You all approach The Cracked Anvil, a little irritated from your last encounter. It seems like a nice enough shop. The glass windows looked cleaned and the front steps to the door swept. A nice little "open" sign hangs from the door.
It doesn't seem like much but the front door has been forced open as you examine the splintered wood near the handle.
There isn't a sound as you approach the Cracked Anvil. Quiet all around. Doesn't seem like anyone's home.
As far as you can tell, and to your relief, you don't think any of the hornet's remained on your person. Though you are still bit jumpy the slightest twinge on your skin making you quickly check to see if one's retuned.
As Daniel approaches the door, he holds pace.
"Wait a sec, see the handle? Splinters...it's been forced open."
It might not be the best approach to the residents outside to see us barge in with all weapons bared, but we've got to pay attention."
It's also unusually quiet for a blacksmiths shop
Emerich puts a hand on a dagger.
"Aside from that yelp, it sure is."
Daniel would, if everyone agrees and is ready, slightly push the door open to take a look.
Bentley falls into line behind the others
Trini nods at Daniel, who looks ready to enter, and shifts her bow to hang loosely in her hand; she has practiced drawing it while moving but can't count on it in a pinch.
She gets in the middle of the group and prepares to scope out the situation, moving as unobtrusively as she can. She hadn't heard anything after the cry, but even silence could mean something.
A thrill shoots through her, and she relishes the secure feel of her bow in her hand and teammates by her side. If there's trouble, this could get exciting!
"You're right. First a yelp and now total silence? That seems odd!"
He grabs his Greataxe with both hands and walks beside Daniel, carefully watching for any sign of danger.
Emerich pulls out two daggers and follows
You all approach the Cracked Anvil even closer. This is a two story square- shaped building with windows on the both the first and second floor.
With the door slightly ajar, you notice that it leads to a small hallway that has another door (no window) at the very end. A series of pipes leads up the side of the building to the second floor, probably serving as a rain gutter. It seems there is a large chimney on the top, large enough for a small person to fit through, though no smoke is coming from it now.
The building itself is made of various stone on the first floor while the second floor is made of wood paneling.
Just in case, Daniel takes his repeater from his back.
Trini whispers a prayer to Gozreh . Then, she keeps the grip on her bow but creeps over to peek in and listen at the door. Best not to get too far from the others for now. She grins as she notices the chimney; she wouldn't be surprised if it ended up with a halfling inhabitant sometime soon! She dismisses climbing up the drain pipe, though; certainly in her armor, she's not much of a climber.
She crouches at the door and tries to look and listen for anything on the other side.
Move action====> sneak up to the far door
Standard action==> ready to cast charm person (DC 16 Will... DC 11 if me or my allies are threatening or attacking the target) on the meanest looking person in the next room if there is a mean looking person in there.
move action
sneak with bently
standard:ready to throw two daggers
Korunar readies himself to charge in but as Bently and Emerich begin to sneak into the small hallway he searches for another way.
He first looks at the stone walls and then to the wood panels on the second floor. Those panels don't look too sturdy.
"I'll try another way" he whispers to the group.
He puts the greataxe back to his belt and tries to climb the pipes, looking for a window to get inside or at least a ledge to stand on.
move: put away weapon
second move (standard): climb
The room you peek into is fairly well-lit. You can see a man tied to a chair on the ground, toppled over. Above him are two figures, their backs towards you. They appear human, and the way their cloaks hang over their shoulders, they're probably armed.
You can see that the man on the floor is wearing a smith's apron, conscious, and looking at you aware that you're there.
From the contours of the cloaks on the two standing individuals, you can barely make out a mace on one, and great sword on the other.
You can hear footsteps.
You manage to get a good grip and hoist yourself up to the second floor, and by standing on the ledge of stone, you can reach a nearby second-floor window or continue up.
"I hear footsteps!" Trini hisses to the others. Even trying to keep quiet, it comes out as a bit of a squeak.
She looks around to see if anyone else is within reach, in order to cast guidance on them as well.
Korunar looks up to the chimney and shakes his head. I would get stuck in there.
Then he peaks into the window and listens if he can hear anything from the inside.
With three people at the door, Daniel follows Korunar.
Bently kind of surprised by the fact that no one opened the door decides to do so himself...
Move action====>open the door...
Standard action==> cast charm person (DC 16 Will) on the meanest looking person in the next room if there is a mean looking person in there.
Emerich and Bently are within range for guidance. Guidance lasts for one minute, and each round of actions is about 6 seconds, so if cast now it should last for a while till combat actually begins.
Pressing your head against the wood you can make out a couple voices.
"Look at all this!"
"I know, right? Boss is gonna have a field day when we bring back this haul."
"And no sign of any of the other guilds?"
"Nah. And if the rich son's of b$&*#es show up, we can take em I bet."
Then you hear a small plop on the ground. Looking down, you see Daniel on his back, having fallen from the gutter pipe. It seems no on's noticed the noise though.
You grab onto the pipe and prepare to lift yourself up to where Korunar's at. However, you feel your hand slip and you fall half a story not the ground, not harmed but a little air knocked out of you.
[spoiler= Emerich only]
no action taken except rolling for previous post. If you want to add a secondary action to your next post, that'll be fine, but remember to try and proactively do something or specifically say you're holding your action.
You also have the benefit of Trini's Guidance.
You feel a tingle of magic on your back as Trini's Guidance takes effect.
You see two figures, and not knowing which one would be stronger in a fight, cast a spell on the one to the left.
You speak in a strong voice as you motion out the arcane gestures before loosing the spell
The two figures turn to you, both draw their weapons. Fortunately, it seems your spell has taken hold and the one with the great sword lowers his guard and smiles as he sees you.
Bently casts a spell that is very noticeable.
Then you all hear very clearly a man from inside the building.
"Hey there little guy, whatcha doing around here?"
"You know this half-pint?"
"No...but I'm glad he's here."
Bently looks at the two men wondering if either one is the smith.... well lets be super careful on this one...
Cast charm person on the second target... (dc 16 will).
Hi Guys... I'm glad to see you as well.
Trini casts guidance on Emerich and, since Bently has gone in already, throws open the door so they can all see what's going on inside.
Korunar whispers to Daniel: "I can hear people talking, certainly thieves and at least two of them!"
He tries to help Daniel to climb the wall.
Dammit
"Thieves? Seems we're getting into action quite early."
You cast the spell and a cloudy look appears over the second man's eyes, and he smiles as he looks at you.
You successfully cast the spell on Bently and then open the doors letting everyone in the corridor see what's going on.
As you reach to help Daniel up the wall, you give him a firm grip up, but accidentally let his hand slip sending him tumbling down once more. A solid thud as he hits the ground.
You reach up to climb up the wall, and you see Korunar reaching out to give you a hand. You grasp it tightly and feel yourself getting higher. But suddenly his grip slips yours and you fall once more to the ground. Being the second time this has happened, the air knocked out of you is even further out of reach. Should combat start next round, you take a (-2) to initiative. After the next round, you lose this penalty.
You walk into the room and reassure the man, but then suddenly feel a tight grip on your shoulder as you stand up.
As Trini opens the doors, anyone inside can see what's going on. Bently casts another spell speaking in strong words at the second man, who begins to smile at him. Then Emerich walks in and reassures the tied up man on the floor. He is then forcefully turned around by the two armed men who begin to stare him down with a threatening look.
"Who do you think you are, walking in here like you own the place?"
The other man turns to Bently.
"I'm so sorry, riff raft like this don't usually have the balls to be so brazen. We'll get rid of him real quick though."
He draws out his mace.
Guys... guys... guys... he's with me... NO ONE NEEDS TO HURT ANYONE!... how about this... why don't the three of us head over to the tavern and I'll buy the two of you a drink. My friends here can stay and keep an eye on things for you. I give you my word they won't let anything bad happen. You guys can trust me. Don't worry everything here will be fine... Don't you think it's a good idea for us to hang out for a while?
Bently grabs the two unknown men by the hands and starts to drag them out of the room.... assuming they come...
come on Guys I have all kinds of questions I want to ask you...
Trini casts Bless and steps through the doorway, bow raised and ready to shoot anyone who attacks the party.
The dwarf shakes his head.
"Yes, i'm fine. But man...they shouldn't place hard items underneath risky places.", he throws a boot aside.
He grabs for the window and tries to rip it out to attract the thieves.
Then he gets his battleaxe out to slash it down on whoever sticks his head out of the window.
Emerich's eyes widen when the man grabs his shoulder, then relaxes when Bently tries to drag the men away. They widen again when Trini bursts through the door.
Emerich snarls and sticks two daggers into the closest man.
Initiative is as follows:
Bently, Korunar, Trini, Fighter 2, Emerich, Fighter 1, Daniel
Korunar gets a solid grip on the window sill and pulls with all his strength. The results of which are to pull the entire window out before letting it fall to the ground below. The noise does not go unnoticed.
"What the hell was that?"
And no you here footsteps approaching, and the sound of a sword being drawn.
You hear a yell of pain come from inside the first floor.
Bently steps forward and tries to clear a 'misunderstanding'
"Guys... guys... guys... he's with me... NO ONE NEEDS TO HURT ANYONE!... how about this... why don't the three of us head over to the tavern and I'll buy the two of you a drink. My friends here can stay and keep an eye on things for you. I give you my word they won't let anything bad happen. You guys can trust me. Don't worry everything here will be fine... Don't you think it's a good idea for us to hang out for a while?"
His words seem to convince the pair and they nod along and start to follow him out the door. Trini, however, steps in arrow notched and ready for any sign of attack. The pair, seeing her raised bow stop and begin to draw their weapons, when they are tugged along by Bently's small hands, and continue with him with no incident.
That is...until the next moment when Emerich sees Trini's readied attack.
You all watch as Emerich draws out both his daggers and swings to plunge them into Fighter 1's side. The first swipe clangs off the side of his armor, but the second sinks nicely in a crevice drawing a substantial amount of blood.
The Fighter's eye's immediately clear and he hefts his mace as he holds his wound with his other hand. Anger fills his eyes as he frantically looks to each person in the room.
His partner, draws his weapons as well, and makes it clear his only target is Emerich
You feel the magic of the injured fighter fade and you no longer have your hold of him. The other connection still remains alive, and the soldier is responding normally to someone attacking his comrade.
You have your weapon out and ready, your action seemeing to be to defer your action should someone attack the party. As that has not happened yet, you can either continue to hold your action with that qualifier (go ahead and roll attack and damage rolls for that) or take a different action such as normally attacking or casting a spell. You'll drop your readied action though.
Attack 1 missed, Attack 2 hit.
You successfully ripped out a window which has drawn attention from people inside the 2nd - level room.
I'll post a link to the roll 20 map, make sure you're logged in. Feel free to post your actions out of initiative, I'll do as usual and wait till everyone's posted to update.
Trini scolds herself mentally for getting in the way of one of Bently's schemes, but now that things have turned violent, she can only continue down the path she set for herself.
(+1 bless, +1 guidance)
Not having taken my crossbow out seemed obvious, as i had to climb up first.
Climbing not having been of much use yet, Daniel will 2x move into the house by ground, drawing his crossbow as he goes.
Bently will back up into the corner of the room and sit on his heels in a manner resembling the fetal position in utter shock and dismay at the needless bloodshed... quietly stuttering to himself... and covering his face with his hands to try to block out what's about to go down...
but.... but... I ... had made... them... my friends....
Korunar waits for someone to stick their head out of the window.
Bently caves under pressure and goes into the fetal position. Trini looses an arrow that takes out the previously injured fighter. The remaining fighter, seeing his companion in a bloody puddle, grabs Bently's arm.
"Come on, we got to get upstairs!!" he says in panic and attempts to drag Bently up the stairs.
Emerich seeing his immediate danger pass, quickly goes up to help the tied up blacksmith. After only a few moments, you hear a clang as the ropes fall slack and the manacles fall to the ground.
Not much really. You do hear quite a commotion on the inside though.
As you make yourself into a small ball of a person. With this I'm assuming you'll be doing a Total Defense action, increasing your AC by +4 for the round. The remaining fighter, still enchanted by you, attempts to grab your arm and makes to pull you upstairs to 'safety.' He 'hits' for 18 should you try to dodge his grab, or you can allow him to take you.
Seeing as Bently isn't doing anything about the situation, you let your arrow fly. With precise aim, you are able to strike true in the neck of the enemy Emerich had previously wounded, and he drops to the floor, twitching, a small pool of blood forming.
Bot-ing you for this round. you attempt to help the blacksmith and try and undo his bands.
You move 40 ft (double your speed) and draw your crossbow. You see Trini with her bow out, though no arrow in hand.
You can definitely hear someone inching their way towards the window cautiously, and by the sound of their armor, they're heavily fortified. But then...
"What the hell's going on downstairs?!"
You hear a loud cry, one that sounds like a man dying or near death, and soon the multiple pairs of footsteps move quickly across the room and start moving down the stairs.
I have the wanderlust trait, which gives me 10 feet extra movement speed when moving across ground.
Seeing Bently being kidnapped for the second time that day, Trini turns her attention on the fighter taking him. She can see about stabilizing the other man once their position is secure.
(+1 bless)
(+1 bless)
Bently dodges the man trying to grab him... but to little avail the mans Grasp was to great.
A look of pity for the man comes over Bently's face as he addresses him...
I'm so sorry for everything that's happening... but it's not safe for me up there...
Bently pulls against the larger mans grasp but his hands seem to be unescapable.
Seeing Bently being dragged away, Emerich rubs to help. He stabs the man dragging him twice.