The Closed Eye (DM: Halford, Judge: garyh)

[Dunamin]

With an air of overconfidence, Woe strides up to the door and leans in close by the grill with a smug smile on his lips.

“Woe Chinua; stunningly competent warrior, dashingly handsome trouble-resolver, and undoubtedly the finest man-at-arms ever to grace this humble shack with his presence.”

“Well capable of kicking down this door in your face, as well, should you insist on keeping your guests out in the cold any longer. Matriarch Glasston is expecting us, my good man.”

Exceedingly satisfied with himself, Woe leans by the doorway and waits for response while studying his nails.

 

[nerdytenor]

Tander raises an eyebrow towards Woe, which, given Tander's understated nature and aversion to conflict, is roughly equivalent to a normal person delivering a slap across the face.

"Forgive my colleague," Tander says through the door, "he is only eager to render his services to the estate. We are, indeed, here at the pleasure of Lady Glasston. May we come inside?"

 

[KenHood]

While the others proceed to the manor after exiting the carriage, Palindrome remains in the street, surveying the delicately arranged landscapes with a scowl. With his dagger, he pries a single cobblestone from the road, hefts it over his head, and dashes it upon the ground, cracking a handful of other stones.

He waves to the guards, dances a little jig, and heads to the house.

 

[Halford]

"Ah, Hi take hit hyou hare the hindividuals hired to hinvestigate the young Master's dissapearence. Hyou hwill find the happropriate hentry hat the back of the house, please try hnot to spread too hmuch grime." The voice drawls and the grate begins to slide shut.

Three of the Guardsmen exchange glances and approach drawing trucheons which they slap purposefully into their palms.

"Stop where you are Sir by order of the City Watch." One crisply uniformed fellow in a resplendently shiny breastplate commands.

 

[KenHood]

OOC...

1. How many guardsmen are there?

2. Are the guardsmen sharing adjacent squares?

3. If Palindrome attacks right now, will he get a surprise round on these bast...er...gentlemen?

To Dunamin and Nerdytenor: Remember, fellas, we can always find out what the guards want from us when we question survivors...

 

[Halford]

There are seven guardsmen within sight, but only three are advancing, it is quite clear what they want - a chat with a certain vandal. They are adjacent moving in a v formation with the speaker in front.

OOC: Well I guess fleshing out Daunton's justice system would not be the worse thing in the world...

 

[Dunamin]

“Let the night shift worry about the thirsty and surly,” Woe responds the guardsman, using the customary lingo of a Daunton city guard.

“It’s four o’clock and all’s perfectly well, good watchman.”

 

[KenHood]

With studied indifference, Palindrome says, "Oh, wait, Woe. I think they're talking to me."

Palindrome clucks his tongue and shakes his head in bemusement. "You know, gentlemen, you should be thanking me for a public service."

[OOC: Palindrome casts Mage Hand.]​

A ghostly hand plucks the two largest shards of the flagstone from the road and bears into Palindrome's palm.

[OOC: Palindrome casts Prestidigitation. (I am operating under the assumption that since the core rules no longer specify verbal and somatic components for spells, I no longer have to consider them. When he thinks it, it gets cast.) The flagstone now smells of brimstone and ammonia. It has a sinister looking rune, now cracked in twain, on its underside.]​

"If you'll look closely, gentlemen. You'll note the Umbrageous Unction of Utmort scrawled on the underside of this cobblestone. When I stepped out of the carriage, I sensed its presence immediately."

He presents the broken stone to the guardsman. "You'll note the faint stench of the demonic. A side-effect of this particular curse."

"The Unction disrupts feelings of good-will and slowly corrupts the social climate in its general vicinity. First, begins with a marked increase of suspicion, perhaps even paranoia, along with a general resentment of others--along with others becoming impolite to one another."

"I'm sure you, good fellows, have had such an experience yourselves in the time that you've worked in this neighborhood. No doubt you have noticed unpleasant behavior from the common people. Maybe even open derision?"

"I suggest the subtle magicks upon this stone as the cause!"

"Have you noticed any suspicious magicians or warlocks in this area in the past few months?"

[sblock=Bluff Check]Palindrome bluffs guards. (1d20+7=27)

Whoa, momma! That's a NATURAL '20', friends![/sblock]

"Ah, well. Never-you-mind."

"Once I realized the stone was indeed cursed. I performed the action prescribed within the Annals of Annulment, prying up the stone and breaking it, then dancing the ritual Seven Steps of Confundation. Of a truth, I could do no less for my fellow Dauntonians."

 

[Halford]

The two rearmost guardsmen exchange glances look to the one in front and exchange glances once more. The frontmost frowns and looks to Woe recognition dawning slowly.

"Ah, well I see you gentlemen have things well in hand. We thank you for your aide, let us know if we can assist you in your further investigations. I shall have someone along to repair the damage within a half hour. Nice to see you again guardsman."

So saying the guards begin to withdraw.

[sblock=Insight 15]The Guardsman hopes you will continue your investigation, evidently not keen on the prospect of dealing with renegade magicians or warlocks.[/sblock]

[sblock=Streetwise 15, or 10 for Woe]This Guardsman is Joss Vander-Mark, he is a young officer fresh out of the military who still tends to behave as if his remains in the forces. He is considered to be trustworthy and competent, but better at looking shiny than getting things done in the watch, which often requires getting down and dirty - as it were. He has a bad reputation with certain watchman due to allegedly snitching upon Captain West - a beloved elder statesman of the watch - for corruption. From his decorations he now appears to be the Lieutenant Deputy of this district.[/sblock]

OOC: Had me worried for a second there!

 

[Dunamin]

Streetwise 22

“Let’s keep focused and get back to work, fellas, Woe says as the guards leave them be.

“That’s the kind of twit who would report his mother to his father, because she winked at one of his colleagues. Of course, I hear his mom is a hottie, so I may just give him justification for that.”

“Puts direrats to shame, as my sergeant Deben would say.”

Woe heads with the rest of the gang around to the back entrance, knocking loud and rapidly on the door until it is opened.