Smirking at Gorn "Ho, there it is...always it comes. Leave your patronizing behind, 'boy', it will take more than a few bird scratches! Keep up!" lunging again with disciplined technique...
...scoring solid hits yet dampened by the mystic forces beneath the strange shadow assassin's feathers.
With the echoes of the horses reaching a crescendo, the ambuscade long ago having failed, with a final *caw!* the kenku favors defensive movements and begins his withdrawal...
But now, by the relentlessness that surges you ever forward towards truth, you have chipped away at the wall and revealed a man who in the end is enamored with self-preservation to the point of absurdity. His every attempt at cordiality has fallen flat, but he can't walk away from that spectre of kindness having brandished it so long.
You sense that he is being truthful, and will in the interest of keeping himself alive guide you inside the compound. What betrayal he might concoct from within, or if he could establish a sense of safety, is limitless. You have revealed yourself as a threat to this powerful man who loves life.
Swing!!!!
And a likely miss...
Just in case
"Don, they're fighting a demon outside." Mal says heading out one of the doors.
He spots the combatant of Gorn and whispers his Mistress's name, "Shar."
Your word has proven of little value, but I recognize your type. You value your life over your loyalty to your family. Know that, if at any time I feel you wavering in your word, I will not hesitate to cave your pretty little head in. Do we understand each other? You help us tear down your mother's network, you will have the opportunity to live a long and full life.
If he gets a nod of understanding from the noble scion, Donal says, Let us destroy your mother's demon and get moving. The longer we tarry, the more danger your life is in...
Damn, Donal swears as he heads back in to recover Amrik, We need to move boys, and now. Mal, find us an out.
Tibs, tell Mal and the others to retreat into the outpost and bar the door. We are going out the back door and buy us some time.
Mal sees the mounted guardsmen and returns inside closing the door behind him. "There are mounted guardsman on their way. Who knows their allegiance."
Tibs pauses as he notices Mal run back in.
Well, its likely the upper district guards. Which... well could go either way. If they've seen anyone, hiding and sneaking around may make things worse. It may be better to have one or two speak with them as citizens, while the rest make their escape? I could perhaps speak about an attempted robbery of my person?
The booming voice of the commander screams "Halt!" it takes a moment to realize he is talking to his formation, not any of you "By twos! From left, march! Guide right...halt!" follow his next commands as the horsemen rally in front of the post.
The dozen men seem to be half mounted infantry and half true cavalry, with lances and javelins adorning as many as long axe and crossbow. Common among all is the bright blue cape draping halfway down the horses ass, and mirror-like steel helms sporting thick metal wings on either side.
The commander among them makes himself clear by the puffy red plumage sprouting out a gold plated version of the same dual-winged helm. Outside, he finds only Gorn's faithful servant pissing his pants, and wastes no time leveling his sword at the man's face "Surrender your arms." A prompt *clank* is heard as the Fist's mace hits the cobbles. "Open that door."
"Havilar! Four runners down the backstreet arcade, sire." another armsman interjects.
"By twos! Split left!" answers the Havilar, wasting no time. A pair of the mounted warriors peel off and make chase single file after Gorn and Grim.
"Why's that door shut, Blaze?" he asked rhetorically.
"Havi-er-sir, I think they've braced from within."
"Listen son. The way you answer my next question is gonna make or break your day, understand? You laid eyes on the Duke's boy?" there is no audible response "And he's braced tight there, with more of your men?" another quiet pause "How many?"
A few moments pass of mumbled chatter before the powerful voice returns "Mirador 24, your illegal capture of Amrik Vanthampur has come to an end. Surrender at once, or we will take this tower by force."
Dash: Player choice Athletics or Acrobatics check (DC 13) that moves you two positions ahead. Can be used only twice per character, not counting failed attempts.
Jab: Attack roll vs Mounted AC. On a hit, no damage, but Dex save or fall from the mount. Jab can only be used on chasers who share the same position number. The mount is free to take after.
Taunt: Intimidation vs Insight contested. Loser gets disadvantage on actions. Can be used on any adjacent (position wise) rider.
Trip: Player choice Athletics or Acrobatics check (contested). Fail means chaser on foot stumbles and loses position.
Movement check = choice of Athletics or Acrobatics. Animal Handling if mounted.
1 Blockade. A short wall of wood and debris blocks your path. Make a DC 12 movement check. If failed, you stumble and lose a position rank.
2 Banana Peel. You actually slip on a banana peel, if you don't make a DC 13 dexterity save. No position gain.
3 Mud Slick. Make a successful DC 13 movement check. If failed, you lose a position rank and may not Dash on your following turn.
4 Puzzling Pedestrians. A massive crowd appears and you must quickly navigate, DC 13 int investigation check or gain no position.
5 Pole! You must make a DC 13 athletics or acrobatics check. If failed, you are dragged off of your mount, losing a position rank. If unmounted, you stumble from a slam to the face and do not gain position.
6 Vigilante. A random citizen with a stink in his eye works against you, make a charisma persuasion or deception check DC 13 to escape his ire.
7 Oh hi! A sudden person/obstacle swings down in front of you. Make a DC 14 Dexterity saving throw. If failed, you are dismounted and lose a position rank. If unmounted, you also lose a position rank.
8 Glass pain. Some idiots are hauling a huge, exposed pane of glass across town for some reason. DC 13 strength save to break through clean, or lose position picking out the pieces.
9 Praying Orphans. Make a DC 13 Wisdom saving throw to navigate the praying orphans. If failed, you and your mount fall, costing you two position ranks.
10 Didn't eat my Wheaties. You or your mount is suddenly tired of the chase. DC 14 Con saving throw to power through, or lose position.
11-20 No Obstacle. Nothing Happens.
Let the chase commence!
Lets string em out Gorm! And keep an eye on that shadow thing!
The priest hopes to put some distance between himself and the main body of riders. Two? Now two wouldn't be a problem, if they weren't re-enforced that is.
Which was a real good plan except he bounced off a carelessly flung open door and stumbled into a wall, before trying to stagger forward again.
Group A Inits:
Kenku, A1, A2, Girl
Gorn, Grim
Group B Inits:
Mal, Tibs, Donal
B3, B1
Amrik
B2
The kenku surges forward, the soft clicks of his talons on cobble tapping a zig zag path through the rubble and trash of the alley...
...a woman shouts from above "Quiet you stupid crow!" threatening to pour a chamber pot down on the blackfeathered assassin. He throws daggers with his eyes, but it isn't enough to deter the old hag...and the slop rains hard upon him.
One of the mounted watchman rushes forward, trying to cut off your exit...
...but the horse seems spooked shadowy alley, and refuses the command. The same woman threatens with another, heavier chamber pot You too, horsy! Shaaadup! OH! Sorry mister Watch, honest mistake..." before shuttering herself in.
The second watchman follows the tactics of his horse mate, spurring forward...
...but again, the tight backstreet poses a hard sell to the equine's refined tastes.
The girl glances back, trying to get eyes on Amrik, but sees nothing but a wall of Watch "Damnit!" She hesitates a split second before lunging for the closest horseman, twisting a barding strap with her blade and yanking down in a swift motion...
...and the Watchman hits the ground! She wastes no time leaping up into the saddle and taking over the reigns.
Group A Positions:
5
4
3
2 Kenku, Girl
1 Gorn, Grim, A1, A2
Donal, making sure that Amrik is in front of him, kicks a banner pole down, hoping to clothesline the rider!
The guard sees the pole fall at the last second, catching it with his upper body strength and turning his horse slightly to deflect.
Feet do your duty! Mal takes off running.
5
4
3 Mal
2 Donal
1 Tibs, B1, B2, B3
*OOOoof*
The chef puts something extra special in the horseman's stomach, butter flavored momentum sending him to the ground.
Tibs wastes no time getting the hell out of dodge.
As the mounted Watch fan out, a few of them stand upright in their saddles and climb up onto the roofs to pursue...
The first to scale to the top slips on a loose shingle just as he bursts into a sprint...
...and ends up scraping his face on the broken ceramic.
The next guard up has better luck, until a clothesline snags him in the neck. Luckily, he was moving fast enough to break the clothesline, instead of his neck.
Amrik seems to play along at first, nimbly running the ridgeline like a practiced alley cat...until slipping on a banana peel (how the hell did that get on the roof, anyways?). Landing face first and struggling to hold on.
The final guard seems rather proud of himself for climbing up onto the roof in full pursuit, until he stupidly steps on the same damn banana peel that cursed Amrik.
Group A Positions:
5
4
3
2 Kenku, Girl, Grim, Gorn(m), A1, A2
1
5
4
3 Mal, Tibs, B3
2 Donal
1 B1, B2, Amrik
Dash: Player choice Athletics or Acrobatics check (DC 13) that moves you two positions ahead. Can be used only twice per character, not counting failed attempts.
Jab: Attack roll vs Mounted AC. On a hit, no damage, but Dex save or fall from the mount. Jab can only be used on chasers who share the same position number. The mount is free to take after.
Taunt: Intimidation vs Insight contested. Loser gets disadvantage on actions. Can be used on any adjacent (position wise) rider.
Trip: Player choice Athletics or Acrobatics check (contested). Fail means chaser on foot stumbles and loses position.
Movement check = choice of Athletics or Acrobatics. Animal Handling if mounted.
1 Blockade. A short wall of wood and debris blocks your path. Make a DC 12 movement check. If failed, you stumble and lose a position rank.
2 Banana Peel. You actually slip on a banana peel, if you don't make a DC 13 dexterity save. No position gain.
3 Mud Slick. Make a successful DC 13 movement check. If failed, you lose a position rank and may not Dash on your following turn.
4 Puzzling Pedestrians. A massive crowd appears and you must quickly navigate, DC 13 int investigation check or gain no position.
5 Pole! You must make a DC 13 athletics or acrobatics check. If failed, you are dragged off of your mount, losing a position rank. If unmounted, you stumble from a slam to the face and do not gain position.
6 Vigilante. A random citizen with a stink in his eye works against you, make a charisma persuasion or deception check DC 13 to escape his ire.
7 Oh hi! A sudden person/obstacle swings down in front of you. Make a DC 14 Dexterity saving throw. If failed, you are dismounted and lose a position rank. If unmounted, you also lose a position rank.
8 Glass pain. Some idiots are hauling a huge, exposed pane of glass across town for some reason. DC 13 strength save to break through clean, or lose position picking out the pieces.
9 Praying Orphans. Make a DC 13 Wisdom saving throw to navigate the praying orphans. If failed, you and your mount fall, costing you two position ranks.
10 Didn't eat my Wheaties. You or your mount is suddenly tired of the chase. DC 14 Con saving throw to power through, or lose position.
11-20 No Obstacle. Nothing Happens.
Group A Inits, Round 2:
Kenku, A1, A2, Girl <--UP
Gorn, Grim
Group B Inits, Round 2:
Mal, Tibs, Donal <--UP
B3, B1
Amrik
B2
The failed assassin again sees a quick exit, turning a corner on a dime. He startles a mason worker atop some scaffolding who drops a giant bucket of mortar, but the fluid footpad somehow evades it and carries on.
The dismounted and highly embarrassed guard pushes his body to the limit in an effort to regain some dignity. He nearly trips on the top of a low fence, but pushes forward down a side passage to cut off the group.
The other equally shamed dismounted officer follows the same tactics as his mate, but plows into the fence Hot Fuzz-style instead.
The girl finds a break in the crowds and lashes her reins furiously.
Group A Current Positions, Grim and Gorn yet to act:
5
4 Girl(m), A1
3 Kenku, A2
2 Grim, Gorn(m)
1
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Mal notices Amrik falling behind. He needs to get back there and help Donal. But these stupid guard need to meet their demise. So, the mean halfling gets close and into the legs of the guard and tries to trip the Mr. Clothesline off the rooftops.
But, he misses Mr. Clothesline running into a bunch of praying orphans on the rooftop, which covers his move next to Amrik. Yeah, he meant to do that.
Donal reaches back to pull Amrik forward and kicks the following guard toward the ledge!
As the other guard comes through with a tackle, Donal tries to juke out of the way!
Panicked he was losing ground and fearing being trapped behind even as Gorn mounted up, he put his head down and charged forward yelling...
It seemed to have the desired effect...
Because everyone else seemed keen to avoid him!
He was puffing even as he rounded a corner, and he knew he didn't have another such burst of speed left in him. Chest heaving, he threw his head left and right, seeking ideas and options.
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Tibs sprints further ahead, after all, he couldn't very well let other nobles hear of his doings here. It'd be disastrous! He couldn't let them recognize him. Though, making a clean escape, after letting them see him... what a roguish story that would be!
He nearly loses himself to his thoughts and almost runs smack into pole as he rounds a corner! Luckily, his body is quicker than his mind and with a burst of wind he manages to spin neatly around the obstacle before continuing onwards.