[[ Dramatic indeed! ]]

Brand frowns and glances at his father briefly, before returning his gaze to the Orb, "I think that means we might have difficulty saving the trapper" he says.

"At least not without first dealing with Rawl. A seeker on one side, and a dead priest on the other makes for a lot of awkward questions that I am not equipped to answer."

Brand shakes his head and growls in exasperation, "You tried to warn both the bank and the temple that there was some kind of problem, Father, but they didn't listen. This is on their heads."

Then he turns back and keeps watching the scene, trying to catch any conversation between the men, hoping for a clue as to their destination. "You even sent two people in to prevent a possible crime -- one of whom may be dead. We need to give him a chance to survive, but that is beyond me now I think."

[[ It is really 10 minutes on foot and 10 minutes via rooftops? That does make sense if it's a straight-ish line either way, just checking. ]]

"My belief is that as soon as we knew where Rawl goes to ground, or where he's heading, I leave with whatever assistance we can muster, and you have to alert the temple...if they are not already alerted: Rawl is leaving a trail of blood, and may yet come to grief."

"Did anyone recognise the priest he killed? Where it might be?"

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

 [[ Dramatic indeed! ]]

Brand frowns and glances at his father briefly, before returning his gaze to the Orb, "I think that means we might have difficulty saving the trapper" he says.

"At least not without first dealing with Rawl. A seeker on one side, and a dead priest on the other makes for a lot of awkward questions that I am not equipped to answer."

Brand shakes his head and growls in exasperation, "You tried to warn both the bank and the temple that there was some kind of problem, Father, but they didn't listen. This is on their heads."

Then he turns back and keeps watching the scene, trying to catch any conversation between the men, hoping for a clue as to their destination. "You even sent two people in to prevent a possible crime -- one of whom may be dead. We need to give him a chance to survive, but that is beyond me now I think."

[[Brand can't really look at the scene in the orb between what he has already seen and what he says next. You will need to do the observing and listening either before or after as other characters will be reacting to what he says. I am going to assume he hasn't been able to do any observing.]]

[[ It is really 10 minutes on foot and 10 minutes via rooftops? That does make sense if it's a straight-ish line either way, just checking. ]]

[[It is certainly shorter going by the rooftops, maybe a little longer going on foot, but it's probably 10 minutes going either way as long as no one tries to stop you, which is more likely if on foot.]]

"My belief is that as soon as we knew where Rawl goes to ground, or where he's heading, I leave with whatever assistance we can muster, and you have to alert the temple...if they are not already alerted: Rawl is leaving a trail of blood, and may yet come to grief."

"Did anyone recognise the priest he killed? Where it might be?"

There is silence in the room for a moment and then the female chaperone says, "The shrine has a caretaker. Perhaps that was who was killed."

Then Brand's father clears his throat and says, "Alaric, could you please go find Bacchi, my coachman, and Jon the doorman. Madame Damass and I have to talk."

[[[[Brand can't really look at the scene in the orb between what he has already seen and what he says next.]]

[[ I was engaging in literary license, as it were. The intent is for him to be " trying to catch any conversation between the men, hoping for a clue as to their destination" the entire time.]]

Brand nods, "One minute father...I'm hoping that now they are out, they may discuss their next actions."

[[ He waits the minute (or so, if it gets interesting); or gets ordered out. ]]

As he's leaving he says, "Is caf on the way, or should I request it also?"

[[ Does Brand know where he is likely to find Jon and Bacchi? If not, he asks where they might be. ]]

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

[[[[Brand can't really look at the scene in the orb between what he has already seen and what he says next.]]

[[ I was engaging in literary license, as it were. The intent is for him to be " trying to catch any conversation between the men, hoping for a clue as to their destination" the entire time.]]

Brand nods, "One minute father...I'm hoping that now they are out, they may discuss their next actions."

[[ He waits the minute (or so, if it gets interesting); or gets ordered out. ]]

As he's leaving he says, "Is caf on the way, or should I request it also?"

[[ Does Brand know where he is likely to find Jon and Bacchi? If not, he asks where they might be. ]]

[[Yes. He knows where they should normally be found.]]

When Brand asks for a minute to try to hear what is being said, silence descends on the room as everyone tries to hear anything that is being said.

Brand watches as Rawl places a wooden bar into place on the outside of the small door that leads into the cistern. Meanwhile, the taller man is searching the room and the shorter man seats himself on a chair at a desk and starts to examine the numerous rat bites he has on his arms and legs.

"Are you okay to travel?" Rawl asks the shorter man.

The man looks at him for a moment and then says something that can't be heard, but which apparently satisfies Rawl.

"Good," he says and then turns to the other man. "Anything?"

Rawl curses and then says, "We'll pick some up later. We'll need mounts. Do you know where we can get some at this time of night?"

The man's reply is unheard, but Rawl laughs suddenly and then says, "We'll steal them. We're deep enough in this already. Taking a couple of horses is not going to change anything."

Then he grabs up the hooded lantern the three of them have been using as a light source and heads toward a door in the wall saying, "Take us there. We need to keep moving. Keep ahead of that damn Seeker. Wish I'd killed the bastard."

The point of view then changes to an outside view as the three of them move outside. The flagstones they are walking on are wet, but it seems like it isn't raining at the moment because no rain drops are hitting the ground.

"We need to move fast, Alaric, we can't afford to lose them," says Koric. "Get Bacchi and Jon and tell them to arm themselves, then meet me downstairs."

[[Make an Insight check.]]

Insight: 7

[[ Does brand know locations of stables (temple, guard or public), near the Shrine? Or is that what the roll was about?]]

[[ Does he recognize the garb or know anything og the man who spoke? ]]

Brand says, "That man who spoke...Rawl does not seem to know the place he is leading them ... do you know anything of his background father, or where he might lead them?"

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

Insight: 7

[[Make a roll for experience.]]

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

[[ Does brand know locations of stables (temple, guard or public), near the Shrine? Or is that what the roll was about?]]

[[The Insight check was for something else. Make a straight Wisdom check for knowledge of stables near the shrine.]]

[[ Does he recognize the garb or know anything og the man who spoke? ]]

[[Make a Perception check for this.]]

Brand says, "That man who spoke...Rawl does not seem to know the place he is leading them ... do you know anything of his background father, or where he might lead them?"

In reply to Brand's question, Koric says, "Rawl brought him in. He's Sorian by birth, and strikes me as someone who has seen service in the army... He didn't recognise me, or my name, that I could tell, so we probably served in different countries."

[[ Does brand know locations of stables (temple, guard or public), near the Shrine? Or is that what the roll was about?]]

[[The Insight check was for something else. Make a straight Wisdom check for knowledge of stables near the shrine.]]

Wisdom: 9

[[Roll XP for insight?]]

[[ Does he recognize the garb or know anything of the man who spoke? ]]

[[Make a Perception check for this.]]

Perception: 19

[[ Edit and more XP rolls? ]]

[[ Assuming nothing comes of these awful rolls: ]]

Brand starts for the door, "Do you have any idea where they are heading?"

[[ Insight XP Roll: 3 ]]

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

[[ Insight XP Roll: 19 ]]

[[Add 15 XP]]

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

---

[[ Does brand know locations of stables (temple, guard or public), near the Shrine? Or is that what the roll was about?]]

[[The Insight check was for something else. Make a straight Wisdom check for knowledge of stables near the shrine.]]

Wisdom: 4

[[No XP chance for this, but Brand doesn't know this area very well at all.]]

[[Roll XP for insight?]]

[[ Does he recognize the garb or know anything of the man who spoke? ]]

[[Make a Perception check for this.]]

Perception: 8

[[ Edit and more XP rolls? ]]

[[Make a XP check for this failed roll.]]

---

[[ Assuming nothing comes of these awful rolls: ]]

Brand starts for the door, "Do you have any idea where they are heading?"

As Brand heads out the door, his father says, "There are no public stables in the Temple Ward. My guess is that they will try to leave the Ward and head west."

[[Add 15 XP]]

15 Added, new total 1065.

Perception XP check: 23

As Brand heads out the door, his father says, "There are no public stables in the Temple Ward. My guess is that they will try to leave the Ward and head west."

[[ A map would be handy, or a virtual map (ie. one that does not exist, but which leads to conclusions of good tactical response). It's unlikely they'd head east after all ;-). That said, choke points, single bridges from district they are in, bridges on way to city gates etc would be useful. Also happy to play along with Koric's game, but so far he's not on a roll. ]]

"Any non-public stables...temple, guards...army...you did say he was likely from the army?"  Brand asks as he leaves, looking for the people as requested.

[[ If he happens to meet Mikkel, or someone else he believes he can trust, he will ask them find them as well, and report to the room where his father is assuming that's going to speed things up. ]]

 [[ Note the edit in my previous response ]]

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

[[Add 15 XP]]

15 Added, new total 1065.

Perception XP check: 5

[[No XP, I'm afraid.]]

As Brand heads out the door, his father says, "There are no public stables in the Temple Ward. My guess is that they will try to leave the Ward and head west."

[[ A map would be handy, or a virtual map (ie. one that does not exist, but which leads to conclusions of good tactical response). It's unlikely they'd head east after all ;-). That said, choke points, single bridges from district they are in, bridges on way to city gates etc would be useful. Also happy to play along with Koric's game, but so far he's not on a roll. ]]

[[I can't give you a real map of the city because, as you have probably already guessed, one doesn't exist—except in general principles in my head. What I will do is allow you to make rolls based on your Wisdom ability to represent Brand's memory of the city. These rolls will be normal mostly, and at advantage for areas of the city that he would have frequented at times in the past. What this means is that you will need to ask questions as to what aspect of the city you are interested in (e.g., choke points leaving the Temple Ward), I will decide a DC and then ask you to make a roll.]]

---

"Any non-public stables...temple, guards...army...you did say he was likely from the army?"  Brand asks as he leaves, looking for the people as requested.

[[ If he happens to meet Mikkel, or someone else he believes he can trust, he will ask them find them as well, and report to the room where his father is assuming that's going to speed things up. ]]

"That would be the Sorendenese army, Alaric, not the Engelian one," says his father before adding, "Now go. I'll see you downstairs shortly."

Brand bites his tongue and goes looking for Jon, the doorman, who has a room near the main entrance. As he reaches the ground floor, he catches sight of Mikkel sitting in the kitchen.

[[ I assume "downstairs" implies a meeting point to Brand, otherwise he would ask "where", eg. the front door, stables, or wherever ]]

[[ With a 50-75% chance of knowing a detail of the city, Brand has no chance of forming a cogent plan compared to Koric who would know the city well. I'll leave it to the shaky hands of Koric, but leavened by Brand's poor insight. So...questions are:

- choke points from Shrine (in Temple district?) to other parts of city?
- how many city exits (3 iirc)? North, South and West?
- is the city walled so that these are the only exits that take horses?
- can horses get out of each of them?
- are there other places in the city (eg. a central area) that all/most roads travel through?
- is there an alarm system that can ensure gates are closed?
- are gates closed at night?
- any non-public stables near the shrine?
- there are multiple bridges across the river, do they all/most take horses, or are they foot traffic mostly?
- what is nearest exit to the Shrine (or stable, of Koric/Brand can think of one?)

[[ Where is Brand heading...he knows where to find the two people....where are they? How far apart? Where in relation to where he is now, where Mikkel is, and where he is supposed to meet Koric? Where is he meeting his father? ]]

[[ Edit: please feel free to make rolls for me, but I want the XP!!! This is probably more appropriate since I should not know what I don't know and there will be a lot more questions, as time goes by, and I'll have trouble keeping rack of what I should/shouldn't know. ]]

[[ I think I read Jon is near the entrance, so: ]]

Brand goes to Jon's room and knocks on door. He asks him to be ready to assist his father in some business tonight.

[[Does Jon look like he will be ready quickly, or does he need time?]]

 [[ Another question:

- where is the Shrine in relation to the exits? How many bridges to cross? How many quarters to traverse?
- even just a block model would help, to get an idea of whether there are 300 possible routes, or 1 or 2?

]]

[[Since Mikkel is nearby:]]

"Mikkel, can you make sure our guests in my father's office are supplied with some Caf...assuming that's not already taken care of"]]

 [[ BTW, if the next book has much in Constantine, I reckon you need to commission a map! Not volunteering, but it has the potential to be a great map. Could just rip off Venice. ]]

[[ I assume "downstairs" implies a meeting point to Brand, otherwise he would ask "where", eg. the front door, stables, or wherever ]]

[[ With a 50-75% chance of knowing a detail of the city, Brand has no chance of forming a cogent plan compared to Koric who would know the city well. I'll leave it to the shaky hands of Koric, but leavened by Brand's poor insight. So...questions are:

[[The Insight skills is for understanding the actions of living things, not general information. Just saying.]]

- choke points from Shrine (in Temple district?) to other parts of city?

[[He knows there is one main entrance into the Temple Ward. See below.]]

- how many city exits (3 iirc)? North, South and West?

[[Dozens. The city has sprawled out into the countryside and lies across a river delta.]]

- is the city walled so that these are the only exits that take horses?

[[The city is not walled.]]

- can horses get out of each of them?

[[The only exits horses can't get out of easily are the river exits.]]

- are there other places in the city (eg. a central area) that all/most roads travel through?

[[River crossing and bridges are possible choke points going north and south.]]

- is there an alarm system that can ensure gates are closed?

[[There are occasional guard posts for keeping the peace, but no overall guard for the city. The city has been built in a time of peace and has no major enemies nearby.]]

- are gates closed at night?

[[No gates to the city as such.]]

- any non-public stables near the shrine?

[[Already rolled for this and Brand doesn't know.]]

- there are multiple bridges across the river, do they all/most take horses, or are they foot traffic mostly?

[[All the bridges across the various tributaries are large enough to take horse and wheeled traffic.]]

- what is nearest exit to the Shrine (or stable, of Koric/Brand can think of one?)

[[Brand only knows of only one main thoroughfare into the Temple Ward, the main road that leads directly to the plaza in which the cistern is situated. The square is bordered by, among other things, the main temples of Mithra, Aieda and Donai as well as the Bank of Sorenden.]]

[[ Where is Brand heading...he knows where to find the two people....where are they? How far apart? Where in relation to where he is now, where Mikkel is, and where he is supposed to meet Koric? Where is he meeting his father? ]]

[[Jon, the doorman has his own room near the main entrance and should be found there because of the nature of his duties. Bacchi? Brand will need to search for Bacchi as the normal rooms are in use by visitors.]]

[[ Edit: please feel free to make rolls for me, but I want the XP!!! This is probably more appropriate since I should not know what I don't know and there will be a lot more questions, as time goes by, and I'll have trouble keeping rack of what I should/shouldn't know. ]]

[[Ability checks don't attract experience points, only skill checks.]]

[[ I think I read Jon is near the entrance, so: ]]

Brand goes to Jon's room and asks him to be ready to assist his father in some business tonight.

[[Does Jon look like he will be ready quickly, or does he need time?]]

Brand knocks on the door to doorman's quarters. His knock is answered quite quickly by Jon, who is dressed in street clothes rather than his usual uniform.

"Master Alaric," says the middle-aged man, looking past Brand to see if there is anyone else in the short corridor that leads to his room. "Can I help you?"