Tales of Aequar: Runite's Rise IC V

[CoffeeIncluded]

Badger:

The drunk man nods shakily and sits on the bed, trying and failing to push lank black hair off his gaunt face.

Spoiler: Badger only

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It's probably just her imagination, or her rising paranoia, but when Badger turns around, she thinks that maybe she sees a glimpse of clarity in the drunk man's otherwise bleary and unfocused gaze.

Artorias:

The halfling flails but manages to keep his balance, and he steps backwards and scrambles towards the window, barely managing to push himself out of it even though his fabric tears on a jagged shard of glass.

Spoiler: Artorias:

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Map's updated and it's your turn!

Everyone else:

As Elsee, Sora, and Darric make their way to the next well they see Jadeite and Surdrak down the block, their arms full of fish and shellfish. Surdrak seems to be dragging Jadeite to random stalls selling herbs and fragrances.

[Silverraptor]

"Oh Jadeite! Perfect timing running into you. We found some magic runes at the bottom of a well back there a ways."

[Dusk Eclipse]

Artorias rolls his eyes "Figuures" as he follows the halfling thief outside, before lashign with a precise strike to his legs trying to immobilize him

Spoiler

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Move Action: Move to (G,2) Balance (1d20+9)[16] (Artorias also auto passes the check )
Standard Action: Initiate Rabid Wolf Strike-NON LETHAL
Attack (1d20+12)[17]
Crit (1d20+15)[31]
Damage (2d6+5)[15]+(2d6)[10] (RWS) Crit (2d6+5)[11]NON-LETHAL
AC is 13 until the start of the next turn

Also I forgot I retrained a feat to Practiced Spellcaster, so Artorias CL is 6, not 2

[CoffeeIncluded]

"Oh Jadeite! Perfect timing running into you. We found some magic runes at the bottom of a well back there a ways."

Jadeite perks up, and seems rather eager to get off of whatever topic Surdrak's chasing. "Really? Which well was this and what did you find?"

Artorias rolls his eyes "Figuures" as he follows the halfling thief outside, before lashign with a precise strike to his legs trying to immobilize him

Spoiler

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Move Action: Move to (G,2) Balance [roll0] (Artorias also auto passes the check )
Standard Action: Initiate Rabid Wolf Strike-NON LETHAL
Attack [roll1]
Crit [roll2]
Damage [roll3]+[roll4] (RWS) Crit [roll5]NON-LETHAL
AC is 13 until the start of the next turn

Also I forgot I retrained a feat to Practiced Spellcaster, so Artorias CL is 6, not 2

The halfling dodges Artorias's wild blow and takes off running down the street.

Spoiler: Artorias

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Got anything else to catch him or slow him down?

[Dusk Eclipse]

Spoiler

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If he doesn't tumble I can stop him with an AoO and Hold the line.

[CoffeeIncluded]

The halfling tries to tumble out of the way.

H

Spoiler: Tumble check

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He's going at full speed, so it's DC 25. If failed, you get an AoO.

Tumble: (d20+13)[28]

Metawise, can you guess his class and level?

The thief tucks into a forward roll and easily springs to his feet out of range of Artorias's weapon.

Spoiler

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Sorry man. You're up!

[Athedia]

Badger:

The drunk man nods shakily and sits on the bed, trying and failing to push lank black hair off his gaunt face.

Spoiler: Badger only

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It's probably just her imagination, or her rising paranoia, but when Badger turns around, she thinks that maybe she sees a glimpse of clarity in the drunk man's otherwise bleary and unfocused gaze.

Badger tried to shake her feeling off but couldn't stop the uneasiness from creeping up. She paused and went back to the clerics. "Actually, you are going to be busy treating the already sick. I will stay here with him, though if you have anyone running errands soon if you could notify Jadiete from Leif's guild, the creepy elf, that I have his samples."

[Dusk Eclipse]

"Stay still gods dammit!" Artorias keeps chasing the thief, this time charging the thief while trying to stop him

Spoiler

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Charging TRIP ATTACK!
(1d20+10)[26] against touch AC
Strength check (1d20+3)[23] (remember he has a -4 to his Dex check because he is small)
The attack provokes AoO from the halfling, though my AC is 17 once more

And.... not sure to be honest, Rogue is the only core class that has Tumble AND Balance as class skill, but that feels too obvious.

[CoffeeIncluded]

Artorias:

The halfling stumbles over Artorias's sweep, and in the same movement Artorias shoves him over. With a shout, the thief falls to the ground.

Spoiler: Artorias

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Yeah, he's not making the opposed check. I'd add more but I'm about to go to bed.

Badger:

The clerics pause and look at Badger and the man. "Okay," one of them says a bit hesitantly, "But if he's not sick he's going to have to leave. We're not like Tiden's temples; even though the fresh air is good for the ill we only have so many beds to go around."

Meanwhile, the gaunt man lazily lifts his head as Badger approaches. "Thoughtyd gone," he slurs. "Dontcha havta...bug other people mindinther business?"

[Athedia]

Artorias:

The halfling stumbles over Artorias's sweep, and in the same movement Artorias shoves him over. With a shout, the thief falls to the ground.

Spoiler: Artorias

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Yeah, he's not making the opposed check. I'd add more but I'm about to go to bed.

Badger:

The clerics pause and look at Badger and the man. "Okay," one of them says a bit hesitantly, "But if he's not sick he's going to have to leave. We're not like Tiden's temples; even though the fresh air is good for the ill we only have so many beds to go around."

Meanwhile, the gaunt man lazily lifts his head as Badger approaches. "Thoughtyd gone," he slurs. "Dontcha havta...bug other people mindinther business?"

'We don't need you drowning. So I can wait here until you are sober and then I will walk you home."

[Silverraptor]

Jadeite perks up, and seems rather eager to get off of whatever topic Surdrak's chasing. "Really? Which well was this and what did you find?"

Sora points behind her.
"Just back there. Here, I'll show you."

[CoffeeIncluded]

'We don't need you drowning. So I can wait here until you are sober and then I will walk you home."

The man falls silent, then starts giggling. "Thanks, but...I'm notinna girls."

Sora points behind her.
"Just back there. Here, I'll show you."

Jadeite follows, and grimaces the moment he sees the state of the well. "And I suppose I'll have to go down there to investigate, won't I?"

Behind Jadeite's back, Surdrak grins at Sora, Elsee, and Darric, and "accidentally" trips. Of course, he "accidentally" lands against Jadeite's back and knocks the elf into the well with a shout and a sticky-sounding splash.

Spoiler: Super Dark

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Was this appropriate?

Artorias:

The halfling thief, now sporting some scrapes and bruises, looks back at Artorias, tries to scramble to his feet and keep running.

Spoiler: Dusk

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You can make an AoO. Or try to grapple him or whatever. After the AoO it's your turn.

[Dusk Eclipse]

Artorias lashes once more with his sword trying to cut any possible escape route

Spoiler: AoO

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Using Stand Still: He takes no damage from the attack, but must make a reflex save DC 10+damage or stop his movement right there
Attack (1d20+8)[9]
DC 10+(2d6+5)[7]

Edit: Are you freaking kidding me?

[CoffeeIncluded]

Artorias Swings wildly and misses--again. The halfling runs off, but not without a parting taunt of, "Seriously?"

But he lost time getting up, and Artorias is closer to chasing him down, even as he rounds a corner and momentarily escapes his view.

Spoiler: Dusk

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your turn. He's one move action away now. Get him again and you'll have run him down.

[Dusk Eclipse]

Artorias ignores the taunt to the best of his ability, but deep inside him he has to agree with the thief. He continues to run after the halfling.

Spoiler

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Not sure what do you mean by that, so I guess I'll try a grapple (provokes AoO from the thief)
Touch attack (1d20+8)[12]
Grapple check (1d20+8)[26] (thief has a -4 on his check because of the small size) to initiate
Hold check (1d20+8)[11]

Yeah... grappling is confusing

[CoffeeIncluded]

Artorias dives onto the halfling and grabs his vest. But the thief wiggles and pulls himself free. There's a loud sound of ripping fabric and Artorias is left holding torn scraps of a vest in his hands. The halfling, now clearly wearing a baggy chain shirt, throws a rude gesture in Artorias's direction and rounds the corner, vanishing from view.

Spoiler: Dusk

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and with that failure I'm gonna need another round of spot and listen checks. Ciaran can roll too.

[Draconi Redfir]

Elsee snarled beneath her facemask and strick the back of Surdrak's knees with her arm. "You edeot! He could be enfected now!"

[CoffeeIncluded]

Everyone but Badger and Artorias:

"It's okay, look!" He laughs as he jabs the map with an outstretch finger. "Jadae's not in a sick well!" And with that he hops into the well with a splash and tries to pull Jadeite out. And tries again. And again. But the walls are slick with moss and algae and it's difficult to get a grip. Finally, eldritch appendages sprout from his back, grip the air and sides of the well, and hoist a sopping-wet Surdrak and Jadeite up. They sit on a nearby stone bench, drying themselves off and sitting in the sun, and Jadeite just looks at Surdrak.

Eventually, the elf says, "There was a transmutation rune in the well, probably reinforced with a Permanency spell, but it was physically broken and so I could not make out the specific spell it once was."

[Dusk Eclipse]

Artorias dives onto the halfling and grabs his vest. But the thief wiggles and pulls himself free. There's a loud sound of ripping fabric and Artorias is left holding torn scraps of a vest in his hands. The halfling, now clearly wearing a baggy chain shirt, throws a rude gesture in Artorias's direction and rounds the corner, vanishing from view.

Spoiler: Dusk

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and with that failure I'm gonna need another round of spot and listen checks. Ciaran can roll too.

"Dammit!" Artorias continues running looking for the halfling thief "He is not getting away this time"

Spoiler

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Spot (1d20+15)[26]
Listen (1d20+10)[24]
Scent (1d20)[9]

Cyaran Spot (1d20+22)[38] (10 ranks from being familiar, +8 racial +2 wis +2 alertness)
Listen [roll]1d20+12 [/roll] (8 familiar +2 wis +2 alertness)

[Athedia]

The man falls silent, then starts giggling. "Thanks, but...I'm notinna girls."

Badger couldn't help but look disgusted. He though she liked him? A drunk and possible saboteur? "Good. I am not into you."

[CoffeeIncluded]

"Dammit!" Artorias continues running looking for the halfling thief "He is not getting away this time"

Spoiler

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Spot [roll0]
Listen [roll1]
Scent [roll2]

Cyaran Spot [roll3] (10 ranks from being familiar, +8 racial +2 wis +2 alertness)
Listen [roll]1d20+12 [/roll] (8 familiar +2 wis +2 alertness)

The alleyway connects to the street behind, and there's no trace of the thief in the alley, no smell except that of trash. He must have run to the street beyond, or hopped onto the rooves above...

At least, that's what Artorias is thinking, until Ciaran stops with a flash of there's the prey! echoing over the empathetic link. The Harris Hawk flies back a few feet to Artorias and then, silently, hovers over a trash can whose lid is ever so slightly askew.

Badger couldn't help but look disgusted. He though she liked him? A drunk and possible saboteur? "Good. I am not into you."

The man hiccups. "Yannow any guys then?" He tries to scratch his head but bends his arm at a verry strange angle, almost as if he forgot which way the elbow joint goes. "Dontcha haveta go get more water anyway? Whasit for?"

Spoiler: Athedia

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If you have trouble understanding what he's saying then read it out loud.

[Dusk Eclipse]

Artorias stops in front of the trash can, he opens it and peers inside it.

[super dark33]

So what do you think, vandalists, terrorists, conspiracists or decay?

Surdrak twirled in the air a few times, throwing drops of water around and messing his hair even more. He shuffled it back into a less messy mess.
Then he sat back next to Jadeite.

[CoffeeIncluded]

Artorias stops in front of the trash can, he opens it and peers inside it.

The halfling thief is curled up and crouched at the bottom of the can, so tightly that he would have never spotted it if not for Ciaran. He looks up with wide eyes and throws his hands up in surrender.

So what do you think, vandalists, terrorists, conspiracists or decay?

Surdrak twirled in the air a few times, throwing drops of water around and messing his hair even more. He shuffled it back into a less messy mess.
Then he sat back next to Jadeite.

"Why, it could be all of them," Jadeite says with that sly smile. "Though in this particular case it is most likely storm damage." He waves his hand, calling attention to the signs of flooding and smashed windows and trees and rooves around them. "Surdrak, how well can you detect and read magic?"

[super dark33]

[Elven]Are your eyes red and hair green?[Elven]

Spoiler

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Detect magic on everything.

[CoffeeIncluded]

Jadeite claps his hands. "Perfect. Would you be so kind as to inspect an uncontaminated well and tell me what you find?"

Spoiler: Surdrak

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There's a lot of magical things in Runite. But this damaged well is definitely not magical anymore!

[super dark33]

This one is unmagical if you wanna know. WELL. i dont want to go alone to the next well. any of you want to come?

Elsee and Darric could go on their way if they wanted, Sora would be welcome, but Jadeite doesnt have choice in the matter, wheter Surdrak will need to convince him or just carry him by force, their quality time didnt end yesterday, well, at least not in his eyes.

He kept a harmless/seemingly harmless expression though.

[CoffeeIncluded]

"We really should get these fish samples to an ice box or feed them to the rats along with our water samples quickly," Jadeite says as Surdrak all but frogmarches him to the nearest clean well. "I have heard that shellfish spoil notoriously quickly, particularly in this heat and humidity."

Indeed, it's early afternoon, the hottest part of the day by far, and the few people who were on the streets have retreated to seek the cool and shade. Even the twenty minute walk leaves them sweating and thirsty, and the sight of the well is a welcome relief.

Spoiler: Super Dark

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So, how do you want to get in the well? Also I might be seeing a movie in a bit.

Spoiler: Draconi

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What do you want to do?

Also I might be seeing a movie in a bit.

Badger:

The man alternates between nodding off and making comments until he finally seems to doze off.

Spoiler: Athedia

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What do you want to do?

[Dusk Eclipse]

The halfling thief is curled up and crouched at the bottom of the can, so tightly that he would have never spotted it if not for Ciaran. He looks up with wide eyes and throws his hands up in surrender.

Artorias picks up the halfling thief by the scruff of his neck and bring him to eye level "Here it is whay is going to happen, you are going to give me my vials back and then I'll take you to the guard." he proceeds to glare at him "Am . I. Clear?" Cyran for her part perches down on Artorias shoulder and glares too at the thief.

[CoffeeIncluded]

Loose chainmail clinks beneath rough cloth between Artorias's fists. The halfling looks up, then down, then up again, then over at Ciaran and her long sharp talons, then gulps and hastily nods.

Spoiler: Dusk

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Search check to pat him down. You might also want to restrain him.