Shades of Delusion: The Aftermath

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Chapter 1: Rise of Ruin
(OOC thread Here) (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?p=8382337#post8382337)
http://oi52.tinypic.com/33mu1s1.jpg
Disease, insanity, and death were the angels that attended my cradle, and since then have followed me throughout my life... ~ Edvard Munch


It has been three months yesterday since the star fell from above and smote the land of Edra for the first time in several generations. It hit no city, not even the brazen Banzaarians, but instead struck the Oraculus, home of the Seven Sages where futures were seen, and predictions were made. Only Thales is said to have somehow survived, and fled to Forest Heart where he remains in hiding. Storms swept across the continent, and forests were flattened for many miles. A muddy rain fell for weeks about the hills and frogs were said to fall from the sky. These were but secondary concerns to the true damage of the impact. Across Edra hundreds, if not thousands fell unconscious. Seemingly held in the throes of a fever, they ranted and raved, screamed and wept, stopping only once their bodies cramped from the exhaustion. A veritable plague it was, from which no clergyman or chirurgeon could awaken them. Even those that did not fall have suffered dreams to which their is no comparison. Some of the worst of these dreamers began to mutate, their minds and bodies altering into horrors or going mad, or both. Most of the fevered victims eventually died. Some from wearing out, others from aneurysms and brain cancers. Most though from fright. Those of sterner stuff or possessing a resistance were cared for by church and temple to be studied in hope of a cure. Of the most violent, strangest cases were sent to the Order of the Epiphanies in Forest Heart, a sect of St. Cuthbert.

If this wasn't enough, the followers of Ruin have risen up. Their raids are near continuous, burning out farmers and attacking caravans. Those captured refuse to speak, fearing more the one they worship than anyone or anything else, regardless of that which they may be threatened with. Trade is nearly at a standstill, only the most desperate or heavily escorted traders risking attack.
Many have revolted against them however, refusing to bow down to these Priests and Priestesses of Ruin. Banzaar itself has thwarted many raids and in defiance has planned a great holiday on the Summer solstice, when the powers of sun and sky are greatest. This rebellion many feel will focus the ire of those of Ruin, but others sickened and angered by the destruction have come to participate, to make a statement. They will not bow down before any of ground or sky, man or nightmare. All are invited to join their festivities and many traders, seeing a chance to make up for lost time, have gathered all of their caravans for this one trip to the great Roaming City. Others less brazen, but wiser, have filled ships and are currently sailing around the horn of the peninsula, out to sea where the priests never go. They will then dock and sell their goods and services.

Each of you, for your own reasons, have come to the festival, or have business in the city. Though it is not scheduled until the morrow many have begun early, and their is music in the streets, food on the grill, and much merry and lovemaking. Though clouds have built up on the horizon and the winds strengthening, the sky is clear, the sun warm, and hope and desperate joy can be tasted on the breeze.


Sarris Almodo IV

It has been smoothing sailing this last week, with a steady breeze and a warm sun on your back. Even the clergyman privy to sea-sickness have felt a let-up of their symptoms the last couple days. The church voted almost unanimously to make the sea journey to Banzaar for both protection and retaliation of the Ruin attack they are certain will occur. There is the scent of horses from the hold, nickering anxiously to once again have firm land beneath their hooves.

Nearby you hear Domile, the Head Inquisitor arguing loudly with the captain in his quarters over some disagreement. Such has been common. Domile is a powerfully willful man, and his grievances are seldom spoken softly.

He shows none of it however as he merges from the quarters, unruffled and serene, if not a little red in the face. He is a tall, burly man in rigorous health despite his obviously advanced years, with bulging arms and a bull neck. His salt and pepper hair is long and straight to his back, with a receding hairline. His face is grizzled though hard, with a beard still dark. His eyes are a light gray and flinty. He wears loose gray pants and a long sleeved tunic with a leather breastplate. On his large hands are normally found a pair of metallic gauntlets with the symbol of St. Cuthbert on the backs, but for now they hang from a loop on his belt. He appears more as a captain of an army than a religious leader, though holds himself not pompously, but alertly. He takes a deep breath and looks into the sky as he exits, closing his eyes against the sun.


Somnium
The sand beneath your feat rasps soothingly between your toes. Closing your eyes you try to imagine you are back within your home deserts, but the cry of a gull flying low as it passes your head ruins the moment. As well, it is far too warm, and the crash of the nearby ocean is something you've never heard before until you arrived in Banzaar. The smell... it is also something you never suspected. No, this is not a place alike to the desert.

You have wandered the beach for awhile now, and are about a mile from the artificial bays that Banzaar tends to settle down nearby. In the far distance you can see the outline of another. It seems that no matter how far you'll go there will be a dock to be camped nearby. Humans, halflings, and maenads fill the city, and even here, on its outskirts, you can't completely rid yourself of their mammalian scent. They are seen in the water, and in the sand. Some literally. Not too far stand a number of guards around what appears as a vicious game of tick-tack-toe. Grids of criss-crossing barbed wire stretch across the sands, pulled taught against deep-driven stakes. Spotted here and there within the clear boxes are tiny tents, far too small too hold all but a babe.

You have heard that those awaiting trial or being punished are kept there, buried up to their necks in sand and given only a tent to keep off the direct sun. Several times a day they are given a thin broth for both water and food.

You have run across quite a number of fascinating creatures upon the beach. It is low tide and their is a definite stink of flesh in the air, and most of the beach goers are keeping well clear of it. To you however such a smell is almost perfume, for it means the possibility of discovery. Following the scent you see a great lump of stream-lined grey flesh beached upon the low tide. It is enormous, though possibly exaggerated so by the process of heat-induced bloating.

http://www.anon.org/images/deadWhale.jpg



Yamada Tarō
You stroll beneath a tree-shadowed trail, the sound of cicadas loud and grating. As well is the continuous sound of the bees and wasps that cloud above. The trees are all manner of apple, most gnarled and enormous with age, though where one has died or a natural opening is found, a younger one has sprouted. The branches have been trimmed back so as to form a living arch of vegetation and budding fruit. Seen between the trunks is a vast prairie as far as the eye can see, the grass nearly to your head in places, but the trail itself is devoid of anything but low, hardy weeds. It is a living avenue of beauty and life, but you hardly notice this because it is also ambush-welcome. The morning sun is blocked by the canopy above as the planters intended, but it also casts the trail in permanent twilight, even at full noon. As well, many could lose themselves in the boughs, or duck within the wheat and weeds of the grasslands. This concerns you all the more, because something of beauty that you can appreciate has awoken within the plush gypsylike house wagon.
http://www.situseattle.com/images/Photos/Gypsy%20Caravan/GypsyWagon%20A.jpg

This is the second day since the battle and you are camped out to one side of the broad trail. You have a fire going and water boiling on a small kettle to prepare breakfast. A cream-colored clydesdales chews on the immature fruit and grass it can reach from the side of the trail.

Gearna finally emerges in a morning dress and smiles. She settles down on a cushioned stool she brought from within her traveling house and begins to braid her hair around copper wires. She is not what one would think of a wealthy traveling merchant. Her dark, strawberry blonde hair grows down to her waist, but you know it will shortly be put up in an elaborate, decorative do of braids. When you met her gems dangled from hidden hooks in the wires, but since the attack she has not attempted to display her merchandise. Hardly having spoken yesterday, she appears much more open and less brooding than she did before as the bodies of her guards were buried. She spoke of them being but temporary help, but still her heart bled for them. Except for special trade runs you know that she lives within the elaborate house wagon. Despite that her reputation precedes her, and you know she is wealthy enough to buy out half of Forest Heart. Instead she trades with dwarf in the mountains for gold and silver, maenads and darfellans for coral and pearl, and the odd molok people (molefolk) for gem and opal.

She also sales herself out as a piece of jewelry herself it is said. Though no whore she claims, she is found on the arm of many who can afford it, though what occurs after the social function she escorts says is nobody's business.

Such is the woman you have devoted to protecting.

Raynor Badrad
Traveling down the trail you've met many an interesting trader or caravan, and are but half a day's travel from Banzar. It is well after daybreak, and you wake up from the hammock you strung amongst the branches. Even though it is not early, you might well have slept in later if not for the scent. There is the faint aroma of bacon being grilled nearby, and even more tantalizing, an under-scent of perfume. It seems to be coming from up the orchard trail a ways.

[The Antigamer]

I believe raynor will speak in DarkOrange
Vorpal

Raynor awakes slowly, wondering why he is doing so. It's not even close to noon, his usual wake-up time, and he had been up late stargazing besides. But then his nose finally penetrates the fog of sleep to thrust its information at his bain. "Bacon?" he whispers incredulently. He sits up in his hammock among the branches, and peers around.
And perfume? he thinks.
This is definitely worth an early wakening. He hops out of the hammock, quickly stuffs it in his haversack, shimmies down the tree, and heads up the orchard trail following the scent, whistling jovially so as not to surprise whoever's breakfast he intends on joining.

[Calenestel]

Yamada Tarō

Vorpal
Sleeping in the field, is something that Tarō is rather used to. Usually he tends to sleep unarmoured, striving to feel the Earth with his own body. Even at home he often woke up with at least a foot out of bed, firmly placed on the bedrock floor, always to Yumi's amusement. The last night had been different though. First and foremost he was responsible for someone else's security now, not only his own. And second his usual tactic, to use his innate magic to hide the tracks to his resting place was just not feasible when there was a wagon like that involved. Thus he had slept in the padded clothes that was the innermost layer of his armour. Not much protection really, but better than none, and you didn't sleep any worse. Still, it felt odd to wake almost halfway armoured.
Lifting his gaze from the beginning of their breakfast the earth genasi notices that the merchant he has vowed to see safely to Banzaar had woken as well now. Quickly he stands, bowing respectfully. Her beauty as well as his duty made him slightly formal, not cold and distant but... proper. For she was beautiful, almost as good looking as his Yumi. But where his wife was of a appearance that he was used to in a human: almost golden in skin, black of hair and with dark hair, Gearna was far from ordinary, at least not in his eyes, fair of both skin and hair. And while her exotic beauty was something he couldn't avoid admiring from afar it also made him a tiny bit nervous (not that he would admit any such thing). Unsmiling but corteous the samurai gestures towards the fire. "Good morrow, mistress Gearna. Breakfast is almost done: Bacon, bread and cheese and the last of the eggs. I hope we are getting close to Banzaar now. For we are short of supplies." Most had been ruined in the attack.

I can haz OOC threadz? :smallsmile:

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Yamada & Raynor

"We'll be there before evening." the bronze-haired Lady affirms, sticking her tongue out unconsciously as she loops a particularly difficult braid.
"Too bad it is not later in the year or we'd have applesauce along with it."

Not getting the stony warrior to open up, she tries another tact.

"I had an unpleasant dream last night. Something with... maggots? I think? It spun a cocoon and from it emerged the skeleton of a butterfly. I'm forgetting now what happened after... but I don't think I'd want to remember." she ends with a twist of her lips. "Anyways, can you pass the scuppernong preserves?"

The last bit barely registers with Yamada however as someone whistling an upbeat tune is walking up the trail on the Banzar side.

Raynor doesn't at first see the smoke of the cooking fire, the dry wood burning cleanly and stealthily, but the large house-wagon is difficult to miss. Nearby it are too figures, and tethered to a tree a large, pale-hide clydesdale.

OOC
Descriptions!

Also, OOC link posted on first page.

[The Antigamer]

Yamada and Vorpal

A thin, whistling youth in a brown tunic, with messy, sandy blonde hair and smiling eyes rounds the bend to see the wagon.
At the sight of the two people, he nods his head at them, spreads his arms in a peaceful gesture, and asks loudly from a safe distance.
"Gran' day ter yer me friends! Wuld ye mind a bit 'av company as ye break yisser fast?"


((OOC something like this (http://fc05.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2010/273/b/6/b6ce67a6824162764dedb9c40d301f46-d2zt5wh.jpg).

Vorpal
Raynor is wearing a shirt and pants, but his tunic is actually his manifested glamered Mind Armor.

[Critical]

Vorpal

As the nostalgic memories flew through the kobold's mind, he'd smile, if he wasn't already smiling, more so, he was smiling in all of his sharp, white teeth for no particular reason. Living in the abyss definitely had it's impact on the kobold. Although he was short, his impressive array of teeth and his big jaw did the job in making him appear quite large. It made him appear always cheery and, maybe, a little bit angry, although, those who knew Somnium for a while knew, that his true mood was reflected on his scales. Being nostalgic about his home desert made his scales turn, of course, to the sandy desert color, almost making him look like an ordinary desert kobold now. Pulling the reins on "Captain Socks", his good ol' trusty donkey, which was usually carrying some tied bodies to experiment later on and stuff that might just be useful in the long run, however there was nothing in it right now. However, there appeared to be a perfect opportunity at hand to get it filled. Or was it?
The kobold came close to the body he found, while leading the donkey in a such way, that he'd be hard to see for the guards, just in case. He then ordered the donkey with a hand sign to keep an eye out for anything fishy(maybe even literally!), while he did the work. He could get so distracted, so that a donkey would, literally, notice things better than him, and although Somnium was ashamed to admit it, he knew it as a fact. He then immediately got to work. Judging by the stinkyness and staying still, the body was dead, but the monstrumologist decided to check the pulse none the less. Vivisection would be a bit risky here, but hey, who would take a reasonable risk if it wasn't the risk-taking Somnium? But he was more worried about his Captain Socks, who has became a trusty companion and friend to him now.


Checking the body out for life signs and anything unusual while using donkey and the cart as a cover from the guards. Also, rolling the necesarry knowledge checks and monstrous lore check, of course!

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Somnium
The guards don't seem to have any particular interest in you, and none whatsoever show any signs of curiosity about your approach to the beached behemoth.

As you near it and walk its length you ascertain it is most certainly a cachalot. Though from a desert land far from the sea, you have heard many stories of this beast, which until this moment you had taken for tall tales.

It is over 25 feet in length, and as you inspect its head you recall another name for it. Sperm whale, some say, due to the waxy substance spermicetti collectible from its cranial cavities for use in candles and similar. In fact, it appears to have already been extracted specifically for such a gathering. Despite this it is your guess it was collected after the beaching.

It's long, toothed jaws are held stiffly open by rigor mortis. While capable of swallowing a human whole, you can literally walk within the oral cavity without much ducking.

Checking within, you notice nothing of note, aside from the end of a thick bit of leather leading down within its gullet.

[PairO'Dice Lost]

VorpalSarris glances up at Domile as he approaches, but not up at the sky. He's been awake since before dawn--again--and has seen the sky before; no need to waste time with another glance upward. His bloodshot eyes are instead focused on the book he is reading and annotating while sitting in the shade from the sails.

"Again, Domile? Waste. Trivial difference of opinion," he opines without looking up from his reading. "What quibble now?"

[Critical]

Vorpal

Well, it seemed that there was nothing for him here, aside from the scientific interest. But Somnium wasn't sure if an hour spent here would be truly worth it. Still, he decided to check out where did the thick leather end lead to, and what was it's purpose, or was it just an accidental food? So he grabbed that leather end and pulled, hoping to find out more. He really should be going, he didn't want to smell like a whale, even for the sake of science, surely, not of the non-benefical kind, but hey, he was already in he might've as well checked it out.

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Sarris
Domile's eyes snap down on you like a hand on a fly.

"Quibble? Keep that fool tongue within. The superstitious sot wants to set us down right now, still a day's ride away. Says he doesn't like the look of those clouds ahead. I assured him our divinations show clear skies for still another couple days. You know what he says to me? He says when it comes to the sky we are blind. It's CLOUDS I said, not a fornicating STAR. All of these skippers been skittish as a broody hen. I admit there is a certain cause, but Cuthbert blind me, we can't be jumping at ever breeze!" he says as much to himself as to you, venting for venting sake.


Somnium

You pull... and you pull and you pull and you pull. Saliva and other excretions coat the length of leather and your hands as you haul on it. You have some 40 feet of belt around when it suddenly will come no longer, no matter how hard you pull. Then abruptly the leather snakes back inside, all 40 feet of it. You try to grab it back, but the slimy coating makes it impossible to keep a bracing grip. The last is engulfed back within, leaving not even a trailing this time to take hold of.

[Calenestel]

Yamada Tarō

Vorpal & Raynor
Nodding slowly as his ward recounts her dream the genasi busies himself with the eggs, sizzling over the fire. His own dreams had been rather pleasant, for a change, but he was not scholar or holy man that could divine the future by interpreting dreams. So he only listens, nodding to show that he understood. Then he tenses, the sound of a stranger approaching putting him on the alert. He doubted that someone with ill intent would walk up to them whistling, unless it was a diversion, but he took no chances either way. Quickly he takes a few steps to put himself between Gearda and the whistling, putting his hand on the hilt of his katana. He puts his feet a bit apart and his breaths slowly, ready. Of course, the youth that walks up to them doesn't seem very dangerous and he quickly relaxes somewhat. Not entirely, but enough to take his hand from the hilt of the sword.

He is a big man, tall and still almost stockily built, and most obviously not entirely human. His skin is rough and pitted as if made of living stone, his eyes like two emerealds, with no pupils or whites to be seen and his hair is a metallic grey of steel. After he relaxes a hint of a smile can be seen tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Well. It is mostly up to mistress Gearna. But as for me you are welcome to our camp."

[Critical]

Vorpal

Raising an eyebrow, Somnium looked with surprise at the last place he has seen the belt. He was about to leave, but the curiosity overcame him. Endruing the bad smell, the kobold got out his surgical kit and slowly started making his way to where the belt came from.


Hope you don't mind that I added the surgical kit just now, brcause I just noticed it when I looked over the Monstrumologist PrC. :smallredface: Sold Chronocharm of the Grand Master for it.

Anyways, making the way to that leather belt using surgical tools!

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Raynor and Yamada

Gearna stands and looks the young man up and down.

"Do you have any intentions of performing loot, plunder or rape?" she inquires, hands on hips and an arched coppery brow.


Somnium

You cutting from the outside or making like Jonah?

[PairO'Dice Lost]

VorpalSuperlative, simply superlative. A superstitious captain attempting to ruin our voyage on the one hand, and an angry priest with imperceptible amounts of self-control on the other, thinks Sarris, using proper diction and grammar in his thoughts, the only medium of communication fast enough to let him speak freely without feeling like he's wasting time.

"Ah. Superstition," he answers Domile aloud, sneering at the captain's primitive notions. "Worthwhile, then. Plans?"

[Critical]

Vorpal

The second. :smallsmile:

[Calenestel]

Yamada Tarō

Raynor and DM
Surprised Tarō spares a glance at the jewelmerchant, momentarily taking his eyes off the stranger. That was probably uncalled for, not to mention an odd question to begin with. But he guessed it was understandable considering her previous misadventure. Who knows what vile entertainment the bandits had had in mind. Quickly he snaps his gaze back to the youth, his stony face an expressionless masque. Somehow he still seemed ready to draw that long, slightly curved blade he carried at his hip. Even if he didn't have his hands near the hilt.

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Somnium
It's pretty dark in the maw, but you've worked in darker, if not stranger, environs. Like an explorer cutting through a dense jungle, you take your scalpel to the rancid flesh to widen the gullet. It is a disgusting job, even for you. Without too much effort however you work into its digestive cavity (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qa0sSslvrrU), which appears to be partially gutted. You are knee deep in ichor and diluted digestive juices that burn your skin unpleasantly (1 point of non-lethal every minute).

Hanging to the ground in the middle of the cavity, within the remains of its tattered lungs, is a great wad of the leather, all tangled and knotted.

You also notice something in the recesses of the gut, what appears to be a crab taller than you picking at the wealth of whale meat.



Sarris

From your relationship with the church and its Inquisitor you know that the captain can be utterly brutal and forward to friends and known ones, trusting on familiarity to forgive him.
When interrogating another, seeking information, or when dealing with the children or the sick he however is as unflappable as a stone and kind as a cool hand to a fevered brow.

He is serene now, the blaze burned down as he answers, "Compromised of course. He'll set us half a day's ride. It'll be good for the horses to have some exercise before we arrive anyways."



Rolls
[roll0]

[roll1]
[roll2]
[roll3]
[roll4]

[roll5]
[roll6]
[roll7]
[roll8]

[Critical]

Vorpal

Taking an adamantine scalpel, the little kobold thrusted it into the side, making a hole out for himself, while grabbing the leather knot to lead it out, ready to cut it with his quickrazor strapped to his arm at any moment if it gets pulled back like the last time.


So, doing all that, with a readied action to cut the leather if it gets pulled back.

Also, awesome song choice. :smalltongue:

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Somnium
Though the widening of the already ragged maw was somewhat easy, the unmarred innards prove quite a hassle to cut into and the flesh is thick. This is more a job for a meat axe.

Though concentrating on your work of, there is a faint splashing sound behind you. Turning, you see ripples in the digestive juices, but no sign of anything that made them.



Rolls
[roll0]
[roll1]
[roll2]


[roll3]
[roll4]
[roll5]

[The Antigamer]

Yamada and Vorpal

Raynor raises an eyebrow.
"Nigh, why wuld oi be wantin' ter do 'at? Oi jist smelled yore grub an' thought ter meself, oi'm sure they want sum company as they travel ter de fair an' al', since that's de whole point 'av de fair. So naw, oi 'av nay plans for murder or rape, but if yer'll let me oi'll gladly loot sum 'av yisser meal. Oi 'arv a couple av apples ter add ter yore bounty too."
He reaches into his haversack and pulls out a small white bag of apples, and holds it out towards the two.

[Critical]

Vorpal

"Uh oh." - he faintly whispered to himself. Why did he have to get into the whale in the first place? The curiosity seemed to be a blessing and a curse at the same time. The most logical conclusion he has come to is to run - he thought adamantine scalpel would be quite enough to cut a small hole, but it wasn't. Looks like he had to go all the way back now, ready to cut the leather the same way as he was before, although, he was coming out of the mouth now.

[Calenestel]

Yamada Tarō

Raynor & Vorpal
The more or less literally stone faced fighter nods slowly as the young man speaks. There seemed to be nothing sinister about him, nothing... off. Bandits or minions of the Priests would hardly bother with anything more than an direct assault and this was dragging out. If the stranger was only there to distract them then the whole farce had gone on long enough already. Of course, he MIGHT be an assassin, Tarō knew too little about Gearna's enemies to rule that out. But... this one didn't seem like an assassin to the samurai. He was too brazen with his straightforward ways and strange dialect. An assassin would most probably be more... ingratiating, not to mention subtle. Holding up a hand to show that the man had spoken enough he turns to his charge. "Mistress, I do believe he has only friendly intentions. Well, that and edging in on our breakfast. What do you say? Shall he be invited?" His voice is a low rumbling of a bass.

[PairO'Dice Lost]

VorpalAt the captain's calmer tone, Sarris raises a mental eyebrow. Not uncontrolled, then, simply erratic. I had heard such from Mother, but had not anticipated behavior chaotic to such a degree. This looks as if it will be a long voyage.

Outwardly as serene as the captain, Sarris merely nods in acknowledgment. "Alert me upon arrival."

[The Antigamer]

Yamada and Vorpal
Raynor puts on his most charming smile, and tries his best not to look like an wily, lazy lout, and instead look like a free-spirited, insouciant rascal.

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Raynor and Yamada
"Pity." Gearna responds to Raynor, her face breaking into a grin. "I was just teasing him, Yamada. Come on over, and lets have a taste of those apples."

Somnium

Surprise Round

As you turn you feel many sharp prods in your legs, though only one manages to pierce your hide (2 damage).

One of your attackers rises up from the water, a crab smaller than the one you saw earlier, but not by much. There is further ripples in the bile-water as well.

OOC
We're in rounds now.


Saris
"Hold!" Domile calls. "Haakem is contacting us."

He stands still for a moment, and his hands tighten into fists. He opens his mouth to say what's on his mind but then closes it thoughtfully.

"We cannot return for two days. Haven't reached Banzar. Will return by Cuthbert's Way, dawn after Solstice. Keep vigilant! Out." he finishes. The entire conversation Domile was making silent hand gestures that you recognize as some sort of language, but were never schooled in.

"The church was under attack this morning by two intruders." he announces. "They are not certain what they were, but they were not of man or mortal. Apparently they were after a child born to one of the Dreamers being held in the sanitarium."

OOC
This man could legally execute you you know, if he wished, and is the commander of all the church forces of all the orders of St. Cuthbert in Edra, plus their allied religious affiliations.

He's not someone you give orders to :smallwink:

[The Antigamer]

Yamada and Vorpal
Raynor flashes his teeth in a smile, pulls out a small, slightly wizened apple from the bag and tosses it to the woman as he approaches the fire. His gait is easy, relaxed, expending the least possible amount of energy needed to move.
"They're a tad teensey, not bein' quite in 'arvest time yet, but they're still sweet."
He sits down by the fire, eyes the cooking food, and proffers the bag to Yamada.
"Oi'm Raynor Badrad oi am, an' 'tis a pleasure ter meet yer, Yamada, wus it? An' yisser name miss?" he addresses the last to Gearna.

[Calenestel]

Yamada Tarō

Raynor & Vorpal
Breathing a soft sigh and shaking his head with a rueful smile the samurai again notices that he isn't very good at understanding the strange woman he had taken under his protection. But her smile as much as the young man's non-threatening demeanor puts the earth genasi at ease and he actually relaxes. For the first time since Raynor showed up. With a friendly smile he turns towards Raynor and bows slightly, just a little more than a nod, back straight and arms straight along his sides. "Hello, Raynor Badrad. And it's Tarō. My name is Yamada Tarō, but Yamada is the name of my house, my family." The armed man keeps his tone civil and calm and in truth he does not feel offended. He's used to people getting it wrong. But it still feels wrong. "Welcome to our camp."

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Raynor and Yamada
"Gearna Sheaux." the woman says, pronouncing the latter as 'show'.

She dips in a curtsy from her seat on the stool. "Lady, Ambassador, Guild Master, Merchant and a few other titles somewhere. You are in the presence of greatness, let it be known."

[The Antigamer]

Yamada and Vorpal
Raynor nods at the gensai.
"Moi mistake, just heard te lady callin' yer dat. "
Tilting his head quizzically at the woman, Raynor asks her,
"An' ambassador from wha ter where?"
Privately he thinks the woman seems a bit on the haughty side, but he's not passing judgement on those who will share their meal with him.

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Raynor and Yamada

"To thief and thug, currently." she responds dryly and her lips twitch sardonically as she glances at her guardian. "Had a caravan of nearly forty men. None them survived. My guardian statue here kept the fatality from being total."

Yamada

Knowing that while the lady legitimately possesses those titles, that she basically lives a wandering, almost vagabond existence in a home not much bigger than folk's kitchen, she is announcing them ironically. Most consider her eccentric at best.

[The Antigamer]

Y&V
Raynor nods sadly.
"Oi'm sorry ter 'ear dat. Bandits? Or dem Ruin langers?" His face darkens slightly as he mentions the priests.

[PairO'Dice Lost]

VorpalExcellent. A possible chance to test my latest research, muses Sarris, and to examine these unknown creatures. Hopefully they were not damaged. "Where, and how can we help?" Sarris asks.

OOC
Anyone mentioning problems to Sarris is obviously deferring to his superior expertise. He's still working on little things like "speaking respectfully to military commanders." :smallwink: Fortunately, he only slips occasionally nowadays.

[Calenestel]

Yamada Tarō

Raynor & Vorpal
"There weren't any left to ask questions," the samurai says with a calm and content, but wicked, smile. In truth he didn't care why they had chosen to attack the gem merchant. They were highwaymen and robbers and that was enough for him. Seemingly without a care in the world the genasi returns to the preparation of breakfast, lifting the bacon out of the pan before they burn.

[The Antigamer]

Y&V
Raynor laughs at that, his eyes watching intently as Tarō removes the bacon.
"Fair enoof, fair e-noof. Ye two 'eaded ter de festival at Banzaar den?"

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Raynor and Yamada

"My suspicions are both. The Ruiners encourage bandits and often pay them to sweeten the loot they'll already take for themselves." Gearna says with a flash of anger in her eyes. "We spread out wagons over several miles of road, and we all dressed like simple travelers, but they must have suspected. I had enough adamantine braces to finish repairing the Sacken Bridge, but that's been scattered to the winds. Luckily most of my gems were with me. To the maw of the Hells with all of them. I hope it chokes on them."


Sarris

A number of the order gather around as well to listen. Sir Orwell, a paladin and bayard shaper; the Langholm twin divine minds, Rose Daine a precocious eighteen year old ardent with strange ties to the spirits, and lastly Virmillion Throes a female dream-dwarf mystic from the Canverns of Ci observing the works of the order. There are others as well, but none you know more than the names of.

"There is little we can do at this point we can do. The intruders escaped, with the child however, so they are unlikely to return. However, that they managed to make it within and escape is not something we can ignore. The city guard will have to do for the time being. The good news is, several of the Dreamers awoke shortly before! Perhaps the fever will be lifted afterall."

There are a few exclamations, and many brief murmurs of prayer and thanks to St. Cuthbert.

[The Antigamer]

Y&V
Raynor nods his head at Gearna's word, a sneer of anger on his face. He spits symbolically after she curses the priests, and adds,
"May de stars smite dem al' ter oblivion."

[Calenestel]

Yamada Tarō

Raynor & Vorpal
He doesn't spit as Raynor does, it's seems like the staunch warrior is also a bit too dignified for that kind of gesture. But the face he makes, grim and antagonistic, makes it clear that he shares the sentiments. Calmly he fetches three wooden platters and serves Gearna and then their unexpected guest before taking a third, and equal, share of bacon and eggs for himself.

Not sure what I have to say here really. But I didn't want to just sity by and wait for you guys to continue the game without me. :smallwink:

[Critical]

TVT

Somnium attempted to jump through past the crabs, moving to the mouth area, trying to hide somewhere in the dark corners of the whale's belly. He wasn't really the front-line fighter and prefered to either prepare thoroughfully or strike swiftly, ending the battle even before it's start. Well, guess he had to use trickery.


Knowledge and Monstrous lore check!
Knowledge(assuming it's nature): [roll0]
Monstrous Lore: [roll1] (assuming it's nature as well, so there's a +2 for 5 ranks included in)

Tumbling past the monsters to the mouth area, hiding somewhere in there, if possible.

Tumble if needed: [roll2] ; [roll3]

Hide if possible: [roll4]

If hiding is impossible, continue moving to the mouth area.

If hiding is possible, ready a quickrazor attack(which triggers Iaijutsu Focus, assuming that they don't notice him) at the next enemy coming within reach, assuming that the hide is successful. If it's not, perform a feint.

[PairO'Dice Lost]

VorpalSarris offers the briefest prayer to St. Cuthbert he can think of, feeling vaguely resentful of the others' piety and connection to the divine. As the others disperse, he settles back into his reading to pass the time until they reach their destination.

[The Antigamer]

Y&V
Raynor takes the plate with a smile, and begins wolfing down the meal.
OOC
In case you missed it Cal, Raynor asked a question before the whole hatin' on the bandits track.

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Raynor and Yamada
The food is a bit greasy, but otherwise quite palatable. The hard biscuits and jelly with apples makes an excellent breakfast dessert as you chat and get to know one another. A horse and his rider gallops past, not at any great speed, simply a steady pace. He doesn't even glance your way as he goes by.

A few minutes later a dwarf comes into view, his covered wagon pulled by two enormous rams. He nods his head to you as he plods along, clucking his tongue and slapping the reigns as the rams slow to curiously glance at the horse.

OOC
Just giving y'all a chance to RP and get to know the other's characters while I bring everyone else closer.


Sarris

There is little to do aboard for the next few hours as the ship heads for one of the short man-made canals built at regular intervals along the long beachfront. Eventually it docks, and the horses released, champing and stomping with pent up energy.

Stores are off-loaded, though there are few enough of these, the intention to ride light but prepared into the tarpola metropolis. Several more hours pass as you set off down the beach at a moderate pace the horses can keep up for half the day. The horse you ride is ill-tempered and snappish, but once a rider is settled upon it it behaves well, moving to keep even the clumsiest seated. It is yellow-gray dappled stallion with many scars from long-healed war wounds. He's even missing part of his right cheek, so his right side always looks like it is grimacing or sneering, and saliva tends to drip from it. Despite its looks, it is a fine steed.

The faint smells of cooking fires is brought to your noses, and wanderers and the occasional tent upon the sand hints that civilization is approaching. A less pleasant scent however begins to grow as you see a glistening grey hill of some kind in the distance. Approaching it you see it is actually flesh, some leviathan of the deep having beached itself, and for at least a few days by the odor.

A donkey stands nearby, nipping at dune grass.



Somnium
You recognize these as spider crabs, and young ones at that, knowing they can grow to much greater sizes. What's odd is they're attacking you, usually being very subdued creatures unless directly provoked.

You easily tumble past them, and for a moment are completely submerged within the foul digestive refuse. You emerge from the foul juices and head up the throat. You slash a quick slit in the membrane and press yourself in. The soft, rotten flesh envelopes you like a glove. However, as the crabs head straight for you you recall another thing about them. Their acute sense of smell.

You squeeze back out of the wound with a squicky popping sound, and into the spread jaws of the leviathan.

[Critical]

TVT

As he was in the mouth area of the dead enormous fish, Somnium got out, and started to wait for the approaching spider crabs, quickrazor ready at his hand, a little sweatdrop running across his scales, which have already shifted to the user's mood as usual, appearing grey now, probably meaning, that the kobold was really concentrated.


Get out, wait for a while, while hiding, having an attack at the ready.

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Somnium

Err, leviathan meaning the dead whale. Once you left its throat you were between its jaws.

[PairO'Dice Lost]

VorpalSarris greatly appreciates the capable steed; with it providing as smooth a ride as one of Father's carriages, he is free to spend the short trip in contemplation rather than busying himself with the tedious task of riding.

When he catches sight of the creature on the beach, he brightens and immediately hops off the horse to investigate. Having spent his youth studying the more esoteric arts, Sarris's knowledge of the natural world is severely lacking and of late he has been attempting to rectify this.

[Calenestel]

Yamada Tarō

Raynor & Vorpal
Sitting in a kneeling position the genasi eats with less... haste than the guest. Instead he keeps an eye and ear open for trouble whether he's eating or talking. "Now... As for where we're going: we are indeed going to Banzaar." He hadn't been. He had just been travelling in random. But this was the way the Ancestors wanted him to go. Any direction was equally good to the samurai. Except the way home. But it wasn't time for that yet. Now, a festival sounded like something enjoyable, and his duty would be fulfilled by then. A faint smile again curves Tarō's lips. He liked festivals, and one on the surface would be quite interesting.

I had forgotten about that, yes. :smallwink:

Vorpal
I changed my horse from a light to a heavy warhorse. Seemd unfair to the creature to carry a big man in a Full Plate otherwise. :smallwink:
Money has been deducted from my sheet.

[The Antigamer]

Y&V
Raynor finishes his meal with enthusiasm, and leans back contentedly, folding his hands over his chest.
"Well, by a matter 'av pure coincidence an' chance, oi'm 'eadin' te de fair meself. Perhaps we coud travel together?"
Raynor is smiling inside and out, anticipating more free food. The stars had certainly shined on him last night.

[Critical]

TVT

Oops, thought it was a new monster. :smallredface: Fixed the post.

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Sarris
Domile calls a halt as the whale is seen and wrinkles his nose as his horse trots around it.

"What a great, smelly beast is this." he says, slightly muffled as he apparently has stop breathing through his nose.

You hop off your mount and leave it drooling in the sand. You head around to look at the gaping jaws, help open by rigor mortis. Then what may the surprise of your life happens. A strange little lizard-man no taller than your knee comes bursting out from its throat with a wicked little blade held in its hand.

It is drenched in a noxious liquid, with jellied giblets hanging from its scales, which changes color before your eyes, becoming a deep, stony gray. If possible it smells worse than the corpse itself.

Somnium

You burst out into bright sunlight once again, nearly blinded. You don't at first see them, but turning you see a battalion of armed and armored horseman surrounding you. One has dismounted and is standing just outside the jaws of the whale when you come running out. He is only slightly above average height for a human, but is still nearly three times your height. Unlike the rest he is not armored, but instead wears comfortable traveling apparel. Black hair covers his head and his eyes are a cunning blue.


R&Y

Gearna senses a kindred spirit in the happy-go-lucky, live for the day and worry about the future tomorrow fellow. She knows that such men are rarely reliable, but she isn't exactly in the position or inclination to be hiring either.

"It's not but a half-day travel, but any journey can get boring without companions... and bacon." she adds, with a knowing wink. "Unless you sense something of the dangerous charlatan in him, Yamada... Taro. Thing."

Yamada

All good.

[PairO'Dice Lost]

VorpalSarris is surprised by the appearance of the lizard-thing, but keeps his face impassive. Mostly, he's angry--that little knife it holds could have damaged the creature, those bits and pieces could be vital organs, it could have simply ruined his research opportunity. Sarris is still new enough at this arcane magic of his that he can't always tell what would make a good "spell component," and this creature could have provided one or more components after a thorough examination, and now it's possible that any suitable components would be ruined, and it's all that lizard's fault!

Just to be safe, he brings to mind the incantation associated with one of his offensive spells. He would probably be better off using his psionics, given the Order's dubious appreciation of his arcane methods, but he's been meaning to try this spell out in good experimental conditions and hasn't yet had the chance. He points a hand at the lizard-thing in an arcane gesture, first and third fingers extended, and snaps "Identify yourself."

OOC
Normally Sarris would ready a spell or power at this juncture, but I'm assuming this is another PC, given its...unique introduction. Only a PC would be crazy enough to get swallowed by a sea monster. :smallwink: If it's actually an NPC, let me know and I'll choose what to ready.

[Critical]

TVT

The always smiling in his full sharp smile, kobold with scales suddenly turning red now at the sight of the soldiers, as he really was kind of happy to actually see someone. Somnium, with amazed look on his face, fully examined the batallion. "...Wow! What a huge greeting delegation here! For me? I'm, I'm flattered!" - he spoke in his sharp timbre voice. He closed his eyes in enjoyment and then looked up at the black-haired man, slightly getting off his shades with a trained head movement - the kobold sure as hell was used to looking up when he was talking to somebody. "My, you're a tall one! I mean, how may I be of service?"


Diplomacy check to improve attitude: [roll0]

Aww come on, a nat 1! Lets throw in factotum's cunning insight too and make this 25.

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Sarris
The creature's scales suddenly turn a brilliant crimson at the sight of the soldiers. With an amazed widening of eyes it fully examines the batallion.

"Wow! What a huge greeting delegation here! For me? I'm... I'm flattered!" the lizardy creature speaks in a sharp timbred voice seasoned with an odd accent. It closes its eyes in enjoyment, and then looks up at you, squinting beneath the rims of some sort of eye protection.

"My, you're a tall one! I mean, how may I be of service?" it inquires in an ingratiating tone, as anyone might to find themselves surrounded by mounted giants.

"Have not heard of me? That's odd... why such a battalion then?" the lizard man asks, while raising an eyeridge. "Somnium the Monstrumologist, a scientist and an adventurer extraordinaire. And you are?"

His scale colors start slowly tilting from red to, strangely enough, lime.

OOC
Just go on and do what you had planned either way. Its doubtful Domile and your cormades will stand by and let you murder someone without cause :smallwink:

Somnium
The black-haired man looks at you sternly with a flash of anger in his eyes.
He points a hand at you in an obviously arcane gesture, first and third fingers extended.

"Identify yourself." he snaps curtly.

[Critical]

TVT

"Have not heard of me? That's odd... Why such a battalion then?" - the kobold asked, while raising an eyebrow, before answering his company's question. - "Somnium the Monstrumologist, a scientist and an adventurer extraordinaire. And you are?"
Somnium's scale color started slowly tilting from red to, strangely enough, lime. Most likely, it indicated, that he was curious in what was going on.

[The Antigamer]

Y&v
Raynor grins and Gearna when she mentions bacon, and runs a hand through his messy hair.

[Calenestel]

Yamada Tarō

Raynor & Vorpal
The warrior shrugs as if indifferent to the presence of the youth. But the sudden, and friendly, smile on his rocky face belies the motion. "I can't say I do, mistress Giarna. So let him come along. Of course he'll have to earn his bacon. I've need of someone who can help me tighten my armour properly before we move out." His tone is joking, but there is some kind of seriousness to it when he mentions help with his armour. He really hated traveling with the full plate when he had to don it by himself. It never fit as good as it would if he got some assistance.

[The Antigamer]

Y&V
Raynor makes a disgusted noise inside his head when Taro mentions work, but tightening armor doesn't sound too strenuous.
"Well, wut a fortuitous turn av events. Oi weren't quite sure wurr the travelin' city was ex'hactly this time 'av year."

[PairO'Dice Lost]

VorpalSarris shakes his head at the lizard-thing's antics. "Sarris Almodo the Fourth, scholar," he replies, by way of introduction, and adds "Order of the Epiphanies," pointing over his shoulder at everyone behind him. He too quirks an eyebrow, and asks "Monstrumologist?"

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Sarris & Somnium
The black-haired man shakes his head.
"Sarris Almodo the Fourth, scholar," he replies, by way of introduction, and adds "Order of the Epiphanies," pointing over his shoulder at everyone behind him. He too quirks an eyebrow, and asks "Monstrumologist?"

Raynor and Yamada
You all break camp, and load the large house-wagon. Gearna unties the clydesdale and begins to pull it towards the wagon, but the horse's nostrils flare and whites show around its eyes. She manages to calm it and lead it to be harnessed but it is very skittish, and starts several times, as if sidestepping a snake in its path.

"It's alright ole fellow." she says, stroking his nose.

[The Antigamer]

Y&V
Raynor raises an eyebrow.
"Is te' beastie normally so skittish?"

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Raynor and Yamada

"Since the attack he's been a little skittish. Doesn't like being hooked up to the wagon any more. He might just be smelling the blood on it still. I'll be washing it off once we get into Banzar. "

[The Antigamer]

Y&V
Raynor nods, and resumes kicking dirt over the fire's embers.

[Critical]

Sarris and Vorpal

"Monst... err, creature scientist. This particular specimen looked interesting, but I've got enough of whale belly traveling for today." - he says, shifting his view to the arcane handsign pointing at him and back to Sarris. - "Do you mind? I need to wash off the scent of science. Besides, why are you threatening me? Aren't you guys supposed to help people?"


Knowledge check on the order of Epiphanies, if applicable.

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Somnium

You recall much on the Order. It is a religious foundation of mental specialists, usually clergy with psychic potential, who are devoted to aiding those harmed by starfall. They have a lawful, mainly good-aligned focus and are the antithesis of the Priests of Ruin, their mortal enemies physically and philosophically.

Their most well known base is found within the great human city of Forest Heart, a sub-grouping of the church of St. Cuthbert.


Rolls
[roll0]

[PairO'Dice Lost]

Somnium and VorpalSarris lowers his hand slowly. "Not threatening, taking precautions. In case you're of Ruin." He gives Somnium a pointed look. "You're not of Ruin, are you?"

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Somnium

You haven't run into these particular peoples, but you know vaguely that the Priests of Ruin have something to do with the starfall. Apparently they worship the force behind them, and try to enforce all peoples to stay hidden from the sky in respect.

You've heard farmers and merchants speaking of their attacks and raids.

[Critical]

S&V

"Ain't a batallion of soldiers a good precaution enough?" - Somnium says, while walking up to the water and starting to wash off the whale's fluids, his scales turning slightly lighter lime in the process, it even may seem as if they were cyan. "'Of Ruin'? The guys attacking the farmers? Nah, not with em." After taking a handful of water and spilling it on his face, he added casually: "So where are you headed with such an army?"

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Sarris & Somnium
"Coming to the festival." says a man riding from around the other half of the whale upon his own steed.

He is a taller than Sarris and a burly individual in rigorous health despite his obviously advanced years, with bulging arms and a bull neck. His salt and pepper hair is long and straight to his back, with a receding hairline. His face is grizzled and hard, with a beard still dark. His eyes are a light gray and flinty. He wears loose gray pants and a long sleeved tunic with a leather breastplate. On his large hands are a pair of metallic gauntlets with the symbol of St. Cuthbert on the backs.

"Tell this creature nothing. He speaks the truth... for now, but there is evil in his heart."

[Calenestel]

Yamada Tarō

Raynor & Vorpal
Leaving calming the beast to Gearna, Tarō goes over the campsite, trying to make sure that they left as little evidence as possible behind. It was fruitless, since the wagon trail was well beyond an ordinary human's, or genasi's, ability to cover up. But it was an old habit of his and one that he actually didn't want to get rid of. After folding the soil he had cut away for their fireplace back into place the samurai then turns to Raynor. "Now, I will just get my horse saddled and then I might need some assistance with my armour. After that we will be on our way to Banzar, yes?" Motioning for the younger man to follow Tarō moves over towards the wagon, whistling two quick notes.
Around the wagon then comes another horse, a Grey and some kind of Destrier. He's a stallion of about the same size as the clydesdale but moving with a power, grace and confidence that shows that it's something more than a draught horse. Obediently the horse dances up to the warrior who pets him affectionately and then saddles him quickly and efficiently.
After that there's only the matter of donning the full plate mail. It's not as quick as if Rayner had had some training, of course, but under the knowledgeable guidance of the samurai it's done fast enough. The armour itself is about as strange as it's wearer. It's a beautiful, wonderfully crafted, set of chainmail and steel plates, but unlike most it has been etched with strange patterns, horizontal stripes over the arms guards and gauntlets, long, vertical stripes along the leg guards and over the breastplate, but at the latter the stripes are made as if covered by a pair of golden dragons, rearing and facing each other. A golden dragon also covers the top and back of the helm while the visor is adorned with a grinning, almost grotesque, human face with bristling moustaches. After a friendly "Thank you, Raynor," the warrior straps his two swords to the girdle, hefts a strange glaive, more a slightly curved sword fastened to a quarterstaff, and mounts up, ready to set out.

[Critical]

S&V

"Evil? Me? How could you possibly tell that someone with such a beautiful smile is evil?" - Somnium says, trying to laugh off the accusation as he washes off the last bit of the whale's grease, widening his smile full of sharp white teeth that he seems to never put away, as if his face was always this way. His scales started slowly shifting towards white, indicating the purest emotions.

Do I roll a bluff check to fake Somnium's scale color?

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Sarris & Somnium
The man isn't amused, or mislead. He dismounts and approaches Somnium. He towers over you, not even trying to be discreet in his intimidation.

"Your tongue is indeed forked. There are some amongst the order who would smite you for even attempting it, but even crooked words tell more than none. You just keep to your bath, and trouble none within the city and no more words at all will be necessary between us."

Somnium

I hadn't thought the colors were controllable. They are a literal reflection of your mood. I'd say a DC 20 Concentration or Autohypnosis check lets you mute the colors to a neutral tone that shows nothing however. Instead of bluffing you are controlling your emotions.

[The Antigamer]

Y&V
The young man waves away the thanks.
"'tweren't no trouble. Brekfast more than earned a bit av 'elp loike dat."
Shouldering his haversack, he sweeps his hands down the road.
"Shall we?"

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Yamada and Raynor
"I believe we shall." the Lady Gearna announces, climbing up to her seat, high on the front end of the traveling home.

"Would you rather jog along or come sit beside me?" she inquires of Raynor with a mock tone of insouciance.

[The Antigamer]

Y&V
Raynor, having figured out a bit of the woman's temperament over the course of breakfast, just flashes her a grin, grabs hold of one side of the wagon, and pulls himself up to the other side of the high seat. Maybe he'll be able to take a nap on the way.

[Calenestel]

Yamada Tarō

Raynor & Vorpal
Shaking his head with an amused, and slightly bemused, smile the genasi takes up a his own chosen position just ahead of the wagon. This way noone could sneak up on him and then attack the civilians and the wagon wasn't blocking too much of his view. It wasn't much of a vanguard, but it'd have to do.

[Critical]

S&V

Looking up at the man's face for a second, the kobold indignantly spoke up: "What a MEANIE!" He took a second to take a deep breath and added: "Do you always treat non-humanoids this way? That's not very kind."

[PairO'Dice Lost]

Somnium and VorpalSarris has watched this exchange with narrowed eyes. "Speciesism? No. Wariness of evil? Yes." He glances at Domile and adds, "Still, could come with if you behave."

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Yamada and Raynor
It's just past noon when the canopy-covered trail ends and gives way to open prairie, chewed and trampled down for a good distance. A blockade has been set up however at the edge of the trees, where every traveler and his wares are being inspected before being allowed to pass. Neither of you have heard of the Banzarians doing checks before, but in these dangerous days it may be a new precaution.

There is a bit of a line, so they have sent inspectors up on ahead.

A tall, gangling ma of dark skin and bulbous eyes approaches your party with a sheet of vellum tacked to a board.

"Names and destination?" he inquires politely, but his eyes take in the traveling house and its occupants, examining it carefully.


Sarris and Somnium

"The shape of the flesh comes in many forms. It's the force behind it that concerns me." Domile replies to the kobold.

He then glances at Sarris as he invites the creature along.

Sarris
"You are not officially under my command, Sir Almodo, but for the duration of our time here I am the representative of the Epiphanies. For what reason would you wish this being's company?" he says in a low voice, bringing his horse up alongside. "This is a sensitive mission. We are not even officially 'here'."

Somnium

DC 20 listen check allows you to hear the conversation.

[Calenestel]

Yamada Tarō

Pulling at Gurē's reins sleightly, Tarō takes in the sight. He had been to Banzar twice before and this was new. Still, it didn't worry him. They were in their right to monitor their visitors.
As the gangly man asks for names the samurai glances towards Gearna. She were the leader, of a sorts, and he awaited a signal from her before speaking up. Or for her to speak herself with the man. He'd prefer that. He had little patience with bureaucrats. Their work was important, but too many thought that meant that they were more important themselves than they actually were. That kind of arrogance always grated on his nerves.

[PairO'Dice Lost]

VorpalSarris nods at Domile's mention of his status: "Understood, but still respect your wishes, thinking of Order's best interests." He begins ticking points off on his fingers. "One: Has been here already, may have useful information about Ruin, festival, so forth. Two: Less obvious on official Epiphanies mission if with...unsavory character. Never expect it, hmm? Three: Better kept in sight than out of it, less trouble that way."

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Yamada & Raynor
Gearna pulls from a hidden compartment overhead a scroll and hands it down to the official.

"Lady Gearna Sheaux, Ambassador of the People's Binding Confederation of Merchants." she says firmly, this time there is no sarcasm or humor. "And I don't believe a search is in order."

"Will you please remain here while I contact my superior?" he replies, and leaves before she can answer.

Several minutes later a portly halfling arrives and squints up against the sun, "My Lady, I'm sorry, but we cannot accept this."

Disbelief holds Gearna's tongue for a moment, but when it unfreezes there is vinegar in her tone. "That has the official seal of the Nine Lords of Forest Heart, as well as that of the Matriarch of your own people. Nothing less than the combined votes of council or confederation can overrule these papers."

"The confederation has granted just such a restriction to all entering the city for the next 3 days, Ambassador. It was announced this morning. I am sorry, but to enter your belongings will be searched." the halfing says, remaining firm, but he seems sympathetic.

Sheaux's clicks her tongue and nods. She dismounts with a practiced, balletic movement, her dress, whirling about her as she almost floats to the ground.

"Then by the wishes of the council you are welcome into my home." she replies with sarcastic cheeriness.

The halfling nods to the google-eyed man, and he and a young, sun-browned man, barely more than a child follow her to the back, which she unlocks.

They begin to remove chests and tables to clear the way for searching as the angered merchant princess stalks back to the front.
"Oh, the confederation will be having some rare words from me. This is in direction contradiction of the Lapel Accord I introduced..."

A small but weighty barrel is rolled to the side and the clydesdale spooks, slamming into Gearna. She almost loses her balance and grabs its reigns to remain standing.

"It's alright, Sasparilla. Shhhh." she says, trying to keep him calm. It doesn't take to the calming and continues to try to rear.


Sarris

"No, I don't see that. I don't see it at all. If you're determined to do a bit of... charity you say? Feed a child or heal a leper would make more sense. If it tags along you'll have full responsibility for its doings, that's the last I'll say."

[PairO'Dice Lost]

VorpalSarris sighs internally. It is not charity, you imbecile; he could be useful, in terms of information for me and cover for you! I joined the Order expecting to be led by equal-opportunity compassionate sorts like Mother, not holier-than-thou short-sighted bigots. Desperate times, and all that, I suppose. Careful not to mention any of this aloud, he merely shrugs and replies, "Still think it could be useful. Will take full responsibility."

[The Antigamer]

Y&V
Raynor hops down as the halfling, his crew, and Gearna walk to the back of the wagon, and leisurely strolls to the back on the other side, to keep an eye, and an ear, on the people searching. He knows all too well how things can sometimes be "lost" in an official search.

[Calenestel]

Yamada Tarō

When the clydsedale starts acting up again Tarō hurries to dismount and come to the merchant princess' aid. He tries not to make too much noise and spook the animal further, but in full plate there's only so much he can do. Grabbing at the briddle he coos softly, trying to soothe the beast. Failing that he could always fall back on letting his own considerable weight and the weight of the armour hold the animal still at least. Harnessed to the wagon there's not that much leeway for Sasparilla to move.

A couple of rolls, in order of appearance:

[roll0] to dismount quickly (otherwise it will take longer, I don't think we use rounds right now)

[roll1] (lack of charisma showing :smallamused:)

not sure if I should roll it but: [roll2] Sasparilla should have a clear penalty since she's harnessed and Tarō should have a massive bonus for being so darn heavy right now. But I'll let the DM set that. :smalltongue:

Edit: Nice rolls, really. But it's rather clear that Tarō's not a horseman. I need to invest some more skillpoints in this. :smallwink:

[Critical]

S&V

"You know, I'm still here." - Somnium says, tilting his head unpleasantly slightly for a second as he sees them whispering. He then stands up straight, as far as straight is for a kobold. "Anyway, I'll accept your invitation and move to the carnival with you. Lead the way." - he says, grabbing Captain Socks's, his trusty mule's, reins.

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Sarris and Somnium
Domile cheek twitches and he gives Sarris a dour look before turning back to the front of the horses. Glancing to see that all are ready to proceed, horsemen and assmen, he starts back out at a steady pace that the donkey can keep up with without too much trouble.

Sarris

Judgemental elitist much? :smallwink:


Yamada and Raynor
Taro puts his not insignificant weight into keeping Sarsaparilla down as Gearna continues to try to calm it. The horse stamps and snorts, sounding both angry and fearful. Then it collapses. One moment it is rearing, the next it crumples forward. The wagon jerks a few feet as it collapses against the barding, its head kept from striking the ground by the taut leather.

"SARSAPARILLA!" Gearna cries out in surprise and drops beside him to support his head.

[Calenestel]

Yamada Tarō

Raynor & Vorpal
"By the Ancestors!" the Samurai exclaims as the horse suddenly collapses. He jerks back, even takes a step back out of surprise and a kind of worry. He didn't do that, did he?
The relatively mild oath is followed by a string of what must be coarser curses, but in a foreign language. Quickly Tarō kneels by the horse, checking to see if the poor beast was still breathing.

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Yamada
You hold your hand in front of the horse's nostrils and put the other to its sides. There is a steady rise and fall as moist air pulses from its nose. It's heart beat feels regular as well, for a horse.

It doesn't have any apparent injuries. It seems as if it simply fell asleep.

OOC
Nice untrained heal check there :smallwink:

Rolls
[roll0]

[Calenestel]

Yamada Tarō

Raynor & Vorpal
His first impulse is to breathe a sigh of relief. The magnificent beast is still alive. And he were obviously not the reason for the collapse. But he quickly stiffles the feeling. What had really happened? If not a seizure, then what? DId it have something to do with that latest starfall? People had been strangely affected since then, that much is true. But they usually had been raving and flailing, not just falling asleep. And he had never heard of animals being affected. A spell? Maybe, but that was a rather weak attack. Unless it was a diversion. Suddenly alert the warrior straitens, hefting his strangely shaped glaive, looking around for anything out of the ordinary. A hard thing when the whole situation was new to him.

1: [roll0] Edit: Hehe. Balance is restored.

2: Heh. I didn't bother with a Heal check because I was just going to check if the beast was obviously breathing. But: "Yay!" :smallwink:

3: Concerning suddenly sleeping horses: http://www.legendofbill.com/2010/02/15/always-look-a-free-horse-in-the-mouth/

[PairO'Dice Lost]

VorpalThis guy's ego is so massive, its gravitational pull would put Jupiter's to shame. I haven't gotten to play the part of an egocentric high-Int type in a while, so I'm playing it to the hilt. :smallbiggrin:

[The Antigamer]

Y&V
Raynor hears Gearna cry out, and Taro start cursing, and he leans back around the wagon end for a quick peak. Seeing no obvious signs of trouble, beyond the horse being down, he resumes watching the men searching the wagon. Obviously something was wrong with the woman's horse, and her distraction would be a clear invitation for someone to slip an item into his sleeve.

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Raynor
You turn around just in time to see the young man cram something in his mouth and walk back for another load inside the house.

Yamada
Hey, look, there's a horse sleeping beside you!

PoDLost

You and Somnium are gonna be interesting together :smallamused:

Btw, He of the Superjovian Psyche might should ask of his lizard friend if he's even been here before.

[The Antigamer]

V&Y
Raynor jumps over and taps that lad on the back.
"Oy, pardon meh, but wut'd ye jist put in yisser gob?"
His face is smiling, and his body is relaxed, but he keeps the song of the stars humming in his mind, ready to draw forth a weapon if the need arises.

[PairO'Dice Lost]

Vorpal and SomniumSarris turns to his newfound compatriot with an appraising look. "Gone out on a limb for you. Been here before? Know anything of the area?"

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Raynor
The young man about chokes as he is confronted and swallows, thumping his chest. Once he has finished coughing he looks up with watery eyes.

"Just a briny longun, chûv'karim sir." the boy breathes in thick Banzarian. "Fingertips gone risen and waxed upstairs, and not a barame-an nip of the mouse have I seen. The Shiny not the dizzytwisting way?"

Translation: "Just a pickle, mighty/charitable sir. Since sunrise to noon I've not had a slave's share or smallest snack of anything. Wealthy lady's not one to hang me over it is she?"

Nearing him there is the distinct aroma of salt and dill.

[The Antigamer]

Vorpal
Raynor thumps the youth on the back, smiling cheerily.
"'Course she ain't, oi wer jist checken' ter make sure ye weren't pilfering me lunch! Carry on den laddy-buk."
He moves closer to the rear of the wagon with the youth, leaning on the tail as the men search.
"An-e news from de travelin' city? What's in store for de festival?"

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Raynor
"Oh, a wifecuzin's count! They's got timberjacks and oak fellows scattered all across the inandouts, the best tooters and whammers and pickers. Fire-lookers and meadlord. Humjigging and totmaltings for any us wants'em! Earburn says even got some ashcakes and fire cans for afters!

Edit: Basically a lot of stuff having to do with dancing and music and fire. Giant bonfires on the beach and stuffed effigies to light up. Slang has changed a little, but the meadlord probably means a drunken master will be on hand. Fireworks will even be brought.

[Calenestel]

Yamada Tarō

Raynor & Vorpal
Still standing guard by the sleeping horse, and actually not seeing anyone using the beast as a diversion, the samurai looks to Gearna. "Lady Gearna, should I try and rouse Sarsasparilla for you? There seem to be nothing wrong with him. Well, beside the sudden drowsiness, of course." Looking from the narcoleptic horse to those who have stopped to gawk the genasi continues with a slightly harsher tone. "Well? What are you waiting for? Go about your business so we can get on with our!"

[Critical]

S&V

"I sure do appreciate that, friend! - the little kobold replied cheerfully, with that, his scale color becoming slightly brighter. - "About the area? Banzar, you mean? Hm... It moves around a lot, depending on where the members of confederation want to. The choice is usually made in favor of one member and there's pretty stiff competition for that, pretty tight situation, eh?"

[The Antigamer]

Vorpal
Ooch, oi'm bettin' dat ye'd loike ter noggin back as soon as possable den. Oi knu oi'm anxious ter git dare. Dis searchin' done yet sos as we can noggin aff?

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Yamada & Raynor
"Yeh, don't see nuttin' to harm the Sparkles nor yaself." the young man says, glancing to the bulbous eyed fellow, who nods in affirmation. Together they start carting the barrels, chairs and other large bits back within.

In the meantime Gearna is still worrying over the collapsed Sarsaparilla.

"If you can wake him up, please do." she says anxiously.

[The Antigamer]

Y&V
Raynor nods cheerily. He helps the men put the things back in the wagon.

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Yamada & Raynor
As the sun-browned and goggledy-eyed man hoist the barrel back up, the latter jerks back with an oath.

"Lad, lookit that. Have my eyes gone cross or you see it to?" he says, and turns the barrel a little.

"I dun know what... HOLY SVARDEN-DOOG!" he cries out.

The goggledy eyed man puts a hand to the long hunting knife on his belt and says, "Sir, call the Ambassador over here, but please stay where you are."

[The Antigamer]

Y&V

Raynor looks quizzically at the man, but he decides that the best thing to do would be to follow the order. Turning to call to the front, he shouts,
"Oy, Gearna, dees guys foun' somethin' an' want yer back 'ere."
He returns his gaze from the front to try to see what the man was looking at.

Spot [roll0]

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Yamada & Raynor
"I'll be right back." Gearna tells her guardian, and rises to her feet. She approaches and the goggledy eyed man nods to the barrel. Quizzically she looks it up and down and then her eyes widen.

"That is so strange..." she breathes, gazing at the barrel. She steps towards it and traces the woodgrain with her finger. She turns to look at Raynor with a confused, wondering gaze. "What on Terrinor?"

Raynor approaches and peers over Gearna's shoulder, but he still can't make out anything of interest.

OOC
Nat 1... geeze Louise, with that roll even with the combined +6 to spot they are giving you for pointing it out isn't enough.

Rolls
[roll0]
[roll1]

[The Antigamer]

Y&V

"Oi must be blind, cos oi cannea clap anythin' quare 'bout it. Someone mind 'elpin' me owt 'ere?"
He squints his eyes in earnest.
spot [roll0]

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Raynor

Obviously not able to see it, Gearna points out certain spots to you on the worn, graying wood. Then like suddenly spotting a shape in the clouds your point of view shifts and you wonder how you missed it.

The cracks, whirls and grain lines of the barrel form perfectly the shape of a pot-bellied man sitting in a fetal position, holding his legs to his chest. The head is lifted up, and the mouth opens wide and round to form the top of the barrel. A dark knot in the wood now seems to glare balefully at you from the outlined head.

http://oi52.tinypic.com/w9hffk.jpg

Now that you know where to look there almost seems to be further details just beyond sight within the wood (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsZ75J8_jNE&NR=1). Somehow this earlier unnoticed barrel now comes off as menacing.

[The Antigamer]

Vorpal
Raynor feels his skin crawl under the gaze of the wooden man, but he's not sure why he should feel that.
"A wee man is in de barrel's waft an' weave? Nigh, that's weord creepy an' al', but what's de big dayle?"

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Raynor & Yamada
"The uncanny is just one thing we've been asked to keep a look out for. Do you dabble in magic, or deal in objects of the arcane, Ambassador?" goggledy-eyes inquires.

"I've been known to makes trades for various occult items, but they were all stolen or burned during the raid. And a... a magical BARREL isn't something I've ever had need for." Gearna retorts. "There isn't even anything in it."

"My apologies but we had to check, Ambassador." he replies calmly.

OOC
Gonna wait and see if Calenestel wants to say anything.

[Calenestel]

Yamada Tarō

When Tarō stands and ponders how to best try and rouse the sleeping horse cursing and shouting from further back draws his attention away. He's on the verge of going over there even before the people inspecting the wagon calls for Lady Gearna and when she heads over to them the genasi follows along. The horse can sleep for a while but this might be important.
The sight makes him swear softly himself, keeping to his own native language yet again, and he studies the barrel-man he can't help but wish his wife were with them. It would have delighted her, a riddle like this, and she might have had some insight into it. But as it stood he would have to do without. "I've never seen anything like it, lady Gearna. Is it... alive?" Gingerly he lifts the naginata and pokes the barrel with the butt of the sword-staff.

[PairO'Dice Lost]

Somnium & VorpalSarris sighs. "Not much use. Domile still angry. Know anything useful?" He shakes his head, a thought striking him. "Not important. Instead, what's 'monstrumology'?"

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Yamada & Raynor
"How'm I supposed to know?" Gearna says distractedly, still staring at it.

The butt of Tarō's weapon thumps on it, and it echoes hollowly, but nothing unusual occurs.

[Critical]

S&V

Somnium slightly tilted his facial expression as he was unable to help out in this area of knowledge, as well as unconsciously changing his skin color to another color, but it was impossible to catch which one, when it changed to a more dark than usual shade of lime as Sarris asked his question about monstrumology. "Ooh, good one! As I already said, monstrumology is a creature science, of course! So if you're looking for someone who knows about them, that's us! Cool, huh? Maybe you have some interesting exemplar on your mind you would like to know more of? Feel free to ask!"

[The Antigamer]

Y&V

Raynor gives himself a little shake.
"Roight, so we've got a creepy wee man-barrel. Is dat a call ter restrict us access ter Banzar, or can we continue on ahead?"
He leans forward, and tries to lift the lid off the barrel, to peer inside it.

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Raynor and Yamada
"I suppose not. Still, that is most certainly uncanny." goggledy-eyes says warily. "Do you wish to keep the barrel?"

"Of course." Gearna says immediately. "Such an oddity should be worthwhile to someone."

Raynor looks about the barrel, and finds its lid twists on a pivot set in the rim. Inside it is hollow and empty, with moist, sticky residue. There is a distinctly unpleasant smell of stale fish within.

[The Antigamer]

Y&V
Raynor pulls a face at the smell, and closes the barrel.
"It looks an' smells loike fish were kept innit. Thar's sum sticky stuff on de 'ole, but oi'm not gonna be de first ter investigate dat closer."

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Raynor and Yamada

Gearna looks inside and wrinkles her nose, "I didn't have a barrel of fish. One is wine, and two were supposed to keep water, one for drinking and the other for washing. One of them spilled out during the raid Yam... Taro saved me from. Was fresh water, both of them. Wonder what they sealed the inside with, wouldn't drink anything from that."

She tips it up to look on the bottom and her features grow stern. "There's no manufacture's name on this. This isn't one of my barrels. All of them should at least have the Pineview mark on them in addition to the name."

[The Antigamer]

Y&V
Raynor's brow wrinkles.
"So wait, does dat mean de people who raided yer lef a barrel av their own on yisser last wagon? Dat don't make any sense."

[Calenestel]

Yamada Tarō

Eyeing the barrel suspicously and hefting the naginata as if he'd attack it any time the samurai does make a bit of a comical sight, especially with his exotic armour. But he has a bad feeling about this. The barrel was like something taken straight out of the stories used to frighten small children with, he couldn't remember one that actually HAD a barrel like this in it. But it fit the overall theme and mood perfectly. "I for one would be just as glad to throw it on one of the bonfires tonight, lady Gearna. But if you want to find a seller for it..." Shrugging the earth genasi finally puts the staffsword back on his shoulder. With a suspicious twist on his mouth he shakes his head and walks back to the sleeping horse.

There he first tries to gently, and later a little less gently, shake the horse awake. Like if he tried to rouse a human. If that doesn't seem to have any effect he simply walks over to his own steed, fetch a waterskin from the backpack strapped onto the saddlebags, like everything else it would be on top, and unceremoniously empty it's contents over the head of the beast. Should THAT not work there's always the possibility of introducing Sarsasparilla's hind quarters to a needle. But he'd prefer not to hurt an innocent animal who's only crime is falling asleep.

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Yamada & Raynor
Gearna grins wickedly, "Oh, that is a fine idea! If those Ruiners thought they could get away with something, they'll be in for a surprise."

The goggledy eyed man however shakes his head, "Anything of ruin must be suspect. I'll have to gain permission from Member Jumja."

In the meantime Gearna's steed is awoken with a brief shaking, though it acts a little dazed and unnerved, snorting every few moments.

Soon the halfling official you all met before returns with an exasperated expression, which rapidly turns to alarm as he is shown the barrel.

He makes a slicing motion with his hand.

"Nothing of theirs is coming into this city. The residue within may be an explosive for all we know, and doing so would harm many citizens. We have a... visitor arriving at the city soon. He knows much of their mischief. We'll see to it he inspects it thoroughly. Goggles, roll it to the side and get some guards to watch over it."

The lanky Goggles however doesn't make a move, and begins to back away,

"I... I can't sir. I can't touch that thing. It'll... EAT me." he replies in a quavering voice, much unlike that of the calm, assured tone he's used all this time.

"Nonsense! What's the matter with you, Goggles? You've lead strikes against the Ruiners, and you're afraid of one of their toys?" he says, and looks towards the barrel suspiciously.

"Yeah, get your fumble up, Goggles. Mziek'alor..." the tanned youth says incredulously, and grips the lid to roll it away.

The lid swivels and grips the young man's fingers, and he opens his mouth to scream. Before he can exhale however he collapses awkwardly, his hands still held in the grip of the barrel. His skin has gone a deathly pale grey beneath his tan.

[The Antigamer]

Y&V
Raynor uncharacteristically jumps forward to try to remove the lid from the man's hands. He rarely met someone he liked, and in talking with the youth he'd taken a shine to him.

[PairO'Dice Lost]

Somnium & VorpalSarris shakes his head. "No particular one in mind. Working on a system of more arcane magic and noticed components of creatures necessary for some things. Would be useful to learn more about creatures' magical properties."

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Raynor & Yamada
"TARO!" Gearna cries as the youth collapses. Raynor jumps at it and tries to pry the young man's fingers out of it, but goes pale as well and stumbles slightly as he makes contact. A hollow rumbling begins within the barrel.

Jumja takes off at a sprint despite his girth, and a figure watching from nearby screams in alarm.

Raynor

As you grip the barrel you have the unnerving sensation of something within you being sucked at like a finger down a convulsing throat. It is ripped away, leaving you with a weak, starving feeling in the pit of your stomach.

(17 damage. Adjust sheet when you can.)


Rolls
[roll0]
[roll1]

[The Antigamer]

Y&V
Raynor snatches his hand back with a curse.
Blood'n ashes! Royt, tha's it.
He flexes his hand, and clenches it on a curved dagger made of white light that appears from nowhere. Shifting his weight, sliding his right foot back, he stares intently at the barrel for a second, before slashing at it in a smooth motion.

Attacking with +2 keen adamantine kukri, using Insightful Strike maneuver.
Roll for attack, critical if higher than 15: [roll0]
Roll for damage, ignores hardness, [roll1]

Whoohoo, rolled a natural 20 for damage!

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Raynor and Yamada
We're in rounds.

Round 1

#1. Black are wagons, carts and other mobile wood and metal objects.
#2. Unmarked colored squares are horses, goats and oxen.
#3. Black circles are others in the background milling around.
http://oi53.tinypic.com/2vjvswk.jpg

Gearna gasps as the glowing weapon manifests from Raynor's outstretched arm. It strikes deep into the barrel, but what should have cleaved it in two simply bites solidly into it.

The rumbling takes on an almost laughing tone as cracks form all about the barrel. It begins to grow and the figure that is the barrel stands, stretching itself out larger and larger as its skin takes on more normal tones. The mouth that was the barrel rim shrinks to normal dimensions and the lid slips within to form its tongue.

He is at least seven feet tall, with an extreme girth as of one incredibly obese, and rolls of fat hang about him. However, his arms, legs and chest don't have a spot of adipose upon them. They are thin, with jutting ribs and bones seeming like fragile sticks beside his corpulence, giving him the appearance of a bloated tick.
A bald head rests upon a scrawny neck from which an adam's apple sharply protrudes, with a turgid face and dark, deep-set eyes peering out gloatingly from folds of skin. Two dark, wet looking wounds or holes rest above each eye at an angle towards the ears.
Everything about him seems... wrong and malformed. He produces in your minds an almost childish fear, as if he were the dreaded boogyman, come to gobble you up.
He wears nothing but a loin cloth almost hidden by the overlapping gut.

Gearna and Taro both recognize him as one of the figures in the attack, except then he had on a robe. During the battle they had lost sight of him, assuming he had fled with the others.

He reaches up to the gash on the side of his neck and turns those eyes upon you, dead seeming and yet filled with malice.

"Been easier to you if you had just taken me along." he says with a hint of odd accent from his fleshy lips. "Your's'll be the first to be cleansed."

The spell upon Goggles seems to have broken upon the transformation. He shakes his head as if to clear it and listens with a narrowing of eyes. He then suddenly leaps forward, sprinting with great loping strides of his lanky legs, drawing his long hunting knife. Silently, but with an expression of grim focus, he sinks it up to the hilt in the belly of this uncanny man, who doesn't even look down to inspect the wound.

Initiatives
Raynor (24)
Goggles (21)
Taro (18)
Gearna (16)
Creepy Ruiner (10)


Rolls
Creepy Ruiner 10
Gearna [roll0]
Goggles [roll1]
Raynor [roll2]
Taro [roll3]

[Calenestel]

Yamada Tarō

The ease with which he woke the clydesdale up surprised and delighted the samurai. He had really expected to at least douse the horse with water. More at ease again he retrieves an apple he had saved in his beltpouch, intending to slice it into two equal halves and give one for Sarsa and one for Gurē. Then Gearna shouts his name and he is moving before the apple hits the ground, lazily rolling out of reach for the harnessed horse. His naginata he leaves where he left it, leaning against Sarsaparilla but he is more comfortable with the swords anyways. As he hurries over to the beginning battle he draws his blades, steadying his breath as he moves. Quickly and efficiently he finds that calm that allows him to tap into his Ki, planning to boost the longer of the two blades beyond it's usual enchantment. "Gearna! Fall back!"

Now to test out Afro's Samurai! :smallbiggrin:
To begin with: I'm not sure that Tarō can reach the melee this round. But if he had to pick up his Naginata (and he'd obviously put it down to wake Gearna's horse) then he'd still not be able to attack so let's go with this. :smallwink:
IF he can reach any square near the ruiner, then he'll use his Ki to make his Katana a Flaming Katana (still +1 of course) and he'll attack with both weapons.

The earth genasi seems to concentrate for a split second and then, with a triumphant yell his longer sword is suddenly enveloped in flames, licking the blade and his hand without seeming to harm neither of them. Shouting a battle cry in his own language he strikes at the barrel.

[roll0]
[roll1]
[roll2]

[roll3]
[roll4]

(Of course. I'm not sure Tarō can move, use some Ki AND attack in the same round (but the text by Afro doesn't say you need to use a move action or something like that to activate the powers). If the Vorpal decides that it's a move action (please no?), then he'll just attack, waiting with the boost until next round. Ignor the Fire Damage roll. :smallwink:

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Raynor and Taro
Taro moves forward in a hurry, but his armor slows him down. Gearna jumps back at her guardian's call as he runs up.

Walking over to look who's clanking from around the side of the wagon, Goggles taking advantage to stab him again. The man, bleeding slightly, but soaking up the damage, takes one look at the foreign warrior and throws back his head in a belly laugh, which upon him is impressive.

"Here's the mighty one, he went an spilled the blood of an entire army. Thought you'd be written up in stories from coast to coast? Hear this, tincan man. They gave their lives to play their part and get me in that wagon. Every death was to put you at your ease. Martyrs to rise to the sky. I avenge you now, my brothers!" he calls out, closing his eyes and turning his face to the sky. He starts to singing, badly, in a language none of you have ever heard.

Holes start to rip themselves in his body, and the tune becomes a duo, then a trio, then an entire chorus as the orifices grow teeth and become mouths.
His form loses cohesion, slumping into a great mass of writhing flesh.

One of the mouths pucker, and expectorates forcefully, sending forth a stream of liquid that ignites in the air to strike at Taro's eyes.

Taro flinches instinctively, just quick enough for it to streak past.

Round 2
http://oi53.tinypic.com/25uqp0w.jpg

Initiatives
Raynor (24)
Goggles (21)
Taro (18)
Gearna (16)
Creepy Ruiner (10)

OOC
Everyone be sure to let me what squares they move into. Dang but that was a bad roll Mr. Baddy.

Rolls

[roll0]
[roll1]
[roll2]
[roll3]

[The Antigamer]

Y&V
Raynor, happy to let Taro become the focus of the being's ire for the moment, quickly sings the song of the stars in his mind, and vanishes, reappearing 20 feet away, where he calls out to the creature, hoping to distract it.
"Oy, ugly, wut de 'ell 're ye, yer swag-bellied gurrier?"
His white blade shifts and grows longer, and another appears in his other hand. He throws both at the barrel-man.

Swift: Dimension hop, augmented with 2 pp, to H-19
Full:Attacking with two thrown +2 Keen Falchions
Attack one [roll0]
Attack one crit confirm, if over 15 [roll1]
Attack one damage [roll2]

Attack two [roll3]
Attack two crit confirm, if over 15 [roll4]
Attack two damage [roll5]

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Raynor and Taro
Several of the barrel man's mouths scream as they are lacerated and a thick, oily ichor leaks from the wounds. However, it still looks far from beaten, and the other mouths continuing singing in chorus to their dread object of worship.

Goggles utters an oath as the barrel man takes on a far more hideous appearance. He hesitantly steps forward and slashes at the creature. Its thick hide however deter the blade from cutting deep into to deal any damage.

Rolls
[roll0]

[Calenestel]

Yamada Tarō

His breathing perfect, his calm complete the samurai seems unfaced by the horrifying display and the taunts both. When the stream of fire narrowly misses him he breaks a light sweat, but not out of concern. That threat was already passed. His face covered by a visor nothing can be seen of his expressions, but his voice is stern and cold as he answers. "If they died for a failed plan then or now matters little, abomination. I find you guilty of murder, as well as other crimes. It ends now." The unshakeable warrior raises his longer sword, a slightly curved bastard sword by the looks of it, and suddenly crackling energies courses along it's blade, even over his hands, without harming him. He had considered fire, not lightning, but he couldn't know for certain if the barrelman was resistant to that or not, since he breathed it. "Antei-sei" Moving the last few steps more as a part of his strikes the warrior then quickly moves his blades in a pair of almost simultaneous strikes.

As before: I think Afro intended Ki use to be free. If not, then it doesn't affect anything. I need another level before Full Attack means much. :smallbiggrin:
Furthermore I must admit that I had forgotten about the heavy armour. :smallredface: It's been a while since I played heavily armoured characters.
On another note: I think I should start and investing skill points in more Knowledges. :smalltongue:

Move Action: None/Activate +1 Ki Augment (Shocking).

Free Action: 5' step.

Standard Action: Attack/Full Attack!
[roll0]
[roll1]
[roll2]

[roll3]
[roll4]

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Raynor and Taro
Tarro's first attack pierces the abominable barrel-man shifting, singing hide, and a section of flesh melts off into a noxious puddle from the electricity. Whatever this Ruiner is, his ability to take damage is extraordinary and he looks hardly the worse for wear.

The warrior's second strike however fails to mark it.

Gearna in the meantime grabs hold of Sarsaparilla's reigns and begins to lead him away from the battle.

The barrel man's wounds appear to seal up slightly, though the fact that it keeps changing and rolling about itself makes it hard to determine. A pseudopod of flesh snakes out to wrap itself around Taro's leg just as another squirt of saliva streaks out, this time at Raynor.

Raynor manages to dodge the poorly aimed spittle, but then from behind feels a sharp pain as something gashes him in the legs. Turning around he sees an irate ram (http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3074/2956240863_f3f6c94cf1.jpg) straining at its tether to jab him again with its horns.

In the meantime the creature oozes between Taro's legs and begins to search for chinks in his armor. It hits with two of its many bites, and then lifts up like a wave to envelop the warrior.

Taro is now trapped inside (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozqfOzqMvlQ), as the voices raise in a crescendo.

Raynor
Nat 20! 2 damage.

Taro

Taro feels dozens of mouths gripping on him and sucking at his wounds.

You take 2 points of damage and 4 points of Constitution damage. Be sure to note it on your sheet with subsequent HP loss.
You are also now swallowed whole, but can attempt to cut your way out.

Rolls
Spit
[roll0]
Damage - [roll1]
Rounds - [roll2]
[roll3]

Bite/Grapple
[roll4]
[roll5]
[roll6]
[roll7]
[roll8]
[roll9]
/
[roll10]
[roll11]



Round 3
Initiatives
Raynor (24)
Goggles (21)
Taro (18)
Gearna (16)
Creepy Ruiner (10)
Ram

http://oi53.tinypic.com/300cino.jpg

[The Antigamer]

Y&V
Raynor turns to look at the ram.
"Wut de...? Giraff me!"
He turns back to see Taro swallowed by the barrel-man.
"...Dat's not gran'."
He rushes forward, calling another sword to his hand, and slices through the creature, still running, before blinking out of existence and re-appearing off to the side.

Move up to the creature
Attack with Mind Revealed in Battle. (+2d6 damage and the foe must make a Will save, DC 15. If it fails, then you may read that creature’s surface thoughts.)
Attack [roll]d20+11[roll]
Crit confirm if over 15 [roll]d20+11[roll]
Damage = [roll]2d4+5[roll] + [roll]2d6[roll]
Also, if critical hit, creature takes 2 charisma damage.
Regain 1 power point if attack hits.
Swift action: Dimension hop, augmented with 3 pp, to square L-12

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Raynor and Taro

Round 3
Raynor (24)
Goggles (21)
Taro (18)
Gearna (16)
Creepy Ruiner (10)
Ram

Raynor's blade cuts down on the barrel-man, but makes no impression on its leathery hide.

In the meantime Goggles recalls the downed young man and runs to his side. Putting his hand to the lad's heart, he feels for a pulse. The lanky man smiles for a moment, though it rapidly turns grim.

"He's alive, but he's fading quick!" he cries out. He thumps the bronzed youngling on the chest, and puts his ear to the heart.

"C'MON!" he bellows, obviously not liking what he hears.

Rolls
[roll0]

[Critical]

S&V

Somnium's scales have reached such a level of lime that they, probably, couldn't possibly be even limer. "Ooh, ooh! That's my favorite aspect of the job!" - the kobold said and proceeded to clear his throat with quite loud noise for such a little one. He then started telling his speech, which, it seemed, he waited for years to actually tell to someone who was interested in it:
"As you already know, some creatures are more magical on the others. First of all, there are magical beasts, more attuned to the natural magic of the earth, blah blah blah, you know that jazz. The interesting part is, some evolve to control it! Kinda like a sorcerer does. But lets get to the more exciting parts.
Dragons, the magic'est creatures of all, aren't they? They've got this thing, that little organ that connects with the elemental portals themselves, enabling them to use magic that way! How about that? Though, I do suppose that you could say that they are somewhat like magical beasts. I don't know for sure, as far as I know, no one attempted to cut it out and see how good is the dragon at magic without it.
Well, lets get to the dirty part, which you guys are, probably, very well aware of - the undead! Creepy folks, aren't they? Anyway they have an ability to use negative energy, because, well, basically, they are negative energy to some extent. Sometimes, they are even powered by the plane of negative energy itself. Sometimes, undead specimen can even use it at sheer will, like the psionics! Yeah, probably not much to discover for you here, moving on to the grand finale.
Well, these are the other plane dwellers - the outsiders and elementals! Quite obviously as it is and as perfectly explained in the last case, the magical powers of outsiders and elementals come, correct, from their native planes! And as all of us know, you shouldn't joke with planes."
Taking a moment to breathe in properly, Somnium added: "Well, that's all about that. Perhaps, any questions? Or maybe you've got a particular specimen you want to know about now, as you heard more about the origins of creature's magical powers? I'm SO HAPPY to actually have someone interested to listen to my lectures! Thrilling!"


Text color switched to lime to emphasize the limenesness.

[Calenestel]

Yamada Tarō

Raynor & Vorpal
This isn't good. As soon as the monstrosity starts to envelop him he realize that. But there's not enough time for the heavily armoured genasi to avoid the tactic. All he can do is take a deep breath, steeling himself for the waking nightmare to come. As a last thought he drops his longer, more unwieldy blade, the katana, before being engulfed. The sword's energy quickly winks out of existence when it hits the ground.
Inside he does his best to shut out the voices, the distractions and carve his way back out. It's hard, especially the feeling of his life force being drained from him. But he does his best. Now gripping the wakizashi with both hands he works furiously to cut a way out.

Not sure how to roll this. So I'll just roll a standard attack roll.
[roll0]
[roll1]
[roll2]
Edit: New damage roll OOC.

Round 1/5 of Ki Augment
3/5 Ki uses left

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Calenestel
Ok, so to make it clear, you drop your light weapon, but keep your larger weapon, right?

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Raynor & Taro
Gearna hurries back, close enough to watch.

"RUINERS! RUINERS!" she screams. "DEFEND YOURSELVES AND YOUR RIGHT TO WALK BENEATH THE SKY!"

Heads turn up and down the line, and a dwarf pops out from behind his ram cart.

"D'ziem!" he exclaims and fumbles around in the back for something.

In the meanwhile the enveloped genesai thrusts into the sickening flesh surrounding him, managing to make a rip large enough to see out of, but not quite enough to escape through. An eye like that of a mad goat swerves from the outside to look in and gawk at its prisoner. Internal orifices continue to bite and suck from within.

Raynor sees the blade appear from within the creature right before another stream of spittle streaks straight for his eyes. It splatters within them, and steam rises from them as flesh boils away.

Raynor

You take 2 points of acid damage and your sight fades as the acid eats away at them, leaving you Blinded (http://dndsrd.net/abilitiesAndConditions.html#blinded).

As your eyes blaze with pain the singing of Barrel-man grows closer.


Taro

You feel a great lethargy spread through you, mind and body, but something rises within you to fight it off.

However, you still take 1 point of Con damage.


Rolls
Con Damage = [roll0]
Sleep = [roll1]
Spittle-Attack = [roll2]
Spittle damage = [roll3]
Fort against blindness = [roll4]

[The Antigamer]

Y&V
Raynor recoils, staggering back a step, palming at his face.
"Bloody ashes! Me eyes!"
A giant shield of light appears in his right hand, and he holds it between him and the singing voices as his left reaching back to his haversack. He quickly pulls forth a waterskin, strangely without any fumbling for it, and pours it over his eyes.


Free action: Form a tower shield, take cover behind it AC is now 23 and total concealment.
Move action: Draw waterskin from handy haversack.
Standard: Pour it over his eyes to wash away the acid.

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Raynor and Taro

Raynor
The water soothes your burning eyes, and gradually you begin to see light and color. Your quick thinking has paid off.

OOC
Technically that probably wouldn't work (it's an actual effect of the attack), but I like realistic, quick thinking reactions, and battery acid in the eye can be flushed with water I just read, so I'll say it works as a reward. You won't be able to see until next round however.

"COME ON, STAY WITH ME!" Goggle's voice is heard again, with another *THUMP*

Rolls
[roll0]

[The Antigamer]

Vorpal
*Pumps fist* Yes! I know the answer to acid in the eyes is, in almost all cases, a water rinse, and perhaps some baking soda/other base if it's strong enough, but 3.5 has few rules to that effect. I figured the worst that could happen is I wasted a turn, but at least I'd be acting in character. I mean, when acid hits your eyes and starts burning, you try to get that stuff off.

[Calenestel]

Yamada Tarō

The good thing with the growing numbness is that he doesn't have to fight the pain. Despite the grim situation the samurai smiles, even if it's a rather mirthless twist of his mouth. And the small, strange attempt at humour is itself only a glimmer on the outside a void of perfect calm, an absence of feeling. Inside that void Tarō again focuses his life force, his Ki. A small boost to his fighting abilities. Again he slashes, at the same spot where he opened a way earlier, hoping that the region was weakend more than the creature as a whole. Or that it at least would let in some more air for him. The short breath last time had hardly been enough.

Expending a use of Ki to boost attack and damage. The only time this battle that he'll try it no matter how it goes. :smallwink:

Again then:
[roll0]
[roll1]
[roll2]

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Raynor and Taro
Taro
As you slice the creature, it jerks with your lightening, ripping its own flesh with the convulsions, helping you widen the hole. You tumble out into the free air.

The Barrel-man does not appear happy, and the singing has given ways to a multi-vocal chorus of pain. You feel that dreaded lethargy once again spreading through you...

...this time more insidious than before, and you can't find the will to fight it.

OOC
Ouch, critical. You are now sound asleep however.

Rolls
[roll0]


Raynor

As your eyes continue to burn, you find your thoughts wandering, perhaps in an attempt to ignore the pain.

Shapechanging, swallowing, giant man with belly... you think you may have heard stories of this fellow. Horrible stories.

His name is... Gutin, Gotchal... Gottlöb, that was it. Gottlöb, a nox-touched human from the ranks of the Ruiners. Or, as he's more commonly known, the Gobbler.

You hear the creature's singing give way to screaming as something occurs. You then feel this great wave of fatigue and lethargy wash over you, but fight it off with a splash of water to the face. Your sight remains fuzzy, but clears up with that last bit of spray. Enough for you to see about you at any rate. Gottlöb, if this is indeed him, isn't but 10 feet away, and Taro lies motionless on the ground.

Round 4

Raynor (24)
Goggles (21)
Gearna (16)
Creepy Ruiner (10)

http://oi51.tinypic.com/4qnc76.jpg

[The Antigamer]

Y&V
As Raynor finally rinses the burning liquid from his eyes, he peers around the shield to see the Ruiner right next to him, with a fallen Taro behind it.
"...Bugger al'."
His shield splits in two, shrinking and forming blades of light again. With a grim face, he swings both arms back, then forwards in a crossing motion, hurling the blades at the monster. He then quickly re-forms a tower shield, and throws his mind into the space between the stars, teleporting backwards.

Attacking with two +2 Keen Falchions
Attack 1 [roll0]
Attack 1 crit confirm if above 15 [roll1]
Attack 1 damage [roll2]

Attack 2 [roll3]
Attack 2 crit confirm if above 15 [roll4]
Attack 2 damage [roll5]

Swift: Spending one pp to teleport to L-9.
Free action: Form a tower shield, take cover behind it AC is now 23 and total concealment.
*Regain a power point for each attack that hits.

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Raynor
Both blades hit, cutting deep into the creature. The screams become a roar as all the mouths rush together and form. The mass rises and solidifies, becoming a strange-looking wolfish creature.

It turns and grabs Taro's leg in its jaws in a single motion. Both then seem to sharply disappear. In fact, it reminds you much of your own teleport.

In the meantime Goggles remains bent over the young man, pressing on his chest.

[The Antigamer]

Vorpal
Knowledge Psionics real quick to figure out if they teleported, or became invisible
[roll0]

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Antigamer

Vorpal
Knowledge Psionics real quick to figure out if they teleported, or became invisible
That'd be Psicraft. Again, it looked like his own teleport, but that's as far as he knows.

[The Antigamer]

Vorpal
Crap.
Raynor stays behind his shield when the Ruiner is changing, preparing for an onslaught. But the beast turns, grabs Taro, and vanishes before he can react.
"Come back 'ere yer coward!" Raynor yells as he takes a step to the spot they vanished, dismissing his shield.
"Yer're de son av a t'ousan' mangy dawgs an' a stump! De earth rejects yer an' de stars damn yer! 'Ow yer expect ter accomplish anythin' wi' plans loike dis, oi 'av naw idea."
He continues walking to the spot, stands there a second to see if anything happens, scanning the ground.
Then he spits, and heads over to see what he can do for the youth.

Spot check while walking to the area, and a spot check for the ground they vanished on.
[roll0]
[roll1]

If nothing interferes, and the youth isn't dead when he gets there, he expends a charge from his healing belt on the downed man.
[roll2]

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Vaynor

"Taro?" Gearna shouts as she turns and sees him missing. "TARO!" she calls louder, but there is no answer.

The ground is trampled all about where the barrel man and Taro fought, but nothing leading away from it.

Still cursing you make you way to the young man, who is just barely on the edge of life. He draws breath with a shudder, and some of the horrible greyness leaves him to be replaced with a more natural ruddy hue.

"What happened?" Gearna asks, her voice a little hoarse. "Where did he go?"

In the meanwhile all manner of merchants and wanders tentatively come forward, including the dwarven ram-driver with a battle-axe, only now with no one to use it on.


Taro

Shadowy dreams of lying in your own open grave assault you as you drift unconscious. You try to leap out of it but horrible tapeworms have crawled out of the ground and wrapped about you. You struggle and its several moments before you realize you've woken up.

You are in the back of Gearna's wagon and have been bound to her bed in her own sheets and something shoved in your mouth.

Stooping almost double so as not to hit his head on the roof is the barrel-man.

"Rise and shine Great Hero." he gloats. "It will soon have your chance to sleep for all time, but not yet. You will ride us to town, and not spare the whip. You will do this or you will die at my whim, and I will have your body as my puppet to kill and slaughter as I wish. Your face will be known as a murderer throughout Banzar, and then spread to the cities. This is what will happen. Now smile and open up."

He twists about, and his body slumps into what appears at first to be a pile of glistening blue-black snakes. They braid about one another into a long, tangled mass of rope-like coils with small pink barbs.

You feel what is one of the worst pains in your long life of battle as it begins to chew and squirm into the wound its inflicted.

OOC
You can attempt an escape artist check or whatever you might have in mind.

[The Antigamer]

Vorpal

Raynor grunts as the color returns to the youth's face. He stands, and looks at Gearna grimly.
"De bastard's slipped between de spaces, but if 'tis anythin' loike wut oi can chucker 'e cannay 'av gone far. We nade ter fend 'imself queck, before 'e makes 'is escape. 'E's either runnin' or 'idin'."
He looks around at the gathering crowd. Uncomfortable as the center of attention, he quickens his speech.
"E'ryone search yisser wagons for fierce quare barrels, oi'm gonna circle de peimeter. If anyone can track well, oi suggest they do too."
He stares at the blank faces staring at him.
"Well?!" he exclaims. Git ter it!"
He lopes off, and starts circling the area, looking for tracks, flashes of movement in the forest, anything strange.

[PairO'Dice Lost]

Somnium & VorpalSarris listens carefully to Somnium's explanation. When he finishes, Sarris closes his eyes momentarily as if to lock the information in place behind his eyelids. "No particular specimen," he says when he opens his eyes. "Just general curiosity. But very helpful, appreciate it. Will review notes later, see if I have more specific questions over next few days."

Sarris will take 10 on an Autohypnosis check, automatically memorizing what he's heard from Somnium.

In the OOC thread, it was asked if we'd rather timeskip; I'm happy to do that or to keep discussing arcane stuff with Somnium, whichever Critical would prefer.

[Calenestel]

Yamada Tarō

Vorpal
The threats of the ruinite is only met with a sneer. Help the abomination? That would mean surrendering. It was some small comfort that the monstrosity had a suitably poor grasp of Honour. Even the honourable people he had met on his journies outside Yamashiro had never TRULY grasped Honour, that among the greatest dishonours lied in surrendering. Tactical retreats? Yes, helping the enemy to save your life or face? Never. What good was it to him that he saved face, some of what others thought of his honour, if it meant throwing it all away? Even if the man wasn't lying, if he COULD kill him and use him as a puppet, well his honour would still be his, if a bit tarnished. Only one way was open to him. To fight back. Straining all he could against his bonds the samurai works to free himself, or at least slip any part of himself free enough to bang the walls. If he was in Lady Gearna's wagon, then help was close, like the strange Raynor and his strange blades.

Of course, at the same time the man transforms into what to the earth genasi must be his worst shape yet. And he's trying to BURROW into him! Barely constrained panic makes him tug mightily at the bonds and while he still fully intends to bang the wall with all his might he now also hopes to get his hands free to actually stop the man. The pain is almost making him swoon but gritting his teeth Tarō presses on.

Untrained Escape Artist check while wearing Full Plate? Right.

I'll still do it. Mainly because I can't think of anything else. But I'm more hoping to just call for aid than actually get free.
[roll0]

Edit: Oooooh... That's not bad at all!

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Taro

As you struggle with all your might, the Gobbler punches his way in, and you feel a sweet, sickening sensation as the moist tentacles slip within your body cavities and spaces between organs.

Your desperation lends you strength, and though you think you may have sprained your wrist you finally manage to get a hand free of a loop so as to untie the others.

The creature is by this time completely within except for the trail end of a tentacle not yet found a space. The actual wound is beneath your armor and mercifully unseen.

OOC
Those were some close rolls!

Technically takes a minute to escape bonds, the same it takes to invade, but I'll give you an extra round before its 100% inside. Your legs are still tied, so you can't leave the wagon, but anything else is fair game. Your weapons aren't within immediate sight either.

However, you now have a Gobbler in your belly. Hope you enjoyed the meal. Happy Thanksgiving! :smallbiggrin:

Rolls
[roll0]


Raynor

The folks about you react to the sound of command and disperse, running for their wagons.

"I'll see that they check every cranny." Gearna says tartly, with flashing eyes.

"I've had plenty of time tracking those madmen. I'll take the opposite end of the circle, and we'll meet with each pass to see if the other has found anything." Goggles says to Raynor grimly.

"I'm giving the skurtsy to." the young man replies, looking up Raynor as if to a big brother.

"Manny, you're going home, that's non-negotiable. Git!" Goggles barks.

"Yer not me Te'k'she'awn! Nor m' ole man, so Top yourself, Goggles. It's this fella's decision." Manny retorts grimly. "I've got sixteen runs under my belt, n' a toddling bun in the oven. She might give me the red loopy, but she ain't here, tevel?"

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Sarris & Somnium
In the distance can be seen a great field of tents, some nearly as large as a castle. You pass by the convicts buried up to their necks in the sand of the beach and personal tents over their heads to keep off the sun.

Domile raises a hand to slow everyone down as a long line is also scene. Great caravans loaded down with ship-brought wares and goods, along with many on foot, horseback or carriage.

Ditches 6 feet wide and nearly as deep have been dug in a long line, as far as you can see in one direction, and nearly to the water line in the other. Chains are strung through what looks like giant sewing needles jammed into the sand on either side of the ditches. A horse may jump it, or a single man with some speed, but nothing on wheels is making it across.

Wide wooden bridges have been laid across them at intervals, with guards on each side. Every wagon and horseman is being searched before being allowed to continue.

Domile looks grim as he turns his horse to a bridge that travelers are being waved away from, to join with the longer lines.

A guardsman of advanced age, yet still stands strong and straight with a trimmed beard and thoughtful, cunning eyes beside it.

"Grimwald, what's this?" Domile says with control. "No Ruiner is going to be deterred by a hole and a chain!"

"Order of the illustrious Merchants." Grimwald say, quirking his lips into not quite a smile. "They got to cover their plump buttocks. Might also keep out general riff-raff."

"Banzar IS riff-raff!" Domile says pointedly.

"That we are. Flotsam and jetsam. And after the storm its us as floats back up to the top of the waters, and the stones as sink." Grimwald says with grin, and it seems a joke is passing between the two aged warriors.

"Well, Jetsam, may we pass, I vouch for all my men... except that one." he says, turning to give Somnium a look of distaste. "Get your ass over here."

Whether he's meaning the donkey is up in the air.

[Calenestel]

Yamada Tarō

Vorpal
While he struggles against his bonds the abomination burrows deeper and deeper into him, the pain is almost unbearable. But the stoic samurai presses on. In fact the pain eventually numbs, simply because his poor body can't handle it. It's not a good sign, but he takes what small blessings he can get in this battle. Snarling against the pain and frustration and suddenly he feels the bindings slip!
One hand free. Like a viper he strikes, grabbing what is left of the monstrous Priest, starting a grotesque tug of war.
The other free. With all the might he can spare he pounds against the wooden wall, feeling the trembles in the very bed, before grasping the abomination with both hands and continues to struggle. He doesn't even bother with the gag. In fact he blesses it for the pain is excruciating and biting down hard on the gag helps him focus.

Not sure what I should roll here. But probably another Grapplecheck.
At least I should get a good grip with gauntlets on, considering the ridges and joints. Tarō really doesn't care that he hurts the foe when he clamps down. :smallamused:

[roll0]
I really wish you used Action points right now. I would burn tear through them like cleenex. :smalleek:

Edit: At least the roll was better than average. :smallwink:

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Taro

You grab it good and hard, but its like trying to hold onto running water and slips right out of your grasp. It quickly pulls the tentacle within and shoves your pancreas forward to block the wound.

You then feel a tearing pain within as the creature asserts its domination over your gizzards.

You have been invaded.

OOC
Dang, if you'd made that check you'd have been able to rip the whole thing out with the opposed strength roll.

Rolls
Opposed Grapple
[roll0]

Opposed Strength
Gottlöb - [roll1]
Tarō - [roll2]

[The Antigamer]

Vorpal
Raynor nods at Goggles, and waits for Manny to finish before responding quickly.
Royt, 'ere's 'ow 'tis gonna be."
He points and Goggles, then jerks his thumb in the opposite direction. "Yer go dat way, an' oi'll go dat way, an' yer," he says, pointing at Manny, "Stay 'ere in de middle by Gearna an' de wagon. If yer 'ear either av us call, call ter de other wan, an' den run ter 'elp. We're losin' time!
With that, he lopes off in the direction he indicated.

[Calenestel]

Yamada Tarō

Vorpal
Tarō grasped the snake-thing. And quickly felt it slip out of his hands. Cursing through the gag he quickly thinks through his options and dangers. The abomination had claimed to be able to control him. If that was truth, and it didn't seem overly unrealistic really, then his time was limited. Pounding on the wall again he quickly removes the gag and bellows on the top of his lungs: "RAYNOR! GEARNA! I'M INSIDE! HURRY!!" With that he draws his dagger, places it in his lap and starts removing the breastplate. He would not let the ruinite capture his body, he would take his own life before allowing the dishonour, but it would be the sacred ritual of sepukku, nothing else would do. And if he would have any chance of removing the enemy from his own abdomen he'd need to clear away the armour as well. As he works his thoughts turns to Yumi. She was strong and would carry on, raising their children to follow the Way, but he'd miss her as she'd miss him he was sure. He'd regret not being able to return home, not seing her again. The thoughts spurred him on and he tore at the buckles, working frantically before his body could betray him.

[Critical]

S&V


"The cart is perfectly empty, I think that's pretty trustable... Oh wait, you're meaning me? Well, you probably do know he's a meanie, right?" - the kobold says, jokingly adressing the last question to the guard which seemed to know Domile as he grabbed Captain Socks' reins and came closer.

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Sarris and Somnium

"Is he now?" Griswald says in amusement and beckons Somnium forward. He leans close to the kobold and says confidentially, "I've heard that alright. Me? I think he's a right sweetheart. That should say something about my disposition."

He flashes a quick, quirky smile to show his sunny side, which is actually anything but reassuring, and then its gone just as quick.

"Now spill them pockets."



Raynor

You suddenly hear what sounds like a shout in the distance, and Goggles turns his head to and gives you a 'did you hear that?' look.

It seemed to be coming to the southeast, in the general direction of Gearna's house-wagon, but you aren't positive. Was very faint.


Taro

You get off a couple words before you feel a painful pressure on your lungs that grows with the pain until you are gasping from the agony. A fit of wet coughing takes you, and you spit up blood on the sheet.

OOC
16 damage


OOC
Ok all, I'm gone til tonight. Have a Happy Thanksgiving! (Or have a good thursday if you're one of those pitiable unfortunates who DON'T eat turkey today :smallwink: )

Rolls

Listens
[roll0]
[roll1]
[roll2]
[roll3]

Tsochar Damage
[roll4]

[The Antigamer]

Vorpal
Raynor meets Goggles goggles, and jerks his head to the southeast, before running that way, shouting "Oy! Wha ye at!"

Happy Feasting Day!

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Taro
You hear a voice shout back almost too faint to hear, "Oy! Wha ye at!"

Rolls
[roll0]

[Calenestel]

Yamada Tarō

Vorpal
The distant voice -was that Raynor?- boosted the earth genasi's morale and while he continued to struggle with the armour he again bellowed, his strong voice carrying clearly outside the wagon, if you were close enough: "In Gearna's wagon! Hurry! INSIDE!"
Thankfully the breastplate came loose then and he dropped it to the floor and started removing the next piece of armour instantly. The shoulder plates and the arm guards were still making it impossible for him to remove the upper part of his gambecon and he needed to work fast.

[Critical]

S&V


Somnium's skin color quickly shifted towards a lighter shade of almost white yellow, as he replied to the guard's statement with an accusing intonation: "What, right here? Do you know about something called privacy?"


Diplomacy for general attitude improvement and giving the poor kobold some privacy :smallbiggrin: : [roll0]

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Somnium & Sarris

Griswald looks a bit hesitant and glances about.

"There isn't much of anywhere to my eye we can do it privately." he says finally.

He takes a step forward and rubs his hairy chin uncertainly.

Sarris

His back now to the kobold, Griswald's uncertainty fades from his features and he gives Domile a quick wink. When he turns back to Somnium the act is back upon his face.




Raynor
"In Gearna's wagon! Hurry! INSIDE!" you hear the voice call, and it definitely seems to be coming from within.

Rolls
Bluff - [roll0]
Sense Motive - [roll1]

Listens
[roll2]
[roll3]

[Critical]

S&V


Clicking his teeth, Somnium steps a little closer and opens up his belt pouches, allowing the guard to look into them, while trying to hide their contents from others. He then took off his backpack and passed it to the guard. "Careful there, though, there's scientific equipment in there! And don't you dare to touch the gems! I know what these inspections can lead to..."

Vorpal

It's two belt pouches full of marbles. :smallbiggrin:

The bag has a a lot of marble pouches in it, neverending rations, surgeon's tools, a horseshoe and a doll of an adventurer. Ow, and quite a lot of gold in gems.

[The Antigamer]

Y&v
In Gearna's wagon?!
Raynor curses, and runs to the wagon, flinging open the door and hopping inside.

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Raynor
Goggles, Gearna and Manny hurry after you. The door is unlocked and opens without a problem.

Taro is on Gearna's bed, his legs tied to the frame with her sheets in large but clumsy knots. He's fiddling with the ties on his armor. The breastplate and helmet are on the floor.

Blood dribbles down from the sides of his mouth and far more bruises and cuts and scrapes are found upon him than last you saw. A particularly large, fresh wound gapes just below his navel.




Somnium
Griswald raises an eyebrow, as he looks through Somnium's belongings. He winces and rotates, flexing his fingers after he's done.

"Mmm, my lumbago acting up. It's that storm on the horizon I bet you. Anyways, alright, you look clean." he says, handing everything back. Nothing appears to be missing either.

He draws up straight as a post and intones, "Alright friend scales, do you swear upon your honor and before this holy procession *cough* mm, excuse me there, that you possess no particular affiliations or sympathies with the cult of Ruin and mean no harm, nor intend any harm, larceny, trouble making, or general lawlessness or shenanigans while within the city of Banzar or towards its inhabitants?"

Domile rolls his eyes to the blue sky above.

As Somnium begins to answer a man in leather armor and the symbol of Banzar, a sun above rippling water, comes riding up.

"General Garkin! A Ruiner has been spotted at the northern searching station! One of the men says its Gottlöb himself!" the main says in a voice steady and clear, but there is a distinct edge of fear to it. "He's attacked one of the scouts and is said to have killed another."

Garkin begins swearing in the way of a true polyglot, the curses deriving from at least a dozen tongues.

He turns to Domile, "You came looking for riff-raff, and you've found it. The check point isn't half a mile from the Covered Trail to the north. I'm staying here in case they try anything here. Go, go! Sergeant, we need more men down here in case they are going to try a simultaneous attack on the station. MOVE!"

Domile lifts a hand and jerks it forward, and with a touch of his heels to his horse leads it galloping over the bridge.

[The Antigamer]

Y&V
Raynor warily moves forward, the small curved dagger of light back in his hand.
"Wut 'appened? Where's de Ruiner?"
As he speaks, he reaches out a hand to touch Taro's head, letting healing energy from his belt flow into the warrior. He has a suspicion something's not right, and that this might be a trick, but he doesn't want to take the chance that Taro is dying and he did nothing.
healing [roll0]

[Critical]

Vorpal (Sarris's gone, right?)


"Uh, sure." - the kobold replies, raising an eyebrow, rechecking the contents of his backpack and putting them back on, then turns back to the guard. - "Can I actually make it in time where they're heading? And who's that Gottlöb guy?"

[Calenestel]

Yamada Tarō

Raynor & Vorpal
"He is still here," the genasi croaks, not bothering with a greeting. His voice is coarse with pain, but steady and determined. Finally managing the final buckle he removes the pauldrons and drops them to the floor with a resigned gesture. Calm or resigned he gestures to the wound showing beneath the reinforced clothing of his gambecon, just below his navel. "The honourless dog shapeshifted. He is... inside."
Methodically the samurai continues to remove the gorget, a much quicker job since most of the buckles were already undone, before moving on to the armguards. "I almost had him. I will require a chirurgeon, Raynor-san. Get one for me. Quickly. And a healer. Preferably a cleric, priest or priestess of one of your gods."

[The Antigamer]

Y&V
An expression of shock and revulsion flashes across Raynor's face.
"In...side?"
He shakes his head, losing the expression, and turns to Goggles,
"Can yer git a 'ealer or surgeon?"
Turning back to Taro, he asks, "Wut der ye mean inside? 'Ow can we git 'im owt?" he releases the last of his healing into the swordsman.
Last healing belt charge of the day, [roll0]

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Critical

You have time to go on with them. They appear to be heading through the city to get to the other side instead of going around. Griswald seems to have forgotten you actually, has bigger fish to fry.

If you want to stay though and speak with him though feel free, though he's kinda preoccupied now.


Edit: Oof, folks posted while I was writing this. Gimme a minute or five and I'll get to the rest of you.

[Critical]

Vorpal

"Aww, come on, I don't want to miss all the fun!" - the kobold says, jumping onto his trusty mule and gesturing the mule to move with the rear hitting by the dragonwrought's legs. - "Lets go, Captain Socks! Kiyaa!"

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Taro & Raynor
"I don't know if anyone knows how to do this..." Goggles says, his eyes bulging almost to bursting with intensity and alarm. They then narrow suspiciously, "Wait, that big hole in his belly. Taro cut his way outta the brute before. How we know this isn't him?"

Sarris & Somnium
Through some signal from Domile a number of the holy warriors remain behind with Griswald, though the elite group continues along.

Speeding upon horses, mule, and one beast of burden even Somnium can't place, the group hurries across the sand. Suddenly you are in the outskirts of the city.

A strange sound reverberates, and most of the streets are clear, which are actually just long spaces between tents that follow some underlying pattern. Pedestrians are keeping to the sides as you gallop past, though none seem particularly frightful, most simply curious and excited.

At one point the crowd is simply to thick, so you go around. In the distance, at the edge of this crowd near the beach, where no tents are seen, is what appears to be a humanoid figure constructed out of strong ship timbers and driftwood to form a sort of cage stuffed with bales of hay. The head is some kind of plaster, with a bulbous nose and idiot looking eyes. Over this head it holds a great length of old sail that has written in the common tongue, "I'M RUINED!" and writing of all kinds and languages have been scrawled in many different handwritings.

This fades into the distance as you cut sharply and go perhaps a mile. By now the tents have shrunk in size and quality and are much more slum-like. As well, many camping tents, wagons, and animals begin to show, apparently just visitors to the wandering city.

Then you are out. Swerving a bit more you finally come to a wide lane of trampled grass where peoples of all races and types wander back and forth. Few are leaving, but are instead coming in.

Soldiers have formed a barricade by commanding merchants to turn their carts end to end, forming a line of wood and oxen, leather and horse.

A rotund halfling in expensively tailored clothing and a stressed look is directing the guards and the building of the barricade.

He looks up and his sag sags more with relief, "Inquisitor! Thank the powers! They say they've lost the Ruiner! I don't know how this could have..."

"With those sewers of chaos and confusion, there are many ways, Member Jumja. Quickly, take me to where he was last seen." Domile responds briskly, having not time for blame or the lack of it.

"Go, take the Inqusitor!" the halfing directs one of the soldiers on horseback. The man nods and looks to Domile before reigning his horse around.

The area is in an uproar, with merchants searching through their wares, and a number stabbing mattresses and barrels for some strange reason.

Nearby two individuals are locked in combat, a stout dwarf and a man are pummeling one another brutally, trying to get at a double-bladed axe lying on the ground. Nearby is a small card drawn by four-horned rams, and a tent where a human woman with two small children stand screaming.

[Calenestel]

Yamada Tarō

Raynor & Vorpal
With the calm of someone who's seen his own death but still marches on the samurai looks to Raynor and Goggles.The first seem to trust him immediately which he appreciates, the latter shows a good deal of intelligence, which he applauds. But there's no time for that now. "You do not know that I am not the ruiner. Of course. He is a shapeshifter after all. But someone tied me down. However, if I am the abomination then the course is clear. You must kill me. An easy way would be to open my stomach even more." This has got to be the strangest version of harakiri I've ever heard of. The last part the samurai only thinks to himself. Taking a deep, pained breath he continues. "If I am who I say I am however. Then the ruiner is hiding in my stomach and you will find him then. You can kill him and heal me. So I ask of you. Please find both a skilled chirurgeon and a healer. Do not kill until you have seen whether someone is hiding inside me and help me if you do. Please." The last part comes hard to him. Saying "please". He is proud and a bit stiff necked. Being unable to help himself isn't something he's used to.

[The Antigamer]

Y&V

Raynor gives Goggles a steady look.
"Goggles, go outside an' see if yer can fend a 'ealer. Oi'll stan' guard, whether against de beast inside Taro, or against 'imself if 'e is de beast. Gearna, do ye 'av any 'ealin' items?"
He turns his attention back to Taro, moving closer.
"Insoide ye, eh?"
He looks at his dagger, and it shrinks down to a surgeon's scapel. He holds it over the wound at Raynor's navel.
Taro, wut did oi brin' for breakfast? And wut's de beastie look loike?"

[Calenestel]

Yamada Tarō

Raynor & Vorpal
A weak, pained smile plays upon the samurais wrists as he looks over on Raynor. "You brought apples, Raynor-san. And the abomination now looks like a rope made out of black snakes." He sighs and continues to remove the armguards, finally sliding the whole left "sleeve" of his armour free and moving on to the right. "Are you a chirurgeon then, Raynor-san?" If not he'd probably want to wait just a little more before letting the young man with his strange powers loose on his guts. But better Raynor than noone at all. Or Goggles.

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Raynor & Taro
Goggles gives Raynor an appraising look and gives a sharp nod. He heads out the door...

You all feel the dread lethargy spread through you, but you both fight it with gritted teeth, and are victorious.

Goggles and Gearna however collapses to the ground. As they do so Taro's stomach lurches and a creature like a wad of braided eels mixed with barbed wire bursts out of the warrior's abdomen in a literal geyser of blood. It rips with the claws along its fringe, as if trying to do as much damage as possible as it emerges.

It slumps to the floor and rises up as if trying to dart around Raynor for the open door.

OOC
And... we're now in Rounds again. The wagon inside is 5 feet wide by 15 feet long. Goggles is unconscious by the door, Raynor takes up the middle space, and the barrel-man is at the end. Taro is in the build-in bed and prone while in it.

Taro is incapacitated the first round, so it's all Raynor this round.

Initiative
Raynor
Gottlöb
Tarō


Taro
31 damage and you're Nauseated (http://dndsrd.net/abilitiesAndConditions.html#nauseated) for 1 round.
You were at maximum health for your Con, 32, after Raynor's healing. So by the pure cussedness of the roller you have exactly 1 HP. Something is smiling upon Taro... in its own twisted way.

Rolls
Taro - [roll0]
Raynor - [roll1]
Goggles - [roll2]

[The Antigamer]

Y&V

"Nay," Raynor says in response to Taro's question, before he's cut off by a gout of blood and tentacles erupting from the swordsman's stomach. He springs back, his scapel changing form to a thick, curved sword.
"But it appears me first operation's a success!"
A smile's on his face as he stares down the mass of writhing tentacles.
"Nigh den ganky. wut a rank 'ames ye've made av yisser plan. None av dis wuld 'av proably 'appened if yer 'adn't put de'orse ter sleep."
He reaches back into his haversack, and pulls out a small, shiny silver sphere.
"Toime fer a wake up call."
He clenches the sphere, and strikes at the tentacles as a gong rings out.

Move action:pull out sphere of awakening.
Swift action: activate sphere of awakening. I'm away from books, so I can't look it up, but everyone in a radius is awake, existing fatigue and exhausion are dispelled, and everyone's immune to sleep, fatigue, and exhausion for ten minutes.
Standard action: Insightful strike
Attack [roll0]
Crit confirm if over 15 [roll1] (3 cha damage if crit)
Damage [roll2]
Regain a pp if it hits.

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Raynor and Taro

Raynor's blade bites deep into the mass, though its difficult to determine what manner of damage it sustains.

The creature flails its thorny tentacles, and one wraps itself about your throat. It rips into an artery, causing bright blood to gush down your side. It tries to wrap itself about you, but combination of your quick ducking and the slipperiness of the crimson flood allows you to pull back out of its clutches.

In the meanwhile, Goggles immediately awakens, so quickly he may not have realized he slept instead of stumbling. He sprints down the road.

Raynor

Ouch, two successful criticals. 18 damage.
However, you also rolled a 20 on your opposed grapple. Lot of 20's recently...

[Critical]

S&V


"So, uh, what now?" - the kobold casually asks Sarris.

[Calenestel]

Yamada Tarō

Raynor & Vorpal
When the ruiner burst from his guts there really wasn't much pain. His body was almost beyond pain at this point and the trauma was big enough, the shock great enough to push it all the way left. Instead he felt... sick... it was rather interesting when you thought about it... he didn't feel pain but more like throwing up. Of course, the fact was mostly lost on the samurai as he gagged and retched, and he was more interested in fighting it down anyways. With shaking hands he grabbed the dagger in his lap and started slashing the bindings. With the enemy again in the open his path was clear and as he now was sitting up he started to look for his wakizashi. This dagger would be of little use to him.

[The Antigamer]

Y&V

"Yaargh!" Raynor screams, clapping a hand to his wounded throat, and sliding under another tentacle thrust.
"Why won't ye die yer langer!? Show me yisser mind, Gobbler!"
He thrusts his mind into his star-light blade, and heaves it upwards, hoping to slice the monster in twain.
Attack with Mind Revealed in Battle. (+2d6 damage and the foe must make a Will save, DC 16. If it fails, then you may read that creature’s surface thoughts.) Attack [roll0]
Crit confirm if over 15 [roll1]
Damage = [roll2] + [roll3] Also, if critical hit, creature takes 2 charisma damage.
Regain 1 power point if attack hits.

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Raynor & Taro

Raynor's attack slashes down at the creature, but it strikes the floor between the tentacles.

Gottlöb crouches down and then hurls himself at the warrior... and several of its barbed tentacles wrap about him, ripping and clawing like a frenzied cat. Such is the force of its leap it carries both of them out through the door, falling onto the grass.

"RAYNOR!" Gearna screams as she sees the deep lacerates cutting across him, one in particular going from across his eye down to his neck, leaking stinging blood.

Gottlöb untangles itself from Raynor and makes as if to hurry away.

In the meanwhile Taro cuts away his bonds. He is no longer feeling numb and sick. Instead his belly seems to burn with fire as feeling returns, and he realizes how much he would like to be numb again.

Raynor
17 damage and you can see Goggles not too far away speaking to a number of mounted beings in armor.


Rolls
[roll0]
[roll1]
[roll2]
[roll3]

[roll4]
[roll5]
[roll6]
[roll7]

1st grapple [roll8]
2nd grapple [roll9]
3rd grapple [roll10]
Opposed [roll11]

Fort roll [roll12]
Dex damage - [roll13]




Sarris & Somnium

"Cuthbert cull these squabbles and their instigators..." Domile murmurs and makes a separating gesture with his hands. Abruptly the two aggressors calm.

"Now. What is this about?" the Inquisitor says calmly.

Sarris glances at Somnium and says dryly, "We sit back and let the Inquisitor tell people what do to."

"He says my ram is the Gobbler and going to chop off its head." the dwarf replies in a subdued tone.

"My child said it was attacking the warrior and that it grinned at him." the other man says without any particular heat.

Domile squints at the lamb and shakes his head.

"That ram isn't the Gobbler. Nor is it a ram, but expecting lambs." Domile says blandly. "I am the Inquisitor, and none can lie to me, in word or form. You can trust this. Now be back to your..."

Abruptly a tall, gangling man in loose leather armor and bulging eyes sprints towards you all.

"COMMANDER!" he barks as he nears, "Sergeant Glimmer reporting. The Gobbler, he is inside the wagon to the east! He currently takes horrible shape and was infesting a traveling warrior like a tapeworm. He now battles with another. I don't think either is strong enough! "

[Critical]

S&V

"Hmm, how about I help ya out to take out that "gobbler" for good and you'll let me take a good look at him, for scientific reasons, of course?" - Somnium calls out to Domile. - "Come on, give me a chance, will ya?"

[PairO'Dice Lost]

Somnium & VorpalSarris rolls his eyes and mutters under his breath. "Ah, rural superstition. Superlative. Not familiar with this 'Gobbler,' but sounds like anyone with basic transmutation knowledge could do this. Spellcaster posing as shapechanging monster, oldest trick in the book." His voice takes on a thoughtful tone. "Actually, win/win scenario. Might be a real creature, handy for Somnium; more likely an expert spellcaster, handy for me, can take notes, or spells." Turning to Domile, he continues: "Either way, should probably take a look. Somnium might be useful, should come with. Shall we?"

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Everyone!
Domile looks at the Sergeant sceptically and is about to speak when a woman's voice screams, "RAYNOR!".

Looking over you see a large, luxurious gypsy-style house-wagon, and a woman in a long dress beside it.

Then a man and a... something, that resembles a pile of tangled black snakes, tumbles out of the back in a vicious fight.

OOC
Alright, we're officially in rounds. Everyone post descriptions, initiatives and actions.

Battle Grid
http://oi53.tinypic.com/9uoqw5.jpg

[The Antigamer]

Awright, we're all here!
A thin youth in a brown tunic, with messy, sandy blonde hair and deep, blood-leaking lacerations cutting across him, one going from across his eye down to his neck, another a gash along his throat, leaps up from where he'd hit the ground with the tentacled mass, as it writhes away from him trrying to escape. Seeing the mounted warriors, he hesitates for a second. Raynor usually avoids displaying his powers to anyone in authority, but this thing was going to kill him if he didn't fight back. His mind made up, he shouts: "Oy, ye lot, any time yer wanna join in, dat'd be jus' gran'!" to the mounted figures, then flashes from view, to re-appear some distance away, flinging two broad, curved swords made of white light at the tentacles.


I make the tumbel check, since I can take ten with the belt of ultimate athleticism, and my tumble mod is 9. Here's a roll anyway though: [roll0]
If we're rolling for initiative again, expending the Dreams of Future Strife maneuver to get cha to initiative. Didn't bother with it last time since I was first anyway.
Initiative: [roll1]

Swift: Spending one pp to teleport to v-25.

Attacking with two +2 Keen Falchions
Attack 1 [roll2]
Attack 1 crit confirm if above 15 [roll3]
Attack 1 damage [roll4]

Attack 2 [roll5]
Attack 2 crit confirm if above 15 [roll6]
Attack 2 damage [roll7]

*Regain a power point for each attack that hits.

[Calenestel]

Yamada Tarō

I'm a bit unsure about how much I can do right now (what with the new initiative etc.) So I'll just write a post and what I have no time to do this turn will simply take place next. Vorpal will just have to tell me about it. :smallwink:

Still inside the wagon:
Finally free of the bindings the earth genasi falls rather than crawls out of the bed, left hand and arm clutched to his abdomen. He doesn't scream, hardly even grunts from the pain, but he sure wished he was allowed to. His body was starting to adapt to the trauma and whatever spell the ruiner had employed had now worn off. The pain that followed was... without a doubt the worst he had ever experienced. But he pressed on, sweat beading on his forehead. First priority: re-arm. As luck would have it his own weakness made the search for the weapon a rather easy one. But he still had to crawl to retrieve the blade and that was far, FAR from pleasant. When he finally has the wakizashi in hand he gets up from the floor and hurries outside, again channeling his life forces into an electric charge to enhance his blade.

From the wagon emerges a most peculiar man. He is tall and strongly built. Almost stocky, actually. But obviously not a human. His skin is rocky and craggy like if he was made of stone, his hair is grey with a metallic sheen to it, making it look like steel and when one gets close enough his eyes look like a pair of huge emeralds, with no whites or pupills showing. The hair is worn long and kept in a strange knot at the back of his head, keeping it up and away, at least if he'd worn a helmet.
From the waist down he wears full plate armour, strangely decorated with geometrical designs etched into it, from the waist up he wears only the padded clothing usually worn under heavy armour to avoid chafing and further soften blows.
However, the warrior seems greviously wounded: he cluthec his stomach with his left arm and the armour seem soaked in blood.
He carries a slightly curved shortsword, electric energies dancing along it's blade without harming him.

And I think that's two rounds worth of actions.
If I have any left Tarō will attack the ruiner:
[roll0]
[roll1]
[roll2]

[PairO'Dice Lost]

One of the men approaching the wagon separates a bit from the rest. Sarris is tall and black-haired, and wears ornate formal robes; a raven is perched on the pommel of his saddle. His hard eyes are bloodshot, and he looks as if he hasn't slept in days. He calls out to Raynor, "Will attempt to help. Owe us an explanation later."

Sarris retrieves a small dart from inside his robes and holds it in his palm. A few whispered words later, a greenish glowing sheath coalesces around the dart and then streaks out toward the tentacled monster.

Initiative: [roll0]

Sarris casts acid arrow.
Ranged Touch Attack: [roll1]; Damage: [roll2]

[Critical]

A little kobold in a chain shirt, who's main feature is his full-mouth white smile of sharp teeth which he seems to be keeping on constantly without any tiredness and reason, however, there was more to note about him. As soon as he saw the battle and the monster, his gray scales changed their color to dark lime. Jumping off the donkey he was mounting and moving in to the tentacled monster, he excitingly yelled in his sharp timbre: "Ooh! Pure scientific material right there, gentlemen! Make sure not to kill it off, though, that's my chance to make it into the hisrory of science!"


[roll0] - Initiative
Dismount from the donkey(free action?), Double-Move to P-18, getting out two bags of marbles on the move(one for each move action).

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Will continue post shortly with actions of the combat.


NPCs and Descriptions

Order of the Epiphanies
Domile, Leader
- Sir Orwell, First
- Langholm twins, Seconds
- *Rose, Rear Guard
- *Opal, Observer
* Riding upon the same horse.

Travelers
Gearna

Other
Goggles

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Derrick Domile, Supreme Inquisitor
Male Human
This is an intimidating, burly individual in rigorous health despite his obviously advanced years, with bulging arms and a bull neck. His salt and pepper hair is long and straight to his back, with a receding hairline. His face is grizzled and hard, with a full, well-trimmed beard still dark.
His eyes are a light gray and flinty, seeming to cut right in and see secrets so dark you weren't even aware of them.
He wears loose gray pants and a long sleeved tunic with a leather breastplate. On his large hands are a pair of metallic gauntlets with the symbol of St. Cuthbert on the backs.

Langholm Twins
Male Humans

These two non-descript individuals make you think you are seeing double. They are tall, gawky youths in their early twenties with lank, mousy brown hair and freckles.
They are extraordinarily thin, and don't seem much like warriors, but there is a wiry, relentless strength in the way they hold themselves.
They seem to act as one, the other knowing exactly what the other is thinking and planning and acting together in perfect unison.


Gearna Sheaux
Female Human

Gearna is a statuesque woman nearly six foot tall with elaborate, decorative braids held in fantastic shapes by the wire within. She possesses a perfect deep golden tan that compliments her tresses. Around her neck is a faint but visible line where there is no tan, where it seems a necklace is wont to hang, but is currently removed.

She is dressed in an exquisite violet traveling dress, currently the latest style in the major human settlements, that hugs her form suggestively, with silver pedigree worked in pleasant patterns around the waist and bodice. Knee-high riding boots with heels complete the ensemble.


Srgt. George "Goggles" Glimmer
Male Human(?)

Goggles is an almost spiderishly lanky individual some six and a half feet in height. He is thin and dark skinned, with close-cropped curly black hair. His nick-name is likely taken from his eyes, which are large, bulbous and seem to extrude from their sockets in his narrow knife of a face.

He wears leather armor with the symbol of Banzar, a sun over choppy waves, over the heart. In his hand is a long, slightly curved hunting knife.



Opal Throes
Female Dream Dwarf

http://fc09.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2009/364/9/4/Dwarf_by_vielmond.png

Opal at first appears to be a young girl due to her diminutive stature, but upon stepping closer one sees she is a full grown woman. She seems ageless, with no wrinkles, but there is a look to her and the way she holds herself that is ancient.

Upon coming closer the slight but distinct features are seen. This is a female dwarf, but one so ascetically thin, for a dwarf, that she seems naught but slender. One might pass her off as a tall halfling except for the slight shortness of leg, and the appearance of great weight and solidity.

The features are delicate, yet hard, like a carefully cut gem. It is her eyes however that holds one. They are an icy blue, with pin-prick pupils that never grow or shrink. In fact, they never seem to blink and catch the light to reflect odd facets. Her hair is platinum blonde, and arranged into stiff braids that stick off her head. Occasional needle-like strands of crystal stick out sharply from her hair like the quills on some jeweled porcupine.

She wears a simple roughspun cotton dress of human make. Hanging from her waist is a leather girdle studded with gems and crystals in pockets, loops and hooks. A particularly large, brilliant white stone is displayed in the middle of the girdle, the insides shimmer with a light all their own like the offspring of an aurora and rainbow.
A large warhammer extends from a back sheath, the head of it carved from a single rough block of crystal and connected to an adamantine shaft.


Rose Elizabeth Daine
Female Okilei (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=175283)

http://republika.pl/blog_dn_4072842/5708742/sz/violet-ref_1_.jpg

Rose is a slender waif of a girl well on her way to womanhood but still of the bright, smooth complexion of youth. She is short and delicate seeming, almost as if a doll had been enlarged. Her long hair is dark brown and curly, with a dark blue ribbon holding it together in back. Her eyes are of a blue so dark as to be almost black, and full of expression and empathy, along with something else that's difficult to place. Her face is thin and pale, almost tired seeming, with dimpled cheeks.

In fact, she seems a perfectly normal young woman... until you notice the ears. Though small and delicate, no human ever had ears like this, the fleshy ridges and lines of a normal ear spun about, spiralled and curled, like a much larger ear arranged into aesthetic shapes by an origami artist.

She wears a somber but stylish dress of some light, dark brown material that reaches nearly to her ankles. It possesses but a few frills and laces so that it is fashionable but tasteful. A sort of light, hose-like netting fits tightly over her arms and between her fingers. Upon her feet are heeled, button-up boots with pointed toes that raises her height to about 5'4". Around her neck is a tiny, silver chain with an exquisitely wrought rose pendant.


Sir Orwell
Male Half-Orc

http://oi54.tinypic.com/e9c7sg.jpg

Despite the oddness of those in the gathering, this fellow is possibly the oddest. He is what most would consider an impossibility, a handsome half-orc with long black hair in shining, well brushed strands down to his shoulders. One would almost call him pretty, though not if they wished to live.

Instead of burly and hulking, he is compact and lithe. He rides atop a very strange creature that resembles, in build, a tiger with the muscles of an ox and the scales of a serpent. These latter are milky white, and oddly elastic. Vicious, spiky ridges run from its head and down its back, allowing only enough room for a single occupant to sit.
At the end of each paw are inwardly curving claws, and its mouth filled with cruelly serrated fangs. The eyes however are dull and lifeless without glint or emotion.

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Round 1

Initiative
21 - Rose
20 - Somnium
17 - Sarris
14 - Sir Orwell
13 - Langholm Twins
13 - Opal
11 - Gottlöb
11 - Domile
10 - Goggles
9 - Raynor
8 - Tarō

http://oi55.tinypic.com/2qty4uc.jpg


"I'll see to the protection of the civilians, Commander." Rose says to Domile, who nods as if already knowing that would be her goal.

"Get to your children and get out of here!" Rose shouts to the man that was fighting with the dwarf. The fellow hurries back to his tent, where his wife and children meet him. They gather a few essentials from their tent and hurry down the line for the safety of the barricade.

She then casts a worried glance at one of the twins, who has turned to give her an encouraging smile. Something passes between their gaze and then the young woman is galloping down the road, stopping only to help the dwarf off the horse.

The little kobold, Somnium, makes his statement and hops off his donkey, hurrying towards the fight with hands searching in his pockets.

"The Gobbler IS to be captured. But only if you will not put others in harm's way in doing so." Domile says to the group in general.

In the meanwhile, Sarris's arrow streaks towards the combatants, but in his attempt not to hit the others involved it is poorly aimed and instead strikes the edge of the wagon.

"HEY!" Gearna cries, turning around angrily to scowl at the horsemen.

With a kick of his heals, Sir Orwell, the half-orc, hurls himself over Domile, his mount landing with the grace of a pouncing cat. They then sprint over to the wagon.

The twins hang back with Domile as the others hurry forward.

In the meantime Opal lands on the ground with a thump one would think too heavy for such a slight individual. She grips her bare toes into the dirt and closes her eyes. She then begins to walk, almost stalking, feeling each grain with her feet. As she walks she seems to become less and less real, fading into the foreground and background in a strange, whimsical way.

Gottlöb, however, has other plans. The creature reaches up with tentacles that stretch far too long and pulls himself up upon the roof of the carriage. It dashes to the front and all of them stick out suddenly at angles.

Sarsaparilla, the horse, spooks violently and begins to gallop off, Taro still inside, who grabs quickly for support as he goes bouncing.

Domile's face sets like stone as the horse begins to ride off with the Ruiner.

"YAW!" he shouts, and his mount hurries after.

He whispers a few words as he rides, and makes gathering motions. The carriage slows about a hundred feet away. The twins follow behind.

Goggles, seeing the horse taking off, begins to run after it, picking up speed til he's nearly keeping up with the horses.

OOC
Ok, Raynor, Taro, might want to redo your actions now.

[The Antigamer]

Raynor runs after the wagon, mentally focusing himself on the song of the stars.
Once focused, he calls out,
"If anyone 'as any spare 'ealin' poshuns, oi an' de stoneface in de wagon cud use dem!"

Using the run action to move to S-42, while using a swift action to spend 5 pp and regain psionic focus.

[Calenestel]

Yamada Tarō

He's almost by the door, he can see the fight outside clearly... and then the abomination flashes by, up on the roof and out of sight. And suddenly the wagon lurches forward, nearly toppling him. Holding himself steady the thought races in the samurai's head. He might be on his own against the creature, and he was grieveously wounded. But Gearna traded in all things magical that she could find, she had said so herself. Maybe she carried a supply of healing potions? That seemed plausible at least and if not, then there might always be other things that might help him against the ruiner. As the wagon rumbles forward the samurai starts searching the wagon for something, anything, to aid him against the monster. In his mind it's only him left and he needed to even the odds.

Search check. Hopefully Gearna has some healing potions. That might come in handy. :smalltongue:
Too bad it's an untrained check. I could use some extra points in Search right now. :smallsigh:

[roll0] Edit: Lovely. :smallannoyed:

[Critical]

The kobold swiftly sprints towards the wagon, with some slight signs of eagerness on his face. "So that's one of it's forms, you say?" - he casually utters under his breath to Domile and everyone in general.


Run action as close to the wagon as possible.

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Raynor goes hurrying after the wagon, nearly tripping over himself in his haste.

Taro in the meantime begins searching through the wagon, but every movement is agony and he can't find it in himself to bend over at all.
Hey, look, there's a back door! :smallwink:


Round 2
Initiative
21 - Rose
20 - Somnium
17 - Sarris
14 - Sir Orwell
13 - Langholm Twins
13 - Opal
11 - Gottlöb
11 - Domile
10 - Goggles
9 - Raynor
8 - Tarō

http://oi56.tinypic.com/2a9ob9l.jpg

Rose continues to keep an eye out on the civilians, and another for anything else suspicious.

Gripped in excitement, Somnium goes hurrying across the field like some kind of hyperactive iguana.

[PairO'Dice Lost]

Looking quite annoyed, Sarris does some quick mental calculations and determines he is too far away to hit Gottlöb with any accuracy. He urges his horse into a gallop to catch up with Somnium and the other Order members.

Sarris will run toward the cart; assuming these are heavy horses with speed 50, that should put him at M39/M40, I believe. If these are light horses with speed 60, he'll keep moving to P42/P43.

[Critical]

My turn right before your post VT, in case you didn't notice.

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Critical
Dangit, talk about being ninja'd. Added you in.

Sarris

They are large war horses. They also have the Run feat. So 250 feet is how far you can ride. This should put you pretty much anywhere on the board. Where is it you'd like to be ideally?

[PairO'Dice Lost]

VorpalOoh, didn't notice that. I think Sarris will head to V43/V44 to flank the wagon with Domile & Co.

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Sarris and Sir Orwell hurry forward to catch up with the wagon as the Langholms circle around to the front of the wagon, blocking it from going forward.

Opal hurries forward to, but with his stubby legs Gearna passes her quickly and peers into the back of the wagon.

"Taro!" she gasps, seeing the horrible gaping wound in his belly.

Goggles quickly pass them both and hurries around to the other side of the wagon.

In the meantime Domile leads his horse right up beside Sarsaparilla, his face an impassive mask.

Gottlöb sits, reverted back to his humanoid form, which someone doesn't seem much an improvement on the pile of squirming tentacles.

For those that haven't had the pleasure, he is at least seven feet tall, with an extreme girth as of one incredibly obese, and rolls of fat hang about him. However, his arms, legs and chest don't have a spot of adipose upon them. They are thin, with jutting ribs and bones seeming like fragile sticks beside his corpulence, giving him the appearance of a bloated tick.
A bald head rests upon a scrawny neck from which an adam's apple sharply protrudes, with a turgid face and dark, deep-set eyes peering out gloatingly from folds of skin. Two dark, wet looking wounds or holes are indented above each eye at an angle towards the ears.
Everything about him seems... wrong and malformed. He produces in your minds an almost childish fear, as if he were the dreaded boogyman, come to gobble you up.
He wears nothing but a loin cloth almost hidden by the overlapping gut.

"Inquisitor!" he booms. "This is a surprise! I had begun to think you weren't coming. Weren't spotted anywhere. Well done!"

"Off the wagon, Ruiner." Domile says in a tone dead of emotion and makes a gripping motion with his hands.

Abruptly Gottlöb doubles over and falls limply to a bone-jarring thud on the ground.

[The Antigamer]

Raynor jumps and pulls himself on the roof of the wagon just in time to watch Gottlob fall off. He hesitates, not wanting to show his powers in front of the authoritis, and calls out to the man the Ruiner had called "Inquisitor."

"Roi glad yer folk chowed up. Is yer man contained den? An' can anyone spare sum 'ealin'?"

[PairO'Dice Lost]

That was...far too easy. Reverting to its natural form, tossing off a clichéd line, falling to a single prayer...it does not fit. Cautiously, Sarris moves his horse forward a bit and prepares to act if Gottlöb tries anything.

If Sarris doesn't have line of sight to Gottlöb right now, he'll move up to a space where he does. He'll ready an action to manifest telekinetic thrust on Gottlöb if he performs any hostile action (attacking, changing form, or attempting to escape).

If Gottlöb doesn't move from his space when performing said action, Sarris will throw him 50 feet up in the air; if he does move from his spot, or he turns into something that looks like it could fly, Sarris will instead slam him against the wagon. Will negates, DC 17, and SR/PR applies; I'll roll falling/impact damage if it triggers.

[Calenestel]

Yamada Tarō

Finding nothing, and not wanting to waste any more time looking now that the wagon had stopped the samurai hobbles to the rear entrance. He flashes Gearna a brief, pained smile and climbs the stairs down, rounds the corner and heads for the front of the equipage, his sword blazing with electricity. Of course, the sight that greets him is a downed abomination and their just arrived allies victorious. He allows himself a quick sigh of relief and a quick word of encouragement to those present: "Well done, strangers!" before turning about and limping back towards where it all started to retrieve his katana. The wakizashi he sheates as he walks. Nothing was more important than finding that sword.

[Critical]

"Hehe, good job, fellas!" - Somnium says, getting one of his pouch in his pocket and getting closer to the gobbler, relieved from the lost fear. He then shifted his view towards Sarris, who seemed to be covering him and nodded. "Lets see if he's really done for..." - Somnium says, getting on his knee and carefully checking the Ruiner's pulse.


Take 10 on heal check for 22 to determine if he's dead, then another attempt(if nothing goes wrong) with a roll: [roll0]

[The Vorpal Tribble]

It does seem much too easy, but easy or not, Domile jumps off his horse and quickly reaches into his saddlebags to pull forth a pair of manacles.

In the meanwhile Somnium reaches down to take the Gobbler's pulse. Abruptly the kobold's scales slam to jet back and he reels.

The Gobbler doesn't move.

Domile glances up and runs over, pulling the kobold away swiftly. Whether from concern or anger it's not known.

"NOBODY touches the Gobbler, that is understood." he says not loudly, but sharply, in a tone that nevertheless reaches all nearby ears. It is not a question, but a statement.

Somnium

As you touch him you feel a heartbeat. It begins to quicken though, and you find your own heart matching it. Something then seems to gnaw and suck at your core within like a toothless maw. You fight the draining sensation, and it ceases momentarily, but you feel weaker for it.

7 damage



Rolls

[roll0]
[roll1]

[Critical]

"ARRGH! What the hell was that and how do we get rid of it?" - the kobold asked, breathing heavily, as far as he could breathe heavily with his full-blown smile, and his scales got a reddish tone now, too.

[The Antigamer]

Raynor nods, and sits on the roof of the wagon, letting his legs dangle over the edge, breathing a sigh of relief.
"Yer man did dat ter me an' de lad back dare too. Wut is 'e, an' who ye ter capture instead av kill 'im?"

[Calenestel]

Yamada Tarō

After finding his katana and sheathing it in a reverent motion the half-armoured warrior retrieves his naginata and starts limping back, using the swordstaff as a crutch. The more time that passed the more he hurt as the last vestiges of schock and adrenaline left his body and at the moment he would only like to lay down. He just needed to get back to the wagon first.

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Domile doesn't touch the prisoner, but he does touch the manacles to him. There is a sharp spark, and they disappear. Now only a band of crystal surrounds each wrist, as if part of the flesh. They are connected to one another by a thin strand of material, almost seeming as a stretch of glimmering saliva between each hand. He then beckons the half-orc on his odd steed, the latter which opens its mouth wider than an anaconda and gently takes the Ruiner in its jaws.

Only then does the Inquisitor look up.

"I am the one who'll be asking the questions. However, to answer yours, I am Inquisitor Domile, Commander of the Order of the Epiphanies. Most importantly however, I am the one in charge of hunting down the cult of Ruin." he says matter-of-factly and beckons you down. "I will interrogate each of you briefly, and I suggest you be truthful. I will know if you are not."

His eyes close a minute and the twins nod.

"Please address yourselves to the Inquisitor." the crystal-eyed dwarven woman says politely but firmly to Taro and Gearna, stepping into the path of the former. "You will receive a blessing of health from him if you are found to be unconnected with the Cult of Ruin."

Srgt Glimmer (aka Goggles) and all of the riders form a defensive circle about the wagon, save the young okilei riding amongst the merchants in the distance.

Sarris

A duo of voices sound in your head.

~Defensive perimeter around the wagon. Those involved in the conflict are to be detained but not harmed. If they attempt escape they are to be captured and held for questioning.

All are in their natural shape aside from the Sergeant Glimmer, who is a trusted changeling with a history of rebellion and espionage against the Cult. Dark leanings detected in none of those present save the scaled individual called Somnium.~

[The Antigamer]

Raynor sighs, and waits for the questions. He hated being questioned, and usually simply ran off, but this Domile had paralyzed the Ruiner with ease, and he had little desire to experience that himself.
Rolling sideways, he lets his body fall over the roof, catching the edge of the roof with his hand to stop his fall, then drops lightly down, and takes a seat on the grass, leaning back against the wagon.

[PairO'Dice Lost]

VorpalSarris nods discreetly to the twins, and turns his view to encompass the rest of the people in the area.

[OOC: Sarris will change his readied action to cover everyone else: If they try to escape and they aren't apprehended by someone else by the time they reach the maximum range of his telekinesis (150 feet), he will telekinetic thrust them back toward Domile, trying not to harm them.]

[Critical]

Somnium continues rabbling on about his "scientific material", despite of Domile's statement and his future to be questioning. "So, how does one actually touch the guy safely? I can't make a donation to science if I don't actually touch him somehow, you know!.. I'm free to do that after you've done your business with him, right?.."

[Calenestel]

Yamada Tarō

While the earth genasi makes a sour grimace at the insinuation that he might not be truthful he does not protest. This was a legitimate authority after all. It was in their right to detain and question them. Still using the naginata as a crutch, he limps up to Raynor's side. On the way he gives the crystal eyed dwarf a nod of respect and a friendly smile. The people of Yamashiro, while harboring few of the Short Folk, held the dwarves in high esteem for their stability and adherence to tradition and law and this one seemed to have a bit of the Earth in her too.
At Raynor's side the samurai remains standing, he didn't think he could sit down without hurting himself further and wasn't going to experiment. His motions are deliberately slow and unthreatening, both because he is armed and does not want to give the inquisitor and his people the wrong impression and because that frankly was the only way he could move at the moment. Making a for the circumstances deep bow, more a very deep nod, he greets Domile with respect. He hesitates slightly before speaking, though, unsure how to adress this "Commander of the Order of Epiphanies". He was probably not their highest commander, such a lofty person would certainly ride with a bigger troupe and have other do the fighting for him. But what then? An ambassador? Or just an official passing through? Not wanting to hesitate too much he settles on deep respect but not too much.
When the genasi speaks his deep bass of a voice is tight with pain but steady and confident: "Greetings, Domile-sama. I am Yamada Shīkā-o-tōsai Tarō, samurai to the Lord of Yamashiro and a Wandering Seeker. I am honoured by your presence." It irked him a little to repeat his title, but he knew that Outsiders had little understanding of his culture and wouldn't understand otherwise.
And he is honoured. He had met people from the Order of Epiphanies before, people not unlike himself, and he knew them to be honourable and steadfast enemies of the Priests of Ruins. But he didn't know much more than that and never had he met one as exalted as Domile.
The question then was... did they know of Yamashiro?

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Gearna strides up with hands on her hips, and her lips pursed.

"Hello, Derrick." she snips.

The Inquisitor momentarily looks like he's swallowed a sour lemon.

"Ambassador."

"I can vouch for two of these men. They have risked much for me."

"Lady Sheaux, I must verify this from all angles. You yourself I hear might have brought the Gobbler into the city, unchallenged. For all your talents, this is not one of them. Now, silence, for a few minutes, would be appreciated, as I verify your claim."

"My CLAIM? I'll have you know..."

"Lady..."

"...that I am a fine judge of character myself, and one of them can barely walk..."

"LADY...."

"...though he is too proud to admit it. He might fall over at any...

"LADY! I will bless them, but if you cannot quiet yourself for five minutes you will also be detained and DAMN your diplomatic repercussions." Domile says, and if Gearna's eyes were blazing, the look in the Inquisitor's is the stone about to be rolled over the fire.

To the trader's credit, she holds his gaze for a few moments but finally drops her gaze.

The Inquisitor listens to Taro's introduction and bows in a culturally perfect leaning.

"Do you, Yamada Shīkā-o-tōsai Tarō, by choice or coercion, have association with, serve, aid or in any way have dealings with the Cult of Ruin or any sympathetic to their cause or coerced as I ask you now?" he questions.

[Calenestel]

Yamada Tarō

"No."

[The Antigamer]

Raynor gives a silent chuckle at the austere swordman's abrupt reply.

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Domile nods approvingly. This is a man who obviously likes straightforward answers.

"Then accept the blessing of St. Cuthbert, and the thanks of our order, and I personally, for your aid in the capture of this brute and the protection of the citizens of Edra." the inquisitor responds in a ceremonial tone.

He crosses his hands before your abdomen without actually touching, and there is a dim liquid glow. When the light fades, Taro is completely healed, the wounds vanished.

Taro

The glow brings a warmth of well being to your insides. It's like being caressed and filled with warm milk and honey. You are healed [roll0] HP.

Edit: Wow, perfect roll. Which means you are up to full HP (not including Con loss)

[Calenestel]

Yamada Tarō

Breathing a deep sigh of relief, and not bothering with feeling embarrase about it, the samurai relaxes. He felt... weak... still but not from a wound for there were none left. It felt more like he was tired. Bowing deeply, from the hip, in a wordless show of gratitude the earth genasi stays to listen to the how the situation evolved.

[Critical]

Somnium whistles to his donkey to come over and returns to the inquisitor, slightly annoyed. "Hey, come on, can I get a short, simple answer here, please?" - he says, jumping on the trusty ol' donkey to stand taller.

[The Vorpal Tribble]

"No." Domile replies, not even glancing over at the kobold.

He does turn to Raynor and says, "And you sir, I ask the same question I did the honorable Samurai."

In the meantime, the paralysis seems to have worn off the Gobbler, who blinks and cricks his neck.

"Your restraints will keep you from trying any of those tricks, Ruiner!" Sir Orwell says to him. "So be still as death, or it will be for real!"

[Critical]

"Oh well." - Somnium says, hopping off his donkey and getting close to the ruiner, looking at his face now, with the same expression a child has when he sees a lion in a cage for the first time, and asked the same occasional questions as he did before to the captured instead: "Hey, what's your power?" The kobold obviously didn't expect it to work, but hey, it could be worth a try.

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Gottlöb turns his head at an angle to inspect his inspector and a wide smile spreads across his face.

"The Inquisitor is the only one allowed to ask those questions, doncherknow? He'll be on you soon. Yer either for his law, or dead. He don't seem to like you much, so it'd be #2 I'm thinking, HA! But, now, now, I might have some things to tell, but since I know no reason to tell it, as only the holy executioner here can torture, you'll have to wet my lips a little. Tell, me, what can YOU do Rainbow Man?"

[The Antigamer]

"Oi ain't never knowingly aided a ruiner," Raynor states, reaching a hand behind his head to scratch his neck.

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Domile's lips quirk at the not-quite-answered answer, but apparently doesn't feel the need to press the issue.

He makes his official expression of gratitude and spreads his hands once more, leaving Raynor still a little bruised up, but well on his way to recovery.

Raynor

A tingling sensation spread across you, a light tickling like being immersed in seltzerwater.

Where the fizzing ends you no longer feel pain. You regain [roll0]
HP.

[The Antigamer]

Raynor stretches luxuriously, and gives a thankful nod to the Inquisitor.
"So can we noggin on den? Oi'm in sore nade av a festival, an' an ale."

[Critical]

"Meh, I've been warned." - Somnium replies at the mention of punishment by the inquisitor. As "the ruiner" asks about the kobold's power, however, that made the scaly one think for a second, still, he cheerily replied shortly: "Power, you say, hm... I can do little bit of everything, other creatures' abilities included. Kinda like you, from what I've heard, if you come to think of it. Kinda funny, don't you think? Your turn!"

[The Vorpal Tribble]

"By all means, it is worthy time for celebration. Go in peace." the Inquisitor replies, and the riders break up their circle and reform about him.

"Are you injured, Ambassador?" he says over his shoulder to Gearna.

Gearna gives him a look with ice in it, "I am fine. Thank you for your concern."

The Inquisitor must have resistance to cold for he seems unphased and bows slightly to her. She in turn gives a curtsy, or more like a sharp flick of the hem of her dress, and then she turns back to Taro.

"You're count is up to two now." she says, warmth seeping back into her tone. She then smiles mischievously at Raynor, "So you'll have to catch up. Not right now though. By the gods I need a drink."

In the meanwhile the verbal dissection continues between the Ruiner and the Scientist.

"Well, I'm hungry is all. I can sup a lake and still be thirsty, and if you've ever heardtell them saying 'hungry enough to eat a horse', well, I just think that one a snack. You were delectable. Please excuse my having a taste, it was such a little nip."

[Calenestel]

Yamada Tarō

When Raynor too answers satisfactory the samurai again bows to the inquisitor. "Domile-sama. I thank you for your aid with the abomination as well as your healing. Be wary of the creature. He is a tempter." He spoke from experience, and you could tell from his voice. Granted, it hadn't been any promises of gifts and he hadn't been very tempted by it. But still. Calmly he spares a glance for the little kobold-looking creature chatting the ruiner up.

With yet another deep bow from the waist the samurai backs away from the inquisitor a few steps before turning away. Gearna is afforded a tired smile, quite unlike his usual stony facade and he bows to her as well. "There is no count, lady Gearna. I was happy to be there. The ruiners are my enemies as much as yours. Or the Order's." Still, it was good to be appreciated, and the friendly, and not very common, smile on his face belies the humble words. "I'm afraid I made a downright bloody mess of your bed though." He had the distinct feeling that he was blushing when he said that, but he kept his voice calm, happy that blushes didn't show in his skintone.

Vorpal
Sweet! Bonus XP! :smallbiggrin:

OOC:
Got ninja'd. I'm slow, I know. I'll edit the post as quick as I can.

[Critical]

Somnium looks at the hand he touched the Gobbler with, and then back at said "eater". "Oh." - he says, inspecting the fallen hungry guy again, shuddering slightly when an idea has struck him: "Can't you find a creature with regeneration and bind it somewhere, though? A troll, perhaps? That'd be an infinite food source!"

[PairO'Dice Lost]

Sarris rides over to talk to the new acquaintances, making a point of passing behind Somnium on the way. "Abetting the enemy, scientist?" he asks dryly as he does so. "Not the best idea. Already under some suspicion."

He dismounts when he reaches Tarō and Gearna and gives each of them a nod of acknowledgment and respect. "Sir Tarō, Lady Gearna. A pleasure. Sarris Almodo the Fourth, at your service. How did you run into a Ruiner?"

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Gearna throws back her head and laughs until tears are in her eyes. Sarsaparilla flicks its ears and knickers.

She wraps her arms around the stony warrior and puts her head against his shoulder, "My bashful knight, you are a gem. I want to collect you."

Before the genesai can become further embarrassed she releases him and climbs back upon the carriage.

"Let's go get your sword and stuff and..." she says, her voice raising considerably, "Then I think the Inquisitor owes me an armed escort within, don't you?"

Domile spares her a glances and inclines his head before turning back to continue his discussion with his people.

Sarris

Together, the thoughts of all present are linked if they make an effort to be heard.

~I don't trust the ease with which the Gobbler was caught, but the two with the Ambassador put up a hard fight, so he could have been just weakened enough. Everything about him is a lie. It's difficult to piece together which is which. I plan on burying him with the other prisoners to his neck until after the celebration tomorrow. We can't afford to leave until then. I doubt he is the only one they will have tried to sneak within. A false armed guard will patrol a dune for show, while he will be buried and gagged near the common criminals. I will take volunteers to guard him. I am open to council on these measures.~ says the mental voice of Domile.

~Why are we letting that kobold speak with him?~ Sir Orwell voices. ~He may not be an ally of the Ruiners, but his soul is black and we don't know his allegiance, or at least aid, can't be bought.~

Domile nods, ~I am interested to see if they do. The Gobbler would likely enjoy more forceful measures of gaining information from him. Let loose to speak freely he might however let his mind slip in an unguarded moment. Listen and let them speak. If the kobold throws in his lot with him, that is unfortunate, but such weakness will show he was a danger to begin with.

[Critical]

"Abetting? Am I not speaking clearly enough over here for you to understand that I'm NOT abetting? Geez, just having a chatter, that's all. That's not prohibited, is it?"

[The Vorpal Tribble]

"Oh, quantity is fine and good, but its the many varying tastes of each. I might try that troll idea sometime. Thanks little one. You're broadened me horizons!" Gottlöb says thoughtfully. "Naw, that's right, he's not abetting me at all. Leastwise don't think so. What's an abet?"

[Calenestel]

Yamada Tarō

The slight blush he had had when he told her about the state of her bed was nothing compared to the embarrasment of her exclamation! Nothing! He knew that she meant no harm with it, but that was just not how one behaves around anyone but one's spouse. Even despite the rocky texture of his face there is a slight reddening of the cheeks as she lets go of him. "Thank you, lady Gearna, but I have already retrieved my sword. You can help me find my horse, however." Thankful for the epiphanit's presence the samurai changes subject as well as switches the attention to Sarris.
"Good day, Sarris-san. It would seem that the abomination had disguised himself as a barrel and stowed away on the Lady's wagon." In short, terse sentences he tells about the bandit attack and his own rescue of Gearna, without bragging only stating the facts. Even if there was some pride in his own abilities. He briefly mentios seeing the ruiner in the battle but that the man had disappeared and continues with explaining how they'd found the extra barrel and how battle had suddenly erupted.

[The Antigamer]

Raynor grins at Gearna's remark, and adds, "Ah've got wan count ter yer maybe, but oi count another wan ter Taro."
He shifts his position to a more comfortable one, and settles back, closing his eyes. Seemingly forgotten and liking it, and thankful no one had said anything about his powers, he feigns rest while straining to hear every conversation going it. Information might prove useful later.

[Critical]

"That's, uh, that's complicated. Anyway, see ya, gotta go." - Somnium says, wandering off to the wagon fighters to listen to the story - he got all the knowledge he needed of what the gobbler was. At least, he had a good guess. He listened with great interest and very attentively; any additional info couldn't hurt.

[The Vorpal Tribble]

"Sarris, will you provide for us a cover? We don't need to walk into Banzar with the Gobbler visible for all to see." Domile says, turning to the dark-haired man.

[The Vorpal Tribble]

OOC
Done.

[PairO'Dice Lost]

Sarris listens attentively to Tarō's tale. When Tarō finishes, he gives a slight bow. "Most impressive. Very informative as well. Seem a useful ally against the Ruiners--have helped Gearna already. Going to Banzaar?" He glances over at Domile and nods, holding up a finger to forestall a response from Tarō. "A moment."

Sarris retrieves a small piece of parchment and some charcoal and sketches something, looking between Gottlöb and the parchment as he does so. A short while later, he rubs a piece of fleece over the parchment while whispering something to it; as he rubs it off the parchment, his drawing disappears and an illusion stretches over Gottlöb. Now, instead of a captive...thing held in the distended jaws of Domile's mount, Gottlöb now appears to be a large, vaguely spherical canvas-wrapped package. "Can change it if deemed unsuitable," he tells Domile. "Move slowly to simplify concentration."

Returning his attention to Tarō, he gives another small bow. "Apologies. Continue."

[Calenestel]

Yamada Tarō

The samurai bows slightly in silent thanks for the epiphanist's praise but as he opens his mouth to answer the question they are interrupted. Patiently he leans back to wait.
But as the man begins to cast his spell Tarō perks up a little, intently following the spell to it's climax, the disguising of the ruiner. Now that was interesting. That was surely no psionic power but a magical spell and he didn't think it was from a prayer to the gods either. No, it seemed rather similiar to his own Yumi's strange spells. He knew next to nothing about her arcane secrets. She didn't conceal them from him but he couldn't really understand them anyways. But he had seen enough to recognize this as similiar.
When Sarris returns to their discussion he shrugs. "Not much more to tell, Sarris-san. We're on our way to Banzaar, yes. But tell me..." he says, switching subject to what was on his mind. "That... was that an arcane spell of magic? Are you a practitioner of the Art then? A mage?" A curious question since few people knew anything at all about that kind of magic, but he didn't care about it. If Sarris was honest in his answer he'd tell him about Yumi, otherwise he wouldn't. It wasn't stranger than that.

[The Antigamer]

Raynor, eyes still closed, perks his ears at that. A mage? He slits one eye briefly to catch a glimpse of what this Sarris had done to the Gobbler.

[Critical]

Somnium gets all excited yet again. "Ooh, good job, mr. Taro!" - he says, waiting for people to look down to see him before continuing, not even paying attention to Sarris' magic. - "I don't believe we were properly introduced. My name is Somnium and I'm... a scientist."

[Calenestel]

Yamada Tarō

Looking down the earth genasi spots the kobold again, he must have snuck up when he was busy with telling his story. The height difference is most acute between the two of them. Tarō is tall even by human standards and his elemental heritage gives him a build that makes him look even taller, looming over almost anyone. In contrast Somnium looks downright tiny. Still, he's not one to bully people with his size, unless the situation demanded it, and the halfarmoured samurai gives the scientist a respectful nod in greeting. He's a little wary of the creature, he was all too keen to speak with the abomination and the hesitation when he proclaimed his profession seemed strange to the warrior. But he was none the less not an enemy and deserved some respect. Not that the two were mutually exclusive. "Greetings, little one. My name and my calling you already know. But you need not worry with the "mister", it is unnecessary."

[PairO'Dice Lost]

Sarris smiles broadly, the first real display of emotion since he arrived at the scene. "Indeed. Worked out the principles myself. Quite proud. Surprised you noticed."

[Calenestel]

Yamada Tarō

Turning back to the mage Tarō gives him a smile to mirror his own. Despite it all he was rather proud of his wife and while he had to keep her magicks secret from the other nobles of Yamashiro this was different. "It is remarkable, Sarris-san. In all my travels I have only met one more who have 'worked the principles out her own' as you would say, and that would be my wife." And that was the most important part of it: He had never met another mage before, and a small part of him had always feared that there was something deeply deviant about Yumi. But with Sarris as another example of a person who'd figured Arcane Magick out she suddenly wasn't a lone anomaly. He immediately decided that he would invite this epiphanist to his home when there was time for it. He was sure that the outsider and Yumi would enjoy the discussions. And he liked to spoil his wife like that.

[PairO'Dice Lost]

Now that is intriguing. Sarris raises an eyebrow. "Indeed? Impressive. Would like to meet her, compare notes. Would be fascinating to meet another."

[Calenestel]

Yamada Tarō

His smile growing even wider the earth genasi pats Sarris' shoulder with a heavy hand. "And I am sure Yumi would be equally pleased with the opportunity. After this fair and when your own business are concluded you may consider yourself a guest to the Yamada house. The same goes for both Gearna-sama and Raynor-san, of course." His spirits higher than ever before, both from the victory and the newfound practitioner of the arcane arts, the earth genasi seems to have hit an all-time high when it comes to generosity and hospitality. Then again, it is fitting.

[Critical]

"Sorry mis... I-I mean, Taro." - Somnium replies to the giant, compared to himself, samurai. When the chatter got personal, the kobold looked at his hand that he touched the gobbler with, at the gobbler in the jaws of a tiger and at Domile. Isn't he going to heal me too? Sheesh, I knew he's a racist!

[PairO'Dice Lost]

Sarris gives Tarō a deep bow--he has no idea what angle would be appropriate, as Tarō seems to make a big deal about bowing the right way, but he'd rather overdo it than come up short. He makes a mental note to learn more about this interesting new culture. "Honored. Very. Would be glad to." He notices Somnium looking at his hand. "Problem, Somnium?"

[Critical]

Somnium slightly surprised, turned to Sarris, with his scale color going grey. "Yeah, whatcha gonna do to the Gobbler?"