1: Aria

[julie]

Ideas roll through Dahlia’s mind. Poison was her edge and she wanted it to be a factor.

She ruled out shooting at Benedetto from here. If she missed, she’d have to run him down on foot and get involved in a duel for the poison on her sword to factor in the fight. Knowing Benedetto’s reputation with his own blades, she wanted to make a clash of steel her last option.

Should she risk navigating the Maze? One wrong turn, one moment of indecision, and Benedetto escapes? Did she know these paths that well?

She decided to keep him in sight, and close the distance on sheer speed, getting off a shot from her hand-crossbow when she got close enough to make the shot count. Without another thought, Dahlia begins the chase, running after him and begins to scale the side of the building.

[vladtaltos]

Not sparing a second, you make for the building you saw the shadowy form of Benedetto (it must be him) climbing to get to the roof. Once there, you see what assisted him in his ascent---a drainpipe running vertically up the length of the apartment building.

Freeing both hands by tying your hand-crossbow to the loop at your belt, you begin to climb, one hand following the other. You’re fifteen feet up when you see that cracks through age and weather mar the side of the building; they’re large enough to fit two fingers into and to get a toe grip if needed.

It’s needed. The drainpipe begins to pop and moan, coming loose from its nails. Seconds before your weight pulls it free you obtain finger and toe holds in the structure, and then the drainpipe tilts awkwardly to one side with a loud, piercing protest, only the bottom half still holding fast. It’s physically a test to support your weight, and climb what’s a near sheer surface.

Twenty feet below, you hear the dog barking. Glancing over a shoulder, you see him sitting on his haunches, looking up at you with his pitiful eyes. Is he encouraging you for the final ten feet to the roof, or suggesting you come down? Maybe he’s just hungry?

The decision’s been made, however. Up you go.

Make a 3/ST check against Climbing.

[julie]

Dahlia holds on for dear life, or to spare herself a busted knee or torn-up ankle, at least. Tiny cracks. She digs her fingers in, her feet looking for a hold in the slightest of fissures. Ten more feet to the roof. The barking dog didn’t help her concentration, but she feels his barks are his way of encouraging her, and she gets a much needed boost of energy.

19:11, Today: Black Dahlia rolled 10 using 3d6 with rolls of 2,2,6. (Climbing check)

[vladtaltos]

The next few seconds are filled with terror, exertion, and at last, exultation. Pulling yourself up and over the ledge, you make it onto the roof, but it doesn’t come without a few bloody fingertips---a small price to pay for what could’ve been.




You stand on the roof and look out over the Florence night. Thirty feet away, you see Benedetto in a full sprint run and jump off the roof’s edge. Treadmilling his legs and windmilling his arms he sails across the chasm between the buildings. He lands with a thud on the building across the narrow road, a profanity springing from his lips.

Now is your chance. You intend to run him down, close as much distance as you can, and get off a shot with your hand crossbow.

* * * * *

We’ll make this contested DX rolls (3d6). At times, you’ll come to the edge of a roof, and must jump across to the neighboring roof to keep up with Benedetto (these rolls are in addition to the chase rolls). For each check you win, you reduce the distance. If you win three checks first, you’ve closed the distance enough to get a shot off without a penalty.

If Benedetto wins three checks first, he’s outdistanced you and made it out of The Maze, eluding you and ending this mission.

If both of you fail three checks before either of you win for the third time, you also fail to close the distance and Benedetto escapes you. Again, this will end the mission.

At any time you can shoot at him with a (-4) DX penalty before winning the third check.

You have a slight advantage in DX---slight.

After your next post, make two rolls. The first is the chase check. The second will be to leap across to the other roof (another 3/DX) and continue pursuit. We’ll take this one round at a time.

[julie]

Well, this is what she wanted, a chase. Dahlia would rather rely on her speed and agility than old memories of this labyrinth to cut her mark off at the pass.

She ducks her head low and dashes off, building up to a full sprint. The roof’s edge comes faster than expected, but the jump doesn’t look too tough to make. Still, she gave it all she had, overshooting her mark would be better than falling short.

20:28, Today: Black Dahlia rolled 7 using 3d6 with rolls of 1,5,1. Dahlia's Chase Roll
20:29, Today: Black Dahlia rolled 12 using 3d6 with rolls of 5,5,2. Dahlia's Jump Roll

_________________________

Argh, you're making my palms sweat

[vladtaltos]

You soar through the air, defying death. Everything’s moving slowly...You feel the wind on your face, feel it whistling under your hood, through your hair. The ground, a snaky, skinny road, waits like some grinning beast to catch you in its mouth and devour you should your jump fall short. Seconds seem like lifetimes. You hold your breath.

The landing on the shingled roof comes with a fall, a grunt of pain, and cuts and bruises. Maybe it’s the sudden, acute pain; maybe it’s the steep roof you’re now sliding along; maybe it’s having stared death or maiming in the face and coming away the winner that makes you slow to get your balance, stand, and resume your pursuit of Benedetto.

When you do, you find him running along the slanted roof with the grace of a panther. Has he been doing this all his life? Maybe he has.

10:06, Today: Benedetto rolled 9 using 3d6 with rolls of 1,5,3. Benedetto’s Run Roll

* * * *

Benedetto-1; Dahlia-0; Double Fails-0

A Chase Roll only with the next posting.

And thanks. That’s the idea

[julie]

Get up. Run. It’s all instincts now. Keep an eye on him, and don’t let him get away. And oh, watch your step, so you don’t lose your balance and fall. Dahlia kept all of these things in mind as she hurried after the little man that dared to thumb his nose at the Azzuri.

18:43, Today: Black Dahlia rolled 8 using 3d6 with rolls of 1,3,4. Dahlia's Chase Rd. 2

[vladtaltos]

Benedetto comes to a stop at the roof’s edge, and looks down at the street below. He glances over his shoulder at you, then casually steps off---down he goes, a jump of at least twenty-five feet. His pause allowed you to close a few feet of distance. When you make it to the roof’s edge, you see him getting back to his feet and scrambling toward the shadows, out of range of bolt or spell.

You quickly size-up the jump and think of your options:

(1): Jump, and hope you don’t hurt yourself (3/ST, or take damage by the amount the roll was missed). You won’t lose ground with this option. The subsequent contested Chase roll will be unaffected (3/DX).

(2): Climb down at a normal pace (3/DX + Climbing). This is slower than #1 and #3, but there’s less of a chance of hurting yourself. The subsequent contested Chase Roll will be at DX-2.

(3): Climb down at a rapid pace (3/DX-2 + Climbing). This is faster than option #2. If you choose this option the subsequent Chase Roll will be at DX-1.

(4): Some other option of your own devising.

A failed Climbing roll results in d6 damage. You are at 4 Fatigue, 7-ST.

* * * * * * *

09:52, Today: Benedetto rolled 13 using 3d6 with rolls of 5,2,6.

Benedetto-1; Dahlia-1; Double Fails-0

With your next post make two rolls, one of the option rolls above, and the contested Chase Roll.

[julie]

Dahlia had to make up time and distance. A climb down the side of the building or even a climb at a rapid pace might give Benedetto the lead he needs to get out of the Maze, and escape her.

This was her first job after rejoining the guild; she simply couldn’t let her mark get away. She’d taken a lot of chances as an Azzuri in the past. This would be another one. Throwing caution to the wind, she jumped, hoping luck would be on her side.

09:31, Today: Black Dahlia rolled 8 using 3d6 with rolls of 1,2,5. ST Roll--Jump.
09:32, Today: Black Dahlia rolled 9 using 3d6 with rolls of 6,1,2. Chase Roll/ DX

[vladtaltos]

When you’re halfway down you realize this wasn’t such a great idea after all. The rough, cobbled road is rising really fast. The idea is to drop and roll when you hit the ground, the old tested method of spreading the impact over your whole body, lessening the trauma in any one area.

Even for a drop of twenty-five feet, you wonder how successful such a technique can be, because the ground is really coming at you fast and hard now and----Impact. Drop. Roll.

A shock of pain rolls through your ankles, legs, and back. The wind is knocked out of you. Gasping for air, you roll onto your side and take stock. You’re still conscious, the pain isn’t lasting. You stand. Everything’s working. By the luck of the gods or demons, the jump has left you completely unhurt.

Barely taking the time to regain your breath, and still doubled-over, you run off toward Benedetto, chasing him down another shadow-filled alley. Your gambit has paid off. Valuable space has been closed.

* * * * *

Very nice. You stared potential death in the face, took the chance anyway and jumped, and because of it you won the round by one point. Any other choice, and you would have lost.

10:42, Today: Benedetto rolled 8 using 3d6 with rolls of 1,4,3. Run Roll--DX

Benedetto-1; Dahlia-2; Double Fails-0

With your next post, make only the contested Chase Roll.

[julie]

No time to thank her luck, even though she wanted to. Keep up the chase, she thought. It was the only thing on her mind. She mustn’t lose eye contact. Even as she stood and scrambled off after him, she checked to make sure her hand crossbow was still in place and undamaged. A little more distance gained, and she’d able to fire a shot.

09:04, Today: Black Dahlia rolled 14 using 3d6 with rolls of 5,6,3. Chase Roll.

[vladtaltos]

You press on, pushing yourself to the limit of your endurance. A clammy sweat drips down your forehead triggered by the humid summer air. Up ahead, you see the alley dead ends at a brick wall, about eight feet high; building-sides are at either side of the alley.

Benedetto is fifteen yards from the wall, and you’re twenty yards from Benedetto. A little more distance closed, and you’ll feel comfortable with a shot.

You sprint. Something catches your attention. It’s to your right, down one of the countless unnamed and untended roads here riddled with potholes. It’s a shadow, deep and dark and full of sin. It rises from the ground itself, becoming wider, taller, blotting out the flickering light that comes from a nearby lamppost. Under the lamppost stands a woman, all dolled-up.

You pass the intersection. A second later, a scream as horrific and terrifying and painful as anything you’ve ever heard comes from the woman’s throat.

The woman is behind you now, about twenty yards away, down that pathetic little road. Maybe it’s the turn of your head that caused you to lose a step or two on Benedetto.

* * * * *

11:16, Today: Benedetto rolled 6 using 3d6 with rolls of 1,3,2.

Benedetto-2; Dahlia-2; Double Fails-0.

[julie]

What the hell was that? That poor woman! No time to think about it. I have to stay single-minded. The job comes first. Maybe I’ll check on her later, after this assignment is finished---no, Benedetto is getting away, heading for that wall.

Dahlia had the terrible feeling if he made it over that wall, he would be gone from her forever. Should she risk a shot? The distance was still too great; she’d stand a better chance at chasing him down, getting closer. Her lungs were burning, her legs getting weak. She put everything she had into these final few strides.

21:09, Today: Black Dahlia rolled 7 on 3d6 with rolls of 2,4,1.

[vladtaltos]

Benedetto is visibly tiring. He makes it to the wall, but his jump to scramble over the top comes up short. He clings to the top of the wall with one hand, and swings a leg up and down to find purchase at the top of the wall as well.

Quickly, you seize the chance. Your last few strides close the gap. His second hand finds a hold and he lifts himself up...

* * * * *

09:36, Today: Benedetto rolled 12 on 3d6 with rolls of 4,6,2.

Benedetto-2; Dahlia-3; Double Fails-0

You’ve won the contested foot chase (3-2), as Ben’s last roll was over his DX. You have a Surprise Round to fire your hand crossbow at no penalty, should you so choose. This comes with the Death Strike possibility.

You may, instead, draw a sword and engage him hand-to-hand, but before that happens, Benedetto will have time to react.

[julie]

Got him! Easy now. No quick, careless shot. Take your time. Aim. Get him in your sights. If this was perfectly placed, it would only take one shot.


The bolt sprang from her hand crossbow, flying a straight path for Benedetto.

________________

16:11, Today: Black Dahlia rolled 10 using 3d6 with rolls of 2,3,5. Shot

Damage Roll, if needed:

16:11, Today: Black Dahlia rolled 4 using 1d6+1 with rolls of 3. Damage
(damage with poison x2=8)