Arando's page

Yea, let's go. Sorry, I'm out of it today.

As their meal is consumed, Jeorik pays for the food.

"I suppose we should back to the courthouse. It was good to meet you," he says to Darvyl, "And maybe soon we will find ourselves fighting on the same side."

"Coming Arando?"

If either Darvyl or Arando think there was something else that needed to be said, feel free to retroactively add it. :)

Yes, let's go.

CrimsonDM wrote:

Finally after the complaint is read, the court adjourns for

lunch, inviting Dorman, Garven and their counsels into

chambers.

Since it seems he is not invited to lunch with his uncle, Jeorik seeks for sustenance elsewhere, looking for an opportune moment to talk with the individual, Darvyl he believes was the name, his uncle had pointed out to him. He asks Arando if he wishes to accompany him.

Arando will sleep until awakened.

Arando will move over to help Jeorik with the mule, listening closely for Dorman's answer.

As his uncle talks, Jeorik begins to ease Pax's load, feeling a little sorry for his mule.

"It sounds like a long thought out plan to ruin you," says Jeorik, to show he is paying attention "Is there a reason for this animus? Or is the man just a villain who has set his sights on you?"

A moment later he adds, "Aside from defending yourself legally, what are the other options opened to you? How does one go about finding a ship at sea?"

"Good idea." I will check the windows.

Dorman is happy to see you back, but takes your news with a sober face. "A forgery, eh? I thought as much. Fellstone has no scruples."

"And you, sir," he addresses Keliwyn. "I would be glad of any aid you may provide. I'm having an early supper before meeting my barrister this evening. Will you eat with us? "

"Arando, you're welcome too. It might be safer if you stayed with us. You seem to have become their next target."

Dorman gathers up his cape and rapier and asks Arando to check the windows.

"Hello." "She said the document is a forgery."

you get safely back to Dorman's. I'll try to notify CHris.

Arando will keep a look out too, especially as we near Dorman's.

Jeorik walks a little easier as they return to his uncle's place with their report, but he still scrutinizes his surroundings, just in case.

Fast forwarding is fine at the DM's discretion.

"Who is this Fellstone person?"

Arando wrote:

Arando accepts the letter, waiting to hear the answer to Jeorik's question.

Jeorik Vandor wrote:

"Is Garvin Fellstone the same man as Garvin Fellrock ," asks Jeorik, breaking his silence.

Yes, that's what I get for working without my notes. It should be Fellstone. No Fellrocks in this campaign. Though I will keep it in mind. It's no more lame than most of my attempts. Sorry.

Arando accepts the letter, waiting to hear the answer to Jeorik's question.

"Is Garvin Fellstone the same man as Garvin Fellrock ," asks Jeorik, breaking his silence.

Still in elvish:

"Your pardon, please, sir, but we have been threatened and attacked today, and are wary of enemies. We are come on an errand from Dorman Vander and require the good lady's professional services. We wish no one ill."

Jeorik Vandor wrote:

"Greetings, good sir," says Jeorik to the elf, sheathing his sword, "I am Jeorik Vandor, nephew of Dorman Vandor and this is Arando. My uncle has sent us with something for Cygney Greenlake. Is she in?"

"I am more interested in your intentions than your names, gentlemen," Keliwyn answers. "While I don't involve myself in Cygney's (nodding toward Cygney) business, I am left to wonder why you would call upon her with your sword drawn, only to be sheathed when someone else answers your knock. She's a dear friend, and if you wish her ill, it will be ill that will be visited on you."

Eager to practice actually speaking elvish, Arando says, in carefully pronounced and over-formal elvish:

"Greetings, sir, well beheld!"

Jeorik Vandor wrote:

CrimsonDM wrote:

Creak goes the squeaky staircase. That gets you to Cygney's door

Knock, knock, knock.

Arando wrote:

Arando waits eagerly/nervously as Jeorik knocks on the door.

Jeorik and Arando: spoiler 1.** spoiler omitted **

Spoiler 2. Read this after spoiler 1. ** spoiler omitted **

Arando waits eagerly/nervously as Jeorik knocks on the door.

Jeorik Vandor wrote:

"I'll go first," says Jeorik, and drawing his sword he starts slowly up the stairs, ears and eyes straining for any possible trouble.

Jeorik and Arando:

** spoiler omitted **

Do we make it to Cygney Greenlake's? What do we find when we arrive?

Looking into the street first, Arondo heads out for the scribe's premises.

"I guess you don't know much more of what's going on here than I do, Jeorik. Your uncle has done me some good turns, and I don't much like these enemies of his, but I'm not sure any of this is worth dying for, at least not for me. Maybe we can find out what's in this envelope, when we get there."

Jeorik grabs some food, and then arming himself with sword and bow, he motions to Arando that he is ready to go.

"Let us be on our way then, good Arando. I shall follow at your heels."

Jeorik assumes Arando knows the way and will allow the other to take the role of guide.

(Resignedly) "I already asked my questions."

(First a corrective note: Lars' weapons were a large hardwood truncheon and a large hunting knife, bordering on being a thin short sword.)

Jeorik wrote:

Sense Motive: (1d20=13)

Jeorik,** spoiler omitted **

Jeorik wrote:

"There's never a dull moment around here, is there?"

Dorman locks the crossbow, sets it down on a low table running along the wall, and takes a chair. Arando, this may be the first time you've seen your employer actually sit at a table. He glances at the two of you and then at the two chairs. It's an invitation.

"It's like to get more interesting yet, m'boy. While you and Arando here were distracting him, I was checking through Lars's pouches. I've come to find three reasons that you will meet him again, and sooner more than likely.

"First, he isn't merely taking Qat. He is selling it, and without a tax stamp. I found three sealed and unstamped packages of it, each a couple of days old. That identifies him with a certain stratum of the city's lower lifestyles."

Dorman reaches into a vest pouch and withdraws a small square of parchment, folded into fourths. "Second, he was carrying papers that suggest he's party to one of my larger problems." As he talks, he reaches behind him for a small writing desk, from which he withdraws a candle, an envelope, and a well-used block of blue sealing wax.

"Once he realizes I've liberated this little document, he'll be eager to have it back." Dorman slides the folded paper into the envelope, lights the candle, and begins to melt the blue wax in its flames.

"Having said that, however, I must also mention that my opponent in these matters either...

"Yea, let's go. I should have MY crossbow. It's not really the law I'm worried about."

[my languages are posted!! Under 'languages.' Of course I read elvish.]

Dorman Vander, Sea Merchant wrote:

"Now," he says relaxing, "are there any questions?" He asks it as if it were a test, as if there were something he deliberately left out.

Jeorik scratches the back of his head and sits.

"I don't mind escorting Arando for you sir. But I do have a few questions I guess. First, you said there were three reasons that Lars would be back after us but I only caught two of them? Secondly, you seem to know who's behind your recent problems. I might be more comfortable if I knew. Thirdly and perhaps of least importance... I haven't eaten much but trail rations today. Do you mind if I have a bite of food before we set out?"

"Oh... and what is the law on self defense in Korvosa?" Jeorik grins, "I don't rightly want my blood spilt but I'm not looking to get myself hanged either."

[I have a 4 for sense motive. I'm guessing that ain't gonna cut it.]

"Who are these people? And what are hell knights? I appreciate all you've done for me, Sir, but this is getting to be a bit much."

I will go to the door and remove the bolt.

The man at the door is about to take a step inside. This won't be good for Jeorik, because then he won't have the cover of the wall, and if he tries to move away from the swordsman to help Arando, he'll provoke an Attack of Opportunity for moving out of a threatened space.

A crossbow bolt from the side of the room lands in the door mantle. Crossbows are capable of hitting people from a distance of two city blocks, and this one fired from the doorway into Dorman Vander's office, only 20' away. The bolt tears into the hardwood mantle and embeds itself eight inches deep. Both Jeorik and the swordsman reflexively step back.

Dorman is standing in the doorway to his office, holding the weapon in both hands. The crossbow is larger than any Jeorik has ever seen, a full two feet wide, and weighing 10 pounds or more. While the top bowstring has fired, a second bolt is locked into a lower bow running along the bottom of the barrel.

He doesn't look happy. At all.

"Surely, this is a mistake," he says, icily. "I would not believe that a stranger would dare to set foot in my warehouse, arms drawn against my guests, particularly when the Watch has already been called.

"Perhaps you're hoping that the Hellknights would get here before the Guard? I'm sure they'llbe sympathetic to your situation."

Jeorik, Arando, please make a Sense Motive roll.

The swordsman at the door --given a moment's breathing space, you realize that, like the captured thug, he's shaved his head; the two sleeping men outside both have dirty brown hair-- protests. "You kidnapped Lars. We were rescuing him."

Dorman doesn't even crack a smile. "Lars here was a guest we invited in to share our meal. He has been free to go whenever he wished.

"Lars, your friends are rude, and we are offended. You are no longer welcome here, and they never were. Take your boots, and your weapons, and this..." he says, throwing the captured thug his belt and pouch, "...and be off with you. Leave the silverware, please."...

Expecting Jeorik to deal with the captured thug, I want to concentrate on the men at the door, as I originally implied. (I think this is a good gamble, as it could end the encounter immediately)

Arando wrote:

Spot: 19! My intention is to cast sleep (4 hit dice of things go into magical slumber) on the men in the door.

Arando, the result of your Spot check:

** spoiler omitted **

Sleep is an excellent choice. Did you want to exclude the guy with the knife standing right next to you from the area of effect?

If you begin a spell, particularly sleep which takes a little longer to cast than most spells, you might be attacked before the incantation is complete. (Indeed, just standing there and casting would allow the captured thug an attack-of-opportunity (AoO) against you.) You can avoid the AoO by "casting defensively", which requires a Concentration check with a DC of 16 (15 + spell level). (If someone else does get to attack you normally during your casting, you'll need to make another Concentration check to keep the spellcasting going.)

The downside to casting defensively is that if the Concentration check fails, the spell doesn't go off. (You're too busy thinking about dodging incoming attacks, and forget to pay attention to actually casting the spell.)

Do you want to devote all your attention to casting sleep, or do you want to cast defensively?

Jeorik Vandor wrote:

Sense Motive: (1d20=12)

Jeorik draws his sword and readies himself to recieve a charge. (Instead of charging into battle he will prepare to attack the first that charges him; assuming Jeorik has the initiative advantage of course. )

Jeorik, the result of your Sense Motive check:

** spoiler omitted **

"Charging" is a...

Spot: 19! My intention is to cast sleep (4 hit dice of things go into magical slumber) on the men in the door.

Jeorik Vandor wrote:

"Why all the animosity," Jeorik asks the seated thug, "Who are you working for?"

"The winning side, country boy. Hey, what's Vander payin' you? I'll guarantee, come next week, he'll be in no shape to pay you a stinkin' copper. Why don't you come over to where the smart money is?"

Arando wrote:

"You don't know anything, huh? They probably only hired you because they couldn't afford a dog."

Jeorik moves near to the door.

Arando faces the door and prepares himself.

There's a blow at the door that tears the simple wooden bolt out of the wall. The bolt goes flying across the room, missing Arando's head by a half-inch, and clatters against the far wall.

The door to the street is now wide open.

There are three men blocking the doorway. All of them have weapons drawn: two have swords, and one wields a 30-pound hammer. The man you're questioning stands and grabs for the carving knife on the table. He acts as if he were furious at Arando.

"Couldn't afford a dog, eh? Well, when I'm done with you, little wizard, you'll be dog meat!"

(Arando, the weapons you took off the thug were a shortsword and a dull-bladed dagger, both in poor upkeep.)

Both of you, please make either a Spot or Sense Motive roll, your choice, and announce your intentions. We may be getting into a melee.

"You don't know anything, huh? They probably only hired you because they couldn't afford a dog."

I will face the door and prepare myself. (What weapons did the thug have?)

Arando wrote:

"If you won't tell me what you're talking about, why should I listen to you?"

The man stops looking at Jeorik, and slowly turns to Arando.

"You had your chance, little wizard. We toldyou to wise up and make yourself scarce. Today's your last day working for Vander. Tomorrow, you'll either be chatting with Faelar or Malkarnen. Your choice."

Outside, you hear the clatter of several hard boots, rushing up to the door.

For Arando:
** spoiler omitted **

"If we're in the middle of it, then we DO want to know about it. If you won't tell me what you're talking about, why should I listen to you? So what is it you think I'm in the middle of?"

Jeorik Vandor wrote:

"So what's this all about anyway? I'm new to the city."

"Hired muscle, eh? Well, take my advice, country boy. You're in the middle of something you don't want to know nothing about, and you're on the wrong side. Ask the little wizard here. Ask him how many guys Vander had last season. Ask him how many they got now.

"Answer is, two more than there'll be tomorrow."

I get down on the floor and pull off his boots, looking for any weapons I can see on him from down here. I'll put his boots by the back door.
"Who do you think this guy works for?"

Arando wrote:

"I think someone went for the Guard."

Jeorik Vandor wrote:

"Should we tie him up? Or bring him around? I assume you have a plan for dealing with trouble from the guard?"

Dorman looks a little surprised, and tosses Jeorik a damp cleaning rag. "Clean him up a little, disarm him, and," he adds, turning to Arando, "remove his boots. Make sure his weapons are well out of arm's reach, and place his boots back by the door. One of you, stand next to him, ready to restrain him if he tries to rise.

"If he does attempt something foolish, only then will we bind him. If he's got any sense in his head, it won't come to that.

"And, incidentally, the city guard is the least of our worries." The old merchant glances sidewise out the back doors of the warehouse, towards the docks. "This is Korvosa, lad. One way or another, this man will be long gone by the time they arrive."

I drag him to the chair (hopefully Jeorik helps), saying, "I think someone went for the Guard."

As you enter Dorman's warehouse, you see that the merchant has already set out lunch. The bread on the table smells fresh-made and delicious. Dorman's already sliced up some fowl and goat-cheese.

He turns to you as you enter and gestures with the carving knife at one of the chairs set around the table; the only chair with armrests.

"Good work. Set him up there and get him cleaned off and ready. Be quick about it; we haven't much time."

[yes, dodging is definitely the play]

"It's all right, Steppen, we're heading off trouble before it starts."

Arando will help Jeorik with the unconscious man, to get him inside as quickly as possible.

Arando wrote:

[it strikes me as unlikely that Arando can stop a large unconscious man from hitting the ground]

Does that mean you're dodging him as he falls?

There are onlookers, and one of them, a local shopkeeper named Steppen known to Arando approaches wringing his pudgy hands.

"Arando, what are you doing? What's going on?"

Some others mutter darkly. Someone mentions "the Guard" . One sprightly lad dashes away from the scene.

[it strikes me as unlikely that Arando can stop a large unconscious man from hitting the ground]

"Good hit, Jeorik! Let's drag him across the street."

Jeorik and Arando:

Arando I know you've got an action coming, but to keep things moving I'll just work from Jeorik's. The end will be the same.

Jeorik Vandor wrote:

Jeorik winces and then, letting his training take over he instinctively lashes out again, his weighted leather glove making a beautiful flat arc towards his opponent.

[/url]

The glove hits the thug in the temple. He staggers back, falling toward Arando.

The thug is knocked out. What's the DC to catch 200+ pounds of meat?

When he can, Arando will attempt to grab the thug's shoulders and hold him for Jeorik.

If I need another initiative roll, I have whopping 7.

for the attack, a monstrous 8.

I don't know if I get to attack again before the thug but if not the DM can move this attack to the right spot in the round.

Attack: (1d20+3=6)

Jeorik attempts to strike again but the glove turns wrong in his hand and he mistimes his blow.

[repeating yesterday's post:]

Initiative: (Believe it or not, I rolled a) 22(!)

I will hasten my approach, extending my right hand it what will hopefully look like a friendly gesture. I will attempt to deliver touch of fatigue.

(On the off chance I should roll on the attempt, I have a . . . 17 (!)
(My d20 is hot tonight! I'm sure I'll pay for it later.)

Jeorik Vandor wrote:

Jeorik rushes the tough from behind, using his weighted glove as a sap.

I didn't subtract for using a makeshift weapon on attack but I think the dice were likely good enough. A normal sap does 1d6, I wasn't sure what DM would rule but guessed at 1d4.

Facing Arando, the thug is surprised by the attack from behind. He is still standing, but dazed. Waiting for Arando's action. (He wins the initiative tie based on dexterity.)

I was going to go -2 to hit. 1d6-1 on damage. Sap is subdual damge, right? Your rolls are good enough as they stand.

(Believe it or not, I rolled a 22!)

I will hasten my approach, extending my right hand it what will hopefully look like a friendly gesture. I will attempt to deliver touch of fatigue.

(On the off chance I should roll on the attempt, I have a . . . 17 (!)
(My d20 is hot tonight! I'm sure I'll pay for it later.)

Arando wrote:

How close can I approach unnoticed?

This mornings reply was eaten by a ferocious Paizo boardmuncher. And then work began.

Arando makes it to within 15'. The tough jerks upright as if he had been dozing off, glances around and spots you. He does a double take between you and Dorman's front door.

initiative: roll a d20 + dex modifier (+ improved intiative if you took that feat). Thug will go on 17. Typically in the "surprise round" only "partial actions" (a move, draw a weapon, make an attack) will take place. Regular rounds will be "standard actions", typically move and attack, or draw a weapon and attack. Since Arando and Jeorik are ready, you may have standard actions in this round.

The thug squares up to face Arando before wittily engaging conversationally, "Huh? -- How'd ...."

How close can I approach unnoticed?

The tough continues to look fixedly at Dorman's, oblivious to anything else.

From the north. I'll look for a group of people to walk behind, the best available to make me inconspicuous.

Arando/Jeorik:

Milk Street runs north to south. 25' wide. Your alley is on the south side of Dorman's building which is on the east side of the street. The mark is 15' north of the alley across the street. Cross streets to Milk are 45' south and 60' north of the alley. There are no other alleys in this stretch of Milk Street, but a number of doorways. Light passing traffic on foot, two vendor carts in the middle of the street 30 and 40' north of the alley.

Arando, are you coming from the north or south?

Arando will go around the block to approach the mark indirectly. He will try to remain inconspicous among the traffic, as much as possible.

CrimsonDM wrote:

Jeorik, Arando:

The mark is a big man, shaven head, dressed in studded leather. He is carrying a heavy walking stick, a large knife is at his belt. He is directly across from Dorman's front door and stares intently at Dorman's facade.

What is the distance, roughly, between the corner of the alley and the big man across the street?

"He will recognize me, Jeorik, I think I should go around the block and come a direction he isn't watching."

Jeorik, Arando:

You're standing in the side alley. Moving toward the front of Dorman's building will bring you out on Milk Street. Moving toward the back will bring you to a parallel street.

Arando slips out the window after Jeorik. Looking around, he quietly asks Jeorik, "What do you think?"

Jeorik looks at Arando, wondering at his enthusiasm, and then with a rueful grin he examines the window.

At the appointed hour he does as his uncle suggests and jumps softly to the ground below. He waits for Arando to join him and takes stock of the area around him, trying to judge the best way to sneak upon his assigned prey.

"Yes! Let's get him! He ticked me off."

Arando wrote:

"He's been watching from across the street. He told me it would be 'unhealty' for me to keep working for you. I'm sure he is an enemy of yours - I was hoping you could tell me who he is, so I'd have a better idea how to deal with him."

Dorman's eyebrows rise. "He's still there, across the street?

"Jeorik, what say you to a hunt? Arando, would you care to join my nephew in apprehending the man you speak of?"

"He's been watching from across the street. He told me it would be 'unhealty' for me to keep working for you. I'm sure he is an enemy of yours - I was hoping you could tell me who he is, so I'd have a better idea how to deal with him."

Watering the mule, Arando says, "I've been wanting to talk to you, about a big bald guy who tried to intimidate me, and has been watching me. I'm wondering if you know who he is?"

Arando decides to ignore the hulking menace for now, and knocks on Dorman's door . . .

I honestly don't know what that means . . .

Arando wrote:

Huh?

Through the magic of cinema, you have been teleported to the front door of Dorman's place where there is a young man (with a mule) staring at you asking about the whereabouts of Dorman Vandor.

As you greet him you must also make a spot check.

Huh?

Arando wrote:

TODAY, Arando is looking for Dorman Vandor. Is he around?

Dorman is not in yet. Spot check 12 please

TODAY, Arando is looking for Dorman Vandor. Is he around?

Arando heads eagerly to work the next morning, hoping to talk with his employer . . .

Not sure what to make of this encounter, Arando walks slowly home, lost in thought. He will speak to Dorman in the morning, when he's had time to decide what to say.