((Okay all the stupid behind the scenes stuff first, so this set of parenthesis covers a lot.
Ampersand's primary motivations are:
riches
power
self-sustenance
from least to most import. So not getting executed is pretty up there on his 'to-do' list. Along with that he's not real big on trusting people that just tried to kill him to sacrifice for his sake. Along with the obvious, he's not one to trust in general. Suffice to say yes there's a reason his name is a conjunction yet generally works on his own. Plus this
(Also we've read their letters and know that they aren't tracking us that well yet. Might have just changed, sure, but we're just a random bunch of adventurers to them in the last two exchanges, not "Tiefling Witch, Sketchy Drow, Crazy Author, Old Man, Orc." They didn't even notice that Dog went missing.)
a thousand times this. There is no better time to run than now while he has a sketchy idea of us in his head and is about to kill the only person that might be able to give a good description. Plus, should they separate when they run, what will the descriptions be? "keep your eyes open for a drow male somewhere on this side of the country" "tiefling girl wanted: last seen in small town" and we stand out the most (okay Briar too).
Beyond that, honestly Ampersand until Francy very recently when she saved his life saw you all as completely expendable. She may be missed slightly. But if it wasn't for the group of dwarves in the last campaign, the plan was murder people / steal sword / live like king. Honestly not the best thought out plan, but the idea is cutting ties for his own life is not even a second thought.
Beyond that, though. This certainly isn't over. Ampersand wont be exiting the game forever after walking out that door. The priest did not look in a position to give up that quickly just a short while ago, and that warrants looking into. Even if he doesn't find anything he'll hang around at least and see what happens from the outskirts of town.
So yes, with all that in mind, having you tell me again and again that this is a stupid choice does come off as calling my motivation stupid. By no means am I trying to insinuate you actually used the word.
Now all that said, this is all a problem on my end. It's this dang dirty OOC speak. I hate the stuff. If you want to play a game and talk about the strategy in everything blah blah then okay I'll just do that. That is clearly not what anyone wants though and just a strawman because that's how I roll, bro.
Really though I just dislike feeling obligated to use it. There is no way in the world to have OOC conversations and not meta-game. The soul purpose is to explain what a character can't or communicate and share information where you shouldn't be able to. I think that's kind of lame. I'm not a killjoy though so I try not to complain about it prior to right now.
So instead of me having to say (no don't worry let him walk out he's going to be all sneaky and try to save the day ;b) after my previous line in order to do so without being questioned, I ask not that you trust my choices on their merits [I make all his decisions uninformed of what & shouldn't know and so will often make poor ones in the grand scheme, plus, you know, admit to trying to kill at least some of you] but that I do them in the interest of my character, and the fun of RPing this shit.
That said.))
Ampersand lifts his arm to wipe the black cat from his head while also shaking Pitamaha's hand from his shoulder. "If there's proof to be had, or some sort of divine light of revelation come morning, I'll be around to to bask in it. Trust me though, if any of us runs, you'll all 'a better chance if I leave now than stay to abandon you on the execution march."
With that he finally makes his way out of the inn. Heading back out towards where he stashed his things, he'll go the long route by the church to see what's going on there, and be sure to make sure he isn't being followed or watched by the guards.
stealth and perception
1d20 +13 : 1d20 +6
5 + 13 = 18 // 1 + 6 = 7
(All this arguing and the children are shaken up.)