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I'll start fishing for a replacement for Joy this afternoon. I'm rather busy this morning running errands and whatnot. Kamau's player is a personal friend of mine, so I'll kick him in the butt and get him back into things as well. Agreed on the holding pattern until Pyrrius gets back. You guys have a lot of planning and whatnot to do in the meantime anyway.
Sadly that does seem to be the case. While I haven't had as much time as I would've liked the last couple of weeks, I can't really handle the planning and information-gathering steps on behalf of the players. I need to know what you guys are planning to do before I can take steps to flesh out what happens. If even a couple of you can just decide how you want to proceed and express it in the game, I can keep things rolling, but this is a collaborative effort.
Haruk spends his day rather proactively circulating rumors of an undead fiend lurking the streets of Caliphas and generally sowing paranoia and fear in the population thereof. Pyrrius, however, spends his day traveling between several notable taverns in town with Kamau in tow acting as a guide to maximize the barrister's efficiency. Through a combination of eavesdropping and clever conversational cues, the pair are able to learn a significant amount of information about their quarry. Info on Dray:
1.) Xander Dray is a veteran hunter of the dead. Stories of his deeds go back as much as 25 years, suggesting a man of middle age and considerable experience. 2.) Xander is a foreigner who came to the Maiden's Choir as a young man from another temple. Many of the local Pharasmin faith find his interpretation of Pharasma's tenets to be unusual and he has had some disagreements with the senior clergy on more than one occasion. 3.) Xander was raised amongst the crusaders of Lastwall. As a boy, he trained as a squire to one of the knight-commanders stationed there. When the commander was slain by an orc raiding party, he took it upon himself to accompany the clerics of Pharasma who transported the body for burial to the commander's home in Andoran. 4.) Xander's indoctrination into the church of Pharasma occurred in Andoran where he spent most of his adolescent years. It is known that he harbors no love for Chelaxians as a result of the Andoran influence, but his hatred for the orcs who took his mentor from him burns brightest of all. That evening, the group gathers together back at Solace's shop around dinner time. Solace busies herself in the back room, making poultices and herbal extracts to replenish her stock after an unusual influx of local customers mumbling rumors about an undead creature on the loose...
For the record, the ring of counterspells is currently empty and thus able to receive a spell if anyone wants to put one in it. I expect the posting will slow down for the next few days as the majority of us will be involved in various holiday celebrations and whatnot. That is to be expected and I wish all of you a happy holiday, whatever your religious (or un-religious) affiliation may be. :D
Solace: While the nature of the glass-like dagger still eludes her, Solace is able to determine the properties of the rings once possessed by the late Pathfinder Milo: a ring of counterspells and a ring of protection +2.
I have added the target list and what (very limited) information you have on them at this time to the campaign tab, as requested.
The party variously dissembles into the night and rests without incident. After taking care of any early morning business they may have in the marketplaces, the group gathers back together at Solace's shop shortly after the lunch hour. The marketplace outside is in full swing and indeed, Solace's shop itself has the occasional visitor (though most do not linger long in spite of the somewhat claustrophobic atmosphere).
Haruk, three days without a post from you (particularly during a time in which the narrative is basically waiting on your reply) is not good. I understand if you're busy or something, but I did state early on that I wanted daily posting unless you know you're going to be out for awhile. I try not to be too much of a hardliner about it, but this isn't the first time. Are you going to be able to keep up with this?
It's been more than a day and a half since my update with no activity. What's going on, guys?
As Albrekt reaches out to the tiny doll to claim it, there is a knock at the door of the shop. With the windows shuttered and covered over, it is impossible to ascertain the identity of the visitor, but the knock is genial enough. It does not convey the urgency of a law enforcement agent seeking felons, for instance...
Pyrrius: IT IS TIME. ::cue evil laughter::
All is calm in the market square as the party assembles within the confines of Solace's modest shop. The aging wooden floor creeks slightly with the movements of those within and the wind can be heard whistling through the alleyways on either side. With the windows shuttered, the lantern's light seems to be holding back an almost oppressive darkness heightened moreso by the myriad scents that permeate the shop... scents reminiscent of grave soil, mildew, and decay with but a hint of flowers and greenery left untended.
Pyrrius: Pyrrius has been dispatched to the city of Caliphas in search of a Chelish sorcerer by the name of Haruk. Haruk's great-uncle, a rather well-known justice in the courts of Egorian by the name of Elos, has recently passed away and has chosen you to be the arbiter of his estate. The two of you worked closely for several years and Elos passed much of his considerable experience onto you as something of a protege. While the local relatives have already received their portion of the inheritance and the real estate property has been properly taxed and disseminated to Elos' closest family (with House Thrune receiving its entitlement, of course), Haruk has not yet received word of his great-uncle's death.
You are in possession of a copy of Elos' last will and testament, a large rod with a leering devil's head set in brass, a sealed letter, and a bag with 500 gold pieces inside. Your assignment, per the last wishes of your mentor, is to ensure that Haruk receives the items willed to him (the will, the wand, the letter, and the gold) and inquire as to his activities and assist in any way you are able. At present, Pyrrius has just arrived at a marketplace tavern called the Winter Wolf Inn. The townsfolk seem downtrodden and perhaps a bit on edge, many of them giving you strange looks as you entered. There is talk around the bar of an assassination recently, and further investigation finds mention of someone you recognize as Haruk being involved somehow. Confirming that Haruk was merely accompanied by others as they helped the victim to safety and not, in fact, the victim himself, you learn that one of the other parties involved in the getaway was an apothecary woman who operates a shop in this very marketplace. The villagers provide you with directions to her shop, and you are able to locate the establishment with the aid of a local thiefcatcher who is working the square that evening....
With a huff, the guard accepts the remainder of his bribe and returns to the checkpoint. The streets of Caliphas are remarkably silent and largely deserted at this time of night. A few wandering guard patrols are the only other people the group encounters on its way to the marketplace. Before long, they arrive at the market square where Solace's shop stands silently among its neighbors. In the marketplace itself, there are a few shops with lamps still burning within, their proprietors toiling through the evening to meet some deadline or special request of their customers. A man dressed in a dark grey cloak wanders the area, inspecting the sides of a few buildings and assessing various parts of the square with a careful eye.
The guard grumbles his acquiescence and accepts the first half of his payment from Haruk. Stepping into line once more, he escorts the group the rest of the way to the barred gates ahead, where two more castle guards stand watch. "Ho there, Sergei. What's all this about?" one of them calls out, seeing the group's approach. "This man is hurt," Sergei gestures to Albrekt. "They're bound for the apothecary's shop at the north market. All is well." Sergei's tone is somewhat less than enthusiastic, but he manages to be convincing enough. The other guards raise the barricade, allowing Sergei and the party to pass through. Sergei leads them across the road from the checkpoint, turns a corner out of sight, and immediately stops. "There. I want the rest of my payment now. You're on your own to get to the market, but the other patrols shouldn't give you any trouble unless you draw attention. I have to return to my post."
The guard stops in his tracks, turning slowly to regard the sorcerer. It doesn't take a trained eye to see the inner struggle within the young man's conscience. Finally, he looks towards Haruk's coin pouch and then to the fine silk robes he wears. "Fine. 20 gold pieces and I'll walk you right through those gates like nothing happened. Just keep your mouths shut," he glances back to Kamau, his brow furrowing again. "And you stay where I can see you."
The guard takes a step back from the fence, looking back and forth between Kamau and the others. GM Roll:
The guard continues to scowl, searching up and down the street for signs of other guards. Finding none, he lowers the tip of his sword reluctantly. "Move along then. The sooner you're gone the better." He resumes his role as shepherd, setting out ahead of the party but glancing over his shoulder to keep tabs on the group more frequently than before. He does not deign to sheathe his weapon and holds the torch higher now, its light casting long shadows into the castle courtyard as they pass. The journey is brief and uneventful and soon the guards posted at the opposite end of the castle square are visible from afar.
The guard looks between Haruk and Kamau, his scowl still readily apparent. "I don't buy it. Get back," the guard shoves Haruk away, gesturing to Albrekt and Solace with his sword. "Alright, then, you lot keep where I can see you and stay close together. We're going to take a walk down to the barracks and you can all pitch your little tale to the captain!" "And you," he turns quickly back to Kamau "best be getting over onto this side of the fence to join 'em unless you want your face plastered all over every wanted sign from here to Belkzen!"
I hadn't expected that Pyrrius would be introduced to the group as their court appointed attourney... ;)Really? I gotta say, that's exactly where I thought it was gonna end up. Well, that wasn't exactly how I had planned for it to go, but if it comes to that, it's certainly plausible.
...we seriously can't go more than thirty feet without annoying the police. Hehe. I've been rolling the contested Stealth/Perception for Kamau and the guards, giving Kamau an additional +5 for distance and darkness. Sometimes the guards are just good at what they're trained to do: looking out for people lurking in the darkness. :)
"You move in shadows and carry a bow on your back without regard for the laws of this city during a manhunt. You will not tell me what I do and do not need to know, Garundi. Name," his tone is harsher now, and his brow furrowed.
"Come towards the light," the guard orders, taking a few steps towards Kamau. He glances between Kamau and the others, sword still held at the ready. A heavy wrought iron fence separates the road from the rowhouses where Kamau currently stands in the alleyway. As the guard approaches with his torch, the long shadows of the bars dance eerily along the backs of the houses. Before long, the illumination falls upon the Garundi, his dark skin distinct even at the light's edge. The guard narrows his eyes at Kamau. "Your name," the guard says, less of a question and more of a command.
GM rolls:
Pursuit: . Stealth: . Perception: . The group passes through the castle square under the watchful eye of their escort. It seemed, for the moment, that they had managed to evade their pursuers. The night was quiet now, save for their own footsteps and the quiet crackle of the guard's torch burning. Perhaps halfway across the castle square, in the shadow of Castle Ordranti itself, the silence is abruptly broken. The sound of a few large stones falling clatters out from a nearby alley just on the other side of a wrought iron fence. The guard snaps out his sword in an instant, squinting into the darkness. "Who goes there?!" he calls out in a booming voice. Kamau:
The two guards exchange glances for a moment, the older one frowning deeply while the other one simply shrugs. "A were-rat? Here in Caliphas? You're absolutely certain?" Without really waiting for a response, the man bites his lip nervously and looks to his younger companion again. "Alright, fine, go on through... but Sergei will escort you. We can't have people in the castle square unattended." The younger man nods and lifts the barricade out of the path before gesturing the others through. The older man returns to his post with a scowl, muttering under his breath about were-rats. Once through the checkpoint, the younger man lowers the barricade and joins the group to lead them through the square.
The older guard looks Albrekt over, narrowing his eyes slightly, then looks back to the others. "What's wrong with him? He looks okay to me. We can't let anyone pass through the castle square, not at night like this. Either go back to your homes and wait until morning or head back through the rowhouses." The guard gestures back in the direction the party came from. The younger guard turns his attention away from the rooftops and looks to the group again, simply nodding to the older man's advice.
As the group approaches, the guards take note. While not hostile, the guards are most certainly on edge. One of them, a middle-aged man with a rather distinguishing scar across the bridge of his nose raises a hand. "Hold there. What's this all about then? You lot shouldn't be traipsing around at night, there's an assassin on the loose. Go back to your homes." The other guard, a bit younger and larger than the speaker, rests a hand on his sword and gazes out towards the neighboring buildings... scanning the rooftops in particular.
After a moment of deliberation, the party tears off into the night in the direction of Castle Ordranti with intentions on the marketplace beyond where Solace's shop lies. The hue and cry of the guards echoes behind them as they hustle along the cobblestone streets. The castle itself looms in the east, casting its long silhouette into the moonlit sky. GM rolls (AVERT THY EYES!):
Pursuit: . Stealth: . Perception: . Knowing that a mad dash through the late-night streets of Caliphas would draw too much attention, the group slows their retreat as they near a guard checkpoint at the southern end of the castle grounds. A pair of men clad in breastplates bearing the mark of Prince Ordranti stand vigil alongside large braziers on opposite sides of the street. It would be impossible to circumvent their post at this point without seeking to scramble along the nearby rooftops or double back into the arms of the party's pursuers...
Hang in there, Pyrrius! The time is soon at hand, I promise!
Kamau and anyone else who makes the DC 15 Perception check: Along the outer walls above the waterworks, the sound of armored footsteps are approaching and the distinctive glow of torches are coming with them. You estimate they are mere seconds from arriving on the scene.
Stepping back alongside the sorcerer, Albrekt brings his enchanted weapon to bear in a powerful downward arc. The leading edge of the blade strikes the young man in the temple at an angle, but his skull is nowhere near strong enough to mitigate the antipaladin's fury. The weapon rips straight through orbit and cartilage, bisecting the jaw, and tears still further into the upper torso. The blade finally comes to a halt somewhere in the guard's chest, the combined drag of armor, bone, and sinew ending its terrible momentum. With a wet ripping sound, the guard's corpse falls away from Albrekt's instrument of death, the two halves of his upper body hitting the cobblestones in a spray of crimson.
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