Session 067: Who is She?

We begin with the all important... Philip! As he finds Jack once again, insistently offering his help and talking of contracts. Jack says he is taking care of it.   Meanwhile, Sasha convinces Talasea to explain a measure of what he's doing here. Upon vaguely explaining that they're trying to determine the identity of a serial killer, Sasha asks why Tal doesn't just rip off the mask. Tal decides this is a good point and animates "Onoana"'s mask, causing it to fly off of her face and reveal the familiar Moa, the second of the Trio from Ivaran. Moa freezes, then calmly retrieves the mask from the ground and puts it back on, returning to her dance with Aphid.  

Moa: Was that you or one of your compatriots?   Aphid: No idea.   Moa: Suppose it was a temptation hard to resist. What will you do now?   Aphid: Continue dancing. I'm sure you have a perfectly valid reason for impersonating Onoana.   Moa: Most certainly. It is a masquerade, after all.

  Back with Talasea, Sasha questions why they don't go ahead and turn them into the police. Talasea declines to get too far into further detail while at the ball. Sasha tells him that their ship, the Icebreaker, will be in port for three more days. Talasea asks what else is on the agenda, but Sasha does not know everything Sergey plans to do. Additionally, the delay is related to the fact that they're on a civilian ship and it must restock and trade before leaving port.   Talasea switches topics and asks if they glowed just now.  

Sasha: You are always glowing.   Tal: ...   Sasha: In a literal, magical way.   Tal: You say it so sweetly, it is hard to take it otherwise.   Sasha: I cannot help if the truth sounds sweet to you, Talasea.

  Sasha explains that Tal's glow looks like starlight, but is different at the fingertips and mouth, where Talasea makes his music. He admits that no one glows like Talasea does. Most spellcasters will glow in spots where they create their magic. Talasea's glow is similar to genasi, who will also glow with the magic suffused throughout their entire being.   Sasha appears flustered by the idea of complimenting Talasea and changes the subject back to Not!Onoana. Talasea changes the subject to Semir. Sasha shares that Semir is a good-hearted lad, but not very high up; he was granted particular permission to come. Sasha is reluctant to share more information without a reason, so Tal reveals that he's besties with Semir's twin. Sasha in turn reveals that Semir came in search of his twin, but doesn't know how he managed to convince leadership to send him on this task. The two turn to talking about the ways in which Talasea may or may not be special to Sasha. Then, upon asking what kind of food they have on the ship, our focus shifts over to Moa and Aphid.  

Aphid: So, before we switch off, why are you here instead of Onoana?   Moa: As you probably know from my familiar face, Onoana and I have worked together in the past. I am quite familiar with doing her favors. But also given that you know that we have worked together in the past, you know that I am familiar with people that she knows. Interesting, I must say again, that you would call her friend.   Aphid: I consider pretty much everyone my friend who I've talked to at least once.   Moa: And you've talked with Onoana?   Aphid: Yeah. You count too now, by the way. Too late, no take backs, we're friends.   Moa: Well, if we are friends then tell me this, Aphid. What do you plan to do?   Aphid: Need to go comfort my grandmother, because I disappeared for a bit and I'm sure that was stressful. Then I'm going to take a break from the dance floor and go get some food.   Moa: Cute, but I meant after this.   Aphid: Oh, like the ball? Probably going to, you know, continue on my investigation work. Can't say more about it, it's pretty hush hush.   Moa: Right, of course. I would never dream of asking you to speak about something before you are ready. I do wonder if investigation is going as well as you hope.   Aphid: I think so.   Moa: Really? How so?   Aphid: we know why what's happening is happening. We've made some deals. Answers are what's happened.   Moa: And once this is resolved, which I'm sure will go without a hitch because I'm sure there are no conflicts of interest, after that what will you do?   Aphid: Accept rewards, accolades, etc.   Moa: After you accept your accolades, then what will you do?   Aphid: Continue on our travel. Not to brag, but I'm on a quest from the Spring Goddess herself.   Moa: Oh really?   Aphid: Mmhm.   Moa: Tell me more.   Aphid: gotta go.

  The song ends and Aphid steps away from Moa. Jack intercepts to take Moa's hand for the next dance.  

Jack: Good evening.   Moa: Hello. I suppose it is your turn now.

  Jack casts Charm Person. Moa fails. She relaxes in Jack's arms, just slightly.  

Moa: Ah, Jack. It is good to see you again.   Jack: It is good to see you as well, Moa.   Moa: Was it you who did the trick with the mask or another of your party? Just out of curiosity.   Jack: I don't know... So what brings you here this evening?   Moa: I must say Jack, you're putting me in a difficult position here. Because, I'm sure you know, I can only tell the truth right now. And I don't particularly want to tell you the answer to that, so you're going to have to roll a persuasion check. A 16? Well, I suppose it doesn't do much harm to tell you that I came here mostly to see what you all would do.   Jack: Where are the other members of your party tonight?   Moa: Dear, we simply don't have time for me to tell you. The difference between you and us is that you are few and we are many.   Jack: Last time I checked, five is more than three.   Moa: Last time I checked, it's been a while since you saw just us three together.   Jack: That is true... I guess I just meant Onoana and Kima. Where are those two tonight?   Moa: Sigh. I don't rightly know where Kima is. And I don't know where Onoana is either.   Jack: So, you don't know what Onoana has been up to?   Moa: We don't keep each other up to date on everything. There is far too much to do and far too little time.   Jack: I just thought you might, given that you're in the same city and all.   Moa: Who says we're in the same city?   Jack: I thought you didn't know where they were?   Moa: I don't.   Jack: Then how do you know that they're not in the same city?   Moa: I don't.   Jack: So, what are your plans after the ball?   Moa: Well, it depends. I'll probably check in with my boss. And then, who knows, I might commit a murder.   Jack: Who is your boss?   Moa: I can't tell you that.   Jack: Of course you can tell me, we're friends.   Moa: Mm, friendly acquaintances at best.   Jack: Come on, I won't tell anyone else.   Jack: Casually commit a murder?   Moa: There is nothing casual about murder. But if it is necessary, yes.   Jack: You're certainly talking about it casually.   Moa: We are at a ball, Jack. We wouldn't want anyone to get suspicious.   Jack: Do you know who you'd have to murder if necessary?   Moa: Depends. If someone gets in my way, might have to murder about that.   Jack: Less murder is good.   Moa: Depends.   Jack: Pretty sure less murder is good for everybody.   Moa: Does your patron agree?   Jack: Probably not... but he is what he is.   Moa: Aren't we all?   Moa: How about this, I ask you a question and you answer honestly. Then you may ask me a question and I will answer honestly. I can't tell you who my boss is, so don't use it on that. But maybe we can both get the things we want this way.   Jack: Okay.   Moa: Where will you go when you this city?   Jack: I don't know exactly since I don't know the Spring Kingdom very well, but our plan is to head to the Winter Kingdom. Eventually. Because, you know, Mohr is from there, so.   Moa: Thank you so much, for that truth. I suppose I must give you a truth in return.   Jack: Why do you care so much about where we're going?   Moa: You have to know by now that you and your party are persons of interest to this world. What you do matters.   Jack: Why?   Moa: Because you were chosen. Now it's my turn. You just asked a question that I answered honestly. Technically I answered two questions. Tell me - what do you know about your purpose?   Jack: Honestly, very little.   Moa: My question was not how much - my question was what.   Jack: I don't know, I guess. Just vibin'   Moa: You don't know anything about your purpose.   Jack: Nothing for sure.   Moa: And here I thought we were being honest, Jack.   Jack: I am being honest.   Moa: Sigh. I suppose if you don't want to be forthright with me, if you don't want to be generous with the truth, I don't have to be either.   Jack: I mean, what does anyone really know about their purpose?   Moa: Oh Jack... Do you really want to discuss philosophy with me right now? What purpose do you have, does your group have, that would matter to a friendly acquaintance?   Jack: Our purpose, that would matter to a friendly acquaintance, is to stop the murder of children.   Moa: Perhaps you are more obtuse than I thought. Fine. In that case, what do you know of your purpose. In terms of stopping the murder of children.   Jack: To stop it, hopefully.   Moa: Jack, I will be exactly as forthright with you as you are with me. And maybe you have something to learn here, in terms of negotiation. You don't want to be forthright, that's fine. I have no reason to be forthright in return then.   Jack: I am not part of the Red Hand.   Moa: Okay, Jack.   Jack: What is your purpose, regarding the murder of children?   Moa: Why Jack, I simply don't know.   Moa: You know Jack, at the end of the day, it doesn't matter if you tell me. We still have our ways to know what we need to know.   Jack: Then why ask?   Moa: Because knowledge is power. And the more we have. The more precise we can be.   Jack: Precise how?   Moa: Precise as a butter. Precise as a raging bull. Precise as a hot poker put to use against someone who doesn't want to talk. Precise as a dance with a friendly acquaintance.   Jack: None of your metaphors make sense.   Moa: Or am I simply not telling the truth?   Jack: How about this: if you can tell me where Onoana is, then I will give you- I will tell you what I think my purpose is.   Moa: I believe it is your turn to tell the truth Jack.   Jack: Fine, I'll go first then. Know that I am telling the truth when I say that I do not know for sure. But I think my purpose is to serve evil.   Moa: And I do not know for sure, but I think that Onoana is on the street outside of the Clavell house.   Jack: Shit.   Moa: I also think that you are a fool, Jack.   Jack: Well, everybody knows that.   Moa: Would you like to know why?   Jack: Sure. Plenty of people before have told me.   Moa: I think you do not know the questions to ask. Or who to ask them of. After all, why would a serial killer tell a child their real name?

  The song comes to an end. Moa steps away. She bows.     Jack gathers the gang together to discuss what to do next. They decide to go check on the Clavells. They get Sir Kerria and ask for some guards for assistance. Sir Kerria sends some guards ahead to the Clavell house. She has Mohr brought up to leave with the others, a tracking bracelet on her rest that will record the spells she casts. Mohr casts See Invisibility and the party gives her her warhammer. Sir Kerria goes to arrest Moa, only to find that Moa has disappeared from the ballroom. The party departs with two guards in tow.   Arriving at the Clavell house, they discover a note (but no red hand) on the door:   They determine that the handwriting is the same as the previous note left on the door.   Edwyna Clavell is not thrilled to find guards with them, as a definite criminal. She takes them back to check on Clara Clavell, she says that they would be proud of her!   She didn't talk to the stranger.   Clara recounts how the same stranger from before came up through the floor and gave her a red ceramic hand that appears to be nonmagical. They went back down through the floor. They go out into the courtyard and smash the hand to confirm there isn't anything inside, then Mend it. The family having a cookout in the courtyard only look at them a little bit weirdly for this. Talasea scouts around the area. He tracks footsteps from the front door back around to the courtyard where he loses the trail. He talks a look at the rooftop across the courtyard and doesn't see any indication of a person being up there. He stays up there for ten minutes or so. The folks in the courtyard only look at him a little bit weirdly for climbing on a random roof. WAIT NO HE WENT INVISIBLE NEVER MIND. But he does still lose the trail.   The group discusses what to do next and remembers that the library mentioned a primary source that talked about the tunnels interrupting the construction of the sewers, which was in a private collection and the library was going to reach out to that collection to see if they'll allow folks from the Verdant Quarter to see it. They decide to bring Edwyna and Clara to their inn rather than leaving them in their home. Half the group stays at the Clavell house (Aphid, Talasea, and Zenith) and half the group goes with Edwyna and Clara to the inn, invisibly (Jack, Mohr, Verity).   Talasea teaches Clara about sarcasm. The groups keep watch. The inn crew teaches Clara Go Fish. The family in the courtyard continues its cookout, though the group appears to be smaller than before. Jack and Mohr have a heart to heart - Jack apologizes to and thanks Mohr and they hug it out.   Talasea Sends to Temperance. Temperance mentions they are Bard. They give the next part of their story, mentioning a mentor named Curio.   Jack Sends to Thomas. He mentions doing something stupid, drinking champagne, and hating what he's becoming. Thomas responds that our paths are not straight and to keep his eye on who he wants to be and keep searching for that person every day. Thomas says he still loves Jack.   That night, Jack dreams.   He hears a voice from the doorway:  

Avarice: What do you want, Jack?   Jack: You're the one who brought me here.   Avarice: And here I thought you wanted to talk. Then again, you never were great at accepting help.

  Philip walks through the same old shadowy doorway.  

Jack: Maybe I don't need help.   Avarice: You sure? You certainly seemed to be running around with very little idea of what you were doing back there.   Jack: That's fairly typical, so.   Avarice: And very reminiscent of someone who doesn't need any help.   Jack: Maybe I don't want your help.   Avarice: Now that is a different thing. If you don't want my help, you're welcome to not use your magic powers.   Jack: Okay, take them then.   Avarice: I will if you'd like me to. It will be considered defaulting on your contract.   Jack: Right, I know, god. Why did you bring me here tonight?   Avarice: Like I said, you seemed like you wanted to talk. Are you gonna ask?   Jack: Am I gonna ask what?   Avarice: Apparently not. Are you gonna ask why her?   Jack: Okay, fine. Why her?   Avarice: Well. I need a bit of currency, frankly. And you need a bit more strength. I figured that a difficult fight would train you up a little bit and get me the bit of clout I require to keep people from poking their noses into what I'm doing and into what you're doing. You think I haven't been summoned to ask why the Raywalkers haven't heard from you in a moment?   Jack: They seem to know quite a bit.   Avarice: Do they now?   Jack: Don't they?   Avarice: What makes you think that, Jack?   Jack: Certain members have alluded to knowing things.   Avarice: Question is who is that person actually reporting to? Whether or not that little fey creature actually knows what you're doing, story's not getting back to the one that holds your contract.   Jack: Sounds like a communication problem to me.   Avarice: Could be.   Jack: I don't really have a way to contact them, so how would I-   Avarice: You could send letters. You could ask me for magic powers.   Jack: I'd rather not be in more debt than I already am.   Avarice: That would just be helping you fulfill your contract.   Jack: I don't believe that.   Avarice: Now would I lie to you, Jack?   Jack: Yes, yes you would.   Avarice: You don't have to trust me. Personally, I feel like it would be more in your favor to do so, but. It's up to you.   Jack: So, what, the Raywalkers are pissed?   Avarice: Kane certainly is.   Jack: Kane's always pissed.   Avarice: And yet, there's not much that he can do about it unless I decide to do it.   Jack: Well, we both know that the mail system between kingdoms isn't great. I don't suppose you could deliver a letter. On my behalf?   Avarice: I could.   Jack: Good to know.... Well, is that all you wanted?   Avarice: Just giving you an opportunity to get some questions off your mind, Jack. You don't want to take advantage of it, that's all you.   Jack: I just don't think you'll give me an honest answer, so I don't really see the point.   Avarice: Well. I suppose we're at an impasse then. A person of power suggests that you ask your demon what they want. You want to ignore advice, that's fine.   Jack: I know what you want.   Avarice: What do I want then, Jackie?   Jack: You said you wanted to live. That, I believe.   Avarice: True enough. You ever wondered what the circumstances of that were?   Jack: Would you tell me if I asked?   Avarice: Try me.   Jack: Okay, well. What are the circumstances of it?   Avarice: Well, Jack. I'm in a precarious spot. Because you see, not all demonkind think the way that I do. There are those that think- let the world crumble, there'll just be a new dimension to take on. Now, I'm as greedy as the next son of a bitch, but I don't believe that that's the case. I believe that if this world splits in twain, it'll drag us down with it. So I am invested in stopping the Awakening. Now, the One does not agree. So I have to act against the most powerful of all demonkind. In order to help. You.   Jack: Why me?   Avarice: Because you were chosen, Jack. And not by me.   Jack: By who?   Avarice: By the ones who started it all. By the ones who started it all...

  The darkness closes in on Jack, dragging him back up towards the light.