Your minor illusion spell lasts a total of 8 hours. Assuming you fell asleep since Toryn put the "coin" to bed, you wake up in the morning yourself again in an empty room.

Sunfall yawns

Sunfall gets up to check if his door has a lock

Evil GM: The room is a "hostle" style room. Bunk beds, but the door does have a lock on it and it locks from the inside.

Bobby (Sunfall): any windows?

Evil GM: Yes, there's one. It overlooks a back alley.

Sunfall opens the door and heads into the inn or wherever he is, attempting to remain as inconspicous as possible

Evil GM: Downstairs is a common room that's fairly full for this time of morning. From the sound of the crowd, it's more festival goers than normal patrons.

Sunfall slips around seeing if he can pick up any conversations of interest

Evil GM: Give me a listen roll

Evil GM: Most of the patrons are exitedly talking about the evening's festivities. A few are bragging that they were invited to the masque ball that night. What gets your attention though is two women who are sitting in the corner, whispering, while everyone else seems to be shouting over each other.

Bobby (Sunfall): what are they wearing? can I tell what income level they are or what their profession might be?

Evil GM: Give me a gather information roll

Evil GM: They appear to be wearing some nicer clothing, you have absolutely no clue if it's in fashion in Qeynos or not since you wern't really paying attention the last time you were here. They seem to be rather well groomed compared to the rest of the crowd and they have a bowl of fresh fruit on the table. That alone could possibly show they're wealthier than normal.

Bobby (Sunfall): sounds worth looking into, I'll attempt to inconspicously move closer and eaves drop =)

Evil GM: Give me a sneak roll

The blond woman sitting at the table glances your way as you go to stand by the fire, but it doesn't see to alarm her any. She continues whispering and giggling with the black haired girl.

Sarah: So, did he ask you yet?

Sissy: No, not yet. I just know he will. I've had my costume picked out for weeks now just incase.

Sarah (giggles): Me too. I absolutely love working these type of events! It brings so much in!

Sissy: Oh, I know! Doesn't it! I can simply tell you this, if he doesn't ask, well, he probably won't be in the situation to ever ask again.

Sarah: Listen Sissy, I need to get going. I have an appointment soon and you know how I'll need to get cleaned up afterwards!

Sissy: Alright, I'll see you this evening. Be safe and don't let that rat con you out of anymore coin.

Sarah gets up from the table, takes an apple, and leaves the Inn.

Bobby (Sunfall): is it safe to assume Sunfall didn't fall asleep before he heard about the invitation to the ball? xD

Evil GM: No, you heard and saw everything that happened in the Inn prior to Toryn putting you in bed.

Evil GM: You were a "hidden" observer.

Bobby (Sunfall): yay

Bobby (Sunfall): Well I make note of their appearances and exit the Inn

Sissy finishes whatever was in her mug, dumps the rest of the fruit into a bag and walks out of the Inn as well, stopping to kiss the Innkeep on the cheek on the way out.

Bobby (Sunfall): oh in that case I do a 180 and step up to the Innkeep lol

Sunfall: Morning sir!

Innkeep: And morning to you.

Innkeep gives Sunfall an odd look, but doesn't say anything.

Sunfall: "I couldn't help but notice the two lovely ladies in the corner earlier, I had my eyes set on the one who left first... I was wondering if perhaps you could tell me a little about her?"

Innkeep looks you over before speaking.

Innkeep: And what kind of intentions do you have on the girls, if I may ask?

Sunfall beams an honest smile

Innkeep: Mmmhumm...That was Sarah, my daughter's friend.

Sunfall: Just an honest man's interest friend, nothing to be afraid of

Bobby (Sunfall): ok hopefully they weren't uh, too young lol

Petra (Innkeep): 16, 17...which is actually pretty old for the times

Sunfall: I overheard Sarah mention working events, I was wondering what type of trade that might be?

Innkeep gets a disapproving look on his face.

Innkeep: She's one of "those" types of girls, if you know what I mean. She fancies herself as an escort, but well, I'd better not say more unless my daughter finds out I talk about Sarah like that.

Sunfall: does she seem well cultured to you sir? I mean to say, does she seem to know who's who and of current events?

Innkeep: Well, that's how she makes her money.

Innkeep: But, now...listen. I have work to do.

Sunfall nods

Sunfall: If you don't mind, I am looking for a guide, someone who can keep me informed as I navigate a ball tommorow night... If I give you a note could you do your best to see it meets Sarah's hand? Honest intentions only sir, you'll be free to read it yourself

Innkeep: I suppose there wouldn't be any harm in that...and sir, the ball is tonight.

Sunfall: Oh, yes, right! Thank you, I appreciate it sir, I'll let you get back to your work

Sunfall unslings his pack, writes the note, promising payment and explaining his need for an escort as a social guide and hands it to the inkeep at an opprotune moment

Innkeep tucks the note in his pouch with a nod to Sunfall

Sunfall exits the Inn to see what he can see

Outside the street is absolutely packed. There are people selling stuff on the side of the street as well as having set up booths.

Sunfall Sunfall wanders around the stalls, listening for anything of interest

Innkeep: give me a gather info roll

Evil GM: Mostly you hear people talking about the King's birthday, the ball, and every day things such as shopping and whatnot.

Evil GM: Is there any specific items you wanted to purchase while you were in Qeynos btw?

Bobby (Sunfall): not really.. a costume, that's it I guess

Evil GM: That's easy to come up with...just think of a description for tomorrow night and mark off say, 10gp

Evil GM: Give me a spot roll

Evil GM: While you're wandering around, you notice several guards walking towards you with a little girl suspended between them.

Bobby (Sunfall): they're holding her like she's under arrest? how old?

Evil GM: She appears to be about 9, 10 years old. She's pretty filthy and her clothes have seen better days. She's struggling, trying to get out of their grip but not having much success.

Sunfall steps up to them, looking at the filthy girl with anger and surprise

Sunfall: You! Your father has been looking everywhere for you!"

A guard stops and looks at Sunfall with a scowl on his face.

A guard: Ho! This girl has no father, now step out of the way.

Sunfall: oh really, how would you know sir?

A guard: She's one of the street rats that regularly plague this city. This isn't the first time she's been caught.

Sunfall: well some of us have been trying to look after her to keep her out of trouble, appearantly we are not doing the best job, what has she done now?

A guard: Bluff roll

A guard scrunches his eyes up and looks at Sunfall like he's about to say something else.

A guard: Was caught sticking her hand into a purse that didn't belong to her.

Sunfall: Oh well, that was my poor idea sir, I had given her a few coins to re-imburse people she had previously stolen from, to make amends you see

A guard: Well, if you want to take her and watch her, that's fine with me. Got more to do than play babysitter to the rats of the city.

Sunfall nods

Sunfall: Of course, festivities do bring out the roughest sorts

A guard: Make sure that she doesn't go gettin her hands into any other purses. The city justice might not be kind enough to let her keep that hand next time.

Sunfall: Come, leave these poor guards to their important duties!

The guards set the girl down on her feet rather roughly and turn around and walk away.

Sunfall nods solemnly

Sunfall: Well that was a fine mess you got yourself into, happen often?

As soon as the guard's backs are turned the little girl sticks her tounge out at you and runs in the opposite direction of the guards.

Sunfall shrugs

Bobby (Sunfall): anything interesting in the direction she ran?

Evil GM: Spot roll

Evil GM: Not really, she dissapeared into the throng of people pretty quickly.

Evil GM: Going to do anything else in the city?

Bobby (Sunfall): nope, Sunfall is just wandering xD

After several hours of wandering around, looking at the sights, ducking away from guards, and trying to be as obscure as possible on the most crowded day in the city of the year....

Evil GM: Give me a spot roll

Evil GM: You feel something sharp poked in your side and a hot breath on the side of your face near your ear. "Da boss says y'ur ta kom on down. Ya kom nice an ya kan walk on yer own."

Sunfall I raise my hands silently and do as instructed

Evil GM: He instructs you to go straight, turn, turn, and soon you're in a back alley that's amazingly desolate.

Evil GM: "Da boss says ya gotta be blindfolded" the man says, producing a blindfold.

Sunfall I nod and let him put the blindfold on

Evil GM: He puts the blindfold on and you hear a grating noise. The man puts a hand on his shoulder and leads you forward. "It not far"

Evil GM: As he leads you along, you seem to be going downhill, then down some steps. The air gets fairly dank and smelling of sewage. After many twists and turns. The man stops and says, "Wait"

Evil GM: After several minutes, a deep male voice says, "You can take off your blindfold"

Sunfall: I appreciate you supplying the blindfold, but next time throw in a noseplug

Sunfall unties the blindfold and lets it fall to the floor

Standing before Sunfall is a rather tall man, apparently in his mid 30's, dressed in a leather tunic, leggings, and boots. There are several knives hanging off of his belt as well as pouches.

Evil GM: "Yes, yes." The man says. "Nobody ever believes me that you get used to the smell, eventually."

Evil GM: "Anyhow, as ungrateful as she seems, I wanted to thank you for rescuing the child from the guards."

Sunfall: More surprising than grateful actually... Is that why you brought me down here, to thank me with the wonderful smell of sewage?

Sunfall grins ruefully

Evil GM: "Well, I would have come above ground to thank you personally but I didn't think there was any need to cause a scene and take the day away from the King"

Sunfall: Your appearance would cause that much ruckus, would it?

Evil GM: "Oh, indeed it would. Guards pouring from every corner, men running amok, the girls screaming for my safety...it gets quite old"

Evil GM: "I prefer my quiet sewers, though smelly, guard free."

Sunfall: Even the King himself would not get that kind of welcome... So that would make you...

Sunfall trails off, wondering

Evil GM: The man chuckles.

Evil GM: You may call me Raven, the master of below

Raven: Well, the mortal below, that is.

Bobby (Sunfall): have I heard of him?

Raven: Give me a knowlege local roll

Evil GM: You've heard of the thieve's guildmaster being refered to as the "master of below" but not by Raven.

Sunfall: Pleased to meet you Raven, foul smelling aside of course

Raven bows to Sunfall

Raven: Now, if there is anything I can do to thank you for rescuing the girl, now would be the time to ask.

Raven: Money, women, work...

Sunfall: Information is the greatest trade I think... There is a ball tommorow night, and I am not sure of the intentions of our inviter... Or who to be wary of

Raven: Well..

Raven pauses to look at Sunfall

Raven: And you said your name was?

Bobby (Sunfall): can I roll a sense motive?

Bobby (Sunfall): to get a feel for the authenticity of how the discussion is going =)

Petra (Raven): sure

Petra (Raven): He seems fairly sincere, but you can deduce that as a thieves guildmaster he would have agendas of his own.

Sunfall: I am Sunfall, a wandering adventurer by trade

Petra (Raven): spot roll

Raven looks a bit surprised, but then masks his face into his original look.

Bobby (Sunfall): eh Sunfall's deduced he would figure out who I am eventually lol

Raven: Tis good to meet you Sunfall. What kind of information are you looking for exactly and I will decide if it's a fair trade for your valiant deed.

Sunfall: I would say I'm interested in protection, or rather, a cushion of safety

Sunfall: You see, I myself am unfortunately more popular than I would enjoy

Raven: You do say?

Sunfall: I am interested in keeping myself and my friends safe from harm, namely the harm that comes from other intelligent folk.

Raven: Well, I can tell you that the next few days are the safest for those trying to keep a low profile in the city...

Sunfall: And that is the only reason I have decided to come here

Raven: Good choice. Now, is there anyone specific you need vouched for? I can tell you, the King isn't in on it. Nor is his lady wife. (smiles)

Sunfall: Not in on what, exactly?

Raven: Oh, I don't know. Whom or whatever you're hiding from.

Sunfall: I can't think of anyone, to answer your question

Raven nods.

Raven: Well then, I'm sure I can add some extra protection. My men are extremely loyal to me.

Raven shows Sunfall a symbol

Raven: All my men wear this symbol somewhere on their body or clothing so you can identify them from anyone else.

Sunfall: That is a handy bit of information. It is a good gift to tell your friends from foes

Raven: Yes, yes it is.

Sunfall: Any words of wisdom before I go back about my business?

Raven: Actually, yes. Here is a bonus gift. Be wary about whom you trust. Those that might seem a friend are in truth your foes. It seems your identity and where abouts is a hot item in this neck of the woods.

Raven: Guard your back, even within the palace gates. There are spies other than my own running amok, though I try to thin out the weeds as much as possible.

Sunfall: Ah, to be in peril, such excitement. I will be wary, my enemies my be smart, but I fancy myself as slippery as they are devious

Raven: Then all should be well. Enjoy your evening with the king.

Sunfall bows

Raven: If you ever seek work, find me.

Sunfall: I will keep that in mind, master of the below

Raven smiles bows, and picks up the now smelly blindfold.

Raven: Shouldn't have thrown it on the ground.

Sunfall: i'll be looking for some lemons to scrub the smell off after this

Raven laughs, bows, and walks around a corner.

The same man that brought you down waits expectantly for you to put the blindfold on so he can lead you back up.

Sunfall goes willingly

Evil GM: When you get back to the inn, the Innkeeper slips you a small scrap of paper.

Sunfall I thank him and slip him a gold coin

Sunfall walks back up to his room and reads the scrap of paper

Evil GM: He nods to you.

Evil GM: The note is very delicate writing which says, "I can meet with you, if you would like to be my date for the ball. Be ready at 8pm."

Sunfall gets started casting prestidigtation to clean the sewer smell off himself xD

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