Quote from AlaricBrand >>

Diag, 1d2r
2d
1L, climb
5L
1U

He should be above the window, perhaps to its left.

[[Thanks. But this doesn't put him above the 3rd window (i.e, the one with the open shutter and the light on in the room). This puts him slightly to the right of the 2nd window. We are not in combat, so do you want Brand to be above the window with the open shutters with the light on in the room? Or do you want him where he is now?]]

[[ My mistake...I thought 1 window per section, then I reread it was 5 in total.][

Yes, window 3 would be good. He is still looking for lone or suspicious seagulls.

Brand thinks to Cyrus, Were there sounds audible - perhaps music --  or smoke or fire visible perhaps in next room?

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

[[ My mistake...I thought 1 window per section, then I reread it was 5 in total.][

Yes, window 3 would be good. He is still looking for lone or suspicious seagulls.

[[As well as the single seagull picking at something on the ground below, there is another single seagull at the end of the longer roof Brand is now on. All the other seagulls Brand can see are roosting in groups.]]

Brand thinks to Cyrus, Were there sounds audible - perhaps music --  or smoke or fire visible perhaps in next room?

I didn't hear anything, but Narim says he thought he could hear a faint murmuring, replied Cyrus. And there were definitely two large barrels on their sides up on stands in the next room: the type used to store wine or beer... And now I have to concentrate for a minute...

Brand waits and watches the bird while listening above the window. If he has not heard back within a minute, he lowers himself off the edge, beside the widow, then shifts his head to one side to peer in. And looks out for seaguls.

While waiting for Cyrus to get back in contact, Brand observes the seagull on the ground fly away while the one on the end of the roof stays unmoving where it is, with its back to him. Meanwhile, in the room below, he hears the distinctive sounds of two people beginning to make love, vigorously.

Uncertain as to what to do next, he is suddenly contacted once more by Cyrus. 

I can see him again, and it is bad, begins Cyrus. They have beaten poor Hareld and are now arguing as to what to do with him... The choices are currently between killing him and throwing his body into the sea or ransoming him back to the School for whatever they can get for him. 

Brand blows his whistle while watching the seagull, then moves back to the edge of the building near the single story extension. Still watching the seagul.

Did you hear anything, he asks. You may want to send some people once we find him; getting out with an unconscious Hareld may be hard.

What can you see now? Can you explore further than his room?

[[ How far is it to Salts territory? How big is the building...you mentioned it was not to scale. There are 3 windows would that reasonably match 3 rooms in the inns at portside that he is familiar with? ]]

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

Brand blows his whistle while watching the seagull, then moves back to the edge of the building near the single story extension. Still watching the seagul.

Did you hear anything, he asks. You may want to send some people once we find him; getting out with an unconscious Hareld may be hard.

What can you see now? Can you explore further than his room?

[[ How far is it to Salts territory? How big is the building...you mentioned it was not to scale. There are 3 windows would that reasonably match 3 rooms in the inns at portside that he is familiar with? ]]

[[The Salts' territory may have changed its boundaries, but he believes a kilometre to the south would surely still be part of their territory.

The scale is not out by a large amount, so the rooms would be small but they would likely each have their own window.]]

At the piercing sound of the whistle all the seagulls on the roof take to the air in fright, including the one at the end of the roof. They are all quickly lost in the darkness.

Brand then also hears voices in the street enquiring about the sound.

And in his head: Narim and Eddard both say they heard a faint whistle. Was that you? And where are you?

Then, after a moment, Cyrus adds, It would seem Madame Zabo heard it too. She has given orders that the 'men' should be on high alert.

I'm on the roof of the Sail's End tavern. It is -- or at least was -- the Undertow base. In north Portside, one street back from the sea. [[ I hope that's correct recollection! ]]

Now trying the extension, south side of main building, he continues.

He drops quickly down to the peak of the extension roof, scanning for odd seagulls, then blows the whistle.

Hear anything? he asks, as he begins moving back on to the main roof and starting to make his way to the opposite end, away from the extension.

[[ If Cyrus says it's louder I'll take different actions; if there's a lone seagull that is acting oddly, he'll take different actions. ]]

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

I'm on the roof of the Sail's End tavern. It is -- or at least was -- the Undertow base. In north Portside, one street back from the sea. [[ I hope that's correct recollection! ]]

Now trying the extension, south side of main building, he continues.

He drops quickly down to the peak of the extension roof, scanning for odd seagulls, then blows the whistle.

Hear anything? he asks, as he begins moving back on to the main roof and starting to make his way to the opposite end, away from the extension.

[[ If Cyrus says it's louder I'll take different actions; if there's a lone seagull that is acting oddly, he'll take different actions. ]]

We did not hear anything, replies Cyrus. But you should warn us when you are going to whistle, it was very faint the last time and we might have missed it.

Cyrus then continues, saying, Eddard and Master Narim are on their way. They will gather the guards as they come, but I'm afraid they might be too late, as the distance is far. 

[[Make a Perception check.]]

Perception: 8

Brand moves to the far end of the building, watching for lone gulls,  and says, Blowing again in 3 seconds.

He waits then blows again, and moves back to the centre of the building, nearer the bottom, to get a view of the rear(?) stairs, watching gulls.

[[ Actions vary if Cyrus says it's near, or there is a gull behaving oddly.]]

[[ You may need to describe nearby buildings in case Minton is in one of them. ]]

[[

The scale is not out by a large amount

How big are the squares on the map?

Record of Whistle locations...just so we are on same page:
- Above middle window (loudest so far -- only one that has been heard)
- centre of extension roof (not heard)
- opposite end of building from extension (ie. North peak of roof, North side, I think)

]]

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

Perception: 8

[[Roll for experience.]]

Brand moves to the far end of the building, watching for lone gulls,  and says, Blowing again in 3 seconds.

He waits then blows again, and moves back to the centre of the building, nearer the bottom, to get a view of the rear(?) stairs, watching gulls.

Didn't hear anything, reports Cyrus after a suitable delay.

[[ Actions vary if Cyrus says it's near, or there is a gull behaving oddly.]]

[[ You may need to describe nearby buildings in case Minton is in one of them. ]]

---

[[

The scale is not out by a large amount

How big are the squares on the map?

[[I will say they are 5' x 5' for the simplicity of the mechanics, but it does make the rooms on this map seem small and the doors and windows big.]]

Record of Whistle locations...just so we are on same page:
- Above middle window (loudest so far -- only one that has been heard)
[[Correct.]]
- centre of extension roof (not heard)
[[Correct.]]
- opposite end of building from extension (ie. North peak of roof, North side, I think)
[[Correct in terms of compass points, whistle was also unheard.]]

]]

"The sound is coming from up there," Brand hears a distant voice yell from the front of the building.

Cyrus suddenly communicates, They are leaving the room Hareld is in, blow your whistle now.

Brand blows the whistle, then moves in the direction of the extension. Looking for seagulls.

[[ Plans dependant on response ]]

XP: 7

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

Brand blows the whistle, then moves in the direction of the extension. Looking for seagulls.

[[ Plans dependant on response ]]

XP: 12

[[No experience points.]]

I heard it, communicates Cyrus, and then he adds. But it was very faint... I am beginning to think the room Hareld is in is underground.

[[ Where did the comment "It's coming from up there" come from? I'm just not sure where the 'front' is. ]]

Brand nods, Of course; are you able to follow them? Do they have Hareld?

He then quickly circumnavigates the building looking for signs of delivery locations (hatches or stairs leading down, that are external to the building). Based on sounds/smells, he's also like to locate the kitchens.

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

[[ Where did the comment "It's coming from up there" come from? I'm just not sure where the 'front' is. ]]

[[The side with the balcony on it is the front of the tavern.]]

Brand nods, Of course; are you able to follow them? Do they have Hareld?

He then quickly circumnavigates the building looking for signs of delivery locations (hatches or stairs leading down, that are external to the building). Based on sounds/smells, he's also like to locate the kitchens.

[[Does he do this from the roof, or does he drop down to the ground? Also, does he go clockwise, or counterclockwise. In any case, make a Perception check.]]

No, to both, replies Cyrus. They have left Hareld in the room and I cannot follow as he is my connection.

Does he do this from the roof, or does he drop down to the ground?

Counterclockwise, on ground until he encouters people (I assume he moves faster on foot): near back  steps, extension, then front (maybe levitate if busy), then round north end and back to back steps.

Did they say anything else of interest? At least we have delayed his death. I need to decide if my jobs is to rescue Hareld or keep them distracted until reinforcements arrive. Though I admit I feel inclined to kill Madam Zabo if I get the chance. Any thoughts?

Stepping off the roof, Brand levitates down into the alley behind the tavern and then heads towards the nearest corner. As he reaches it, he hears a noise and, even though he is invisible, he flattens himself against the wall just as two people come out of the building from two different doors.

The first is a woman in her thirties. She emerges from a door just around the corner and the sound of the tavern is shut off as she closes the door. She has a long-stemmed pipe and a lit candle in her hand, and she proceeds to light up the pipe.

The second is a man who emerges from a door a little further away, which clearly leads into the tavern's kitchen. However, this man is no kitchen hand. He is wearing light leather armour and carrying a large club and a lantern, which he places on the ground. As the door to the kitchen closes, Brand sees in its light two large doors that obviously lead down into the tavern cellar.

[[I have changed the map on the world site showing the participants and the parts of the building Brand is able to see now that he is down on the ground and the lighting has changed.]]

[[ Can Brand get past Bruiser? If not, he's looking for items in the environment to use Mage Hand on to attract him away...eg trees, bins, lanters etc that he might be able to disrupt.

The map is slightly confusing...the doors look like trap-doors in the ground -- do they lead upwards or leftwards? From which direction did they each come? Did Bruiser come out of the 'trap-doors' and Barmaid come from the door near Brand?

Is Bruiser seemingly taking up a guard point, or is the scene in motion?

There are six windows on the west/down side of the tavern...is that correct?

Where do the stair lead? Up to 2nd story, or down...somewhere?

]]

Brand thinks to Cyrus, Any thoughts or answers? I've probably found them...kitchen leads to cellar. South side of tavern, west side of extension. I'm going to see what I can do.

Brand waits for an answer and scans for seagull.

[[ Actions will depends upon answers above, and if Cyrus responded to earlier or current questions. ]]

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

[[Something that might change any or all of the following is something I should have mentioned in the last move. The woman has a small aura of magic around her head. Neither of the two have any idea that there is anyone else in the area.]]

[[ Can Brand get past Bruiser? If not, he's looking for items in the environment to use Mage Hand on to attract him away...eg trees, bins, lanters etc that he might be able to disrupt.

[[Not sure what you mean by this. Brand is currently invisible, but both of the doors the two people came out of are now closed. This small area is now lit by the lantern the bruiser put on the ground. If you mean get past the bruiser and get into the kitchen? Not without both of them seeing the door open. If you mean continue to circumnavigate the building, then yes, quite possibly by being both Invisible and Stealthy.]]

The map is slightly confusing...the doors look like trap-doors in the ground -- do they lead upwards or leftwards? From which direction did they each come? Did Bruiser come out of the 'trap-doors' and Barmaid come from the door near Brand?

[[The door are set into the ground.]]

Is Bruiser seemingly taking up a guard point, or is the scene in motion?

[[Both.]]

There are six windows on the west/down side of the tavern...is that correct?

[[Shuttered windows and none of them are open at the moment.]]

Where do the stair lead? Up to 2nd story, or down...somewhere?

[[The stairs lead up to the first floor.]]

]]

Brand thinks to Cyrus, Any thoughts or answers? I've probably found them...kitchen leads to cellar. South side of tavern, west side of extension. I'm going to see what I can do.

Brand waits for an answer and scans for seagull.

[[ Actions will depends upon answers above, and if Cyrus responded to earlier or current questions. ]]

"Hello, Donna," says the bruiser looking up at the rooftops. "You got your witch sight on? That strange whistling has given me the creeps."

"Don't worry, Tab," says the woman with a mocking tone to her voice while she continues to walk away from the door while still trying to get her pipe lit properly. "I'll protect you."

The most important thing is to get Hareld out of there alive, says Cyrus. Then we can think about punishment for what they have dared to do.

[[Sorry for the delay. A game of cards had to be played. And I'm afraid that is it for me tonight. Ciao.]]

[[ No seagulls?

Just confirming: Bruiser came out of doors in ground? Or out of kitchen or, given his placement, the extension --or is the extension the kitchen? And Brand saw way to cellar through kitchen, or through doors in ground...or through door to extension? My reading suggests doors in ground have never been opened, and Bruiser came from door 'up' (east) of his location, and Barmaid came from door left/north of her location.  It sounds like Barmaid came from bar (door near Brand) and Bruiser came from door to extension ... which is the kitchen. Just want to check.

Are arrows possible on map?

Can you make the roof another layer...I want to check where the balcony was...pretty sure it was at rightmost end of main building.

Where was the main entrance to the building?

You describe a small area...it's about 25'x25' on map...what is on the right and bottom of the map that constrains the area? Is the bottom the alley you mentioned?Followed by more buildings on other side?

When Brand was approaching the building -- I presume from South/right -- or when moving around either roof, did he get any sense of what was right/south of the building? A lane leading to the front?

Are there any other features in the area? Stacked barrels, crates, rubbish etc? Are there places he could hide?

Is the lantern the kind that is safe if knocked over, or may start a fire?

How much light is in the 'courtyard' with the Bruiser and Barmaid, other than from the lantern?

If Brand got on to the roof again, 3 squares to the left or Bruiser, would he be able to use Mage Hand to extinguish the lantern? Then possibly pick it up and carry to roof? I'm just considering options.

Did Brand see other doors or windows on the extension/kitchen? ]]