=Holk=
Spoiler: Take 10 (Open Lock) on ship
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Literally takes 6 seconds to pop that poor lock, so may as well.
Spoiler: Shipshape
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“My words are law, though my spelling be divine. I wear a mask, for I can be no figurehead. I leave not tracks, but will riddle his ass with my boot. What am I?”
Stephanie intoned sardonically before shaking her head in dismay. “How sick do you have to be to kidnap someone’s loved one, and then send obtuse and trying riddles to further torment the people that just want to see them back healthy and whole again?”
“The captain is the lynchpin here. He obviously doesn’t want to work with Zucco, but will if that’s his best angle at getting Verena back. We save her, and the Black Market loses a vital connection. Benson might let us attempt an ambush on Zucco after if we’re savvy. Unless I’m seeing things wrong here. Can you think of another approach?”
The single sapphire that had been taken was placed back, to better match the supposedly undisturbed letters. It was then she went over to the captain’s chest and found a knowing smirk and legalise of the highest caveats answering the question of consent. She didn’t fight the grin that bubbled up, for all the odd guilt at it when Robyn was still stuck on that island.
“Well, pfft, yeah. Of course I wouldn’t pick the place entirely clean. Everyone knows you go high end or go home.” With no care to hint any further at House Kyle connections, Stephanie laid down her stainless steel tools that all were snugly set in the purple leather case. She sat before the captain’s chest and eyed the cylinder hungrily. The lockpick in the left hand and tension wrench in the right only aided how obviously she relished the challenge over the earlier violence. It was a look she had never fully disguised when in College classes.
“But still: Standard practice! Who knew you could crack whatever safes you want as long as a few crooks own it? That is completely my thing!”
Much of the conversation soon was composed of an annoyed grunt here and frustrated sigh there while Stephanie tested various picks that matched the keyway. Concentration covered her face like mascara, but her hands worked in diligent unison until a satisfying click announced her triumph. She rested on her haunches as she savoured the difficult yet ultimately quick success.
=Chapter 2=
“Oh, but Lord Damian is really very correct, uh huh.” The blonde bobbed her head along with a yokel’s refinement that didn’t quite agree with her skintight suit or utility belt or weaponry. “I’m every inch the, uh, hobbyist – this was my first time assisting with a real citizen’s arrest.” She appeared to beam.
This – would be so much easier in a different disguise.
“I was so lucky House Kane and the Mage College lead with its finest.” Stephanie hesitated after, knowing better than to correct Fox that she had been present when he doled out assignments hours earlier. He was either saving face before his peers, or else was entirely too stressed to have recalled who had been present during.
“Although – while the Dame directed us back here safely – Captain Raam seemed particularly concerned what would happen to him. Something to do with his high profile, and gallows, or pits, or ladders, or – who knows, but he opened to me some because I’m nowhere near as important as anyone else here.” Blue eyes tracked in wonderment from the captain of industry, settling on the little lordling second, and finally the silver haired knight. “I wouldn’t pry in the plans of my betters, of course, if you’d rather not mention what you belief I could help in. But would my Lords dismiss me instead?”
The rogue shifted her weight uncomfortably from one foot to the other, letting the actual unease coiling around her stomach drive the movement. Lingering in the presence of nobles that conspired to drag yet another peasant into shadowy schemes was a fine way to end up a scapegoat or worse, she was willing to bet. It had been a fatigued sense of camaraderie and worry that even dour Kate wouldn’t have been safe escorting the thugs solo that had brought to the Merchant’s Guild Hall. With Barbara off to find the five whole trustworthy Justiciars in all Gotham, and the Thieves Guild nearly secured, she only wanted to poke the last bit of important information out of Raam before considering her next moves. The Dark Market needed to be humbled again, and the ship captain deserved a way out, but it was easier playing up the peasant if those details came from Oracle.
“The sooner I can reassure Raam that fair treatment is ensured by the same lord that’s kept honest and noble commerce alive and thriving in Midtown all this time, the swifter he might even share some more information. Did you ever hear that odd rumour Raam might not be in charge of the Midtown Guild?” She added cautiously, hanging the implication like bait, the sooner to be given leave of this meeting of nobles with obscure schemes.
Spoiler: Many Bluffs, Much Diplomacy, So Knowledge. Wow.
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Take 10 Bluff on the many lies, like playing into being a peasant hobbyist that tagged along behind the dour knight, highly intelligent oracle, and hulking Red. 24
Take 10 Diplomacy on Fox in particular. Mostly want him receptive to not calling on his right to pits and gallows, and mostly letting me have a chat with Raam. I doubt I need the Diplomacy but he is technically in charge of this entire area, so it’s easier and less suspect with his say so. 28
Take 10 Local Knowledge on Damien and Pennyworth. 20 each. That done, I get it if you don’t want to give me a ton of info for instead leaning on Local so much when K: Nobility is a thing.
And yes, I think there’s a shot at maybe getting information out of Raam. Who knows what my chances are, but I can try?
Re: 3.5e Batman Campaign (2.0)
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