The gates do not close for night. Winter, yes, but not night.

All the talk about food has Hildigrim's stomach growling. He places a hand to his belly and clucks his tongue. "What is taking so long?" he complains. "I'll go take a look." He attempts to weave through the crowd in order to find out what the hold up is.

Stealth: 19

Investigation: 18

Jorin starts to say something to Hildi, but the halfling is gone before the words come out, "Ah- yes, go fine out." he says with a chuckle.

OoC - Would Jorin know from his time here if this sort of delay at the gates is unusual? 

The group hangs at the crossroads while Hildi scampers off. There's a tavern here (not an inn, not much business with the city so near) called the North Gate Pub. It looks warm in there.

Hildigrim, you approach the gate and see that the City Guard (who man the gates and the walls, but are not the force inside the city, that's the City Watch) are, in fact, checking most carefully the people *leaving* the city. In fact, as you approach, one small shifty guy trips an old farmer on his way in, and as the guard goes to help him, the shifty guy slips out and starts to run for it. The guard shout, "Hey you, stop!" but he doesn't slow. He'll pass right by you.

The rest of you see a commotion begin in the gate area, where you can see Hildi just this side of a bunch of people and carts.

Edit: The gate/Hildi is about 1600 feet from the crossroads/North Gate Pub.

OOC > Is a delay at the gates normal? It's not too unusual: cart loses a wheel, some people get in a fight, someone tries to bring a captive Owlbear in... but if there's a delay it usually is something or other.

Jorin looks at Drusk and Pascal and says, "You know, last year someone tried to bring in a captive owlb-" and then stops abruptly at the sound of the commotion.  He cranes his neck to get a better view down the line, but doesn't otherwise move since it seems like Hildi isn't caught up in whatever's going on.  

OOC > For clarity, the "line" doesn't stretch all the way to where you are. It's more of a mob up by the gate. (Not an angry mob, just a mob-shaped bunch of people, more like a blob, perhaps.) :)

OOC: Since you said "shifty", I'll skip the insight check and assume that means Hildigrim already thinks something underhanded is going down.

Trying to blend in with the crowd, and ignoring any dirty looks other waiting individuals might be giving him, Hildigrim readies his shortbow surreptitiously. As the runner passes him, Hildigrim attempts trip him by extending his bow in front of their legs. If he succeeds in tripping him, Hildigrim will then jump on top of him to try to hold him down for the authorities. If he doesn't succeed, Hildigrim will follow on foot and yell for his friends to head him off.

Tripping: 17 — not sure what to roll, so acrobatics +5, athletics +1, sleight of hand/stealth +3

Grapple: 9 (athletics)

If Hildi misses, Pascal will just stick out his tail to trip as well.

Quote from Guiltysparc >>

Jorin looks at Drusk and Pascal and says, "You know, last year someone tried to bring in a captive owlb-" 

 Drusk notices a quest parchment on the ground, but the request has already expired.

OOC > I should give Quasimodal Inspiration for getting that!

OoC - Re: owlbear - LOL!!   Re: No line...

As Jorin is looking onward at the commotion, he claps Drusk on the shoulder saying, "Let us see what trouble our small friend has gotten himself into..." and starts walking down towards Hildi.  If the person fleeing the guard gets past Hildi and Jorin will attempt to grab him.

Athletics: 21

Edit: oof

Drusk follows Jorin's lead, and gets ready to grab the flee-er if he makes it past Hildi and Jorin.

(OOC: I hope this guy is not Bo Jackson in Tecmo Bowl.)

Athletics: 20 (Edit: I guess that Drusk is Bo Jackson...)

Hildi turns his back, keeping an eye out, and when the guy runs by, he innocently sticks his bow out, and the guy falls flat on his face, plowing into the snow along the side of the road. Then he turns and jumps on him. There's a little struggle, but the guy doesn't seem to have it in him.

OOC > Private to Hildi incoming

The rest of you see them tussle, then Hildi seems to have him under control. The guards are coming that way.

The rest of you are about 1500 feet away, so you can't really see clearly what is going on. 

From the distance, the others can see Hildigrim stop struggling with the fellow and sit up. He's sitting on top of the guy's chest and looking down at him. It looks like they are talking to each other. Hildigrim looks a little perplexed.

Pascal will approach! Things are already starting to get interesting!

(Since Hildigrim has things under control, I'd like to use Drusk's athletics roll of 23 to plow through the crowd, to get next to the little buddy.)

You guys get about halfway to Hildigrim when a guard arrives at the spot, and grabs up the other guy, hauling him to his feet. You haven't gotten to the group of people waiting yet (so I'm saving the linebacker Athletics roll, still).

OOC > One more round of private with Hildi before you all get there...

Hildi say something to the guard, at which point he lets the other guy go, and turns and heads back to the gate, as you guys rumble up. The thin guy takes a step back, his eyes wide, when he sees you all coming up.

Jorin walks up next to Hildi, stops and shifts his weight to one foot, resting his hands on the pommels of his axes.  He locks eyes with the thing guy and then says to Hildi, "Everything ok here?"