Quote from AlaricBrand >>

Wisdom: 16

If its a clearish night, he should be able to say NSEW etc.

[[It has been cloudy all day, but with no rain. However, although Brand may have never been in these particular back streets before, he is fairly sure in which direction major landmarks are.]]

---

Brand snorts,"And what was it exactly that you were distracting me from?"

[[ For later "Well now that you know I am me, perhaps you could explain where we are going and why we had to leave the bookshop?" ]]

"Nothing," says Jay. "I was just trying to get you into a conspiratorial mood, hoping that you might try to shift any suspicion onto Helas, which would have showed you had a hidden agenda."

Unclear as to the logic of what he has just been told, Brand follows Jay quietly for a while as they cross a large thoroughfare into the next block, which contains fewer shops and more housing.

[[ I don't think he'd follow quietly, he'd follow up with: ]]

Brand thinks about the conversation for a moment, remembering times his father has interrogated people, and the fact he sometimes failed to follow the logic of those dialogs either, and shrugs.

"Ok..well, now that you know that I am who I am, perhaps you can tell me where we are going and why we had to leave the shop?"

[[ Also, let me know when we've walked for 5 mins, he'd say something ]]

"Because the shop is not sanctified," replies Jay, before adding, "And here we are."

The group, which has entered another of the many service alleys in this part of the Scholar's Ward, are now standing at the back gate of one of a number of similar-looking houses.

Jay then reaches up to a spot about six feet off the ground and touches the wood of the gate and then repeats the process about a foot off the ground. Both times Brand hears a faint scraping of wood on wood. Jay then pushes the gate open giving them access to the small back yard of a similarly sized two-storey building.

"Any word on our missing companion?" asks the older woman as she and the other woman enter.

Jay replies with a 'no' and then motions for Brand to follow.

Jay then reaches up to a spot about six feet off the ground and touches the wood of the gate and then repeats the process about a foot off the ground. Both times Brand hears a faint scraping of wood on wood.

Brand takes careful note of Jay's actions as he opens the gate, then glances up the street to make sure they were not followed, and follows Jay into the building.

[[A quick question that came up with Andrew's character. What do you think of the idea of Hero points being able to alternately subtract from the Attacks, Skill checks and Saving throws of targets?]]

[[ Interesting Idea; affecting more or less any die doesn't seem so bad. As you know, my biggest problem with them is not knowing if they have ANY chance of affecting the result. This would seem to avoid that horror, at least for attacks against the player (I *assume* the player sees the roll?).

Another system that was interesting was at this link, though it one hero points per session, plus more per level.

Allowing the imposition of Advantage/Disadvantage is, often, better than +/- 1d6 (if I need to roll 20, 1d6 is better, if I need to roll 15, Advantage is better)

Edit 2: upon reflection, imposing advantage/disadvantage goes a VERY long way to addressing my concerns, except of course when they already exist

Edit 3: I keep wondering if there is some imbalance that might result from affecting an enemies dice and thereby helping an entire party, but (1) I'm not sure that would actually be bad, and (2) I haven't though of how.

]]

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

[[ Interesting Idea; affecting more or less any die doesn't seem so bad. As you know, my biggest problem with them is not knowing if they have ANY chance of affecting the result. This would seem to avoid that horror, at least for attacks against the player (I *assume* the player sees the roll?).

Another system that was interesting was at this link, though it one hero points per session, plus more per level.

Allowing the imposition of Advantage/Disadvantage is, often, better than +/- 1d6 (if I need to roll 20, 1d6 is better, if I need to roll 15, Advantage is better)

Edit 2: upon reflection, imposing advantage/disadvantage goes a VERY long way to addressing my concerns, except of course when they already exist

Edit 3: I keep wondering if there is some imbalance that might result from affecting an enemies dice and thereby helping an entire party, but (1) I'm not sure that would actually be bad, and (2) I haven't though of how.

]]

[[I'm not going to use Advantage or Disadvantage with Hero Points because they are used for other things that should be decided before the roll is made and they also don't necessarily result in an improved result, which would feel like such a rip-off. As a trial, I have modified the Hero Points article on the world site so that hero points can also be spent to decrease the value of a saving throw or a to-hit roll made by an enemy as well as adding to a player's saving throw, to-hit roll or skill check.]]

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

Jay then reaches up to a spot about six feet off the ground and touches the wood of the gate and then repeats the process about a foot off the ground. Both times Brand hears a faint scraping of wood on wood.

Brand takes careful note of Jay's actions as he opens the gate, then glances up the street to make sure they were not followed, and follows Jay into the building.

[[Make a Perception check.]]

Perception: 17

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

Perception: 20

Brand is certain that there is no one lurking in the darkened street, but less certain about what Jay did to open the gate. There seem to be no discernible panels on the outside the gate where Jay pressed. He then enters the yard and watches as Jay re-secures the gate. As far as Brand can see, all Jay does is put back into the secured position two simple wooden latches, one for each of the places Jay pressed. How these latches were opened, is in no way obvious to Brand.

[[Sorry, but that's it for tonight. I can't keep my eyes opened. Ciao.]]

[[ But theoretically, H might be able to move the latches with Mage Hand ? ]]

He looks around at his surrounds, then asks, "And what difference does a ... sanctified ... location make for our discussion?"

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

[[ But theoretically, H might be able to move the latches with Mage Hand ? ]]

[[I'm just describing what Brand sees as a result of his Perception check. If you want Brand to make guesses about what Jay is doing, make an Arcana check. FYI as a player, there are a number of reasons why this might not be Mage Hand at work.]]

He looks around at his surrounds, then asks, "And what difference does a ... sanctified ... location make for our discussion?"

"Well for one thing, it is better protected against magical snoopers," says Jay as he approaches the back door of the building.

"She's here," says the older woman. "She's warded the back door again."

"Yes, I can see that," replies Jay a little sharply.

[[ If you want Brand to make guesses about what Jay is doing, make an Arcana check. ]]

Arcana: 19

[[ Guessing what Jay was doing is definitely useful, but the original question meant: does Brand think Brand could move it with Mage Hand? The typo 'H' was meant to be 'he' (Brand)]]

"Are you referring to Melitta?"

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

[[ If you want Brand to make guesses about what Jay is doing, make an Arcana check. ]]

Arcana: 22

[[ Guessing what Jay was doing is definitely useful, but the original question meant: does Brand think Brand could move it with Mage Hand? The typo 'H' was meant to be 'he' (Brand)]]

[[Nice roll. The normal form of the Mage Hand cantrip involves the appearance of a 'spectral floating hand' that actually does the moving. This was not apparent with whatever Jay did, nor is it apparent with the Stone of Far Reaching's version. With regard to whether Brand could so something similar with the Stone of Far Reaching is something he would have to experiment with, but it may not be possible in the stone's simpler mode because Jay was unable to see the pieces of wood that he moved, which is normally a requirement for the Mage Hand cantrip to be able to be used.

Other possibilities are that the pieces of wood are somehow special, but Brand would have to investigate them more closely to determine that.]]

---

"Are you referring to Melitta?"

"Yeah," says the rude woman. "The *****-queen herself."

"Tut, tut," says Jay with a tone of reproval in his voice, "She is chosen of our lord, so watch your tongue, or I will take it and keep it as a souvenir of past services rendered."

"Well she is," says Delilah, pouting. "She comes in here and acts as if she owns the place."

"Enough!" exclaims Jay, turning on the woman, who defies him for a second before backing down.

"Sorry, Master," she says, contrite.

Nice roll.

[[ I was pleased. 20 then 22 is not something to complain about. ]]

 "Yeah," says the rude woman. "The *****-queen herself."

Brand finds himself unable to supporess laughter, but quickly stifles it.

He watches the interaction with growing interest, wondering what has happened to Melitta in the last two months.

"It sounds like she's had an eventful time."

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

Nice roll.

[[ I was pleased. 20 then 22 is not something to complain about. ]]

---

 "Yeah," says the rude woman. "The *****-queen herself."

Brand finds himself unable to supporess laughter, but quickly stifles it.

He watches the interaction with growing interest, wondering what has happened to Melitta in the last two months.

[[In this reality, it needs to be more than 2 months since Brand saw Melitta last. He's been to both Last Chance and New Nineveh (over a thousand miles away) in that time and spent time in both locations. However, I don't want to go into the details of what's happened in that time as I think it involves things from different time lines.]]

"It sounds like she's had an eventful time."

There is no answer to this comment as Jay strides toward the building's back door.

Brand follows and watches as Jay does something similar to what he did with the back gate to open the door.

Then Jay opens the door, and with his Darkvision, Brand sees a simple household kitchen. 

"Delilah," says Jay, "make char for us all."

Then he turns to Brand and says, "Or, I can raid Simad's cellar, if wine is more to your taste?"

In this reality, it needs to be more than 2 months since Brand saw Melitta last. He's been to both Last Chance and New Nineveh (over a thousand miles away) in that time and spent time in both locations. However, I don't want to go into the details of what's happened in that time as I think it involves things from different time lines.

You are likely correct in the reality I am in too: The time bwteen leaving for NN and returning is about three months (or he needs some more bank interest)...but he probably left Melitta a week or two before that. Don't forget the entire original campiagn was, I leieve, 40 days. Or maybe 4 months. There was a 4 in there. A lot gets done in a few days.

Can we say 4 months total?  Is that enough?

Brand follows and watches as Jay does something similar to what he did with the back gate to open the door.

[[ Learn what he can from that, unless it's already covered and he thinks "yes, that's what he's doing" ]]

Then he turns to Brand and says, "Or, I can raid Simad's cellar, if wine is more to your taste?"

Brand smiles and shakes his head, "Thank you, but I think I would be best with a clear head, for this...and I have other business tonight."

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

In this reality, it needs to be more than 2 months since Brand saw Melitta last. He's been to both Last Chance and New Nineveh (over a thousand miles away) in that time and spent time in both locations. However, I don't want to go into the details of what's happened in that time as I think it involves things from different time lines.

You are likely correct in the reality I am in too: The time bwteen leaving for NN and returning is about three months (or he needs some more bank interest)...but he probably left Melitta a week or two before that. Don't forget the entire original campiagn was, I leieve, 40 days. Or maybe 4 months. There was a 4 in there. A lot gets done in a few days.

Can we say 4 months total?  Is that enough?

[[Sounds better than 2]]

---

Brand follows and watches as Jay does something similar to what he did with the back gate to open the door.

[[ Learn what he can from that, unless it's already covered and he thinks "yes, that's what he's doing" ]]

[[Some principle, but there is only one spot, just above where the door handle is.]]

Then he turns to Brand and says, "Or, I can raid Simad's cellar, if wine is more to your taste?"

Brand smiles and shakes his head, "Thank you, but I think I would be best with a clear head, for this...and I have other business tonight."

"You mentioned that before," says Jay. "But, what can be so important, old friend? You run out too soon and you might miss the opportunity of a life time."

Before Brand can reply, he hears a noise that sounds like a door opening and sees light coming from a corridor that leads further into the house. 

Then a voice calls out, saying, "If someone is making char, I will have a cup."

It is the voice of Melitta Talorun.

Brand smiles, looks around the corner somewhat excitedly, and calls out, "Melitta, is that you?"

[[ I don't remember if she was a hugger or not. Malcolm was. Brand would probably be very happy. ]]

There is silence for a moment and then the voice says, "Who is that? Who do you have with you?"

Brand hears the sound of someone descending some stairs and suddenly a light appears in the corridor, a glowing orb of orange light, moving of its own accord.

"An old friend of ours," replies Jay, raising his voice and seemingly unperturbed by the strange light. "Brand. You remember him, don't you?"

The sound of the footsteps becomes a little faster and within moments Melitta comes into view at the doorway.

But it is a changed Melitta.

She is dressed in the same type of clothes that Brand remembers she preferred to wear, but she is very thin—to the point of emaciation—and in the orange light, her eyes appear as dark pits.

"Brand?" she says, when she sees Alaric. "What are you doing here?"

[[Sorry, but I'm going to have to call it quits here for tonight. I'm feeling the best and need sleep. More tomorrow.]]