knightsoflegend | switzerland ♔ the words tightening around my throat

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switzerland ♔ the words tightening around my throat

WHO || Nyna, Cara, Felicity, Stiles
WHAT || The Knights are sent to hear about a prospective job from an art collector
WHERE || Bern, Switzerland
WHEN || April 13th, 2015
HOW || Actionspam

The streets of Bern swell with the myriad sights and scents of its industry: the wood and polish of carpenters' shops, tantalizing aromas wafting from dozens of bakeries, and the heavy oil scent of artists. Meanwhile, hundreds of rich colors give the district an appearance of a holiday festival. The townhouse of Asheron Coyl comes into view, perched on a small rise that overlooks the street. A low fence covered in vines abuts the street. A gate opens onto a flagstone path that wends past frozen flower beds, fountains, and sculpted shrubs to the front doors. A bell hangs next to the gate, reading "Please ring bell" in several languages. With an 11 disguise check, Nyna didn't really bother to dress all fancy, opting instead for her paladin armor, sorry guys. She can be the sexy bodyguard.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ silver double doors of polished dark oak bound in brass open into a wide, vaulted hallway. a grand staircase leads up to a carpeted balcony directly across from the entrance. closed double doors exit the hall to one side and open doors on the opposite side lead into a large, elegant chamber filled with men and women dressed in expensive outfits - the ballroom. others seem to be competing at how little they can wear, walking a fine line between indecency and fashion. music from a small orchestral group competes with the boisterous hum of merrymaking.

four drunken partygoers stumble down the grand staircase as they enter, slurring their words as they debate the merits of wood versus canvas. spotting the group running in, they sprint forward to greet them.

"You must be the entertainers Belfor ordered!" one of them crows in delight. ]

[It's a split second decision. Felicity comes to a stop in front of the drunken gaggle in front of them, looks at them for all of a moment before nodding (bluff 27).]

Yep. That's us. We were told to report to the ballroom?

[Wrong choice, Felicity. So wrong. Cara is not playing along. She doesn't do being the entertainment. She barely made a successful princess.]

[ "Wonderful! Wonderful!" one of them turns to paw at nyna's armor, much to her annoyance. "Ooo, are you re-enacting a battle??"

a listen check of 12+ is enough to hear a voice in the ballroom, raised to announce: "The time has come to unveil this mysterious painting, yes?" ] Yes, clearly. Now let us in, we're already late.

[Felicity picks up on that (listen 19), and she turns towards the ballroom and starts to try and move around them.]

I'm pretty sure that is our cue.

[Stiles didn't hear shit, but Felicity says it's their cue and someone asked if they were re-enacting a battle and... okay maybe he's seen A Knight's Tale too many times, but he's going to rock this shit out. Pushing into the ballroom, he throws his arms out wide and pitches his voice up to carry throughout the room.]

Gentleman! And such beautiful ladies... We have come to you tonight to show you a most glorious battle, a true test of strength and grace if ever there was one.

[He's just going to ham it up and hope that he can be a charming mother fucker and draw them in. Stalling the big unveiling hopefully??? What do I even roll for this? Charisma check 19?]

[ the long vaulted ballroom is exquisitely furnished with beautiful, polished oak tables, cabinets, tapestries, and tall, slender candelabra that provides a rich, warm glow. numerous windows, rising nearly fifteen feet high, line the walls. the upper halves - stained glass with scenes of cherubim, fey, and mighty warlords - contrast with the polished wooden louvers of the lower halves, currently flung open to allow cool air into the room. crimson drapes with golden tassels flank the windows.

the festivities seem concentrated there when stiles bursts in, the room crowded shoulder-to-shoulder with party guests sipping wine, whispering scandalous secrets, or boasting of accomplishments in their various social circles. the hot - a slender middle aged man with a long nose, arched brows, and a smirk as if remembering a secret joke - stands at the far end of the room on a small stage shared by the musicians near a large object wrapped in paper mounted on a heavy easel. belfor, the host, is making a grandiose, wine-induced speech with broad flourishes when they enter. unfortunately his charisma check is a 26, which means more people are inclined to stay tuned into him than to stiles, although he draws the attention of those at the back of the crowd. there are over a hundred guests between them and the stage, with bouncers mingling about the edges of the crowd and interspersed in the middle of it. ]

We have got to get these people out of here.

[Her eyes scan over the heads of the room, trying to see what options she has available to her (spot 28). The wheels are spinning but they don't have a lot of time for careful planning.]

Anybody see a fire alarm?

A what? [ there is one, on the north wall of the room, beyond many of the guests. ]

[Oh my god you guys are breaking his balls. HE'S TRYING TO WORK HERE. Okay fine. No one wants to watch Cara and Nyna fight? Their loss. Dropping his arms, he gives a weak shrug. He tried.

Not sure if a spot of 13 is enough to notice the fire alarm, but he'll at least move to Nyna and drop his tone for her to hear.]

Red box, white letters. Has a handle. You pull it when there's a fire, so if we pull it here...

[He just leaves that open ended for her to pick up the rest hopefully.]

There.

[She points to the alarm on the other side of the room from them, before glancing up to the stage.]

But we also don't want a panic. We should try and get the painting out of here quietly if we can.

[Her instinct is to con, that's what comes naturally to her, and she starts reaching up to smooth down her hair into something more professional, fixing it back in a tight bun. Then she glances to each of them before nodding to Cara. While she would normally want Stiles up there with her to help with the talking, she also knows that if they get separated she will probably need the muscle.]

Cara, come with me. You two get to the fire alarm - just like Stiles said, red box white letters - and if we can't convince him to take the painting out of here, it's our last resort.

[Cara is so relieved there isn't going to be a performance of some sort. She nods to Felicity.]

As long as I don't have to perform something -- I'm with you. [She is curious what a fire alarm is though... she'll have to find one later.]

[Stiles gives Felicity a thumbs up and reaches for Nyna's arm to coax her to follow him. He's going to try to slip through the crowd to get closer to the fire alarm. He'll deal with the issue of security if/when he comes across it.]

[ as nyna and stiles head for the fire alarm, they run afoul of a group of intoxicated people who uh, feeling a little amorous. they both get groped at as they walk by, but both manage to avoid the drunken attempts to pull them into kisses (melee touch attacks 8 & 9 lol no). ] Pardon us, excuse us. [ their next obstacle comes in the form of some guests who are so sloshed that they go stumbling into them. nyna miserably bombs her reflex save (DC 15), getting knocked down into a pile of tangled limbs on the ground. stiles gotta make his save too, yo.

as for felicity and cara, they find themselves cut off by some extremely talkative guests eager to rope them into conversation. they can make a diplomacy or intimidate check to move around said guests. ]

You don't say. That sounds fascinating. If you could just hold that thought for one moment we'll be right back.

[Friendly, personable, intending to keep moving as she just guides Cara past them and towards the stage (diplomacy 23).]

[Stiles jumps as someone at the party touches his butt.]

Whoa! Hey... hi. Thanks for coming. [He flashes a nervous smile, getting extremely distracted by the bad touch that he doesn't see the drunks coming at him. Watch as he crit fails and ends up probably awkwardly on top of Nyna...]

[Cara just stares at them. Her intimidate check is a 20 total, so at the very least she's trying to give off that 'shut up now' vibe. They don't have time for this.]

[ felicity and cara easily bypass the talkers, approaching the stage where four bouncers are positioned. they hold up hands as the girls get closer, telling them to stay back while belfor continues his speech.

meanwhile, nyna blinks up at stiles in surprise, before gripping him by the shoulders and hauling them both to their feet in a hilarious display of paladin strength (17). ] Come on.

[Felicity raises an eyebrow at the guards, crossing her arms in front of her chest before speaking (bluff 27).]

Your boss was the one who asked for an appraiser. You wouldn't want him to unveil a forgery in front of all of these people, would you?

[Stiles' eyes go wide as he's pulled to his feet. Dang girl. He brushes himself off and gestures the way they need to keep moving. Onward to the fire alarm!!]

[As Felicity tries to sell herself off as an appraiser, Cara simply nods trying to back up that claim.]

It would be very unfortunate to allow his name and reputation to falter due to your mistake. [putting another 18 down for intimidate]

[ the guards scowl, but let them through, just as belfor is reaching for the cloth on top of the painting. he looks over at them, his hand staying a moment. "What is this?" he asks, just as nyna and stiles reach the alarm ]

[Is anyone even watching him? He'll try to pull the alarm with a sleight of hand of 18 just to avoid immediate suspicion. Fingers crossed we can get some innocent people out of here.]

[Felicity keeps her cool as she makes her way closer, dropping her voice as she does so that it stays between them and not heard by the rest of the room (diplomacy 21).]

I thought you might want to verify that the painting is what it's supposed to be. To avoid any ... embarrassment in front of your guests?

[ a loud alarm goes blaring through the room, and heads snap up in surprise and confusion before nyna shouts: ] Everybody out! [ and a stampede starts for the door.

meanwhile, belfor is cut off from responding by the sound, but blinks before looking around saying: "Er, er yes, yes, but what is this? A fire?" he looks rather alarmed, turning to his bouncers like the fuck ]

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