IC Story Thread: Ch.1,Ad.1 - A Sensitive Matter

"Let's see how close we can get to the ship, master Dwarf. Stay low and in the shadows and follow my lead." Duinhir replies before setting off in a quick dash to some crates and supplies sitting on the pier.

Rolls

Stealth - (1d20+4)

(20) + 4 = 24

Sep 20, 2023 7:31 am

Ónar follow Duinhir

OOC:

assume Duinhir good roll is enough, but rolling just in case

He try to stay silent and listen/see any activities on the ship or around it

Rolls

Stealth - (1d20-1)

(7) - 1 = 6

Perception - (1d20+3)

(20) + 3 = 23

Sep 20, 2023 2:40 pm

OOC:

Wow. Ok.

I'm going to invoke a Critical Success result for both of these...

After the sun has set and darkness overtakes Umbar, and Easterly Rock, Duinhir and Onar creep into the heart of the neighborhood.

Despite being in an urban environment, Duinhir's life and training with the rangers servers him well. They move through the darkness unnoticed, despite sporadic activity in the buildings and on the street.

And even though Onar has basically no understanding of what it takes to really move undetected, his night vision at least prevents him from running into anything or stepping on any noisy debris... and Duinhir does the rest. Guiding him with a gentle word or tug upon his shirt when necessary.

At the dock, even Duinhir can see there is a perhaps odd amount of activity on the ship, for it being night time. But Onar's night vision reveals exactly what that is, and it appears that they are making preparations to sail!

And just as that realization settles in, Onar's attention is drawn to something else... a pair of rather unassuming chests at the edge of the dock, that weren't sitting there on their last pass. They are solidly built and iron bound, the kind that a wealthy person might use to travel long distances with fine clothes or other valuables, and he might never have even noticed them except that he could have sworn he heard a faint rapping upon one.

Although there is no one standing next to it.

Sep 20, 2023 6:19 pm

OOC:

Can you explain the meaning of " the edge of the dock" for me please. Does it suggests we have a good change to reach chests undetected?
Or does it, on the contrary, point out we need to make all way till the edge and hiding behind objects would be a problem?

Ónar silently touch Duinhir's shoulder, then, using signs, try point out the chests and suggest they may each contain a child.

Sep 20, 2023 7:37 pm

OOC:

Sorry, yea that wasn't very well worded.

The chests are out toward the end of the dock next to the ship, and just sitting along the edge of the dock as in off to the side of the structure of the dock, not in the middle of the dock where ppl walk.

OOC:

The chests are white, circled in red. You guys are in the area of either one of those green circles. You can choose which.

The ease or difficulty of reaching them while sneaking I leave entirely to you to judge.

Sep 20, 2023 8:33 pm

At first, Duinhir can grasp what Ónar is pointing at but then he sees the chests and gets the meaning.
He ponders the situation for a moment. It might be hard to get to the chests unseen. It might be possible to climb underneath on the wooden frame and pillars of the pier but he fears he is not a good enough climber to pull it off. The second idea he has is to pretend to be dock workers and simply walk off with the chests but again he might not be able to deceit anyone in this foreign land.

He looks at Ónar.

OOC:

Duinhir is not very good in athletics or deception. To get there unseen might be possible. I take it will require another roll? So we either do that or just observe the situation.
It would be most in character to try to do something.

Last edited September 20, 2023 8:33 pm

Sep 20, 2023 8:48 pm

OOC:

The dock-surface is probably about 2-3 meters above the surface of the water.

There's maybe 8 people on the deck of the ship doing work.

The chests are maybe 10 - 30 feet from the closest Corsair at any given time just depending on who happens to be walking where and when.

EDIT: Do you all like how I switch back and forth from meters to feet? Sorry. Between 5-10 feet from the water to the dock.

Sep 20, 2023 8:56 pm

Ónar suggest to retreat and discuss

OOC:

I would hate to do this leaving 2/3 of the party out. Can we go gather our whole party share and then plan/act as a team.

Sep 20, 2023 9:07 pm

OOC:

That is certainly an option.

It is maybe a 30 minute round trip (if you walk) to the rest of the party and back.

Eothain would be back by now, but none of them have had time to complete their Long Rest.

Sep 21, 2023 6:15 am

Since we can't read each other minds Ónar takes risk to whisper:
Facts are: I see they are preparing to sail, waiting next day may not be a good idea. Same with waiting less crowd.
Guess: children may be in the chests, chests are locked and braking will take time.
IF children are in the chests everyone knows that (well at lest some)

OOC:

I vote to involve other 4 players in this problem solving, but it is not for me to decide.
I just think even if one out of 6 players avoid action because his ability checks are at disadvantage is better than 4 of us cut off the scene. Besides - should this scene turn into a combat after some poor rolls two of us have no chance, do we?

Sep 21, 2023 2:42 pm

OOC:

Gonna wait for Stefron's thoughts, but figured I'd kind of give a breakdown of the known-knowns in the meantime:

Someone has been hauling valuables off from Easterly Rock.

There was a commotion yesterday between a Corsair and the Haulers, keeping the Haulers off the ship.

The ship is getting ready to set sail.

Something or someone is in at least one of the chests. Onar can't be sure which one though from the noise he heard because of the distance.

It has been proposed that each chest contains one of the two missing children.

It has been proposed that at least some of the Corsairs preparing to set sail know there's someone/something/the children in the chests.

The chests are ~60' away from you guys, it would require a check if you tried to sneak there.

It has been proposed that it could be hard to get there unseen.

And I will confirm for you, you can see there is nothing to hide in or amongst on the way there, except the night's shadow. The dock surface is clear of debris or obstruction.

Without night vision and without a check, Duinhir could clearly see movement on the ship of ppl who weren't trying to hide - i.e. there is some moon/star light.

It has been proposed that the chests are possibly locked.

You can see the chests are big, they look quite unwieldily and are probably heavy.

There's one or more Corsairs relatively close to the chests at all times, albeit always doing work and not paying attention to the chests.

You're currently out numbered 4:1.

The rest of the party is resting and slightly injured (except Eothain who used an ability to recover HP), but not Exhausted. They would have the option of having used a Short Rest by now, and so could recover some HP, but not a Long Rest.

It's a 30 minute round trip to them and back, at most.

Proposed actions include:

Trying to do something now with just you two. Sneak out, or pose as workers, or climb(or swim?) along beneath in the dock structure and climb up to the chests.

Continue to observe.

Return to the party and let them know of the development.

Possibly returning yet this night to do something with the party.

Think that about covers it...

Sep 21, 2023 8:21 pm

Duinhir nods as Ónar breaks down the situation. It would be folly to risk too much just the two of them. They'll need the rest of the party.

Duinhir gets ready to leave to inform the rest of the company about the kids in the chest. He means to return to the ship later, so he gestures to Onar to ask if he'll stay and observe or come along to fetch the others.

Once back at Onar's workshop he'll tell in as much detail as he can, what he has seen at the dock.

Éothain

rpgventurer

Sep 21, 2023 11:09 pm

"I'm ready. Do you think if we stole the chests it would stop the ship from leaving?"

Sep 22, 2023 7:57 am

OK Ónar will stay. Older dwarf is durable, but not fast and would slow slow Duinhir down and time is of an essence.

Seònaid

Drakis2

Sep 22, 2023 2:36 pm

"This is good news indeed Duinhir," Seònaid is thrilled that the children have been found. "But we do have to consider how we rescue them without endangering them. Surely anyone approaching the ship will be challenged, so we must be ready for an attack upon us and prepare a fast escape. We should plan how to escape the city with the children, but I am keen to return to Ónar and the dockside."

Sep 22, 2023 8:11 pm

"I fear time is not on our side in this. The ship is preparing to sail off soon.
I do think, Éothain, that stealing the chests would delay their departure. If nothing else then to find and capture us. So, as Seónaid warns we should have a plan to escape the city. And a plan to rescue the children in the first place."
He pauses for a moment to think then adds "Perhaps we could create a diversion to lure the corsairs away from the ship. A fire in a warehouse maybe?"

Seònaid

Drakis2

Sep 22, 2023 8:22 pm

Seònaid gives Duinhir an evil smile, "Let me get my firestarter, friend, and we can be off."

Last edited September 22, 2023 8:22 pm

Sep 25, 2023 4:28 pm

OOC:

@Drakis2,@Dr_B,@rpgventurer if you want to do any Short Rest stuff (recover HP), go ahead and declare/roll that up now.

As for back at the boat...

Onar sits in the shadows where Duinhir left him and continues to observe.

The activity on the Storm-tide continues to progress, and soon a couple of deckhands unfurl the jib, and the gaff-rigged aft sail, and although they yet flag listlessly in the wind, the ship is clearly very nearly about to set out.

And also at this time, four Corsairs come off the ship, two take up a handle on either end of both of the chests, and start hauling them down the dock, toward the buildings at the heart of Easterly Rock.

As they are hefted, this time Onar hears a tiny, shrill voice very clearly emanating from inside one of the chests, he thinks it's the one closest to the ship... "Hey you, out there!! We're HUNGRY! You better find us something to eat soon, and no more of that stinky salty fish!"

One of the Corsairs kind of sighs, and sags, and says, in Southron, "Do you know what she said?", the others just shake their heads and say no, "Well, we'd better get the Lady then...", the others groan.

And then they proceed down the dock and into the streets of Easterly Rock.

Sep 25, 2023 8:02 pm

"Excellent, Seónaid. We'll have to work out the details as we return to the dock. I left old Ónar at the stake out and I hope he'll manage to stay hidden. Those corsairs probably would take it lightly to be spied upon." Duinhir replies as he makes off for the docks again.

Cirion of Pelargir

Dr_B

Sep 25, 2023 8:27 pm