Isama Zenj |
I think we're at a dead end here. Let's get Ophelia and get out, maybe do something at the Fire and Axe. Isama wouldn't want to get Johns in trouble anyway.
We still have the spider lead and also staking out the BridgeFront guards.
Ophelia 'Springs' Hale |
I meant to type "records" I am fairly sure. Did I not type that? Dammit!
Just to be clear I want to convince them to head to the records since Ophelia has an inkling that her team is at the reception and these guys may not react favourably to that ...
Isama Zenj |
For Isama it's just a cover story at this point to keep the heat off of Johns. (Angry guard comes in with friends to clear out stuff after being forced out etc.).
Fine with not taking anything.
Daria "Mia" Hearth |
Ophelia REALLY makes me want to play an Android.
If anybody is running a recruitment where doing so is an option, please do drop me a note.
^_^
Ophelia 'Springs' Hale |
I'd say we visit the students and squeeze them a bit, then head for the pub.
Unless we really have something smart I don't think walking over and playing cleaning lady for the three corrupt guys is going to help much - and that will split the party once more...
Isama Zenj |
Ophelia can't really tail the three guards so unless we're committing to showing our hand and shaking them down maybe we can leave them for later unless we want to split the group again.
We could tail the Joran kid until it's pub time.
Daria "Mia" Hearth |
*nod* I'd also say lets not split again.
There would be the possibility of a epic handling of this situation, where Ophelia convinces them that Isama was there because Bridgefront outstayed it's usefulness and will get exposed, and our contractor(from outside the guard) contacted us with a hefty sum of payment.
With only a little bending of the truth, we could imply that the actual drug providers want them gone, possibly leading them to do something stupid, or spill some information.
Alas, it's just a thought experiment, as I would prefer to move as a group(we've been split plenty long enough, now :) )
Ophelia 'Springs' Hale |
What Ophelia thinks is that it can hardly be the owner of the building we are dealing with; feels more likely to be a son or cousin or something. Which may provide an interesting angle ...
Isama Zenj |
We could go off and do some book investigating by looking up the recrods of Joran's building or finding a spider expert but that stuff seems better to do later.
Daria "Mia" Hearth |
Posting to all my games as this MAY be very relevant in the future: My corporate network is applying selective restrictions to certain sites, regardless of the connection used.
For these past days, my connection to paizo was refused, today it is working again. While I often do my posts from home, what this means is that at times where I'm travelling to HQ or another department, which happens regulary, I'll be dependent on the system allowing me access.
Those last 3 days, I've been locked out of Paizo by my cache administration.
I will look into ways to "fix" this, but for now, whenever I am travelling, I may or may not be able to log in -_-
(and my phone is company-issued using the same restrictions...so no luck there).
Diene |
Fortunately for me, it's not like I'd ever have a free moment to post anyway on Pizza Delivery. :P
Daria "Mia" Hearth |
Hoped it would work without any combat maneuver checks needed...I was afraid air elementals or dire bats could...rip and tear, accidently...they would need to "grab" paper trying to magically get away, after all.
Thats why I gave this a shot, but I liked your solution too, Isama!
Just wanted to say.
Ophelia 'Springs' Hale |
So very distracted today, sorry! Will try and get a post up tomorrow : )
Ophelia 'Springs' Hale |
So very distracted today, sorry! Will try and get a post up tomorrow : )
Well that wasn't true, not at all. Sorry! But there will be a little bit more of an delay, sorry about that too!
Darkest Corners GM |
I hadn't thought of that.
Okay, with your skills, and the fact the guard uses it.
Odds are the bit in pen is designed to be reusable, which suggests it marks ownership of the creature. Inside man is, therefore, NG.
#8 is confusing. Not necessary for the bird to know where it is going, but might be helpful for where it has come from.
Isama Zenj |
Wait the map is just where the messenger is going to go right? We should let the messenger go and then book it there and case the joint to see if anyone suspicious comes out and starts heading somewhere. How busy is the Night Market going to be at this time of night?
I'm thinking there's one more delivery to make and this guy is calling for help to make it. Also I think we should 'mug' this guy and search him after the messenger is released.
What's everyone else think?
Diene |
I'm thinking about wishing I was a smarty pants leader person who wasn't constantly worrying about making the wrong call.
Seriously. I'm brooding on it till the point where it's impeding my ability to make decisions. Aaaaaaaaaaah.
Daria "Mia" Hearth |
*shrugs* I'm just a Junior Guard Sorceress. I can make suggestions ^_^
Especially the less morally correct ones, seeing how we're going up against corrupt law enforcers in this.
Ophelia 'Springs' Hale |
@Diene - Know that feeling. Glad I have a character immune to promotions :P
@Isama/Message Parchment - We could just head over to the market and complete the fold somewhere discreet there and see where it goes?
Granted, we might have broken it, but could be worth a shot!
(There is also the chance that our mark waits around and realizes no-one is coming to help, so he sends another messenger. Then if we are at the market, we could spot that one and follow it ...)
Thoughts :)?
Diene |
I think going to where we think it's going would be a good idea. Daria and Ophelia, I don't think you two have knowledge local'd yet.
Isama Zenj |
Well we can't tell what the boss man really wanted it to say. Either we mug him and interrogate him or we let the bird go and tail it.
Lol. should be in gameplay.
Daria "Mia" Hearth |
I had expected that despite the line being smudged, we could deduce a likely end-point by where it was leading to, and how far it went. (smudged is not erased, after all).
Then further remove the line and re-draw it.
IF those things are re-useable(as per the part in Pen), then we may also be able to guess the target from past usage/marks/etc.
(like using a sheet of paper and a pencil to "reconstruct" what somebody had written from the inprints on the sheet below)
Since we're basically painting on a map of the city, it's not like we can pinpoint GPS coordinates anyway.
Even if we just guess the house or inmediate neighbourhood right, that should be good enough...
or am I misinterpreting those messengers?
Isama Zenj |
I don't think we can deduce what the likely end point was. DM? If we can then we should redraw it.
From my understanding we can't and if we fold it up then most likely the messenger will fly close to what the end point was before it got smudged and just start whistling maybe attracting the person who should have gotten it in the first place to rush out and retrieve it while it's making a spectacle.
Ophelia 'Springs' Hale |
We could just draw an approximative line and see whom picks it up?
I mean, accidental smugs do happen, and I'm fairly sure whomever is on the lookout for these birds might pick one up even if it doesn't land on his lap just in case!
Daria "Mia" Hearth |
Aye. Thats what I mean. We can't pinpoint it but we had a good enough estimate to make out the night market. It's not far-fetched to either be able to see a bit more info despite the smearing, or guess at a seedy corner there.
For example, if we know where that gang hangs out.
The problem is, despite smears, if we send it too far off-target, the recipient may not be aware of it, assume it's for someone else, or suspect foul play.
So if we cannot "get it close" from the info available to us, we may not want to pursue that option and instead go after inside man.
Problem is, without a writing sample of the recipient, I can't even do a proper forgery of a reply.
Darkest Corners GM |
This is a map of the whole city. The night market takes up an area smaller than the size of a pea. The charcoal line was sharp when drawn, but has smudged.
The night market itself isn't that large: it is a courtyard with a fountain in it - and the buildings around it.
If you send it to the night market, it will be collected. The question is whether it will be collected by the person supposed to do so, or by an opportunist.
As long as you treat it well, the map should not get much worse over time.
There is also the "ask around about Greeley" option, but that also has no time limit.
The inside man is retreating now. If you want to go after him you will need to move.
Honestly, all three options are good. All three options could work.
Diene |
Well, boss lady said investigate Greeley's Crew, so, we're doing that unless someone mutinies. :P
Daria "Mia" Hearth |
I'm up for some mutiny.
Because my expection was kinda confirmed that "check out Greeley" has no time limit.
That messenger DOES have a time limit, because inside man will either expect an answer, or send another messenger, OR outside man will wake up and make his way home.
If we're now altering our plans to instead go after some random punks we associate with the location, this "lead" will grow cold, or they will be ready and waiting. Honestly, I would prefer I you would reconsider, let us send the messenger first, see if whoever picks it up is worth trailing, and when we're at a deadend there, go repeat our stalking session with another criminal gang.
That said, if as leading officer you insist we ignore the Dealers and instead go for a whole different lead with the drugs, I'll be a good little copper and do as you say.
Diene |
If you'll state your case IC instead of OOC, it might lead to interesting roleplaying and Diene changing her mind.
Daria "Mia" Hearth |
Hum, I figured that may make sense for Diene too, without getting it spelled out. But I'll whip up a diplomatic IC-post later today.
Ophelia 'Springs' Hale |
Heads up: I'm going away for four days tomorrow (back on sunday!). There should be wifi and my laptop is sorta working at the moment so I should still be able to post - but if I don't you know why : )
Ophelia 'Springs' Hale |
I'm back! Caught a cold on my way home (or probably over there) so a bit sluggish at the moment.
Ophelia 'Springs' Hale |
We should invest in a portable scrying sensor for Mia to wear on her head. This sequence really beats all the crap they show on "Cops" all the time :P
Diene |
It would also be helpful for regrouping the team.
Also, anyone else getting the vibe that the kid might be pulling a Daria? 13 is a hell of an acrobatics score for a random kid.
Daria "Mia" Hearth |
Haha, and the moment you get that scrying sensor, I try to parcour and roll only below 5, starting with two 1's in a row :)
As for the kid: Yeah, pretty certain somethings off. I only have 2 ranks in acrobatics, so I would be able to match her if I had kept it at level ranks.
It COULD be a street urchin human with elite array for 18 dex(16+2 racial), with skill focus in acrobatics, for 11=1(rank)+3(feat)+4(dex)+3(class).
If she's young, thats 20 dex for 12 ranks, with a trait 13.
Or, if not, with a cat's grace in effect, she also jumps from 11 to 13.
It IS technically possible it's just a level 1 street rat.
But I doubt that.
Ophelia 'Springs' Hale |
Hmm. 3 class and lets say 3 dex. Life on the street is tough, so 2 ranks already. And skill focus since if you don't get away it could cost a hand ...
That's +11. So dex 18 and a trait bonus or racial or something and it might be *possible* I guess.
Could just be that we should sometimes face challenges that are challengeing even if they look like children. Or yeah, it might be a spy/plant/impostor :P
Edit: Damn sneaky ninjas. I think there is something fishy with this one too ...
Ophelia 'Springs' Hale |
Haha, and the moment you get that scrying sensor, I try to parcour and roll only below 5, starting with two 1's in a row :)
You know, that is entertainment too :P