[pnpgm] Game Update #44 - File #412 - Kell chases a thief
Scott Adams
longshot at cybermax.net
Fri Oct 16 06:37:12 CEST 2009
HT Alias/Player Character Name Type Status/Notes Sex
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R1.John Haight...........Arawn.............Druid .Normal/Alfar Ma
??.Chris Wells...........Ben'dar...........Warrior.Normal/Human Ma
R4.Tom Corckett..........Caladan...........Wizard Normal/Human Ma
W2.Marcel Liberty........Chion.............Sailor..Normal/Human Ma
W3.Ryan Torres...........Farseeker.........Warrior.Normal/Human Ma
--.Tobie Bonahoom........Fremea............Sidh....Normal/Faerry Fe
R2.Mark Murtha...........Kell..............Trader..Normal/Human..Ma
Do.David Sanders.........Kiet.Sunan........Acrobat Normal/Human Ma
R4.J H Hooten............Raban.Usherwood...Bard....Normal/Human..Ma
W2.Robert Maxwell........Strie'bog.........Bard....Normal/Human..Ma
R1 NPC...................Shu.Yeoh..........Wizard..Normal/Human..Fe
W4.Wout Broere...........Unali.............Ninja...Normal/Human Fe
...Thomas.Magann.........Whitney...........Scholar.Normal/Human..Ma
R1 John.Stowman..........Will..............Hunter..Normal/Human..Ma
R4.Alex Koponen..........Z'leyra...........Healer..Normal/Human Fe
R1 NPC...................Zhou Kiwat........Noble...Normal/Human..Ma
Animals: Corona [Eagle] Z'leyra, Tef'wo (Horse) Ben'dar, 2 Donkeys
Cover Story Info: [HD- House member, F-Foreigner, N-native non house]
Arawn aka Arawn as Teacher to daughter [F]
Ben'dar aka Bu Da as Horse expert [F]
Caladan aka Ca Lu as Guard/Archer [N]
Chion aka Capt. Chu Mai as Sailor Trustee [HD]
Farseeker aka Fu Sa as Guard [F]
Fremea aka Lin Mong as Noble child [HD] [Disguised]
Kell aka Swan as Trader [F]
Kiet aka Kiet Sunan as Zhou's servant [F]
Raban aka Toban Nu as Entertainer/Guard [F]
Strie'bog aka Sun Zhu as Entertainer [N]
Shu aka Shu as Niece [HD]
Unali aka Tun Au as Zhou's wife [HD]
Whitney aka Whitney as Herbalist/Tailor [F]
Will aka Sun Tzu as hunt master [F]
Z'leyra aka Kakita Junami as Healer [F]
Zhou aka Zhou Wa as Baron Noble [HD]
Game Web Site - http://www.funport.com/longshot/pbem
Public posts/actions to pnpgm at abroere.xs4all.nl (mailing list)
Private emails (not public actions) to longshot at cybermax.net
Game Update #44 in sequence (file #412)
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Admin Notes: None.
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[Recap]
From Z'leyra: [Re: Actions]
Z'leyra suggests that we offer the Major a gratuity or share of
the bounty (perhaps half?) for his 'assistance' in helping us
with the paperwork in getting the bounty hunter permits.
GM: Ack. Since there is no npc on your team I can't role play
suggestions or comments so your team is on their own.
From Ben'dar: [Re: Actions]
Ben'Dar shrugs, giving as much agreement as usual. He keeps his
eyes on the door through which the major left. Something doesn't
seem right to him. He stands and moves to the wall next to the
exit, and leans there with his spear in hand, as if casually
waiting. He is positioned so that if the door opens suddenly,
he will be somewhat hidden behind it.
GM: Ack.
From Kell: [Re: Actions]
Kell does not like being stolen from, not at all. And to be
duped so easily, that makes him mad at himself. He knows how
these things happen! Kell watches the one boy and says to Kiet
"I'm going after him. Meet at the stall."
Kell starts to follow the boy. Even if he can't get any of the
stolen money back, maybe he can see where the boy lives. Maybe
is has no other way to get food, and Kell doesn't like people
starving, although it happens on a regular basis. And he
should have detected the boy and stopped the pick-pocket.
He starts trailing the boy and tries to slowly move up to him.
He won't push too fast through the crowds but attempts to close
the gap between them quickly.
[If Kell gets to 15 feet behind the boy, Kell will trail him to
see where he goes.]
GM: Ack.
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[New Stuff]
[Julis 7th, 1634TH]
[Location: Jiuquo, Katai]
[Weather: Partly Cloudy, Temperatures: 65-85]
[Time: 1:17pm]
Kell curses to himself at being duped. If anyone should've
known he should have. But with the distractions, people,
sights, smells and likely the kid's skill must've overcome
his own training in the streetwise skills.
Kell recalls the mental picture of the boy he saw briefly. He
knows the boy was a native from his skin and eyes. He was skinny
but also scared at being caught. But was that fear from the
failed attempt or fear of something else? Kell feels sorry for
the boy and maybe figures the boy to be a street kid. Having
to steal for food. He mentally shrugs at the thought of going
soft. Maybe his connection to Arawn and the clearly children
loving Fremea might be rubbing off.
Kell keeps his eye on the top of the boy's black hair and
reaches behind him awkwardly until he finds Kiet. "I'm going
after him. Meet at the stall." Kell begins to push his way
through the busy crowd.
Kiet catches a glance of Kell taking off into the crowd. He
shakes his head a bit while still looking square in the face of
the man who tried to grab his belt pouch. "Kell...!", he says
with a hint of warning, then turns his full attention to the man
carrying the sack. He puts his dagger away. Kiet's countenance
changes to very serious and stony, but obviously angry. "Come
here, now!", Kiet commands in his best Katai. "You will not be
harmed, but I do intend to recover that which is mine that has
been stolen."
The man with the sack had turned around by now and started in
the opposite direction. But when Kiet yells for him he stops
in his tracks and turns slowly around. He steps a foot closer
to Kiet and shrugs as best he can with a heavy sack on his left
shoulder. "I told you it was an accident! I simply was pushed
into you. This market..." he waves his free right arm around
the area, "is a crowded place. Folks always push and shove."
Kiet places his fingers into his belt pouch and fingers the coins.
Nothing seems to be missing. He checks his person and finds nothing
else seems to be missing. Kiet keeps his eye on the peasant farmer
of the man. Clearly his clothing shows a hard worker. His
callused hands shows a life of hard labor. Both acrobat and
peasant stand eye to eye height wise but the peasant has about
20-30 pounds on Kiet. Kiet fingers his dagger and judges the
man. Maybe he was pushed. It does happen. Both Kiet and Kell
have touched awkwardly or defensively at least 3 dozen men
and women in the market in the last hour.
Kiet approaches the man and looks at the sack. With left hand
he reaches up and with dagger in right hand he reaches up.
"The sack is about to fall let me help you." As Kiet adjusts the
sack he nicks the sack just slightly in back as he twists around
the man. He then pats the sack. He waves the man forward. As
the man begins to move through the crowd, Kiet smiles at the
spilling stream of corn.
Kiet shakes his head at the day-dream. No that wouldn't be
right and this man could be innocent. While a thought he
wish he could do, there are simply too many witnesses and it
would draw attention. Kiet nods to the man standing in front
of him and waves him on. The man quickly turns and moves
forward and then turns right down another side street.
Kiet turns to see Kell's hat in the distance some 50 feet
down the street bobbing up and down. While many in Katai
wear farming style wide brim hats, Kell's hate is more distinct
here in this market. Kiet shakes his head and doubts Kell
heard him. Kiet turns to head back in the opposite direction
toward the stall and horses.
The market itself is setup on a wide street going straight south
in the industrial district to north into the more residential
district. The market street itself has shops all along the strip
which is about 3 miles long. Most places are blank wall areas where
booths are setup. Most booths are single to two person setups with
a mini storage area in back. The street itself has side streets
that head west or east from the market street. These side streets
are as small as a 2 person wide alley to as wide as a two wagon
street. They connect to smaller strips of shops and market booths
but the main market area is this one street in this sector of the
city. Kiet heads south to the southern most point where Caladan
and Strie'bog have setup their own stall. It might be a bad
place to sell but new booths have to setup on the fringes. Kiet
knows it will take some time to get back.
With the sun above the market it casts shadows toward the east
areas as it begins its down slide into the horizon from the
zenith point. As Kell trails the child he has no clue where the
other lad went. But he continues to keep his eyes on the boy.
At the closest point Kell gets within about 10 feet of the boy
but the crowd is hard to maneuver. It takes full concentration
just to keep the boy in sight. But after about 2-3 minutes it
seems clear the boy is intent on some path.
The boy suddenly stops in front of a booth that sells what
looks to be shoes. He glances at a pair and then puts them
down. Just as Kell gets within 12 feet of him the boy turns
and continues on his path. Kell glances to the shoemaker and
the vendor urges him to buy a pair. But Kell continues on
through the crowd.
After another two minutes Kell becomes frustrated with the heat,
body odor and mass of people. If only Raban was here his very
presence would create a hole to ride a wagon through at full
speed. Suddenly the boy veers to the right toward a shop front.
Kell begins to quicken his pace in case the boy enters the shop
and loses him. But instead the boy steps up onto the wooden
boardwalk that lies in front of many shops and passes the door.
As the boy continues on north he suddenly turns right toward
east and out of sight. As Kell attempts to pass through a group
of four peasant farmers he tries to veer around them only to
be stopped by a braying donkey and his handler. As the donkey
passes Kell pushes forward onto the same boardwalk and quickens
his pace.
As Kell gets to the poin the finds it to be a side street.
He stops as he rounds the corner. He peers down the street which
in this case is a alley. There are a few box crates full of
trash for pickup, trash in the alley and a couple foods to the
the shops on each side. The one shop he just passed is a tool
shop of some kind. Kell only sees a old couple man and woman in
their 70s with white hair walking slowly east. Then Kell
notices the boy's shape int he distance down the alley turning
north again down that side street. Kell curses and jogs down
the alley. He knows these things but now there is no crowd so
he can move faster. He keeps his senses aware and scans the
alley. He knows how these things work.
Kell checks his sheath to find his tulwar and checks to ensure
his dagger is ready. As he trots his scale mail makes slight
noises in the ever increasing silence. As he passes the old
couple they become startled. The old man comes in front of the
woman to protect her. But Kell quickly passes both and heads
down the last 50 feet of the alley.
Slowing as he nears the next street he spots a shop that looks
closed directly ahead. As he rounds the corner west he stops.
The boy stands there in the shadow of the building counting coins
in his hand. Kell smiles more to himself that things are ell
but more that he found the boy.
Kell knows if he hurt the boy he might have to hear foul words
from Fremea. He isn't sure why but she seems to have some affinity
for them. He raises his hand and widens them. He clears his
throat and the boy startled looks up and backs away cupping his
coins in the left hand.
As Kell steps forward the boy is a good 4 feet in front of him
and now both are in the shadow. "What do you want?" The boy
asks. Kell glances to the coins in the boys clasped hands.
"No. These are mine!"
Kell steps back and glances west down the alley. Just in time
to see the old couple enter the side door on the south side of
the alley. They close the door and Kell spots no one else. It
took only a second and then Kell glances back.
"In fact mister. I'll take the rest of your stuff." The boy
grins.
Kell almost laughs as he glances behind the boy to see a empty
street. There is a single man maybe half a mile but he doesn't
seem to be close enough to be a threat. Kell glances right and
then glances over his shoulder. Just in time to see two thugs
approaching from the shadows of the east side of the street.
Kell places his back up against the wall and keeps his eyes
on the thugs. They are dressed in leathers and one carries a dagger
and the other a short sword. "Just hand it all over and we'll
not hurt you mister." One of the thugs says. Kell glances back
at the boy who clearly is nimble with no armor but is now holding
a knife and pocketing the coins.
Kell curses himself. He knows of these things. But in his haste
to see the boy and not lose him he didn't check behind him.
It only had been a second or two at most. But this was clearly
a setup from the start. He sighs and wishes Kiet was here now.
One against 2.5 should be easy but Kiet would've evened the odds.
As Kell glances south he sees a horse with a rider in the distance
but looks to be only a farmer who seems to ignore the situation.
The market full of people is only about 75 feet away but now
there are two thugs almost blocking that path.
[Time: 1:25pm]
-----------------
[Time: 1:05pm]
At the jail the group sits in the quiet room as the Major leaves.
As the group waits they recall the last few minutes. Z'leyra,
Will and Chion try to recall what they saw. One would expect
some hidden or visible detection device in this building. But
not outside on the doors or in the main room there was none.
Each wonders about this. Zhou did mention it was secret groups
who set these things up with the help of nobles. Could it be
the military who serve as the army and local police force don't
use such devices? Maybe that would admit they acknowledge a
problem in the nation. No, each person thinks back but didn't
see any such device or gem as Zhou mentions. OF course this
doesn't stop them from walking in with hand held devices.
Z'leyra makes her suggestion to the others to aid the major
in the fees needed for the documents. She never goes as far
as saying it as a bribe but the intent is clear. The four
sit and wonder why Zhou hadn't had forged documents setup
already. But maybe he figured this would be a citizen-noble
group rather than a bounty hunter group as the Major seems to
think they are. Especially since no one has said to the contrary.
Ben'Dar shrugs, giving as much agreement as usual. He keeps his
eyes on the door through which the major left. Something doesn't
seem right to him. He stands and moves to the wall next to the
exit, and leans there with his spear in hand, as if casually
waiting. He is positioned so that if the door opens suddenly,
he will be somewhat hidden behind it.
The room itself is only about 10 feet wide and 8 feet long.
The door is behind the team who sits in chairs facing the
opposite wall across from a single wooden chair. The table
itself is about 4 by 4 feet and sits in the center. There are
no windows or other items in the room aside from carpet and
a hanging set of 3 wall lamps on all but the wall Ben'dar is
leaning on now.
Ben'dar leans against the wall and tries to listen and every
so often can hear a muffled voice but no details.
The group sits alone in the quiet for what seems like hours
but is only about ten. Then the door is open gently. Ben'dar
tenses but the door didn't burst open. Those in the chairs
turn to see a young soldier who couldn't be more than 18. Unlike
the major who is in his late 20s this one looks very green.
He closes the door and glances at Ben'dar in surprise. He
raises an eyebrow in surprise. "Need to leave? We have an
outhouse in the back." He then clutches a few scrolls and
sheets of paper. He heads to the empty chair the major used and
sits down. He glances at the party as he gets some ink jars
and quills from a drawer. "Hello. I've been sent up here to
get some basic information."
"You there. You can sit down or do you need the outhouse?"
the youth asks Ben'dar.
He first asks for names, nation of origin, house affiliation
and any information on the ship the party came from. He then
asks questions on how many pirates were killed, captured or
missing. The details on their ship. Details on the attack
and destruction of the pirate ship. Finally he asks if anyone
has bounty hunter permits.
[Time: 1:25pm]
-----------------
[Time: 12:42pm]
As the group traveled through the city Arawn suggested to Raban,
"Perhaps it might be best to walk the horse. You'll stand out
either way but you bring it to a whole new level on horseback. It
draws even more attention to you and the party."
[Time: 1:03pm]
Zhou leans forward. "Now as to what we need..." He then
pauses as he realizes what Tiehul just said. He sits back
in his chair. "I'm sorry? You know what we are?" His eyes
flare nervously a bit.
Tiehul leans closer in his chair. "He didn't tell you? That's
surprising. I was born with a certain sense awareness. I
can sense sources of...strength. This one here," he points to
Arawn, "seems the most powerful. When I was young I was recruited
into a secret group and yes we hunted the Heretics." That makes
the group suddenly tense up. "But after I saw victim upon victim
killed for such things as simply healing a farmer or protecting
crops from destruction I felt it was vile work. I quit. That
group is still in the south so I moved here. I opened some
businesses and doing quite well. Don't worry if I wanted you
for some reward I could have done it before you heard my story.
I know the policy of this nation is wrong. In fact there are
many who think the same thing."
Zhou nods and glances to the others. So he can sense magical
strength it seems. Even without any items on the group he
can sense their core magical strength. This must be why the
High Elder uses him.
"After a certain incident at Farfella falls in the north we
became friends of sorts with your master. By using the phrase
farfella he must be pulling in one big favor. This will settle
a large part of the debt I owe him. So why are you here?"
Zhou begins to speak but Shu interrupts him. "Uncle I could
use some rest. Is there a place?" She looks at Tiehul.
Tiehul nods. "Upstairs we have a room. Is this rest going to
involve some..." he waves his hand for the implication. Shu
stares back and finally nods before Zhou can speak.
"Upstairs second door. Should be empty. Give me one hour.
How major?" Tiehul asks.
"It involves our mission. It will be a quick action. But
it could be powerful. We need to do it here in the city as
it could give better results." Shu states quietly.
"Fine. Wait one hour. I'll setup our distractions. I've done
this before and it works. One payment the chaos masters pay me
for babysitting is powerful items that set off high activity
in one bomb like event. It can blind or distract the sensors.
But before you ask they are limited. So no I can't spare any
for your future needs." Tiehul then turns to his second in
command and waves a hand. "You know what to do?" The man
nods and walks toward the door to the stable.
Shu then stands. "One hour then. Cousin? Do you need to
stretch or rest as well?" She asks Fremea knowing her wings
might be cramping.
Tiehul ignores the question and turns back to Zhou. "Go on."
Zhou speaks up, "We've been sent to track a threat. But we
don't know where they are. Part of her action might help to
locate such things. Have you heard of problems or issues or
situations of a odd nature in the empire the last few months or
last year?"
"Odd? Nothing more than the usual. The Hunters hunt the
Heretics in their endless game. Nobles bicker. Peasants wage
their never ending chores to serve their lord. But no nothing
odd." Tiehul sits back in his chair and sips his drink.
"What about missing people? Rumors of....strange people seen.
Rumors of war. That sort of thing?" Zhou asks.
Tiehul crosses his arms. "Well folks in the west and deep
south are always going missing. You know the L'p'nth threat.
In the south they just enter the jungles and get lost. It has
happened that way for centuries. I can ask my people and contacts
on such things. How long are you here?"
"As briefly as possible. Our ship is still docked. It will
be until we order it to leave." Zhou answers knowing that some
want the ship to leave now. But he knows the party may need
that ship.
"Stay the night then. I'll send word out and see what comes back.
After breakfast we can see what comes back in. My network isn't
as big as some of the black market runners down south but I do
cover most of Upper Katai." Tiehul glances over as Shu begins to
climb the stairs up carrying her bag. Those in the group know
she will likely cast her Vong-presence-not-presence spell. It
seems almost weird to sense for lack of mana when everything
has mana even rocks. But the spell may work or at least detect
large enough gaps to help out.
Arawn clears his throat and asks Tiehul of the location of
detection devices in the city and how to best avoid them.
Tiehul glances over at Arawn. "I am not in that game anymore.
So I don't know all the nooks and crannies. But I know there
is likely some at the north road gate to Li'jian and the west
road gate. Others are random. Some are as obvious as to be
fake while others are well hidden. That's the whole thing.
Confidence to the people. Folks aren't stupid. They know
these groups exist. There are just too many around and oddly
the military seems to capture them without much manhunts on
their own. So simply doing one fake device is enough to fool
folks into confidence that they work and hidden ones are
doing their jobs. Even as a low operative I didn't know the
true amount. Only the top ranks did. But there are rumors
of at least a hundred. In the capital there are rumored to be
at least fives times that amount. It seems to be true as
for the capital few heretics are found. Maybe one in the last
decade or so. I suspect the military, group elite and the
noble elite know where the exact locations are."
"As to how to avoid them just don't be near them. Their range
is limited maybe 50 feet on average and 100 at most. I've
heard of some going as far as 200. Even some boast of 500 feet
but I believe those items are just hoaxes. Each group has their
own thing. Some simply search for items. Some search for the
strength like I did with you. Some search for a more generic
area like city wide or the air or sea. I even hear the empire
has sone that does only sewer detection so they can't go that
way. But if you believed in every rumor out there the heretics
would all be extinct now." He pauses then sighs. "I'm told there
are ways to cloud folks. But being not trained that way I
don't know. This is why the chaos masters send their foolish
apprentices down here. It is a game of cat and mouse. To me
its barbaric. As a simple operative I wasn't privy to ways to
avoid them as well. But on our hunts I know some avoided it
by clouding their minds somehow with mental shields. But
that was limited success. Some groups know this will be done.
I know that for every block a group has some counter. But
if that counter is here in this city I can't say. It will be
pure random hit and miss."
Tiehul stands. "Anyone need more food or drink?"
Zhou speaks up. "I think if my friends don't have questions
or comments that they can head upstairs or return to the ship.
The ship can stay till the morning. Then me and Tiehul can
cover some minor things so not to bore everyone."
[Time: 1:16pm]
Actions? Comments?
Next Update...Monday...
GM: For my memory so I don't have to keep checking:
Unali, Arawn, Raban, Shu, Fremea,Whitney,Farseeker,Zhou-Tavern
Ben'dar, Chion, Will, Z'leyra - Jail
Caladan, Kell, Kiet and Strie'bog - markets
GM: Kell yep I took into account your own skill. The boy just
got extremely lucky in the roll. Your own skills decreased
his chance but he got lucky. Ironically Kiet detected his
attempt.
GM: You may notice the different time marks. This is for reference
and to keep timelines going. Since obviously some events
will take longer than others.
GM: Kell let me know what you do. :)
For those at the jail let me know what answers aren't given
to some of the sample questions or what info is NOT given
in terms of the cover story.
For those at the tavern let me know if you have questions
or comments to ask. Also if you wish to stay at the tavern
to sleep the night or return to the ship. The day is young
though so other actions can be done.
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