Poe thinks for a moment, then nods slowly. “I’d be more worried about an ambush,” he says. “If you’re not afraid, Tornir, you are right. Scouting ahead is even smarter.”
He pauses, then adds with a faint smirk: “If you run into trouble… scream. Or, I don’t know... make bird noises.”
He glances at the others.
“Bethany, Zik… you decide between the two of you who carries the gold.”
(Zik thinks for a moment)... I believe that you, Bethany, should hold it. You are the one with the most fighting capability, and will be able to defend the gold the best. Any objections to that, Beth?
(Yes that's fine, in the future post the result here for convenience.) Tornir's Perception: 14
Tornir goes on ahead, careful to watch where he steps lest he tread near one of the many a rattlesnake in the shrubland. He gets the party in sight of the amphitheater, joining back with the others for the final approach.
The amphitheater, once a gladiatorial arena, is in derelict disrepair. Four entrances surround a circular raised platform. You've been asked to leave the ransom at it's center, and wait.
Ok, according to the note, we leave the ransom in the middle of the amphitheater and wait. I'm still suspicious of if there even is a kidnapper... I think that one of us should sneak around the inside of the edges of the place to see what's going on behind the scenes, while the rest of us go to the middle. The one who sneaks in can give us a signal if something happens or if they found out something about the whole situation. How does that sound? If this plan is a go, who do we send to sneak around? Otherwise, do any of you have any ideas?
Poe brushes dust from his robe as the group arrives at the amphitheater. He takes a moment to scan the surroundings, then turns to Tornir.
“Thanks for the scouting,” he says with a nod. “No surprises on the road... it is already a win.”
He steps toward the center of the group.
“I think Zik's plan is a good plan. Let’s recap. We still don’t know what’s really going on here. Our priority is clear: rescue the daughter.”
He gestures toward the center of the arena.
“Let’s think about the worst-case scenario. If everything we’ve been told is legit, and there were no signs of forced entry… we might even be dealing with a teleporter or something similar. Someone who could just take the gold and vanish.”
He looks around at the others. “I’m not saying we ignore the instructions. But maybe we don’t leave all the money at once. Half, maybe. First, we make sure the daughter is here, alive and safe.”
"Insurance. Just trying to avoid the classic ‘grab the gold and vanish’ move. Far as I see it, our job’s to bring the daughter back... not make a donation and hope for the best. If that was the plan, her father could’ve handed a sack of gold to a messenger and gone back to his wine."
Poe gives a slow shrug.
"I’d place the money in plain sight. Clearly only half. No games. No tricks. We check the girl’s alive. Then we hand over the rest."
He glances toward the edges of the amphitheater.
"And, yes, we should scout the perimeter. And all four entrances."
Still murmuring arcane syllables under his breath, Poe glances at Tornir. Between one whispered word and the next, he says quietly: “Once completed, my spell should last about ten minutes and it follows me… I could come scouting with you.”
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Tornir is quiet for a moment.
“it depends. If Bethany, likely our strongest, is carrying the gold it may make sense for me to scout slightly ahead for danger.”
a beat.
”the question is, do we think trouble will follow us along the road or be lying in wait?”
Poe thinks for a moment, then nods slowly.
“I’d be more worried about an ambush,” he says. “If you’re not afraid, Tornir, you are right. Scouting ahead is even smarter.”
He pauses, then adds with a faint smirk:
“If you run into trouble… scream. Or, I don’t know... make bird noises.”
He glances at the others.
“Bethany, Zik… you decide between the two of you who carries the gold.”
(Zik thinks for a moment)... I believe that you, Bethany, should hold it. You are the one with the most fighting capability, and will be able to defend the gold the best. Any objections to that, Beth?
Tornir cracks a smile for the first time.
“Don’t worry, I’ll make sure to hoot like and owl.”
"I'll carry it."
Coriana - Company of the Grey Chain
Wagner - Dragon Heist: Bards.
DM - The Old Keep
(Zik smiles and nods)
Ok, Mr. Pierce, hand her the ransom to hold onto. (She points to Bethany)
If no one else needs anything I’d say that we’re ready to go!
You are entrusted with the ransom, and begin the journey through the rocky scrubland in the direction of the amphitheater.
Tornir, since you're scouting ahead, give me a Perception check!
**Rolled in character sheet, does that work?**
(Yes that's fine, in the future post the result here for convenience.) Tornir's Perception: 14
Tornir goes on ahead, careful to watch where he steps lest he tread near one of the many a rattlesnake in the shrubland. He gets the party in sight of the amphitheater, joining back with the others for the final approach.
The amphitheater, once a gladiatorial arena, is in derelict disrepair. Four entrances surround a circular raised platform. You've been asked to leave the ransom at it's center, and wait.
Do you take any precautions as you approach?
(Zik Whispers to the other members of the party)
Ok, according to the note, we leave the ransom in the middle of the amphitheater and wait. I'm still suspicious of if there even is a kidnapper... I think that one of us should sneak around the inside of the edges of the place to see what's going on behind the scenes, while the rest of us go to the middle. The one who sneaks in can give us a signal if something happens or if they found out something about the whole situation. How does that sound? If this plan is a go, who do we send to sneak around? Otherwise, do any of you have any ideas?
Poe brushes dust from his robe as the group arrives at the amphitheater.
He takes a moment to scan the surroundings, then turns to Tornir.
“Thanks for the scouting,” he says with a nod. “No surprises on the road... it is already a win.”
He steps toward the center of the group.
“I think Zik's plan is a good plan. Let’s recap. We still don’t know what’s really going on here. Our priority is clear: rescue the daughter.”
He gestures toward the center of the arena.
“Let’s think about the worst-case scenario. If everything we’ve been told is legit, and there were no signs of forced entry… we might even be dealing with a teleporter or something similar. Someone who could just take the gold and vanish.”
He looks around at the others. “I’m not saying we ignore the instructions. But maybe we don’t leave all the money at once. Half, maybe. First, we make sure the daughter is here, alive and safe.”
He folds his arms.
“Thoughts?”
“I like the idea of only placing half. Should we scout the exterior of the amphitheater first?”
"We were hired to put the full amount. It's not our money. Why screw around?"
Coriana - Company of the Grey Chain
Wagner - Dragon Heist: Bards.
DM - The Old Keep
"Insurance. Just trying to avoid the classic ‘grab the gold and vanish’ move. Far as I see it, our job’s to bring the daughter back... not make a donation and hope for the best. If that was the plan, her father could’ve handed a sack of gold to a messenger and gone back to his wine."
Poe gives a slow shrug.
"I’d place the money in plain sight. Clearly only half. No games. No tricks. We check the girl’s alive. Then we hand over the rest."
He glances toward the edges of the amphitheater.
"And, yes, we should scout the perimeter. And all four entrances."
A pause.
"But hey. I do the paranoid. You do you."
Well, who knows how many people could be behind this kidnapping. If we scout the outside, whoever's scouting should be careful and sneak around.
With his spellbook in one hand, Poe traces symbols into the air, sharp, black, curling letters from a dead alphabet.
They glow faintly into existence, then unravel like smoke, as he mutters a slow, deliberate incantation.
He begins to ritually cast Detect Magic.
While Poe is ritual casting, what are the rest of you going to do?
Tornir will systematically scout the entrances for anyone lying in wait.
If I may revise, a better course of action is to scout the entrance closest to where Poe is casting.
Still murmuring arcane syllables under his breath, Poe glances at Tornir.
Between one whispered word and the next, he says quietly: “Once completed, my spell should last about ten minutes and it follows me… I could come scouting with you.”