Balasar kicks against the wall, his claws finding purchase where Lisette's hands could not, and clambers up to the top. Upon doing so, he realizes that this is one of the estate segments that overlooks the drop from the plateau. Looking down, he sees what appears to be... Markus, hanging from a rocky outcropping by one hand and wincing in obvious pain. As the dragonborn watches, this second Markus grabs on to the outcropping with another hand and begins to pull himself up, before noticing the barbarian.
The duplicate stares at Balasar in horror for a moment, then begins frantically looking around for a quick escape.
He's currently about 15 feet down. The cliff face looks pretty sheer to either side, but it is dark so Balasar cannot say for certain if Markus 2 is actually stuck there.
Markus 2's eyes narrow, "I hardly call being gutted an upgrade. You might spare me, lizard, but I doubt your father or brother will do the same."
He glances around again, and grits his teeth, ".... What assurance can you give for my safety?"
Balasar's memory fails to pinpoint a specific species known for shape shifting or duplication, but living in a prosperous city with its own magical orders, he is aware that there are many spells which can alter, in truth or in seeming, another creature's appearance.
Unless anything happens to interupt her, Lisette will cast Detect Thoughts and very quickly stalk a perimeter about the tableau (as best she can with the dead body as the center of her circuit), using the spell's feature to search for other hidden beings.
Lisette's attempts do not reveal any other living, thinking creatures within the radius of the spell's influence. As near as she can tell, the party is alone with Markus 2 for now.
Markus 2's eyes narrow, "I hardly call being gutted an upgrade. You might spare me, lizard, but I doubt your father or brother will do the same."
He glances around again, and grits his teeth, ".... What assurance can you give for my safety?"
Balasar's memory fails to pinpoint a specific species known for shape shifting or duplication, but living in a prosperous city with its own magical orders, he is aware that there are many spells which can alter, in truth or in seeming, another creature's appearance.
You are quite correct that I can make no promises as to the conduct or reactions of my family members, and I won't insult you by pretending otherwise. But as for myself, I seek justice, not a scapegoat, and I have not traveled all this way only to be denied by any who merely seek a convenient target to vent their rage. So if all the events of recent memory are your own doing, accomplished without accomplices, funded without employers or patrons, initiated and masterminded by you and only you, then the rocks below may well be the wiser choice. But if you are merely a piece of a larger scheme, and are willing to prove of faithful service in uncovering and dismantling that scheme, then you would not be a fool to take your chances up here.
Balasar tosses one end of the rope down to the party, with whispered instructions to secure it to a convenient tree. After testing it with a firm tug to satisfy himself that the rope isn't going to give way, he tosses the other end down to Markus 2. In doing all this, Balasar ensures that Markus 2 has enough rope to climb up to the top of the wall, but not enough to climb down to the base of the cliff and escape.
[OOC note to the DM: I'm proceeding under the assumption that the rest of the party has been able to hear the conversation between Balasar and Markus 2 (or enough of it to be able to fill in any gaps) and therefore know what's going on. If that assumption is incorrect, then Balasar would have briefly filled the party in when he tossed them the end of the rope to secure, with a view to ensuring both that nobody attacks Markus 2 when he comes up and that everyone is alert in case he tries any tricks]
Balasar tosses one end of the rope down to the party, with whispered instructions to secure it to a convenient tree. After testing it with a firm tug to satisfy himself that the rope isn't going to give way, he tosses the other end down to Markus 2. In doing all this, Balasar ensures that Markus 2 has enough rope to climb up to the top of the wall, but not enough to climb down to the base of the cliff and escape.
Markus climbs up and stands warily by Balasar. For a moment, he tenses as if making ready to run along the wall, but a glance at the group seems to take the last of the fight out of him and he slouches, waiting for whatever comes next.
"So how's this going to work?"
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The wizard struggles to find a foothold, but can't seem to locate a viable route.
Balasar's Athletics check: 22
Balasar kicks against the wall, his claws finding purchase where Lisette's hands could not, and clambers up to the top. Upon doing so, he realizes that this is one of the estate segments that overlooks the drop from the plateau. Looking down, he sees what appears to be... Markus, hanging from a rocky outcropping by one hand and wincing in obvious pain. As the dragonborn watches, this second Markus grabs on to the outcropping with another hand and begins to pull himself up, before noticing the barbarian.
The duplicate stares at Balasar in horror for a moment, then begins frantically looking around for a quick escape.
How much distance currently separates Balasar from Markus 2.0?
He's currently about 15 feet down. The cliff face looks pretty sheer to either side, but it is dark so Balasar cannot say for certain if Markus 2 is actually stuck there.
Gong mutters a quick prayer for the fallen guard before rushing to join the others at the wall.
Athletics: 10
Balasar pulls a rope out of his pack and calls down to Markus 2.0:
Climb up and rejoin us; I daresay it's a better fate than falling to your death on the rocks below.
Persuasion check: 16
History check to see if he's familiar any sorts of creatures that might be able to explain the duplicate Markus: 14
Lacking Balasar's claws, Gong struggles in vain to scale the same path that the dragonborn took.
Markus 2's eyes narrow, "I hardly call being gutted an upgrade. You might spare me, lizard, but I doubt your father or brother will do the same."
He glances around again, and grits his teeth, ".... What assurance can you give for my safety?"
Balasar's memory fails to pinpoint a specific species known for shape shifting or duplication, but living in a prosperous city with its own magical orders, he is aware that there are many spells which can alter, in truth or in seeming, another creature's appearance.
Unless anything happens to interupt her, Lisette will cast Detect Thoughts and very quickly stalk a perimeter about the tableau (as best she can with the dead body as the center of her circuit), using the spell's feature to search for other hidden beings.
Lisette's attempts do not reveal any other living, thinking creatures within the radius of the spell's influence. As near as she can tell, the party is alone with Markus 2 for now.
You are quite correct that I can make no promises as to the conduct or reactions of my family members, and I won't insult you by pretending otherwise. But as for myself, I seek justice, not a scapegoat, and I have not traveled all this way only to be denied by any who merely seek a convenient target to vent their rage. So if all the events of recent memory are your own doing, accomplished without accomplices, funded without employers or patrons, initiated and masterminded by you and only you, then the rocks below may well be the wiser choice. But if you are merely a piece of a larger scheme, and are willing to prove of faithful service in uncovering and dismantling that scheme, then you would not be a fool to take your chances up here.
Persuasion roll with disadvantage, please.
Persuasion roll w/ disadvantage: 13
Markus 2 grits his teeth, then seems to deflate a little, "Fine, coin's not good enough for this nonsense anyways. Help me up."
Balasar tosses one end of the rope down to the party, with whispered instructions to secure it to a convenient tree. After testing it with a firm tug to satisfy himself that the rope isn't going to give way, he tosses the other end down to Markus 2. In doing all this, Balasar ensures that Markus 2 has enough rope to climb up to the top of the wall, but not enough to climb down to the base of the cliff and escape.
Lisette crouches near the corpse of Markus 1, apparently examining it and its contents.
[OOC note to the DM: I'm proceeding under the assumption that the rest of the party has been able to hear the conversation between Balasar and Markus 2 (or enough of it to be able to fill in any gaps) and therefore know what's going on. If that assumption is incorrect, then Balasar would have briefly filled the party in when he tossed them the end of the rope to secure, with a view to ensuring both that nobody attacks Markus 2 when he comes up and that everyone is alert in case he tries any tricks]
Please make an investigation check.
Markus climbs up and stands warily by Balasar. For a moment, he tenses as if making ready to run along the wall, but a glance at the group seems to take the last of the fight out of him and he slouches, waiting for whatever comes next.
"So how's this going to work?"