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Alaya returns from refilling her waterskin from a nearby well.  "Ah, new friends!  How do you do.  I am Alaya of the Company of the New Dawn.  It sounds as though you have met my companions here.  It is a pleasure to meet you all." She extends her hand for a hand shake, smiling warmly at each of the members of the Bronze Eagles. "I would be happy to hear your stories of adventure some time, and I'm sure we could tell you some of our own.  It was quite the,..." she pauses, and considers for a moment, "harrowing experience for me coming here.  I almost succumbed to the heat of the desert, and likely would have without the help of my companion here," she says, gesturing at Lydia.  "I would certainly make sure to carry more water than you'd think you'll need in the future.  I'm still a bit unused to the heat in this part of the world, I come from farther to the north."

[info]Knowledge Religion check for both knowledge of the necropolis and to see if there is anything indicating any of the Bronze Eagles are followers of any particular religion.
[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+6 : 8 + 6, total 14[/blockquote][/info]

Decided to perhaps keep these here as well as on the sheet.  These are short one or two sentence statements for how Alaya feels about each member of the party.  They will be updated as things change.
Bonds:
Lydia Eisenburg: Lydia saved me from my fate out in the desert.  I owe her a great debt.
               
Omar Maloof: Omar is strong of body and mind. I can trust him to stand by me on and off the battlefield.   
            
Noland Shin: Noland's quest to save himself and his lover is well intentioned though he goes about it by the wrong methods.  My god would have me help him to accomplish it in the correct way         
      
Sehra Treaneva: Sehra's nobility and conviction are to be respected.  I can learn the most from her.               

Sheet link: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1G3rRdpLjQMSs2rUsgA272idoei8lXgsjZJLGdeh4RSs/edit#gid=1406401534

Alaya was found as a child in the woods around the town of Whibough.  She was one many children who were left by the Fey of the area to be raised by the people of the town.  She, like all of the children found in the woods was taken to the orphanage to be raised to be an emisary between the human and Fey realms.  She did not like being placed on something of a pedistal and told over and over again how important she would be to ensuure the safety of her people from the Fey's capricous nature.  She wanted to be more "normal" not something special.  A strange caravn came to her town, and a young man from the group showed interest in her.  He told her that he loved her and would help her get away from her stifling life and the expectations to be exactly what the town told her to be.  She allowed him into the compound on several nights, and he helped sew interest in leaving in several of the other children there.  One day he told her that his caravan was leaving soon, and asked her to come with him.  His people would help her and the others to escape.  Instead, several slipped in through the unlocked gate while she and a few other of the children were taken out into the woods.  Those in the town murdered the elders who ran the orphanage and kidnapped the children who had not been convinced to come to the woods.  There, they were to be sacrificed to revive a devil who had been sealed away beneath the town.  Alaya mannaged to escape while the other children were being sacrificed, but wasn;t able to save anyone else.  In her anguish over her responsibility for waht had happened, she sliced open her stomach with the knife she had stolen.  However, a band of paladins who had heard rumors of the cult seeking to revive the devil found her.  She was revived and taken to live with them.  There her mentor, convinced her that the best way to repent for her part in the tragedy was to try to do as much good and save as many people as possible.  He taught her to fight, and helped her to set out as a knight errant.  More recently, she travelled south and wound up in the land of Osirion.  She was not as prepared for the condions in the desert and gave away too much of her water to a caravan in need, after helping them repulse a bandit attack.  She died out in the dunes, albeit breifly, and was found by Lydia Eisenburg, but was resurected by a strange power.  While she was dead, she heard three voices determining what her fate would be.  One she believes to be Sarenrae, another to be the devil from her town, and the third she has no knowledge of.  That voice said that he would grant her the gifts of the other two and that they could each try to convince her to follow their path.  Once she had truly decided, he would deliver her soul to them.

((Triss is probably just gonna be sleeping until at least noon unless awoken by someone else. Having a bed insead of th floor of a broken building is awesome.))

["Of... of course not,"]

"Of... of course not," Triss replied, It was simply him trying to be polite.  Besides, she could have vengeance on the man truly responsible for her state.  "I'll meet you all at the inn tomorrow then."

Outside, Triss breathed in the evening air.  Allies.  Not quite what she had planned, but it would be easier.  Even if some of them were fools enough to wish leniency on Lamm.  Less competition at least.  She pulled her hood down and set off towards the inn. 

When she arrived, she briefly considered the options.  A stay in the common room was not helpful.  If she was to sleep, better to retreat back to her previous haunt.  Either a room or a suite.  How much were they... She had stayed in inns before, but it was something of a rarity.  Too many people watching her.  Staring at her.  She hated that.  It wasn't until the innkeeper spoke that she realized she had become lost in her thoughts.  "Yes, sorry, I've heard you have a fine inn here. I was just admiring the care you seem to put into the place.  I do believe that this shall be the place.  You see I'm looking to entertain a few business associates of mine, hoping to perhaps impress them a bit, and have a slightly more private meeting place to work out the finer points of our negotiations.  Your establishment seems to be ideal.  Might I rent a larger room, perhaps even a smaller suite if you have any for a few days?  Probably only two days, though depending on how the meeting fares we could be here longer."
[spoiler]I'm assuming the rates will be the same as those listed in the PFSRD under goods and services, so 8 gold for 2 nights in a small suite.  If a diplomacy check is needed to get such a room, I'll have that rolled below, if not, disregard.
[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+5 : 20 + 5, total 25[/blockquote][/spoiler]

["A more secure location would be valuable, certainly. I'm afraid my... residence is anything but secure. I can see the benefits to both using Belors house or a more public location. Perhaps the best way to go would be to find a popular inn, possibly the one Aerloth suggested and having a private room there. I would recommend either myself or Eliora as the one who keeps the room, as we are the most likely to be recognized by Lamm and his men,"]

"A more secure location would be valuable, certainly.  I'm afraid my... residence is anything but secure.  I can see the benefits to both using Belors house or a more public location.  Perhaps the best way to go would be to find a popular inn, possibly the one Aerloth suggested and having a private room there.  I would recommend either myself or Eliora as the one who keeps the room, as we are the most likely to be recognized by Lamm and his men,"  Triss looked over at the purple haired girl and corrected herself.  "No, it should be me.  Eliora is much more adept at stealth.  So long as we do not make overtly obvious moves with the rest of you and we were not followed here, Lamm should still be uninformed of his new enemies.  While Aeraloth may stand out a bit, and Shenzu is slightly more noticeable than most, I wouldn't see either of them being in a bar as being any problem.  And certainly no one is going to take notice of a single dwarf there.  And it's not as if it's all that strange for such fine gentlemen as yourselves to be invited up to a room for private matters at an inn now is it?" 

["The dwarf may be able to see in the dark, but I don't think the rest of us will have a good time. Without planning, it's better to wait,"]

"The dwarf may be able to see in the dark, but I don't think the rest of us will have a good time.  Without planning, it's better to wait," Triss said.  "That's certainly not stopping us from planning, but it's some thing that has to be done right.  Isn't that what everyone was so keen to be reminding me?"  She asked, looking around the room, a slight note of scorn in both her look and voice.  "So, as I asked earlier, what can you all do?  Eliora has told us she's good with a blade, and she seemed to have some skill with acrobatics and stealth based on our introduction in the alley.  Beldan, you said you worked at a temple, so an acolyte?  A healer?  If we know what we can do, we're better equipped to take action.  You, Shenzu, look strong, any other, less obvious strengths?  And Mr. Vanron, you look to be a performer, are you among those with abilities beyond the simple parlor tricks, moving into the realm of real magic?"
The more they knew the better.  While she hadn't worked with people terribly often, it was always best to know what your allies were capable of.  As important if not more so than your enemies at times.  It would be prudent to have Eliora scout the area tomorrow, along with any others who had skills in that vein.  Not all of them necessarily.  While she could tail some, Triss was not sure her abilities would get her by too close of scrutiny unnoticed. 
"Perhaps the more pressing matter though, is deciding when and where to meet tomorrow.  Unless you are all dead set on going tonight, I'd prefer to have time to prepare.  As I may have mentioned earlier, my skill is in alchemical creations.  I can mix concoctions to cause one to be come bigger or smaller, to heal, or to enhance ones self in other ways.  I also have these, which I would rather not demonstrate here, but some explosions might do wonders to stop our opponents," Triss finished, laying out a few crystal vials mostly filled with a milky white chemical liquid.  "I can prepare what I need for tomorrow, and then make the necessary changes when we are more ready and have a better plan.  So, where and when should we meet again?  Here?  Or would you prefer we go elsewhere?"

["Passion does not preclude planning. I am capable of both."]

Tiss sighed, and stepped back.  Nothing much from this one.  Probably for the best.  "Passion does not preclude planning.  I am capable of both."  Triss walked back to her seat, pulling the hood of her cloak back into place.  She had not intended to fight the man, but his indifference had been irksome.  But if the others did not want to kill Lamm, that would leave him to her to take her long overdue revenge.   Triss took her seat once again.  Looking at the other faces in the room from the security of the shadow of her cloak again, she settled on their host.  "If you don't believe it, look into my recent past, miss Zellara.  Or if the cards cannot be so specific, you could look at the recent graves in the Gray.  A man named Garrik, a former enforcer of Lamms lies there now.  Lamm may know already, and may choose to move.  I am not sure how paranoid he is now, Garrik was often in fights about town over his leaf or smoke.  Still, it might be wise to move sooner than later.  So I'll ask again, can your cards help us any closer to Lamm?  We should decide how to find him and begin devising a plan.  What skills do you all possess?  I can craft a few potions, acid, and other alchemical tools.  I can also make some explosives to use against our enemy.  I'm a fair shot with a crossbow, nothing stellar though." 
Honesty was best.  Alchemy was no crime, even if some of her concoctions might upset their sensibilities.  Simply leave those out.  Shouldn't need them with Lamm.  She would need to know what they had though.  Garrik was stupid.  Lamm wouldn't be.  But with so many new tools, there might be a real chance. 

["Ah ha ha ha ha,"]

"Ah ha ha ha ha," Triss laughed out, no humor reaching her eyes.  "You're adorable.  No one deserves to die?  Perhaps in the east you all live like they say, but here, in this town?  No.  Plenty of people deserve to die.  We have paid executioners.  Guards carry swords, or spears.  I walked here with this," Triss gestured at her crossbow, now leaning against her chair, "And no one questioned me.  People deserve to die, and everyone knows it.  And as far as I'm concerned, Lamm is at the top of that list.  We are sitting in a room with 6 people who want the man brought down.  I can tell you she got plenty of pain from Lamm," Triss gestured to Eliora.  "And last time I saw her before Lamm removed her, she had two working eyes.  He killed our hosts son.  He sold shiver to people who took it till they died.  I should know, I had to make the damn stuff for him, there is no way what he was doing was helping people.  But it wasn't ever enough.  No, he couldn't make the gold he wanted peddling those concoctions.  No, instead he takes children like us and has them steal or kill people, then steal from them.  No, Lamm deserves to die.  And that isn't going to happen unless we do something about it."
Triss had risen from her chair and began advancing towards Shenzu.  Somewhere in the back of her mind, she knew this was not the smart thing to do.  The man stood a foot taller than her, and outweighed her by probably double.  He was clearly stronger by an even greater difference.  But that was not important.  Killing the man who had done this to her, who had made her look like this, who had taken almost everything from her, that was what mattered.  And she was not going to let anyone stand in her way. 
"But what's really funny is you think bringing Lamm to the authorities will do anything.  No, he's just some two bit con man, a bit player.  There are so many more pressing matters for them.  Catching people loitering where they shouldn't.  Making sure we don't stare too long at our 'betters' or covet their lives of privilege.  Hell, if he murders some of the thieves, addicts, whores or other undesirables, so much the better for them."  Triss was standing almost toe to toe with the tall foreigner now, looking up into his eyes, her hate for Lamm burning forth.  The scars on her face seemed almost to glow red with the heat of her emotions.  "I will see him brought the justice he deserves," she hissed.

["What's it matter?"]

"What's it matter?"  Triss asked, lifting her eyes from the cards and looking around the room.  "What's it matter why the cards, or she picked us if we all want it done.  Anyone here not want Lamm dead?  I do, and I'm going to see it done.  You can all join in or not.  What matters is what else she has for us," Triss said, gesturing to Zellara.  "I'm hoping perhaps you, your cards, or anything else you know can help us out a little more.  I've been busy, but it's not easy to track people here, especially if they move a lot, and Lamm does."
Triss looked around at each of her potential allies.  The dwarf, likely a cleric, good, that would help people stay alive.  Eliora, unless she had changed significantly from when she had been with Lamm, a theif, perhaps good with a blade.  Likely less so with a bow unless that eye patch was for sure, and knowing it had probably come from Lamm, that was unlikely.  The foreign man, he looked strong, and focused.  No armor and a staff, possibly a spell caster, but he looked strong enough to be in a fight. Perhaps one of the mystics that the eastern lands were famous for.  The ... elf?  Half elf, perhaps, he was big for an elf, was hard  to read as well, again little to no armor, but more casual in his mannerisms.  Less poise than the man.  His instrument indicated the man as a bard perhaps.  Some of them had powers.
"I'll tell you why the cards chose me.  Lamm took me from whatever life I might have had.  Made me work for him, and then the bastard tried to burn me alive.  I intend to return the favor to him but to do it right."

["These seem to be safe,"]

"These seem to be safe," Triss said, placing the subjects of her examination back down.  "All the same, I'd rather not partake of the 'generosity' of mysterious strangers."  She remover her card, and examined it.  "We are in a fortune tellers house.  Perhaps just the easiest thing to get a hold of?  Or some blessing of good fortune upon us.  I don't know much about divination." 
Satisfied that nothing was likely to poison them or explode,  Triss walked back over to the door, and shut it before pulling up a chair and sitting down at the table.  "Do all our cards belong to the same set?" She asked, placing hers on the table, flipping it over to look at the back, and reaching to Aeraloths to do the same.

["Don't eat that. And especially don't drink it."]

Triss sighed heavily.  "Don't eat that.  And especially don't drink it."
She walked through the door, glancing to check if there was a lock on it, either from the outside, much less likely, but possible or the inside.  "If I were a crime, for lack of a better term, lord," Triss continued, "Like Lamm, and I were to have lost an enforcer recently, which he has, I might look into who my enemies are.  I would then think seriously about dealing with them.  Perhaps gathering them through an anonymous note, and then killing them.  None of you seem to be bent on killing me so far, so that's a good sign.  But blades and blows aren't the only way to kill someone."  Triss stalked over, and took up the bottle.  "He has the right idea," she said, gesturing to Aeraloth.  "But I have some knowledge in the subject, so before we go testing the old fashioned way of drink and pray, I'll take a look at this.  The bread is more likely to be safe, it's harder to poison, unless it has any filling. I'd still follow his lead, but its your choice.  Finally, I'd use my own flask or vial for drinking, you never know what was left in your cup."

[spoiler]
Perception to check for locks
[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+4 : 5 + 4, total 9[/blockquote]

Craft Alchemy to check for poison
[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+9 : 9 + 9, total 18[/blockquote]

Craft Alchemy to see if any of the incense in the room smells like anything besides incense, ie drugs, poison etc.
[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+9 : 4 + 9, total 13[/blockquote]
[/spoiler]

["Name here is Triss, and seems like I'm here for the same reason the rest of you are,"]

Triss spun as the man behind her spoke. Sloppy, Just because Garrik had been an easy kill, no reason to believe Lamm would be.  On seeing the card in his hand she relaxed slightly, removing her hand from the pouch holding her bomb components.  Still there were two of them, both fairly imposing figures.  But at least they all seemed to be here for the same reason.  Perhaps the dwarf too.  Killers would more than likely have just had at her, rather than announce their presence, more so if there were two of them.  A sharp clap directed her attention to a new figure, displaying a fair feat of acrobatic prowess.  The new one, a girl, or young woman, colorful scarf, purple hair. That was one of his too.  One like her who he had cast away.  If she had a card too, that meant that this should be safe. Too complicated for a trap.  Out here at least.  Best to still be cautious going inside. 
"Name here is Triss, and seems like I'm here for the same reason the rest of you are,"  Triss let herself relax, and fished in her satchel for the card.  "Don't think I've seen you two around before, I believe we've... met Eliora.  And the dwarf? Also with us?" 
Best to take this slow.  If the cards were to be believed, someone else had a vested interest in removing Lamm.  Either it was the dwarf who was their mysterious benefactor, another who hoped to take his vengeance on Lamm, or possibly one of Lamms men.  There were four of them now though.  That ought to put a little pause in an attacker.  Lamm couldn't have become rich enough to hire anyone too far beyond Garrik she hoped. 
She walked over to Eliora.  "You were one of his weren't you?" Triss asked in a low voice, so that only she could hear.  "Before he had you removed."  Perhaps she would remember her.  Hopefully this wasn't a mistake either.  After all, the violet haired woman might remember her from that time with less favor.  She had operated from a place of more favor with Lamm than most.  Not that that meant anything now, but that had been after this girl had left. 

["Shop's closed. Got somewhere to be,"]

Hmm... Triss mumbled to herself, turning the card over and over in her hands.  Someone else who wanted Lamm dead.  Well, really that narrowed it down to just virtually everyone he had come in contact with.  The man was scum, and she had intended to root him out once she got her supplies back to a manageable level.  Details hadn't exactly crystallized yet, but the fires of revenge would see to that.  Still Lamm did have some bite left in him.  It could be a trap.  He'd probably figured out someone had killed Garrik by now.  But how would he know it had been her?  She hadn't been seen.  At least she hoped not.

"Uh, miss... excuse me, but could I perhaps get a poultice for my sist-"

"Shop's closed.  Got somewhere to be," Triss interrupted the young man standing in front of her, gathering up the herbs, bowls and other tools she had arranged on the table in front of her.  It'd be best to check it out at least.  Though she wanted to be the one to take his life, others could serve to make that a lot easier.  And Lamm had no shortage of enemies.  Still, best to go in properly prepared though.  Go back to the stash, grab the crossbow, and the bolts.  Her thoughts were interrupted when she nearly ran into the young man, who had moved to block her path.  As she took a quick step back, glaring at him, her hood fell back, exposing her face.  He gasped as the red, scarred flesh of her face was revealed.  They always did.  Unless she was carrying the drug they wanted, they all looked at her that way.  She glared, pulling her hood back up and moving to step around, but he moved to block her again.  "Please, she's quite ill, and I was told it'd lessen the fever.  I've seen you work, and I know you're good for it. Please."

He looked her right in the eyes as he asked.  Both eyes, not just the one on the right side of her face.  Determination burned in his eyes.  She regarded him again, lifting her head, knowing he could see her better as she did.  But he did not look away.  His expression was resolute, no pity or revulsion.  He had a mission too, one he wouldn't stop until he had fulfilled.  After nearly a full minute, Triss moved back to the table, and sat back down.  "Fine, tell me her symptoms properly and I'll see what I can do."  The bow would be there when she got to it. 

***

"I'll be here tomorrow if that doesn't seem to lessen it," She said, finishing packing her things.  "But like I said, sounds like shiver.  It's not going to be pretty, and she's not going to like it, but you'll have to keep her off of it."  Shiver likely meant Lamm.  She never sold the stuff.  It was a good market, but not one she could get into. 

"I will, and thank you," the man said, rising and meeting her gaze again.  "I'll bring the gold tomorrow to-" but Triss waved her hand.  "I'm doing this one because I want to.  There's something I need to do tonight, and just maybe doing a good turn could bring me some luck." And because you're one of the ones who still looked at me like a person.  Not a monster.  She thought.  "I'll pray for your success," he said as she turned and walked out the door.  Well, perhaps they'd listen to him, even if all she ever got from the gods was a silent uncaring.  It was getting late and she would need to be there soon.   

***

It was almost sunset when she reached the address from the card.  Looking around before entering the fairly empty street, she checked her crossbow wouldn't be too hard to unsling, and that the components for her bombs were still in their appropriate pouches.  Best to walk into a possible trap prepared. 

[spoiler][blockquote]Rolled 1d20+4 : 3 + 4, total 7[/blockquote] Perception looking for danger.[/spoiler]

Triss stirred as the morning sun hit her, the few rags and boards that made up the wall of her "apartment" doing little to keep it out.  She sighed and rolled over.  It was still too early for this.  Few of her potential customers were even up this early.  Customers.
"Shit," Triss muttered, pushing herself off her bedroll.  She had used up more of her stock than she had intended to getting Garrik a few nights ago.  The bastard couldn't have just died without ruining the drugs she had used to secure his trust, or at least compliance.  She was going to have to get some new supplies.  Opening her bag she found only two gold coins.  Nothing much one could buy on two gold.  Still, she had been worse off.  Muttering further curses under her breath, she pushed aside the dilapidated remains of a door, its single remaining hinge screaming out in protest. 
"Hmm, nearest tavern, gotta be a few looking for hangover cures.  At least I know how to whip up one of those."  She set off, pulling her hood down to cover her face better and adjusting the small pouches she carried her herbs, chemicals and other components in.
[info]Attempting to sell one of my daily extracts in the form of Polypurpose Panacea, in whatever form can be sold, likely analgesic. 
[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+5 : 14 + 5, total 19[/blockquote] Seeking 10g Diplomacy to negotiate price.
[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+9 : 19 + 9, total 28[/blockquote] Craft Alchemy for other things, poultices, slower hangover cures, etc.
[/info]