Thunder booms as a chain of lightning flashes from one torrent storm cloud to the next. Howling wind rushes through the buildings of Rimuldar City, blowing dust and autumn leaves over the cobblestone streets. Soon, the angry black clouds hiding the moon's silver glow above will spew forth their rain, but so far they have held back.

As Rimuldar awaits the inevitable storm huddled inside, a small band of prowlers creep through the shadows of the night. With the Guard’s patrolmen either preparing for the storm or watching the streets from inside, the lurkers take advantage of the dark, empty streets and allies. Soon, they reach their destination, presumably unseen and unheard: a wealthy merchant's two-story home in the Upper Ward of the city.

Together, they select a bottom-floor window and prepare to enter. The front door would be prefferable, but is almost certainly locked considering the information their gang's fence passed along to them:

"Julian is a fat bugger. Makes his living in the spice trade," hissed the spindly old gargoyle behind his shady pawnshop's back-room table. "But, I happens to know he recently came into possession of a big ol' rock. Holding it for a friend, he is. Should still have it. Called the "Dragon's Tooth," it is -- a good-sized diamond cut long like a tooth." With the grimy claw of his little finger, the gargoyle flicks one of his own long, blackened canine teeth as if to illutrate its shape. "I'll give ya 300 gold for it. Don't even get smart and try to sell it elsewhere. By tomorrow, every gem dealer in the empire will know it got lifted!"

"Arrr, crap. I tolds you we should have lef earlier. Look ah me, I'm soaked to de bones already." Frank complained. "So do yous gois still wanna try a ground-level window, or shall we start on top, and den wohk our way down." Frank peers into the window, to see what's awaiting them.


I try seeing into the window. Observation: 12-1=11 . Frank the Fiddler rolled 5 using 3d6. Looking into the window.

Standing with his fellows in an alley on the opposite side of the street, Gaiven silently gives the house a look over before providing an answer.

[Private to GM: Trying to spot any other not-noisy ways to get inside.
Rolled 10 against Observation 11 or Perception 12.]

There are windows on the smaller, second story, but the bottom floor window has two benefits: it's open slightly and is under the cover of the adjacent one-story building. Even if there were someone watching, it would be difficult to see someone climbing through it.

"We are going to need a hot bath after this." Iridia added to Frank's comment, "I wouldn't know, this is my first time trying to break into an upper district house. But, with the loot thats in there, I am willing to bet that there is bound to be a couple of guards inside, or that it's inside a safebox. In both cases, the front door is a bad idea."

Iridia looked at the house for a minute, pondering the group's options.

"Hey Frank, can you lift me up to one of the second floor windows? I want to have a peek." Iridia finally suggested.

(If he accepts, then I roll a 3d6 got a 7. Observation skill is 10. Rolled a 3d6, got 10. Climbing is 11)
This message was last edited by the player at 07:13, Sun 21 Sept 2008.

With some work, Iridia is able to get into position to see over the sill of the top-floor window. It's pitch black inside; the only illumination is from the intermittent flashes of lightning. It appears to be one large room, but what -- or who -- is inside, Iridia can't tell.

Iridia looked back down at Frank, "Its too dark inside, but I don't hear anything, I think its empty. What do you think?" she whispered.

Gaiven points to the ground, and makes an OK sign[Private to Frank the Fiddler; Iridia Silvermane; Pema: Down's fine].

He doesn't complain about the weather. Then again, he never does.

(So I take it I didn't see anything noteworthy through the lower window.)
"Ok, lets go."
Frank the Fiddler rolled 13 using 3d6. Stealth, open window. 14-13=1 Made it!
"Damn creaky old houses. Dey always make the simplest entry hard."
Frank the Fiddler rolled 8 using 3d6. Stealth, Climb in. 14-8=6 Success.
Frank takes a look around the room.
Frank the Fiddler rolled 7 using 3d6. Observation, Looking around room. 11-7=4 Success.
If all is clear, I'll beckon my teammates, and start looking for loot.

Gaiven waits in the shadows for Frank's all clear signal.

Iridia drops down beside Gaiven, and awaits Frank's signal. She thought about entering through the upper window but dropped the idea because it maybe too noisy.

Frank looks around, his eyes straining against the darkness, ears struggling against the wind and rain. One thing that doesn't have to strain to make a detection is his nose; the air is thick with the potpourri of herbs and spices.

The first thing Frank notices are the glowing red embers of a dying fire in a brick fireplace against the west wall, the wall from which Frank entered. When his eyes adjust, Frank sees a heavy iron pot sitting in the coals. It smells like a hearty stew is brewing inside.

Again, lightning flashes, illuminating the room for an instant. Frank's larcenous eyes catch a glint on an ornate candleholder on the table near the fireplace. Otherwise, the room -- no doubt used as a kitchen -- has a number of cabinets and shelves.

There is a single door in the north-east corner of the room.

Once Frank gives the "all clear," Gaiven and then Iridia follows. Though Gaiven's accent into the house is silent, Iridia bumps the wooden prop holding the window up. It clatters to the floor, but thankfully the window is swollen enough in its frame that it doesn't come slamming down...

...Yet.

---

_{OOC: 10:18, Today: Stripe rolled 12 using 3d6. Gaiven's Stealth.
10:18, Today: Stripe rolled 15 using 3d6. Iridia's Stealth.}
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:30, Sun 21 Sept 2008.

Gaiven winches as the prop clatters to the floor. Standing as he was in a position to help Iridia inside, he is also in position to quickly reach out and grab the window. Catching Iridia's attention, he nods towards the prop on the floor.

[Private to GM: Also keeping an ear out for any noises in the house.
Rolled 12 against Hearing 16.]

Iridia realizes what she had done a little too late. Fortunately, Gaiven was there to save the day. She nodded back at Gaiven, and then picked up the prop and placed it back firmly.

"Thanks, handsome." Iridia whispered to Gaiven.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:12, Sun 21 Sept 2008.

Gaiven simply nods and smiles, then moves towards the door. Reaching it, he closes his eyes, as he lays his ear against the crack between door and frame.

[Private to GM: Rolled 15 against Hearing 16.]

Gaiven might be mute, but he's far from deaf. His keen ears detect the faintest stirring from beyond the door... but it's difficult to make out. Someone tossing in bed perhaps? Maybe getting out of bed? Putting on a house coat? Maybe it could have been the wind through an open window, blowing cutains.

Not only is the rustling faint, it's also brief. Gaiven hears nothing a few seconds later.

Looking over his shoulder to ensure that his companions are still with him, he slowly opens the door. First a sliver of a crack to look out, then expanding the crack a bit for a wider view.

Frank snags the Candleholder.
"Frank did it, wid da chandelier, in da kitchen. Heh. It's so dark in here. Yous gois dink it safe to light it?"

What is the weight of the Candleholder and does it currently contain any candles?

The candleholder weighs about three pounds and the white beeswax candle weighs about a pound. It's thick, but has burned down quite a bit, the hot wax dripping down its holder's silver stem and hardening again. Frank supposes the old gargoyle might cough up three or four silver pieces for it if he's lucky. However, there's no way it will fit in his belt pouch...

Using the intermittent lightning, Gaiven sees a sitting room filed with plush, antique furniture to his left. Large portraits of stern looking men hang upon the wall. They seem to glare down at Gaiven with accusatory eyes.

To his right, a stairway leads up into the shadows, then turns after a landing. A small white statuette stands on the polished banister's end post.

To the south, a large open threshold reveals a cavernous, two story great hall. It is filled with extravagant furniture, large marble statues and other works of art. A set of giant double doors on the south wall leads out to the street.

---

^{OOC: 13:57, Today: Stripe rolled 9 using 3d6. Frank's Merchant roll.}

"Hmmmm, I wonde if dis goi has any silvehweah?"
Frank starts looking for other loot in the kitchen.

How much does the statuette weigh, and how much can I get for it?
Frank the Fiddler rolled 11 using 3d6. Merchant roll for statuette. Merchant skill 11. Oooo, just made it.
Frank the Fiddler rolled 5 using 3d6. Stealth for search. Stealth=14 success.
Frank the Fiddler rolled 12 using 3d6. Observation for search. Observation=11 looks like I  missed something.
Frank the Fiddler rolled 11 using 3d6. Merchant roll for found loot. !!!!
This message was last edited by the player at 21:47, Sun 21 Sept 2008.

Frank searches the kitchen, but finds little of value except for herbs, spices, pots and pans. Any of this stuff can be taken and sold, but their value will vary widely.

---

^{OOC: The statuette is neither within Frank's reach, nor in his sight.}

Gaiven frowns when he sees Frank messing through the kitchen, but uses the time that it takes Frank to complete his search, to pull of his own shoes, and ties them tightly to his belt, give them a few tugs to ensure that they won't flop around noisily.

Deed done he slips quietly into the corridor on toe-socks. Pressing up against a shadowy patch of wall next to the door, he once again extends his ears.

[Private to GM:
11 against Stealth 14
13 against Hearing 16]

...And hears nothing besides wind and rain.

While Gaiven was scouting ahead, Iridia panned the kitchen. Nothing caught her attention but Frank playing around. She approached him and whispered to him, "We are here for the Dragon's Tooth, Frank. I doubt any of this is worth a sweat. We should focus on our goal and keep words to a minimum, shall we?"

And with that, Iridia left behind Gaiven. She took extra care not to foolishly knock over anything else this time.

Iridia observes the first story of the great hall, half expecting to find the Dragon's Tooth displayed there.

---------

[Private to Stripe: Iridia rolled 7 with a 3d6. Successful Stealth.
Iridia rolled 8 with a 3d6. Successful Observation.]
This message was last edited by the player at 12:19, Mon 22 Sept 2008.