Twigs here. My first ever PbP was a curse of the crimson throne game. My GM killed off my family before the first dungeon was over, which said a thing or two about his plans for the longevity of his game which died soon after. Beyond that I cant remember much about it.
DM DoctorEvil wrote:
Foxglove gives a squeal as he sees the boar turn its dire eyes towards him. He has not readied his spear and instead looks ready to turn and run.
I've been debating whether to run the boar hunt or not, and this mental image more or less sealed the deal. Hell yes I'm going to run the boar hunt. In my head Aldern sounds exactly like Hugh Laurie
Twigs here. Thought I'd pop up a potential character. I played Henric in a CotCT game and I'd probably opt for a similar character build here, a rough and tumble longsword fighter who can grapple and picks up the Cosmopolitan feat to round out his skills.
Korvosa's a very different environment to Westcrown, and I'd probably steer away from playing the idealist with the polished-breastplate here. Henric would need a drastic reskinning (and likely a new alias) to fit, but at least it's something to share.
Henric's strained cheer has all but evaporated as he stands on his brothers doorstep, shaking his head. No. Not today. If he couldn't protect little Aaron from that man, he could at least protect his brother from the news... And how could he face him now?
Cursing his cowardice, he makes his way back towards the barracks. He stops at his favourite barber, appreciating the silence as the squint-eyed Half Orc, Ol' Hooktooth, quietly goes about his work. Leaving two silver on the counter he makes his way back to base, scraping the grime off of his boots, sharpening his blade and polishing his pauldrons to a mirror sheen. Satisfied, he dons his raiment, tracing his hand over the city motto. Trosker ep Styrk in the Ancient Taldane. Fidelity and Strength.
Head held high, he makes his way to the butchers with time to spare, scanning the crowd for Marcus.
Christ, that long? I thought he was just busy over the holidays.
$$$pP "Here." Henric hands you the box, tracing his fingers over the royal seal. "I'm sure the Bank of Abadar would like to get their hands on that gold." he adds, chuckling. "One would think the solid gold altar was enough... he says, almost cheerily.
Henric makes one last silent salute and makes through the door. He sags against the wall in the hallway. It's been a very long time since he slept. What time is it, Hector?
"We'll meet in Northgate in two hours. I have... some things I need to take care of."
Henric retreats to his quarters, dons his off-duty clothes and makes his way to a small smithy in South Dock, his face wooden and a sense of dread in his eyes. He cluthes something small in his fist.
"He's been profiting off of his position long before these riots... But to finally have an opportunity to flush him out..." he says, trailing off into a grin.
"If it's hard evidence you want, Field Marshall, I'm sure our newest prisoner will attest to the lucrative bribes he's been paying to have Verik turn a blind eye."
Henric looks somber as Cressedia makes her speech. "My loyalty remains here and with the people of fair Korvosa." he says, vigilantly. "I will double my shift until these riots are quelled, Commander."
Henric smiles inwardly, his formality slipping away. "Sabina! I didn't recognise you in the royal regalia. Good to see you!" he says, heartily, as his voice takes on a jeering note. "How's life off the streets?"
"I... must say, you look very familiar." Henric says, bewilderedly. Henric's chest puffs out at the word "hero".
"Introduced...? Surely there is no..." he bows low. "This is a great honour you bestow apon us. I am Henric, guardsman of Korvosa and protector of it's people."
Henric unbuckles his longsword, staring wistfully at the hilt... "My brother forged this for me." he says, to nobody in particular. "The hippogryphs were little Aaron's idea." he adds, tracing his hands along the pommel.
He smiles, mournfully and walks to the courtyard without a word.
"This broach was confiscated from a cache of stolen goods in the West Dock district. Our associates in the temple identified it as royal property." he frowns somewhat. Strictly speaking it isnt a lie."We thought it prudent to bring the item directly to her Majesty's palace, what with the current crisis."
Henric's eyes scour the battlements and the gates, looking for a familiar face. The guilt of being AWOL seems to be crushing him, and his expression appears desperate.
"I always said he had a little soldier in him... His father would be proud." he says, misty eyed. He absentmindedly ruffles her hair, staring at her distantly.
"Thank you, little Anca. I promise we'll keep you safe."
He stands. "Whatever we do, we can do it away from the dust and leaky ceiling. Let's find somewhere safe for the young ones, and I'll escort the prisoners to the citadel." he smiles wearily at the children. "Stay close, now."
As he walks through the streets, locked in the familiar dance his spirits return for a while, as well as his crusader's spirit. Before long he has a fire in his eyes and a spring in his step once more. "Let us hurry, I'm eager to do my part for fair Korvosa..."
Henric looks conflicted. "Would little Anca be safe inside the temple for now?" he mutters, grabbing Alexei by the shoulder. "The districts will be cordoned off. Bridges raised. Trying to get her out now will just put her at risk."
He stops, and kneels down by Anca, smiling at her gently "Little Aaron... Was he brave?"
Henric pales at the sight of the apparition. "I..." he grits his teeth and curses the gods under his breath. "Can we protect noone?" he mutters, solemnly, clutching the bracelet firmly in his fist.
He stares, distantly as she speaks, visibly paling at the sound... "I... yes. Make it quick."
He backs against the wall and glances towards the streets outside.
Henric steps in, gently pushing past the half elf and standing in harms way. "Sir. Stand down, and stop spouting nonsense or I WILL detain you." he says, firmly.
He leans in close, his voice taking a fervent, patriotic note. "In Cayden's name, show some backbone, man! You call yourself a Korvosan? The Great Fire, The Shoanti Wars... Gods know we've endured worse than this!" He draws himself away, the fire leaving his eyes. "Go home, lock your doors, and whatever you do, don't come outside."
Henric stares, slackjawed and speechless at the chaos around him. Weapon drawn, he takes a few meagre steps toward the hellknights, turns to the sound of screams in a nearby alleyway and then lunges out of the way of another unlucky rider.
Henric stays silent through the exchange. "The ghost?" he snaps. "When there are living people we could be helping?" He grits his teeth, expression softening in the face of his friends. He breathes out deeply. "I am sorry. You'll have to forgive this young fool." he says, apologetically. He stares distantly at Citadel Hill. "I don't know where my loyalties lie in this madness."
"I couldn't risk letting it fall onto Lamm's ears." he says, regretfully. "We had a job to do, first. But I owe it to my brother. To little Aaron..." he trails off at the sound of Dhan's voice...
As Lamm is struck down Henric drops to one knee and falls to one side, breathing heavily. He grins weakly at Alexei as he approaches. "We got him." he says, blearily.
The flesh around his wounds seals tightly around the bolts, and Henric winces in pain. He clasps Alexei's hand apprecieatively and picks himself up. He walks over to Lamm and places a boot on his chest. "Gaedrenn Lamm." he digs his heel into the mans chest. "It took some digging, alright. The kidnapping of the girls from the Meirani enclave..." he says, cocking a head towards Riel, "the Jeggare boy... Aaron son of Alaric..." he spits a bloody mess at Gaedren's feet. "A list of crimes older than me and only one short stint in our lovely citadel."
"I'll see you hang for what you've done, kidnapper." he says, binding Lamm's hands and feet, roughly. Satisfied, he turns for his comrade.
"My nephew, Alexei." he whispers, placing bloodied hands on Alexei's shoulders and looking at him pleadingly. "My nephew. Have you found him?"
I'm... hesitant to point this out, but Henric is still flatfooted. He hasn't acted yet, so Gaedrann can take another sneak attack (and that becomes a hit.) I'll roll it here. What happens with the bleed damage? Does it stack?
Sneak Attack 1d6 ⇒ 2
Leaving me at 1hp until I take that bleed damage. Yikes.
Henric stripped to his... Whatever goes under mail. A gambeson? This puts his current HP at 7, and his flatfooted AC at 12, (total 14).
Henric lets out a scream of pain, nearly dropping his weapon as blood spurts from his shoulder. He lets out a few laboured breaths and draws up to his full height. "Hold your fire! Come..." he winces. "Don't make this worse for yourself." he says, levelly. Gaedrenn knows the sentance for assault with a deadly weapon as well as he does. Torture. Twenty years or death. No appeal. He won't come quietly.
Henric will take a wide stance, shield high, and will move to back Lamm into a corner and protect his allies. I'll wait for the others to take their actions before I get ahead of myself.
Edit:I thought I'd post the initiative order for future reference. We got...
Gaedren
Marcus
Dhan
Alexei
Titus
Henric
Alatariel
Henric emerges from the water, dripping wet. He stands, shivering, and constantly glancing with the others. "He's surely ran himself into a corner by now..." he says, edgily. "Perhaps I should go back and look after the-" he sneezes, noisily and curses in a harsh whisper.
Henric will walk into the room and don the rusted shield. "Let's have it done, quickly." Henric will continue to move through the chamber, making for the next room.
It's no chainmail, but it'll have to do. Would this be a heavy or a light shield?
"Rope." he grunts. "Used my last manacles on patrol." Henric will grab the coil off of Alexei and rope him up tight.
Rope DC= 1d20 + 26 ⇒ (20) + 26 = 46
Satisfied, Henric throws the gnome over his shoulder and drops him near Giggles. "Sit tight. We'll be back for you."With that I'll head out to join the others and curse my armour check penalty.
"I was... never much of a swimmer." Henric says, unbuckling his armour. This will take a minute. Stripping down to his boots and his trousers, he steps to the side of the pool. "Let's get this over with." Longsword in one hand and badge in the other, he dives into the water.
And another with my AoO to pin, if this is breaking any rules, disregard it.
1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11
"Not so fast, scum." he says, pulling the Gnome's arm backward and placing a boot on his back. "Don't resist and I can promise you a fair trial. Another move like that and I'll hand you to the Hellknights. I hear Boneclaw himself oversees the torture..."
Henric places a hand on the Gnome's shoulder. "You say he can tell nothing but the truth?" Henric leans in, menacingly, gripping the gnome by the arm. "Have you harmed, stolen, or otherwise threatened any of these children?" he casts a cursory glance across the room, before tightening his grip. "Answer me!"
Intimidate 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9
Henric will ready a grapple attempt if he attempts to flee or make a hostile action.
Henric reaches for his belt knife, cuts a length of rope and hastily binds the half-orcs hands.
Combat Manuever 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23
"Stay alert." he says, clapping a hand on Alexei's back. "We've still got Lamm to flush out, remember?"
Henric will open the eastern door of the office warily, and step through to the boardwalk if the room is empty. Hopefully this answer's Titus' question.
I'll delay, for now. See where things are when Henric's turn rolls around. For now I'll probably push through the office and into the other room. As is I should be able to get in there with 20ft. of movement (provided no obstacles) and make an attack. Otherwise, here's my strength check against the door.
Hrm, okay, so it looks like Alexei will be getting two shots off before anyone else acts. Henric can enter melee to bullrush or set up a flank for Dhan, but he'll be getting in the way of Marcus' shot, but this way he'll still be flatfooted and we'll have room to surround him.
"Titus! Trouble!" Henric barks, turning and raising his weapon as Alexei fires his first shot. "Where are the others?" he mutters, cursing under his breath as he bolts for the southern doorway. "Kidnapping, consorting with a convicted criminal and intention to commit assault." he says, running at the half-orc. He bats his weapon away with his longsword, grabs him by the shoulder, and spins him into the far wall.
Bullrush against his flat-footed CMD (no dex bonus) 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11
If successful:
He tightens his grip at the convulted giggling. "I suggest you remain silent sir, lest these outbursts be used against you in a court of law."
If not:
Henric grabs the half-orc and begins to twist his arm, before being thrown back in a surprising burst of strength. He steps backward and grips his longsword in two hands. "If you continue to resist I won't hesitate to use lethal force."
"You three take the office door. We'll draw him out." he says, and waits until everyone is in position. I believe this puts Dhan, Riel and Nina in the office at the bottom-center of the map, hopefully undetected, and us at the door to the left. This doesn't really let us cut him off like I'd hoped, so fingers crossed I don't spook him.
He nods to Alexei and Titus, taking a deep breath. He runs over the procedure for a raid in his head. I'll make a profession check here, possibly for any knowledge or circumstance bonuses to our bluff.
Profession (solider) 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
He then raps on the warehouse door three times before barging through it sweeping along the right wall, weapon drawn and stopping at the office door.
"Come out in the name of the law! Come quiet and you won't be hurt!"I'll aid another on Titus' bluff check, he's got the poster. I'd also like to ready an action to move into the office, if possible?
It's a bit hard to form a plan entirely in character, so I propose at least three of us take the double door and stall while the others sneak in. I don't actually see any other entrances though, so maybe we should just storm the place and be done with it.
Henric's brow furrows at the word "scum", you see him mouth it, angrily, but he shakes it off. There are more important things at hand.
Henric sets his jaw at Alatariel's outburst. You see a flash of dissapointment in his eyes. "Thank you, Alexei." he says, woodenly. "Me and Titus are of the same mind. I meant it merely as a ruse." he says walking ahead and staring at the fishery. "If you're so ashamed to be associated with thus keepers of the peace, Elf, I suggest you go home." he says over his shoulder, icily.
He thanks Alexei and bows his head for the blessing. "I made an oath to the church too, Alexei. But mine bade me to protect the citizens of this city." he says. "If a little lie helps us get through tonight with no innocent blood spilt, I am for it."
Henric peers at Dhan, waiting for a signal of some kind.
Perception1d20 ⇒ 7
Henric finishes donning his cloak by the door, chuckles at Marcus and, nodding politely at Zellara ducks out of the door.
"Had you forgotten the rain, my friend?" he bellows. "But I agree. Let's have it done." he adds somberly. He walks by the elf and leans in, though not so close as to violate her aura of mystique. "I'm sure Gadrenn employs some desperate men." he says, shaking his head. "But all men are equal before the Judge." he adds, rhythmicly.
He motions everybody close before they round the corner to the docks, raising his voice to a near-shout over the rain. "We'll take the north entrance! Storm the warehouse! I'd rather go in with the strength of numbers, but if you think it best, we'll block off the waterfront exit as well!" He pauses, blinking back the water. "Wear your cloaks tight and keep your weapons at hand. Tonight you're deputies of the Korvosan Guard." he says, sticking out the insignia on his chest. "We need only maintain our ruse long enough to get inside. With any luck, we'll draw Lamm out of hiding."
He stops, staring down the gloomy street, before turning to Dhan. "My friend, you work the Shingles, am I wrong?" he says, clapping a hand on Marcus' shoulder. "Why don't you scout out the place, Dhan? Show our good friend from Egoran how it's done?"
Here's a long awaited scene change. Does anybody have bluff and/or diguise? Regardless we should all aid another. I'll try to subdue the guards nonlethally unless they give me reason to use lethal force. y'all do whatever is necessary.
"Sounds good to me." he says, nodding, eyes fixated on Zellara's deft hands. "But let's scout out the place first." he says. "Perhaps once we know what we're dealing with we'll be able to plan a little easier."
When the reading is finished Henric will grab his cloak.
Henric covers his mouth, cursing under his breath at Alatariel's words. "How many lives will this man touch?"
He scratches his beard, thoughtfully. "If the complex is well guarded I would not risk covering all of the exits. We'll want as much manpower as we can muster." he says, absentmindedly, still staring at the elf. "I would not wish to create too much of a disturbance. Nor can I arrest him on official grounds lawfully." his brow furrows. "Titus. It seems you'll have to claim the bounty on this one."
He rubs his hands together and smiles, wearily. "I'm worrying too much, aren't I?" he says, chuckling. "I haven't done anything but patrol in a long time. It seems I've forgotten how to do anything else."
He shrugs, edging closer to watch the reading. "I've never seen a real Harrow reading before." he says, placing a hand on the back of his chair. He grins down at him excitedly, then stares intently at Zellara with all of the excitement of a child at his first Founding Festival
"This is Sergeant Vancaskerkin's beat. I'd rather not involve him unless I absolutely have to." he says, shaking his head. "As for this warehouse, I would think that making our way inside shouldn't be too difficult."Henric will take ten on a knowledge local check for specifics. [12]
"We could create a distraction of some kind, perhaps acting under the pretense of a police raid while some of us sneak inside." he says, nodding at Marcus. "But he's eluded us for years. Best we strike hard and fast. With such trickery runs the risk of spooking him, and then that bastard will be walking the streets again within a week, with none of us any closer to catching him."
Henric saunters towards the door. "Thank you for your help, Zellara. Come. Let's not tarry.'
