Back in the room
Subject: Back in the room
It is unlikely, especially with out the needed feats, to cast a spell with out it being noticed. This is a fairly crowded area and Ally and the group are standing in a reception line.
From: Mark
Subject: Back in the room
Ran is not sure what stings more, the slap to the face or the bald face lies and the besmirching of his honor. His left cheek still stinging and his right now flush with anger and embarrassment Ran starts to open his mouth in reply. Just then Ragnar's hand clamps down on his arm in a tight, almost painful grip. The fighter looks down at his companion and is stunned to hear him say "My Lady, I appreciate your forbearance. I assure you my companion meant no insult." Ragnar turns his head and gives Ran a hard look "I assure you" he concludes "that he and I will talk privately." Ran almost confronts his companion when Harp grabs his arm on the other side. The ½ elf realizes that there is nothing to be gained by a confrontation here and so turns to the Lady, bows slightly and moves on to the King.
The rest of the party pays their respects to the King, exchanging banal pleasantries with him. Kal gives the Lady a stern look but she ignores him, chatting with Elspeth when not talking to someone. Ragnar signals for the companions to follow him, and they quickly head back to their rooms. Once in the room Ran whirls and faces Ragnar "Do you want to tell me what that was all about. You know that everything she said was a lie and you wouldn't let me defend myself? I thought we were friends?"
'Ran, I apologize for what I said in there. I don't doubt for a moment that your conduct was correct, but you didn't seem to recognize that the Lady was trying to pass a message without being overheard. She wants to speak with you privately, and without anyone else knowing of it. Ordinarily I could not care less what the desires of someone falsely accusing my companion were, but in this case, I'm afraid we may need her help in order even to meet with the king, let alone obtain the gem. I know that speaking with her is a challenge, but I would appreciate it if you would make the effort.'
OODM: The last paragraph was from Jason directly. I await comments.
From: Derek
Subject: Back in the room
OOC: Huh? I'm confused. How in the world do you interpret the Lady's actions as "I want to meet with you privately" ?
From: Kevin
Subject: Back in the room
Harp's jaw drops in surprise. He had thought the Lady had lost some of her brain cells. It had sure sounded like she had meant what she had said.
From: Jason
Subject: Back in the room
OOC: Body language?
From: Porter
Subject: Back in the room
While waiting at the end of the line, Mund keeps trying to get Surin to play games with him.
"Come on, you pick the target, and I'll stick my knife right in it."
He watches with amusement the bruhaha that happens with the broad and Ran. At least its not boring.
When he reaches the lady, he laughs good-natured at her, but doesn't say anything.
From: Mark
Subject: Back in the room
Oh and I have very little problem with you and your characters being very confused about this. That is the whole point.
From: Mark
Subject: Back in the room
The Bluff skill can be used to pass secret messages. I am not a big fan of this being use with 100 % accuracy, even if the person attempting it rolls well on the Bluff check. If the person for whom the message is meant does not expect it I then roll a sense motive for the person getting the message. Ran rolled a 2 plus his non existant sense motive mod. Ragnar, who has +11 to his sense movtive, rolled an 11 for a 22. Harp rolled a 5 or something along that line. This was a DC 20 sense motive. Only Ragnar picked up that the Lady's actions were out of character.
From: Josh
Subject: Back in the room
This is getting good. :)
From: Randy
Subject: Back in the room
Ran, frustrated at the embarrassment he had just faced, is initially unsure of what Ragnar says but then thinking about it, it seemed obvious.
"She practically begged me to marry her daughter for the whole journey to this point and hasn't once shown a negative thought towards me personally. I can't believe I missed this signal. She must have information to share. I wish she didn't feel the need to pass it to me personally but I feel sure that you are correct Ragnar. I should go to see her at the earliest opportunity. Perhaps Ally should make me invisible so that I can do this without being detected."
From: Porter
Subject: Back in the room
"Maybe Ally should make somebody else invisible so that they can watch your back while you go talk with the crazy lady."
From: Kevin
Subject: Back in the room
Harp speaks up "Or, Allistair could turn you invisible and you could go with Ragnar when he goes to "talk" with her. But then, how do you get out of there? Maybe Allistair could go with Ragnar so he can make you invisible when you go to leave."
From: Jason
Subject: Back in the room
"Actually, I agree with Mund. Despite the fact that she didn't mean what she said, she *did* accuse Ran in the hearing of some very important people, and I think it would be best if someone were with him in case something goes wrong.
"Allistair, you're able to let people converse at a distance, are you not? Perhaps you and Ran could go together and talk to her. It could even be someplace public. Salix, Surin, were either of you able to find some sort of park or garden? It wouldn't be surprising for her to miss the feel of outdoors, and if she were escorted there could even be witnesses that you never actually talked."
From: Derek
Subject: Back in the room
Allistair is absolutely dumbfounded at Ragnar's assertion that the Lady de Blum's actions were an act. After some explanation though, he agrees that there must have been some hidden meaning behind the Lady's actions and that they need to speak with her.
"I think your suggestion is a good one, Ragnar. Further discussion with the Lady is warranted, as is due caution. Depending on the level of stealth required we can try several things. Your suggestion of a park or other public place has merit, however if the Lady's hidden message is to be believed, Ran should not be seen by the Lady at all. Or at least Ran and the Lady should not be seen in the same place at the same time. Thus I think something even more discreet is called for. Perhaps Surin could help disguise Ran as someone else like Kal, and then the disguised Ran and I could talk with the Lady using my message spell?"
"Or, if Ran and I could get somewhere secluded, I could cast a Rope Trick that Ran and the Lady (and others too if needed) could meet inside. Perhaps inside a lavatory would be an ideal location? I would leave Sysyphys outside to scout the entrance to the lavatory, and when no one is around we could each in turn enter the lavatory and climb inside the rope trick. We could then have our discussion with the Lady and leave by the same route."
"I also have a spell that can make a group of us invisible for up to 8 minutes. Between that and the Message spell we could theoretically have a secret meeting with the Lady anywhere."
"Any other ideas?"
From: Porter
Subject: Back in the room
Would they even have lavatories here, or just chamber pots?
From: Derek
Subject: Back in the room
OOC: Good question. Do they have lavatories here? Even if not, surely there is a closet or back room or something that we could use...
From: Jason
Subject: Back in the room
OOC: On second thought, I think the more discreet version is better (IE no whispered conversations at a distance.)
From: Mark
Subject: BAck in the room
There are no lavatories per se. There are wash basins in the rooms and chamber pots.
There might be a lavatory somewhere in the warrens, but no one in the party has seen one.
From: Derek
Subject: Back in the room
"If there aren't any lavatories, then maybe there is some other place we could get into unnoticed. Any ideas? Or should Ran and I just go invisible and then use my Message spell to converse with her?"