The Psionicle: Animus' Quest

[GnomeWorks]

OoC: There are always options, CS. You could have done the completely unexpected or unplanned for - that's why I pause at some junctures that seem strange to pause at.

You take leave of the ship, a process which only consists of a few short climbs and a small amount of walking - in other words, you quickly find yourself on the roof of yet another building, though the surrounding setting is much different. It doesn't seem that any of the crew notice your departure, though Jirlai gives you a quick nod in the hall as you pass by.

Cara'nor may have been the largest and only port city in the north, but this is Koltir, the capital of Kahasal, and it shows. The buildings around you tower over the meager airdock, seeming to be several stories tall; some have portions constructed out of crystal, while the majority of the structures you can see are made of wood or stone.

The airdock itself, however, is poor when compared to the quality of the other buildings of Koltir. It appears to be on the northern edge of the city, and doesn't seem like much money has been set aside for its upkeep. Whereas the airdock in Cara'nor had over a dozen docks for ships, this one has only four; the Elen is the only ship currently present. The docks are constructed differently here: tall, thick crenelations are built around each dock, which seem to be used for anchorage, as one of the crew as thrown a looped rope around one.

On the far side of the roof, there is a small hole; from your location, it appears that there may be stairs in it, heading down. It looks to be the only way to the lower level.

While you get a glance at your surroundings, you can hear the crew moving about on the deck, apparently busy with the work of completing the docking and securing the ship. Dusk has only recently passed; the sky to the west is a dark reddish purple in color, and the two moons - one full, one half - have only made it a quarter of the way through the sky in the east, though the light they produce is already quite bright, and the entirety of the roof gleams a cold blue color.

 

[Creamsteak]

On the far side of the roof, there is a small hole; from your location, it appears that there may be stairs in it, heading down. It looks to be the only way to the lower level.

"There's always more than one road to hell..."

Animus will first gather his psionic focus (taking 10 if possible since I think I have enough of a bonus to do that when I'm not threatened). He then proceeds down the stairwell, as quietly as possible. If he hears anyone coming, he will activate his chameleon power and attempt to hide in the shadows (or any cover presented) as best he can. If the area is both lit and there is no cover, animus will manifest chameleon and attempt to tumble past whoever is there (probably requires a balance check if it's stairs).

+8 Autohypnosis [5 ranks], +8 Climb [5 ranks], +9 Concentration [7 ranks] (+4 to checks to gain psionic focus), +7 Hide [5 ranks], +8 Jump [5 ranks], +3 Listen [2 ranks], +7 Move Silently [5 ranks], +3 Spot [2 ranks], +6 Tumble [2 ranks]

 

[GnomeWorks]

You head for the stairway, taking a moment to bring your mind into focus (I think it's safe to say you can do that). It doesn't seem that any of the crew notices your departure.

The stairway is circular and somewhat cramped - it's unlikely that you'll be able to go unnoticed if anyone should be coming up. Luckily, it doesn't appear that anyone on the lower level is coming up the stairs, and you descend easily and quietly.

The lower floor is smaller than the upstairs roof, and is perhaps fifty feet on a side. It is dimly lit by normal lanterns hanging at regular intervals, both on the walls and from the ceiling. The room is sparsely furnished, with perhaps a few dozen chairs and a small portion seperated from the rest of the room by a thin glass wall, with desks and chairs in it.

At the far end of the room, near the exit, stands a familiar shape speaking with a familiar voice - it is Ratheqar, and he is speaking to a blue in hurried tones. They are speaking softly, and you can't make out what they're saying; however, it is apparent that they are absorbed in their discussion, and neither has noticed you.

[color=white]------------
| S   | c  |
|     | cdc|
|  c    c  |
|  c  |----|
|  cc     c|
|  c      c|
|  c    ccc|
|         c|
| dd  dd  c|
|  dGRd    |
----[]------

S: Stairs     c: chair     d: desk     R: Ratheqar     G: blue     []: door
Each space is 5 feet.
[/color]

You are currently on the last stair of the stairway. Lights are set on each wall at 10 foot intervals, and provide shadowy illumination to 10 feet; there are also enough lanterns hanging from the ceiling to provide shadowy illumination throughout the room.

 

[Creamsteak]

Animus attempts to slide into the adjacent "side-room" using move-silently and hide. He'll take cover wherever it is best. Then he will focus on listening to the hurried conversation.

"An opportunity if I ever saw one... and no weapon at hand..."

 

[GnomeWorks]

You hustle into the small room with silence and grace, hidden in the shadows - until you hit your foot on one of the chair legs in the room, which had managed to hide itself in the shadows... however, it doesn't seem that either of the pair has noticed you.

Their voices are low and hurried, but they echo throughout the room, and you can pick up their words once you stop moving and are able to concentrate on the conversation.

"...ting upstairs?" The goblin asks.

"Yes." Ratheqar says with a nod. "With any luck, those two have managed to kill off at least some of them."

"And if they haven't?"

Ratheqar shrugs. "We'll continue as planned. Animus, at least, will find us eventually... his sister is important to him, for whatever reason. She cannot be allowed to escape. Shrinlak requires her; she is vital to our work in the Coldlands."

The goblin nods. "I see."

Ratheqar sighs. "You'll get your chance, assassin. If Wayveri and Lorne have failed, we won't send them out again; he has been captured by them once already. Luckily he didn't kill anything important in the south; if he had, surely Shrinlak would have had him killed."

"Is the mage so important?" The goblin asks. "If he is so troublesome..."

Ratheqar shakes his head. "That is none of your concern; all you need to know is that Wayveri also has his role in this."

"What of the girl?" The blue asks. "What purpose is she? If I could use her, I could lure them out and deal with them swifter than Wayveri and Lorne could."

"Tori'shel is important to Shrinlak. Why, I don't know, nor care; it's not our concern. Only that she remain where she is." The githyanki pauses, narrowing his eyes at the goblin. "She is where I told you to put her, yes?"

"The guards in the Council's Tower asked no questions. She is being held in the dungeons there, or was the last time I checked."

"Which was?"

"Why do you think I was late?" The goblin asks, his voice annoyed.

"Enough prattle." Ratheqar says, his voice irritated. "Time to see if Wayveri and Lorne are of any use to us in this regard."

"I'll stay and watch the door." The goblin says suddenly; there is something about his voice that sits wrong with you. "Make sure no one comes in."

Ratheqar gives the goblin a weary glance, then resumes his walk to the stairs. "So be it. Though who would be coming here at this hour, I don't know..."

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| S   |Ac  |
|     | cdc|
|  c    c  |
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|  cc     c|
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|  c    ccc|
|         c|
| dd  dd  c|
|  dG d    |
----[]------[/color]

Ratheqar is currently passing by the door; if you want, you can probably jump him and gain surprise on him - it doesn't seem that he notices you. The blue remains posted by the door, suddenly gaining an interest in his immediate surroundings.

 

[Creamsteak]

"The guards in the Council's Tower asked no questions. She is being held in the dungeons there, or was the last time I checked."

"Which was?"

"Why do you think I was late?" The goblin asks, his voice annoyed.

"Oh how I'd love to find a knife here, and mayhaps kill you Rathequar... but my sister is in dire need, and you've told me more than I could have hoped."

Animus will hide until he is fairly certain that Rathequar is out of sight. He will then pause for a moment, and listen carefully to the assassin for any sign that perhaps he saw or heard Animus.

 

[GnomeWorks]

You wait for Ratheqar to disappear for only a few moments, as his footsteps echo down the stairs as he climbs them.

The goblin, however, appears to be searching the room for something; from your corner, you can barely make him out looking around and listening intently.

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| S   |Ac  |
|     | cdc|
|  c    c  |
|  c  |----|
|  cc     c|
|  c      c|
|  c    ccc|
| G       c|
| dd  dd  c|
|  d  d    |
----[]------[/color]

 

[Creamsteak]

Could Animus use a chair as a bludgeoning weapon if necessary?

For the moment, he's going to continue to hide and listen.

 

[GnomeWorks]

The goblin continues his careful search of the room, continuing to look into the shadows. He occassionally pauses to listen intently.

OoC: Yes, you can use a chair... consider it a two-handed melee weapon, dealing 1d6 points of bludgeoning damage (critical 20/x2). I also think it's safe to say that you're not proficient with a chair.

[color=white]------------
| S   |Ac  |
|     | cdc|
|  c    c  |
|  c  |----|
|  cc     c|
|  c G    c|
|  c    ccc|
|         c|
| dd  dd  c|
|  d  d    |
----[]------[/color]

 

[Creamsteak]

"I hope the feral bastard can't smell me..."

Animus continues to wait, still lacking any sort of plan.