<strong>Inspiration:</strong>2 (Natasha, Senfra)<br/><br/>Senfra coughed as she reached out to embrace Natasha. “I’ve been…through worse.”<br/><br/>The Atlantean’s hands glowed blue again. One moved over her bite wounds, causing the puncture wounds to reseal.<br/><br/>At this point the brothel door flung open. A pair of burly men with long staves with Y-shaped prongs at the end shoved at the now-dead heads of the snakes, a third coming in to cut off their heads. Although they were dead they were keen on taking no chances.<br/><br/>“I nearly died here!” the merchant exclaimed, still out of breath. “Someone here has to pay!”<br/><br/>The men proved little more kind to clients than the slaves under their power. They silently glared at him, although any tension present faded as a pointed-eared woman sauntered into the room. Natasha had not seen her before, but the straight posture and dismissive look as she waved away the men indicated she was not one of the slave-girls...or one in a very privileged position.<br/><br/><div class="floatleft">(https://i.imgur.com/sFqKz57.jpg)</div>“The Winking Minx apologizes for this lapse in security,” she said in a slow, soft tone. “Not only will you get a full refund, we shall pay you 50 silver and a recommendation to the Temple of Ishtar in the addressing of wounds.”<br/><br/>The merchant’s anger was mollified. Indeed, the deep breaths emitting from Senfra, who bore the brunt of the attack, elicited a slight frown as he averted eye contact.<br/><br/>“S-sorry,” he said. “That is more than generous, ma’am.” Taking the offered bag of coins he dressed up and quickly exited the room.<br/><br/>Motioning for the men to carry away Senfra, the pointed-eared woman looked down at Natasha. “Where did the snakes come from?” she asked. “How did they get inside?”<br/><br/>If you wish to lie or divert, you must beat the woman’s 23 Insight. As you are untrained in Deception you cannot win on this barring the pulling of some nifty spell out of the blue and a good roll (Guidance, for instance). (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=152038)<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Tell the Truth</div><div class="spoiler_body">The woman listened intently, not interrupting until Natasha was finished.<br/><br/>“Keep this information to yourself,” she said. “Just as there is no honor among thieves, there is no solidarity among slaves. Be careful of what you say and who you tell it to, lest you bring the ire of Senfra’s would-be killer.”</div></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Success</div><div class="spoiler_body">The woman nodded, believing Natasha’s recounting of events.<br/><br/>“Very well,” she said. “If you learn of anything else, let me know. It could be...advantageous to your station here. I was once a slave like you, but now others listen to me.”</div></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Failure/Uncooperative</div><div class="spoiler_body">The woman glared. “I’d choose my next words very carefully,” she said. “I know a liar when I see one. If you insist on this path, I’ll ensure that your next bout of clients will be worse than any snake’s.”<br/><br/><em>If Natasha tells the truth, refer to the appropriate spoiler above. If she chooses to say nothing, the elf storms off in a huff, having bigger things to focus on at the moment. Natasha doesn’t suffer any immediate consequences...yet.</em></div></div><br/>The woman picked up the snakes. Examining them closely she analyzed them. “Curious…” she mused before taking them away.<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">OOC</div><div class="spoiler_body">Combat has ended!<br/><br/>Gain Inspiration for saving Senfra in time!<br/><br/>Senfra uses all of her Lay on Hands to heal herself.</div></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Resources &amp; Health</div><div class="spoiler_body">Natasha: 8/18; Condition: None; Spell Slots: 1st: 3/4; 2nd: 2/2<br/>Refresh Abilities: Arcane Recovery 1/1, Bladesong 2/2<br/>Senfra: 24/25 HP; Condition: None; Spell Slots: 2/3<br/>Refresh Abilities: Lay on Hands 0/15, Urgent Command 0/1, Channel Divinity: Moment of Inspiration 0/1</div></div><br/><hr/><br/><div align="center"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: papyrus;"><strong>The Jaguar’s Deal</strong></span></span></div><br/>Word quickly spread over the attack on Senfra. Faizah was quick to inform Natasha that the silver-haired maiden was recovering, being attended to by a priestess of Ishtar.<br/><br/>“It was an auspicious start that she was coming here for other business,” she explained. “I think that she was looking for you, actually, but...I’m afraid that will have to wait for now.”<br/><br/>Mercifully Natasha was given a few hours to recover from her ordeal. But given that the nightly hours were when the sex trade was most active, she was expected to return to her duties in time. But before that happened, a dark-skinned woman with cat ears and tail approached her.<br/><br/><div class="floatright">(http://i.imgur.com/rUB2f42.jpg?1)</div>“The straw-haired girl!” she exclaimed. “You were with Senfra.”<br/><br/>Tail swishing expectantly, she sat down next to Natasha. “Snakes don’t just slither up here,” she said. Continuing in a whisper, she leaned in closer. “Someone placed them there.”<br/><br/>A set of claws extended from her fingertips. Clacking them together, the catgirl stared at a far-off woman entertaining a patron with drinks and embraces.<br/><br/>“Senfra’s one of the good ones,” she continued. “Without her, things would be a lot worse for all of us. Some don’t see that, and instead are jealous at the ‘privileges’ she gains from having more men between her legs than they do every night.”<br/><br/>“Name’s Zhandi, by the way,” she said, using her claws to force open a chestnut. “I don’t know who’s behind it, but they nearly hurt you and a client. That tells me they don’t care if innocents suffer as a result of the vengeance-seeking. If they’re someone in this brothel, we have to take care of it as soon as possible. You in?”<br/><br/><em>Here are some likely questions for Zhandi. Feel free to ask any others not listed here. Zhandi will be tight-lipped in answering more than the basic questions (her race and relationship) unless Natasha agrees to helping her out.</em><br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">You have ears and a tail. What are you, if that’s not rude to ask?</div><div class="spoiler_body">“I am what humans call a ‘beastfolk,’ although that word has been used for tribes that my kind share no kinship. I am of the Elswar, a people who lived in Dhar Mesh since the First Father spilled his seed on Thule’s soil. We swore fealty to him and the other spirits of tooth and claw, and were blessed with the essence of the Jaguar.”</div></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">What’s your relationship with Senfra?</div><div class="spoiler_body">”She is of civilization and pays tribute to gods other than I, but I recognize the strength she bears in her soul.”<br/><br/>Zhandi places a hand to her heart. “Fire spirits burn within her breast, and I’ve seen her use this fire to bring succor to those among us. She was there for me when others couldn’t or wouldn’t help. I owe her.”</div></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Natasha describes the pointed-eared woman to Zhandi</div><div class="spoiler_body">“Thrasorn,” Zhandi answered with hesitation. “Her tribe is called Imystrahl, her people wise in the ways of sorcery. But their chieftains grew fat on the Black Milk that is addictive to all of their kind. Once they sold off their greatest relics and weapons, they then sold off their own daughters.”<br/><br/>Zhandi sighed. “If she seems cruel, it is because she was betrayed by those bound to her by blood. That will make anyone bitter.”</div></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">So who can I trust here?</div><div class="spoiler_body">“Most women here are not wicked,” Zhandi said. “But they are shaped to become hardened, cruel even, to survive over time. Our masters encourage spoils and promises to those who bed the most men, and it drives some of us to become competitive. More so if the taste of freedom is suggested.”<br/><br/>Zhandi ate a chestnut. “I can’t answer that question for you. Over time you’ll know for yourself. But what I can tell you is that the person who tried to kill Senfra is going to hate you for interfering. You may as well help her, now that you have the same enemy.”</div></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Where were the snakes taken?</div><div class="spoiler_body">“The compost heap in the back,” Zhandi answered. “They won’t go to the kitchen since they bear poison within their veins, so their bodies are put to other uses.”<br/><br/>Zhandi paused. “If you’re wondering about their breed, they are Black Swamp Adders. Highly poisonous, but can be domesticated. Some of the tribes use their venom to coat their arrowheads and send them after hidden threats in the bush. I hear some chieftains in the cities think to use their poisons to coat the food and drink of rivals.”<br/><br/>The catgirl shook her head. “Bad idea, the venom is easy to taste.”</div></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Who’d have a grudge against Senfra?</div><div class="spoiler_body">“I have several names, but I don’t want you chasing off after them if I tell you. Inflicting of scars on the other slave-girls is punished...harshly. I will have a better idea of who to suspect if you can tell me what you know.”</div></div><br/><hr/><br/><div align="center"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: papyrus;"><strong>The Investigation</strong></span></span></div><br/><em>Natasha has several avenues to pursue before her inevitable return to her duties (which will tire her out for the rest of the night). You can make 3 checks before then, and can perform multiple checks on a single task in the event of initial failure. If Natasha was caught lying to Thrasorn or refused to answer her questions, you can only make 2 checks given there are more eyes than usual on her. Natasha can also auto-succeed on appropriate checks if she was cooperative with Thrasorn or Zhandi. Earning peoples’ favor has its perks, but may also earn the enmity of others in this brothel of intrigue.</em><br/><br/><strong>Retrieve the Snakeskins:</strong>By visiting the compost heap in the backdoor garden, Natasha has the chance to covertly abscond with the snakeskins to more closely examine them. DC 12 Sleight of Hand or Stealth. Success can grant access to 2 more 1st-level spells. Auto-succeed if cooperative with Zhandi as she steals them for Natasha.<br/><br/><strong>Visit Senfra &amp; the Healing Priest:</strong>Natasha can pay a visit to Senfra while she’s recovering, and the priestess attending to her. DC 15 Deception or Persuasion. Success earns a slight RP encounter and access to some minor healing magic (1st level slot of Cure Wounds). Auto-succeed if told the truth or successfully lied to Thrasorn.<br/><br/><strong>Word on the Grapevine:</strong>Natasha tries to find out who among the brothel would want to do in Senfra. DC 13 Insight or DC 16 Deception. Success earns Natasha the names of three rival slave-girls who are on the floor above Natasha’s.<br/>