Chapter Text
“We begin in a small town off the Azlan coast. Midriz, A quiet town filled with villagers that lived their lives one day at a time. Near the waterfront, fishermen and merchants bustled around in the early morning sun. At the heart of the town, mothers hung laundry out to dry, while children ran about in the streets playing made-up games with their friends. Further inland, large, warehouse-like buildings lined the streets, making and manufacturing secrets.”
You looked about the table. Everyone was enraptured at the scene painted by you. Your words paused, thinking of who your first target would be. Eyes landing on Steve, you continued.
“A man walks down the cobblestone streets of Midriz with purpose. Steve,” you gestured towards him. “Will you describe your character please?” You take a seat, ready for the fun to begin.
Steve cleared his throat, looking to you and then the rest of the table. “His name is Skender Bladeright. An aspiring paladin with great hair, an infectious smile, and personality for days.”
Robin snorted beside him. “So, just you with a sword.”
“No, actually, he has a Warhammer. It is strapped to his back.”
“Is there anything you'd like to do Skender, as you are walking down the path?” You asked him.
“Can I see anyone being suspicious?”
“Roll a perception check for me. So that's a d20 with your modifier added to it."
“That will be an eight plus zero. So just eight.” he sighed at the low roll.
“No one, in particular, looks very suspicious. Two small children run past you. A woman is tending to her morning flowers some ways ahead of you. And further down the path, it opens up to a fountain where a figure is sitting but you can't make out what that figure looks like. They are too far.”
“I smile at the woman tending to her garden then go towards the fountain to get a better look at the person there.”
“You get closer to this figure and you see,” you pause gesturing to Robin. “Will you describe your character please?”
“Sure,” Robin leans forward scanning her notes briefly before speaking. “You see a woman sitting along the side of the fountain. A tiefling woman with deep purple skin. She has horns that curl multiple times before pointing behind her. They are adorned with gold jewelry. At her sides are holsters of what looks to be books. She has long black hair that is braided down her back and glasses that sit high on her nose. That, my friends, is Zira Nimblethorn.”
“Zira you can now see Skender walking in your general direction.”
Robin smiles. “I lean back and stick my hand in the fountain searching for a coin.”
“That's easy enough to find. With much luck, your fingers brush across the cool hardness of a circular coin.”
“I take it out of the water and chuck it at the man walking towards me.”
“Wha-, come on Robin I am just walking. It's a town. Plenty of people walk around.” Steve loudly protested.
“Well, maybe you looked suspicious.” She smiled at him mockingly. Eddie and Nancy laughed at their interaction.
“Robin roll an attack roll for me.”
“Shit, seven.” Robin looked up hopefully.
“Doesn't hit!” Steve cheered.
“Zira throws the coin at Skender and it goes wide hitting the side of a building next to him instead.”
“After being attacked by this woman at the fountain,” Steve turns to Robin, “For absolutely no reason may I add. I run towards her.”
“Zira grabs her things and runs away.”
“Skender chases.”
“Zira breaks into a sudden run, trying to get far away from this large man with a very large weapon strapped to his back. Zira bobs and weaves in and out of alleyways between buildings trying to lose Skender but he keeps on her. Not getting closer yet not losing her either. This goes on for some time. Long enough that you are both huffing and puffing as you run.
Until you round a particular corner and someone is standing in the middle of the alleyway. Zira, I would like you to make a dexterity saving throw as you try to stop yourself quick enough not to slam straight into this person. And Skender I would like you to make one as well to see if you can stop yourself from running into Zira.”
“I got a nineteen,” Robin says.
“A ten.” Steve supplies, hopeful.
“Zira stops herself with what seems like practiced precision. She stops just a hair before this figure. However, Skender who had come barreling behind her didn’t expect the sudden stop. He crashes straight into Zira, who in turn crashes into the person in front of her, landing all three of you in a heap on the cold hard ground.”
“What the hell, can't you stop that oversized oaf body of yours.” Robin groaned in the low drawl of her character's voice.
“Me, how about you don’t throw coins at people and run away. That is so suspicious.” Steve barked in a loud voice of his character.
You caught Nancy’s gaze across the table and nodded to her.
“Can you two stop bickering and get off of me. This is highly uncomfortable.”