The Great Hunt (Inactive)

Game Master DEWN MOU'TAIN

"Like a charnel house of rotten meat and the worst possible swamp stench, left to dry out bake in the hot sun before a warm rain moistens it rereleasing the stench into the wet air" The man says taking another bit afterwords shutting out the imagery.

"Why do you ask?" Lazar says between chews.

Ceirn looks at the wall and says, "It is strange. With the items that are strewn about this place, what would they feel was important enough to try and hide. It definitely makes me curious. But the owner of this place may not be appreciative of our looking."

Holding the torch high, Navarre nods as Ceirn inquires about what the book maker might be hiding. Furrowing his brow, he's about to respond, when he hears a shriek and a loud 'thud.' suprised as much by the shriek as the sound of something hitting the ground. Looking from Ceirn then to Garl, he calls down the hallway, "Lazar, Jak, did you hear that?"

A queasy feeling in the pit of his stomach, not believing the Aes Sedai could be frightened so easily he jests, "Maybe the Aes Sedai was frightened by a mouse and stomped at it." He gestures towards the hallway and the stairs. "But maybe we should check it out."

Not waiting for either to respond, he heads towards the stairs.

"Ah yeah violence and evil stick to you. A soldier though is not as bad as a murderer. Yes its difficult, but it also is a good indicator of your companions, lovers, and even business associates" Lazar chuckles as he then adjusts his hat.

" You'd be surprised the faint aromas places give off too. Or objects. People tend to have the stench linger." Lazar says, about to say more when Navarre speaks and he shifts form leaning against a wall and becomes more alert.

"Great what now, Let's go Jak" the Domani says putting away a ration and adjusting his staff. This was more a place for daggers.

Ceirn will move quickly and quietly to see what is happening above. He slips his veil over his face fearing that whoever killed the man has returned.

Talia leaned in turning to her right and placeing her left hand up to direct the sound back towards her ear. She listened carefully to the barely adudible words and then suddenly chaos. She blown back and half spun around where upon she lost her balance and ended up sitting on the floor covered and surrounded by remnants of the mirror that had just exploded. Why the mirror had exploded was unclear, but the message had been most clear. She oriented herself some and began picking pieces of mirror fragments from her skin and clothes. Luckily her left hand had shielded her eyes as such just some cuts in skin and clothes was that that transpired. Well that and her left ear would need some tending to once they were outside this city once more. Something that was now evident that they need to do fairly quickly.

As the group makes its way upstairs they find the light globe resting on the floor next to Talia, who is carefully picking glass slivers from her skin and clothes. Shattered reflective glass litters the floor about her, and just past her sits the mirror with most of its mirrored surface missing.

It did not take a scholar to get a gist of what happened, as the pattern of the shattered glass makes and Talia's condition makes it fairly obvious that the mirror exploded for some reason.

When she notices the first individual he says as she continues removing glass slivers she says matter-of-factly, "The book is not here, and we need to get going. Time is running short."

With that said she pauses what she is doing and looks up at those present, "Would one of you help me up? I would rather avoid cutting myself further on these remnants", she gestures the glass fragments on the floor about her.

Taking the steps two at a time, Navarre draws the shortsword, assuming the others are following him. Running up the hall he turns the corner, seeing Talia on the ground, the lamp beside her, the mirror in shards covering her and the floor.

Realizing the Aes Sedai would never damage something like the mirror intentionally, he slows slightly looking about as he moves towards her. Wondering how she knew the book was not here, he moved beside her offering her his empty hand. Instead of asking what happened, he asked, "The book, how do you know?"

Lazar crouches a bit staff out like a spear in one hand and another hand ready to launch a dagger. He stays quiet stepping quickly but quietly.

Stealth: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (10) + 13 = 23

Talia gingerly picks up the light orb with her wounded left hand trying not to get any blood on it and then reaches up to Navarre with her right hand. She begins to respond to Navarre's question, "Well..." Once she has a firm grasp of Navarre's hand she nods her readiness and waits for him to hoist her to her feet, pulling herself up as he does.

Once on her feet, she finishes with, "simply put the mirror told me." She takes a moment to shake off any loose glass from her clothes then transfers the light orb to her non-wounded hand. "Okay, we must go." she says and waits for Navarre to lead the way.

Raising an eyebrow at Talia's response, Navarre knew Aes Sedai could not lie, so he didn't question it. Instead, thinking about the blocked room, he asks, "Did the mirror tell you we needed to bring anything else?"

Turning to the others, he gestured towards Talia, "Our time is up, if we are breaking the wall we need to do it now."

Rizz, what time of day is it?

Talia listens to Navarre both his question and his statement to the others and replies, "No! We have all we need, breaking a wall can only waste precious time we do not have to waste. In fact, we may have wasted more time here than we had available. As such, we need to make up for lost time and wasting more time for anything unnecessary is definitely out. Get the others and get us moving to our destination, no more dallying." The authorative nature of an Aes Sedai was clear within her tone, she was not brokering debate and actually moved pasted Navarre heading to the stairs to go to the lower floor. If she needed to lead this rabble, so be it as there was much more at stake here than they were aware of let alone could even comprehend. The voice had parted that to her, even within the rather brief words and emotions it could convey.

Lazar appears and smiles."Lovers quarrel?" A broad smile on his face as he sees something clearly disturbing them both. Though it was unwise ot anger an Aes Sedai he also knew that they were regular women, often with a lot of weight on their shoulders.

"Jokes aside what is all of this about?" He then listened to the pair and nodded.

"I see, interesting then we should probably get to it. However, we should probably proceed with caution. Just because our quarry isn't here doesn't mean the local authorities or unseen allies aren't awaiting us on our departure" Lazar said, having known such tactics in the past. One must always be cautious, even in cities such as Tar Valon.

Looking back at old posts, I had forgotten that we Rode into Far Madding, we must have left the horses parked outside.

Glaring at Lazar, Navarre shakes his head, "What is the rush? Just this afternoon at the tavern you wanted to wait until tomorrow to even come here." He gestures back down the steps, "We haven't gathered the ledger and map or opened the secret closet. If Bytor has anything that will aid us in his rescue it must be there."

Not wanting to upset the Aes Sedai, he gestures towards the door, "Why don't you, Garl and Jak go back to the Named tavern. Didn't you tell Schrei, that you would check on Michel? You said you have some minor obligation's you should fulfill while you are here. Why don't you take care of those and we will meet you back at the Tavern when were done with the wall."

"I think the more pressing question is why trust whatever this thing was?" Ceirn asks. He looks around and shakes his head as he lowers his veil and says, "This is a place of lies."

Without looking back at either Navarre or Ceirn Talia responds, "The rush is that things have changed, thus previous plans have become obsolete. I have the journal that will have to be enough, and the time it may take to open the secret closet could prove fatal to our more immediate mission which is to rescue Bytor, or if not Bytor than at least the book. As for Michel and those minor obligations, they will have to wait because I have a major obligation that has urgency. As for why would I trust magic, I think is a rather moot question. If you wish to stay that is your choice, but I and those who will choose to accompany me are leaving forthwith." She looks at Lazar, "Do you wish to stay as well, or will you lead the way downstairs?"

She was getting a better understanding of why her sisters got the reputation that they did, and why they might, out of frustration, lash out but again that was not her way. She would push on. Then perhaps once fully on the road, where there was nothing to do but pass time, she would explain the subtleties that are interwoven into her current decision. Then again, would they even understand it if she did. The basics of the Weave they seemed to have an inability to comprehend, how would they be able to grasp even more of its complexities. Still hopefully at some point they will just learn to trust her judgement, and quit questioning here knowledge of what she knows.

OCC: Initially I thought we left the horses at the previous place but then I do vaguely recall that we did ride away on them. However, that does create a discrepancy of us arriving at the current place because there was no mention of horses or tending to them. Perhaps we had to stable them once inside the big city at some point. Hopefully the GM can give us something that makes what occurred more soluable going forward. Note I do appreciate the call out to the detail as for as I said those things to me are important but I do forget some details from time to time. As I be only human after all.

Ceirn veils himself and says, "The journal is not leaving until we are all ready."

"Eagerness aside Sister, The time clock was ticking, the day is rising and patrols and business will be starting. We all aren't skilled as Ceirn and I in keeping unseen. You yourself I believe are unable to tap into the whole One Power thing. Unless rumors are wrong about this place." Lazar says as he looks at them and in the low light looks very much a rogue and thug.

"So we need to proceed with caution, Better get out of here with skin intact while the rest of you might like to see the inside of a jail cell I am very much opposed to seeing another one." The Domani says as he causally walks down and heads to scout the areas. No need to find an overeager guardsman or opportunistic burglar unaware.

Stealth: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (2) + 13 = 15
Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 15

Seeing Ceirn veil himself, Navarre feels the hair on the back of his neck stand up. Stepping back from the Aiel, he lowers the shortsword and but makes sure he's not between the Aiel and the Aes Sedai. Taking a deep breath, "Everybody take a moment and let's talk about this, ok?"

Making sure the shortsword stays still at his side, he gestures with the torch towards Tallia, "She's right, we need to be underway. But not so quickly that we can't recover what's behind the wall."

He turns towards Lazar, "We are in a private residence and there's no reason for the local authorities to suspect us of anything." He looks pointedly at Ciern, "Unless we start killing each out."

Realizing he'd been holding his breath, he slowly exhales. "It's late, we're all tired, and this place has gotten on all our nerves. Let's take a moment and figure out what were doing, then do it."

Talia basically ignores Ceirn and Navarre seeing them now as obstacles to what is required of her, as such she simply follows Lazar downstairs, leaving those upstairs in utter darkness, in order to inform the others that it was time to leave. Which she will do, if allowed, upon seeing anyone else.

She had never had anyone that understood the power of an Aes Sedai, ever choose to contradict them or her so she had no feeling that such a thing might occur. So she was moving forward with determination that the path in front of her had been preordained and if she did not persue it she would suffer the wrath of the wheel.

OCC: Sorry I could not look up the current participants but I think we had more than 4 players and/or characters.

"You have to remember Sister, that you may be what you are, but you are still human. I learned that much from my time in the white tower, and in other ways too" He says with a chuckle as he moves cautiously and with light steps. He was as graceful as a cat with the paranoia of a mouse. One had to be when one found themselves doing things that would earn you at best a thrashing at worse a fight or imprisonment.

"So tread with caution." He chuckled at that, as he doubted an Aes Sedai, would do that, heck he wouldn't do it all the time. Still, he doubted one who could weld the One Power would find caution as necessary as he did.

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26

Shrugging, Navarre turns to go back down stairs. Believing the Domani to be more familiar with this sort of work than he's letting on Navarre waits until Lazar is done reminding the Aes Sedai they are human, calls, "Lazar, we've found this hidden room, can we search for a way to get in one more time before we leave? We may find something that can help us rescue the book collector."

we have navarre, lazar, and ceirn. Let's have you guys pick up back in the vault. The mirror shattered upstairs, but, when you went to check on talia, she has just disappeared. the journal she had grabbed with her, along with a paper with odd drawings upon it, remained behind.

" Sure I'll poke about" he says as he comes up to the vault and with flicks of his wrist a couple thin metal pieces appeared.

He looked over the door.
Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28

traps first if any
Disable Device: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28

Lock if Unlocked
Fisable Device: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29

Ceirn with gather the book and papers. He will then go down with the others to investigate the vault. He watches Lazar and says, "We need to be cautious. This place cannot be trusted."

He looked over the door.

psssst, we haven't found the door to the secret room yet.

Realizing he could no longer hear Talia speaking, Navarre moves the direction she'd headed. Finding journal, papers and lamp sitting on the floor, Navarre shook his head. "she's gone."

Planting the torch in the nearest scone, Navarre gathered the journal and papers pacing them in his pack. Lifting the lantern he looked at Ciern, "Your right, we must stay together, watch each others backs."

Finding Lazar in the 'study' Navarre fills him in. "Tallia has disappeared. We need to find the door to the hidden room and get out of here." He gestures towards the exit with the dead mans shortsword. "Maybe we can sort out how the thief died as we're leaving."

Holding the lamp near the shelved wall, Navarre begins to search the eastern wall, from left to right, looking very carefully.

Rizz, I'd like to take 20(28) on perception for the wall, I know it will take forever. Let me know how long he takes and if he finds anything

yea, lazar. you guys havent found a door yet...

@navarre. noted

Cursing under his breath, Navarre turns towards Ciern and Lazar, "Not a blasted thing. Shall we inspect the hallway upstairs before we leave?" Without waiting for a response, Navarre heads upstairs to the back hallway then, following the same format, searches the floor and wall for some sort of switch or entrance into the lower hidey-hole.

He'll take 20(28) on perception to inspect the hallway upstairs for any entrance into the hidden room

"I do not think we know enough to warrant destroying the wall, and I doubt that we will find a secret door upstairs. It would be good to get out of this building before the streets are bustling. If we wait until tonight to leave, then we could rest, but not get out of the city until the city gates open again in the morning. So leaving sooner might be good so that we can leave this city today." Ceirn says.

you guys arent finding the door. move along.

you guys arent finding the door. move along.

That is the plan :)

Frustrated that he can't find a door to the room, Navarre finally concedes that it's a lost cause. Nodding to Ceirn, "Your right, let's gather the journal and papers and get out of here."

Moving to the desk where they'd left the information, he sets the lantern on the desk, removing his rucksack he places it beside the lamp. Placing the journal and papers into his pack, he pauses for a moment, then places the lantern in the pack as well. Smiling at Ceirn and Lazar, "The lamp will come in handy. We'll give it back to Jair once we find him."

As they approach the front door, he gestures towards the dead bandit. "Do you think we should do anything for him?"

"I think that if I tell anyone about a dead body I will not be leaving town soon." Ceirn says. "We could leave a message at the inn, but we would be the only suspects."

Realizing Ceirn was right, Navarre nods. "You're right. We'll warn Jair it's here so he can contact the officials when he returns." Shrugging, "It's not like we killed the fellow." He pauses, looking at the small spiked ball that killed the man. "But the poison dart does intrigue me." Shrugging, "But we should leave it alone."

As he reaches for the door he pauses, rolling his eyes. Turning back to Ceirn, he sheathes the 'long knife' extending the sheathed blade to the Aiel. "If I keep this on my person and the guards at the gate find it, we'll not be leaving town soon either. Do you mind hanging on to it until we are out of town?"

Opening the door, Navarre looks both ways down the street before exiting and heading to where they left the horses.

taking 10(18) on perception for the street.

Lazar slinks about keeping his steps soft and his body ready to strike.
Stealth: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (19) + 13 = 32

He then takes a peek looking for signs of a guard ambush Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 10 = 18

Then if clear he'll slink out looking as if having been a visitor. Very nonchalantly before slipping into whatever shadows.stealth: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (1) + 13 = 14

Ceirn eyes the knife warily.

I am not sure where the knife is. If its a knife I will take it. If its a sword I will suggest Lazar hold onto it.

Didn't Lazar get inspected like the rest of us? Retconning, before we open the door and leave.

Watching Ciern eye the 'long knife' Navarre remembered Ceirn's Aiel sensibilities. Nodding he held up a finger, the universal symbol for 'one moment' and quickly removed his pack, taking his old blanket out of it. Wrapping the short sword in the blanket, he quickly tied some twine around it. Holding the bundle out to his friend, he asks again. "I don't think it's possible I can sneak this past the guards at the gate. Whereas, you'll sneak right by them. I only need you to carry it until we're out of town."

He smiles cheekily, "I'll use it the next time we spar instead of the two-handed sword."

Ceirn frowns at the blade but opens his pack and lets Navarre store it. "We should move quickly. If we can exit in the initial rush of business coming and going it will be less obvious."

Relieved that Ceirn let him put the shortsword in his pack, Navarre nods in agreement. Smoothing down his cloak, he turns his attention back to the task of leaving. Opening the door, Navarre looks both ways down the street before exiting and heading to where they left the horses.

I posted the opening the door part again, just in case.

Ceirn will follow along while keeping an eye out for anyone watching the building.

Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (8) + 11 = 19

Lazar walks looking back at Navarre," Its funny, Travelling with an Aiel.Strange times indeed"

since its just us four, i am going to have our book location revert back to early book 3, the dragon reborn. It makes more sense for hunters of the horn to have actually sworn to hunt the horn when the ceremony in Tarmouz square actually takes place, and not have it be a year long event. This doesnt change anything for you guys in terms of equipment or events and what not.

ceirn stealth: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29
ceirn climb: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20

guards perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

You all step out of the back door, seeing that unbarring and unlocking the stout iron front door would leave it unlocked and open to the public. Instead, you all silently agree to slip out the back. Lazar easily opens the rear lock, allows everyone to quietly leave, and with his tools, able to drop the latch in the locking mechanism.

Lazar and navarre straighten their packs, and turn to look at Ceirn...

only to discover that he has already blended into the background.

The trip through Far madding goes quickly, sticking to the route you took through town not four hours earlier.

Getting through the city gate is easier than entering, with the guardsman inspecting your blades and nodding when they discover that the peace bonds still hold.

All of you make your way back to the Stables in South bridge for Lazar and Navarre to retrieve your horses.

"I am not a rider" Lazar said as he leads his pack horse and slightly smiles to Navarre

"I know I know who doesn't know how to ride"

Having checked on the horses, Navarre turns to his two companions. "Though I loath the idea of staying at the inn, we probably should rest for the night and leave in the morning."

"Much as I would love to stay, we should get as far as we can away and then camp" Lazar says with a sigh.

" Trust me alot of places are not opposed to tossing a few foreigners out and get them all ironed up and in the cells should they double upon the scene. So I vote for a hasty egress" Lazar says leaning on his staff comfortable yet oddly ready to dance.

Ceirn finds a spot down the road in the shade and waits for the others to arrive.

Nodding in agreement with Lazar, Navarre mounts his horse, he keeps his pace slow so Lazar can keep up. "I've traveled as well and I know your right. But it would have been nice to sleep one night without keep a watch."

As they move out of town in companionable silence, Navarre keeps an eye out for their Aiel friend. Knowing that Ceirn will only be found if he wants to be and they still would need to be watching carefully to see him.

"I hate it too, though I may be stealthy and world-savvy as any wandering rapscallion. I am not a fan of visiting dark cells. Besides, we sent our friend from the East out of the city. He will be waiting for us."Lazar sighs as he leads his mule.

"I hate camping so much!" He says as he begins to look around for Ceirn or the rabble that loved to stay near cities to ply the trade of begging and the like.

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 24

taking the road back out of South Bridge, the chime of the crickets are all that keep you for company as you head south.

taking a little liberty here

the night is dark, yet the moon hangs above the western horizon, casting it's brilliance upon the landscape as your horse's hooves clip and clap upon the mud and stone road. Farms and farm houses, thicker and closer together near the great City of Far Madding, the further away from town the few and more spaced out they get.
finally, Both lazar and navarre pass the final farm house, far on the outskirts of what could be considered the influence of Far Madding.
Blast! where is he? Navarre growls out loud into the night air, his gaze looking east, west, north, and south.
Patience. He will rejoin us. Lazar says in reply, yet minor irritation flavoring his tone.
Who will rejoin us? Ceirn says from between the two horses, seeming to just appear out of thin air between the mounts.

Ceirn smiles and says, "We should move quickly." He will start jogging away from the city

"I am not a horse rider, nor a sprinter, but lead on my friend!" Lazar says with a smile.