Stone to Flesh
Log Info
- Title: Stone to Flesh
- Emitter: Zeke
- Characters: Paenitia, Seyardu, Percy, Boaz
- Place: Alexandrian warehouses.
- Time: Thursday, August 26, 2021, 2:07 PM
- Summary: Seyardu has arranged three clerics from Daeus, Eluna and Althea to accompany her to the warehouses, to test the statues. She is accompanied by Paenitia and Percy, and Boaz, a goldenscale Sith'Makar recently arrived to Alexandria. They are met at the warehouse by a sour faced noble, Sir Kursat Altay, who obstructs and insists his guards choose the statues to be tested. Everyone says this is a blatant deception and insist on being able to go in. He is questioned about where the statues came from, who made them, where they are going, why there were explosives on his warehouse, and why he allowed undead. He refuses to answer anything. A statue is brought out, but Boaz's sharp eyes show that it is a hollow casting. Altay attempts to pass this off as proof the adventurers don't know what they're talking about. They insist on another statue, and another is brought out. The guards show increased nervousness, and one seems to have a lot of coins. The second statue is also of poor workmanship, and Boaz declares it must have been made from the real one. Paenitia decides she's had enough and declares she will bring a statue out. The guards threaten to arrest her. This does not deter the little red revolutionary and she walks past them, then spins and slices the pocket of the guard, flinging many, many gold coins into the air. Riva declares this is suspicious, and Altay pulls out the pocket fertility statue and attempts to teleport. He is prevented, and this is proof enough of some guilt. Sadly when the warehouse is searched, all the statues have been removed, save for some casting to cause problems. The last shipment went to Charn - where slavery is perfectly legal.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Appearing, in Order =-=-=-=-=-=-= Paenitia 3'0" 34 Lb Halfling Female A Lucht knight, dark skinned in bold feathery finery. Seyardu 5'6" 150 Lb Sith-Makar Female A friendly silver sith-makar with a perpetual squint. Percy 5'5" 121 Lb Dawn Elf Female An expressive llyranesi with a big blade. Boaz 7'0" 292 Lb Sith-Makar Male Golden Sith with silver arm and bronze leg. -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--= -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= NPCs of Note =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Sunblade Mahalanabis Sith-Makar Male A green-scaled sith-makar, the young cleric. Seer Ravi Human Femal Blind, with a quarterstaff, the old cleric. Hearthguard Navathe Half-Elf Female A shy and demure cleric, companion of Ravi. Sir Kursat Altay Human Male A sour-faced lemon of a noble, cultist. Balderdan Viet Human Male A lieutenant in the guard, honourable and trustworthy. -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--= -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= As the GM -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Zeke 6'8" 239 Lb Sith-Makar Male A blue-scaled sith-makar in white Daeus vestments. -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=
It is a lovely day, the sky is clear and blue, and there's a certain feeling of tranquility and light energy in the air. It might be anticipation. You have three clerics with you, all of whom have been introduced. The first is a fairly young sith-makar of the green scaled variety from the temple of Daeus. He introduced himself as Mahalanabis, but didn't say much after that. He seems... uncertain of himself, but his vestments are neat and the other two clerics treat him with due respect.
The second is from the temple of Eluna. A human woman named Ravi who seems perhaps the most senior of the clerics in your group. She bears a broad smile, and is completely blind, allowing her companion from the temple of Althea to help her as she moves around. Though she carries a quarterstaff in hand that she seems quite able to use in his stead.
The last from the temple of Althea is a half-elf named Navathe, she seems shy and demure, deferring instantly and completely to her elder from the temple of Eluna. She seems enamored of the woman actually, and the gentle teasing between the two of them suggests that they have known one another for quite some time.
All in all, in spite of the seriousness of your mission today the clerics seem to be in good humor. After they introduce themselves, they allow you to lead them toward the warehouse district.
Paenitia has attempted to rouse the Knightly Orders to this cause, and failed! She has attempted to solicit aid from more experienced adventurers with the spells capable of breaking these enchantments, and failed! She has yelled at many a guard's knee and belt-buckle, telling them they are complicit with slavery, tools of the oppressors, and should stop sitting on their brains and use them, and Failed!
Thus, the little Lucht astride her great peacock-andalusian hippogryph is in great spirits. After so many failures, a success is almost guaranteed. If not, a failure so spectacular as to put the prior ones to shame will occur.
Either would be acceptable, both would be interesting, success would be best, though nothing is guaranteed. She is the opposite of tranquility, a whirlwind of energy on a bird-horse that's impossible to ignore.
"Comrades! We undertake the mission of great import. Sunguard Mahalanabis, Seer Ravi, Hearthguards Navathe and Friend Dragon, today we be the righteous."
Seyardu was the one who had planned out the expedition for that day, and gathered the representatives from the temples. She was in the lead of the group, occasionally stopping to check on the others. She holds herself tall, but worries, about what they will find, who will be there. How many will be missing. Even the energy of the small knight does little.
"Yes, this is a big undertaking, but a necessary one. Our end goal is to save all, but the first step is to make the problem impossible to be ignored. Thank you all for accompanying me on this task." She says back to those present.
Percy's hand's rested behind her head noting she was relaxed; chill as ice but still with her bubbly smile on her face. Her hair as usual was down lively swaying side to side as Percy walked in a circle finally she paused and suddenly sat on the floor no longer smiling but serious mumbling to herself as she tied her hair up. "Correct me if I am wrong. The mission is to see for sure that statues were living people using the 'stone to flesh' spell someone had agreed to cast. Followed by that but you came to the conclusion that if these statues were real people they were planned to be sold on the...black market?" Percy shivered at the name of such an illegal thing.
The green-scale cleric of Daeus thumps his tail at Seyardu's words, clearly approving. "For the People." His words are stern things. This at least, he seems certain of. Though the way his claws constantly readjust his vestments does not inspire a lot of confidence.
The other two clerics add their own nodding, though they seem to reserve some judgement on the course of this mission. "A step here." Says Navathe to the Seeress, who nods her silent thanks for the warning of stairs as they make their way down onto the docks. "That is the plan... Percy was it?"
Even from a distance you can see that some people have gathered to see what is planned for the day. A noble stands before the warehouse with his arms crossed. He looks like he ate a sour lemon, and at his side are a pair of guardsmen. They look distinctly uncomfortable. As you approach the nobleman mumbles something under his breath that makes the guardsmen laugh nervously, and he straightens.
"Trusted clerics, I ask you to turn aside from this folly. All you will find in this warehouse are natural statues which I have purchased and which have cost me a great deal of money. I ask you not to disturb my belongings on the word of a few... adventurers." He says this last with disgust and looks at you like you are unworthy to even be in his presence.
GAME: Paenitia rolls intimidate: (4)+11: 15
"Yes, Comrade Percy, that is what we are here to do. The method allow transport without struggle or food, and if they survive, no knowledge of when or where they be." The Red Knight explains as the travel.
Paenitia waits as the sour lemon attempts to undermine the clerics that have committed to this cause. She clucks, and Ramirez picks up his pace and moves right up in front of the noble. There is less than his mistress' height in distance between his deadly beak and the rotten fruit's face.
A lance pressed up against his nose would not be diplomatic, though the desire is there for the Dark Lucht. Instead, she addresses the guards. "Arrest this man, for knowingly admit complicity with the slavery we are about to prove. He claim they are statues, the short test will prove him right, or us right."
"It profit him to allow it, and be done quick, and not to delay with street arguments. His resistance is his guilt. You will be at fault if he escape."
Having ignored the squishy citrus for this long, the Red Knight finally leans around her peacock-andalusian's neck, to stare at him through her stylized mask. "I am Sister Paenitia Snapdragon del Haranna, Knight of the Pillar and Paladina of Tarien. You know my name now, and only a coward would deny the exchange. Who are you."
GAME: Boaz rolls intimidate: (19)+7: 26 (Aid Another - Pae's intimidate)
The seven foot tall and very broad Sith that seems to have been following the party along finally catches up as they stop and speak with the Nobleman. He mutters to the adventurers gathered as he eyes the the sour one..as well as the large feathered mount. "This one is late.. again. This one apologizes. There isn't any....trouble here, is there?" He asks.
"That is correct, Percy. These statues look exactly like many people who have gone missing. Some of my other companions have found cultists in other warehouses, who have links to others outside of the city, with beasts capable of causing petrification." Seyardu explains as she walks. "Though the spell may be dangerous, which is why there are spells for instant resuscitation should the shock be too much."
She joins the others at the warehouse, seeing the noble and guards at the front. She offers the noble the smallest dip of a bow. "This trusted cleric would ask that you assist us in our investigation in that case, sir. Or do not preferably, as the fact that you are not even considering the implications of what is going on is concerning, as the knight here with me stated. Though I would say if this ends up being true, it is your own fault for purchasing masses of incredibly well carved statues in bulk. Did that not seem strange to you at all?" They ask. "Who were you purchasing these statues from, in that case? Surely someone capable of creating them on such a mass scale should be renowned throughout Alexandria and lands nearby for their skill and speed."
GAME: Zeke rolls 1d20+11: (5)+11: 16
Percy nodded her head "Yes that is what I am called however if its too informal you could also call me Perinatica, Thank you for great help, It definitely most appreciated." Percy knew to thank people for their help and she knew how to take it ; it helped that she wasn't stubborn on that sort of thing but when it came to helping others she was stubborn as a boulder. Percy's head cocked to one side to look at the warehouse that hides the stone statues. "If they are so precious to you and cost quite some money...then why hide them in the warehouse rather than endorse their details, that is if they aren't 'really' once those to have drawn breath?" Percy's face met back to face the nobleman in question but sternly, after that she followed the knightly dressed person.
The cleric's say nothing initially, and then the Seer speaks up. "We will do what we came here to do, and it will prove either your guilt, or your innocence. If it proves your innocence, I will personally see that these adventurers pay for any damages done to your goods. If you are guilty - then you will see prison." She smiles thinly and looks at the guards with her blind eyes. "Assuming that these fine guards will let us do our work."
The noble bristles at Paenitia, but seems to sweat under the weight of Boaz's gaze and hers combined. "My name! My name is Sir Kursat Altay! The statues themselves are an investment of years! I have no intention of allowing you to run willy-nilly through my warehouse." He growls this last, his fear making him shudder. "I will have this man here help me bring one out and you can do your damned test! Then you'll see!"
With that he turns and grabs the nearest guard and hauls the other man into the warehouse. Leaving you all standing outside while they retrieve one of the statues for the clerics to cast upon.
"Pah! You think I am the child and the fool, Sir Kursat Altay, to trust the street shell game?" Paenitia laughs in the nobles face, "You have know we come for days, it easy enough drag the Pissing Boy statue from the fountain in your vast gardens to be the one drag out for the test."
"Ramirez! I dismount." He extends a wing, and she slides to the ground, then pulls her silver sword from the saddle and sheaths it. A knight must never go unarmed. The little Lucht moves in front of her bird-horse, so she is face to beltbuckle, and stares up. "To your concern, I leave brave Ramirez outside. He is not the bull in the statue shop but I understand the mistrust. You will not insult my comrades though, they are large and agile as cats."
That said, she starts towards the warehouse, "I find the statue of Shevade, the Friend Dragons can come to help shift. Give your man the day off."
Seyardu says, "Sir Altay, please, do not rush us through this investigation." Seyardu says firmly, crossing her arms. "If it is not clear, you are under suspicion of dealing in slave trading, a crime most severe and very clearly against the law in Alexandria. Is the seriousness of this not clear? You claim you do not want us running through the warehouse, yet would willingly harbor undead in the basement areas? You state the upright standing of your business, yet will not state your sources for further investigation, despite statues being found in the countryside recently as well?"
She shakes her head. "This one can not trust any statue you bring out in good faith, as you have already proven untrustworthy, and the guard complicit to some degree. This one will accompany the knight inside, yes.""
Boaz grumble-growls as the noble moves on inside, tail swishing side to side briefly. He nods to the Luchts' implied orders and moves forward slowly towards the door and remaining guards. "Excuse this one." He says trying to be friendly enough. Hard to do when you're a Sith and large. And he has been informed that trying to smile does not give good friendly vibes. "This one will watch in the doorway, unless the honored speakers...priests ..wish to enter as well? This one would not leave them unguarded."
GAME: Percy rolls intimidate: (9)+6: 15 (Aid Another - Pae's Intimidate)
Percy drew her sword and pointed the sharp end into the ground. "I will not point my blade to someone who has even a sliver of a chance of innocence, however if provin you bought the bodies and souls of these people forced into stone I won't feel pity for seeing you as one fallen off into the deep end. Once your time has been served in prison I would hope you would change your ways for the better." If you are as innocent as you claim you shouldn't have anything to hide or worry about it has been said that we will pay for the damage." Percy's face showed nothing of her bubbly self from before now she was dead serious.
...but Sir Altay is already in the warehouse with one of the guardsmen and not arguing the point with you at all. Instead the remaining guardsman puts his hand on his sword and gives Paenitia a short look. "You are being indulged as it is Knight Haranna. You know the laws as well as any and you've no right to go barging into this warehouse. The fact that you entered once is bad enough, but to force entry twice - this time without the backing of we guards? You'll see the inside of a prison cell yourself be he truthful or not."
The clerics look at Boaz the green-scale responds to his words. "Thiss one will stay out here with the otherss. It iss not wisse to upsset the guard." His accent is negligible, and he seems to take some amount of confidence from the presence of the other sith around him. His words get an approving nod from the other two clerics. Particularly the Seer.
After a moment longer Altay returns with the guard towing a statue. It's... not the statue that Paenitia is looking for, but nor is it a 'pissing boy' statue from his garden either. In fact it's a very detailed statue of a sith-makar. It looks for all intents and purposes like any of the other statues that you might have seen previously. Your attempts to intimidate Sir Altay seem to be working. The man is sweating bullets.
GAME: Boaz rolls perception: (11)+6: 17 GAME: Paenitia rolls perception: (12)+4: 16 GAME: Percy rolls perception: (12)+4: 16 GAME: Seyardu rolls perception: (4)+3: 7
There's... something odd about the statue, you can't put your finger on it. It looks just like the ones you've seen before, but either your instinctual distrust makes you think that this statue is not 'real' or there's something actually different about this statue that you just can't place. For Percy, who hasn't ever seen the original statues, this is more... Something about the statue just doesn't seem terribly 'lifelike'.
"Do not threaten me with jail for hold your feet to the fire to make you do your job. You have the right to enter warehouses on suspicion, you did not. You obstruct yourself in this, do you have something to hide too? Be ware yourself, you will see the inside of jail if you are complict, and the other prisoners will not treat you right." The Red Knight says ominously, then laughs loudly.
"Maybe you will be lucky and I will be there too, and you can ask I defend the honour you do not have. This would bring great amusement to all." Paenitia seems to have no compunctions upsetting the guard. Of course, she grew up around fatter, lazier, more easily corruptible and stupider ones than it is assumed make up Alexandrian's finest. This assumption will be put to the test. For the moment, she waits outside, her mask hiding her thoughts.
"This one... it seem something not right." Paenitia says, inspecting the statue that is provided. It seems to meet the requirements, yet... there's something. She turns to Boaz and Seyardu, "this how the baby Friend Dragons are? I have not seen them." Except one, that also doesn't resemble the statue for other reasons.
"And Haranna is where I am from. Snapdragon is the last name." She corrects.
GAME: Seyardu rolls diplomacy: (7)+11: 18
"Sir, you can not turn a blind eye to this. I would ask you to use the reason I know you capable of." She says to the guard remaining outside. "I would remind you as well, the outside of the warehouse was rigged with explosives with the intent to kill or seriously harm any who came by. Is this normal practice for security of warehouses at the dock? That a curious youngling would lose their life?"
"Are you turning a blind eye to every other shred of evidence brought up previously? The links to the swarm of undead in the temple districts recently? This one fed some off the bodies found in the aftermath in days prior, and now will never be able to aid them again."
She raises a scaled brow. "Who is it that is above you, telling you to act like this, when you should know how wrong this is?"
Boaz moves slowly up to the statue and moves about it with an appraising eye. He dips his head forward to get a closer look at the statue's face and tilts his head to one side and then the other in turn. He stands up straight and crosses his arms over his armored chest and coughs deep in his throat. A sound a Sith might make when a Human might go 'Fah!'. "This is a statue. Poorly made." His silver hand goes out and a single digit points at the side. "It has a seam. This is two parts made one." He turns the metal hand over and gently wraps on the statues chest, perhaps checking to hear if it is hollow.
Seyardu turns when the statue is brought out, squinting. It was hard to tell with the general blur to the stone, features lost in the transition to mineral. But she trusts the judgement of Paenitia, and the other Sith.
"And this is what concerns myself. Please do not make yourself part of a conspiracy to cover this up."
GAME: Percy rolls intimidate: (7)+6: 13 GAME: Zeke rolls 1d20: (10): 10
Percy's face turns into something of surprise and certainty and points to the statue stone cold; her voice passed though the room to hear aloud. "I've never seen the first statues as you all have however this one was never alive. It's just a stone statue. It's not nearly as life-like as a normal person." Percy turned to the rest. "This statue has never even taken a breath. He brought us a fake." Percy put her blade back in place on her back. Percy was more irritated than before.
The guard, the one initially left behind looks more and more uncomfortable as things progress, at least until Boaz speaks up. Then he relaxes significantly. The nobleman puffs up at Boaz's words, his eyes narrowing. "I've been saying this whole time that they're just statues!" He motions toward the one that is before you as if making a 'ta da' motion. "See? It's just a statue. Now, if you'll be on your way..."
The other guard, the one that went in with the nobleman crosses his arm. "I can verify that the other statues look almost exactly like this one. Different people maybe, but same... quality. I'll even drag another one out here if you like. But it'll be the same result."
The clerics look from the adventurers to the guards and then the green-scale nods. "This one would appreciate another, yes. It unsettles this one to see so realistic a figure of the People. Best to be sure that none of the others are... real."
At this, the guard heads back into the warehouse. This time leaving the nobleman outside. He doesn't look terribly happy.
GAME: Percy rolls sense motive: (20)+2: 22 GAME: Seyardu rolls sense motive: (14)+7: 21 GAME: Paenitia rolls sense motive: (5)+11: 16 GAME: Boaz rolls sense motive: (5)+1: 6 GAME: Paenitia rolls diplomacy: (1)+8: 9 (EPIC FAIL)
Paenitia looks between the guards, the one that left to go into the warehouse, the one that stayed behind.
'ruuaaaaah?' Ramirez calls quietly, an interrogative sort of noise, perhaps asking for permission. Perhaps picking up on his mistress's uncertainty.
"No Ramirez, stand guard, do not do the other things." What the 'other things' might be are unspecified. His crimson colouration is very blood-like, that may be a hint.
One guard seems in on it, reacting as if a 'wrong' statue that is actually a person may be produced, and seeming relieved when the hollow one was. The other, claims they 'are all the same', a statement the Red Knight knows is incorrect. She has no doubt the two are in cahoots and will bamboozle them all if allowed. She has been prevented from entering the warehouse.
Without permission...
She points at Sir Altay, a literal low-hanging fruit, the sour-faced quisling behind this all. Perhaps he will turn if given an out. "Sir Altay, you are the proud man. You do not wish to admit to be fool by sneaky artists who pretend skill by use of foul magics. You see the quick opportunity, for other nobles who wish to look down on terrified peasants. You are caught up in the ruse, use by someone who will discard you."
"There will be reward, much gratitude, you can be the hero, and the chance to get great status by reveal who plot this plan, as they will get the jail cell."
"Grant permission to me to look in the warehouse. I seek my friend, I am small, not strong, there is not much at risk from break by me. You can be the hero, elevate your family name. I apologize for the earlier insult, this has me be very hot blooded."
"Sir, you are nervous, are you not? This one is giving you the chance to come clean, and yet you will not. Is it because you have some involvement with what is going on here? Is that why you will not help?" Seyardu asks, tilting her head and raising a brow to the guard. "You will not let us in despite evidence, will not even try to assist us to prove what is going on. You seemed to be worried the statue would not just be a statue."
She looks to those present, and nods to Paenitia.
"There are no more chances to come clean. Empty your pockets, now. This one will take a refusal to do so as belief that you are carrying something that should not be seen."
"If there is nothing going on here, why are you all so nervous? You should have nothing to hide, yes? But now, this one does not even trust the guard."
"You're paying the guard to lie." Percy's face was no longer annoyed she was more disappointed than anything. " The guard knows about the statues... Wow and the other has no clue that they really are real aren't you two just in so much trouble once that guard comes back with a 'real statue' and the spell is cast, you two are going to jail for more than just that but bribery." Percy's arms crossed strictly but her face held a victorious smile as she sat on the ground peacefully.
The guard in question flushes at the accusation that he is being bribed. "I... That is! I have /money/ in my pocket." He jingles the pocket so that you can hear the coins clinking around. "It's not bribery! I don't know anything about these statues. I'm just being paid to keep you guys from ruining this poor man's property."
"I've heard enough of this!" Says Sir Altay. "Accusing me of being a slaver. Accusing me of bribing guards! All you've done all day is smear my good name through the mud. I've been helpful. I've let you see one of my statues and you yourself have said it's just that. Well maybe I've had enough of letting you rifle through my things!" He scowls at Paenitia. "You talk about my family name and yet it seems to me that the best thing I can do for it is to not allow you near it any further. I don't forgive your earlier insults, and I don't forgive your friends now. Go away."
At this point the second guard is carting out a second statue which... looks very much like the first. Though this one of a different sith-makar in a slightly different pose. It has all the hallmarks however of the statue that was first toted out. "See? Looks the same to me."
GAME: Seyardu rolls sense motive: (17)+7: 24 GAME: Paenitia rolls sense motive: (10)+11: 21 GAME: Percy rolls sense motive: (15)+2: 17
The guard is telling the truth. He doesn't know anything about the statues, but he REALLY doesn't want anyone to see the money in his pocket. Like. REALLY DOES NOT.
GAME: Paenitia rolls perception: (16)+4: 20 GAME: Seyardu rolls perception: (13)+3: 16 GAME: Percy rolls perception: (3)+4: 7
It doesn't seem like there's anything else in his pockets but... That's some HEAVY money. Like. Probably gold. A decent amount of it. The kind you bribe with.
GAME: Paenitia rolls intimidate: (13)+11: 24 GAME: Zeke rolls 1d20+11: (6)+11: 17 GAME: Zeke rolls 1d100: (84): 84
"That sound like the large amount of coin." Paenitia says, facing the guard. She wears the mask of the Smiling Man, so, its expression is always a wide, stylized grin. One that seems to make a mockery of any statements.
"Sir Altay you have insult me twice. Do not do so a third time or it will become a matter of honour and I will see you on the field of battle." The Red Knight says ominously. She has apologized, he has not, and honour demands she kneecaps him at least if this goes on. The threat is real.
"No artist name. No explain of the explosives. No remorse for endanger children. No explain of the buyers." Paenitia adds, listing offenses, "You put your name in the mud. We are not the fault for saying you are sinking."
Her head turns once more, to the first guard with the very loud pockets, "The very heavy gold coins. You make the good pay today."
Her implication that it's bribe money will not be lost on the others. She advances towards the warehouse, clanking as she does, leaving a parting thought, "how big a statue you think I can bring out on my own?"
"There is a reason you do not want us to see the coins, for certain. How are people looking at crates in a warehouse ruining property? Also, it is interesting the owner is here for this. That you keep bringing out the statues. You will not even comply with a request to empty a pocket, how can this one trust you at all?" Seyardu nods, stepping forward herself. "Paenitia speaks the truth. We do not make bad of your name. You do so by refusing to cooperate with an investigation by the temples. Would you rather this one fetches the iron book next time, on charges off demonic summoning in this warehouse? Or is the undead and statues not enough? It seems the body in the sewers was swept to irrelevance like everything else otherwise."
"You say you are helpful, but it appears all you have done is try to hide what you are doing. You have told us nothing, will not let us see for ourselves. You tell us no names, no sources, not even where statues are going."
Percy's attention immediately turned to the second guardsman greeting him with a kind wave. Percy was as happy as a loyal dog being cooed. Percy hopped up to her feet, simply untied her hair letting it fall over her face and pushed it out of her view so she could see though a few strands laid still in her face. Percy was just watching as it all unfolded, humming a tune.
"That's because every question I answer has you asking a dozen more? How long do you expect me to suffer you ingrates?" The noble is /pissed/. Frightened to interfere with Paenitia himself, so he sweeps his arm after her. "If she enters that warehouse she is invading my property and I expect her to be arrested as she keeps threatening me with!"
The guards hesitate, but both put their hands on their weapons and move. Not to stop her from entering, but preparing to arrest her if she does. They're getting into position. "I can see why he dislikes you so. You're getting on /my/ last nerve also." Says the first of the two guards, half-muttering it and jingling as he walks.
Meanwhile the clerics have moved over to look at the second statue. Look in this instance means that the Seer needs to touch the statue. They so far haven't offered much in the way of interference to either side. Remaining a neutral party in this, but also acting as witnesses.
GAME: Paenitia rolls weapon4: (19)+9: 28 (THREAT) GAME: Paenitia rolls weapon4: (6)+9: 15 (Confirmed)
Paenitia has made her intentions clear. So have the guards. As a heavily armoured Lucht Knight, she doesn't move quickly. It's easy enough for the two guards to get in front of her, threaten her with legal consequences, and touch their weapons. She also lays her hand on her weapon.
She has a secret they don't know. She's a Lucht Siuil, everything is larger than her. Everything has been threatening her whole life. She doesn't care.
She steps into the warehouse. As promised, the guards move to arrest her.
She spins, a whirlwind of red. Her silvered blade flashing out, an arc of sunlight to slash at one guard's leg. A cut that could have opened a femoral artery and started him towards his grave. Instead, she strikes only his pocket, tearing it open. There's a 'ziinng' as her blade rings off coins.
Gold coins. All GOLD coins, that glitter in a giant arc as they fly up in the air, catching the sunlight better than her blade.
It sounds like rain when they land, so much pattering and tinkling. A LOT of GOLD is scattered.
Paenitia points her blade of accusation at the second guard. "Bribery is a crime. If you are unstained, I surrender to you." She sheathes her weapon.
"Your questions get questions because you give no answers. You give your name and nothing else. Your private property lined with explosives and harboring fiends that you will not acknowledge." Seyardu states, glaring at the noble and the guards now.
"Sir, we are trying to clear your name. But all you do is dig yourself deeper, and will make it worse when the truth comes out. And the guards here, you paid them to treat this as your property, not a scene of criminal activity filled with suspect goods, undead and fiends? Did you pay them to let you continue to ship out, and let you bring other things in?"
"This one has been patient, trusting the guard. All we ask, is to let us search the building. But you seem to refuse. Why do you continue to help him? Is it worry of being brought under as well?"
The gold is spilled onto the ground, a glittering cascade that likely had no good reason to be there. Seyardu sighs. "You will not answer, so the knight was forced to act. And the reason for your hesitation was made clear. It is not normal for guards to travel with such heavy pockets, is it?"
Percy happily watched as Paenitia slashed the pocket of the second guard, as all the 'gold' coins spilled out. " And you said I was lying didn't you yet I was right about the bribery." Percy chuckled at the conundrum and continued to hum her melody. Sitting patiently.
GAME: Boaz rolls perception: (20)+6: 26
The second guard looks at the gold spilled on the ground and moves in to arrest Paenitia. The first sputters, quickly bending down to gather up his obviously ill-gotten gains. "You've no proof as to how I got this money!" He declares, trying to defend himself though it's clear that there's something fishy going on here.
"Enough of this." It's Riva's patient, but strong voice. "It's clear enough that there is something unusual going on here. Maybe statues of actual people, maybe just greed. It seems to me that you all have something to answer for today. So we will call the lieutenant of the guard who I know to be a noble man, and he will sort you two out." She points to the two guardsmen who look very guilty. "And you as well Lady Snapdragon, for your transgression on this man's property."
She's not done however, she turns her sightless eyes on the nobleman. "As for you, you've questions to answer, and if you will not answer them, you will answer me! Come, we will go to the Temple where the Truth will shine down on us all."
The noble pales at this somewhat and looks at the two guards before nodding slowly and stuffing his hands in his pockets.
Boaz has been silent. A lumbering lurker for all of this. Softskins and their strange ways still confuse him. That one could be detained for harming another he can understand. For harming another's clothing he does not. That one has authority over another he can understand. But this seemingly overwhelming authority to say what can be done in a certain spot..not so much.
He spends his time inspecting the statues. Especially the first one. Mind working. And is rewarded as something snaps into place.
He nods once to himself and reaches out with both hands and takes hold of the first statue. The one with the seam. Muscle ripple under scales as he almost easily picks it up and lifts it over his head, keeping it there.
"This statue is not the man's real property. This is a casting. A fake. It is hollow and lighter then a real statue. A casting made of the real statue." He speaks calmly and yet firm in his painfully deep voice. The statue remains over his head as proof of it's lightness and perhaps as a hostage of sorts? His eyes stay focused on the guards and noble as his tail swishes like a serpent's body.
GAME: Seyardu rolls diplomacy: (16)+11: 27 (Aid Another - Paenitia) GAME: Percy rolls diplomacy: (18)+1: 19 (Aid Another - Paenitia) GAME: Paenitia rolls diplomacy: (1)+8: 9 (EPIC FAIL)
"Seer Riva, you see the truth of this." Paenitia says, "I accept what you say. I surrender to the noble lieutenant when he appear, and not this compromised pair. The forced entry needed to get to the bottom of the truth."
She crosses her arms, "On my honour, I will not move until you have test the statue like the one I have seen, like the one Friend Dragon has seen, that other Friend Dragon say is the source of the mold. That it a copy is proof enough there the better original."
"All the rest of this, Sir Altay, the guards, the crowd, is street theater to stop your purpose. Do not give them the success of their interference."
The little Lucht knight is adamant, and stamps her foot after each sentence. Of course, bare feet don't make much noise. Her armour does rattle, "People are turn to stone. People are in crates. People are sold to slaves. Demons and undead are in streets. Sir Altay conceal his involvement and his rights do not involve the ownership of people."
"I await the test and the lieutenant."
Seyardu seems to accept the judgement of Riva, and she nods slowly. "This one understands, it is a breach of a law, though this one will speak for the honor and character of Dame Paenitia if needed later. You can see now that there was a cover up, a reason they will not help though, yes?" She asks, before she looks to the guard, making sure they stay in place. And to where Boaz was lifting the hollow statue.
"The ones this one found were solid. It took magic to move the crates, which were moved back into place. Not something to be held above the head like such."
She glares at the noble. "This one should not speak of you as a noble. There is nothing noble about your actions. You try to fake what you have, to drag our face through the sheep. None of you have helped, in fact, you have tried to hide the truth. You bribe and use fake examples picked exactly by yourself."
She turns to Riva, and sighs. "We cannot let them have more time to hide what they have done. This one is worried due to the out going shipments. If they have more time, more will be sent out. Please trust in this one."
"I feel sorry for you poor guardsmen, taking a bribe like that?" Percy spoke in pity. "You've both lost your light and became blind due to the darkness of the powerful greed emitted by money. It's a shame to lose two guards in one day, isn't it? Tell me, was it really worth it handing over the lives of so many people, people that have families the lives of the people you are supposed to protect giving them a way for something that is as cheap as money nonetheless a thing lasts only for so long while the people that praise you last forever?" Percy rose to her feet slowly and gave the guards a look of sorrow and dishearten.
"After this please do your best to change for the better and the people that live here."
GAME: Zeke rolls 1d20+13: (16)+13: 29
The guardsmen manage to look chastised by everyone's comments, but perhaps most of all by Percy's. It's fairly clear that they're not going to hold out long. The noble on the other hand looks more and more irritated and worried by the moment. When Riva nods to Seyardu, he pulls his hand out of his pocket. In it, is a small fertility statue. The noble mutters a few words in Infernal, and a gate opens. "I'm not answering anything! Farewell!" He starts to hop through, but Ravi is already casting a spell. Canceling his work and closing the gate.
She turns her blind eyes on Boaz. "Could you kindly put the statue down and take whatever he is holding away from him please?" The nobleman makes a protesting noise, backing up toward the warehouse. "I would not like him to try leaving us again so soon."
GAME: Seyardu casts Protection From Evil. Caster Level: 6 DC: 14 GAME: Boaz rolls melee: (13)+5: 18 GAME: Boaz rolls will: (19)+1: 20
Things have changed and rapidly. Boaz follows the chain of events and growls in satisfaction as the noble's attempt to flee is foiled.
When the blind priestess asks him to do things he does, setting the statue down so it stands firmly on its own. "Yes Speaker. This one will do as you say." He plods forwards with a hand palm up, showing his claws. He stares at the noble. "The Speaker wishes your life spared. This one hopes you resist.." He reaches out to take hold of the statue.
Seyardu blinks. There was one of the statues again. But she could not react to a portal. Thankfully, the priestess with them stopped it. Seyardu glares, and holds up a hand.
"This is why they do not care about the fiends and undeads. They consort openly with them, as shown by the statue in their hands. But be wary, it affects the mind, controls those who attempt to pick it up."
Seyardu places a hand on Boaz for a moment with a prayer. "Celestial mother, shield this one's mind from the fiend and their reach." She says, before stepping back, and watching. <Draconic>
The golden Sith snatches the statue from the man's hand with a growl. Then he pauses, the growl briefly lowering in pitch but rising in volume as his muscles try to bunch and tighten under his skin. Then he sucks in a breath and snorts all the sudden rage he feels away, blowing the noble's hair back in the small gust.
Paenitia has a conundrum, she has declared that she will not move until the lieutenant appears, that it is a matter of honour. Now that she has said so, she must live up to her word.
She could break it... Knights of the Pillar are notoriously random and capricious, but... instead she remains standing in place. An armoured roadbump.
Should Sir Altay come her way, she will do her best to trip him. Her hand even strays to the hilt of her sword, preparing to put it to use. However her vow is maintained, she does not move from the spot.
Moving on the spot, is ok. "Yes, the statue is part of the demon summon cult. That is evidence enough all statues here be impounded, if the tests cannot be done."
She watches Boaz, in case he's about to lose his mind.
Percy tilts her head to the side at Seyardu's words but faced Boaz. "Oh yeah! Nice to see you again! You might not remember me but I'm the one that sliced the training dummy in half!" Percy spirits were slowly rising. Once she gained back her bubbly attitude she completely ignored the guards and the nobleman. Although a side from them she was as happy as a daisy on a sunny day. "Hey here's an Idea we should all get food after this!" I was clear that Percy didn't want to have to think of the pitiful actions of the men and noble instead she was focused on her appetite.
Disarmed of his statue, the noble sags to the ground, his expression lost and his bearing that of someone who has lost their last hope. He's clearly terrified of Boaz and makes no attempt to retrieve the idol now that it's been taken from him. Ravi calls for the lieutenant, and Balderdan Viet is indeed a man of honor. He takes the two guardsmen into custody immediately, ripping their insignia of duty off their shoulders with his bare hands and glares holes into their souls. They almost immediately confess that the nobleman bribed them to help him guard the warehouse, but not report if anything unusual happened inside.
Which it seemed that some unusual activity had been going on.
Balderdan also takes Paenitia into custody for her trespass, but he informs her quickly that community service will likely be her only punishment. Still, some token punishment /is/ necessary for breaking the law. Such is the course of honorable people.
The noble is taken away for further questioning, and the clerics head into the warehouse with Balderdan's blessing. Inside they find that the warehouse is almost totally empty. A few statues, molds like the ones that came outside all that's left of what you guys found previously. Some traces of magic linger, and the clerics are able to determine that something powerful likely transported the statues. To where? /Sir/ Altay will only say that he was shipping the statues to Charn. What happened to them in the meantime he refuses to tell even on pain of penalties. There's not much evidence against him in any case. The statues - the people - are gone. The bribery of the guards a lesser offense. He's banned from shipping to Charn for the foreseeable future, and all his goods subject to inspection but...
It feels like a hollow victory.
That is until Balderdan comes back with at least a bit of news that gives you hope. They were able to back-track the shipment of Altay's most recent shipments. You know now to whom and to where the statues /were/ going. A Charnese noble by the name of Hatay Miriatan. If you can reach her stronghold... You might be able to rescue some of those that were turned to statues. However this is a dangerous mission. One that requires you to travel to Charn, to where slavery is /legal/ and rescue those that are being even now sold.
It might be impossible. Only time will tell if you will even venture to try. But... if you can bring back even one person who was turned into a statue... then Atay will pay, and pay dearly. That and the rescue of countless innocent might make it well worth the effort.
