3.5 Political Adventure [IC]

[sdream]

"I wouldn't mind getting out of town right now, seems things are getting ugly over here."

Seal shakes her head slightly at Fade's offer of refreshment.

I'm not sure where this branch of his guild is headed. There are too many unanswered questions right now to drink their ale.

[Sgt. Cookie]

OOC: Current score

Spoiler

Aquarius: 2
Calderan: 1

"Maria. Leader of the Scuvs, paranoid as hell, willing to go to a location on simple verbal words. Bodyguards are loyal to someone else, who ever is funding this guild rebellion. If you are willing to wait until tomorrow before we leave town, chances are Maria will be at the library at high noon. Any questions?

Aquarius throws his darts:

Throw 1:
(1d20+5)[17]
Throw 2:
(1d20+5)[15]
Throw 3:
(1d20+5)[21]

[sdream]

"We should be doing at least that much research before leaving town. But perhaps we should grab this woman for questions BEFORE she too winds up with a slit throat."

[Jodah]

Coming back with his drink, Phaedrus responds, "I plan to run in to the library tonight yet if I can, but I will be in there again tomorrow. I could keep an eye out for her if someone can follow up any lead we can find at the smithies. I want to talk her anyway, and if she really does lead the scuvs I would like to get her on friendly term - don't want what happened this morning to happen again."

Spoiler

OoC: I will be out of town and afk for about a week. I'll try to get on tomorrow to catch up anything that happens today, and I will log on again asap when I return. Sorry guys, life calls.

[Starbin]

Caladeran shrugged at the discussion. "I agree with Selena. I would rather start looking for information, vice waiting around for some woman who may or may not be a part of something sinister."

Taking the darts, he flung them at the board, seemingly paying little attention to his efforts.

Spoiler

I thought the score was two to one in C's favor
C won the first round 38 to 25; A won the second round 50 to 47; and C won the third round 43 to 42

Roll 1: (1d20+3)[12]
Roll 2: (1d20+3)[7]
Roll 3: (1d20+3)[14]

[sdream]

"Ok, well while Fade does his research, lets pick up this Maria chick. It sounds like she might be the one who killed Benny, although I'd be happy to give her an opportunity to deny that, or make an argument as to why we should not just treat her the same.

Anyone good at taking folks alive? I could try to make them like us, but I'm running low on juice, and that is always an uncertain prospect."

Spoiler

Finishing the dart game should take under a minute (24 seconds a turn, if you guys are making sure to use your highest attack mod only, full round action each toss, then a FRA to collect). Just make all the rest of your throws and we'll compare scores and pay up on the road.

Lets see if we can take Maria alive and bring her to Fade for questioning by the time Jodah gets back. After all, I think Cal used Fade's office to meet her the first time, only fitting we bring her there the next.

"You've been a naughty girl."

[Sgt. Cookie]

OOC note:

Spoiler

@sdream: Good point about the rolls, I'll make all mine in the next post.

I hate preview post, canceling the rolls...

"I might be able to magically induce slumber, though it might fail, depending on how hardy and mentally fit she is. If it does work, though, the sleep will be tentative, so I suggest you get some rope or other binding."

[Sgt. Cookie]

Darts rolls:

Spoiler

Set 1, round 5:
Throw 1:
(1d20+5)[24]
Throw 2:
(1d20+5)[13]
Throw 3:
(1d20+5)[17]

Set 2:

Spoiler

Round 1:

Throw 1:
(1d20+5)[18]
Throw 2:
(1d20+5)[14]
Throw 3:
(1d20+5)[16]





Round 2:
Throw 1:
(1d20+5)[12]
Throw 2:
(1d20+5)[13]
Throw 3:
(1d20+5)[7]




Round 3:
Throw 1
(1d20+5)[9]
Throw 2:
(1d20+5)[19]
Throw 3:
(1d20+5)[18]





Round 4:
Throw 1
(1d20+5)[13]
Throw 2:
(1d20+5)[11]
Throw 3:
(1d20+5)[6]





Round 5:
Throw 1
(1d20+5)[12]
Throw 2:
(1d20+5)[23]
Throw 3:
(1d20+5)[19]

Set 3:

Spoiler

Round 1:
Throw 1:
[roll21]
Throw 2:
[roll22]
Throw 3:
[roll23]




Round 2:
Throw 1:
[roll24]
Throw 2:
[roll25]
Throw 3:
[roll26]




Round 3:
Throw 1:
[roll27]
Throw 2:
[roll28]
Throw 3:
[roll29]



Round 4:
Throw 1:
[roll30]
Throw 2:
[roll31]
Throw 3:
[roll32]



Round 5:
Throw 1:
[roll33]
Throw 2:
[roll34]
Throw 3:
[roll35]

[sdream]

"Magical sleep would be ideal really. I'll start by pushing their body heat away, hopefully leaving them in shock or much weakened, and you can follow up with sleep. Anyone left standing will be easy for you two to knock unconscious. We can pick up some gags, rope and pitch to make it sticky on the way there so we can tie them all up. Aquarius should be able to do a little healing if one is accidentally on death's door.

Now we just need to pick a good location which matches all of:
- near the Savant's Repose
- rough neighborhood
- low traffic, especially the watch
- we can load them on a cart and drag them to an interview location"

Spoiler

And that last is directed at A'lan. Pick us a spot from Fade and my combined knowledge, perhaps roll Knowledge local (mine is +5) and that's how ideal our spot turns out to be (we won't know ahead of time so a secret roll is perfect).

Also buying a cart and donkey would be 23gp, how much to rent one for a day? (to help a friend move, bluff the uncaring cart lender for me as needed).

[al'Lan Mandrag]

Selena:

Spoiler

This map again

Savant's Repose is W9.
You know that the streets get a lot rougher near the river, so you think that Cold Hole Lane would be a good place.
The docks get quieter when evening comes on, so any time after 7pm (ish) though today the docks would be clear earlier (due to celebrations) but there may be the odd person wandering about.
Lastly you realise it is a bit of a trek to the library from there. (C31-33 +C45-6)

[sdream]

Spoiler

I edited the map http://nmonk.org/dnd/Cleyarna.jpg
There is also an editable Gimp version .../Cleyarna.xcf

The docks area sounds great to me if the others are in agreement with the plan to lure her to there and we can do our interrogation at a nearby empty warehouse.

I could walk into the Savant's Repose with the others right outside and see if she's hanging around the common area to bewitch on the sly and thus rely less on chance. With a change of cloaks, she would not notice the others walking 20 feet ahead of her as "following her" to the docks, as Crystalena can watch her without showing a "face".

[Starbin]

Caladeran shook his head. "I could ensure she was to drained to run quickly from us, but cannot immoblize someone."

Darts

Spoiler

Second Set

Spoiler

Round 1
Throw 1: (1d20+3)[11]
Throw 2: (1d20+3)[16]
Throw 3: (1d20+3)[7]

Round 2
Throw 1: (1d20+3)[19]
Throw 2: (1d20+3)[19]
Throw 3: (1d20+3)[19]

Round 3
Throw 1: (1d20+3)[9]
Throw 2: (1d20+3)[15]
Throw 3: (1d20+3)[9]

Round 4
Throw 1: (1d20+3)[12]
Throw 2: (1d20+3)[6]
Throw 3: (1d20+3)[8]

Round 5
Throw 1: (1d20+3)[4]
Throw 2: (1d20+3)[5]
Throw 3: (1d20+3)[7]

Third Set

Spoiler

Round 1
Throw 1: (1d20+3)[8]
Throw 2: (1d20+3)[18]
Throw 3: (1d20+3)[10]

Round 2
Throw 1: (1d20+3)[4]
Throw 2: (1d20+3)[5]
Throw 3: (1d20+3)[6]

Round 3
Throw 1: (1d20+3)[12]
Throw 2: (1d20+3)[19]
Throw 3: (1d20+3)[10]

Round 4
Throw 1: (1d20+3)[16]
Throw 2: (1d20+3)[21]
Throw 3: (1d20+3)[13]

Round 5
Throw 1: (1d20+3)[12]
Throw 2: (1d20+3)[14]
Throw 3: (1d20+3)[4]

EDIT: Worst Dart Player Ever.

Having lost at the majority of darts, Caladeran was ready to proceed with the mission at hand.

[sdream]

"I can also prevent the noise of our struggle from alarming anyone on the street, but this would interfere with blasting them. You guys can make that call when we see how many guards she has, and how many people are on the street."

[sdream]

"Aha, I've come up with a cunning plan, all we need is a small cart... and some way to disguise Aquarius... What I wouldn't give for a Holocaust Cloak."

Spoiler

See OOC for her plan details and give feedback/approval.

[Sgt. Cookie]

"Or, I could walk into the Savant's Repose, hood down, and wait for Maria to come to me. We met at the library, so she wouldn't have any trouble recognising me. Well, Lucian, that is, and convince her to take a leisurely evening stroll. Then we can try to grab her."

[sdream]

"She may know you, but does she trust you? If she decides to bolt or hide, we don't have a good means of finding her, and she is our only current lead on several issues, not just Ben."

Spoiler

Specifically she demanded you never contact her again, and I'm wondering if Fade's boss employed her, as we delivered a letter FROM that woman too her inn.

Whichever way we do it we need to move fast as we may have just tipped off Fade's boss that we know of a loose end connecting her to scuv agitation. Maria's life expectancy may be short atm.

Showing up and telling her she must run now, as the guild knows she killed a runner of theirs might be a very fast way to get her moving... but not in a direction we can easily control.

[Starbin]

Caladeran glanced at the map everyone was working on and snorted. "A butcher just doors down from this Repose. How ironic." Listening to the others, he frowned at Selena's statement and turned to Aquarius. "Is that what happened? I thought she simply left in a huff? Either way, a warning might be just the thing. Her reaction could tell us volumes about her involvement. However, if we suspect this is her safe haven, you must convince her that the Savant's Repose is compromised. That, or you convince her to meet you somewhere else on an unrelated matter.

Unfortunately, if we capture her nearby, we loose the opportunity to see where she would run to when she is in trouble ... valuable information, as well."

Considering the situation, Cal looked at Selena. "If we could trick this woman into carrying your crystal, would you be able to track her down?"

To Aquarius, he asks, "You feel certain this is the same woman? I only ask because you yourself use an alias ... what if the Maria we seek is not the same as the Maria you met? Also, it seems odd that Phaedrus' employer did not know who Maria was ... which might be indicative of an alias. That of course begs the question, who is this Maria really? And does she work for the scuvs, the Guild, both, or neither?"

Spoiler

OOC - my head hurts. But on the topic of Maria, I'm hoping the description Ben gave matches the person Aquarius saw. Also, I don't recall Maria saying don't contact her anymore ... we just weren't sure if she would show up at noon the following day.

[sdream]

"Crystaleena and I can get a rough sense of each other's location and talk from almost the opposite sides of the city. Without her legs out, she just looks like an odd magic crystal, and she is very, very rare, so that may work. The hard part would be getting a stranger to keep her, and keeping her from talking."

"We've got 3 competing plans right now:
- attract her to an ambush alley
- talk her into coming with us
- spook her and track where she runs"

"I'm very worried that her time is limited and someone may silence her before we find if she silenced Ben, so we need to find a way to make these plans work together instead of competing."

"I'll run up the roof of the inn and watch the roads, while Cal hangs back with the cart and watches for me to point a direction or wave franticly for into the inn. Aquarius goes in and makes a pitch to her, and tries to give her Crystaleena under some pretext and we go from there?"

Spoiler

Sorry, my spoiler above is intended to be OOC, I don't know how much Aquarius shared about his meeting with her IC, so Selena just cautions about her bolting.

[Sgt. Cookie]

OOC note:

Spoiler

For the sake simplicity, assume that Aquarius clued them all in as to his meeting.

"Cal, I spoke with her quite extensively, so if it is not her, then I will know. Since I portrayed myself as "a vagrant drifter with no ties to home, country or King who is loyal only to a pouch of gold" trust is irrelevant.

If we can keep her held till tomorrow, I believe that I can employ a brand new spell that I picked up from the temple. It might work, it might not. But at least it is worth a try.

[Starbin]

Caladeran nodded his head absently at his comrade's comments. "If we are concerned she will not see the lit of day, then haste is in order. Let us make for the Savant's Repose quickly, while we decide. I will drive the cart, although I have little skill with such beasts. Since I have little talent in the manipulation of others, I leave the method of 'convincing' our target to you two. That being said, I would be interested in tracking her movements, if possible."

Spoiler

Sorry, but Cal doesn't have much by way of tracking or ?.. Well social charms

[Sgt. Cookie]

"Phaedrus, question. Who would have the wealth and power to incite the Scuvs into rebellion? I need to know the names of everyone who could do it. And I mean everyone."

[Jodah]

Spoiler

Well, I suppose that is a knowledge local roll - and I'll use an IP to boost it {(1d20+8)[16]} (3 of that mod is the inspiration) - I will edit this post after a'Lan responds to describe what Phaedrus says.

Edit

"I don't know that the scuvs are united enough to be considered incited just on the basis of this morning, but I am sure some of the more notorious non-affiliated thieves could garner some followers," Phaedrus replies - then in slightly more hushed voice, "Then again, the richest thieves in town are the guild higher ups...but I can't get involved in that vein of speculation."

[al'Lan Mandrag]

Spoiler

The scuvs aren't a group per say- it's a derogatory word to describe someone who does the work the Thieves Guild does, without their support

That said, you can think that a high ranking member of the Thieves Guild would have the contacts: The leader, Coursan, or one of his main circle: Fervon, Thevya, Alicia and Rickard.

You know little of the players outside the Guild, but you know there are a few wily criminals who have some power free from the Guild's control.

[Starbin]

Spoiler

So, even with Jodah stating in OOC that there was an edited update, I failed to really respond. Of course, we're all really waiting on Aquarius ...

Caladeran considered Phaedrus' comments, glancing back at Aquarius. "So that doesn't exactly answer Aquarius' question - only who in the thieving world might use them. However, the true question is who within the city would be willing to use an unorganized arm such as the scuvs to do their dirty work?

Of course, given the very loud and obvious nature of the scuvs, we should be cautious of assuming they are a part of a concerted plan ... they may be more of a distraction for other plans in play. If so, the real question is what is going on that requires a distraction of this nature?"

[Sgt. Cookie]

OOC:

Spoiler

Really sorry! Been setting up a Nuzlocke about a drunk guy, and creating a character for another PbP.

"Unorganised? No. There is a small semblance of structure. Miss Maria is a sign of that. Clumsy, though? Most definitely. Unless I am mistaken, "Scuv" is merely the term for an unaffiliated thief, and not a particular rival. Ergo, only someone with power, wealth, a trusted word or even all of them, could hope to bring them together like this. And since all that effort was made, I do not think that a simple distraction was the intent. No, I think that the Scuvs still have more of a role to play in things to come."

[Jodah]

"I think you're right, but we have discussed what we can from the known details, now is the time for gathering information. I am going to check on the smithies, see if I can scrounge up something on Ben's murder, then head to the library to check some books quickly - see if I can find this Ice Heart mentioned anywhere. Whatever plan you decide for finding and talking with Maria is up to you, and I am sure it will turn out. But we need to move quickly if we are going to get anything done yet today." With that, Phaedrus stands up, stretches a bit, and checks to see if the others follow his lead.

[sdream]

"Yes, let's see if we can collar our mystery lady before she winds up dead."

Seal holds the door open for Cal and Aquarius.

[Sgt. Cookie]

"Like I said, I need a dagger. I'll go with you to the blacksmiths."

Aquarius follows Phaedrus.

[Starbin]

Caladeran raised an eyebrow at the three. "sof ro all that planning and discussion on how to capture this Maria, who apparently is the boy's murderer, we are going to separate into three different directions?"

Shaking his head and scowling, Caladeran swept past the others and headed outside, muttering to himself. "It's a small wonder your kind isn't still swinging in trees and banging sticks on rocks ..."

Spoiler

I guess I'm confused ... we made a plan to capture this gal and now everyone looks to be splitting. I'm sure I missed something somewhere.

Maybe this is just a timing thing, but I assumed we needed to hurry if we were going to try and capture her tonight.

[sdream]

"Only briefly separate hopefully, take Crystalena with you as you get the cart. I'm going to set up overlooking the repose to watch for traffic and keep you informed."

Seal passes the hand sized crystal to the surly elf.

"Hopefully the others will meet us soon, but I need to get there ASAP to watch for a solo shot at her, and/or watch for her being taken by anyone else."