Rooftop Chase:
CHES 27th (The Claw of Sunsets – 1492 DR)
00:45 am
Zarek finds himself above the normal traffic of Waterdeep and at the very back of a Rooftop Chase after a Nimblewright, a Bard and 2 Drow Gunslingers.
Zarek takes a split second to view his surroundings and finds that being at rooftop level made it extremely difficult to both traverse them, to judge distances and to seek a correct path onwards over the rooftop.
The Nimblewright was nearly out of sight from where the Rogue was, a mere dark shadow in the distance on the Waterdeep rooftops.
Alley, the Bard, was on the edge of his Darkvision and the Rogue could see her nimbly dash across the rooftops. Alley looked determined to chase down the Nimblewright and do not even take the time to glance back at her pursuers.
Zarek: “I am sure she has already formulated a plan to relive the Nimblewright of the Stone of Golorr.”
Meanwhile:
Alley: “I don’t know what I’m doing, I’ve even taken to abbreviating my words. Dear Tymora, get a grip girl, think.”
The Rogue then remembering that Alley had taken her ‘Potion of Speed’, knew that he had under a minute to coach-up with the Bard before she dropped, existed, due to the Spells after effects.
The remain 2 Drow Gunslingers where closer to the Rogue than they were to Alley and the Nimblewright. The Rogue was able to deduce that they were intending to employ a delaying tactics as one of the Drow Gunslingers set off after the rooftop dashes, while the other Drow Gunslingers, the one who had previously winked goadingly at Zarek, stayed and took aim at him with his Lantanese Pistol.
The Rogue also had behind him 1 of the 4 Gazer’s from Xanathar following him, as it attempted to stay out of sight,
Zarek: “It will attack me when I least expect it, I will continue to let it think I have not seen it.”
The rooftop chase continues, with the Nimblewright setting the pace, followed by Alley and the Drow Gunslingers moved in time with the Rogue, judging that their nearest threat to be, captured or eliminated if needed.
The Nimblewright deftly prances over the rooftops making little to no noise as he did so. A true dancer of death.
Alley: “That dammed mechanical menace moves twice as fast as I can and is able to stop and plot his route. It’s all I can do to keep-up and all this dashing will tire me out, if the ‘Potion of Speeds’ ill effects do not incapacitate me first.” The Bard worries as she pushes on after the Nimblewright.
Alley: “Still, I need only follow his route and hope Tymora is watching over me, as I am sure she is with Zarek.”
The First of the Drow Gunslingers dashes off after the lead rooftop racers, moving with an ease born from ages spent in the rigging of the various ships of Jarlaxle Baenre, the Hellraiser, Heartbreaker or possibly the Eyecatcher.
The second of the Drow Gunslingers, knowing they were followed and that the Rogue was somewhere in the area, turns and spots the Rogue who had spent his time deciding which was his best course forward. The second Drow Gunslinger then aimed his Lantanese Pistol at the moving Rogue and fired, hitting the Rogue dead centre.
The Rogue had already felt the excruciating pain of the Lantanese Pistols projectiles and also knew that they were coated in their foul Drow Poison. Much stronger and damaging than the Drow Poison used by Bregan D’Aerthe, but thankfully it did not have the others Poisons debilitating effects.
Still the Rogue was in great pain but was able to return the favour as he drew out his ‘Wand of Magic Missiles’ and aimed it at the second Drow Gunslinger. The second Drow Gunslinger, thinking to use his shore-footed training, moved to the edge of his rooftop and jumped down onto the rooftop below. The second Drow Gunslinger misjudged his leap and landed awkwardly, and slipped on the rooftop tiles and lay on it prone, behind a chimney stack and unable to rise.
The Rogue grasped his chance and dashed over the rooftops to his left, looking for a way loser to the second Drow Gunslinger.
Zarek: “There, between the two builds. The gap is far too wide for me to jump but there is a line strung across both rooftops. I can use that to get closer to my winking Drow friend.”
The Rogue is easily able to dash acrobatically across the line and close the gap between him and the downed second Drow Gunslinger. The Rogue points his ‘Wand of Magic Missiles’ and sends the 3 bolts of Magic directly at the second Drow Gunslinger, winking at him as he does so.
Zarek: “4 charges left and time to call Boris forth again.”
The Rogues Tarantula spider familiar is called forth from the pocket dimension in which it is kept and it appears, to the Rogue, that it was pleased to be released.
The rooftop chase continues ahead of the Rogue, and out of his sight as he stands on the backside of the rooftop, as the Nimblewright nimbly jumps over the rooftops and avoids any confrontation with its pursuers.
Alley: “The construct does not appear to tire and I am beginning to think it can run at these speeds all day long. I need to slow it down or hope for a miracle. Please hurry up Zarek.”
Meanwhile, the Gazer silently follows the rooftop runners, flying across the gaps and up and over obstacles with ease.
Alley can see that she is still behind the Nimblewright and that she had not gained any ground on the automaton. She decides to deftly take out a coin from her coin purse and toss it into the air with a prayer.
Alley: “O Tymora, Lady of chance, in your smile, the fates do dance. With every roll, with every leap, You guide the bold where fortune’s steep.”
It may have been Tymora herself or just a misjudgement from the Nimblewright, that then caused the automaton to fail to reach the edge of the rooftop above him that he was attempting to grab. That slowed the Nimblewright down somewhat.
Alley then had the chance to close the gap, she just needed to negotiate a line that had been strung across the tow rooftops she wanted to cross.
00:49 am
Alley: “The gap must be over 20’ feet wide, no way I can make that jump and so the line is my best option.”
The Bard dashes over the rooftops to the line and tightrope walked across it like she had been in the Sea maidens Faire extravaganza so all her life.
The first Drow Gunslinger them made his move and dashed after both the Nimblewright and Bard, making up some ground lots in his initial pursuit.
The second Drow Gunslinger was able to stand, showing signs for the Magical Blasts from the ‘Magic Missiles’ but no ill effects.
Zarek: “These Drow Gunslingers are far harder than the Drow Sailors. These must be the Mates from the Sea Maidens Faire.”
The second Drow Gunslinger once again fires at the Rogue and hit the mark once more inflicting further pain and damage to Zarek. The second Drow Gunslinger take the opportunity to move away and chase after the three front runners of the rooftop chase.
Meanwhile, the Nimblewright had managed to reach the rooftop above itself, climb up and then dash across the flat path between the rows of windows.
Alley then need to do the same and use all her stamina to jump onto the rooftop and then dash after the Nimblewright. Determination, along with the knowledge that she had a finite time scale to work with, got the Bard up and across the residential build and closed the gap further between her and the construct that murdered Iomhar.
The first Drow Gunslinger had also taken to dashing and managed to traverse the line and up onto the next roof with no complications, mean he too had gained some ground on those he perused.
The second Drow Gunslinger, after briefly having looked for and not seen the Rogue, also shots off after his pray.
The events that followed are those of a carefully choreographed play or theatre production, or the expertise of two professionals doing what they do best.
The Nimblewright had no other option, apart from jumping down to street level, but to make the leap off the rooftop it was on and onto the adjacent Columned Circled Monument. The structure was damaged and crumbling and the distance was on the very limit of the construct’s ability, yet he leaped.
The Nimblewright landed perfectly onto the top of the columned circled monument, with a few shards of carved stone falling to the ground and alerting the passer-by below.
The Rooftop chase had just taken a new turn with witnesses about and able to help the City Watch with their enquiries, well those that did not run away in fright of the burnished copper and pale wood automaton that leaped from the rooftops. It’s red robe flapping behind it and its foppish red hat with a feather. They may even have spotted its long, stylized Van Dyke moustache and beard.
Alley had to dash after the Nimblewright again, she was at her limit and had to draw on her raw stamina for the energy need to traverse all of the rooftop, that she was currently on, and reach its edge, ready to leap after the Nimblewright.
The first Drow Gunslinger takes off again, dashing after Alley and the Nimblewright. He failed to jump and catch hold of the rooftop above him and lost some ground the two in front. He calls out behind to the second Drow Gunslinger, something that sounds like orders. The second Drow Gunslinger turns to the Rogue and casts a Spell just as the Rogue is moving forward.
Zarek: “Well at least he’s not firing at me again.” Thinks the Rogue.
Magical ‘Darkness’ engulfs the Rogue and he is unable to pierce the inky black and then thinks what to do next.
00:52 am
Then Zarek hear the comforting words of his mentor as he stops to think.
Iomhar: “If you can’t fight fast, then think fast youngling.”
The Rogue thinks fast, what do I have on my, what do I have near me and what do I have that I can get to. Zarek then remembers the ‘Pixi Dust’ that he found on the Duergar Zemk, in their Xanatharian Lair within the sewers of Waterdeep.
He realises that he can now use his full movement, plus his special Rogue abilities, to advance on the Nimblewright and also aid Alley.
Once sprinkled on himself, the ‘Pixi Dust’ takes effect and the Rogue is able to rise-up above the rooftops, that were difficult terrain to cross, and mapped out his next.
Zarek can see that the second Drow Gunslinger had stopped to check for him and so he elected to swoop down, as quietly as possible, and skirt just under the rooftops so as not to be seen or heard by the second Drow Gunslinger
The Rogue was successful and took up a position very close to the second Drow Gunslinger. From where he was the rogue was able to spectate on the next incredible turn of events.
The second Drow Gunslinger takes off seeing that the Rogue is nowhere to be seen.
Zarek then also spots the flight of the Gazer as it takes up the position where the second Drow Gunslinger previously stood.
Gazer (Mimicking the deep voice of a Duergar): “Keep an eye Gralhund Villa and report.”
The Nimblewright stops and surveys its surroundings, looking for a clear and easy route away from his pursuers. Alley notices that it does not turn around.
Many of the citizens of Waterdeep cry out, while other set off running.
Volo’s Waterdeep Enchiridion: “Most Waterdavians are also slow to take fright unless facing magic or monsters. A swaggering warrior threatening them is quite likely to be stared at calmly, or even sneered at. “The only mortals that Waterdavians fear are a few unstable wizards and the Lords,”
In this case the Nimblewright happened to be both.
This allows Alley to attempt to catch-up as she braces for a jump, she thinks she cannot make, but that there is no choice but to recover the Stone of Golorr.
Alley: “Not only can we do great good with the cache of Gold Dragons, for all the free people of Waterdeep, the Stone of Golorr itself must never fall into the hands of the villains chasing it. Jarlaxle Baenre, Captain Zardoz Zord, Xanathar, The Zhentarim illusive leader Monsoon or The Ashmadai Cultists. Let alone the so-called Nobility of Waterdeep in the shape of the Gralhunds or Cassalanters. I even ave my grave concerns that even Laeral Silverhand would have great difficulty distributing the founds fairly. Which after all is more important than evenly for those without much.” Alley thinks to herself as she pulls another Silver Shard from her coin pouch and tosses it as she springs across the gap.
A perfect leap, and an even better acrobatic landing, allowing the Bard to closed on the Nimblewright and not cause the watching witnesses to see her approach.
The first Drow Gunslinger then uses his Lantanese Pistol on the Nimblewright but fails to hit its mark.
The second Drow Gunslinger, seeing that the Rogue was no longer behind him, sets off dashing onto the long rooftop by the Columned Circled Monument.
Zarek: “She cannot have much longer. She is brave if not reckless.”
The Rogue was unable to risk taking a second ‘Magical Potion’, a ‘Potion of Greater Healing’ in this case, is that had its own potential benefits or consequences.
Zarek: “I will seek Tymora’s guidance and toss her coin for what I should do.”
The coin does not fall sowing Tymora’s face and so the devote follower sees that as a sign not to imbibe the ‘Magical Potion’ of ‘Potion of Greater Healing’. Instead, the Rogue draws forth his Ale Skin and drinks it dry, employing the Magical effects of his ‘Amulet of the Drunkard’ to regain enough stamina to continue and to Magically heal his Lantanese Pistol wounds.
The Rogue then flies off, circling around the buildings keeping to the rooftop edge, and trying to stay as hidden as possible.
Zarek: “Thank Iomhar for reminding me to think fast, the use of ‘Pixie Dust’ is another wonderful addition to our inventory and will allow for a fast exit or entry to locations.”
The Nimblewright then realises that Alley was catching up and need to escape or slow the Bard down, permanently. It attempts to jump onto the adjacent roof and the distance was again, just within the capabilities of the Bard to also make.
The Nimblewright was unsuccessful and fells to the ground. The Automaton was able to land safely just as 2 Hounds came running out of the building in a bid to attack the Nimblewright.
Even Zarek, from his hidden position was able to see how effortlessly it was able to move and leap up onto the roof, with no signs of fatigue and seeming advancing away from Alley.
Alley: “He’s mine, I can reach it from where I am. Game over Nimblewright.”
However, the Bard failed to remember that the first Drow Gunslinger was faster to react, and used one of his innate Drow abilities, to then cast his ‘Darkness’ Spell, trapping both the Nimblewright and the Bard. Zarek also lost sight of the pair, as did the Gazer.
The citizens can then be heard calling out for the City Watch that just so happened to be some 100’ feet away, around the side of the building that the Nimblewright was on.
The first Drow Gunslinger then chose to climb off the Columned Circled Monument and onto a walled building that ran parallel to the rooftop on which the Nimblewright was.
The second Drow Gunslinger then jumped onto the Columned Circled Monument, chasing after both the Nimblewright and the Bard. He then listens out for the sound of the moving Nimblewright and Bard.
Drow Gunslinger Two: “If the City Watch, come I will hide in the ‘Darkness’ and make my escape if all goes wrong. But I can see we have him trapped on that roof.”
Alley was able to see through the Magical ‘Darkness’ and had to choose to either attack the Nimblewright and then deal with the Drow Gunslingers, or to deal with the first Drow Gunslinger and then the Nimblewright. Also hoping that Zarek may also be able to intercept the Nimblewright.
Alley: “Where are you Zarek, this is when I need you the most and you are missing again, just like on the Neverluster. He must have a plan.”
Alley choses to attack the first Drow Gunslinger and she jumps over to the walled courtyard where he had also fled to. The bard draws both her Rapiers and take on a crouching stance. The first Drow Gunslinger smiles and also takes up a fighting stance.
Zarek continues to move forward and gambles on approaching from the rear of the ‘Darkness’ area, keeping hidden from the Gazer and the Rogue headed for a flat roofed religious building adjacent to the rooftop currently covered by the Drow ‘Darkness’ Spell.
The Rogue fails to spot the hidden ‘Glyph of Warding’ that had been inscribed onto the roof of the flat roofed religious building. Zarek triggers the ‘Glyph of Warding’ and thanks smalls mercies as it is not the ‘Explosive Rune’ that he expected, but finds himself engulfed in a mass of sticky webbing. The webs fill a 20’ foot Cube and the Rogue suspects that it would last a long while, allow the City Watch to arrive and arrest the interlopers.
The area of the webs is difficult terrain to traverse, and the area within them is lightly obscuring the sight of the Rogue. The good news however is that the webs aren’t anchored between two solid masses (such as walls or trees) or layered across a floor, wall, or ceiling, which means that the web collapses on itself. The webs layered over a flat surface has a depth of 5’ feet.
However, our Rogue is covered in sparkling ‘Pixie Dust’ and it once again allow him to escape upwards, after wriggling out of the webs restraining threads.
The Bard and the first Drow Gunslinger engage each other as the City Watch can be heard running to the scene and blowing on their copper whistles alerting any other members in the area to join them.
00:55 am
The first Drow Gunslinger is first to strike and inflicts damage onto the Bard with his Shortsword that darts forth several times, like the forked tongue of a snake and drawing blood from the young girl.
Alley was no young girl, but one of the Heroes of the Field Ward and a member of the College of Swords. She darted forward and gave as good as she got, the Drow Gunslinger looking surprised at her skill and fury.
The Magical ‘Darkness’ then ends as the first Drow Gunslinger loses connection to his Spell due to the Bards attack.
Zarek: “There, there it is that infernal Nimblewright. It’s now or never as Alley’s time is nearly up.”
The second Drow Gunslinger, who had previously been exchanging attacks with the Rogue, dashes over the Columned Circled Monument, chasing after the Nimblewright.
Zarek choses to attack the Nimblewright with his ‘Wand of Magic Missiles’, hoping to slow the infernal construct down and cause it damage that would always hit its target. The Rogue notices that the damage caused was as effective as he had come to expect.
Zarek: “No resistance to my Wand aye Nimblewright Assassin.”
Un-phased, the Nimblewright dashes away again and makes another successful leap up onto another rooftop. Over up and onto another rooftop.
The Rogue effortlessly flies up and across to where the Nimblewright had moved too, realising that he would not have been able to keep up the chase and climbing for too long. The ‘Pixie Dust’ had been vital, yet new knew its effects were short lived and that he now needed to confront the Nimblewright and somehow defeat the Sword Master, difficult but not impossible.
Meanwhile, the first Drow Gunslinger, who had previously been fight the Bard, disengaged from the fight with Alley, bowing as he did so and made a dash along the crenellations of the wall chasing after the Nimblewright.
Drow Gunslinger One: “Jarlaxle made it clear that the Item was to be recovered at all costs.”
He said this as he looked down at street level and spotted his comrade there, confronted by the 2 Hounds and a pair of Human City Watch.
Drow Gunslinger One: “May Lolth give you strength.”
The first Drow Gunslinger was only able to make it to the end of the wall and had to turn and face the young girl wielding the 2 Rapiers.
Alley again strikes, knowing that this was her last attack and she was looking for a place to Teleport to when she used her ‘Misty Step’ Spell. She could see a tower to her left which was with her range and then saw Zarek, ‘Flying’ towards the dashing Nimblewright and prayed he could do what she failed to do.
Alley has to watch as the first Drow Gunslinger launched himself of the wall, onto the rooftop and dashed after the Nimblewright and the Rogue.
The Nimblewright studied his surroundings and saw the Rogue ‘Flying’ in the air behind him and turned to fight as it saw the Rogue was dripping blood.
The Rogue had Boris, his Spider ‘Familiar’, on his person and the gave him enough encouragement to feel like he had a chance, maybe.
The second Drow Gunslinger had made his escape from the City Watch and re-joined the case up on the rooftops, the first Drow Gunslinger was moving toward the Nimblewright and Rogue’s location, although they were on a higher rooftop which meant that they were hidden from his sight.
There is an exchange between the Nimblewright and the Rogue and the Rogue felt that he was out matched are the endurance, speed and Magical resistance would slow the fight enough for the Drow Gunslingers to catch them and fill them both full of holes.
Iomhar: “If you can’t fight fast, then think fast youngling.”
The Rogue looks at the Nimblewright and spots the Stone of Golorr, jammed into the chest of the automaton.
Zarek: “Don’t mind if I do.”
The Rogue is hit by the Nimblewright, from one of his many attacks, and dramatically take a swan dive off the rooftop.
The 2 Drow Gunslinger ignore the fallen Rogue and make their way to the rooftop on which the Nimblewright stood, Zarek being no longer an obstacle to them.
However, the Rogue is not dead, merely wounded. He also did not fall to his death while hitting the floor, he floated and righted himself gently as he was still flying. Then, the final additions to the performance he opens his hand and look upon the ‘Stone of Golorr’, which he had taken from the Nimblewright using the very skills taught to him by Iomhar.
Zarek: “One last trick if I may.”
The Rogue pulls out his ‘Magical Scroll’ and casts the ‘Invisibility’ Spell from it.
Zarek then begins to think where he could flee to.
Zarek: “The Filed Ward is a possibility, they would hide me there, but what about all of those I leave at Trollskull Manor?”
The Rogue takes to the air once more as the effect of the ‘Faerie Dust’ would wear off soon.
Zarek: “What about Renaer, I could ask him. No, he’s just a playboy Noble.”
The Rogue then remembers how he also nearly fled from the Neverluster and left Alley alone.
Zarek: “What I need to do if find my partner, protect my friends and use all the resources I have to recover the 3 missing eyes from the Stone of Golorr. That’s why I have chosen the path I am on.”
Zarek stops, remembers the range of the ‘Misty Step’ Spell, flies up and looks for Alley. It takes no time at all to find the Bard laying on top of the corner tower of the wall yard.
Alley smiles when she sees the Rogue approach her.
Alley: “I knew you wouldn’t leave me again.”
Zarek: “Again, what do you mean, I ….”
Alley: “Never mind. I think is time we left don’t you Zarek.”
Alley casts he Spell and also become ‘Invisible’. As they stand, they both can see how the Drow Gunslingers ignore the whistles from the City Watch and cries of the Waterdhavians and search the body of the Nimblewright which they had pinned to the rooftop.
The pair of Heroes then make their way back to Trollskull Manor which is not too far away from their current location in the North Ward.
Alley: “A good days work me thinks.”
The Young Human Girl and Male Tiefling both laugh out loud, scaring several Waterdhavians as they run past.