Author Topic: STRATA- Chapter 1  (Read 131620 times)

Offline SolEiji

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Re: STRATA- Chapter 1
« Reply #60 on: May 30, 2014, 09:38:31 PM »
CRUSHED!  They were so close to victory....

"We... we can't offer what we don't have."

"We've connections and services but not enough coin of our own.  We're trying to get coin."

They both visibly slump for a moment in unison.  "My apologies Mr. Jackfist.  I'm afraid I can't offer coin for information.  It's just cut too tight as it is.  I will have to fold my cards, well played sir and ma'am, well played."

Alas, it seems they must cancel the deal.  Maybe they really were tight on the money part.

The haggling had taken a while.  In the backdrop Sir Eldridge had been looking over some papers with a deep frown and finally speaking up to the census taker.  "And the gates don't open after sunset right?  If we secure the area..."

"You would have to take it up to the guardsmen, but they're fairly picky about it for good reason.  If they get through, a lot of people might die."

"It can't be helped.  I'm going to grab the others and we'll leave immediately.  If we get stuck outside we'll have safety in numbers.  We only have time to hit one of the two locations, I'm going to just flip a coin and hope Fortune smiles on me.  I hope to see you before nightfall."  He's heading out now?  It's the evening, so the sun will be setting soon.
Mudada.

Online ketaro

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Re: STRATA- Chapter 1
« Reply #61 on: May 30, 2014, 09:51:16 PM »
This time it was Axejack's turn to offer a smile at the smell of an economical opportunity, for he was intent on giving chase to their retreat.

"Well now, that's a fair hasty retreat, aye! Come now, let's work this out proper now. I'd willing to open a tab on your behalf, delay the payments which of course would be entirely reasonable amounts (or less as I'd like to be generous on our first meeting), until a time you can put forth. Considering we'd likely be out more than in as well, I'd have no immediate obligation to put forth deadlines. No doubt you both figure to have better economical standings in the future compared to now when you've become set up more stably. In fact, my own goals could work in your favor on that count as I intend heavily aid in the venture of returning proper civilization into the lands overtaken by this Shroud.

Aye, aid us in taking a powerful step towards truly accomplishing everyone's goals here!"

Offline Raineh Daze

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Re: STRATA- Chapter 1
« Reply #62 on: May 30, 2014, 10:02:48 PM »
"Even if Mr. Axefist demands payment for services rendered, I do not; should he refuse to take part then I will simply pick up the slack," Akemi stated, frowning at the dwarf.  He may have been a mercenary, but... she wasn't. Thinking he was being overcharged? Yes, but that was balanced out by contact with the authorities.

Refusing to even fill in the map without payment? Unthinkable. It would help them to fill things out more, and demanding compensation...

Offline phaedrusxy

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Re: STRATA- Chapter 1
« Reply #63 on: May 30, 2014, 10:08:00 PM »
Deciding to let the mercenary, samurai, cartographer and scholar sort out their differences among themselves, Matsu sidles over to the knight before he can duck out of the door. "Pardon me, Sir Eldridge, is it? You intend to go out after nightfall, in search of someone? And you have to pick which of two areas to search? Perhaps I could be of some help. If you can give me a good description of one of the locations, I could scry upon it and tell you if the party you seek is there or not. I'll only be able to see as if I were there for a few moments, so it will have to be a specific location."
I don't pee messages into the snow often , but when I do , it's in Cyrillic with Fake Viagra.  Stay frosty my friends.

Offline SolEiji

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Re: STRATA- Chapter 1
« Reply #64 on: May 30, 2014, 10:23:30 PM »
Shrewd.  Very shrewed.  The two looked at each other for a moment and then looked back.  "Please excuse us for a moment.  We'll need to discuss this for a moment.  They pushed their chairs back to the back wall under "cover" of some upraised maps and other paraphernalia.

(click to show/hide)

Whatever they were whispering about has turned into an attempt at strangling each other.  This... this might take a second.

...Sir Eldridge was stopped at the door by the mysterious plague doctor inquiring on his issue.  "I sent my elf and gnome friends out scouting, but neither has returned and sunset is coming.  The last intel we got from the both of them was something about a giant black bird, but those two can't tell me where to look.  One is telling me they're in the forest and another on the road to an estate, and its just too far apart to hit both before sundown.  I'm not sure its a good idea to split my remaining party further if we're facing a creature as dangerous as they claim.  Right now I don't even know if they're alive, but I'm responsible so something must be done.  Unfortunately because it's people and not exact places, I don't know if it'll work."  Can the good doctor help him?

(EDIT: I did the DC wrong.  The DC to hear whispering is 15, and to understand is 25.  So I brought it up to 25, no other circumstance bonuses.)
« Last Edit: May 31, 2014, 12:18:05 AM by SolEiji »
Mudada.

Offline phaedrusxy

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Re: STRATA- Chapter 1
« Reply #65 on: May 30, 2014, 10:33:11 PM »
"Hmm... yes, I would need an exact location to try it." The "Doctor" says glumly.
I don't pee messages into the snow often , but when I do , it's in Cyrillic with Fake Viagra.  Stay frosty my friends.

Offline SolEiji

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Re: STRATA- Chapter 1
« Reply #66 on: May 31, 2014, 01:10:14 AM »
"Unfortunate.  I'm out of options.  I'd ask for the help of your team, but I've very little to pay them with for something so inherently risky.  I suppose it can't hurt to bring it by you but I have little to offer in return; this creature, according to Achenar, is very dangerous so I'm taking my full remaining party to one of the two focal points.  If I had another group I was confident could survive, they could hit the other focal point and both teams would be able to get back to base before sunset.  In theory.  Sadly I have to cut it off here, the light is fading even now." he explained, moving his way out again.  You may have to walk besides him if you have more questions, otherwise he's dragging the rest of his team mates out for immediate deployment.
Mudada.

Offline phaedrusxy

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Re: STRATA- Chapter 1
« Reply #67 on: May 31, 2014, 01:23:23 AM »
Matsu walks with him for a bit. "Tell me where you're going, the other location you think they might be at, and how I'll know your people if I find them. I will see if my... team... is interested in heading out to your second location to look for them, when they're done haggling over books..."
I don't pee messages into the snow often , but when I do , it's in Cyrillic with Fake Viagra.  Stay frosty my friends.

Offline SolEiji

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Re: STRATA- Chapter 1
« Reply #68 on: May 31, 2014, 01:39:34 AM »
"I appreciate the concern stranger.  Their names are Oiwa and Aurelius.  The elf is from Jingu like the samurai in there, and the other was a gnome who escaped Chrysanthemum.  Brow hair, red black and gold armor, and a bow for Oiwa and the gnome has a black Mohawk and several body tattoos.  They're both competent fighters, but they must have been trying to down what they thought was an easy kill.  I know nothing about the monster other than its a "four legged black bird" and Achenar says its some manner of summoned or called fiend.  The confusion seems to stem from where they were reported as being vs where these black birds apparently are, so either my group was off course or the bird was off course."

He paused for a moment scribbling something on a scrap of paper and handing it to the doctor.  "Tell Sirrus to show you where the Marlowe Estate farmlands and the Moth Forest are.  That's the two locations I narrowed it down to.  If I leave now, its a 30 minute trip forward, 1 hour of searching, and 30 minutes back and I should make it.  If you do decide to go, please tell me before I leave.  I'll go to the opposite point.  I should be at the gates in 10 minutes or so."

He paused for a moment, realizing he hadn't even introduced himself.  He extends his hand, "Lacan Eldridge.  Stay safe out there."
Mudada.

Offline Raineh Daze

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Re: STRATA- Chapter 1
« Reply #69 on: May 31, 2014, 07:34:34 AM »
... and now the two of them were going to start fighting. That was far enough, and Akemi walked over to try and physically pull them apart, frowning at the two, "Whatever your disagreement, this is not the right way to solve it."

(click to show/hide)

Offline FireInTheSky

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Re: STRATA- Chapter 1
« Reply #70 on: June 01, 2014, 10:00:01 PM »
Berid followed along with the group into the Pathfinders building, but the back and forth haggling seemed to be too much for his brain just then. He just stood passively, leaning on his bow, eyes glazing slightly while staring at the two merchants, lips moving wordlessly, as he slowly processed the goings on around him.

Finally, his eyes come back in focus, and he blurts out, Berid Rubani, from Promotor. No next of kin.

While Akemi tries to pull the two scholars merchants apart, Berid stops leaning on his bow and moves next to Axejack. Quietly, he says, I definitely don't have the gold to cover either the map or the book. And - as we both know - there isn't really a government in Promotor to send this to. So, as long as you and I have a contract, I'm fine with us working from the same set of documents. Besides... we both know I'm the better scout.

Offline SolEiji

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Re: STRATA- Chapter 1
« Reply #71 on: June 04, 2014, 09:09:40 PM »
As Lucan left to gather his allies, inside things were tumultuous.  The merchants were bickering and drawing the attention of the census taker's glare.  Fortunately the paladin stepped in at just the right time to remind them both of their surroundings and after a moment of tense staring the two seemed to relent, coughing nervously and adjusting their collars.

"Sorry ma'am, slight disagreement there."

"It shouldn't be a problem.  We just have not reached consensus.  Though we have different businesses, some... unity between us and our business decisions is a requirement."

"And let's keep it that way.  Don't forget you're allowed to sell your goods here under the good graces of the Pathfinders.  You're going to give us a bad name if you keep up your antics." the census taker interrupted.

Hmmm, a stalemate.  What to do?

Outside there is running about and the acquisition of horses.
Mudada.

Offline phaedrusxy

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Re: STRATA- Chapter 1
« Reply #72 on: June 04, 2014, 10:03:08 PM »
Matsu takes the proffered hand with some awkwardness and says "Matsu Gattama. So, which of the two are you going to? The farm or the forest? Just tell me now, and if my friends and I go, we'll go to the other. I can't say for sure we're going, and might not know before you leave."

Edit: Telepathically, Matsu relays to his allies the discussion he's been having with the knight and asks them if they'd be interested in going to either of these places tonight, and if so if they have a preference.
« Last Edit: June 04, 2014, 11:08:54 PM by phaedrusxy »
I don't pee messages into the snow often , but when I do , it's in Cyrillic with Fake Viagra.  Stay frosty my friends.

Offline FlaminCows

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Re: STRATA- Chapter 1
« Reply #73 on: June 05, 2014, 09:12:25 PM »
The cat thinks up a reply:

< In the interest of saving time I'll say we go to the forest. A quick, workable decision is all we need for now. No need to ponder something when we lack the means to know what is better. >
« Last Edit: June 07, 2014, 03:40:13 PM by FlaminCows »

Offline Raineh Daze

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Re: STRATA- Chapter 1
« Reply #74 on: June 05, 2014, 09:25:14 PM »
The presence of another voice was... strange. Where could it be coming from? It didn't sound familiar at all. Well, that was a problem for another time. Right now... <Of course we should go now! Naturally, we should head wherever Sir Lacan is not, though if he has no preference I would prefer the woodland.>

To the merchants, however, "Just... don't do it again? I can't be here to pull you apart all the time, and the consequences aren't worth it."
« Last Edit: June 05, 2014, 10:17:54 PM by Raineh Daze »

Offline phaedrusxy

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Re: STRATA- Chapter 1
« Reply #75 on: June 05, 2014, 10:15:26 PM »
Matsu thinks back across the network <That voice sounds familiar... From back when I would work long nights in the dungeons... Just me and the cats... >
I don't pee messages into the snow often , but when I do , it's in Cyrillic with Fake Viagra.  Stay frosty my friends.

Offline Frogman55

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Re: STRATA- Chapter 1
« Reply #76 on: June 06, 2014, 10:35:13 AM »
"Yes. The forest. Any direction is worthwhile when there is no destination." Ptembridge has been watching silently, taking in the interactions but feeling no need to contribute.

Offline SolEiji

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Re: STRATA- Chapter 1
« Reply #77 on: June 06, 2014, 12:39:55 PM »
"Yes ma'am."

In one fell swoop the samurai had completely shut the both of them up.  The census taker should hire her as the agency bouncer, she's super effective.

One Lacan catches wind of forest plans he intents to head for the fields by the estate.  He's already gone off to gather his crew and acquire additional horses.  If you head to the gate you will see a small crowd forming of his allies and some guardsmen which he is making deals with.

That is all, proceed as intended.
Mudada.

Offline FireInTheSky

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Re: STRATA- Chapter 1
« Reply #78 on: June 06, 2014, 05:45:31 PM »
At the mention of a patrol, and the possibility of combat, Berid perks up, and gives his head a shake to clear it. <Yes, forests definitely play into my area of expertise as well.>

When they get to the gate, Berid stretches and goes over his equipment, giving his bow a couple of pulls and checking his quiver.

Offline phaedrusxy

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Re: STRATA- Chapter 1
« Reply #79 on: June 07, 2014, 12:11:27 PM »
Realizing that he'd been adding minds to his network without really asking for permission, and that Axejack wasn't among them, Matsu goes back to find the dwarf. "Axejack, I'd like to add you to my telepathic communications network. I've already added Berid, Ptembridge, and Lady Akemi, as well as... well we're all in here already.

It lets us all speak without words, insuring discretion, and also lets me more easily heal you and monitor your status from a distance."
I don't pee messages into the snow often , but when I do , it's in Cyrillic with Fake Viagra.  Stay frosty my friends.