Behind the curtain...

[Kevin]

So I think we are all in agreement that the next step in finding out where the kidnap victims are is to find out what is behind the curtain in Keygan's shop.

I owe the man an apology for my behaviour earlier, so I intend to reenter his shop and speak to him again. I don't anticipate being able to convince him to show me what is behind the curtain however.

Any ideas on how we can find out what is back there?

[drezek]

Perhaps we can get some kind of indication from Keygan as to how many people are back there. If it is a managable number we can see if he doesn't mind letting us give em a surprise.

[Kevin]

Perhaps he would permit me to cast a simple spell (detect evil) directed towards the curtain, although I'm sure he wouldn't allow it without first getting him to like me better.

[drezek]

Yes, that would be a good pre-cursor to getting an indication of how many are behind the curtain.

And brother please do try to be more mindful of the situation at hand. You tend to let your pursuit of justice blind you from using common sense.

[odin]

I was thinking of something a little more exciting...

I suggest that we stage a little ruse, something to take both the shopkeeper and whoever is hiding out by complete surprise. Keygan certainly hinted that he was willing to help, but something beyond the curtain kept him from being open. Simply talking to him will not produce any more positive results. We need some action!

I propose that we re-enter the shop mid-argument. Darranoth, shouting curses and demanding answers, while I attempt to calm him and make amends. Others, take up positions around the shop to help make a show of keeping the peace. Darranoth, you make a play to get more physical, and I will intervene, getting thrust aside with great force.

Together, we direct my supposed fall towards the curtain, and I will try to roll through it, or just tear it away in an attempt to get up. Allies, you rush to "my" aid, which will most likely involve us surprising whoever is lurking behind the curtain.

In this way, we protect Keygan, so as not to divulge that he wishes to help, we gain access to the room, and shall deal with whoever is beyond. With our combined efforts we can create a masterful performance with simple execution. What say you comrades?

[drezek]

That sounds like quite the plan. I'm in!

[Kevin]

Don't lecture me on common sense brother. You hardly have a glowing track record when it comes to that. I swear you are as bad as Darvik sometimes! That being said, I do plan to be more mindful of my tongue when emotions run high.

Terolias, your plan sounds like it could work, but I find it too deceitful for my tastes, and I can not participate as you would like. No, I must make amends with Keygan for my earlier behaviour. We will have to find another way to discover what he is hiding.

OOC: It's a good idea Keil, but Daranoth isn't going to go along with any plans that require deceiving someone. Perhaps you can come up with another way to get the result you are going for. There is obviously some friction between the two brothers. Maybe you can make use of that.

[Therrian]

OOC: One thing guys...while I have no problem with some internal group friction to drive roleplaying, at the end of the day, I don't want that overshadowing the actual campaign and the adventures/storylines. Please keep that in mind...I don't want people RPing an asshole just for the sake of being an asshole...that does nothing but make my job more difficult and make the game less enjoyable for everyone.

[odin]

Ah Daranoth, here is where I find I may have mislead you. You consider this act to be deceitful, but I challenge you to re-examine the situation as it stands.

We are deceiving no one save for the individual behind the curtain. It is this individual that holds sway over Keygan's actions. After you left, Keygan made it abundantly clear that he "wished he could help further" but the current situation prevented him from helping. His indications towards the curtain were exceptionally clear as well.

Keygan desires to not only help us, but has indicated his desire to be helped in the current situation. Dear Daranoth, the man expects our help. The plan I have suggested works to not deceive Keyagn, but provide aid in such a manner that if the individual behind the curtain gets away and informs their master, then Keygan is still seen as an innocent in the matter. I would have you consider this: If that individual behind the curtain learns that Keygan desires to help us, then he is as good as dead. Any direct approach that puts Keygan as a willing participant in a plan to discover the root of the kidnappings will make his life forfeit. How will you balance that with your sense of honor and duty?

Keygan not knowing what we are doing works to his own advantage, he remains an innocent in the matter. He desires and needs our help. He will not directly give it, as he is constantly being watched - something he also insinuated at in our conversation once you left. Your strong morals are admirable, but your perception of the situation is not entirely correct. There is no deception of an innocent in this case. We are providing necessary aid that maintains the innocence of the innocent. How is that deceitful?

If still you cannot come to grips with this, then I suggest that we still enact the plan without your aid. Drezzek, I would ask you to play the role of the angry member of our party, and Daranoth, perhaps wait outside until it is over.

There is something that cannot be ignored in this - there can be no direct action undertaken by Keygan. He is hampered in his ability to help, and no amount of discussion can sway the fact that he is a pawn in this game, being used by insidious forces that seek to kidnap individuals from our city for who knows what purposes. This plan preserves Keygan's innocence and allows us to continue down the trail that the clues have lead us. If we do not wish to employ the performance plan that I have suggested, our only other option is simply to proceed by force. We could just move in and make our way to the curtain without engaging Keygan in the matter at all. I simply prefer to former for its sheer excitement.


OOC - Meh, it's more interesting than just walking in weapons drawn and entering the curtain. For comparison's sake, it is in my character's nature to rob someone blind if he can. I haven't done so with my current compatriots because it certainly would make our progress a lot more difficult, so I choose to not just act as my character would, but as my character should given the current situation. I know Daranoth is a paragon of good, but really, what evil is being done by not informing Keygan of what is about to happen? Deceit does imply a harm done, does it not? What harm is coming to him?

[Kevin]

OOC: I like the plan, and want to make it work. Aside from the moral aspect, which I would say you have provided a convincing enough argument for Daranoth to go along with, there is also the fact that he feels like he has wronged Keygan for how he spoke to him earlier, and needs to seek his forgiveness. Further acting like an ass, when he recognizes that acting that way earlier was wrong, is not something he is going to do. However, I have an alternate idea that is still along the lines of the same plan. I just can't come up with it in character because it requires Daranoth to not know all that is going on.

Daranoth goes in to apologize. Drezek follows him in and begins giving him more brotherly advice (aka pushing all the buttons that he's learned to hit in the years they spent growing up together). the rest of the party then comes in, and Daranoth and Drezek start to get more physical. Terolias then steps in to intervene, and Drezek gives him the shove towards the curtain, and the plan unfolds as you proposed.

We get the same result, it's more fun and interesting than just drawing weapons and heading in, and no one has to go against how their character would act.

If you'd still prefer what you originally suggested, I just thought of a way of doing it that I think Daranoth would be ok with.

[odin]

OOC: Apologizing to him after it's all over and explaining then wouldn't do? I like that change to having me intervene between feuding brothers. I'd go with that. I also lift 20gp from Daranoth as I intervene and get pushed.

[Kevin]

OOC: Ok, let's do the brothers thing then, unless Danny isn't ok with it for some reason. I'm not sure I have that much gold left!

[drezek]

OOC: I'm game for it

[harthag]

bit late but my proposal: the Queer eye for the Straight guy approach, we dress up in some fancy clothing, barge in and start spouting decorating tips for the shop, ill eventually get over to the curtain and start 'painting' the room behind it with color spray.