Those that Stick it to the Man[3.5]

[Zavoniki]

This is the IC thread for Those that Stick it to the Man.

OOC Thread

Current Players:
HearTheRequiem(Peg)
HandsomePlayer2(Barfdor)
SymPhoenix(The Thief Catcher with No Name)
aisaku(Ix)

Map of Obstan:

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Current Plot: Peg's troupe of halfling entertainers has been wrongly imprisoned by the Obstan government. Something must be done.

[Zavoniki]

Beggar's Square is the closest marketplace in the Grey Area to the Chamber of Law. This also makes it the busiest, as residents from other areas of Obstan frequent it looking for items that are not strictly legally, which in Obstan is almost all of them. Dotting the sides of the street are numerous shops and taverns, and in the center is giant rubble pile. The residents of the Grey Area have tried to construct statues that insult the ruling government of Obstan many times, and every time the government has torn them down, until all that is left is a rather large pile of rocks.

Today however, there is something different going on. Most of the shops are closed, and the taverns all have their bouncers outside. Occupying the square today is a group of protesters. Armed with a motley assortment of improvised weapons, they are marching towards the Chamber of Law to demand the release of all prisoners held in the Non-Compliance Prison. The few guards present are keeping their distance and trying to turn pedestrians back, unsuccessfully. Many pedestrians have joined the protesters.

One of the protesters, a rather plain looking elf, climbs to the top of the rubble pile and yells out, "No longer will we be repressed because of our heritage! No longer will we be repressed by these endless form! We are the Formless and we demand equality!"

[HandsomePlayer2]

Something special. Endlessly repeating the words in his mind, Barfdor scoured the stalls and stores of the marketplace. Poring over baubles and trinkets, eyes passed down through untold generations of Dwarven craftsmen searched for that...Something special.
Browsing in a place like this isn't a common occurrence, nor is it an accepted one. But most stayed quiet. There may be a great many unsavoury characters in this part of town, and one must stand their ground if they hope to survive long. But picking one's battles may be an even more important skill, and the heavily-armed Dwarf, muttering through his patchy beard as he gazes intently at your wares? Not a battle most would pick, nevermind be able to fight.
"Something special..."
Concentrating was becoming increasingly difficult, a dull roar from across the square gradually permeating Barfdor's consciousness. Something is going on. A crowd gathering, growing in size and volume.
Get away.
This was Barfdor's first thought. Though he had been able to keep a handle on himself recently, this was still a risk. But she could be at risk too. Peg.
Find Peg. Get away.
Repeating this new mantra, Barfdor looks around, hoping to catch a glimpse of his companion.

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Taking 10 on Spot to find Peg in the crowd: 9

[HearTheRequiem]

First rule. Make them know you're here. That way, how could they think you were doing something else?

Her mantra repeating in her mind, the Halfling woman weaves through the crowd, making sure to cause a fuss. A push here, a trip there, just to make people notice her. Some turned around angrily, caught a glimpse of the purple-shawled woman, and then she was gone. A fleeting appearance, certainly. Nothing that'd cause too much of a fuss, or make her stand out inordinately.

But it was enough. Now, if pressed, there'd be people who remembered the woman in a jangling, beaded shawl, and each of their stories would corroborate.

Now, she'd made it clear that she was there.
Next step?
Not being there at all.

There. Put in an appearance. That way, there'll be an alibi for me to fall back on.

Barely noticed, Peg slinks out of the crowd.

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Hide: (1d20+8)[12]
Move Silently: (1d20+9)[22]

[SymPhoenix]

Routine patrols were just that; a routine programmed into a guard's head, figuratively. Well, in some cases. In this case, it's quite literally a programmed route in the statuesque warforged's head, staring at the crowd assembled in the Grey Area, known for being somewhat of a 'hot topic' in the mind of the 'machine guard', as he was called. Staring up at the half-elf perched on the rubble, the warforged began to speak, his voice booming, and while even and calm, holding that bit of edge that shows that he means business.

"Citizens will comply to rules of Obstan. Form 6GW52-B, Compliance Recognization Contract, will be handed out to all citizens present. If the forms are not signed, there shall be trouble."

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Intimidate on the half-elf and other such people. (1d20)[7]+2

[Ixquian]

Ix started regretting taking the road to Ostan by the moment she got past the exhaustive checkpoint at the city gates. It took all her concentration not to start shifting out of control after the third routine check. A bureaucracy of this caliber spoke of deep pockets, pockets she would see significantly lightened if things went her way.

Wishful thinking. After a couple days in Obstan, it was self evident that the government held a literal iron clad control over the city's day to day life. Not that the locals were any friendlier to outsiders. No thieves' guild to speak of, no mercenary jobs offered openly by tavern patrons, even the local temple wouldn't offer her a quest without filling a small forest worth of FORMS!

Ix's purse was getting lighter and lighter by the day, with no clear solution in sight. Even the most innocent attempt to earn a couple silver from a little Lute performance at a Grey Quarter tavern got her in trouble with one of the local police force who just happened to pass by. The tavern was not zoned as an entertainment venue, and she did not have a performer license, much less a street performer license, which was another process entirely. Barely containing her anger, she stormed out of the place.

Pausing for a moment to compose herself, Ix tried to relax, willing the fiery red locks that had begun to cover her face back to usual light brown color.

"If that idiot objected to a little song and dance, I do not want to see what would happen if they saw me _change_."

Ix walked down to Beggar's Square, drawn by the commotion, just in time to hear the altercation between the crowd and the Warforged. Ix heard of 'them' a lot still, she hadn't seen many of them in person.

'There will be trouble you say? Trouble for who? And why should there be trouble at all? Are forms really that important?'

'All I know is, if I was made of mithrill, I would not spend my days being an extra-shiny errand boy'

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Diplomacy check to bolster the crowd's attempts to resist the Warforged's Intimidate check: (1d20+8)[24]

[Zavoniki]

Barfodr:
You spot Peg briefly but she disappears into the crowd again and you are unable to find her again.

Peg:
You easily slip away from everyone as they are all distracted by the confrontation that is brewing between the guards and the crowd.

Everyone:
The crowd falters for a moment at the warforged's proclamation, but with Ix's encouragement they began picking up small rocks from the rubble pile and hurling them at the guards. None of the rocks are big enough to cause damage, but it is clear that the mob is turning angrier and angrier, shouting, "Down with the Government! Down with the Humans! Down with the Forms!" The tavern owners are all starting to close their doors, and patrons scurry away quickly, though a few join the mob and shopkeepers begin to bar their doors. The few merchants out in the square are quickly packing up and fleeing as fast as they can deeper into the Grey Area.

Thief Catcher:
A guard approaches you and says, "Nice try, pity it didn't work. If we can hold them here for a little bit longer help will be here. From what I head the Councilor's are sick and tired of these protests and they called in the Army to help pacify the lot. I hope they try to resist. They deserve whatever punishment this brings down upon their heads and more. They should be grateful for the order and security that our structure provides, not complain about it. If they have a complain they can fill out one of the standardized complaint forms like the rest of us." He continues muttering, though it is much harder to hear, but the few words you can pick out are incredibly vulgar.

Everyone roll a listen check:

If you beat DC20:

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You hear the loud clanging of armored feet marching towards the Square.

In addition if you beat DC25:

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You hear the faint sounds of hooves on cobblestone coming towards the Square from the Chamber of Law

Finally, if you beat DC30:

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You realize that the sounds from the armored feet are coming from all sides, not just from the side nearest Councilor's Rest.

[Ixquian]

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Listen Check(1d20+4)[8]

[Ixquian]

[OOC: I was unsure of how to make the roll and respond to the change in situation, adding a second post to describe my reaction, no matter the roll result.

Failing to get a rise out of Thiefcatcher, and feeling suddenly uncovered by the dissipating mob, Ix decides to make herself scarce.

'Hmm' she thinks 'I've been on my own for far too long. This metal man seems powerful, and yet agile. Unlike say, a rock golem. If I only could convince the metal man to listen to me instead of the city guards...'

Since it seems she won't get any further while the guards are there, Ix tries to find somewhere to hide. Somewhere Thiefcatcher won't see her, but still within Beggar's Square so she can easily tail him when he moves. The shade under a stall, a street corner, something like that.

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Hide (1d20+6)[19]

[SymPhoenix]

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Makin' that Listen check. (1d20)[17]+1

Someone had spoken out against the city's rule? Nothing new, of course, but she seemed to bolster the crowd, who start throwing rubble around. For the warforged, it was really no big deal, the rocks pinging off of his tough metal body, but he looked over at the guard speaking to him, nodding. "Understood, sir."

Still..somewhere, deep in the Thiefcatcher's mind, he began to think on those questions Ix had proposed. Was he just a metal errand boy? No, that couldn't be - he was a purposefully built thief catcher, one of the best in the city! But beyond that, what was he?

'No time for thought,' he thinks, 'time for action.'

He draws his blade, sliding it from a compartment on his right leg, keeping it low as he speaks again, with that same edge to his voice. "Citizens will cease violent attacks. This is the final warning."

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Intimidate again, let's hope for better. (1d20)[5]+2

[HandsomePlayer2]

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Listening...(1d20+5)[24]

The sound of armour-clad boots marching steadily closer is seldom a good sign, often indicating that things are about to get messy. Barfdor did not want to be part of such a mess.
Find Peg. Get away.
Peg had vanished into the crowd a few moments ago. Surely she wouldn't be going towards...That? No. Barfdor dismissed the idea. Peg was not one to be in the midst of things. In some side street, perhaps. Yes. Not in the middle of that commotion. Nothing to worry about. Find Peg. Get away.
Steadying his breathing and repeating his mantra, Barfdor steadily moves through the crowded square, heading in the direction he last saw Peg.

[HearTheRequiem]

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Listen: (1d20+3)[16]

The halfling woman, out of the crowd, crept along the street, towards the prison.

Just takin' a look, Peg. Not yet. Need to get a feel for the place before you do the real thing.
Wouldn't start training with real knives immediately, right? Good job, too, otherwise Bertrand wouldn't have two legs right now, would he..."

Slowly, she began to feel strange, a growing feeling of unease...A sense that she was being followed.

...Bein' silly, Peggy-gal. They all saw what's goin' on there. They won't notice you gone.

[HandsomePlayer2]

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(1d20-1)[12]

Find Peg. Get away.

[Ixquian]

Unaware of the reinforcements on the way to the Square, Ix still watches the events unfold, hopefully unseen.

"It-it just drew its weapon! They're not going to actually attack defenseless citizens, are they?"

Reaching for her sword, Ix watches the events unfold. If the guards or the war forged start attacking civilians she will jump in and try distracting them so the citizens can run away.

[Zavoniki]

Barfdor:

You pick up Peg's trail heading away from the square and toward the prison.

Peg:

As you move towards the prison you see a large group of soldiers heading towards the square. These soldiers look different from the normal city guards, with heavier armor, better weapons, and some cavalrymen among them. They seem to be rushing towards the square and don't notice you.

Ix and Thief-Catcher:

The citizens ignore the warforged's warning and surge forward toward the city guards, wielding a motley assortment of improvised weapons. The rocks being thrown now are much larger, and some of the rioters have clubs, daggers, and slings. There is about a 50 foot gap between the line of city guards and the rioters.

If either of you are going to participate in the forthcoming brawl, please roll initiative.

Guards Initiative: 16

Rioters Initiative: 11

Everyone:

Same Listen Check, same information, all DC's are lowered by 10. Peg, you automatically make the first two checks as you can see what is making those noises.

[Ixquian]

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Listen (1d20+4)[19]

'Ach! If my ears don't deceive me, this is going to turn from a little civil disobedience into something very, very ugly.' Ix thought. 'There's little I can do now...'

'Which leaves the matter of the metal man... He is clearly big on following orders, so maybe if I gave him an incentive that focuses his attention...'

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On her turn Ix will unsheath her short sword move to the closest corner out of the square and use her Bluff skill on Thief catcher. Using social intuition she takes 10 in the check for a 20 result. The bluff is:

[bluff]

'Hey, metal man! Do you even have a name? Well, I do! It's Ix and you better remember it! Why you ask? Because I'm the rebel leader! I'm sure your bosses would be sooo impressed...if you actually caught me!' *storms off, away from the square*

[Ixquian]

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Initiative (1d20+2)[17]

[HearTheRequiem]

Augh!

Peg slinks into an alleyway, waiting for the soldiers to pass.

Unfortunately, the heel of her boot snaps, and she topples over, sending herself sprawling.

DAMN IT!

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Hide: (1d20+8)[9]
Listen: (1d20+1)[6]

[SymPhoenix]

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(1d20)[8]+2 for Initiative
(1d20)[2]+6 for Sense Motive

The warforged knew in his mind that the greater threat was the crowd of rioters staring him down, but..this other creature had a point. And the fact that she had called out him specifically meant that he was important. So, he pushes through the crowd, attempting to follow after Ix.

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On my turn, he will draw the short sword from his leg, and the buckler will fold out from his arm, and he'll move after Ix.

[HandsomePlayer2]

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(1d20+5)[18]

Getting closer. Staying is dangerous.
Find Peg. Get away.

Moving after her (Spot).

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(1d20-1)[13]

[Ixquian]

Noticing the warforged moving towards her, Ix smiles 'Good, it's all going according to plan... now, time for a little foot-race!'

Ix's plan was simple. Avoid getting caught as long as necessary to break away from the soldiers and the riot, then talk honestly with the guy. Well metal guy. For a moment she wondered if 'Warforged' was the name everybody called them or was it how they called themselves?. Anyway, she hoped he could gain the warforged's favor, not to overthrow any governments, as she knew that was way above her paygrade, but at least to find a way out of this rut.

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[OOC: I don't know for simplicity's sake could we all run into each other eventually? Just sayin'...]

On her turn, Ix will run as fast as she can, tumbling and using any obstacle she finds on her way to slow down Thiefcatcher... if she is caught, she will talk to him, without bluffing. If she isn't caught, she'll wait until they're well outside the perimeter of the riot and stop to talk to him.

SRD says chase and pursuit is an opposed DEX check, can I use my Tumble skill to improve my chances of not getting caught?

[Ixquian]

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Rolling to save time, results depend on DM's ruling.

Dexterity(1d20+2)[19]

Tumble(1d20+8)[9]

[SymPhoenix]

Rushing towards the supposed leader of the riots, the Thiefcatcher knew he could not fail in this task, like any other task ever placed before him. This one, however, was far more important.

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Along a similar line as Ix's question, would I perhaps be able to use Knowledge (local) to find a shortcut through some buildings and alleyways to get a lead on her?
Rolling for both just in case.
Dexterity (1d20)[17]+2
Knowledge Local (1d20)[12]+7

[Zavoniki]

OOC: Your both good to go with tumble and Knowledge (Local)

Ix and Thief Catcher:

As you are leaving the square you notice a large swarm of heavily armed and armored men enter the square from all directions. They quickly run towards the rioters and start killing them. They do not notice the two of you as you leave.

Thief Catcher, you recognize these men as members of the Obstan Army.

Peg:

Most of the soldiers continue walking, however three of them stop marching and walk over to you. They draw their weapons and one says, "Halfing we need to see your identification papers."

Barfdor:

After a few minutes of navigating the confusing streets of the Grey Area, you see Peg on the ground near the side of a street surrounded by three soldiers with their weapons drawn.

Ix:

Running through the streets you lead the warforged far away from Beggar's Square. About when you think your far enough away from the soldiers to talk to the warforged without interruption, you notice that ahead of you a halfling has fallen into the street and is being accosted by three soldiers.

Thief Catcher:

Chasing after Ix, you finally catch up to her, but also notice the halfling and the soldiers.

[HearTheRequiem]

Peg pushes herself up, stuffing the heel of her boot into a pocket, thinking furiously.

"There was some kind of altercation outside the market, and people started fighting. I got pushed over, and my papers got ruined. I'm on my way to the Chambers of Law to have them re-issued, officers."
Bluff: (1d20+4)[10]

[Zavoniki]

Peg:

"A likely story. How about you wait here with these two and I go fetch a guard to check the record books and confirm it?" the soldier says, clearly not believing you.

[HearTheRequiem]

"I'm serious, there's some kind of huge fight outside the market. I really think you ought to be dealing with that right now instead."

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Bluff, if needed: (1d20+4)[24]

[Ixquian]

Too in the heat of the moment to notice the noises produced by the brutality of the Obstan army, Ix guides Thiefcatcher down the narrow streets, the same streets the warforged is intimately familiar with. It was a narrow chase still abrubtly interrupted by yet another instance of governmental oppression.

Taking a moment to assess the situation, Ix decides she better come up with a good reason to sway the warforged's opinion of his employers, quick. Trying to run away was fine, but reinforcements may turn the situation... deadly. "Oh... Big guy? There's something you should know.... " Ix says, turning to Thiefcatcher. "I'm not the leader of the rebellion, I'm not even from Obstan! I just think you could do better. Have you ever heard of dungeon exploring? Adventuring? Haven't you ever wanted people to say hey, there's the great explorer Ironside, let's rise our glasses to him, what a swell guy! (by the way I don't know if you're made of iron or what, but I think you catch my drift?)" Ix puncuates every bit of her pitch, making eye contact and mimicking the toasting and the boasting, trying her best to be earnest and sincere. Taking a dramatic pause, she goes for the finishing stroke:


"OR... do you want to be this guy, day in and day out annoying people with pointless procedures?" Ix concludes, with a wide gesture towards the guard accosting Peg.

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No bluffing this time. If the argument sounds convincing, do as your character would do.

[Zavoniki]

Peg:

The soldier eyes you warily before stating, "You better be here when we come back." They quickly walk away.

Barfdor:

You see the three soldiers that were accosting Peg walk in your general direction after they talked to Peg.

[SymPhoenix]

If there was ever a word to describe a warforged, it was 'tireless'. Thiefcatcher saw the soldiers, figuring that they were on their way to the square to deal with the rioters, and continued to chase after Ix. Once he caught up to her, the explanation stopped him in his tracks. "I am not..iron. But..you called me by a name. The idea of this..it has been dwelling in my mind for many years. You can..help me find a name?"