Chapter 1: The Manipulative and the Subservient - The High Arcana Games

[dna1]

Red, Sylla, Coron, Thurl

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The Ratmen guard hisses at the shadows near the statues. Barring his teeth " Ehhhh... Reshk will hear of this you fuck! " He spats on the floor and backs away. You can hear him mumbling " piece of shit! jink hoarding magi loving bastard... " his voice begins to trail away.

From below, next to Coron and Sylla. The disgusting, rotten faced Snack chimes in with a rather annoyed tone. " Ehem! What. Are you doing here?? I thought you were supposed to be guarding the trinket near Reshk's 'throne'? If you think you can weasel in on my deal your mistaken. " he turns to Coron and Sylla. Now in a much quieter and more adorning tone he says " Forgive me Masters. This fecal-matter must of smelt a lucrative deal and came running. Give me a moment and I will scare him off my Lords" he takes a deep bow to both of you.
((free actions))

[Mixster]

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Red looks to the statues and say: "Whoever you are, I don't like the fact that you are hiding. I'm Red, show yourself." Red sends a smile in the direction, that wicked kobold smile that always seem to be less reassuring.

Then he looks down to Snack: I assume we were dealing? So what do you want for it? He yells in his voice to deep for his stature.

As soon as Red has read the trinket with Read Magic and is certain it is the right one, he casts mage hand to put it in his bag.

[sirpercival]

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Syllia seems to have developed a facial tic.  "Someone else?  What is going on here?"

[phaedrusxy]

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From the shadows the voice says "In due time, Red. For now, take comfort in the fact that the enemy of your enemy is a friend.

And as for Snack, I'd advise you not to pay that worm-faced coward anything. Say BOO loud enough and he'll run with his tail between his legs."

[Mixster]

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Red keeps looking at Snack for a response of price. You wouldn't attempt to cheat us, would you Snack?

[sirpercival]

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Syllia calls up, "What do you mean, enemy of our enemy?  Who are you?  Are you working for the ratmen?"

[phaedrusxy]

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"Dense fool, I'm here to help you! Isn't that enough? These rats have been bought off by another team, and I am here to make sure they don't win your little game."

OOC rolls/etc

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Knowledge (local) check for Knowledge Devotion vs "Snack": Know (Local) (1d20+7=19)
Add 5 if you allow Collector of Stories to boost that. Either way, it's a +2 to hit and damage.

How far away is he from Thurl? Trying to plan my actions.

[Mixster]

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Dire accusations from somebody we can't see, if these rats where really brought by something else, that would be most unfortunate for them, what do you have to say to that Snack?

OOC:

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Ready an Action to cast Arcane Fusion

[dna1]

Coron, Sylla, Red, Thurl
phae - (( go ahead and PM me all the rolls you do for checks and what not in the future   Also I posted a picture of the sewers, I will repost it. ))
((They entered from the hole in the wall, in the very center of the pic. Snack, Sylla and Coron all are standing near it still.  The pedestal with the item is on the top bridge near the statue's. Thats where the Ratguard Grishnak was. Red is hovering in front of the top level statue area, Phae your character is in that dark shadowy area pass the statues. So snack is about two and half levels down, maybe 15ft over))

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Snack hunches slightly and growls before answering Red " No master Dragon. I would never attempt to out smart an agent of the mighty Imperium. My associate would slit his own mothers throat for a block of cheese... he is one of the idiots I warned you about earlier. " he now turns to Sylla and says in a hushed voice " He is a pawn. He knows nothing.. best you just,.. exterminate him before he draws unwanted attention M'Lady "
He clears his throat and looks back to Red. " MY payment isnt much. Just help my people with a very generous donation is all I ask. Some magic scrolls, a small pile of gold?  Im sure the treasure room of a Chorrun'Char could easily cover my simple requests. "
Now in a very harsh tone towards the shadowy area " These people arent on your level. Now piss off before you cease to exist. " he hisses and steps forward a foot or two. His dirty stinky fist still clenching his little wand.

((go ahead and make a spot check everyone))

[Mixster]

"The treasury of the Chorrun Char is vast indeed, but sadly dragons are reluctant to part with their gold. How does 5 Platinums and the grace of a fullblood sound for your help?" Red answers. "Oh, and how much more would you want for turning the other group that employed you?" He continues, sending the Rat a wicked smile.
OOC:

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I assumed Red had landed up there, he doesn't have hover so he mostly flies from place to place were he can land, he would have landed more than 10ft from the rat guard, but close enough that he can still see the item and read it with read magic.
Spot Check:

Rolled 1d20+4 : 19 + 4, total 23

Sense Motive on Snack:

Rolled 1d20 : 11, total 11

[dna1]

((ok not a problem, I just thought you liked to hover   also dont forget, please PM me your rolls unless we are in the combat thread))

[Flay Crimsonwind]

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Coron had been quiet, observing. He forgot sometimes that he needed to take an active part in the world, instead of simply watching as if detached. Slowly, as the situation devolved, he began calculating out the chances that they could engage one or the other party and progress. They couldn't stand still like this forever; they needed to move. "That may be the best we can offer, if this takes too much more of our precious little time. I don't know or care who the interrupting party is, as long as there is no threat that he might take this from us. This Game we play is anything but; our time cannot be wasted like this..."

[Mixster]

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I'm tired of tricks and games rat-man, you seem untrustworthy, and what is it you are looking at in the corner? Tell your guard to remove his hand, and I'll grab the trinket and we'll be on our way. Then we have a deal, if you attempt to betray us, your life is as forfeit as his. Red looks from Snack to Grishnack, yawning as the old dragon he is.

[dna1]

whoops edited Mixsters post by accident.
will post more soon BUT, Mixster the Ratguard who had his hand on the Trinket was scared off by Phae

[phaedrusxy]

Thurl

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"Yes, what ARE you looking at over there, Snack? Expecting some friends? Let's have a look, shall we?" As he finishes speaking, four globes of light streak out into the darkness where the rat-man keeps looking.

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((Thurl casts Dancing Lights, conjuring four globes that give off light like torches, each spread 10 foot apart from the next closest one (so illuminating a large area in total). They speed down the dark hallway where Snack keeps looking, stopping if they illuminate any hiding creatures within 160 feet (the limit of the range).

ANd isn't that an awesome spell for a cantrip?  ))

[dna1]

Coron, Red, Sylla, Thurl

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" What? N..nothing " Snack starts to stammer to Red. Four globes streak from the darkness behind the statue's, they travel across the complex and hover near the entrance of a passage off in the back right area. You see 5 silhouette's of armed Ratmen scatter as the light hits them.
As the Ratmen scatter you hear Snack shout " You'll pay for this! "  and in a large puff of red-tinted smoke he vanishes. You can hear the Ratmen in the far passage still scurrying about, you see more red smoke creeping out from that passage as well. "You wretched bastards what were you waiting for!" echoes through the complex. As you can hear Snack shouting and beating the Ratmen.

((Free actions, Red you still have not actually put the item in your bag yet.))

[Mixster]

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Did he get over there to beat on the rats before I took the stuff?

Anyway, I keep putting the thing in my bag, when it's done I'll yell to the others: Let's leave, if Snack sends any minions after us, I'll kill him and them. Loudly enough that Snack can hear it as well.

[Flay Crimsonwind]

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Coron nods and wastes no time in turning and moving quickly and lithely down the tunnel, his black-gray robes whipping behind him. He keeps his senses sharp, ready to cover their tracks if need be.

[phaedrusxy]

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As the contestants begin to hastily rush away, a short figure with a strange mask steps from behind one of the statues and says "I can lead you to the other items you seek. I'm on your team, so to speak..." He does not wait for a reply, but simply begins following them. A large black bird perches upon his shoulder, and eyes the nearby dragon warily.

[dna1]

Red, Coron, Sylla, Thurl
((sry for the delay. net was shut off and i got really really busy ))

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Sylla and Coron begin to move into the tunnel leading back to the entrance of the 'Chateau'. Red picks up the item and begins to follow when suddenly a bright flash surges from Coron, It's glows intensely for a moment, filling the entire cavern with a white-blue aura. Moments later the glow fades. A soft red emanates from within the (pocket/pouch etc).
((Upon inspecting the marble you can see the face of Red.))
The figure of the voice you have been hearing steps out from behind the statue. He jumps down and begins to follow the party as well.
((free actions. listen checks please ))