I think back to my prior meeting with the client. She seemed straight up, and I'd like to think I'm pretty skilled at reading people. But who knows?
Wisdom Roll: (5+6)+0=11
She seemed genuine enough, Alfonso was recently divorced, and your client matched the description floating around of his fiery ex-wife. So why did you get the feeling there was something more important about the rings than a little sentimentality?
If you had a copper for every job that was more than it seemed...
After reflecting for a moment, I try my best to sneak through the back door.
Would a sneak roll be 2d6+dex? If so, it's (4+4)+2=10
Waymore, as Ein starts playing his sitar and Thrakdur inconspicuously shuffles to block Zhao's view, you deftly maneuver your way without drawing any attention and push open the door, which slides open at your touch.
To explain a little more accurately, this is a Defy Danger move - trying to do something while under threat, in this case, the threat of being detected. This one uses Dex because of the manner in which you are trying to defy danger. On reflection, I should have made Serrick make an aid roll to see if he could help you on your move - though it doesn't really matter right now.
You find yourself in a busy kitchen, where a ferocious woman - probably the head chef, judging by her clothing - is ordering around servants in fierce whispers. Steam and the unavoidable hubbub of multiple cooks and scurrying attendees fills the air. Everybody is in white, and you find yourself feeling conspicuous - even though nobody has noticed you yet, you'd best move fast.
Anything you do is going to first require another Defy Danger+DEX before you do it.
Thinking back, your client told you that odds were that the ring was somewhere in Alfonso's personal office. There's three doors leading out of here that don't just go back to the tea room - one set of shoji doors, a oddly out-of-place glass-fronted door, and an open doorway you think probably leads to the servant's quarters.
What do you do?
I sit near the guards with sitar in hand, casually playing, to calm them down and mellow out.
"Don't worry about it. It's probably just an accident, so no need to get involved. Its must be tough to be guards, what do you guys desire for working a tough job?"
I roll 2 d6s for parley right?
I get 5 and a 2
You don't have any leverage yet, so you don't actually need to parlay; parlay is also +CHA, so when rolling that next time, don't forget to add the modifier. Looks like Charming and Open doesn't actually require any rolls.
Zhao's face splits open in a wide grin (not literally). "An accident? Men don't get thrown out windows '
on accident'" he sneers. He motions with one hand, taking in the entire room.
"I'm the one asking the questions here," he booms. "And unless you can somehow get me a certain pretty little ring, I don't think you've anything to offer me."
Alfonso starts trying to talk, but Zhao motions at his guards, who begin to approach you all. The servants have fled, as have any other luckless patrons; it's just you four and Alfonso. (
Who among you noticed that Waymore has disappeared?). Zhao himself steps closer to you, Ein, and lowers his voice to a growl.
"Now, who do you work for? We've been watching you blasted outlanders for days now - and now you pop up here, of all places...
who do you serve, outlander?"
Ein, answer the question, then what do you do?
The other half of Charming and Open, is that the NPC gets to ask you a question. A few notes: You don't have to answer truthfully (though you do have to answer), only Waymore seems to know he's after a ring and he didn't tell you guys, so you could conceivably have a different job from him entirely.
Serrick, Thrakdur, and
Dekan, the guards are approaching you and Alfonso but, strangely enough for guards, don't appear to be taking out their customary hand bindings.
What do you do?