Cala, you're able to detach the small copper ball from the creature, and as its whining noise grows louder, you are able to push it away from the body.
Wash and Balassar keep up the chase for perhaps another ten seconds, but then find their path blocked by yet another large cloud of fog. By the time they have pushed their way through a twisty passage that they had no chance to see beforehand, the goliath has made her escape through the maze of the city streets.
Combat is over.
The people in the tavern push past Alton, and react in horror to the devastation outside; the whining noise continues and then one, then another of the small creatures explodes in a gory mess. The fog cloud has vanished without explanation, but in its place the thundering of footsteps continues and you see several dwarves and gnomes approaching wearing the armour of the Crownsguard. Halt! Stay back from the bodies, one shouts, and the gathering crowd of folk takes a step back.
Did anyone witness this? asks a Crownsguard dwarf.
Alton, you are with the crowd from the tavern now.
Cala, you are in the alley to the north; you can hear what is happening, but are out of sight for the moment.
Wash and Balassar are some way to the north, having been given the slip. Are you returning to the scene of the battle on Ironlot Street?
Cala makes sure the fallen bodies are far enough away to not be hit when the ball explodes. The monk moves eastward along the space between buildings, watching as to prevent anyone from getting caught in the blast if the ball were to erupt. Once she is sure things or safe (or, once the ball has exploded a no one has gotten hurt) she slowly creeps back towards where the crowd has gathered. She does not get into the mess of people, staying in the eastern alleyway and only getting close enough to peak around the corner and carefully watch what is happening.
Wash runs back to the tavern to check for anyone injured by the explosions. He is not stealthy about it and assumes that the Crownsguard won’t try and stop him (but he might be in for a shock).
Does he recognise any of the Crownsguards (either from Military Rank background feature/backstory or from time in Hupperdook treating patients)?
Cala, you emerge on the scene of the crowd, including Alton, seeing the approaching Crownsguard; you hang back, though Alton would be able to see your arrival.
The Crownsguard do indeed stop the running injured man. You! Hey you! Stay where you are! What's your role in this? The crowd parts slightly, as no-one wishes to get between the Crownsguard and Wash. So far, Wash, you don't recognise any of the guards present.
Alton makes his way to the front of the crowd waving his hand up in the air, "Oh, I saw what happened. I can tell you the whole story, at least from my view." He stops a few feet in front of the crowd not wanting to provoke the guards. Also realizing he never put his weapon away, sheaths his rapier back into its scabbard. Alton bounces in place feeling a little excited to get to tell his first adventure story, even if it is to guards.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Be excellent to each other, and roll for initiative dudes!
Alton, the Crownsguard nods at your words. Very well, come with me. He raises his voice? Anyone else see what happened? Several members of the watching crowd start to explain that they didn't see much at all but would nevertheless like to speculate at length on what happened, but the dwarf shushes them. I said, anyone else who saw what happened? You, he says to Alton, who else can support what you say? Any of this lot? He indicates the crowd.
Alton looks around at the crowd and shakes his head, "No one here, I found them all inside of the tavern when I went to see if anyone needed help after the explosion." He does gesture towards Wash saying, "Goldilocks can support most of what I say along with Scales, but he vanished when the fog appeared. Oh, and my new friend Cala. she ran off around the tavern to the back, but I don't know where she went after that. I can't keep up with them all very well on account that I pulled the short straw when it comes to running." Alton gives a cheeky smile quite happy with the pun he slipped in there.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Be excellent to each other, and roll for initiative dudes!
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Wash is somewhat wary of being escorted away, especially given the Cronwsguard’s questions, so pretends to recognise the Crownsguard speaking to him and says loudly "Wait, don’t I know you? Was it from treating you at Dawnfather's Promise... No wait, maybe it was guarding one of my goodfriend Bririck Goldcannon’s family’s factories..." and he turns to the crowd and calls out "if anyone wants to go up to the Goldcannon manor and tell Bririck there has been an explosion here and I’m assisting the Crownsguard, I’m sure he’d like to know, and there is a silver in it for you".
[This is in part to try to make sure we are not about to be taken to a ‘black site’ with the potential to never be heard of again (at least without many witnesses and someone with some pull that may try to help us).
[Also, if there is an opportunity while talking, Wash would like to slip out a healer’s kit and casually apply salve to his neck. Totally cool if not allowed (if the Crownsguard stops me or whisks us away), but if it is allowed Wash heals up to full health (minimum it heals is more than the 3 damage I took).]
As you are speaking Alton, another Crownsguard, this one older, a gnome, and seemingly higher in rank, approaches. Wash, you do recognise this as Watchmaster Bram Gulchswattle; you've met him once or twice, and he has thanked you for treating his guards and their family members, though not at the Dawnfather's Promise.
Wash, someone in the crowd is willing to run a message to the Goldcannons, for a silver piece if you wish to pay.
The Watchmaster speaks quietly to his subordinate, the one who was doing the talking earlier. Wash, if you want to apply healing to yourself, you can at this point. A minute later, he points at Alton, then Cala, then Wash (and Balassar if he is present). You lot. Into the tavern. Gus, we'll take the room at the back.
The innkeeper nods quickly, and opens the door, and you are all invited - or pushed, depending how quickly you move - into a small back room. The Watchmaster and two Crownsguard remain with you. The Watchmaster sits at the long table, motions for you all to do the same, and looks briefly at Wash. Don't I know you, lad?
He starts by introducing himself, and then asks you to retell what happened. Are you going to tell everything, or keep something back?
[Thanks, 1 silver piece deducted , one use of healer’s kit marked off].
Wash is comforted knowing that his friend will at least know where to start looking if he disappears (residual cautiousness from being "conscripted" to the military at a young age), and complies with the Watchmaster’s command. On being asked, Wash indicates "Yes, I believe you know me through my work as a healer in the Idleworks Shelf. Dr Sal Washburne at your service."
Because Wash recognises the Watchmaster, he is more open and shares most of what he knows [though he doesn’t necessarily know everything that happened/that I know, especially with an int of 11] "Well, I’d just knocked off from volunteering at the Dawnfather's Promise and was about to come in here for a drink, when there was an explosion from that way [points in the general direction], then four or five, maybe six cloaked figures ran up... and started exploding as well?" He turns to the others and asks "Wait, what actually happened?"
Alton takes a seat in one of the chairs, using his backpack to give himself a seat boost so he can see a bit better at the table. Once Wash asks his question Alton chimes in with his take on what happened. "So, I just got into town with Cala and we were directed to come to this tavern by the guards at the gate. When all of a sudden there was a huge explosion and a bunch of cloaked figures ran out from a hole in the wall; one tall one and a bunch of smaller ones. One of said something like, raw raw roar raw roar, and then attacked." Alton does his best to impersonate draconic speech; possibly offending Balassar if he is in the room, "We had no choice but to defend ourselves! Well the others fought, I just stood by and watched; but I was ready in case one of them came at me. Then at one point a thick fog just showed up out of nowhere where Scales and the tall figure were fighting, I couldn't see what happened after that. I went to go after Cala when she darted off but there was another explosion that nearly took my topknot off. I came back to see if I could help anyone, but by the time I made it inside of the tavern you all showed up and now here we are." Alton sit back in his chair catching his breath.
(OOC: Just for fun, can I roll a performance check for the retelling of the battle?)
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Be excellent to each other, and roll for initiative dudes!
Cala nods along animatedly at Alton tells the story, her spear now back in its place against her back. She remains standing, shifting back and forth on the balls of her feet. “We were only trying to help,” she adds quickly, looking entirely out of her element.
Alton, your story is vivid, the details clear, the overall effect persuasive. The Watchmaster nods along as you tell it, some of the details apparently confirming what he already knew or suspected.
Look, the Crownsguard and I have our hands full with this and with other matters. His face is guarded about what such 'other matters' might be. I don't know why you chose to intervene, and I wonder if you do yourselves, but you prevented four of the six making their escape, and that's pretty good going. I want to hire you. The job is to find that goliath, and bring her back to justice to serve the remainder of her sentence. If you can figure out what else is going on - because that's a lot of resources to bust out one no-name goliath prisoner - then all the better. What do you say?
Balassar walks back with Walsh, disappointed that the goliath got away. He just listens to the conversation and when the guard mentions hiring them he just nods "You can count me in."
The Watchmaster nods. And you others? It doesn't matter to me that you don't know each other. What matters is that you rush towards danger and not away from it. A useful skill in a mercenary, and one I have great need of. I can promise payment of 500 gold if you can return the goliath prisoner of war - her name is Sken Zabriss - to jail, or bring proof of her death, and also investigate the manner of her escape. His face darkens. And who in this city was behind it. That I very much wish to know.
Cala, you're able to detach the small copper ball from the creature, and as its whining noise grows louder, you are able to push it away from the body.
Wash and Balassar keep up the chase for perhaps another ten seconds, but then find their path blocked by yet another large cloud of fog. By the time they have pushed their way through a twisty passage that they had no chance to see beforehand, the goliath has made her escape through the maze of the city streets.
Combat is over.
The people in the tavern push past Alton, and react in horror to the devastation outside; the whining noise continues and then one, then another of the small creatures explodes in a gory mess. The fog cloud has vanished without explanation, but in its place the thundering of footsteps continues and you see several dwarves and gnomes approaching wearing the armour of the Crownsguard. Halt! Stay back from the bodies, one shouts, and the gathering crowd of folk takes a step back.
Did anyone witness this? asks a Crownsguard dwarf.
Alton, you are with the crowd from the tavern now.
Cala, you are in the alley to the north; you can hear what is happening, but are out of sight for the moment.
Wash and Balassar are some way to the north, having been given the slip. Are you returning to the scene of the battle on Ironlot Street?
Cala makes sure the fallen bodies are far enough away to not be hit when the ball explodes. The monk moves eastward along the space between buildings, watching as to prevent anyone from getting caught in the blast if the ball were to erupt. Once she is sure things or safe (or, once the ball has exploded a no one has gotten hurt) she slowly creeps back towards where the crowd has gathered. She does not get into the mess of people, staying in the eastern alleyway and only getting close enough to peak around the corner and carefully watch what is happening.
Wash runs back to the tavern to check for anyone injured by the explosions. He is not stealthy about it and assumes that the Crownsguard won’t try and stop him (but he might be in for a shock).
Does he recognise any of the Crownsguards (either from Military Rank background feature/backstory or from time in Hupperdook treating patients)?
Cala, you emerge on the scene of the crowd, including Alton, seeing the approaching Crownsguard; you hang back, though Alton would be able to see your arrival.
The Crownsguard do indeed stop the running injured man. You! Hey you! Stay where you are! What's your role in this? The crowd parts slightly, as no-one wishes to get between the Crownsguard and Wash. So far, Wash, you don't recognise any of the guards present.
Alton makes his way to the front of the crowd waving his hand up in the air, "Oh, I saw what happened. I can tell you the whole story, at least from my view." He stops a few feet in front of the crowd not wanting to provoke the guards. Also realizing he never put his weapon away, sheaths his rapier back into its scabbard. Alton bounces in place feeling a little excited to get to tell his first adventure story, even if it is to guards.
Be excellent to each other, and roll for initiative dudes!
Alton, the Crownsguard nods at your words. Very well, come with me. He raises his voice? Anyone else see what happened? Several members of the watching crowd start to explain that they didn't see much at all but would nevertheless like to speculate at length on what happened, but the dwarf shushes them. I said, anyone else who saw what happened? You, he says to Alton, who else can support what you say? Any of this lot? He indicates the crowd.
Alton looks around at the crowd and shakes his head, "No one here, I found them all inside of the tavern when I went to see if anyone needed help after the explosion." He does gesture towards Wash saying, "Goldilocks can support most of what I say along with Scales, but he vanished when the fog appeared. Oh, and my new friend Cala. she ran off around the tavern to the back, but I don't know where she went after that. I can't keep up with them all very well on account that I pulled the short straw when it comes to running." Alton gives a cheeky smile quite happy with the pun he slipped in there.
Be excellent to each other, and roll for initiative dudes!
Wash is somewhat wary of being escorted away, especially given the Cronwsguard’s questions, so pretends to recognise the Crownsguard speaking to him and says loudly "Wait, don’t I know you? Was it from treating you at Dawnfather's Promise... No wait, maybe it was guarding one of my good friend Bririck Goldcannon’s family’s factories..." and he turns to the crowd and calls out "if anyone wants to go up to the Goldcannon manor and tell Bririck there has been an explosion here and I’m assisting the Crownsguard, I’m sure he’d like to know, and there is a silver in it for you".
[This is in part to try to make sure we are not about to be taken to a ‘black site’ with the potential to never be heard of again (at least without many witnesses and someone with some pull that may try to help us).
Persuasion check if needed: 18
]
[Also, if there is an opportunity while talking, Wash would like to slip out a healer’s kit and casually apply salve to his neck. Totally cool if not allowed (if the Crownsguard stops me or whisks us away), but if it is allowed Wash heals up to full health (minimum it heals is more than the 3 damage I took).]
As you are speaking Alton, another Crownsguard, this one older, a gnome, and seemingly higher in rank, approaches. Wash, you do recognise this as Watchmaster Bram Gulchswattle; you've met him once or twice, and he has thanked you for treating his guards and their family members, though not at the Dawnfather's Promise.
Wash, someone in the crowd is willing to run a message to the Goldcannons, for a silver piece if you wish to pay.
The Watchmaster speaks quietly to his subordinate, the one who was doing the talking earlier. Wash, if you want to apply healing to yourself, you can at this point. A minute later, he points at Alton, then Cala, then Wash (and Balassar if he is present). You lot. Into the tavern. Gus, we'll take the room at the back.
The innkeeper nods quickly, and opens the door, and you are all invited - or pushed, depending how quickly you move - into a small back room. The Watchmaster and two Crownsguard remain with you. The Watchmaster sits at the long table, motions for you all to do the same, and looks briefly at Wash. Don't I know you, lad?
He starts by introducing himself, and then asks you to retell what happened. Are you going to tell everything, or keep something back?
[Thanks, 1 silver piece deducted , one use of healer’s kit marked off].
Wash is comforted knowing that his friend will at least know where to start looking if he disappears (residual cautiousness from being "conscripted" to the military at a young age), and complies with the Watchmaster’s command. On being asked, Wash indicates "Yes, I believe you know me through my work as a healer in the Idleworks Shelf. Dr Sal Washburne at your service."
Because Wash recognises the Watchmaster, he is more open and shares most of what he knows [though he doesn’t necessarily know everything that happened/that I know, especially with an int of 11] "Well, I’d just knocked off from volunteering at the Dawnfather's Promise and was about to come in here for a drink, when there was an explosion from that way [points in the general direction], then four or five, maybe six cloaked figures ran up... and started exploding as well?" He turns to the others and asks "Wait, what actually happened?"
Alton takes a seat in one of the chairs, using his backpack to give himself a seat boost so he can see a bit better at the table. Once Wash asks his question Alton chimes in with his take on what happened. "So, I just got into town with Cala and we were directed to come to this tavern by the guards at the gate. When all of a sudden there was a huge explosion and a bunch of cloaked figures ran out from a hole in the wall; one tall one and a bunch of smaller ones. One of said something like, raw raw roar raw roar, and then attacked." Alton does his best to impersonate draconic speech; possibly offending Balassar if he is in the room, "We had no choice but to defend ourselves! Well the others fought, I just stood by and watched; but I was ready in case one of them came at me. Then at one point a thick fog just showed up out of nowhere where Scales and the tall figure were fighting, I couldn't see what happened after that. I went to go after Cala when she darted off but there was another explosion that nearly took my topknot off. I came back to see if I could help anyone, but by the time I made it inside of the tavern you all showed up and now here we are." Alton sit back in his chair catching his breath.
(OOC: Just for fun, can I roll a performance check for the retelling of the battle?)
Be excellent to each other, and roll for initiative dudes!
Alton, yes please go ahead and make a Performance check.
Cala nods along animatedly at Alton tells the story, her spear now back in its place against her back. She remains standing, shifting back and forth on the balls of her feet. “We were only trying to help,” she adds quickly, looking entirely out of her element.
Performance: 7
Be excellent to each other, and roll for initiative dudes!
Alton, your story is vivid, the details clear, the overall effect persuasive. The Watchmaster nods along as you tell it, some of the details apparently confirming what he already knew or suspected.
Look, the Crownsguard and I have our hands full with this and with other matters. His face is guarded about what such 'other matters' might be. I don't know why you chose to intervene, and I wonder if you do yourselves, but you prevented four of the six making their escape, and that's pretty good going. I want to hire you. The job is to find that goliath, and bring her back to justice to serve the remainder of her sentence. If you can figure out what else is going on - because that's a lot of resources to bust out one no-name goliath prisoner - then all the better. What do you say?
(Is Balassar in the room?)
Wash is listening intently and nodding, though looks at the other three (or two if Balassar isn’t there) before answering.
Balassar walks back with Walsh, disappointed that the goliath got away. He just listens to the conversation and when the guard mentions hiring them he just nods "You can count me in."
The Watchmaster nods. And you others? It doesn't matter to me that you don't know each other. What matters is that you rush towards danger and not away from it. A useful skill in a mercenary, and one I have great need of. I can promise payment of 500 gold if you can return the goliath prisoner of war - her name is Sken Zabriss - to jail, or bring proof of her death, and also investigate the manner of her escape. His face darkens. And who in this city was behind it. That I very much wish to know.