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Post by Stix on Feb 12, 2008 20:16:59 GMT -5
Wraith, Aerin, and Ahinabura draw their coverings in tightly against the burgeoning chill rain. Nearing the Clerk's Ward, the streets wend senselessly like tributaries of the Styx, and the trio find themselves in a narrowing alley between two rows of houses, their path blocked by an insensate drunk sprawled across a makeshift bed of debris. Ahinabura does her best to step carefully over him, as not to disturb him.
Balance
[dice=20+10]
Move Silently
[dice=20+14][rand=67288999570932616610636618424339556020537065416718451241213254144]
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Post by Uathach Blackmantle on Feb 12, 2008 20:32:41 GMT -5
Wraith carefully follows suit once Ahinabura has crossed to the other side, picking Aerin up as she does so. Encumbered as she is, she prays silently that her feet don't let her down now...
Balance
[dice=20]
Move Silently
[dice=20]
[I'm not sure if there'll be any penalties for being encumbered by Aerin's weight, though.]
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Post by Stix on Feb 14, 2008 20:14:30 GMT -5
Ahinabura holds out her arms, indicating for Wraith to hand the boy off to her. As the Dustman readies herself to pass Aerin over the unconscious drunk, she finds herself leaning too far forward. Reeling wide-eyed for a moment, Wraith holds her breath and plants a foot as gingerly as she can under as much weight --
Right onto the unconscious sod's ankle.
The bubber lets out a sudden howl of shock just as Aerin changes hands, causing the boy to flinch and cower. Ahinabura pulls him in close, shouting "Come on, come on!" as she turns to bolt.
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Post by Uathach Blackmantle on Feb 15, 2008 1:04:38 GMT -5
Regaining her balance, and crying out in alarm, she sprints after Ahinabura as fast as she can; hoping she doesn't lose sight of the Bleaker woman, carrying her son...
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Post by Stix on Feb 20, 2008 14:55:55 GMT -5
Both women dash down the alley, leaving the yowling drunkard behind them. They turn a corner behind a half-collapsed building to find a stretch of wreckage -- jagged timbers and stones -- spilled through the alley in front of them. On the far side, a dabus works in silence, slowly loading debris into a wheelbarrow.
"Hells," Ahinabura spits. She looks to Wraith. "I c'n get us across no problem, but I don' think I could carry you," she says, wondering if the other woman has a better idea.
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Post by Uathach Blackmantle on Feb 22, 2008 7:20:26 GMT -5
Catching sight of the Dabus, Wraith hesitates, ang glancs helplessly at the Bleaker woman. "I can't read rebus, so talking to him won't do us any good." She frowns thoughtfully. "We could always back track?" She offers helplessly. That didn't sound like such a brilliant idea either, and with it getting later, colder, and her son's condition worsening, what else could she do?
Not much more was immediately coming to mind.
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Post by Stix on Mar 1, 2008 21:41:59 GMT -5
Ahinabura spits dryly in disgust. "Guess we take our chances with the bubber," she mumbles, turning around and beginning the walk back. A few minutes pass as both women consider other options.
Approaching a juncture near the drunk, Wraith can hear the muffled sounds of a struggle nearby, and several menacing voices. A bit further down the alley, it becomes apparent that the noise is coming from around the corner.
"Sodding hells," curses the Bleaker. "Now what?"
(You may make either a Listen check to make out what they're saying, or Hide and Move Silently checks to close the distance a bit and observe.)
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Post by Uathach Blackmantle on Mar 2, 2008 2:49:37 GMT -5
Ahinabura spits dryly in disgust. " Guess we take our chances with the bubber," she mumbles, turning around and beginning the walk back. A few minutes pass as both women consider other options. Approaching a juncture near the drunk, Wraith can hear the muffled sounds of a struggle nearby, and several menacing voices. A bit further down the alley, it becomes apparent that the noise is coming from around the corner. " Sodding hells," curses the Bleaker. " Now what?" (You may make either a Listen check to make out what they're saying, or Hide and Move Silently checks to close the distance a bit and observe.) Wraith acquiesces without complaint, again taking her son from the Bleaker woman, and hides the shivering boy beneath her cloak as she follows in silence. She stops again when she hears the voices, and the sound of a scuffle nearby; around the corner it seems. When Ahinabura curses, Wraith raises her hand to silence her. "Ssshh. Let me park my ears for a moment, and find out what's going on." She whispers calmly, taking control of what could be a bad situation, and crouches down amidst the debris beside little Aerin. She takes the sniffling boy gently by the shoulders, and with a motherly gesture, brushes the hair from his face. "Aerin, I want you to stay with Ahinabura here for a moment, while I go listen to what's happening around that corner. But I need you to be very quiet, otherwise mama won't be able to hear, and it might give us away." Smiling gently, she kisses the little boy on the forehead, and reaches into her backback for the cloak left behind by her strange patient. She wraps it around him, securing it at the neck, and pulls the hood over his hair. "This should keep you warm."Taking a few moments to work on her own disguise, utilising the baladrana, ill-fitting man's tunic, loose braies, and some of the dark makeup, she listens intently to the harsh voices. Listen [dice=20+5] Disguise [as a male beggar] [I'm not sure what modifiers would apply to this, or even if the two could be performed around the same time] [dice=20-1] [rand=85503430498627232636703185439794389505908639707441640824795163277] |
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Post by Stix on Mar 4, 2008 14:05:14 GMT -5
Ahinabura draws her only weapon, a short sword, and hangs back to defend Aerin if necessary. "Should've brought a bigger chiv," she murmurs discontentedly.
"Where'd they go?" a voice demands over a loud, deep clatter.
"I dun' seen noffin'! Someun' stepped on meh an' ran! 'S all I know!"
"Irvin! Go 'n see. If 'e lies, we'll 'ave 'is tongue!"
Just as she's finished her disguise, Wraith can make out the sound of encroaching footsteps....
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Post by Uathach Blackmantle on Mar 4, 2008 21:54:06 GMT -5
"Shit." Wraith curses under her breath, shouldering her pack again, and backpedals to where Ahinabura stands with Aerin. "We've been followed. Take Aerin and hide. I'll remain out here and try to distract them." She glances at the Bleaker woman's drawn chiv, then at her trembling son. If she had time for more words she'd speak them now, but as the footsteps fast approached, closing in from around the corner, she knew her time was up. "Go now." She hisses softly, pointing into the shadows around a rundown kip, and assumes a hunched position on the ground. With her hair in disarray, dirt smudges on her cheeks, and her head bowed, she rocks back and forth, and starts mumbling to herself; hoping that whoever has followed them will pass her off as just another hopeless sod, destined for the Gatehouse. [If swearing is a problem, please let me know, and I'll alter this, and keep that in mind for future posts.  ]
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Post by Stix on Mar 8, 2008 20:57:58 GMT -5
Ahinabura collects Aerin and darts off to find a hiding spot, not a moment too soon.
"Irvin" takes a cautious step around the corner. The shaved-bald half-elf is lean and starved-looking, his mismatched clothing likely stolen a piece at a time from hapless sods who've crossed his path. He brandishes an arm-length wooden rod defensively -- it's more of a heavy switch than it is a cudgel, but its heft is still enough to make a lasting injury.
Giving the peery eye to the apparent beggar, the thug looks down the alley, then back up the way he came, and replies to his gang-mates with a shrug.
Two more men round the corner quickly: one as ragged-looking as Irvin, with a gap-toothed grimace and a hatchet in his twitching hand; the other, an ugly spiv with a face covered in sores, his rust-colored cloak drawn around him to keep the rain off.
"They had t' go this way; ain't nowhere else for 'em t' run," says the ugly one. "Irvin, keep yer eyes an' ears parked here, an'--"
The cloaked man notices Wraith in her impromptu disguise....
Spot
[dice=20+3][rand=5506343896213750526095026795528973901651264288693301292062333012]
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Post by Stix on Mar 8, 2008 20:59:17 GMT -5
...and reaches forward to pull back the hood of her cloak....
Grab
[dice=20+4][rand=26224881060501057738262133923823224155724238319988380712219495767]
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Post by Stix on Mar 8, 2008 21:05:25 GMT -5
He raises a short sword level with the exposed tiefling's eyes, showing a horrid sneer full of rotting teeth.
"Rattle yer bone-box quick, berk, or there won' be enough a' ya fer the Collectors t' turn one green copper off ya! There was two berks came this way, a Sinker an' an Indep! Where'd they go?"
(Be sure to include an appropriate Bluff or Diplomacy check with your reply.)
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Post by Uathach Blackmantle on Mar 10, 2008 21:03:29 GMT -5
Wraith flinches as the ugly man grabs her, ripping back her hood, and points the chiv at her face. She glares defiantly at him, her weird purple eyes flashing in the murky light. "A Sinker and an Indep? Yea, I saw 'em, berk; running 'round that corner." She jerks her thumb in the direction of the path that winds back to the Dabus. "Though where it goes, I dunno." She shrugs, and glares at the man again. "Now, put the chiv down." She growls, returning his grimace with a cold smile that exposes a hint of shark-like teeth. Bluff [dice=20+1] [if the Bluff doesn't work, she'll attempt to use her Suggestion spell-like ability to make him lower his blade. ] |
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Post by Stix on Mar 14, 2008 19:38:31 GMT -5
Sense Motive
[dice=20+2][rand=39105099179906533678690736386071661234809044928588924692239843095]
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Post by Stix on Mar 14, 2008 19:50:50 GMT -5
The thug narrows his eyes and stares at the tiefling for a moment before releasing her with a look of disgust. He motions for the third man to follow him down the alley; Irvin hangs back in wait, cracking his knuckles and looking back the way they came, glancing to Wraith now and again.
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Post by Uathach Blackmantle on Mar 17, 2008 22:11:40 GMT -5
The thug narrows his eyes and stares at the tiefling for a moment before releasing her with a look of disgust. He motions for the third man to follow him down the alley; Irvin hangs back in wait, cracking his knuckles and looking back the way they came, glancing to Wraith now and again. Wraith sighs in relief when the thug and his third companion head for the alleyway, and when they are gone, she rises unsteadily to her feet. Warily she watches Irvin, casually keeping an eye on her and his surroundings. Tilting her head to the side, she carefully approaches him, assessing his movements, trying to determine if he would run or attack. Just how loyal to them was he, and would he notice if she signalled to Ahinabura? If his overlooking her in her disguse was any indication, she suspected she might get away with it if she tried. Keeping her hands clasped behind her back, she signals to the Bleaker woman, and whispers softly to Irvin. "I know it seems rather silly in a situation like this, but I hope you don't mind if I sing quietly for a while. I need to practice my scales, you know?"Not waiting for a response, she begins to hum a soft, lilting tune. [Wraith is attempting to cast a bardic spell, Lullaby.  ] |
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Post by hilathic on Mar 17, 2008 23:04:34 GMT -5
[Perform Wind Instrument]
[dice=20+4]
Near by a harmonica beings playing the same tune Wraith was singing. It was clumsy at first, being that harmonica's are not good instruments for lullabies, but did get better as it continued.[rand=79283776925259198973074253335949145557469599979730362815448973125]
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Post by Stix on Mar 20, 2008 20:34:45 GMT -5
The thug narrows his eyes and stares at the tiefling for a moment before releasing her with a look of disgust. He motions for the third man to follow him down the alley; Irvin hangs back in wait, cracking his knuckles and looking back the way they came, glancing to Wraith now and again. If his overlooking her in her disguse was any indication, she suspected she might get away with it if she tried. Keeping her hands clasped behind her back, she signals to the Bleaker woman, and whispers softly to Irvin. "I know it seems rather silly in a situation like this, but I hope you don't mind if I sing quietly for a while. I need to practice my scales, you know?"Not waiting for a response, she begins to hum a soft, lilting tune. [Wraith is attempting to cast a bardic spell, Lullaby. ] Irvin fixes Wraith with a peery eye, but strange behavior isn't too out of the ordinary between the drunken, the mad and the Xaositects on this side of the torus -- so he largely goes back to ignoring her unless she makes any sudden moves.... (Will save) [dice=20][rand=3729989368834414592094406765965408605122914840755487722221291885] |
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Post by Stix on Mar 20, 2008 20:39:56 GMT -5
The thug yawns, but it might instead be out of boredom. When the harmonica joins in on the song, Irvin puts his attention on the source of the new sound, brandishing the heavy stick. "Who's 'ere?" he demands. "C'mon out quiet 'n' slow!"
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] 
]