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Post by Malri 'Taffeta' Thistletop on Dec 14, 2018 19:06:56 GMT
Once she sees Nowhere being taken into his room at the Hung Rabbit, Taffeta says to no one in particular, 'Right. I'll be at the Watch House.' If Daisy's still around, she'll ask whether she wants to come (but assumes that she'll probably have other things to do and they can always catch up later).
Taffeta goes to the Watch House. She isn't interested in anyone trying to persuade her that the Council will sort it all out. As far as she's concerned this is a routine law enforcement matter and she just needs to find a Watch officer who has some integrity and professionalism.
At the Watch House she goes full 'I want to see the manager' and won't be appeased until Captain Thundercog personally takes her statement. (I won't use this thread to set out what she tells him - DMs, I'll message you.)
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Post by Malri 'Taffeta' Thistletop on Dec 14, 2018 19:09:07 GMT
By the way, Nowhere is under the effects of oil of taggit, which are:
'A creature subjected to this poison must succeed on a DC 13 Constitution saving throw or become poisoned for 24 hours. The poisoned creature is unconscious. The creature wakes up if it takes damage.'
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Post by Sunday on Dec 14, 2018 20:35:15 GMT
Lady Sunday wouldn’t have said anything during this. Not only would her silence be unusual but her demeanour was also different: tranquil, almost serene. When the group arrived back in Daring, she would have quietly taken her leave of everyone and made her way to her rooms in The Gilded Mirror. Taffeta, still rather distracted by the whole situation, says, 'Oh, you're going? I wanted to ask-- no, you go home, we'll talk later. See you soon, okay?' Lady Sunday nods and smiles “come find (i.e. message!) me later” |
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Post by andycd on Dec 14, 2018 23:10:23 GMT
(Hi all, sorry, I kicked this off and then had a VERY full 2 days. Ill get things established tomorrow morning with a bit of luck)
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Post by andycd on Dec 15, 2018 11:15:15 GMT
After the battle, there were many conflicting opinions of what should be done about Nowhere, but the effects of the poison meant they had a little time to decide. Val protected Nowhere from any who would do him harm, and gave him several potions to heal him. That did not, however, wake him up. As the guards, even the larger dungeon at the fort in town, did not have the means to hold someone as powerful as this warlock, keeping him in his room at the Hung Rabbit seemed reasonable, as at least it was out of the way. The Hung Rabbit patrons had seldom seen so many of the most powerful figures in Daring in their walls, so the atmosphere was a little tense while people discussed possibilities. There will also be a contingent of guards stationed outside the Hung Rabbit, under strict instructions from Grimes that they are not, repeat not, under Sergeant Val's command.
- Grimes established a watch presence on the building and then also went to make his reports on the situation.
After a few hours of pacing, the doors to the Hung Rabbit swing open, and Aurelia arrives with several people in tow: Captain Thundercog, Captain Cordelia Jadefist of the military and Coll from the Ettin. With Rholor present, these 5 people represent a majority on the Town Council.
"This is a dangerous and important situation," Aurelia informs those waiting in the tavern. "If he is to be guarded, he can remain here, though I will also stay to add to the protections on him. Jenna can work the portal for a time. However, the Council will hold a hearing tomorrow to decide what his fate shall be with relation to Daring Heights."
With that, the other three council members, Thundercog, Jadefist and Coll, all leave to make their preparations for the following day.
It is now evening. And in Nowhere's room, where at least Val and Aurelia are present. Anyone else who would like to have returned can do so.
Nowhere, you wake up.
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Post by Nowhere on Dec 15, 2018 13:04:17 GMT
Nowhere opens his eyes, and focusses in on the room. It takes a few moments for him to recognise his surroundings. He tries to lift himself up, but the wounds remind him of the battle he has faced.
He see's the faces of Aurelia and Val.
"Val, my friend, it is so good to see you.... I did not believe I would see anyone on this plane again. Aurelia, it is nice to see you too" He gives her a faint smile, "I am guessing you are a little less happy to see me.... I apologise for any extra work I suspect I will have caused you."
Over the next hour Val and Aurelia bring Nowhere up to speed about the battles, about what happened to Granny, Pascal, Rholor, the disk. Val, in his customary bluntness informs Nowhere of Taffeta and Dorian's thoughts, before Aurelia explains Nowhere's house arrest. Nowhere doesn't react to this news, just nods in understanding.
"Aurelia, I understand the position I am now in. With your permission I would like to call various Daring inhabitants here to be able to speak to them individually, I have some loose ends I would like to tie up before I succumb to the fate of the Council. Would you permit me to do this in private?"
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Post by andycd on Dec 15, 2018 17:03:21 GMT
Aurelia frowns. "I will allow visitors to attend, and I will stand outside. Know that this room is monitored magically however."
(If you would like to call anyone in for a conversation, you may)
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Post by Nowhere on Dec 15, 2018 17:58:49 GMT
"I understand". Nowhere gets to work writing out a series of notes before asking Aurelia permission to have a runner take those notes to various people in Daring.
The notes are addressed to Tugark, Dorian, Demik, Grimes, Elrich, Lady Sunday, Rholor, and to someone named Samantha. The runner is given specific instructions on where to find Samantha.
(All of those listed, I will now continue the private messages that I had held back before).
(Andy - during all the to and fro from the room, Aurelia is able to hear everything from outside the room. There is nothing that she hears that concerns her.)
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Post by Nowhere on Dec 17, 2018 18:17:07 GMT
Nowhere has now spoken to those he wanted to. He tells Aurelia he will not expect any more visitors, and he now waits until the next day and the convening of the Council.
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Post by Leif Tingle on Dec 18, 2018 10:34:30 GMT
Aurelia frowns. "I will allow visitors to attend, and I will stand outside. Know that this room is monitored magically however." (If you would like to call anyone in for a conversation, you may) At some point during Nowhere's house arrest, a visitor arrives that would be unknown to almost all in Daring: a towering, powerfully muscled Goliath, carrying a sheaf of scrolls and wearing a pair of delicate glasses on his nose. He is not covered in the usual tribal tattoos of his kind, but in a variety of symbols, pictures, words, and inscriptions from a range of languages and cultures - some recognisable, some not. And some of which seem to shift and move as he does; a trick of the light or maybe something more.... He bows low before Aurelia ( andycd ) and offers her a small, square piece of stiff parchment that reads: Oriloki Manyvoices Arcane Auditor - 3rd Rank High Council of The Watchful Order of Magists and Protectors in Waterdeep
In a soft, deep - almost urbane - voice, he addresses Aurelia "Mistress Aurelia - allow me to introduce myself. I am Arcane Auditor Manyvoices from the Watchful Order in Waterdeep. I believe my superiors have already advised the Council of Daring of my arrival and purpose; my sincerest apologies if this message has not reached you. Part of my remit is to act as an ambassador from The Watchful Order and Waterdeep; but I am also here to assist you and your colleagues with some of the more alarming arcane developments over the last 18 months or so. We are concerned there is a weakening of the barrier between this plane and others; and at the concentration of magic that is gathering in this spot. I hope you won't see my presence as an intrusion, but as assistance. I have been in town for a few days now, and have been introducing myself to many of the important and prominent members of Daring. I tried to call at your tower but I believe you were absent on more pressing matters. I have also been in brief contact with Master Nowhere, but only to say I would be seeking official permission to meet with him. You and I will have more to talk about, no doubt, both privately and in the context of the council, but for now, may I approach Master Nowhere? You are, of course, welcome to observe and will receive a full write-up of my report that I will be sending back to Waterdeep." |
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Post by andycd on Dec 18, 2018 11:43:49 GMT
Aurelia takes the card graciously and bows to the goliath. "Wizard Manyvoices, it is an honour. I have been expecting your arrival. I am sorry it is in such difficult circumstances.
I wrote back to the Watchful Order's first missive trying to explain about the planar situation here. I am sure we can spend time going through my notes and researching the planar divides here.
If you wish to speak to Nowhere, I see no reason to refuse you, though he may do. Do go in."
[Also as a small note, Aurelia has a small house, not a tower, meant to say in messages, but whatever]
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Post by andycd on Dec 21, 2018 15:54:38 GMT
The Council met the following day, in a rare judicial case. There is a room in the Town Hall for these official purposes, a fairly stark, unadorned room with a long table for the Council in front, a few seats before the table for those on trial, and then some benches behind for witnesses and spectators.
The Council is already seated when everyone else arrives: Kensington, Tabetha and Jean of the Noble seats; Aurelia, Samed and Rholor of the Citizen seats; and Cordelia, Thundercog and Coll from the Warden seats.
Nowhere is walked in, flanked by two guards and sat at a small wooden chair in the centre before the judges. He is not shackled, however among the guards in the room several mages are visible.
Many people come to watch this, though priority is given to those prepared to give statements in this council. Once everyone is seated, Aurelia stands up and addresses the room.
"Today is a singular event in the history of Daring Heights, though it is one I have feared would come for a long time. This town was founded on the idea that adventurers were people who could help make this town safer and open up new opportunities for us all with their exploits. Now, one of those adventurers has shown themselves to be of both questionable character and judgement, and sadly this is someone of incredible power.
Nowhere, you sit before this Council today so that we may decide your fate in relation to Daring Heights, and we appreciate that you have cooperated with the authorities thus far since your return to Daring Heights. There are numerous crimes laid at your feet, which I have yet to hear any evidence to contradict. Any one of these would be a serious matter. Most prominently, these acts include the kidnapping of the Thistetop family, and the sacrificing of an unknown number of humanoids.
Separate to all of this, you have personally raised an army of monstrous creatures and levelled them at a foreign power, namely Queen Granny Longtooth of Witchhold. Though you did not do this in connection to Daring Heights, the ties you have here and the delicate relationship we have always had with Queen Longtooth made this at least in part, a threat to the city. You did this without consultation with the authorities of Daring Heights, and in fact with the consultation, if I understand the situation correctly, of a fiend who is well known to have committed one of the greatest atrocities this town has ever seen and which the Temple of Waukeen is still recovering from to this day.
The results of this endeavour of yours was, according to all reports I have seen, very nearly unsuccessful and in fact it appears that your fellow adventurers' timely intervention is the only reason that you did not perish that day. I invite you, and everyone here, to consider what would have happened if you had failed, and Granny survived.
All of this is to say that the Council will determine your fate today, Nowhere. Capital punishment is something we have avoided as much as possible, as exile to Faerun is simple and effective. However there is the important moral question with that - would we just be passing you off to create further threats to international, even interplanar peace and security elsewhere? I remain... undecided. We could even decide that no punishment is necessary and let you continue with your life as you wish. I find that unlikely however given the grievous extent of your reported actions."
Aurelia pauses for a moment here, and looks past Nowhere to the rest of the room.
"The Council will now hear statements. Any of you with credible witness to these events and to Nowhere may give a statement, whether in his favour or against him, or even a neutral witness account. We will be hearing from the City Watch their reports on the matter as well. Nowhere will have the opportunity to speak at the end. Let this Council session commence."
[So, anyone who wants to can write a statement you would like to make (or have read out) regarding Nowhere, his actions, and his future. This isn't a proper court of law, it's a council decision ultimately.]
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Post by Tugark (Retired) on Dec 22, 2018 11:09:36 GMT
Tugark, still wearing the circlet, approaches to discuss the following in a much more verbose and compelling fashion than I could be bothered to type up:
1. Granny never threatened anyone from Daring in response to Nowhere's actions, and Nowhere never threatened anyone from Daring either.
1a. *Looks to Taffeta, drops his head a little and returns his attention to the Council* I say this as a witness to the whole series of events. Taffeta's family were never held against their will. They willing participants of a magic trick. None were harmed or threatened, her daughters were with their father the entire time. Taffeta could have returned to Daring with her family and sought the guard or council out herself, however she returned to help us, to help Nowhere achieve the task he laid before us, achieving which lead to 1b.
1b. Daring was never directly threatened, Nowhere's army went straight from the mountains to the feywild bypassing Daring all together.
2. Nowhere did only what he thought was right, on his own, at least in part in the interest of Daring Heights and Kantas at large.
2a. The bureaucracy of the council would have slowed things down, and got in the way before being able to do anything of significance against Granny (presuming that if Nowhere had gone through official channels he would not be seen as a threat).
2b. Unsavoury at best, and machiavellian manipulation at worst (referring back to 1a), Nowhere's actions means we stand here today dealing with the, *turning to Nowhere* "forgive me", lesser of two evils.
3. I say all this in Nowhere's defense that the council might let Nowhere leave Daring of his own volition rather than being cast out.
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Post by Malri 'Taffeta' Thistletop on Dec 22, 2018 15:08:40 GMT
... 1a. *Looks to Taffeta, drops his head a little and returns his attention to the Council* I say this as a witness to the whole series of events. Taffeta's family were never held against their will. ... Taffeta shouts from the public gallery, 'Is that what he told you?' |
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Post by Malri 'Taffeta' Thistletop on Dec 22, 2018 15:11:50 GMT
... Taffeta could have returned to Daring with her family and sought the guard or council out herself ... At this Taffeta stands up and shouts 'I fucking did!' She is looking not at Tugark but at Aurelia. Nerry, sitting next to her, Puts his arms firmly around her and eases her back into her seat, whispering urgently to her. She sits quietly. |
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