Chapter 1c: The Waterfall Gate

[Marullus]

Characters:

• Alethan: Gudmund
• Alethan: Skardi
• redwarrior: Bork OdinKarsson
• redwarrior: Hild Gamlidottir
• Samwell Turleton: Olivia Linderoth
• ybn1197: Piers
• (NPC): Sigurd and Ylves

Skardi is having a normal day in his merchant stall, weighing and measuring the fortunes of all, when the stalls begin to burn. His collapses and kills the wealthy matron purchasing his wares and he grabs her coin purse before trying to find safety. "Hey Skardi, you thief!" yells Olivia Linderoth the beekeeper in the stalls nearby. She sets off after him, unable to grapple with the chaos unfolding around them both. As the market descends into chaos, Piers the Herbalist sees them fleeing down a side street and follows, hoping to get away from the growing throng.

"Spend it well friend, and keep my cart!" shouts Bork as he flees the market, heading down the same alley as Gudmund and his hen. As they round the corner, they almost stumble into the others, who had much the same idea, all trying to flee for the less-used Waterfall Gate.

The Vadgelmir River is the lifeblood of the city and its proof against siege. Rising from a wellspring within the mountain, it emerges at the Inner Keep and flows through a deep canal which cuts across the plateau the city is built upon. It is crossed by scores of bridges at every road and then pours off the plateau's edge in a sparkling waterfall where the city comes at at last to the Cliffs of Aurgelmir. Not used for commerce, the Waterfall Gate allows access to the cliff's fortifications, which overlook the deepwater harbor below.

Hild Gamlidottir, wearing her father's sword and brandishing her staff, flees down the side alley as the dragon swoops over the Worldtree Plaza. She pauses in the alley to help Sigurd, who struggles with a wounded leg as he tries to carry the young tow-headed child in his arms. "Shhh, Ylves... it will be okay," he tells the child, gritting through the pain. "To the Waterfall Gate - I have the key to the sally port," he tells Hild between ragged breaths.

The eight of you are more or less straggling together from alley to alley, gathered by fate or happenstance, when you are spotted by a group of eight kobolds as you pass a side street. A haphazard volley of arrows flies after you as the small lizardmen squeal and hiss in excitement, beginning to give chase.

Each of you make a Reflex Savings Throw (which at this point is equivalent to a player-facing attack roll). This is a 1d20, plus your Agility Modifier. Your goal is to roll 8 or higher. If you fail, take 1d4 damage as you are struck by a kobold arrow. If that kills you, you go down and have last words as it is stuck in a vital organ.

Then roleplay your actions and interactions.

[redwarrior]

Bork shouts Arrows! Look out! As he dodges nimbly past the Alleyway Let’s away before they run out of good targets!!

Reflex [1d20] = 17 damage [1d4] = 2

[redwarrior]

Hild looks up as the street vendor Bork yells. Just in time to see an arrow flying right at her. Shocked by this sudden turn and knowing that Sigurd and the child are undefended, she freezes for a crucial second, feeling the agony as the arrow tears through her side. Sigurd! You say you have a gate key? Lead us quickly, she mutters under her breath a death like this won’t see one brought back as a shield maiden....No.



Reflex [1d20+1] = 6+1 = 7 damage [1d4] = 2

[Samwell Turleton]

Olivia Linderoth

Olivia never would have thought she would find herself in the company of these merchants, nay thieves - wending their way through the alleys of a city she had only begun to think of as home. A new queen had only just been established into her colony and now she would have to start again - would it be beekeeping this next time? She kind of liked it - the solitary meditation in the apiary connecting with these creatures going about their day with such intent and rigor.

Curse my luck...

Olivia follows that fink Skardi with a blind focus.

She sees them (the Kobolds) but the arrow was already loosed and heading towards her. It punches into the wood of a rain barrel and sends a spray of murky water into the gutter.

Kobold Arrow [1d20 -1] = 9-1 = 8

Skardi, get into cover! Olivia yells out as she ducks behind the same barrel - not sure why she is compelled to help the scoundrel.

[ybn1197]

Piers - Herbalist

Piers stumbles after the others completely lost as to what he should do. He just left most of his herbs behind at the market. All he had left were in the sack he carried tied to his belt. Now there were little lizard-like men (they looked cute) shooting arrows at him and the others. What had he ever done to them. They didn't look familiar so Piers was sure he had never done anything to them. As the arrows soared towards them, Piers was able to duck as the arrows passed around him. Thinking Bork knows what he is doing, Piers nods at Bork's suggestion and follows him.

Piers Reflex: [1d20] = 14 Damage: [1d4] = 3

[Alethan]

Gudmund, Farmer
Dodging Kobold Arrows [1d20+1] = 14+1 = 15

Gudmund raises an eyebrow as the kobold arrows arc towards them. He doesn't even bother dodging, though, as he can tell they're going to fall short. But Gudmund is no brave warrior, at least not yet, so when the red-haired man calls for everyone to run, he follows, chicken in tow.



Skardi, Merchant
Dodging Kobold Arrows [1d20-1] = 10-1 = 9

Losing focus when Olivia calls out to him, Skardi trips on a protruding cobblestone. He flattens out on the ground just as an arrow sinks into the wooden post beside him. If he hadn't tripped, it would have skewered him! He jumps back up, sneers at the small dog-faced creatures, and keeps running after Bork, hoping the big man knows what he's doing.

[Marullus]

Characters:[/b]

• Alethan: Gudmund
• Alethan: Skardi
• redwarrior: Bork OdinKarsson
• redwarrior: Hild Gamlidottir (1 / 3)
• Samwell Turleton: Olivia Linderoth
• ybn1197: Piers
• (NPC): Sigurd and Ylves

Party Escape [1d20] = 14 Kobold Follow [1d20] = 8

With Bork's quick thinking, the group doglegs down the next alley and sprints to the next corner. They all take cover behind barrels and crates, spying to make sure they've evaded pursuit. It appears the opportunistic kobolds have been distracted by other quarry.

Hild groans, extracting the barbed kobold arrow from her side, trying to staunch the blood. Sigurd limps, exhausted as he carries the wide-eyed child Ylves in his arms. "You say you have a gate key? Lead us quickly!" says Hild to Sigurd, who nods, explaining to the others. "There's a sally port out from near the Waterfall Gate, a secret in case of siege..." he pauses, looking overwhelmed amidst the current circumstances. "It assumed a siege from outside. It could get us to safety." He sets the tow-headed child down, stretching his arm. "I... we'll make it, I'm sure." he says haltingly. Ylves looks up at Olivia, imploringly. "Can you help them?"

"Those monsters are everywhere," continues Sigurd, masking his pain. "We must make it through the alleys, then to the Gate. There's a guard house to the left of the gate - you'll find the stairs down to the passage inside there."

Sneaking through the alleys:

• Step 1 - using stealth. If you can narratively justify how your occupation aids you in sneaking through the alleys unnoticed, roll 1d20, otherwise roll 1d10. Modify by your Agility. Your goal is to hit a DC of 8.
• If you fail, then roll another Reflex Saving Throw (1d20 + Agility mod) against DC 10 or take 1d6 damage as you evade the arrows of the compitent cultist patrols.

Narrate interactions and actions with each other and through the Alleys. If you end the turn alive, you're at the main road, hiding in the alley across from the Gatehouse.

[Marullus]

Characters:

• Alethan: Gudmund
• Alethan: Skardi
• redwarrior: Bork OdinKarsson
• redwarrior: Hild Gamlidottir (1 / 3)
• Samwell Turleton: Olivia Linderoth
• ybn1197: Piers
• (NPC): Sigurd and Ylves

Party Escape [1d20] = 14 Kobold Follow [1d20] = 8

With Bork's quick thinking, the group doglegs down the next alley and sprints to the next corner. They all take cover behind barrels and crates, spying to make sure they've evaded pursuit. It appears the opportunistic kobolds have been distracted by other quarry.

Hild groans, extracting the barbed kobold arrow from her side, trying to staunch the blood. Sigurd limps, exhausted as he carries the wide-eyed child Ylves in his arms. "You say you have a gate key? Lead us quickly!" says Hild to Sigurd, who nods, explaining to the others. "There's a sally port out from near the Waterfall Gate, a secret in case of siege..." he pauses, looking overwhelmed amidst the current circumstances. "It assumed a siege from outside. It could get us to safety." He sets the tow-headed child down, stretching his arm. "I... we'll make it, I'm sure." he says haltingly. Ylves looks up at Olivia, imploringly. "Can you help them?"

"Those monsters are everywhere," continues Sigurd, masking his pain. "We must make it through the alleys, then to the Gate. There's a guard house to the left of the gate - you'll find the stairs down to the passage inside there."

Sneaking through the alleys:

• Step 1 - using stealth. If you can narratively justify how your occupation aids you in sneaking through the alleys unnoticed, roll 1d20, otherwise roll 1d10. Modify by your Agility. Your goal is to hit a DC of 8.
• If you fail, then roll another Reflex Saving Throw (1d20 + Agility mod) against DC 10 or take 1d6 damage as you evade the arrows of the compitent cultist patrols.

Narrate interactions and actions with each other and through the Alleys. If you end the turn alive, you're at the main road, hiding in the alley across from the Gatehouse.

[redwarrior]

Bork looks at the group and mentally shrugs. Boldness has kept him alive so far... Run!! He shouts and dodges across the street. He feels an arrow dig into his shoulder, but keeps moving.

sneak [1d10] = 3 dodge [1d20] = 4 die [1d6] = 1
Took 1 damage

Hild looks at Bork's audacious charge, shakes her head, and wishes she had access to a horse. Finally she shrugs and decides that if she is going to die, let it be defiantly. Pointlessly waiving her father's sword, she runs across the open space and slams into to wall next to Bork.


Sneak [1d10] = 5 dodge [1d20+1] = 13+1 = 14 die [1d6] = 6
Well, that was a good dodge to make!!!

[Samwell Turleton]

Olivia Linderoth

We'll make it, little one...don't worry Olivia says to Ylves with what Ylves thinks might be the faintest trace of a smile. Olivia is not so sure they will get through.

But this, this is like a game to Olivia - stepping between the hives, carefully avoiding sudden or jarring movements and sounds - like now, stepping carefully around the barrels cautious of each footfall. It comes to her naturally and brings some satisfaction to not be seen or heard. I don't know what I will do next, she thinks to herself - but so long as it is on my own.

Sneak [1d20-1] = 19-1 = 18 Reflex [1d20-1] = 14-1 = 13 Dam [1d6] = 6

Alternative sneak
Sneak (Alternate) 3 luck used [1d10+2] = 6+2 = 8

[Alethan]

Gudmund, Farmer

Gudmund tries his best to be quiet, but that's not easy to do while hauling a chicken in a cage...
Sneak Roll [1d10+1] = 3+1 = 4

His eyes go wide as he spots several cultists turn his way and fire a volley of arrows at him.

Reflex Save [1d20+1] = 4+1 = 5
Cultist's Arrow Damage [1d6] = 1

One arrow lodges solidly into his left shoulder and he lets out an audible gasp of pain. But Gudmund manages to keep moving without dropping his pitchfork or the chicken!

OOC:
HP: 2 1

[ybn1197]

Piers - Herbalist

Ready to charge across like Bork, Piers sees Olivia softly and quietly crossing. But what crosses his mind is the end result. Bork charged and took an arrow while Olivia crossed without being hit. Taking a queue from her, Piers tries to quietly and softly pass across the street. Unfortunately for him, he is either not silent or not soft as an archer spots him and fires an arrow his way. Luck keeps with him as he is able to jump out of the way and make it across the street unscathed.

Sneak [1d20] = 4 Reflex [1d20] = 10 Dam [1d6] = 5

[Marullus]

Characters:[/b]

• Alethan: Gudmund (1 / 2)
• Alethan: Skardi
• redwarrior: Bork OdinKarsson (2 / 3)
• redwarrior: Hild Gamlidottir (1 / 3)
• Samwell Turleton: Olivia Linderoth
• ybn1197: Piers
• (NPC): Sigurd and Ylves

"We'll make it, little one...don't worry," Olivia says to Ylves with what Ylves thinks might be the faintest trace of a smile. Olivia is not so sure they will get through. She leads the way for the small child, her father limping behind. They work their way through the myriad alleyways, finding places to hide when they spy cultists at intersections, waiting for them to pass. They finally reach the main road, concealing themselves behind the crates that stand beside the warehouse to their left.

Bork opts instead for a charge, running down the alleyways, Hild right behind him. They are spotted by the cultists, who briefly give chase and give a break for Gudmund, Piers, and Skardi to scoot down a different branch. Bork takes an arrow in the shoulder (-1) as does Gudmund, who encounters another patrol but escapes down a side route with his chicken.

Everyone survives, joining Sigurd and Olivia at the crates, most winded but thankfully free of their pursuers. The main road is too open for stealth to aid you. Just to the right stands the Waterfall Gate, a gatehouse in the wooden palisade along the cliff's edge. A half-dozen dragonkin stand at the gate armed with long spears, barring any attempts to escape through it. They hiss to each other in their draconic tongue, restless for action. You see two of their fellows atop the gatehouse, armed with longbows.

Sigurd points to the squat stone building two doors to the left of the gatehouse, roughly across the street from your current position. "There. That's the guard station. Inside you'll find the stairs down which lead to the sally port." He takes out an iron keyring and grips it. "It will lead down, and out into the fields."

Actions!

Missing: Skardi
Skardi: Sneak [1d10] = 5 Dodge [1d20] = 15 Damage [1d6] = 6

[Samwell Turleton]

Olivia Linderoth

Skardi, you are a scheming huckster...any ideas?

Olivia thinks on her experiences and wonders if some tricks of confusing and pacifying her bees could work in a situation like this.

I have some skill in making smoke and understanding how to direct it with the wind...if we can get enough material and make enough smoke to blow into the street - along with a distraction - we might be able to pull some guards away from the guard house and hide our movements across the street.

Olivia is at a loss for what could be a good distraction and only somewhat certain this is a good idea.

Is the wind blowing favorably for an idea like this? Is there any natural material around to burn? And are there still rain barrels around with some water in them?

Intelligence [1d20+1] = 2+1 = 3 Luck [1d20] = 17

[Alethan]

Skardi, Merchant

Skardi nods, "We need to get to that doorway without alerting those guards. Smoke might work. A distraction from the other side might work, also... but I think we should try the smoke. What do you need to make this happen, Olivia?"

[Marullus]

Is the wind blowing favorably for an idea like this? Is there any natural material around to burn? And are there still rain barrels around with some water in them?

Olivia thinks quickly, and is in luck! The building on the other side of the guards, to the right of the Waterfall Gate, is a stables. There's a small paddock attached to it with several large haystacks, more than enough for whatever plans she might conjure. You saw several rain barrels catching runoff from the roofs, so that, too, is not an issue. How to compose a ruse which allows to get to the paddock, though, requires more thought...

[Samwell Turleton]

Marullus - is there anything on fire in our vicinity from the invasion or dragon attack?

Water Gate Folks:
1. Is there a way we could make a sling and loft a flaming object into the paddocks to catch the hay on fire?

2. Or find a higher vantage point to do some similar action of lofting a flaming wad of something into the hay?

3. Last suggestion, could Olivia charge across sacrificially and set fire to the haystacks if we can make a torch she can use to light them?

4. Or an alternative plan

[Marullus]

Marullus - is there anything on fire in our vicinity from the invasion or dragon attack?

Yes. You can assume that any reasonable assumption is likely true.

[Samwell Turleton]

Marullus - is there anything on fire in our vicinity from the invasion or dragon attack?

Yes. You can assume that any reasonable assumption is likely true.

Thank you! - I am still getting my bearings on how this all works.

[Marullus]

*bump*
I am waiting for clear action and for posts from more players.