GM Birch's Curse of the Crimson Throne

Game Master Birch33

Gwernach's ears perk with Eltanin's call, She's mak'n a break forrit! Turning on the spot, the dwarf nimbly makes his way for the stairwell, bounding down the stairs as fast as he can.

I said I would not start talking until the others were in position. It feels unfair to say now they're not at the window yet.

Either way, we can roll with it. It's more exciting this way! And don't forget, there were look-outs that we sorta ignored.

Hearing the shouts from below, Wilthorn climbs as fast as he can. When he reaches the top, he immediately scans the area to see where the girl ran off too, dropping his coat a move action and chasing after her if she's visible. He shouts, "Damn fool girl, we're here to help you! C'mon, Val, hope you're light on your feet." before sprinting off.

Perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (18) + 12 = 30 Normally a +8, but +2 for being in Korvosa, and +2 against humans (which I presume Trinia is). Dropped my coat 'cause I figured I'd need the 30 feet of movement.

Fine, I'll roll with it. But for the record, I don't like being conveniently being ignored or railroaded for the purposes of "rule of cool." And yes, I'm this much of a troublemaker to my GMs IRL too.

Callie curses as the girl bolts despite their best efforts to stave off disaster. "Maybe we should leave her to the mercy of the crowds if she's that stupid," she mutters. Her conscience nags her however that it's worth seeing what the girl has to say.

Seeing Wilthorn start the chase, while others head back downstairs, Callie casts a spell before everyone is too far away from her (Hopefully I will at least be allowed that): her incantation grows to a whisper as she completes the message spell, and then suddenly Wilthorn and Eltanin can hear her whisper in their ears despite their growing distance from her. "I've cast a spell, connecting me, you, Wilthorn, and you, Eltanin. It will probably only work if any of us are within 30 feet of each other so we may fade out of range, but as we get closer we can at least report back to each other somewhat. You can also talk. You just need to whisper and we'll hear you.

"I want to take a quick look inside her apartment just in case there's any evidence we can use. Then I'll try to join Valeria and Wilthorn on the roofs. Be careful, Wilthorn. This place is a jungle, and Trinia knows it a lot better than you do. If you lose her, we should rejoin Gwernach and Eltanin on the ground and follow the pseudodragon's directions to her instead. And don't feel bad if you do: If the girl decides risking arrest or death by Hellknight or Mob is better than talking to us, then she's made her choice. If we all get lost, let's meet at easy to find cross-streets they went through on their way in."

Roran is standing close enough to Callie he can probably also hear what she is whispering, but she has not included him in the spell. She turns to Roran, motioning him to break down the door anyway. "Let's see what's inside real quick, and then I'll try to follow Wilthorn and Valeria. If you want to take the roofs or the grownd, it's up to you."

She waits for Roran to break down the door and goes inside, looking around for anything either incriminating or would free her. Remembering her own brief criminal past, she focuses on areas she knows people typically use as hiding places, as well as any painting canvasses she has.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23

If Eltanin was too far away to be affected by the spell (though she should JUST have been in range), she will cast it on Gwernach instead before he heads downstairs, and whatever was said above would have been said to him instead.

In part I took the approach I did to speed things up. There were no climb rolls and it wasn't a formality they could climb up at all, let alone quickly. Plus, it could be a long time to wait outside the door. You shouting through the door or not was not material. As you were waiting, the pseudodragon warned you that she was making a run for it. There was no attempt to railroad, honestly

And now it's important to see who's doing what. If I call it wrong, let me know

The door is broken down quickly. As Roran and Callie enter the small room, the first thing they see is the woman they were seeking asleep in the bed. They have the presence of mind to look out of the window however and see an identical woman running across the rooftops, being pursued by Wilthorn and Valeria (plus the pseudodragon). Clearly the image in the bed is magic.

Meanwhile Gwernach rushes down the stairs and Eltanin follows the chase on foot.

Callie casts a spell and then checks out the room. It's a bedroom, a kitchen, and a painter’s studio all fitted into one fifteen-foot-square space, leaving little room for much else. A stack of cheese and bread sits on the counter next to several full waterskins, while the easel in the opposite corner holds a half-completed painting of an imp and a pseudodragon fighting atop a church steeple.

Roran kicks down the door quickly, then growls at the illusion. "I bloody hate magic."

In full plate with a low dex Roran will be pretty useless in a chase. I guess I'll just stick around Callie to assist/protect her.

Fair enough.

In case the others haven't gone far yet, Callie uses the message spell to inform the others -- "Look out, look like she has some illusion magic."

She shrugs at Roran. "I would have done the same thing, to be honest." She points at the food. "She was clearly planning to hole up here a few days. Maybe she'll decide to come back to get this. Just in case we or an angry mob doesn't catch up with her..."

If the paint is dry on the painting, Callie removes the canvas from the easel, rolls it up carefully, and puts it in her pack. She also grabs a brush and some paint and paints a message on the pillow on her bed, through the sleeping illusion:

"Change your mind? We're a lot nicer than the mob calling for your blood. Leave a message at box 29 in Green Gate Boarding House. C."

She lists an old temporary residence where she makes a mental note to check on as needed later, and returns the paint and brush where she found it.

"Anything else you think we should do while we're here?" She asks Roran.

After he replies: "Listen, we should make it look like we weren't in here in case other people are tracking her down. Let's try to reblock the door. I'm sure you don't want to go out the window in all that metal, so you can go out now and help me make sure it's blocked up from the other side. Then I'll climb out the window." If Roran agrees, she'll get whatever suitable materials together to close and block the door and work with him to leave things as they are, then she will go out the window.

I have an ACP of -5. I might just sit this out. *sigh*

Just to clarify, we have Wilthorn following across the roofs. Eltanin is following on foot (guided by the pseudodragon). Valeria can follow on foot. Gwernach (when he gets down the stairs) will also follow on foot. Then Callie on the roof and finally Roran on foot.

Callie grabs the stuff, leaves her message and barricades the door then goes through the window. At present you represent an odd group, strung out over a few hundred yards, all following someone or something on the roofs. The good news is that each 'group' is in the sight of the group behind, so you don't get separated.

Sounds fine to me.

Gwernach does his best to catch up with Eltanin, his breastplate and shield audible with each step. He wastes no time, occasionally glancing up but focusing his efforts on his surroundings below and on catching Eltanin. Not used to extended runs however, the dwarf quickly learns he will have to just knuckle down and keep up with the pack.
Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6 Was going to ask "How are the people reacting?" but I don't think Gwernach is able to notice :P

Wilthorn nimbly leaps and rolls over the protruding elements that make up the barely-stable roofs to the Shingles. As he gets within shouting distance of his mark, he starts yelling "Stop running! We're on your side! Well, as much of side you're going to get. Stop running and we can talk this over!"

Assuming she doesn't stop, as Wil get close, he launches himself at her in a flying tackle, aiming to stop her without inflicting harm.

Grapple attempt
1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27

At the yells, Valeria takes chase, winding through the narrow streets as best she can. Really, it's more of a courtesy than anything else, but you never know. Someone could fall.

The procession continues for a few minutes before Wilthorn is able to launch himself at the young woman. He grabs her and quite literally knocks the air out of her lungs. She would clearly have a few choice words for the ranger but her attempts to speak are temporarily limited.

The group below stops by Eltanin and looks up. You can see Majenko hovering but Wilthorn and the girl are out of sight.

Callie catches up with Wilthorn and finds him wrestling with the young woman.

Gwernach lumbers up beside Eltanin just as Majenko starts to hover. Trying to catch his breath, the dwarf hunches over, panting as he looks around for some sort of bearing.
Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11
Still wheezing, he looks up and asks, What's going on El? Why 'ave they stopp'd? As she been caught?

Now that we're close, could we get a physical description of the girl?

Maintain Grapple: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (5) + 14 = 19 If successful, go for the pin.

No expert in wrestling, Wilthorn's style would look amateurish to anyone practiced - luckily, the girl isn't either. As they struggle, he tries to talk some sense into her. "Look, we're here to help. Stop struggling and we can talk. You want to - Ow! - keep away from the mod, right? We want you to stay out of their hands too." As he see Callie come into view, his grimace gains just a hint of smile, before going back to a grimace as Trinia elbows him in the stomach. "Callie! You wanna talk to her? I'll let go of her if you want me too."

To Gwernach and Valeria, also taking a moment to catch her breath: "Well, I heard a thump and then Majenko stopped, so I think the chasing portion of today's festivities might have ended. We might have to go climbing again..."

Trinia.

"Look, we're here to help. Stop struggling and we can talk. You want to - Ow! - keep away from the mod, right? We want you to stay out of their hands too." As he see Callie come into view, his grimace gains just a hint of smile, before going back to a grimace as Trinia elbows him in the stomach. "Callie! You wanna talk to her? I'll let go of her if you want me too."

Wilthorn is able to subdue the girl, despite his limited wrestling expertise.

At the moment she's too full of fight to answer any questions.

Catching her breath - turned out running in full kit was harder than she remembered - Valeria nods at Eltanin's words. "Right. Guess we'd better start climbing, then." She grimaces at the thought of struggling up the walls in chainmail.

Callie shakes head. "No, she's clearly too stupid to know friend from foe. The Queen picked her scapegoat well. Let's knock her out for now."

Callie pulls out her sap and walks up to them. Once Wilthorn has her pinned, Callie strikes the girl in the head.

If she's pinned, I should be able to do a knockout blow, which is like a cdg but nonlethal.

Damage: 2d6 + 3 + 3 ⇒ (5, 2) + 3 + 3 = 13

Callie is able to knock her out with a single blow and the girl falls limp in Wilthorn's arms.

Some of the group start to climb the building they are adjacent to.

You are starting to attract a crowd.

Callie whispers via the message spell. "Unless you want to carry her over the rooftops, probably faster to take the ground. Wilthorn, can you carry her down with the help of the others? I can cast a spell to make you all invisible but only very briefly,but you can hopefully use that to get away from the crowd that's forming. Eltanin, please let the others know. I'll deal with the crowd."

Whether Wilthorn stays on the rooftops or climbs down, she casts vanish on him, anyone else carrying her, and last on Trinia herself. This will only buy them a brief time but should help confuse the anyone watching.

Once everyone is on their way, Callie, still on the roofs, looks down to any gathered onlookers. "Well? Any questions?"

@GM: Where are the crowds gathering, at street level or on the rooftop?
@Callie: Am just a little confused about the timing...Since vanish does not last very long, when will you be casting it? Once Wilthorn has carried Trinia down or before? Won't it take more than 3 rounds to climb down carrying another person?

Climb'n? Gwernach looks up at the building and swallows hard. But if tha chase is ov'r, they'll be comin down, right? Why not meet'em down 'ere? Gwernach turns to look at the crowd gathering around him and smiles innocently.

@GM: Where are the crowds gathering, at street level or on the rooftop?

Street level - watching you all look up at the rooftops and then some of you starting to climb up.

First: bottom line: it's just a brief distraction. Even if they only lose sight of her for 18 seconds, it still gets them, say, farther away or down without someone shooting at them for those 3 rounds, etc. Plus, I intentionally made Trinia invisible last--so Wilthorn could for example, pass her off, still pretend to carry her, but then she's suddenly in someone else's hands and they don't realize that until too late.

IF Wilthorn decides to climb, she will cast it as late as possible as he starts to climb down to give everyone as much time as possible. If he doesn't, or moves up the rooftops and THEN decides to climb down, that's fine. Again it's just about buying whatever time/sowing chaos whereever possible. I fully acknowledge it is a flawed and only temporary bit of help. I would simply prefer to do something rather than nothing.

And if he does climb, I was suggesting someone HELP him (e.g., Roran or Valeria) -- and I would hope that between two people, it would encumber them less so they wouldn't be quite as slowed.

Even so, presuming encumbrance and not attempting accelerated climbing (which is more difficult)---Wilthorn's effective climb speed should be 5'. A story is 10 feet high. A climb is a move action--so if he "moves twice" he climbs 10 feet. So even in the slowest circumstance, he should be invisible at least for the 3 rounds he is climbing--which means while climbing he cannot have things thrown at him, shot at him, etc. If he and/or whomever is carrying Trinia/helping carry Trinia, or he is not considered encumbered, OR he attempts accelerated climbing, he can get down in 1.5 to 2 rounds and has 1 to 1.5 rounds to move on the street. If he and whomever else is carrying her is NOT considered encumbered AND engages in acclerated climbing, then they can get to the ground in 1 round (2 15 foot moves, but with a much higher climb DC).

And all this is presuming, say, no stairs or notably way down.

He could also continue to run across the rooftops as fast as he can go for three rounds, get out of the crowd's line of sight, and then climb down visible but far away.

Of course I've typed this out and noted that since I make them both invisible, he will "decloak" on the 3rd round no matter while she is still invisible, but all of the above still more or less applies.

If in doubt, see the first paragraph.

If we're up on rooftops, we should be able to stay out of sight as along as we stay low and away from edges. I think silently leaving and finding another way down is our best bet. The rooftops were open enough to allow a chase, they shouldn't hamper the trip back too badly.

"I'll take her along the rooftops until I find a good place to drop down. Invisible or not, I don't want to land right into a crowd. Someone, see if you can distract the crowd while I'm heading off. If we get separated, I'll meet back with you at Volshyenek" With this, Wilthorn hefts Trinia's unconscious form over his shoulder as he starts heading back the way he came.

In a significant desire NOT to get bogged down with rules that don't add anything...

Wilthorn and Callie manage to move the girl over the rooftops to a place where it's much easier to get to the ground - via a flight of stairs.

The rest of the group disperse and the accompanying crowd shake their heads and wander off. They clearly believe they missed something but have no idea what they missed.

And so, in a nearby back-alley, the group reform with a still unconscious girl in Wilthorn's arms.

"Alright--Field Marshal says we just need to find one of her agents to hand her over and we're done. Although... maybe we may want to accompany the guard to make sure she doesn't escape once we hand her over. I would prefer to hear her story first, but I am going to reckon she is not going to want to tell it to us after I hit her in the face and all that. Maybe the Field Marshal will let us listen in on their interrogation though. What do you all think?"

As she talks, Callie takes off her cloak and drapes it over Trinia's head and shoulders (not completely blocking her face though, so she can breathe easily), thinking along the lines of keeping her from being immediately recognizable to any passerby.

In the back alley...
How's everyone? Not too much trouble I hope. Gwernach gives Callie and Wilthorn a once over for injuries before turning his attention to the girl. As Callie speaks, he attends to the rising bump on the girl's head from the bard's well placed sap. The dwarf shakes his head, I'd very much like ta hear wha'tha girl as ta say aswell Callie, but I donna think tha Marshall'll let us in on it. I suggest, the dwarf smiles wickedly, head'n back ta her apartment. Gwernach points a thumb in the girl's direction, We can 'old up there till tha 'morrow. If we're ta get tha truth out of'er I'm gonna need some time ta prepare. Gwernach looks around at the party for feedback.
Eith'r way, we'll need ta move'er, an fast. Satisfied the girl is no worse for wear, Gwernach retrieves a pair of manacles from a pouch on his belt and binds the girls hands.
Gwernach can cast Zone of Truth, but he does not have it prepared. Trinia's apartment is nearby and seemingly well hidden, but Zellara's place will also do - as long as it isn't too far away.
The dwarf's eyes move from Trinia to the street beyond the alley, An we can'no risk mov'n 'er like this. Gwernach turns to the ladies, in time to see Callie covering Trinia with her cloak, Good think'n.

Beat me to it Callie :))

The dwarf's eyes move from Trinia to the street beyond the alley, An we can'no risk mov'n 'er like this. Gwernach turns to the ladies, Can any of you spare ya cloak? We'll need ta cov'r 'er head an hands from pry'n eyes.

You did read the end of Callie's post, right? :) You can assume that happens after you ask, I guess. :)

"Go back? We already attracted a crowd there, they know something's up, and they're going to be on the alert. If you really want to question her before we turn her over, fine, but I really have no desire to go back into the Shingles now that we've gotten out of them. I'll go if the rest of you want to though."

Roran hefts the girl onto his shoulder in a fireman's carry, making sure her head remains covered. "I think we can take her to the field marshal. I trust we will be informed of anything important."

"I dunno." Eltanin scratches her nose reflectively, and speaks as if slightly pained. "Our lives are getting complicated in ways I didn't exactly prepare for. And there is something funny about this. I think it would only be polite to finish the job, but only sensible to insist that we were privy to the questioning." With that she pulls her scarf into an open loop so Majenko will have a place to land and snooze on her shoulder.

Majenko returns and gratefully accepts the resting place and soon its rythmic warm breath on Eltanin's neck tells her he's asleep.

You figure it's easier to travel away from her apartment and as people are coming looking for her, hiding there may not be the best approach. But Zellara's home should be easy enough to reach without fear of being stopped. Or you can takje her to the Field Marshal. Just need one of you to make a final decision.

I'll hand it over to Wilthorn or Valeria :)
Gwernach shrugs, Point tak'n Callie, tis no use risk'n what lurkes here. But for tha record, I donna think Kroft'll give us tha whole story. Standing, the dwarf looks to Wilthorn and Valeria Wha-do-ya recon? Go'in ta tha Marshall's or head'n ta Zellara's?

Valeria shrugs, looking around to see if they're being watched. "I don't feel right doing this. I say we hand her off and be done with it." She glances at Wilthorn, as if waiting for his input.

Wilthorn nods. "We were hired to get her back to Kroft, and that's what we oughta do. We can trust the Field Marshal to fill us in, her suspicion of the whole incident is why we were brought in in the first place."

"Sounds good to me. Let's go--Kroft said there'd be aids all over waiting for us." Callie smiles at Gwernach. "I understand why you want to question her first, but look at it this way... sometimes you're safer not knowing. Especially when it comes to politics. Besides I think Kroft is trustworthy, I just don't want her treating us like her lapdogs is all."

Eltanin nods assent. "I guess you're right. One of my uncles once said, 'when life gets crazy, earn some money.' Maybe this is what he meant."

Gwernach nods, As ya like. But tha aura of deception surrounds this girl. An if my studies 'ave taught me anything, I suspect tha polotics tied ta her'll 'ave us in its grasp soon enough.

You return to the Field Marshal and hand over the young girl. By the time you get there, she is regaining consciousness and from under the cloak you hear her repeating, over and over - through what is now endless sobbing, "I'm being set up, I didn’t kill the king, I don’t want to die."

The Field Marshal sees you straight away. "Good work," she says, but her heart does not seem to be in the plaudit. "Justice must now be done - it's out of our hands now. You brought her in alive and for that I am genuinely grateful. Let's just hope that she gets a fair trial." Kroft seems genuinely troubled at this statement.

Gwernach turns to the Marshal, What about an interr-agation? Will ya be question'n her?

Gwernach nods, As ya like. But tha aura of deception surrounds this girl. An if my studies 'ave taught me anything, I suspect tha polotics tied ta her'll 'ave us in its grasp soon enough.

"We're already caught up in this to some extent, you're right--from the moment we returned that brooch, we were going to be. I'd rather still mitigate the the effects if possible.

"And while I don't think all is as it appears--I don't necessarily see this girl as purely a victim either. She had a rather convincing illusion running inside her apartment. She's capable of her own deception, that's for sure. We just don't know for what cause yet."

You return to the Field Marshal and hand over the young girl. By the time you get there, she is regaining consciousness and from under the cloak you hear her repeating, over and over - through what is now endless sobbing, "I'm being set up, I didn’t kill the king, I don’t want to die."

"You would have died at the hands of mob justice were it not for us. I know you're scared, girl, but you've got to know you couldn't have survived for long on your own. The Marshal's going to do the best she can to make sure you get a fair shake."

Diplomacy (trying to calm the girl down): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28

The Field Marshal sees you straight away. "Good work," she says, but her heart does not seem to be in the plaudit. "Justice must now be done - it's out of our hands now. You brought her in alive and for that I am genuinely grateful. Let's just hope that she gets a fair trial." Kroft seems genuinely troubled at this statement.

Gwernach turns to the Marshal, What about an interr-agation? Will ya be question'n her?

Callie frowns and nods along with Gwernach. "You specifically told us you'd have her interrogated first, with magic to ensure her honesty. Has this changed? Is she now to go straight to trial? Because if we'd known that was the case, I'm not sure some of us would have agreed to this."

Just for quick reference in case anyone wants to check, it is this post Callie is referring to, specifically this quote:

"No Gwernach and Callie, that hasn't changed - but in the event of her denial - even under the influence of magic - it is unlikely to prevent a trial. That does not mean she will automatically be found guilty - but justice must not only be done - it must be seen to be done! If we let her go now, without a trial, how long do you think she'd last on the streets? Only proving her innocence will allow her to walk free."

"Rest assured, I'll get to the bottom of this."

Callie nods, reassured.

Something then occurs to her. "Something to ask her about: in her apartment, she was painting a picture of an imp and a pseudodragon fighting over the roofs of Korvosa. Thinking like a storyteller, I'd think she's running with a theory that someone diabolical is attacking Korvosa. But even if she's innocent of murder, she may have her own ideas of what's going on." Callie shrugs. "Of course, it could mean nothing. It's just a painting. Just a thought."

She shrugs. "Speaking of her apartment, I left a note for Trinia there, in case we lost her and she returned to her place. It's vague enough, but I should probably go remove it at some point. If your guards have done any investigation, the note on the pillow's from me."

Tis not likely tha she'll fool tha spell Marshal, jus'tha guy ask'n tha questions. Gwernach smiles and folds his arms. Do ya object ta hav'n a few im-parshall witness's at tha interr-agation? It may give ya question'n more credit with tha public should ya not get tha answer's yar expect'n. I'd like ta ask 'er a thing or two as well...

The Field Marshal nods at Callie. "I'll have one of my men remove the note and thanks for the tip - we'll make sure it's part of the line of questioning."

And to Gwernach. "R assured, once the questioning begins, I'll make sure you can observe the proceedings."

Anything else anyone?

Thank ya Marshal. Gwernach nods his satisfaction with Kroft's assurances and stands ready to move on to questioning.