The man looks to be Guilliame's father's age, were Guilliame's father still alive. Perhaps he was a friend of Guilliame's father.
With regard to the fifth urchin, fair enough, there might very well have been one that caused Guilliame to be distracted as part of the robbery attempt, but Guilliame was specifically looking for someone following him, like the man he saw loitering in the alley earlier, that's why I asked for a Perception roll.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
---
Tyrus Mountson: Lvl 3 Dwarvish Bard; Waterdeep Campaign (Dragon Heist) Nanoc the Younger: Semi-retired Lvl 2 Rogue / Level 2 Barbarian Human; The Knuckle, Mror Holds, Ebberon. The Honourable Jaden Fellan: Level 3 Human Eldritch Knight; Band of Sunswall
AKA: Phillip Berrie: writer, editor and academic thrillseeker—a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
Say to the guard "That is my pouch. Can I retrieve it please."
If that goes OK. Thank the elder gentleman for vouching for me but say I'm afraid I can't recall his name.
"Sorry, sir," says the guard. "If it be yours, then that be fine, but I'd be giving thanks to Aieda that ye still have it."
He and the other guard then go and start waking the fallen children and taking them into custody. Guilliame sees they aren't being too gentle about it, and that some of the children are already known by the guards.
The older woman is now on her feet, still looking a bit dazed, and being helped by the older man, who it seems knows her.
When Guilliame thanks the older man, he looks at Guilliame for a moment and then says, "You're the de Marchant boy, aren't you? My name is Assam, I knew your father, may Donai guard his soul."
With the reminder of the man's family name, Guilliame knows who this is, though he didn't know that his father travelled in such circles.
This man is actually the owner of the Wing & Prayer Messenger service, near which recent events have taken place. This is a very rich man, because that service now has multiple offices all across Constantine.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
---
Tyrus Mountson: Lvl 3 Dwarvish Bard; Waterdeep Campaign (Dragon Heist) Nanoc the Younger: Semi-retired Lvl 2 Rogue / Level 2 Barbarian Human; The Knuckle, Mror Holds, Ebberon. The Honourable Jaden Fellan: Level 3 Human Eldritch Knight; Band of Sunswall
AKA: Phillip Berrie: writer, editor and academic thrillseeker—a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
He is thoughtful for a moment and then says, "Maybe not so much a coincidence. Maybe I was meant to come back late from my midday meal, so that I could he here to help you."
"Master Assam?" queries the elderly woman, that he still has his hands on. She is looking more herself now, but clearly has no idea what happened to her.
Assam immediately lets go of her arm and apologises profusely to her. He then goes on say that her next message to her relatives in New Nineveh will be free.
She immediately brightens up and thanks him and then asks him is she is allowed to go on about her business.
He bows and she thanks him again and gives Guilliame a small nod before she heads off, still looking confused, but smiling.
One of the guards then approaches Guilliame and says, "I saw you trying to catch one of the thieves. Can you describe them to us?"
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
---
Tyrus Mountson: Lvl 3 Dwarvish Bard; Waterdeep Campaign (Dragon Heist) Nanoc the Younger: Semi-retired Lvl 2 Rogue / Level 2 Barbarian Human; The Knuckle, Mror Holds, Ebberon. The Honourable Jaden Fellan: Level 3 Human Eldritch Knight; Band of Sunswall
AKA: Phillip Berrie: writer, editor and academic thrillseeker—a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
I'll start saying it was a young, small Stemian girl and how she was dressed and add any other details I can think of.
The guard begins nodding as Guilliame gives his description.
"Yes, I think I know the one," he says. "Thank you, sir. We'll see to her."
"You'd better," says Assam. "Or I'll be talking to your captain again."
"Yes, sir," says the guard, giving Assam a small bow of respect. He then breaks away and goes over to where the other guard is keeping an eye on the three captured children.
"It's a disgrace," Assam says to Guilliame after the guard has left. "You'd think with the amount we pay in taxes that we at least should be able to walk the streets without fear of being robbed." [OOC: Note to self: Have to think and talk about taxes later.]
He then goes on to say, "I'm even thinking of hiring my own guards so my customers feel safe visiting my premises."
As he says this, Guilliame is watching as the guards begin to drag the three children away. He also notes that the children seem accepting of their fate; no complaints, no tears, no real emotion on their faces at all.
"Well," says Assam, changing tack abruptly, "I believe you might have a message you want to send. So, if you'll follow me..."
Does Guilliame follow?
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
---
Tyrus Mountson: Lvl 3 Dwarvish Bard; Waterdeep Campaign (Dragon Heist) Nanoc the Younger: Semi-retired Lvl 2 Rogue / Level 2 Barbarian Human; The Knuckle, Mror Holds, Ebberon. The Honourable Jaden Fellan: Level 3 Human Eldritch Knight; Band of Sunswall
AKA: Phillip Berrie: writer, editor and academic thrillseeker—a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
"I am a bit shaken up by all this, sir. I think I will return home. In any case I have reflected the message I was going to send on the way over and I think it needs a bit of a re-write. Thank you again for your assistance, I will return to your fine establishment soon."
For a moment, Assam hesitates and then he says, "I completely understand."
He then takes Guilliame's hand and gives it a firm and confident shake. "Please say hello to your grandmother for me... I have a lot of respect for that lady."
"Blessed day," he then adds, before turning and hurrying into the building that is the Wing & Prayer Messenger Service.
What would Guilliame like to do now?
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
---
Tyrus Mountson: Lvl 3 Dwarvish Bard; Waterdeep Campaign (Dragon Heist) Nanoc the Younger: Semi-retired Lvl 2 Rogue / Level 2 Barbarian Human; The Knuckle, Mror Holds, Ebberon. The Honourable Jaden Fellan: Level 3 Human Eldritch Knight; Band of Sunswall
AKA: Phillip Berrie: writer, editor and academic thrillseeker—a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
Say I will pass on Master Assam's regards and offer him a Blessed day. Then head back down the street I had come up. If possible go back a different way using well trafficked but not intensely crowded streets. Walk briskly looking forward and occasionally to the sides. Every now and again stop at a shop or stall and check behind. Walk as close to the middle of the street as possible and corners to streets or alleys or in the middle of the street.
Keep an eye out for unusual people or areas of congestion. Keep purse in my pocket but my hand on the purse.
If nothing happens before nearing home street then I will provide further instructions.
Walk as close to the middle of the street as possible and avoid (ie. stay in middle of the road near) corners to streets or alleys or in the middle of the street.
It is only a couple of blocks from the messenger service to Guilliame's shop, so he is now at the entrance of the street in which the family home/shop is located.
He has seen no sign of anyone following him, and the few children he has seen seem to have no interest in him.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
---
Tyrus Mountson: Lvl 3 Dwarvish Bard; Waterdeep Campaign (Dragon Heist) Nanoc the Younger: Semi-retired Lvl 2 Rogue / Level 2 Barbarian Human; The Knuckle, Mror Holds, Ebberon. The Honourable Jaden Fellan: Level 3 Human Eldritch Knight; Band of Sunswall
AKA: Phillip Berrie: writer, editor and academic thrillseeker—a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
Sprint to the entrance of the shop and enter. [Revised slightly after telephone conversation.]
After checking that no one appears to be paying too much attention to him, Guilliame closes his eyes momentarily and opens them with his mage sight active.
The only nearby concentration of the glowing particles of mana that his cantrip reveals [OOC: It has a range of 30'] belong to a pedlar. Guilliame knows this man as a magic initiate who uses his minor magic to mend things for coin and he see some of the mana the man has drawn to him flare and wink out as he uses its power to fix a broken pot that a customer has brought him.
Further up the street he sees people he recognises from the local area going about their daily business. Some of them he knows also have magic, but he is too far away to see their auras from here.
Guilliame suddenly rushes up the street towards his shop, drawing stares and cries of concern from his neighbours. He ignores them—apart from checking that none of them have magical auras they shouldn't have—and rushes into the shop, closing the door after himself.
Naomi, and the customer she is serving, turn to look at him in surprise.
"What's wrong?" asks Naomi.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
---
Tyrus Mountson: Lvl 3 Dwarvish Bard; Waterdeep Campaign (Dragon Heist) Nanoc the Younger: Semi-retired Lvl 2 Rogue / Level 2 Barbarian Human; The Knuckle, Mror Holds, Ebberon. The Honourable Jaden Fellan: Level 3 Human Eldritch Knight; Band of Sunswall
AKA: Phillip Berrie: writer, editor and academic thrillseeker—a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
With his cantrip still operating, Guilliame's gaze falls on the customer; a Stemian woman of small stature. There are a few weak glimmers from the bangles she is wearing, but she is otherwise magic-less.
However, the small weasel looking at Guilliame from out of her basket is magical, glowing faintly all over—it is a familiar spirit.
Guilliame recognises the woman—Hazel Wills—as a regular customer. She works in one of the markets for one of the larger providers of food and beverages doing quality assurance of their goods.
The woman gives a wry chuckle at Guilliame's explanation of going for a run and says, "You made my heart jump. I thought you were being chased."
Granny Naomi says nothing, but it is clear to Guilliame that she thinks something strange is going on.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
---
Tyrus Mountson: Lvl 3 Dwarvish Bard; Waterdeep Campaign (Dragon Heist) Nanoc the Younger: Semi-retired Lvl 2 Rogue / Level 2 Barbarian Human; The Knuckle, Mror Holds, Ebberon. The Honourable Jaden Fellan: Level 3 Human Eldritch Knight; Band of Sunswall
AKA: Phillip Berrie: writer, editor and academic thrillseeker—a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
I understand your pain, Andrew.
Come back when it has happened to half a dozen characters
---
Tyrus Mountson: Lvl 3 Dwarvish Bard; Waterdeep Campaign (Dragon Heist)
Nanoc the Younger: Semi-retired Lvl 2 Rogue / Level 2 Barbarian Human; The Knuckle, Mror Holds, Ebberon.
The Honourable Jaden Fellan: Level 3 Human Eldritch Knight; Band of Sunswall
AKA: Phillip Berrie: writer, editor and academic thrillseeker—a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
Say to the guard "That is my pouch. Can I retrieve it please."
If that goes OK. Thank the elder gentleman for vouching for me but say I'm afraid I can't recall his name.
"Sorry, sir," says the guard. "If it be yours, then that be fine, but I'd be giving thanks to Aieda that ye still have it."
He and the other guard then go and start waking the fallen children and taking them into custody. Guilliame sees they aren't being too gentle about it, and that some of the children are already known by the guards.
The older woman is now on her feet, still looking a bit dazed, and being helped by the older man, who it seems knows her.
When Guilliame thanks the older man, he looks at Guilliame for a moment and then says, "You're the de Marchant boy, aren't you? My name is Assam, I knew your father, may Donai guard his soul."
With the reminder of the man's family name, Guilliame knows who this is, though he didn't know that his father travelled in such circles.
This man is actually the owner of the Wing & Prayer Messenger service, near which recent events have taken place. This is a very rich man, because that service now has multiple offices all across Constantine.
---
Tyrus Mountson: Lvl 3 Dwarvish Bard; Waterdeep Campaign (Dragon Heist)
Nanoc the Younger: Semi-retired Lvl 2 Rogue / Level 2 Barbarian Human; The Knuckle, Mror Holds, Ebberon.
The Honourable Jaden Fellan: Level 3 Human Eldritch Knight; Band of Sunswall
AKA: Phillip Berrie: writer, editor and academic thrillseeker—a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
"This is a coincidence. My business is with Wing & Prayer Messenger service. I am heading there now."
He is thoughtful for a moment and then says, "Maybe not so much a coincidence. Maybe I was meant to come back late from my midday meal, so that I could he here to help you."
"Master Assam?" queries the elderly woman, that he still has his hands on. She is looking more herself now, but clearly has no idea what happened to her.
Assam immediately lets go of her arm and apologises profusely to her. He then goes on say that her next message to her relatives in New Nineveh will be free.
She immediately brightens up and thanks him and then asks him is she is allowed to go on about her business.
He bows and she thanks him again and gives Guilliame a small nod before she heads off, still looking confused, but smiling.
One of the guards then approaches Guilliame and says, "I saw you trying to catch one of the thieves. Can you describe them to us?"
---
Tyrus Mountson: Lvl 3 Dwarvish Bard; Waterdeep Campaign (Dragon Heist)
Nanoc the Younger: Semi-retired Lvl 2 Rogue / Level 2 Barbarian Human; The Knuckle, Mror Holds, Ebberon.
The Honourable Jaden Fellan: Level 3 Human Eldritch Knight; Band of Sunswall
AKA: Phillip Berrie: writer, editor and academic thrillseeker—a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
I'll start saying it was a young, small Stemian girl and how she was dressed and add any other details I can think of.
I have my money purse in my pocket and am holding it securely.
The guard begins nodding as Guilliame gives his description.
"Yes, I think I know the one," he says. "Thank you, sir. We'll see to her."
"You'd better," says Assam. "Or I'll be talking to your captain again."
"Yes, sir," says the guard, giving Assam a small bow of respect. He then breaks away and goes over to where the other guard is keeping an eye on the three captured children.
"It's a disgrace," Assam says to Guilliame after the guard has left. "You'd think with the amount we pay in taxes that we at least should be able to walk the streets without fear of being robbed." [OOC: Note to self: Have to think and talk about taxes later.]
He then goes on to say, "I'm even thinking of hiring my own guards so my customers feel safe visiting my premises."
As he says this, Guilliame is watching as the guards begin to drag the three children away. He also notes that the children seem accepting of their fate; no complaints, no tears, no real emotion on their faces at all.
"Well," says Assam, changing tack abruptly, "I believe you might have a message you want to send. So, if you'll follow me..."
Does Guilliame follow?
---
Tyrus Mountson: Lvl 3 Dwarvish Bard; Waterdeep Campaign (Dragon Heist)
Nanoc the Younger: Semi-retired Lvl 2 Rogue / Level 2 Barbarian Human; The Knuckle, Mror Holds, Ebberon.
The Honourable Jaden Fellan: Level 3 Human Eldritch Knight; Band of Sunswall
AKA: Phillip Berrie: writer, editor and academic thrillseeker—a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
"I am a bit shaken up by all this, sir. I think I will return home. In any case I have reflected the message I was going to send on the way over and I think it needs a bit of a re-write. Thank you again for your assistance, I will return to your fine establishment soon."
Offer shake hands.
For a moment, Assam hesitates and then he says, "I completely understand."
He then takes Guilliame's hand and gives it a firm and confident shake. "Please say hello to your grandmother for me... I have a lot of respect for that lady."
"Blessed day," he then adds, before turning and hurrying into the building that is the Wing & Prayer Messenger Service.
What would Guilliame like to do now?
---
Tyrus Mountson: Lvl 3 Dwarvish Bard; Waterdeep Campaign (Dragon Heist)
Nanoc the Younger: Semi-retired Lvl 2 Rogue / Level 2 Barbarian Human; The Knuckle, Mror Holds, Ebberon.
The Honourable Jaden Fellan: Level 3 Human Eldritch Knight; Band of Sunswall
AKA: Phillip Berrie: writer, editor and academic thrillseeker—a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
Say I will pass on Master Assam's regards and offer him a Blessed day. Then head back down the street I had come up. If possible go back a different way using well trafficked but not intensely crowded streets. Walk briskly looking forward and occasionally to the sides. Every now and again stop at a shop or stall and check behind. Walk as close to the middle of the street as possible and corners to streets or alleys or in the middle of the street.
Keep an eye out for unusual people or areas of congestion. Keep purse in my pocket but my hand on the purse.
If nothing happens before nearing home street then I will provide further instructions.
Walk as close to the middle of the street as possible and avoid (ie. stay in middle of the road near) corners to streets or alleys or in the middle of the street.
It is only a couple of blocks from the messenger service to Guilliame's shop, so he is now at the entrance of the street in which the family home/shop is located.
He has seen no sign of anyone following him, and the few children he has seen seem to have no interest in him.
---
Tyrus Mountson: Lvl 3 Dwarvish Bard; Waterdeep Campaign (Dragon Heist)
Nanoc the Younger: Semi-retired Lvl 2 Rogue / Level 2 Barbarian Human; The Knuckle, Mror Holds, Ebberon.
The Honourable Jaden Fellan: Level 3 Human Eldritch Knight; Band of Sunswall
AKA: Phillip Berrie: writer, editor and academic thrillseeker—a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
Sprint to the entrance of the shop and enter.
After checking that no one appears to be paying too much attention to him, Guilliame closes his eyes momentarily and opens them with his mage sight active.
The only nearby concentration of the glowing particles of mana that his cantrip reveals [OOC: It has a range of 30'] belong to a pedlar. Guilliame knows this man as a magic initiate who uses his minor magic to mend things for coin and he see some of the mana the man has drawn to him flare and wink out as he uses its power to fix a broken pot that a customer has brought him.
Further up the street he sees people he recognises from the local area going about their daily business. Some of them he knows also have magic, but he is too far away to see their auras from here.
Guilliame suddenly rushes up the street towards his shop, drawing stares and cries of concern from his neighbours. He ignores them—apart from checking that none of them have magical auras they shouldn't have—and rushes into the shop, closing the door after himself.
Naomi, and the customer she is serving, turn to look at him in surprise.
"What's wrong?" asks Naomi.
---
Tyrus Mountson: Lvl 3 Dwarvish Bard; Waterdeep Campaign (Dragon Heist)
Nanoc the Younger: Semi-retired Lvl 2 Rogue / Level 2 Barbarian Human; The Knuckle, Mror Holds, Ebberon.
The Honourable Jaden Fellan: Level 3 Human Eldritch Knight; Band of Sunswall
AKA: Phillip Berrie: writer, editor and academic thrillseeker—a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
"Hello. Just enjoying an afternoon constitutional. Sorry to have startled you."
If the spell is still going check out the customer.
With his cantrip still operating, Guilliame's gaze falls on the customer; a Stemian woman of small stature. There are a few weak glimmers from the bangles she is wearing, but she is otherwise magic-less.
However, the small weasel looking at Guilliame from out of her basket is magical, glowing faintly all over—it is a familiar spirit.
Guilliame recognises the woman—Hazel Wills—as a regular customer. She works in one of the markets for one of the larger providers of food and beverages doing quality assurance of their goods.
The woman gives a wry chuckle at Guilliame's explanation of going for a run and says, "You made my heart jump. I thought you were being chased."
Granny Naomi says nothing, but it is clear to Guilliame that she thinks something strange is going on.
---
Tyrus Mountson: Lvl 3 Dwarvish Bard; Waterdeep Campaign (Dragon Heist)
Nanoc the Younger: Semi-retired Lvl 2 Rogue / Level 2 Barbarian Human; The Knuckle, Mror Holds, Ebberon.
The Honourable Jaden Fellan: Level 3 Human Eldritch Knight; Band of Sunswall
AKA: Phillip Berrie: writer, editor and academic thrillseeker—a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
"Good day to you Hazel. How is the weasel?"