While Drexon carefully surveils the scene, Cob decides to take a more direct approach.
Cob walks up to one of the more 'senior' looking guards and strikes up a conversation.
"What on earth happened here?" Cob begins. "Is it safe to be here? I'd hate for the fire to spread. The kids are already so worried from the small fire we had in the workshop last year that any news of more fires is going to send them right over the edge. Is there anything you can tell me?"
Drexon, you notice something small drops from one of the bodies that are being carried out. It is a crumpled ball of paper that could easily be mistaken as garbage. You wouldn't notice it if it didn't fall right out of the body's hand. None of the city guards and rangers notice it rolling under one of the surviving crates.
"Back up, sirs, madams!" The guard says to Cob and the curious crowd. "We're still in the process of investigating the scene. So far, this is an isolated incident so you can go back home safely. Let the officers do their job."
With both Drexon and Cob occupied, Eremoz, you notice a familiar bird perching on the roof of the adjacent warehouse. It is a black and white raven that is usually by Ranger Leander's side. Tied to its leg is a letter. It is looking directly at you, hopping from one roof tile to another.
The bird flutters down and pecks at the letter tied to its leg until it falls to Eremoz's hand. It stays with you for a while as if waiting for a reply if there is any.
{{If you open the letter check the spoiler:}}
The letterhead is the symbol of the Rangers Conclave. The paper itself is a bit crumpled with a couple of wet dark spots and smears.
"HQ attacked a couple of hours after you left. Saget captured. A couple of rangers dead. Mantagard possibly compromised. Tread carefully. Yntar Godsgrief."
Reading over Eremos' shoulder Dvark raises his eyebrows at the group and taps his temple at Drexon to ask for a mental link. "Looks like we are in deeper then we thought. Can you make hand the note out of the street so we can find some cover? I don't like being in a crowd anymore."
Dvark stands up enough to see over the crowd to see if he can spot anything suspicious. Then he slouches back down to try and blend in a little more.
As you look around, you notice that while most of the people in the crowd are looking at the warehouse curiously with a hint of sorrow at the tragedy, there are some that are simply staring at it with a different emotion. The warehouse workers are mostly going on their days, already putting the tragedy out of their minds. A passing merchant is protesting loudly due to the traffic blockage. Some children are being led away by their parents, shaking in fear of seeing dead bodies for the first time. Some armed people pass by the scene and have a brief conversation with a couple of the city guards to inquire about the event and offer some help, but they quickly continue on their way after the guards refuse.
You do notice, slightly away from the commotion, a group of people dressed in blue nursing their wounds and looking generally shaken and disappointed. One is a middle-aged man with a visibly bruised forehead. The other two are a male dwarf and a female halfling, both wrapping bandages on each other's wounded arms and legs. You can clearly see that the garment that the three wear has a small symbol of the Archive of Ages, possibly workers in the warehouse.
Drexon notices Dvark motioning to him and establishes a telepathic link.
"The hand is not always subtle, but I can try. It would help if there was a distraction", he replies into Dvark's mind.
He waits to pick his moment, moving back a little so his spell casting does not attract notice. When he deems the time is right, he creates the spectral hand as close to the note as possible, keeping it flush to the floor.
If he is able to grab it, he will not send it directly to the group, but to a secluded area outside of the cordon where he can simply walk to collect it. if he needs to move to keep it in range, he do so casually.
{{ Not sure what roll this would need, and whether the other's providing a distraction would infer advantage. Will wait for the other's to act and DM guidance on how to proceed }}
{{The spell doesn't really mention whether the hand originates from you or not, but give me a Sleight of Hand to see if you can subtly manipulate the spectral hand to do what you want without being detected. The spell implies that the hand is still visible, so the roll is to determine whether its appearance/movement is noticeable or not. It should be at a disadvantage as you are casting it in broad daylight in a crowded street. I'll give you a +1 to the roll if you expend a point for subtle spell to eliminate verbal and somatic components. You want to pass a DC11. You can roll it in advance if you want. We'll take the first roll (as if normal roll) if the distraction is good enough.}}
Eremoz reads the letter before handing it to the group. He nods to the raven, “We will.”
He watches his friends, seemingly plotting without words. Watching Dvark cast his spell, as soon as the thunderclap is heard he yells, ”Everybody down!”
{{Dvark, make me a general Wisdom roll. Eremoz, I suppose you can make a Persuasion or Intimidation; you can use your Strength instead of Charisma for this. It's just to see how effective your distraction will be.}}
Cob looks back at the group when he hears Eremoz's warning to get down. His height usually keeps him low to the ground already so he doesn't bother ducking, but he does look around to see what the incoming danger might be.
Only hearing the rumble of thunder he just shakes his head and begins making his way back to join the others.
{{Passable, but Karm still hasn't done anything yet. If you two want to add to this, it may determine whether the group can get away with absconding a piece of paper from a crime scene or whether you will be noticed by the authority or other unsavory organizations for it.}}
{{I will say that Karm can make a bit of a fuss as a fellow member of the Archive depending on what he does. However, that would be revealing yourself, and you and the group did agree to stay away from notice before entering the city in case bad things happen.}}
The already tense crowd screams and ducks down at the sudden sound of thunderclaps and Eremoz's command. The city guards begin spreading around, looking for the source of the thunderclap to no avail.
Drexon, you wait with the crowd and quickly cast a spectral hand near the note as the crowd begins to rise again. The spectral hand rolls the note gently out of the cordon toward a quieter part of the area. You pick up the note as you make your way out of the area.
The note is a creased piece of thick parchment. When you unfold it, you can clearly see the emblem of the Residuum stamped on the header. Some of the letters written on the parchment had been smudged by blood and sweat, but you can understand most of it.
We have a snitch. Take a dozen to Tribun #21. Wreck it. Retake our investment. Appropriate supplies in the usual place. It's a good day to drink Smash. The Clover Club is open. Drop off at the same place. Don't mind the kids. The Emperor protects evermore.
-- K
Dvark and Eremoz, as you stand back and look around just like the crowd, you notice that a ranger seems to have noticed the spectral hand appearing and disappearing. The ranger is a female halfling with dark purple hair, bordering on black. She looks in Drexon's direction when he begins to move toward the note but is quickly distracted by her fellow rangers and the city guards.
Drexon nonchalantly wanders across to pick up the note, scanning the crowd quickly before unravelling it to read.
He looks across to his companions and walks back in their direction. When he is in range, he will connect to each of their minds in turn saying the same thing.
"Things are not as we expected, we should find a tavern with a quiet corner or booth to discuss our next steps in private".
He will then pocket the note and draw out the atlas, looking for the closest tavern marked.
While Drexon carefully surveils the scene, Cob decides to take a more direct approach.
Cob walks up to one of the more 'senior' looking guards and strikes up a conversation.
"What on earth happened here?" Cob begins. "Is it safe to be here? I'd hate for the fire to spread. The kids are already so worried from the small fire we had in the workshop last year that any news of more fires is going to send them right over the edge. Is there anything you can tell me?"
Persuasion: 6
Drexon, you notice something small drops from one of the bodies that are being carried out. It is a crumpled ball of paper that could easily be mistaken as garbage. You wouldn't notice it if it didn't fall right out of the body's hand. None of the city guards and rangers notice it rolling under one of the surviving crates.
"Back up, sirs, madams!" The guard says to Cob and the curious crowd. "We're still in the process of investigating the scene. So far, this is an isolated incident so you can go back home safely. Let the officers do their job."
With both Drexon and Cob occupied, Eremoz, you notice a familiar bird perching on the roof of the adjacent warehouse. It is a black and white raven that is usually by Ranger Leander's side. Tied to its leg is a letter. It is looking directly at you, hopping from one roof tile to another.
Eremoz holds out his hand for the bird to land.
The bird flutters down and pecks at the letter tied to its leg until it falls to Eremoz's hand. It stays with you for a while as if waiting for a reply if there is any.
{{If you open the letter check the spoiler:}}
The letterhead is the symbol of the Rangers Conclave. The paper itself is a bit crumpled with a couple of wet dark spots and smears.
"HQ attacked a couple of hours after you left. Saget captured. A couple of rangers dead. Mantagard possibly compromised. Tread carefully. Yntar Godsgrief."
Reading over Eremos' shoulder Dvark raises his eyebrows at the group and taps his temple at Drexon to ask for a mental link. "Looks like we are in deeper then we thought. Can you make hand the note out of the street so we can find some cover? I don't like being in a crowd anymore."
Dvark stands up enough to see over the crowd to see if he can spot anything suspicious. Then he slouches back down to try and blend in a little more.
Perception:14
As you look around, you notice that while most of the people in the crowd are looking at the warehouse curiously with a hint of sorrow at the tragedy, there are some that are simply staring at it with a different emotion. The warehouse workers are mostly going on their days, already putting the tragedy out of their minds. A passing merchant is protesting loudly due to the traffic blockage. Some children are being led away by their parents, shaking in fear of seeing dead bodies for the first time. Some armed people pass by the scene and have a brief conversation with a couple of the city guards to inquire about the event and offer some help, but they quickly continue on their way after the guards refuse.
You do notice, slightly away from the commotion, a group of people dressed in blue nursing their wounds and looking generally shaken and disappointed. One is a middle-aged man with a visibly bruised forehead. The other two are a male dwarf and a female halfling, both wrapping bandages on each other's wounded arms and legs. You can clearly see that the garment that the three wear has a small symbol of the Archive of Ages, possibly workers in the warehouse.
Do we take to much attention talking to them? I am worried and also think they might know a thing or two.
Olloray Dim - Limbo's Pit
Gunther Korroden - Nightmares in the Mist
Drexon notices Dvark motioning to him and establishes a telepathic link.
"The hand is not always subtle, but I can try. It would help if there was a distraction", he replies into Dvark's mind.
He waits to pick his moment, moving back a little so his spell casting does not attract notice. When he deems the time is right, he creates the spectral hand as close to the note as possible, keeping it flush to the floor.
If he is able to grab it, he will not send it directly to the group, but to a secluded area outside of the cordon where he can simply walk to collect it. if he needs to move to keep it in range, he do so casually.
{{ Not sure what roll this would need, and whether the other's providing a distraction would infer advantage. Will wait for the other's to act and DM guidance on how to proceed }}
{{The spell doesn't really mention whether the hand originates from you or not, but give me a Sleight of Hand to see if you can subtly manipulate the spectral hand to do what you want without being detected. The spell implies that the hand is still visible, so the roll is to determine whether its appearance/movement is noticeable or not. It should be at a disadvantage as you are casting it in broad daylight in a crowded street. I'll give you a +1 to the roll if you expend a point for subtle spell to eliminate verbal and somatic components. You want to pass a DC11. You can roll it in advance if you want. We'll take the first roll (as if normal roll) if the distraction is good enough.}}
Sleight of Hand: (13, 2) + 4 = Good Distraction 17, Bad Distraction 6
{{ As usual, rolled in campaign. I didn't use Subtle, it seemed a waste for only +1. Up to the others now :-) }}
Dvark casts thaumaturgy 60 feet away from them in the opposite direction of the note, to create a thunderclap sound.
{{Should I roll something?}
Eremoz reads the letter before handing it to the group. He nods to the raven, “We will.”
He watches his friends, seemingly plotting without words. Watching Dvark cast his spell, as soon as the thunderclap is heard he yells, ”Everybody down!”
{{Dvark, make me a general Wisdom roll. Eremoz, I suppose you can make a Persuasion or Intimidation; you can use your Strength instead of Charisma for this. It's just to see how effective your distraction will be.}}
Wisdom:9
Intimidation 8
Cob looks back at the group when he hears Eremoz's warning to get down. His height usually keeps him low to the ground already so he doesn't bother ducking, but he does look around to see what the incoming danger might be.
Only hearing the rumble of thunder he just shakes his head and begins making his way back to join the others.
{{Passable, but Karm still hasn't done anything yet. If you two want to add to this, it may determine whether the group can get away with absconding a piece of paper from a crime scene or whether you will be noticed by the authority or other unsavory organizations for it.}}
{{I will say that Karm can make a bit of a fuss as a fellow member of the Archive depending on what he does. However, that would be revealing yourself, and you and the group did agree to stay away from notice before entering the city in case bad things happen.}}
I guess not... Karm begins to say and then cowers down at Eremoz command. I could take the note and blink a short distance away he continues to say
Olloray Dim - Limbo's Pit
Gunther Korroden - Nightmares in the Mist
The already tense crowd screams and ducks down at the sudden sound of thunderclaps and Eremoz's command. The city guards begin spreading around, looking for the source of the thunderclap to no avail.
Drexon, you wait with the crowd and quickly cast a spectral hand near the note as the crowd begins to rise again. The spectral hand rolls the note gently out of the cordon toward a quieter part of the area. You pick up the note as you make your way out of the area.
The note is a creased piece of thick parchment. When you unfold it, you can clearly see the emblem of the Residuum stamped on the header. Some of the letters written on the parchment had been smudged by blood and sweat, but you can understand most of it.
Dvark and Eremoz, as you stand back and look around just like the crowd, you notice that a ranger seems to have noticed the spectral hand appearing and disappearing. The ranger is a female halfling with dark purple hair, bordering on black. She looks in Drexon's direction when he begins to move toward the note but is quickly distracted by her fellow rangers and the city guards.
Drexon nonchalantly wanders across to pick up the note, scanning the crowd quickly before unravelling it to read.
He looks across to his companions and walks back in their direction. When he is in range, he will connect to each of their minds in turn saying the same thing.
"Things are not as we expected, we should find a tavern with a quiet corner or booth to discuss our next steps in private".
He will then pocket the note and draw out the atlas, looking for the closest tavern marked.