Mysteries of the Floating Islands

[GoldenCityBird]

Adora swallows loudly. "It's... well, I really oughtn't say, but..." She seems to compose herself rather quickly. "Alright, I suppose I shall tell you. Follow me - I'll show you the vault, but be warned - if even a single coin goes missing, I will not hesitate to punish you as I see fit."

Adora, flanked by two scraggly-looking draconians in fine robes, leads you two and your guards deep into the fortress. A mighty wall of metal dominates the wall of the chamber she guides you to, and countless guards keep a rhythmic patrol around it.

[Florien]

Excellent, excellent.

>Follow on into the obvious potential trap

[SmilyCube112]

Magnus just follows Adora into what he thinks is a trap.

> Follow Adora into the Vault

[GoldenCityBird]

A dozen guards unlock different locks upon the door as Adora pulls it open.

Within the vault, you can see several smaller safes, all given numerical designations. Adora opens one of these. "Safe number hundred-and-eighty-one. Within here was about 750 Ducats and an old brass locket, legally owned by one Lloyd Red-Back, currently believed to be back with the rest of the Dragon Kingdom. Now... the safe is empty."

[Florien]

Obviously, the expected thing that's important is the money.

Obviously the real thing that was important was the locket. Heist aside... could you lend credence to or against the rumors of you or other certain influential sorts in this place plotting against the current leader, or even explain exactly what your group's policy platform is in contrast to the current leadership of this territory?

[SmilyCube112]

OOC, but this is basically me seeing if memory recollection requires DM interaction or not.

Magnus, upon hearing of a possible heist having happened, wonders if his coven past had him involved with any.

[GoldenCityBird]

@SmilyCube112: Memory recollection doesn't require DM input if it's something one would expect of your character.

Magnus remembers doing quite a few heists. Maybe he could offer some advice here or there.

In the meantime, Adora answets Avanyiss's question. "I say, with full confidence, that Burnetta is the greatest leader we've had, and that... uh... other stuff isn't relevant."

[Florien]

Are you sure it's not relevant? I said tell me everything, and you saying it's "not relevant" isn't telling me everything. Hooks, pikes, walls, flayed? Remember? Tell me. Now. It doesn't matter whether or not you think it's relevant, it could be.

[GoldenCityBird]

Avanyiss rolls a 2

Adora sighs. "I... I have no intention of laying a single talon upon the Queen, nor can I name anyone who does. Now, will you help me with this, or won't you?"

The tell-tale signs of lying are back again; the lack of eye contact where there was some before, the fidgeting of the talons and wings, and so on.

[SmilyCube112]

Magnus decides to keep quiet about the coven heists he took part in, but does seem to see Adora as a suspicious individual. For now, he'll keep an eye on her.

[Florien]

Avanyiss starts to get audibly agitated.

You're a bad liar, and more to the point, you didn't answer my question. you completely dodged it! What is the rebellion's actual policy agenda? What do you ACTUALLY stand for beyond opposition to the current king? What policies do you intend to have implemented if you win? TELL ME! I CAN SEE WHEN YOU ARE LYING!

[GoldenCityBird]

Adora smiles. "On the condition that my words may never leave this room." She flashes her fangs. "Listen closely."

She gathers a scrap of paper from her pocket. "Alright... let's see... it's been a while since our last meeting, Burnetta and I, in regards to the, uh... thingy, but I currently believe that the new governmental system will focus on elected officials - mayors and, uh, something new - making laws to be overseen by qualified judges. There's also been talk of a public free-to-attend forum.

"All this, however, is hard to agree on. Everyone in our, uh - conspiracy, that's the word - wants something different. I elect to not disclose my position, as I have yet to fully commit to it."

Doesn't seem like she's lying this time.

[Florien]

Avanyiss immediately calms down on hearing an explanation.

...civil law system rather than common... pseudokyronic government system... feuding internal factions which haven't properly actually decided what's happening so no one would actually explain the position for fear of having to backtrack it later if a different result is decided on... makes sense. Excellent. Thank you for finally getting to the point. There were about to be a lot more problems than the fact you don't have the military force to win a direct confrontation outside of this fort for your thing, and those problems may or may not have ended with me turning... ahh... I do not have a word for it in yours. A conqueror from nowhere, but that's more the spirit than the word, I think.

Now, you're saying you personally don't actually fully know what your position on the ultimate government structure will be, and aren't telling me because you might backtrack later. I have a few ideas for how to set up the system, jokes about "now there's another competing standard" aside. I've seen a lot of governments in my day, and some of them work.

She winks.

Anyway, you wanted help dealing with the heist or something? And could you explain the other notable members of your leadership's positions on the new structure to the best of your knowledge?

[GoldenCityBird]

"Sincere apologies for not telling you in the first place," Adora sighs. "You're better off asking the others themselves - if you can somehow track them down. As for the heist... I'm sure you can find a solution to that. Would you mind if I returned to my office, either of you?"

[SmilyCube112]

"I don't mind it at all." Magnus says, with some slight internal relief.

[Florien]

...No! You haven't told me what you want me to do about the heist! You just said "fix it" without telling me what you want fixed!

[GoldenCityBird]

"It isn't obvious? Find the scoundrel who stole the stuff! And, preferrably, the stuff they stole."

[Florien]

Oh you think it was an inside job and that the thief hasn't already vanished into the mists, and also somehow left enough implicating evidence for me to catch them and find where they stashed the money but you haven't found any of it. Okay. Sure. Alright, I'll try.

>Look for evidence of who might have done this break-in to the safe.

[GoldenCityBird]

You roll a 3

There's no real indication that anyone's been messing with the safe at all - the circular dial, hexagonal keyhole and freshly-oiled hinges - are free of major marks - not a scratch! This lack of evidence may well be evidence in and of itself.

[Florien]

Ughhhhh. Adora, who has access to the combination to vault one-one-eight? Besides you obviously. It's someone on that list. Surely you keep records of who's approved for what information.

[GoldenCityBird]

"Of course I do, but I have a lot committed to memory. Every safe has a combination that three people know - the safe's owner (and all they wish to disclose it to), the Vault Keeper (currently Robert Brass-Horn), and myself."

[Florien]

And the operator of one-one-eight has been supposedly lost to whichever plane you originally came from, correct? Then Brass-Horn needs to be talked to.

>Get Bob Brass-horn

[GoldenCityBird]

Adora gives you some simple directions to get to the Vault-Keeper's office; "Go down the third hallway on your left, then enter the second door on your right."

With that, Avanyiss (and presumably Magnus) make their way to the Vault-Keeper's office. Through the slightly-ajar door, they can see... a desk with nobody behind it.

[Florien]

Security check! It's okay I'm a defense expert.

>Rummage through the desk, looking for anything important, incriminating, or valuable.

[SmilyCube112]

Magnus decides to keep an ear out for anyone approaching, just so he can keep Avanyiss out of trouble.