“Just some normal imports. Got all the paperwork here cleared through this morning.”Moneo says, and then hesitates a bit, adding, “But what the hell does that matter?! This thing was in one of the crates, and was NOT something we were told about! Why the hell would I want to smuggle one of them here?”
I don’t see why the guard would need persuasion to help with this since that’s kinda their job, and Moneo isn’t lying 😉 - but -> 18
Robin rises to her feet and waits for them to acknowledge her. She nods to the oficials running the meeting, then turns her eyes to Sophelia. "It has come to my attention, through investigation I myself have done into the mage's death, that it was actually a book you yourself wrote that killed the mage. The book was a Compendium of the Nyxborn" She holds Sophelia's eyes with her own. "What is your reaction to that information? And, so you are aware, it was a Nyxborn that killed the mage, a serpent-like creature summoned by reading a particular page in that book."
"I discovered this by finding the book in question, and reading that very same page." Robin puts in before the assembled can respond. "I slew the creature that came forth."
You enter the compound, having seen no one else since leaving the assassin where he lay. Pim is sitting upright on the floor; his face is blanched of all color, and he looks at you with a mixture of fear and confusion. "What...who...what happened?" he stammers.
Despite the dim light, you conclude you can scale the wall alone with only moderate difficulty. With Tark's assistance--or vice versa--the job can be done rather quickly and with little chance of failure.
Tark, observant and insightful, understands your meaning immediately when you look toward the top of the wall. "Yes, that should work," he says.
(Just to make sure we understand each other: you're considering climbing the wall to access the roof of the building, yes?)
The guard's eyes dart from you to Pherebus to the Returned and then back to you. He doesn't hide his uncertainty very well. "I see. Your paperwork, I'd like to see that. And you.."--motioning toward the Returned--"...stay where you are. Don't move."
Releasing his grip on his longsword, he steps toward you, ready to take your paperwork in hand. A quick glance at Pherebus gives you cause for concern, for it seems as if he's ready to turn and run.
(As an aside, Moneo's use of the phrase "normal imports" could qualify as being a slight bit of subterfuge. What's being imported is indeed normal; how it's being done, however... So, a persuasion/deception roll seems fitting. Regardless, an 18 does the trick!)
To say your proclamation causes a reaction is an understatement. The audience breaks into a mild uproar as some (primarily the Nyklean students) hurl insults at you, and others (Formalist students for the most part) loudly reiterate their calls for action to be taken by the authorities.
Two or three minutes pass before the place is sufficiently quiet for Sophelia to respond. When she does so, she speaks with her characteristic calm. "First, I will say that I am pleased to learn that you are unharmed. You ask about my reaction, young one, to this information. At this moment, I will, quite simply, not react."
Her last statement causes another minute of disturbance among the crowd. When they quiet themselves, Sophelia continues, "I will, however, make a request. Will you speak with me in the morning? The tale you tell is alarming, and it must be addressed thoughtfully and thoroughly. This venue at this hour, I hope you agree, is less than suitable for our purposes."
(Yes, or the top of the wall. I wasn't clear if this was another walled compound we were entering, or just a regular wall through which an enemy is firing crossbow bolts. In either case, the plan remains a good one.)
Nimbly scrambling up the wall (Acrobatics: 10, with adv from Tark? 7) Grexes yet finds it something of a challenge to haul his frame upwards. He scrapes around a bit more than he'd like, but eventually (assuming low DC) he makes it. If successful in gaining the roof, Grexes would look either for a way to traverse the roof quietly to gain access to the other side, or possibly to find a place where he and Tark might regroup on even footing and quietly reconsider their options.
"You will understand my reason for doing this at this place and time though I am certain." Robin says as she straightens up from the bow. "There was little chance I could manage a discussion with you, without going about it in this fashion. I will certainly meet with you when and where you wish, as that was all I wished to do in the first place."
Moneo reaches into his pocket to pull out the paperwork that he’d made while on the ship before arriving, hoping that this guard doesn’t have as discerning of an eye as an actual port authority would, saying, “Is… is that thing ok to just not worry about? Ever seen one of them before?” He then also glances towards his skiddish companion and gives him a glare saying, ‘don’t you dare…’
i don’t remember if I rolled for the forgery of the paperwork or not… 1 + 2 proficiency + ?? Dex = 4, int = 2… well ****… I’m still thrown off that my cargo is more important than the returned though :P Edit… ah! I wanted to save myself from that 1… I actually already had rolled for this before! https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/d-d-beyond-general/play-by-post/110747-forsaking-fate?comment=57 Though the roll was only a 4… still pretty shit, that’s definitely better than a 1 lol
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
(Sorry for not responding, I just found out my notifications have been bugged for two days)
Mekleon kneels by Pim’s side, quickly looking him over for any potentially still dangerous wounds that may have persisted despite the healing.
Medicine: 15
”You were shot, by a brown-cloaked assassin. I channeled the will of Iroas through myself and healed your wounds, then left in pursuit of the killer. I found him hiding as a beggar, but he blew his cover by attempting to shoot me as well, though my armor protected me. I killed him, and rushed back to make sure you were okay. Can you remember what happened before he tried to kill you? I heard you yell ‘treachery’ before I found you.”
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"Ignorance is bliss, and you look absolutely miserable."
Not pleased with the outcome, but realizing there isn't much else to do, Calliope simply nods. "I see. Well, I certainly wish you luck on your journey. And try not to get into too much trouble."The corner of her mouth quirks into a smile as she turns away and (hopefully with Carzi in tow) continues on in the direction they were headed.
You and Tark scramble to the roof of the building, somewhat relieved to know that you're no longer in the crosshairs of whoever is wielding the crossbow. You stand atop a long, narrow structure. Below you, to the right, is the alley from which you just came. Approximately 20' to your left is the western edge of the roof, which hangs over a narrow street that runs parallel to the alley.
The time you spent in the alley was sufficient to inform you that the main entrance to the building must be somewhere to your left (along the narrow street). If anyone were to exit the building, you imagine that they would appear somewhere below you...
Sophelia, ever so slightly, offers you a nod and smile. "Two hours after sunrise then," she explains. "Come to the Nyklean school at that time."
Another murmur arises from the crowd, and some express their surprise that you have so easily gained a private audience with one of the prominent thinkers of Meletis.
The guard (despite his commanding minotaur presence and official attire) shows more and more uncertainty and hesitancy with each passing minute. He takes your paperwork in hand but pays it no heed. Your question about the Returned redirects the guard's attention. "One of them? This is Meletis, friend. There's no shortage of oddities to be seen around here. A stowaway hiding behind a mask is..."
Pherebus interrupts nervously. "..is funny, eh?"
"Funny? I suppose," replies the minotaur, who renews his focus on the Returned. "Hey. What do you have to say? Hidin' in a barrel, huh? You've certainly brought on a good deal of trouble for these two. Time to explain yourself."
The minotaur then holds out his hand, returning your paperwork to you, before he takes a few strides and stands face to face with the masked Returned (and you can't shake the notion that this burly watchman has no real awareness of who, or what, he is addressing).
Several ominous seconds of silence pass before the Returned repeats the words, "I am lost."
Without warning, the undead creature breaks into a sprint, heading inland toward the city. What the minotaur lacks in wit, he possesses in dexterity; so, as the Returned begins to run, the minotaur smashes the creature on its head with his open hand and cleanly knocks the funerary mask off the fleeing creature's head and onto the ground. A few seconds later, you and Pherebus stand alone on the docks, listening to the clattering of the watchman's hooves as he pursues the Returned, who is seemingly headed toward the busy thoroughfares of Meletis.
Pim is in sorry shape, but the hands you laid upon him earlier seem adequate to keep him among the living for now.
"Assassin?" he utters between heavy breaths. "Yes," he adds. "Treachery. Morenna."
He attempts to stand unsuccessfully. After slumping awkwardly to the tile floor, he says, "We must tell Aranath. He's at the arena."
NOTE: Just a reminder that Aranath is the one who leads the gladiator group of which you are now part. He, and the other fighters, however, are away from the compound currently.
The centaur bids you farewell, emphasizing his gratitude to you once again as he does so. His final words, as you and Carzi begin to walk away are, "May Heliod shine brightly upon you!"
With the sun high overhead on the next day, you take your first steps into Meletis, wondering what will become of your story about finding a Returned whose mask had the name Sophelia inscribed upon it.
Robin nods back, then turns and makes her way from the room. Her cloak swishes as she strides away, her head up as she meets the eyes of those staring at her. Exiting the chamber, she tucks some of her red curls behind an ear, then moves out onto the street.
Having several hours to burn, Robin would browse some shops, get some food, and likely settle into a tavern late in the day, waiting for the appointed time.
Moneo quickly hops towards the mask on the ground and scoops it up, putting it in his pack away from any potential prying eyes, and looks around ((14)) to see if anyone else has seen what happened. He then immediately goes towards the nearest barrel they'd unloaded from the dock looking back to the other Satyr saying, "Tell me you've got a way to tap this."He then (hopefully) takes a *real* big mouthful of whatever booze is in it before nearly falling to the floor back to a wall, letting out a big breath as the stress washes out, and he pulls out his pipe to begins to puff at it.
"So... what in all the hells is going on here? We gotta get in touch with Sepp to see what he knows about this."He says to his companion, who he gestured to join him in a drink or three, after a minute or so of shocked silence. "We really shouldn't stick around here. But we can't leave this,"pointing to the barrel as he pushes himself up and walks over to it, taking another drink, "out on the dock. Let's get it somewhere safe and see if we can find someone who knows anything about these damned Returned, and where one might be going in order to get lost."
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
As they enter the city, Calliope does her best to brush off any dirt that has accumulated and straighten out her jacket. Out of curiosity and habit, she quickly scans the crowds for anyone who particularly stands out. Then she turns to Carzi and asks, "You have any idea where to find this Sophelia lady? Or do we just need to ask around?"
If Carzi doesn't have any suggestions, Calliope will try to find some sort of library or place of learning (as this city seems to be famous for them), approach an employee, and ask, "If I wanted an audience with Sophelia, what would be the best way to get one?"
If she's unable to find said library, she'll ask the same to a random person on the street who doesn't look like a complete jerk.
(Perception to look for interesting people on the street: 6)
“Just some normal imports. Got all the paperwork here cleared through this morning.” Moneo says, and then hesitates a bit, adding, “But what the hell does that matter?! This thing was in one of the crates, and was NOT something we were told about! Why the hell would I want to smuggle one of them here?”
I don’t see why the guard would need persuasion to help with this since that’s kinda their job, and Moneo isn’t lying 😉 - but -> 18
PbP 🎲: Tyekanik; Moneo Noree; Korba Muris; & occasional DM:
Robin rises to her feet and waits for them to acknowledge her. She nods to the oficials running the meeting, then turns her eyes to Sophelia. "It has come to my attention, through investigation I myself have done into the mage's death, that it was actually a book you yourself wrote that killed the mage. The book was a Compendium of the Nyxborn" She holds Sophelia's eyes with her own. "What is your reaction to that information? And, so you are aware, it was a Nyxborn that killed the mage, a serpent-like creature summoned by reading a particular page in that book."
"I discovered this by finding the book in question, and reading that very same page." Robin puts in before the assembled can respond. "I slew the creature that came forth."
Calliope
The centaur, breathing heavily, responds, "You are kind. I will rest and recover under the cover of these grasses and shrubs."
You take a full, 360 degree look at the area and realize there isn't much nearby that will hide an eight-hundred pound centaur.
The centaur senses your concern and explains in earnest, "I must continue westward. It is part of my protoporos."
N.B. You are familiar with the protoporos--a journey of self-discovery commonly placed upon young Lagonna centaurs.
Mekleon
You enter the compound, having seen no one else since leaving the assassin where he lay. Pim is sitting upright on the floor; his face is blanched of all color, and he looks at you with a mixture of fear and confusion. "What...who...what happened?" he stammers.
Grexes
Despite the dim light, you conclude you can scale the wall alone with only moderate difficulty. With Tark's assistance--or vice versa--the job can be done rather quickly and with little chance of failure.
Tark, observant and insightful, understands your meaning immediately when you look toward the top of the wall. "Yes, that should work," he says.
(Just to make sure we understand each other: you're considering climbing the wall to access the roof of the building, yes?)
Moneo
The guard's eyes dart from you to Pherebus to the Returned and then back to you. He doesn't hide his uncertainty very well. "I see. Your paperwork, I'd like to see that. And you.."--motioning toward the Returned--"...stay where you are. Don't move."
Releasing his grip on his longsword, he steps toward you, ready to take your paperwork in hand. A quick glance at Pherebus gives you cause for concern, for it seems as if he's ready to turn and run.
(As an aside, Moneo's use of the phrase "normal imports" could qualify as being a slight bit of subterfuge. What's being imported is indeed normal; how it's being done, however... So, a persuasion/deception roll seems fitting. Regardless, an 18 does the trick!)
Robin
To say your proclamation causes a reaction is an understatement. The audience breaks into a mild uproar as some (primarily the Nyklean students) hurl insults at you, and others (Formalist students for the most part) loudly reiterate their calls for action to be taken by the authorities.
Two or three minutes pass before the place is sufficiently quiet for Sophelia to respond. When she does so, she speaks with her characteristic calm. "First, I will say that I am pleased to learn that you are unharmed. You ask about my reaction, young one, to this information. At this moment, I will, quite simply, not react."
Her last statement causes another minute of disturbance among the crowd. When they quiet themselves, Sophelia continues, "I will, however, make a request. Will you speak with me in the morning? The tale you tell is alarming, and it must be addressed thoughtfully and thoroughly. This venue at this hour, I hope you agree, is less than suitable for our purposes."
(Yes, or the top of the wall. I wasn't clear if this was another walled compound we were entering, or just a regular wall through which an enemy is firing crossbow bolts. In either case, the plan remains a good one.)
Nimbly scrambling up the wall (Acrobatics: 10, with adv from Tark? 7) Grexes yet finds it something of a challenge to haul his frame upwards. He scrapes around a bit more than he'd like, but eventually (assuming low DC) he makes it. If successful in gaining the roof, Grexes would look either for a way to traverse the roof quietly to gain access to the other side, or possibly to find a place where he and Tark might regroup on even footing and quietly reconsider their options.
Robin bows in respect to Sophelia.
"You will understand my reason for doing this at this place and time though I am certain." Robin says as she straightens up from the bow. "There was little chance I could manage a discussion with you, without going about it in this fashion. I will certainly meet with you when and where you wish, as that was all I wished to do in the first place."
Moneo reaches into his pocket to pull out the paperwork that he’d made while on the ship before arriving, hoping that this guard doesn’t have as discerning of an eye as an actual port authority would, saying, “Is… is that thing ok to just not worry about? Ever seen one of them before?” He then also glances towards his skiddish companion and gives him a glare saying, ‘don’t you dare…’
i don’t remember if I rolled for the forgery of the paperwork or not… 1 + 2 proficiency + ?? Dex = 4, int = 2… well ****…I’m still thrown off that my cargo is more important than the returned though :P
Edit… ah! I wanted to save myself from that 1… I actually already had rolled for this before!
https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/d-d-beyond-general/play-by-post/110747-forsaking-fate?comment=57
Though the roll was only a 4… still pretty shit, that’s definitely better than a 1 lol
PbP 🎲: Tyekanik; Moneo Noree; Korba Muris; & occasional DM:
(Sorry for not responding, I just found out my notifications have been bugged for two days)
Mekleon kneels by Pim’s side, quickly looking him over for any potentially still dangerous wounds that may have persisted despite the healing.
Medicine: 15
”You were shot, by a brown-cloaked assassin. I channeled the will of Iroas through myself and healed your wounds, then left in pursuit of the killer. I found him hiding as a beggar, but he blew his cover by attempting to shoot me as well, though my armor protected me. I killed him, and rushed back to make sure you were okay. Can you remember what happened before he tried to kill you? I heard you yell ‘treachery’ before I found you.”
"Ignorance is bliss, and you look absolutely miserable."
Not pleased with the outcome, but realizing there isn't much else to do, Calliope simply nods. "I see. Well, I certainly wish you luck on your journey. And try not to get into too much trouble." The corner of her mouth quirks into a smile as she turns away and (hopefully with Carzi in tow) continues on in the direction they were headed.
Iris - Tiefling Cleric | Cassandra - Elf Warlock | Solace - Tiefling Monk | Tempest - Hexblood Monk | Lex - Fire Genasi Barbarian
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Grexes
You and Tark scramble to the roof of the building, somewhat relieved to know that you're no longer in the crosshairs of whoever is wielding the crossbow. You stand atop a long, narrow structure. Below you, to the right, is the alley from which you just came. Approximately 20' to your left is the western edge of the roof, which hangs over a narrow street that runs parallel to the alley.
The time you spent in the alley was sufficient to inform you that the main entrance to the building must be somewhere to your left (along the narrow street). If anyone were to exit the building, you imagine that they would appear somewhere below you...
Robin
Sophelia, ever so slightly, offers you a nod and smile. "Two hours after sunrise then," she explains. "Come to the Nyklean school at that time."
Another murmur arises from the crowd, and some express their surprise that you have so easily gained a private audience with one of the prominent thinkers of Meletis.
Moneo
The guard (despite his commanding minotaur presence and official attire) shows more and more uncertainty and hesitancy with each passing minute. He takes your paperwork in hand but pays it no heed. Your question about the Returned redirects the guard's attention. "One of them? This is Meletis, friend. There's no shortage of oddities to be seen around here. A stowaway hiding behind a mask is..."
Pherebus interrupts nervously. "..is funny, eh?"
"Funny? I suppose," replies the minotaur, who renews his focus on the Returned. "Hey. What do you have to say? Hidin' in a barrel, huh? You've certainly brought on a good deal of trouble for these two. Time to explain yourself."
The minotaur then holds out his hand, returning your paperwork to you, before he takes a few strides and stands face to face with the masked Returned (and you can't shake the notion that this burly watchman has no real awareness of who, or what, he is addressing).
Several ominous seconds of silence pass before the Returned repeats the words, "I am lost."
Without warning, the undead creature breaks into a sprint, heading inland toward the city. What the minotaur lacks in wit, he possesses in dexterity; so, as the Returned begins to run, the minotaur smashes the creature on its head with his open hand and cleanly knocks the funerary mask off the fleeing creature's head and onto the ground. A few seconds later, you and Pherebus stand alone on the docks, listening to the clattering of the watchman's hooves as he pursues the Returned, who is seemingly headed toward the busy thoroughfares of Meletis.
Mekleon
Pim is in sorry shape, but the hands you laid upon him earlier seem adequate to keep him among the living for now.
"Assassin?" he utters between heavy breaths. "Yes," he adds. "Treachery. Morenna."
He attempts to stand unsuccessfully. After slumping awkwardly to the tile floor, he says, "We must tell Aranath. He's at the arena."
NOTE: Just a reminder that Aranath is the one who leads the gladiator group of which you are now part. He, and the other fighters, however, are away from the compound currently.
Calliope
The centaur bids you farewell, emphasizing his gratitude to you once again as he does so. His final words, as you and Carzi begin to walk away are, "May Heliod shine brightly upon you!"
With the sun high overhead on the next day, you take your first steps into Meletis, wondering what will become of your story about finding a Returned whose mask had the name Sophelia inscribed upon it.
Robin nods back, then turns and makes her way from the room. Her cloak swishes as she strides away, her head up as she meets the eyes of those staring at her. Exiting the chamber, she tucks some of her red curls behind an ear, then moves out onto the street.
Having several hours to burn, Robin would browse some shops, get some food, and likely settle into a tavern late in the day, waiting for the appointed time.
Moneo quickly hops towards the mask on the ground and scoops it up, putting it in his pack away from any potential prying eyes, and looks around ((14)) to see if anyone else has seen what happened. He then immediately goes towards the nearest barrel they'd unloaded from the dock looking back to the other Satyr saying, "Tell me you've got a way to tap this." He then (hopefully) takes a *real* big mouthful of whatever booze is in it before nearly falling to the floor back to a wall, letting out a big breath as the stress washes out, and he pulls out his pipe to begins to puff at it.
"So... what in all the hells is going on here? We gotta get in touch with Sepp to see what he knows about this." He says to his companion, who he gestured to join him in a drink or three, after a minute or so of shocked silence. "We really shouldn't stick around here. But we can't leave this," pointing to the barrel as he pushes himself up and walks over to it, taking another drink, "out on the dock. Let's get it somewhere safe and see if we can find someone who knows anything about these damned Returned, and where one might be going in order to get lost."
PbP 🎲: Tyekanik; Moneo Noree; Korba Muris; & occasional DM:
As they enter the city, Calliope does her best to brush off any dirt that has accumulated and straighten out her jacket. Out of curiosity and habit, she quickly scans the crowds for anyone who particularly stands out. Then she turns to Carzi and asks, "You have any idea where to find this Sophelia lady? Or do we just need to ask around?"
If Carzi doesn't have any suggestions, Calliope will try to find some sort of library or place of learning (as this city seems to be famous for them), approach an employee, and ask, "If I wanted an audience with Sophelia, what would be the best way to get one?"
If she's unable to find said library, she'll ask the same to a random person on the street who doesn't look like a complete jerk.
(Perception to look for interesting people on the street: 6)
Iris - Tiefling Cleric | Cassandra - Elf Warlock | Solace - Tiefling Monk | Tempest - Hexblood Monk | Lex - Fire Genasi Barbarian
Lilyn - Triton Ranger | Candor - Changeling Bard | Echo - Changeling Warlock/Bard | Rowan - Fairy Wizard