Unfortunately, I am dropping out of all my PbP games (with the exception of the one I am running), so will not be able to continue playing with you.
Both my professional and my personal lives have taken a turn, becoming increasingly busier and demanding for the last couple of months - I have been struggling to keep up, and I do not see any chance of improvement anytime soon. I need to make room for these other demands and priorities, and PbP will have to take the brunt of the hit.
The only thing I can say is thank you for a great game and a great time while it lasted. Hope you manage to continue the story without me.
I am back, so just throwing out some added details about the results of the rolls Khamul kindly did for me (thanks by the way). Also Grenz would cast Mage Armor from his wand and Rage.
Combat adjustments and such:
All hit numbers are correct, since the Rage offsets my Combat Expertise. Damage should be:
Attack from surprise = 15 points of damage.
Round 1
Attack A: 21 points of damage
Attack B: 14 points of damage.
Defense Rolls should have an extra +6 from Mage Armor and Combat Expertise. So:
Grenz smiled at the boys all around them, and kept nodding a positive reinforcement as they spoke - "You have done great so far, now eat up" - he added, making sure they had more than enough to eat and drink - "Remember to stay smart, use your heads, and don't get too cocky" - he added - "That's how you lose fights"
---
"I agree" - Grenz nodded at Khamul after the kids left - "I am also confused regarding the whole Maisie vs Maeve thing, but we can look into that after"
Meaning I, as a player, do not remember the distinction - but I will go through the thread and check.
Lets visit the Sawmill during the night. Shopping also sounds good - I am sure I can look for something interesting for Grenz - I think he can still use a Cloak of Resistance at least. No breaking and entering :P
"I can understand he does not want to share all he knows with us, but I agree with you - something is off" - Grenz nodded at Khamul after they exited - "I just do not know yet if there is anything we can do to prove it. And also if we could. Who would listen?"
Yeah, I would like to bring them along with us wherever we go, and keep them in the background, perhaps gathering intel and/or managing resources and logistics, stuff like that. The way Grenz sees it, they are orphans and have no one to take care of them, so they might as well stay with us.
Imagine we have to travel to another location, and enter some 'dungeon' - we can leave the kids 'in town/village' while we go there and do our investigation, since I am not interested in placing them in direct danger. They can stay in the background during those periods.
If as we move along, they reveal to have special skills or capabilities, maybe they can become Cohorts or Followers?
If this all seems too much of an hassle or too dangerous, I am also ok with us finding a place for them to grow in peace, maybe a temple or an orphanage, where they can learn a craft and so forth.
Heads up in advance I will be traveling on vacation from the 31st of August to the 11th September. Will be hard to drag me away from the Sun, so please feel free to bot me as needed :D
Grenz cracks his neck with some concern, then orders a hearty breakfast for the three boys - "This is no game children - danger abounds" - he shakes his head, taking a sidelong glance at Khamul, then back at the boys - "Though we might be able to use your help. You would need to be discrete and undetectable"
I am travelling until Aug 14th. I should be able to post, but things may be sporadic...
Safe travels Khamul! I am unable to post in Discussion for some reason. I click submit post and nothing happens.
Grenz saw the situation quickly deteriorating. The men weren't buying his act, and one of them was clearly preparing for trouble.
With that, Grenz took a step back, putting his hands up in a gesture of surrender. “Alright, alright, no need to get rough,” he said, trying to sound as non-threatening as possible. He started to back away slowly, keeping his eyes on the group and ready to move quickly if they decided to follow.
Grenz nodded, cracking his knuckles as he prepared himself. "Alright, I’ll give them something to focus on. Just be quick with that charm. This could get ugly fast."
He took a deep breath, stepping out from the shadows and putting on the air of someone who's had one too many drinks. Staggering slightly, he approached the group of men with an exaggerated sway, doing his best to channel the persona of a rowdy street brawler looking for trouble. His voice boomed out as he got closer.
"Hey! What’s going on here? This mill looks like it’s seen better days—didn’t think anyone would be hanging around this dump at this time of night!" Grenz slurred his words just enough to sound convincing but kept his eyes sharp, ready to react if things went sideways. He waved an arm as if to catch his balance, stumbling a bit closer to the men.
"I was just looking for a drink, but this place caught my eye. You lot having a game or something? Mind if I join? I could use a bit of fun."
As he spoke, Grenz made sure to keep the attention on himself, giving Khamul the chance to sneak up and work his magic. Inside, he braced himself for a fight, knowing his bluff wasn’t foolproof but hoping it would be enough to buy them some time.
Grenz studied Khamul's sketch, nodding appreciatively. "You've got it pretty spot-on," he remarked, still feeling the mental residue of their encounter with the creature.
"Finding the old lumber mill shouldn't be too hard. We can ask around discreetly, and someone here might point us in the right direction."
Grenz listened to Khamul’s words and then responded, his tone calm yet resolute. "I hear you, Khamul. I know it was risky, and I get that we were in a vulnerable spot. But I’m trying to be a better person, to make choices that don’t involve dealing with those who can’t be straight about their motives. Even for information, negotiating with something like that feels dangerous and wrong."
He paused, reflecting on his past. "I wasn’t trying to be a hero or a noble. My years as a street brawler taught me to fight when needed, but also to know when a deal smelled rotten. I’ve seen too many end up worse off because they took the easy path, trusting the wrong sort. I'm trying to avoid getting us tangled in deals we’ll regret."
Grenz then added, "And don't forget, that creature was prying into our brains. Who knows what else it might have found or what it can discover if we keep engaging with it? It’s bad enough talking to something that shady; it’s worse when it can pull more from us than we intend to share."
He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Let's head back to the Laughing Dragon. I’m with you on sketching that thing for Jarlsprocket. But breaking into Pug's Contraptions isn't a line I'm willing to cross. I don’t want to add any more trouble to our plates. We can find out what we need another way. If you still want to check out the lumber mill, though, I'm game for that. Feels like a safer bet than the docks right now. But I’m open to what you think."
Grenz’s eyes narrowed as he absorbed the creature’s response. The revelation about the Thassilonian Empire and the Sihedron symbol added layers to their predicament, but it also raised more questions.
Taking a deep breath, Grenz maintained his firm stance. “You claim to want to preserve the status quo, to protect Magnimar from a greater evil. I can understand the value in maintaining order, even if it means tolerating some corruption. But your motives, while clearer, still seem rooted in self-preservation. You offer a reward or a favor in return for our help. These terms, though tempting, come with the price of not knowing who we are truly assisting. A price I am not willing to pay”
He glanced at Khamul, sensing his companion’s unease, then back to the creature. “If we might have common adversaries, it is only because we might apparently share the goal of protecting the people of this city. So thank you for your words of heed and caution, but let us each follow our own separate paths, and hope they do not put us at odds in the future”
With that, he turned to leave, motioning for Khamul to follow, ready to exit the creature’s lair and regroup.
"I would know your own motives in this city, before anything else" - Grenz grunted - "I have rarely seen much good coming out of any choices which involve siding with the 'lesser evil', and that seems exactly what you are enticing us to do"
He tried to remain firm - "Speak plainly about what are your interests and motivations in all of this - no more half truths and there may be an opportunity to continue this conversation. Otherwise, as far as I am concerned, we are done. I am not interested in making deals in the dark, with those I know nothing about"
Grenz trudged through the murky waters of the Drowned Rat's cellar with Khamul, trying to ignore the unpleasant sensations and the stench. As they reached the makeshift throne room and saw the creature, he felt a shiver of both fear and intrigue. The creature's appearance was unsettling, its alabaster skin and multiple red eyes marking it as something out of a nightmare. When its voice echoed in his mind, the pain in his temples confirmed the entity's psychic abilities.
Listening to Khamul's composed response, Grenz took a moment to gather his thoughts, then spoke, his voice steady despite the anxiety gnawing at him.
"Your offer of assistance is intriguing," Grenz began, his eyes fixed on the creature. "But you'll have to forgive our skepticism. What exactly is this 'grand plan' you speak of? And why would you want to help us escape it?"
He paused, his mind racing with the possibilities. "We're not here to interfere without reason, we're willing to listen. But we need to know the full extent of what we're dealing with."
Grenz took in Maeve's departure with a mixture of relief and concern. He hadn't anticipated her touching gesture or the hint of vulnerability she'd revealed. As Maeve stood to leave, Grenz caught her gaze one last time.
"Maeve, thank you for sharing that with me. I'm glad you're doing well now," he said earnestly, letting her hand slip from his. His mind was buzzing with thoughts about the Red Bishop and the unsettling implications of shapeshifters mingling with humans.
Once she was gone, Grenz turned to Khamul, his expression serious. "Good to know Maeve wasn't magically influenced, but the idea of shapeshifters using deception to this extent is troubling. We'll definitely need to consult with Jarlsprocket again. As for your dark question, let's hope it doesn't come to that" Grenz replied, his voice low with concern.
"We should wait for Scraps to return with Jess's information. Hopefully, it sheds some light on this mess," he added, glancing towards the door expectantly.
No more break-ins. Grenz will not go along with another one of those without proof :P
Grenz listened intently to Maeve’s words, his brow furrowing in concern. “I’m sorry to hear about your parents.”
He paused, glancing at Khamul briefly before continuing, “Thank you for arranging the meeting with the Justice. We’ll be there.”
Looking back at Maeve, he added, “It’s troubling about the prisoner. Do you think the Justice might share the records of the interrogation with us? We might find something useful in his exact words about this ‘Red Bishop.’”
Grenz leaned in, his voice softening, “And Maeve, if you ever need anything, just let us know. We’re in this together.”
Grenz gave Khamul a subtle nod, ready to play his part. Bluffing wasn’t his strong suit, so he decided to focus on Maeve, studying the lines of her face and the intensity in her eyes.
“Maeve, it’s good to see you,” he began, his voice genuine. Leaning in slightly, his eyes locked onto hers, trying to convey his sincerity, “I have never asked you this, so it is fine if you would rather not answer, but... What brought you to Magnimar in the first place? Have you always lived here?”.
His questions aimed to draw Maeve’s attention, perhaps even make her slightly uncomfortable an distracted. Though Grenz is honestly curious.
He glanced around, ensuring they weren't being overheard, then continued in a lowered voice, "The plan with the charm sounds solid. I’ll be ready to create a distraction when you pour the tea"
Pausing, Grenz thoughtfully added, "Besides the prisoner and Lord Foxglove's case, maybe we can ask her also about the Sihedron symbols popping around? With her ties to the Justice's office, maybe she has heard something about it?"
Grenz nodded in agreement as Khamul laid out the plan. He glanced at Scraps, now looking much more presentable, and gave a satisfied grunt.
"Alright, Scraps, you've done good so far. But this is where it gets tricky."
He leaned in closer, his gaze intense. "You stick with us, and we'll keep you safe. But you need to keep your eyes and ears open, especially around Jess. Anything she knows about these black feathers could be the key to stopping this madness."
"When you get to the Tipped Keg, wait for us outside, stay out of sight, but keep alert."
He clapped a hand on Scraps' shoulder, firm but not unkind, and straightened up. "What do you say?"
Grenz listened to the boy's account with a stern expression, his eyes narrowing at the mention of the clocktower and Master Raven's methods. He gave a curt nod to Khamul, then turned his focus back to the boy.
"Alright, kid, you're giving us good information. We will do our best to make sure you stay safe. You're part of this now, whether you like it or not"
He crossed his arms, muscles tensing as he considered their next steps.
"First thing like Khamul has said, we need to get you cleaned up and outfitted properly. Can't have you looking like you just crawled out of an alley."
Scourge, perched on Grenz's shoulder, nudged his ear with his tiny nose, seeming to agree.
"Scourge here will keep an eye on you. You're not alone in this, understood? And do you have a name?"
@Khamul, I've got no additions. We still need an answer on the feathers thing. Lets see.
Hopefully keeping us going without further interruptions...
I try my best ;)
Grenz listened to the boy's story with a stern expression, his eyes narrowing at the mention of Master Raven. He crossed his arms, muscles tensing as he considered the situation. He scanned the alley, ensuring they weren't being watched, then reinforced Khamul's words - "Look, kid, we're not here to make things harder for you. But if you're mixed up in something dangerous, we need to know. Not just for your sake, but for everyone's. So, be straight with us"
Scourge nudged Grenz's ear with his tiny nose, as if to emphasize the importance of the boy's next words - "Don't let this chance slip away. Make it count"
Grenz again crouched beside the unconscious boy, carefully checking his vitals. He murmured a quick prayer, letting divine energy flow through him as he placed a hand on the boy's forehead.
"Let's see if we can get him to wake up and talk"
He gave the boy a light shake - "Hey, kid, can you hear me? You're safe now. We just want to help you"
Idea was to take care of the possession first. Apart from that Grenz is not thinking from the perspective of 'what he does for us', but more on the possibility of offering guidance to a misguided youth? Who knows what happens from there? I don't. That is why it is fun :D
"I don't have answers for any of your questions Khamul, but I can take a look at him once we have some privacy"
"If he does not wake up, I can try divine healing on him, and maybe we will be able to have a word. I wonder if the kid really has anywhere to stay..."
Grenz snarls as the boy suddenly addresses them with a voice which is not his own, but he calms down as the child falls to the ground, immediately going to his side, and checking his vital signs.
"Agreed Khamul - do your thing. We need to take him somewhere safe"
Grenz stepped forward, his posture relaxed to appear non-threatening - "No need for guides or games today" - he replied - "Today I am here for information"
"I have noticed your tattoo, and I am seeking to understand its meaning. Not just the symbol itself, but what it represents for you and the others of your group who might bear it" - he continued - "And also where did you get it and why? Payment for the information is not a problem"
"Magic can only help of course, so we should try to explore that possibility" - Grenz nodded at his companion - "Don't count on me for slapping kids around though. I've already seen too much of that growing up" - he pondered - "If they jump us, I will defend myself, otherwise, and if your Magic does not provide us the info we need, I would suggest diplomacy"
Hela laughs. ”Yes, he is. Hadrian works for Justice Ironbriar as a troubleshooter. The Justice pays him well and though he is gone a lot, he sends me gifts all the time. Though, I think sometimes he is in a little over his head. He can’t tell me exactly what he does though. Legal propriety and some other stuff I don’t understand. Otherwise, I am healthy and this one,” she pats her belly, ”will be as strong as an owlbear.” She pauses, hugs Grenz again and then says, ”I should probably get back to cleaning up and you should probably get some sleep if you’re going to go fight monsters. Just don’t get yourself killed, and maybe, you know, stick around a bit longer here in Magnimar.”
"It was nice to see you, and I am sorry for the way I left last time" - Grenz smiled - "I am here for now, though I feel like my travels will not end here. The world is too big to always stay in the same place" - he added with a chuckle - "I understand that now. But trust I will do my best to not get killed yes"
DM ShadowBloodmoon wrote:
Magnimar is huge, there are over a hundred taverns alone! Take all the creative liberties you want in that arena. The Tipped Keg does offer tea and you vaguely remember Maeve having a cup of tea on her desk when you first met her.”
Once on the street, he finds an private corner and starts to plan with Grenz: "Ok, we have a widget to check Maeve for a charms and such. Shall we send her a note asking her to join us for tea? Heck, do you know someplace where would we set such a meeting up? Or maybe we want to to to here workplace? But how do we ensure she's drinking tea when we visit?"
"Tea?" - Grenz ponders - "Don't think I know any tea places, but some taverns will offer tea alongside other drinks - we can invite her to meet us at the Tipped Keg. It is not very far from where she works"
Taking some creative liberties here :P @Khamul: shouldn't we be going to the Clocktower? Otherwise the kids sounds like a good idea.
