Heroica RPG - Quest #62: Insider Trading

[Dannylonglegs]

Dreyrugr turns to the party. "Iv'e found what seems to be a back door. Want to go that way or bluff our way through the front again?"

A note for the rest of the party. Our devious QM has put us on a time limit. We have 25 game hours to finish this. It is currently 3 and we have till 4 the next day.

Oh, you noticed the clock? Wonderful. I will say though, the clock does not tick during combat. It's a little more arbitrary than Vash believes, And don't worry, you don't lose if the clock strikes 4. You'll find out what happens when the time comes.

Edited March 24, 2013 by Dannylonglegs

[Vash the Stampede]

Oh, you noticed the clock? Wonderful. I will say though, the clock does not tick during combat. And don't worry, you don't lose if the clock strikes 4. You'll find out what happens when the time comes.

I have noticed it for a while but I figured if everyone was bent on getting things done as soon as possible we might miss things. But that clock is ticking a bit too fast for my liking. It's gone from one to three from killing Marty to getting here.

Dreyrugr starts thinking while waiting for his party's decision.

The Po brothers don't work for the were-raven mob like Marty said. Infact against them. Has Marty set us up into a trap on his dying breath. There seems to be a bit more to this rumor spreading them meets the eye.

[Dannylonglegs]

I have noticed it for a while but I figured if everyone was bent on getting things done as soon as possible we might miss things. But that clock is ticking a bit too fast for my liking. It's gone from one to three from killing Marty to getting here.

Dreyrugr starts thinking while waiting for his party's decision.

The Po brothers don't work for the were-raven mob like Marty said. Infact against them. Has Marty set us up into a trap on his dying breath. There seems to be a bit more to this rumor spreading them meets the eye.

Well, chalk that up to the in-game time it takes for things to get done. it's about a 30-45 minute walk from one side of the city to the other, throw in conversation and combat, you started in the morning, arrived in the bar, received your assignment and you fought Marty and met the Mob and now you're here. The Day progresses based on the decisions you've all made, and less the amount of time it took IRL for said actions to be posted. Hence the me crossing off that dumb thing I said about combat not taking time. It takes time, but very little. Maybe about 5+ minutes in-universe depending on the banter, IMO, as opposed to the occasional days it can take IRL.

(The fight with Marty and Co was likely about 5-10 minutes with his somewhat-subsequent insults and bullying and your responses taking up another chunk of time.)

Therefore, it's somewhat arbitrary. The fact that it turned out to match a real-world time system in a way (somewhat) is mostly cooincidental.

Edited May 2, 2013 by Dannylonglegs

[Vash the Stampede]

Well, chalk that up to the in-game time it takes for things to get done. it's about a 20-30 minute walk from one side of the city to the other, throw in conversation and combat, you started in the morning, arrived in the bar, received your assignment and you fought Marty and met the Mob and now you're here. The Day progresses based on the decisions you've all made, and less the amount of time it took IRL for said actions to be posted.

I did figure it depends on what we do in game cause anything else would be unfair but that was kindof my point. Rather than checking a room for clues feeling pressed for time it might be decided to leave immediantly to the next destination. And it really took an 1-1.33 hours to talk to to the Mob? I guess it's reasonable but still, the time jump scares me.

[Dannylonglegs]

I did figure it depends on what we do in game cause anything else would be unfair but that was kindof my point. Rather than checking a room for clues feeling pressed for time it might be decided to leave immediantly to the next destination. And it really took an 1-1.33 hours to talk to to the Mob? I guess it's reasonable but still, the time jump scares me.

Sorry for the fright. I imagine the mob boss talks rather slowly, and that the conversation was ripe with heavy/awkward pauses. Also, you basically got a tour of Jaba's palace. It's rather slow-going on a crowded cliff-front filled with drugged-up were-ravens, if you get my drift. But yes, don't be worried that you'll lose the Quest simply because it's now 3. I'd update you more frequently on the time, but I think that'd just be annoying (and I forget.) You can be worried in-character, but I'm not a mean QM, and I won't screw you over without warning you fairly. (Well, not too mean. Actions do have Reactions, but I'll at-least make them actions and not something passive, like the passing of time that you have no effect on. If you have any more questions about the passing of time and its effect on the results you'v/ll experience, I'll be glad to answer them when the Quest is over . )

Edited March 24, 2013 by Dannylonglegs

[herrJJ]

"Karie, I would suggest to try the back door. Your way has brought us here but I think we should not waste our luck and sneak in. So the back alley would be a good place to go to." Nessa had got more self-confident especially by the attention she got lately. Though her opinion about Karie had changed slightly she was not able to admit it. From time to time she looked at Karie when she was not aware studying her behaviour.

[xxlrocka]

Drake was getting a bit impatient. He lied on the ground and he stared at the clouds. He then jumped up and said "Okay, then. I wanna get back to the hall as soon as possible and I'm sure you do too. But that's gonna take time. Sweet time we don't have. So let's just go through the back door and finish this."

At the end Drake then whispered so nobody else could hear him. "Hopefully."

[Kintobor]

"Karie, I would suggest to try the back door. Your way has brought us here but I think we should not waste our luck and sneak in. So the back alley would be a good place to go to." Nessa had got more self-confident especially by the attention she got lately. Though her opinion about Karie had changed slightly she was not able to admit it. From time to time she looked at Karie when she was not aware studying her behaviour.

Karie wasn't sure how she felt about Nessa. Why the sudden mood shift? Was there something about the arrogant hot head she wasn't getting?

"Nessa, Drake, I have to agree with you on this. We're running out of time, and we need these two dead so we can stop the spreading of the rumours and get both pay checks the ravens and the Hinckwells are giving us."

Karie opens the back door, and peers in.

Edited March 24, 2013 by Kintobor

[Dannylonglegs]

Karie wasn't sure how she felt about Nessa. Why the sudden mood shift? Was there something about the arrogant hot head she wasn't getting?

"Nessa, Drake, I have to agree with you on this. We're running out of time, and we need these two dead so we can stop the spreading of the rumours and get both pay checks the ravens and the Hinckwells are giving us."

Karie opens the back door, and peers in.

The Heroes, having decided on stealth over bluff, decided to enter the church through the back-door that Dreyrugr assumed was there. The party took to the ally, fearing that they'd soon be out of time to stop whatever plot was brewing. When the party arrived at the corridor in the alley that lead to the church's back door, they were surprised to see that they were not alone. Waiting by the steps at the back-door to the church, loitered two were-ravens, clad in black cloth and belts, and quite little else apart from some strange metal shoulder-pad and breast-plate. The two were chatting intently with their high-pitched hard to understand voices. One, who wore a cape, held an odd-looking scepter. The other did not appear to be carrying any weapons.

"Oh, Hello." The two said at the same exact time, once they noticed the party.

[herrJJ]

"Hi you there. What are you doing here in this dark alley?"

[Dannylonglegs]

"Hi you there. What are you doing here in this dark alley?"

The two look at each other wide-eyed, but amused.

"Umm." started the cape-less one. "Why, I could ask you lot the same question, I could." He began, with a somewhat amused tone to his voice. "But that would be rude. I am a humble servant of the church. My mate and I are simply waiting here on Father Caine's orders. He wants to do some shopping, but the streets are dangerous nowadays. People are arming themselves for no good reasons. He wants the company of friends. 'Such a kind man, Father Caine is. He's just finishing up his Church duties now. He won't be long I think. Was there something we can help you with?"

Edited March 24, 2013 by Dannylonglegs

[Kintobor]

The two look at each other wide-eyed, but amused.

"Umm." started the cape-less one. "Why, I could ask you lot the same question, I could." He began, with a somewhat amused tone to his voice. "But that would be rude. I am a humble servant of the church. My mate and I are simply waiting here on Father Caine's orders. He wants to do some shopping, but the streets are dangerous nowadays. People are arming themselves for no good reasons. He wants the company of friends. 'Such a kind man, Father Caine is. He's just finishing up his Church duties now. He won't be long I think. Was there something we can help you with?"

Karie was getting antsy. These better be the guys...

"Yes, you could. You wouldn't know where the Po brothers are, would you?"

[Dannylonglegs]

"Now what would a nice young lady such as yourself want with scoundrels such those two?" He queried.

[Kintobor]

"Now what would a nice young lady such as yourself want with scoundrels such those two?" He queried.

"What does it matter to you? If you two aren't them you wouldn't care, would you, claiming how you call them scoundrels?"

She eyed them intently.

"Where are the Po brothers? Or would you like to introduce yourselves?"

OOC: herrJJ, best you prepare yourself, quietly and discretely.

[herrJJ]

Nessa had a strange feeling about those two were-ravens. She decided to prepare herself, quietly and discretely, for what had to happen next.

[Dannylonglegs]

"What does it matter to you? If you two aren't them you wouldn't care, would you, claiming how you call them scoundrels?"

She eyed them intently.

"Where are the Po brothers? Or would you like to introduce yourselves?"

OOC: herrJJ, best you prepare yourself, quietly and discretely.

The were-raven chuckled.

"I don't care." He spoke as if to a child, "I'm Alex Kaw, and this is my mate, Edard Kaw, and we don't know where you would find those two rotten scoundrels. You might try the High-Cathedral, if you want them... But I don't see why you would." The cloakless one finished, grinning under his beak.

[herrJJ]

Nessa turned to her party and whispered: "We don't have time for this. We have to get past these guards quickly!" She gave an aggressive look to the Kaw-brothers.

[Kintobor]

[b\] "We have business with the Po brothers. A reliable source told us they were spotted here. Where are they?"

[Dannylonglegs]

"Ah ah ah," chuckled the were-raven who called himself Alex. "And who might that reliable source be?" He demanded.

Edard nudged him with his shoulder.

"We already said, they're probably at the High-Cathedral. We han't seen 'em around here. I heard they do the church's dirty work, so odds are, they're where the dirtiest church officials congregate: the High-Cathedral, of course. That den of corruption is always packed with hypocrites, liars, thieves, and worse." stated the were-raven, enjoying himself, "This here's the People's church. Nothing dirty here." He spoke with a more whispered, creepy tone.

Edited March 24, 2013 by Dannylonglegs

[Kintobor]

Karie didn't know if she wanted to play her trump card or not. She thought about her next statement carefully.

"Where's the good father now?"

[Dannylonglegs]

Karie didn't know if she wanted to play her trump card or not. She thought about her next statement carefully.

"Where's the good father now?"

"He's in the church. He'll be out soon, though. He needs a few things from the Market before it closes for the night at 5." stated the smug, cloaked were-raven.

[Kintobor]

"We're here to tell them their former employers looking to give both of them amnesty."

If these were the guys, they'd know now.

Karie looks the cloak-less one over, specifically looking for a dagger.

OOC: One's wears a cloak, the other doesn't... I think these are our guys. Don't do anything irrational.

Edited March 24, 2013 by Kintobor

[Dannylonglegs]

"We're here to tell them their former employers looking to give both of them amnesty."

If these were the guys, they'd know now.

Karie looks the cloak-less one over, specifically looking for a dagger.

OOC: One's wears a cloak, the other doesn't... I think these are our guys. Don't do anything irrational.

"Oh, you are then? And who's their former employer?" The cloakless were-raven demanded, incredulously. "I'm afraid I don't know too much about them, apart from that they're rotten scum." He finished, eye-brow raised in mock-sophistication.

"I think they used to work for the mob, didn't they? Before they started doing the Church's nasty-work?" the cloaked were-raven asked his mate.

"Oh, that's right! I thought they were Mercutio's men though."

"No, if anything they might have been sell-sword that abandoned they're post in the Queen's army."

"Oh, that's a fine theory." remarked the cloakless one as if they were debating a literary point. "The Queen's army is full of blood-thirsty scoundrels, isn't it?"

"You are indeed correct." Stated the cloaked were-raven in mock-sadness. "I wonder why she needs such a large army when we aren't even at war. Clearly she's compensating for something."

"Oh too true, too true."

The two were clearly enjoying themselves. As they chattered at each-other, Karie tried to get a good look at the cloakless were-raven with her years of pick-pocket expertise. He had many scraps of cloth and belts adorning his smooth soot-coloured-feather-covered body, but none of them looked like good places to conceal a dagger... except for a very thick belt on his back, with a pocket on the inside that opened towards his tail.

"Like what you see?" smirked the cloakless were-raven. Karie had been quite careful in her examination not to let the raven know she was searching him, yet he knew what she was up-to right-away. "sorry love, but you're not... my type." He stated smugly.

The cloaked were-raven looked less amused now then his mate.

"You know, Alex, maybe we should wait for Father Caine on market street. It's not like the poor old man'll get mugged in the Church District."

His mate looked at him as if he'd taken away a toy he'd been playing with.

[Kintobor]

"No, I was a little curious about that belt of yours. You seem to have an item of some sorts in a pouch. Care to show me? I promise to keep my distance."

It was now or never it seemed. Karie dared not to show it, but she felt anxious.

[Dannylonglegs]

"No, I was a little curious about that belt of yours. You seem to have an item of some sorts in a pouch. Care to show me? I promise to keep my distance."

It was now or never it seemed. Karie dared not to show it, but she felt anxious.

"Oh, you are observant, aren't you." demanded the were-raven with a hint of psychotic menace in his otherwise playful voice. He chuckled.

"Alex. Let's go." Commanded the cloaked were-raven through half-closed beak. He addressed the Party. "I'm sorry, but I think it's time for us to go. Father Caine is taking longer than we thought, and it's getting quite late. We have some shopping to do ourselves."

"Oh, but baby, the painted lady wants to see what I've got in my belt-pocket." persuaded the cloakless were-raven creepily.

"No, Alex, we don't have time for that." commanded the cloaked were-raven authoritatively.

"Fine." grumbled the cloakless were-raven, removing his right hand from the pocket.

"Now, you lot," Said the cloaked were-raven to the party. "I don't know who you are, or what you want with us humble servants of Ennoc, but if you're looking for trouble... Look elsewhere." He finished. He began to make his way down the stairs with the intent of leaving the alley. Alex grinned at the party and made to follow Edard....