A party of good natured folk respond to what initially seems like a minor squabble in the Market until it escalates into a public beating and humiliation of a young boy:
an ambitious female thief name Mudlark Oceansea
an unassuming male elf named Nesta Silvatone
an impulsive female magic user named Thorily Emersat
an intimidating male fighter named Thrainel
a vengeful female fighter named Tove Ulfhjarte
a devout acolyte of Njord named Vatn and his canine companion Noden
Vatn, showing a wisdom much greater than his young appearance, stops the violence from worsening. Thrainel attempts to pursue the apparent theif but is immediately blocked by young mothers holding their infants in slings or against their chests for security. Thrainel is closed off in each direction by the gathered crowds surrounding them.
(DM taking control of Nesta while OgreMage is temporarily inactive) Nesta, the elf, commands the crowd blocking their advance, "Make way for us!" and signals with his hands that half of the women step east and the other half step west. The sound of suffling feet raises a harmless cloud of dust over the obedient, silent and stunned crowd.
An opening slowly forms in the ring of observers surrounding the party's location, clearing a direct path to the Slums. Nesta smiles in anticipation at Thrainel and quietly adds, "He must have slipped around that corner!" and points to the easiest route of escape.
For this foot chase encounter,
we will change from time tracking in turns to time tracking in rounds.
need an agreed marching order to pursue the boy, should be based on last episode' PC actions. Marching order may change during the chase due to obstacles!
A chase distance is a generic measurement of how far the thief is from the leading pursuer. DM will roll 2d4 to determine the chase distances the player characters start away from the thief. The PCs must close this distance between them and the thief in order to get within range of capturing him. The thief has 2d4 rounds in his attempt to escape and safely avoid capture.
If the PCs can get within the last chase distance, then the PC can make a 1d20 To Hit roll vs Armor Class 8 to snag the thief, ending the chase.
Additionally, PCs can also engage in missile combat once each round - but this need not be an attack on the thief and may actually be supportive of their task to capture him.
For each round of the chase, roll 1d100,
01 - 70, thief maintains his distance from the nearest player character, and PC may fire missile attack once per round
71 - 90, watch out - obstacle ahead!
A) Thief must first successfully navigate it with a Dexterity Check or Saving Throw to maintain his distance. Otherwise, the pursuer closes one chase distance on the thie
B) Player Characters must navigate it
91 - 96, PC closes one chase distance on the quarry
97 - 00, PC closes two chase distances on the quarry
Antoine de Saint-Exupery: “If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up people together to collect wood and don’t assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea.”
Vatn should probably be third in the order with Mudlark first and Thorily second since they have spoken up about knowing the slums. After that I am not sure it maters much.
I will leave the rolling to someone else since we want a chance at catching him.
Agreed, Rex, it may not matter if the chase distance is short for those in the rear. Let's start out with
1) Thrainel, Vatn, and Nesta
2) others \
If any other player is brave enough to roll the 2d4 for chase distance, go for it. Then, for each round of the chase, roll 1d100, on a result of
01 - 70, thief maintains his distance from the nearest player character, and PC may fire missile attack once per round
71 - 90, watch out - obstacle ahead! When an obstacle appears,
A) Thief must first successfully navigate it with a Dexterity Check or Saving Throw to maintain his distance. Otherwise, the pursuer closes one chase distance on the thie
B) Player Characters must navigate it
91 - 96, PC closes one chase distance on the quarry
97 - 00, PC closes two chase distances on the quarry
Antoine de Saint-Exupery: “If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up people together to collect wood and don’t assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea.”
Mudlark
Mudlark hurries, trying to catch up with the boy- (or, failing that, trying to reach his most likely destination before he does) Hoy! Ganavette! Let's talk!
redwarrior wrote: ↑Fri Mar 24, 2023 1:12 amThrainel starts after the boy in his armor, truly "hot pursuit!" mumbling to himself maybe that man had a point....
@Vince,
since your 1d100 = 8, the thief maintains his distance from Thrainel. So, Thrainel is the nearest player character to the target. Let's assume the distance is ~120' and each gain or loss are increments of ~30'.
You do have an option to make a missile attack this round but none seem practical now.
Thrainel's armored suit rattles with each faster footfall, but the fleeing boy maintains his distance. Strangely, Thrainel's heightened attention is drawn to his fellow calling out..."
Urson wrote: ↑Thu Mar 23, 2023 4:10 pmMudlark
Mudlark hurries, trying to catch up with the boy- (or, failing that, trying to reach his most likely destination before he does) Hoy! Ganavette! Let's talk!
It sounded to Thrainel as if there is some familiarity in her (Mudlark's) voice, as if the boy's name is Ganavette!
End of Round 1 for Thrainel. Stay tuned for Round 2 for Thrainel
Antoine de Saint-Exupery: “If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up people together to collect wood and don’t assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea.”
Round 1 of 6
(DM temporarily taking control of Nesta while OgreMage is inactive)
Nesta, round 1 footchase [1d100]=58
Since 01 - 70 on 1d100 results in the thief maintaining his distance from the nearest player character, who is currently Thrainel.
Nesta will arm himself with a bow and be prepared to use nonlethal missile attacks once per round.
Nesta, follows behind Thrainel! The elf makes an effort to remain within a few bounds of the explosive human fighter's pursuit. Grasping his bow and making an effort to keep pace, he manages eloquently say, "I'm astonished someone as large as you could move so fast! Don't lose our cleric..." and looks back towards Vatn.
Nesta is armed with a short bow but will knock next round and fire at any nonlethal targets in sight. Suggestions are welcomed and rewarded with XP. For example: I'm planning a trick of archery for Nesta. Perhaps his short bow can be used in a nonlethal manner to scare off or redirect the thief from other exits?
End of Round 1 for Nesta. Stay tuned for round 2.
Antoine de Saint-Exupery: “If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up people together to collect wood and don’t assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea.”
Urson wrote: ↑Thu Mar 23, 2023 4:10 pmMudlark
Mudlark hurries, trying to catch up with the boy- (or, failing that, trying to reach his most likely destination before he does) Hoy! Ganavette! Let's talk!
Yes, @Bob! Great idea to have Mudlark take a shortcut to a known location! That will bring additional XP for Mudlark, but let's end the discussion here and continue to plan in the OOC Episode 2 chat.
End of Round 1 for Mudlark. Stay tuned for Round 2
Antoine de Saint-Exupery: “If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up people together to collect wood and don’t assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea.”
Since the 1d100 results 71 - 90, are watch out - obstacle ahead! and you rolled 76...
A Moneychanger with 3 guards stands 40' away from Tove's position. In a flash of realization, Tove knows if she charges after the thief as fast as she wants to move, those three guards will be alarmed and consider her a threat. They are slim and fit, they notice Tove and stare with pleasure at the sight of her. They're just watching... 40' distance between Tove and freedom to sprint as fast as she can. @Darithe, how would you like to avoid this obstacle? You have creative license to role play or roll play. If you roll play, consider Dexterity checks, Charisma check. Awaiting Darithe's response for Round 1
Antoine de Saint-Exupery: “If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up people together to collect wood and don’t assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea.”
Tove apprises the situation...her first thought is she could use the men's interest to shout for help claiming the boy stole something from her, but that would draw unwanted attention she thinks, hindering the others attempt to actually catch the boy if he saw armed men in pursuit, so she pushes that thought away. And she didn't want to appear threatening to the guards, so she purposely slows her movement, keeping an eye on those ahead. She moves in a walking pace past the moneychanger and his guards, putting some distance between them before again picking up the pace of pursuit, hoping the others are more successful in catching him.
Round 1 of 6
Tove moves as casually and quickly as possible past the moneychanger's guards successfully without alarming them. Once she crosses out of their domain, she bursts into a dash to catch up with the others in pursuit.
@Darithe, probably a safer choice and navigating this obstacle earns Tove additional XP, which I posted in the AWARDING EXPERIENCE POINTS thread. Next round, Tove will act last in individual initiative but may use all previous actions to her advantage as a latecomer on the scene.
End of Round 1 for Tove.
Antoine de Saint-Exupery: “If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up people together to collect wood and don’t assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea.”
Thorily lifts her dress up above the muddy road up to her ankles to be able to keep up the pace with the others, showing quite decent running skills for a "fair maiden".
Hearing Mudlark call out, she responds.
"Ganavette? Oh, Ganavette, that's him?! I always figured him older. Hey, Nesta, be careful now, don't hurt the boy, he means no harm. Put one above his head to show that we mean business! We'll try to make him pause long enough for Mudlark to talk sense into him. He's probably panicking right now."
Once passed the guards and the moneychanger (jogging by mumbling something about "woman issues, got to fetch rags, sorry to disturb you good Sir") she screams to the boy:
"Hey, boy, stop it, we just want to talk, no harm will come to you!"
He keeps his bow down if he sees any guards or other authorities, with his eyes on the look-out ahead of their target, in case any interesting opportunities for a bowshot present themselves.
He replies to Thorily, still watching behind for Vatn.
"If I wanted to shoot the boy, I would have already. One must be cautious with all these innocent bystanders around, you see! I dont want to be the next to commit a crime here in town!"
Turning the corner in pursuit, the party is divided into two waves intent on apprehending the thief and retrieving the stolen backpack. Thrainel, Vatn, and Nesta lead the chase in the first wave. Noden's paws scatter pebbles and leave a fresh trail for Thorily, Tove and Mudlark to follow in the second wave.
Thrainel, Vatn and Nesta turn down the narrow side street, where a man appears to be tending fires under huge barrels of steaming hot water as a makeshift bathhouse. Regardless of the obstacles posed by the barrels and man, the thief is undaunted. Hopping on to the wooden stepstools in front of the barrels, the thief tries to leap over them and continue his escape.
Thrainel, Vatn, and Nesta watch as the boy lands his foot on the stool, which unexpectedly slides along the pebble covered street into the massive water-filled barrel and shatters into broken planks. He collides with the barrel, bounces off, and collapses to the street groaning loudly in pain.
The man is both stunned and confused by the accident. He rushes to the boy's side to care for his injuries.
Antoine de Saint-Exupery: “If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up people together to collect wood and don’t assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea.”
Vatn steps up and examines the boys injuries, as he does he slips the sextant backpack away from him and hands it to the closer of Nesta or Thrainel.
"I don't have any coin for you boy but I think I can heal your injuries."
Thraniel jogs up, panting slightly and starts to speak, but stops when he notes Vatn is already speaking, he stops and looks around for any oncoming threats.
Mudlark
Mudlark trots up. Oh, Gann, ya gullytrop! Din I tell ya to be sure of your exit?
Once she's sure the boy is ok -ish, where she can talk to him: Yer got the skies, but yer crushed. Give me the boot, and gain half- or we take yer boot, and ye go hungry. Know it? (Translation from Thief's Cant: You got the prize, but you're caught. If you give it to me, I'll split the value with you- or we take it away from you, and you get nothing. Do we have a deaL? )
Mudlark's Charisma is 12- I hope that's enough for Ganavette to realize he can trust her.
