3.5 Political Adventure [IC]

[al'Lan Mandrag]

Malaina: Your arrow flies true and strikes the guard nearest to the Archa. It vanishes and the guard sways before collapsing on the dias that is carrying them.
People start crying out and the procession comes to a grinding halt. The other three guards jump on the Archa and try to hide her from future attacks.

Malaina:

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*Hide check.

[Sgt. Cookie]

"Sure Sel."

Aquarius casts detect magic.

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If Aquarius detects something, he will try try to study it for as long as he can.

If Aquarius detects no magic in one group, he will move onto other groups, depending on the current hostility level.

Spellcraft check, if needed:

(1d20+8)[17]

Spells cast today:

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2 cantrips/orisons

[al'Lan Mandrag]

Aquarius:

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Your spell detects no magic in the area.

[Jodah]

Phaedrus approaches the larger group. "I don't expect you to care to much, gentlemen, but I assure you there is a group of guards not 5 minutes away, just looking for someone to jail. They are going to be working their way towards us with surprising ease and I do not intend to be here when they get here- so what, pray tell, is causing your problem with these fellows and is it worth your own hide?" Phaedrus pauses for effect before continuing, "Don't get me wrong, you are quite terrifying with your clubs and your swords, but the guard is coming and has quite a few more members than you have been threatening here. I just want to make sure you are well abreast of the situation we have here."

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I am expressly avoiding intimidation, trying to sound like I feel for them and don't want them to be inconvenienced in any way. I do not know if you want that to be a bluff, diplomacy, or both.

[al'Lan Mandrag]

A man who you take to be the leader glances to his other comrades, then towards the large group you've gathered behind you. Instead of replying directly the group starts talking amongst themselves and then starts to disintegrate. The smaller group, seeing this also turns around and flees.

[pixieknot]

Malaina ducks trying to conceal herself:

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[roll0]

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(just an FYI RL wants to eat me up...I'll be offline for days at least Fri-Mon...hopefully I'll be able to post tomorrow and Thurs. but in case I'm bitten again here are basic actions if someone could roll for me if needed.
Malaina will ask Crystalina if the group is in need of assistance; actions are answer based:
Yes the group needs me;

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I go back to where the group is as quickly as possible ignoring guards (if any) from recent actions and take shots from the roof at the enemy

no the group has things under control:

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I vanish for at least ten minutes, then once very certain I'm not being followed I begin to deliver letters, waiting to be told if there will be a reply, but not necessarily waiting for the reply (I'll return to anyone who wished to make a reply) Then once I have all reply letters I will return either to Selena (with Crystalina's help) or the library

sorry wrong forum...too many tabs...rolls viewable OOC...

[Jodah]

Phaedrus turns to Jac, Haf, and the other leaders and, with a sigh of relief and a sign of gratitude, says, "May I suggest we disperse as well, those guards are still coming, and we probably shouldn't be caught with a group this large. Do any of you know the names of anyone in that last group that ran away? - someone needs to let Coursan know what is going on."

To the boy, "Thank you for finding us. What's your name kid?"

[al'Lan Mandrag]

They nod and start to disperse, some assuring you they knew at least one person in the other groups.

"My name's Ben." He says quickly and runs off with the others.

You can hear some shouting from down the street, but not much else.

Malaina isn't seen. And contacts the others telling them what happened. Since they don't seem to need help she will go the inn and deliver the first letter.

[Starbin]

Caladeran

Watching the groups disperse, the duskblade nodded in amused appreciation. "Well played. But without the brainless masses to hide us, we should retreat to more discrete quarters."

He glanced around at the shouts from a distance, and remembered one of the ill-conceived 'back-up' plans discussed earlier. If the girl had fired an arrow at the Archa ...

"Did Malaina do what you had discussed? To think we were worried about violence in the streets, and now we may be the cause ..."

Caladeral headed towards the nearest public place, eager to get off the streets before any guards decided that all spectators were suspects.

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Cal is working off the assumption that the shouts are because Mal shot an arrow at the Archa. If that ain't the case (i.e., someone confirms that it didn't happen, via the crystalline familiar) then he may change actions. Until then, let's get while the getting is good!

[Jodah]

Phaedrus disappears down a backstreet and works his way toward a bar, I'm glad that worked, and without any extra courage...maybe I should remedy that. Hope the guild appreciates this....

[sdream]

Selena walks up to the noble dwarf and his footman.
"Thanks for standing with us today. I know you less fond of the idea of the theives guild than I am, but they did pull together on the side of order today. Of course, chaos is sneaky, and it seems we may caused a little delay in the parade trying to defused the ominous situation here. It would do us good to get off the street now. There is a lovely rooftop I know of overlooking the parade rout, which happens to have a bar underneath it, and a sturdy fire escape, if you are still interested in the spectacle."

[Sgt. Cookie]

Hmm, that woman from before. She seemed in control. I wonder if she is around somewhere?

Aquarius looks around to see if he can find her.

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Spot check: (1d20+2)[18]

[al'Lan Mandrag]

Aquarius: You think you may have seen her disappearing with some of the scuvvies.

[Sgt. Cookie]

"Guys, I have something I need to do. If you need me, I'll probably be at the library in a while."

Aquarius starts to follow the woman, hand on hilt.

[al'Lan Mandrag]

Aquarius: As you follow her into the street you see her vanishing around a corner, though she is not travelling too fast more of a hurried walk. If you continue to follow her you see that she is travelling with one other companion, who could be one of the men from earlier. She takes a winding path through narrow streets.

[Sgt. Cookie]

Aquarius continues to follow, keeping his distance.

[al'Lan Mandrag]

Aquarius:

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Take a Hide check and a Move Silently check please.

She continues to skirt through the streets until she comes to an inn in the centre of the city called the Savant's Repose, a nice looking tavern on a smallish thoroughfare. She glances around before heading into an alleyway to the side.

[Sgt. Cookie]

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Hide: (1d20-1)[19]
Move silently:m(1d20-1)[0]

Aquarius continues to follow.


((OOC: Wow, got both extremes.))

[al'Lan Mandrag]

Aquarius:
The woman glances round at the noise, but doesn't make any indication that she has seen you, she ducks into the alleyway and knocks quickly on a side door to the inn, waiting for a few seconds before the door is opened and she disappears inside.

[Sgt. Cookie]

Hmm, side rooms in inns. Something is definitely out of the ordinary. OK, I have three choices. I can knock on the door, bluff my way in and see where it goes from there, or I can take a seat in the Inn and hope that she come out of the other side or I can sit here and wait till she comes out. Hmm. OK, I have a plan.


Walking up to the side door, Aquarius knocks. "Excuse me, I have a message to deliver."

[al'Lan Mandrag]

Aquarius:

A scrawny man opens the door and stares at you, before remembering himself and holding out a hand as though waiting for you to give him something. He glances up and down the street checking to see if there is anyone watching.

[Sgt. Cookie]

If you're after a piece of parchment, there isn't one. I was told to deliver a verbal message to a woman who is or will be here. I wasn't given a name, but I was given a description. ((Insert description of the woman here, If I could recognize her, I can describe her.)) I was told to tell her to go to the library, where someone will meet here there. Friend, I came to town yesterday and was offered 20 gold pieces to take a small detour. I don't care who you are and I don't care to know. So deliver it or don't, I get paid either way.

And a bluff roll: (1d20+6)[21]

[al'Lan Mandrag]

The man nods and replies: "I'll keep your message then traveller, if a woman comes here with that description I'll give her it her."

He closes the door promptly leaving you alone in the alley.

[al'Lan Mandrag]

Phaedrus & Selena (& Glanror): You arrive at the 'Rising Sun' to find it's rather packed, full of adventuring types. You push your way through to find the balcony on the first floor that overlooks the parade route. You here some men shouting that the parade has been delayed as some thug shot at her. Some people are saying that the Archa herself was shot.

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Take Spot checks.

[sdream]

After a tense morning, Selena is very happy to hit her favorite bar, buying her friends a round a good drinks from the main bar on the way up to the rooftop beer garden.

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-1gp for fine drinks
Spot (no crystalena bonus atm): (1d20+4)[7]

Once there though, she frowns, virgin "Rising Sunrise" in hand. She loves this place because she can combine the open air freedom of a high perch with company... but there is such a thing as too much company, like the knot of surly looking mercenaries taking up her favorite bench by the wall of Gordo's fine fabrics next door.

[Jodah]

Phaedrus gets a drink from the barkeep, and settles down his favorite corner. He never used to care for corners - they made you look like you were hiding something ... ironically, now that he was, he enjoyed them. Perhaps it was some self-fulfilling prophecy in his life, but more likely it was because he could survey the entire bar and no one could sneak up on him from behind. He saw Selena and Glanror go up to the roof, and he considered for a moment. Then, smiling, he joined them upstairs. Approaching he says with a slight bow, "Thanks for helping today, you two. I know you didn't have to, and that it wasn't your favorite thing, but you lent a hand, so merci."

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Spot: (1d20+1)[3]

[Starbin]

As the group dispersed to avoid attention, Caladeran made his way to the Rising Sun - it had served as a rally point on more than one occasion and also provided a perfect venue to watch the Archa's procession ... if it were to continue as planned.

Arriving at the tavern, he nodded to the guard inside the door and made his way towards the roof. As always, it had a stench that was remarkably human in nature, but seemed more stifling than normal today. Making his way up the stairs, he saw that it was the number of people present ... apparently most of the tavern's clientele had the same idea and were all jockeying for a spot.

Grim-faced, he pushed his way through the crowds, lashing out with a sharp word when a patron bumped him, stepped on his feet, failed to move aside, or otherwise bothered his sensibilities. After a moment, he found the others and moved towards the comfort zone of their company.

"Finally. How I managed to find you amidst this rabble is no small miracle. What news from the parade?"

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Spot Check, if necessary: (1d20+3)[11]

[Sgt. Cookie]

Aquarius starts to make his way back to the library, planning his next move.

OK, so that guy will deliver my message. With luck, she should go there. But what then? I could play the mercenary card, hopefully gaining access to the inner workings. But just another sword won't stand out much. Good thing I'm not just another sword.

Arriving at the library, Aquarius has a look around for Phaedrus ((OOC: I think it's safe to assume Aquarius knows he works here, if you think otherwise, let me know)), but he wasn't there. This is bad. I'm gonna have to pull something off as soon as he enters, assuming that woman is here.

Aquarius walks up to one of the tables, and begins his preparations.

First, he takes off the items at his belt, holy symbols, everlasting rations and sword, and places them on the table in a rather haphazard manner.

Then, he goes to Phaedrus's desk, and borrows a quill and inkwell. Aquarius returns to his table, and places the quill and inkwell on the table, also haphazardly.

He takes out his spell book, opens it on a blank page and sets it down next to the inkwell. He takes off his backpack and puts it on the floor, and throws his cloak on the back of the chair.

He then searches for some books on magic. Arcane and divine.

(1d20+2)[8]

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If he finds any, he will gather them up and put them on the table. He will stop when he finds three or four books.

[al'Lan Mandrag]

All in bar: You notice that the clientele seems extremely varied, though you would expect nothing less from so many adventuring types brought together, and a surprisingly even gender balance. You can also see more people running to get to the tavern, some shouting up at their comrades on the balcony that the procession is approaching.

Calderan:

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You can't make anything out distinctly, but you think their might be something or somebody moving on a rooftop a few houses down from you.

Aquarius:
You find some books on magic, nothing cutting edge and nothing that seems to carry ancient wisdom, but it is not too much difficulty to find 4 books on the arcane arts in some form of another. It takes you about 15 minutes to set up the scene, followed by a 10 minute wait.
If you are looking out the window you will see the woman arrive with two men in tow (not the same ones as earlier) looking harassed. You see them approach the door but cannot see more than that. 2 or 3 minutes later you can here the sound of footsteps on stone and the woman will push open the door.
She looks you up and down before giving a questioning look and approaching.

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Please make bluff checks as necessary from now on.

[Jodah]

"Given what the 'rabble' is saying, my guess is that the parade is approaching. It's anyone's guess really though - rumors travel faster than facts, as they say." Phaedrus says looking up at Calderan with a small grin, he seems to be genuinely glad to be there. Then, standing up, "Un moment, s'il vous plaît - I'll go check out the front lines." With that he begins to dance though the crowd to get to the close enough to the front to check for the procession.

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Spot: (1d20+1)[18] - I am assuming I get some penalty due to the crowd and the distance, but it is a festive occasion and he is actually curious, so if you don't feel we are endangered Phaedrus will take the minute to take 20 (trying to actively spot is a move action, burn standard action as well to take two attempts per round).