Listening to Ferro's points, Caradoc says, "Ah that IS an idea! With Lans and his man gone, the manse itself may be an easier target."

-----

I agree with Ripplo; is there any other information about Lans and his bodyguard, or should we test for it?

You can see that Lans is wearing some dirty and unwashed robes, monk style. His body guard is dressed for subtlety in a "commoners" tunic and slacks

If you want to check the house for traps it'd be an automatic success in discovering that it's rather unprotected. Entrances typically include the wine cellar/basement via the external hatch, front door, back door, windows, and possibly the roof.

Scab casts a furtive look around, then nods, while clasping his hands together: "Yes, yes, but we should, hemhem, maybe go inside where, hmm, the party guests will not see? Around back? Yes?"

"Good point Scab. I suggest to try the back door or a cellar entrance." Which of these seem to be more hidden? Can you tell me, if I saw weapons on Lans and his guard?

"Agreeing, I concur with the plan of choosing a more subtle entrance. I will fall on the advice of our arbitrator as the architecture of non mechanicus buildings might be different than what I would suggest."

Both entrances are equally concealed. For the most part, nobody will notice if they are too busy having a party next door.

---------------------------

Sorry for delayed posts lately: I got a new job, graduated college, and am trying to balance a million and one things in the real world, and lately I've been feeling huge burnout on roleplaying games what with all the crap people do to each other in the name of "house rules" and other things. Bleh...

Caradoc grins, "I say we investigate the cellar first. If I was involved in nefarious activity, that's where it would be."

"Alternatively," Caradoc wonders aloud, "what if we split up and enter both simultaneously? We don't know how long Lans will be gone; time is of the essence!"

-----

No worries.

((Perfectly understandable, that's why I like PbP you can never really miss a session.))

Mhos nods, "Truthfully, splitting up is a good idea. I will accompany whoever is going to the cellar, likely Lans' lighting down there is on the heretical side as well. Curiously, unless anyone else has a better idea for my presence?"

"I would agree to split up. I just have one question. Do we have two members who know how to open a sealed door?" While saying this I examine my more ... shady comrades. "I myself have basic knowledge over security, but as I usually protect and not try to, well, enter buildings, I have no tools."

-------

Thanks for explaining it to us and congrats

Mhos nods, "Factly, I am versed in the basics of the mechanism of locking. Truthfully, should we encounter any I would prefer to attempt first, to try and soothe the mechanism for further attempts at entrance should I fail."

"Despite the Arbitrator's implication," Caradoc starts, "my knowledge of locks and the art of opening them is actually quite basic. Generally I find myself able to encourage another to open a door willingly. Hardly a 'shady' approach I'm sure."

"Nevertheless," he touches the hilt of his chainsword with a grin, "this may suffice as a key."

-----

Updated Roster: https://www.dropbox.com/s/5x2btpazpk0npym/Caradoc1.pdf?dl=0

Scab chews on his lower lip, eying the chainsword, but says nothing. He bobs his head swiftly, though, at the mention of the cellar, all the while peering about furtively, as if someone might walk in on them at any given moment.

Now seems like a smart time to assign experience and such before the upcoming events take place: 1000 experience in total for roleplaying, getting things done, etc, and then restore any spent fate points as necessary.

EDIT: Increased the awarded experience because of how long it takes to play out PbP games. Might as well make it worthwhile to stick around

"Well, then let us take our leave and try to enter the cellar. I think we should enter together and then maybe split up."

I wait for the nobles to conduct the proper rituals of leaving and then follow my fellow acolytes to the door. On the way I want to look around and search for traps, alarm systems and guards / servants. If I see none I try to help to open the lock if possible.

-----

Puh...what do I do with all the XP^^

I have the feeling I have to strengthen my will and body for the horrors that await me inside the foul estate of Lans Guljian...

and I am not sure which skills / talents to buy right now...

Willpower I +5 (500XP)

Strength II +5 (250XP)

Toughness I +5 (250XP)

Scab takes a moment to peer closely at the door while he's at it, squinting and narrowing his eyes, to see if there's anything unseen guarding the man's small estate.

Rolling psyniscience

rolling 1d100

(91)

=

91

------------------------

No need to bribe me to stick around, but sure, I'll take it

Buying:

Smite 200 XP

Shape Flesh 200 XP

Toughness +10 250 XP

Psyniscience +10 200 XP

Jaded 200 XP

XP spent: 1550 of 1600

Mhos nods, and as they are walking to the cellar he states simply, "Factly, a warning any damage to technology either through the misapplication of or purposeful damaging of, will be...judged thoroughly. Worried, please be mindful."

He moves up to the lock and begins the rituals of soothing for improper entrance. He prays quietly to himself, but the rest can likely hear murmuring that could be found in a church.

((Rolling Security: rolled 49. I'll spend a fate point since I didn't last time to re roll this test. Rolled: 87 6 DoF COME ON!!!))

Sadly the prayers don't work, the lock stubbornly remains closed. Mhos stands up, "It seems Lans might have left this mechanism in disrepair as well. Perhaps someone else may try? I will supervise for the mechanisms sake."

((He will be trying to assist anyone that goes for the lock next.))

((I'll spend my XP tonight, I'm not anywhere near a book.))

In preparation for the breach, Caradoc checks over his equipment, ensuring his weapons can be drawn quickly. As he does so, he says, "While I was doing contract work in the underhive, I met a fellow by the name of Jaq. He was a wizard with locks and offered to teach me." Caradoc laughs, "I'm sure he tried his damnedest, but I only ever managed to open the most basic of locks, and even that I've forgotten. I'll help where I can, but this is a job for someone more skilled than I."

( I can try to open the lock, I would role against 35, but as mentioned I do not have any tools...does someone have a better role or something to pick locks?)

Edit: Well, I guess no one has fitting tools, so I would like to try to open it, maybe with a fork from the feast...the Emporer will forgive me, as I put it to a greater use

What are the modificators?

The lock is a +10 difficulty (it's a high quality but old and worn out device. It appears to have been installed when the mansion was first constructed centuries ago).

I rolled 32, 1 dos.

If that is enough, I open the door slowly and look inside, if everything looks fine ( no alarm systems) I turn to the rest.

"Ok, Let's search this place. Keep a low profile, there might be more servants inside, do not spread out too far."

Mhos puts his hand on Ferro's shoulder, "Thankfully, the omnisiah thanks you for treating its mechanism with as much respect as you could without proper tools."

Mhos generally scans the area with his optical mechandrite before deciding on whether to walk in.

((Rolling Awareness: 62...even with the mechandrite's +10 that's 2DoF not counting on the difficulty of the search.))

Scab wets his lips, looks back over his shoulder again, then mumbles worriedly: "I bet they know we're here. They've already seen us once...". He, rather appropriately to the sentiment, possesses a white knuckle grip on his staff by now, the lasgun he carries held in the other hand in a mirroring deathgrip, while his ashen pale frown fixates the door and, eventually, the house's interior. He takes adeep breath before entering, then treads in carefully after the larger, better armed members of the group.

Awareness:

=

Total fail, obviously

You find yourselves in a moderately sized wine cellar with stone construction and a burgundy carpet on the floor. There are many traditional oak barrels full of wine, and the wall opposite the entrance which you have come through is stocked entirely with champagne (there are clear markings on every barrel). Each barrel is large enough for a person to comfortably squeeze inside. On the same walls as the champagne is a staircase leading upwards into the rest of the mansion and a dumbwaiter elevator.

There is a servant of Lans Guljian in the room. He wears a chef's outfit complete with a tall white hat. He is pushing one of the wine barrels on a specially designed hover cart. The servant glances at the party with a look on his face that says "I'm not paid enough to deal with burglars". In fact, he actually mutters that under his breath.

I step through the door and build myself up to full size. Then I glare at the man and growl:

"Freeze scumbag! This is not a robbery this is an ivestigation of his holy Adeptus Arbites! Surrender yourself for interrogation and you will not be harmed!"

I walk with big steps towards him the shock maul as well as manacles ready.

-----

I want to intimidate him to surrender. I guess I will roll also now then as my colleagues did before and you might apply modifiers later if there are any?

Intimidate (S), Str 40, rolled 10, exactly 3 dos for now.

-----

If he surrenders I bond him. "I will interrogate this one right here, you go on and search the place."

((Mhos is waiting for this to play out. Although his mechandrite is eyeing the barrel hovercart.))