Quote from AlaricBrand >>

 [[ Another question:

- where is the Shrine in relation to the exits? How many bridges to cross? How many quarters to traverse?

[[The land on which the Temple Ward is situated is completely surrounded by water, being between two tributaries of the river. Brand knows of at least four bridges that cross these tributaries, two of which are more likely escape routes than the others: one north, one south, and both to the west of the Temple Ward. The land on the either side of these bridges are also bounded by outer tributaries of the river, so there are other bridges (and other means of crossing the river, e.g., the Southern Crossing) that could also be considered choke points for people riding horses.]]

- even just a block model would help, to get an idea of whether there are 300 possible routes, or 1 or 2?

[[There are multiple main thoroughfares that could be used, and many more ways of leaving the city if the escapees wanted to use the river. The city has basically sprawled over the land (and islands, e.g., the palace sits on its own island) of the five major tributaries of the river.]]

]]

[[The Insight skills is for understanding the actions of living things, not general information. Just saying.]]

...

"allow you to make rolls based on your Wisdom ability to represent Brand's memory of the city. These rolls will be normal mostly,"

The latter was the bit that made me think the view he would get would not really be trustworthy since it reflects a 50-75% chance of accuracy. Not sure where insight is involved tho. Actually, now I look at the numbers, I assume "normal" is "Medium" which is a 25% chance of knowing something, and around 50% with advantage. So, not the man to do the plan.

[[Brand only knows of only one main thoroughfare into the Temple Ward, the main road that leads directly to the plaza in which the cistern is situated. The square is bordered by, among other things, the main temples of Mithra, Aieda and Donai as well as the Bank of Sorenden.]]

[[ That sounds promising...how far by foot or rooftop at a move/dash/dash? ]]

four bridges that cross these tributaries, two of which are more likely escape routes than the others: one north, one south, and both to the west of the Temple Ward.

This seems to imply that from Temple Ward they need to go west, then turn north or south. Is that correct? If so, how far to the point where they have to choose?

"Master Alaric," says the middle-aged man, looking past Brand to see if there is anyone else in the short corridor that leads to his room. "Can I help you?"

Brand nods, "My father asked me to get you and Bacchi to arm yourselves, then meet him downstairs. I will be brief: there are three men, one of whom is a temple guard, the other two are hired muscle. The have robbed a bank, killed a priest and are now trying to leave the city. They are also being pursued by a Seeker and his Hand. They are extremely dangerous and the can not leave the city alive. Given their desperation and the horrific crimes they have committed, a swift death would be...the best outcome."

Brand locks his gaze with Jon's and continues, "Do you understand what I'm saying?"

[[ When Jon, I hope, nods his understanding of the request that they should be killed. If he doesn't, I will be less obtuse... ]]

"Good! Then...Do you know where Bacchi might be, or what would be the best way to find him? Time is short."

[[ Mention to Koric:
- thoroughfare into the Temple Ward (link)
]]

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

[[Brand only knows of only one main thoroughfare into the Temple Ward, the main road that leads directly to the plaza in which the cistern is situated. The square is bordered by, among other things, the main temples of Mithra, Aieda and Donai as well as the Bank of Sorenden.]]

[[ That sounds promising...how far by foot or rooftop at a move/dash/dash? ]]

[[This was the original path Brand took before he took to the rooftops and headed to the river. So, ten to fifteen minutes, but only thieves with Cunning Action would be able to keep up and I would be looking at Constitution checks to keep up that sort of pace for too long.]]

four bridges that cross these tributaries, two of which are more likely escape routes than the others: one north, one south, and both to the west of the Temple Ward.

 

This seems to imply that from Temple Ward they need to go west, then turn north or south. Is that correct? If so, how far to the point where they have to choose?

[[The bridge across the tributary to the north is not very far west at all, while the southern bridge is further. The main difference being that the northern bridge would be the one you took to leave the city and go north using the main roads, while the main roads accessible using the southern bridge would give you the options of leaving the city to the south and west.]]

"Master Alaric," says the middle-aged man, looking past Brand to see if there is anyone else in the short corridor that leads to his room. "Can I help you?"

Brand nods, "My father asked me to get you and Bacchi to arm yourselves, then meet him downstairs. I will be brief: there are three men, one of whom is a temple guard, the other two are hired muscle. The have robbed a bank, killed a priest and are now trying to leave the city. They are also being pursued by a Seeker and his Hand. They are extremely dangerous and the can not leave the city alive. Given their desperation and the horrific crimes they have committed, a swift death would be...the best outcome."

Brand locks his gaze with Jon's and continues, "Do you understand what I'm saying?"

[[ When Jon, I hope, nods his understanding of the request that they should be killed. If he doesn't, I will be less obtuse... ]]

"Good! Then...Do you know where Bacchi might be, or what would be the best way to find him? Time is short."

---

[[ Mention to Koric:
- thoroughfare into the Temple Ward (link)

[[I assume this is a note for later, Brand's father is currently upstairs talking with Madame Damass.]]

]]

Jon avoids Brand's gaze, instead turning to one side and picking a weatherproof sailor's coat and a sack made of sturdy material with something long and bulky in it from just inside the door.

"And Tomas?" he asks, stepping out of his room and closing the door. "What happened to him?"

[[ Who is Tomas? Is there a Tomas in the household? "The Trapper?" What is Jon's last name? -- I think the last name of the trapper was mentioned earlier, but searching is not fast ]]

[[ NVM, Found on World Anvil ]]

""You mean Rima? We are not sure, we believe he was attacked by Rawl and his men, but there is an angry Seeker and a priest, who they may have killed, between us and his last known location."

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

[[ Who is Tomas? Is there a Tomas in the household? "The Trapper?" What is Jon's last name? -- I think the last name of the trapper was mentioned earlier, but searching is not fast ]]

[[Brand doesn't know of a Tomas in the household. Brand also doesn't know the doorman's last name, he's always just been referred to as Jon by members of the household. Also, the real name of the Trap Finder has specifically never been said.]]

 Also, the real name of the Trap Finder has specifically never been said

Yeah, was. Search for "Rima". Koric mentioned him. I've amended my reply, above.

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

 Also, the real name of the Trap Finder has specifically never been said

Yeah, was. Search for "Rima". Koric mentioned him. I've amended my reply, above.

[[LOL. I changed his name and looked for his previous name. I'd also forgotten I'd mentioned his name, on purpose, after realising that keeping his name unknown didn't make sense considering the circumstance. But yes, you're right his last name is Rima.]]

In response to Brand's answer to his question, Jon heads off in the direction of the kitchen, saying, "So, is this to be a rescue mission as well?"

Brand nods and follows him to the kitchen, "That is my hope. If he is still alive, we should be able to help him. But on one path there is a priest who was attacked and may be dead or dying, and on the other a very annoyed Seeker and his Hand . I leave the plans up to my father, and trust he will send us where we can be most useful."

"Now, do you know where Bacchi might be, or what would be the best way to find him? Time is short."

Brand and Jon enter the kitchen to find Mikkel sitting at a table talking with one of the female kitchen hands a mug of some beverage in front of him.

When he sees Alaric, he gets to his feet, saying, "Master Alaric. Can I do anything for you?"

Jon keeps walking, saying over his shoulder to Brand, "I'll get Cobb, he's probably sleeping it off."

"Snoring it off, is more likely," says Mikkel. "The noise he is making is incredible."

Brand nods, "Yes, Mikkel. I don't know if caf is possible for our guests in my fathers office, but they may need need it. You might check on them. Also, there are two small pouches on my bed that I need; I threw them there when I emptied my pack earlier and forgot to pick them up. Can you bring them to me at [[the place]] as quickly as possible?"

[[ This is a reference to the caltrops and bearings I thought he had]]

[[ If mikkel heads off, brand goes to [[the place]] ]]

Mikkel hurries off to do Brand's bidding and Brand heads off to [[the place]]. Several minutes later, Koric joins him.

"Madame Damass is not one of us," Koric says before adding, "At least not yet. Still, she is willing to cooperate in tracking down Rawl. I suspect there is a story there, but no matter, it works to our advantage at the moment."

He then looks around. "Could you not find Jon and Bacchi?"

"Jon is getting Bacchi, apparently he is the worse for wear."

"How did you want to proceed? It would be good to rescue Rima if he's alive, and that probably requires diplomacy more than force. I don't know the city as well as I should, but I think we need to get ahead of them and try to take Rawl down at least...there is one thoroughfare into the Templa district I know...are there other places we need to cover?"

Koric nods when Brand tells him that the two men he asked for should be joining them shortly.

He then says, "While I was with Madame Damass, the three went back into the priest's quarters and they have taken two of his sets of robes. It seems they want to try to pass themselves off as priests of Oannes by wearing the green of that Temple."

There is a quiet knock on the door and Mikkel enters, nodding his head in apology and hands Brand the two pouches he asked for. He then asks the two of you, "Can I get you some Caf?"

Brand shakes his head, "I think andrenaline will carry me, and it's only half an hour since the last one...so it's barely taken effect. But Madam Damas looked like she needed something more to keep her going. Father, do you need anything? It's been a long day for you."

"I assume they will try to steal Temple horses from somewhere?"

Koric waves away Mikkel's offer of Caf and waits until the man has left the room before speaking.

"Madame Damass seems to think she should be able to keep track of Rawl as long as he is within the city, but once he leaves, she fears she won't be able recognise his surroundings."

The noise of someone shouting from the direction of the kitchen catches their attention and Brand steps to the door to find out what is happening.

"You oaf!" Brand hears Abram shout. "What did you do that for?"

"I needed to clear my head," comes the reply in the deep voice of Bacchi Cobb, the Hartus Plains outlander that Brand's father uses as a coachman.

"But you've spilt water all over the floor." Abram says.

At this point, Jon the doorman comes into view at the end of the corridor. He sees Brand and nods, but then turns back to say something in the direction of the kitchen. "It could be worse, Abram. It could be blood—yours."

The doorman then heads down the corridor with the tall figure of Bacchi following. Brand immediately sees that Bacchi has a large maul resting on his shoulder.

As they approach, Bacchi says, "But I wouldn't hurt Abrams, Mister Jon."

"I know that, but it shut him up and we're in a hurry," replies the normally polite, middle-aged doorman.

The two reach the room where Brand and his father are and enter. At which point, Jon looks to Koric and asks hopefully, "Any word on Tomas?"

Koric shakes his head and Jon frowns before speaking once more to Brand's father.

"Your son mentioned a name: 'Rawl'. He was the Donai handleader who was here earlier, wasn't he? Nasty sort from his reputation, and he had four with him, so difficult odds—if they know we're coming."

"Madame Damass seems to think she should be able to keep track of Rawl as long as he is within the city, but once he leaves, she fears she won't be able recognise his surroundings."

"Lets hope she can follow them long enough to be sure of the direction they take. Do you know if they still plan to steal horses...using the priest disguise...or have they given up on that plan?"

"Your son mentioned a name: 'Rawl'. He was the Donai handleader who was here earlier, wasn't he? Nasty sort from his reputation, and he had four with him, so difficult odds—if they know we're coming."

"Only two left with him at last report, one wounded."

Brand pauses, "But...it's probably best if you describe the situation, father. And let us know how you want us to handle the situation. Is the focus to be on Rawl, Tomas, or both?"

At the mention of Tomas's name, Jon says, "If there is a chance that Tomas is still alive, I want him rescued. Otherwise, I claim revenge rights on the one that killed him."

"The most important thing at the moment is stopping Rawl and his men from getting away," says Koric, but Brand notices some hesitancy in his voice.

"Not to me," replies Jon simply. "And remember, you owe me a life, Koric."

Koric says nothing in response to this and Jon turns to Brand and asks, "And where do you fit in to this, Master Alaric? I thought you were tucked up in bed upstairs, but you've clearly been out in the weather."

"Lets hope she can follow them long enough to be sure of the direction they take. Do you know if they still plan to steal horses...using the priest disguise...or have they given up on that plan?"

[[Did the above manage to be squeezed in earlier, or elicit a response?]]

[[ Does brand know what revenge rights involve? ]]

"Doing both would be ideal, but we don't know if he's alive or dead. We do know that Rawl betrayed him. The only way to get to him is past a dead or wounded priest, or pasr an angry Seeker and his hand. This process is much easier if we can deal with Rawl."

"Father, do you know if Rawl still plans to flee? And if the attack on the priest attracted attention. Given that they went back to get robes, it seems unlikely, but what do you know of their actions?"

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

"Lets hope she can follow them long enough to be sure of the direction they take. Do you know if they still plan to steal horses...using the priest disguise...or have they given up on that plan?"

[[Did the above manage to be squeezed in earlier, or elicit a response?]]

[[No. That question didn't get asked because I raced ahead. You can ask it now, if you the answer isn't contained in what follows.]]

[[ Does brand know what revenge rights involve? ]]

[[Make a History check.]]

"Doing both would be ideal, but we don't know if he's alive or dead. We do know that Rawl betrayed him. The only way to get to him is past a dead or wounded priest, or pasr an angry Seeker and his hand. This process is much easier if we can deal with Rawl."

"Father, do you know if Rawl still plans to flee? And if the attack on the priest attracted attention. Given that they went back to get robes, it seems unlikely, but what do you know of their actions?"

[[The following is a restructuring of the conversation that I believe makes sense.]]

"If there is a chance that Tomas is still alive, I want him rescued," says Jon. "Otherwise, I claim revenge rights on the one that killed him."

"The most important thing at the moment is stopping Rawl and his men from getting away," says Koric, but Brand notices some hesitancy in his voice.

"Not to me," replies Jon simply. "And remember, you owe me a life, Koric."

"Doing both would be ideal," says Brand, "but we don't know if he's alive or dead. We do know that Rawl betrayed him. The only way to get to him is past a dead or wounded priest, or pasr an angry Seeker and his hand. This process is much easier if we can deal with Rawl."

Brand then turns to his father and asks, "Father, do you know if Rawl still plans to flee? And if the attack on the priest attracted attention. Given that they went back to get robes, it seems unlikely, but what do you know of their actions?"

"When I left," begins Koric, "the three of them were making their way down from the shrine, after going back to get the green robes I told you about before, and according to Madame Damass, they were next to the river, so it looks like they are trying to cut around behind the bank of Sorenden to avoid the plaza."

At this point, Jon says, "I presume you know all this because of the Damass woman's magic. Are you sure we can trust her?" He then turns to Brand and asks, "And just where do you fit in to this, Master Alaric? I thought you were tucked up in bed upstairs, but you've clearly been out in the weather."

"I'm here to help. Sleeping was not really an option."

"We could send a boat to pick them up...they might get on it. They don't know what we know..."

"But in any case, how close to the river, and heading which way? And what made them come back? Did they fail to get horses, or is this part of the plan to get horses?"

History: 15

[[ Two possibilities here, I can continue asking you a lot of questions about the lay of the land. Currently it's opaque. Or I can just go with Koric's plan. Happy with either, I think, though my intention is to defer to Koric's plan but make any interjections that seem inconsistent with my knowledge.

If you want to go the questions route, then to start

1 Can you give me some background....even a mud map:

2. Behind the bank and on the river seems to suggest that they are heading back this way or at least toward the Cistern drain again?

3. What are the bridges in the direction they are heading?

4. Stables in that direction?

5. Roads and exit points in that direction?

6. If I assume they will join the nearest thoroughfare in the direction they are heading, then how many minutes away are they? How many minutes will they be away away at the nearest part of that thoroughfare to the residence?

...after writing those I think I should just play along; each is going to lead to more questions...]]