[IC]Shadow over Stygia

Ancient History · Post by **Ancient History** » Fri Jul 19, 2013 3:57 pm

The steward takes one of the trade bars and weighs it in his hand, examining the markings. "For such risks as I endeavor, I cannot accept less than a half-talent of gold."

(1 Stygian talent = 80 libra = 960 silver shekels; each gold trade bar is ~250 sp, so he's basically asking for two.)

Nebuchadnezzar · Post by **Nebuchadnezzar** » Fri Jul 19, 2013 4:25 pm

Suspecting he is being fleeced, Nebemakhet asks for a brief aside to collect the funds from Hapuseneb's porters.

In hushed tones, he convinces Isandro to hand over one of his trade bars, since after a market purchase he's down to one and some coin. He intends to take on the lion's share of the bribe himself as a display of good faith to the distrustful Zingaran, and discretely hands over his coin purse (17 gold, 5 silver) in exchange. Besides, there is a decent chance the steward is planning a deception, and so if the steward must be dealt with as a result then the payment is made void.

Turning back to the steward with a trade bar in each hand, Neb. speaks.

"You are fortunate to be in the presence of someone as generous as my master. The deal is struck. We would see this Nekka somewhere with additional light brought in, to facilitate our copying."

Korgan0 · Post by **Korgan0** » Fri Jul 19, 2013 4:45 pm

[firstly, what kind of action would you say it is for Karlus to unwind the cloth from the head of his bardiche, and secondly, Karlus would like to make a Sense Motive check.]

Ancient History · Post by **Ancient History** » Fri Jul 19, 2013 5:07 pm

{Uncovering the bardiche: Move action.

Sense Motive: The steward is badly hiding some secret amusement.}

Draining the last dregs of the wine, the steward motions to the curvaceous servants to take the gold.

"Of course, of course. I shall even provide pen, ink, and papyrus. Please, follow me."

Leading the way, the steward leaves the room and travels down a short hallway to a stairwell, climbing up to the second, and then the third story. The stone stairs end at a small landing before a large double-door, bound and locked in iron and guarded by two huge eunuchs. The steward addresses them.

"The lord Atem-Hut-Let has commanded that these flesh-merchants be allowed allowed into his harem, to see how his tastes lie and ply their wares accordingly." The guards nod and stand aside as the steward unlocks and opens the door to the seraglio.

The women here are, if anything, even fleshier than the servants below, and wearing even less in the way of clothes so that every broad hip and jiggling belly is visible as they lounge about on cushions, playing small harem-games with dice and cards.

"Nekka? Where are you, my little hippopotamus?" The steward calls as he winds his way through the yards of silken partitions that hang from the ceiling. Finally, in a secluded corner well-lit with oil lamps, you behold Lord Atem-Hut-Let's favorite.

Nekka reclines on her belly on a low couch; if she stood up she would stand perhaps seven feet tall and if standing would not seem more curvaceous than any of the other girls in proportion, but lying down she recalls one of those sea-cows that swim off the coast of southern Stygia. Her skin is taut and smooth over a layer of blubber, and each of her massive breasts is larger than her head. She must weight more than Karlus, Kamose, and Neb combined. On the massive, uncovered expanse of her back is tattooed an elaborate and detailed map of Stygia, little hieroglyphs marking villages and cities, fine lines marking out roads, caravan trails, and canals...and in the vast expanse of the desert, which most maps of Stygia leave blank, are curious illustrations and routes painstakingly picking out the ways to ruined temples, vales of Serpent-Women, and the remnants of old Acheron.

Prak · Post by **Prak** » Fri Jul 19, 2013 5:11 pm

Kamoses will set to work copying the map after leaning towards Neb and whispering "See what more you can find out from the Steward. He'd be a fool to do this without thinking he somehow has the upper hand, find out what it is. It should be only a matter of time before circumstances change in here."

Nebuchadnezzar · Post by **Nebuchadnezzar** » Fri Jul 19, 2013 5:16 pm

(Well, abduction would have been out of the question anyway, so it's good we have an at least momentary peace for the scribes to make a makeshift copy. Maybe we'll demand the gold back afterward, or perhaps the thieves can steal something to offset the cost.)

Ancient History · Post by **Ancient History** » Fri Jul 19, 2013 5:18 pm

Immediately as Kamose begins copying, he runs into a problem - he has no idea where the lost temple they seek lies, or even its name, and the map on Nekka's skin is so expansive and detailed he has little idea where to start.

Nebuchadnezzar · Post by **Nebuchadnezzar** » Fri Jul 19, 2013 5:40 pm

Conferring briefly with Kamoses, Nebemakhet speaks with Karlus to glean his take on things. So informed, he addresses the steward.

"It is plain to see why Nekka holds such a high place in your lordship's esteem. The map, as well, is exquisite in its detail. Surely it took an artist the work of countless days, working from an original, to ink it upon her fleshy expanse. One must imagine that if Lord Atem-Hut-Let'were to discover our beholding his favorite's charms that a half-talent would be a pittance compared to the tortures you would face. Might it not, then, prove prudent for both our sakes for us to simply view the original, so as to save the time required for Nekka's ponderous rotations to allow us all the necessary vantages?"

(I figure a Diplomacy check at this point is needed, for all the good it might do.)

Ancient History · Post by **Ancient History** » Fri Jul 19, 2013 6:01 pm

Black shadows flit in the steward's eyes, and Nekka seems more frightened at his smile than their words.

"Alas, the map you see here was compiled from many different sources over a period of several years, and the originals are beyond your approach. Do not think to blackmail me with your presence here -- the sands of your hour diminish swiftly, and if you remain here but a moment past that I will have you slain as thieves attempting to rob the lord's harem. I suggest you copy what you can and leave, while you are able - for if my lord should return early, all my entreaties will not be enough to save you from being killed or unmanned."

The women lounging about seem to have drawn closer at the steward's words, and beneath the incense and perfumes you begin to discern a strange musky odor...one that the priests of Set Kamose and Neb find terribly familiar, though they cannot quite place it.

Korgan0 · Post by **Korgan0** » Fri Jul 19, 2013 6:35 pm

Karlus will lean in to whisper to Neb "When I say 'swallow,' I'll start killing. Be ready; I have a bad feeling."

[edit: are there any other visible exits from the harem?]

Nebuchadnezzar · Post by **Nebuchadnezzar** » Fri Jul 19, 2013 6:57 pm

Nebemakhet assists Kamoses in copying as much detail as they can, focusing obviously on areas within the arid expanses shown on Nekka's oily adiposity, making sure to make quick note of some villages he is aware of on the outskirts, so as to hopefully provide a sufficient frame of reference for Karanthes. When nearing the bottom left edge of the great creature's rib cage, near Keshatta, he asks Isandro to bring an oil lamp over so that he may see more clearly.

(What are the dimensions of the room, and how many/how close are the seraglio women?)

Ancient History · Post by **Ancient History** » Fri Jul 19, 2013 7:07 pm

{The room appears to occupy most of the top floor - difficult to see with the veils of silk that partition the room, but perhaps forty feet long by thirty wide. You can see at least one sweaty, muscled eunuch standing nearby, and six curvaceous shadows on silk that are probably harem-women.

Korgan0 · Post by **Korgan0** » Sat Jul 20, 2013 1:02 am

[[Any other exits?]]

Ancient History · Post by **Ancient History** » Sat Jul 20, 2013 1:14 am

{There's a breeze coming from the window, but that's a three-story drop. You can't see anything else - but then again, with all this hanging silk, who know what's being hidden?}

Korgan0 · Post by **Korgan0** » Sat Jul 20, 2013 1:26 am

Well, since Karlus' plan to heave the slave-girl over his shoulder isn't super plausible, he's going to wait and see what happens.

Kurama314 · Post by **Kurama314** » Sat Jul 20, 2013 5:38 am

(The door that you mention to the house proper, is it along this walkway we're on? Or is it on the ground? If it is on the ground can Velasco see how the guards would normally access this walkway?)

Ancient History · Post by **Ancient History** » Sat Jul 20, 2013 11:45 am

(The doorway is at the end of the walkway, where the wall and the walkway meet the main house.)

Kurama314 · Post by **Kurama314** » Sat Jul 20, 2013 3:02 pm

Once Taotie is up the wall Velasco will pull up the rope and head towards the door doing his best to remain unnoticed. If the door is locked he'll pick it but either way before opening the door and moving through he'll draw his sword.

(What floor of the building does this door lead to?)

Ancient History · Post by **Ancient History** » Sat Jul 20, 2013 3:12 pm

The door is unlocked, and leads to the landing of a stairwell, with stairs leading up and down.

(2nd floor)

Kurama314 · Post by **Kurama314** » Sat Jul 20, 2013 5:23 pm

Figuring that the more valuable possessions will be kept on the higher floors Velasco is going to head up the stairs, taking care to move quietly. Once the staircase ends he'll move into the house.

(How many floors does this place have? When I cased it you said two but I'm guessing that was a typo.)

Ancient History · Post by **Ancient History** » Sat Jul 20, 2013 8:37 pm

{Three floors. Did I say two? Sorry.}

OgreBattle · Post by **OgreBattle** » Sat Jul 20, 2013 8:39 pm

Taotie will stick with velasco on their sneaking mission

Kurama314 · Post by **Kurama314** » Sat Jul 20, 2013 10:07 pm

Once on the third floor Velasco is going to explore. He'll be looking for anything valuable and light weight. If he hears the rest of the group while searching he'll investigate what they're up to and how well their end of the mission is going.

Turning to Taotie, "I'm going to look around for some goods to make this worth our while. If you hear the others or any guards coming towards us let me know."

Ancient History · Post by **Ancient History** » Sat Jul 20, 2013 10:13 pm

The stairs to the third floor end at a trap door, opening it as quietly as he can, Velasco peaks through the opening and sees several pretty - if capacious - scantily-clad backsides straining against the fabric of their diaphanous skirts and loin-coverings. A trio of harem-girls are peeking through silken curtains at something. There is the sound of several voices, a few of which you recognize as Neb and Kamose, as well as others you do not recognize. There is a peculiar musky smell to the place, and in one corner under some cushions appears to be several large, grey patches of mottled hide or skin.

Kurama314 · Post by **Kurama314** » Sat Jul 20, 2013 11:29 pm

Taking every caution to avoid detection Velasco is going to climb through the trap door. Once on the third floor he makes his way to the corner with the mottled skin or hide. While heading that way he looks around the room, trying to get a bead on Neb and Kamose as well as any guards.