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

"No argument here Rhenh." I state and take another drink. "So, after our well deserved rest" I say raising my mug in jest towards my statement, "what are your thoughts? Have a 'chat' with this druid or see the royalty? I'm partial to the royalty idea myself."

 

In Daemonic: "I am conflicted," Dame Palmer says, taking a sip of the mead, "Wow, this brewer knows his trade!" She comments before returning to the topic at hand. "On the one hand, meeting with the Druid could move forward my plan significantly, on the other it typically is custom in these early societies that one must first make ones presence known to the ruling nobleman/woman or thier duely appointed representative and ask his/her permission to be abroad in their land. I suggest we listen for clues while we are here and then take things from there based on what we discover..." Dame Palmer Reasons.

Fitting action to thought she begins to listen in on the general sussurus of the taverns conversation.

(GUESSING that this would be rolled using Wisdom, in which case the results are: 17 + 2 = 19.)

 

I finish my tune while Dame Palmer speaks to Vanek in a strange tongue. Then give my opinion. "Considering the three of us seem to be making big waves in this village...The king will likely hear of us before we wake. If we don't go to him first, then he may send people to round us up and he may not be too happy that we didn't speak with him first."

Shrugging idly, I look around the room at the people I hope that I've made just a little bit happier. "He may even think that us going to visit this druid guy first undermines his authority."

 

The brewery/tavern, being the gathering point of the lower classes, is not the best place to overhear gossip about the nobility, and the discussion that accompanies your arrival makes it harder still. However, from what you can pick up, the king is disinterested in matters of state, and the druids have considerable weight when he does think of them - it would be best to take the druid down first.

GM Note: As I didn't include a "Perception" stat, Wisdom is the used skill. Intelligence would be used for intellectual discussions, for instance among courtiers and priests, Charisma to wheedle information out of someone, and Agility to sneak up and listen.

 

Dame Pinkamina is going to do something very risky, but hopefully rewarding: she stalks up to the most druidic looking person here and leaning over so they have a clear look down her shirt, say: "Hey, you seem like an erudite fellow, let's discuss religion around these parts..."

(Charisma 8 + 5 = 13 or Tecneque 10 + 5 = 15.)

 

You approach a man in a white robe, with the skin of a fox for the hood. Showing him your cleaveage, you ask him about the location's religion...

He coughs. "Madam, I respect your desire to learn about the local faith, especially given how new you are to this place, but let me begin with one important fact: a Druid is married to Mother Nature, and remains true to her until his dying day. Regardless of your minor error: the Druids oversee the rites that keep the land bountiful, divine the future and advise the king. Outside of that, we mingle amongst the villagers, giving sage advice." He takes a sip of ale before continuing, clearly teetotaling is not a druidic requirement.

"Any man may audition to be a Druid, though the tests are difficult. At present, there are four druids in the village: Riverwild, that is myself, Oakenchild, the chief druid, Stoneleaf, whose name you may have heard whispered as a threat against your companions, and Grassbreath, the youngest and newest." He takes another sip of his ale. "We all had normal names initially, but they were given up as part of our initiation."

He waves you away, and, seeing that he is unwilling to talk any more, you return to your table.

GM Note: It is Charisma. You can use Technique for blatant seduction, as in crotch-grabbing blatant.

 

As Dame Pinkamina returns I try to convey an empathetic look that says 'It was worth a shot' and then take another long drink of my ale.

"Well, shall we pay our respects to the royalty once we're finished?" I ask after a moment.

 

Hiding a blush under her naturally pink skin, Dame Pinkamina returns to drinking her mead said nods toward Vanek.

In Demonic: "Yes, let's. I'm thinking it's not a good idea to stick around here too long after I made such a fool of myself..."

 

"I think finishing up and visiting the king would be sensible. We had no way of knowing that the druids would all be married. Let alone to the same woman. Their mother must really get around..." I grin ignorantly.

 

Dame Palmer says nothing, but starts to quaff her drink a little faster...

 

After a few minute's quiet drinking, the party's cups are finished, so all that's left for them to do is thank the brewer, leave, and head for the king's home. It's not hard to find, as it's up on the hill, twice the size of any other dwelling and decorated with wooden carvings.

As they approach the door, the two guards cross their spears across the doorway. "Halt!" One of them calls. "His majesty is with Oakenchild, reading the futures. When he is done, the human may enter."

GM's note: The reading will take several hours.

 

"Gentlemen!" I say in the most jovial attitude I can muster "I am Vanek the Everrise and these are my companions, the lovely beauty Dame Pinkamina Palmer and the wonderfully enthusiastic faun Rhenh." I say indicating Pinkamina and Rhenh respectively. "We come from distant... lands. To pay respect to your beloved king. Now we can certainly understand that at this moment the king is preoccupied with matters of state and such; and thus we would be happy to return when he has time for us. However!, Rhenh and I would be remiss not to join our good ladyfriend when his majesty is not otherwise engaged. Indeed, one might consider it rude. You wouldn't want us to insult your good king by being absent now would you?"

((OOC: Charisma roll: Base 10 + Roll 2 () = Total 12))

 

The guards shift uneasily. "The faun may enter, once the ritual is done, but you, you're, erm, a threat..."

GM note: Your roll was just a mite too low to get you in.

 

I step up with a somewhat anxious look on my face. "Please Sir! I'd like it if at least one of my friends could come with me...for moral support at least. If not the big one, then...uh..." I stare at Dame Palmer blankly for a moment. "A-at least let Pinky come in with me."

(Charisma: 17 Base + 1 Roll =18....Welp)

 

I lean over to whisper to Rhenh, "Uh Rhenh, they've already said they'd let Pinkamina in. They just want me to wait out here, which is... familiar."

After I finish, I stand straight again and say to my companions, "Well, I think this is about as good a deal as we're going to get. I'm sure I can find something to do while the two of you pay our respects to his highness."

 

The guards stare at the Faun in disarmed confusion, before hearing the demon's statement and nodding. "Come back when, oh, let's see, the sun has gone three-quarters of the way around the sky*. The King will be done then, and you may have your audience."

*About four o'clock. The current time is about 12:30.

 

Pinkamina smiles at them and gives them a slight bow before asking in her most dulcet tones: "Do you nice young men know where I might find Stoneleaf at this hour? I have been told he stands in opposition to the other races and wish to engage him in conversation to sus-out the root of this abnormal animosity."

(Charisma: 8 + 2 = 10... Should still work, I'm basically just asking directions.)

 

"Much as I'd like to help you, I'm not privy to the secrets of the druids. Mayhap he'll be in the druid's sanctuary, or lecturing in the central sqaure." He gestures to a large green space in the middle of the village. "If he's not there, he'll most likely be out gathering herbs."

 

Dame Pinkamina sketches a quick salute and says "Thanks anyway!" She then starts off in the direction of the village green...

(Assuming that the others follow...)

Speaking in Faunish: "You seem a far more persuasive fellow than I Rhenh, if you are to be allowed in to speak with the king, I suggest we let you do most of the talking." Pinkamina says to the young deer-taur...

 

I frown a little at Dame Pinkamina's suggestion. "Maybe...I don't know what I can say to convince him. I doubt walking up to him and asking him to go to this Equinox thing is going to work. It sounds like they're not a fan of non-humans in the higher positions of the land..."