Una attempts to sneak across the roof, without making any noise, and overlook the river and the back of the fishery, searching for any alternative entrances.
Looks like we leaping forward a bit from where we were last time, but that is perfectly fine with Shakhan :)
Shakhan is tired of this endless bickering and aimless searching for clues. Almost calmly he steadies his shield on his left and hefts his battleaxe in the right; no longer holding it in the controlled short-grip near the head, but deep along the shaft. The promise of eminent violence pulses in his eyes and he steps forth to the door. He approaches it swiftly then attempts smash it from its hinges with a single might kick.
So... we've got one on the roof, one at the front entrance trying to bash the door down, and one at the side trying to pick the lock... oh, and the wizard holding back... 8^P
(OOC: Not sure where Pierre & Hytogg are right now...0
Una: The roof is surprisingly solid for a place that looks as ramshackle from street level as this one does. It doesn't even creak under you (although you are admittedly being as quiet as you can be).
Vic: You have made your way along the slippery walkway, which is held together with barnacle-encrusted pilings that are being eaten away at waterlevel. You've needed all your balance to get this far, and its creaking alarmingly under your weight. You get your picks out and start work on the lock...
Then there's an almighty crash as Shakhan 'knocks' on the front door. Inside, a dog goes into fits of barking.
Female Depemds on the game system (human in the real world)
Una: The area (A2 actually, but the letters are a bit small!) appears to be a loading dock. It is slightly lower - by about three feet - than ground level, with a ramp up to where wagons wait during the day to be loaded. There are a few empty barrels around, each marked with a crude outline of a fish in red paint, but plenty of space for you to jump down. A set of steps leads down to the east with a door at the bottom into the building - you're not sure, but you think that noisy dog is behind it, yapping its head off.
Hytogg: OK, you're just off-map west of Zadarra, then.
[OOC: Several people indicated that they do not find as much time for posting on weekends as they do in the week, so I'm happy not to move further, just deal with minor bits like your jump, until then, on the assumption that if they're workplace posters they won't be at work on a holiday Monday!]
Shakhan smashes the door again, the wood creaking heavily under the assault Strength1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11 - more so than before, maybe in one or two more tries the door will shatter apart.
Vic continues to work diligently at the lock, the picks nearly slipping from his fingers when he hears a load banging back from the way he came. That impatient gorilla with the axe must be trying to hammer his way inside.
For the love of Desna…is that guy for real? He’s going to get us killed! I should have known better than to tag along with a buncha unknowns…
Vic also notes with some irritation that he seems to be on his own suddenly. Hopefully if there any guards posted on this door, they’ll all be attracted to Shakhan’s noise out front. If he can slip in unnoticed, it might all still work out for the best, no thanks to anyone but himself of course.
Just kind of a place holder post. I’m assuming my above roll was fine and that you didn’t want me to roll again, although I can if you want.
Female Depemds on the game system (human in the real world)
DM Note: Links & notes are for the CHARACTERS indicated. I don't mind other PLAYERS looking, provided they can keep IC and OOC information separate :)
Shakhan: The door gives way under your gentle ministrations, and this is what you see, only of course it's dark in there. There is a small pile of ratty furs and straw under the table. There does not seem to be anyone around.
Vic: Well done, your lock-picking skills are up to the task! This is what you see. The table is heaped with slate boards covered in chalk scrawls. There does not seem to be anyone in here but the dog who is barking its head off sounds quite close and to the east of you.
Shakhan sees a shadow appear on the edge of his vision, slipping passed him unexpectedly. He shouts at the intruder, his voice carrying menace and his axe rearing up to slay this man: "Where's Lamm?!" Intimidate Risdin1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18
Risdin looks over his shoulder,"I think he's somewhere in here, but if you find him you better keep your hands off him. He has a date with my blade", he says in the direction of the booming voice.
Shakhan's grim features have a flicker of lightness as he hears Risdin's reply - finally! a real warrior - but it turns more sour a moment later: "LAMM IS MINE!!" He rushes into the room, taking the south door the one to the right.
"For the love of Calistra," the cleric groans as the two bloodthirsty warriors dart into the fishery. So much for the element of surprise. Realising that the two lummoxes were likely to be in need of recuperative aid imminently, Pierre followed them into the room.
Female Depemds on the game system (human in the real world)
OOC: DM falls over laughing :)
People who came in the front door: You all see this... although it's getting a bit crowded for me to put your pictures in!
A single desk sits in the middle of this room, a moldy chair pushed up against the far side. A small pile of ratty furs and straw is heaped under the table.
Shakhan: Are you opening the door, listening at it or applying your trademark boot to it?
Risdin: Do you still want to open the door to the north?
The stink in this room, a mixture of fish and sweat, is enough to make the eyes water. To the east, a large wooden trough holds a hideous mound of half-rancid fish, seaweed, and brine. Filthy seawater and fish blood stain the floor around this trough. A pair of wooden chutes lead from this trough through holes in the northern wall into a larger room to the east. To the west, a desk and chair sit in one corner while a tall cabinet sits in the other. The barking is louder now, sounds like the dog is in the room to the east. You can also hear wimpering sounds.
Subtlety? From Shakhan? Who do you think he is? ;p
Shakhan opens the door he aimed for, smashing his shoulders into it violently should it prove to be locked. Strength check, in case1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8
You stagger in - the door was too flimsy to withstand one of YOUR shoulders - to see a fairly small room in which a pair of bunk beds sits against the far wall of this room to either side of a boarded-over window.
In the lower bunk furthest away from the door, a rather tousled human is sitting up and scrabbling for something under a pillow - and muttering... well, I'm a lady and don't post such language even when my NPCs use it!
OOC: How do we handle initiative? I'd like to do things now like open the door to the east, but if we are suppose to wait for people or take turns it might be a bit unfair.
Female Depemds on the game system (human in the real world)
OOC: I think that the 'front door mob' has probably gone about far enough before we hear from other players... Good work, you guys: I just don't want to get you too far ahead of the others.
As for initiative: I'll ask for it when a brawl is inevitable.
"Stick to one room, you bloody-minded idiots!" Pierre roars, anger coating his voice, "We'll never complete our mission if you get yourselves killed!" Pierre then casts guidance on himself.
Seeing that Vic didn't get bum rushed and knocked into the river Hytogg hustles to catch up with him.
In a loud Whisper "Wait a minute". "I'm coming". then rushes to the door to follow Vic. "We should be safe enough, considering how much noise the others are making", Hytogg whispers as he gets close to the man.
Female Depemds on the game system (human in the real world)
OOC: As combat invariably slows a PbP game down, when we need to fight I shall describe the scene, ask for all players involved to roll initiative and state their first move (giving appropriate rolls) and then pause until either all have responded or I've been to bed: then I shall describe the first round of combat, rolling for anything necessary. Folk who know that they'll be absent are welcome to leave conditional actions with me - rest assured that anyone who needs to be NPC'd will be kept alive at all costs (although I'm sure my regular NPCs will be doing their level best to kill the rest of you!).
Hytogg: You find it very slippery following Vic, but after a few scary moments and a bit of grabbing onto anything that looks remotely solid, you get there and see this
Shakhan: If you want to fight the fellow in bed, this is time for you to get the dice out - initiative roll, first action & relevant die rolls, please. If you want to talk to him, you can try that.
Everyone: I'd like to hear from Una before going too much further, but do please feel welcome to say what you are doing next.
You all are posting during my sleeping hours... lol
Una drops down into area A2 then proceeds down the stairs to the door where the yapping dog is at. She readies her crossbow again, checking to make sure the wire is still taught. Holding it in one hand so she can swing it up and fire if she needs to, she tries to open the door.
I'll be travelling a lot over the next two weeks, but should have Internet every evening (US Eastern Time). Please feel free to play my character, to move along the game as needed
Without a proper set of tools to pick a lock, or the knowledge or inclination to do so, Una leans to brace against the banister of the stairs behind her and slams the door with a powerful kick.
Female Depemds on the game system (human in the real world)
Shakhan: You catch the fellow a resounding smack upside the head and he falls back on his pillow, dazed... and as he was trying to get something out, he traps his hand and there's a nasty crack from his wrist bones... he groans, if not quite unconscious, certainly not very interested in proceedings.
Una: As you take your kick, the foot you are standing on slips and you fall on your backside... hard. And you've dropped your crossbow.
Risdin: The door is locked. As you rattle the handle and bellow, you hear the patter of paws, and the door shakes as something hurls itself bodily against it from the far side. The barking and growling is VERY close...
... and I only went out to buy some food for dinner! Warning: I go offline in 45 minutes, as there's a TV show I want to catch.
Shakhan catches his breath, the furious purple where his scar mars his forehead recedes into a milder red. But his anger isn't gone - he pulls up the man by his hair, bending down to get a good look, face-to-face. His voice eerily quiet as he asks: "Where is Lamm?"
Wow, what a rush of posts. Maybe we should slow up a bit?
I get on fairly late compared to everyone else I think, meaning I’m typically a one post a day guy, so if a case ever comes up where I’m slowing things down, feel free to make reasonable assumptions as to what I do. I squeezed what's probably a couple rounds worth of actions into this post. Let me know if that's too much.
Vic begins to examine the room and slate boards, nodding to Hytogg as he joins him. “Could be where Lamm gives his kids their daily assignments. Doubt it’s trapped.” He notes the banging outside has ceased and suspects Shakhan and company have successfully smashed their way inside. No clanking of swords or screaming has followed, so that’s probably good. “We should shut that dog up before it alerts someone. Assuming our friends haven’t already woke the entire neighborhood.”
Detect traps roll for the room: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14. If nothing is detected, Vic moves one square west into A6 then one square north. Vic will then listen at the north door and check to see if it’s locked. A Perception roll: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8 and a Disable Device roll: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27 if needed.
Female Depemds on the game system (human in the real world)
As this is a new start, not sure if it's initial enthusiasm or if you are always like this. Zadarra, if you can manage once a day I'd like you to stay and will ensure you remain included - at the moment the group is split so each is doing their own thing in more or less the same timescale. Up to you...
Risdin: The door crashes open, and you are confronted with the slavering jaws and bad breath of a large dog - which sinks its fangs into your left leg. (4 points of damage, please). Action?
Una: The crossbow appears to be all right, but your backside feels like it will develop a nice bruise! You set yourself a bit more firmly and kick again... but the door holds firm.
Shakhan: The fellow's plainly terrified. He shrinks back. "D..d...d...downstairs..." he says, then passes out.
Vic: The slate boards contain transaction records, addresses of customers and other accounting notes. The dog has quieted to growling but you can hear whimpering from the same direction. You cast a professional eye around, but see nothing untoward, so move over to the door... er, which one? You have a choice of east or west (top of the map is EAST...).
Shakhan let's go of the man, his anger now knowing direction. He swiftly moves out of the room, following the next open door (the one Risdin opened) to whatever lies beyond. "LAMM! Start your miserable prayers, to claim whatever hell will have you!"
Female Depemds on the game system (human in the real world)
Shakhan: You make your way towards Risdin, and find that he is fighting off a large and ferocious dog. You may make ready but Risdin and the mutt will have another round of combat before you can wade in, that is, should you wish to do so.
Una: Stubborn door, this. You still haven't got in!
Female Depemds on the game system (human in the real world)
Risdin: That darn mutt dances back and somehow evades your blow. You step back but the dog holds its ground in the doorway, baring its teeth and snarling.
Somewhere in the darkness beyond it you can hear a sustained banging and also whimpering and crying.
Shakhan comes up behind you - OK, you may join with Risdin now.
