[[ While I think I'd much prefer him to be sipping tea with Minton, or at the bookshop, and I really don't want to be in this still tonight, if there's a chance the trapper is alive, he'd probably wait a few seconds. Overnight combat is bad for my health]]

The Seeker, who seems to be in pretty bad shape with numerous bleeding wounds, allows himself to be pulled away from the entrance to the tunnel by Will. As this is happening, he points back at the tunnel and says, "Rawl is in there. They attacked me. I had to flee."

Meanwhile, the female guard is helping Handleader Halam out of the pool while still keeping an eye on Brand's location. The other two guards are watching on, unable to do anything because of the limited space.

[[I'm going out for lunch and won't be back until later in the afternoon. ciao.]]

Now Brand goes to the boat. This time when he arrives he says.

"Lord Brand sent me. The cistern is full of guards, at least one of whom is a sorcerer, and there's a seeker, also a sorcerer, although I can't imagine he has much left in him. You two need to leave here, it's not safe for you any more, they may mistake your purpose. And let Lord Brand know that man Rawl may still be alive, but of the others I know nothing."

"Is there another way out? They are past the cistern, in the second set of tunnels, and it's possible  the rats are dead. Any other way out? The shrine perhaps? Do either of you know? Any ventilation or access shafts perhaps?"

[[ In the first circular room just after the river entrance, there was water flowing in. Did it have any sign of rats or blood? Was it a 1m x 1m tunnel? And, given the relative directions of tunnels, is it possible it leads to the rat-tunnel? Also, how much water was coming out? Too much to enter? Also, there was another inflow about half way  along the second corridor...where are these in relation to the cistern?]]

 [[ Are you at all interested in the mental processes of Brand for the purpose of your book, or does it not matter in terms of the larger characters? Or is this more of a general tourism approach to fill in background? ]]

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

Now Brand goes to the boat. This time when he arrives he says.

"Lord Brand sent me. The cistern is full of guards, at least one of whom is a sorcerer, and there's a seeker, also a sorcerer, although I can't imagine he has much left in him. You two need to leave here, it's not safe for you any more, they may mistake your purpose. And let Lord Brand know that man Rawl may still be alive, but of the others I know nothing."

"Is there another way out? They are past the cistern, in the second set of tunnels, and it's possible  the rats are dead. Any other way out? The shrine perhaps? Do either of you know? Any ventilation or access shafts perhaps?"

[[ In the first circular room just after the river entrance, there was water flowing in. Did it have any sign of rats or blood? Was it a 1m x 1m tunnel? And, given the relative directions of tunnels, is it possible it leads to the rat-tunnel? Also, how much water was coming out? Too much to enter? Also, there was another inflow about half way  along the second corridor...where are these in relation to the cistern?]]

[[Brand doesn't think any of the inflows come from the other side of the cistern, or even go in the right direction to meet up with the rat-tunnel. They likely all collect outflows from buildings nearer the river that the cistern.]]

Using the power of the Stone of Uplifting, Brand quickly travels back through the tunnels to the boat where he finds Bom and Fazal Ahmet in conversation. The one-armed Fazal is seated under the canopy while the large Hartus Plainslander is slowly using a small wooden bucket to bail water out of the boat.

Brand lands on the deck of the boat and becomes visible, at which point Bom rears up raising the bucket up to strike him.

[[Roll Initiative.]]

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

 [[ Are you at all interested in the mental processes of Brand for the purpose of your book, or does it not matter in terms of the larger characters? Or is this more of a general tourism approach to fill in background? ]]

[[Most of this is for background and for me to get a better understanding of the feeling of the world. While books 1 to 3 are all about Wamzut/Attina, book 4—if I ever get to it—is tentative titled 'Melitta's Tale', while book 5 would be called 'Dworkin's Story', so who knows...]]

Using the power of the Stone of Uplifting, Brand quickly travels back through the tunnels to the boat where he finds Bom and Fazal Ahmet in conversation. The one-armed Fazal is seated under the canopy while the large Hartus Plainslander is slowly using a small wooden bucket to bail water out of the boat.

[[ Last time he appeared before he jumped on the boat:

He leaves. If the boat is still there, he comes out of the tunnel, appears, runs to boat, jumps on board and says ....

(link)

I assumed he'd do that again.

[[ I think you misread the original, and I misread your interpretation]]

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

Using the power of the Stone of Uplifting, Brand quickly travels back through the tunnels to the boat where he finds Bom and Fazal Ahmet in conversation. The one-armed Fazal is seated under the canopy while the large Hartus Plainslander is slowly using a small wooden bucket to bail water out of the boat.

[[ Last time he appeared before he jumped on the boat:

He leaves. If the boat is still there, he comes out of the tunnel, appears, runs to boat, jumps on board and says ....

(link)

I assumed he'd do that again.

[[ I think you misread the original, and I misread your interpretation]]

[[Things aren't the same and so what was written originally doesn't apply. The main difference in the two situation is that Brand is flying and would have travelled down the tunnel without making any sound. Even staying with the original description as close as possible, he would appear in mid air and land on the boat before he says anything. My thinking about this situation is the following: 1) this is the first time these two have seen Brand today; 2) they don't know of the involvement of anyone other than the people they helped up the tunnel, who they would definitely hear coming back down the tunnel; 3) he suddenly appears out of nowhere in mid air in the dark and is wearing a mask; 4) Bom, who has good passive Perception (he heard Brand before), reacted before Brand gets to say anything. An Initiative roll is still needed.]]

Things aren't the same and so what was written originally doesn't apply. The main difference in the two situation is that Brand is flying and would have travelled down the tunnel without making any sound.

He was flying before...so this is not different.

Even staying with the original description as close as possible, he would appear in mid air and land on the boat before he says anything.

No, he would land just outside the tunnel, as when he was flying before:

"If the boat is still there, he comes out of the tunnel, appears, runs to boat, jumps on board and says ..."

My thinking about this situation is the following: 1) this is the first time these two have seen Brand today;

I agree.

2) they don't know of the involvement of anyone other than the people they helped up the tunnel, who they would definitely hear coming back down the tunnel;

Yep.

3) he suddenly appears out of nowhere in mid air in the dark and is wearing a mask;

Nope. A person in a cloak, in the dark, appear at tunnel entrance and runs to boat. I get that it's alarming, but not unexpected.

4) Bom, who has good passive Perception (he heard Brand before), reacted before Brand gets to say anything.

That's also fime.

An Initiative roll is still needed.

Fine also.

The critical differences are that Brand ran to the boat from the tunnel, splashing through water, and tried to climb on board. ie. appeared as a normal person (perhaps Bom thought it was odd given his perception). This means that (a) Fazel is more likely to have seen/heard him, (b) they have time to say "halt" or look/prepare, (c) should feel less threatened (and less freaked out), and (d) have time to acclimatize to what's going on (given they put 2 anchors out, I assumed they were in waist deep water and Brand had a few meters to go -- but this may be just another reality disjunct).

Edit: when he was speaking quietly to Tinketbell earlier, just outside the tunnel, Bom heard Brand. I took this into account when planning the run to the boat -- don't suprise the big guy...go on foot.

The critical differences are that Brand ran to the boat from the tunnel, splashing through water, and tried to climb on board. ie. appeared as a normal person (perhaps Bom thought it was odd given his perception). This means that (a) Fazel is more likely to have seen/heard him, (b) they have time to say "halt" or look/prepare, (c) should feel less threatened (and less freaked out), and (d) have time to acclimatize to what's going on (given they put 2 anchors out, I assumed they were in waist deep water and Brand had a few meters to go -- but this may be just another reality disjunct).

[[There is no running along the bank actually involved. The boat is tied up adjacent to the tunnel. At no time did I say that any of the men moved to the tunnel after they left the boat, they just entered the tunnel. The reason for this is the riverbank is steep. The steepness of the bank never affected Brand because he was always levitating, but it would have affected the others (Remember, I said that Rawl would have gone into the water except for the death grip he had on the rope) so they crossed to the entrance of the tunnel directly from the moored boat. Therefore, Brand would have appeared and basically taken two steps, if that, and then boarded the boat. There wouldn't be much warning at all, just enough time to react, which is what Bom has just done. I still say there needs to be an Initiative roll because Bom, at least, believes they are being attacked by an unknown assailant who has just suddenly appeared out of the dark.]]

[[ Another reality disjunct then ]]

Initiative: 4

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

[[ Another reality disjunct then ]]

Initiative: 13

Bom's Initiative 3

Brand moves first.

Brand raises his empty hands in the air, "Wait! I mean no harm. I surrender. Lord Brand sent me." he says as he floats back from the ship over the water, at least 10' from the giant.

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

Brand raises his empty hands in the air, "Wait! I mean no harm. I surrender. Lord Brand sent me." he says as he floats back from the ship over the water, at least 10' from the giant.

[[Floating backwards would put him up against the river bank, which he stepped from onto the boat. However, as he is actually flying, he can easily fly out of reach in any case.]]

The raising of Brand's hands and his surrender causes Bom to hesitate, which gives Brand the chance to disengage and fly to the side and out of Bom's immediate reach.

In response, Bom drops the bucket and snatches up a long-handled sledge hammer from the side of the boat.

"Bom! Wait!" shouts Fazal from under the canopy. 

The outlander stops, and looks back at his boss. 

"What was that you said about Lord Brand?" says Fazal stepping out from under the canopy.

"Lord Brand sent me. There is hand of guards at the cistern, at least one of whom is a sorcerer, and there's a seeker -- also a sorcerer -- although I can't imagine he has much left in him. I was told to ensure your safety as a priority, and can no longer do that: they may search here at any moment, and may mistake your purpose. Let Lord Brand know that the man -- Rawl -- may still be alive, but of his man -- the trapper -- I know nothing."

Brand glances back at the tunnel then back, "You should leave now."

[[ He waits for them to respond to the warning, let me know if they dont; once they are preparing to get underway he says:]]

"I have not much time, but would like to see if I can help them; Was there another way out? They are past the cistern, in the second set of tunnels, and it's possible that the rats may be dead. Any other way out might save lives. The shrine perhaps? Do either of you know? Any ventilation or access shafts perhaps?"

The two men in the boat listen as Brand tells them his news urgently.

"Your his son, Alaric, aren't you?" says Fazal, while Brand is drawing breath. "I recognise the voice."

He then turns to Bom and says, "Cast off, Bom. We're getting out of here."

Brand then says, "I have not much time, but would like to see if I can help them; Was there another way out? They are past the cistern, in the second set of tunnels, and it's possible that the rats may be dead. Any other way out might save lives. The shrine perhaps? Do either of you know? Any ventilation or access shafts perhaps?"

As Bom moves to unmoor the boat, Fazal says, "No. There are no ventilation shafts that I know of between the shrine and the cistern."

Then, after a moment's thought, he adds, "And the shrine isn't a sure way in either. The priests have some way of creating water up there. And whether there is a way to access the drainage system is anyone's guess; they don't let normal people in to see how their miracles are performed."

With the boat now free of the bank, it starts to drift away with the flow of the river.

"May Aieda guide you this night, Alaric," says Fazal. "And don't worry, we'll get your message to your father."

"Your his son, Alaric, aren't you?" says Fazal, while Brand is drawing breath. "I recognise the voice."

At this, Brand locks eyes on Fazal, "No, that popinjay is asleep in his bed. There is no-one by that name here." he says, and glances quickly at Bom, then back to Fazal. "But I do work for Lord Brand".

[[ Hopefully he gets the idea and says something other than: ""May Aieda guide you this night, Alaric," says Fazal. "And don't worry, we'll get your message to your father." ]]

[[ Dear Phill,

I'm sorry to say that I think I'm going to have to call it. I can't see this going ahead without another multi-night encounter at the Shrine, and I am not sure I have the patience and stamina for that. Borderline OCD is a blessing mostly, but a pain other times.

For what it's worth, Brand would ask get as much as he could about the Shrine from Fazal, then consider reconnoitering. I doubt he'd go in, but he would probably look, unless he got another message from Assam. He's had encounters with air elementals before, and did not enjoy it. Water elementals would probably be worse, if that's what they are using. Either way they probably have people with the Sleep spell, and he's certainly playing above his pay-grade. So, shrine is probably not a go.

If he did not go to the shrine, he would probably wait above the tunnel entrance to see if anyone emerged. If they looked like a seeker, or a guard, he would be gone. If they looked like the trapper, he would try to help.

After a while, he would go home. While waitjnmg, and on the way home, he would try to remove the worst gobbets of rat from his armour, cloak and backpack! He would not wear the cloak in town again for a long while. He might burn it unless the stink can be removed magically for a price less than the replacement cost.

He would also go in search of a long oilskin with pockets. The cloak is cool-n-all, but the oilskin more 'normal' and practical. Or a trech-coat, as you suggested.

I was looking forward to pursuing the Bookseller stuff, Minton, and the mysteries at the School, along with Dalshar -- it's such a rich set of fun choices -- but the realization that each of those will ultimately lead to a long encounter dampens that enthusiasm.

It's hard for me to be detached, and it's been a blast from the past running Brand again, so thank you!

But as I said, I think that has to be it for me.]]

P.S. Look on the bright side: no more really long rules and detail discussions.
P.P.S. And, reiterating what I said before: it's your world, do with Brand and Koric as you see fit. Of course, if I disagree, then it's not my Brand...

P.P.P.S upon reflection, he'd probably go back to cistern after boat is away, if there is no other way out, wary of people pursuing him. Still try to help trapper...but like I said, no more melee for me.

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

P.P.P.S upon reflection, he'd probably go back to cistern after boat is away, if there is no other way out, wary of people pursuing him. Still try to help trapper...but like I said, no more melee for me.

[[No worries, Phil. This is supposed to be a game; an enjoyable experience, which we can play at many different levels. (For example, Andrew is—at the moment—more concerned with expanding Guilliame's business enterprise given some opportunities that have arisen because of the current situation.) And besides, the NPCs are more than willing to kill each other. On the system side of things, I'm also happy to slow things down as I have a few work things coming to a head at the moment.]]

[[With regard to Brand trying to get Fazal to keep his identity secret from Bom. Make a Deception check—if you want to.]]