In reply to Aoife (msg # 36):

you have about 40 seconds...

In reply to Ardenas Barehand (msg # 37):

The small creature accepts Ardenas' offer and climbs up.

"Kalima, Mancini, I marked the door the two men went into with a stylized goblet."  He repeats the four strokes in the air to demonstrate.  "Do we want to try to find the back door to that house, or just charge in the front?"

"I think we should take the direct approach.  We've already wasted enough time", Mancini said ruefully.  He did not want to fail in the mission, if only for the fact that it may reflect poorly on the Guild.  "But how do we get them to open the door?"

"By hook or by crook, we'll get the door open.  I can magically open locks, if needed, and we might be able send Aoife here under the door to remove the bolt.

"The real question is what we'll find behind the door, and there isn't a practical way to answer that other than to open the door."

In reply to Ardenas Barehand (msg # 42):

The door does have space enough for Aoife to slip under. It also appears to be locked.

"Aoife?  Would you run under the door and remove the bolt when you're yourself again?"  Ardenas puts the mole down in front of the door, then straightens and looks at the lock.

"This will take a moment."  He begins an exaggerated series of gestures, combined with a clearly spoken incantation, taking a full twenty seconds, then frowns.  "Sorry, magic is hard."  He gathers himself, takes a deep breath, and starts again.

"That's better."

[Private to GM: 04:56, Today: Ardenas Barehand rolled 13 using 3d6.  Lockmaster (11 +1 for extra casting time).
05:01, Today: Ardenas Barehand rolled 9 using 3d6.  Lockmaster (11 +1 for extra casting time).]

In reply to Ardenas Barehand (msg # 44):

Aoife heads under the door, pausing to try to detect what is on the other side.

Mancini waits patiently for the door to be unlocked. As he waits, he readiess his rapier just in case they should run into some cultists.

In reply to Mancini (msg # 46):

Aoife creeps under the door, and just in time, too! As Ardenas magically springs the lock, Aoife finds herself growing back to her full size, although a little short to reach the bar three feet up...

In reply to Narrator (msg # 47):

Aoife looks around, and double checks that she is herself again...and gets out of the way of the door.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:52, Thu 01 Nov 2018.

Ardenas puts his hand on the door, waiting for Aoife to lift the bar.

In reply to Ardenas Barehand (msg # 49):

Aoife should be able to reach the bar with her Shillelagh, make a ST roll+1

In reply to Narrator (msg # 50):

Aoife can reach it, but has little chance of lifting it. She decided Bruce would be better equipped to do that, and tries to summon him.

[Private to GM: Summon Ally, Bruce the bear. Rolled a 9]

In reply to Aoife (msg # 51):

With a huff of musk the bear appears. The space is somewhat confined for him, being 8 feet high, two yards wide and two deep before opening on a yard wide archway to a flight of stairs down.

He growls, and flips the bar out of the way with a crash.

In reply to bear (msg # 52):

Aoife wastes no time in leading him away down the stairs.

Mancini follows behind, rapier in hand, but at a safe distance from the bear.

Ardenas glances up at Kalima.  "After you, unless you prefer to follow."

He looks around for a moment, frowning.  "Is Oly not back from the Guild yet?"

In reply to Ardenas Barehand (msg # 55):

Oly should have caught up....

The bear roars as it steps on the stairs, and jumps back.

Aoife, make a per roll and a ht roll.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:34, Tue 06 Nov 2018.

Oly says Here, Behind Mancini...

"Watch it, Mancini!"  Ardenas lifts an hand as a signal to Kalima, on the assumption she's still behind him.  "What's up with that bear?"

In reply to Ardenas Barehand (msg # 58):

"The bear belongs to the small one, yes? I think there may be a hazard on the steps."

"I presume the bear is hers.  She was leading it."

In reply to Ardenas Barehand (msg # 60):

the bear roars again, backing out toward the alley way, away from the stairs.

Aoife feels faint...

"Aoife?  Your bear is going to flatten someone."
This message was last updated by the player at 10:12, Fri 09 Nov 2018.