A little shocked at the throwing away of perfectly good coinage Swift holds a little tighter onto her beloved box. Finding it hard not to be distracted by all the opportunities around her for new fun and a little theft she pushes onwards. The smell of the hot muffins is a little too much however and in all of the chaos over the thrown monies a dewberry treat somehow makes it into the tibbit's hand.
Pushing onwards as quickly as she can she notices Zigel intending to carry on down Mangel Street and siezes her opportunity to escape with her treasure chest. Slipping amongst the crowds she stelthily sneaks into Argus Court with the intention of sneaking off on her own down to Demming's.
Managing with her cat-like grace to skirt the worst of the chaos Greep's stunt has caused, Swift manages to hook a dewberry muffin with one finger and flip it to her mouth, catching it and running on down Mangel Street. The vendor was too busy chasing a piece of gold that he saw rolling by his feet to notice anyway.
Swift staggers (gracefully) down the narrow confines of Argus Court, skirting a pushcart piled with various exotic fruits that is parked just inside the narrow court's mouth. The pushcart's proprieter is nearby, having a quick break with a cigar and a mug of steaming coffee. He glances at Swift, but being a Cager he has seen a lot stranger than a small teenaged girl lugging a chest down the street with a muffin in her mouth. He sips his coffee laconically and nods geneally at her.
Swift staggers (gracefully) down the narrow confines of Argus Court, skirting a pushcart piled with various exotic fruits that is parked just inside the narrow court's mouth. The pushcart's proprieter is nearby, having a quick break with a cigar and a mug of steaming coffee. He glances at Swift, but being a Cager he has seen a lot stranger than a small teenaged girl lugging a chest down the street with a muffin in her mouth. He sips his coffee laconically and nods geneally at her.
Zigel and Kratos are headed down Mangel Street and moves as fast as they can with out falling in the morning crowd.There also trying to move out of sight if they can
Zigel and Kratos zip along Mangel Ave like the wind. Kratos keeps up, occasionally shivering as the goblin blood his coat is spattered with dries to a nasty crust. The Before Peak crowd pays little attention to them as they attempt to blend in.
zigel then kratos 17 and 18
Swift smiles sweetly around the muffin at the nice pushcart proprieter before continuing merrily on her way as though nothings wrong, a small spring in her step at the utter triumph of keeping hold of her box and nabbing some breakfast. Next stop, somewhere safe for her chest and maybe some coffee.
** spoiler omitted **
Zigel and Kratos zip down Mangel Ave.,dodging and weaving among the Before Peak crowds of workers and merchants. Ahead of them, there is a group of Xaositects walking towards Iron Ave. They look to be extremely drunk, and are chattering their nonsencical barmy talk among themselves:
" at bit really kip need of sleep I me a ...
Was bint that nice waitress a . Check her the hated stiff to I with ...
New that score blex some let's go a' Shiver ... Shelf top it's sodding ..."
You two could easily hang on the edges of the dozen-or-so Xaosmen and look totally innocuous.
Ffethpaar has run down Mangel Street with the others, intending to duck down Argus Court as per his plan.
Swift: Down Argus Court
Ffethpaar; same
Greep: Same
Zigel: Down Mangel Ave.
Kratos: Same
Eir: ??
Karrin: ??
Karrin is heading for new market, but she watches Eir in case she angles off in any unexpected directions.
Eir is going to stick near Karrin and cut through New Market. She's slipping through the crowd and trying to cut off any angles that might get her spotted by pursuers. She'll use her knowledge of the city to cut though any areas with money, where the goblins might find trouble.
If she sees guards she's going to scream "Gobbo's bloody murder!"
Perception, acrobatics, stealth, knowledge Sigil: (1d20 8=9, 1d20 9=24, 1d20 9=22, 1d20 7=14)
Greep is heading down Mangel Street, but he won't be ducking down Argus Court. He plans to continue heading down Mangel, but not at top speed. The idea is to get some distance but to be seen by gobbos so they have someone to follow, pulling them away from the others. Perhaps he'll yell out "Run faster, they're coming." Once the gobs have seen him, he'll speed up. Once they have followed for a bit past the other team members routes, Greep will try to lose them. He will, of course, keep an eye out for some cinematic way to end pursuit.
Ffethpaar darts down Argus Court after Swift, passing the fruit seller on his morning coffee break. Swift still hugs the chest to her as she scampers down the narrow roadway.
Eir and Karrin take Ironshot Road towards New Market. Karrin is lugging the loot, and Eir the caster. They weave about, trying to blend in with the Before Peak crowd. Fortunately, many folks are carrying bundles on their shoulders, so Eir and Karrin don't look too out of place. Eir figures if she heads right through New Market and heads down Tanner's Lane towards the Sinkers' headquarters at the Armory, they'll hit the Lady's Ward in about 15 minutes of normal pace.
Behind them the crowd at the fountain has gotten even more chaotic as the wave of angry goblins reaches the intersection and attempts to bull their way through it. Angry shouts, goblin squeals and screams of fright echo up and down Ironshot Road.
Greep follows in Zigel's wake, noting that he is approaching a group of Xaositects heading (presumably) Hiveward after a long night of carousing. He follows a little slower, hoping the goblins will keep an eye on him and not the others. He looks around for anything that could help him with a chase scene, and sees a lot. Carts, stalls, wagons, people. The 20' wide expanse of Mangel Road is alive with the early Peak crowd, the sight of it like some otherworldly bazaar (which in fact it is).
As Eir and Karrin move down the street, they are joined by folks sensing trouble ahead and returning down towards New Market. Eir spots a Harmonium patrol clanking along in a shuffling run up the street, their red-tinged armor gleaming from a recent polish. They seem to be headed to the fountain, perhaps lured there by the earlier shreiks.
Greep keeps an eye behind him for evidence the gobbos have seen/are following. He attempts to keep visible until they do. Then its time for decoy duty, with goblins chasing after. Thats when he starts looking for the rope bridge/large basket.
Ffethpaar will continue down and into Avenna Alley. At the end he turns left (back into Ironshot Road towards the New Market)and keeps to the side of the road. If he spots Eir and Karrin, he will keep them in sight but will not join them unless they need help. As soon as he feels it is safe to do so, he will slow to a fast walk and make his way to the New Market. He will also try to keep Swift in sight but if she ducks into any shop he will walk on by.
The scene at the fountain is actually getting quite complicated.
One of the wagons traversing the fountain region is tipped over suddenly as a goblin attempts to rush under the lizard that was pulling it. The lizard becomes spooked, rearing and hissing, twisting sideways and rolling the wagon into the crowd. Chaos ensues, and many of the goblins are tangled up in the wreckage. Several do spot Greep, and they vault over the wailing casualties and spilled goods, wrenching swords from scabbards and running down Mangel Ave., the pedestrians dodging out of their way frantically.
Ffethpaar follows Swift down Argus. The tibbit is silent, possibly because a large red-berried muffin is lodged in her mouth. The two enter Avordiel Square, a narrow plaza with a fountain that seems to be surrounded by a strange breed of humanoid. Tall, very skinny and with long fingers, they posses large almost cartoonish eyes, similar to a lemur and spiky white hair. They cluster around the fountain, drawing water from it, chatting amongst each other like any other group of Cagers. The vendors here are also selling strange fruit and other exotic items, but there is little time to spare for shopping.
Swift darts down Avenna, as does Ffethpaar. Ffethpaar comes to the end of Ironshot road and sees Eir and Karrin darting down the street. Swift ducks into the doorway of a shop that bears the sign
Demming's Security Holdings -- secure safekeeping for any scenario.
above the door. The shop fronts Ironshot Road at the corner of Avenna Alley.
As the two groups pass the same area a series of loud crashes and screams echo down to them from the fountain area. Reflexively looking back, everyone can see the incident at the fountain. The Harmonium patrol that had passed Eir and Karrin is now dropped the shuffle run and are running full tilt towards the brouhaha.
Keeps running. Scans for a place to hide with the gobbo.
Greep breaks into a run, that tune in his head again.
'Kill da Wabbit, Kill da Wabbit'
Hopefully his still augmented speed wil allow him to draw off the gobbos -and- then loose them. He still keeps an eye on the sky, still thinking of the 'fiend' and the sound of wings.
"Wow, I think those goblins took some of that personal," Karrin says glancing over her shoulder, "You don't suppose they'll hold a grudge do you?"
"Wow, I think those goblins took some of that personal," Karrin says glancing over her shoulder, "You don't suppose they'll hold a grudge do you?"
"I think you and I have made eternal enemies."
"Wow, I think those goblins took some of that personal," Karrin says glancing over her shoulder, "You don't suppose they'll hold a grudge do you?""I think you and I have made eternal enemies."
Zigel and kratos fall in with the Xaositects and try to blend in as they make there way down the street
Ffethpaar is trying to keep Eir and Karrin in sight because he is not that familiar with the city still and he doesn't really want to get lost. If he can find the man with the flying carpets he might hitch a lift to more familiar territory.
Seating at his booth zigel begins to chant and gesture in odd symtrcal motions fingers bent on odd shapes and angles. His chat ends with a sharp rasp. Across the room the table the goblins are at erupts it a storm of snowballs covering the goblins round the table with there unnatural cold.
"Kratos get'em"
Eir and Karrin forge on into the Before Peak crowd of New Market. The goblins are soon left behind, none actually following them into the market proper after their fountain incident. In fact, by the distant clang of steel and a few shouts the duo can hear, it seems that the Hardheads and the goblins have met, and it wasn't love at first sight.
Ffethpaar trails them a bit, keeping them in sight while slowly working through the morning's events. Obviously things are a bit more raw and up front in the Cage. He manages to see the clash of the Hardheads and the goblin persuers, and is pleased to see that most of the goblins retreat after seeing the large red-armored peacekeepers arrive. The few that press on seem to be following Mangel Street rather than Ironshot Road. He turns to follow Eir and Karrin as they make their way towards the Armory.
Swift ducks into the dim lobby of Demming's, casting a look about. A bariaur in a chain vest stands alongside a table, big axe in hand and a big bolted iron door at his back. He looks at the young tibbit clutching a cashbox and mouthing a Dewberry muffin. He snorts and asks:
"What can I do yeh for cutter?"
Zigel and Kratos subtly follow the capering crowd of Xaositects as they make their way towards the Hive Ward. Their outlandish hair and dress is the perfect disguise for the pair, as no one notices them following alongside. They move past a large street filled with wagons and palanquins, the Xaosmen never stop for the traffic, rather actually stopping in the road and dancing a bit, just to anger the drovers.
Greep sees the three goblins who eluded the wagon fiasco coming at him, blades drawn. Another five are making their way to Mangel Street, the rest either caught up with the Hardheads or retreating back to Crackskull Close. The first three run flat out, trying to keep Greep in sight, scattering pedestrians as they come.
Greep sees the three goblins who eluded the wagon fiasco coming at him, blades drawn. Another five are making their way to Mangel Street, the rest either caught up with the Hardheads or retreating back to Crackskull Close. The first three run flat out, trying to keep Greep in sight, scattering pedestrians as they come.
As Greep also runs flat out, he looks back, checking to see if there's anything distinctive about the goblins following him.
If there isn't he will try to lose them.
If there is, Does he think one would be useful if captured? (ie- is one of them more like a clan leader than a trooper?)(No, I don't know how he's going to capture anyone, let alone one of 3 or eight.)
Seating at his booth zigel begins to chant and gesture in odd symtrcal motions fingers bent on odd shapes and angles. His chat ends with a sharp rasp. Across the room the table the goblins are at erupts it a storm of snowballs covering the goblins round the table with there unnatural cold.
"Kratos get'em"
I remember that, Karrin's going to have to talk to her companions about proper mercenary action.
Greep runs flat out for the intersection of Mangel and Foundry Ave, a trio of angry goblins screeching in his wake. He jinks and weaves, vaulting a merchant's pushcart piled with woven baskets, scattering a few and getting a shouted OI! From the startled vendor. The five goblins behind these three are also running, but a few Harmonium troopers are beginning to follow them as well. As far as Greep can tell in the heat of chase, these are all just run-of-the-mill goblins, exccept that they seem well-fed and dressed in good chain.
Zigel and his faithful pooch Kratos linger in the intersection a bit waiting for the Xaosmen to cross. He hears the goblin screeches behind them and sees Greep coming up fast, a couple of gobbos in tow.
Eir and Karrin are off the map as is Ffethpaar, heading towards the Armory. If Eir wants to get a room for interrogation, there are scads of flophouses near the Sinkers domain that can be rented. There is a notorious whore crib nearby known as the Paradise Petal that Eir knows of. A casual acquaintence and fellow worshipper of Calistria, Angel Marraken runs it. She is more than likely to be able to supply a quiet room, this being a slow time of day for the prostitute trade.
Off to the Paradise Petal.
To Karrin: "You wanna help me question this little bastard?"
It looks to G. that there's a major intersection coming up (Foundry Ave). When he gets that far, he will make a right, and start looking for someplace to go to ground and hide. As none of the gobbos following seem individualy important, he's dropped the idea of capturing any of them.
Off to the Paradise Petal.
To Karrin: "You wanna help me question this little bastard?"
Spikeward of The Armory is the district of the Lower Ward known as Entropy's Gem. The main thouroughfare Newgate Road weaves through a chaotic tangle of ill-kept buildings. Many adherents of the Doomguard keep their kip here, and keeping things clean is often seen as overly 'lawful'. On a side street called Petal Court the aging edifice of the Paradise Petal hostel is located.
The building rises up five stories, but leans drunkenly over the narrow court it fronts, almost touching the building opposite. Clothes hang out on lines, and slicks of ordure stain the walls where chamberpots have been emptied out windows. The building, like many in Sigil, is a mixture of salvaged materials, mostly dark granite and silvered pine boards. Carved downspouts on the side of the building depict well-worn angelic figures. A bit of condensed Cage Fog water drips from their open mouths with a distant echoey sound.
The few beings on the street look to be weary practicioners of Sigil's second-oldest trade. A luridly painted woman glances up from her study of something in her hand and stares at Karrin and Eir before dropping her eyes back to their original function.
The door of the Paradise Petal has a doorman/bouncer/bodyguard, known in the Cant as a 'Spoonyman'. The Spoonyman at the door is a tiefling of a decidedly Abyssal pedigree, a reptilian cast to his features and a small viper head sprouting from his neck. The evil-looking snake head waves gently in the sulphuric Lower Ward air, its tongue flickering in and out. He takes in the two approaching and smiles a gap-toothed grin featuring several yellowed tusks.
"Wat'cher pleasure my foine bints?"
It looks to G. that there's a major intersection coming up (Foundry Ave). When he gets that far, he will make a right, and start looking for someplace to go to ground and hide. As none of the gobbos following seem individualy important, he's dropped the idea of capturing any of them.
I will hold off adjucating this last chase scene until I get a sense about what Zigel intends. You can most likely lose the persuers, as you are able to travel quite quickly and you have a large intersection full of activity looming. If you want, assume that there are any of the props I have mentioned available if you want to specify an interesting course of action.
Greep barrels into the traffic of Foundry Ave like a scaled roadrunner, leaving the goblins behind as he puts his all into his magically-augmented run. Dodging palaquins hauling fat merchants, wagons with stacks of metal ingots, pedestrians of many shapes and the ubiquitous crowds of ragged beggars, Greep heads Downward into the smoggy confines of the Foundry District.
If naught else occurs, Greep will head home. A quick side trip thru Thread Alley will allow him to post a note. "The Blessings of the Ancestor be upon you. May this day be joyous." Greep then heads back to the office. Once he writes up a preliminary report, he can get some sleep. Hopefully, when he wakes, Eir will have the results of her inquisition.
Off to the Paradise Petal.
To Karrin: "You wanna help me question this little bastard?"
"I want to go to bed," Karrin mumbles, "He's still out right? He'll keep for a few hours. Tie him up, gag him, and find someone to baby sit him for a few hours. Marra might be a ruthless mercenary but Karrin is tired and hungry."
Ffethpaar will wander back to the Silver Rose and home. He has a lot to think about, coming to terms with the sort of work he is being asked to do. If he gets a chance he will rest up for a few hours when he gets back after reporting in.
"I want to go to bed," Karrin mumbles, "He's still out right? He'll keep for a few hours. Tie him up, gag him, and find someone to baby sit him for a few hours. Marra might be a ruthless mercenary but Karrin is tired and hungry."Off to the Paradise Petal.
To Karrin: "You wanna help me question this little bastard?"
Eir hefts her goblin and heads home with the others.
Turning smartly about and leaving the snake-goitered spoonyman scratching his scaled cranium the three friends decide that a hot cup of coffee or tea at the fireside in the common room of the Copper Cauldron sounds much nicer. They walk quickly, traversing Entropy's Gem and taking Armory Road out of the Lower Ward into the Lady's Ward.
Armory Road leads into Meat Market Square, right on the edge of the Temple District. High-quality meat is sold here in abundance, along with quality sacrificial animals for the many temples that jostle each other for room on the skyline.
The trio walk past the ornate Temple of Pelor, its golden sun face symbol blazoned high up on its shining walls. Despite its grandiose size and well-crafted look, the temple looks almost deserted. Fewer patrons loiter about the marble stairs than just last year.
Odin's Hall stands nearby, the granite temple shaped like a longship turned upside down. Raven gargoyles line the roof eaves and a statue of old One Eye frowns down at the passing crowd, neck girdled with a stone noose. Nordic runes encircle the statue's base.
Although this wouldn't be the time to stop, Eir sees the almost-finished Temple of Calistria across the plaza. Designed to look like a black basalt hive, the temple's hemisphere rises almost 150 feet in the air. A large wasp done in porphyry and gold sits at its apex. Eir moves the three along across from the temple, unwilling to be seen by any of her congregation hauling a semi-dead goblin.
At the edge of Meat Market Square the trio are faced with a bit of a quandry. Downwards leads to the dreaded Temple of the Abyss, never a great place to walk by. Further into the Lady's Ward are several places they probably wouldn't want to be nicked, like the Prison, City Courts or City Barracks. A run in with the Hardheads, Red Death or Guvners would be just what they need at this juncture.
They could skirt everything by going down to Bloodgem Park and skirting around the Temple of the Abyss and trying to stay hidden in the warrens of the Greytowers district, more than likely many of the Guvner, Mercykiller and Harmonium faction members will be absent from their kips there on duty at such an early hour.
"Which way to get home Eir?"
"You don't think it's worth asking him some questions?"
"Which way to get home Eir?"
As Karrin looks around, waiting for Eir to answer, she sees a small temple to the side of Meat Market Square. The front has a large stained glass window of a heart-shaped mask with a serene face upon it. Several figures dressed in plain robes sweep the limestone steps leading to the entrance.
As Karrin looks around, waiting for Eir to answer, she sees a small temple to the side of Meat Market Square. The front has a large stained glass window of a heart-shaped mask with a serene face upon it. Several figures dressed in plain robes sweep the limestone steps leading to the entrance."Which way to get home Eir?"
"Of course we'll ask him some questions but . . ." Karrin begins saying, but then she spots the temple her mouth drops open in shock. Karrin rubs her eyes to assure she's not hallucinating. Then she turns without saying another word and starts walking towards the temple.
"What's wrong?"
Karrin walks over to the temple, up to the monk sweeping the stairs, and waits for him to acknowledge her.
Zigel lets the goblins go been enough fun for one nite and he was tired and feeling the weight of his sack full of loot there was much to look into to night..."I wounder if eir got her prisoner talking yet" ah well so much to do he thinks as he fades into the crowd.