Here's the Gameplay Thread.
Dot
Waukeen’s Promenade is a riot of gold leaf and sun-drenched marble, but Sea's Bounty Tavern exists in the perpetual damp of the docks, away from merchant bustle. The air here is thick with the smell of cheap grog, unwashed wool, and the metallic tang of blood. It is a place for those who carry the merchant lords' crates, not those who sign the ledgers.
At the center of the room stands a mountain of sentient stone. Jasper sat at a reinforced trestle table, his massive, blocky frame dwarfing the human laborers surrounding him. His skin is the color of storm-beaten granite, mapped with deep, jagged cracks. Clumps of matte jade—dull, olive-colored, and tumor-like-cluster where hair should be and erupt from his thick forearms.
Tonight, he is not the bouncer. A half-empty keg of bitter ale sits before him. He is currently the gravity of the room; every eye is on him because he is midway through a contest of strength that has already claimed two splintered chairs and a broken nose. Despite the chaos of the tavern and the rowdy cheers of the crowd, his face remains unsettlingly calm - his wide, stone-set eyes reflecting a strange, quiet wisdom that contradicts the cracked mug in his hand and the trail of sawdust on his armor, and line of sailors groaning in the aftermath of the contest.
He sits back at his table, a boulder in a stream of frantic men, immovable and indifferent to the noise. And unstoppable once started. He draws another tankard from the keg, his unique chemistry adding new layer of smell to the tavern.
"Good effort, lads, come have one on me." He calls out to the crewmen he just dropped on the floor in one mighty charge. "Drink away your pain."
In the back, Erebechi sits quietly, nursing a ale, making a face (it doesn't taste the same as Ge'ez back home). He thinks to himself "All right, I have made here. But now I have a problem. In the wilds, I can follow my prey, no problem. But this warren of stone and people, I do not know how to hunt here. I need a guide, a local, be who can I trust?"
The Sea's Bounty Tavern was a boisterous tavern were sailors can get their land legs, and their appetites for good food and maybe more; satisfied. A boat from the Moonshae Isles had stepped in. Selling their wares and then taking on Amn goods to take back to the Isles.
Celima sits at the bar and slips her ale slowly from the cup. It had been just a year, perhaps slightly under a year , since she left Thay and she was still getting used to the different taste of drinks and food outside Thay. Her drink was not all that pleasant to taste but the other patrons were downing their ale quickly and calling for more. Sitting at the bar without a drink would likely draw more attention to herself.
Her days had been relatively quiet so far and her stay at the various inn were safe enough with her abjuration spells. Her main issue was being unable to wield her magic freely, which to someone like her was similar to going about your day with both hands tied behind your back. The pros likely outweighed the cons though, she doubted anyone from home would think to look for her here. Especially with how reliant on magic people from Thay were
She looked around the bar curiously. It would likely be best for her to find some people she could rely on for protection while she stayed in the city. More than that, she hadn’t had much social activity since she left Thay out of paranoia. She had resolved to overcome this challenge though and perhaps some social interaction will help with that.
She stares at Jasper who was currently the centre of attention in the tavern. She did recognise him but she wondered if she should approach him with so many eyes watching. She employs a half measure for now, taking her ale and repositioning herself to be within his line of sight. Her eyes study him trying to tell if he can recognise her
Jasper is not accustomed to female attention and his first thought was that there was someone behind him, but it was only a wall. Then a long list of clients, but not too many of them are female at the trading caravans.
Still, after some thought, he managed to recall a waif of a girl, on the run some years ago. It seems the time away from Thay was kind to her, but tattoos were hard to completely hide.
He nods, very slowly and slightly, catching her eyes. Assuming there was a reason she didn't join him, he scans the tavern for dangers, maybe hidden mages. Well. more hidden mages given she's already hiding.
You see a male waiter approach Celima. "Is there something I can get you, Miss?" he asks.
Tuk hops off of the ship just in from the Moonshaes, thinking, "Nice enough place, though a bit too misty. Not enough giants...those ogres were fun though..."
His thoughts jumped here and there as he ambled through the streets near the docks, dodging the long legs of people and horse alike, adroitly passing beneath cart and wagon.
He tosses a coin to a nearby vendor, and his eyebrows moving up and down in a dare, has the vendor toss a number of wooden skewers laden with fatty meat and a powered, fried sweet his way. With nary a pause in his step, Tuk snatches them from the air and continues on his way with a wave of thanks.
Pausing, grease dripping from his chin, he looks up and regards the placard of the Sea's Bounty Tavern, a carved picture of a ship spilled open to reveal a trove of treasure. "Hmm seems a likely place. Plus , I need a drink!"
Stuffing the remains of his last skewer into his mouth , he saunters into the tavern as if he owned the place.
Some nearby the door pause and look to see who opened the door, before looking down to find the diminutive Tuk standing there.
Ignoring any scowls or muttered insults, Tuk makes for the strange mountain of a man offering drinks.
With a bounce and a quick hand hold, Tuk bounds up to stand on Jasper's knee, hands on hips, "Since yer offerin', pull one for me, I'm parched!" Tuk declares.
Celima sees that Jasper indeed recognises her and nods back at him. She turns to the waiter and examines him for an instant before she nods and replies, “Perhaps another drink, something a little lighter than this one. “
She stands up and walks over to gesture, offering a wave before she looks for a seat close to him. She sits down and says, “Hello Jasper. It’s been a while since we last met. Thanks again for help, I am unsure I would have made it to civilisation so smoothly without your caravan. “ She glances at the broken chairs and sailors on the ground and smiles, “I see you are as strong as ever. Are you staying in Amn long or going back on the road soon? “
Her eyes widen in surprise at Tuk when he suddenly stands on Jasper’s knees, intrigued by his brazen behaviour. In Thay, at least amongst the wizards, interactions between peers were cold, to say the least. She looks at the pair for a moment in silence before her curiosity overcomes her shock, “Is he a friend of yours, Jasper? He is certainly quite the… confident one, isn’t he?”
With a bounce and a quick hand hold, Tuk bounds up to stand on Jasper's knee, hands on hips, "Since yer offerin', pull one for me, I'm parched!" Tuk declares.
"Ummm..." the big man looks between the halfling and Celima for a moment before twitching his knee aside while pushing away the gnat, careful not to impale it on the spikes, just to brush him off
"No." he answers to Celima before looking at the halfling again"The drinks are for the guys who fought me. Not just anyone who comes in."
EDIT: what is with the dicebot, where are the middle rolls :)
Though he stumbles a bit, misjudging Jasper's quickness and strength, he manages to hop up onto one of the spikes jutting from jasper's arm and using the motion of Jasper's arm, flings himself into the air, a simple flip, to land on Jasper's keg.
"Huh, yer quick, I'll grant ya that!" Tuk says nonchalantly, "I'm in no mood to be fightin', so you can save yer drink for one of them louts!" he says, indicating the other patrons. "'sides, don't wanna hurt ya!" he says, with an insouciant smile, bowing deeply to Jasper , then turning doing the same to Celima, "Tuk Nimbleguts, 273rd of that name! At your service!" he exclaims,
Celima looks at the Halfling and then at Jasper with a bewildered expression. The halfling certainly had some skill to avoid Jasper’s shove cleanly. His demeanour and speech could easily be read as provocative. In Thay, the only red wizards she encountered were either human or undead. She had never met a halfling peer before. However, she had learnt in this past year that the realm was as diverse as it was magical and halflings were a major race on the continent. Perhaps more than she expected if Tuk’s introduction was to be believed.
She nods at Tuk and introduces herself, “Charmed, I am Celima. “. She appears to have something else to say but instead she looks at Jasper, wondering what his reaction to Tuk’s provocation would be. Whichever way the coin fell, it would help her understand more about how others typically behaved out here. If necessary, she could restrain them to prevent escalation with magic but that should definitely be a last resort.
Celima nods to herself as she completes her thoughts and looks expectantly at Jasper and Tuk wondering how they would react
"That wasn't quick, it was off-hand push, I didn't expect you to avoid it." comes a grumble in response.
This close, you can smell the strong smell of garlic and some sour wine coming off the thug.
"I guess this counts as fighting me, Tuk, help yourself, I'm not about to go chasing you around."
He turns back to Celima and then remembers
"Oh, I'm Jade. Jasper Jade." He pulls a chair with his leg from the neighboring table for Tuk.
The crew on the floor started getting up in the meantime, helping those hit the worst and others judging if the offer for the drink was genuine.
Jasper waits for Tuk to take his drink and rolls the half-empty barrel toward the recovering group.
"You did well. Foolish, but brave. Keep the rest. Enjoy your landing."
That concluded, he turns back to his suddenly full table.
"Ummm...this is not usually what people do when they come into the tavern, bothering other patrons especially couples is frowned upon in various establishments here. It is bad for business. Unless you're itching for a fight. Just so you know for the next tavern."
He looks at Celima and shrugs.
"We can talk later. Welcome. Trouble in here?"
Celima nods as Jasper explains appropriate tavern behaviour, which she mentally noted down for future use. Celima then turns to Tuk as the tension winds down, “Yes You are quite the bold man aren’t you? Say, you mentioned that you are the 273rd of your name. Is it a common halfling name or is it like a family name, passed from parent to child? If it is the latter, your family’s history must be a storied one to boast such a large family tree. Would you mind sharing it?”
She turns to Jasper when she hears him speaking in dwarven. She smiles and shakes her head before replying in kind.
There is a job board near the entrance. There's also a strange man in a dark cloak with his hood up looking at you, smoking his pipe.
Tuk puffs out his chest, smiling at Celima "Bold? Ya! Man? NO! HAHAHHAHHA!" he declares, bursting into laughter.
He then, still chuckling to himself, sits down in front of Celima, "You see, my many-times grandfather...or is it granduncle...no matter, saw that the big'uns, what you call giants and ogres and such, could be taken down a notch just by gettin' real close, you know, like underfoot, or even every now and again real, real close by just climbin' them like a hill or mountain! He was terribly good at it and showed others, and to honor him his children and children's children and children's children's children that were boys... were called Tuk, just like him!"
He then narrows his eyes , looking past Celima's left shoulder, "Now...who be that strange man looking at us, right there with the dark cloak...smoking a pipe!"
Celima smiles and nods with understanding as Tuk tells her of the tales of his family. She listen attentively to Tuk and seems to memorise his words before replying, ” Such any impressive ancestor you must have had if he could tangle consistently with Giants and other huge creatures. I am sure he must be very proud that his family has flourished after his passing. Unless it was terribly long ago though, the fact you are the 273rd halfling to be named Tuk must mean your family is very large. With so many of you it’s surprising you weren’t recognised by anyone else here.”
Celima follows Tuk’s gaze before looking at Tuk and Jasper with concern as she whispers, ” What do you make of him? If it comes down to a fight, I am afraid I will not be very helpful because of the law. I could easily help us escape though.”
Celima will inspect the man, trying to determine if the man bears any recognisable marks of Thay.
Celima will inspect the man, trying to determine if the man bears any recognisable marks of Thay.
Perception: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (15) + 15 = 30
He doesn't bear any tattoos from Thay, but then he's not naked either.
" Go, read something off the job board. Check the guy from up close" Jasper drinks from his mug.
Celima tilts her head slightly at Jasper’s suggestion before she slips from her mug as well. In between sips she will look at Tuk and speaks softly in Halfing,
As she finishes, she will take another long sip before continuing in Dwarven
Erebechi thinks to himself, "Well, nothing gets done without starting..."
He stands up and heads to the bar, where he purchases a pitcher of cheap wine. Then heads outside, to a back alley. He looks around in case someone is watching him:
10 rank +3 trained +6 wis
Hopefully unobserved, he casts Tears to Wine on his pitcher and takes a drink. Then he casts Whispering Lore to consult the land itself...
In a whisper, he asks "I need a guide, someone who can navigate this hive of people, to find the slavers who took my daughters. One who will be faithful to his hire, not betraying me for more coin. Spirits of the land, please guide me to the right man..."
0 ranks +5 tears to wine +4 whispering lore + 2 int
And the spirits of the land respond, whispering to him.
Erebechi mumbles under his breath "The smallest man in this bar is who I should speak with. Convenient." Erebechi walks back into the bar, and looks about, spotting Tuk.
He walks over (to Tuk) and says "Hello. I need a guide to the city, and the spirits tell me you are the man for the job. How much to hire you for a week?"
Someone did watch Erebechi. Who ever he is, he tried to get out of the way of his own looking. He was wearing scarlet and black.
The above casting and introducing myself to Tuk is on hold.
Where was this guy, and how is he running away? (eg he was hiding on the rooftops and is climbing away.) I ask because I have a lot of options for chasing him down... and I might choose to do so.
Yes, he is trying to run away when you spot him. He was hiding on roof tops and is climbing away. What he is you are unsure about, since you just came from Chult.
Erebechi's form blurs, and he transforms into a small crow
Slipping into the shadows of the buildings, he swoops upward, following the man who had been spying on him...
4 ranks +6 dex +12 size
Erebechi's form blurs, and he transforms into a small crow
Slipping into the shadows of the buildings, he swoops upward, following the man who had been spying on him...
[dice=Stealth]1d20+4+6+12
4 ranks +6 dex +12 size
Use Thrush stats. There might be crow stats in the animal archive, but I'm unsure if I have that book.
He's climbing on the walls and jumping between roofs towards the Bridge District. He is unaware that you are following him as a crow or raven. You did spot his insignia on his cloak clasp. It's that of a wicked looking dagger, and the metal of it was bronze. As he leads you away from Waukeen's Promenade, he's taking you deeper into the city of Amn. Fortunately, you have been taking notes of landmarks, so you can fly back to where you came from.
Also, he has his hood up on his head, so you can't discern any other features about him.
Erebechi turns the tables on his stalker and follows him...
Erebechi turns the tables on his stalker and follows him...
He goes to a large warehouse by the docks. The warehouse is in black, and he climbs down into the street. You see a lot of people there, including women.
"Were you followed?" asks a man at the gate.
"I don't think so."
The man at the gate says, "Welcome back to the Shadow Thieves."
Erebechi decides that discretion is the better part of valor, and flies back to the alleyway. Aware that someone may be spying on him, he sweeps the area carefully, looking for stalkers:
10 rank +3 trained +6 wis
Hopefully unobserved this time, he casts Tears to Wine on his pitcher and takes a drink. Then he casts Whispering Lore to consult the land itself...
In a whisper, he asks "I need a guide, someone who can navigate this hive of people, to find the slavers who took my daughters. One who will be faithful to his hire, not betraying me for more coin. Spirits of the land, please guide me to the right man..."
0 ranks +5 tears to wine +4 whispering lore + 2 int
And the spirits of the land respond, telling him what he needs to know... Erebechi mumbles under his breath "The smallest man in this bar is who I should speak with. Convenient." Erebechi walks back into the bar, and looks about, spotting Tuk.
He walks over (to Tuk) and says "Hello. I need a guide to the city, and the spirits tell me you are the man for the job. How much to hire you for a week?"
No spies this time.
Tuk listens to Celima's suggestion, liking the flattery ,but also acknowledging the wisdom of her words, "Tuks usually take on a nickname, ya know, to be different...I just haven't figured out mine just yet." he drawls, the nods, " Ya...I'll go ask 'im why he might be making eyes at us."
Mind set, Tuk smoothly rises to his feet, about to make the journey across the room to interrogate the hooded stranger, when another stranger says a most interesting thing to him.
"What?" Tuk blurts out at the man, "Spirits you say? Tellin' ya about me? What spirits? I've never met a spirit that don't deserve dyin' again!" he exclaims, hands on his hips, his attitude that of an aggrieved person having just been interrupted from something important.
He gives the new man his best stink-eye, but also diverts part of his attention to keep an eye on the hooded stranger.
Jasper eyes the stranger, assessing if this is something that will require him to get up and check the hooded man himself.
Considering that Tuk maybe just got a job, he ponderously rises up and clumps to thr job board studying it for a minute.
He checks out the man as he approaches, not doing a bad job at hiding it. But the read is weak because of it.
3 ranks +6 wis +5 Tears to Wine
Erebechi notes, but ignores Jasper's attempt at concealing his scrutiny, and replies to:
...
"What?" Tuk blurts out at the man, "Spirits you say? Tellin' ya about me? What spirits? I've never met a spirit that don't deserve dyin' again!" he exclaims, hands on his hips, his attitude that of an aggrieved person having just been interrupted from something important.
He gives the new man his best stink-eye, but also diverts part of his attention to keep an eye on the hooded stranger.
"Northerners", Erebechi shakes his head at the misunderstanding and continues: "Not shades, not that which is dead, but does not rest. I do not traffic with such as that. The anima of the world around us, the wind, the rocks, the waters, the fauna and the flora; these are the spirits that talk to me... But again, I need a guide, and the land says you should be the one. How much to hire you for a week?"
Celima will mentally judge the distances between Jasper, Tuk and the two strangers. For now she does nothing besides making these calculations, trusting that the both of them will be able to do their tasks well.
Celima will continue taking slips of her drink as casually as she can, while attempting to see who the hooded stranger seems to be paying the most attention to, Tuk, Jasper or herself.
Tuk listens to the new man's explanation, nodding, "So the land t'iself has heard tell of my achievements! " he declares, puffing out his chest, "A guide you say? Would be nothin' for one of my skills and capabilities! But first..." he says, holding up a hand to Erebechi.
He then hops down and makes his way over to the hooded stranger. He leaps up onto that man's table, and stands, hands on hips, "Well met, stranger. Why you be making eyes at us over yonder?"
"I'm wondering if you are interested in working for the Crown."
Somewhat non-plussed by Tuk's rapid change of focus, Erebechi drifts after the little man, listening to the conversation...
Tuk cocks his head to one side, looking at the cloaked man shrewdly, "The Crown ya say? Hm...." he says, thinking to himself, "The man's addled...there ain't no Crown in Amn..."
Abandoning any pretense at looking at the job board, Jasper comes closer.
"Cormyr? You're far from home."
Tuk cocks his head to one side, looking at the cloaked man shrewdly, "The Crown ya say? Hm...." he says, thinking to himself, "The man's addled...there ain't no Crown in Amn..."
[dice=Knowledge(nobility)]1d20+10
Athkatla is ruled by a council of merchants.
Tuk nods at Jasper's observation, "Cormyn...maybe. But then there's also..." he says, and begins to count off a number of other nations ruled by a royal family.
He finishes after about 20, then looks sternly at the hooded man, "Speak plainly, now. Which Crown do you mean?"
Tuk nods at Jasper's observation, "Cormyn...maybe. But then there's also..." he says, and begins to count off a number of other nations ruled by a royal family.
He finishes after about 20, then looks sternly at the hooded man,