Sylvia Pari |
Sylvia Pari |
"Tracks? Oh, right. The tracks..." Sylvia droops in disappointment, enthusiasm quenched, then perks up slightly as a thought occurs. "Perhaps we could go watch them remove it, Trina?"
Wild Shaped Caladrel |
Caladrel looks at the sky as more storm clouds gather. He shakes his head at Jerry. Once again, he nods to the lady and and then to his own back. He does this a few times hoping that Jerry takes his hint.
Jeremiah "Winterbloom" Roberts |
With a glance to Caladrel and his motions; "My cheetah friend her would be pleased to offer you a ride, he's very sturdy and very calm." The noble adds with a wry smile to Luce, who he knows can be a handful.
Then he leans forward to the lady; "It's alright, he'd be happy help."
Diplomacy (Persuasion): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26
Celestial GM |
Since the staff seems otherwise occupied, no one is there to try to stop you. The other passengers regard you as if you are all quite strange. Without a platform, the lowest step at the doorway is still a good 2 feet off the ground, but you have no trouble.
The rain is steady, but no longer a raging storm. The track condition is as you were told: several people are busy clearing debris from the track and securing a large bough to a rope so that they can haul it aside. A stricken tree stands beside the track, looking oddly asymmetrical with such a large branch shorn from its trunk.
Perception checks, please.
"I would be most grateful for the assistance," she goes on. "It seems a great deal to ask. If the weather is turning foul when we reach the cottage, I insist that you shelter yourself inside. I remember when I was a girl, my mother had a pussy that hated to get wet. I would hate to see the temper of these great beasts. And no doubt some tea and crumpets would do you well before you continue on your journey."
She is light enough that the cheetah form could support her, I would think.
Wild Shaped Caladrel |
...my mother had a pussy that hated to get wet.
You couldn't resist going there could you O.o
Caladrel stands up when he hears the girl accept Jerry's offer and moves closer so that she can easily mount him. Once she has a firm grip he takes off in the direction she indicates.
Sylvia Pari |
Sylvia wanders down the steps and watches the efforts to remove the branch. "I'm certain fire would help," she mutters to herself, examining the scene, "One wonders why such a large tree is allowed to grow right next to these 'track' things. Simpler to blow up a clear way, then build the tracks."
Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28
Celestial GM |
As you watch the workers clearing the debris, a movement draws your attention in the other direction - to the rear of the train. You count four figures hurriedly clambering up to the rear-most car. Their faces are obscured by kerchiefs drawn up, leaving only their eyes exposed. You have never seen a train-robber, but you have likely heard of them and this is about how you would picture one.
What's more, turning back to the tree, you can now plainly see indications that the bough was cut with tools.
"Very gracious of you!" she smiles as she carefully gets astride the cat. In her awkward position, a tear in her bodice reveals an arresting view of what is concealed beneath. She straightens herself up and is ready to proceed. "Just up the road," she says cheerily, pointing ahead.
Wild Shaped Caladrel |
Caladrel stares ahead to not embarrass the woman. Once she is on top and has a firm grip, he takes off at a brisk trot heading down the road.
Alastríona Eichmann |
Sylvia Pari |
Sylvia snorts. "Brute force, maybe marginally clever. Let's go get them." She grins back at Trina, loosening her coat to expose filled bandoliers full of vials and beckons to Smitty. "Let's go before she gets all the fun. Hey! They're headed towards Chanticleer!" Sudden panic crosses the odd elf's face as she races after the tiefling.
Celestial GM |
You make your way along the road as the stormclouds gather overhead. Flashes of lightning and rumbles of thunder are getting very close. It is not long before the first drops of rain fall upon you. The howling wind scatters clusters of leaves across the dirt road. After you have gone on for a mile or so, she points to a lane headed into wooded area. "The cottage is just here. Please, let's take shelter."
Jeremiah "Winterbloom" Roberts |
As the lightning clashes nearby, Luce draws ahead annoyed by the precipitation. "Do you have a shed, or outbuilding for my friend?" He pats the lions flank.
Celestial GM |
You gather your belongings and make a quick exit once again, hurrying along the length of the train to the rear. A windowless door stands shut on the rearmost car, through which you saw the bandits enter a few moments ago.
She leads you down the narrow lane off the main road. The path winds through the trees. Coming around a bend, you see a quaint wooden cottage tucked in a quiet grove. A thin trail of smoke rises from a chimney. Another building, which must be the stable, lies behind.
Elise dismounts from Caladrel and hurries to the door. "Gregory, we have guests!" she calls out. Then to Jerry, she explains, "Gregory is my brother. We look out for one another."
Celestial GM |
A man of some 30 years comes around from rear of the cottage. He regards Elise fondly. "You are back!"
Elise addresses him curtly, "Gregory, can you assist this gentleman with his lioness. She should shelter in the stable."
"Of course." He looks with some suspicion at the newcomers and then looks back at Elise. He says nothing else, but motions for Jerry to follow him to the stable.
Jeremiah "Winterbloom" Roberts |
"A beautiful abode you have, I'm Jerry." He holds out a hand to Gregory, in a gentlemanly manner - although not one of over-privilege. He moves after the gruff man, taking the pommel of Luces' exotic saddle in his other hand.
Alastríona Eichmann |
Celestial GM |
The common room is cozy. A crackling fire upon the hearth spreads warmth throughout the little room. A wooden table with four chairs occupies the center of the room, where Elise invites you to sit. When Gregory walks in, his eyes seem more intent upon Elise than upon the guests. He crosses toward her, and Elise requests, "Gregory, can you fetch some more firewood? I hate for the fire to run low while the storm rages." He stops and turns to fetch the wood from outside.
A scrappy dog displays a keen interest in the visitors, sniffing you both and jumping up in excitement. Elise chastises the dog and orders him to lie down, which he does obediently.
A kettle begins to spout its steam beside the hearth, and Elise prepares her teapot with a blend taken from a canister upon a high shelf. She adds the hot water and the scent of lavender begins to fill the room. "Do either of you care for sugar or lemon?" she asks politely.
She has also prepared a dough, and is shaping it into neat circles upon a sheet. You believe there will be warm crumpets in short order.
Sylvia Pari |
"Plan?" Sylvia halts with one hand grasping the handle of the door to the next train car. "We should have a plan? Hmm, that would make some sense. Can't burst in lobbing firebombs willy nilly." Her tone is mildly regretful.
"There's three of us and Chanticleer. That makes three of us. I'm not much good hand to hand. Why don't you two go first and I'll follow and toss bombs over your head if need be?"
Alastríona Eichmann |
Bless to the party.
Caladrel Inthesial |
When she hands him a cup, he takes a small sip. The sweet smell of the tea magnifies itself as the warm liquid touches his tongue. "Amazing, how nature provides us with such sweet herbs to delight our senses. Do you harvest these herbs nearby?"
Jeremiah "Winterbloom" Roberts |
"A hint of honey would be most appreciated, especially with lavender tea." He replies to Elises query; "The storm seems to be picking up a bit." He glances to Caladrel whom is more in tune with the nature world and cycles of the weather.
Celestial GM |
Caladrel finds it quite good.
Alastríona Eichmann |
Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21
"Voices ahead," she says, speaking low and quietly to her two companions. "We might be able to catch them unawares." Trina attempts to sneak closer to the other door and listen in on the conversation within before bursting in or being noticed.
Sylvia Pari |
Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13
Stealth: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22
Sylvia pulls a vial from her bandolier and tosses the contents down her throat, suppressing a cough. "I need to make that more palatable," she whispers to Smitty as her fine skin is overlaid with a somewhat scaly layer. Drink mutagen: +2 natural armor, +4 Dex, -2 Wis. Move/rolls after the mutagen.
Sylvia tiptoes after Trina, surprisingly quiet for once.
Celestial GM |
Jerry, too, finds the tea remarkably flavorful, once it has been fixed to his liking.
Roll Will saves, please.
Alastríona Eichmann |
She closes her eyes, and her entire body seems to shimmer, suddenly blurring, fading into the surrounding air as if she had begun to go incorporeal. She then attempts to open the door as silently as possible, get a look at what awaits her on the other side, and move before the opponent gets the opportunity.
Activating extended blur SLA. Stealth roll was posted above, if I don't need to make a second roll.
Jeremiah "Winterbloom" Roberts |
Will Roll: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14
Apologies for the lack of posts recently.
Sylvia Pari |
"Be careful," Sylvia hisses to the shifty tiefling, "Chanticleer is back there somewhere." The gangly elf draws her rapier as Trina's hand moves to the doorknob, then pulls a small clay sphere from her belt pouch, preparing for action.
Celestial GM |
A second bandit - a red-haired woman brandishing another revolver, stands watching the scene from further down the car. She fidgets impatiently.
"Open it, or I'll put a bullet in your skull and then find somebody else who will!" The loud-mouth bandit declares.
Let's see if Caladrel comes by to make his own save.
Alastríona Eichmann |
How far is it to the loud man, and are there any cover or obstacles - boxes, storage, etc. - in the room? That'll affect how she goes about this.
Jeremiah "Winterbloom" Roberts |
At least it's not AD&D where I've an elf 90% immune to charm who's frequently charmed. Or the paladin who is often afeared.
Celestial GM |
MAP
You are entering from the East. The crates are stacked along the walls on either side; the center is relatively clear. The railroad worker is marked H.
Outside, the thunderstorm rages about the small cottage.
Caladrel Inthesial |
Jeremiah "Winterbloom" Roberts |
Alastríona Eichmann |
Trina doesn't give the bandits time to think. The path is clear, and it's a much swifter, much more direct path to simply bolt at the first bandit, putting herself between him and the cowering worker, than try to sneak up on him. The blurred, freakish tiefling lunges at the worker, pistol in hand and bared toward the robbers. "Drop the guns," she snarls, hefting her own weapon toward the head of the man in front of her.
Move to H3. If the man makes a hostile action, she's not averse to putting a bullet in him after what she's seen.
Sylvia Pari |
Sylvia dashes in after the tiefling.
Do we have only a surprise round move here or can she double move?If single action, she stops at I4 and threatens the bad man with her rapier. Otherwise, she double moves through H to menace E2.
Celestial GM |
Smitty follows, and stands slightly behind you, his ornate firearm leveled at the nearest bandit.
The brute that was threatening the railroad agent is clearly caught off guard by your entrance, while the red-headed woman looks more annoyed than anything else. She grits her teeth in exasperation. "Idiots!" she says to you. "You shouldn't meddle. Go back to where you came from, and nobody will get hurt."
The brute looks at you uncertainly, but keeps his pistol aimed roughly in the direction of the cowering agent.
If you want to keep talking, you may do so. If you want to fight, or push your way any further into the car, you will have to roll initiative.
Gregory returns, his arms laden with firewood and his entire form drenched with rainwater. He seems to pay it no heed, and places the sodden wood by the hearth. He does not acknowledge either of you, but continues to stare at his "sister" with unblinking affection.
Beneath the table, the dog has begun tugging insistently at the leg of Caladrel's trousers. When Elise notices it, she yells sternly at the beast, "Bad dogs get leashed outside in the rain!"
She recovers herself and says sweetly, "My apologies. We are trying to train him better."
Alastríona Eichmann |
Initiative: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9
Intimidate: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19
Jeremiah "Winterbloom" Roberts |
Jerry takes a bite of the crumpet; "Don't the pair of you get lonely in the woods? Certainly there's many resources and great views." He smiles softly. "But the nearest village must be a fair distance?"