[D&D 4E IC/OOC]: The Mirrors Of Tizun Thane

Bogart

The fierce-looking woman behind the bar notices Anwar staring up at the head of a particularly ugly troll and walks over. "Killed him in the mountains up north. Took three arrows to his chest and my sword in his gut before he fell down long enough for the wizard I was travelling with the set him on fire." She looks you up and down. "Nice jacket. What's your business in Khare, stranger?"

Anwar drops the name of Shakor into the conversation, but Shada shrugs and claims not to have heard of him. "That may not mean much, though. I've retired from the hero business. If this Shakor is a mage, you might have better luck asking the likes of those fellows." She points out two gnomes in the corner of the bar. You notice a third at their table, and recognise him as Melf, your new comrade in arms.

Bogart

Dain and Makar quickly become the centre of attention in the bar, and between the two of them manage to make a passable story of their recent adventure in Tizun Thane's mansion. The crowd 'ooh' and 'aah' at the correct places, and applaud appreciatively when the most monstrous foes are vanquished. Glasses are raised in a toast when you finish the story.

The audience breaks up gradually, and you ask the remaining members vague questions about the forest to the south and whether they've heard of mines in the area.

"Aye, I came up from the south today," says a hefty-looking dwarf. Spotted some of those filthy-looking Krebain with dogs hunting up and down the edge of the forest. There's weird things afoot in that forest. Haven't heard of any mining, though.

Makar and Dain - make insight checks, please.

streever

insight at the bar (1d20+3=19)

Bogart

You notice that one of your audience perks up at the mention of a mine. A thin elf in a black tunic whose fingers bear many intricate gold rings seems to follow the talk of mines intently.

streever

Dain points to him,
"Sir elf, what do ye think? Is there fortune & fame awaiting hard-workers at the mine?"

Bogart

The elf looks somewhat startled by your enquiry. "Well, mining always makes someone rich, but it's rarely the people doing the digging. You say you saw this mine?"

streever

"Sure did--and heard what they're out there looking for, too." Dain nods at the elf. "You don't think Shakor needs strong warriors too protect the find? Seems like quite a unique item he's going for, in my opinion. I'm sure there are no small number of people looking to take it from him after he's done the hard work."

Bogart

The elf is aghast at your words. Leaving his wine half-drunk he stands up at the table and storms out of the bar, obviously horrified by something in what you've said.

tastydonuts

"Oh? Who are they?" Anwar asks.

Bogart

"Alchemists. Their guild has many dealing with the wizards and sorcerers of the city, procuring items for them, creating others for use in such spells as they need. Wizards like ..." She trails off and her eyes follow a tall figure who has just stood up and left the table at which Dain and Makar were holding court. "Wizards like Valthir there. I wonder what your friend said to upset him?"

tastydonuts

"Between you and me, he has problems with hygiene," Anwar whispers.

"So, uh, about how many wizards would you say there are in this city?"

Bogart

"Are you performing a census? There are many. Some are charlatans, some are talented and some are most dangerous."

tastydonuts

"Nah, I'm just curious," Anwar asks her, as his homunculus slips out from within his coat and climbs on his head. He returns it into his coat.

"You said some are dangerous? How dangerous?"

streever

"Makar, let's follow him!"
Dain follows the elf out of the bar, grabbing Melf as he walks past. "Anwar! When you're free."

Jam Warrior

Having been engaged in a differnet conversation at the time, Makar rose to his feet and prepared to follow Dain.

Bogart

You dart after the elf as he slips out of The Griffon's Wing and into the crowded streets outside. Almost immediately you lose sight of him, but wait, there he is. He's running. If you want to chase him down, it may be tricky.

Skill check time. First of all, could other than Dain and Makar state whether or not they're going to chase after the elf? Once we have definite answers from everyone we can start running pell mell through the busy streets.

Is that a well-placed fruitstand I see you hurtling towards in the finest traditions of Hollywood chases?

streever

This is what I was dreaming of, Bogart! Hayasa, Donuts, you know you want to chase us! and I'm not sure where Dac is, but I imagine him standing by the tavern doors idly, wondering what to do with the boy, and then entrusting him to the inn keeper while he darts after us!

Let's do this up hollywood style.

Hayasa

Plying his kin with drink to loosen their tongues, Melf finds himself unceremoniously yanked from his chair by a dwarf. Its been a few years since he has been manhandled in such a fashion, and he doesn't like it!

"Get your hands off me, you numbskull!", he shouts as he settles in an upright position appropriately. "Where's the damn fire?"

However, he adjusts his attitude when he realises that the the chase is on. It wouldn't be a good move to be the new guy left behind.

I dunno guys, can't we just shoot him?

Anarchy

Lucan stood up from the table where he had been drinking and grumbled as he watched the others appear to follow an Elf outside.

“Can’t we have a night off?”, he asked the drunkard who had joined earlier.

He headed over to join the others.

Wow, I haven’t been on in a day or so and look how much has happened. That’ll teach me for abandoning my duties!

Lucan to join to the chase!

Dac

"... Idiots," Duragon muttered as what seemed to be half of the party started making a dash for the elf that had gotten up and left. "So much for laying low."

He looked towards the bar, then towards the woman. Stepping up to the latter, he patted the boy on the back and urged him forward. "Set him up in one of the rooms we rented and make sure he gets what he wants to eat." Duragon flicked a small pouch containing a few large gold coins into the warrioress' hands. "I've got some other children to look after."

With that, he turned and trotted towards the door, long strides thudding against the floor. One of these days, he thought to himself, the people he traveled with were going to get him killed.

Bogart

Just Anwar to check in, but I think we can lay out the first part of the chase right now. If Anwar joins in he can make his skill check, if not I can run whatever he does alongside the chase. If he joins in he'll be alongside Duragon and will have to make the same choices and take the same actions as he does.

Makar, Melf, Lucan and Dain burst out of the bar together and quickly scan the crowd. There he is. He's fast, and has a headstart. You catch sight of him darting behind a long line of market stalls and then swerving sharply to turn into Honey Street. From where you are you have a few choices. Follow him and his route; vault over the market stalls and hope this action gains you some time; try and figure out a way of getting ahead of him and take a different street, perhaps asking bystanders their advice about where Honey Street leads.

• To follow him is an easy DC 14 Athletics check, but you'll just keep sight of him and nothing more.
• You can try and race after him at full pelt, but that's a DC 19 Athletics check. Success means you'll gain ground, but failure means you'll lose your footing and lose ground. Also, motoring ahead may mean Duragon and Anwar are left behind if they're following you (see his bit below).
• Vaulting the market stalls means you don't have to go around them, but it's a DC 20 Acrobatics check to do it cleanly. Success means you'll gain ground, but failure means you tumble to the ground in a heap and might make it difficult for Duragon or Anwar if they're vaulting behind you.
• Asking directions of bystanders and trying to figure out a better route to cut him off will require a DC 15 Diplomacy check and then a DC 19 Insight check, with a +2 modifier if the first roll succeeds. Failure on both will mean you're way behind the chase and you have no option but to follow after the others down Honey Street.

Any questions?

Duragon reaches the street in time to see you all take off on your respective paths. He (and Anwar, if he chases as well) realises he can follow a comrade, but he hasn't seen the elf dart down Honey Street himself. However, he can motor after the comrade he follows in an effort to catch up.

Your checks are the same as those above, with two differences.

• If you're trying to vault after a character and someone has already failed to vault, your difficulty is raised to a DC 22 Acrobatics check, as the tumble of bodies behind the stalls makes your task more difficult.
• And you can't stop and ask directions and figure out a better route, though catching up to a character already doing that doesn't require a roll of any kind. If they fail, you'll be even further behind the chase.
• If you're trying to catch up with a DC 19 Athletics check as you go around the stalls behind a character who successfully motors away you won't be able to reach him even if you speed up yourself. If they fail to motor away or if they just don't bother you can catch them with your successful speed burst.

Duragon and Anwar can follow the four lead chasers, but can't pick a route that has been chosen by none of them, as you didn't see where the elf went. Your chase rolls will also have to follow those of the four leads (so you can't roll until the guy you're chasing has resolved his action), as their successes and failures may affect your actions.

Any questions?

Any better ideas about possible actions you have are welcome, of course. And remember, you're in an exciting chase scene!

Hayasa

Having barely travelled a few quick steps, after a full day of walking, Melf finds that he is already beginning to ache. Looking to circumvent a difficult and tiring race, Melf tries to pull an old trick out of the bag.

"There's the elf, get him!" calls out a deep voice from a stall near the running elf. Melf chips in from nearer the inn, joining in the shouting "That's right, force him down the road! Then we'll have him for sure!"

So, this is the intent...

Ghost Sound (gnome racial ability - minor action) to create a voice near the elf
Streetwise to know which way is worse for the elf to go
Bluff is to make the Ghost Sound appear to be a convincing real pursuer

Hopefully he wil be put off his game or similar.

Streetwise: 1d20+7 = 8
Bluff: 1d20+2 = 3

Oh good!

Bogart

Shopkeepers around the entrance to the avenue look around in confusion as the disembodied voice springs up around them, but the elf ignores the ghostly sound behind him and sprints off down Honey Street.

Melf observes his handiwork and sighs deeply as Duragon rushes past him.

Snake eyes! Wow, those are some terrible rolls. Nice idea, though.

Hayasa

Melf raises a hand to his brow as he realises that his gambit has failed him, completely and utterly. He sighs and goes back into the tavern to get a honeybrew and resume his prior friendly conversation.

streever

Dain hurries after the elf, surprisingly quickly. "Come on fellow, we just wish to talk! Not like I can't keep pace with you anyways."

Just following the Elf: Athletics: 1d20+9 20

tastydonuts

She's not going to answer my question about the how dangerous the wizards are?

Bogart

Streever, you passed the skill check.

tasty, she'll answer you if you don't race out of the door.

EDIT: And guys, if you're chasing please specify whether you're just following the elf or attempting the speed-burst chase after him.

streever

ullrp. Sorry bogart, using automated Orokos for the skill check, and just had a user failure--I haven't used it much, so I didn't realize that the result it showed was pre-bonus! it just works differently from IC. I'll get it right next time. Fixing post now.

tastydonuts

Anwar watches Dain run out of the door, calling for him to join as well. He shakes his head, the beads in it shaking as he does so. "You see what I have to put up with? Go."

A tiny figurine jumps out of Anwar's coat. It shakes its tiny little head at Anwar and then hops off the table and sprints out the door.

My familiar is now in active mode, and can exist up to 1 mile away from me (Scout Homunculus). It is a tiny creature. It makes a skill check using my athletics roll and gets:

Athletics: (15)

Jam Warrior

Makar turned to the nearest street gawker and barked an authoritative command.

"Citizen! What's the quickest way to where that street goes? Now!"

In reply he received nothing but a bemused expression. But what was this? Had he glanced at that alleyway? Was that the shortcut that this vagrant clearly knew but was keeping hidden?!

"AHA!" Cried Makar, pointing accusingly at the man before dashing down the alleyway.

As he was faced with the brick wall and the open privy, he had to consider the possibility that his powers of insight had led him wrong today. Turning back he found his 'informant' looking more bemused than ever and talking to the man next to him in an exotic language Makar did not understand, though the hand gesture he was using whilst pointing at Makar was suprisingly universal in it's meaning.

Whistling under his breath he jogged off toward Honey St and hoped not too many people had been watching...

IC Down

Diplomacy Citizen!: 1d20+5 11

Insight Looksies: 1d20+9 10

I dislike the new roller! Or it dislikes me, one of the two.

Anarchy

“Amatuers,” mutters Lucan as he waves his hands, mumbling a quick enchantment.

The air fizzles around him momentarily and a quiet pop is heard as space is folded around the wizard and he vanishes into the Fey. Appearing at the other end of the market, past the hustle and bustle of the stalls, Lucan reorientates himself, and hurries after the elf.

Could I use Fey Step to gain the advantage?

If not, diplomancy/insight checks:

Diplomacy (1d20+1=13)
Insight (1d20+7=22)

Bogart

tasty, you didn't say what action that roll was for. Are you following Dain?

Also, you guys are rolling terribly. Thats the third one you've rolled this skill test. Lucan had better be as fast as shit off a shovel.

EDIT: Fey step sounds like a fine idea, and I'll count it towards your gaining on him.

Lucan pops into existence in front of Dain as he rounds the market stalls, grabs the nearest shopkeeper and demands "Where does this street come out?" of him. The goggling man blurts out "Tanner's Row, but it curls back around on itself. Gold Street will get you there quicker." Lucan glances up and sees Gold Street not far down on the right of Honey street, and, releasing the man, bounds towards it. Dain huffs and puffs, and a little way behind a tiny creature skips along the ground, taking a short cut under the market stalls.

The elf looks back over his shoulder and continues running.

Dain, Anwar: you can follow Lucan or continue down Honey Street. Duragon can follow Dain or Lucan, as can Makar, who finds himself level with Duragon after the delay.

tastydonuts

My familiar is following Dain, yes. I'm staying there. We can exist up to a mile apart from each other.

Bogart

Shada's gaze follows the homunculous as it darts out of the still swinging door of The Griffon's Wing. "You're an interesting man, friend. What's your name?"

streever

"Let's go for it Lucan!"
Dain dashes down the street, running full speed now. "If I can just delay the dang elf long enough.... HEY magic thing! Tell Anwar where we're going!"

Bogart, do things change now that we have a shortcut? If not, I run full-speed, but if running "normal" will let me catch him still, I do that instead--Running at NORMAL speed if the short-cut lets me catch him, full speed if not (I am not sure!): 1d20+9 19 Duragon,Makar,etc run your hardest!

tastydonuts

"Anwar Senafalli," he states rather humbly for someone of his personality. Truth be told, he hadn't done anything worth hyping his name up in these parts. And when the time came to say his name with bravado, well... it would already be known. Popping the heads of some birdmen wouldn't cut it though.

Outside, his familiar continues to chase and run along.

Do I need another check for it?

Dac

Easy check my ass. Maybe for people that are trained in Athletics...

Duragon shuffled after the elf in the distance, but it seemed like he had lost the chase almost before it even started. Big and brawny, filling up the streets, he continually banged into people as he charged after his allies, narrowly avoiding clobbering Melf on the head with an elbow as he passed. Despite his long legs, the others seemed to fade into the distance, around the corner into Honey Street.

He followed, knowing even as he did that help from him would come late indeed.

Athletics check (1d20 3=13)

Bogart

OK, that's the first round of the skill check over. Possible actions for the second round are incoming.

Bogart

Lucan, followed closely by Dain and the unnerving homunculous dart down Gold Street. Duragon trails far behind with Makar, the two dragonborn finding their massive frames no help when it comes to nimbly dodging through bust city streets. By the time the two dragonborn reach the entrance to Honey Street there's no sign of the elf, and the only evidence of their comrades is the yelling and bad-tempered shouting from further down Gold Street.

Makar and Duragon can try two of the same actions as before down either Honey Street or Gold Street.

• Run normally on a DC 14 Athletics check.
• Make a speed burst for a DC 19 Athletics check.

Or anything else you can think of.

As you burst from the exit of Gold Street onto Tanner's Row the stink of cured leather hides hits you like a slap. The street was well named. And now there, scant yards ahead, you see the elf dodging and weaving through the crowd and the flapping leather hides that seem to hang from every stall and shopfront. You give chase immediately, and the elf, hearing the thudding footsteps of Dain's boots, turns his head and a look of alarm spreads across his finely-sculpted features. Suddenly, he swerves into one of the shops on the left, and shouts of anger begin to issue from the doorway. You reach the doorway and see a tanner nursing a black eye and waving a fist at the figure of the elf as he bounds up a staircase in the far corner of the shop. He's going upstairs? You give chase again and reach the upper floor in time to see the elf throw a chair through a large window on the rear side of the room. The glass shatters and the elf leaps through the wreckage.

Lucan, Dain and the homunculous have the following actions available.

• Jump through the window and follow the elf on a DC 18 Acrobatics check.
• Go downstairs and try to leave through a back door to continue the pursuit, though this may lose ground on the elf. If you do this you can quiz the tanner on the floor for help on a DC 15 Diplomacy check.
• Something else.

For those keeping track, Lucan is in the lead, followed by Dain, followed by Anwar's familiar, and lagging behind are the two dragonborn.

streever

Dain leaps through the window, laughing like a maniac. "Come on Elf! Where ever ye go, I can follow."

Through the windows!: 1d20+8 26