"Hmm, yes Gern, you're right. What worked once, should work as well a second time, no? Make sure to place yourself opposite me Gern. Then, when I make this signal" Zalen brushes at some imaginary dust off his shoulder "make a loud noise or distraction and I'll try that Charm I've learned on Miss Sabor herself."
A young man clad in the dandish clothes of an idle young noble arrived before the door towards the room they knew the suspected assassin rested in. He moved down the beautifully-appointed stairs towards the group, and greeted them with a brief nod. "I am afraid I am not really expecting visitors, but I am confident that you have good reasons, given that you were able to get past my majordomo?"
He remained calm, in control, and did not seem afraid or anxious - just how you expect a noblemen to manage a crisis.
Ayedah looked at the others expectantly. She wondered if telling him the truth might be better now that they were inside.
Gern looked the foppish young man up and down, idly judging him as a threat. The dwarven fighter began to worry that they were taking too long here. Every moment they wasted, the greater the chance the mob would find this place, or one of the other factions looking for this girl would.
What's worse, he worried that even now the girl and some of her noble friends were planning some sort of escape or plan to get rid of he and his friends. Kroft had been pretty clear that she wanted her brought in safely, but the girl didn't know that. He looked to Zalen, waiting for a queue to act.
Giving the signal to Gern to make a distraction, Zalen waits for him to do so then tries his trick with the Charm spell again. Once done, he takes a deep breath and speaking with all the grace (1d20+6=24) he can manage says tries a more direct tack, pitching his voice to reach no further that the man before him.
"My good Lord Berthek I presume? Sir, I shall be direct with you. I used some subterfuge with your manservant just now for time was short and we are here on a matter of some urgency. For this I apologize. The truth is, it is quite literally a misson of life and death we are on. That life being one of someone it's seems clear you care about significantly."
"You are no fool my Lord and you are well aware of the grievous rumors that are spreading like wildfire concerning your ward, the talented artist Miss Trinia Sabor. What you may not be aware of Lord Berthek is that, even as we speak, matters are boiling to a head and an angry mob is beginning to form and they are screaming for blood. Miss Sabor's blood to be exact."
"We have been commissioned as special agents by Field Marshall Kroft herself to take Miss Sabor into protective custody and bring her to the Field Marshal directly. Once in custody Miss Sabor is to undergo a proper trial where she will find far more justice that she will at the hands of that bloodthirsty mob, of that I can assure you. The Field Marshal is a good a just woman my Lord and you can trust that she will see to Miss Sabor receiving a fair trial. For my part, I am a great admirer of Miss Sabor's work and I believe her to be innocent of the charges. I intend to do whatever is in my means to seek out the truth and see that she is exonerated of those charges."
Finally winding down his long speech, Zalen concludes with " So, I urge you to believe my Lord Berthek that the safest possible course for Miss Sabor is to come with us now. I personally guarantee her safety until we reach Field Marshal Kroft but if you wish, you may feel free to accompany us. However, I'm afraid I must insist my Lord that whether or not you yourself decide to accompany her, that Miss Sabor leave with us immediately."
As he finishes, Zalen looks very intently at the young lord to gauge his reaction to the whole thing Sense Motive (1d20+5=13).
Sense Motive DC 10:
He cleared his throat audibly, and moved back onto the stairs. "I am sorry, Sir. You must be mistaken. While I certainly have known Miss Sabor for some time, She is not here. If you prove your allegiance to the town guard, I will gladly demonstrate this to you." The halfling manservant looked puzzled between his master and his new friend. "I am sure there is some way to resolve this, master..." He stuttered, unsure if he had inadvertantly gone against his wishes.
Perception DC 17:
Sense Motive: 5
Perception: 25
Ayedah had a look of resignation on her face as the man told them Trinia Sabor wasn't there. She had hoped he would heed Zalen's words. "But I saw her upstairs, through the window." She suddenly looked up at the door. "Something happening up there!" she said as she burst into motion.
Sense Motive: 1d20+7=16
Perception: 1d20+3=8
"Okay, enough talk!" Alandra holds out her holy symbol and chants a prayer to Pharasma.
The moment Ayedah moves, so does Gern. [v]"Damnable talkin' was startin' ter send me sleepy any way"[/b] he mutters.
As he follows the big shoanti he looks to the nobleman and his halfling foot man and shouts "Tis guards business, step ye aside ifn' ye dinnae want the wrath o' the Field Marshall te come down on ye". He hadn't drawn his weapon yet, knowing that killing anyone here would be as good as slaughtering innocents.
"Good day to you fellow. Do be a good man and direct us to the abode of the artist Trinia Sabor. My better half has sent me to hire the young lady to paint a portrait of my my wife and I for our anniversary. What with the city in the state it's been she insisted I bring these hirelings" he waves vaguely in the direction of his friends "for my protection. Not that I can't take care of myself mind you!" and he indignantly fumbles about for the hilt of his rapier.
Krek bristles at the mention of being a "hireling" for protection, though he knew he fit the role well. Still, even knowing Zalen's illusion of a group was for a cause of which he was part, the large half-Orc had a difficult time keeping a straight face. Further, he was more distracted from seeing things he otherwise would've. Fortunately, Ayedah filled him in on what his eyes missed.
His intuition missed little though. He detected not only the fear in the servant, but also the control in the nobleman. Disliking the wealthy much-so out of jealousy, he didn't care for the man the moment he saw him. The scuffling up the stairs only brought his feelings to a head.
Taking after Ayedah, he was right behind her to see what happened.
Trying to keep violence and caualties to a minimum Zalen also springs into action, moving to cacth the young noble as he{s faliing (or as if he were falling) yelling to the halfing "Quick my friend, your master must be going into a siezure! Here, help me lower him to the floor. Can you keep an eye on him while we go get help?" Bluff (1d20+8=26)
While he does this the rogue also keeps a keen eye and ear (1d20+6=12) out for any others that may be in the residence.
Things developed swiftly... some might even say hectically. Berthek went stiff as a board at Alandra's stern command, much like the corpse he was destined to eventually become. That stiffness, however, might have expedited that transition, as Ayedah and Krek rushed past him, knocking the defenseless noblemen nearly off the stairs - had not Zalen foreseen this risk, and grasped his collar just in time to prevent serious injury.
The room had obviously been occupied none too long ago. A half-eaten meal lingered on a nightstand, some personal effects were scattered and obviously hastily deposited to produce a weak semblance of a normal home. The shuttered window stood open, and as the party gazed out, they saw a figure in a yellow velvet combination of vest and pants pull herself up the roof two buildings over after a too-close for comfort jump. Trinia had taken flight, and made good time in the confusion.
Hastily you map out the path Trinia must have taken. A small ledge close to the window was likely her starting point. From there it is easy to run across the roof of the house, towards the wall and to the next dwelling... but a more daring approach would be to make for the wall across a small tool shed (Acrobatics DC 15). And instead of the next building, a passing carriage might make as appealing a waystation (Acrobatics DC 20).
While a little voice inside Krek told him he wasn't agile enough for such a trip, it was easily trumped by adrenaline. Follow he did - though the voice did prevent him from trying to perform any more acrobatics than necessary. They'd probably result with him falling to the streets below.
Knowing he was best suited amongst his friends for this kind of chase, having spent much of his misspent youth on Korvosa's rooftops, Zalen leaps to the window sill, tracing Trinia's path with his eyes.
Eyeing his sturdy Dwarven friend and knowing full well a trip accross the roof's might mean his death or at least possible severe injury, yet also aware of the Dwarf's fierce pride, Zalen says "Gern! See if you can track her by foot in case she goes to ground! Ayedah and Alandra...?" And leaving his sentence hanging with a look to the roofs a shrug, the rogue leaves them to determine their own fate and takes off after the desperate Miss Sabor.
Easily overtaking his strong but less than agile Half-Orc comrade, Zalen says to him in passing "Have a care Krek! It's a long way down!"
His new magical ring making the normally fearless rogue even more daring than usual, Zalen takes the most risky path to his prey trying to catch her as quickly as possible.
Acrobatics (1d20+8=18, 1d20+8=27)
Initiative (1d20+3=22)
"I am right behind you!" Ayedah answered Zalen's unfinished question. She gave a glance back to Alandra, hoping she would take care on such precarious footing.
Looking forward, she found herself praying that the woman they were chasing would take care as well. It seemed that she had come close to falling already.
She took off after Zalen without hesitation, trying to match his nimble steps before realizing her weight could send them both plummeting. She leapt after him onto the shed, and went for the next building as Zalen aimed for the carriage.
Initiative: 10
Acrobatics:11
Acrobatics:25
Alandra, being somewhat afraid of heights follows Krek carefully.
Gern swears loudly, in dwarven, then runs back down the stairs.
As he bursts from the room the house he looks for the nearest path to try and follow the fleeing girl, or maybe catch any of his more crazy friends who are running across the roofs of teh city.
"People ain meant ter be runnin above the ground and such" he mutters as his little legs pump, trying to keep up with the chase.
If a turn ends with you on the same card as Trinia, you can grapple her and the chase (likely) ends
Trinia pulled herself up the roof, and darted off across the rooftop. As she saw Zalen's daring jump, her eyes grew panicky, and she whipped out a wand at him. Zalen felt a sudden darkening, as if he had been hit by a cotton mallet.
Trinia made a swift, but daring jump across a chimney rolling off on the shingles of the roof, and landed on a canopy. Here, she moved more carefully, trying hard not to rip through it and land on a display of fruit.
Krek and Alandra had a good view from the rooftop they currently stood on. The wagon Zalen was standing on was slowly approaching their position, though that made the jump no less perilous (Acrobatics DC 20). No matter how they made it across, they would have to content with the slick and moss-covered roofing. Moving swiftly across that would require swift reflexes and a bit of luck. (Reflex DC 18)
Ayedah had to contend with the same floor Krek and Alandra still had to decide to brave. If she went slowly, she would have trouble catching up with Zalen, but if she risked it, she might be faster. Either way, the chimney stood in her way. Climbing over it carefully would take time - a daring leap would safe that. (Acrobatics DC 15)
Zalen was so close to Trinia that he could almost reach her. Through his clouding vision, he could see the chimney... and decide if he liked to risk it. Beyond that, the canopy. It was thin, and probably never intended to be walked, much less run upon. (Acrobatics DC 10 + (total weight / 10) )
So focused is he on pursing his target that Zalen is completely unable to shake off (1d20+3=4) the effects off the spell and stands completely dazed for a moment, unable to act.
Gern continued to run, his legs moving as fasat as tehy woud go while he tried to pick a pathway that closely matched the girls escape route. If they had wnated this to be a quiet affair, it was certainly starting to fail already. Between the clanking of his new axe and shield against his armour, and his hobnailed boots sendig sparks from the cobbles, he was bringing more than his share of attention to the chase.
"Damnable roofs. "Tis why dwarves live in caves. Ye canaae run across the "roof" of a cave!" he mutters as he steps past a child coming out to see what the comotion is.
"Damnable roofs"
Alandra holds up her holy symbol and yells "Trina! Stop!"
She then carefully advances to the next rooftop.
Ayedah quickly studied the roof and the chimney ahead of her, and made her decision with barely a thought. She dashed forward and attempted to leap over the chimney.
Gern began to gain a little ground, but his way was hampered by the much less direct routes imposed by his groundbound movement
Alandra's Admonishion stunned Trinia long enough for her to gain some ground on her.
Zalen still faced the same challenges, but as Ayedah dove past him, a new pair of complications occurred. She might be able to run through the canopy, but with a supreme effort of strenght, she might do something else instead: There was a heavy construction crane bordering her current roof. With enough ferocious strength, she might push it to the other side, cutting of Trinia entirely.
Krek tries to keep gain on the woman, but finds it next to impossible. He wasn't agile enough for the acrobatics needed! Canopies and rooftops... not something he'd tried to master.
Catching his breath and watching his footing, he glanced to his target. Ahead of him, he say Alandra try to stop the woman in her tracks with a command - and she did for a time. "Well-done, priestess!" said the half-Orc, unusual for him to yield a compliment so readily. He was, however, genuinely impressed with her quick thinking. On the inside, he was realizing how useless his muscles were in the situation.
That did not stop his drive though. He pressed on.
Recovering his wits after Trinia's spell, Zalen quickly makes the leap for the chimney but hesitates when he sees the canopy, figuring he'd never make it across with his weight, so he looks for some other way to pursue the frightened lass. Acrobactics1.Acrobatics2 (1d20+8=26, 1d20+8=10)
Alandra smiles in satisfaction, surprised at the rare compliment by Krek. She continues to carefully advance across the rooftops.
Ayedah looked at the crane and upwards for a moment at Trinia. The girl was probably going to get herself killed leaping from rooftop to rooftop. If we can end this chase now...
She gritted her teeth and tried to draw upon the strength of her ancestors as she threw her weight against the crane.
Trinia struggled past the canopy towards the next houseroof, leaping over a narrow street easily enough. Zalen was steadily gaining on her, though, within arms reach now. She began to gesticulate wildly, running off a horribly catching diddy on her rasping breath.
Ayedah on the other hand managed to move the crane after an initial groan... and soon found that her strenght was all wasted as the crane swivelled half across the street, then stopped mid-lane. The sudden halt almost shook her off the crane, leaving her hanging by the side.
Now that Trinia was in no direct danger of falling, Zalen, hoping to end the chase to quickly and safely as possible and summons his internal magics and casts his Spray of Colors at her, hoping to put her down for the count.
Gern to continued to run through the streets. Dwarven legs weren't built for these chases. He preferred to run his quarry down with a crossbow bolt or cunningly laid pit trap. Running was for the long legged races.
Ayedah cursed her clumsiness as she tried to pull herself back to the safety of the rooftop.
She hoped Zalen's strange flashing magics would work on Trinia, but still looked about for the best way to catch up with them. "Don't let her fall, Zalen!"
Trinia managed to just barely close her eyes before the flashes of light emerged, and herself finished her spell. The tune became faster, and turned from merely catchy to hilarious as a ghostly voice began to whisper the raunchy lyrics that often accompanied it in tavernsongs.
As the magic of the song begins to flow over him and the urge to laugh uncontrollably bubbles up, Zalen clenches his teeth and focuses his Will (1d20+3=18). The corners of his mouth do raise though as he smiles as if to a dueling partner while he mumbles under his breath "Not this time girl."
Tiring of the chase, Zalen raises his voice to call to her "Trinia! You do not need to run from us! We mean you no harm! If we wanted to hurt you by now we would have! We are in fact here to keep you safe!" putting all his charm and skill (1d20+6=23) into his plea.
Gritting his teeth as there seemed to be an exchange of the arcane ahead, Krek felt quite useless in his bulky body as he tried not to fall to serious injury or doom perusing the woman.
Exchanging spells furiously, Zalen and Trinia made their way across the flattop roof, and Trinia grew visibly more desperate even as Zalen called out and tried to calm her down. She steered her steps towards the chimneys of the roof, where scalding-hot steam billowed out. Getting around them was going to take longer, but... be much less painful. Another short leap
Ayedah struggled upward again, and managed to regain her footing on the other side of the chasm. She caught up with Alandra again, facing the choice of two potential shortcuts. A clothesline was pulled between two buildings, easily allowing to skip one of the smaller rooftops . The other option was squeezing between two buildings in a narrow gap, at the risk of potentially getting stuck
Krek and Gern, however, faced a quite different problem from the pursuit. Two guardsmen patrolling the streets called them. "Hey, what's going on there? Keep it quiet"
Alandra sees the narrow gap between the two buildings and thinks she can squeeze her skinny body through it and catch up to Zalen and Trina.
Ayedah could see Zalen seemingly trying to reason with Trinia. She didn't seem convinced. It seemed words weren't going to work. She hoped they could make the option of force as gentle as possible.
She rushed for the clothesline, hoping to cut Trinia off.
As the guards called out to him, Gern's mind raced with possibilities. He reaslised if these two were close by when the girl was taken into protective custody they could cause trouble.
He tries something a little desperate, hoping that the recent events of the city will help him in his ruse
As he runs past the guards he shouts to them and points back over his shoulder "There's some trouble brewin' back there. A crowd o' people movin' inter this part o' town and wavin tools and torches around. I need ter get back ter me folks place and help 'em get things secured, Ye two may wanna go an' try ter calm that lot down afore someone gets hurt"
He continues to run, hoping his little story works
Seeing his words have the opposite affect of what he intended, zalen clamps his mouth shut quickly ' Well[i/] That [i] sure didn't work.' as the desperate skirts around the steam, Zalen sees what may be his chance to end this chance once and for all...and potentially very painful chance though.
'I can't believe I'm about to do this!...oh well, thank Cailean for healing potions. gritting his teeth and running as hard as he can, trying to leap over (1d20+1=5) the chimneys without getting scalded and then taking the other short leap (1d20+8=24) after it.
Zalen lept the chimney, feeling the scalding hot vapors burn his skin, and he nearly would have lost footing. Yet it saved him a good part of the way, and he nearly overtook the much less daring Trinia. The girl tried to speed up, trying to run along a rainpipe...
She was lucky, in a way. When her leg got stuck in the rainpipe, she didn't fall off the roof. She merely slipped over the edge, and hung from her trapped foot, while the wooden contraption creaked precariously.
Krek sticks close behind the Dwarf, more incensed than not at the guards stopping him. Other than the rooftops, the only problems the party had so far stemmed from the guards - not the mob.
If the guards don't buy Gern's story:
In any case, Krek paces himself as best he can with Gern to reach the young lady. Unusual for him, his sword will stay sheathed as he has no reason to harm the lady - yet. Hopefully his occasional wresting matches would pay off.
"Zalen! Don't let her fall!" Ayedah cried out as she saw Trinia nearly fall from the rooftop. If she fell to her death because she was fleeing them for fear of her life... Ayedah cursed her slowness, looking for a way to catch up with them.
Deciding to put a flashy end to the chase, Zalen yells out to Ayedah "I've got her!" as he leaps for Trinia, grabbing her tightly around the waist. He anticipates that their combined weight with either break the rainpipe or cause her foot to slip free and he's trusting in his new ring of Feather Fall to let them both drift safely to the earth.
If her foot should get injured in the attempt? Well, he mentally shrugs, there's always healing potions and at least that would stop her from running away again. Besides, being covered in severe burns doesn't put one in the best of moods...