Peza Sunday July 26th, 2015 8:35:14 PM
Answering "no " to both questions ...Peza waits for what follows .... waiting patiently ....
As the decision is made .... their introduction to Keelie Vinerunner ... the raven haired girl followsafter Keelie .... eager to find out more of what has happened ... and its implication for them and the city
Emrys Myrridanmyl ac10 hp46/46 Sunday July 26th, 2015 8:43:41 PM
(I'm moving into my new house and my cable/internet has yet to be turned on, even though it's several days after they said they'd do t. #thankstimewarner )
Barratore Steelwind (Dan K) AC: 33 (T 14 FF 26), CMD: 31; HP: 106/106Character Sheet Monday July 27th, 2015 6:57:41 AM
Barratore is more than happy to exit the area and hopes they will get out of this building and back to normal people. Not to mention get his weapons back.
Ariach AC 29/15 touch/19 AC, CMD23; HP 109/109 Monday July 27th, 2015 9:21:48 AM
Ariach follows Keelie Vinerunner and is immediately in a better mood. Finally they have met a man who knows which side one's bread is buttered on. Ariach´s breastplate shows symbols of Domi on shoulders and gauntlets too. Therefore he feels right away connected with the Lawbringer.
Brom the Barbarian - Rich P; AC: 25 (T 14, FF 25, Raged 23), CMD: 29 (31 Raged); HP: 124/124 (144/144 Raged); DR 2/- (DR 4/- Raged) Monday July 27th, 2015 11:45:14 AM
Brom listens to the cleric's explanation, but he is not convinced. "Ya, not convinced." He says to the high priestess.
Brom gives a nod to Keelie Vinerunner. He follows him out of the council chambers.
Co-DM John Monday July 27th, 2015 1:31:13 PM
Letting sleeping dragons lie, the party follows Keelie out of the chambers, he leads them to the hallway that was guarded and walks past the guards. Just around the corner is yet more guards, they are guarding a stairway, made of marble with inlays of precious gems and metals. At the base of the stairs he stops, places his hand against the wall, there is a clicking sound and a door pivots open. "This way please, those, are off limits." He indicates the stairs as he speaks. Inside the door is a large room, where it looks like meeting are held, but there is a lingering scent of sweaty leather and oils used on weapons to prevent rusting. Leading you across to one of three doors he opens it and walks in. A working man's office if you've ever seen one, a desk covered with papers and files. One whole wall is a series of maps, one each for each level of Float City. Another wall with a list of names and either a red, green or blue marker next to each of them. You also have finally seen an outside wall, even though from outside there were no windows, from the inside it's almost like there is no wall, even though there are imperfections, it's like one giant window, that goes right around the corner and takes up the two remaining walls. "OK, I don't know what's up with Markus, he's being even more hard headed than usual. I don't speak for the Council, but I am for sure glad that there is a group here who seems quite capable. Now, I'm not sure what will be needed, but I do have these." He pulls out a little pearl on a string (non slot magic item), enough of them so each party member can have one. These allow a person to breath underwater, they have enough magic to last about a week. The Guards get a shipment of them each month and we are near the end of the month. What else would you like to know before you go and find our missing turtles."
ITEM: Slotless necklace of water-breathing (duration 6 or 7 days)
Edson Kazil(Shawn), AC 26,Touch AC 19, Flatfooted AC 12, HP 57/57 Monday July 27th, 2015 6:44:07 PM
Edson takes the necklace and wraps it around his.hand.
"Eh... who would benefit from the theft? Is there any monetary value? Is there a thieves guild presence in The Float? What exactly do the turtles do?"
Evaris Monday July 27th, 2015 7:01:58 PM
Evaris frowns. As briefings went....this wasn't one. He tries to muster all the questions he still has.
"Have the turtles been stolen, or have they wandered off?" he asks. "Or, could it be either? How tame are they? Are they trained to some kind of harness? If so, could we have some harnesses to lead them back here? If they wandered off, is there some kind of nesting ground they might return to? Where were they raised? If they were taken, what kind of environment would the thieves need to keep them in? How much water would they need? About how much food each day, and what kind? If they were stolen, what would the thieves do with them? Is there anyplace they could sell them--other than selling them back to the city, which would be a tactical error?"
He pauses for breath. He's sure he has more questions, but this will do to start.
LanlissHP 63/63 AC:26 touch:19 flat:18 cmd:25 Monday July 27th, 2015 8:10:08 PM
Is there anything else about magical about the pearls Lanliss asks rather curiously. I mean... Can we talk underwater with that thing Lanliss asks as he points his hand to the pearl. he continues by asking in a very fast manner. What about casting spells with voice underwater? will the spell have any effect ?
LanlissHP 63/63 AC:26 touch:19 flat:18 cmd:25 d20+14=34 ; Monday July 27th, 2015 8:12:59 PM
Lanliss also appraises the pearl appraise 34
Peza Monday July 27th, 2015 9:27:09 PM
Listening as Keelie is peppered with questions ... she asks a few of her own
" so who can control , handle the turtles ?? .... afterall whoever took them must be able to handle them ... is that a highly skilled job ?? .... will the turtles respond to anyone or prefer their own handlers ??"
Accepting the pearl , Peza puts it around her neck
Ariach AC 29/15 touch/19 AC, CMD23; HP 109/109 Tuesday July 28th, 2015 11:59:52 AM
Ariach also takes a pearl, puts it around his neck and gives thanks to the Lawkeeper for the gift.
"Thank you, although i already know that i will not like it under water."
Brom the Barbarian - Rich P; AC: 25 (T 14, FF 25, Raged 23), CMD: 29 (31 Raged); HP: 124/124 (144/144 Raged); DR 2/- (DR 4/- Raged) Tuesday July 28th, 2015 12:42:35 PM
Brom takes the pearl. "Let's start at the turtle docks. See if we can find a trail ta start with." He says.
Co-DM John Tuesday July 28th, 2015 1:55:20 PM
Keelie reply's to each question..... Edson: "I don't know and yes, there is a Thieves Guild, but answer this, where would a thief hide a 30' turtle and a bunch of smaller turtles." Evaris: "They are trained not to wander off. They wouldn't hurt anything, they are generally peaceful. With turtles that size, a water based environment would be expected. Most were raised here and then sent to Black Bird Lake to be trained." Lanlis:"All I know is it allows you to breathe underwater. " Value about 4 gp minus any magic. Peza:"As long as one knows the basic commands I expect you can control a turtle, of course each turtle has it's own foibles." Ariach:"I've been down to the gardens a few times, it is a bit daunting at the bottom." Brom:"I agree that would be the best place to start, since the turtles were there yesterday." ___________________________________________________________________ Keelie, after handing out the pearls and answering the questions, leads you out to the outside deck. Some how, he's times it so the platform is at the top and about ready to be winched down. "If you run into any troubles that I can help with, just call on me. Since you are now taking over the hunt for the turtles, I can go back to trying to stop the smuggling ring. You close down this one over here and another one crops up over there, it's a never ending battle. Good Luck" Weather you ride the platform, head down the ramp or shrink again, the group eventually makes it back to the docks.....
LanlissHP 63/63 AC:26 touch:19 flat:18 cmd:25 d20+16=30 ; Tuesday July 28th, 2015 8:26:51 PM
So where do we start to look here Lanliss says looking at the docks looking for anything that might give some clue about where turtles could be hidden. while looking, Lanliss says in a rather aloof and humorus tone: The thieves could have actully shrink the turtles ? could they not ? perception 30
Peza Tuesday July 28th, 2015 9:36:32 PM
"Wwell we should start at the docks ... and the people that run it ... the gnome Maximillian Burke is one , the halfling we saw is the other .... "
"Also Calvin mentioned about a "Turtle mistress "..... she might be a turtle handler or something of that sort, we need to learn more about the turtles ....afterall how in the wold can you hide something so big ?? "
Evaris Tuesday July 28th, 2015 9:53:57 PM
"So, that's a 'no' on the harness," Evaris says, following Keelie out to the deck. "What do they eat, though? And about how much per day? I mean," he chuckles, "if somebody just bought a 50-pound bag of Turtle Chow, that might be a clue."
Barratore Steelwind (Dan K) AC: 33 (T 14 FF 26), CMD: 31; HP: 106/106Character Sheet Tuesday July 28th, 2015 10:13:02 PM
Barratore scratches himself about the ear and then make a minor distinctively male 'adjustment''. Sometimes the smart people really got bent up around the small things. "Seems magic would be the best way to make off with a 30' turtle. He looks to Emrys, "can you detect any traces still about.?"
To the group he asks a few other things, "why steal them, surely they could be sold here and why the big concern over them, I get not wanting to let folks swipe the trained turtles, but they seem a bit more than that. Wonder who looses if they are stolen or if their is some free the turtle folks like some nutty Druids?"
Barratore puts the pearl in his belt pouch
Emrys Myrridanmyl ac10 hp46/46 Tuesday July 28th, 2015 11:14:32 PM
(Still no internet in the new house )
"I could have detected a magical aura yesterday, but now such an aura has faded. Shinking the animal is a possibility, but such magics don't last long without some kind of permanency spell. Dimensional travel could have been employed. Not to mention the polymorphing arts. The possibilities are endless." Then a thought hits him, "why not ask a witness. .. like the dolphin friend of that halfling lady."
Edson Kazil(Shawn), AC 26,Touch AC 19, Flatfooted AC 12, HP 57/57 Wednesday July 29th, 2015 8:08:27 AM
" it doesn't make sense if there is no monetary value or chance to sell them. It has to be an attack to harm the float as a whole. Maybe these "smugglers" have to do with it."
Co-DM John Wednesday July 29th, 2015 2:01:56 PM
With the hundreds of people who've been to the docks to see what has happened, any chance of finding any clue by just casually looking around is near zero. There are two leads though... The Halfling who was seen speaking to the Dolphin and the old Elven woman seen for a few minutes yesterday. The Halfling was titled "Mistress of Turtles" and might know what they would eat and also if there was any worth in the turtles in a monetary sense. ____________________________________________________________________ Having decided that the group needs information and the only obvious source of information they can think of is most likely the Halfling, it's decided to search her out. Walking along the docks, they can see that the most prestigious docks are the Turtle Docks. There are boat docks as well, but the Turtle Docks are clean, almost polished even. They have silver and gold gelding on the signs and railings where the other docks have signs, but there are no railings in sight. Apparently it's swim for your life if you fall in. At the far end of the Docks there is a boom arm being used to hoist green stuff from the lake water and it's being dumped into wagons and is hauled away. Passing the now collapsed building, the smell of recently burnt wood and the smell of brimstone and sulfur has a strong undercurrent. As the group is looking around closer at the burned building the Halfling in question surfaces from the water and lands on the dock as if she was boosted by a spring. "I expect you are looking for me, I'm Cris Webfoot. not my original name but the one adopted when I started following my heart to the water when I was younger. If you haven't guessed, I practice nature magics. And then there's the fact my best friend is Luci." Asking her the questions you have, she answers them, apparently honestly. sense motive DC 25Highlight to display spoiler: { it's honest as far as she knows} "As to controlling the turtles, there are basic commands and there are advanced commands. Plus each turtle has it's own quirks. The feed for the turtles, is mostly harvested from the lake itself, there are giant kelp fields down below, which we try to keep the vermin of the water out of, not very easy either. Most handlers use a staff to issue commands. I imagine magic could and probably was used to take the turtles, but everyone was paying attention to the explosion and burning building, it threatened to spread to other buildings and that needed to be stopped from happening. And traces of magic are hard to detect on buildings, but in water that flows about and has living things in it, it doesn't last long at all as a trace. As to how much a turtle is worth, a fully trained turtle would sell for close to 15,000 gold, if you could sell it and prove it wasn't stolen from here at Float City. We are famous for them after all. The young, untrained, maybe 1000 each, because these turtles are unique after all. These turtles are giant after all, how many other turtles have you seen that are 30' long. Luci was also watching the fire, she didn't notice the missing turtles until later when it was feeding time and half of the young were missing, the adult was found missing when a head count was done at the end of the day. The turtles are free to swim to the grazing field of kelp down below as they want, the young are fed at the stables. Well it's what we call them, it's just a platform for them to stay on."
Peza Wednesday July 29th, 2015 9:02:27 PM
Listening to the halfling ... a question pops into her head ...
"well who else uses these turtles ?? i mean other competitors in business ... these are uniquie animals ... i would think that they would stand out in a crowd "
Nodding at Edsons veiw of things ... " thats an intresting take .... a political agenda ... sabotage the float of its leaders .... i think we should have a conversation with Mr Burke also .... who would benefit from this scandel ?"
Barratore Steelwind (Dan K) AC: 33 (T 14 FF 26), CMD: 31; HP: 106/106Character Sheet d20+4=16 ; Wednesday July 29th, 2015 10:57:25 PM
Barratore looks at the Halfling then at Luci and then back to the Mistress of Turtles, "Can we ask the turtles?" he says curiously. Other than that direct approach, the minotaur has little to offer. He looks about from the dock and thinks aloud, "Perhaps those owning the lesser docks look to even the business field." He shrugs if anyone pays him heed, "Seems their docks are not as fawned over, usually means not as much money which can mean less business uses them."
perception 16
Evaris Wednesday July 29th, 2015 11:32:28 PM
"I'm wondering the same thing as Peza," Evaris says. "Who would pay 15,000 gold for a trained turtle? They are remarkable animals, to be sure, but their use outside the Floating City would seem to be limited."
Edson Kazil(Shawn), AC 26,Touch AC 19, Flatfooted AC 12, HP 57/57 Thursday July 30th, 2015 1:03:18 AM
"Isn't there a way to check for residue of spells cast? I don't see a thirty foot turtle being smuggled out in someone's bag. Maybe some reside of a gate or portal, or even some invisbility. Something should show that can aid us in our mission."
Ariach AC 29/15 touch/19 AC, CMD23; HP 109/109 Thursday July 30th, 2015 2:35:39 PM
"Maybe the turtles are still somewhere around. Maybe they are just camouflaged by magic" Ariach supposes ,
Co-DM John Thursday July 30th, 2015 6:04:30 PM
TheTurtle mistress looks at Peza and answers, "The turtles are really not even needed, 90 or more percentage of our supplies come in by the transporter. and the majority of the rest is by actual ship. We are the only people who use turtles and it's more of a show thing. There is some freight shipped by them, but alot of the business is just tourism." As Barratore asks about talking to the turtles, "If you can speak to them be my guest. Both Luci and I have already spoken to them, they were really shaken by the loud noise and all the flames. They were more afraid of the flames and were watching to be sure they each were safe." As Evaris speaks up." Ok, answer this then, who would buy a trained warhorse big enough to carry an armored man when they could just buy a clydsdale and slap a saddle on it? It would be the presteige of owning a giant trained turtle I expect." Edson speaks up asks his question."As I said, nature has a way of washing away magical traces, especially when it's massive ammounts of water doing the washing. Go to a river,have a friend drop a really big rock into it, then come back say an hour later, and pin point where it hit with out knowing where your friend dropped it." To Ariach, "That's always possible, but only Luci and I can stay underwater for any true length of time, and we have our responsibilities to the rest of the turtles as well." __________________________________________________________________ Cris has been as helpful as she can be, "Any further questions, or should I lead you to where the turtles rest or where they graze down below. Of course there are the farms down there as well. And since it's underwater there is the occasional accident as well. Every few months one of the farmers goes missing, but they are paid well for taking thier chances working on the farms."
Peza Thursday July 30th, 2015 8:38:59 PM
Taking a look at the group .... no one seems to be hesitant .... Peza nods at Cris " might as well , the more we learn about the turtles and their lives , should help us possibly find a lead in what has befallen the turtles "
Barratore Steelwind (Dan K) AC: 33 (T 14 FF 26), CMD: 31; HP: 106/106Character Sheet Thursday July 30th, 2015 11:04:04 PM
Barratore grunts, "every few months?" and shakes his head. "That is motive to put an end to the Turtles if you ask me."
Peza wnats to go swimming....."All right, lets get wet then." Barratore stuffs his hand into his belt pouch and fiddles with the pearl a bit to reassure himself it was still there.
Evaris Thursday July 30th, 2015 11:23:08 PM
Evaris holds his pearl, looking at it ruefully. "Had I but known...." he says quietly. His spell selection for today was fine for general purposes, but if he'd known they were going underwater.....
He shakes off such thougts. They are not helpful. "Right. Well, let's get started, shall we?"
Edson Kazil(Shawn), AC 26,Touch AC 19, Flatfooted AC 12, HP 57/57 Friday July 31st, 2015 11:31:03 AM
Edson takes out the necklace and puts it on. He moves alongside Barratore before diving in.
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