When Arui and Ivor had gone to the Blue Sails Warehouse, they'd expected a straight transaction.  They'd  recover their stowed equipment, sell off some of the Caris oil they'd stockpiled, then see about selling the horses they'd brought down for barter on the other side of town.

But Migram, the keeper of the warehouse claimed he had no record of their stores.  Not the caris oil, the winterseed, the hag's bane nor the firebloom.  Worst of all, the hand-crafted side-saddle that Davor T'Donna had spent the better part of a year crafting for the Queen of Kumlaren kingdom herself was gone.

Arui was furious.   Ivor was apoplectic.

But Migram was adamant.  "I can talk to the master of the house.  I mean, he might've put it in special holding, though I don't see why he would have done such a thing if there's no actual danger in these stored items.   If you let me talk to him, I'll see what I can find out."  Migram said.  His tone wasn't particularly conciliatory, and his portly figure suggested that he'd more than fed well off the servicing of others' store.  "Give me a day to work on this.  Things don't just go missing.   We have customs.  and locks.  And wards!"

Ivor, for his part was growing a dangerous shade of red and he was starting top breath heavy, a sure sign that he was barely holding back the berserker rage he'd shown more than a few times...  It's what made him a good warrior but a member of the tribes that had to be dealt with with sensitivity...

Ivor was growing livid.

 "This will not stand!" He bellowed.  "That saddle was made for your gods-damned queen.  DO you know how long it took to shape, to embue?    This is robbery, pure and simply!  You will find our stores immediately, or I will single-handedly bring this place to the ground!  Do you hear me!  To the ground!"

@Nathan

The raid on the open-air market the mage specialist had directed them to had been a wash.    If the little princes had been there, they weren't there now.

They'd taken a questionable approach--a show of force where perhaps some dicrestion would have been better.   Fifty blue-coats swarmed through the market, questioning merchants and selelrs, buyers and casual browsers, alike.

The Sigiled Fist had a couple of members among the group, but it was mostly rank-and-file who were interrogating the public.

Nathan knew that most of the public displays were a sideshow, a distraction for one or two specific Fists to get inside the new Mage's research campus.  It was rumored that this was the most likely place for the ley-lines to shift to in the very near future.  ANd, therefore, this was likely where the ritual was done to sever the prince's fate-lines or hide it from discovery.

That, in itself was likely to be a strange advent, should it prove to be permanent.  If others could not read your fate, even in the most general of terms, what did it mean?  Was the threads of the the tapestry of fate still woven or had they become unbound?  Considerations for more scholastic mages than he, but still, one had to wonder what--if any--lasting repercussion this might have.


By the time it was done--not even a whole hour, word had come to Nathan that a situation had been arranged for him to bring in a Tarenti Guardian.  Menkliia was the Queen's man, but he was a brutish lout with tiny piggy eyes.  and a crass, heavy-handed manner.   But he spoke with the queen's authority, so Nathan was bound.

He was to get to the Blue Sails Warehouse in the South district, the Dockwards area, and find a way to win her trust.  Her thread, it seemed, had been traced in the tapestry...

Nathan painted on a smile whilst the Queen's Man briefed him; he had had to handle Menkliia before, the trick being to balance your own competence with enough subservience and minor slips that he felt superior.

So he painted on a smile, nodded at the redirection and the news of one of the Tarenti Guardians. That itself was welcome.

Glancing around at the scene, at the burned favours and disruption, he hoped it had been enough. He hoped the threads remained tangled enough, enough to find the princes. Even if their threads were cut from fate's marker, those who held them were perhaps still there, those who moved around where they were. He simply needed to find the negative spaces where fate ... wasn't.

He had a lead now, the Dockwards district. He had a target, the Blue Sails Warehouse.

He had a thread to unravel.

Attempt to Create an Advantage, leaning on his previous investigations, his contacts and the folks he put away. He has been there before, knows someone who might slip him inside and let him know if anyone's seen a Tarenthi

She'd come along because she wanted to get out of he room.  They'd found a nice inn; it was clean, and well furnished, and it had a variety of new and delicious food, but it was too confining for a woman who was used to sleeping under the stars.  Besides, this was her first visit to a real city, not like the rendezvous that popped up several times a year where merchants from far off places would come together to trade with her people.  She was going to see what it was like, and maybe walk off the too many pastries she'd been eating since they'd arrived

Tabeta was busy with the strange dance of audiences and dismissals that counted as negotiation to the Kumlarans, so she asked Arui to go along.  She was glad to help with the mission, especially if it didn't involve sitting in echoy chambers as parades of bureaucrats droned on about the schedule for the next meeting on the subcommittee of droning bureaucrats. The gift saddle for the queen would be a tangible display of the Tarenti people's loyalty to Kumlar, and hopefully gain her favor.

Ivor was the one in charge of getting the supplies from the warehouse, but he was better at fighting than talking, and Tabeta thought it would be good to have someone with a calmer disposition along. Now Ivor's temper was on display, and his shouting could no doubt be heard from the palace.  This wasn't going to help their diplomatic mission.  She wished Tabeta was here now.  With a sigh she held her own emotions in check and tried to follow her aunt's example in such situations.  "I'm sure it's a misunderstanding, but you understand our urgency.  Can you get in touch with the master of the house today, perhaps?"

 Today: Arui rolled -2 using 4 Fudge dice.  rapport +0.

@NATHAN

Attempt to Create an Advantage, leaning on his previous investigations, his contacts and the folks he put away. He has been there before, knows someone who might slip him inside and let him know if anyone's seen a Tarenthi

Okay, so this is a narrative detail.  Roll Investigate vs Mediocre(+0) Target.
If you succeed, you can define the advantage.  Succeed with Style and you can take two invokes on it.   Tie and you still succeed, but word of your involvement will precede you.  Fail and word of your interest is passed on, but you don't succeed.

Migram, the shopkeep stopped, uttered a heavy sigh and glanced at Arui, then Ivor.   He took a step back and raised both hands.  "Come back tomorrow."  he said heavily.  Then he called, "Mikel.  Yvon."

The two ruffians who'd been playing dice outside the front door out front, playing dice, stood up at once.  One of them drew a curved falchion and stepped to the door.  "The man asked you to leave." the one with the beard and the sword said.  "Do as he asks, or we'll have to tell you. And you don't want--"

And then Ivor bellowed.  He crossed the room in three huge steps and buried his shoulder in the man's stomach, throwing the bearded man against the wall.

Unfortunately, I'm going to overrule the roll, anyway, because I want to use the scene to hook Arui and Nathan up with Cara and Manaolama who are right nearby).   So, I'll give you a fate-point for it, since I'm taking away your player agency.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:27, Mon 08 June 2020.

Ivor's tackle took Mikel against the wall an gave him the Aspect Off-Balance.   You (or anyone in the fracas) can invoke it,  The first invoke is free.   at the end of the round, the Aspect is gone as Mikel will have regained his balance.   It also has the added benefit of him not being able to act directly in this round.  He rolled well for Initiative, so he's going to act first next round (if there is a next round).


Ivor was incensed.  He spun on one foot and drew his short-sword.  It's not the weapon he'd use on the fields--a nod towards the idea of being in a "civilized" city.  But Arui knew that if he'd drawn it, he intended to use it.  He squared off against the other ruffian, still silhouetted in the doorway, and growled...

Yvon withdrew the black wood club and took a defensive stance, his back to the outside world.


--
Initiatives

Mikel  Notice(+2) +3 = +5: Off-Balance - Falchion
Migram Notice(+4) -1 = +3 unarmed
Yvon   Notice(+3) -1 = +2 wooden club
Arui   Notice(+4) -3 = +1
Ivor   Notice(+2) -1 = +1

Because this is rpol, I do not expect to cleave to the initiative roster.  Please do not wait for  someone else to post before you do, as that will lead to lots more waiting around.  Just write what you want to do.

If you want to write Ivor's actions (or, for that matter the skopkeeper (Migram) or the ruffians (Mikel & Yvon), feel free.

With his attention on the man who just threw him into a wall, Mikel wasn't aware of the other figure drawing her hatchet and bringing it up against the side of his head

Arui cursed under her breath.  She should have known when they started that Ivor was going to cause trouble, but it was such a simple task, it shouldn't have gone this wrong in the first place.  She needed to help her tribesman, but she didn't want to seriously hurt the guards, so she attacked with the blunt side of her hatchet.

Not being a fighter, Migram backed away from the crazed tribesman into the warehouse.  He had Mikel, and Yvon to do the fighting.  He would escape through the back exit, and hopefully find some city watch to deal with the barbarians.


16:36, Today: Arui rolled 1 using 4 Fudge dice.  blades (+2). +2 for invoking off balance?

I'll leave the other fighters to you.  You know their abilities better than me

After the complete wash that had been the market raid, Nathan moved swiftly and with purpose towards Dockside. His stride was firm, his blue cloak fluttering in his wake and his painted smile a warning. Though the first of these remaining, the fast-paced walk cleared his head and his expression was more neutral by the time he passed into the district itself.

Discrete enquiries of a pair of patrollers confirmed three Tarenthi had been seen on their way to the warehouse, together with the earlier trouble that had occurred there today.

Slipping an extra copper to a street vendor whilst he paused for a bite - a lump of seared meat and spices wrapped in unleavened bread that he could, in theory, eat as he walked - provided a warning that the Tarenthi might not find what they sought at the Blue Sails. And that perhaps this was not the first time patrons had struggled with their collections.

16:57, Today: Nathan rolled 1 using 4 Fudge dice.  Investigate (+4) - Create An Advantage, vs Average. - 1 - Succeed with Style
=> A Game Is Afoot

Eating what he could of his lunch, Nathan passed the remainder to a beggar upon the streets. Not for the first time, his donations a mix of urgency and forward planning. He broke into a jog, knowing the temper of a thwarted Tarethi and chose the closest entry - the back way - rushing through apace.

His swift entrance did not go unnoticed, the edge of the door catching Migram in the back and knocking the fat man into a tangle with one of his thugs!

Ahead, he spotted the fight already begun, one crazed tribesman rushing another of Migram's thugs, and he called out as he leapt into the room, "Stop! In the name of the law!"

His blue cloak flared and swirled to a rest

16:57, Today: Nathan rolled 0 using 4 Fudge dice.  Investigate (+4) - Create An Advantage, vs Mediocre. - 0 - Succeed with Style
=> The Two Stooges

If required:

17:07, Today: Nathan rolled 2 using 4 Fudge dice.  Notice (+3) - Initiative. - 2

Round Breakdown

• Arui rolled Blades(+2) + 4Df(+1) +2 to invoke Mikel's Off-Balance for Attack(+5)
  
  • Mikel loses Off-Balance
  • Mikel rolled Athletics(+2) to dodge vs Aruis axe(+5) attack.
  • Arui succeeds, doing 3-shifts of stress + axe(+2) for 5 stress total!
  • I'm opting to use up Mikel's "In Peril" Condition to absorb 4-stress from Arui's axe attack.
  • Mikel now has Severed Ear  (of course, we can discuss!)
• Mikel rolled Fight(+1) to punch Ivor; Ivor dodges(+0), Ivor takes +1 stress
• Yvon takes a turn to prepare, seeking to create a tactical advantage by watching Arui and Ivor move, trying to figure out the best approach.
  
  • He rolled Notice(+2) + 4dF(+0),
  • Yvon failed to create an Advantage
• Nathan arrived on scene, slammed door, knocking Migram into Yvon.
  
  • Control rolled for Nathan Athletics(+1) + 4dF(+2) = +3 to slam door into Migram.
  • Migram attempts to dodge with Athletics(+0) + 4dF(-1) = FAILED
  • Nathan's narrative stands - Migram is knocked into Yvon

</ORANGE>



Stat Blocks

Who  Init Phys   Mental Mana  Prl Doom  Armor     weapon
Mikel  +5 P:1/8  M:0/7         ֎4   06  none(+0)  falchion(+2)
Nathan +5 P:0/7  M:0/8  X:0/4  O4   06  none(+0)  none declared (+0)
Migram +3 P:0/7  M:0/8         O4   06  none(+0)  unarmed (+0)
Yvon   +2 P:0/6  M:0/6         O4   06  none(+0)  wooden club (+1)
Arui   +1 P:0/5  M:0/5         O4   06  none(+0)  axe(+2)
Ivor   +1 P:1/8  M:0/6         O4   06  none(+0)  short-sword(+2)

Aspects In Play

Who      Aspect             Free Invokes
Arui     -                  -
Ivor     -                  -
Migram   -                  -
Mikel    Severed ear        Arui x1
Nathan   The Two Stooges    Mikel x2
         A Game Is Afoot    Mikel x2
Yvon     -                  -

This message was last edited by the GM at 07:07, Sun 10 May 2020.

Ivor slammed Mikel into the heavy post at the front, knocking Mikel off-balance even as he tried to swing a punch at the warrior.

Mikel was quick, but Ivor had been quicker, and while Mikel swung with his off-hand, knocking Ivor to the side, Arui's axe smashed into the side of Mikel's head, with a searing flash of pain that sent Mikel staggering, and screaming mindlessly as he tried to re-orient himself.

Then a blue-coat arrived, seemingly out of nowhere, the guardsman slammed the door that had been left ajar from the Mikel and Yvon's entry, kncoking Migram into the room and away from the safety of the inner room...  Migram stumbled into Yvon, tying them both up for the moment... even as Nathan stepped into the room, "Stop! In the name of the law!"

What do you do now?

The blue coat entered, and took charge.  Damn it! she thought, a witness, and a city guard at that!  She'd hoped they could beat down these thugs and get satisfaction from Migram.  Instead when he told them to stop and invoked his authority, she called Ivor to join her as she defensively pulled back from the combat, "Mutton Head! to me!"  Mutton Head was Ivor's nickname for obvious reasons; he wouldn't like being called that, but she didn't want to use real names especially in front of the authorities.

18:30, Today: Arui rolled -1 using 4 Fudge dice.  blades (+2). 1 success to create an advantage strategic withdrawal

Mikel let his weapon fall to the ground, an he clutched his ear, drawing a sharp breath at the pain of it.

Yvon stood slowly extricating himself from the small pile of limbs that he and Migram had formed.  He looked embarrassed.  "Wouldn't leave." he said, sourly, as he looked at Nathan.  "Tried to be polite about it."

"She cleaved my fucking ear off!"  Mikel said in horror, looking about the room, for his dismembered appendage.

Well, that went quicker than expected...  But it was a good solid way to present what to expect for combat...

From a metagame standpoint, I absolutely love that you didn't try to soften Mikel's severed ear.  This gives me some ammunition to make him a possible recurring character... I have vague ideas of making him an antagonist who eventually becomes an ally...