"Yes, what would you suggest, Sunaj?"
"Fellas, I don't think we got tha mojo ta pull offa switch. I think we're gonna hafta set a trap. 'N ya gotta have bait."
Galvan points to a redcap, "Get me a cot over here! This cult leader's gonna talk if'n he don't die first! We gotta get 'im outta here now ta tha precinct house! Let's go!"
Galvan turns toward the others and says in a quieter tone, "Get ready ta bring him with us," pointing to the surviving cultist, "We'll haul 'em all ta tha precinct house interro room. Keep close ta tha body ta shield 'im like were protectin' 'im."
The Redcaps jump into action on Galvan's orders, two Redcaps pull a interior door off it's hinges to make a make shift carrying board while two other start tearing the drapes into strips and braiding the strips into a rope to tie the cultist disguised to the door. “Ready when you are ‘sir” a Redcap says to Galvan when finished.
As you quick march to the pricent house I need a perception check from everyone.
Thewl is lost in his own thoughts, trying to sort out what all this chaos within the city walls truly portends.
As you quick march to the pricent house I need a perception check from everyone.
A crowd begins to gather around you as you carry the cultist to the precinct house. The closer you get to the
precinct house the larger and angrier the crowd becomes.
All of you can hear bits and pieces of conversation from the growing throng of people, around you, "...responsible for the disappearances...”gather your brothers, we'll force him to tell us where our father is"! ...damm Redcaps are gonna frame some dock worker...".
Sunaj perception=18
Sunaj: in the crowd you see a couple of dark clothed individuals looking a bit too intently at your group and when they see you looking at them they fade back into the crowd.
You get the cultist locked up as a large mob gathers out front.
What do you wish to do.
"Somebody keep him in sight at all times. We don't wanna lose our bait. I'm gonna try ta get tha crowd ta disperse. Anything happens here, use that magic trick ta let me know."
With a heavy sigh, Galvan strides out to the front of the precinct. He holds his hands up high for everyone to see, gesturing for the crowd to quiet down.
"I didn't come out here ta tell ya ta leave. I came out here ta put ya ta work," Galvan pauses to let that sink in.
"That fella we brought in is gonna talk if I can keep him alive. If he dies, he takes everthin' with 'im an' we got nothin'. Now you can bet his buddies don't want him ta talk. Prolly watchin' us all right now, tryin' ta figger out how ta get in here an' make sure he can't talk," another pause.
"I figger a lotta ya are willin' ta help out 'cause I heard a lotta volunteers shout some idears when tha squad an' I were bringin' tha suspect here," pause.
"I'm gonna have redcaps set up a table. Any volunteers can step up, tell tha redcap ther name, what they're good at, an' what they wanna do. Tha redcap'll write it down an' find a place for ya ta help out. This don't pay nothin' 'cause yer volunteerin' so don't bother askin'," pause again.
"Who's ready ta work without pay?"
Sunaj perception=18
Sunaj: in the crowd you see a couple of dark clothed individuals looking a bit too intently at your group and when they see you looking at them they fade back into the crowd.
"Friends, we are being observed." Sunaj mutters in a voice audible only to his companions. He covers his mouth on the off-chance that these observers can read lips.
He tilts his head in the direction of the dark clothed individuals.
After Galvan's speech about half the crowd leaves while the remaining half linger around grumbling amongst themselves. They seam less likely to riot now and a few actually join up at the registration tables the Redcaps set out front.
Sunaj carefully memorizes any distinguishing marks on the dark clothed individuals that may help in their identification later.
"What if we scam him?" Sunaj whispers to the others. "Make him believe he is doing his boss' work by leading us to him."Jonas whispers back to Sunaj "I certainly would go along with that idea- do you have something particular in mind to do just that?". Pausing momentarily to glance over to where the thugge is at, Jonas then looks back to Sunaj and the others before continuing with, "and if there's anything I could do to help, I'll try to do my best".
*click* I am in favor of such a proposal, but it is outside my realm of expertise. What do you suggest? *click*
"Yes, what would you suggest, Sunaj?"
"Fellas, I don't think we got tha mojo ta pull offa switch. I think we're gonna hafta set a trap. 'N ya gotta have bait."
Galvan points to a redcap, "Get me a cot over here! This cult leader's gonna talk if'n he don't die first! We gotta get 'im outta here now ta tha precinct house! Let's go!"
The Redcaps jump into action on Galvan's orders, two Redcaps pull a interior door off it's hinges to make a make shift carrying board while two other start tearing the drapes into strips and braiding the strips into a rope to tie the cultist disguised to the door. “Ready when you are ‘sir” a Redcap says to Galvan when finished.
Galvan turns toward the others and says in a quieter tone, "Get ready ta bring him with us," pointing to the surviving cultist, "We'll haul 'em all ta tha precinct house interro room. Keep close ta tha body ta shield 'im like were protectin' 'im."
Amidst the deliberations among the entire party of what should be done with the surviving cultist, which had come to a bit of a snag- especially concerning just how to get that now-insane cultist into the robes of the deceased mage cultist, it was Galvan that ultimately came up with a decisive and workable plan. The plan suited Jonas quite nicely enough as the wizard thought, "At least we won't have to worry about getting that madman into those robes", quietly to himself.
Working at a brisk pace, the Red Caps had everything in readiness, along with one now-unhinged door- courtesy of the Schultz estate- to serve as a makeshift stretcher of the dead mage cultist. Jonas himself stayed nearby the dead mage cultist, as the entire party plus their Red Cap escorts made their way down the winding streets towards the nearest Red Cap precinct department.
In order to give the "illusion" that the door-tied cultist was still barely alive, Jonas would lean over to check on the body every now and then- acting as if he were making certain that the "prisoner" was alright. The wizard had toyed with the idea of using his prestidigitation power to make it seem like the "prisoner" was still breathing, but eventually decided against it. "Any nearby arcanist worth his or her salt would immediately spot the tell-tale magical aura, and the whole jig would be up", Jonas mulled silently to himself. While Jonas didn't check upon the still-living cultist during the entire journey to the precinct hoise, the wizard presumed that his fellow compatriots were keeping a close eye on him.
As you quick march to the pricent house I need a perception check from everyone.
Thewl is lost in his own thoughts, trying to sort out what all this chaos within the city walls truly portends.
A crowd begins to gather around you as you carry the cultist to the precinct house. The closer you get to the precinct house the larger and angrier the crowd becomes. All of you can hear bits and pieces of conversation from the growing throng of people, around you, "...responsible for the disappearances...”gather your brothers, we'll force him to tell us where our father is"! ...damm Redcaps are gonna frame some dock worker...".
To Jonas' dismay, the entire procession had attracted the attentions of onlookers. Before long, those onlookers- possibly curious at first- slowly turned more and more hostile as even more people showed up. "It would seem that the kidnappers have been much more active than we had first thought" was Jonas' first thought as he tried to keep himself from panicking too much or to publically show how preturbed this entire affair had made him from showing on his face as he kept his attentions straight upon the dead corpse- every now and then glancing up to see how large the crowd had become and was becoming more and more as the party makes their way down the streets of Genera.
Sunaj: in the crowd you see a couple of dark clothed individuals looking a bit too intently at your group and when they see you looking at them they fade back into the crowd."Friends, we are being observed." Sunaj mutters in a voice audible only to his companions. He covers his mouth on the off-chance that these observers can read lips.
He tilts his head in the direction of the dark clothed individuals.
Sunaj carefully memorizes any distinguishing marks on the dark clothed individuals that may help in their identification later.
That the kidnappers were present among the crowd didn't really come at all as a surprise to Jonas as Sunaj gave out his warnings to the other members of the party.
Given the amount of people that had gathered around the procession in such a short time, it was something of a miracle that the kidnappers had not tried to make an attack on the party.
Still, it was all that Jonas could do to not let his panic grow at the sight of the growing mob as the wizard tersely kept his attentions on his own footsteps- he certainly didn't want to lose his balance and fall over- "Not in a crowd like this!"- his hand now gripping tightly to the door that the dead body was tied to.
You get the cultist locked up as a large mob gathers out front.
"Somebody keep him in sight at all times. We don't wanna lose our bait. I'm gonna try ta get tha crowd ta disperse. Anything happens here, use that magic trick ta let me know."
When the entire procession had finally made their way into the precinct house past the entire throng of people gathered outside, Jonas finally lets out a long sigh of relief as he slumps down on a nearby vacant seat. Glad for the safety offered by the walls of the precinct, Jonas dimly realizes that the sergeant had obliquely referred to him in regards to "that magic trick".
Letting out a brief "Of course," in response to Galvan as the Minotaur makes his way outside to address the crowded mob gathered by the department precinct, Jonas looks back to his fellow compatriots still inside of the precinct office.
At a bit of a loss to say anything else, Jonas suddenly remembers that there is a magic ritual that would allow for someone to ask a few questions of a dead corpse. "You know, I just had this thought... there's a ritual that would allow for a dead corpse to be questioned by someone".
Sunaj carefully memorizes any distinguishing marks on the dark clothed individuals that may help in their identification later.
Sunaj:
The desk sergeant pipes in speaking to Jonas, "Sorry for listing in 'Gov' but we got space down in the morgue fer a ritual, others have done rituals down their afore now".
Everyone roll streetwise or perception please, Sunaj take a +5.
Isari hand moves unconsiously towards his blade. "How many have they kidnapped?", he says with a far-away look in his eye.
Isari hand moves unconsiously towards his blade. "How many have they kidnapped?", he says with a far-away look in his eye.
Thewl continues to be lost in his thoughts, trying to figure out what to do next.
The desk sergeant pipes in speaking to Jonas, "Sorry for listing in 'Gov' but we got space down in the morgue fer a ritual, others have done rituals down their afore now".
Everyone roll streetwise or perception please, Sunaj take a +5.
base Aid Another to Sunaj's perception or streetwise (1d20=11)
The desk sergeant pipes in speaking to Jonas, "Sorry for listing in 'Gov' but we got space down in the morgue fer a ritual, others have done rituals down their afore now".
Somewhat at a loss for words at the interjection from the helpful desk sergeant, Jonas blinks in surprise before letting out a nervous laugh. "Oh, good heavens no- I was merely referring to the fact that there was such a ritual that exists".
Turning to his compatriots, including Galvan who returned not long after successfully dealing with the mob outside, Jonas continues with, "While I certainly can't speak for my fellow compatriots here, such a ritual is most definitely far beyond my own meager arcane skills....".
A short pause later, long enough to notice that Isari had his hand on the handle of his blade, Jonas furrows his eyebrows in thought. It seemed that there might be something amiss, but the wizard couldn't quite put his finger on it. With a tiny shrug, Jonas turns back over to face where the desk sergeant is sitting; another stray thought forms in his mind. "Erm, pardon my asking, but does this mean you might know of somebody who can actually accomplish such a ritual?"
The desk sergeant pipes in speaking to Jonas, "Sorry for listing in 'Gov' but we got space down in the morgue fer a ritual, others have done rituals down their afore now".
Everyone roll streetwise or perception please, Sunaj take a +5.
Sunaj: You notice about 8 people in the crowd outside seem to working together spying on the jail while pretending to be part of the press gang the Redcaps are organizing. Also out of the corner of your eye you think you see the eladrin you’ve seen before but as you try to get a better look you can't see him in the crowd.
actions please.
"Wait, doesn't the Watch keep descriptions of criminals on record? Could someone search them for people matching Sunaj's descriptions? Also, I will go question the guards who were at the Hollier estate when the kidnappings occured. Anyone want to join me?"
"Wait, doesn't the Watch keep descriptions of criminals on record? Could someone search them for people matching Sunaj's descriptions? Also, I will go question the guards who were at the Hollier estate when the kidnappings occured. Anyone want to join me?"
Jonas pipes up "That does remind me- I, ah, left my adventuring pack over at the Hollier estate before heading off to the Schultz manor. I suppose Herr Hollier would be expecting me to pick it up".
Standing up from where he was seated at, Jonas then begins, "Of course, this would mean splitting up our resources if some of us choose to remain here to be on guard for our prisoner..., erm, prisoners. Would that be a wise thing to do while those miscreants that Sunaj mentioned are loitering about?"
Sunaj covers his mouth but in a firm voice he hopes is perceptible to only his companions.
"I notice 8 people in the crowd outside. They seem to be working together spying on the jail while pretending to be part of the press gang the Redcaps are organizing."
"Also, I believe we are being followed by an eladrin."
"It seems we flushed out some a' tha birds. Do we bag what we can and try ta follow 'em back ta their nest or do we keep tha trap baited ta see who takes it?"
Sunaj covers his mouth but in a firm voice he hopes is perceptible to only his companions.
"I notice 8 people in the crowd outside. They seem to be working together spying on the jail while pretending to be part of the press gang the Redcaps are organizing."
"Also, I believe we are being followed by an eladrin."
You point out to the others 4 humans, 2 elves, 1 tiefling and a dwarf that you think are working together. Going by how they are dressed 3 of the humans appear to dockworkers or laborers, the last human and elves look to merchants and the tifling has the dress and manors of a student. The dwarf of course is wearing the leather apron of a stone cutter.
"Wait, doesn't the Watch keep descriptions of criminals on record? Could someone search them for people matching Sunaj's descriptions? Also, I will go question the guards who were at the Hollier estate when the kidnappings occured. Anyone want to join me?"
The city watch and the courts would both have the descriptions of any person who has committed multiple minor offences or a major crime (murder, public fraud, etc.).
Sunaj points out to the others 4 humans, 2 elves, 1 tiefling and a dwarf that he think are working together. Going by how they are dressed 3 of the humans appear to dockworkers or laborers, the last human and elves look to merchants and the tifling has the dress and manors of a student. The dwarf of course is wearing the leather apron of a stone cutter.
Sunaj covers his mouth but in a firm voice he hopes is perceptible to only his companions.
"I notice 8 people in the crowd outside. They seem to be working together spying on the jail while pretending to be part of the press gang the Redcaps are organizing."
"Also, I believe we are being followed by an eladrin."
You point out to the others 4 humans, 2 elves, 1 tiefling and a dwarf that you think are working together. Going by how they are dressed 3 of the humans appear to dockworkers or laborers, the last human and elves look to merchants and the tifling has the dress and manors of a student. The dwarf of course is wearing the leather apron of a stone cutter.
Sunaj points out to the others 4 humans, 2 elves, 1 tiefling and a dwarf that he think are working together. Going by how they are dressed 3 of the humans appear to dockworkers or laborers, the last human and elves look to merchants and the tifling has the dress and manors of a student. The dwarf of course is wearing the leather apron of a stone cutter.
"It seems we flushed out some a' tha birds. Do we bag what we can and try ta follow 'em back ta their nest or do we keep tha trap baited ta see who takes it?"
As Sunaj gives his description of the eight miscreants that he has sussed out through quick observation, Jonas lets his breath out slowly- trying his level best not to give any obvious appearance of agitated anticipation of another fight.
Gripping his arcane staff tightly once more, the wizard mentally steels himself as he subconsiously assesses what powers he has left to bring to bear if it should come down to another conflict.
At Galvan's query, Jonas closes his eyes momentarily before adding in with "While trailing another person- or a group of persons for that matter- is not exactly something that I've ever done or thought about doing, either way I'll do my best to aid in whatever endeavours are to be decided upon". Furrowing his brow and pursing his lips in further thought, Jonas then pipes in with, "I've some trained abilities in dealing with those who tend to flock close together- unfortunately, if they were to hide behind any innocent passerbys that might be around, I can't guarantee that I wouldn't be able to avoiding hitting them."
If we can, I say we combine going back to the Hollier estate and ambushing the people following us. Maybe get Galvan to put some guards along the route.[/ooc]
If we can, I say we combine going back to the Hollier estate and ambushing the people following us. Maybe get Galvan to put some guards along the route.[/ooc]
We could make a big show of returning to the Hollier estate while the sneakier ones follow. They can watch for who is sent to follow us and then we can trap the tail between the two of us. It would give us a chance to interrogate them before being missed.
Thewl and Sunaj haven’t posted in a while so we'll go with Galvan's plan to keep the game moving along. I will play them in the upcoming encounter. I assume that Isari, Galvan and Jonas are in one group and Thewl and Sunaj are in the other and that you have also prearranged a signal to begin the ambush.
Isari, Galvan and Jonas make a show out of leaving the precinct house and let slip they are heading to the Hollier estate.
One by one the cultists leave the crowd it follow them at a distance.
Thewl and Sunaj begin to follow the cultists looking for the best time to spring the trap.
Isari, Galvan and Jonas give me a streetwise and perception tests to determine if you get the cultists into the best ambush position.
Isari leads the way, but he still isn't paying to much attention.
I rolled a 1 for Perception, and my Streetwise was still lower!
Galvan constantly scans for a good location to spring the trap.
You lead the cultists into a small market place with only two ways in and out. Feeling that this is a good ambush site you shout out the code word to begin the ambush.
Galvan:
Isari, Galvan and Jonas tell me where you want your characters to start on the map. a-z on top 1-26 down
Galvan shouts, "BREE-YARK!"
It's a new combat so it would be back at zero.