>>12557364
******************************************
“You amuse me, Red.” a voice rings in your mind. A lesser individual would jump, panic, or look around for the source. You grit your teeth, and focus on your mind, your senses, what you feel. That was not noise; your ears felt nothing.

“You are... different from most. Willing to do what is necessary to achieve what you want. Intelligent. Controlled. A throwback, perhaps.” Wonderful. You're being complimented by voices in your head.

“And whom do I have the honor of communicating with?” you think, overwhelming sarcasm masking your trepidation. You do not like the implications that something or someone can root around in your mind.

The voice only responds with a laugh. Soft. Feminine. More confidence in it's own power than you have ever heard expressed. You can't even tell if it 'heard' you.

“I have taken a liking to you, Red. And my generousity far exceeds that of gods or mortal lordlings. Though you cannot know that...” A pause, almost long enough for you to believe the speaker gone. Then it returns.

“A warning: Stay away from the Unspeakable One's cult, especially their final... designs. If they succeed, it will be lethal to be in close proximity.” There is a faint vindicitive satisfaction in the final sentence.

“And an offer; should you prove valuable as well as entertaining; the Gold can be yours. As can the whole of the western coast. Yours...” the voice goes quiet a final time, but that word echoes in your mind, fading slowly. Irked, confused, and both somewhat intimidated and tempted, you snarl to yourself and continue down the street, cloak sticking damply to your back. Your footsteps splash slightly, but are lost in the damp night.

>>12557372
>1
The attack has already passed when you arrive. Bodies and blood cover the floor; some of snakemen, others of humans, many of the clerics of the temple. Not all though. Scinnari notices you as you approach, and moves to greet you.

“A little late. No matter, though, 'we' won.” she whispers quietly. Ducking into an alcove, you gesture her over to you. You're still invisible, but that doesn't seem a hindrance to her. She follows, and guesses your question. “We arrived just before the attack; we were almost immediately followed by around a score of clerics, heavily wounded. They claimed they had been out on errands for the temple, and had been attacked in the markets. Cygnis immedately told the High Priest they were lying. In panic, around half of them attacked; cultists in disguise. Between Cygnis, Sigurd,” Scinnari says, indicating a tall foriegn-looking human holding a blood-stained warhammer, “and myself, they were defeated. The clerics were... somewhat lacking, as combatants. They healed the injured, though. As it turned out, all of the 'injured clerics' were the attack force, intent on infiltrating the cult and killing them in the night, presumably. Again, between Cygnis, Sigurd, the rather feeble assistance of the clerics, and myself, they were destroyed.

“Thank you, Scinnari, exactly what I wanted to know.” you affirm, considering your course of action from here.

Bump [1/3]

>>12557364
awesomeness! was wondering when i'd see you start up again. propably wont be with you the entire run this time though :( ( work sucks, but hey, cocaine costs money)

Bump [2/3]. Come on, this is exactly when I said I'd start the next one.

Final bump for the moment. May try again in an hour or two.

>>12558027
(waiting for others to show up)

.... so how was your day?.....

>>12558256
Oh hey, people! Pretty decent, actually. Finally started raining around here. You?

>>12558321
same deal, nothing but rain

>>12558400
Well, in my case, I was told that this area is always raining, all the time, and we have two weeks of sunshine in august, before it goes cloudy, foggy, and wet. It's been obnoxiously sunny for the past two months.

Anyone else interested? Dragons, evil protagonists, and cultists! You know you want to.


[To verify, we're in the temple, have not been noticed by anyone but Scinnari, and have Scinnari on hand to answer questions, should you want more information before revealing yourself.]

>>12558528
I'm interested, and I'm not the small talk guy, but I think we still need a bit more people for this.

oh hay, it's sum dragon quest!

>>12557372
Hmmm. . . An interesting message. It implies it is neither God nor mortal, while making a _very_ tempting offer for a Red Dragon. It has knowledge of the Cults plans, as well as the likely results. I would be tempted to label it an Eldrich Abomination if it weren't so personable.

Anyone else thinking the voice we're hearing is probably Tiamat?

Tiamat is female I believe

As well, Tiamat is not quite a god, though very very close to being one. Certainly not mortal.

She would certainly know of the Cult of the Binder, as well as actually have the power to offer us the entirety of the Western Coast.

The fact that it states the Gold can be ours is interesting if it is Tiamat. Perhaps the idea of torturing one of Bahamut's ilk is as alluring as killing it?

It all seems plausible.

We should check in with Cygnis. She's probably feeling rather vulnerable at the moment, what with attacks from within and without going on all around her.
We should capitalize on that, get her feeling dependent on us. Make her think we're the only ones she can trust now.

All the sweeter when we screw her over.

>>12558658
Hmmmm. . . Seems like it could be.

>>12558788
Confirm? Also, nice to have people here.

Consider yourself blessed Writer-dude, I live in the fucking desert. Rains maybe twice a year.

>>12558788
Confirm.

>>12559070
Double confirm.

>>12558923
I do. I like it. I pity you.

I wish it would snow, too, but that's just being greedy.
###################
>>12558788
>>12559070

Nodding to Scinnari, you drop the enchantment and step out, approaching the group in the center.

"Cygnis! I was late, I'm so sorry. " you say, approaching her, "I hope you were not hurt?"

"No... Your d- assistant was much help, as was Sigurd, the human." she responds. She seems upset, worried, though not afraid.

"I'm glad. I'd never- Well, I was attacked while searching Kazmiri's manor." you say, changing your word choice at the last moment. You could probably gotten away with it, but you want he to actually believe you should you say something like "I would never forgive myself...".

"Kazmiri? The High Captain?" she asks, suddenly interested.

"The late councilor, yes. His assassins seemed intent on framing it on me, him, and the temple. I... believe I have disabled and discredited their setup."

"I see... Did you, by chance, happen to find a ring on Kazmiri?" Cygnis says, voice lowering, "His signet? It could be very useful, if only for a short time..."

"I-" you begin, torn between keeping it for yourself, and worried about lying to her. You're saved by the approach of Thuron, the High Priest. You gesture, warning Cygnis of his approach.

"Ah. Cibach. And Cygnis. I must thank you; your timely warning seems responsible for the survival of this temple. I... understand that you may be busy, but I would request a moment of your time, if you can spare it."

"O-of course, Thuron." Cygnis replies, somewhat startled at his sudden approach and interruption. Well, it's hardly like he knew you two were plotting over here.

[Accept or not, and admit to Cygnis we have the signet ring, or not?]

More information is always good. Hear him out.

The signet probably has a great political influence, but I doubt it would do much good beyond its material value in our hands. Go ahead and give it to her.

Aw yeah, motherfucking dragon quest.

Check it.

>>12559460
Fuck yes

>>12559435
Indeed. Accept the Head Priests offer too.

>>12559354
Eh, I don't like the idea that we will ever answer to anything. Dragons as a rule don't worship many gods except Tiamat, and even then not very many of them. We are the highest rung on the ladder, and I don't think we should pledge ourselves to anything.

Also Cygnis has a much better handle on politics in the city, we should probably tell her we found the ring. It will be much more useful that way and we can figure out what it does. And let's see what he has to say, it can't hurt.

>>12559435
Also don't give it to her, just tell her we have it.

>>12559582
He's just asking to talk, not trying to indoctrinate us.

>>12559582
Don't delude ourselves. Dragons are one of the highest rungs on the ladder, but are far from the top in a cosmic sense. Advancing a particular beings agenda in exchange for things we can't get on our own should be at least considered.

Awesome, made it to Dragon Quest!

>>12559460
Slightly touched up version, I posted in a hurry when I saw the quest was up. Dilineation lines on the collar and ring now.

>>12559651

You still gave Woody tits, I feel a burning in my eyes.

>>12559671
It is a good pain.

>>12559641
On the physical planes (and several celestial ones) dragons are the top rung or close to it. And they hate being controlled. Most dragons are atheistic for that very reason. I just don't like the idea that our empire will be built with anything but our strength, as a proper red should. While aid is great, pledging ourselves to a master is loathsome.

"I fear I must make a confession, one that I should have made some time previously..." Thuron speaks, leading you both down a side corridor. On that ominous note, he starts down a flight of stairs. You and Cygnis exchange looks, and you settle for putting your hand on the hilt of your rapier, and following Thuron. Cygnis follows you, evidently worried that you think it might come to that.

The bottom is a small foyer, and the door to the High Priest's office. Thuron passes through, and you follow, cautiously. He proceeds to the far wall, and triggers a catch of some sort; about half the wall slides smoothly to the side.

"As you can see, I am not Thuron." He begins. That part wasn't certain, but you'll take his word for it. Inside the secret chamber revealed is a dessicated corpse, still recognizable as having once looked like the individual before you. While it's a fairly groundbreaking revelation, he doesn't seem at all threatening, so you allow him to proceed. Cygnis beside you has turned rather pale, though.

>>12559845
"I came in here, one night several months back to borrow a scroll. Steal, you might say, as I doubt he was willing to let me, but I did not intend to let him have a say in the matter, and did intend to return it. Instead, I found Thuron here, dead. His heart had given out while reading." Not-Thuron says. It's a reasonable enough claim, you suppose, Not-Thuron does look somewhat aged, presumably a few months older than the real one was.

"I took up Thuron's guise as it made my mission easier. That mission, Sister Cygnis, started several years ago when you entered the village of my people. I knew you were not yourself, but I also knew that whatever you were at the time might help me... Find my people. My name is K'Stallo, last priest of Yig." With that declaration, he drops his disguise, and you see yet another serpent creature standing before you. Cygnis takes a few steps back, face white. For your part, you're strongly aware of the fact that your underground, in tight quarters, and cannot revert here. Cygnis' hand finds yours, and grips it tightly.

"You visited my village, far to the north. I hoped that following you might lead to a stronger understanding of the divine, and closer communion with my god, knowledge that has all but faded from my people over the years. But you are afraid. I shall try to elaborate. We have legends, oral histories passed down of the Sundering.

>>12559746
Useful, not "pledge yourself to me". We help it do X, it helps us enslave the Gold and take over the coast. It's a business partnership, not a master servant relationship.

>>12559854
"Yig was the god our people, a peaceful god, a prosperous empire. The Unspeakable One, however, was not a peaceful god. His cult was slow growing, but a cancer, and could not be eliminated entirely. Eventually, they managed to summon It, or a fragment of It, to this world. Beneath our capital city. The ensuing cataclysm pulverized the cities and entire continent of Valossa. It was riven and sunk beneath the waves. The islands of Freeport, these are all that remains of it.

“I should have made this confession a few weeks ago, during the previous exchange with the cult. I did not. I should have told you, but I was greedy, selfish in my pursuit of knowledge. The libraries of this temple were to great a lure... So I appologize, and have done so, but I doubt that is what you want; I can appologize until the sun comes up, and it will change nothing. What is it that I can do for you? If you wish, I will leave the temple, presumably in the care of the ranking priest. And, of course, I will answer what I can about Valossa or the Cult.” The last word is uttered with contemptous disdain, distaste.


################
Sorry, my computer ate half my uber-long post when I was trying to post.

>>12559651
My god, is that... Fanart?

>>12559859
It always starts that way.

>>12559872
You don't know the "X, X everywhere" meme?

>>12559890
I do, but that's obviously been redone. Correction, they.

....You know what? Let's just add a 75 to the roll-now-rolls we have in reserve.

>>12559860
God damn it, why can't anything be simple?

Ask him why they care about dragons so much.

>>12559927
"Dragons, you say? I find that odd." K'Staalo's voice is strange, but has only a hint of snake 's'es in it.

"All of their iconography. Rings, books, that gong. Dragons." you reply, not in the mood to be jerked around.

"I'm sorry, I can't say. Perhaps it has... evolved over the ages? Deity's domains change, occasionally... I fear I do not know." K'Staalo finishes.

"And of the Binder?" Cygnis asks. You doubt K'Staalo noticed, but you think she's just barely calm. Perhaps her experiences at the hands of Eidomon left her with a fear of snakes...

"I must say, I do not know. Perhaps related to the dragons. I cannot say, and seem to be of especially little help." K'Staalo responds, shrugging. His (Her?) version of 'shrug' is somewhat disturbing to witness, a distortion that travels the length of hir serpentine body.

[more questions, or a course of action to pursue?]

I guess we just ask it everything it knows? Bearing in mind this could be another cult trap of course.

>>12560014
Well then, what DOES he know? And what has he been researching?

Ask if there's anything we can do to counter the power of the Binder
and if he knows anything about the cults current locations

Ask if Yig was/is female.

>>12560037
"Then what do you know?" Cygnis asks beside you, voicing your own question before you, and with more hostility than you would have.

"I can tell you that the Unspeakable One and his cultists desire chaos, destruction, and evil, at all times. Their end goal is, undoubtedly, to enact a greater summoning ritual, and unleash him upon this world again. And, obviously, from this attack, they have members or favors owned in high places. I find it eminently suspicious that no guards walked by during the attack."

"Well, how would they go about doing it?" you ask. As you speak, Cygnis seems to realize that she's holding your hand in a deathgrip, and drops it.

"That I am confused about. Unless the cult is vast, a significant fraction of the entire city, I do not believe they have the resources or strength to pull such a ritual off on raw power. I susspect, then, that they have a magnifier they intend to use."

"Magnifier?" you ask. You dimly recall reading mention of them, or hearing it from Scinnari while you were studying magic. No explanation, though.

"A... quantity that has significant effect on the ritual. Example; if they had the body or form, or the remains thereof, that the Unspeakable One was summoned into originally, it would become much easier. If they could perform it at the same time of the seasons, or, traditionally, the same alignment of the stars, that would also make it easier, though not nearly as much. The same location and same style of summoning are traditionally favored, though the first is somewhat hard to get, in most cases. Used by all casters, when they have something grand they intend...." K'Staalo trails off. "I'm sorry, I seem to have... been sidetracked." For some reason, he reminds you of an absent minded scholar.

"Well, a little bit, at least." you think, considering once again his ophidian appearance.

Well, some things to consider:

-What's so crucial to him that he needs to soak up as much info as he can?

-what's the relationship between the two deities?

-is there any way that the voice we heard and his god(dess?) is the same?

-can we use this as a leverage tool to push her closer to us? (Even he betrayed you...)

-kill him y/n?

>>12560199

Also, whoa, whoa, this has happened before? How did he get killed/banished/defeated last time, and how do we make sure it sticks?

>>12560199
Well I personally don't like him and would run him through right now if it weren't for the fact he could prove to be useful. And we really do need some more information, we can't just keep going around stomping on brushfires after they have been lit.

Also, while I hate to say it, this cult sounds like more trouble than this city is worth. There isn't even a good lair around here for crying out loud. Maybe we should just loot Kazmiri's tower, get as much money as we can abusing his seal, and find a better place to start our empire.

>>12560249

If it wasn't for Cygnis, I'd agree with you. But if we just take off, she's not only going to have a major meltdown (Snakes, Snakes Everywhere), but she's going to take it out on us for not being the hero she thinks we are.

>>12560082
>>12560055
"And is Yig a current power? I have not heard of this god. Goddess?" you ask. You make your town match Cygnis', although milder.

"No. Not now, perhaps never again. Yig has long been a lesser god, on the brink of divine death as his followers dwindle and scatter. And I do not know Yig's gender, I am afraid. One might wonder if such things matter among gods."

You decide to pass up the potential theological debate, and fervently hope Cygnis will too; you hardly want to listen to a priest and a Gold going at it. In effort to prevent it, you steer the conversation onwards, "And do you know anything of the cult's locations? In the city or out?"

"Unlike Yig, the Unspeakable One is an... open god. Yig was the god of my race, and few others. The Unspeakable One is a god of destruction and death, and nothing else; any who would support such an agenda are welcome... as far as anything is. As for location, I don't know, but would suspect the old tunnels and ruins under and outside the city. Leftover from when this mountaintop was a city of Valossa... No more. Still, some of my... fallen people live in these tunnels and caverns, descended to barbarism, lost of their civility."

>>12560249
What would we gain from killing this guy? He doesn't know enough about us to be a danger, he's not threatening us, and he's even against people that we're against, for that matter. Alive, he's a source of information and someone that we can pressure into doing things for us. Or just ask to look things up. Dead, he's useless- and we wouldn't even be able to loot his body, with Cygnis in play.

No, much better to keep him around, impersonating the same guy he's been impersonating, and make working against the cult his full-time job. That way we gain an asset, and one over which we have a hold.

>>12560322
Well yeah, but I was just saying if he wasn't needed for bringing down the cult then it would be safer just to kill him and remove the variable. This could easily be a cult trap.

>>12560294
What will that matter? We can shapeshift and she will never find us. Just take a new identity somewhere. If it's really that worrisome we can kill her before we go, we already have that plan in place.

I really don't want to abandon all we've done here, but chasing down this cult is more effort than it's worth from the sound of it. I would just say hire some adventurers or something, but the thing survived an apocalypse and centuries of eradication attempts. Might just be better to scram while we are ahead.

>>12560393
With Cygnis sitting there truth-detecting everything he says, I'm inclined to think that highly unlikely.

>>12560432
You are fully aware that she currently has complete faith in a polymorphed red dragon who has plans in place to kill her and steal her horde?

Just saying.

>>12560294
Hehe. Women scorned, and all that. (Or at least, in this case, let down

>>12560230
>>12560199
"I am interested in learning what I can; Yig was- Is, a god of knowledge. Further, if I could find the scattered groups, then perhaps my people would return to a race, as opposed to fading into oblivion." K'Staalo confides.

"And, as you claim this has happened before, how was he banished?" you ask, reasoning that something must have happened.

"He-It ended himself. A god of destruction, of chaos, of annihilation. It destroyed everything... his followers first, when he was summoned, and then everything it could reach before it's power faded and he slipped from this plane." Glorious. The way to get rid of him is to leave him to his own devices. Marvelous.

Let's liquidate some of our assets and hire some adventurers from out of town to take down the cult. That way we can put our focus onto maneuvering ourselves politically rather than having to deal with this pain in the ass cult every five minutes.

>>12560470
Well then, looks like we just need to relocate to a competing trade city somewhere close and set up shop. Before long there will be a huge influx of trade as the traffic that went to Freeport suddenly is redirected into our waiting grasp.

If we plan to leave, that is.

>>12560470
Son of a bitch. We just had to try to advance politically in a city about to get destroyed by a dark god.

>>12560460
Yes, but we're pretty careful to avoid saying blatant lies straight out. Things like claiming to be the last priest of a peaceful god while actually serving an evil type are somewhat difficult stretches of technical truth.

>>12560519
I'm down with this, although they should be Cygnis' assets rather than ours.

Just for reference, is there a world map for use?

>>12560558
Agreed

>>12560558
>>12560636
But if Cygnis were in on it, she'd start questioning why we as an adventurer aren't doing it ourselves. That is the persona we've been generating since before we met her.

Other than that, I like the idea.

>>12560588
I'm afraid not, though I was actually thinking about that, and attempting preliminary sketches on Friday. I'll try to have something I'm not (too horribly) embarrassed to show in daylight ready by the next quest.


>>12560544
I'm not trying to suggest anything, let alone try and cram it down your throat, but if I was unclear, I would like to explain that that was AFTER it was summoned. You can always stop a ritual before it happens.


Verdict?

>>12560646
Possibly we're not doing it ourselves because being a major political figure in a city is a full-time job, and we'd rather focus on it than go chasing rumors and hunting down a bunch of killer snakemen in the sewers? If nothing else, having someone else to follow up on leads for us would be very nice.

>>12560662
Well if it's just following up on leads we've got Asha for that.

But if it's to exterminate a whole underground city of snakemen? Call in the motherfucking ghostbusters.

>>12560660
Well, for now let's tell this snakeguy that he will be under our command as he is not actually a priest of this temple, and our dear associate Cygnis here is. Otherwise leave him in position as the head. That way we have power over the entire temple hierarchy now.

As for the voice, I have to wonder what it was. It spoke like it wasn't a god. More importantly, it knew we were a red dragon and tapped directly into our brain somehow. I would say Tiamat or Astilabor, but they are both gods.

>>12560702
One should not risk their own assets when they could accomplish the same task by having someone else pay for it. How many fairly badass sorceress assassins are we expecting to run across and coerce into service, anyway? Answer: Not as many as I'd like. She gets saved for missions when we are present, we have no other assets to deploy, or sensitive information is involved. Something like "locate and destroy destroy an evil cult" is an obvious job for hired adventurer patsies.

>>12560660
Verdict on what? What to do with this guy? How's about we tell him to give us a moment and go discuss the matter with Cygnis, to find out how rabid she is about killing him, then come in as the voice of reason/good alignment and urge her to ask him if he's actually killed anyone or otherwise harmed her temple friends before doing something like that, and keep him around as an info source if he hasn't.

>>12560747
It could always be an Archduke or another powerful female devil/demon. But really, how could they speak directly into our minds? There are very very very few things that can do that to something as superbly willful and in control as a dragon.

>>12560771
I like this.

>>12560771
I agree, and if Cygnis asks why we don't do it ourselves we can tell her the truth: Taking down cults is not a task for a lone adventurer, and we need time to be political even if it were.

>>12560807
Ooh, we could also say we're more inclined to be close to her for her protection from now on. Reeeeaally gotta develop that dependency on us.

>>12560786
Perhaps it's something under the service of Tiamat? I never really pictured her as a really attentive deity, more about making sure that she's prayed to and that she gets her due. Other than that she lets the lesser devils run the day to day business.

Aren't both Tiamat and Bahamut technically half a god?

>>12560912
They are gods in their own right, but yes they both formed from Io.

>>12560519
>>12560787
>>12560771

"Well? What would you have me do? Or have done with me?" K'Staalo says at length.

"Personally? I'd tell you to keep your identity, but understand that Cygnis is running the temple, and that your job is to do everything in your power to combat the Cult. But that's hardly a question to ask me." you respond, "Cygnis is the one you have wronged." Cygnis exhales deeply, and replies as well.

"I... Like that idea. It may require some modification, but I believe we can work with this... Importantly, though, I think our- Your first priority is to figure out when the best confluence of events for them to summon is."

"I do not need to look that up, I can tell you. It is something that has been puzzling me ever since Cibach rescued you, and I found out what we were up against. It is around a month and two weeks prior. Similarly, their ideal location would be six miles west of here, over empty water. A most perplexing issues."

"Cygnis, if that is your verdict, I would speak with you... alone." you suggest, suspicious, but with a polite nod at K'Staalo.

"Very... well." Cygnis agrees, and you climb back up the stairs together.

"Perhaps we could... hire adventurers." You say, wondering how to phrase it.

"What?"

>>12561072
"Hire adventurers. Post a bounty. Ten gold per snakeman head. The creatures, barbaric ones, seem to be a source of raw muscle and minions for the cult. And all their ranking members seem to be the intelligent brand of creature, like K'Staalo. Just worshiping the other god. Adventurers would swarm the tunnels, kill them indiscriminately, and make it much harder for the cult to do anything. And not only that," you add, thinking of possibilities as you speak, "It could be seen as an act of public good; do it in 'my' name, and I'm funding the cleansing and safety of Freeport. An impressive contribution to the city, and a sign of an interested, upstanding citizen."

"I... see the merit. It would be expensive, though... ...possibly in lives as well as gold..." Cygnis says, approving, but worried.

"Please. Excepting the purest of holier-than-thou paladins, no adventurer is without their own secrets and sins. Anyway, they are the ones who decide to try for the bounty, nobody makes them. Perhaps a warning that it's dangerous, along with the reward? That ought to tempt the more competent ones."

"No adventurer without their secrets?" Cygnis repeats, arching an eyebrow. Unable to redact it, you merely smile and bow.

"None at all."

"Alright, I am impressed with your mind. You are... clever." Cygnis says. "That would probably work very well. Alright, we can get on that. Thuron?" she says, calling down the stairs. "Thank you for your advice, we are ready."

"Indeed." The serpent says at length, disguised once more as a human. "Changes?"

"None for the moment." Cygnis says, "Cibach here has a devious mind, and is good at planning on the fly."

"I hope so, for more's sake than my own." 'Thuron' replies.


[Anything more to do, or timeskip? Picture is evidently how we imagine Cygnis]

>>12561081
Timeskip? By how much?

We still need to loot Kazmiri's tower, see how Asha did collecting the amulet, tell the kobolds about how they need to dig a basement under our house from the sewers, and I personally want to talk to Scinnari about some things. Like how old she is, exactly. And who those enemies she mentioned way back in the third or fourth thread are.

There's a difference between a 100 year old devil and a 10,000 year old one after all, even if they are technically the same in power.

>>12561136
Whatever is necessary. Most of those don't require a personal touch, or, even if they do, don't require screentime to accomplish. IE, kobolds-basement, Asha getting the amulet, the tower, (what we can get from it, anyway. He's dead, his possessions are probably being handed on to next of kin or liquidated.)

Unless there's something you want to do before we leave the temple, we can move on.

>>12561235
Well that's why we have to go there ASAP. Nobody knows he is dead yet. We need to loot the most valuable stuff before anyone finds out. Plus Scinnari could likely direct us to all the best loot right away. Admittedly we don't need to actually play that out, though. But why would we wait and let others get to it first? Too bad his library is probably burned all up.

>>12561235
Timeskip away then. But don't let relatives and other undeservings get to his stuff first. We are the proper owners of that wizard's fortune, with all the trouble he made us go through. We can no longer kill him for his slight against us, but we can deprive his heirs of their inheritance.

>>12561235
I'm inclined to bring up the matter of Kazmiri's signet ring with Cygnis. She mentioned it before, which means that she has some sort of cunning plan involving its use- possibly to forge useful documents or similar. It could be advantageous to let her put those plans into motion, if only because they're likely to further our power as well as hers. Other opinions, guys?

We should announce our bounty after the dead snakemen are discovered around Kazmiri, since obviously that proves them a threat to the noble populace of our fair city, when they're killing people in their own homes. Give it a solid PR spin.

We should also loot his tower as best we can before next of kin or whomever get their hands on all the best stuff.

Beyond that, we need to move quickly to improve our political standing. I'm... not entirely sure how, aside from making friends/socializing with relatively important people. We need some sort of mutually beneficial business propositions that we can entice others to go in on with us, so that they become tied to us by economics. Many wealthy people are best controlled by their purses.

Where's that lighthouse located exactly? Is it on the main island? Or is it further out to sea?

>>12561391
Ooooh, good catch. I'm thinking we might need to get a few tons of dwarven blasting powder.

A business venture for political maneuvering sounds good. We can even tell Cygnis it's to reimburse her for all she's invested in us (it won't actually be of course).

But as for what sort? Depends on the market really. What's in supply and what's in demand? Considering Freeport is an island, and a hub of trade, that should mean that fish and raw materials are abundant. Demand would most likely be skilled laborers and new technology. Booze is already in demand, but supposedly Mr. Cibach has the market cornered according to Cygnis.

Failing the free market, we'd have to look into specific services.

>>12561415
The Dwarven stuff? For a light house? More like half a barrel.

They usually use that kind of thing to blast through several feet of solid bedrock. A piddly little island of obsidian will eventually just be overcome by the sea itself.

>>12561251
It takes a little longer to resolve the business at the temple, but you end up leaving with Cygnis, Scinnari in tow. Cygnis is headed for her house, and you part ways shortly.

"Scinnari, I want you to go back, get Asha, if you need her, and empty everything of value that you can from Kazmiri's tower." you instruct, taking care to keep your voice down.

"Is that wise? If they were trying to frame you, doing that would merely... aid them in their efforts." Scinnari says, not necessairly worried, but offering the possibility.

"Exactly. That's why I'm making a stop myself.... But for the moment, take it to my 'lair'." you order, recalling the ruined temple you've been using. "Avoid showing Asha, if at all possible."

"Obviously."

"Right. Good luck. Oh, and if Asha has returned with the necklace, leave it out for me. I'll go and get it enchanted for dear Cygnis. A humble apology."

"Indeed." Scinnari says with laughter.


###############

>>12561481

The kobolds are easy and cheap to hire. Jerrik is present, making things simpler. You order it done, and promise them another five hundred silver, should they manage. They seem to like that, and claim they can have it done in a week, at the latest, and offer to connect it to the nearest cavern. You reply that you'll think about it, and reserve judgement.

Returning home, you are satisfied with the goldsmith's work; it is indeed a work of art, something you realize you are reluctant to give up yourself. You remind yourself you got it for a reason, and when it works, you will have something far more valuable in your possession.

The days pass, and rumors fly. Eventually, the Sealord delivers an address, acknowledging that Kazmiri was a cultist, and through his efforts, the temple of Alset was almost destroyed, saved by you, part time adventurer and free-captain Cibach Azal. Much rejoicing, fanfare, and, with Cygnis funding, you use the brief moment of public acclaim to order the bounty on the snakemen of the caves and tunnels below the city. Additionally, you manage to convince Cygnis to allow you to show your face at what is allegedly 'your' business; should you be forced to remove her, it should be possible to take them over yourself, much easier now that they know who you are. Finally, at minor expense, a mere two hundred gold, you manage to get Cygnis' gift enchanted, to prevent polymorphing at all times, and to become irremovable when you activate it. All in all, quite satisfying.

You manage to schedule some time to examine the plunder of Kazmiri's tower after about a week. Not so much a busy schedule (though it is,) as it is efforts to make sure it isn't being searched for, magically or otherwise. With Scinnari at your side, you descend from the clouds to assess the treasure...

[dice 1d100, roll high, get good stuff.]

>>12561481
Goddamn, who's the chick in the picture supposed to be? Cygnis?

rolled 89 = 89

>>12561499
Come on treasure.

rolled 86 = 86

>>12561499

>>12561415
>>12561391
On the east side of the island, a quarter mile south of the central city, on a rocky mount overlooking the harbor. The area is called 'Dragon's Rest' for unknown reasons. Neither you nor Cygnis know of any other dragons in the area, at least as far as she's told you.

>>12561499
Excellent. We should also begin consolidating our hold over the kobolds as a master more than a benefactor.

>>12561511
More likely Scinnari. Cygnis is a priestess and probably wouldn't dress so flashy.

>>12561499
Hmmm. Nearest cavern sounds good, actually.

>>12561569
She's not a priestess 24/7, just as we're not an adventurer.

>>12561511
In that one, it could be Scinnari or Cygnis. I meant to post a different 'Scinnari' one, and save that for an event that will shortly occur. (Not sinister at all, I swear.)

>>12561522
Gold, several hundred,
[672]

Several dozen scrolls and journals.
Scinnari admits most were destroyed in the library, but those were what was available in his room, lab, and basement, and so on.

A small assortment of magical items, mostly jewelery of some sort. Amulets of protection against this or that, rings of light, luck, resistance. Nothing exceptionally powerful.

A list of shipping. [what's coming into and leaving out of the city, what ships, where it's coming from/going to, and the money being exchanged for it]
Magical appratuses (apratii?), along with minor alchemical tools. Scinnari even managed to get the gold summoning circle up from the floor of the lab, where she was once bound.

Finally, a set of notes, that seem to verify that he was genuinely looking into the cult, after being assigned to oversee the investigation. From what you read, he was just as puzzled with the Unspeakable One/Binder identity as K'Staalo was, indeed, some of his notes seem to suggest they were possibly enemies. Gods or not-gods in direct opposition. While they seem very vague, no doubt a result of the age of what he was researching, he seems fairly convinced that the Unspeakable One defeated, or brought about the end of whoever the Binder was.

>>12561481
What necklace is this talking about again?

>>12561597
Doors open two ways. We get easy access to the cult, they get easy access to us. We should consider this pretty carefully.

>>12561664
The one we plan to give to Cygnis in order to screw her over. It's enchanted to prevent her from polymorphing back into her true form, and will not come off unless we say so.

>>12561499

Dragons can smell or detect magic, yes? What would Cygnis think of the necklace? Wouldn't she be suspicious?

We should consider putting a beneficial enchantment on it to cover the more insidious one that we're putting on. Maybe some sort of spell warding? Nothing that would protect her against our strength or breath weapons, but something.

>>12561669
It's just a cavern. I don't think we should do it if it opens into a cult warren or anything, but just an uninhabited natural cavern under the ground that previously had no entrances or exits? A place where we can sit in dragon form on top of our treasure? That would be sexy.

>>12561686
I think we also said to have an enchantment put on it that disguises the magical nature of the item when we first designed it.

>>12561662
I think now would be a good time to ask Scinnari a bit about herself. How old she is and whatnot.

I think we can safely take some of the alchemical stuff back to our home for proper magical study with Scinnari. Nothing that couldn't be easily bought of course, but why pay for it when we already own it?

>>12561686
Heh, we could put an immunity to fire enchantment on it and plead ignorance of dragon physiology. No benefit to her but it sounds like we were trying.

>>12561691
The complex of caverns and ruins and sewers all interconnecting are what the cult has been using.

But if the cavern isn't connecting to anything else, then certainly. There's no reason NOT to get it.

>>12561686
I just figured we'd tell her it prevented polymorphing, and was a tool as well as gift for her, and that it would prevent her from destroying it should she shift without remembering it.

Also, colors are off, but this is how I imagine us in the future. :3

>>12561726
Mating with a gold dragon? Ewww. We still have our dignity.

>>12561726

Why would we tell her it prevents polymorphing? She'd never wear it then.

How about some poison resistance? Armor enhancement?

>>12561662
Did his notes say anything about his lighthouse? The cult seemed interested in it since they tried to steal the book that showed the lighthouse in the first place.

Let's shift into our natural form and relax for a bit, since we'll have to do so anyway to reach our horde/protected chests under that massive stone. Maybe have that chat with Scinnari now.

>>12561726
Cygnis and us? Hell naw.

History Lesson: The hatred between Chromatics such as ourselves and Metallics such as Cygnis makes the racism of the KKK look like a simple misunderstanding that's easily resolved.
We ABHOR her, not just because she's our largest rival for the domination of what is rightfully ours, but because she and her ilk are something that was never supposed to exist. A sick joke for our own amusement. Don't even entertain the idea that she likes us. She relies on the carefully crafted facade we have created for her.

If she had an inkling that we were a red she'd attempt to kill us herself.

>>12561725
>>12561669
>>12561691
The kobolds tell you it is open, but they can wall up or collapse the tunnels. They even offer to put some vents in it that come out in inaccessible places in other caverns, if you want circulation.


>>12561664
A necklace of such exquisite quality that it would grab a gold dragons' interest. Ideally, she'll appreciate the fact that it's made out of gold, and shaped like a dragon, and extremely well made and valuable, and wear it. And then, when we need to, we can lock her down.

>>12561702
I dimly remember that. Alright, yes.

>>12561744
Not supporting it, but from what I've read, dragons really don't seem to care. Like, at all. Naturally, if you've found material that disagrees, feel free to inform me.

Discussion with Scinnari coming up next, another 1d100 please.

>>12561726
anyone else get the feeling that they look more like big mountain cats with bat wings. especially the bronze one.


We should encourage the kobolds, to go serpent hunting, getting them more respect.

>>12561806
Technically in 3.5e (which is what we're using here, modified) it wasn't instant duels to the death. Usually. But yeah, the thought of mating with a gold would probably still make us physically ill, and neither of us would like or trust the other.

>>12561824
If we did do that, I'd suggest getting them some half decent weapons and armor.

I don't want to see no sharpened sticks and poorly crafted hide armor for our kobold army.

rolled 50 = 50

>>12561820

rolled 72 = 72

>>12561820
Dice for conversation? Yikes, seems our devil still has quite a few tricks up her sleeves.

rolled 79 = 79

>>12561820
we should tell the kobolds to a room our two so that we can have a private chamber for our loot, library and dungeon/Scinnari's play room :3

rolled 8 = 8

>>12561849
at least we dont know if high or low is good

>>12561882
ignore forgot to take off dice

>>12561806
Reiterating, I'm not using the 4th. Edition draconomicon. 3rd E, I'm afraid, and only because I know it a (very) little bit better. In that one, good dragons can usually get along with evil dragons, except that evil dragons don't like putting up with the good dragons, and good dragons don't like evil dragons being evil. Lots of friction, even conflict, but no 'flat across the board' conflict, except for that they dislike sharing territory with the opposite kind even more than with others of their kind.

Oh, and people have been wanting to investigate the sword for a while, so this might be a good time to do it.
######################

It isn't a massive hoard, hardly worthy, but several thousand coins and assorted valuables can't help but take up space. It makes a.. /very/ satisfying place to lie. You can't help but be in a good mood.

Still, there are certain things you wish to attend to.
"Scinnari, I would like to talk." you say, skimming through the journals of the late Kazmiri.

"Yes, lord? What about?" she responds, moving to where she can face you, and vice versa. Lord. You enjoy that form of address, something that simply doesn't get old.

"Among other things, you mentioned, shortly after we met, that you had enemies you wished to have vengeance upon. Would you care to explain?"

"I... Of course. Primarily, a cabal of demonologists, in the east, and an order of paladins, warriors of Heironeous." she says.

"Primarily? Is there any one else?"

"Some other denizens of the hells, but they are less significant." Scinnari replies.

"Then back to this plane, I suppose: Would you care to relate the history between you and the paladins? And the demon summoners?"

"They were merely warriors of the faith, as opposed to true paladins." Scinnari amends herself. And doesn't answer the question. You cock your head and stare at her. "No." she says, at length. Hmm.

Ask her how old she is

>>12561973
>>12561851

"How old are you?" you ask, changing tack. A direct question.

"As... myself? Nearly four hundred years. Three hundred eighty four, to be exact."

"As yourself? So you are one of the fallen angels, then?"

"...Yes." she says, again, after a pause.

"I see... Four hundred years... Why, that's not all that long... Though I'm sure it was much longer on your end than it might have been recorded in the history books. Still... It seems reasonable to suspect that an order of holy warriors or demon summoners might still be around..." your guess is rewarded as Scinnari turns away, face flushed and slient.

>>12561973
Well that hardly dissipates curiosity does it? Very well, as long as you can promise that I be briefed before you take any action. I promised assistance, but I cannot fulfill it without any information.

rolled 3, 9 = 12

Wooo! Dragonquest!

>>12562051
Hmm. Should we bring up the favor we owe her and see if she still wants the priest?

>>12562051
Well. That's interesting. No need to press for now, I suppose. Ask her if she has any particular mission, and who are her superiors in the hells.

Go ahead and check out the sword now. Unless we can think of any other questions to ask her?

>>12562269
dice 1d100

>>12562064
You wait, but she remains reticent. You give, breaking the silence.

"Please, Scinnari, I do not mean to impress. I merely wished to know more about you. I would be happy to help you balance the scales, I merely wish to learn the details behind the event... partially to better aid you, and partially because I can hardly help but be curious about such a capable and beautiful partner..."

Scinnari doesn't answer, but after a few moments, asks, "What did you think of what we extracted from the tower?"

"An excellent job, all around. I think we may want to move some of his magical and alchemical devices to our... house, so as to better use them."

"Your studies have been progressing extraordinarily well." Scinnari agrees.

"Much less studying at this point. It seems... more natural, something I inherently understand." you say, glancing back through the proceeds from the tower, and resisting the urge to stretch and roll on your hoard. Satisfying as it is, and appealing as the idea is, it would be undignified.


Still contemplating what, exactly, she is hiding, you turn your attention to the staff and sword, what you prevented being delivered to Kazmiri.

[dice 1d100]

rolled 98 = 98

bigmoneybigmoneyBIGMONEYNOWHAMMYNOWHAMMYNOWHAMMYSTOP

rolled 7 = 7

>>12562310
Where was Asha from again? Direction-wise from where we are that is.

While I haven't found the parts that say Chromatics and Metallics dislike each other yet, I did stumble across a section that says we don't need special enchantments to keep our magical gear benefits after polymorphing. Everything but weapons and armor keeps applying bonuses and effects in our dragon form.

>>12562375

BAM! NJ anon! We got mad money up in this bitch!

>>12562375
You carefully grab the sword's hilt between two claws, and lift it. Extremely well done, an weapon, an artifact, if only it were magical. You heft it, feeling the weight. Very light, considering all the gold. Perhaps that's the minor enchantment you're getting off of it. Holding out an exploratory claw, you touch the edge of the blade.

"Tiamat's ten thousand-!" you begin to swear, cutting yourself off. The blade cut deeply into your claw, without the slightest resistance. Not only that, but you felt a strange feeling when it did; not just the pain, but a tugging, flowing feeling, as if the blade were trying to pull you... out of you. And then return it.


Scinnari looks on in concern as your blood drips onto the floor. Nothing serious, but it should never have happened. Partially in anger and irritation, you slam the sword down, into the ground. It doesn't penetrate rock like it did you scales, but it doesn't break, or seem damaged at all, either. You also notice another magical 'scent' on it, too; it smells like... a protective spell, a fire one.

Unsettling.


[Along with this, shall we get a verdict on what to tell the kobolds? Either way, our basement will be done shortly.]

>>12562515
Let's go ahead and get the natural expansion of the cavern, but close it off from the other tunnels until we can figure out some good security measures.

Also perhaps separate the cavern from the basement with a door.

>>12562515
A dragonslaying blade. An abomination that such a thing exists. Perhaps even an artifact, to cleave our scales so easily and elude our senses.

And yeah, let's have that cavern mined into and air shafts drilled. Tell them to explore the cavern for as far as they can and after finding out where it goes we will tell them if we want it collapsed.

>>12562558
I assumed there would be doors between the upstairs and basement, basement and cavern, and basement and sewers. Trapped doors.

>>12562568
I'm more concerned on why Kazmiri wanted a dragonslaying blade and why he wanted it so bad... I'm assuming the journal said nothing about dragons so that's interesting.

>>12562515

Can't be... Vorpal?

>>12562627
Oh god, is it silver?

>>12562568
"And where does it go, Jerrik?" you ask. The cavern has already been connected, via a trapdoor in the corner of your basement. A trap door that has been adequately camouflaged in the floor, too.

"They don't know, Lord. It goes; the nearest tunnels have been identified. One went to your building. One we use to arrive, comes from the warehouse. Those two," he says, turning and gesturing at indentions in a wall, "head for sewers. That one comes out just above the water. Can wall it up, Kantak thought you might want a... back door. Extra entrance. Or exit. Don't know. That one..." Jarrik says, moving on hurriedly, perhaps worried that you'd take offense by the implications that you might want an escape route, "Goes down. Down long ways, then drops. Chasm. Deadfall. Nothing. Maybe extra vent, otherwise, collapse it. What do you want, Lord?"

"Hmm..." you say, looking out around the cavern. Vast. Almost a hundred and fifty feet tall at places, though the kobolds assure you it is almost that far below the surface, even at it's tallest points. You can believe that; it's a good thirty feet down to the bottom of your basement. Then twenty down the trap door, and a steeply descending corridor. You're half tempted to ask them to install handrails down that, perhaps very creaky ones. Who knows....

The cavern is also delightfully wide as well, three hundred by two hundred feet. Roomy... Plenty of room for you in here. And anyone else, certainly.

>>12562515
Is Asha from the east? I wonder if she might have any knowledge on the demonologists or the warriors that have bugged Scinnari. Otherwise, we might have to do some research of our own.

>>12562620
Wizards are always fond of artifacts and magical gubbinz. Could be totally unrelated, just wanted a uber-powerful magic sword....

I don't really believe that, I'm afraid, I'm just tossing it out there, but still.

>>12562666

Marvelous, give the kobolds their cash reward, throw in some minor magical trinkets for Vizier Jerrik and the kobold leaders.

>>12562673
>>12562382
Asha is from the Tashz, kingdom of sand and jungle, a region a little ways south of Freeport, on the mainland. Particularly along the coast, it's a vibrant jungle with wealthy seatrade, but past it's coastal mountain ranges, it's a vast desert, traversed by caravans, popular home of Blue dragons.

>>12562666
Let's keep the one with the chasm open. Collapse one of the ones going to the sewer. Wall up the second one to the sewer and install a trapped, locked metal door. Keep four kobold guards there at all times.

>>12562726
Also have the kobolds run an alarm system from the trapdoor in the basement to the bedroom. Make sure they do it when both Scinnari and Asha will be out of the house.

>>12562388
That's actually why wizards and other things that can polymorph keep their clothes afterward. It either goes into hammerspace or changes form. I personally like the hammerspace version, because seeing a dragon decked out in jewelery is so much less awesome than just the beast itself.

>>12562692
>>12562726
>>12562751

"I approve. I approve. Excellent work... collapse that one. " you order, indicating the first sewer-tunnel, "And wall up that one. I'd like as solid a door as you can make, steel, preferably, locked, and trapped. Trapped to the fullest of your abilities.."

"Good, Lord! Trapsmith has been wanting to take part, will be pleased to show off." Jerrik replies, enthusiastic as usual.

"As for the chasm... leave it open. Don't collapse it. The same goes for the harbor tunnel... Perhaps I'll develop a taste for seafood." you chuckle to yourself.

[Anything more?]

>>12562804
>>12562388

If we're wielding the Dragonslaying sword when we morph back we're going to be unstoppable in dragon duels.

>>12562837
Mmmm, how big is the harbor tunnel?

Maybe we can have the collapse it and then dig an exit that comes out under the waterline. Less exposed.

>>12562845
Hopefully it won't come to that in the first place.

>>12562845
Can't use weapons in dragon form. Not that we need to, we can eventually just get some permanent version of Greater Magic Fang cast on us.

>>12562845
>>12562388
While I concede that that sounds delightfully evil, I'm going to have to ask for a citation.

Tell Jarrik to find out -- discretely -- if there are any merchants selling dwarven blasting powder and how much.

>>12562865
About ten feet tall, seven wide. Varies heavily. (mostly-natural cave.)

That would be possible. Confirm?

>>12562933
3.5e Draconomicon page 24.

>>12562952
Well, basically what I'm asking is if we can fit through it in dragon form, but apparently not. Keep the underwater entrance fairly smallish and concealed from direct observation if possible.

>>12562952
On a completely unrelated note, we should go buy some potions of healing. Just in case. 3 should be fine.

>>12563093
We've had some free time. Give me a list, and it can all have happened in the intervening time.

>>12562982
Well, I'll give you that it seems to think most magic items polymorph to fit the user, which is strange, but it doesn't seem to think so for weapons or armor.

Not getting any more responses, so I'll move us along here.
##############

Satisfied with the kobold collective's work, you ascend the chute leading down to your cavern, and then up the ladder to the basement. Both Scinnari and Asha are out, Scinnari busy wrapping people around her fingers, and Asha gathering information. Rumors from the mainland, mainly, but whatever hard news there is as well.

Which means that the messenger waiting on the porch may have been there quite a while. He doesn't show it when you open the door, though, snapping to attention.

"Free Captain Cibach Azal?"

"The one and only." you reply eying the silver-filigreed scroll tube he holds.

"Orders to deliver you this, from the Sealord's palace himself." the messenger explains, bowing and holding it out.

"Thank you. Is a reply expected?" you ask, accepting the tube. Nice work, reasonably valuable.

"No. Do you have one?"

"Not in that case. Very well, accepted and dismissed." you declare. He bows again, and turns, travelling back down your front walk. You watch him leave, before entering the house, opening the scrolltube in the kitchen, and laying out the message on the table. Nothing elaborate, an envelope would have done, but presumably the Sealord wanted to make an impression...

>>12563294
"Milton Drac -- The Right and Honorable Sealord of Freeport --
cordially invites Free Captain Cibach Azal to be his most honored guest at the Grand Lighthouse Ball. You have been awarded the Order of Drake for your bravery in defeating the evil councilor Verlaine. Present this invitation at the gates of the Sea Lord's Palace to gain admittance to the festivities. Prepare yourself for an evening of entertainment you will not soon forget."

That seems to make sense with the rumors that have been flying. It was declared that Kazmiri was a or the leader of the cult, and a very public purging of his estate, as well as repossession of his holdings was undertaken by the city. And the lighthouse, Milton's Folly, some are calling it, is due to be completed and put in use shortly...

The back of the invitation is heavily embossed, and bears the Sealord's seal, along with "To admit Cibach Azal and Guest" in elegant handwriting...

>>12563302
Hmmm. I suggest we have Asha invisibly scout the lighthouse. Give her some money to buy a scroll on non-detection, she can cast the invisibility herself. Impress upon her that this is a very important mission and that she should be looking for secret doors as well, and you suspect that the cult has a presence there.

Also, I suppose this is the point that we will formally introduce Scinnari as Lady Azal. Doing so will allow her to work the half of the noble circle that we cannot: the female side. Favor gained between lord's wives might well win someone to our side that we otherwise would be unable to, and she seems quite the social butterfly already.

Speaking of which, let's check and see where she is at.

> "To admit Cibach Azal and Guest"

So, which one of the lovely ladies do we want to bring along?

>>12563294
I personally just like to think that magical gear vanishes when a wizard or dragon or whatever polymorphs, but still gives bonuses. Can you imagine how awkward it would be to have a full helm on an illithid, or bracers/boots on a squid?

>>12563388
I vote Scinnari.

Asha is great, but she's only human and doesn't even know what we are. Besides, since it's an important event I imagine Lydon will be there. Boy that would be awkward.

Well we'll have to see if Cygnis was able to secure her own invitation. If so, we should take Scinnari of course. If not, it's the perfect opportunity to present her with the necklace we had crafted.
And hell, Scinnari can still tag along invisibly.

>>12563302
Why do I get the feeling that we're approaching the what the cult wants the most and thus their final designs?

I also recommend Scinnari. She's our consort as far as the public is aware of and it would be odd to bring Cygnis or Asha.

>>12563423
I hadn't considered Cygnis. Still, if we are going to have Scinnari act as our wife and strafe the socialites like
>>12563366
suggested, then it would look strange not to bring her. Then again, Cygnis might be peeved at not being taken too. She has invested heavily in this and knows the city's political layout. Hmmm.

>"Dragons also fight over mates (such contests are not limited to males) and usually try to kill or drive away neighboring dragons of different alignments. Emnity is particularly strong among chromatic and metallic dragons that typically inhabit similar territories."

That's all I can find on dragons disliking each other. It does say that they typically try to kill or drive away other-aligned dragons, which I took to mean chromatic vs metallic. Especially since it continues with a specific example of that sort.

Decision time: We're going to have to introduce Scinnari if she is the one we bring. Will she be our wife or paramour? I say wife simply because she won't be able to integrate with the other nobles (male or female) without being one of them. "Chattel shouldn't be speaking on things above their station", and all that.

>>12563302
>Prepare yourself for an evening of entertainment you will not soon forget.

As a DM I always find statements like this ominous, because whenever I make them my players are in for some serious shit.

>>12563417

> I imagine Lydon will be there. Boy that would be awkward.

That's precisely the reason it would be awesome. He already was pretty impressed that we stopped her. Also, remember his line about how he turns away for two seconds and suddenly we're sitting on a beautiful woman? Now imagine how impressed he would be if we showed up with her on our arm.

Plus, it might help us cultivate a relationship with Asha. That would probably help keep her under claw.

>>12563472
Ah, okay, I took 'over mates' as a qualifier, suggesting that they don't do it excessively normally.

Also that they would fight over mates, even with dragons of opposite alignments or 'colors'.....

Anyway.


The date is five days from now, plenty of time to procure what you deem necessary, or prepare. If you inform Cygnis, she is likely to insist on you attending.

>>12563534
As true as that may be, Scinnari will likely feel slighted. Cygnis as well if she was unable to secure an invitation.

Cygnis knows the political landscape better than we do, she might be a good choice.

Damn, are we really debating this much about who our date will be?

Voting on Cygnis. Perfect opportunity to pull her away from Arman, present our necklace, and by way of apology to Scinnari, we can let her plant Cygnis' dagger in his back while we're at the ball. Everybody wins! (Except Arman.)

>>12563534
Though that has merit too.. hm... I guess I just think that keeping Cygnis under our claw beats out style points.

>>12563534
Scinnari would be positively incandescent. While that's normally no problem, I don't think we should piss her off. She's one of our greatest assets and in the singular position of being able to unravel almost everything if we treat her badly.

Plus, I just like her. She's useful, beautiful, and smart. All of these things help us and improve our status.

>>12563591
Man, we're going to rage so hard if Scinnari has been playing us like a fiddle all this time and back stabs us in some manner.

>>12563566
Oh shit, we really are going into a huge argument about who our imaginary date to the ball will be. I am unclean.

(I vote scinnari)

Proposal: Invite Cygnis, make sure to give Scinnari the emerald, and have her follow? She can take on whatever guise she wants inside, and what with her glamour and charisma, is unlikely to get ejected just because nobody can recall her name.

>>12563613
I'm pretty sure she does have some plot going. I mean where does she go all the time? That's why I said we should start using the collar to check up on her regularly when she's gone. Say once an hour.

But that's what makes her so delicious. We can then build more plots to counter her plots and show our superiority.

>>12563620
I would be shocked if there were no magical defenses with so many important personages in attendance.

Can I get a second on having Asha scout invisibly and non-detected? We really don't need to walk into a cult-stronghold lighthouse with no prep.

>>12563657
Good point. Alternative: Just show up with Asha, Cygnis, Scinnari, and Arman. Claim adventuring-party style, we all did it together, can't just let one or two take the credit. Get to bring all three of our women (Maybe not Asha, as, if she isn't 'ours', then it be quite a shock to dear Lydon,), get credit, and still might be able to socialize freely

>>12563717
That probably won't fly. This is likely an event where we are going to be appointed to the Council, or at least declared in the running. Like the last ball with Lydon.

>>12563366
>>12563691
Sorry, I missed that. It can be done; did you intend now or during the ball?

Also, perhaps we should come up with a decision and a few things we want to do in preparation, and call it a night?

>>12563717
I don't think it's a good idea to demand such things of the Sealord. We're trying to get a good political view of us and if this isn't a huge trap, we're hurting our image. I say have whoever doesn't go somewhat nearbyish so we can try to send out a signal that we need help or maybe they'll be able to tell if this is a big trap.

I honestly doubt all the big players in the city are apart of the cult so it can't be a huge trap just for us. If it is a trap, it will be because we are isolated from the rest of the crowd at some point for some reason or the Sealord will try to villify us in front of everyone although that last option seems unlikely.

>>12563738
I say have her scout it out now, and maybe every day until the ball just to be sure. And the surrounding area, looking for caves or anything that leads under it since they like the underground so much.

>>12563738
If you're getting tired, sure.

Was there anything in Kazmiri's journals about the lighthouse?

I think we should bring Asha. If I recall, Cygnis expressed a desire to see her replace Scinnari as the woman on our arm. So it will win points with Cygnis. It will also likely impress Lydon even more.

As for Scinnari, well we could arrange this: She makes ominous threats to Asha, something like "Cibach is trusting you a great deal by bringing you along. Of course, you'll screw it up, as you have everything in your miserable life, and that will turn Cibach against you. He'll cut you loose, withdraw his protection, and then you'll be all mine."

Scinnari will probably get a kick out of that, maybe enough to overlook not getting invited, and if all else fails we can appease her further by sending her to put Cygnis's dagger in Arman's back at some point. It will reinforce Asha's dependence on us, and if we continue to act the gentleman it might help us cultivate an actual relationship with her that will make her more actually loyal to us.

Finally, sexy brown sorcerer/assassin chick. That is all.

Archived.
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/12557364/

Don't forget to vote.

Also, though nobody seems to have actually voiced a vote for Asha, it occurs that as far as SHE knows, we're a legit non-nobility lord.
So it might surprise her if we invite her, who knows. Similarly, we've taken pains to paint Scinnari as our evil-but-devoted servant, not our consort.

Oh, and, if we're to attend a grand formal ball, etc, we'll probably have to let Cygnis know about it, as we'll be depending on her for funds to purchase proper accouterments.

...Ohmygod. Is this going to be a Masquerade ball? Costume party? Because if it is, we have to get a red dragon costume, and invite Scinnari/Cygnis with a devil/gold dragon costume. This is non-negotiable.

>>12563852
>Similarly, we've taken pains to paint Scinnari as our evil-but-devoted servant, not our consort.

Actually we took her to swagfest as our lady iirc.

>>12563852
Cygnis already bought us proper raiment a long time ago. Even if we didn't, it would have been beneath us to go around in peasant garb.

>>12563845
Thank you.

>>12563819
His shipping manifest had quite a bit identified as 'materials for lighthouse', and he did have a journal detailing his overseeing of the construction. Nothing incriminating, though.

We could simply ask for permission to bring two extra guests, citing that they all helped in dealing with the cultists, and that it wouldn't be right to play favorites.

>>12563905
Oh come on, where's that red dragon decisiveness? Besides, it would be pretty poor form to arrive with three women on our arms when in the company of high nobility.

Let's just go and ASK Cygnis if she's been invited first to at least have the possibility of cutting down our choices to just 2.

rolled 7, 7 = 14

How about going 'alone'?

>>12563934
This. Plus, she might be in favor of bringing Asha instead of her. Remember

http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/12397403/
> Five days pass, and things progress wonderfully. Asha, much recovered, decides to take you up on your offer, and you continue to act as sympathetic and helpful as you can. Cygnis, for her part, buys your story of a dispossessed merchant princess grateful for a chance at a new life. Enough in fact to worry you, you think she has been hinting that you should use her to replace Scinnari, as the wife or consort of Captain Cibach Azal. Something that just won't do; it doesn't matter HOW much of her money you're using, she does not get to dictate your love life.

>>12563941
Coward's way out. Better to bring one and slight the others than slight all three. Besides, I don't think it would really be a slight to Cygnis anyway. She's surely not in the market for becoming Mrs. Cibach Azal.

Both Scinnari and Asha are viable choices, though. Asha is a princess and knows her court manners. Scinnari is very good at playing people/political games and we've already been presenting her as our mistress or wife.

>>12563941
That wouldn't fit the image we've been cultivating. We're a charming gentleman adventurer who rescues damsels in distress. Showing up all by our lonesome wouldn't fit that.

Plus, walking into a potentially hostile new environment without backup is never a good plan. Not when we can help it.

>>12563965
Yeah, but to hell with Cygnis. As it says in the greentext, she doesn't get to tell us what cave our little dragon nests in.

>>12563965
There are reasons for bringing each of them, but I most surely do not want our reason for bringing Asha to be "Because Cygnis wants us to."

>>12563823
This... this is delightfully evil. We would have to be some sort of terrible, manipulative bastard to even consi-

Oh wait.

rolled 7, 4 = 11

Personally I think we should take Scannari (or however you spell it). I offered the alone option as noone had yet taken it.

I'm certain that we could find a use for Asha

>>12564002
Then see >>12563823

It will earn us points with everyone. Asha herself, Cygnis, Lydon, and even Scinnari if we play our cards right. She does love toying with Asha after all.

>>12564022
I'm not sure Scinnari will go along with that quite how you seem to be expecting. She has shown a marked aversion to anyone trying to replace her, even if it's laughable. See: Cygnis's rescue.

>>12563823
I'm with this one. I want Asha to become tied to us more tightly if at all possible, and I daresay that we've heaped enough love and praise on Scinnari that she won't mind. She'll likely even understand the reasons for our decisions... reasons like tweaking the nose of Asha's former employer, trying to get Asha more involved with us, making Cygnis think that we're not as committed to working with the devil as we actually are, and so forth.

>>12563823
I think that we should do this for the reasons mentioned in >>12564022

>>12564030
She also enjoyed the idea of menacing Asha in order to manipulate her into being (to a degree) loyal to us. It plays into her natural tendency/desire to manipulate mortals. This would be an extension of that.

>>12564051
Well yeah, but in that situation she wasn't actively helping replace herself at our side.

>>12563934
>>12563965
Using invisibility to evade (potential) watchful eyes, you depart, trying the tunnels from your lair... The sewer tunnel has an unfortunate smell, and, in effort to avoid stinking, you take the harbor exit instead. As the kobolds indicated, it comes out in a rain-drainage pipe, not exactly sterile, but much nicer than the sewers. Climbing the adjacent ladder, you wait until you're mostly on your own before ducking into an alley and releasing your invisibility. Only a few blocks away from Cygnis' dwelling, you enjoy the leisurely walk. It seems quite possible you will be in control of the city soon... underhandedly, if not directly. A domain...

Knocking on Cygnis door, you wait for Cygnis to greet you and invite you in.

Cygnis does so, telling you to seat yourself, before moving off to put down what is in her hands.

"Have you heard of the Sealord's lighthouse ball?" you ask as she returns.

"Of course. The... upper levels of the city have been talking about it for weeks. It is sure to be a popular event."

"Were you planning on attending?" you ask, building up to the question.

"No. It seemed... beneath me." she says, though you suspect it an excuse.

"Understandable, of course. But don't you think it might be worthwhile?"

"Yes... But I have no... identity, to go as. The trouble of creating one... Well, just believe me, it requires extensive work, especially for such a high-profile event." The irony of her complaint is not lost; you're probably the only other person in the city who knows exactly what she is talking about.

[Offer her or not? If so, 1d100. I'm going to be going very shortly, so if I don't have time to see the final result either email me or I'll check the archives after the fact.]

>>12564058
Inform her, but don't offer. See if she has insight.

>>12564058
Nay

>>12564012
'Scinnari'. Scin. Like sin. (dohoho. At least that's how I read it.

While bringing along Asha might be a good idea from the perspective of earning points with everyone (along with the style points of showing up with the same assassin we captured on our arm), remember that we still don't know a whole lot about Drac, or how deeply involved he was in the cult. Even when Kazmiri was dead, the guards still conveniently ignored the cult attack on the temple, meaning that he wasn't the end of their influence in the city's official power structure. This whole thin might be a trap, or at the very least a cult infested gathering where we will need to stay on guard.

Given that, I don't think we can waste our one slot on essentially a recruiting ploy. We need to bring actual, serious backup, meaning either Scinnari or Cygnis (if she wants to come). Both are significantly more powerful in a fight than Asha.

>>12564058
It would be good to have her advice on the people who would be there. We should ask her about all of them and do the same with Scinnari once we get home. I think that should help us decide who to invite. I kinda doubt Asha knows many people in this city but we can ask her too.

>>12564030
Look, if Scinnari objects to our hanging with other women, then we need to correct her belief on where she stands with us. We have been explicit and more than generous in our praise with her so far, but she does not get to dictate that.

She is, as we told her before, the crowning piece of our collection. But if she thinks that we're going to stop working on making our hoard grow just because we have one spectacular thing in it, she's an idiot. A proper dragon seeks to always increase his wealth- in this case, in terms of things other than mere objects, but the exact same principle applies.

And he lays himself upon whatever of it pleases him, from the lowest copper piece to the most priceless artifact. She does not need to defend her standing with us, and if she does so in spite of that we may grow annoyed.

>>12564092
While I agree in theory, do bear in mind that it wouldn't be too hard for her to completely destroy everything we've built here, steal the dragonslaying sword, and knife us in our sleep.

rolled 5, 8 = 13

>>12564084

This.

Could also state to Asha that we're taking Scinarri to keep an eye on her (earn brownie points there), and spent some quality time with Scinnari

>>12564124
>>12564092
I don't think we should have to defend our decisions to any of our bitches. Just pick the one we like the most. I say devil chick.

>>12564124
I'd rather spend quality time IN Scinnari, if you know what I mean.

rolled 1, 9 = 10

>>12564141

dohoho xD sly.

And I agree. As Mr Dragon McEvil, Scinnari is to me the obvious choice.

>>12564068
"I have been invited by the Sealord, as a..." you make a show of pulling out the invitation and reading the exact wording, "most honored guest."

"I... see..." Cygnis says slowly. She is obviously interested, and you can almost see her mind racing. "If you wished me to accompany you, I would not say no."

"Well, maybe if you want to." you backpedal, "I was thinking of Scinnari, who has already made a public appearance as my... companion. Alternately, possibly Asha, the assassin-princess. I was hoping to hear your advice. I can't promise to take it, but I respect your knowledge... And the wisdom of your kind is legendary." That's right, flatter her enough and she'll be happy no matter what happens...

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
And I'm out. 00:15 for me. I'll check the thread and take the most popular result from here onward, including emails, should people try that. I think the next thread will be tomorrow, 7 /tg/ time.

Night all.

>>12564141

I'd take her to my grand lighthouse ball, if you know what I mean.

>>12564138
Calling Cygnis our bitch could get us eaten. Seriously. Awesome prize, but tread lightly. Be polite.

And don't argue that we could take her. We probably could, but any fight would mean all of our plans have been shot to hell.

>>12564153
Night.

One vote for Scinnari.

rolled 2, 2 = 4

Count me for Scinnari as well

>>12564153
Scinnari is who I think we should bring, also did we bring that dragon amulet? And should we give it to her before we want to kill her? It will lock down when we tell it to but it also has the permanent antipoly-thing and might tip her off. Maybe we should wait and give it to her?

>>12564216
Wait on giving it to her. Remember, we haven't really done very much in this city that we wouldn't be able to explain to Cygnis if she found out. Aside from the fact that we're actually a red, the amulet is one of the only things that would put us on a collision course. No reason to do that sooner than necessary.

We should give it to her tonight, take her back to our place and chain her up in the basement. Gloating and tipping our hand all the while for enjoyment.

Then we can take Asha to the ball publicly and get Scinnari to tag along invisibly.

>>12564238
That seems a bit premature.

>>12564238
No. That's stupid evil. We can still get more out of her, we don't really have access to that merchant company she runs just yet. Get rid of her now and that's lost to us.

Plus, the cult is still out there, and she's one of the only people we can trust to help fight it.

But I wanna glooooooooaaaaaat!

[See, this is awesome if you imagine us as the various conflicting voices in his head]

>>12564157
I'd investigate her cult, if you know what I mean.

Personally, I vote for Asha, though really there are good reasons to bring any of the three along. At the end of the day I'd be fine with any of them.