The Stuff of Dreams (Orsal Judging)

[El Jefe]

OoC: As am I.

 

[Salix]

OoC: Well, so much for timing. This is about the perfect storm as far as in-game and out-of-game things coming togther in an awkward way.

Honestly, I was hoping (and half-expecting) Ryland to swing things a certain way at this point. Had he done so, and had we gone just a day or two further, we'd have reached a great cliffhanger-type stopping point for Salix's vacation.

Now, given that he didn't do what I expected him to do, things will swing along a similar but slightly different path. Eventually, circumstances will swing the party to a similar point...sort of like climbing the same mountain, but by a different face than originally planned.

My problem is that this path has a little of the feeling of a fait accompli. I wouldn't have a problem with that if both of you were active. But with Salix out for nearly a fortnight, I'd feel uncomfortable moving the action around when he's not around. I'd feel even more uncomfortable doing so using his character as a prop.

Dungannon, I guess what I'm saying here is, how do you feel about putting things on hold for a couple of weeks? You guys have been great about keeping up the pace, and I'm acutely aware that there hasn't been a ton of combat, gold, or xp. We've literally been building up for months for what happens next, and I think it would be a shame to spoil it. But if you prefer to continue, I can manage that.

And Salix, I know you've officially given 12 days notice, but if you should wander past an Internet cafe or a good wireless hotspot during that time...

OOC: Sorry for the break, but I'm back now. My relatives are all pretty low-tech so I didn't see your message until today. I'm having a lot of fun with the game. I haven't used some of my spells on characters like Fatwon and Brigit, because I didn't want to get in the way of your GMing. I'll have to look back and try to figure out what you thought I might do (you're probably giving me more credit than I deserve, feels like I don't know where to push this adventure).

 

[El Jefe]

OOC: Sorry for the break, but I'm back now.

OoC: Hey, welcome back!

I'll have to look back and try to figure out what you thought I might do (you're probably giving me more credit than I deserve, feels like I don't know where to push this adventure).

OoC: Hmm. Well, if I said that, I'd be giving it away, wouldn't I?

IC: Devlin and Ryland found themselves in a comfortable room in the Tower Inn shortly after midnight. It had been a trying day. They'd met with a frightened Brigit, fretted that she might end up staying with Eppy, had an audience with the mysterious Mr. Fatwon who filled in many of the questions they had about the even more mysterious orb, been drugged, been knocked out, recovered, fretted that Brigit wasn't staying with Eppy, had tea and crumpets with a nice old lady, ransacked a room, watched a ship burn to the waterline, and swapped tales with a dockworker over a pint. And they still didn't know the location of Eppy, or the orb, or Fatwon, or any of the large sums of money that were said to be involved, or, most importantly, the identity of Furlong Archer's killer.

OoC: Ok, guys, you're in the room and nobody left a message. Eppy is safely at her apartment, and Brigit is nowhere to be found. What now?

 

[Dungannon]

Devlin looks at Ryland. "Let's get a good night's sleep and in the morning we'll return to the docks and see what we can find out about the Flying Lion."

 

[Salix]

Devlin looks at Ryland. "Let's get a good night's sleep and in the morning we'll return to the docks and see what we can find out about the Flying Lion."

"I agree. We can hit the docks tomorrow and see if anyone saw or heard anything connected to the ship. by tomorrow the gossip will be flowing like wine. We need to find our damsel in distress. She's the one who's the linchpin here.", Ryland says with a weary nod.
OOC: I guess we could do a gather information check around the docks for clues and head from there.

 

[El Jefe]

The two adventurers settled in for a good night's rest. They got most of it. In the morning came a clattering at their door, drumming like the creatures infernal. In fact it was a very polite knock by the innkeeper, but after all Ryland and Devlin had been through, it seemed much more.

"Sirs, message for ye. It says, 'Urgent', so I reckon it is."

Indeed, it was urgent. It was a simple note:

"Mr. Magruder and Mr. Ryland, please come quickly. I need your help badly!

Eppy

PS: I'm at the office! Hurry!"

 

[Salix]

The two adventurers settled in for a good night's rest. They got most of it. In the morning came a clattering at their door, drumming like the creatures infernal. In fact it was a very polite knock by the innkeeper, but after all Ryland and Devlin had been through, it seemed much more.

"Sirs, message for ye. It says, 'Urgent', so I reckon it is."



Indeed, it was urgent. It was a simple note:

"Mr. Magruder and Mr. Ryland, please come quickly. I need your help badly!

Eppy

PS: I'm at the office! Hurry!"

Ryland somewhat wearily pops up and answers the door. After reading the note he grabs his equipment and says to Devlin, "Eppy's in trouble. She's at the office. Keep your eyes open when we get close, could be an ambush." He hands Devlin the note for his own perusal as he readies to leave.

OOC: Ryland will do some search and spot checks as they approach the office.
OOC2: I guess we did talk about going back to the office after the Tower Inn.

 

[Dungannon]

ooc: Search & Spot checks for me as well as we approach

"To the office then, hopefully we'll finally get some answers." Devlin readies his gear and the pair heads off.

 

[El Jefe]

The sun had yet to rise as the bleary-eyed investigators made their way to the clerk ward of the city. As nervous as a cat in a room full of rocking chairs, the pair kept a sharp watch out for danger. Their vigilance was rewarded, they found none. Keenly looking for something out of the ordinary, they made their way to the top of the stairs leading to Archer's office. The door was locked. Devlin knocked, but there was no answer. He knocked again...the special knock Eppy had mentioned before. The door opened to reveal one distraught Eppy. "All he said was, 'You know...the ball', and then...", Eppy trailed off as her eyes glanced in the direction of the center of the room.

OoC: I'm pretty sure both of you made your spot checks on this one, so...

IC: There, in the middle of the outer office, was the sprawled form of a gaunt man, face down. His head was still covered with the black hat he had worn into the room, and on the floor between his head and his right hand was a round object wrapped in butcher paper, about the size of a small melon. However, what first drew the gaze of the pair was the feathers of two crossbow bolts protruding from his back, and the trickle of blood that had soaked through his jacket by each wound.

Eppy quickly locked the door behind the pair. She stood, trembling with fear, not knowing what else to do.

 

[Salix]

The sun had yet to rise as the bleary-eyed investigators made their way to the clerk ward of the city. As nervous as a cat in a room full of rocking chairs, the pair kept a sharp watch out for danger. Their vigilance was rewarded, they found none. Keenly looking for something out of the ordinary, they made their way to the top of the stairs leading to Archer's office. The door was locked. Devlin knocked, but there was no answer. He knocked again...the special knock Eppy had mentioned before. The door opened to reveal one distraught Eppy. "All he said was, 'You know...the ball', and then...", Eppy trailed off as her eyes glanced in the direction of the center of the room.

OoC: I'm pretty sure both of you made your spot checks on this one, so...

IC: There, in the middle of the outer office, was the sprawled form of a gaunt man, face down. His head was still covered with the black hat he had worn into the room, and on the floor between his head and his right hand was a round object wrapped in butcher paper, about the size of a small melon. However, what first drew the gaze of the pair was the feathers of two crossbow bolts protruding from his back, and the trickle of blood that had soaked through his jacket by each wound.

Eppy quickly locked the door behind the pair. She stood, trembling with fear, not knowing what else to do.

Eyes shining in greed, Ryland picks up the orb. "Those bolts look familiar. Eppy are you OK? Well, we have our bargaining chit. Maybe we should go see what we can get for it, after we get Eppy to safety. "