The Cowled Stranger's page

Flashback

Back in Magnimar, as the detectives exit the senior tax official's house, a figure is awaiting them. It is the cowled figure, wrapped head to toe in a cloak, that stands in an easy posture on the sidewalk, staring up the steps of the building at them. It was a chilly day in Magnimar, and a breeze sweeps the stranger's clothing about here and there.

"Greetings to you, my friends!" he says, lifting his mask up and putting it aside, revealing a softly smiling face. "I regret having to separate from you all, but the trials we faced at Ghlaunder's hands bore some deep introspection, that I had to face alone. However, I gained unintended insight about a terrible threat while I was away, and hastened back to you."

I'll be writing up my character's re-introduction as part of the flashback tomorrow.

I'd like it to continue. I've just been slow in posting because leveling up in Pathfinder is a lot of crunchy numbers updates for me to get through and it's a bit daunting. Also, I've been trying to decide or write up what the best way to get my character revealed to the group is, to write up a flashback to Magnimar or to introduce myself on the road. I really would like to insert my character into the group, I'm just trying to make it make narrative sense. We have some really smart cookies in this group that would raise their eyebrows if my reasoning for what I am doing is flimsy.

I totally understand the desire to take a break from DMing though. I've done that myself when circumstances demanded. Still, we have a pretty uniquely awesome group of writers here, it's going to be a little sad when we inevitably stop playing, whether it's today or some day in the future.

Ready and waiting!

The cowled and hooded figure drinking alone at his table tries very hard not to look up when he sees them leaving. He waits until all he can see of the party is their feet before making to follow them up the stairs, moving unnoticed away from the crowd.

He listens at the door for the conversation, but Thessal's large wolf catches a whiff of his scent and begins to growl, looking away from Sebastian's hand and toward the door when he does so.

Hope you don't mind if I take brief narrative control, Vinnie...

Marsh narrows his eyes in suspicion at the wolf's reaction, knowing well to trust the signals that the animal kingdom provides. The big man is nearest to the door, as usual. Striding over to the closed door leading to the hallway leading downward, Marsh throws open the door and stares out - at nothing. Nobody is standing there, nor is there any sign of any eavesdropper. Unbeknownst to him as he glares back and forth to scan the hallway, the figure is braced against the rafters, hiding directly overhead. After a moment, Vinnie, satisfied, closes the door and returns to the room with Thessal in it.

The stranger exhales his tightly-held breath quietly, then lowers himself soundlessly to the floor, and makes to continue listening.

Hear hear! I'm eager to reveal myself.

The stranger hunches over his folded hands as he sits at the nearby table, studiously avoiding even a sidelong glance in their direction. He knew full well the perceptiveness of those he was eavesdropping on. The time was not yet right to...introduce himself.

Outside the establishment, the stranger has leaned against the building in an effort to blend in. Beneath his cloak, his lips curl in a grin. There he is. Still ever the negotiator...

Unable to hear anything of the conversation within from his current position, he gets up off of the exterior wall and glances up and down the street, checking his exits before moving to the front door. He waits for another group of locals to move toward the entrance and follows them in closely, avoiding their notice.

Once inside, the cowled figure finds an open chair in a tucked-away corner. His senses were sharp as he tuned in to the conversation as casually as he could.

I would be attempting not to be noticed; at least, not yet. However, you're a seasoned inspector - I could see it making sense in the fiction that you noticed eyes on you.

Greetings.

A figure wrapped head to toe in a black cloak watches Jodare leaving his shack from the alley across the street. To think that someone so important would have such humble accomodations...the figure's eyes narrow slightly, following his movements and trailing him to the Stag Herald's door. For now, he remains far away and out of sight, watchful. The figure sidles up to the bar window and glances in, his eyes searching for Jodare and the one known as Sebastian Bacarov.