"Oh, I know he's a magus alright," says the boy. "I just don't think it's possible to turn anyone into a rat, even with magic."
In answer to Midian's question about sneaking into the magus' shop, the boy answers, "Nope, it's all full of books and boring stuff like that... But I do know how to get through that gate though... If you give me a cub, I'll tell which of the planks of wood you have to touch."
"A 'cub,' you say?" OOC: What would Midian take this to mean, in character? Is that local currency? Or if the child asking for a bear cub or something similar, to the best of his knowledge.
"Sounds like you have had at least some experience poking around in his shop, to know about the trick plank of wood. I'm not a thief, I'm a journalist. If you want to enter the store while he's away, now is your chance, lad," Midian says.
"Oh, I know he's a magus alright," says the boy. "I just don't think it's possible to turn anyone into a rat, even with magic."
In answer to Midian's question about sneaking into the magus' shop, the boy answers, "Nope, it's all full of books and boring stuff like that... But I do know how to get through that gate though... If you give me a cub, I'll tell which of the planks of wood you have to touch."
"A 'cub,' you say?" OOC: What would Midian take this to mean, in character? Is that local currency? Or if the child asking for a bear cub or something similar, to the best of his knowledge.
"Sounds like you have had at least some experience poking around in his shop, to know about the trick plank of wood. I'm not a thief, I'm a journalist. If you want to enter the store while he's away, now is your chance, lad," Midian says.
[OOC: Take a look at the following page on the World Anvil site:The Coinage of Engle; a cub is the smallest denomination copper coin. Midian's starting money is in the 'Other possession' tab of his D&D Beyond character sheet and although its says he has 15 Cons, it's probably made up of smaller value coins equalling this amount. I'm happy for him to have a cub in his purse for this purpose.]
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.
Midian withdraws the small copper coin and flips it in the air, purposefully bungling the catch and making it look awkward, and smiles sheepishly. "I think the information is worth a cub."
After a brief pause, and before offering the coin, he adds, "A cub is worth information, but a lion is braver. If you dare to enter this place, a lion could be yours, lad. Unless you're afraid."
OOC: Midian is obviously attempting both to gauge whether this child has entered the magus' bookstore before, and if he could persuade the child to do so. Having the child go first could serve as a shield against traps or guardians, magical or mundane, and if the child is killed during entry Midian has another avenue to go after Willard Hellas - the death of a child at the "hands" of Hellas' magical traps as proof of his dark practices.
[OOC: For the record, I have broken the 15 Cons on Midian's character sheet up into some smaller denominations.]
At the offer of a lion, the child becomes enthusiastic, but when Midian challenges him to enter the store he looks less so.
"I, I can't reach high enough," he says, looking a little anxious. "One of the spots is right near the top of the fence... I've just seen the magus touch it when he wants to open the gate, I've never used it myself."
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.
“Let’s verify if what you’re saying is true,” Midian says, pointing out various spots to align with where the child points, and testing the theory. “Here? Here?”
The boy directs Midian's hands to a particular vertical plank of wood that Midian has already established is one side of the hidden gate. The boy further indicates that the magus touches somewhere near the top and somewhere at waist height and then pushes the gate open.
However, when Midian places his hands in the right spots and pushes, nothing happens.
[Make a Perception check.]
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.
Midian walks as if strolling down the alleyway rather than hiding, but distances himself quickly from any appearance of skulking about a business’ back entrance, while trying to determine where the voices are coming from.
Acting nonchalantly, Midian quickly establishes that the voice he heard is coming from the other side of the fence he was trying to open the concealed gate of.
The young boy has now seemingly vanished, but what is perhaps disturbing to Midian is that the voice he heard now appears to be speaking continuously in a low mutter.
[Make a Perception check.]
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.
Though he has been sighted Midian moves to turn his body away from the rat’s gaze if possible, in the event the caster can see through the familiar’s eyes, and continues walking briskly away from the alleyway towards a public area, away from where he assumes the sound of the voice to have originated.
Midian heads up the service lane away from the rat and quickly finds himself on a normal street with most other people going about their normal afternoon activities.
However, he does notice something unusual: a ladened cart with a single horse hitched to it outside a small residence. It would seem that the residence is the home to a family of Stemians, who looked to be currently engaged in loading their family possessions onto the back of the cart.
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.
In the comfort of a crowd and a public area, Midian allows himself a calming breath, then watches the Stemians loading their things. He approaches, feigning politeness, and offers to help them. "If you need assistance loading a package or two, I have a moment to spare. I'm sorry to see you go, were you all in this neighborhood for long?" He will attempt to see if he can learn anything about their motives for leaving. His assumption is the religious law, but an opportunity to speak with such people who not in the guise of a priest could provide useful insight into the mood of their community.
"Why thank you, young master," says the apparent mother of the family speaking in Sorian. She is a woman in her early middle years with her hair wrapped in a scarf and she points at a pot-bellied stove on the ground that is full of kitchen pots and pans. "Some help with that would be useful. It's too heavy for me and Jack can't do it by himself."
The only other family members that can be seen at the moment are two girls, who are looking at Midian with curiosity as they place some of their own belongings on the back of the cart. The woman answers Midian's question while waiting for Jack to appear.
"My girls don't know anywhere else," says the woman, sounding resentful. "But this new decree of the king means we either have to leave or give up our worship of the lady."
[Make a Religion check. Less than 5 will be considered a failure for the sake of experience.]
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.
[OOC: By the use of the term 'lady' the woman must be referring to Liluri of the Sacred River, a supposed spiritual entity—hardly worthy of worship from Midian's point of view—that the various tribes who live along the River Lyr pay reverence too. The followers of Liluri are generally peaceful in nature in Midian's experience.]
A middle age man steps out of the house carrying a large bundle of clothing, which he unceremoniously dumps onto the cart. "Stow that lot safely," he orders the oldest of the girls before turning to where his wife is.
"We should hurry Hilda, if we want to get across the Southern Crossing before dark," he says, while looking Midian up and down.
"And who might you be?" he then asks Midian, frowning.
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.
"Just a concerned citizen of Constantine, observing the way this new law has made so many of our people feel unwelcome," Midian answers, as he aids them with the packing. "The lady of the Sacred River is a gracious and good entity, as are the people who worship her. I, for one, am sorry to see you go. It seems the church has made far too many members of our community feel they do not belong here, when this is every bit as much your home as theirs."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
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"A 'cub,' you say?" OOC: What would Midian take this to mean, in character? Is that local currency? Or if the child asking for a bear cub or something similar, to the best of his knowledge.
"Sounds like you have had at least some experience poking around in his shop, to know about the trick plank of wood. I'm not a thief, I'm a journalist. If you want to enter the store while he's away, now is your chance, lad," Midian says.
[OOC: Take a look at the following page on the World Anvil site: The Coinage of Engle; a cub is the smallest denomination copper coin. Midian's starting money is in the 'Other possession' tab of his D&D Beyond character sheet and although its says he has 15 Cons, it's probably made up of smaller value coins equalling this amount. I'm happy for him to have a cub in his purse for this purpose.]
---
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.
Midian withdraws the small copper coin and flips it in the air, purposefully bungling the catch and making it look awkward, and smiles sheepishly. "I think the information is worth a cub."
After a brief pause, and before offering the coin, he adds, "A cub is worth information, but a lion is braver. If you dare to enter this place, a lion could be yours, lad. Unless you're afraid."
OOC: Midian is obviously attempting both to gauge whether this child has entered the magus' bookstore before, and if he could persuade the child to do so. Having the child go first could serve as a shield against traps or guardians, magical or mundane, and if the child is killed during entry Midian has another avenue to go after Willard Hellas - the death of a child at the "hands" of Hellas' magical traps as proof of his dark practices.
[OOC: For the record, I have broken the 15 Cons on Midian's character sheet up into some smaller denominations.]
At the offer of a lion, the child becomes enthusiastic, but when Midian challenges him to enter the store he looks less so.
"I, I can't reach high enough," he says, looking a little anxious. "One of the spots is right near the top of the fence... I've just seen the magus touch it when he wants to open the gate, I've never used it myself."
---
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.
“Let’s verify if what you’re saying is true,” Midian says, pointing out various spots to align with where the child points, and testing the theory. “Here? Here?”
The boy directs Midian's hands to a particular vertical plank of wood that Midian has already established is one side of the hidden gate. The boy further indicates that the magus touches somewhere near the top and somewhere at waist height and then pushes the gate open.
However, when Midian places his hands in the right spots and pushes, nothing happens.
[Make a Perception check.]
---
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.
Perception 14
Midian is about to question the boy as to why what he has been told isn't working when the boy suddenly ducks down out of sight.
He can now also hear sounds coming from the other side of the fence: the sound of a door being closed and the scuffing of shoes.
Then a voice says, "Malfos, keep watch while I set the alarm."
---
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.
Midian walks as if strolling down the alleyway rather than hiding, but distances himself quickly from any appearance of skulking about a business’ back entrance, while trying to determine where the voices are coming from.
Acting nonchalantly, Midian quickly establishes that the voice he heard is coming from the other side of the fence he was trying to open the concealed gate of.
The young boy has now seemingly vanished, but what is perhaps disturbing to Midian is that the voice he heard now appears to be speaking continuously in a low mutter.
[Make a Perception check.]
---
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.
Perception 10
Even though he cannot make out the words, Midian becomes quickly convinced that what he is hearing is someone performing ritual magic.
However, that thought is forgotten as a large rat squeezes out from under the fence and turns and looks in his direction.
---
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.
Though he has been sighted Midian moves to turn his body away from the rat’s gaze if possible, in the event the caster can see through the familiar’s eyes, and continues walking briskly away from the alleyway towards a public area, away from where he assumes the sound of the voice to have originated.
Midian heads up the service lane away from the rat and quickly finds himself on a normal street with most other people going about their normal afternoon activities.
However, he does notice something unusual: a ladened cart with a single horse hitched to it outside a small residence. It would seem that the residence is the home to a family of Stemians, who looked to be currently engaged in loading their family possessions onto the back of the cart.
---
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.
In the comfort of a crowd and a public area, Midian allows himself a calming breath, then watches the Stemians loading their things. He approaches, feigning politeness, and offers to help them. "If you need assistance loading a package or two, I have a moment to spare. I'm sorry to see you go, were you all in this neighborhood for long?" He will attempt to see if he can learn anything about their motives for leaving. His assumption is the religious law, but an opportunity to speak with such people who not in the guise of a priest could provide useful insight into the mood of their community.
"Why thank you, young master," says the apparent mother of the family speaking in Sorian. She is a woman in her early middle years with her hair wrapped in a scarf and she points at a pot-bellied stove on the ground that is full of kitchen pots and pans. "Some help with that would be useful. It's too heavy for me and Jack can't do it by himself."
The only other family members that can be seen at the moment are two girls, who are looking at Midian with curiosity as they place some of their own belongings on the back of the cart. The woman answers Midian's question while waiting for Jack to appear.
"My girls don't know anywhere else," says the woman, sounding resentful. "But this new decree of the king means we either have to leave or give up our worship of the lady."
[Make a Religion check. Less than 5 will be considered a failure for the sake of experience.]
---
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.
Religion: 16
A middle age man steps out of the house carrying a large bundle of clothing, which he unceremoniously dumps onto the cart. "Stow that lot safely," he orders the oldest of the girls before turning to where his wife is.
"We should hurry Hilda, if we want to get across the Southern Crossing before dark," he says, while looking Midian up and down.
"And who might you be?" he then asks Midian, frowning.
---
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.
"Just a concerned citizen of Constantine, observing the way this new law has made so many of our people feel unwelcome," Midian answers, as he aids them with the packing. "The lady of the Sacred River is a gracious and good entity, as are the people who worship her. I, for one, am sorry to see you go. It seems the church has made far too many members of our community feel they do not belong here, when this is every bit as much your home as theirs."