Agents of L.U.S.T.: Age of Myths - The Equinox Rite

I shall be sure to give the villagers stopping and staring at us warm, friendly smiles

 

I nod courteously towards our escort and, with etiquette, say "Thank you sir, we are much obliged."

I then turn to my companions and suppress a smile at Rhenh's friendliness, "Well, off to see the king I guess... anyone have any ideas as to what our game plan should be?" I ask with a hint of uncertainty.

 

"Well..." I barely even look at my companions as i speak, too busy taking in all the sights of the village. "We could go straight to the source and talk to the king. Or we could find an inn, hall, tavern...whatever they call it where they gather and get some more information, or make some 'friends' "

 

This time I can't help but smile at the young faun's eagerness. "Well," I say scratching the top of my head with my talon, "I'm certainly not opposed to getting to know the people here." I say casting my glance towards an attractive woman a number of paces away.

"And I could go for a drink." I add with a thoughtful tilt of my head a shrug of my shoulder. "But we've only got five days here. We might not want to waste it." I then regard Dame Pinkamina Palmer "What do you think?"

 

Some of the people grin back at the unthreatening faun. Others grimace or hide their faces. It doesn't look like the friendliest place, but at least there's no threats of violence... now.

Hearing you talking about a place to drink, the guard steps in. "Well, if it's a drink you want, you'd want to head to the brewer's house." He gestures to a house that's only distinguished from the others by the stone pots out the front. "I'll be heading over there now, grabbing a drink before I head back to the bridge." As soon as he finishes talking, the guard makes good on his promises, and sets off for the brewer's hut.

 

Dame Pinkamina considers the suggestions and tries to divine the best course...

(Wisdom: 17 Base + 6 Roll = 23.)
(OCC: the die is a 1d6 right? I rolled on Random.org...)

 

As far as Dame Palmer can see, the brewery would be a safe course, guaranteeing that a few humans would turn up to the party at the cost of not being able to recruit them all, while going to the King would involve politics and a risk of total failure, but if it succeeded would mean that every human in the village would attend...

CRIT SUCCESS: Furthermore, from a few snippets of conversation, Dame Palmer can work out that the village is divided into three factions. One, lead by the King, wants isolation. Another, lead by the Princess, wants increased contact with other races. The third, lead by a Druid of some import, wants a holy war to kill every non-human on the planet. This courtly intrigue plays little role in most people's lives.

OOC: It is a d6.

 

Speaking in Daemonic: "It would appear that the local government is presently stalemated between three factions only one of which suits our purposes: the king wishes isolation, the religious leader desires to exterminate all other races, and the king's sister is nominally on our side of the equation. I am wondering if perhaps it might be wise for a certain wyrm to make herself known against the druid?"

 

I'm surprised at just how much information Dame Pinkamina's provided with her answer, and am more than somewhat impressed with her intuition. I have to stop and ponder her suggestion for a moment; if the king wants isolation that won't accomplish anything, and speaking to him could be a waste of time. If the king's sister is at least open to us that's great, but I'm not sure how much influence she has over the people. Still, talking to her isn't half bad of an idea. Lastly, if this religious druid wants all non-humans dead it'd probably be a good idea to deal with him or her sooner rather than later. But they'd have to be handled properly, if we mess this up we could just drive more people to their way of thinking.

"To what end?" I finally ask.

 

I have pretty much already followed along behind the guard like a sheep follows the shepherd. Drinking and merrymaking. That's where I will always find myself drawn to. Perhaps in that way, I am more related to Satyrs than centaurs.

 

Pinkamina decides to walk and talk, going over to what passes for a tavern in this pastoral village.

Still speaking in Daemonic: "You may or may not know that I am a servant of the God of the Rose Dragons, Glasherak. I propose we learn more about this druidic religion and then use its own tenets to have the dragon disclaim the druid's loyalty and adherence to his faith. If it is aught like the other druids I have encountered then the wholesale slaughter of other species would be forbidden at the highest levels. Thus, the dragon could claim that she was sent to challenge the druid to a test of faith: trial by combat. The dragon will almost assuredly win, and thus eliminate our chief rival. That done, I think the king's sister would sway her brother easily, and mayhap the king would challenge the dragon as kings are wont to do, and thus leave the sister the last woman standing..."

Back in the local argot: "Brewer: a flagon of mead if you have it!"

 

I nod as Dame Pinkamina finishes ,thinking that her plan just might work. "That's not half bad of an idea."

I then turn to the attendant of the 'tavern', "Ale, or the next best thing." Next I cast a glance around the room before the realization strikes me, "Uh... where's Rhenh?"

 

(ooc: Well, the guard went to the brewer's house and i followed and that's where everyone else is, So I should still be there. I think unless I misunderstood something. I'll wait for some clarification though)

 

I stand just outside the 'tavern' and pull my trusty flute out. It's time to truly make an entrance and begin having a positive impact on these peoples lives. Nothing brings people together more than the power of music. I begin with a slow tune and open the door and walk in before gradually crescendoing(ooc:yes that's a word) into a happy jaunty tune as i prance happily up and down the tables and chairs of the room.

(OCC: I assume this is a Precision roll. It might be charisma, or both so I'll leave both below)
(Precision: 12 Base + 5 Roll = 17.)
(Charisma: 17 Base + 5 Roll = 22.)

 

As the faun finishes playing, the room breaks out in applause. "Free drinks for him!" Someone shouts, a chant that is taken up by the rest of the room until the brewer has no choice but to comply. The brewer pours a measure of his mixture out of a ceramic jug into a stone cup and hands it to Rhenh.

Seconds after the faun's entrance, his companions arrive, Dame Palmer walking into the room to be greated with a few whistles that quickly die when they realise what she's wearing, how she's walking, and who is following her. Vanek has to bring his wings in right to his sides to fit through the door, and duck low as well, and only in the centre of the pointed hut can he stand at his full height.

The crowd falls silent, but Rhenh starts to play again, and everyone quickly returns to drinking. Dame Palmer and Vanek both also get free drinks, and the party is directed to an empty table in the centre of the hut.

 

I sit(or lay as my anatomy dictates) by the table and continue playing the flute in some lower and more dulcet tones while only taking the occasional break to drink and talk. "well, nothing like good first impressions, am I right?"

 

"Oh." I say as I quickly spot the faun starting a tune, "nevermind."

'I'll have to watch him more closely, that's twice now he's disappeared on us. I'll need to make sure he doesn't get into too much trouble.' I think to myself as I sit down at the empty table I was directed to. I take a gulp of my ale and look at the drink a little surprised, it wasn't half bad. The first taste is quickly followed by another and a survey the room. There are a number of nervous or fearful glances my way, and I try flashing a reassuring smile towards several of the patrons. How much success I have with it I can't tell as they quickly avoid my gaze and turn back to their own goings-on.

"Well, nothing like good first impressions, am I right?" Rhenh states.

The corner of my mouth tilts up and I raise one eyebrow briefly, "I've had worse first encounters with humans. Anything that doesn't break out into a crazed mob trying to kill me is okay in my book."

 

I frown a little. "Why would the humans break into a crazed mob and try to kill you as their first encounter? You're big, but that isn't a reason to harm anyone."

 

In common: "You might be surprised young one, I've seen people take exception to one another over much less." The Knights eyes grow dark and haunted at memories she would rather staid buried.

 

"Well that's silly." I huff, slightly irritated at the idea of people being dumb. "Driving people off just because they're different than you means removing yourself from so many enjoyable adventures and experiences."

I briefly take a breath and return to flute playing. Allowing the sweeter melody to soften what little irritation I had and to return to much happier thoughts.