DreamLyrics™ Play-by-Post Forums Fantasy SKT: The Storm King's Thunder 3F - Early Afternoon. Looking for the Villa

DM
Lunchtime comes to an end at the Pearl Handled Pipe. The party decides to venture out in search of a dilapidated villa in the northwest part of town. A single random rumor, true, partially true or completely false, had put into their plans. The rumor was that people stay away from it for all kinds of different reasons.

Having paid their fare for the find luncheon, the group finds itself walking outside again into the bright afternoon sun. They step into the courtyard outside and look about. It was being tended to by a small team of workers who were, at this time sweeping the street. Not far away was a member of the Shield, the town guard, patrolling. Other people were walking in and out of the courtyard, some might be other guests of the Pipe, others were likely just townsfolk crossing through the small plaza.

OOC: I've updated Roll20 so the map and put a token on it for the party. It's just for reference, for those who like to see things visually. You'll find yourselves in the top right corner of the map near location (5) which is the Pearl Handled Pipe. I'm assuming that Jaliera will use the Whisper scout technique. What are the rest of you doing? I'm handling this as a general skill challenge. You all have unique abilities you might want to use. And of course, role play it out.

Here's a link to the Roll20 game link to the Roll20 game in case you forgot how to find it.

Sindar

He will talk to the people on the street as they go towards the NW of the city. A villa that people avoid, ought to be relatively easy to find, people will remember it.

Davroar

Seeing the street sweepers, he comments, "If anybody would know, those with the brooms would, or else we just find a section that hasn't been swept for awhile."

<Bern>

He had been looking around ... and had seen the sweepers, but Davroar mentioned it first. "Good Idea", he said with a grin.

[[ Bern is =NOT= a 'people person' by any stretch. He will be 'hanging' with Davroar and 'keeping his eyes open'. ]]

Zhu will use Persuasion to try to elicit information if those we talk to seem reticent or afraid.

Jaliera

If Davroar is amenable, Jaliera will link her arm through his so he can guide her as she looks through Whisper's eyes.

Kriv will make use of his position of privilege as a noble to see what can be gleaned rom the upper echelons.

Davroar

He will gladly guide Jaliera walking slower than usual over to the men with the brooms. While walking up he would try to determine who the work supervisor is, but if he can't then he will just approach the group and ask, "Hey! I know this will sound rather weird, but someone told us there is a run-down looking villa somewhere around here. We're not looking to cause trouble, just curious..." Davroar will not say more, and would rather wait to see what sort of reaction he gets with his question.

DM

As they set out, Davroar tries approaching the nearby workers. After a few moments it becomes clear that although they would love to help out, they can offer no pointers. They don't seem put off, one of them looks at the other and then back to Davroar and says, "Try that part of town," pointing to the north.

With little success here, the party's quest to find the villa from Sindar's rumor leads them into the northern end of the city. As they moved deeper into the area they realize soon that finding a run-down building in that part of town would not be a problem. This is the seediest and dirtiest part of Yartar, a city which had a very low standard for morals. There is no shortage of people to talk to as they pass dozens upon dozens of them. Some were working, selling illicit goods and some, their bodies. The people here are poor, smelly and dirty. They seemed to be part of the fabric of this part of town which was run-down, filled with a stench that wafted from sewer grates and one had to watch one's step to not place a foot in something vile. The stroll here was quite unpleasant.

Kriv, Sindar, Zhu and Arus try to converse with the other people. Most of the,are surprised to be approached - almost skittish. Some of you surmise that these are cautious folk, worried, with good reason, about becoming the next victim. They are alert, their eyes scanning one and other, their ears perked and listening for danger, their heads on a swivel. Yet they answer your questions graciously. When ask about a strange villa, some shrug and say no. Others give answer that you can tell were made up. In many cases your insight tells you that they are just lying and pointing somewhere to simply end the conversation.

The buildings you pass almost all qualify and fit the description. They are old and some look like they once housed aristocrats. They featured fancy carved doorways,now rotting away, bas reliefs carved into the stonework but now chipped and damaged, courtyards where lush gardens might have grown which are now filled with trash and debris. The dark alleys between buildings look like places where crimes are committed and forgotten.

Bern and Davoar help Jaliera navigate the streets slowly while Whisper soars above. While she might stand out otherwise, here, in this part of town, Jaliera looked like just another unfortunate blind woman.

OOC: An assortment of rolls needed, just one each, as I interpreted your actions:
Jaliera, please provide me with a perception roll done with advantage DC 12, and then an insight roll, DC 18.
Davroar, Sindar, Kriv, Bern & Zhu can choose from one of Persuasion, Investigation or Insight. DC 18. This is a group skill check.

[[ Bern insight MikeD rolled d20+2 and got 17 ]]

[Arus rolls 24 in total on his Persuasion check]

OOC: Pande, see PM

DM
It's more than an hour into the stroll through the district when Jaliera, through the owl's eyes, sees Sindar talking to an old vagabond. The man nods and then points up the street and nods again. They talk for a moment or two more before as Sindar waves his hand to say goodbye to him and returns to where Jaliera, Davroar and Bern are. Sindar calls waves at the others to join him. Apparently he learned something.

The old man walks away and then disappears from view.

Sindar

He returns to the group. "I have a good hint. A bit further north," he points subtly so that the group can see he is pointing in the direction the old man was. "There is a villa that fits the description and as an added bonus, there have been odd magical goings on. I suggest we head that way, but proceed with caution."

Zhu

"Odd magical goings on? Did anyone give specifics?"

Sindar

"The descriptions were typically vague. Most people don't understand magic. Mostly odd sounds, phantom lights, things that would suggest a wizard trying to keep people away from an area, at least to me."

<Bern>

"But the directions seem to give us something that is worth following up", he said. "If there is a wizard ... or some other ... problem, we will deal with it when we get there."