I believe that happens automatically three months after the last reply in the Gameplay thread.
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Note to any future readers: play moved to Discord.
"I don't know either," Teleri says. "But I really, really want to ask them. Because I strongly dislike being stabbed in the streets, and I like it even less when I don't know why."
Could we arrange a demonstration before I say yes or no? It would be something of a pain to have two different places to check. Also, winning on a rematch seems to be our M.O. XD
"Officer -- ah, ouch! -- these thugs just tried to murder me and my friend. In broad daylight here in the street, in front of everyone!" Teleri reports. "That one stabbed me." She points at one thug, lying peacefully asleep next to a blood-stained dagger. She presses a hand to her side, where a dark bloodstain continues spreading down her dress. "We fought back. I ... " she flushes, clearly embarrassed. "I used magic to put several of these to sleep. They'll be waking up any minute -- I recommend securing them while they're asleep, otherwise they'll probably try to run."
Teleri smiles sweetly at the lady who just put two of her own minions to sleep. "Oh, Madam," Teleri purrs, "I think perhaps you've misunderstood how that spell works. Here, let me show you how it's done."
Worked out fine from my perspective. I got a lovely target of three of them separated from their allies and not close enough to any civilians that I risked wasting Sleep hit dice on non-combatants. Mind you I could have done without the critical hit ...
Teleri grits her teeth. "I really hate being stabbed," she mutters. She shifts away from the line of three thugs and attempts, carefully, to put them to sleep.
"Get clear!" Teleri tells the civilians. "They're after us, not you. I just wish I knew why."
Turning back to Ives, Teleri says "You know, I had an odd dream the other night." He shoots her a glance. "You want to talk about your dreams?? Now?" "I dreamed I could solve this kind of problem by throwing money at it. So I think that's what I'm going to do." Reaching into her belt pouch she pulls out three gold coins. They glitter on her palm as she passes her hand over them; and then the start buzzing with power, tinkling and clattering against one another.
"I saw what you set up," Teleri acknowledges, "You did well in there. And yes, I could have slipped away to go investigate. But I didn't want to risk it. We saw that thug come out of there -- what if I ran into the others? I'd have been dead in short order. Besides, Mr. Hughes would surely have noticed my absence very quickly, and then you'd have had to answer some sticky questions, even if I wasn't busy getting stabbed upstairs." She sighs. "But you're right -- we're getting nowhere." "In fact, I think we've made things worse. That thug knows we caught him near here. And on the way out of the station he threatened to kill me. Again. They might even be bold enough to attack us at Mr. Owens' house. We'll need to warn him and the others." An expression of reluctance shadows her face as she speaks. "As for what to do now -- we could sneak in after dark and investigate? Although I'll warn you, I've never broken into any place before, so I'm probably terrible at it. Or we could make friends with that woman Aelwyd and see if she'll tell us what on earth is going on. I mean, I knew it would be hard to find this man with such a vague description, but I wasn't anticipating assassins lurking in every corner!"
If the law repeatedly fails her, Teleri could theoretically shift alignment. It'd take some pretty dramatic happenings, though.
What time of day is it? We're likely going to have to contend with the nameless thug and his buddies in the near future. Teleri, by the way, is going to stick to the main roads and wants lots of witnesses around at all times. No shortcuts through alleys, right? We could: - come back at night and sneak in. - explicitly ask Mr. Hughes what's on the third floor - make friends with Aelwyd and see if we can get some information out of her. Being lawful good is deucedly inconvenient at times.
Sorry Ives, Teleri decided that she didn't want to wind up alone in an unknown building which very likely contains some of those same people who stabbed us in the alley.
Teleri hesitates for a moment, then follows Ives and Mr. Hughes back.
Teleri passes a note to Ives. It reads: What's on the third floor?
Teleri takes notes.
Teleri takes out some writing supplies and looks secretarial.
Ives' clattering failure to approach stealthily shakes Teleri out of brooding over her failure at the guard station. She winces slightly, and joins Ives at the door.
"Sure," Teleri mutters. "Great. Let's go."
Well, I'm amenable to a tour of the lumber mill. Ives, do you want to initiate that scene?
"We'll see." Teleri responds, just as quietly.
The thug merely smirks as he departs. Teleri waits a moment before standing. She heads for the door, then pauses and turns back. "Sergeant," she says, "Whether you believe it or not, that man tried to kill us a few days ago. You want evidence? Fine. You could have held him for a few hours and conducted an investigation into our assertions. Instead, you let him go." "I am gravely disappointed to find the guard so disinterested in the safety of law-abiding citizens. Now that he is loose once again, I think it highly likely that there will be further attempts on our lives. If I die ... if either of us die at the hands of that man and his fellow thugs, I want you to remember that you did nothing to prevent it. So much for your oath to protect and serve. Good day, sir!" And with that frosty declaration, she sweeps out the door, her face set in cold fury fierce enough to make a passing constable blanche as she passes.
Ah yes. That was what I'd planned before we saw our thug friend emerge from the place. Now it sounds like a great way to walk in there and get ganked ...
Of ... the police station? Of the alley where we were assaulted?
This may be something of a pet peeve of mine, but it bugs me that the city guards in RPGs are universally incompetent and/or corrupt. I understand that there are good narrative reasons for it -- the PCs need to be the focus of the plot, after all. It wouldn't do to have the guards taking care of everything. But it sets up this annoying situation where a character who has good in-character reasons to work with the law cannot do so because it doesn't fit the narrative structure of the RPG format. I dislike that tension between in-game and meta concerns. As for going forward, I was thinking of sitting in the police station and refusing to leave unless they give us an escort, on the grounds that whether the sergeant believes it or not, that guy tried to kill us a few days ago, and is inevitably going to try again now that we've tipped our hand. But I don't think I will, because he'd probably just turf us out. Ives, what do you hope to find at the place where we were assaulted?
"No, Ives," Teleri says tiredly. "It shows that they operate based on evidence, which we didn't have. And also that they disapprove of harassing prisoners." She sits down on a bench in the station and makes no move to leave as the officers return the thug's gear and let him go.
Teleri frowns in disapproval at Ives' antics, but is fresh out of ideas. "Mr. Tunn, please take this seriously," Teleri says. "I know you were busy fighting off that half-orc and the caster woman while this one stabbed me nearly to death with the other two thugs, but surely you noticed something relevant to tell the sergeant."
According to my projections, Teleri will unlock the ability to roll negative numbers on a d20 at level 11! If she survives that long, naturally.
It's official: Teleri rolls low. A bit. I went back and recorded all of her raw d20 rolls, omitting modifiers and rolls performed by the GM on her behalf. She made 56 rolls at level 1. Average 9.821429, median 9.5. She made 38 rolls at level 2. Average 9.121579, median 8. So far in she's made 27 rolls at level 3. Average 8.037037, median 7. Overall 121 rolls to date, with an average of 9.2, and a median of 9. The dice are out to get me! I can prove it! I've got a spreadsheet!
"Sergeant, the attack on Mr. Tunn and myself took place in broad daylight with a number of witnesses who immediately called the watch," Teleri says. "I suspect you could find some witnesses who may be able to identify this man as one of the perpetrators if you ask around." She goes on to give a precise description of where the attack took place so he can locate witnesses.
"Speaking of which, the responding officer -- Constable Kilgrove -- doubtless filed a report; and they may well have gotten a look at our assailants as well, who only scattered when the constables arrived. I suggest checking their report, and probably calling them in to take a look at him and see if they can identify him as one of the perpetrators."
Teleri turns towards the thug and lifts a hand -- not touching him, but moving as though she might. "You know something funny?" she asks him.
The thug just looks at her in puzzlement. "Drat," she says, lowering her hand. "What was that all about?" Sergeant Sousa asks. "During the fight I made one of the others burst out laughing -- it's an odd thing I can do," she says. "I was hoping he would flinch or something, revealing that he saw me do that. But evidently he wasn't paying attention. Or else he's just thick."
"Mr. Tunn," Teleri says severely. "That is not an acceptable way to treat a captive. Not even one who tried to kill us."
"Good afternoon, officer," Teleri says, with a slight curtsy. "Four days ago, this thug and four of his friends assaulted me and my friend Mr. Tunn in broad daylight, for no readily apparent reason. I nearly died. Today, we just happened to come across him. We snuck up on him, knocked him out, and I have placed him under citizen's arrest. I brought him straight to you. I want to press charges of assault and attempted murder against him! And I'd like to find out from him where the others who assaulted us are so we can charge them, too! And figure out why!" Although this declaration starts out calm and reasonable, Teleri's voice rises steadily in volume as it goes on. By the end she is red-faced and shouting. She breaks off and visibly struggles to control herself. "Pray forgive my outburst, Officer," she goes on in a tight, controlled voice. "I've never been so scared in all my life as when this scum stabbed me. I want justice, and I want to know why they attacked us. That's all. That's all."
"Yes, it is." Teleri agrees. "We could just thump him until he tells us what we want to know. It would be faster and -- I must admit -- more personally satisfying." "But I don't want to be the kind of person who acts like that. I don't want to be" -- she shoots a narrow gaze at their prisoner -- "Like him." "Besides," she goes on, "There are guards for a reason. Dealing with thugs like him is their job. They enforce the laws, and deal out punishments to those who break them. And -- from a purely practical view point -- we don't want them to conclude that we are the problem. I want the law on our side. Not arrayed against us. I can't even begin to tell you how much more complicated it would make our lives if both the guards and these criminals were out to get us." "Oh!" she says, as if something has just occurred to her. "Also, I hereby inform you that we're placing you under citizen's arrest," she tells the unconscious thug. "I think that's required. I'm not sure if you have to be conscious at the time, but I'll be sure to tell you again once you wake up."
Teleri winces. "Yes, being stabbed does make it significantly harder," she says wryly. She looks down at the still-unconscious form of her former assailant, checking for any weapons.
She walks to the street and looks for a member of the guards.
"Ives, use his belt to secure his hands, please," Teleri says. "I'm going to tie his shoelaces together so he can't run effectively. Then we can walk him out can call the closest watchman." She proceeds to do so, double-knotting his shoelaces together closely enough to restrict his stride.
Teleri extends her hands and casts her spell of sleep, noting with surprise that it comes somewhat faster to her than it had in past.
Teleri waves urgently at Ives, signalling him to join her, and falls in walking behind the man, attempting to keep pace without revealing their presence.
"Shush, not so loud," Teleri cautions. "All right, we'll wait until he comes out, follow him, and see if we can corner him alone. Then we can place him under citizen's arrest, flag down the closest watch officer and have him charged with attempted murder."
"I think there are two other exits. If I go over across the street there I think I can see two of them, and if you back up a bit you should be able to see me and the front door. If one of us sees him come out, we wave to the other so we can follow him. All right?"
Teleri raises a hand to start casting a spell, then hesitates. She lowers it, grabbing Ives by the arm instead. "Look," she whispers. "That's one of the thugs who attacked us in that alley. What's he doing here?" She bites her lip. "Should we try to get inside, or wait and follow him when he comes back out?" she asks. "I was thinking we could just knock on the door and ask for a tour, but if the place is full of hired killers that might be a bad idea. And if we follow him, maybe we can find out who sent him and why."
Teleri stiffens as she recognizes the man who stabbed her nearly to death a few days earlier.
"I promise, no more shortcuts," Teleri says, wryly. They make their way to the wood-finishing center and -- at Teleri's suggestion -- simply watch it from nearby for a while before approaching closely.
"Well, it was a bit on the frustrating side," Teleri reports to Ives, "But I got some information. Peterson's Iron Works have been shipping large packages to three spots; but two of those are warehouses owned by Peterson's themselves. The third is a wood-finishing center. I think we should check that one out first."
Teleri spends the morning trying to figure out where Peterson's Iron Works has been shipping large packages of late by chatting with teamsters and wagoneers.
She learns little, has to gently deflect two different men who misinterpret her interest as a personal advance, and comes back to the Owens' place feeling fairly depressed.
"I don't know how he knows," Teleri says. "I don't think he means us harm personally; but he clearly knows someone who does. In particular, he mentioned you as the one in danger. I find that puzzling. Until last week you'd never left the area of Pentrefan, and had spent most of your life out in the wilderness. Who could possibly know you here? Unless ... we are looking for this man because the blind seer gave us the words of Gozreh. Perhaps some other deity has passed information to someone here." She shivers and frowns. "I don't like feeling like a pawn in a game between gods." "Checking buildings is a good idea. We could go check the Land Registry Office. They have copies of the deeds of ownership for all the buildings in the city. But I don't know if that would extend to things in the countryside. The Registry Office only dates back about a century, and it's slowly been expanding. But out in the countryside the records are mostly recorded in manorial rolls, and those are scattered across the holdings of the nobles. There wasn't much centralized record-keeping before the reign of King Macsen, who was King Aeron's grandfather." "Perhaps we could look at shipping? If the parts were made in foundries here in the city, somebody had to haul them where they were going. They might not know exactly what they were hauling, but they'd have to know where to pick it up and where to drop it off. Whether they'd tell us is another matter. Teamsters who get a reputation for blabbing about their business tend to wind up not having any more business." She sighs. "Or we could ask SMC, I suppose. Mr. Demain blurted out that SMC must have spilled the beans, and then Mr. Tinkerage told him no, SMC had only suspicions. But that may still be more than we have to go on. And Mr. Owens said he might be able to arrange a position for me in the company ..."
Teleri prepares some tea and leads Ives to the sitting room on the first floor. "Well, I learned some things of interest this evening," she says, blowing on her tea to cool it. "It seems that some large machine has been secretly assembled recently. The Merchant's Guild is involved, and so are Peterson's Iron Works. There may be others as well, but SMC is not involved. I don't know what it does, but it's probably dangerous, and I suspect the project may have led to some unexpected results, which have made some of them ... nervous. It's definitely not the town clock." She takes a sip of tea. "Oh, and Mr. Tinkerage warned me that you're in grave danger as long as you stay in the city, and that the danger will increase if we pry further into the matter. I think that part has been obvious since ... the other day, in that alley. It's a good thing you're so brave."
"Very well," Teleri says gravely. "I will not press you to betray any confidences. Thank you for the warning. Due to ... a highly unpleasant incident two days past, we are aware of the danger." She accompanies the two men back to the ladies, and spends the balance of the evening engaged in pleasant discussion of gardens, fashion, and the latest gossip.
Teleri looks thoughtfully at the two of them. "She was old," Teleri says. "Old and frail. Her hair hung in white wisps. She was half-blind, and her hands and voice shook." "But when she described this man to me, she sat up straight and tall and her eyes shone a blue so bright I couldn't look at them; and she spoke with a voice clearly not her own. Deep. Powerful. Masculine. The very rocks of the cave trembled as she described this man who knows the turning metal better than any other." "When she was more herself, she had no knowledge of what she had said; but she told me it was the voice of Gozreh." Teleri looks up at the moon. "I am not a particularly religious woman, gentlemen. But the gods exist. Half the factories in Dinas Diwydiant are powered by their acolytes." "I do not pretend to know what is going on; but whatever it is, the gods have taken an interest. I am inclined to honor the request that I find and speak to this man. It is unwise to disappoint a god. They make truly terrible enemies." |