CH. 11: The Show Must Go On

[JadedDM]

Kendra Greylock (2527 Market Street, Greylock's Gorgeous Gems)
Kendra heads to bed, hoping she won't have to fight any more elementals for awhile, at least.

Arulia Seroth (323 Three Forks, Seroth residence)
After a short time, Arulia's three younger sisters come inside and start changing their clothes and otherwise going through their nightly preparations for bed.

[djhyland]

Once all of her sisters have come up to their bedroom, Arulia pulls Cassilda and Niniva aside. Nervously, she asks, "Cassilda, will you...will you show Niniva your hand? The...the one that was burned?"

[JadedDM]

Cassilda seems surprised by this request. "Are you sure?" she asks. After receiving confirmation, she unwraps the hand, revealing it is perfectly fine.

"What?" asks Niniva, confused. "I don't get it. You faked your hand being burned? Why?" she asks.

[djhyland]

"Cassilda's hand was burned, and badly," Arulia explains. "But...but I healed it. Camilla saw it, too. And the Dragon Queen didn't give me the power to do it. Another god, her rival Fizban...Paladine...did." Looking Niniva in the eyes, she continues. "The Dragon Queen does not brook dissent, especially not from followers of her rivals. If her followers find out about my faith, I am sure that Father's imprisonment will look like mercy in comparison. That's why I want as little to do with them as possible." She shakes her head. "I know that we fought about this this morning, and I can't make you choose the same as I have. I couldn't explain to you why I'm so afraid of the Dragon Queen this morning, not in public like that, but I can tell you now, and you deserve to know."

[JadedDM]

Niniva appears shocked at first, but then she says, "Wait, did you say Paladine? As in Paladine the Grey Serpent? Paladine the Deceiver?"

Cassilda blinks. "Wait, you've heard the name Paladine before?" she asks, puzzled.

Niniva nods. "After Arulia and I...parted ways, I went to the temple. I wanted to see things for myself, get my own answers. There was a sermon going on, so I listened to it. The priestess there said Paladine was the one who trapped Takhisis in the Abyss to stop her from interfering with his plan. His plan to throw a fiery mountain upon Krynn. Arulia, Paladine is the one responsible for the Cataclysm. Takhisis was trying to stop him. She watched for three hundred years as the people suffered from plague, war and famine after the Cataclysm, but only recently has she found a way to express herself in the world again. And that's the only reason Paladine has reappeared, too. He could have helped, but didn't. He's only back to stop Takhisis from uniting the world..."

[djhyland]

Arulia stares at Niniva for a moment in stunned silence. Finally, she says, "I don't know how much of what you've heard is true, but I can't imagine that Paladine doesn't care and wants us to suffer. All I know is that he came to me in my dreams, and that he makes me feel safe and loved. The one time I tried to go to the Dragon Queen's temple, I felt her presence and it terrified me." She shakes her head, knowing that she hasn't said enough to convince Niniva of anything but afraid to say more. "I can't tell you what to believe, Niniva, but I can't believe that Paladine is as you say."

[JadedDM]

"I suppose neither one of us has any proof," Niniva admits. "But just keep in mind that you are putting yourself and this family in great danger. If the church finds out you are a follower of Paladine...well, I don't have to tell you. You arrested your share of heretics when you worked for the Holy Guard, after all."

[djhyland]

"I know how dangerous it is to believe in anything but the Dragon Queen," Arulia replies, "but I have to believe, even if it is dangerous."

Unless Niniva wishes to discuss the matter further, Arulia snuffs the lantern by her bed and lays down. Sleep is a long time coming, though, as she cannot help but reflect uneasily on Niniva's words.

[JadedDM]

XP is as follows:

Haahqae (Illusionist 3/Thief 4)
Becoming a loner - 100 XP
Chatting with Ismene about anger - 50 XP
Debate with Miriam about morality - 50 XP
Self-reflection about morality - 50 XP
Trading barbs with Grubnick - 100 XP
Chat with Camilla about gnomes and juggling - 50 XP
Chat with Camilla about her future - 50 XP
Meeting with Kendra - 100 XP
Verbally eviserating Tulbas - 100 XP
Earning 3 STP - 6 XP
Putting on a show for the baaz - 200 XP
Politely addressing the elemental - 100 XP
Defeating the Fire Elemental - 333 XP
Giving a speech - 50 XP
Discussing aftermath of attack with others - 100 XP
Chat with Bear about hard luck - 50 XP
Sub-total: 744 XP/744 XP (+10% Thief only)
TOTAL: 744 XP/818 XP

Kendra Greylock (Fighter 4)
Chat with Sadron about health and work - 50 XP
Chat with Tethys about prisoners - 50 XP
Debate with Tethys about mercy - 50 XP
Meeting with Norris - 50 XP
Meeting with Thoron - 50 XP
Meeting with Haahqae - 100 XP
Chat with Camilla about the army - 50 XP
Offering to train Camilla - 50 XP
Apologizing for not seeing Tulbas sooner - 100 XP
Defeating the Fire Elemental - 1,001 XP
Defeating 8 HD worth of enemies - 320 XP
Reporting to Tethys - 50 XP
Dinner with Sadron - 50 XP
Sub-total: 1,971 XP (+10%)
TOTAL: 2,198 XP

Tulbas Erogund (Mage 3)
Chat with Magnus about performance - 50 XP
Getting on Magnus' good side - 50 XP
Overview of Test - 50 XP
Training with impaired casting - 50 XP
Completing his training without mouthing off - 50 XP
Not holding Haahqae's anger against him - 100 XP
Accepting Kendra's apology - 100 XP
Casting Light on the Elemental - 50 XP
Defeating the Fire Elemental - 666 XP
Telling Shima about Gregeddin's fate - 100 XP
Discussing aftermath of attack with others - 100 XP
Chat with Magnus about elementals - 50 XP
Sub-total: 1,416 XP (+10%)
TOTAL: 1,503 XP

Tulbas becomes level 4 Mage!
+ 1d4 HP
+ 1 first level spell slot
+ 1 second level spell slot
+ 1 cantrip
+ 1 to hit
+ Find Familiar improves

Arulia Seroth (Fighter 3/Cleric 3)
Taking sisters to bathe - 50 XP
Chat with William about rebellion - 50 XP
Confrontation with cleric of Takhisis - 50 XP
Debate with Niniva on Takhisis - 50 XP
Self-reflection of hypocrisy - 50 XP
Meeting with Bear - 50 XP
Earning enough coin to care for one family member - 100 XP
Discussing the army with Bear - 50 XP
Discussing faith with Bear - 50 XP
Discussing sacrifice and hard choices with Bear - 50 XP
Discussing the elemental attack and Kendra with Camilla - 50 XP
Dinner with her family - 50 XP
Revealing secret to Niniva - 50 XP
TOTAL: 375 XP/375 XP

Grubnick (Cleric 4)
Chat with Delharn about performance - 50 XP
Planning and scheming with Delharn - 50 XP
Trading barbs with Haahqae - 100 XP
Further Planning with Delharn - 50 XP
Defeating 9 Baaz - 1575 XP
Casting Heat Metal at Kendra - 200 XP
Discussing aftermath of attack with others - 100 XP
Chat with Green Tears about attack - 50 XP
Helping Delharn with the elemental - 100 XP
Sub-total: 2,275 XP (+10%)
TOTAL: 2,503 XP

Felran Del'ravdir (Fighter 4)
Completing first area of sewers - 100 XP
TOTAL: 100 XP

Ne-Chanz (Fighter 4)
Completing first area of sewers - 100 XP
Sub-total: 100 XP (+10%)
TOTAL: 110 XP

Shima Longfoot (Fighter 3/Thief 4)
Apologizing to pregnant woman - 50 XP
Picking the rusty lock - 200 XP
Completing first area of sewers - 100 XP
Picking the south door lock - 200 XP
Defeating giant rat - 15 XP
Defeating 1/2 HD worth of enemies - 15 XP
Learning what happened to Gregeddin - 30 XP
Hustling Tulbas out of 2 STP - 4 XP
Sub-total: 307 XP/307 XP (+10% thief only)
TOTAL: 307 XP/338 XP