Thread for the two of you while the challenge is underway.

Elodie, Zoccola and the hound finish their drinks, pay their tab and step out onto the street en rout to The Potato Is Just An Illusion club. It's nice to be out walking, just the girls and they both anticipate an excellent evening. Let the boys run around, get drunk and rowdy it was time to truly relax surrounded by civilization.

The streets are fairly busy but thinning somewhat and as they make their way to the club they eventually find themselves alone in a section of street. Zoccola's hound lets out a low growl as a figure steps out a short distance in front of you.



The man addresses Elodie, "You are remarkably easy to keep tabs on my dear. You know you've disappointed your father greatly. He doesn't care to be disappointed."
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:13, Sun 13 Sept 2020.

"Hercule!" she gasped, taking a step back, her cheeks flushing. For a second, there was a rush of childish fear, and one of her hands came up to clutch nervously at a hanging lock of hair. She gritted her teeth and raised her chin at him, though, remembering her pride.

"I thought you had been disciplined on your disrespect, Hercule. When you cross a noblewoman's path, you bow. And when a commoner such as yourself deigns to speak, you do it with a respectful tone, a bowed head, and the proper title. I am Lady Elodie van Gryff, and the next time you fail to stop my father choking on a pease pie, I'll be your mistress. Keep that in mind for your next words." She straightened up, her pointy hedge witch's hat enhancing her height, if not her dignity.

Despite herself, she was terrified. Hercule was the looming presence of her childhood, always hanging around her father like a loyal dog, except when he was sent on missions. Gone for days, then back at strange hours, sweaty and wreathed in a coppery scent of blood. Gray tinged his muttonchops, now, and lines carved his formerly smooth face, but he was still the man glaring over her father's shoulder. The man who had nearly strangled her when she seared her father's foot to the bone. The man who she had flogged her till she was weeping and bruised, as punishment for her transgression.

She had seen him on rare occasions since then, whenever she was needed for family business. That she was now the kind of family business he attended to alone didn't inspire confidence.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:33, Mon 14 Sept 2020.

All things considered, despite her immediate fondness for the city of Dwarven, Zoccola couldn't be totally at peace there.  Not when she knew they were being followed and a foe could arrive at any moment.  The security of being in a crowded city full of potential witnesses only extended so far when an opportune moment could present itself; as the man from Elodie's colored past stepped into view, the Goblin's thoughts instantly went to the rest of her companions.  With luck the way they were running around like mad would actually make them harder to keep track of, if they too were being followed that evening.

While the two Humans spoke, Zoccola just cupped her hand about her mouth and chin as she gave Hercule a scrutinizing gaze up and down.  Gauging him, or perhaps simply awaiting what more he had to say.  "And whatever it is you've come here to say, be quick about it.  We've a schedule tonight and I'm a terribly impatient woman." she added with a careless shrug.
This message was last edited by the player at 08:16, Mon 14 Sept 2020.

The man just smiles as Elodie's mask of bravado covers her face and tongue. While she speaks he unties the strap securing his rapier in its sheath.

"My apologies...milady," he says with a smirk and a slight sarcastic bow.

"You keep strange company, is that your pet?" he asks waving his hand at Zoccola. "No matter"

Hercule takes a breath seemingly enjoying the moment

"Your father wishes me to escort your pretty little face back to him and I intend to do just that. Now be a good girl and come along."

---

Perception checks for the to of you (and the dog) please.

ps. finding portraits is sometime such a frustrating task.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 12:19, Mon 14 Sept 2020.

"No." The words came out automatically, and Elodie balled her fists. Her ears rushed with blood, and she could feel her heartbeat speed up, suddenly hyper-aware of the brush of clothes on her skin, the slightest movement of wind around them. Surely, violence was imminent.

OOC: Natural 20 on that! 23 total. 08:37, Today: Elodie van Gryff rolled 23 using 1d20+3 ((20)).

That the man was an enemy of Elodie's was all that mattered when it came to whether he was an enemy of Zoccola's as well.  But the fact that he was also a speciest was a little bonus that ensured she'd think of the coming fight as less of a necessary evil and more of a satisfying comeuppance.

As Hercule's hand went to his rapier, Zoccola's was faster to the hilt of her own blade - he'd barely unlatched the guard before her machete was swiped off her shoulder and brandished.  As always the blade hummed faintly with the swiftness from which it was drawn as she gave a twirling flourish.  Down she hopped from her mount; even as The Hound stood tense and snarling by her side, Zoccola took to her own two feet beside Elodie in unity.  Her free hand reached to cup about her mouth once more, giving her a grip about her chin as she tilted her head side to side with a preparatory crack from her neck to loosen up.


Zoccola Perception
Zoccola rolled 15 using 1d20

Hound Perception
Zoccola rolled 15 using 1d20+3


This message was last edited by the player at 18:38, Mon 14 Sept 2020.

You both notice movement behind you as a figure emerges from the shadows. You recognize him instantly as Ormak. At the same time another figure appears and stands next to Hercule. She's a slender Tielfling with a wand in her hand.

Hercule address you again, "Come along now child. I told your father he would once again gaze at your face. Do not trouble me because nothing below the neck is required to fulfill this promise."

---

06:38, Today: A.S.A.K. rolled 15,16,13 using 1d20+1,1d20,1d20+2.  initiative  H, O, T.

Hercule = 15
Ormak = 16
Tielfling = 13


So how about some initiative rolls ladies....
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:50, Tue 15 Sept 2020.

Ever alert, Zoccola was on edge as she noticed the others filling in the gaps from either direction.  The appearance of the Tiefling and Ormak alike cinched the assumption as to Cuba working with Elodie's family for certain.  But rather than fear for being cornered, there was genuine sadness in the Goblin's expression as she met eyes with the distant Half-Orc.

"Ormak... look at what you're doing.  Cornering women in a dark alley, working with a killer?  You're the son of a chief!  You said you didn't like how Lerana told you to hurt nice people." Even as she spoke, her attention bounced warily to and fro between the threats on either side.  "We've saved each others' lives and helped one another.  You're better than this."

Pre-Round Banter

Zoccola Initiative
Zoccola rolled 21 using 1d20+7

The Hound Initiative
Zoccola rolled 19 using 1d20+2

Ormak's betrayal did sting-she had felt a brief twinge of attraction to the half-orc's brutishly powerful figure when they first met, but his departure, and now this betrayal poured cold water on that ember.

"You're a dog off the leash, Hercule. I don't speak with rabid dogs. I put them down." As she spoke, a golden light began to shine in the back of her throat, and her voice took on a deep reverb.

OOC: 20 on initiative! Also a little bit of set dressing showing her power building.


14:43, Today: Elodie van Gryff rolled 20 using 1d20+1.

Hercule scowls and pulls his Rapier free.



Zoccola = 21
Elodie = 20
Ormak = 16
Hercule = 15
Tielfling = 13

So it's a you then them situation.

Post at will ladies.

While she agreed with the sentiment, there was little to be done when surrounded by enemies - one of which absolutely being a wildcard.  Zoccola eyed the Tiefling's wand warily and tensed her grip about her machete as she weighed their options.  An unknown caster and the likelihood of Cuba being somewhere nearby as well waiting in ambush made things too risky for her tastes.

"Well, I haven't had a chance for a proper field test yet, but no time like the present." Zoccola said as she reached up with her free hand to grab Elodie's wrist.  No sooner did the Goblin's fingers close tight about her friend than the two women simply vanished into thin air where they stood, gone without a trace.

Zoccola upcasts "Invisibility" at 3rd level to target herself and Elodie
Affected creatures and everything they're carrying becomes "Invisible" until the duration ends.  The spell ends early if an Invisible creature attacks or casts a spell.  The spell duration is 1 Hour or until Zoccola loses Concentration, whichever comes first.

Movement: Zoccola will try to guide Elodie to J/K3 out of the way, making sure not to bump into or disturb anything along the way.

Bonus Action - Hide, if a Stealth check is necessary to move covertly.

---

Conditional turn, for the sake of efficiency: If Zoccola's "Invisibility" isn't counterspelled or otherwise prevented from going off;

Initiative 19 - The Hound

Only a moment after the two disappeared, The Hound remained barking and snarling up a storm at Hercule and the Tiefling.  It was a brief bit of fury before the dog turned and dashed back down the alleyway, quick to turn around the corner and out of sight.

Movement: 40' movement around the corner toward O1
Action: If the others pursue him, The Hound will Dash to continue running and lead the others away on a chase.  Otherwise he'll just bamf away into his pocket dimension.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:07, Wed 16 Sept 2020.

Elodie felt the magic rising in her and almost let it loose, but then Zoccola's spell blinked them both out of view, and she released it. She stuck her tongue out at Hercule, then followed right after Zoccola, an invisible presence rushing past the half-orc and straight away from him!

OOC: Also running towards N1, as that's the most open route away from the situation.

Hercule simply grunts at Ormak. "You incompetent oaf! I told you to be in position quickly! Why that snake puts up with you I'll never know!"

The Tiefling looks over at Hercule and has her wand back over her head with the flickering of energy beginning to form around her hand. Hercule shakes his head, "Not now my dear. This is not the place. We don't want to attract too much attention."

then Hercule yells into the dusk air, "RUN LIKE A CHILD! YOU CAN'T AVOID THE INEVITABLE!"

---

You have escaped thanks to your quick thinking and a semi-crowded city evening. They won't pursue two invisible people through the streets.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:39, Wed 16 Sept 2020.

The great thing about being invisible was that nobody could see you.  The trouble with it, however, was that nobody could see you.  Including other invisible people.  Zoccola kept a firm hold on Elodie's wrist and led the way with care, certain to not cross paths into people who blithely would have walked right into them without ever realizing they were there.  She only went as far down the block as it took to get them a fair distance away from the alley and amid a bigger crowd of foot traffic, then hurriedly pulled to the side against the shelter of a building's wall.

From where they stopped they could still just see the alley they'd fled from and Ormak stood at its end.  "Okay, that was too close... this cover's kind of delicate; I haven't mastered it yet, so any magical emissions or too much force is gonna break the spell." she panted softly, momentarily winded from the rush.  "What's the plan?  Do you want to follow them and see where they go?  Maybe turn the ambush on them if they split up?  Or should we just meet up with the boys at the finish line and hope they're not too drunk to be useful?"

Elodie shook her head, then realized the stupidity of the action.

"No, no, following them is too dangerous. I can let us fly over them, but without invisibility, there's too many chances for it to go wrong! We need to find the others, and let them know what happened. Let them know Ormak-and maybe our other old companions, too-are no longer trustworthy. We can't be separated anymore. Hercule is no one to trifle with-the one time I saw one of the other guards cut his cheek in training, he beat the man near to death in revenge!"

Elodie's mention of being able to fly as well got a surprised expression out of her companion, though it hardly mattered since nobody could see it anyway.  Zoccola was behind the curve on gravity-defying spells, it seemed - her magic was thus far based more in telekinesis than flight.  But she quickly shook her head to shuffle distracting thoughts away; they were in no position for her to be lost in her own studies.

"I could just refresh the spell after you cast to let us fly, but that would leave me pretty tapped out on energy if we did come to trouble." she hated to admit it.  Besides, knowing their luck that Tiefling lady might've had a detection spell on hand to let her spot them even being invisible from mundane sight.  "So much for girl's night... c'mon, let's keep moving."

Another gentle tug helped to guide Elodie so they could start off again, once more navigating the evening streets and crowds invisibly to avoid being detected for as long as possible.  It would all be pointless if their pursuers already knew where they were going to be and simply moved to wait in ambush at the inn.  Regardless, the two of them would have to seek safety in numbers and rely on too many witnesses being an obstacle Hercule wouldn't dare to challenge.  "Odds are they're going to follow us out of the city and try to ambush us on the road a short ways out.  But we got a lot of supplies on short notice and no cost out of pocket - I doubt they're prepared to trek out into the wilds like we are, so they probably won't be able to follow us up the river and will have to give up the chase before long."