DM Kathy Tuesday June 23rd, 2015 10:54:09 PM
[Everybody take 600 XP for the previous scene.]
You pass a companionable night. There is room for Alizar, if the group is willing to offer, and if he is willing to accept. The room Broom vacated, for example, is free.
Ashley, who has been strangely silent for the past few hours, receives an urgent message and departs at once. Hopefully, he will be back soon.
In the morning, you discuss your next steps. Var suggests heading back Below; Alizar and Toston are inclined to try to find "Stubby," the fixer who seemed to have hired some of the thugs who attacked you on behalf of the House of Silver.
Of course, the Midnight Bazaar, as the name implies, is not exactly bustling with activity at this time of day. Do you want to take your chances there? Head toward Keys Tower? Go Below? Or something else?
Alizar HP:14/14 AC: 15(T:12/FF:13) CMD:13 Wednesday June 24th, 2015 12:30:59 AM
Alizar absent-mindlessly brushed his hair back over his ears and thought for a moment. "Well, unless we have a specific reason for poking around the House of Keys, I wouldn't recommend it. I doubt that we would openly find anything about The House of Silver there. The best lead is probably this fixer you speak of, but there won't be much going on at the Midnight Bazaar until later. Was there some specific reason to go to Keys Tower other than the House of silver thing?"
Toston Lotor(Hugh Crosmun) [HP:14/14; AC:18; Touch: 18; FF:14; CMD:16] - CMTC Wednesday June 24th, 2015 1:02:46 PM
"Not really, just Stubby's affiliation, but Boggs said that the Keys are just his primary client, not his only one. It sounds like this House of Silver group is also taking advantage of his skills, but we don't really have an idea as to where their base of operations is. We could head back to Clover Way until it gets later and re-ask the people who witnessed the so called 'ghosts.' Some of them even have dogs and I can speak with animals for a brief amount of time, being a gnome and all so maybe the dogs remembered something their masters missed or maybe they can pull a scent from the gauze?" Toston says to Alizar.
Var HP:21/21 AC: 16(T:13/FF:13) CMD:18 Wednesday June 24th, 2015 4:53:14 PM
"Yeah," Var says to Toston "sounds like a plan, to me. If there's been no new sightings, and we can't get anything on the gauze from the dogs, I say we track down this Stubbs and see what he knows."
Wilford Grimly (HP:18/18; AC: 14; Touch: 12; Flat: 12; CMD: 14) Wednesday June 24th, 2015 6:14:38 PM
"I'm still a fan of leaking the name 'House of Silver' to the Knives. Maybe that will draw out the--" Wil stopped mid-sentence and stared forward. His eyes seems to wander and he looked lost. "Hi?" Wil's voice changed its tone and it's sex. A woman began. "You will have the death of several on your head, Wil... Oh my!" Whoever spoke for Wil seemed surprised by the noise. Wil's eyes stopped wandering and he stared straight ahead. He coughed and his voice returned. "Gah, that's an unfortunate escalation," He said before his face changed. His brow sank and his jaw squared. "They all deserve to die. A bloody, pain-ridden, death." Wil's voice dropped several octaves. Wil then quickly turned on his heels and disappeared into his room. An loud argument could be heard between Wil and the other voices.
Talanthrel (Paul) [HP 17/21; AC 20; Touch 14; Flat 16; Cmd17] d20+7=12 ; Wednesday June 24th, 2015 10:04:53 PM
Talanthrel who had spent several hours the night before performing maintenance on the groups armor and then working on his new bow, stopped in mid yawn to stare at the door Will had just left thru. "That is Disturbing." He states before turning back to the others. 'Yeah, I have to agree that Toston's plan sounds best."
OOC: (Craft Bowmaking: 12 Talanthrel frowns at more broken materials)
DM Kathy Wednesday June 24th, 2015 10:10:19 PM
You discuss your options, and decide to make your way back Below, in the hopes of perhaps getting more information from people on Clover Way.
As you queue up to head Below, however, you see Wendy, coming Above, looking frantically about her. She spots your group and hurries over.
"Oh!" she exclaims. "Oh, it's Wardd's own luck that I found you. You must come quickly! We've been robbed! Everybody's been robbed!"
Toston Lotor(Hugh Crosmun) [HP:14/14; AC:18; Touch: 18; FF:14; CMD:16] - CMTC Thursday June 25th, 2015 1:42:04 PM
"Has anyone been hurt?" Toston asks Wendy, "Or is theft the extent of the injury suffered? By everybody do you mean the entirety of the city below, Clover Way or a subsection of Clover Way?"
He then does what he can to get through the checkpoint as quick as possible.
As the group makes their way to Clover Way he says, "I wonder if the so called 'ghosts' are to blame? If so I guess I was completely wrong about the difference a single night could make. Hopefully we can find some clues that will lead us to the culprits."
Var HP:21/21 AC: 16(T:13/FF:13) CMD:18 d20+9=12 ; d20+3=6 ; Thursday June 25th, 2015 4:14:54 PM
At first Var is dumbfounded, everyone in Clover Way robbed? He thinks to himself, no that can't be possible. Then he gets mad. People like Wendy and Fletch are just trying to make a living in this crummy town, and it seems like every time you let your guard down around here Dirt City tries to stab you in the back.
Getting through the checkpoint without picking a fight is a struggle, but Var knows that starting one won't help anyone. Once in the City Below, Var stays at the front of the group, eyes open and scanning the people as well as the crime scene.
Of course they had been robbed. No one had been around to stop it. He feels a snarl rising but forces himself to set a neutral face with Wnedy around.
"Still have to go through claims," he mumbles to Toston, "Can't get in without it."
Alizar HP:14/14 AC: 15(T:12/FF:13) CMD:13 d20+7=19 ; d20+5=14 ; Thursday June 25th, 2015 5:31:37 PM
Alizar did not say a word as Wendy told them that she, and everyone on Clover Way had been robbed. Something was nagging at him. They were missing something, and he was not quite sure what it could be. He observed Wendy for a moment, trying to read her body language as she spoke. (Sense Motive - 19)
Then, he grabbed the rest of his gear and silently followed the group down below. This was getting tiresome. They were getting the run around, likely, but some rapscallion in a painted bed sheet. When they reached the high street below, Alizar looked around to see if anything in the immediate area caught his attention. (Perception - 14 for a general once over of the street)
Wilford Grimly (HP:18/18; AC: 14; Touch: 12; Flat: 12; CMD: 14) Thursday June 25th, 2015 8:20:55 PM
Wil hangs behind the group embarrassed about what happened at the house. His watches as Wendy explains what happened. "I wish we would of stayed." He said. "Um, there should be plenty of evidence. If everyone got robbed someone had to of noticed something. Who wants to talk to the gate guards?"
DM Kathy Thursday June 25th, 2015 10:27:32 PM Toston has some questions for Wendy.
"All the merchants on Clover Way," she says. "That is, all the shops. Fletch's cart wasn't there, so it's fine."
Wilford regrets not having stayed Below, though there was no way any of you could have known what would happen. He also considers giving evidence to the gate guards, but there are no gate guards. There are only the Knives, whose job is to maintain the status quo, and it's even odds whose side they would even be on.
Alizar observes Wendy carefully, but her distress seems genuine, and you don't think she's holding anything back.
Impatiently, you wait your turn and are at last able to go Below. You hurry to Clover Way and find that, indeed all the shops have been robbed.
"I wish now I'd let you stay in the shop," Wendy frets. "The owner would have been mad, but I'll bet he's even madder now!"
"They have good taste, I'll give them that," says Billy Brambleshire, disgust in his voice. "They only took the expensive stuff. So either they're experts, or they've been scouting the place."
Talanthrel (Paul) [HP 17/21; AC 20; Touch 14; Flat 16; Cmd17] d20+5=8 ; Friday June 26th, 2015 2:06:33 AM
Talanthrel wanders up and down Clover Way searching for anything out of place. (Perception 8) But nothing really stands out. Walking back to the others Talanthrel thinks he will need to make a more meticulous search.
OOC: are we allowed to take 20 in this situation? If so then Perception=25
Var HP:21/21 AC: 16(T:13/FF:13) CMD:18 d20+9=11 ; Friday June 26th, 2015 12:06:03 PM
"How did they get in?" Var asks to both Wendy and Billy. Var elects to check the scene of the crime, inspecting Wendy's shop to spot a point of entry, and if anything was left behind.
(Perception 11; 19 if take 10; 29 if take 20)
Alizar HP:14/14 AC: 15(T:12/FF:13) CMD:13 Friday June 26th, 2015 6:33:50 PM
Aliza turned to Wendy, "First off, was anyone hurt in the break ins, and Is it normal for Fletch's cart to be gone at night, or does generally leave it here? Also, out of curiosity, who owns your shop Wendy? Is there any way we can speak to him?"
After speaking with Wendy, Alizar stepped into Billy's shop to take a look around, Billy was not kidding when he said the thieves had good taste...
(Perception: 17; 25 if take 20)
Wilford Grimly (HP:18/18; AC: 14; Touch: 12; Flat: 12; CMD: 14) d20+5=7 ; Friday June 26th, 2015 8:37:10 PM
Wil stepped through the gate. He felt the silence and felt sanity again. "They didn't get in. They were already here." Wil turns toward the the group of Knives. "Unless the Knives were involved," he says loudly. He partially hopes they hear and also hopes they don't. "They are likely still here. We just need to find evidence." (Perception: 7) - Wil is very distracted by Knives.. He really is impulsive or maybe it's the voices that are starting to change him. "It's just too much of a coincidence. How could this much be stolen without them." Wil pointed at the group.
Toston Lotor(Hugh Crosmun) [HP:14/14; AC:18; Touch: 18; FF:14; CMD:16] - CMTC d20+7=8 ; d20+10=20 ; d20+10=26 ; Saturday June 27th, 2015 4:11:43 PM
Toston hearing Wil's accusation of the Knives starts watching them for any sort of odd behavior (Sense Motive: 8, nat 1). If he notices anything strange he will tell Wil.
He then casts the Minotaur version of Toros Taur try on himself anf begins searching Alphonse's and Golden Threads for clues. (Perception: 20 @ Alphonse's; 26 @ Golden Threads) While in Alphonse's he looks to see if the silversheen Avin pointed out the first time the group visited was purloined.
Avin Fellows HP:17/17 AC:17 Flat:14 Touch:13 CMD: d20+1=21 ; Sunday June 28th, 2015 9:02:08 PM
"Probably both," Avin responds to Billy, "Both experts and scouted."
He pulled at the tie on his wrist, feeling uncomfortable that he could not use magic and was left looking for clues with his natural, weak senses. (Perception 21). Despite the odds, he might get lucky and notice something.
DM Kathy Sunday June 28th, 2015 9:39:43 PM
You immediately start looking for clues. At first glance, most of you come up blank. However, Toston notices something odd about the back wall at Alphonse's. With Avin's help, he is able to find the spot where the wall was broken through and then hastily replaced. Beyond the back wall is a crudely-hewn tunnel, running parallel to the tunnel that makes up Clover Way.
Now that you know what you're looking for, it is easy to find the same thing in Golden Threads; a spot on the back wall where the theives broke through, leading to the crude tunnel.
And, crude though it is, this tunnel wasn't dug overnight. The thieves would have had to work on it for weeks. Which would have caused odd noises in Clover Way, which would have led to theories of ghosts and hauntings. A glob of luminous paint just inside the tunnel wall confirms the theory. The "ghost" of Clover Way is nothing more than a group of enterprising theives, digging a tunnel and preying on supersitions to cover up their activities.
Alizar HP:14/14 AC: 15(T:12/FF:13) CMD:13 Monday June 29th, 2015 3:15:46 AM
Tunnels... Alizar was not so much impressed as he was annoyed at the simplicity of the whole thing. Even more so now when he thought of the looks on the thieves faces had they actually stayed the night in the shop like he wanted to. Oh well, nothing to be done about that now. It was time to find some rats.
"Well, I did not think that we would find such a, 'literal', path to the perpetrators, but I'll take it."
Toston Lotor(Hugh Crosmun) [HP:14/14; AC:18; Touch: 18; FF:14; CMD:16] - CMTC Monday June 29th, 2015 6:39:50 PM
"Shall we follow the tunnel?" Toston asks his companions.
"Mayhap the thieves are still at its source, preparing their score for transport? The sooner we set off in pursuit the more likely we will find them." Toston reasons.
Wilford Grimly (HP:18/18; AC: 14; Touch: 12; Flat: 12; CMD: 14) d20+5=17 ; Monday June 29th, 2015 7:11:46 PM
"With this much merchandise it's likely they will have to transport it. Maybe we should check for stables? Some suspicious looking horses?" "I would really like to find some more silver in case the wereRat is involved," he searches for the vendor. (Perception: 17)
Talanthrel (Paul) [HP 17/21; AC 20; Touch 14; Flat 16; Cmd17] d20+5=16 ; Monday June 29th, 2015 9:56:37 PM
Talanthrel looks at the tunnel. "You know if I was them, and did not want to be pursued, I would have trapped the hell out of those tunnels." (Perception 16) "We are going to want to be careful following this."
DM Kathy Monday June 29th, 2015 10:04:07 PM Alizar and Toston are keen to follow the thieves. Wilford frets about a lack of silver in the party. And indeed, the Silversheen that was once for sale at Alphonse's is among the items that were stolen. Did the thieves appreciate its value, or did they just not want it used against them? Impssible to say. Fletch's cart has not yet arrived for the day, although you could always wait.
Talanthrel cautions that the passage may be trapped, and urges his companions to keep their eyes open.
Do you chase the thieves now, or wait to get some more silver?
Var HP:21/21 AC: 16(T:13/FF:13) CMD:18 Tuesday June 30th, 2015 6:21:38 PM
"I've got enough arrows for that rat." Var says while grimly patting his quivver. "If anything, we can take him alive. Lets pick one and follow it back, the tunnels might all meet up. the sooner we pursue, the better." Var says, eager to hunt.
Alizar HP:14/14 AC: 15(T:12/FF:13) CMD:13 d20+7=15 ; Tuesday June 30th, 2015 6:36:35 PM
Alizar nodded his head. "I agree with Var and Tal. Our indecision last night let the thieves further their plans. We need to be careful, but we should still proceed. The tunnel behind Alphonse's seems as good a place as any to start."
Alizar took stock of the tunnels direction, trying to get a sense of where these might lead (Knowledge: Local - 15)
(O.O.C. - Should Tal be fully healed after a nights rest or is he still in need of a heal?)
Toston Lotor(Hugh Crosmun) [HP:14/14; AC:18; Touch: 18; FF:14; CMD:16] - CMTC Tuesday June 30th, 2015 8:02:07 PM
"I have my silver nunchaku." Toston says, pulling them out and trying to give them a twirl, only to realize that they are peace bonded and cannot be twirled.
"Perhaps Wil should take point? Doesn't he have some expertise with traps?" Toston asks, stowing the silvered weapon.
Talanthrel (Paul) [HP 19/21; AC 20; Touch 14; Flat 16; Cmd17] Tuesday June 30th, 2015 9:27:49 PM
Talathrel sighs as he see Toston's abort move for his nunchucks. "Yeah... So how are we going to handle this if it comes to a fight?"
(OOC: Oops! thanks for the reminder. Talanthrel regains 2 hit points for resting last night)
DM Kathy Tuesday June 30th, 2015 10:15:19 PM
Upon further examination, you see that the theives have dug only the one tunnel. They are not that enterprising! The tunnel has a number of "stops" at the various stores, but it is all the same tunnel. It runs along the back of the shops, just as Clover Way runs along the front of the shops. An unauthorized alley, if you will.
You fret a bit about what will happen if you have to defend yourselves in a fight here Below. Or does an unauthorized branch tunnel even count as part of Below?
You make what preparations you can, and enter the tunnel, eager to find the thieves. The tunnel is not large, and in places you have to turn sideways to make it through. It's somewhat reassuring to see that the tunnel has been shored up with supports here and there, so it probably won't collapse and crush you all. Unless, of course, the thieves have rigged it so they can collapse it on purpose and crush you all. On second thought, the supports are less reassuring than they seemed at first....
[OOC: I'm going to need a marching order.]
Var HP:21/21 AC: 16(T:13/FF:13) CMD:18 d20+9=24 ; Wednesday July 1st, 2015 12:50:52 PM
If Wilford is willing to take point to search for traps, Var will be right behind him. Otherwise Var is happy to take point and lead the group through the tunnel.
In either case, Var keeps his eyes open for any signs of trouble (Perception: 24)
Alizar HP:14/14 AC: 15(T:12/FF:13) CMD:13 d20+5=24 ; Wednesday July 1st, 2015 5:09:13 PM
Alizar took up position near the rear of the group, in the least exposed position possible, and ran his fingers along his bow. "I am going to assume that once we are in this tunnel, we are no longer officially in the Under City, and these peace ties can come off." Alizar took a deep breath, it had been a while since he was in a fight. 'Just stay focused, keep everyone alive', he thought to himself (Perception: d20+5=24 while moving through the tunnel)
Toston Lotor(Hugh Crosmun) [HP:14/14; AC:18; Touch: 18; FF:14; CMD:16] - CMTC d20+10=18 ; Wednesday July 1st, 2015 8:17:43 PM
If the tunnel is wide enough, then Toston will stand beside Var. Otherwise he will be just behind the half-orc.
The gnome monk mage is alert for hazards.
(Perception: 18)
Talanthrel (Paul) [HP 19/21; AC 20; Touch 14; Flat 16; Cmd17] d20+5=19 ; Wednesday July 1st, 2015 8:52:04 PM
Depending on the size of the tunnel Talanthrel will be beside Alizar or behind Toston. Talathrel stays alert for danger. (Perception 19)
DM Kathy Wednesday July 1st, 2015 10:48:40 PM
You push your way through the tunnel, single-file. Some of you decide this doesn't count as the City Below anymore, and remove your peace bonds.
After several minutes of walking, you reach a place where the tunnel widens. Perhaps this is the beginning of the tunnel--at any rate, it will allow you to get side-by-side rather than single file. Of course, as with any change, the widening tunnel makes you even more alert for danger.
Unfortunately, nobody sees the trap until it is too late. When you reach a specific section of tunnel, a spring trips, a door slams shut, and suddenly you are all in a cage. Worse, the cage is being pulled straight upward toward an unknown destination.
There is a save to avoid this, a DC 18 Reflex save. However, unless every single one of you makes the save, some people are going to wind up in the cage. So those of you who succeed at the save have a decision to make. Do you jump out of the cage and leave your companions to their fate? Do you jump out of the cage and somehow try to catch hold of it as it heads upward? [That would require a Grapple check.] Or do you stay where you are and allow yourself to be trapped in the cage?
Wilford Grimly (HP:18/18; AC: 14; Touch: 12; Flat: 12; CMD: 14) d20+6=26 ; Wednesday July 1st, 2015 11:10:21 PM
(OOC: Sorry I was trying to edit my novel and it took all night :( - Let me know if I did the save wrong.) Wil takes point but leads them all into a trap. As the cage begins upward he wonders if the voices will come back. (Reflex: 26)
Talanthrel (Paul) [HP 19/21; AC 20; Touch 14; Flat 16; Cmd17] d20+3=23 ; d20+4=13 ; Thursday July 2nd, 2015 1:21:00 AM
Talanthrel throws himself back avoiding the swiftly closing cage.(Reflex 23) And then with a curse throws himself forwards trying to grab the bottom of the ascending cage. (CMB 13).
Var HP:21/21 AC: 16(T:13/FF:13) CMD:18 d20+6=26 ; Thursday July 2nd, 2015 2:15:48 PM
Acting on instinct, Var nimbly steps out of the way of the cage.
"Oi," he says "everyone accounted for?"
Toston Lotor(Hugh Crosmun) [HP:14/14; AC:18; Touch: 18; FF:14; CMD:16] - CMTC d20+5=22 ; d20-1=6 ; Thursday July 2nd, 2015 8:55:03 PM
Toston also dodges the cage's embrace. He then attempts to grab onto the cage and ride it up from the outside.
(Reflex Save = 22 = pass) (grapple = 6)
Alizar HP:14/14 AC: 15(T:12/FF:13) CMD:13 d20+2=13 ; Thursday July 2nd, 2015 9:56:46 PM
(Reflex Save = 13 = Fail)
Everything happened before Alizar even realized what was going on. One second the team was there, the next second they were gone, and the cage had slammed shut and was sky rocketing upwards.
"Wonderful" Alizar cursed to nobody in particular.
Well, if anyone was to be trapped in the cage, at least Alizar could still prove to be useful in here. He quickly pulled an arrow from his quiver, locked the nock onto the string, and prepared for, what would inevitably be, the worst...
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