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Post by vladtaltos on Apr 9, 2015 9:11:38 GMT -5
Sho’leil 5; Dahlia 4
The small gathering shouts words of encouragement to you, Dahlia, knowing you’re the challenger and, therefore, the underdog. If this gives Sho’leil the jitters she doesn’t show it; her focus is again on the target. Hazarding a glance over one shoulder, you see Gyp moving as silently, and no doubt as viciously, as the plague among the growing throng.
With a snap of the wrist, the elven champion throws the dagger, this one carrying more zip than prior efforts; it sticks into the target without wavering.
10:04, Today: GM rolled 14 using 3d6 with rolls of 3,5,6. Round 5.
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julie
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Post by julie on Apr 10, 2015 16:10:29 GMT -5
There’s space on the board between Sho’leil’s dagger and the bullseye, Dahlia told herself. Find that space; it’s wide enough.
When she let the dagger go, the smile on her face indicated the toss was true. The score was tied with one round to go.
17:03, Today: Black Dahlia rolled 11 using 3d6 with rolls of 4,4,3. Dahlia--Round 5
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Post by vladtaltos on Apr 11, 2015 8:39:34 GMT -5
There’s an outburst of applause and further words of encouragement from the crowd for you, Black Dahlia.
Sho’leil, for the first time, shows some signs of concern over the possibility of losing the contest. You can see it in the lines around her eyes and at the corners of her mouth when she pries the knives out of the board, and hands you yours.
Concealing her anxiety behind a forced smile, she says, "This is it. Last round. Whoever wins this round, wins the contest."
She takes her stance behind the line, and an instant later the knife is tumbling from her hand, hitting the board with a resounding thud.
09:21, Today: GM rolled 10 using 3d6 with rolls of 3,2,5.
Again, only a sliver of space separates the knife from the bullseye. Sho’leil smiles, seemingly pleased with her toss.
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julie
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Post by julie on Apr 13, 2015 9:08:55 GMT -5
Her opponent left her little room for improvement. Well, it was going to be a challenge and she was up for it. When she let go of the dagger, however, she knew her throw wasn’t good enough.
09:54, Today: Black Dahlia rolled 13 using 3d6 with rolls of 1,6,6. Dahlia--Round 6.
Dahlia shrugs, and turns to her opponent. "Good job, Sho’leil. You’re very good."
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Post by vladtaltos on Apr 14, 2015 16:09:36 GMT -5
The small crowd jeers that their favorite---you---didn’t win, but then a moment later clap in applause at the sporting conclusion to the game. Slowly, they disperse, revealing Gyp amidst the throng, smiling widely. You can only speculate as to the loot he’s picked from the pockets of the patrons of Pieces of Eight.
Sho’leil wrenches the house dagger out of the target, and flips it down on the tray. Turning back to you, she says, "You’re good. If you had a real dagger, maybe you would’ve won." She slides her dagger into her sleeve-scabbard. "If you’re looking for work, I can help you out. Not working here, of course, but ... somewhere else. You’ll earn your ten silvers back and then some. If you’re interested, let’s talk over there." She points to a collection of tables gathered near the bar.
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julie
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Post by julie on Apr 16, 2015 9:22:48 GMT -5
The offer piqued Dahlia’s curiosity. She wasn’t interested, really, but what harm would it do to hear her out? She glanced over at Gyp, and wondered briefly about Dog. Was the boy still watching over him, keeping him out of trouble, or was Dog watching over him?
"I’m not looking for work so much, but I’m interested in what you have to say. Sure, let’s talk." Dahlia followed her over to the one of the tables.
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Post by vladtaltos on Apr 17, 2015 8:21:33 GMT -5
You see Gyp in one corner, counting coins in his palm. His pickings, no doubt---money liberated from the pockets of a few unfortunates that gathered to watch your dagger toss game.
Seated at the table, Sho’leil says, "I’ve got a job tonight that’s just right for you, I think. But first, I need to know at least a little something about you, more than just you’re good at throwing a dagger. Tell me, what brings you to Bastia?"
She signals to one of the servers to bring over drinks. "Select anything you like."
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julie
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Post by julie on Apr 20, 2015 8:55:24 GMT -5
Time to think of a lie, she thought. She’d keep it simple, believable. She’d become accustomed to concealing her true motives. It was all in controlling her facial movements, her eyes. Telling a lie was all in the face, the eyes, body language, less in the story itself.
"I have some time to kill, thought I’d do some traveling with my friend, there." She points to Gyp. "We’re not a couple, let me point that out right away." She produced a light laugh. "Anyway, Bastia is gorgeous, or so I’ve heard." She shrugs. "I thought I’d give it a look."
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Post by vladtaltos on Apr 21, 2015 10:02:22 GMT -5
Sho’leil nods at your response and begins:
"The job involves security work at the estate of Jean le Rond d’Iderot. Perhaps you’ve heard of him? He’s a writer, a philosopher, of some fame. He lives here in Bastia. A bit of a paranoid, he believes there are people coming to kill him. He’s of a mind that will happen tonight or in the next day or so."
It’s as if some enormous cloud giant holds you in his hand, and begins to squeeze you at the waist--a tight, sick feeling overcomes your stomach. Your anxiety mounts; your heart beats faster. The man you’re contracted to eliminate senses someone comes for him, and is adding to his security. Your job, difficult to begin with, is being made nigh impossible to complete.
The server brings over a tray of drinks. Sho’leil selects a house ale. Also on the tray is water, a variety of ales ranging in strength from weak to quite-strong, and tea. "Take anything you like, it’s on me," Sho’leil says.
The server leaves, and Sho'leil resumes. "He believes mathematics opens gateways to the multiverse, to things totally alien to the minds of humankin and beast alike. He’ll write these long, complex equations on a chalkboard, and through them, spells are cast."
She smiles economically. "I don’t claim to understand it; it's a type of magic I'm unfamiliar with, but it works. Using this ... math-magic, he believes he sees assassins coming for him. So, I’ve been tasked to strengthen our security around the estate. From what I’ve seen you’re good with knives." She looks closer. "Perhaps you’ve done some mercenary work in your time, have experience? One isn’t that good at throwing these lousy house-knives by beginner’s luck, right?"
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julie
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Post by julie on Apr 22, 2015 8:44:26 GMT -5
Dahlia didn’t like this at all. Her first thought was to grab Gyp and head home, calling off this assignment. What would be worse, disappointed Azzuri bosses or walking into a deathtrap?
Then, she thought about it in more depth. Her second thought was how to use this coincidence to her advantage. Here, sitting in front of her was the security chief of their mark. She could talk to her, learn things, make her assignment easier. She’d have to tread carefully, not stir the elf’s suspicions, but she had to take advantage of this moment.
"Yes, I have heard of Jean le Rond d’Iderot. His name has a nice sing-song sound to it. I’ve also heard somewhere Balachs are his guards, some type of supernatural beast?"
She let Sho’leil address that, and when the server came over she took some tea off the tray.
"I do have experience with knives," she said, when Sho’leil asked. "But...I don’t know about the job. How long is this assignment? How big a place is his estate, and what’s the layout?" She stopped there for now, and let her answer.
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Post by vladtaltos on Apr 24, 2015 10:00:05 GMT -5
Your green tea is smooth and pleasant. It does the job if you wanted to feel warm and comfy.
At the mention of Balachs, Sho’leil smiles. "Well, don’t believe everything you hear..." She adds with a chuckle, "...but in this case, it’s true. I haven’t known him to do it often, but in his more paranoid moments, he summons those things for protection. They’re dreadful---strands of shadow that slither around the estate. I’ve seen nothing more of them than that, but I understand they take on a definite shape when they engage with an enemy; I don’t know what that shape is. I don’t think you really have to worry about them. Frankly, I don’t expect trouble, at least not the kind that we can’t handle."
You ask her about the length of the job, and the size and layout of D’Iderot’s estate. She says, "It’s fairly large. I can’t really give you exact details, but there’s the main house that contains the living areas, library, his research lab, kitchen, dining areas, and wings at either side that house bedrooms. He’s not married, but always has a number of servants and guards in the house. I work there most nights. The length of the job can be just tonight if you wish, or a couple of nights. The pay is twenty-five silvers per night."
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julie
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Post by julie on Apr 27, 2015 9:13:49 GMT -5
The wheels were turning inside Dahlia’s head. She now decided they should take this job. It would give her an “in” to get close to D’Iderot without having to lurk in shadows, fight and stealth her way past guards and others that would be expecting trouble. This may make the job easier than expected. It was their best chance. Now, the job was to get Gyp in on the action.
"My friend over there, he’s good with knives, and other weapons, too. We are together in the sense you’ve probably surmised, we’re business partners. Can he come too?"
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Post by vladtaltos on Apr 28, 2015 9:42:55 GMT -5
Sho'leil glances at him causally, then turns back to you. "Why don't you tell me something about him."
You extoll Gyp's virtues, promising secrecy, discretion, and his skill with knife, sword, and that nasty little hand crossbow he carries around.
Still, she seems uncertain. She asks you to invite him over. You do so, and well, even though this is a security job and he doesn't need the most glib of tongues to be hired, Gyp is rough around the edges, and isn't exactly adept at portraying himself in a positive light to strangers.
You'll have to convince her to hire him after he leaves your table, which he does now.
Roll 3d6.
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julie
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Post by julie on Apr 29, 2015 9:17:23 GMT -5
Dahlia knew it was going to be a hard sell. Gyp is an anti-social murderer, after all. How could she make him seem hirable to a dandy elf?
She was going to try, however. Boy, would she try.
10:04, Today: Black Dahlia rolled 7 using 3d6 with rolls of 3,3,1.
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Post by vladtaltos on Apr 30, 2015 8:07:02 GMT -5
Dahlia knew it was going to be a hard sell. Gyp is an anti-social murderer, after all. How could she make him seem hirable to a dandy elf? She was going to try, however. Boy, would she try. Hilarious After much selling, Sho'leil agrees to let Gyp in on the security job. "Arrive an hour before the sun sets, at the front gate of the D'Iderot estate. There will be several new faces, so to keep them all straight, use the code name 'Rune' for yourself and 'Diviner' for your friend, Gyp." She leaves your table, and you meet with Gyp, telling him of the plan and his code name. "We have two days," he says, "to get this done. We could get a good lay of the place tonight, and return tomorrow night to fulfill the contract. What do you think?" You also recall your appointment tonight an hour before midnight with Shekou, the first mate of Neptune's Trident, to go on a certain Spirit Walk.
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