The man looks at Raker, "I think your friend over there is right," he says gesturing at Relic, "that you don't know what you're doing here. It's just me and the majestic décor." He grunts. "Scavengers too. Such a ruckus. Make it hard to sleep." Turning to Relic he adds, "Think you can talk some sense into your companion here?"
With a 22, Gaius is able to get a good look at the alleyway. For the most part things seem as expected. Nothing amiss in the vines. The carts and barrels are, as expected, broken and much looks broken off by scavengers. He is able to notice a small piece of cloth snagged on a piece of jutting wood around waist-high. And he does notice the dirt near the sewer grate appears disturbed.
Gaius wanders down the alley way to the cloth and examines it where it is snagged on the wood. Is there blood, or other signs around. He examines the ground around that area for more clues. (( Investigation roll in log - 19 ))
He walks back to the beggar holding the cloth, “Seen anyone recently wearing clothes this color? Someone in a hurry or being taken by someone else?”
He then points to the area in front of the grate, “Take a look at the dirt around that grate as well. Have you seen anyone coming or going through there?”
The man replies, "Can't say I see many people come by this way. And during the night I'm usually under there." he says gesturing to a tipped over cart that creates a makeshift lean-to against one of the walls, "I've come to expect the occasional ruckus in the night, usually someone breaking off some wood for fire. I just try to keep my eyes closed and get more shut-eye." He pauses for a moment, "What's this about?"
"Well, we were following some tracks because they were our only clue in a missing person case," Relic says, then addresses the rest of the party. "Though, to be frank, I suspect that we lost the trail and now are harassing a homeless man for no reason. I would argue that it is likely in our best interests to keep going and let this poor man sleep."
“Useless.” Raker stands up and walks away from the man. He goes over to the grate after it is mentioned and pulls off the cover, peering into what lies beneath.
“My metallic companion is correct. About several things. But, a woman has gone missing. Someone’s wife who is loved very much. If you will allow me to do so, I can help you remember if you have seen something important,” Gaius says to the old man. “It will hurt in no way. I will be intruding in your privacy though.”
As Raker looks into the hole he can see the ground level and an old wooden ladder propped up with some rungs missing. It appears to be an access point of some sort. However the darkness prevents him from seeing much more than that.
As Gaius gets to the part about intruding on privacy the man's eyes go wide. "Now listen here, bucko!" he says while grasping a nearby rock and standing up, "My privacy is my own." He turns to Relic, "I think I'd appreciate if you could show your companions away."
Raker drops the grate and turns his head to the side, straightening up quickly. As he sees the man pick up the rock and threaten Gaius, Raker’s attitude changes quite a bit. He pulls out his short bow with surprising quickness and nocks an arrow, training it on the man. In a voice that might have come from a city guard, an authoritarian voice, he quickly says “Drop that and get the hell out of here. Now.” If the man comes toward them or does not comply, he makes it entirely clear that he will put an arrow in him.
Readied action : (If the man attacks Gaius with the rock or threatens them any further, he launches an arrow at him)
Short bow : 15 to hit, for 6 points of piercing damage. If any of us are within 5 feet of him, an additional 7 points of sneak attack damage.
That's not something I know how to build off in a productive way. With other interactions with the man I could build off on him gaining a hostile stance towards the party. There's still plenty of other things that could be explored. But with this, killing or drawing a weapon on an innocent man right at the start removes a lot of possibilities. A single person not liking a character is something I can work with. The entire town having a reason to not like a character gets, understandably, much more difficult.
I also see this alley as being boxed in so even the retreat option would require him to first advance towards the party, making his most logical course of action to stand his ground, triggering Raker's condition to shoot.
As an aside, the idea of detect thoughts from Gaius was interesting. Just, after the threat that had been made, I didn't think he'd realistically be receptive to the idea of having his mind probed.
I can work with something like Relic suggested of going elsewhere. But I definitely need a retcon on Raker's last thing.
Gaius moves away from the beggar and out of Raker’s line of fire. He edges to get behind Raker. “We apologize for intruding on your humble abode, sir,” he offers the man. “We will be on our way.”
He quietly says to Raker with a smile, “I owe you a beverage at the next opportunity.”
((OOC - edit after reading above…))
”Raker, let’s leave him be,” Gaius adds. “We intruded in his home. Sad as it is, it is his home.”
Gaius looks to the grate, “Do you think the tracks led to the grate? What did you see below?”
Gaius looks down the hole into the darkness. He finds a nearby rock and casts Light upon it. Then, he tosses the rock into the hole watching to see where it goes and what is down there.
As the rock descends it lands with a thunk against brick. You're able to see a passage with ~6ft of clearance and ~5ft wide with some raised bricks on the side and a channel with water a few inches of water in it. A small rat seems to investigate the lighted rock with curiosity.
"If that is the case then I should probably enter first as I am quite difficult to kill. I can hold the light as I do not think any of us can see in the darkness."
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(( In Log. Perception check - 22))
The man looks at Raker, "I think your friend over there is right," he says gesturing at Relic, "that you don't know what you're doing here. It's just me and the majestic décor." He grunts. "Scavengers too. Such a ruckus. Make it hard to sleep." Turning to Relic he adds, "Think you can talk some sense into your companion here?"
With a 22, Gaius is able to get a good look at the alleyway. For the most part things seem as expected. Nothing amiss in the vines. The carts and barrels are, as expected, broken and much looks broken off by scavengers. He is able to notice a small piece of cloth snagged on a piece of jutting wood around waist-high. And he does notice the dirt near the sewer grate appears disturbed.
This is a signature. It was a simple signature. But it has been upgraded.
Bel, Aarakocra Hunter Ranger, Friend Campaign
Screechirk, Aarakocra Light Cleric, Wages of Vice
Darath, Goliath Battlemaster, Into the Overlap
Draíocht, Wood Elf Moon Druid, Kholias
Eggo Lass, Drow GOOlock, 100 Dungeons
Drako, Dragonborn Tempest Cleric, Dragon of Icespire Peak
Phait, Mountain Dwarf Wild Magic Sorcerer, Shadowglass
Get rickrolled here. Listen to awesome music here. (selection 27, 4/23/24, One Voice)
Gaius wanders down the alley way to the cloth and examines it where it is snagged on the wood. Is there blood, or other signs around. He examines the ground around that area for more clues. (( Investigation roll in log - 19 ))
He walks back to the beggar holding the cloth, “Seen anyone recently wearing clothes this color? Someone in a hurry or being taken by someone else?”
He then points to the area in front of the grate, “Take a look at the dirt around that grate as well. Have you seen anyone coming or going through there?”
The man replies, "Can't say I see many people come by this way. And during the night I'm usually under there." he says gesturing to a tipped over cart that creates a makeshift lean-to against one of the walls, "I've come to expect the occasional ruckus in the night, usually someone breaking off some wood for fire. I just try to keep my eyes closed and get more shut-eye." He pauses for a moment, "What's this about?"
This is a signature. It was a simple signature. But it has been upgraded.
Bel, Aarakocra Hunter Ranger, Friend Campaign
Screechirk, Aarakocra Light Cleric, Wages of Vice
Darath, Goliath Battlemaster, Into the Overlap
Draíocht, Wood Elf Moon Druid, Kholias
Eggo Lass, Drow GOOlock, 100 Dungeons
Drako, Dragonborn Tempest Cleric, Dragon of Icespire Peak
Phait, Mountain Dwarf Wild Magic Sorcerer, Shadowglass
Get rickrolled here. Listen to awesome music here. (selection 27, 4/23/24, One Voice)
"Well, we were following some tracks because they were our only clue in a missing person case," Relic says, then addresses the rest of the party. "Though, to be frank, I suspect that we lost the trail and now are harassing a homeless man for no reason. I would argue that it is likely in our best interests to keep going and let this poor man sleep."
“Useless.” Raker stands up and walks away from the man. He goes over to the grate after it is mentioned and pulls off the cover, peering into what lies beneath.
“My metallic companion is correct. About several things. But, a woman has gone missing. Someone’s wife who is loved very much. If you will allow me to do so, I can help you remember if you have seen something important,” Gaius says to the old man. “It will hurt in no way. I will be intruding in your privacy though.”
As Raker looks into the hole he can see the ground level and an old wooden ladder propped up with some rungs missing. It appears to be an access point of some sort. However the darkness prevents him from seeing much more than that.
As Gaius gets to the part about intruding on privacy the man's eyes go wide. "Now listen here, bucko!" he says while grasping a nearby rock and standing up, "My privacy is my own." He turns to Relic, "I think I'd appreciate if you could show your companions away."
This is a signature. It was a simple signature. But it has been upgraded.
Bel, Aarakocra Hunter Ranger, Friend Campaign
Screechirk, Aarakocra Light Cleric, Wages of Vice
Darath, Goliath Battlemaster, Into the Overlap
Draíocht, Wood Elf Moon Druid, Kholias
Eggo Lass, Drow GOOlock, 100 Dungeons
Drako, Dragonborn Tempest Cleric, Dragon of Icespire Peak
Phait, Mountain Dwarf Wild Magic Sorcerer, Shadowglass
Get rickrolled here. Listen to awesome music here. (selection 27, 4/23/24, One Voice)
Gaius backs away. “Of course, sir. Sorry to have disturbed you.”
He joins Raker by the grate. “What do you think?,” he asks. “I found this scrap of cloth snagged on that jutting out wood over there.”
Raker drops the grate and turns his head to the side, straightening up quickly. As he sees the man pick up the rock and threaten Gaius, Raker’s attitude changes quite a bit. He pulls out his short bow with surprising quickness and nocks an arrow, training it on the man. In a voice that might have come from a city guard, an authoritarian voice, he quickly says “Drop that and get the hell out of here. Now.” If the man comes toward them or does not comply, he makes it entirely clear that he will put an arrow in him.
Readied action : (If the man attacks Gaius with the rock or threatens them any further, he launches an arrow at him)
Short bow : 15 to hit, for 6 points of piercing damage. If any of us are within 5 feet of him, an additional 7 points of sneak attack damage.
DM.exe has crashed
[[OOC:
That's not something I know how to build off in a productive way. With other interactions with the man I could build off on him gaining a hostile stance towards the party. There's still plenty of other things that could be explored. But with this, killing or drawing a weapon on an innocent man right at the start removes a lot of possibilities. A single person not liking a character is something I can work with. The entire town having a reason to not like a character gets, understandably, much more difficult.
I also see this alley as being boxed in so even the retreat option would require him to first advance towards the party, making his most logical course of action to stand his ground, triggering Raker's condition to shoot.
As an aside, the idea of detect thoughts from Gaius was interesting. Just, after the threat that had been made, I didn't think he'd realistically be receptive to the idea of having his mind probed.
I can work with something like Relic suggested of going elsewhere. But I definitely need a retcon on Raker's last thing.
]]
This is a signature. It was a simple signature. But it has been upgraded.
Bel, Aarakocra Hunter Ranger, Friend Campaign
Screechirk, Aarakocra Light Cleric, Wages of Vice
Darath, Goliath Battlemaster, Into the Overlap
Draíocht, Wood Elf Moon Druid, Kholias
Eggo Lass, Drow GOOlock, 100 Dungeons
Drako, Dragonborn Tempest Cleric, Dragon of Icespire Peak
Phait, Mountain Dwarf Wild Magic Sorcerer, Shadowglass
Get rickrolled here. Listen to awesome music here. (selection 27, 4/23/24, One Voice)
Gaius moves away from the beggar and out of Raker’s line of fire. He edges to get behind Raker. “We apologize for intruding on your humble abode, sir,” he offers the man. “We will be on our way.”
He quietly says to Raker with a smile, “I owe you a beverage at the next opportunity.”
((OOC - edit after reading above…))
”Raker, let’s leave him be,” Gaius adds. “We intruded in his home. Sad as it is, it is his home.”
Gaius looks to the grate, “Do you think the tracks led to the grate? What did you see below?”
[[Gonna take this to OOC chat.]]
[[building off ooc chat]]
The man, seeing the bow, takes a step back. He looks tense, but not prepared to actively start a fight.
This is a signature. It was a simple signature. But it has been upgraded.
Bel, Aarakocra Hunter Ranger, Friend Campaign
Screechirk, Aarakocra Light Cleric, Wages of Vice
Darath, Goliath Battlemaster, Into the Overlap
Draíocht, Wood Elf Moon Druid, Kholias
Eggo Lass, Drow GOOlock, 100 Dungeons
Drako, Dragonborn Tempest Cleric, Dragon of Icespire Peak
Phait, Mountain Dwarf Wild Magic Sorcerer, Shadowglass
Get rickrolled here. Listen to awesome music here. (selection 27, 4/23/24, One Voice)
Gaius looks down the hole into the darkness. He finds a nearby rock and casts Light upon it. Then, he tosses the rock into the hole watching to see where it goes and what is down there.
As the rock descends it lands with a thunk against brick. You're able to see a passage with ~6ft of clearance and ~5ft wide with some raised bricks on the side and a channel with water a few inches of water in it. A small rat seems to investigate the lighted rock with curiosity.
This is a signature. It was a simple signature. But it has been upgraded.
Bel, Aarakocra Hunter Ranger, Friend Campaign
Screechirk, Aarakocra Light Cleric, Wages of Vice
Darath, Goliath Battlemaster, Into the Overlap
Draíocht, Wood Elf Moon Druid, Kholias
Eggo Lass, Drow GOOlock, 100 Dungeons
Drako, Dragonborn Tempest Cleric, Dragon of Icespire Peak
Phait, Mountain Dwarf Wild Magic Sorcerer, Shadowglass
Get rickrolled here. Listen to awesome music here. (selection 27, 4/23/24, One Voice)
Relic looks down the shaft curiously.
"So, do you think that she was taken down there?" the robot asks evenly.
“I really wish not,” Gaius sighs. “But, the tracks we followed seem to lead here. What do you think Raker? Lyrai?”
"If that is the case then I should probably enter first as I am quite difficult to kill. I can hold the light as I do not think any of us can see in the darkness."