Zix's Run (IC - Zix. Slgarrett only)

[Grognardsw]

It is time. One of the Guild Houses looms before you. Its true purpose is of course hidden under the guise of a respected and complicit merchant, as much of the city's underworld is veiled in legitimacy.

You enter and are escorted to an impressive library.

In an alcove, a wall of books parts to reveal a secret passageway down. You walk for some time through a maze of passages, doubtless subterranean, then arrive at a simple room. 

You are seated before a large desk. The Guild Lieutenant sits before you and speaks.

"Welcome Zix. As you know, the thieves and assassin’s guild of Lankhmar is a powerful institution, its tendrils deep in commerce and government. As such, its structure is elaborate and its training intense. Part of this training is an elaborate obstacle course, a testing ground in the cellars of the guild headquarters: The Assassin’s Run."

"The facility serves many purposes. The Run is a gymnasium for the practice of skills not easily performed repeatedly with discretion in public places. It is a training zone for novices and experts alike. It is a safe room for the Guild, defensible and deadly against intruders."

You nod your head and think of the others rumors heard in certain quarters. That the Guild has a hidden highway through the sewers of the city, and that the Run is connected to it. It is also said there are secret apartments at the center of the Run where the Master lives.

The Guild Lieutenant continues: "All Guild members are required to take the Run to advance in rankings. The Run's reputation is known throughout the underworld of the Realms. Many visiting adventurer thieves come to experience it."

"During your Run, the Guild Master will be watching you through a Wizard Eye (cast by a mage who serves as one of the Guild lieutenants.)  As the Guild does not want to maim or kill its members, blades will be blunted and projectiles padded (same damage, but subdual/non-lethal.) Traps that would be lethal are disqualifying. You may occasionally receive instructions via note. Follow them."

"Like much a thief does in life, you are scored by time and accomplishment. Move quickly, but not so quickly to preclude strategy. Have a sharp mind, but do not deliberate overly long. Combat may be necessary to accomplish a task, but it often is a means to an end, not the task itself. The wise will realize the difference and act accordingly."

The Lieutenant points to a door. "Good luck."

[slgarrett]

Zix eyes the Lieutenant suspiciously, takes out her leather gloves and cautiously approaches the door, 10' pole in hand. When she's close enough she pokes the door handle with the pole and observes any reaction.

[Grognardsw]

The Guild Lieutenant smiles and sips a cup as Zix checks the door with her 10' pole.


No trap is triggered. The door appears normal and unlocked.

[slgarrett]

"How's the wine?" I'll ask the Lieutenant as I approach the door and check for traps.

OOC: Should I roll or should you in secret?

[Grognardsw]

"How's the wine?" I'll ask the Lieutenant as I approach the door and check for traps.

OOC: Should I roll or should you in secret?

You can make all rolls, thanks. Also, go ahead and post up Zix's sheet in the Character Thread.

"Sweet, a fine vintage," answers the Guild Lieutenant. "Stolen from a shipment arrived from the wineries of distant Rhome. Perhaps if you do well enough in the Run you can join me for a drink." He lasciviously blinks at the comely female elf.

[slgarrett]

Find Traps Roll:

Zix Makes a Thief Skill Check: [1d100] = 90

"Might I trouble you for a glass?" asks Zix as she checks the door for traps.

[Grognardsw]

"The timer starts when you go through that door, so now is the time to partake," says the Guild Lieutenant. He hands Zix a glass of wine.

[slgarrett]

Thank you. May I have a seat then?

[Grognardsw]

"If you wish, though you can't tarry long. Your Run is scheduled."

He offers the elf a seat.

[slgarrett]

"I don't plan to be long," says Zix and she pulls up a chair. "Have you been through the run before?"

[Grognardsw]

"A few times to test my skills, when I was younger," answers the Guild Lieutenant. "We evolve it, so it's a bit different every month."

[slgarrett]

"Would you tell me what you remember?" asks Zix as she sips her wine.

[Grognardsw]

"Now lass, that would be cheating," he answers with a wink. "But I admire the effort. Though such ploys are part of real life, and if you have the..." he stares the elf over south of her face... "assets, you might as well take advantage of them."

He then whispers, as if someone were easedropping, "I like your spirit. Turn the curse into cure. You'll know it when you see the door. And drink the blue."

"Now get along," he says extra-loud.

[slgarrett]

"There is no honor among thieves, my dear. Thank you for the drink," says Zix with a grin and a wink. She then walks to the door and checks for traps again...

Zix Makes a Thief Skill Check: [1d100] = 5

successfully.

[Grognardsw]

Zix is confident the door is not trapped. It is also unlocked. The elf thief open it. Darkness and descending stairs meet you upon opening the door. The light from the room shows five feet of stairs before blackness engulfs.

Unless you note otherwise, I'll assume normal movement and observation level. Feel free to state specifically what you'll be doing, seeing/searching, speed of walking/running, what is in your hands in a given round, etc. The nature of the Run makes such specificity helpful for the character. Thanks.

[slgarrett]

Zix gulps down her wine, and sets the glass by the door frame. She then proceeds down the staircase using her infravision while carefully probing the floor, walls and ceiling for depressions, tripwires and irregularities with her 10' pole.

[Grognardsw]

Feel free to include rolls as necessary with any actions, in this case Find Traps. Thanks.

[slgarrett]

Each 10' Zix checks for traps and secret doors (using the "passing" detection probability) while probing ahead with the 10' pole. How many checks should I make?

[Grognardsw]

Zix's infravision reveals no heat sources. By touch the elf thinks the stairs are 6' wide, the ceiling 8' high. The stairs go down 10' then turn west in a 10' swerve that continues down.

Please roll twice given the two 10' sections. Thanks.

[slgarrett]

Zix Rolls To Detect Secret Doors of Which She Passes Within 10': [1d6] = 2
Zix Rolls To Detect Secret Doors of Which She Passes Within 10': [1d6] = 5

Zix Makes a Thief Skill Check: [1d100] = 87
Zix Makes a Thief Skill Check: [1d100] = 64

Zix will continue down the stairs using infravision and her 10' pole to probe the floor, wall, and ceiling for any depressions, or trip wires.