Doozey reminds everyone that their approach was not perfect and that soldiers might be on their way to investigate. While Utar mulls over the results he is getting from his spell, Graxx responds by saying they should focus their attention on finding their quarry. Neya agrees with all raised points and makes sure her manufactured shadows enlarge to encompass everyone in the group.
(OOC: I assume the group is ready to advance at this point? If so, please roll a stealth check like @Drache did and let me know which way you are heading.)
The longer they lingered in one place, the more antsy grew the stoutling. He is thus all the more eager to move once the others had been, taking up the rear of the procession without a weapon to speak of in hand, but Biscuit at least close at hand behind himself.
Neya's trick expands to envelop the entire group and successfully masks their climb up the steps. The group arrives at a service landing that is too small to house all 8 individuals, so some remain on the stairs. There are three windows in this area: two facing west and one facing south. There are three doors next to each other on the east wall and a fourth one on the north wall. Utar feels that Yalek is east of their current position.
Apart from continuing to keep an eye on the way back alongside Biscuit, Doozey patiently waits for a whisper or tap to the shoulder to start following again. At least once there's room at the top, in any case.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
(OOC: I've been taking this step by step to give you guys the opportunity to explore as you see fit. that said, let me speed up the next few rooms here if you are set on gunning for Yalek. Feel free to retroactively do any additional investigating that you want concerning the rooms I am about to describe.)
Neya reports hearing general noises created by people going about their daily chores, Utar points in the direction he magically feels Yalek, and Litta clarifies that her Lightbringer tracking spell has elapse several dozen minutes ago.
In response to Utar saying that Yalek is to the east, Aleyd opens the three doors on the eastern wall of the service landing. They each lead to supply closets filled with cleaning products, linens, and general house tools. The group then advances quietly past the only remaining door (north wall.)
They find themselves on a 5-foot wide, green-carpeted hallway. There are art pieces on the wall and a slim side table as well. There are three doors on the north wall of this hallway, and three others on the south wall (excluding the one door the group is coming through). The west end of this hallway leads to a window, while the east end leads to yet another wooden door. Utar keeps pointing east and so the group moves in that direction.
They enter a large living room which is partly green-carpeted and partly floored in wood. There are two fireplaces here with accompanying seats laid out for comfortable conversation. There is a coffee table with a flower arrangement on top of it, a side table with a vase, and a small piano. There is also a wooden table with enough seats for eight people which could possibly be used for playing family/card games or for reading one of the many books on display on the nearby bookcases. There is an 10-foot opening on the north wall of this room which leads to another room that the group can't quite see. There is a door in the opposite wall from the one from where the group entered, but there are also two other doors on the south wall. Utar starts pointing south now. Seeing no one in this chamber, the party takes the closest door on the south wall.
The party has now entered the second floor foyer. There are even more art pieces on the wall, coffee and side tables at the south end of the chamber, and an arrangement of comfortable seating. However, the main feature of this room is the marble split staircase leading back to the first floor. There are plenty of windows in the south wall. There is one door leading east and one door leading west. Utar points west this time and senses that his quarry is quite close now. There are a couple of voices coming from the first floor foyer, but there is no one in the second floor foyer other than the party.
(OOC: What would you like to do at this point? Please roll appropriate skill checks, including stealth again.)
Neya gets ready follows Utar through the door. As she does, a number of questions started forming in her mind. Would it just be Yalek, or more Zhentarim along side him? Would any other faction be involved?
While Biscuit is given his marching orders to keep up close to the group, Doozey takes up a sniper spot by the chairs on the second floor landing; preferably the one closest to the west for the most coverage. But the east is just as fine, if Neya's magics had its limits. Graxx' suggestion is met with a grimace from the halfling. And yet given a moment more to think, he'd at least nod towards the idea.
The group agrees to keep their patient, careful approach. They all line up behind Utar, who prepares himself to open the southwest door in this second floor foyer. The exception is Doozey, who volunteers to provide ranged assistance after perching on a nearby comfy chair. Finding the door unlocked, Utar finally opens it.
This bedchamber is well furnished with expensive pieces in all corners. The far (west) wall houses a fireplace, which is lit. There is a pile of firewood to its left and a bookcase with a variety of books to its right. In front of the fireplace, a well-crafted wooden coffee table supports a couple of house plants, and is surrounded by a pair of blue lounging chairs and a similarly fashioned couch. The south wall supports a tall dresser and the only window in the room. The floor right in front of the door Utar just opened is adorned with a wolf-skin, possibly of the dire variety. There is also a side table in the southeast corner of the chamber, a couple of nightstands near an elegant bed at the northeast corner, and a trunk at its foot. The only other door in this room is located on the north wall, and it is closed. Despite all of these details, two very specific pieces of furnishing call the group's attention:
A robust male body lies on the bed. Blood is dropping onto the floor and forming a large pool. This looks like a fresh kill.
A dresser table/mirror at the northwest corner of the room supports a single item atop it: Lightbringer.
There is no obvious sign of Yalek inside this room, but Utar's spell indicates that he is now roughly north of the party's current position at the bedchamber's door.
Doozey does not see the body. In fact, only Utar and the two people immediately behind him (Graxx and Neya) can see the weapon and the body.
MAP:
Yellow star -> Lightbringer
Red rectangle -> Body
Party's location roughly given around the chamber's door, except for Doozey.
Entering the room, Utar feels his stomach drop. A bed. A body. No Yalek. For a moment, Utar's mind flashes back to the Laughing Goblin, his own face starring up from a pool of blood...
Blinking to clear his vision, the face of Yalek's latest victim come back into focus.
Sensing Yalek in the next room Utar points frantically to the likeliest door, hoping they aren't too late to catch up to the assassin.
Scrambling through his pockets, Utar's fingers close around a small pouch. If Yalek is going to get away again, he can at least make sure he doesn't leave a body in his wake again. Passing the pouch to Litta, he hopes she understands the spell he's asking her to cast.
Barreling after anyone heading heading through the door after Yalek, he grabs the familiar worn leather of Lightbringer's grip.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Having no idea on the extent of the damage, but perhaps glimpsing at least the first three at the door to go from caution to rushing inside, Doozey holds his position for now. That, and try to keep a close ear out from the stairs for any sounds of approaching feet.
Perception: 13. (Forgot the adv. roll for Hearing: 13)
As for Biscuit, he pads on inside as soon as there's room for it. Though the moment he sees the body and notices Neya and Graxx rush off, the mastiff goes bounding off after them! If... able to figure which they left. If not, he gets a really resolute look about him, and patrols around the bed in a protective manner.
Graxx has his head on a swivel.
”There are many about. Let us find the killer.”
Doozey reminds everyone that their approach was not perfect and that soldiers might be on their way to investigate. While Utar mulls over the results he is getting from his spell, Graxx responds by saying they should focus their attention on finding their quarry. Neya agrees with all raised points and makes sure her manufactured shadows enlarge to encompass everyone in the group.
(OOC: I assume the group is ready to advance at this point? If so, please roll a stealth check like @Drache did and let me know which way you are heading.)
-> Aleyd's stealth check: 21
-> Litta's stealth check: 16
-> Moneus' stealth check: 32
As the group move off through the manor, Utar maintains his focus on Yalek, giving pointed directions on his location in reference to their own.
Stealth - 16
Graxx will follow behind Utar.
Stealth: 32
The longer they lingered in one place, the more antsy grew the stoutling. He is thus all the more eager to move once the others had been, taking up the rear of the procession without a weapon to speak of in hand, but Biscuit at least close at hand behind himself.
Doozey's Stealth: 22.
Biscuit's Stealth: 27.
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Neya's trick expands to envelop the entire group and successfully masks their climb up the steps. The group arrives at a service landing that is too small to house all 8 individuals, so some remain on the stairs. There are three windows in this area: two facing west and one facing south. There are three doors next to each other on the east wall and a fourth one on the north wall. Utar feels that Yalek is east of their current position.
MAP (Second floor + porch/outside):
Neya stays where she is, mainly due to the lack of room on the staircase. Nevertheless, she keeps an ear out for any activity.
Stealth: 22 (+10 for that, dunno how that didn't get in there...)
Perception: 14
Extended Signature
Utar points in the direction of Yalek, looking to Litta for confirmation on the direction of Lightbringer.
Graxx says behind Utar waiting for the moment to snatch Yalek.
Apart from continuing to keep an eye on the way back alongside Biscuit, Doozey patiently waits for a whisper or tap to the shoulder to start following again. At least once there's room at the top, in any case.
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
(OOC: I've been taking this step by step to give you guys the opportunity to explore as you see fit. that said, let me speed up the next few rooms here if you are set on gunning for Yalek. Feel free to retroactively do any additional investigating that you want concerning the rooms I am about to describe.)
Neya reports hearing general noises created by people going about their daily chores, Utar points in the direction he magically feels Yalek, and Litta clarifies that her Lightbringer tracking spell has elapse several dozen minutes ago.
In response to Utar saying that Yalek is to the east, Aleyd opens the three doors on the eastern wall of the service landing. They each lead to supply closets filled with cleaning products, linens, and general house tools. The group then advances quietly past the only remaining door (north wall.)
They find themselves on a 5-foot wide, green-carpeted hallway. There are art pieces on the wall and a slim side table as well. There are three doors on the north wall of this hallway, and three others on the south wall (excluding the one door the group is coming through). The west end of this hallway leads to a window, while the east end leads to yet another wooden door. Utar keeps pointing east and so the group moves in that direction.
They enter a large living room which is partly green-carpeted and partly floored in wood. There are two fireplaces here with accompanying seats laid out for comfortable conversation. There is a coffee table with a flower arrangement on top of it, a side table with a vase, and a small piano. There is also a wooden table with enough seats for eight people which could possibly be used for playing family/card games or for reading one of the many books on display on the nearby bookcases. There is an 10-foot opening on the north wall of this room which leads to another room that the group can't quite see. There is a door in the opposite wall from the one from where the group entered, but there are also two other doors on the south wall. Utar starts pointing south now. Seeing no one in this chamber, the party takes the closest door on the south wall.
The party has now entered the second floor foyer. There are even more art pieces on the wall, coffee and side tables at the south end of the chamber, and an arrangement of comfortable seating. However, the main feature of this room is the marble split staircase leading back to the first floor. There are plenty of windows in the south wall. There is one door leading east and one door leading west. Utar points west this time and senses that his quarry is quite close now. There are a couple of voices coming from the first floor foyer, but there is no one in the second floor foyer other than the party.
(OOC: What would you like to do at this point? Please roll appropriate skill checks, including stealth again.)
MAP:
Being so close to Yalek again Utar is in no mood to tarry. He points to what he reckons is the likeliest door.
Part of him would like to bust in and start shouting questions, but bringing any household guards to them is likely a mistake.
Stealth - 14
Graxx is practically salivating at this point. The hair on the back of his neck is raised and his skin is tingling.
Graxx suddenly gets and idea and puts his glaive up since it seems we are not barreling in.
He reaches in his pack and retrieves the Potion of Mind Control(Humanoid) he shows it to everyone and motions to the door.
Stealth: 27
Neya gets ready follows Utar through the door. As she does, a number of questions started forming in her mind. Would it just be Yalek, or more Zhentarim along side him? Would any other faction be involved?
Stealth: 33
Extended Signature
While Biscuit is given his marching orders to keep up close to the group, Doozey takes up a sniper spot by the chairs on the second floor landing; preferably the one closest to the west for the most coverage. But the east is just as fine, if Neya's magics had its limits. Graxx' suggestion is met with a grimace from the halfling. And yet given a moment more to think, he'd at least nod towards the idea.
Doozey's Stealth: 16.
Biscuit's Stealth: 21.
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Other folks' stealth rolls:
-> Aleyd's stealth check: 19
-> Litta's stealth check: 27
-> Moneus' stealth check: 40
The group agrees to keep their patient, careful approach. They all line up behind Utar, who prepares himself to open the southwest door in this second floor foyer. The exception is Doozey, who volunteers to provide ranged assistance after perching on a nearby comfy chair. Finding the door unlocked, Utar finally opens it.
This bedchamber is well furnished with expensive pieces in all corners. The far (west) wall houses a fireplace, which is lit. There is a pile of firewood to its left and a bookcase with a variety of books to its right. In front of the fireplace, a well-crafted wooden coffee table supports a couple of house plants, and is surrounded by a pair of blue lounging chairs and a similarly fashioned couch. The south wall supports a tall dresser and the only window in the room. The floor right in front of the door Utar just opened is adorned with a wolf-skin, possibly of the dire variety. There is also a side table in the southeast corner of the chamber, a couple of nightstands near an elegant bed at the northeast corner, and a trunk at its foot. The only other door in this room is located on the north wall, and it is closed. Despite all of these details, two very specific pieces of furnishing call the group's attention:
There is no obvious sign of Yalek inside this room, but Utar's spell indicates that he is now roughly north of the party's current position at the bedchamber's door.
Doozey does not see the body. In fact, only Utar and the two people immediately behind him (Graxx and Neya) can see the weapon and the body.
MAP:
Entering the room, Utar feels his stomach drop. A bed. A body. No Yalek. For a moment, Utar's mind flashes back to the Laughing Goblin, his own face starring up from a pool of blood...
Blinking to clear his vision, the face of Yalek's latest victim come back into focus.
Sensing Yalek in the next room Utar points frantically to the likeliest door, hoping they aren't too late to catch up to the assassin.
Scrambling through his pockets, Utar's fingers close around a small pouch. If Yalek is going to get away again, he can at least make sure he doesn't leave a body in his wake again. Passing the pouch to Litta, he hopes she understands the spell he's asking her to cast.
Barreling after anyone heading heading through the door after Yalek, he grabs the familiar worn leather of Lightbringer's grip.
Graxx looks down at the body and growls. He looks to Utar and sees his pointing frantically and does not hesitate.
Graxx stores the mind control potion and will put all his energy into using his body to chase down Yalek.
"Damn, he's not a guest! He was on a job!" Neya says just in a lowered voice.
Neya follows Utar in pursuit of Yalek. Yalek has spilled blood twice while he was in town (that she knows of). There won't be a third time.
Extended Signature
Having no idea on the extent of the damage, but perhaps glimpsing at least the first three at the door to go from caution to rushing inside, Doozey holds his position for now. That, and try to keep a close ear out from the stairs for any sounds of approaching feet.
Perception: 13. (Forgot the adv. roll for Hearing: 13)
As for Biscuit, he pads on inside as soon as there's room for it. Though the moment he sees the body and notices Neya and Graxx rush off, the mastiff goes bounding off after them! If... able to figure which they left. If not, he gets a really resolute look about him, and patrols around the bed in a protective manner.
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.