Priyya shakes her head ruefully, "Yes, it is ALWAYS the quiet ones you have to watch... Who knew Alexis was such a seething cauldron of passions for a 'spoken for' man. Shocking... absolutely shocking."
"Aye, I needed ta let 'er down gently, ah hope she be not growin ta 'ate me fer me untimely rejection. She be a lovely lass...but not fer me!"
"Aye, I needed ta let 'er down gently, ah hope she be not growin ta 'ate me fer me untimely rejection. She be a lovely lass...but not fer me!"
"Awww, and all the planning in laying out a dungeon crawl and having Alissariel knight you expressly so that our unspoken love could be made known. All my schemes undone! I suppose I shall have to leave you in Priyya's capable hands and sail across The Boundless in my grief..."
"As I recall, Fel, you offered her hugs enough for a lifetime. She may wish you to tuck her in tonight and collect a few of your unforgettable embraces... Alis, if you could direct me to the 'widow's walk' or perhaps just a high escarpment overlooking the sea so I can hold vigil for my Captain who will doubtless be occupied tonight, I would appreciate it."
Alexis 'whispers' in an overly loud voice and says, "Sister, show Priyya that balcony where Father proposed to Mother and help her to the view from the veeery edge! The knight-captain and his hugs shall be mine, all mine!"
"As I recall, Fel, you offered her hugs enough for a lifetime. She may wish you to tuck her in tonight and collect a few of your unforgettable embraces... Alis, if you could direct me to the 'widow's walk' or perhaps just a high escarpment overlooking the sea so I can hold vigil for my Captain who will doubtless be occupied tonight, I would appreciate it."
Felmor knows he is being made fun of, again. He plays along with the lovely ladies once again, actually enjoying this. ”Ach, this be an impossible choice! Two of the most beautiful ladies eveah ta walk on Elsemar! What should this poor gentleman do, ehh mebbe, flip a coin?” His eyes reveal the twinkling of mirthful humor.
Alexis 'whispers' in an overly loud voice and says, "Sister, show Priyya that balcony where Father proposed to Mother and help her to the view from the veeery edge! The knight-captain and his hugs shall be mine, all mine!"
"Ach, mebbe I be th' one ta take th' leap! Me heart be torn, I cannae decide!"
Alis winks and says, "Hmm, heads you win, tails, they lose, huh?"
Laughing at everyone's mutual expense, the lot of you begin to exit the ballroom and make your way upstairs.
As if suddenly remembering something, Alis calls out, "Oh, Mal!"
She stops while Alexis continues to lead the others up the all-too-tall stairs. "Did you already store your belongings here before coming to rendezvous with us? Auntie Corrina was already aware of the news you delivered to me while we were in the carriage so I was thinking you might already be settled in. Now that I think of it though, you didn't have enough time to return this estate and then back to the Silver Hart given when you delivered the letter to Miss Nell..."
"A coin flip? With the heart of a forlorn Princess up for bids?! Cad! You'll tuck your Princess in and that is final. And I shall hurl myself from the escarpment into the sea."
"Dammit! I forgot... Keep walking, I'll catch up." Priyya kicks off her dress shoes and runs barefoot, full speed, back down the stairs. Unfortunately what had been a straight course previously now holds a divan moved by the wait staff to facilitate their clean-up. Priyya is unable to stop short so she dives over the divan, tucking and rolling in her designer gown, skirt flowing.
She races to the divan in the main entry and retrieves her scimitar. Priyya then tries to hurry back to the party, while straightening her dress and hair and attempting to appear 'stately' in front of the wait staff. As she passes Mal, she stops for a moment.
She says quietly, "When we were talking about 'childhood scars', I said that we should 'try to bear them with pride'." She sighs. "I was referring to myself and people in general, as much as to you. I struggle with it. And my differences, well..." She looks at one of her glowing arms and tries to brush the corona off, "It isn't particularly useful, unlike yours. I'm a walking lamp." She gives him a rye grin. "Gotta run." Without a further word she hustles up the stairs trying to catch up with the party.
To Alis... "I already have a place in the lower city that is paid through the week, and I need to go spend some time with Talvyra, besides."
He also makes his way to Alexis when he thinks no one is looking, dipping low in a bow to kiss her hand, "Thank you for the dance."
With a final wave, he makes for the exits, and as his long legs carry him through the gates and into the night, he takes in a long breath, reveling in at least this little bit of freedom to be had in the darkest hours of the city's night. Gotta find some way to work off some of this nervous energy… wonder if I can find a fight down by the docks?
He will still try to be available relatively early in the morning, reporting in with Alis using the pass given him by Major Domo.
Alis grins, "Well I suppose I shouldn't turn down a head-start from someone with such a long gait. Try not to get into any trouble that isn't worthy of a good scandal, alright?"
When she spies Alexis blush from the kiss that Mal places on her hand, she wait's until he is almost (but not quite) out of earshot and then calls out in a sing-songy voice, "Siiiis has a boooyfriend!"
"Try not to get into any trouble that isn't worthy of a good scandal, alright?"
When she spies Alexis blush from the kiss that Mal places on her hand, she wait's until he is almost (but not quite) out of earshot and then calls out in a sing-songy voice, "Siiiis has a boooyfriend!"
Felmor gives an exaggerated sign, and a badly faked sob of anguish, "Ach, me heart be breaking! I must do whateveah it takes ta win th' heart of th' Princess Fair!"
He walks over to Alexis and whispers in her ear, "But it kin wait fer another day, he he." He then gives the lovely Princesses a courtly bow before he rejoins Priyya, who has started dragging him upstairs to their guest suite, and soom out of sight.
...Priyya, who has started dragging him upstairs to their guest suite, and soon out of sight.
Mal begins making his way back to The Crusty Buoy enjoying the cool air of this spring night as he goes.
By the time he reaches the city proper, Brightpool has already set while Darkshoal's ruddy countenance has risen well into the night sky. Even with his long legs, it is still another 15 minutes before the tall warrior reaches the docks district where the inn is located.
Perception Checks
The Crusty Buoy
Perception Checks
Stealth Checks
Check Checks:
Mal seemingly makes a point of staying in the open just long enough to spy that there is indeed someone who is following about 50-60 feet back who keeps ducking into alley ways and behind other cover as they follow along. There are ample alleyways in the nearby area that are not lit by the same gas-lanterns that appear on the main streets. They do seem to notice that they have been spotted and disappear down a side street.
Stealth .
Perception .
Survival .
Mal moves over to the corner but doesn't see anything. He does however pickup the smell of dung and finds a boot-print that would indicate a full-grown man in a fresh pile of dog-crap. He also picks up the odors of hay and horses and naturally there's the ever-present odor of the sea.
Further down the alleyway, he sees the dark-cloaked figure duck around a corner and out of sight.
Once he sees his quarry duck around the corner, Mal decides to change the rules. Reaching deep within - to the primal power he's been learning to tap - he draws the power of his ancestry into his legs, his long, lean muscles becoming even firmer. Taking three long running steps, he bounds up, grabbing the lip of the roof of the building around which his quarry disappeared. Once on top, he moves as stealthily and carefully as he can while searching the alleys and streets below him for movements of the man.
Initiative Rolls
With a slight grunt, Mal bounds forward and in one smooth motion swings himself up onto the roof. On his upwards arc, he can see that the roof is only just slightly slanted. Yet what surprises him is the sight of the man he was chasing swinging up onto the roof with a spinning somersault just around the corner.
Both Mal and the stranger see one another at the same time. From where he is Mal hears the other say, "Well shoot, that was gonna be my trick!"
Almost too quickly to be seen, the stranger whips out a hand crossbow and fires a bolt in Mal's direction...
...however while the shot is true on the horizontal, it impacts the roof just a few feet in front of him and bursts into a billowing cloud of smoke.
Mal moves to get clear of the smoke while also trying catch sight or sound of the mysterious man.
If the man is within movement range (70 ft), Mal closes to try to grapple.
, which provokes an attack of opportunity if he's armed.
If he's not within one move action, Mal will resume the chase, fairly confident that he's the faster runner.
"Nice toy! Did you bring one for both of us?"
If the man is within movement range (70 ft), Mal closes to try to grapple.
Trying to get a map made up for this... ^_^;
Mal hears the voice taunting him briefly. "Where are my manners, I totally forgot! Would you prefer that I stick to basics?"
Alrighty, it's not 1337, but it'll do. Squares are 5-ft. Orange squares contain a street lamp. There's a 10-ft radius cloud of mist in front of Mal blocking his view to the North. The red 'X' is where he last saw the cloaked stranger with poo on his shoe.
Light-grey buildings are 1-story tall. Dark-grey buildings (which currently show as black and blocking line-of-sight) are two-stories tall. Mal can hear the surf beyond the buildings to the south and he recalls that there is is bridge leading over a small river to the west (the direction he was heading).
It's faint, but after the stranger stops talking, he can make out the sound of someone moving west along the roof and then a thud from the north-west somewhere near the red question-mark. Until he moves, Mal cannot see them due to the fog.
Since I had to make the map before the NPC could take their move action, I'll allow you to modify your actions according to what your senses have told you if you wish.
Let's keep things simple for now. Mal thinks as he moves directly towards where he heard the footfalls. As he clears the smoke, and his eyes confirm what his ears told him, he grins and flies across the gap in pursuit.
"I'm thinking there are no rules to this game, pal."
Mal rushes thru the mist and sees the stranger standing near the corner of the next roof to the northwest. Without hesitation he gets a running start and leaps across landing in front of them. The tall warrior towers over the cloaked figure by head and shoulders, a dark shape against the night sky.
"No rules, huh? That's not much of a game. You're not out here to play tag, are you?"
The stranger makes no move to attack, but neither do they show any sign of backing down.
"Well, what's it gonna be?"
ROUND 2: Map Updated
"Well, Ive never been all that much of a fan of rules. Plus, thing is, my new gig starts tomorrow, so I'd not like to show up... You know... dead. So let's keep things simple. Nobodys goes for blood, and it lasts til someone gives... or goes limp. Sound easy enough? Or should I have it written down for ya?"
Mal says all this with with a big grin on his face, and he's hoping the mysterious stranger has the visual capacity to see it.
If the man accepts, Mal will throw back his head and unleash a primal war-cry towards the darkened sky and charge into the man, ending with a bull-rush attempt. More to test his defenses than do any harm. If the man goes first, Mal will change his plan.
Ok should have checked the map. Though I had said Mal was purposefully trying to give himself about 10 ft of breathing room... Which, based off my map/info at the time may or may not have been possible. For now stick with the states action, obviously with no charge.
"No blood works for me. Let's dance, big boy!"
With Mal standing right in front of them when he begins casting, the stranger avails themself of an AoO.
"Did you just get bigger? Now that's ridiculous!"
With that, the stranger moves away and attempts to leap up onto the roof of the 2nd story building to the south (provoking an AoO).
Mal, seeing his opponent trying to escape, takes a swipe at his legs to knock him over.
He ends in H-28. Close enough to stay up with his quarry but far enough that the quarry must actually make some effort if they want to do anything but shoot quarrels...
"Did you just get bigger? Now that's ridiculous!"
"Nah... Must be a trick of the light."
Mal steps up to the prone man and make to grab him.
Mal mutters a sylvan curse and rushes to pursu his elusive prey.
Mal, seeing his opponent trying to escape, takes a swipe at his legs to knock him over.
When exactly were you planning to do that bullrush because it looks like you were casting this round?
You can make the trip as an AoO for when they move away, however.
Btw, in case you've noticed your rolls changing like I have with mine...
http://paizo.com/paizo/messageboards/paizo/websiteFeedback/diceRollingGlitc h
The stranger hops over Mal's attempt to trip them and...
...delivers a kick of their own.
"Hey, I want to go up, not down!"
With that, they run a short distance and leap up nearly 12 feet and tuck and roll onto the roof of the next building and back to their feet.
Frustration mounts as his target continues to stymie his attacks, but he presses on, ever the persevering warrior.
"Ya can't always get what ya'waaaaaant!"
Btw, in case you've noticed your rolls changing like I have with mine...
http://paizo.com/paizo/messageboards/paizo/websiteFeedback/diceRollingGlitc h
"Ya can't always get what ya'waaaaaant!"
"Oof! Please tell me this new job of yours isn't as a vocalist!"
Mal's jump plus his vertical reach is more than sufficient to reach the ledge of the next building over, but insufficient to land in a standing position. As such, it's necessary for him to mantle up onto the roof. (Essentially an auto-success Climb check for him.)
"Leaping when a foe is waiting for you is a bit risky, don't you think?"
As if to stress the point, the stranger takes a cheap-shot (AoO) on Mal for performing a move action (i.e. climbing) thru a threatened space (-F26).
The moment the hulking warrior retakes his feet, they launch another attack.
The stranger's attack misses badly, and their momentum carries them over the edge of the roof provoking an AoO from Mal as they go.
"What goes up..."
"Maybe… if you didn't hit like a girl." Mal gets his quip in just in time to watch his so-far-talented opponent fling himself through the air ineptly. With a curious look, Mal simply watches him fall. Knowing how crafty the Mysterious Man likes to pretend to be, Mal will let him nearly hit the ground before acting.
"Leaving so soon? Maybe if your brain ran half as fast as your mouth, you'da' realized you're outta roof." With a smile, Mal slips off his boot and throws it at the Mysterious Man.
"I hate these damned shoes, anyway." Then, louder, "hey, when you decide you're ready, why don't you come on up… i'll be havin' a rest." And he takes a quick step back, knowing how his new friend likes to shoot dust-balls.
Mal watches with smugness as the stranger hurtles towards the ground and hurls a boot after them to help them on their way. Not far from the ground he hears them taunt, "Just kidding!"
They duck their head as they float downwards and the boot thuds into the street without striking them.
"Hey! I may hit like a girl, but at least I'm not throwing my shoes like one."
They land safely and wave their hand back and forth in front of their face. "And here I thought we agreed to no lethal weapons. That smelled worse than that smelly dog crap I carelessly stepped in!"
Still keeping their eye on Malandraenas, the stranger retrieves his boot and says, "Peee-oooo!"
"Damn, this thing is bigger than my head! So what's this new job you've got? You'd make one hell of a paper-boy with your leaping ability and throwing arm. No window in Caen Carrinac would be safe!"
Mal calls out over the lip of the building, "Oooooh, that sh!t smell's on your BOOT? Here I thought it was your breath, the way that tongue flaps. I'll tell ya what my gig is NOT.. throwing myself from buildings."
Then he slips off his remaining shoe, carrying it with him, the simple pleasure of the cool roof on his feet bringing a smile to his lips. Then he moves as quietly as he can across the rooftop to the bordering building, easily making the jump and creeping to a vantage point. Damn defensive fighters… easy enough to shut them down… just don't take the bait. Easing into his sentry position, Mal strains with all of his senses, searching for the one mis-step that might give his quarry away. Wiping blood from his lip where he caught a fist, he thinks, Damn, this was a good idea. I feel better already.
When Mal slips out of sight, the mysterious stranger takes the opportunity to do the same. As far as he can tell, the alleyways to the east and south are now empty.
MAP: Updated