slaughter her before you could close the distance is unknown. You have the choice of attempting to instead to engage him with your still-untested crossbow, though you admit that you have been neglecting your marksmanship these past few years, and the consequences of missing may be dire.

Of course, you could preserve your strength for the hardships to come, and leave this sordid affair to Sten's subordinates to sort out later.

Decisions, decisions...
>Perhaps I crave vengeance for past transgressions, or I am simply taking pity on the girl, but I shall steal the priest's attention and meet him in combat.
>[Agility, Attack] Pity about the girl, but ambush will afford me an advantage against this cretin that I cannot afford to pass up.
>[Perception, Attack] My word, how many years has it been since I have shot one of these? I do not remember it being particularly difficult...
>It is a shame, but I cannot afford to squander my strength saving every pathetic human in distress. The search for Tenpenny continues.

>>5751284
I've just spent 80 hours learning to screw a Sharite cleric, I am eminently well placed for this encounter

>This does NOT remind me vaguely of the cruelties I suffered in my family. No. Absolutely not. I'm just going to walk away... right... now
>Surprise the priest by attacking with the Dark Fantasy. Use a fortune point to kill/attack him

That was suitably disturbing, well done Ed. And I am glad I checked in before sleep.

Do you guy think a ranged (surprise) attack with the fortune is a better move? Curse these feelings of empathy...

>>5751284
>[Perception, Attack] My word, how many years has it been since I have shot one of these? I do not remember it being particularly difficult...
>Use fortune point

>>5751284
>[Perception, Attack] My word, how many years has it been since I have shot one of these? I do not remember it being particularly difficult...
>Fortune point, aim for somewhere particularly painful.

I'm surprised that Jez is so out of practice with a crossbow. Don't drow warriors typically utilize crossbows with poisoned bolts?

>>5751399
It's been mentioned before that Jezyrene has a bias for heavier melee weapons that can be held with both hands, so poisoning was never something she relied on. She can shoot just fine, but it's nothing impressive. Namely because anons voted against taking the feat that would have made her more adept with projectile weapons.

>>5751284
>>It is a shame, but I cannot afford to squander my strength saving every pathetic human in distress. The search for Tenpenny continues.
This is just another day in Delyl household

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>>5751284
>[Perception, Attack] My word, how many years has it been since I have shot one of these? I do not remember it being particularly difficult...

>>5751399
Have you seen this absolute unit?

>>5751405
Even so.

>>5751633
I still feel that the brick physique is an incorrect depiction of Jez.

>>5751284
>>[Agility, Attack] Pity about the girl, but ambush will afford me an advantage against this cretin that I cannot afford to pass up.

>>5751637
How about athletic?

>>5751284
>[Agility, Attack] Pity about the girl, but ambush will afford me an advantage against this cretin that I cannot afford to pass up.
>Fortune yes

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>>5751289
>>5751340
>>5751361
>>5751484
>>5751633
>>5751843
>>5751898
There has been a tie. Normally I am averse to the idea of settling ties by coinflip, and the possible consequences of this choice are significant enough that I would definitely not leave the inconclusive vote up to chance. Also worth mentioning is that a majority seem in favor of using Fortune. Thus, a runoff between these these two options:

>Pity about the girl, but ambush will afford me an advantage against this cretin that I cannot afford to pass up.
>My word, how many years has it been since I have shot one of these? I do not remember it being particularly difficult...

>>5752768
>My word, how many years has it been since I have shot one of these? I do not remember it being particularly difficult...
With fortune!

Crossbow
>>5751340
>>5751361
>>5751633
Write in to sneak over via dark fantasy to stab
>>5751289
Ignore the girl
>>5751484
Run in and stab
>>5751843
>>5751898

Looks like it's a consensus for the crossbow to me? Unless you want to conflate the write in with the run in and stab option, and the two are very different considering the use of one time per day resource of the dark fantasy along with the attempt at stealth.

Right, I don't suppose voting for the prior write in is an option? If a fortune is used to sneak up on the guy, I'm sure that Jez can turn into a murderblender thanks to the mage killer feat, never mind the whole power attacking from surprise bit.

>>5752779
>>5752780
As I understand, that anon is talking about attacking with the actual weapon, not using its special ability. They are functionally similar enough that I count them together.

>>5752768
>My word, how many years has it been since I have shot one of these? I do not remember it being particularly difficult...
>Again, use a fortune point.

Kinda confused how it's a tie, but alright.

>>5752768
>My word, how many years has it been since I have shot one of these? I do not remember it being particularly difficult...

>>5752768
>>Pity about the girl, but ambush will afford me an advantage against this cretin that I cannot afford to pass up.

>>5752768
>Pity about the girl, but ambush will afford me an advantage against this cretin that I cannot afford to pass up.

>>5752768
>>My word, how many years has it been since I have shot one of these? I do not remember it being particularly difficult...
The odds are similar I guess

Vote clsoed.

Rolled 4 (1d6)

Let's see the damage.

Rolled 19 (1d20)

>>5753886
(Agility 12, +3 Lament of the Nightsinger) vs (Defense 14, No Armor Bonus) Hit on 11 or lower.

Respectable, but not fatal. A dark ray flies from the priest's hand...

>>5753894
... and misses its mark. Perhaps one of the gods has taken a liking to Jezyrene?

>>5753896
Pretty sure the three goddesses we've prayed to recently would want this guy dead. Sune for having this be part of the quest she gave us to help Emitia, Selûne for fighting her rival's priest, and Eilistraee for helping out her moon-dancing partner, this girl, her worshipers, and basically Everlund in general. So perhaps it's a collaborative effort?

>>5753894
Why is there no armor bonus? Isn't Jez wearing the bustenhalt under the catsuit? Or is this a case of point blank attacks just going past that?

Wait I'm an idiot, this is at range

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>>5753979
As the only protagonist that can't use magic (or in Sam's case, scrolls and wands), we haven't interacted with spells in the quest. So maybe it's fair to shed some light on this. Some spells, particularly "ray" and "touch" type spells, are attacks that ignore armor.

>>5752778
>>5752795
>>5752828
>>5752856
>>5753271
>>5753355
The thought of abandoning the girl does cross your mind. But whatever benefit you might reap from conserving your strength, you know that it would pale when measured against the pleasurable sensation of avenging yourself against the militant puppets of the dark goddess. That the kin of this priest have done you harm in the past is sufficient reason to see him dead, you feel. Levelling your crossbow against him, you recall your lessons in marksmanship. All Ilythiiri - rather, all Ilythiiri who survive into adolescence - have the knowhow to use a handful of weapons, but between you, Tatherin was always the better shot.

Squeezing the trigger, the dwarven device propels its projectile toward the priest, which lodges itself in his flesh with a meaty "SHUNK." Howling in pain, he yet remains on his feet, pivoting in place. "Nightsinger! Give me power!" He shouts, extending his hand in your direction. From it, a ray of Stygian blackness shoots forth in your direction. Alas for him, he is off-balance, and his spell flies wide, dissipating against the dungeon walls.

You seize the moment, spinning the Dark Fantasy in your hand as you rush to close the distance. The priest raises his circular blade, prepared to engage you in melee - and collapses on his side, cackling weakly as blood dribbles from his mouth. Had his spell struck you, it may have given him some advantage that would allow him a chance at besting you. Yet as his body fails him, he understands that the outcome of a duel between the two of you is not in question.

>>5754107
"Lady of Loss, I feel your gentle embrace. At long last, my pain is at its end," he announces with perverse tranquility. It does perplex you, the creed of the dark goddess. Always, they seemed to go willingly into oblivion, as if longing for it, and this priest is no exception. But you are not done with him, not yet. Raising your leg, you jab the rigid point of your heeled shoe into his groin, applying pressure until you hear a 'pop.'

The priest squeals.

Holding your blade to your throat, you consider your position. Mayhaps it is good that he was not killed by your shot, for he can be of some use to you. Being at the cusp of death, however, it would be judicious to make the most of the piddling time that remains of his already pathetically short life. By your estimate, he has enough vigor to endure one, perhaps two questions. "Iblith," you hiss...
>Tell me where Tenpenny is. Now.
>Who is this red-haired girl in the chair?
>'Night Singer.' Who is this goddess of yours?
>Explain what has been going on here, quickly.
>[Write-in.]

>>5754109
>Tell me where is Tenpenny, for I much desire to speak with him
>Prod deeper to make him feel pain/keep him lucid a bit longer: "What were you doing here, surface freak?"
Given the two limit. Also, well done Jez
I also like that this was fast faced!

>>5754109
>Tell me where Tenpenny is. Now.
>Who is this red-haired girl in the chair?

>>5754031
Well, guess we'll know the outcome of Jez getting tested for magical aptitude by Amaranth. Not that the outcome was really in question given everything that has happened in the quest, but darn.

>>5754109
>Tell me where Tenpenny is. Now.
>Who is this red-haired girl in the chair?

>>5754192
She can't use it YET, but maybe with training she could, someday? She IS an inherently magical sort of being, after all, as an elf from a race with inborn (albeit out-of-practice in her case) spell-like abilities.

>>5754109
>Tell me where Tenpenny is. Now.
>Who is this red-haired girl in the chair? If you say Emitia Rouzet, I'll pop the other one before you die.

My bet is on the preserved corpse of Petunia. Unless she was described with different features, don't really remember if she was ever given a description.

>>5754488
I mean, the unused room that led down here had fancy clothes sized for a halfling, and the letters from Rouzet mentioned hearing rumors that she was drowned in a nearby river, so I doubt this is Petunia.

Some kind of flesh golem, maybe?

>>5754109
>>Tell me where Tenpenny is. Now.
>>Explain what has been going on here, quickly.

>>5754109
>Tell me where Tenpenny is. Now.
>Who is this red-haired girl in the chair?

>>5754528
Oh, so Petunia was a halfling then. Thanks, I didn't remember. Yeah, the flesh golem was my other theory

Vote closed.

>>5754131
>>5754192
>>5754228
>>5754411
>>5754540
>>5754600
"Tenpenny. Where. Tell me," you demand, applying further pressure with your foot to no response. You withdraw your leg stand upright. He must be past the threshold where pain is no longer a factor to him, you suppose. The priest coughs uncontrollably, splattering blood and bile across the stony floor. "The halfling..." cough. "The halfling is asleep in his room on the second floor," he volunteers. Although you are inclined to doubt this dark priest's words, you intuit that he harbors no loyalty for the Master of Guilds whatsoever. The relationship between the two, you presume, is - soon to be 'was' - merely transactional.

"What if he wants to escape?" You ask, accounting for the possibility that Tenpenny is already attempting his escape. "A circle-" he succumbs to a coughing fit. "There is a teleportation circle in the vault. It leads to Westgate." You prod his cheek with the tip of your blade. "'Vault?' What is that?" You inquire, faced with a word that you are unfamiliar with. "And where is it?" No response. He is dead.

Sighing in frustration, you rip the dingy cloth serving as the blonde girl's gag from her mouth and assess her condition. She is in excellent health, which is most abnormal for a slave, although she seems to have fainted from the excitement of your one-sided conflict with the priest. How very typical of a surfacer to possess such a feeble heart. Confirming that there are no dangers to be found in your immediate area, you are confident that she will live to see another day, though you cannot be bothered to play nursemaid and look after her given the urgency of your task.

>>5756384
That leaves the red-haired girl whose resemblance to Emitia is uncanny. She possesses the same hair color; though the dark roots betray that it is dyed. Her facial features and eye color are similar, albeit somewhat off. Most disturbingly, she is cold to the touch, sitting perfectly inert, yet you are unable to find even the most minute trace of bodily decay. Along the back of her neck, running down her spine, is text in some arcane language or another, tattooed into her flesh with vibrant blue ink. Alas, whatever secrets these words may have held have died with the dark priest.

The hunt resumes. As you understand, Amaranth and his deplorable apprentice have ensured that Tenpenny will not be teleporting anywhere, though the bloated oaf is likely unaware of this. You may be able to intercept him as he flees for his 'vault,' though that would necessitate first learning what exactly a 'vault' is. Alternatively, investigating his quarters may allow you to pinpoint his location, which you now know the general location of.

Whatever the original purpose of this place, it seems that the only way out is from whence you came.

Where to?
>The indoor garden.
>The large study.
>The staircase leading to the second floor.

>>5756386
>>The staircase leading to the second floor.

>>5756386
>>The large study.
Living voodoo doll?

>>5756386
>The large study.

Dead body under the effects of gentle respose.... and it's enchanted to be some fucked up sex doll?

>>5756386
>The large study.
Regardless of where Tenpenny's vault is, chances are he's gonna try to grab as many paper assets as he can before leaving, so hopefully he'll be in here.

>>5756386
>The staircase leading to the second floor.
Focus on the mission.

Vote closed.

>>5756498
>>5756605
>>5756767
>>5756807
>>5757152
With not a moment to waste, you sprint up the staircase, traveling from nadir to zenith in less than a half of a minute. Leaving the stink of death behind you allows you to breath deeply of the stale, dust-filled air that occupies Petunia's room, which somehow comes as a welcome reprieve. Even so, you now reek of old blood and rancid bile, a fact which your nostrils aim to remind you of each time that you dare to inhale.

Maintaining an energetic pace, you race through the halls of Tenpenny's estate, thinking to intercept him should he by chance decide to retrieve something from the study. After entering, however, it quickly becomes apparent to you that the portly half-man likely has no use for such a room himself. From one end to the other, the study is packed with enough wooden shelving to make even the wealthiest Ilythiiri weep in envy, and several peculiar instruments which emit strange lights, each with a purpose that is alien to you. In many ways you are reminded of Phaere's quarters, albeit this place is much tidier. This must have been where the dark priest did most of his more cerebral work, then.

The books here are far beyond your ken, and moreover, of minimal interest to you. 'Treatises on the Negative Energy Plane,' 'Orcish Physiology: A Study,' and 'The Abridged History of Netheril' sound like the sort of material that your sister would be interested in. From where you stand, nothing here is worth taking. Yet one familiar apparatus catches your eye.

>>5760779
On a steel table rests a support that holds several flasks, many of them filled with colorful liquids that invite further inspection. Adjacent to it is a retort resting on a stand with magical flame burning in perpetuity beneath it. Further to your right is a book, so weathered and faded that you half-expect its pages to disintegrate if disturbed. Taking a moment to skim the contents reveals that this is a book of potion recipes, although the effects of each product have been omitted. Perhaps it is simply assumed that a proper magician should be able to tell what each does at a glance.

It occurs to you that the priest has left a base that can be made into a handful of potions here at the cusp of completion. Ordinarily, the creation of a potion demands the casting of various spells, but you confirm that this has already been done on your behalf. All that would be required is to add the final few reagents left conveniently at hand and distill the mixture, a task you would be capable of if you put the numerous skills you have dabbled in over the centuries to good use.

Given the combination of reagents at your disposal, you believe that you could make one potion by following the book's recipes.
>[Intellect] I will try my hand at making "Blindsight."
>[Intellect] The recipe for "Glibness" seems easy to follow.
>[Intellect] Right here is one called "fertility."
>[Intellect] This one is called "Rhino," whatever that is.
>Never mind! I cannot waste my time on this!

>>5760782
>[Intellect] I will try my hand at making "Blindsight."
Remember that seizure we almost had, and how useful that lightshow would be for us when we have our inevitable family reunion?

>>5760800
Wait, hold up, is this Tenpenny's mage thug's room? Why's she got a medical treatise on Orcs? And a recipe open to a fertility potion...

>>5760782
>Never mind! I cannot waste my time on this!
Fertility is tempting. How can we not? It's what Jez has wanted for a while, right? But it will be there when Tenpenny is captured or dead. Mind on the mission.

>>5760782
>[Intellect] Right here is one called "fertility."

Far too tempting for me. Tenpenny isn't able to teleport out thanks to Lael, and he sure as hell isn't going to be escaping Sten's cordon.

>>5760782
>[Intellect] Right here is one called "fertility."

>>5760782
>>[Intellect] Right here is one called "fertility."
Whatever we do take the books so even if we fail we can make more potions at a later time.

>>5761098
>take
*Preserve

>>5760782
>>[Intellect] Right here is one called "fertility."
If we still had a fortune point I'd use it here because it sure beats begging a god

Rolled 3 (1d20)

(Intellect 14, +3 Elf Dilettante) Success on 17 or lower.

Let's see if Jez passed her chemistry class.

>>5761098
>>5761167
>Ordinarily, the creation of a potion demands the casting of various spells, but you confirm that this has already been done on your behalf.

She'll be begging Lael instead. It's a sound plan.

>>5761259
Time to find a donor

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>>5760800
>>5760844
>>5761014
>>5761073
>>5761098
>>5761167
'Fertility.' It is a word that you recognize, and the temptation proves too strong to pass up. On this page exists the chance for you to give birth. You can give the child to Ilanis or Luaue, and put your shortcomings to rest once and for all. True, they may not impart the integral elements of the Ilythiiri identity to the child, but it is not as though you will be letting precious years of your life go to waste rearing the damn thing. Granted, it is also possible that this is a potion for growing fungi and moss, but you are not thinking rationally at the moment.

Measuring twice, you add a viscous cerulean liquid, the extract of over a dozen plants if you understand correctly, together with a thin amber fluid that is derived from common minerals, and add them to the retort. Likely by some mage's artifice, the solution comes to a boil immediately, and you soon distill the resultant product into a deep violet mixture which you contain in a thick glass bottle. Guaranteeing that it is properly sealed, you store it carefully in your bag and turn your attention to your more immediate concerns.

Where to?
>The indoor garden.
>The staircase leading to the second floor.

>>5761392
>>The staircase leading to the second floor.
Just drink it Jez

>>5761392
>The staircase leading to the second floor.

>>5761392
>The staircase leading to the second floor.

>>5761418
If it IS intended for plants or something, that could end... Poorly.

>>5761392
>The staircase leading to the second floor.

>>5761418
Seeing as there was a paper on Orc biology nearby and the recipe just saying "fertility" (not even capitalized), I'd rather not risk drinking this until we get Amaranth to look over what we just made.

>>5761438
They were books on shelves, unless I read it wrong. It's not like 'Orcish Physiology: A Study' was right next to the apparatus, and neither was 'Treatises on the Negative Energy Plane,' or 'The Abridged History of Netheril'. Though I do agree about checking out potions on principle.

>>5761458
Fair enough. I'm just keeping in mind that Jez lives in a setting created by Ed Greenwood.

>>5761468
Ah yes, gotta make sure that the potion for fertility doesn't give Jez a footlong futa cock.

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>>5761468
>>5761488

>>5761488
>Jezyrene has kids
>Not even stuck carrying one to term
Sounds like an absolute win.

>>5761392
>The indoor garden.
>>5761488
This isn't akun, come on now

>>5761392
>>The staircase leading to the second floor.

Vote closed.

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>>5761418
>>5761434
>>5761437
>>5761438
>>5761678
>>5761741
>>5762017
Your prey awaits you a floor below, or so you have been told. Urging your legs to propel you faster, further, you fly down the hall, descending down an artfully constructed staircase of lacquered wood with a mighty leap. This level is better illuminated than the one above, a sure sign that there was activity on this floor prior to your arrival. Slowing yourself to a brisk stride, you quietly study the area for any points of interest, or traces of Tenpenny's whereabouts.

Being a creature of sight, you are not accustomed to relying on your olfactory organs for navigation, but a particular scent wafting in your direction from down the hall is unmistakable; the flavored smoke of Tenpenny's exorbitant cigars permeates throughout the estate, originating from what seems to be a sort of 'smoking room' at the far end, its door left slightly ajar. It is incredibly fresh, which would mean that the half-man was there mere minutes ago, or ideally, he is there now.

At the opposite end is a large room, or rather, a set of interconnected rooms which are behind a pair of oaken double doors left wide-open. So expansive is the interior that you cannot view it in its entirety without entering. This must be a suite for the master of the house, and is no doubt where Tenpenny spends his nights.

Another location is of interest to you. A gallery in which all manner of expensive portraits and statues are on display, which divides into a labyrinthine maze that possesses a certain supernatural quality to it that you can detect but not identify. The vague feeling that things are not as they seem roils in your skull, but what this means, you cannot say.

Where to?
>The hunt leads me to the smoking room.
>The art gallery beckons me with its secrets.
>If Tenpenny is to be anywhere, it is his suite.

>>5764301
>The hunt leads me to the smoking room.
Any chance Tenpenny has a cat we can talk to flit learn his location? It’s been a while since we’ve used our acorn, and rich people love owning beautiful and exotic pets that they hire people to take care of for them.

>>5764301
>>If Tenpenny is to be anywhere, it is his suite.

>>5764301
>The art gallery beckons me with its secrets.

>>5764301
>>The art gallery beckons me with its secrets.

>>5764301
>The hunt leads me to the smoking room.

>>5764382
Clever idea! Supporting.

>>5764301
>>The hunt leads me to the smoking room.

Vote closed.

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>>5764382
>>5764399
>>5764461
>>5764545
>>5764569
>>5765612
Like a cavvekan on the hunt, you pursue the fragrant wisps leading to the room at the hall's end, pushing your legs to the limit of their physical capability. Refusing to abandon your momentum, you adjust your posture such that your shoulder is positioned before the remainder of your body and maintain your velocity, colliding with the door. The impact sends a blunt pain shooting from your arm to your spine, and forces the door to swing onto the adjacent wall with an impactful slam, bringing you to a stop.

'Larger on the inside.' You believe that is an idiom popular with the surfacers, and it most definitely holds true for this spacious room. This place is packed with lavish mahogany storage cabinets, though two comically large sofas covered in pitch dark leather dominate the central space. Each faces the other with a short glass table situated awkwardly betwixt them, upon which rests a silver tray for expended cigarettes, cleaned recently. More than likely, this is a lounge in which Tenpenny has hosted clandestine negotiations with all manner of person.

The pathetic yelp of a livestock animal hearkens back to your first meeting with the council. Your eyes dart to and fro as they work to pinpoint its source. There in the corner, hysterically stuffing what appear to be contracts into a trunk already crowded with gold ingots, is the pitiable form of Rupert Tenpenny, a lit cigar still held firmly between his lips as he wheezes in terror.

Flanking him are his significantly more composed cullies. The magician woman with umber-colored skin and short hair sports a short-cut white dress with heels to match tonight, her cool smirk expressing mild amusement at your arrival. Next to her is the brute of partial orcish blood, garbed in a utilitarian black tunic. He cracks his knuckles, and chuckles quietly.

Without a word, you raise the Dark Fantasy and strut confidently into the room, anticipating possible aggression from the three of them. "Nindyn vel'uss kyorl nind ratha thalra elghinn dal lil alust," you purr, sizing up your cornered prey.

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Thus concludes the 12th thread of Forgotten Realms Adventures. We will be going directly to the next thread as soon as I can get to it.

>>5768913
>Those who guard their backs encounter death from the front
Badass,

>>5768920
Thanks for running!

>>5768913
Where are the rest of the slackers

>>5768920
Thanks for the run, OP. Can't wait to finally be able to tell this grease ooze that we rate both his embezzlement plot and his gentle reposed sex doll a five out of ten.

And steal his cigars, too.