With Jealousy, Part 1
Log Info
- Title: With Jealousy, Part 1
- Emitter: Ravenstongue
- Place: A18 - Port Alexandria, The Inmost Sea
- Summary: Panicked by Ravenstongue's abduction, Telamon and Pothy go to the port where Aryia is working on her boat and Seyardu is helping out. Auranar, Dolan, and Lysos happen to be there, and once they learn that Ravenstongue has been abducted, the group swears to work together to get her back safe and sound. Telamon and Pothy fill in the group on some of Cor'lana's family history, and Seyardu agrees to scry for Cor'lana, taking the group to the Temple of Althea to perform the spell. The spell is successful, and the group is able to observe that Cor'lana is in a horse-drawn carriage on the Eldwyn Road outside of Alexandria--but the spell stops short as they witness the figure who abducted her cast feeblemind onto Cor'lana.
-=--=--=--=--=--=-<* A18: Port Alexandria, The Inmost Sea *>-=--=--=--=--=--=-
The Sea Walls of Alexandria have been called a Wonder of the World. So has its port. From here, one can see both--the walls, rising either side of the mighty Tornmawr River where it feeds into the Inner Sea, and the Port. A port of international envy, ships fill its waters in plenty, along with the Alexandrian Navy. To the south and all sides, the Inmost Sea stretches. To the North, the Sea Wall, and a great gate which leads to the shining city.
Overhead, flies the flag of the Phoenix. Atop the wall, massive artifice-lights shine out into the waters.
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=- Dramatis Personae =--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=- Aryia 4'8" 110 Lb Shadow Elf Female A heavily scarred mul with a resolved look about her. Auranar 4'8" 123 Lb Wild Elf Female A wild elf with dark skin and a red dress Dolan 5'10" 174 Lb Human Male Brown-haired human with scars down his face. Lysos 5'6" 105 Lb Human/Tsuran Female Dark eyed tsuran girl. Seyardu 5'6" 150 Lb Sith-Makar Female A friendly silver sith-makar with a perpetual squint. Telamon 5'6" 140 Lb Half-Elf Male A platinum-blond half-sil man with dancing dark eyes -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=- -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- As the GM -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ravenstongue 5'0" 99 Lb Half-Elf Female Short half-elf girl with violet eyes and black hair. -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-
- Port Alexandria, early evening.
For some, the grey sky and cool mist in the air set the stage for an odd evening, with people shrouding themselves in rainwear to hide from a rain that never comes, and others who duck inside homes, stores, and pubs to escape what could be another spring rain coming any moment. There's a white raven on the shoulder of a half-sil man with platinum-blond hair that further contributes to this feeling, as ravens are seldom pale, let alone one who seems to shake and quiver from time to time, whimpering quietly in a manner that one can only surmise, after some time, to be a raven's version of a sob or a sniffle.
"Lana," Apotheosis the white raven laments, imitating the voice that belongs to Telamon as the half-sil man makes his way to a specific boat owned by a specific mul'niessa monk--one who's known particularly for crushing boulders.
And as fate has it on this early evening, there are others, too, who just happen to be here or perhaps noticed Telamon alone with Pothy and followed him here.
Time will tell shortly...
Telamon's expression is ...ominous. He's not smiling. His eyes, usually sparkling, wry pools of humor, are cold. The only sign of warmth is when he reaches up to touch Pothy, stroking the raven's feathers as he walks swiftly towards the boat. He steps around or past other people, but never relents, never stops moving towards his goal.
"It's going to be all right, Pothy," he murmurs to the white raven, his voice a little rough. "We'll get her back. Let's start with getting some help, though."
There's a white and black sailed sloop docked upon the port, a mul'neissa woman in a green jacket is busy punching at some poles attached to the deck. The boat rocking slowly as she moves about the tight space.
A slight glance off to the side, sweat stuck to her face as she spies an approaching half-sil.
She wipes her forehead off with a cuff, and gives a light wave, brows pinched in concern.
Lysos is busy drying herself off. Sitting on the edge of the pier, feet dangling over the edge.. and cheating a little bit with magic to push the water from her clothes. She has one of those 'do not even ask' expressions on her face as she takes moments in between her castings to wring her fingers through her hair. This pauses when she hears the approaching Pothy and his bearer, Telamon. She glances at them, frowning.. Pothy's a hard one to forget, and she's met the blond man before.
Dolan decided that being armed and armored, at this time of day and in this part of the city, was the better part of valor, especially given the trouble that has been cropping up far too frequently of late. He looks much better than the last time most here saw him - and a bit different. The green gem set into his right eye socket has been traded for a warm topaz gem, in the same setting, but the clothing is the same, from breastplate to gray cloak to the sunburst worn prominently around his neck.
"I love this view of the sea wall at sunset," he's telling his companion. "I don't usually come down here without Andie, though."
At Dolan's side is an elvish woman with long black hair dyed pink at the tips. Her black eyes are on Dolan as he talks, but she seems to appreciate the view also. She smiles softly at him as he describes coming down here with his girlfriend. "It is a nice place. Though not one I come to often." Her bright red coat makes her quite noticable, and in the brief moment of silence following her words she looks around a little. "Oh! There's Telamon with..."
She's obviously spotted Pothy, but his presence immediately makes her look for Cor'lana who is after all quite attached to the bird. With her not in sight however Auranar's features shift to one of confusion. "Do you mind if we stop off to say hello Dolan?"
Seyardu was off on the docks near the small boat, watching the mul'niessa work, as she was more than a bit concerned about getting in the way on the unstable footing for the time being. And it was still interesting to see everything going on, including everyone who was passing by. "Oh, that's Telamon and Pothy I believe, but you can probably see better." The sith-makar muses. "I wonder what brings them out here?"
Pothy looks all around from Telamon's spot on his shoulder in a way that seems like he's frantically looking for someone. His blue eyes spot Dolan and Auranar, however, and the gears turn in his little head. Dolan is a friend! Auranar is a friend! He spots Lysos, too, who... Appears to have somehow taken a dip in the drink, but that's not important! And Aryia, and Seyardu, who are both friends (even if Aryia scares Pothy sometimes)!
So Pothy does what Pothy does best. He flies up to Auranar and Dolan, and he bellows, loud enough for all to hear, "Help! Lana! In danger!" The words are a mixture of voices, but it's pretty clear what the message is. "Help Telamon!" he finally concludes, this time in Cor'lana's voice, before he flies back to Telamon's shoulder, hoping to have gotten his message across.
There's only so much you can do when you're just a bird. At least he's not asking for snacks.
Telamon jerks suddenly as Pothy leaps off his shoulder and starts... well, yelling. His eyes follow the bird, to... wait, that's Dolan, and Auranar. His shoulders sag a little, in relief, and he swallows hard. Waiting at the pier, next to the boat, his eyes move back to Aryia's.
Waiting for the others to approach. He doesn't want to have to tell this tale more than once. It's going to be hard as is. When Pothy alights on his shoulder, he reaches up to stroke the bird again, his eyes closing with a weariness not of flesh but of spirit.
Aryia's brows shoot up, her glancing to Seyardu before she hops off the boat and pats Seyardu on the shoulder.
She looks to all present, concerened beyond all that so many were gathered. "Waht the fuck are you on about, bird brain," <Handspeech>
Dolan's about to respond to Auranar when suddenly, bird in fas! Only one of Dolan's eyes actually blink as the white raven flaps up to them and croaks out his plea and warning, but the substance of it is anything but snacks. His mission here seems to be completely unrelated, but he nods at once to Auranar. "Something's not right," he agrees immediately. "Let's go find out what's going on." He is courteous, but expeditious, nodding in the direction of Telamon and Pothy.
Auranar is startled to say the least by Pothy's exclamation, but it is galvanizing. She nods to Dolan and hastens across the space between them and Telamon. If the bird had been merely asking for snacks, that she would have understood, but the dire sound of Cor'lana being in danger, and the request for aid? These are things she can not ignore.
Lysos had already suspected something was wrong. If the agitated familiar and the anxious elf hadn't been enough of a clue, well... Lysos can't recall ever seeing Ravenstongue without the white bird. Bad luck or good fortune that had her getting washed up here today? Does it matter?
So the tsuran climbs to her feet, goes through another incantation to try and get the last of the water free of her clothes, then she starts walking towards the growing group.
Squick, squick, squick.
Oh, right. The boots.
The silver makari blinks, and squints even more than usual as she regards the bird, and the others. She turns to Aryia, and sighs. "Easy there, Aryia, I know that you do not get along the best with the bird, but if there is something amiss, that can affect their emotional state."
The cleric joins the others in wandering over to where Telamon was. "All right, If something is amiss, then speak quickly and clearly. I do not believe I have ever seen Apotheosis without Ravenstongue within a certain proximity, yes. Is it something serious?"
The white raven continues to fidget on Telamon's shoulder. It's true, there's no snack requests coming from Pothy at all--he's far too anxious and worried-looking, all of his feathers puffed up like he expects to go into battle at any moment.
"Serious!" Pothy says, imitating Seyardu. "Lana! Lana is in danger--"
Then he looks at Aryia and gives her a series of whistles that, to those who comprehend familiar's speech through magical means, comes through as the voice of a cherubic little boy, although he sounds like he's so upset he could cry. "Aryia, please, I'll never be annoying ever again if you'll help us! Lana was kidnapped!" <Familiar Speech>
Pothy makes another series of whimpers. Pothy can't cry, but this is the closest he can get.
Telamon puts his hand on Pothy, and there's a tremble in his fingers. He's shaking, ever so slightly. "We were sleeping in -- but I had to go out and drop off a couple things at the university. When I got back--" He grinds to a halt, and swallows hard. He reaches down, digging his unoccupied hand's fingers into his thigh.
After a moment, he continues, "Someone broke into the house -- picked the lock, or magically unlocked it. They... attacked Cor'lana, hurt her -- there was blood on the floor, on the bed. They paralyzed Pothy, tossed him into the water closet, and that's where I found him."
He makes a sound in his throat, like he's choking. "The... garden pixies saw this... person when they attacked. They'd also seen him in the company of Ainasse Son'doriel, Lana's stepmother. They didn't know who she was, so they never realized the danger." He looks at Aryia, his heart in his eyes. "I'm asking for help. She's still alive -- Pothy can tell that much. But... I don't think I can get her back alone." He pauses, his shoulders shaking a bit. "Please."
Aryia slowly blinks, her holding up a hand to Seyardu. "It's fine, he's used to me threatening him constantly."
She kind of ignores saying hello to everyone else as her attention is focused solely on the whistling raven.
Her eyes widen. "Wait what the fuck? RT's been kidnapped?" she gestures, translating. Those motions seem like pantomimes for everyone that doesn't understand the language, but they're able to get the gist of it. <Handspeech/Tongues>
She looks to Telamon. Her eyes narrow. Jaw clenching.
And she cracks her knuckles. She's in.
Squick, squick.
Lysos winces. Telamon and Pothy are very clearly distressed, now that she's closer to see. "Stepmother?" she asks, biting her lip. The next question on her mind is probably obvious, but she glances around at the others, maybe not wanting to be the one to ask it. She clears her throat. Wrings her hands a little bit. Then she squares her shoulders. "If you need help, you've got the help."
"Shit. I'm in." Dolan's eyes go to Auranar, frowning suddenly. "Damn. Andie's on guard duty tonight. Are you coming, or can you take a message back?"
Auranar looks at Dolan and shakes her head. "I'm going to help." Her voice is firm but a light goes off in her eyes and she nods to Telamon. She pulls Dolan with her as she goes. "Just a second."
She rushes over to one of the street corners where a few urchins are lurking about and hands over a few silver to pass a message onto Verna. Dolan does similarly.
"Sunguard Andelena at the Temple of Daeus, and Mourner Verna at the Temple of Vardama. Tell them Brydion and Auranar have gone to rescue Telamon's girlfriend, she's been kidnapped." His voice is gruff, but well meaning. They're back over to Telamon's side inside a few moments.
"They were kidnapped?" Seyardu asks, looking at the others, to Telamon, and Pothy, and the sith-makar shakes her head. "Well, it is a good thing we were around here at the moment then. Though I would ask why you were coming out this way if you needed help. Was it to find Aryia, or for another reason? If there is work to be done, then simply tell us. I am sure between those here, we can work out some manner of plan."
Telamon closes his eyes, taking a breath. The ice around his heart seems to abate a bit, with the crack of knuckles and the voices around him. He opens them again, reaching up to wipe his face. "Aryia was the first person I thought of to ask for help," he says to Seyardu, his lips curling up slightly. "She does have a... reputation."
Another breath. "We don't think they've left the city. The dimensional ward's still in place, and the city watch is very much on edge at the gates what with the werewolf attacks." He gives Dolan and Lysos a wry expression -- a look of shared battles.
"The man in question -- we assume it's a man, his voice was very deep, masculine, according to Pothy -- was wearing a robe with a hood that completely concealed his features, possibly with magic. He was in the company of Ainasse, a minor member of House Son'doriel." He pauses, thinking, trying to focus. "I don't think she'd be keen on hiding out someplace in the warehouse district. She likes the finer things in life, so..."
"We don't know if Cor'lana's father is involved, either," Pothy explains, opting for magical speech again, as Aryia's capable of translating. "Telamon ordered him to go away and never come back, or else--and the figure was too tall to be him. Too magically talented, too. The pixies said he tried to teleport out but was thwarted by the ward, and it's not been very long--so I think he's probably in the city, or is just about to slip out using invisibility.
Pothy pauses for a moment. "But! We have Lana's blood! We could use a scrying spell, if someone here knows it--or acquire a scroll someplace and cast it."
He's almost a little too cheery-sounding about having Cor'lana's blood, but it's a path forward.
Aryia's shimmering eyes light up, an odd expression that couples oddly well with her clenched jaw. "Busting into a noble's place, yes please," she signs, turning towards her boat and hopping aboard. She vanishes beneath deck into the hold through a trapdoor, grabbing some things before jumping out. She pulls on some gloves, slides her shades on, and ties her hair back.
She nods towards Dolan and Aura, her rolling her shoulders as her gaze settles on Pothy's speech. And she translates. Sorta. "Pothy said the guy can't be her dad, and some pixies said he does magic. They have RT's blood, so we can scry if need be. Or I can trash some nobles faces to fess up. Whatever you guys want to do. Seyardu, can you do that? Scry?" <Handspeech/Tongues>
The conversation flying back and forth is a lot to take in, and yet, Dolan seems to somehow? Be understanding all the words spoken here, including from the bird? Ask questions later, he decides silently. That you do understand is enough for now. He listens carefully. "Does her family have friends in the city? Or are they likely to have left?"
Auranar understands magic. The magic of translation from one form of speech to another, and with Aryia willing to translate for Pothy, they have more information. She nods once, and considers Telamon's assumption that the people they're looking for will be somewhere so obvious. He suggests further a scrying spell and she has the grace to look embarrassed. "Such spellwork is beyond my ability, but if no one else here can cast such, I am willing to help pay for a scroll. Knowing where she is would be invaluable."
"Maybe try something that doesn't quite escalate things that quick, first?" Lysos suggests, making sense of Aryia's finger twisting. "I think we probably don't want to create more problems if we can help it, right?" She takes a half, squicking step further away from Aryia, realizing she's possibly ruining the mul's fun. "I agree with trying this scrying if we can."
"I understand, you were looking to work quickly, and Aryia would help to cover as many locations as possible quickly. It was simply good luck that we happened to be around. Your purchase of a new boat is already proving to have been a good investment Aryia." The silver makari nods after hearing what was shared and translated. "I will not press for why you have her blood, but it would potentially prove useful. I have no preparations made, but with a properly prepared scroll, I could see if they could be located, through any protective wards if need be."
"And, if they try to flee, they will not get far. Given a day, I can prepare to find them. And there is nowhere they could hide, not on this plane or elsewhere, that we could not find them."
"But it should not come to that, as we have the time now to find them. And we shall."
Pothy makes a little displeased-sounding raven croak, before he says, "A day? But... Lana..."
The white raven grumbles a little more, and he even micmics a sigh that all can hear and understand, before he follows up with more magical whistling. "It can't be helped. Aryia, if you're going to go rough up some nobles in the meantime, I suggest elvish nobility. Ainasse Son'doriel is disgraced, somewhat, in her house. She was arranged to be married to Lana's uncle after he did a favor for Ainasse's father--and Vailevan died a few years ago in suspicious circumstances at a party, so Lady Ainasse remarried to her husband's older brother, Cor'lana's father. Rumors spread around them, and that's part of why they decided to move from Llyranost to Alexandros a few months ago--I don't know if they lived in the city proper or not, though, so that's probably a good question to ask."
Telamon picks up part of the tale, after helpfully translating as need be. "Lana's father returned to Llyranost, and I thought Ainasse had done the same. It appears I was mistaken -- or misinformed." His expression tightens up again. "But evidently she returned, or perhaps never left. Doesn't matter."
Tel looks wearily at Seyardu, "I was able to retain enough... clarity to remember that part of a person can be used to scry their location. Blood included. So... scrying is probably the first order of the day. Followed by inquiring in the quarter where Ainasse and Glorenacil -- Lana's father -- used to live. She may have returned to old haunts."
Perhaps getting out of the way of the fired up pugilist was a wise decision for Lysos, as she swings an arm out to smash a fist into a palm. "Let's figure out then where the fuck these assholes are," Aryia gestures, those that aren't familiar with the non-verbal language getting the gist of it. Which half of it is just cursing. Gods only know what foul she'd spew if she could speak. "Seyardu can do it now, don't worry."
The mute translator focuses on the bird, and her hands flick and gesture while he whistles and whines. "The bitch of a step mother is disgraced, supposed to marry RT's uncle. Remarried husband's older brother and- ugh, for fuck's sake I hate noble shit, get to the point, I don't care who fucked who."
She pinches the bridge of her nose. Sighs, and her other hand continues to flick. "Ok, step mom remarried to RT's dad. Unknown if they live in the city or not."
She pops on the tips of her toes. If the city wasn't warded, she'd be out and gone by now. <Handspeech/Tongues>
Not having been involved with much of this story, Dolan listens in silence to the back-and-forth conversation and not having anything to add. The bird gets an odd stare, but time later for that. Instead, he looks between Auranar and Lysos, both of whom he is familiar with. "You two getting all of this?"
"Well... I'm getting... that part of it," Lysos says, somewhat hesitantly, pointing at Aryia. Sort of pointing. She doesn't really want to draw the angry woman's attention. "I don't speak chirp, I'm afraid. Sorry. I think we're going to use some magic, and maybe break some heads? Hopefully not the heads bit. But it sounds like the wicked stepmother is the best guess so far." Yep, she said it.
Auranar doesn't have much trouble following the problem, but amittedly it's a lot of information that she didn't know. She looks between Lysos and Dolan and nods. "It seems that a scrying spell is our best option." She looks at Pothy with some fondness. "Even if no one here can cast it, we can buy a scroll to cast it today. We will not make you wait to find your mistress any longer than we must." The elvish woman hopes the words console Pothy at least somewhat. Though it seems that perhaps at least someone can cast the spell.
In more circomspect tones Auranar murmurs to Dolan. "Though we might wish to keep an eye on Aryia. Knocking heads together might get a few answers, but we do not wish to anger the whole district."
"Yes, I am quite capable of scrying for Ravenstongue, or, Cor'lana, today." Seyardu nods. "I will simply need to acquire a scroll and focus with which to do this."
"But do not worry, that will not be a problem. I will stop by the temple of Althea, and requisition a scroll from their supplies, as well as borrow one of their mirrors for the purpose."
The makari sighs, and turns away from the boat. "I will be on my way, and you can follow me, or meet me within the temple district. If any of you have suggestions of where to conduct the spell, I would gladly hear it, as I would like to avoid giving away what we are doing if it is a concern, which I feel it may be."
And she was not wasting any time, as she was already running off to the east, which was not a common sight due to the risk of tripping.
Thankfully, it was not difficult to keep up with Seyardu even when she was in a hurry, as the cleric still moved slow enough to mind for any obstacles in the way on the ground. Through the districts and over the bridges, they made good time to reach the temple district of Alexandria, where she ascends the steps to the Althean temple, only stopping to gesture the group inside, and to one of the larger meeting rooms off to one of the sides. It was a clean space, with the usual trappings of the clergy, lots of blues used in accents for the walls and surfaces. Seyardu brought everyone into the room, and disappeared quickly out of it, returning several minutes later with a large basin of water in one arm, and a mirror which she pulls out of her bag, both of which are set down on the table. The hankerchief from before is taken, with a strip cut off of it and dropped into the basin, while the cleric was focused on the magic, a scroll unfurled in front of everything for the ritual to take place.
The cloth strip swirled inside the basin, turning the water a light red for a moment, before darkening to a pitch black that covered the inside of the bowl. Then, several specks of light dotted the inside, like a perfect recreation of the night sky in the area.
"Celestial mother, we are asking for your aid today with great urgency, as one of our friends, and a member of the family for several here, has gone missing. With your aid, help us to locate Cor'lana." the sith-makar offers in prayer. One of the lights in question grows brighter, and larger, until it was the entirety of the basin, which gave way to- <Draconic>
Cor'lana, who appears to be in a horse-drawn carriage of some sort--a richly decorated thing with lavish wood interiors and plush cushions; the lap of elven luxury toted on the efforts of four-legged beasts. Beyond the windows, there appears to be the sprawling landscape of the Eldwyn Road, Alexandria City far behind in the distance. Her violet eyes can scarcely keep awake, her head lulling from side to side with the bumps in the road as the horses that draw the carriage ahead gallop at full speed.
There's a figure in all black robes that obscure the form who sits across from Cor'lana, and the head quirks at her for a moment. A deep, deep laugh comes from the figure--a laugh that turns into a much lighter and self-assured cackle as the hood drops to reveal a half-elven man with pale skin and short black hair. A cocky grin adorns his face, but the smile doesn't reach his deep blue eyes--nor does the light.
"How adorable. The little 'fey lady' is trying to wake up. Aren't you a thing from a story book. Ohh, the fun we'd have if it wasn't for the fact my employer wants you alive," the man croons with a giggle.
Cor'lana opens her mouth, trying to move her hands, but the man plants a finger onto Cor'lana's lips, shushing her. "Now, now. You can hardly cast a thing if you're feeling so woozy," he says, "but perhaps I should do something about that. Lady Ainasse won't be too upset if you come out of the carriage a drooling and beautiful fool, I think. A last word while you still have one?"
Cor'lana looks up at him, her violet eyes flaring to life as she says, "Telamon will--"
The man's face turns into a snarl as he says, "I said last word, worm," and the rest of his words a hiss, as he recites an awful, awful incantation. Cor'lana's eyes roll into the back of her head, and she slumps for a moment... and murmurs noises that are incoherent.
"There you are. Much more agreeable when you're placid and unable to think," the man says, grinning wickedly. "I think you'll serve as a suitable centerpiece for our little show just nicely."
The spell shorts out. There is nothing left.
OOC
Preamble/Content Warnings/"Heroic Leeway" system:
<OOC> Ravenstongue says, "Content warnings/advisories: I like to create stories with memorable NPCs, and sometimes this means I create antagonists and villains who are pretty awful and terrible people. You may find aspects to them that are sympathetic and/or unsympathetic as one of these NPCs in particular is a pretty complicated character. I design these NPCs this way so that your heroic PCs will find themselves grappling with the issues that these NPCs pose and grow from them as a result--and/or to find themselves further motivated and empowered in taking down antagonistic and villainous NPCs. The following subjects will be touched upon in NPC motivations: sexism (limited to expectations of women in noble society), infertility/fertility, brainwashing/mind control, abusive family dynamics, and abusive relationships (mental/emotional/physical). Some slight to moderate body horror may also crop up in my descriptions from time to time if/when certain enemies are encountered later in this series."
<OOC> Ravenstongue says, "However, I am a DM who cares about my players' OOC wellbeing, so while I've designed these NPCs in a way to challenge your characters on an emotional level, I don't want to make /you, the player/ uncomfortable to the point that you don't want to play. Please let me know via pages if, at any point, this happens, and I'll tone it down, or (in extreme situations) engineer a way for your character to drop out ICly. There is zero shame about paging me, and I get it as someone who has gone through trauma IRL."
<OOC> Ravenstongue says, "Finally, special rules! As you may have noticed, we have a pretty big level disparity. There IS a potential for combat (not really in this first part, but maybe in the second and third parts depending on what your characters do), so to ensure that everyone gets a Big Damn Hero moment or two regardless of level and reduce any frustration that dice can inflict, I've opted to try out a more cinematic method of combat that I'm calling 'heroic leeway'. Assume that you have the movement you need to get up to an enemy and attack. Declare OOCly what you're doing like you'd normally do. Depending on how much I like your idea for the pose, I may assign you a bonus of +5, +10, or +15 to your roll. (This idea was stolen from the Exalted stunt system.) Finally, don't feel limited to the actions, abilities, and spells that are on your sheet. If you have an idea, pitch it to me, and we can make it happen. You all will receive one free reroll per event, and they do NOT stack, so use it or lose it. Finally, if we do enter timestop for combat, please sound off within 5 minutes of your turn coming up, or you will be skipped. Trying to make it so things happen as quickly as possible."
After Pothy reveals RT has been kidnapped:
<OOC> Aryia says, "i really wanted write: "wait what? little RT fell down a well?""
<OOC> Ravenstongue LAUGHS.
<OOC> Telamon snickers.
<OOC> Dolan says, "She'd fit."
<OOC> Ravenstongue says, "IT'S TRUE, LOL"
<OOC> Telamon says, "What's that, Pothy? Lana fell down the well?"
Gotta Go Fast Aryia:
<OOC> Telamon says, "Yeaaaah, I suspect I'd better pull out that jar and hand it to Seyardu before Aryia starts doing her Sonic impersonation."
<OOC> Aryia green hill zone intensifies