Kaltent sees the guard stop, barred from continuing by Jianyu and his cup, and moves one hand underneath his cloak, summoning his pact weapon as a greatsword out of sight and getting ready for a fight if needed.
Breakfast: That's pretty pricey. Zack will look for a cheaper place to eat. Rather than trying to haggle, he's just looking for more cheaper places. What do I need to roll for that?
Dead Rat: Zack uses Mage Hand to pick a dead rat up. He then looks around. Is anyone watching him/with him?
Jah'nun, after upgrading her armor and spending a day talking to Bones and some of the others about plans, suggests it would be a good idea to get a good look around the interior of the mansion Sandrick has been frequenting. However, she's not sure that impersonating guards is necessarily the best option since neither Byron or the Tabaxi keep guards near them at home. So, she suggests to Vosnin andJianyu that maybe they could make an invisible reconnaissance tour through the mansion. Perhaps a few times. She has the ability to make one person other than herself also invisible for an hour. Whether one of them decides to join her or not, by the evening of the second day she uses Invisibility to slip into the mansion behind someone entering or exiting through the servant's entrance. (Stealth check 25)
Zack: If you nothing more than look it is a Perception check, if you ask around and do anything more than just look it can be an Investigation check. You made sure no one else was around when you went looking for dead animals, and so no one sees you playing with the rotten rat.
Jah'nun: By using Invisibility (use the other slash) on yourself and whoever else wants to accompany you into the mansion, you are able to spy the lay-out of rooms, stairs, and such things. During your reconnaissance you do not see anyone other than servants. Byron, the tabaxi, and any other Strattons are absent at the moment. Although a few of the rooms are locked.
Zack didn't exactly go looking but rather positioned his guarding spot where he can see flowing water since a dead rat might float down it. Since nobody is around to watch him pick up the dead rat with Mage Hand, he will place the rat corpse 5ft from him and cast Animate Dead on it.
Jianyu will join Jahn on her expedition after he's helped Kaltent clobber this fella.
They are shrouded in a shadowy fog that dampens the sound of their steps as they Pass without Trace, and Jah'nun's vision is sharpened to match Jianyu's natural Darkvision.
Flashback.... Bones gladly accepts additional Intel on the interior of the mansion from Jah'nun & Jianyu's invisible jaunts, drawing a rudimentary map and noting the locked doors. He corroborates the information with Sandrick adding to the picture of the mansion and its occupants being formulated.
Looking up at the massive collection of strings connecting various names and places, Bones, mouth slightly ajar, looks at the wall, then Jianyu, then back to the wall, finally saying, "Well, okay then."
Jah'nun, who has been tagging along behind the Cleric and the old elf, shakes her head at the impressive wall display. "Now, if only you had a more immediately useful skill, like lock-picking, we'd be sitting pretty right now." She jerks a thumb at the wall. "As my mother always says, 'Take notes with one hand and take action with the other. Squeeze them both and see which one produces results faster.' In other words, what's our next move?"
Well, Bones responds, "I am readying to enter the mansion as Sandrick. See what information I could find out about the Strattons and this mysterious tabaxi. Have you any suggestions regarding the mission?"
Jianyu's extensive notes and wall display grant anyone who spends some time studying it Advantage on relevant skills checks during this... caper? (I am going with caper unless anyone has a better moniker for it.)
The new guard having been dealt with (if not exactly how Kaltent originally planned), when the morning arrives for the day Bones is planning to infiltrate, Kaltent uses Disguise Selfto disguise himself as the guard and shows up on time for the start of his shift.
Zack: You find a place that only charges 3 silver for breakfast but there is no meat of any kind and the bread tastes crusty, like day-old leftovers. You find that when you attempt to cast Animate Dead you do not have a valid target.
(If there are any other preparations anyone wants to post before they enter the Stratton mansion to meet with the tabaxi, now is the time. Sometime between 12 and 24 hours from now I will make my intro post to the Stratton mansion so get your last minute stuff in now.)
While Bones infiltrated through his guise, Watl decided that he needed to do a bit of his own reconnaissance and scaled the rear of the manor just before guard change when the guards were eager to end their shifts.
As the sun rises on the day of the meeting Jianyu draws two swords, and practices an ancient dance.
He slices the air with his swords, striking ahead and behind with flashing, whirling blades. He kicks, leaps, and flips through the air, swiping at invisible foes below as he arcs above. Between flashes of steel, a foot, a knee, an elbow; a blade spins freely overhead as an empty hand punches a forceful blow where the sword falls into the now waiting palm. With a spin and a final strike the swords are sheathed with a bow of respect to his opponent, the morning breeze.
Jianyu leaps down from his tower dashing through the streets to the estates. He watches from his perch across the road, waiting silently in the shadows for trouble to arrive, yet hoping it does not.
Zack nods to himself in understanding before dropping the dead rat back into the water with mage hand.
Interesting. I assumed that a spell to raise human sized creatures could also raise a smaller one. Perhaps I will need to find a suitable corpse...
Before the day Bones infiltrates come (last minute prep on Zack's part) the Stratton mansion, Zack will cast Disguise Self and leisurely stroll around the streets next to the mansion. He will try to find a suitable hiding spot where he can stay on the infiltration day and help the party should things go wrong.
Also, Zack will eat at the place that offered 3SP.
Emboldened by their success infiltrating the mansion, Bones suggests that the Invisible ones try accompanying Bones while in his guise as Sandrick.
When the time comes, Bones will use a sewer entrance closest possible to the district, having already applied the practical disguise he was planning on using as Sandrick. Before he gets too close, he will use disguise self to fill in any additional details he felt needed.
Timing would match whatever scheduling the burgeoning guild decided upon. He approaches the manor fully disguised, going over the maps Jianyu provided in his head, while keeping mindful of how Sandrick described he did things, all while talking to himself in Sandrick's voice to firm it up some more.
As Bones, disguised to look like Sandrick, approaches the manor of the Strattons he sees the guards look briefly in his direction before letting him through the gates. One of them escorts you up the walkway, crossing the grounds where the dogs roam freely, toward the manor.
Kaltent, also disguised, but as the new guard, observes as Sandrick is allowed passage to the manor.
Zack & Jianyu have taken up posts a short distance from the main gates, Zack at ground level and Jianyu from his perch atop the cafe-style shop. Both can smell the sweet aroma of fresh brewed kambucha in the air.
Jah'nun & Trust are possibly entering under cover of an Invisibility spell?
Watl is able to nimbly scamper over the wall and take momentary cover behind some bushes. It all seems too easy until you remember that the reason there are not enough guards to watch over the large estate is that dogs roam freely on the grounds, and the longer you stay hidden from sight behind these bushes the greater the chance of discovery from the dogs sniffing you out.
(Anyone wishing to do anything else inside or outside the grounds?) (please don't mistake that for one of those DM things where I am hinting that something is going to happen if you don't, I just wanted to allow for anything extra inbetween gaining access to the grounds and the mansion.)
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Kaltent sees the guard stop, barred from continuing by Jianyu and his cup, and moves one hand underneath his cloak, summoning his pact weapon as a greatsword out of sight and getting ready for a fight if needed.
Breakfast: That's pretty pricey. Zack will look for a cheaper place to eat. Rather than trying to haggle, he's just looking for more cheaper places. What do I need to roll for that?
Dead Rat: Zack uses Mage Hand to pick a dead rat up. He then looks around. Is anyone watching him/with him?
Jah'nun, after upgrading her armor and spending a day talking to Bones and some of the others about plans, suggests it would be a good idea to get a good look around the interior of the mansion Sandrick has been frequenting. However, she's not sure that impersonating guards is necessarily the best option since neither Byron or the Tabaxi keep guards near them at home. So, she suggests to Vosnin and Jianyu that maybe they could make an invisible reconnaissance tour through the mansion. Perhaps a few times. She has the ability to make one person other than herself also invisible for an hour. Whether one of them decides to join her or not, by the evening of the second day she uses Invisibility to slip into the mansion behind someone entering or exiting through the servant's entrance. (Stealth check 25)
Zack: If you nothing more than look it is a Perception check, if you ask around and do anything more than just look it can be an Investigation check. You made sure no one else was around when you went looking for dead animals, and so no one sees you playing with the rotten rat.
Jah'nun: By using Invisibility (use the other slash) on yourself and whoever else wants to accompany you into the mansion, you are able to spy the lay-out of rooms, stairs, and such things. During your reconnaissance you do not see anyone other than servants. Byron, the tabaxi, and any other Strattons are absent at the moment. Although a few of the rooms are locked.
Perception check for cheaper food: 27
Zack didn't exactly go looking but rather positioned his guarding spot where he can see flowing water since a dead rat might float down it. Since nobody is around to watch him pick up the dead rat with Mage Hand, he will place the rat corpse 5ft from him and cast Animate Dead on it.
Jianyu will join Jahn on her expedition after he's helped Kaltent clobber this fella.
They are shrouded in a shadowy fog that dampens the sound of their steps as they Pass without Trace, and Jah'nun's vision is sharpened to match Jianyu's natural Darkvision.
(Stealth: 21, Perception: 15)
Extended Signature
Flashback.... Bones gladly accepts additional Intel on the interior of the mansion from Jah'nun & Jianyu's invisible jaunts, drawing a rudimentary map and noting the locked doors. He corroborates the information with Sandrick adding to the picture of the mansion and its occupants being formulated.
Storm King's Thunder - Ink, Elven Bladesinging Wizard
Core City: APbPA - Ormond, Human Twilight Cleric
The Inferno - BG:Dia - DM
They keep me rollin'
Jianyu brings Bones to the bakery wear he's been collecting in the information.
https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/d-d-beyond-general/play-by-post/15917-pit-of-vipers-chapter-one?comment=1555
Extended Signature
Looking up at the massive collection of strings connecting various names and places, Bones, mouth slightly ajar, looks at the wall, then Jianyu, then back to the wall, finally saying, "Well, okay then."
Storm King's Thunder - Ink, Elven Bladesinging Wizard
Core City: APbPA - Ormond, Human Twilight Cleric
The Inferno - BG:Dia - DM
They keep me rollin'
Jah'nun, who has been tagging along behind the Cleric and the old elf, shakes her head at the impressive wall display. "Now, if only you had a more immediately useful skill, like lock-picking, we'd be sitting pretty right now." She jerks a thumb at the wall. "As my mother always says, 'Take notes with one hand and take action with the other. Squeeze them both and see which one produces results faster.' In other words, what's our next move?"
Well, Bones responds, "I am readying to enter the mansion as Sandrick. See what information I could find out about the Strattons and this mysterious tabaxi. Have you any suggestions regarding the mission?"
Storm King's Thunder - Ink, Elven Bladesinging Wizard
Core City: APbPA - Ormond, Human Twilight Cleric
The Inferno - BG:Dia - DM
They keep me rollin'
Jianyu's extensive notes and wall display grant anyone who spends some time studying it Advantage on relevant skills checks during this... caper? (I am going with caper unless anyone has a better moniker for it.)
The new guard having been dealt with (if not exactly how Kaltent originally planned), when the morning arrives for the day Bones is planning to infiltrate, Kaltent uses Disguise Selfto disguise himself as the guard and shows up on time for the start of his shift.
Watl pops out from around the corner where he was hiding(tailing bones) and says "Don't die." and gives a mock salute.
Pit of Vipers: Watl Wiggins - Halfling Rogue(10)
League of Improbable Adventurers: Alan Quatermain - Human Fighter(3)
Zack: You find a place that only charges 3 silver for breakfast but there is no meat of any kind and the bread tastes crusty, like day-old leftovers. You find that when you attempt to cast Animate Dead you do not have a valid target.
(If there are any other preparations anyone wants to post before they enter the Stratton mansion to meet with the tabaxi, now is the time. Sometime between 12 and 24 hours from now I will make my intro post to the Stratton mansion so get your last minute stuff in now.)
While Bones infiltrated through his guise, Watl decided that he needed to do a bit of his own reconnaissance and scaled the rear of the manor just before guard change when the guards were eager to end their shifts.
Acrobatics: 26
Stealth: 27
Pit of Vipers: Watl Wiggins - Halfling Rogue(10)
League of Improbable Adventurers: Alan Quatermain - Human Fighter(3)
As the sun rises on the day of the meeting Jianyu draws two swords, and practices an ancient dance.
He slices the air with his swords, striking ahead and behind with flashing, whirling blades. He kicks, leaps, and flips through the air, swiping at invisible foes below as he arcs above. Between flashes of steel, a foot, a knee, an elbow; a blade spins freely overhead as an empty hand punches a forceful blow where the sword falls into the now waiting palm. With a spin and a final strike the swords are sheathed with a bow of respect to his opponent, the morning breeze.
Jianyu leaps down from his tower dashing through the streets to the estates. He watches from his perch across the road, waiting silently in the shadows for trouble to arrive, yet hoping it does not.
Extended Signature
Zack nods to himself in understanding before dropping the dead rat back into the water with mage hand.
Interesting. I assumed that a spell to raise human sized creatures could also raise a smaller one. Perhaps I will need to find a suitable corpse...
Before the day Bones infiltrates come (last minute prep on Zack's part) the Stratton mansion, Zack will cast Disguise Self and leisurely stroll around the streets next to the mansion. He will try to find a suitable hiding spot where he can stay on the infiltration day and help the party should things go wrong.
Also, Zack will eat at the place that offered 3SP.
Perception: 13
Emboldened by their success infiltrating the mansion, Bones suggests that the Invisible ones try accompanying Bones while in his guise as Sandrick.
When the time comes, Bones will use a sewer entrance closest possible to the district, having already applied the practical disguise he was planning on using as Sandrick. Before he gets too close, he will use disguise self to fill in any additional details he felt needed.
Timing would match whatever scheduling the burgeoning guild decided upon. He approaches the manor fully disguised, going over the maps Jianyu provided in his head, while keeping mindful of how Sandrick described he did things, all while talking to himself in Sandrick's voice to firm it up some more.
Storm King's Thunder - Ink, Elven Bladesinging Wizard
Core City: APbPA - Ormond, Human Twilight Cleric
The Inferno - BG:Dia - DM
They keep me rollin'
As Bones, disguised to look like Sandrick, approaches the manor of the Strattons he sees the guards look briefly in his direction before letting him through the gates. One of them escorts you up the walkway, crossing the grounds where the dogs roam freely, toward the manor.
Kaltent, also disguised, but as the new guard, observes as Sandrick is allowed passage to the manor.
Zack & Jianyu have taken up posts a short distance from the main gates, Zack at ground level and Jianyu from his perch atop the cafe-style shop. Both can smell the sweet aroma of fresh brewed kambucha in the air.
Jah'nun & Trust are possibly entering under cover of an Invisibility spell?
Watl is able to nimbly scamper over the wall and take momentary cover behind some bushes. It all seems too easy until you remember that the reason there are not enough guards to watch over the large estate is that dogs roam freely on the grounds, and the longer you stay hidden from sight behind these bushes the greater the chance of discovery from the dogs sniffing you out.
(Anyone wishing to do anything else inside or outside the grounds?)
(please don't mistake that for one of those DM things where I am hinting that something is going to happen if you don't, I just wanted to allow for anything extra inbetween gaining access to the grounds and the mansion.)