Gotham

The trio of battle-hardened halflings attempt to capture the princess but do not manage to knock her unconscious (they bring her within 1 hp); the sorcerer halfling is chanting to keep jin (who looks like the princess) slowed
With severely exhausted resources, the party decides to flee rather than fight
Tamarin leaps across the rooftops in a run while producing oil from his magic cloak and flings it at the halflings, covering each in slippery oil
Ryviin flings his dagger at the chanting halfling but misses
Chains charges the slippery brute halfling and knocks her off of the rooftop (achievement!)
Arcarius uses his Arcana to break the sorcerer’s link to Jin (with 1 karma)
Jin allows himself to be picked up by Chains
Everyone runs for it as halfling “Picks” crawl onto the roof and all around them.
The archer draws another arrow and fires it at Chains
- Ryviin attempts to chop it and fails
- Tamarin attempts to snatch it and fails
- Jin attempts to put up a fire shield and fails
- Chains is hit and is encased with ice; Jin falls and Chains tumbles forward and hits the rooftop but the ice shatters and Chains keeps running as though nothing happened
The group reaches the edge of a rooftop, now another roof away from their horses; halflings are crawling over the edges but Arcarius leaps gracefully over them and to the other side
The halfling sorcerer casts magic that causes the rooftop to burst from underneath the rest of the party launching the rest of the party into the air
All of them manage to gracefully use it to their advantage, landing safely on the other side, except for Jin
- But Tamarin flies to Jin’s rescue and carries him to the roof
The party leaps onto their horses, but Chains misses badly, hurting himself and getting drug along by his horse for a moment, but rights himself
The party prepares for Arnal’s meeting with Thorn the next day
Ryviin scouts the Pure Ladel beforehand and offers his services as a minstrel, saying the other minstrel is sick (he makes sure he doesn’t attend)
The group hides in a corner of the restaurant in wait.
Arnal eventually arrives and sits before Thorn.
- Thorn: Half-elf, blond hair combed back with something in it to make it shine, fine eyebrows with a slight gap in one of them, a half-smile, quiet demeanor, regal clothing—vest, scarf, pants, high boots—with dragonborn on either side of him
- Thorn on Arnal: “I’m not pleased about Larkas.”
- Arnal: “How else does one get yer attention?”
- Thorn chuckles. Uncomfortable silence.
- Arnal: “It was a calculated move. One Larkas couldn’t make.”
- Thorn: “Indeed.”
- Arnal: “You know my talents Thorn.”
- Thorn: “I do. But what else can you offer?”
- Arnal: “The Bridgebangers.”
- Thorn: “I hear they took a spill.”
- Arnal: “Ain’t nuthin’ we can’t recover from. You know we were a pain to Larkas for years … now you can direct it at others.”
- Thorn: “I’m already good at inflicting pain. But go on.”
- Arnal pauses momentarily. “And I know where you can find more Shine.”
- Thorn reveals a crooked grin.
- Arnal: “Now do I have yer attention?”
- Thorn chuckles: “It always does.” Snaps his fingers and a half-elf waiter appears, who brings them both drink. “To a forthcoming arrangement.”
- Arnal: “Aye.”
- Thorn and Arnal drink.
- Thorn sets down his tankard: “So tell me, Arnal… what ever compelled you to do this?”
- Arnal hesitates: “What?”
- Thorn shakes his head: “Do you think I don’t know about you and your old military pals playing rebels in the forest. What makes you think I could ever trust you?”
- Arnal begins to shudder uncontrollably.
- Thorn: “You may be talented, Arnal…” Leans in… “but you make a baaad criminal.”
- Arnal: “NO…” Turns blue and reaches into his pocket, pulling out a round, wired object as Thorn flees, then Arnal freezes completely. After 3 long seconds—a fiery explosion.
Jin and Ryviin rush to the kitchen as Thorn is fleeing and see him hobbling out the back door
The party rushes out to confront the enemy, who has a head start, and is trying to make it to nearby stables.
Highlights:
- The enemies are scary, glowing eyes (shine!) with nasty swings, good marks, strange dragonborn breath effects (purple smoky tendrils on their armor, mind-altering breath lures, and sparkling air that weakens players when the surge)
- The enemies start out with a severe first round, dropping both Ryviin and Arcarius, but Chains comes to their rescue using the Shield of Prator (nice!)
- Tamarin rushes across the battlefield to the stables and drops Thorn and puts a knife to his throat, hoping he will make a good bargaining chip to end the fight; awesome thought — but he’s surprised to see Thorn’s guards not willing to stop upon threat of Thorn’s death — good info, maybe?
- Ryviin and Jin are powerhouses, Jin firing down from the rooftops, and Ryviin never missing (and doing tons of damage, including a crit)
- Arcarius keeps the party up after rising from unconsciousness, and grants Ryviin tons of nice attacks
- The luck of battle shifts in the party’s favor
After looting the guards (and finding some sweet hide armor for Arcarius), some Bridgebangers (who accompanied Arnal) arrive and accuse the masked heroes of having killed Arnal and Thorn (they were meeting to make a deal!)
The party escapes with an unconscious Thorn.