Johan ascends the stairs to the overlook, passing a few partygoers up the sweeping staircase. The music is more muted and echoing up from the grand ballroom floor, and from the large open balcony behind the distant music and cheering from the commoner's parties filters up.
He takes a glass from a passing butler, not bothering to drink it as he wanders around, his eyes scanning the much sparser crowd up here to see if anything catches his eye.
Not sure if Insight or Perception is more relevant for noticing people of interest in the overlook/balcony:
Insight(+6): Rolled a 9, so 15.
Perception(+11): Rolled a 1, so 12.
Saturday, February 27, 2016
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Johan was one of the first to the balcony, but after a moment a young woman in a fine dress appeared and sulked off to the corner where he pulled out a book and started to read while idly drinking drinking a glass of wine.
ReplyDeleteHe strode over to the woman, looking over how she carried herself to try and better judge her character.
ReplyDeleteInsight to try and figure if she seems to be a fighterish person, more scholarly, mage, etc:
Insight(+11): Rolled 8, so 19.
He squinted, trying to read the title of the book.
As Johan looks closer he can see that her muscles appear to be lithe and in fit form suggesting a certain martial prowess. The cover of the book translates to "Twilight."
ReplyDeleteHa. Ha.
ReplyDeleteStepping to a respectful distance from the woman, Johan clears his throat, stifling a bit of a groan as he catches sight of the title.
"So, is that that bestseller I keep hearing about? How is it?"
Diplomacy(+16): Rolled 18, so 34.
The woman looked up raising an eyebrow. "You aren't going to mock it are you? I know it's supposedly low-brow literature, but it is a page turner."
ReplyDelete"Ah, no, perish the thought. It just seems an odd literary choice, given the public opinion towards undead from the pirate raiders. Has anyone given you trouble about your literary choice?"
ReplyDelete"Well, it's not a love story between zombie's and a young very susceptible woman. It's a love story between a very sensual vampire and a somewhat dependent woman. So, no, though some people think the descriptions of vampires in the novel are over the top. I can't help but think that vampires do actually sparkle in the sun. That would look so pretty." She said a bit longingly.
ReplyDeleteResisting the urge to rub the itchy glamoured patch of forehead, Johan muttered "Yes, they'd look so pretty before they screamed and burst into flames."
ReplyDelete"Well, uh, miss, I've had a run-in or two with vampires and, uh, especially their related ilk, and honestly, most of them are right bastards." He pointed towards the book. "The chances of finding a vampire who would spend that much time and gold on you and not be trying to fatten you up for a proper feast later would be about the same as hitting one of the moons with an arrow made of wet parchment."
Usually, I'm opposed to book burning, but I'll make an exception here.
ReplyDeleteUsually, I'm opposed to book burning, but I'll make an exception here.
ReplyDelete"Well, aren't you a charmer and ruining the fantasies of young maidens. What exactly brings you to the ball" I'm here as the nominal representative of my family."
ReplyDeleteJohan chuckled and gave her a smile. "Actually, I'm here as a right bastard myself, trying to figure out how to get an acquaintance of mine out of a dilemma of his own doing. Shockingly, I can't imagine his efforts to get someone to bail him out is going well, given his reputation."
ReplyDeleteHe pulled out his flask, taking a long swig, and doesn't take excessive pains to hide as he licks a crimson drop off of the steel mouth of the bottle.
The woman smiles. "so... You'd be able to go somewhere more private and not feel bad about abandoning your friends?"
ReplyDeleteJohan shrigs and smiles. "I suppose it depends; would it be worth the money I might make if I stayed here and continued to carouse with the other party goers?"
ReplyDelete"Well, I don't charge for my companionship..."
ReplyDeleteShrugs, not shrigs. Thanks, phone.
ReplyDeleteJohan laughed, the sound a bit of a bark of surprise more than anything else.
"Oh no, my dear, it's what I charge for my 'companionship." He smiled, his more-tooth-than-average grin peeking between blood-red lips.
She grinned openly. "Well, why don't we step outside and fish the corner and see what we can make happen..."
ReplyDeleteFish around the corner?
ReplyDeleteJohan grins, taking her hand, and saying "Well, let's take our time getting there. There's the rest of a long, excessively pleasurable evening ahead of us, after all."
Johan is going to Take 20 for an Insight Check (+11) while they are within view of other folks on the balcony. He's trying to make sure the lady isn't armed or dangerous, and doesn't intend to do anything but climb him like a tree.
she is wearing a ballroom dress and carrying a book. From what Johan can tell she doesn't appear armed.
ReplyDeleteAlso, your going to take twenty just studying her, what are you charting about during that twenty minutes?
Charting=chatting and farting
ReplyDeletevampires are notorious farters
ReplyDeleteIt's the decomp from being dead.
ReplyDeleteJohan takes her hand, kissing it in a gentlemanly fashion, before the book spine catches his eye again. "I have heard that there are lycanthropes in those stories as well; Do they hold as much allure as the blood-drinkers do?" He gave her a wink, continuing to watch to see if her behavior was genuine or put-upon.
ReplyDelete"Hmm, no, the whole wererat thing is finally not as interesting. So, are we going elsewhere or...?"
ReplyDelete"In a moment. My unfortunate friend is down below, and I wish to catch his eye first before we...retire. He's prone to poor judgement, and Pelor knows what mischief he'd get up to trying to save me from a 'kidnapping.'"
ReplyDeleteHe ducked a finger under her chin, rubbing his thumb along her jaw and enjoying the pulsing heat from the nearby vein. Johan turned back to glance into the ballroom before looking back to his new acquaintance.
"So tell me, my lady, what is your name? I'm curious what family has been blessed by the gods with a ravishing daughter such as you."
She grinned, taking his hand. "Stop being such a tease. Still, I suppose you deserve my name." She said tilting her head slightly to expose her long slender neck.
ReplyDelete"I am Eowel of the Grend house. Our family is known for their beauty, and their healthy hearts..."
Ok, History check to find out what all I know about Grend house's reputation:
ReplyDeleteHistory(+8):Rolled 9, so 17.
It's known as a minor noble family that has made a small fortune in reusing sheep intestines.
ReplyDelete"Ah yes, the Grends are renowned far and wide for your hearts. I must say I am surprised to not see you mingling with the nobles below in that case; Have they slighted you in some way?"
ReplyDeleteJohan gives her a smile, his hand resting now on her lower arm, enjoying the heat and the idea of drinking something besides stale blood for the first time in nearly a week.
Also still stalling and doing that Take-20 Insight check...
Idle chatter, idle chatter.
ReplyDeleteAs Johan looks her over during the course of twenty odd minutes of chatter he can tell that she's a bit of an outrageous flirt as she's not afraid to touch, smile, or make direct references to finding a more intimate spot. As far as Johan can tell she doesn't appear armed underneath the flowing ballroom gown. Though, to be fair, women in such gowns seem to be able to hide a kitchen sink.
She doesn't seem to be making any references toward harming him or anyone, so as far as he can tell from the conversation and situation she doesn't seem dangerous.
Fair enough. Johan is as reassured about her intentions as is reasonably possible given his incredibly poor wisdom and judgement...
ReplyDeleteAs they head out onto the outdoor balcony, Johan notices that they are alone as the last couple re-enters the ballroom. He leans close, giving her a long kiss on her neck before pulling back and smiling, again the smile a bit toothier than average.
"Well, m'lady, I think we have a few minutes to ourselves. So tell me your favorite part of that novel thus far..."
Perfectly fine fading to black for undead sexytimes in a hidden corner, if that's what she's angling for. Otherwise, Johan will follow her lead back to wherever she would plan on getting her vampiric nookie on.
Overall, Johan is angling to get his fill of blood and refill his flask, probably not enough to do her any lasting harm other than a headache the next morning.
Let me know if the order of At-Will/Encounter powers he'd use matter; He's not attempting to do any damage, just topping off the blood bank so to speak.
Eowel leads him out of the party, catching many admiring glances along the way. She leads him to a nearby stately townhouse where she unlocks the door and settles into the entry parlor.
ReplyDelete"I'd offer you something to drink... but I suspect I know what you want." She says turning on a single oil lamp.
"Why don't you grab a seat and I'll settle into your lap?"
"Ah, in a moment my dear. I had a recent...poor experience due to a number of unlikely factors. If you'll humor me a few minutes, perhaps slip into something a bit more...convenient?"
ReplyDeleteJohan is now exercising caution, and is Taking 20 on a Perception check as he does a sweep of the townhouse, also double-checking over whatever outfit or lack thereof Eowel wears when she comes back in.
Perception(+11): Taking 20, so 31.
Specifically checking:
-Making sure the lamp oil is holy-bullshit-free
-Making sure her new outfit is free of knives/etc
-Making sure all windows are locked, but from the inside
-Making sure they are alone
-Making sure there are no religious symbols
-Making sure there are no "convenient" stake-like wooden objects
-Making sure there is a lack of weaponized silver of any sort
After somehow missing and walking past a great deal of religious symbols in an unexpected location and consequently losing the ability to turn into mist and make good on his escape before, Johan is leaving nothing to chance.
She nods, looking a bit confused, but stepping off into the other room. Johann, scampers around the room checking neurotically every inch and object of the room.
ReplyDeleteAs he dips his fingers into the lamp oil he is pleased to find that it is clearly not holy. There are several other bottles of oil, but none appear to be holy.
The windows, like any fancy town house, can be opened, but have large bars on the other side.
There are several Pelorian holy symbols hanging on the far wall around a picture of an elder member of the family.
In the kitchen a broken chair sits on the table, the chair legs held together with a clamp and glue. On the counter are several large wooden spoons.
The spoons in the drawers are sterling silver, as are several tea pots.
The room is rather stifling warm as a large roaring fire sits in the mammoth fireplace.
After a few minutes Eowel returns from the other room in very scanty lingerie, her hands held behind he back as she grins.
"Stop being a tease and come over here Johann... I want you to show me what those teeth can do."
Seeing as both player and character know Johan is safe because all possible and reasonable avenues of attack have been checked, Johan gets busy with it.
ReplyDeleteNot going to do a blow-by-blow account of each thrust and moan, but in general Johan does his best to show her a good time, and sometime around/shortly after climax, proceeds to take a drink and top off that missing surge, taking care to not do any lasting damage beyond a headache the next day.
He also fills his flask as well, but takes care to not be crass about it.
Let me know if you need any rolls for the hanky-panky, and otherwise Johan gives her a farewell kiss on the forehead as she sleeps it off, leaves the townhouse taking care to lock it behind him, and goes to wander the docks. He's looking specifically to see if there's a lighthouse, from which he can watch the town below in the witching hour.
As Johan steps forward, she smiles, and then frowns.
ReplyDelete"I'm sorry... I actually am interested in you. I was just told to lure you here so that they didn't hurt my mother!" At that point the door opens and the dark shadow enters.
"ssso, I hear you were looking and assssking for me..."
...Huh. Didn't see that coming. At all. Curious what her Bluff roll was to have beaten his 26 Insight.
ReplyDelete"Oh, damn all the hells, not now. Why can't he just come talk to me at a reasonable hour?" Johan mutters, before concentrating and becoming mist and shadow himself, slipping under the doorway and out into the cold night air.
Using Gaseous Form (Daily), giving him Phasing, Insubstantial, Fly speed of 8, and +10 bonus to Stealth checks
Stealth(+12 and +10): Rolled 13, so 35.
He's then moving past Mr Shadow, and if Mr Shadow is pursuing I'll roll for initiative at that point.
Her bluff is pretty good - partially because she was getting a bonus since she was actually attracted to Johan and thus wasn't completely lying.
ReplyDelete"You can't avoid me forever Johan!" 'Mr. Shadow' says as Johan turns to gaseous form.
"Please, feel free to come by again." Eowel calls as he slips away.
As Johan leaves the house and finds himself back in the center square where he passes several passed out people who have had a little too much at the commoner's party. Their hands still clutch large bottles of beer.
So, it is still an early night for Johan. Technically, he could try to double back to Eowel at some point if you'd like, as Johan didn't get the feeling she was amenable, just pressured/coerced by Mr. Shadow. Otherwise, there do appear to be lots of drunks around and other easy prey for a vampire.
ReplyDeleteThere isn't a functioning lighthouse, but the ruins of a large tower do sit next to the docks.
The commoners dance is still active, as is the main part of the formal dance, though you are about two hours ahead of Talathel, and hour ahead of Darvin, and about forty minutes ahead of Beranhond. At present, you are... nine hours behind Nym?
Johan's had enough adventure for one night, and so will just top off off of some wine sots rather than risk bumping heads with Mr Shadow again.
ReplyDeleteI'm presuming Johan caught a glimpses of the others before leaving the overlook, so he'll just head to the ruins of the large tower, looking to get up to the highest point and simply rest/meditate there for a while (long enough to catch up with Nym.)