Ross's CotCT PbP (Inactive)

Game Master Ross Byers

Haedrik lets the elf and Karista go first.

Karista watches intently as the woman shuffles the cards. For the first time since entering the house her hawk-like vigilance slips a bit and she seems lost in memory. She blinks hard as Zellara lays out the nine cards. Only a twitch of the eyebrow reveals that she has even heard the men's conversation as she steps forward and taps a card with a heavy tattooed finger.

Verronax turns over a card bearing the image of several black birds gathered around a table playing cards. Its lower edge is marked with a key. "The crows," says Zellara.
Karista taps her card, and Zellara turns it over. It bears an image identical to the card Taemin had displayed earlier. "The locksmith."
Taemin, in his turn, flips over the left-hand card, revealing an image of a cockatrice overpainted with a key. "The peacock."
Haedrik turns over the bottom-right card. It shows a Varisian woman dancing behind several scarves. Its key is toward the upper left of the card. "The dancer."

I realized I never answered Taemin's inquiry into the incense. The sticks were burned to just about halfway down their length when you examined them.

Haedrik looks at his card, looks at Karista, back at the card, back at Karista, and finally back at Zellara. "Don't suppose I could keep this card?" He smirks at Karista. "It may come in handy."

Karista's dark eyes cut a menacing glare at Haedrik straight through the filmy veil. She let the silence hang for a moment then turned back to Zellara. "What do they mean, teller?"

Taemin mumbles, "The Crows are in opposition...", then glances up to the teller, anxiousness showing on his face.

Haedrik throws his hands up in the air and turns to glower at the elf. "C'mon, are you serious? This is a game!"

Haedrik steps back from the table. He crosses his arms. "Look, this lady calls us here because we all know Lamm and been done wrong by him. She apparently knows us well enough to know we all want his blood spilled. Fishy sure, but I am not one for looking gift horses in the mouth -- but is there really a need to play a stupid card game when we already know where the old bastard is? I want to run him through before age gets to him!"

Jam, who has been standing in the doorway, stares at his empty hand, blinks once or thrice, then back slowly into the street. Once well clear of the building, those of you with keen ears can hear the patter of his feet running across the cobbles.

Taemin calmly ignores Haedrik's rant, "Please continue Zellara, please."

Haedrik throws his hands up in the air and turns to glower at the elf. "C'mon, are you serious? This is a game!"

Haedrik steps back from the table. He crosses his arms. "Look, this lady calls us here because we all know Lamm and been done wrong by him. She apparently knows us well enough to know we all want his blood spilled. Fishy sure, but I am not one for looking gift horses in the mouth -- but is there really a need to play a stupid card game when we already know where the old bastard is? I want to run him through before age gets to him!"

Quietly from the doorway, a regal figure bemusedly watched the hasty departure of the little gnome, then smiled and stepped inside. He was dressed well in handsome silver-and-blue finery, dark brown hair thrown back in a loose tail, and the small grin still wryly across his face.

At his hip hung a slightly curved starknife, sharp but without the marks of use, more ornament than weapon. The cuffs of his sleeves were threaded with the images of butterflies. Tiny glass beads set into their wings created the shapes of stars, moons, and radiant sunbursts.

He held up a Harrow card between index and middle fingers, it's back facing the group.

"This room," he said pointedly. "Seems like it could use a bit of humor."

With that, he turned over Zellara's Harrow card so that all could see the face of it - The Joke.

"I do hope I'm not too late."

Karista's hand jerks back to her blade at the arrival of the newcomer, and an inch of steel is revealed before the easy smile and extended Harrow card stay her hand. "Who are you?" she demands of the newcomer, then half turns to Zellara without waiting for a reply, "How many did you call here?"

Taemin mumbles, "The Crows are in opposition...", then glances up to the teller, anxiousness showing on his face.

"My card is the Crows. What do you mean 'in opposition'?" Verronax sighs. "What am I talking about? This means nothing. Cards, soothsayers, and tricks. I follow the destiny Abadar has laid out for me."

Verronax stands up. "I'm beginning to agree with Haedrik. Is there anything more you can tell us, Zellara? I, for one, do not want to sit around playing card games all night. There is business needs attending to."

"At ease, steel sister," the elf said gently, slowly waving one hand, palm down in mollification. "Enough. That's how many. She called enough."

He stepped into the room as though he'd been beckoned and bowed, both hands open and palm-up, like a street magician before his act. The hand that held the card extended a bit further, across the table toward Zellara, and deposited the card away to one side of the Harrow spread, face-down.

"As for you," he said, eying Verronax with that same half-smile as he grabbed a chair, "If you've anything to learn from destiny, you're going to learn it from these cards. Your hostess has gone to the trouble of calling you all and answering all your hopes. The very least we can do," he finished, seating himself in next to Verronax and settling the silver traveler's robe around his legs, "Is play along."

He smiled then at Zellara. "You were saying?"

I'll gladly put a Diplomacy check in here to try and calm folks down. Taras is trying to make the situation as non-hostile as possible, and being overtly genuine is, he thinks, a good first step on his part.

Haedrik slid closer to the door as the finely-dressed elf made his appearance. He looked out into the open night and listened to the sounds of the city -- the raucous laughter, the neighing of horses, the music of inns.
He turned back to the gathering and nodded in agreement with Verronax.

You may roll diplomacy if you like. Of course, PCs aren't necessarily bound by the results.

Zellara is beginning to open her mouth to answer Karista, when the newcomer does it for her. She seems about to interrupt him, then let's him answer when she notes the glass butterfly hanging around his neck.

"Enough. That's how many. She called enough."

"Exactly. The Theater has departed for reasons of his own, but the cards bring us one to fill his vacant seat." She waves he hand to indicate the six chairs, five of which are full.

She smiles at Taemin. "I see you have been Harrowed before. But worry not. This is merely the choosing. Position is relatively unimportant, affected as it is by the choice of card." Looking up at the newcomer, she bids him to sit, and to choose his role card. She takes the Joke card and cuts it into the remainder of the deck.

Taras reaches out slowly across the table, using his other hand to hold his long sleeve up and away from it, and picks up the bottom-left card from the spread, again between index and middle finger.

Ross:

The card Taras turns over is The Juggler.

Taemin nods and sits back in his seat, awaiting the reading while Zellara readies the cards, finally seeming more at ease and even smiling slightly.

He whispers to Verronax,

Verronax leans down to Taemin and whispers back.

Taemin nods fervently,

Taemin is probably whispering fairly loudly at this point.

To Taemin: "Prophecies were constant and true. Not anymore, from what I've heard. Nevertheless, I'll stay to hear the woman out. For now."

Verronax straightens up. "One moment, Haedrik. Let's hear Zellara out, whatever she has to tell us. Then we can all go after Lamm together, if the others are willing."

Haedrik let loose a long sigh. "Very well. Let's get on with it."

Haedrik saunters over to the table and sits.

Karista slowly settles herself into a chair as well, though she remains pushed back from the table. Her eyes never stop roving but her posture is beginning to relax again. She readjusts slightly to let the bolas hang free off of either side of her chair. She nods slightly at Zellara indicating that she is ready.

Zellara smiles as she gathers up the spread, shuffling it back into the deck. Her hands work the deck as she speaks. "The role card distinguishes your relationship to the spread. The crows mark a thief, a theft, or someone who has had something taken from him. I believe something you love was taken from you, good priest? The crows mark that you are here because of that loss.
"The locksmith represents the keys to destiny. He can indicate an artifact or treasure, or occasionally an obstacle to overcome. Lady Shoanti, you bear an ancient sword, the mark of your ancestors. The locksmith marks that you are here to restore your honor.
"The cockatrice indicates sudden change and the paralysis it can bring. In the past, mister Swallowtail, you failed to adapt to a sudden change in your life. The peacock, then, indicates that you wish to change your own life, and to throw off the obsession that has haunted you since you failed to heed its warning."
Zellara stops shuffling, laying out another three-by-three grid of face-down cards.
"The dancer, if you'll stop leering at the poor girl, represents harmony and the perils of breaking it. In your case, Haedrik, I think it indicates a hidden desire to play within the rules, or perhaps to force Lamm to do the same. Though, having met you, it may merely mean that pretty girls are the driving force in your life.
"The juggler embodies fate, the gods, or anyone who meddles with either. Taras, you are connected to Lamm only indirectly, while the others here were all harmed directly. The juggler shows that you are here to participate in the fates of others."

She takes a deep breath, pausing for a moment to consider the grid of cards she laid out, and pour herself a tin cup of wine. She takes a sip, then continues. "The first column represents the past." She turns over the three cards to the left of the spread (her right). From top to bottom, they show an Azer smoking from a hookah, marked with a shield to the left, a dirty man wearing broken shackles, under a brilliant sky, with a hammer toward the top right, and a large cricket reclining with an accordion, with a key at the top of the card. "The grig is a symbol of the journey and the reward at its end. However, its presence in the bottom row shows ill fate, meaning that the journey went poorly and the treasure cost more than it was worth. The brass dwarf, however, is a symbol of invulnerability, and its placement indicates it as a boon." She considers. "These cards indicate the ordeal that Lamm has put each of you through, but that each of you was capable of surviving and coming out stronger."

"The next set will speak to the present and current event." She flips over the next column of cards. She reveals, from top to bottom, the dancer, the peacock, and the crows. Her eyes go wide. "The cards mark that this is truly a momentous time. Haedrik, you will be able to keep harmony for the good of all. The peacock shows that all of your lives will change soon, or have already started changing. Mister Swallowtail, I hope that this time you will be adapt and survive the change. The crows in the final space show a grave risk of tremendous loss. Young priest, this is your role, so I advise you to be careful in the presence of thieves.

"The last cards are the most insightful, but the least certain, for they examine the potential of the future." She reveals the locksmith, a card showing a unicorn with a pear on its horn, with a crown to the upper right, and a card showing a dwarf beating on an anvil, a mephit breathing fire on his work, a hammer marking the left edge. Zellara examines the cards. "The unicorn indicates that you will find what you seek, but his position at the middle of the spread suggests that the fruit he bears will be bittersweet. The locksmith appears as well. This indicates that you will unlock a new destiny, and its position at the top of the spread suggests that the destiny will be favorable. Lady Shoanti, as this is your role, it means that your fate will be greatest of all, or that you are the reason destiny will be favorable."

Okay, that took way longer than I thought to write. Everybody also recieves six Harrow points, to be spent as they choose during this adventure. You may spend one point to:
Reroll any d20 roll to which your dexterity score is added. You may reroll any number of times, as long as you have more points to spend.
Gain a +1 dodge bonus to AC for one round. You may spend up to three points per encounter this way.
Increase your speed by 10 feet for one round. You may use this ability once per encounter.

Releasing a long held breath, Taemin lowers his head down a moment, as if inside himself. Then rising to his feat, he bows to Zellara and offers a gesture of thanks.

"Truly you are a lady of the Gift, and I, we, thank you," he glances around as he struggles to clear his voice and lend it strength. "We shall have to work in harmony and guard our backs to unlock changes for us all."

Taemin stands at the ready. His left hand clenches and twists into distinct forms, but the motions are calm and steady.

Taras watched Zellara more than he watched the cards. That half-faced grin stayed on his face for the entire reading, as he listened to fate being laid out. He said nothing, though he clearly absorbed the Harrowing. As the others began to stand or gather their things, the Elf merely waited, eyes still on the old Varisian fortune-teller.

"You knew my name," he said softly, without accusation. It seemed he wasn't particularly bothered by the fact, as some might've been.

Despite himself, Verronax seems entranced by the Harrow reading. When Zellara finishes, he mutters to himself, "Love lost. Thieves, destiny, prophecy. What is real? What is my destiny?" He sits still for a moment longer, staring at the cards, then shakes his head as if to clear away the cobwebs.

Verronax stands up and reclaims his halberd. "My thanks, Mistress Zellara. For the information, and for the...reading. And now I think, it's time we took our leave. To this fishery then?" He looks in turn at everyone gathered, apparently appraising their combat-worthiness.

Haedrik pushes himself up and away from the table, making sure the chair squeaks against the floor.

"Well," he says with a smirk, "I hope that was a deep spiritual experience for everyone else."

"My thanks, Mistress Zellara. For the information, and for the...reading. And now I think, it's time we took our leave. To this fishery then?"

Haedrik nods and starts making his way to the exit. "Finally."

Karista remains stock still after the reading, betraying nothing. As chairs squeak and gear starts to rustle she leans forward to Zellara, and in a low voice says, "Thank you, seer. My name is Karista. And I swear on the bones of my father's fathers, your son will be avenged."

"My thanks, Mistress Zellara. For the information, and for the...reading. And now I think, it's time we took our leave. To this fishery then?"

Taemin nods, bowing once more, then slips out the front door, taking point on the way to the fishery.

Knowledge check for path to fishery: [2,3] = (5)
Stealth check for point: [9,7] = (16)
Perception check for arrival: [16,7] = (23)
Rolls

"Speaking of names," Taras said, nodding his head respectfully to Zellara before slowly rising to his feet. "I can't say I know all of you. Unless you'd like me to call you by your Harrow roles," he said, "We probably ought be better acquainted with each other and our respective skills... Or maybe you did that already and I'm just the odd one out."

Haedrik looks the elf up and down.

"Haedrik."

I know I have been calling people by name already . . .oops.

Zellara bids you each goodnight and good luck.

The moon is two nights past full, so there is ample light to navigate the streets.

The walk is a few minutes, so you folks can talk amongst yourselves if you wish. I'm going to presume that at least enough conversation occurs that everyone knows everyone else's name by the time you arrive at the fishery.

After a short walk, you arrive at the specified address. The building is built into the side of the short cliff that makes up the bank of the Jeggare river. The building itself extends out over the water, built up on pilings about 10 feet above the river. A loading ramp is attached to the north end of the building, connecting to a proper pier. A catwalk wraps around the south edge of the building. A set of double doors and several windows face the street.

Haedrik whispers, "Who wants to knock?"

He smiles as he looks at the group.

"Any plans?"

Haedrik whispers, "Who wants to knock?"

He smiles as he looks at the group.

"Any plans?"

Taras looked the place over, then the neighborhood that surrounded them.

"May... I take this moment to suggest that we attempt diplomacy before resorting to -- well, I suppose you're all looking for outright murder? This is a man who has evaded capture and prosecution numerous times - I cannot imagine he's alone or unarmed..."

Haedrik wrote:

"Any plans?"

"May... well, I suppose you're all looking for outright murder? ... I cannot imagine he's alone or unarmed..."

Taemin checks the catwalk on the south side of the building for any entrances.

"You are correct in all things Taras, Lamm cannot escape. Perhaps a rear entrance, from the Pier perhaps, would get us closer to him without warning him." Taemin ponders a moment. "Perhaps the rest of us should attempt to enter elsewhere, while you provide a Diplomatic distraction at the door?"

If no entrance visible between C and D on the link (catwalk), suggest entering via the ramp from the pier (B).

"You are correct in all things Taras, Lamm cannot escape. Perhaps a rear entrance, from the Pier perhaps, would get us closer to him without warning him." Taemin ponders a moment. "Perhaps the rest of us should attempt to enter elsewhere, while you provide a Diplomatic distraction at the door?"

Haedrik snorts. "I'm no tactical genius, but do you really think Lamm's thugs or whomever is in there is going to be open to a late night visitor?" Haedrik eyes Taemin and nods his head in concession, "On the other hand the idea about a distraction and more subtle entrance, I can agree with."

"I am not sure we should send one person to be the distraction though in case things go badly, and I'm not sure how split up we want to get."

Nice map, Majuba. It's actually quite accurate, but I'll do you one better: Map

The fishery reeks of brine, rotting fish, and vaguely of chemicals (Craft (Alchemy) checks if anyone would want to make one.) The signpost over the door remains, but the sign itself is absent, leaving two short lengths of chain hanging from the post.

The loading ramp to the north is surrounded with a low, heavy railing

Taemin, the walkway around the side of the building is quite slippery with sea-spray and algae. It seems safe enough to cross at a walking pace, but you wouldn't want to try to hurry. The pilings under the walkway are crusted with barnacles. There is a door along the southern edge of the building. A decaying sign on it reads 'Office'. I rolled Perception check for you to read the sign.

"I am not sure we should send one person to be the distraction though in case things go badly, and I'm not sure how split up we want to get."

"It looks like the south side door, on the catwalk, is or was the office - perhaps that is our best choice of entry," Taemin says, "I agree, we wouldn't want to leave anyone alone, especially with that the rest of us on that slippery catwalk, but I still believe a single distractor to be the least suspicious."

He ponders, glancing at his fellows. "Perhaps you-Haedrik, Karista, and I, can quietly approach the Office, while Taras knocks on the door. Meanwhile Verronax can be backup for both of us at a distance with his infamous crossbow. They can both follow us in after we make it safely into the first area."

"Taras, Verronax, any objections?

Karista is crouched low, staring at the house. "I don't see why we don't just break in and take the house by surprise - it isn't that big. We could rip through it like a tornado before they knew what hit them." She draws her massive curved blade, but keeps it concealed beneath her cloak.

Karista is crouched low, staring at the house. "I don't see why we don't just break in and take the house by surprise - it isn't that big. We could rip through it like a tornado before they knew what hit them." She draws her massive curved blade, but keeps it concealed beneath her cloak.

Taras, hearing the idea of being alone against the front door's guards, shakes his head and smirks ruefully.

"I'm hardly a distraction, and I'm not so certain about bargaining alone and unarmed against a pack of Lamm's thugs. My only fear is for Lamm's stolen children - there are rumored to be dozens of them, all bound to Lamm by hunger or fear, and I worry for their safety if..." And here, he nodded to Karista. "We burst in like tornado."

"I should think we ought to have an eye to the back door - perhaps Veronnax, who can cover them both from a distance? And go in the front, such that he cannot escape. Oh -- are there...?"

Taras frowned and stooped a bit, squinting at the pilings on which the fishery stood. "...are there trapdoors into the water, I wonder? That would be most inconvenient."

"I don't see why we don't just break in and take the house by surprise - it isn't that big. We could rip through it like a tornado before they knew what hit them."

Haedrik listens to Karista while slightly shaking his head. "Got fire in your blood?" He unsheathes his rapier. "I have to admit I like the lady's idea, but I can see the fault in it."

"I'm hardly a distraction, and I'm not so certain about bargaining alone and unarmed against a pack of Lamm's thugs. My only fear is for Lamm's stolen children - there are rumored to be dozens of them, all bound to Lamm by hunger or fear, and I worry for their safety if..." And here, he nodded to Karista. "We burst in like tornado."

"I should think we ought to have an eye to the back door - perhaps Veronnax, who can cover them both from a distance? And go in the front, such that he cannot escape. Oh -- are there...are there trapdoors into the water, I wonder? That would be most inconvenient."

Haedrik flexed his fingers feeling the balance of the rapier and the grip of the hilt. "Aye, no harming any children if they're in there." Haedrik lets his gaze linger on each person for a split-second. "I mean it."

Haedrik softens his features a bit and rubs the stubble on his chin. "It is just that they're only kids. They don't know a better life . . ." Haedrik cuts himself short. "Taras, you're right, leaving someone alone upfront is too risky. Let's all sneak towards the back and see what we can do. Taemin, your idea do you want to lead, or should I?"

"Aye, no harming any children if they're in there." Haedrik lets his gaze linger on each person for a split-second. "I mean it."

"Of course no children will be harmed," Karista replied irritably, "Any who do will answer to me. If you want to stay back and keep watch then so be it, but we're not achieving anything by bickering like widows. Let's go."

Just a reminder, Verronax is out of town for the rest of today, if I read his post correctly, so we don't need to wait for him to sign off on the plan necessarily. Keeping him back a 'watch' could work. He can rejoin the group when Sargon is back. Or something.

Taras

Let's go."

Taemin gives a nod to Karista and Haedrik, and takes the lead in along the catwalk, moving slowly to the 'office' door, searching the path for anything unusual as Taras suggested.

Perception(search):[7,7] = (14)
Stealth: [1,7] = (8) *wince*

Assuming nothing found, will move to the door, wait for everyone in position, and listen closely, then try the door.

Perception(listen): [11,7] = (18)

Karista nods and starts forward, then pauses for a moment. She reaches up with her free hand and removes her veil, silently tucking it into her belt. After another quick check of her surroundings, she follows Taemin.

Haedrik motions to the group that he will bring up the rear.

Perception: 1d20-1 = 3
Stealth: 1d20+6 = 21

Taemin

"There's... an underhanging structure on the fishery," Taras said uncertainly, standing back up. "...we should take care to see that our quarry doesn't bolt down into the water by some trick."

To Haedrik and Karista, he smiled and waved their concerns away. "I wasn't so worried that this group would harm them, just that we should be certain they don't, or don't threaten to carry them off. And it's easy enough for a child to panic, or be torn by fear or loyalty in the moment."

Taras lifted the starknife inexpertly off of his hip, rolling it's weight in his hand and looking at it uncomfortably. He took extra care situating it in his grip and keeping the sharpened leading edges away from his hand and arm.

"Well," he sighed. "We're resigned to stealth and murder, it seems." His tone, though quiet as he moved with the group and padded on soft-soled shoes, seemed uncomfortable with the notion.

"...Haedrik, Karista, if we come to blows with them, fall back to me. I've a few tricks for such an occasion. I'm not much for war-making, myself, but I can help others in a pinch."

As a last afterthought, Taras unbound his hair. Not quite waist-length, it still spilled thickly down his back once undone. He gathered it up and clumsily stuffed the length of it down his collar, shrugging and moving a bit to situate it, then re-bound it.