Night's Embrace: Part 1--A Touch of Darkness

[Boddynock]

"Wait!"

Kelloran pauses, looking around, and nods his head decisively.

"The Hedge Mage is headed in the same direction as our invisible foe. Do you see? The trail that Titus followed for us yesterday headed over that way - the same way we're going now."

"Maybe it's coincidence, but if we assume that the Hedge Mage knows something about the disappearance, and is going to find the woman, then we can narrow down our search."

As he has been speaking, Kel has been moving quickly along the cobbled streets. He comes to an intersection and stops again.

"Look. That's where we were yesterday - over that way. This is where the two paths would cross. Surely it's worth checking out the warehouses in this area?"

"I'll try asking around - find out if anyone's seen the Hedge Mage today. If no-one has, well, we can always try yesterday's ploy of asking for work."

Kellloran, who has been caught up in the excitement of the chase, pauses again, looking worried this time. "What if it's the Hedge Mage who kidnapped the woman? What then?"

He looks to Shan for answers.

[sblock=OOC]Oops! I may previously have given the wrong Gather Information modifier. Kel only has a +3 (it's his Knowledge (Local) which is +7.)[/sblock]

 

[Rystil Arden]

*Titus can affirm that as far as he can tell, the tracks are identical to the ones from before.*

 

[Shayuri]

"If it's the Hedge Mage who kidnapped the woman...then we will hold him accountable for his actions," Sulannus says, placing a hand on her quiver. "Maybe he hides behind a noble public image to conceal a darker inclination. That would explain his invisibility. He doesn't want to be recognized."

 

[jkason]

Titus Farrab, human ranger

"If it's the Hedge Mage who kidnapped the woman...then we will hold him accountable for his actions," Sulannus says, placing a hand on her quiver. "Maybe he hides behind a noble public image to conceal a darker inclination. That would explain his invisibility. He doesn't want to be recognized."

"Or he was carried by the same person who dragged off our girl," Titus offers. Then he shrugs. "Either way, someone needs to hurt, I think. Kel's plan works for me. Any objections?"

 

[Rystil Arden]

(OOC: It's a good plan. I'll point out that while chances are pretty low, Titus could hope for a lucky roll and try to reestablish the trail even after the second rain while Kel does this)

 

[Jolmo]

"Indeed, we shouldn't assume it is him yet, though it certainly is a possibility. Hmn, I wonder what he'll think about the note we left if it is him." Shan thinks about it with a distant look before continuing. "Titus, do you think there would be recognisable tracks by the doors of the warehouse he's using? He'll have passed there more than once and the rain might have been blocked by the wall if we're lucky."

[sblock=OOC]Any difference in chance if looking by the doors to the likely warehouses specifically instead of picking it up in the street?[/sblock]

 

[Rystil Arden]

(OOC: Chance would probably be about the same or a bit higher, but if you weren't in just the right spot and warehouse, it would be zero--at one hour per retry, it's a true gamble, but it's something to consider. I'm not a gambling man, so I'd probably have him keep searching where I know the tracks must be)

 

[jkason]

Titus Farrab, human ranger

"You take the people, Kel, I'll take the ground," Titus says. "Much as there is with all these cloudbursts, anyway" he adds, his expression darkening as he looks down to the muddy ground.

[sblock=OOC]What the heck. Titus is a stubborn cur, anyway, and not all that good with people when it comes down to it. Let him try picking up the trail again until the group's finished gathering intel, at least.[/sblock]

 

[Rystil Arden]

(OOC: Okey dokey. Kel and friends--you let me know the group's approach to the warehouses, as there are about five. Sulannus and Shan, checking for the guard's list? I'll assume Titus keeps trying because it looks like he got a 20 on roll 12)

*Doggedly continuing beyond all reason for over half the day, Titus manages to pick up a faint and barely-indistinguishable trace, which he dusts with his finger, measures the depth and circumference indicated, and determines to be from the shoe of the person he's been tracking before. Using this clue of direction, he sets his own shoes parallel and mimicks the target's stride, managing to find several more traces that eventually lead him to a single warehouse in particular.*

(OOC: Yeah Titus! You are officially the first group to find the first warehouse, and you would not have succeeded without having wisely chosen Favoured Enemy: Human (or upping Wisdom by 4 points)--now the question is, do we want to wait and see if the others pick up something definitive, or just assume that we go with Titus?)

 

[Boddynock]

OOC: Well, seeing as it takes Titus half a day to find the tracks again, Kel will certainly go ahead and do the asking around. (Kudos to Titus for finding the warehouse! ) What do you think, folks? If Kel gathers info on whether anybody has seen the HM, maybe Shan, Sulannus & Blunt could ask at the warehouses for work as guards or workers - and keep their eyes open for any anomalies.