Something Wicked this way Comes...

[LordDice]

As they start to travel Karazi thinks up a few more questions..

"So do we know anything about the location they're holding these Slaves at ? or will we try and hit them while they're moving ?"

[Mr. X]

Quickblade nods,

"Indeed, it would be nicer to have the guards' blades on our side, so we'll hope for the best in that angle.

We'll probably have to hit them while moving. The professional stock houses are usually rented space that often hold the stock of several different owners. Security would be extremely tight, and the guards would be under much better control (I'd expect at least four or five rods governing them, so groups could quickly be given several different tasks).

... That is, if the group we're after is being held in a professional stock house. Some traders keep their own 'stables', in which case, if we can bag the owner, we'll get the stable too... There's a wide gap in those types of owners though... Being that they're either so fabulously wealthy that they can maintain their own stock facility, or else, they're poor enough that they can't afford to rent space in a professional stock house... Either way, we'll need to see what Lori's learned before we can plan much further."

Spoiler

Show

You guys are riding as you talk. It will take the rest of the day, and part of the next, to get to Fool's Harbor.

Keep talking if you've got more to say, or questions to ask, and if you've got any actions you want to take before you get to town, take them.

If you've got nothing else to do, just let me know in the OOC, and I'll start the next scene.

[Mr. X]

Through hills, forrests, and gullies, you make your way to the slaver town...

Fool's Harbor was so named for being a bad place to try to harbor a ship. A smooth beach, and a bend in the shorline that provided some shelter, made the spot a tempting layaway for long journies up and down the coast... Unfortuantely, the tidal shift off the Gnomish Isles causes the tides to sweep in when they rise, and rip out when they fall... They say hundreds of ships have been lost about these parts, either driven ashore, or swept uncontrolled out to sea.

That is all ancient history, however. Now, a long line of piled stones stretches out and around the harbor, breaking the tides, and providing excellent shelter to the ships and docks within. These days the city is a common stopping point for all trade going up and down the cost, and has thrived for it.

As you come into town, you note that for all the stigma you might apply to it for being a slave city, there is very little that might immediately distinguish it from any other port town. The streets are well cobbled and fairly clean, the markets bustle with all maner of trade (from exotic spices and jewelry, to basic food stuffs and sundries), and regular (at you might add, well mannered) guard patrols keep the streets safe. True, many of the market goers are collared, as are many of the shopkeepers, but the obvious lifestyle seems little altered for it.

Quickblade leads you through the back streets, into a darker and quieter area of town, and to a moderately tall building. Tying your horses in the small stable outside, he produces a key, an takes you into the building, and up to an apartment on the third floor.

The apartment is of medial quality, and does not possess much in the way of furnishings. However, a few wide windows and a corner balcony offer routes of escape over the rooftops, should such a need arise.

Quickblade tosses his pack into a corner, and produces bottle of ale from within, taking a swig, and passing it to Taalkar.

"... Well, now we wait."

Spoiler

Show

More to come tomorrow. Take actions if you've got them.

[Barthac]

You'd be amazed how much waitin' we seem to do lately. I've come to find out there are all sorts of waitin'.

He takes a hard pull from the bottle. Eying the container, he continues, "This kind is called 'Waitin with style'." He hands the bottle to his brother.

[LordDice]

Taking a few pulls from the bottle before eventually tossing it back to Quickblade.

"At least it's quiet for now, get to relax for awhile first"

Moving out the the balcony he finds a comfortable spot he can watch some of the comings and goings while waiting.

[Mr. X]

"Aye, that it is... An' it's not like to stay that way, heh." Quickblade replies.

---------

You pass three hours, twiddling your thumbs, before a quiet knocking raps the door.

Staying quiet, Quickblade nods, before getting up and opening the door.

"Oy, Lori, come in. You have any trouble?"

The voice that answers him is high pitched, and childish,

"Naw, Mr. Sammel sir, no one ever bothers me."

The girl he brings in is, if you had to guess, perhaps six or seven years old, with thick, ratty, black hair, a pretty face, and a black eye. An iron slave collar hangs about her neck, and under her hair, you can see the scars where the tops of her ears have been cut off.

She digs in her shirt and produces a rolled paper.

"The dock boys say the ship'll sail tonight if'n the sky's clear, but if they cannae see the stars, they'll wait fer mornin'. I played at the owner's house too. His son's nice, but 'e's slaves don't look like they like 'im. He don't keep too many house guards, but they say 'e's in good wit the watch, so if'n 'is bell rings, they'll come runnin'."

Spoiler

Show

A little slow going on this one, I'm afraid. I'll have maps up tomorrow. Feel free to comment or ask questions, both IC and OOC.

[LordDice]

Turning to the pair "So would any of those guards leave the house to assist the shipment, or are they strictly home protection for him."

"Would they even be on the same control as the shipments guards ? I do wonder if we could cause some sort of distraction for the Watch and hit him at home...take out the whole operation from the top, guards and all."

[Mr. X]

"I dinnae think the house guards're gonna leave... I been watchin' Mr. Jamish for a little while, an' he mostly jes deals direct from a stockhouse. 'E's escort guards, I'm pretty sure, is rentals too." the little girl replies.

She unrolls her paper, revealing a crudely scribbled layout of Mr. Jamish's(the owner's) house.

"I didn't get ta go upstairs, me an' the boy Kes, we jus' played in the garden. 'E's house is three floors high tho', an nice built too. Lots o' stone an' statues an such. Like I sayed, there's ain't too many guards, but I think 'e's got a bit o' magic on the place too... Made my teeth itch, so figure that as ye like. Only other bit is 'at the watch-house is just at the end o' the street, so like I said, if'n they come runnin', they won have far te go."

The Map:

Spoiler

Show

[Barthac]

I remember this badger once. Chased him into a hole and couldn't get at 'em. Lil snarling bastard nearly took my thumb off trying to get em out. Taalkar glances at his thumb to reassure himself it's still there.

With a nod of satisfaction he continues, So I played possum. That's assuming the possum had a trusty longaxe anyway. I crouched over that lil hole and waited.

Taalkar is really getting involved in the story telling at this point and leaps on his chair holding his longaxe high above his head seeming ready to chop an invisible badger should it come out from between the legs of his chair. Most disturbingly though is the wicked grin and evil glint in his eye.

I waited for nearly half a day til WHAM he flops heavily in the chair bastard finally took one sniff and lost his head for the pleasure. Taalkar looks very pleased with himself having told the story with such Gusto. He takes a long pull from the flask and waits for the others to understand his wisdom.

[LordDice]

Chuckling over his brothers antics "I believe what my esteemed brother is trying to say...Perhaps we can take him on his way to check the Storehouse.

Would he check on it if the shipment were delayed due to weather ? or perhaps we cause some sort of minor hassle to summon him away"

[Mr. X]

Quickblade rubs his chin,

"Hmm... Hard to say... If the weather was bad early on, he'd get word, and the shipment wouldn't even leave the stockhouse, and under its guard, he'd have no reason to worry. But... If'n the ship unexpectedly proved un-seaworthy, that might call for his attention... Especially if the shipment had already left the stockhouse by the time he got word..."

[LordDice]

"Well then, perhaps a well timed water elemental let loose by the ship at dock."

"If you could keep an eye for when the shipment is starting to move out, my brother and I could head to the docks just ahead of them and cause a little havoc right quick."

Immediately afterwards we head to an alleyway between Jamish's home and his Storehouse, as he rushes there we take him out.

We pass the rod over to Quickblade and he moves to intercept the Slaves...probably on their way back to the Storehouse at that point and he takes the Shipment with no problems whatsoever"

[Mr. X]

Quickblade nods slowly, a smile spreading across his face.

"... I like it. Only problem is comunication... How can I tell you that the shipment is leaving?

Now if you're saddled up and ready to move, with me at the stockhouse, I can give you the go ahead, and if you ride hard, you should reach the docks five or ten minutes ahead of them... But they'll likely reach the ship before word gets back to Jamish... That's not a big problem unto itself though, if you can damage the ship enough for it to require lengthy repairs before it sails..."

He unrolls a map of the city.

"Jamish's house is here on Acre Street..."

He traces a path through the city to the docks,

"An' this is the route he'll probably take, as it's the fastest... Ten minutes at a hard ride, if nothin' slows you... If I meet you back here..."

He indicates a mid point on the path,

"We might stop him an' his escort (there'll be one, probably two or three guys), an' get his rod there. We'll probably need to toast the messenger too, but once that's done, there's no reason 'he' couldn't recall the shipment through the rod, an we could hit them on their way back."

He glances at Lori,

"Strange to say, we should try to keep 'im alive... His son Kes is what, six? Jamish may not be the finest o' folks, but there ain't no kid as deserves to be orphaned at that age."

[LordDice]

Nodding in agreement "I've got nothing to improve our communications...but with some decent riding we can manage."

"Then lets go with this then, it seems like we've got a decent chance of pulling this off with what we've got."

"Aye, I don't see any reason to end the man if he's reasonable about the matter...but I wont be giving the scum many chances either"



Slapping Taalkar on the shoulder "Action soon enough brother...soon Enough. I guess we should head out as soon as it gets dark, it wouldn't do for us to miss this chance because the Drivers decided to try and load up early"

[Mr. X]

Lori nods, and leans over the city map.

"The stockhouse 'e uses is 'ere, an' they'll prolly go this way."

She says, tracing a line on the map.

Spoiler

Show

It's only a little after noon now, so you've got a bit of downtime before go time, if there's anything you'd like to do in the mean time.

The market place is open and available, if there's stuff you need, and the apartment is plenty big enough for crafting if there's anything you need to do.

Take any actions you need.

[LordDice]

Nodding to himself a bit "Gonna pop over to the Market while ya'll finalize the plan here...got a few things to pick up to make this a little easier. Be back in plenty of time"

Heading out to the Market and enjoying a nice leisurely walk around after picking up the scrolls he was after, as the sun starts to drop a bit he heads back....can't keep them waiting after all.

[Mr. X]

As the sun sets over the coastal town, you and Quickblade saddle up and make your way to the seafront district, and to the stockhouse where Mr. Jamish has procured his 'storage'.

Hidden in an alley behind a neighboring warehouse, Quickblade scales to the roof, as you hunker in to wait...

... Two hours pass...

You are almost nodding off when you suddenly hear a low whistle coming from Quickblade off the rooftop.

It's time.

Spoiler

Show

Please make your ride checks.

[LordDice]

Looking over at his brother and giving a quick nod he uses the scrolls he bought just for this circumstance and heads out for the Transport ship.

Spoiler

Show

Untrained Ride
(1d20-1)[17]

[Barthac]

Horses... why does it always have to be horses

Spoiler

Show

Ride (untrained) (1d20+2)[7]

[Mr. X]

At Karazi's words, the minor enchantments drizzle off their scrolls and into the heads of the animals that bear you... At a touch of your heals the animals leap into action, careening down the allyways at break neck speeds, hooves thundering on the cobblestones, as you strain to beat the foot-bound procession to the waiting ship at the docks...

Whether because of some innate kinship with the beast, or perhaps due to him being the one who bestowed the enchantment, Karazi, leaning forward in his shortened stirrups and squeezing the creature firmly with his knees, sails forth with his steed as though he was born in the saddle.

It is well shown that twins are hardly alike in all ways, for as his horse lurches forward, Taalkar tips backward with a blank and mystified look in his eye, as if in that moment, all the heavens had turned against him...

But the warrior in him is not there simply for the smashing of skulls alone...

... In the moment when it seems all is lost, the long pole-axe appears in his hand, and he lashes out, hooking, by some miracle, the saddle horn with the beard of his axe, and yanking himself forwards.

It is still some little time before he regains a 'comfortable' seat upon his noble steed, but he manages.

Now in the dead of night, the streets are all but empty, save for the occasional guard patrol which you evade with ease... The docks, on the other hand, perhaps do not bustle with activity, but are still clearly active, as numerous ships prepare to set sail on the tide.

The ship you want is slipped right in amidst the rest too. An eighty foot bireme galley with the name 'The Willing Spirit' painted clearly upon its bow.

It appears that only the upper deck is situated for oarsmen, however. The lower deck, you would presume, is being used as the cargo hold.

The oarsmen are already chained in place, perhaps sixty of them, and two guards stand at the gang-plank, while eight more hold stations about the top deck.

The captian is probably in there somewhere too, but you can't see him.

This ships on the two neighboring docks are similarly outfitted cargo vessles, one named 'The Vison' (to the North of 'The Willing Spirit'), and the other named 'Chronicle' (to the south).

Due to the size of the ships in the cramped docking spaces, a smaller, sleeker, ten oar galley sits floating nearby in the open waters of the harbor to tow the larger ships away from the docks to where their longer oars may be brought to bear.

Spoiler

Show

It's your move.

[LordDice]

Staying on his horse he finds a somewhat out of the way section of the dock, attempting not to be seen as he tries to summon the elemental on the 'Spirit.

A few moments later a small form gathers together from the nearby dust in a miniature cloud, as soon as it finishes taking shape it quickly bursts into a flaming fire elemental.

Immediately knowing what it was intended for, it starts attempting to spread fire everywhere on the ship...catching rope on fire as it passes.

After making a pass on the 'Spirit he heads for the dock, leaving a little trail of fire as he runs along....trying to catch piles of rope and debris on the dock is the last of his mission.

[Mr. X]

Sitting high upon his horse, Karazi mutters the incantations and makes the short, erratic gestures that the prayers demand to compel and bind the elemental spirit to this plane, and to his will...

Amidships aboard the 'Spirit, the creature ignites into existance... A curling, twisting flame... Small, little larger than a campfire, it goes unnoticed at first, as it slinks and curls towards a coil of rope at the base of the galley's mast...

... Cured by the salt spray, and then dried hard in the sun, the rope goes up in flames as though it was kindling.

A wailing cacophony rises up from the oarsmen as they shy from the flames, but chained as they are, have no means of escaping them... The spirit is lost in the conflagration for a moment, as guards rush about madly and inefficiently, seeking buckets to toss overboard and draw water, when, fast as an arrow, the flames streak up the halyard and bury themselves into the reefed sail...

In moments, the sail and mast are a raging inferno, illuminating the whole of the harbor in a dull red glow... The deck itself, beneath the mast, is alight now as well, and the fire is spreading quickly in all directions across the ship... The air now fills with screams as the nearest oarsmen are burnt alive in the growing sea of flames. The guards scramble madly now with keys and chains, their water buckets forgotten, as they try to free the pinned oarsmen before they are burned, and dockhands are swarming in from all around laden with buckets of water...

... Engulfed in the blazing inferno, the spirit is all but invisible... A slight darker patch amidst the roaring flames, squirming and wriggling as it moves, caught up in the flames like a snake or a salamander.

The ship now well ablaze, it moves on its second task, leaping in a glowing arc from the ships top deck down to the dock, where its mere presence ignites the heavy, salt dried planks of the pier...

But the dockworkers are there, and before the fire can get fully going, the first bucket of water hits it...

Through his telepathic link with the creature, Karazi feels the spirit's wild glee turn to strickened panic...

Back down the dock it flees, trailing a line of fire, but away from it's flames it is now clearly visible, and it is cornered... Water surrounds it on all sides, it's only escape covered by men with buckets laden with the vile element...

Hissing in dispair like a frightened cat, with no place left to fly, it fights... Lunging forwards at the dockworkers, only to catch gallons of water squarely in its face...

With a meweling shriek in his head, Karazi feels his telepathic link break, the spirit's essence undone and destroyed...

----------

The fire abord the 'Spirit now rages out of control, though the guards have managed to release most of the oarsmen... Many of whom jumped overboard, and are being fished out by the tow boat, or have swum ashore...

The dockworkers were clearly shaken by their encounter with the obviously supernatural beast, but have now formed up a bucket train, and are keeping the fires from spreading... The 'Spirit almost certainly will be lost or damaged beyond repair.

Guards and crews on the two neighboring ships have managed to prevent the fires from spreading to their ships.

Spoiler

Show

It took the elemental a little less than two minutes to cause all the damage it did before it was killed.

Feel free to take actions.

One might also mention, that while Karazi was so valiantly unwilling to risk the lives of the chained slaves to accomplish his goal, he clearly had no issue with wrenching a spirit from its home plane, binding it to his will, and then sending it to it's death... (This comment implies no game effects, just something for you to stew on }:-])

[LordDice]

Watching the fire start to really get roaring on the 'Spirit, watching the slaves flounder in the water for a bit. At least they're getting out and not chained to a sinking ship.

Deciding to wait a bit, to make sure the plan proceeds smoothly. They move down the dock somewhat away from the blaze. Keeping an eye on the dock they wait to see either a Messenger leaving to inform Jamish or the shipment turning around.

While they wait he ponders for a bit the incredibly short life of that little elemental....I guess he did what he was truly meant to do at least. Hell of a way to die though.

Spoiler

Show

Ride check for the way to the intercept point, just in case
(1d20-1)[16]

[Mr. X]

Over the next few minutes, crowds of people surge around the blazing hulk of the 'Spirit. Dockworkers, sailors, and the common folk who live near enough to hear the commotion... The fire brigade and Guard are not far behind.

Many people, whether on-lookers or messengers it's impossible to tell, come and go in all directions. If a messenger was going to run to Jamish, he's gone by now.

A few moments later you see the shipment coming around the corner. A column of about a hundred slaves, collared and shackled at the wrists, walking three abreast with six drivers on horseback, and thirty lightly armored guard-slaves, herding them along.

They pull up a ways short of the burning ship and the crowd surrounding it, and stand, the drivers piling togather to mull the situation over.

[Barthac]

Taalkar shakes his head in mild surprise at how much damage a little finger waggling caused.

I'm glad your on my side brother, indeed he had been glad of that fact ever since he got in a fight with his brother when they were young. Taalkar had been relentlessly teasing his brother about his brothers lack of a beard. Taalkar had an unusually thick and curly beard for a dwarf his age. in a rare show of impulsiveness, Karazi set his beard on fire with a little flick of his finger. Since then Taalkar left his brother alone about his beard but he still distrusted 'finger waggling.'

He chuckles to himself while looking over the flames, Here I thought fire was my thing

With that he turns his horse, Come on brother, we have a meeting to get to Spurring his horse on he heads to the intercept spot.

[Mr. X]

Turning your horses' heads away from the blazing ship and mulling crowds, you hurry of into the night.

The rendezvous point is on a side street off the main drag of the daily fish market... Usually crowded with the throngs of market goers, at this hour the street is empty, and silent as the grave.

Pulling to a halt at the appointed location, the stillness of the scene is almost unnerving... You spend several minutes cooling your heals, your horses' breath visible as they snort and stamp in the frigid air, and for a moment you wonder whether or not you're actually in the right place. Then, off in the distance, you gradually become aware of the sound of approaching hoof beats.

A lone rider, riding full tilt down the narrow alley, all but skids to a halt as he pulls his horse up violently before you.

"Oy! On yer guard!". Quickblade's voice hisses out. "They're only a few seconds behind me, damn bastard rides well."

He glances down the main street, where already the sound of thundering hoofbeats can be heard echoing off the surrounding buildings.

"He's got four guys with 'im, an' he's got the got the rod. I saw it, now, quick and quiet eh? Move!"

Spoiler

Show

Please roll initiative.

You've got two rounds to set up your ambush before Jamish's group blazes past you.

The Main Street is about thirty feet wide, though there are a fair number of stands, signs, and other obsticals that protrude from the sidewalks towards the center of the street.

It's your move.

[LordDice]

Karazi looking out over the road tries to figure something out in the short time they have, ducking behind a stall he starts casting a few spells...gesturing to the others to hide.

A few motions at Taalkar and he's much lighter on his feet all the sudden, a few more and all 3 of them start blending into the environs very quickly.

Spoiler

Show

Castin jump on Taalkar for +20 on his jumpcheck, and then mass camo on all of us, giving +10 hide.

and hiding of course
So hide roll (1d20+9)[18] (already figuring in the camo)

[Barthac]

Taalkars teeth itch a bit as his brother casts the enchantments. He crouches low to the ground somewhat behind a cart, waiting. He creates a picture in his minds of the street. He pictures the riders charging down the alley, see himself spring and chop the horse, the horse falling, the rider falling. He plays it through in his mind over and over.

Ready, he crouches and waits for the riders to approach.

Spoiler

Show

Initiative:(1d20+6)[17]
Hide:[roll]1d20+12[/roll]

Readying an action to chop the horse out from the under the rider. I will charge and use leap attack along with shock trooper. I am trying to basically one-shot the horse without hurting the rider.

[Barthac]

Spoiler

Show

hide check part deux:(1d20+12)[29]

[LordDice]

Karazi waits quietly as he hears the thundering horses, seeing Taalkar ready to spring he gets ready to make a mess of the remaining horses.

Spoiler

Show

So he's waiting to cast Vine Mine Impeding Stones in the presumed surprise round. Centering it somewhere down the road somewhat, with a 40ft radius spread. Having the near edge only 15ft from Taalkar's intercept point.

Sorry this is kinda tough to describe, just work it in however ya can. Basicly I want to stop/trip the horses while they're still going full tilt. but not leave us in the area of effect. Spell is in Cityscape Page 66.