Chapter 3: The Lord's House

[drpete]

Aurs and Fiemar make their way onto the back of the owl the size of a house. It remains docile, allowing you to get on, though a twitch runs through it at one point that almost shakes you off. It turns its head around to watch you climb. Its menacing eyes and sharp beak could finish you in seconds, but it does not move to hurt you

After a bit of climbing, you are able to get up to spots where you feel somewhat secure.

Wow. This owl is basically a feathered, flying tyrannosaurus rex, scale-wise. You are basically rat sized...

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[Marullus]

Aurs Bonne accepts Fiemar's gesture.

"I'm open to ideas and this sorcery is more your field of expertise than mine. May I suggest we rally with those who also share our predicament?"

He also moves his massive two handed sword for better access if the need arises.

How many people can the owl carry simultaneously?

"We have the aid of my owl for perhaps an hour," answers Fiemar. "I think it best to find where we must go, then return for others to bring them forward to join us. I would regret spending time arguing with strangers when our fates lie so precariously in the balance."

Fiemar spurs the owl into the air, both he passengers clinging tightly to it's feathers. He directs the owl to fly up the stairs and over the pair of tiny humans there, scouting up towards the high ceilings to see what access can be found to the third floor.

As they soar upwards he asks Aurs, "Your uncle's proclivities are now a problem for us all... What more do you know of him?"

[drpete]

Let's say that the number of riders is somewhat flexible, but each rider must roll under their luck on a die that depends on the number of riders... for 1 rider, roll with d6, with 1d penalties for each extra rider... so you could get 6 riders on there, but you'd be rolling ... d16? Probably 4 is about the realistic limit.

[AureoBuendia]

I'm the second person, so I'd roll a d7. My luck is 15. Should I roll to get on the owl or am I safe?

[drpete]

You're fine. We can worry about it when the numbers start to get big

[drpete]

Flying up, the pair on the owl go up the first flight of stairs, around down the hallway, over to another set of stairs.

At the base of these stairs, they see the mutilated body of an elephant-sized pigeon, long dead. Stray feathers lie around the half- eaten bird.

The stairs go up into the darkness above. Between the night and the lack of windows on the top floor, it is impossible to see much beyond a small banister protecting the landing at the top of the stairs.

[Wintermute]

Hlalf's eyes track the gigantic bird beast as it flies out of view. He recovers his wits and makes towards the dangling rope left by the newest thief to join the heist, and begins climbing.

Strength Test: [1d20+1] = 12+1 = 13

OK I don't want to slow things down by making character stand there drooling, nobody is near Hlalf to snap him back to reality.

[drpete]

Hlalf makes it up to the table top with no problem. There are several very dangerous mechanical devices up there. Springs, mechanical jaws, metal nooses, etc. Rat traps of various shapes and sizes.

[Wintermute]

Hlalf calls out to the other person on the table, in North Speak: "You are no ghost. Help me find coins large like wagon wheel... we'll be rich! "

[Enoch]

It sounds like the owl is on the same landing as us, at this point?

Raamiz glances over at Shmeck with a worried expression, shakes his head, and takes a deep breath. Waving his arms, he shouts in Northern, "Hello, down here!"

[drpete]

It sounds like the owl is on the same landing as us, at this point?

Yeah, you see it fly over head and go over towards the stairs leading up (so far, it hasn't gone up, but is flying around above you)

[Marullus]

Okay, if four is the realistic limit, lets do that.

Fiemar Snow-born

Fiemar regards the half-eaten pigeon, the darkness above, and the miniature-men scrambling far below.

Study with a hunter's eye [1d24+1] = 3+1 = 4
I hoped to ask for some actual-factual information, but I'll just move forward with my own ill-conceived guesses.

"Something hunts birds, but leaves them half-eaten... I fear your uncle has a cat," he says to Aurs in Low Lankhmarese as they ride the owl. "Felines are known to be wasteful and callous once the thrill of the hunt has past. That is dangerous at our size - I am leery of leaving you alone above. Let us get these near ones first, that three of you can protect each other on the floor above. Then I'll go seek the northman Hlalf, below."

He circles slowly, bring the owl down next to Raamiz and Shmeck with its silent wings. He calls down from the back of the 20' tall Snow Owl to them authoritatively in Low Lankhmarese, "Identify yourselves and your purpose which brought you into this house this night. Our fates are now intertwined... Give your oath to cause no harm to each other this night and we can join together in escaping this predicament."

Once they've responded, he glances back to Aurs for his opinion on their answer.

(My work internet is spotty - not sure I'll have daytime access, so I'm putting this all in one post. I'll reply again after Shmeck, Raamiz, and Aurs all get to post and roleplay. I'm still hoping for Aurs to answer the previous request for more detail on his uncle. I had to pick a pair to go to first... I left Hlalf and Saal for last to give them more time to roleplay out their interactions on the table, because I am really enjoying the language barrier between them. (+1 to them for fun posts!)

[Enoch]

Raamiz calls back in the same tongue. "Our purpose is our own, but not to harm you--this, I think, we can give. I fear we will all be needing each other's aid soon enough."

[Sapperzz]

Saal snickers, "great, a northman" he says in Low Lankhmarese. "Do you speak the language of the city, large one?"

Saal picks carefully through the dangerous metal work, hoping to spy a way out of this mess.

In Low Lankhmarese:
"If you aim to make yourself useful, could you grab the rope?". Saal gesture towards Hlalf, coiling an imaginary rope in his hands to convey his words.

[drpete]

Saal, lets see what you find... please give me a luck roll (roll under your luck on d20).

[shaidar]

Shmehk looks up at the man on the owl and speaks in Low Lankhmarese

"Perhaps you should identify yourself first, before demanding the same from others. Trust is a two way street, and we have reason to be wary."

[Marullus]

Raamiz calls back in the same tongue. "Our purpose is our own, but not to harm you--this, I think, we can give. I fear we will all be needing each other's aid soon enough."

Shmehk looks up at the man on the owl and speaks in Low Lankhmarese

"Perhaps you should identify yourself first, before demanding the same from others. Trust is a two way street, and we have reason to be wary."

Fiemar Snow-born

Fiemar sighs heavily and rolls his eyes, looking back to Aurs with an expression that says, You see what I mean? Then, he calls back down to the men below him and his owl. "Because, at the moment, I am the one offering you aid. But your choices are your own. Time is of essence for me, and you have a right to your wariness. I suspect the solutions lie on the floor above. We will see you when you've climbed up." He prepares to spur the owl into flight and depart.

(I'll pause there for Aurs to add roleplay. My intention is to leave and pick up Saal and Hlalf, instead. GM can move that ahead after Aurs posts.)

[shaidar]

Shmehk sighs

"Wait! You have a point. Trust has to start somewhere, we're here looking for someone"

[Sapperzz]

Luck Roll (For these rolls i need to roll under my luck score? Is there any modification?):

Luck Roll [1d20] = 8

[drpete]

Nope, no modifications to the roll. Looks like you made it, barely

The machinery on the table now towers over Saal. Wandering in among the devices, he notices )and is able to avoid the triggers to) several rat traps, some of which could easily kill him at this tiny size.

There are maybe half a dozen separate functioning traps on the table with Saal and Hlalf.