switzerland ♔ the words tightening around my throat

[silverguardian]

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.  

Comments

[behindcloseddoors]

[ he narrows his eyes, straightening up and lifting his chin. ] My name is Imron Gauthfallow, and what Archerus stole from me wasn't mere art.

I hail from Faerun, where I studied extensively the wizarding arts. My style is unique in that I have discovered a way to combine my arcane talents with my artistry to enhance the viewing experience - something that gave me a distinct edge over the local ... competition. [ he sneers ] I showed the people of this world sights and exotic creatures from beyond it that surpassed their wildest imagination.

Archerus [ he scowls the name ] began presenting works to nearby galleries that were not merely copies of my originals, but copies of those that had not seen the light of day in public. He'd somehow stolen ideas from my works in progress, and passed them off as his own.

It seemed that my own servant, one who I had bent over backwards for, treated as my own family, betrayed me to that fool.

[trebond]

But it was your wizardry, not Archerus, who created them to come alive. Your magic that killed them.

[behindcloseddoors]

My magic that sought redress for the harm done to me, no more.

[killingtodeath]

It did a lot more, sorry to break the news. But here's the thing- on this side of the Veil? You can't just go around exacting revenge. Not unless you want guys like us showing up to shut you down. And I don't want to do that. You seem like a cool dude. Your paintings are creepy as fuck, but that's your business. But one of our people got hurt- not to mention the innocent people who received those paintings and got killed by paint monsters.

[He's sort of rambling now. What was his point again?]

So...are we cool? If we leave, will you stop making paintings come to life and kill people?

[druidisms]

[ gus is just gonna hold an action to deck this bitch if he decides the tiniest human isn't making the most sense.

also maybe because he just wants to punch him idk. ]

[mordsith]

[Cara is also holding her action, because this just... doesn't seem like it should be this easy.]

[allmydreams]

[Felicity is also going to be Team Held Action, watching the man carefully as she tries to determine how he's going to play this (sense motive 18).]

[trebond]

Magic is a gift. It's not for you to dole out judgments against those who slight you with. Misusing it has consequences.

[behindcloseddoors]

[ the man looks wary at alanna's addition, and felicity would suspect that he had doubted stiles would really allow him to walk away, and her follow-up all but confirmed that. ]

Magic is more than a gift. Like art, it is the product of long hours of work, study, commitment.

I've earned the right to wield it, and I will not be threatened by whatever thugs my enemies have sent.

[allmydreams]

We weren't sent by your enemies. Archerus may have told us where to find you, but he's not why we're here. We were following the paintings, and looking for answers regarding the death of Asheron Coyl - who's innocent servant was almost killed. The painting you sent to Vittanis was almost unleashed on a room full of dozens of innocent party goers. And Nyna Dilant, our friend, did nothing to harm you and the creepy hag in your painting tore her throat out. She was a paladin - did she deserve to be a casualty of your revenge?

[He's so set in his ways, so unable to see past the harm done to him and too wary to trust them to end this peacefully. There has to be a compromise somewhere, and she's hoping that maybe a larger sense of the collateral damage will help (diplomacy 23).]

We didn't come here looking to hurt anyone. We came to speak to Coyl about a job. We stayed and stopped it because people were getting hurt. We certainly didn't come here trying to get in the way of Archerus getting his because I'm sure he deserves some kind of comeuppance for what he's done, but this isn't the way. I understand that your art is important to you, but there are other ways of getting justice.

[trebond]

If you won't be reasoned with, then you'll be subdued. We won't allow you to continue misusing it for your own means instead of seeking justice via the channels this world provides. Your magic does not put you above the law!

[behindcloseddoors]

[ he looks slightly more subdued by felicity's argument, though he still keeps a wary eye on alanna. ] What are you proposing, then, should I agree to your terms?

[allmydreams]

We will convince Archerus to answer for what he stole from you. If not in a court of law, then in the court of public opinion. He will lose his reputation and his standing in the art world.

[Intellectual property laws aren't something she knows particularly well, but she's pretty sure that they can at least get him to admit on the record that he stole Gauthfellow's work.]

But three people are dead. You need to answer for your crimes too.

[behindcloseddoors]

I will not be jailed over Endrik Archerus.

[allmydreams]

You're not. You're being jailed because you murdered people. One of whom was a person we cared about. Would you prefer we exact our vengeance on you?

[Her voice is tense as she continues to speak, trying to maintain that connection she'd seem to be building, but she's losing some of the cool she had earlier (diplomacy 9 action point says 19).]

Because that's not going to solve anything. I'm pretty sure my friend here - [she means Gus.] - is probably ready to set you on fire for the life of our friend that you killed, but we don't want to kill anyone if we don't have to. We'd rather settle this peacefully. You really think that Archerus is going to be happy about this either?

[She rests one hand on her hip as she stares him down.]

The best compromises are the ones where no one is happy. So it's your choice. But we're not leaving without settling this, either the easy way or the hard way.

[So that's his choice - either the hard way (Alanna, Gus and Cara) or the easy way (Felicity and Stiles).]

[killingtodeath]

[Stiles really doesn't want to fight this guy. And by that, it's that he really doesn't want to watch the other, more competent people fight him while he stands back and hopes he doesn't get in the way. He feels like they're right on the edge of winning this, that they're just about to convince him.

So he tries to add something to push this guy over the edge.]

Let me call our boss. No police. Just our people. He may be able to work with you, have a place for you to use your magic in a safer environment, where no one will steal from you. Plus, we've got guys that love magical artifacts so I'm sure they'd love to talk to you.

[Stiles are you trying to ... recruit the bad guy??? Not really, but he thinks that might sweeten the 'don't murder us please' post. Also he's charming and convincing as fuck (diplomacy 41, stiles that is absurd).]

[druidisms]

[ look even gus is a little bit swayed. still kind of wants to set him on fire because he's a shitty person though but whatever, he's not actually doing it.

yet. ]

[trebond]

Stiles!

[behindcloseddoors]

[ well he definitely looks intrigued now, fixing his attention on stiles, ignoring alanna's protest. ] Now that does sound interesting, boy.

[killingtodeath]

This isn't a promise, alright? But I'll tell him what happened and see if he thinks he can work with you to find a solution you're both happy with.

[Shh Alanna he's working here. And making bad choices but whatever. No one else is dying at least.]

But I need your word that no one else gets hurt. I'll make the call to see if he'll talk to you, but I need to know my friends will be safe in the meantime.

[behindcloseddoors]

[ he folds his arms ] They'll be safe so long as they don't move against me.

[killingtodeath]

Awesome. Okay. I'll be right back. [He gives the rest of the team a thumbs up before he... uses the secret door to spin back around so he can talk to Wynn in private just in case the conversation involves things he doesn't want this guy to know.

Dialin' up the big boss.]

[allmydreams]

[Felicity makes a move like she's going to try and stop him but he is too wily and too quick to stop and SHE IS NOT OKAY WITH THIS.

But she doesn't think Wynn will be either, so she'll just keep the intensity in her gaze on Gauthfellow and hope that she can cut Stiles off before he gets back.]

[druidisms]

[ meanwhile gus is going to text zero back at the castle and ask him to call the swiss police and kindly send them silently to this dude's house to wait for them to lead douchey mcmurder out to their waiting police cars because nah son. this bitch going to jail or the afterlife, one of the two.

his choice. ]

[wynn]

[ zero is on that shit. meanwhile, wynn picks up... ]

Sir Stilinski.