The madness of King Uthrien (IC)

[Sir_Chivalry]

The Six Winds

The tavern is basically deserted. Few people travel out this way anymore. Few people travel anymore. What with swordpoint conscription, abduction for magical research and just all around bandit attacks, few people can make it out this far, and fewer want to risk stopping, even if it is a secure place. In the span of just four years, the Six Winds has turned from must-go stop on any journey to a seedy house of ill-repute, the locals replacing lost income from trade and passing merchants with the sale of something all too easy to rationalize away. And even then, most of the young people who would have worked here, before or now, have left the area, seeking riches in far expeditions, justice squeezed from the necks of the nobility, or just better prospects for their lost lives somewhere where the drowning lights and sounds eclipse their own emptiness.

The few patrons of the tavern are exceptional this evening, and the landlord shuffles between them, bringing grimy ale and stale bread.

[ToySoldierCPlus]

Nevare looks around as he enters the almost-deserted tavern. "Such a dreary place." He goes over to an empty stool at the bar and waits for something to happen.

[Sir_Chivalry]

Nevare looks around as he enters the almost-deserted tavern. "Such a dreary place." He goes over to an empty stool at the bar and waits for something to happen.

A landlord walks over to the bar and wipes it down with a rag.

"You look like a man waiting for something to happen. Tough luck you walked in here then."

He takes your drink order.

[Mazeburn]

At the bar sits a thickset man behind a glass of equally thickset beer. That is to say, it's very thick and it looks like it's set. This is Tiago Morden, and he's been in quiet conversation with the barmaid for a short while. But as the newcomer enters, he looks across and smirks.

"That's the kind of man I mean when I say hero," he says, still speaking to the barmaid, but loud enough for the whole tavern to hear. "They're really not so heroic when their neck's on the block, y'see. The sobbing and pleading I hear, you'd never believe these fellows had suffered anything worse than a papercut before, let alone vanquishing great evils."

[Sir_Chivalry]

At the bar sits a thickset man behind a glass of equally thickset beer. That is to say, it's very thick and it looks like it's set. This is Tiago Morden, and he's been in quiet conversation with the barmaid for a short while. But as the newcomer enters, he looks across and smirks.

"That's the kind of man I mean when I say hero," he says, still speaking to the barmaid, but loud enough for the whole tavern to hear. "They're really not so heroic when their neck's on the block, y'see. The sobbing and pleading I hear, you'd never believe these fellows had suffered anything worse than a papercut before, let alone vanquishing great evils."

"Uh huh sir. Will you be needing anything else? I get off my shift soon if you've got the coin."

The barmaid stares blankly at the wall while listening to you. Her eyes are glassy and solid gray, some explosion having robbed her of her sight.

[Mazeburn]

"Uh huh sir. Will you be needing anything else? I get off my shift soon if you've got the coin."

The barmaid stares blankly at the wall while listening to you. Her eyes are glassy and solid gray, some explosion having robbed her of her sight.

Tiago looks her up and down and certainly seems to consider it for a moment. Then he smiles and shakes his head.

"Love to, sweetheart, but karma's a jammy bastard at times and it would be exactly my luck for the king's soldiers to catch up to me with my trousers down," he says, patting her on the cheek. "Best not to tempt fate, I always say. Still... Say, where do you live? If there's no trouble tonight, I'll come and find you. Well. I dare say you won't be finding me."

[Sir_Chivalry]

Tiago looks her up and down and certainly seems to consider it for a moment. Then he smiles and shakes his head.

"Love to, sweetheart, but karma's a jammy bastard at times and it would be exactly my luck for the king's soldiers to catch up to me with my trousers down," he says, patting her on the cheek. "Best not to tempt fate, I always say. Still... Say, where do you live? If there's no trouble tonight, I'll come and find you. Well. I dare say you won't be finding me."

"I live in a shack a quarter mile up the road."

[Frozen Messiah]

"Love to, sweetheart, but karma's a jammy bastard at times and it would be exactly my luck for the king's soldiers to catch up to me with my trousers down," he says, patting her on the cheek. "Best not to tempt fate, I always say. Still... Say, where do you live? If there's no trouble tonight, I'll come and find you. Well. I dare say you won't be finding me."

"I would think it not best to speak about being on the run. It only takes on person to catch wind of your willingness to avoid and then it would take only a few words in the right ear to have you hogtied and shipped off to gods know where for whatever reason. If it will put a little bit of money in someones pocket you might want to watch out." Thomas says with a small smile on his face as he gets up from his seat near the entrance. He is wearing rather simple clothing but it can be seen that they are of a fine make but bear no markings of his noble upbringing.

He walks over and places his arm around the waitress and whispers softly in her ear, "Now I would love to join you and we can help each other out. You have information on him and I have coin to spare. I will be waiting if you so choose to take the offer that I have presented."


Diplomacy: [roll0]

[ToySoldierCPlus]

At Thomas' words, Nevare turns to look at him. "I'd like to see someone try and bring the king's men here. Anyone who's no friend of the crown is a friend of mine, and I'll not see them hauled off by that madman or those working for him." Nevare places a hand on the short sword at his side.

[Frozen Messiah]

"oh my, someone is prone violence, so what might you be? a soldier of the people? a mercenary with a heart of gold? a guardsman who lost his job?" Thomas says as he walks over to the man sitting at the bar and then leans on the bar a meter away from him, "You see I am not fond of the king, I believe that he has outstayed his welcome, but the fact is I am not going around placing lofty goals for my self. Has the kings madness spread to everyone?" Thomas says with a small mocking laugh afterwards.

[ToySoldierCPlus]

Nevare looks Thomas straight in the eye, his hand never leaving the hilt of his blade. "None of the above, actually. I'm just a man with a goal, and a personal issue with the king and his men." Nevare quickly casts his eyes over the other faces in the room, then focuses back on Thomas. "You said you're no friend of the king, and I said any enemy of the king is a friend of mine. So, what do you say? I'm betting you've got a goal, too, and since neither of us is a friend of the king, why don't we work together? The name's Nevare." Nevare takes his hand off the hilt of his blade and offers it to Thomas to shake.

[Samfool]

Sitting in the back of the Inn, Nokai has placed a charm on himself that makes him normal sized again. He has been drinking his ale quietly, merely resting up after that run in with those bandits. Hearing these men talk of ridding the land of the king gets his blood pumping, but that is dangerous to speak of in public. Maybe they could be of some use though..

"Oy, you, ye- hic -ah you" Nokai slurs, "Why are you talking 'bout the king like tha'? I outta have your head fer saying such rot. Why dont you and me go outside and settle this eh? Your bloody treasonous mouth wont stand a chance against me!"

[Sir_Chivalry]

The landlord goes behind the bar and pulls out a heavy crossbow.

"Now you all are going to stop with that talk! I don't need no trouble from no lawman!"

[ToySoldierCPlus]

Nevare looks over at the besotted man who had spoken up. "Calm down, man, you're drunk. Why don't you head up to your room and sleep it off?" Turning to the bartender, Nevare eyed the crossbow cautiously. "I assure you, good sir, there's no need for that. We're just having a nice, friendly discussion here, no need for violence."

[Sir_Chivalry]

Nevare looks over at the besotted man who had spoken up. "Calm down, man, you're drunk. Why don't you head up to your room and sleep it off?" Turning to the bartender, Nevare eyed the crossbow cautiously. "I assure you, good sir, there's no need for that. We're just having a nice, friendly discussion here, no need for violence."

"No discussion like that is friendly. Royal 'men' came and took my wife away for talk like that. I'm not letting them destroy this place a second time!"

[ToySoldierCPlus]

"Then we have common cause, serah. The crown took the woman I love from me as well. But I have vowed to get her back, no matter what. I assure you, I will not allow the crown or its agents to act freely here in this place. Your inn is safe."

[Samfool]

"Ya, ya, no need to harm the Inn I suppose." Nokai says, looking at the barman. He turns back to the men and says "Lets take this outside. I want to see what you traitor-talking men are made of."

[ToySoldierCPlus]

Nevare looks over at the drunken man again and sighs. Alright." He shakes his head. "It's normally against my principles to fight a drunken man, but if you insist, I will oblige you." Nevare gets up from the bar and heads towards the door, pausing to wait for his challenger before exiting.

Pre-combat preparations and notes: Nevare is normally in his Hearing the Air stance when not in combat, because Blindsense. However, he is now shifting to his Assassin's Stance, which grants him 2d6 sneak attack.

[Samfool]

"Lets go then!" he says, smacking his fists together.

The Reduce Person spell only lasts about five minutes, and lets say I have been sitting there for about three to eat my foods.. Time to kill some time!

Walking outside, Nokai begins to walk towards an open field. Calling behind him he yells, "That there clearing should be far enough! Dont want a damn sword going through the window of the Inn!"

I am thinking it will take another minute or so to walk over there..

[PollyOliver]

The woman called Cat took off her narrow-brimmed hat and fanned herself with it as she walked. She half-turned to look back, making sure her charge was still behind her, before tightening her grip on her walking stick and cresting the last hill before the Six Winds.

It was not what she remembered. She had been here with her men before, more than once. She recalled well-squared beams and fresh whitewash and the warm, welcoming glow of lantern light spilling from the windows. Instead the building was in a sad state of disrepair, ailing like a beast in its death throes.

"Still," she murmured to herself, a tendency that was becoming alarmingly frequent of late, "we ought to see if there's word on the roads."

Sedge made a soft snuffling sound, but kept trotting along beside her. Cat kept up her slow, steady pace for the building until two men spilled outside, one of them obviously drunk, and both of them obviously looking for a fight.

And one of them a king's man no less, from his words. Cat swore and fell back, getting ready to grab Kalypso's arm in case she made for him. Then she raised her voice, her tone slipping into the one she'd reserved in the past for naughty children and green recruits without the sense the gods had given a goat.

"What in the world are you children doing?" she asked, still idly fanning herself with the hat. She was getting too old for this.

Readied action to try and grab Kalypso's arm if she does anything crazy.

[Samfool]

The woman called Cat took off her narrow-brimmed hat and fanned herself with it as she walked. She half-turned to look back, making sure her charge was still behind her, before tightening her grip on her walking stick and cresting the last hill before the Six Winds.

It was not what she remembered. She had been here with her men before, more than once. She recalled well-squared beams and fresh whitewash and the warm, welcoming glow of lantern light spilling from the windows. Instead the building was in a sad state of disrepair, ailing like a beast in its death throes.

"Still," she murmured to herself, a tendency that was becoming alarmingly frequent of late, "we ought to see if there's word on the roads."

Sedge made a soft snuffling sound, but kept trotting along beside her. Cat kept up her slow, steady pace for the building until two men spilled outside, one of them obviously drunk, and both of them obviously looking for a fight.

And one of them a king's man no less, from his words. Cat swore and fell back, getting ready to grab Kalypso's arm in case she made for him. Then she raised her voice, her tone slipping into the one she'd reserved in the past for naughty children and green recruits without the sense the gods had given a goat.

"What in the world are you children doing?" she asked, still idly fanning herself with the hat. She was getting too old for this.

Readied action to try and grab Kalypso's arm if she does anything crazy.


"Nothing that concerns you, just settlin' some business." Nokai says, not trying to involve any more people.

[PollyOliver]

"Oh, it concerns me all right," Cat says, sounding almost as weary as she feels. She puts her hat back on, wondering if it's worth it to get involved. Finally, she sighs. "Unless you two fools intend to be sewing your own ears back on when you're through."

Whoops, present tense it is, then. Also, I'm not intending to rain on your parade if you really want to fight. Feel free to argue with Cat until Nokai's spell wears off and then ignore her. :smallsmile:

[Samfool]

"Oh, it concerns me all right," Cat says, sounding almost as weary as she feels. She puts her hat back on, wondering if it's worth it to get involved. Finally, she sighs. "Unless you two fools intend to be sewing your own ears back on when you're through."

Whoops, present tense it is, then. Also, I'm not intending to rain on your parade if you really want to fight. Feel free to argue with Cat until Nokai's spell wears off and then ignore her. :smallsmile:

It is more to introduce my character's background/style

No reason to be overly concerned =D


Nokai bats his hand at the woman in a scoffing matter, "I wont hurt the chap tha' much -hic-"

He proceeds to the field as planned.

[Frozen Messiah]

"Oh my this is sure to be fun, Anyone else going to watch the festivities?" Thomas says sarcastically as he moves to the door to watch the ensuing showdown. Once there he notices the lady who is attempting to stop the fight.

Thomas walks over to her. "Don't worry miss, I am sure thatneither canhurt themselves to much. If it makes you feel any better I won't let it get out of hand. But where are my manners, my name is Thomas Crawford. I have some land near this area and wished to see if any of the local probelms might spread to plague me. If you wish I can tell you some stories of my travels inside and forget about this whole nonsense." Thomas says with a small bow and a charming smile.

[Mazeburn]

Tiago had followed the ruckus to the door as well, and now watches the two walking towards the field.

"Politics and alcohol are never going to mix, now, are they? " he muses, glancing at Thomas with a look of skepticism. For a moment, his eyes fall on Cat and he raises an eyebrow, then he notices her dog.

"Hello, boy," Tiago says, holding out a scarred hand for Sedge to lick. "You're not interested in politics at all, now, are you?"

[roll0] on Handle Animal.

[Kurai]

Kalypso came scuffling closer from...somewhere. She had a tendency to run off for a short while and then pop back up, finding her new friend with uncanny certainty.
Surprisingly, the two duelists don't seem to interest her in the least. She doesn't even spare them a 'glance', bounding over to Sedge and telling him in a hushed, excited tone about a squirrel stash she had found in the ground, filled with left-over nuts from the winter.
"...and one tasted bad. But you don't like nuts, so I left them there. Mr. Squirrel would be angry at me."

Her head tilts carefully when Thomas makes his way over to them; Kalypso scrunches up her face and makes a disturbed noise. "He smells like stale ale, iron and... blood. I don't wanna go into the tavern!" she ends with a whine.

But then, suddenly, she grows pale. A short sniff in the air, a frenzied set of her mouth and off she is, cowering behind Cat's form and grasping at her clothes. The source of her distress is obvious a moment later, when Tiago comes close to them.
"That's the lighttaker!" she mutters panicky, "he made Lady Pelarin sad. The voice, the voice is it, and the smell, she said I would recognize him." An animalistic hiss comes from her hidden form.

[ToySoldierCPlus]

Nevare follows Nokai over to the field, noticing the arrival of several newcomers and the growth of an audience. When Cat asks what they're doing, he glances at her. "We'll be fine, miss. The man asked for a fight, and though I normally don't fight drunkards, he's made it perfectly clear he's a friend of the crown, and I'll never pass up the opportunity to have some fun with a friend of the crown."

[Mazeburn]

At the girl's alarm, Tiago looks up from the dog and gives a confused smile, which coming from him is positively crocodilian - quite unpleasant with far too many teeth.

"Light-taker? You must have me confused. I've never taken any lights. Punched out a few, but then, who hasn't..." he growls, peering around Cat to fix the girl with a hard stare. It's at that point that he notices her eyes, or rather, the lack thereof - just scarred, burned flesh. A dull memory flashed at the back of his mind - stone walls, screams, the smell of dry heat, hot metal, hot flesh... But it had been dark, he couldn't be sure, and it was entirely possible that this little wretch was just some strange mad vagrant. "Have we met, kid?"

[ToySoldierCPlus]

Hearing this exchange, Nevare's attention shifts away from his impending duel. "I think we'll have to post-pone our duel, big guy." He walks over to Tiago and Kalypso. "Is something wrong here? The girl seems quite upset." Nevare glances at her face and sees the ruins of her eyes, but then quickly focuses his attention back on Tiago, not wishing to seem rude by staring.

[Samfool]

"Oh, the traitor to his king doesnt want to fight? Who could have seen this coming? Aaa-ahahaha haa haaaa" Nokai laughs hysterically,

[PollyOliver]

Cat nearly swears, but bites the oath back so as not to upset the girl. She holds one hand out backwards so Kalypso can grasp it if she wants.

Cat tries to fix this light-taker with a meaningful stare, glancing at the girl and back and shaking her head very slightly. She hopes Kalypso won't notice, not really knowing if the light-taker is the actual man or just someone who smells similar--or just another figment of the girl's mind. He does have a smell about him though, a rigid iron sort of tang so thick she can taste it, and something like the memory of hempen rope. She fights to keep her nostrils from flaring visibly and bends very slightly to scratch Sedge's ears, moving slowly so Kalypso can stay behind her. Not that the tall girl can hide behind Cat.

"Perhaps you should go make sure those two don't hurt themselves," Cat says, nodding at the would-be duelist who has come closer. She doesn't look at the other, thinking to herself in a sudden surge of youthful anger that there's perhaps another traitor to the king that wouldn't mind bashing his teeth in--if she wouldn't have to heal them later. She was definitely getting too old for this.

I'm not really sure how to do "handle animal" with Sedge, as he's actually a magical beast via exalted companion and has an INT 3. For now I guess he's cool with getting petted.

[ToySoldierCPlus]

"Uh huh." Nevare glances at Nokai, twirls his hand around and clenches it into a fist. "I have no problem fighting you, but there is something else that requires my attention at present."

Using Shadow Noose on Nokai.
Touch attack: [roll0]
Damage: [roll1]
Make a DC 21 Fortitude save or be stunned for one round.

[Sir_Chivalry]

I'm going to say you're all outside now.

The landlord locks the door and closes all the shutters on the window. You all hear hoofbeats and whinnying off in the distance, and turn to see three riders approaching, all in faceless platemail. They are tall in the saddle, their armour almost beautiful in its craftsmanship. They dismount a good distance away and begin to walk towards you.

[ToySoldierCPlus]

Nevare turns to look at the knights, and his hand instinctively drops to the hilt of his sword. "Oh, that's not good." Nevare breathes deeply and focuses for a moment, mentally going over his maneuvers and deciding which would be most useful if combat should break out.

Adaptive Style feat allows me to change my maneuvers readied as a full-round action, which also restores all of my maneuvers, in this case the Shadow Noose I already used. New maneuvers are: Comet Throw, Baffling Defense, Dancing Mongoose, Cloak of Deception, Ruby Nightmare Blade, Greater Insightful Strike, Hand of Death, and Shadow Noose.

[Sir_Chivalry]

The knights continue to walk slowly. Anyone who can make a DC 15 Knowledge (nobility) check can identify them, see spoiler.

These are Judges of the Crown, elite warriors skilled in both holy magic and fighting. Where the king's will is, they go. This town is doomed.

[Kurai]

Kalypso, still crouching behind Cat, grasps the offered hand and whimpers, small dry sobs escaping her throat.
But in truth, she doesn't remember, not consciously. The memory of the torture is buried deep, as is the day when she and he fellow spies had been blinded in front of the crowd. If she was sane this moment, she might connect this man's smell and voice to the tall, intimidating executioner, his hooded face and the strong hands holding the burning iron.

But all this is part of the old Kalypso, the one she calls Lady Perain. And though his presence has triggered her slightly, this Kalypso has always been blind and doesn't know what the stranger had been paid to take from her, has never seen colors and light and shapes.

So it takes only a second of distress before the sobs stop abruptly and she gets distracted by something else. "Let Lady Perain tell him," she sing-songs, "it's her light and her tears. I have no tears, no no."

Then she turned her head to the side, seemingly interested in the horses. "Are those bad people, Cat?"

But then her features twist and she shudders, clawing softly with her free hand at a burn mark on her eye. "No, you can't have it, it's mine. Who are they? Why are they here?" Looking quickly from side to side, not at the horse riders, she grows a bit frantic. "They're hovering, Cat. I'm scared of them..."

[ToySoldierCPlus]

Nevare draws the sword at his side and the one strapped to his back, holding them in a ready stance. "I've no idea who they are, but I can guess that they're with the crown."

[Sir_Chivalry]

Two of the armoured warriors stop moving, readying shields and assuming broad stances. The other one walks forward, also strapping on a shield, and stops twenty feet away.

"You there, boy!" the voice is female, though scratchy.

I say, put down your blade boy. We are agents of the Crown, you need not worry about this town's wickedness anymore. It would be best if you left hastily, as we do not wish to harm the innocent in pursuit of the wicked.

[Mazeburn]

I'm not really sure how to do "handle animal" with Sedge, as he's actually a magical beast via exalted companion and has an INT 3. For now I guess he's cool with getting petted.

Heh, I imagine he counts as a PC to the point where rolls like that don't work against him then? Mostly just doing that for fun, anyway, so feel free to ignore.


From the moment the soldiers arrived, Tiago had been doing all in his power to look as inconspicuous as possible. That being a difficult feat for a 6ft man with a 4ft axe on his back, especially one being recently ranted at by a mad girl, he stood up and carefully approached the guard who spoke.

"I can assure you, all that's going on here is a bit of harmless drinking and friendly banter. Those were not, last I checked, against the law. There's no wickedness here, and if you'd like it to remain that way, I suggest you move on."



[roll0] on rushed Intimidate check.


Edit: ...Ugh, that means I got a natural 1. >___>; I know they don't apply for skill checks, but still.

[ToySoldierCPlus]

Nevares levels his right hand blade at the knight who had issued him the challenge. "The crown is corrupt, and so are its servants. If you ally yourself to the monarchy, you are my sworn enemy, and I will not allow you to act unopposed." Nevare gestures with his blade to the town around him. "Any wickedness you see here can be traced back to the crown. Were it not for the king's insane policies and actions, much of the so-called "wickedness" in this place would not have come forth." He points his blade directly at the knight's chest. "Do not think that what you do in the name of the crown is just in any way. And know that there are those who oppose you and your crown, and that we will not sit idly by while you do your king's dirty work and persecute the innocent citizenry."

Nevare is initiating a duel of wills with the knight in the lead. Using his unnerving calm feat, he is able to make a Concentration check in place of and Intimidate check for the duel:
[roll0]

[Sir_Chivalry]

Nevares levels his right hand blade at the knight who had issued him the challenge. "The crown is corrupt, and so are its servants. If you ally yourself to the monarchy, you are my sworn enemy, and I will not allow you to act unopposed." Nevare gestures with his blade to the town around him. "Any wickedness you see here can be traced back to the crown. Were it not for the king's insane policies and actions, much of the so-called "wickedness" in this place would not have come forth." He points his blade directly at the knight's chest. "Do not think that what you do in the name of the crown is just in any way. And know that there are those who oppose you and your crown, and that we will not sit idly by while you do your king's dirty work and persecute the innocent citizenry."

Nevare is initiating a duel of wills with the knight in the lead. Using his unnerving calm feat, he is able to make a Concentration check in place of and Intimidate check for the duel:
[roll0]

The knight ignores your challenge, granting you a +2 morale bonus to attacks in the first round of combat against her.

[Sir_Chivalry]

[roll0] on rushed Intimidate check.


Edit: ...Ugh, that means I got a natural 1. >___>; I know they don't apply for skill checks, but still.


Level check:[roll0] The knight remains unshaken. Immunity to fear.

[Samfool]

"Uh huh." Nevare glances at Nokai, twirls his hand around and clenches it into a fist. "I have no problem fighting you, but there is something else that requires my attention at present."

Using Shadow Noose on Nokai.
Touch attack: [roll0]
Damage: [roll1]
Make a DC 21 Fortitude save or be stunned for one round.

I have never heard of this spell, nor can I find it anywhere. And why in the name of the gods did you cast a spell at a "Harmless Drunk"? Who does that? xD

[ToySoldierCPlus]

I have never heard of this spell, nor can I find it anywhere. And why in the name of the gods did you cast a spell at a "Harmless Drunk"? Who does that? xD

It's not a spell, it's a Shadow Hand maneuver out of the Tome of Battle. Besides, your "harmless drunk" was the one egging him on.

[Sir_Chivalry]

I have never heard of this spell, nor can I find it anywhere. And why in the name of the gods did you cast a spell at a "Harmless Drunk"? Who does that? xD

Maneuver from Tome of battle. And an idealistic punk who's looking to get killed

[PollyOliver]

"I don't know what they are," Cat says softly, gripping the frantic girl's hand. She looks from the knights to the bizarre group around her and back. And while in truth she doesn't know who they are, she can guess well enough that she knows by morning there will be no more left of this town or the Six Winds than there was of Attin Mill, or her home.

She sizes up each of the men around her. The younger of the duelists, the fool, is as good as dead if she doesn't help him. The residents of the town as well. Maybe if they get lucky the others might get out unscathed, but....

She can stop them this time. Maybe. It's foolish and near-suicidal, and she doesn't know what it will mean for the girl if she fails, but she has to try. Cat turns slightly toward Kalypso, whispering so low she can't even hear herself, knowing the blind girl's superior hearing will pick it up.

"Kalypso, if I tell you to run, I need you to take Sedge and run."

The muscles in Cat's shoulders tense slightly, and she prepares to do something very stupid.

Readying an action to wild shape into a celestial dire bear if one of the knights tries to attack someone (not just draws, but moves to attack), otherwise standing still.

[Kurai]

A quick, happy smile flits over the young woman's lips at Cat's words. "Oh, I can run," she says quietly, "I'm good at running." Unfortunately, Kalypso takes the older woman's words in a different context than the one she probably meant.

But then she grows scared again, and once again her head turns into the direction of one side, not in the one expected, namely the one where the knights are getting ready. "But I don't know if they'll let me. I think they're out for us. Both of them."

Her hand grasps at the sickle, loosening it from her belt. The grip is worn smooth and the leather comforts her in a way no being with sight would ever understand. She lets go of Cat's hand, turning slightly to Sedge.
"Don't be afraid," she coos, "I'll make sure they don't hurt you."

[Frozen Messiah]

Her head tilts carefully when Thomas makes his way over to them; Kalypso scrunches up her face and makes a disturbed noise. "He smells like stale ale, iron and... blood. I don't wanna go into the tavern!" she ends with a whine.


"I prefer not to think that I smell that way." Thomas whispers to himself, "That is very rude little girl, you may not like the tavern, I have no particular stance on the place, but do not project your dislike of it on to me."

At the entrance of the soldiers Thomas looks over and smiles at the Capitan. "Well now someone to intervene where I though I might have had to. Now I am no resident of this town but may I inquire about the state of wickedness of the town so I can measure my own land, which has remained untouched thus far I might add, to this town to understand the threat that you’re...orders pose on my land." Thomas says as he walks in front of the forces, "I understand that the boy who gave such an eloquent speech is a problem, he brought it on himself. I have done nothing but warn them of their choices." Thomas says to the Capitan with a charming smile and his hat over his heart.

So has combat started or what I am a little bit hazy on what is going on?

[PollyOliver]

"The boy is just a boy," Cat says, feeling strangely calm. Her tone is more even than she expected it to be. She takes off her hat again and fans herself with it. "Youthful foolishness passes, in time." She fixes the nearest knight with a meaningful look, knowing it's probably hopeless, but needing to try anyway. "If given the chance. Please don't trouble yourself with boxing the ears of children. We will sort him out."

Probably not going to work, but let's try diplomacy; I don't think they can get too much more pissed off than they are now, just in a different direction. :smallsmile: [roll0]
Also, FrozenMessiah, I don't think we're quite in combat mode, but it's looking relatively inevitable.

[Samfool]

It's not a spell, it's a Shadow Hand maneuver out of the Tome of Battle. Besides, your "harmless drunk" was the one egging him on.


Maneuver from Tome of battle. And an idealistic punk who's looking to get killed

There was a reason for it >.<

In Nokai's life, his wife, child, and every friend he has ever known was killed by the King. He wants nothing more than revenge, and the only way to do that is to get a group together to kill him. In order to see who is a good'un and who is just a peasant running his mouth, he designed this test (loosely). Also, he would say "Talking in front of strangers is dangerous.. not all are what they seem" and transform into a giant to scare the pants off of them.

All this has proved is that this man would severely injure or kill any drunk who ran his mouth, not fit for a true group. A normal NPC would have died from this (it did half my health in damage) and that tells Nokai this is the wrong group to join.

From a roleplay standpoint, there is no reason Nokai will continue on with this group for even a moment more. He would go into the woods, heal his wounds, then move on to the next town. I am sorry to say this, but roleplay is that important to me, I will have to drop this (for I do not have a willing character).

I have a better idea!


Stunned at the blatant attempt at his life, Nokai falls to the floor and begins coughing.

The bloody idiot blindly attacks a drunk? Fool! He is a crippled limb for the revolution at best.

Nothing is more detrimental to a cause then a lack of support, and you will get no support from killing stupid, yet innocent townspeople. Maybe this knight can be used to my advantage!


"H-Help!!" He attempts to scream through his now swollen throat, "That bloody *cough* fool attacked me!"

Running up to the knights as fast as possible, he shows the obviously new bruising and rope burns (http://images.channeladvisor.com/Sell/SSProfiles/13000039/Images/18/RC68767__1.jpg) (obviously not as exaggerated as that but you get the point) from the noose maneuver just used on him.

[ToySoldierCPlus]

It's worth noting that it actually missed. I have a +15 attack bonus, and got a total of 16, meaning a natural 1 on my roll. All Nokai got was a loop of shadowstuff that draped around his neck and then failed to tighten.

Had Nevare not gotten distracted by Kalypso, he would have used Hand of Death, which, despite the name, would have only paralyzed Nokai for three rounds on a failed save. But that's a melee touch attack, and Nokai wasn't in melee range.

Sorry if I took that a little too seriously, I wasn't honestly expecting 36 damage, even if it did miss. I was mostly hoping for ~20 damage and a stun, so Nokai would think twice about pressing Nevare to duel him when he's just said he's got more important things to do. I honestly don't want to see anybody leave before we even get started, especially because of me. If it makes you feel any better, a) like I said, Nokai is actually unharmed, and is probably just wondering what that strange thing Nevare did with his hand was for, and b) if Nokai did notice the noose that almost choked him, he could fend off the knights now, showing his true colors, and then grapple Nevare afterward, and explain that, while they are apparently on the same side, if he ever tries to do that to him again, he will snap Nevare like a twig. A large creature grappling you and then threatening grievous bodily harm tends to make people notice.

[Sir_Chivalry]

There was a reason for it >.<

In Nokai's life, his wife, child, and every friend he has ever known was killed by the King. He wants nothing more than revenge, and the only way to do that is to get a group together to kill him. In order to see who is a good'un and who is just a peasant running his mouth, he designed this test (loosely). Also, he would say "Talking in front of strangers is dangerous.. not all are what they seem" and transform into a giant to scare the pants off of them.

All this has proved is that this man would severely injure or kill any drunk who ran his mouth, not fit for a true group. A normal NPC would have died from this (it did half my health in damage) and that tells Nokai this is the wrong group to join.

From a roleplay standpoint, there is no reason Nokai will continue on with this group for even a moment more. He would go into the woods, heal his wounds, then move on to the next town. I am sorry to say this, but roleplay is that important to me, I will have to drop this (for I do not have a willing character).

I have a better idea!


Stunned at the blatant attempt at his life, Nokai falls to the floor and begins coughing.

The bloody idiot blindly attacks a drunk? Fool! He is a crippled limb for the revolution at best.

Nothing is more detrimental to a cause then a lack of support, and you will get no support from killing stupid, yet innocent townspeople. Maybe this knight can be used to my advantage!


"H-Help!!" He attempts to scream through his now swollen throat, "That bloody *cough* fool attacked me!"

Running up to the knights as fast as possible, he shows the obviously new bruising and rope burns (http://images.channeladvisor.com/Sell/SSProfiles/13000039/Images/18/RC68767__1.jpg) (obviously not as exaggerated as that but you get the point) from the noose maneuver just used on him.

The head knight claps her gauntlets twice quickly, and the knight to her left comes forward to inspect Naoikai. The knight pushes Naokai away, "There's no wound on him!"

Anyone who can make a DC 17 Listen check (DC 15 for Naokai) can hear what he says to the first knight afterward.

"From previous observatins, I suspect the fool with the deathwish is someone versed in the Shadow Hand discipline."

[ToySoldierCPlus]

So, Natural 1s don't miss in this campaign, then? Fine by me. Also, Listen check: [roll0] It's a formality, but hey, why not?

Nevare will not be acting until all the issue of whether a Natural 1 hits or misses is resolved, as, like I said in my last response, I got a Natural 1 and missed. Nokai should still have full HP and no visible wounds.

[Samfool]

It's worth noting that it actually missed. I have a +15 attack bonus, and got a total of 16, meaning a natural 1 on my roll. All Nokai got was a loop of shadowstuff that draped around his neck and then failed to tighten.

Had Nevare not gotten distracted by Kalypso, he would have used Hand of Death, which, despite the name, would have only paralyzed Nokai for three rounds on a failed save. But that's a melee touch attack, and Nokai wasn't in melee range.

Sorry if I took that a little too seriously, I wasn't honestly expecting 36 damage, even if it did miss. I was mostly hoping for ~20 damage and a stun, so Nokai would think twice about pressing Nevare to duel him when he's just said he's got more important things to do. I honestly don't want to see anybody leave before we even get started, especially because of me. If it makes you feel any better, a) like I said, Nokai is actually unharmed, and is probably just wondering what that strange thing Nevare did with his hand was for, and b) if Nokai did notice the noose that almost choked him, he could fend off the knights now, showing his true colors, and then grapple Nevare afterward, and explain that, while they are apparently on the same side, if he ever tries to do that to him again, he will snap Nevare like a twig. A large creature grappling you and then threatening grievous bodily harm tends to make people notice.


That stuff bolded is totally out of character. And if your character is that much of a careless fighter, he would never join your group. For RP sake, Nokai would not have broken his cover as a drunk, for he sees himself gaining nothing from the alliance


As for the noose not doing damage, oh well, he still alerted the guards and explained to them what had happened (therefore they know what the noose looked like and what it could have done if it worked).

Lesson here? Dont attack people with deadly force if they want a bar fight. it tends to piss off just about everyone involved. Non-lethal damage should have been the way to go >.<

[ToySoldierCPlus]

That stuff bolded is totally out of character. And if your character is that much of a careless fighter, he would never join your group. For RP sake, Nokai would not have broken his cover as a drunk, for he sees himself gaining nothing from the alliance


As for the noose not doing damage, oh well, he still alerted the guards and explained to them what had happened (therefore they know what the noose looked like and what it could have done if it worked).

Lesson here? Dont attack people with deadly force if they want a bar fight. it tends to piss off just about everyone involved. Non-lethal damage should have been the way to go >.<

I can't do non-lethal damage, especially at range. Secondary lesson, don't egg people on into duels if you don't know what they're capable of. But fine, seeing as how Nokai has decided to feign injury here, and the guards seem to be buying it, in the words of Morrigan, "'Tis time for rampant slaughter, then.

Nevare looks at the head knight. "You should know the whole story of what happened here. The man attempted to engage me in a duel. I had tried to refuse, but he was insistent. I was attempting to tend to this girl here, who was having a bit of a breakdown for some reason, when he continued to goad me. I was going to respond, but you arrived before I had the chance. The man feigns injury now. I haven't touched him." He looks directly at Nokai now. "So, you are a friend of the king, after all. A pity, that. Still, it might be better this way. Someone who goes around unarmed challenging armed strangers to duels is an idiot far more dangerous to himself and those around him than he is useful."

[Frozen Messiah]

Thomas notices that the large drunk man and the one with the large axe are distracting the official looking group and slids over to Nevare. "Look here boy, I have no time for your idealism. If you would rather make enemies than allies than my vested interests come into play and nothing gets between me and my interests." Thomas whispers to Nevare with a glare in his eyes, "Now put down the sword, we will explain what went wrong...scratch that, I will explain and you will sit quietly by and hope that you have not caused enough damage to make this an impossible task for me. Now then, next time you want to kill somone make sure you are able to take them down in one attack please."

[ToySoldierCPlus]

Nevares whispers back to Thomas. "They're agents of the crown. And they're threatening what little innocence is left in this place! If wee don't act-! Suddenly, Nevare cuts himself off. Buel's final words to him as they were parting ways echoed in his head. Listen to me, Never. You're too rash and impulsive, and if you're not careful, it's gonna get you killed someday. Remember, your Shadow Hand training. It's not just surprise attacks and stealth. You need to be sure you have the advantage, even if that means sitting idle sometimes. Diamond Mind, too. Plan ahead. I know you want to rescue her, but you won't be able to do that without help, and you won't be able to get help or rescue her if you end up dead because you were too rash. Stay calm, stay focused, and keep your wits about you." He closed his eyes and took a breath. "...Fine. You're right." Nevare sheathes his swords and straightens. "As mush as I'd like to punish them for what they've done, we don't have the advantage right now. My vendetta will have to wait." Nevare quietly disengages from the field, moving slowly back towards the inn. "I'm not going to abandon this mess, but I'm staying out fo the way for now."

[Mazeburn]

Tiago gives Nokai a skeptical look, then shrugs and turns back to the others, quite glad for the distraction. As far as he can tell, he's stood between several of the King's knights, a drunken dramatist, a crazy blind girl, a gung-ho swordsman, a slightly creepy fellow who kept whispering things to people, and... Alright, the woman hadn't done anything particularly weird yet, but it was likely only a matter of time. To make matters worse, the inn most definitely seems to have closed, and there's no sign of that barmaid. Leaving would make him a very obvious suspect and hanging around, well... that wasn't exactly ideal either.

He turns to Cat. Kalypso's words had still unnerved him a little, and he's pretty sure he isn't going to get a decent answer out of her. "Who's the kid, then? I don't get the impression she's yours."

[PollyOliver]

Cat glances back at the girl behind her, then looks at the man with the axe.

"She's no one's, as far as I know. Just her own. And I apologize, but she's not quite in her right mind, and something about you is frightening her."

The smell would've been enough to frighten Cat, if she hadn't smelled so much worse in her time on the battlefield. It isn't difficult to guess his profession from it. Metallic blood, iron, and hempen rope, with an axe slung across his back. Perhaps he really is the light-taker, but Cat doesn't have time for that, not now, with the whole situation ready to go up in smoke and a town of innocents hanging in the balance. At least things seem like they might be calming down with respect to the boy. But still...if the knights let everyone leave, it would be three to one against her if she stands for the town. That won't end well. Perhaps if the conversation keeps on long enough, the residents will have time to flee.

Edit:
Cat also has scent, so I'm mostly just making up what she smells here. If you have any objections or additions to her impressions, feel free to tell me and I'll change what she smells. Also, yay for not having done anything weird...yet.

[Samfool]

I can't do non-lethal damage, especially at range. Secondary lesson, don't egg people on into duels if you don't know what they're capable of. But fine, seeing as how Nokai has decided to feign injury here, and the guards seem to be buying it, in the words of Morrigan, "'Tis time for rampant slaughter, then.


There was no 'Duel', there was a drunken man with no weapons goading you into a bar fight. If an NPC did that, you would just have to tell the Inn Keep that he is being a bother. Problem solved. Attacking him would be a bad idea, going outside is a better one. Attacking him with a weapon is an even WORSE idea, subduing him with non-lethal damage would have been a better option.

And your "Lesson" is actually correct! Say I challenged you, and I beat the crap out of you. Nokai would not be interested in him as a partner. If he whooped Nokai's a** and then showed mercy, that is the guy he wants to battle beside.


Nokai stands behind the knights, whimpering. He mutters to one of them, "I-I should just get going.."

He walks down the road a bit, rubbing his throat.

[ToySoldierCPlus]

There was no 'Duel', there was a drunken man with no weapons goading you into a bar fight. If an NPC did that, you would just have to tell the Inn Keep that he is being a bother. Problem solved. Attacking him would be a bad idea, going outside is a better one. Attacking him with a weapon is an even WORSE idea, subduing him with non-lethal damage would have been a better option.

And your "Lesson" is actually correct! Say I challenged you, and I beat the crap out of you. Nokai would not be interested in him as a partner. If he whooped Nokai's a** and then showed mercy, that is the guy he wants to battle beside.


All of this really belongs in the OOC...
That's where you're wrong. Weaponless or not, you were not goading me into a bar fight. You specifically suggested taking it outside, and then suggested moving it away from the inn to minimize damage to it.
Post 12: "I outta have your head fer saying such rot. Why dont you and me go outside and settle this eh? Your bloody treasonous mouth wont stand a chance against me!"
Post 17: "Lets take this outside. I want to see what you traitor-talking men are made of."
Post 19: "Lets go then!" he says, smacking his fists together." "That there clearing should be far enough! Dont want a damn sword going through the window of the Inn!"
Post 23: "I wont hurt the chap tha' much -hic-"
All making it perfectly clear to Nevare that this is not a bar fight, which would have implied staying in the bar and fighting with fists, but rather a duel, complete with intent on Nokai's part to injure him.

I made multiple attempts to step down form the duel:
Post 14: "Calm down, man, you're drunk. Why don't you head up to your room and sleep it off?" Turning to the bartender, Nevare eyed the crossbow cautiously. "I assure you, good sir, there's no need for that. We're just having a nice, friendly discussion here, no need for violence."
Post 29: "I think we'll have to post-pone our duel, big guy." He walks over to Tiago and Kalypso. "Is something wrong here? The girl seems quite upset."

Your very next post was calling Nevare out, and he responded with what should have been a show of force to convince him to back down. It missed, and you feigned injury to these guards, instead of confronting Nevare directly. Had you, at any time, backed down from your position of wanting to duel, this all could have been avoided. I'm sorry that you meant you wanted a simple barroom brawl, but you should have been more clear, instead of suggesting we leave the bar and go to a nice open field where the default assumption shifts to an actual duel. Perhaps next time, you should think your Secret Test of Character (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/SecretTestofCharacter) through a little more.

But enough of this. Nevare acted rashly, the consequences are coming along to bite him nicely, so you have your revenge. Perhaps we should both learn something from this. For me: Don't accept random challenges to duel from drunks, especially when said drunk is another player's character. It'll only end poorly. For you: Don't goad other players into duels without establishing rules for said duels between the characters in question first. It'll avoid headaches like this.

Nevare continues waiting off to the side, watching Nokai leave. "I wonder what he was hoping to accomplish by challenging me like that? And why throw me to the wolves for throwing the first blow, when he was the one who wanted to duel in the first place?" He shakes his head. "I guess it doesn't matter. I hope I get to see him again, though. I really want to have that duel properly now.

[HeadlessMermaid]

Just before the innkeeper barred the doors, a woman had payed hastily for her meal and stepped outside. In her early thirties, her clothes indicating a low-born but relatively wealthy country wife, she has been watching discreetly from afar. Several times she had opened her mouth to call out something, and all times she had closed it again, pensive.

That wine must have been spiced, or else I've grown thick, because I can't make head or tails of what's going on here, and who's one whose side. And sides are quite important right now...

Slowly, she begins approaching the others, with an air of innocent curiosity, but still silent.

[ToySoldierCPlus]

Nevare notices the woman approaching, and slips over to her.
"I'd stay back from this, if I were you. Things are likely to get ugly. Unless, that is, you can fight and would care to lend a hand...?"

[Sir_Chivalry]

There was no 'Duel', there was a drunken man with no weapons goading you into a bar fight. If an NPC did that, you would just have to tell the Inn Keep that he is being a bother. Problem solved. Attacking him would be a bad idea, going outside is a better one. Attacking him with a weapon is an even WORSE idea, subduing him with non-lethal damage would have been a better option.

And your "Lesson" is actually correct! Say I challenged you, and I beat the crap out of you. Nokai would not be interested in him as a partner. If he whooped Nokai's a** and then showed mercy, that is the guy he wants to battle beside.


Nokai stands behind the knights, whimpering. He mutters to one of them, "I-I should just get going.."

He walks down the road a bit, rubbing his throat.

The third knight places his hand on your shoulder, holding you there.

"We're not done with you yet."

[Samfool]

All of this really belongs in the OOC...
That's where you're wrong. Weaponless or not, you were not goading me into a bar fight. You specifically suggested taking it outside, and then suggested moving it away from the inn to minimize damage to it.
Post 12: "I outta have your head fer saying such rot. Why dont you and me go outside and settle this eh? Your bloody treasonous mouth wont stand a chance against me!"
Post 17: "Lets take this outside. I want to see what you traitor-talking men are made of."
Post 19: "Lets go then!" he says, smacking his fists together." "That there clearing should be far enough! Dont want a damn sword going through the window of the Inn!"
Post 23: "I wont hurt the chap tha' much -hic-"
All making it perfectly clear to Nevare that this is not a bar fight, which would have implied staying in the bar and fighting with fists, but rather a duel, complete with intent on Nokai's part to injure him.

I made multiple attempts to step down form the duel:
Post 14: "Calm down, man, you're drunk. Why don't you head up to your room and sleep it off?" Turning to the bartender, Nevare eyed the crossbow cautiously. "I assure you, good sir, there's no need for that. We're just having a nice, friendly discussion here, no need for violence."
Post 29: "I think we'll have to post-pone our duel, big guy." He walks over to Tiago and Kalypso. "Is something wrong here? The girl seems quite upset."

Your very next post was calling Nevare out, and he responded with what should have been a show of force to convince him to back down. It missed, and you feigned injury to these guards, instead of confronting Nevare directly. Had you, at any time, backed down from your position of wanting to duel, this all could have been avoided. I'm sorry that you meant you wanted a simple barroom brawl, but you should have been more clear, instead of suggesting we leave the bar and go to a nice open field where the default assumption shifts to an actual duel. Perhaps next time, you should think your Secret Test of Character (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/SecretTestofCharacter) through a little more.

But enough of this. Nevare acted rashly, the consequences are coming along to bite him nicely, so you have your revenge. Perhaps we should both learn something from this. For me: Don't accept random challenges to duel from drunks, especially when said drunk is another player's character. It'll only end poorly. For you: Don't goad other players into duels without establishing rules for said duels between the characters in question first. It'll avoid headaches like this.


Who said Nokai wants to back down? And when did you think a drunk man was going to duel you? Unless it was this guy (http://images.contactmusic.com/images/reviews2/thelegendofdrunkenmaster.jpg), you have A) No reason to fear a drunk unarmed man and B) No excuse to attack him with anything more than non-lethal damage. I would not be saying any of this if it were not for the attack that could have killed an NPC. An average health of an NPC, even at the twelfth level which never happens, has a max of 12d8 (52 Average) for a "Warrior" Class, or a minimum of 12d4 (26) for the ever popular (and as the name says, much more common) "Commoner" The average of you attack is 24, and the max is 48. Therefore, you did at least half the drunkards health (which is pretty much attempt at murder and will stagger a full grown warrior, let alone a man with nothing but his fists and a half empty bottle of mead) or, in the commoners case, could slay him in one hit. This tells me this was no 'show of force to convince him to back down', unless by 'back down' you mean 'fall over dead'.

Now back to the 'duel' thing. Who ever said that word? And as for my quotes, who says leaving the Inn was synonymous with drawing weapons? I think not. Besides, what weapon was he supposed to pull out? Nokai is wearing a shirt, pants, and bracers. Ohhh, and he has a rope on his side, which to be fair, is in fact a whip, and could be qualified as a weapon, but it does non-lethal damage.

There was no intention of a duel, and the reason for the clearing was pretty obvious. Guards are notorious for walking, and thats what roads are meant for. If a guard happened to see two men fighting, then guess who is going to be sent to the city prison? The brawlers. And what happened? Knights, which are even more dangerous than guards waltzed up, and you got tiffed when I used that to my advantage.

And as for "Rules of Dueling" there are none other than your honor, and that was the test. Obviously your character has none if he would blindly lash out at someone who pissed you off. And walking outside to fight the man makes all your above quotations of yourself trying to "step down form the duel" a moot point.

This "Test of Character" succeeded expertly, and your character failed miserably. Nokai would no more join your company than he would join the crown. Ironically, right now he is joining the knights in order to get what he wants, meaning that the same could happen with Never. No reason to not use a tool just because it has the flag of your enemy pasted on it. It will kill them just the same.

I have not done anything but roleplay thusfar, and I do not want any bad blood. This may spark great inner party conflict, but other than that, this should now not really effect the game.

Interesting start though..



"Whadd' I do?" Nokai mumbles.

I am thinking I have about thirty seconds before transformation. This should be very interesting =]

[HeadlessMermaid]

Nevare notices the woman approaching, and slips over to her.
"I'd stay back from this, if I were you. Things are likely to get ugly. Unless, that is, you can fight and would care to lend a hand...?"
Hands folded around her as if very cold, Marie nods with an air of polite stupidity, and turns sideways, so that the riders can't see her face.
"Son, things are likely to get uglier than you think," she whispers dead seriously. "These knights don't travel alone, there are worse threats around. Eyes open, and don't get yourself cornered."

Spot check [roll0]
Listen check [roll1]

Can I get a lay of the land here? How far are we from the knights? They were "a couple of hundred feet away" before, but now are closer, I presume?

[ToySoldierCPlus]

Nevare's brow furrows with concern. "Other threats? That can't be good." Nevare shifts rapidly, first standing slightly taller with his head bowed and his ears as raised as he can get them. Then he drops into a more feral looking position, his nostrils flaring as he sniffs the air around him.

Going back into my Hearing the Air stance, which grants blindsense within 30 feet. If I can't detect what Marie is talking about, I shift into my Hunter's Sense stance, which grants Scent.

[Kurai]

Kalypso still cowers on her haunches with her hands pressed to the ground, head twisting left and right and sniffing the air around her. Her mouth is slightly open, dragging in breaths while she smells the area, tasting it as well. For all the world, she looks like a very curious kind of animal with those movements.
Then she growls softly, very low in her throath.

[PollyOliver]

Cat's nostrils flare as the wind shifts, and the scent of something unspeakably foul drifts toward her. Blood and sulfur are the strongest, but ichor and offal, too. Like a cesspit, but all wrong; she doesn't know where the sulfur comes in. By all rights she should be terrified--she feels like she should be terrified--but instead her eyes just flicker toward the alley, where it seems to be coming from, and she thinks. She tries to make out anything she can, and turns to the others, away from the knights, tensed in case they make a move while she isn't looking.

"The alleyway," she murmurs, keeping her voice very low. "There's something...wrong. Do you sense anything? Kalypso?"


Spot [roll0]
Listen [roll1]
Also, edit: because I cannot spell to save my life, apparently. And those are really bad rolls. Whoops.

[ToySoldierCPlus]

Nevare looks towards the alleyway, and his stance shifts again, back to his high-eared, intense posture. "I'll take a look."

Nevare slips quietly towards the alleyway, trying not startle whatever is in there.

Move Silently for grins: [roll0]
Also Hide, if there is something close by I can hide behind, so as to avoid notice: [roll1]

Also, Nevare is back in his Hearing the Air stance, granting Blindsense out to 30 feet.

[Sir_Chivalry]

Who said Nokai wants to back down? And when did you think a drunk man was going to duel you? Unless it was this guy (http://images.contactmusic.com/images/reviews2/thelegendofdrunkenmaster.jpg), you have A) No reason to fear a drunk unarmed man and B) No excuse to attack him with anything more than non-lethal damage. I would not be saying any of this if it were not for the attack that could have killed an NPC. An average health of an NPC, even at the twelfth level which never happens, has a max of 12d8 (52 Average) for a "Warrior" Class, or a minimum of 12d4 (26) for the ever popular (and as the name says, much more common) "Commoner" The average of you attack is 24, and the max is 48. Therefore, you did at least half the drunkards health (which is pretty much attempt at murder and will stagger a full grown warrior, let alone a man with nothing but his fists and a half empty bottle of mead) or, in the commoners case, could slay him in one hit. This tells me this was no 'show of force to convince him to back down', unless by 'back down' you mean 'fall over dead'.

Now back to the 'duel' thing. Who ever said that word? And as for my quotes, who says leaving the Inn was synonymous with drawing weapons? I think not. Besides, what weapon was he supposed to pull out? Nokai is wearing a shirt, pants, and bracers. Ohhh, and he has a rope on his side, which to be fair, is in fact a whip, and could be qualified as a weapon, but it does non-lethal damage.

There was no intention of a duel, and the reason for the clearing was pretty obvious. Guards are notorious for walking, and thats what roads are meant for. If a guard happened to see two men fighting, then guess who is going to be sent to the city prison? The brawlers. And what happened? Knights, which are even more dangerous than guards waltzed up, and you got tiffed when I used that to my advantage.

And as for "Rules of Dueling" there are none other than your honor, and that was the test. Obviously your character has none if he would blindly lash out at someone who pissed you off. And walking outside to fight the man makes all your above quotations of yourself trying to "step down form the duel" a moot point.

This "Test of Character" succeeded expertly, and your character failed miserably. Nokai would no more join your company than he would join the crown. Ironically, right now he is joining the knights in order to get what he wants, meaning that the same could happen with Never. No reason to not use a tool just because it has the flag of your enemy pasted on it. It will kill them just the same.

I have not done anything but roleplay thusfar, and I do not want any bad blood. This may spark great inner party conflict, but other than that, this should now not really effect the game.

Interesting start though..



"Whadd' I do?" Nokai mumbles.

I am thinking I have about thirty seconds before transformation. This should be very interesting =]

Fun fact: If I see anything about that duel in these spoilers again, the player who posts it loses their turn.

I hope to never have to do that. But I will.

"We still need to question you on what you are doing in this part of the area. If you are truly an ally to the crown, you keep odd company."


Hands folded around her as if very cold, Marie nods with an air of polite stupidity, and turns sideways, so that the riders can't see her face.
"Son, things are likely to get uglier than you think," she whispers dead seriously. "These knights don't travel alone, there are worse threats around. Eyes open, and don't get yourself cornered."

Spot check [roll0]
Listen check [roll1]

Can I get a lay of the land here? How far are we from the knights? They were "a couple of hundred feet away" before, but now are closer, I presume?

See OOC for details.


Nevare's brow furrows with concern. "Other threats? That can't be good." Nevare shifts rapidly, first standing slightly taller with his head bowed and his ears as raised as he can get them. Then he drops into a more feral looking position, his nostrils flaring as he sniffs the air around him.

Going back into my Hearing the Air stance, which grants blindsense within 30 feet. If I can't detect what Marie is talking about, I shift into my Hunter's Sense stance, which grants Scent.

There are two medium sized things in te alleyway. When you switch to scent, you smell what Cat smelled.


Cat's nostrils flare as the wind shifts, and the scent of something unspeakably foul drifts toward her. Blood and sulfur are the strongest, but ichor and offal, too. Like a cesspit, but all wrong; she doesn't know where the sulfur comes in. By all rights she should be terrified--she feels like she should be terrified--but instead her eyes just flicker toward the alley, where it seems to be coming from, and she thinks. She tries to make out anything she can, and turns to the others, away from the knights, tensed in case they make a move while she isn't looking.

"The alleyway," she murmurs, keeping her voice very low. "There's something...wrong. Do you sense anything? Kalypso?"


Spot [roll0]
Listen [roll1]
Also, edit: because I cannot spell to save my life, apparently. And those are really bad rolls. Whoops.


No new info, I've really said all I can, but you hear heavy breathing and the sound of a weapon scratching the ground in the alley.


Nevare looks towards the alleyway, and his stance shifts again, back to his high-eared, intense posture. "I'll take a look."

Nevare slips quietly towards the alleyway, trying not startle whatever is in there.

Move Silently for grins: [roll0]
Also Hide, if there is something close by I can hide behind, so as to avoid notice: [roll1]

Also, Nevare is back in his Hearing the Air stance, granting Blindsense out to 30 feet.

As you hide behind some crates near the lip of the alley, you glimpse two extremely tall men, clad in dark breastplates and wearing helmets with not eye holes. Their mouths are unarmoured, their teeth filed to points. One of them is 'staring' directly at you, while the other holds a scythe in his hands. The first one, scythe strapped to his back, lunges for you with his bony hand, and your lightning fast reflexes almost get you out of the way, but he is fast, and exceptionally strong. He drives you to the ground and proceeds to wrestle with you (successful touch attack, rolled for you as requested in the game OP, 19 vs 37 on grapple.)

Group 1 may post actions now.

[ToySoldierCPlus]

Like hell I'm staying here! Nevare disappears in a black cloud, slipping out of the knight's grip and reappearing behind him. "Get the hell away from me!" Nevare drops into a sweep, attempting to knock the knight's legs out from under him. Once his sweep completes, he uses the rest of his momentum, combined with the knight's own weight, to lever him around and throw him down the alley.

Using Shadow Stride to get out of the grapple, then using Comet Throw on the knight who just grappled me.
Trip touch attack: [roll0] +9 = 21, because I am an idiot who forgets his BAB.
Ability check: [roll1]
If he fails, he goes 10 feet down the alley, plus an extra five feet for every 5 points by which I beat his ability check, aiming, if possible for his buddy. The target then takes 4d6 points of damage and lands prone.
If I can hit the same square his buddy is in, the ally needs to make a DC 14 reflex save, or also fall prone and take 4d6 points of damage. If he passes, he can remain standing, but he still takes half damage.
Damage roll for the target: [roll2]
And for the ally: [roll3]

[Sir_Chivalry]

Like hell I'm staying here! Nevare disappears in a black cloud, slipping out of the knight's grip and reappearing behind him. "Get the hell away from me!" Nevare drops into a sweep, attempting to knock the knight's legs out from under him. Once his sweep completes, he uses the rest of his momentum, combined with the knight's own weight, to lever him around and throw him down the alley.

Using Shadow Stride to get out of the grapple, then using Comet Throw on the knight who just grappled me.
Trip touch attack: [roll0] +9 = 21, because I am an idiot who forgets his BAB.
Ability check: [roll1]
If he fails, he goes 10 feet down the alley, plus an extra five feet for every 5 points by which I beat his ability check, aiming, if possible for his buddy. The target then takes 4d6 points of damage and lands prone.
If I can hit the same square his buddy is in, the ally needs to make a DC 14 reflex save, or also fall prone and take 4d6 points of damage. If he passes, he can remain standing, but he still takes half damage.
Damage roll for the target: [roll2]
And for the ally: [roll3]

The Zealot, despite being easily twice Nevare's weight, is thrown towards his companion, who dodges deftly out of the way at the last moment despite his blindness.

The one who is standing prepares to charge Nevare. *gulp*

[Samfool]

Nokai sits there and waits for the knights to do what they do, or for himself to change.. either way, he cannot change anything now.

[Kurai]

"Big things. Big ugly, smelly things. Don't worry, I'll make them go away!" Kalypso grins at the older woman, her two rows of teeth glimmering in the sunlight.

I... suspect it's day. If not, uhm, ignore the last sentence part.

Then, from one second to the next, she is off her feet, running quickly in an almost low crouch to the alleyway.


How far are those two Zealots away? I'd like to attack the first Zealot I encounter, then use (if there is movement left) Tumble to get out of his range after hitting him. It all depends on how far I can to move.

Anyway, what I can do without doubt:
Swift action: Activating Electric Edge (29/31 mana points)

[PollyOliver]

Cat turns to tell Kalypso to run, but the girl is already bounding toward the nearest of the...things. Whatever they are.

Cat swears again, but a moment later her mind is falling into the battle calm that always takes her, the state of bizarre clarity mixed with a roar like the sound of drums or a great cat growling in the deep woods.

She takes a deep breath, and lets that roar fill her. She pictures a great beast of a bear, fixing every detail from the gleam of light in its dark eyes to the sharpness of its claws. Then she closes her eyes and melts.

Her body goes liquid. She feels her teeth elongate, her arms sprout fur, feels herself stretch and swell until she is herself no longer. She flexes her new muscles and sets off at a run, looking for an opening into the fight, Sedge running at her heels.

Wild shaping into a celestial dire bear (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheetview.php?sheetid=290308) via exalted wild shape and moving up to 40 feet to get a clear, unobstructed path to either Zealot. Preferably I'd wind up around 40 feet away; if I don't need to move to achieve this, that works too. Sedge is behind me, relative to the Zealot I wind up pointing at.

[Sir_Chivalry]

"Big things. Big ugly, smelly things. Don't worry, I'll make them go away!" Kalypso grins at the older woman, her two rows of teeth glimmering in the sunlight.

I... suspect it's day. If not, uhm, ignore the last sentence part.

Then, from one second to the next, she is off her feet, running quickly in an almost low crouch to the alleyway.


How far are those two Zealots away? I'd like to attack the first Zealot I encounter, then use (if there is movement left) Tumble to get out of his range after hitting him. It all depends on how far I can to move.

Anyway, what I can do without doubt:
Swift action: Activating Electric Edge (29/31 mana points)



You have enough distance to move to the alleyway (10ft) to the zealot still standing (10ft) and then Tumble past at half speed (10ft) and move 10ft beyond.

If you'll allow me to roll for you, you attack the standing one (I assume, easy to correct if not) dealing 33 points of damage after reduction and successfully tumble.

[Sir_Chivalry]

Group 2 is up! (Frozen Messiah and Headless Mermaid, Mazeburn can post too being the only one in group 3)

[Kurai]

Kalypso can feel it, down to her muscles, bones, even her marrow. Quick as lightning she wanted to be, running made her feel more free than a thousand acres of pasture. And lightning answered her, traveling out of her body, down into her hands and crackling around her sickle.

Gripping it tighter, she hurried across dust and earth as if nothing in the world could stop her lithe body. It was with such speed that she raised her weapon, feeling the world around her through the soles of her feet, and quick as thunder the blade cut down on the unknown, rank enemy.

Lightning hissed and sizzled, but before she could hope to smell burning flesh, she tucked her frame into a tight roll, skidding her scarred back over the ground and coming to a sliding stop a few feet away.


Move Action: To the Zealot, then past him with Tumble ([roll0], +3 geosynchronous)

Standard Action: Attack [roll1]
If hit, Damage: [roll2] (Weapon + Skirmish + Electric Edge (1d6+4))

[Sir_Chivalry]

Kalypso can feel it, down to her muscles, bones, even her marrow. Quick as lightning she wanted to be, running made her feel more free than a thousand acres of pasture. And lightning answered her, traveling out of her body, down into her hands and crackling around her sickle.

Gripping it tighter, she hurried across dust and earth as if nothing in the world could stop her lithe body. It was with such speed that she raised her weapon, feeling the world around her through the soles of her feet, and quick as thunder the blade cut down on the unknown, rank enemy.

Lightning hissed and sizzled, but before she could hope to smell burning flesh, she tucked her frame into a tight roll, skidding her scarred back over the ground and coming to a sliding stop a few feet away.


Move Action: To the Zealot, then past him with Tumble ([roll0], +3 geosynchronous)

Standard Action: Attack [roll1]
If hit, Damage: [roll2] (Weapon + Skirmish + Electric Edge (1d6+4))



Kalypso feels the hot and foul spittle of the former man upon her face as she slashes, the creature trying to snap at her with its jaws like a beast. Crackling lightning courses through the Zealot's frame and blood surges from the wound, drawn to the hungry steel of the sickleblade. It is in agony.

The Zealot would turn to hunt the little girl, but a far more pressing matter draws its attention, the shining giant bear out in the street. Its grip tightens on it scythe.

Sorry to jump the gun there on rolling for you. Didn't mean to not let you. That being said, I rolled higher for damage, so I take it you won't object to dealing 33 instead of 24?

[Kurai]

There is a high, childish cackle from the young woman as she feels the blood run down her hand. Though she seems displeased at the foul, sticky spittle scattered on her cheek.


Me? Object to more damage? Quite the contrary, m'lord!
I think I forgot the note about you rolling certain things for us, I'm sorry. Reread the 16, I got it now. :]

[Mazeburn]

Tiago gives a glance over at Cat. Of course it had only been a matter of time before she'd do something weird. Well, he wasn't going to let a girl prove herself better at fighting than him, even if she could turn into some kind of huge glowing bear.

"Rufus! Come to me," he shouts. At that, a strange black mass appears through the wall of the inn. It's a dog, but not in the way Sedge is one. While Sedge enjoys the warmth of the sun, Rufus knows only shadows and cold. Despite this, he seems quite eager to please, and at Tiago's gesture charges straight into the alleyway, pausing behind the two zealots and raising his hackles. The snarl from the shadow-dog is something quite ferocious; distorted and cold, not entirely of this earth.

Quite glad of a bit of action to break the tension, Tiago swings his axe down from his back and sprints forwards into the alleyway. As he approaches the Zealot which Nevare had already flung backwards, he brings his great axe down in an all-too practised motion towards the creature. In Tiago's language, there was little to be said for subtelty.



I move 20ft up to the Zealot which has been attacked, drawing my weapon as part of my movement.

At the same time, my Dark Companion (which I'm saying was asleep inside the bar still, because I forgot I didn't need to summon it) moves through the zealots to make itself adjacent to both, providing a -2 to boths' saves and armour classes.

I then power attack [4], (1d20+11)[15].

If this hits, it potentially deals (1d12+13)[25] slashing damage, and forces a DC15 Will Save from its corpse-spewing property, which would bestow a further -4 to saves, attacks, abilities and skill checks.

If this drops the Zealot, I trigger Bloody Murder, which forces the other Zealot to make a DC21 will save to avoid becoming frightened for 1 round, instead reducing the effect to shaken.

Hope that all makes sense. xD Rolls are done over on the OOC 'cause they seemingly broke here when I previewed my post.

[Sir_Chivalry]

Tiago gives a glance over at Cat. Of course it had only been a matter of time before she'd do something weird. Well, he wasn't going to let a girl prove herself better at fighting than him, even if she could turn into some kind of huge glowing bear.

"Rufus! Come to me," he shouts. At that, a strange black mass appears through the wall of the inn. It's a dog, but not in the way Sedge is one. While Sedge enjoys the warmth of the sun, Rufus knows only shadows and cold. Despite this, he seems quite eager to please, and at Tiago's gesture charges straight into the alleyway, pausing behind the two zealots and raising his hackles. The snarl from the shadow-dog is something quite ferocious; distorted and cold, not entirely of this earth.

Quite glad of a bit of action to break the tension, Tiago swings his axe down from his back and sprints forwards into the alleyway. As he approaches the Zealot which Nevare had already flung backwards, he brings his great axe down in an all-too practised motion towards the creature. In Tiago's language, there was little to be said for subtelty.



I move 20ft up to the Zealot which has been attacked, drawing my weapon as part of my movement.

At the same time, my Dark Companion (which I'm saying was asleep inside the bar still, because I forgot I didn't need to summon it) moves through the zealots to make itself adjacent to both, providing a -2 to boths' saves and armour classes.

I then power attack [4], (1d20+11)[15].

If this hits, it potentially deals (1d12+13)[25] slashing damage, and forces a DC15 Will Save from its corpse-spewing property, which would bestow a further -4 to saves, attacks, abilities and skill checks.

If this drops the Zealot, I trigger Bloody Murder, which forces the other Zealot to make a DC21 will save to avoid becoming frightened for 1 round, instead reducing the effect to shaken.

Hope that all makes sense. xD Rolls are done over on the OOC 'cause they seemingly broke here when I previewed my post.



The zealot effortlessly dodges the swing, almost laughing as he does.

[HeadlessMermaid]

The newcomer stands straight and casts a spell, all naivety gone from her face, and winks reassuringly to whoever can see her while her back is turned to the knights. Then she turns abrubtly around, and boldly addresses the knights, shouting to make herself heard.

"Good Judges, I'm Amelia River, on his majesty's service, I just augmented your horses' speed. Registered caster, researching beneficial modifications for our Zealots. I'm afraid I just blundered with these two, trying to make them more aggressive. While they won't touch a Judge, they will attack your mounts. They need to be put down!"

Knowledge (nobility) [roll0]. This is to make up a name that could plausibly remind a minor noble house, one that isn't of course accused of anything. And not Doctor Who. :smalltongue:
EDIT - Darn. I'd prefer that nat 20 for the second roll...

The spell is indeed Haste, but the recipients aren't of course the horses. Marie fears for her life, and would now buff anyone who isn't a Judge or Zealot, so she includes even the boy who claimed to be faithful to the King. :smallwink:

Big Bluff check. Dice don't fail me now.
[roll1]

New Stats:
AC 24, touch AC 24, flat-footed AC 23
Ref save +13 (+14 Vs spells and SLAs)
speed 60 ft

[Sir_Chivalry]

The newcomer stands straight and casts a spell, all naivety gone from her face, and winks reassuringly to whoever can see her while her back is turned to the knights. Then she turns abrubtly around, and boldly addresses the knights, shouting to make herself heard.

"Good Judges, I'm Amelia River, on his majesty's service, I just augmented your horses' speed. Registered caster, researching beneficial modifications for our Zealots. I'm afraid I just blundered with these two, trying to make them more aggressive. While they won't touch a Judge, they will attack your mounts. They need to be put down!"

Knowledge (nobility) [roll0]. This is to make up a name that could plausibly remind a minor noble house, one that isn't of course accused of anything. And not Doctor Who. :smalltongue:
EDIT - Darn. I'd prefer that nat 20 for the second roll...

The spell is indeed Haste, but the recipients aren't of course the horses. Marie fears for her life, and would now buff anyone who isn't a Judge or Zealot, so she includes even the boy who claimed to be faithful to the King. :smallwink:

Big Bluff check. Dice don't fail me now.
[roll1]

New Stats:
AC 24, touch AC 24, flat-footed AC 23
Ref save +13 (+14 Vs spells and SLAs)
speed 60 ft


The head judge begins to close with the group, drawing her warhammer as she does. A light shines within her armour.

"Thank you lady River. Please stand aside while we dispose of these rebels, would you? So kind of you to worry about the horses, but they will be fine, they are after all, Kyras horses. Erod!

Divine favour cast.

Her horse surges forward, and gallops up to where the judge stood before.

In the alley, the still standing zealot turns away from the little girl who cut him and grits his teeth, charging recklessly towards the shining bear. Nevare quickly reacts, stabbing the zealot with his sword, but as he pulls the blade out, he finds it covered in a black ichor. After charging forward fifteen feet, the zealot leaps up into the air in an arc, swinging his scythe down onto Cat with unbelievable speed as he lands with an anguished scream mixed with horrid laughter.

15 feet of movement (Nevare gets an Attack of Opportunity, which hits and deals 7 damage) then a jump for the last 25. Pounce from lion totem barbarian. And amazingly, all three attacks missed. He needed a seven on the first one to hit, and he missed. Wow.

Also, don't know how to explain this in game, but the Zealot now has an AC of 15 thanks to Shock Trooper. Enjoy.

The scythe bounces off Cat's thick celestial hide. The Zealot doesn't seem to notice or care.

[Frozen Messiah]

Thomas had been deep in thought for the greater majority of this time, mainly listening to all that went on around him and thinking about the scenario that he finds himself in. Thomas fully understands now that he deals with a major problem, the fact that the judges understand who he is. He waits for the judge that walks by Marie. His dagger moves fluidly from it's hilt to his hand and then into the judge.


Attack:[roll0]
Damage:[roll1]

DC 34 if death attack is applicable

[Sir_Chivalry]

Thomas had been deep in thought for the greater majority of this time, mainly listening to all that went on around him and thinking about the scenario that he finds himself in. Thomas fully understands now that he deals with a major problem, the fact that the judges understand who he is. He waits for the judge that walks by Marie. His dagger moves fluidly from it's hilt to his hand and then into the judge.


Attack:[roll0]
Damage:[roll1]

DC 34 if death attack is applicable


The head judge begins to call out to Thomas to hold, but the order goes unheeded. The blade slips in between the spaces on the platemail with such precision as to suggest Thomas knows this particular judge's armour well. All of this goes unnoticed for a moment, for the judges does not cry out, but slips from the knife and collapses, blood trickling from the gaps in the armour to the ground.

"Murderer!!"

And it begins, the two judges rushing forward, drawing their hammers in unison, their mounts galloping up towards the fray following the head judge's horse.

The hammers strike Thomas in the chest and legs, dealing crushing blows to the man, their hatred and rage flowing forth into his wounds.

Judge is dead.

Thomas takes 31 points of damage, half of his hit points.

The horses are now 20ft from the judges fight (30ft from the zealots fight)

[Sir_Chivalry]

The Zealot on the ground stands up, coughing blood and phlegm. When he stands, his helmet seems to have been removed, and he is revealed to be . . .
Nevare
Stacey, her throat slit and her eyes clawed out. She is trying to say something, but her voicebox is destroyed. You take a -1 to attacks for 2 rounds.
Tiago
Jonas Kralo, who berates you for being a failure and spits down at your feet, daring you to kill him again, and make it count this time. You take a -1 to attacks for 3 rounds.
Kalypso
Rivella, her eyes missing, but this time you can see her once again due to your tremorsense. She is crying, screaming about the pain in her head. She begs you to end it. Please . . . please . . . please!
Cat
Jonathan, a young man who lied about his age to get into your unit because he idolized your heroics and compassion. You thought he had died many years ago, but here he is, alive and in agonizing pain. His words are gibberish, choked by the bile and foam in his mouth.
Thomas (if he sees it)
Eleanor, your wife. She begs you to look away. This isn't her, she didn't want you to see her like this. She explains she did this to herself after her mother died, but she can't control it.
Marie (if she sees it)
The Giant. He looks at you wordlessly, and shakes his head in shame.
Nokai (if he sees it)
Your youngest child, inexplicably an adult, writhing in agony.
Group 1, you are up!

[Kurai]

There is a frozen moment of deep, deep silence. Then her ears fill with a sudden, white noise, ringing and rushing like sound-filled wind of a storm. Her blood pumps like ice and fire through her veins and her limbs tremble.

Then, suddenly, a high-pitched keening fills the alley. It is a horrible, dreadful sound, filled with such anguish and terror and rage it seems to bypass your ears and go straight to your insides.

Kalypso stands for a moment, not realizing the sounds she makes, mouth wide open to her screams. The sickle clatters to the ground. Both her flat palms are pressed against her ears, before she cowers down on her haunches like part child, part animal.

The inhuman screams won't stop. Kalypso seems to be willing to cower and shout and ignore the world around her until no breath is left in her lungs.

[Sir_Chivalry]

Not hearing the screaming (and not caring), the Zealot produces barbed chains from its arms and swings at Kalypso, wrapping around her legs and pulling her off balance, wrapping her sharp barbs.

"Please Kalypso, stop the pain!" it says mockingly.

14 points of damage from the spiked chain

[PollyOliver]

Cat tries to scream—at Jonathan’s bloodied, foaming face or at the girl’s anguish she isn’t sure—but it comes out instead as a ringing, earth-shaking roar. She almost runs at Jonathan—not Jonathan, the thing—but forces herself to stop. She can’t leave this one behind to make another attack like that; she has to keep it tied up. They won’t get lucky again.

Sedge knows the girl is in trouble, though. He darts forward at full speed and launches himself at the thing standing over her, biting savagely, twisting, trying to pull it off balance.

Cat roars again, this time in fury, and tears at the creature before her with her teeth and claws, trying to wrap it in a crushing embrace.


Sedge runs at the zealot attacking Kalypso and attacks it (since he’s behind Cat, not adjacent to the pouncing zealot, he should hopefully be able to pick a route that avoids other enemies)
[roll0]; [roll1]
Trip attempt if the bite hits:
[roll2] Worth a try. Maybe.

Cat full attacks the zealot that just charged her, trying to initiate a grapple on any successful claw attacks via improved grab.
[roll3]; [roll4]
[roll5]; [roll6]
[roll7]; [roll8]
Haste attack:
[roll9]; [roll10]
Improved grab grapple attempts if any claw hits (full-body grapple, not claw-only):
[roll11]
[roll12]
[roll13]

Both Cat's and Sedge's natural weapons count as magic and "aligned" for the purposes of DR. Damage rolls include the +1 from sanctify natural attack.

Also, I just realized I don’t know how you plan to handle resolving the order of attacks and free grapple attempts. I’ve always done improved grab after the attack routine is done, but resolve in your order of preference.

[Sir_Chivalry]

Cat tears the Zealot apart, holding him aloft in her claw, but still he draws breath, spitting bile and blood back at her in defiance.

Sedge lunges at the Zealot in the alley, but the foul abomination's armour holds fast against the hound's bite.

[ToySoldierCPlus]

Nevare looks at Stacey's face on the creature's body. He starts to scream, but is interrupted by the furry bolt of lightning and fangs that lunges past him and launches itself at the abomination. This distraction gives him the window he needs, and he is able to get some measure of control. Diamond Mind, action before thought. If you can't think, just act.

Nevare rushes down the alley toward the Stacey-beast. It's a trick, it must be a trick! This can't be her, she's not dead! And I'm not going to sit by while this thing pretends to be her! I'll teach it a lesson! Nevare lunges and rolls past the creature, coming to a stand behind it opposite Sedge. His blade moves as he does, stabbing at a weak point in the creature's armor. "You're not Stacey! You're just a monster!"

Swift action to shift into my Assassin's Stance, followed by a move action to Tumble [roll0] into a flanking position behind it. Then using Ruby Nightmare Blade.
Attack: [roll1]
Damage: [roll2]
Concentration check: [roll3]
DC of Concentration check is the target's AC, and if I succeed on it, my attack deals double damage. If I fail the check, my attack gets and extra -2 penalty.

[Sir_Chivalry]

Nevare looks at Stacey's face on the creature's body. He starts to scream, but is interrupted by the furry bolt of lightning and fangs that lunges past him and launches itself at the abomination. This distraction gives him the window he needs, and he is able to get some measure of control. Diamond Mind, action before thought. If you can't think, just act.

Nevare rushes down the alley toward the Stacey-beast. It's a trick, it must be a trick! This can't be her, she's not dead! And I'm not going to sit by while this thing pretends to be her! I'll teach it a lesson! Nevare lunges and rolls past the creature, coming to a stand behind it opposite Sedge. His blade moves as he does, stabbing at a weak point in the creature's armor. "You're not Stacey! You're just a monster!"

Swift action to shift into my Assassin's Stance, followed by a move action to Tumble [roll0] into a flanking position behind it. Then using Ruby Nightmare Blade.
Attack: [roll1]
Damage: [roll2]
Concentration check: [roll3]
DC of Concentration check is the target's AC, and if I succeed on it, my attack deals double damage. If I fail the check, my attack gets and extra -2 penalty.

Nevare's concentration falters at the last moment, and his swing bits into the Zealot's flesh, but fails to dig deep enough. Blood surges forth from the wound, but the creature remains uncaring.

[Mazeburn]

As Tiago swings back round after the miss, he looks into the revealed face and freezes for an instant. It simply wasn't possible; Kralo was years dead, years in the ground. The creature smells bad, but not quite bad enough to be undead, so it has to be an illusion of some kind. But as illusions went, it certainly seems to be able to bleed something, even if it's not quite blood, so Tiago's not about to stop and catch up with Kralo for old times' sake. If anything it just makes him feel all the more eager to slam the axe towards his foe in short, vicious strikes.

"I'll kill you alright. I'll tear out your guts, Kralo, and garotte you with them. How's that sound?"



Making full-round power attack [2] at the thing, [roll0].

Damage: [roll1] slashing.

Second attack, [roll2].
Damage: [roll3] slashing.

If it hits, Corpse-spewing as before. If it kills, trigger Bloody Murder as before.

Since I'm making a full-round attack, Dreadful Wrath (http://dnd.savannahsoft.eu/feat-751-dreadful-wrath.html) activates. Save is DC21.

[Samfool]

Nokai stands there in shock for a moment, he watched his wife and children die.. looked into their eyes as the light faded away. This is a cruel illusion, and the reason why the crown must be destroyed.. Even if it is his son, joining the crown would make his life forfeit, for he would sacrifice so many for such a witless cause. He can feel it, the change is coming, the spell is wearing off.. His baggy pants become tighter as the special knot in his simple rope belt gives way to the strain. His bones begin to swell, and his height begins to rocket upward. He once again becomes his namesake,

"I AM NOKAI THE GIANT!"

He rushes the Zealot, smacking one of the horses to get them to charge forward and rid the Zealots of a way out. With blinding speed, he rushes the demon-in-mans-armor cracking forth his rope-whip around the man's ankles.


I have a move speed of 70ft (I love being a monk) and am attempting a trip when I am 20ft away. The natural reach of being large is 10ft (As Opposed to 5ft for a medium) and the whip gives me 15ft reach.

Trip Touch Attack-
[roll0]
If it hits..
Trip Attempt-
[roll1]

^Really? A Natural One..

[Sir_Chivalry]

As Tiago swings back round after the miss, he looks into the revealed face and freezes for an instant. It simply wasn't possible; Kralo was years dead, years in the ground. The creature smells bad, but not quite bad enough to be undead, so it has to be an illusion of some kind. But as illusions went, it certainly seems to be able to bleed something, even if it's not quite blood, so Tiago's not about to stop and catch up with Kralo for old times' sake. If anything it just makes him feel all the more eager to slam the axe towards his foe in short, vicious strikes.

"I'll kill you alright. I'll tear out your guts, Kralo, and garotte you with them. How's that sound?"



Making full-round power attack [2] at the thing, [roll0].

Damage: [roll1] slashing.

Second attack, [roll2].
Damage: [roll3] slashing.

If it hits, Corpse-spewing as before. If it kills, trigger Bloody Murder as before.

Since I'm making a full-round attack, Dreadful Wrath (http://dnd.savannahsoft.eu/feat-751-dreadful-wrath.html) activates. Save is DC21.



Though Tiago's axe fails to bite flesh, his powerful swings strike terror into the heart of the Zealot, a rare feat indeed.

Zealot is shaken for 1 minute. -2 to attacks, saves and skills.


Nokai stands there in shock for a moment, he watched his wife and children die.. looked into their eyes as the light faded away. This is a cruel illusion, and the reason why the crown must be destroyed.. Even if it is his son, joining the crown would make his life forfeit, for he would sacrifice so many for such a witless cause. He can feel it, the change is coming, the spell is wearing off.. His baggy pants become tighter as the special knot in his simple rope belt gives way to the strain. His bones begin to swell, and his height begins to rocket upward. He once again becomes his namesake,

"I AM NOKAI THE GIANT!"

He rushes the Zealot, smacking one of the horses to get them to charge forward and rid the Zealots of a way out. With blinding speed, he rushes the demon-in-mans-armor cracking forth his rope-whip around the man's ankles.


I have a move speed of 70ft (I love being a monk) and am attempting a trip when I am 20ft away. The natural reach of being large is 10ft (As Opposed to 5ft for a medium) and the whip gives me 15ft reach.

Trip Touch Attack-
[roll0]
If it hits..
Trip Attempt-
[roll1]

^Really? A Natural One..


Nokai fails to pull the Zealot off his feet, and soon comes to curse his attached whip, for though he is bigger, the Zealot is stronger. Nokai crashes to the ground as the Zealot pulls back.

"I am Hector the Slasher!!!"

[HeadlessMermaid]

Marie doesn't have to pretend to be shocked by the Judge's - how did they call it? - murder. She's never seen such a small blade finish off an armored man like that. The young man must be a skilled assassin, there's no doubt in her mind. He must also be incredibly rash, and foolish, and about to die, there's no doubt in her mind about that either.

Why must boys always be so bloody reckless? she wonders, exasperated, and then she thinks of her spectacularly reckless brothers, and then she has suddenly decided to step right into the fray, gods have mercy.

As her hands cover her mouth - a gesture of shock after witnessing a murder - she whispers a message to the young man, from afar but for his ears only. "If you want to live, stand completely still when I cry out HOLD."

She strides towards the Judges and their victim, feigning righteous fury. "Oh no! A swift death's too good for that scum! I'll keep him in stasis and then you can do what you want with him, and I'll gladly lend you my expertise, oh I know ways... But first, Judges, I implore you, the rogue Zealots! They are my responsibility, and I'll never forgive myself if they have time to defile a fallen Judge's corpse! Deal with them and I'll deal with the rest, and I promise you, House River shall shower your Order with honors and gifts!"

And then she turns towards the assassin, sounding even more furious than before. "And you, vile murderer, HOLD!" she yells.

Standard action is casting Message.
Bluff: [roll0]
Diplomacy: [roll1]
Am I pushing my luck here? We'll see.

[Sir_Chivalry]

Marie doesn't have to pretend to be shocked by the Judge's - how did they call it? - murder. She's never seen such a small blade finish off an armored man like that. The young man must be a skilled assassin, there's no doubt in her mind. He must also be incredibly rash, and foolish, and about to die, there's no doubt in her mind about that either.

Why must boys always be so bloody reckless? she wonders, exasperated, and then she thinks of her spectacularly reckless brothers, and then she has suddenly decided to step right into the fray, gods have mercy.

As her hands cover her mouth - a gesture of shock after witnessing a murder - she whispers a message to the young man, from afar but for his ears only. "If you want to live, stand completely still when I cry out HOLD."

She strides towards the Judges and their victim, feigning righteous fury. "Oh no! A swift death's too good for that scum! I'll keep him in stasis and then you can do what you want with him, and I'll gladly lend you my expertise, oh I know ways... But first, Judges, I implore you, the rogue Zealots! They are my responsibility, and I'll never forgive myself if they have time to defile a fallen Judge's corpse! Deal with them and I'll deal with the rest, and I promise you, House River shall shower your Order with honors and gifts!"

And then she turns towards the assassin, sounding even more furious than before. "And you, vile murderer, HOLD!" she yells.

Standard action is casting Message.
Bluff: [roll0]
Diplomacy: [roll1]
Am I pushing my luck here? We'll see.

The two Judges agree with Marie's logic (if not her exact words) and storm off to deal with the other enemies (though not the Zealots) (on thier initiative of course)

Cat continues to maintain her grip on the Zealot.

[Frozen Messiah]

Thomas holds up his hands and cowers. "Please I will do anything, I acted rashly I didn't know what to do. Here I will give her my weapon." Thomas says as he moves away and places his dagger in Marie's hand. He waits for a tiny amount and then begins to mutter to himself. His muttering is the ancient rite of Baal that promoted hatred and bloodshed.


Uses bloodlust (Will DC 19)on the Zealot that the judges are moving towards

[Sir_Chivalry]

The Judges charge forward, both swinging their hammers to smash Cat. One hits Cat, but the other accidentally hits the Zealot

Cat takes 18 points of damage, the Zealot takes 10 points of damage, and the Judges have no more smites.

The Zealot in the alley judges each of his opponents for a second. His illusion still holds:

Tiago's illusion intensifies, and the duration of the -1 to attacks is now extended a round back to 3 rounds duration again.

With blinding speed, he swings his chain in an arc sweeping Nevare off his feet and then Tiago. His expert control of his weapon twists the swords out of Nevare's hands, but fails to wrench the axe out of Tiago's grip. He then turns to slash Kalypso across the face once more, a wicked smile dancing across his lips marred by his sobbing and crying.

Kalypso takes 16 points of damage.

[Kurai]

Kalypso's scream fades away as she hits the dirt, all breath knocked out of her. Instead the pain forces the air back into her lungs, turning her into a hissing, growling bundle of anger and rage, especially when the whip catches her a second time.

Coiling her body tightly, she tucks herself into a ball and releases the energy into jumping back upright, hoping to land back on all fours or just her feet. The rough earth moves beneath her clothes, small tremors racing into her nerve system, all her anger concentrated on the creature that dared to impersonate... dared to... but who did it impersonate? Who was that woman? And with that quick spiral of thoughts the 'Lady Pelarin' retreated further back into Kalypso's broken mind, taking all traces of memory of Rivella with her.


The Zealot is now my Dodge target.
Trying a Tumble roll before I decide on the rest of my actions.
[roll0]

[ToySoldierCPlus]

As the chain arcs through the air towards Nevare, he rises onto his toes, his arms partially outstretched to either side of him. He looks to all the world as though he is about to play a game of skip-rope.

Immediate Action: Counter: Baffling Defense:
Sense Motive: [roll0]
If my Sense Motive check beats his attack roll, his trip attempt misses.

Let's see how this goes before I continue my turn.

[Sir_Chivalry]

As the chain arcs through the air towards Nevare, he rises onto his toes, his arms partially outstretched to either side of him. He looks to all the world as though he is about to play a game of skip-rope.

Immediate Action: Counter: Baffling Defense:
Sense Motive: [roll0]
If my Sense Motive check beats his attack roll, his trip attempt misses.

Let's see how this goes before I continue my turn.

Nevare fails to block the attack, and is tripped and disarmed as previously noted.

[Kurai]

Finding her balance with natural ease, her hand darts down to the place where she has last heard her sickle fall down. Feeling it firmly between her dirt-streaked fingers, Kalypso growls low and deeply in her throat.

And she feels the air streaming through her mouth, her lips and then mingle with the greater air around her. Breathing more deeply, she fuels the wind with her anger, having it raise and wave around her like an enraged brother heeding her call. It billows and turns around the young woman, disturbing the dirt and sand and covering her like the very nature itself is invested in seeing her safe.


Move Action: Picking up sickle
Standard Action: Casting Gust Armor (concentration check for casting defensively in OOC)

[Sir_Chivalry]

The alley fills with the ringing of jangling chain links as both the embedded links on the Zealot and his weapon jostle in the wind. The Zealot tries to swing at Kalypso while she draws upon her magic, but fails to find an opening in her casting. I screams into the wind with rage and desolation.

[PollyOliver]

Cat shudders from the first blow and uses the creature she holds as a shield against the second, snarling at her new attackers. She rears back and aims one great slash at the creature she still holds with her claws, roaring in defiance and wondering how much more it will take to finish it off.

Using one of my grapples to damage the Zealot I'm holding. Can I use smite on a grapple attack? If so,

[roll0]
[roll1]

Otherwise subtract 12 from the damage if it hits.

Waiting to see what happens with the Zealot (read: whether the damn thing will just die already) before I finish my turn.

[Sir_Chivalry]

Cat shudders from the first blow and uses the creature she holds as a shield against the second, snarling at her new attackers. She rears back and aims one great slash at the creature she still holds with her claws, roaring in defiance and wondering how much more it will take to finish it off.

Using one of my grapples to damage the Zealot I'm holding. Can I use smite on a grapple attack? If so,

[roll0]
[roll1]

Otherwise subtract 12 from the damage if it hits.

Waiting to see what happens with the Zealot (read: whether the damn thing will just die already) before I finish my turn.

The Zealot still draws breath, spitting defiantly at you.

If you're grappling, you have two actions you can do (as long as they are different sorts of actions, eg a move and a standard) as you have two attacks from your base attack bonus, though the second action will take a -5 penalty if it requires an attack roll.

And yes, you can smite on a grapple I'd think.

[PollyOliver]

Cat snarls and claws at the thing again.


Curses. Was hoping to finish it off. I really didn't want to play the "stand and trade full attacks" game, and trying to move the grapple at half speed while taking AOO's or letting the leap-attacking pouncing demon ninja go so he could charge someone else were similarly unattractive options. Alas...

Grappling for damage again, at -5
[roll0]
[roll1]

[Samfool]

Nokai clambers up from being knocked down, 'Note to self, remove the wristband attaching the rope..'

"You are strong Demon!" Nokai shouts, untying the string attached to his arm


Move action to stand up, Standard to untie the thing?

[ToySoldierCPlus]

Quick tumble check, hoping to get lucky for an Epic Usage to stand from prone as a free action without provoking, a la Kalypso: [roll0]. Will continue action after check result is seen.

EDIT: YES, STANDING UP LIKE A BOSS!

[Sir_Chivalry]

Cat snarls and claws at the thing again.


Curses. Was hoping to finish it off. I really didn't want to play the "stand and trade full attacks" game, and trying to move the grapple at half speed while taking AOO's or letting the leap-attacking pouncing demon ninja go so he could charge someone else were similarly unattractive options. Alas...

Grappling for damage again, at -5
[roll0]
[roll1]


The Zealot still lives screaming in agony now as parts of its armour are caving into it, causing intense pain.


Nokai clambers up from being knocked down, 'Note to self, remove the wristband attaching the rope..'

"You are strong Demon!" Nokai shouts, untying the string attached to his arm


Move action to stand up, Standard to untie the thing?


Let's say free action (pulling your weight to the ground by that strong a creature has loosened it), since it was an honest mistake (but I will come down on you like a hammer next time):smallwink: Feel free to use your standard action how ever you'd like

Note: In case you didn't know, you can trade your standard action for a move action, so moving might be best.


Quick tumble check, hoping to get lucky for an Epic Usage to stand from prone as a free action without provoking, a la Kalypso: [roll0]. Will continue action after check result is seen.

Exactly on the money, how are you using the rest of your round?

[ToySoldierCPlus]

Something like this:

Two of the black pearls set into his belt buckle turn white, and Nevare wraps his hands around his short swords, before flipping himself upright faster than the Zealot can react. He grips his swords tightly, not planning to be disarmed again. "Let's see you do that with some more holes in you!" Nevare's blades gleam in the light as he launches into a short flurry of attacks.

Free action epic tumble to stand up from prone, burning two charges of my Belt of Battle to grab both of my swords, then full attacking the zealot.

Attack routine: [roll0] [roll1] [roll2] [roll3]
Damage routine: [roll4] [roll5] [roll6] [roll7]

[ToySoldierCPlus]

Looks like the last one of those was a crit! Or at least a threat. Rolling to confirm: [roll0]

[Sir_Chivalry]

Something like this:

Two of the black pearls set into his belt buckle turn white, and Nevare wraps his hands around his short swords, before flipping himself upright faster than the Zealot can react. He grips his swords tightly, not planning to be disarmed again. "Let's see you do that with some more holes in you!" Nevare's blades gleam in the light as he launches into a short flurry of attacks.

Free action epic tumble to stand up from prone, burning two charges of my Belt of Battle to grab both of my swords, then full attacking the zealot.

Attack routine: [roll0] [roll1] [roll2] [roll3]
Damage routine: [roll4] [roll5] [roll6] [roll7]

The Zealot grips it's chain in its hands and deflects most of the incoming attacks, laughing while doing so. Nevare slips under his guard at the last moment and stabs him once.

This one has a higher AC, plus you aren't flanking at the moment, so no sneak attack damage anyways. Auto-hit did 6 damage when I rolled for non-sneak attack.

[Samfool]

Why thank you, but I will stick with my actions.

Let him try to hit me, if he misses, defensive throw will ruin his day =]

If he hits, I am sure I can handle it.
Plus he has to move into my 10ft threatened area!
Should be interesting either way

[ToySoldierCPlus]

The Zealot grips it's chain in its hands and deflects most of the incoming attacks, laughing while doing so. Nevare slips under his guard at the last moment and stabs him once.

This one has a higher AC, plus you aren't flanking at the moment, so no sneak attack damage anyways. Auto-hit did 6 damage when I rolled for non-sneak attack.

6 damage is impossibly low, my min damage when in am SH stance and using one of my short swords is 8 (min roll on a d6 = 1 + 6 [Dex from Shadow Blade feat] + 1 [Enchantment bonus]).

Hmm... I think I missed a bonus somewhere on my sheet. Ah yeah, found it. Discipline Focus gives me Weapon Focus with one discipline's favored weapons, in this case Shadow Hand. Those rolls should each be 1 point higher, not that it will make much, if any, difference in this case.

[Sir_Chivalry]

6 damage is impossibly low, my min damage when in am SH stance and using one of my short swords is 8 (min roll on a d6 = 1 + 6 [Dex from Shadow Blade feat] + 1 [Enchantment bonus]).

Hmm... I think I missed a bonus somewhere on my sheet. Ah yeah, found it. Discipline Focus gives me Weapon Focus with one discipline's favored weapons, in this case Shadow Hand. Those rolls should each be 1 point higher, not that it will make much, if any, difference in this case.

9 - his DR 3. Mystery solved. I also factor your DR when calculating my damage for everyone's info, as it was requested I do as much as possible.

[HeadlessMermaid]

As Marie turns around, she glimpses the Zealot's face, and can't help noticing that it's now her dead brother's face. She immediately grows pale. Oh, she knows that it's a trick, and she doesn't intend to be intimidated by such tricks, no sir! But the sight makes her angry, and also makes her decide on the spot what she'll do from now on.

She was laying low until now. She wasn't sure what will come of this: maybe the Judges would be useful if they thought she was on their side, maybe this bunch of... misfits would prove dangerous and therefore undesirable company, maybe this, maybe that. But now? Who cares. Now her priority is a very simple one: no agent of the crown will leave this place alive.

She refuses to take the assassin's dagger. "Keep it. I'll make sure you can use it again." she says, somewhat darkly. "More safely." she adds, though she refrains from scolding him, which would be her instinctive reaction.

Time to act now. First she moves out of the way. Then she casts another spell, one that causes an impossibly discordant sound to swell in the area of the Judges and the grappling Zealot - and regrettably, that nice bear lady, too.

And then she drops all pretences and shouts to the others: "If you can strike from afar, strike. Otherwise grit your teeth, close in and finish the bastards off! And try to lure that other thing into the sound! By moving around! It can sense you, but not see or hear you!" She can only hope they are quick enough to grasp what's going on - and brave enough to keep fighting despite the pain.
OOC: No. No she doesn't.

Oh dear...
Move action, move to H-5, standard action Fugue, free action talk a lot.

The multiple perform checks will be a horrible hassle. If a roll is needed later and I'm not around, feel free to roll for me.

[roll0] Judge 1 stunned if >35, knocked prone if less
[roll1] Judge 2 stunned if >35, knocked prone if less
[roll2] Mezzoloth-Zealot [roll3] sonic damage
[roll4] Cat 15 non-lethal (Sorry!!!)

[Mazeburn]

As the chain drags his legs out from under him, Tiago slams down into the dirt. In a moment, though, he's back on his feet, pulling himself up with his axe.

"Is that the best you can do, wearing another man's face?" he shouts, spitting dirt at thing. "What's wrong, isn't yours good enough? Well, tell you what, how about I peel it off for you. Then you won't have to suffer it."

Cleaving the axe forward, he aims to do just that.


Move action to stand up from prone, followed by a single attack. Since the Zealot's shaken, he now counts as flat-footed to Tiago because of Dread Blade. Since he's flatfooted, I'm using Sudden Strike, which is a +3d6. Dark Companion is still behind the Zealot, bestowing a -2 to all attacks and saves.

Attack:

Damage:
[roll]1d12+6+3d6

If it hits, Corpse-spewing bestows -4 on all rolls (DC15). Also if it hits, activating Bloody Blade, at a DC21 to avoid becoming Terrified.

[Mazeburn]

Sorry, damage roll should be: [roll0] + [roll1]

[Sir_Chivalry]

As Marie turns around, she glimpses the Zealot's face, and can't help noticing that it's now her dead brother's face. She immediately grows pale. Oh, she knows that it's a trick, and she doesn't intend to be intimidated by such tricks, no sir! But the sight makes her angry, and also makes her decide on the spot what she'll do from now on.

She was laying low until now. She wasn't sure what will come of this: maybe the Judges would be useful if they thought she was on their side, maybe this bunch of... misfits would prove dangerous and therefore undesirable company, maybe this, maybe that. But now? Who cares. Now her priority is a very simple one: no agent of the crown will leave this place alive.

She refuses to take the assassin's dagger. "Keep it. I'll make sure you can use it again." she says, somewhat darkly. "More safely." she adds, though she refrains from scolding him, which would be her instinctive reaction.

Time to act now. First she moves out of the way. Then she casts another spell, one that causes an impossibly discordant sound to swell in the area of the Judges and the grappling Zealot - and regrettably, that nice bear lady, too.

And then she drops all pretences and shouts to the others: "If you can strike from afar, strike. Otherwise grit your teeth, close in and finish the bastards off! And try to lure that other thing into the sound! By moving around! It can sense you, but not see or hear you!" She can only hope they are quick enough to grasp what's going on - and brave enough to keep fighting despite the pain.

Oh dear...
Move action, move to H-10, standard action Fugue, free action talk a lot.

The multiple perform checks will be a horrible hassle. If a roll is needed later and I'm not around, feel free to roll for me.

Judge 1 stunned if >35, knocked prone if less
[roll1] Judge 2 stunned if >35, knocked prone if less
[roll2] Mezzoloth-Zealot [roll3] sonic damage
[roll4] Cat 15 non-lethal (Sorry!!!)

EDIT - Please see OOC, I'm requesting a partial retcon.

Both Judges remain unfazed by the spell, despite a slight disorientation. The Zealot cries out as blood flows from his eyes, nose, ears and mouth freely from the organ damage the sonic waves are causing.


As the chain drags his legs out from under him, Tiago slams down into the dirt. In a moment, though, he's back on his feet, pulling himself up with his axe.

"Is that the best you can do, wearing another man's face?" he shouts, spitting dirt at thing. "What's wrong, isn't yours good enough? Well, tell you what, how about I peel it off for you. Then you won't have to suffer it."

Cleaving the axe forward, he aims to do just that.


Move action to stand up from prone, followed by a single attack. Since the Zealot's shaken, he now counts as flat-footed to Tiago because of Dread Blade. Since he's flatfooted, I'm using Sudden Strike, which is a +3d6. Dark Companion is still behind the Zealot, bestowing a -2 to all attacks and saves.

Attack:
[roll0]
Damage:
[roll]1d12+6+3d6

If it hits, Corpse-spewing bestows -4 on all rolls (DC15). Also if it hits, activating Bloody Blade, at a DC21 to avoid becoming Terrified.


Tiago's axe fails to find purchase, and the Zealot laughs.

[Sir_Chivalry]

The Zealot being grappled pushes against Cat, trying to get away and escapes her grasp. A cloud yellow-green fog forms around the Zealot, swiftly filling a 20 ft area. The Judges start coughing and weezing, and Cat feels burning, as if something is clawing her lungs. The Zealot laughs with almost child-like joy.

"I'm finally free."

He then collapses, his body crumpling like a crushed bug. Not that anyone can see through the fog.

Cat and Nokai
If not immune to poison somehow: Make a DC 14 Fort save. On failure you take 2 Con damage, on success 1.

Just waiting on Tom before the Judges and Zealot can act.

[Sir_Chivalry]

Sorry, Nokai needs to make the save too.

[Samfool]

"Diamond Body (Su)
At 11th level, a monk gains immunity to poisons of all kinds."

[Sir_Chivalry]

"Diamond Body (Su)
At 11th level, a monk gains immunity to poisons of all kinds."

Awesome.:smallbiggrin:

[PollyOliver]

A horrible cacophony erupts around Cat, clubbing at her like a physical force. She shakes her head and shakes it off, but she feels less sure, less steady. Suddenly the creature in her claws wrenches free and releases a torrent of greenish smoke, and her lungs burn.

Sedge lunges forward and snaps his teeth together twice, trying again to yank the chain-wielding creature off-balance.

Cat takes -2 to attacks and skill checks after making her will save in the OOC thread. Sedge full attacks the chain zealot (second bite from haste) and tries to trip if he hits.

Save for the zealot's SLA:
[roll0]

Sedge's attacks:
[roll1]
[roll2]
[roll3]
[roll4]
If either hits:
[roll5]
[roll6]

[Sir_Chivalry]

A horrible cacophony erupts around Cat, clubbing at her like a physical force. She shakes her head and shakes it off, but she feels less sure, less steady. Suddenly the creature in her claws wrenches free and releases a torrent of greenish smoke, and her lungs burn.

Sedge lunges forward and snaps his teeth together twice, trying again to yank the chain-wielding creature off-balance.

Cat takes -2 to attacks and skill checks after making her will save in the OOC thread. Sedge full attacks the chain zealot (second bite from haste) and tries to trip if he hits.

Save for the zealot's SLA:
[roll0]

Sedge's attacks:
[roll1]
[roll2]
[roll3]
[roll4]
If either hits:
[roll5]
[roll6]


Cat only takes 1 point of Con damage for now.

Sedge bites into the Zealot, but only deals 5 damage.

[Frozen Messiah]

Thomas looks at the scene that his incantion created, and a small smile curls across his lips. He grabs the dagger which he had given to Marie from her hand and mutters to himself a prayer. "May Cyric hide me from the sight of mine enemys whom would stop me on my path to greatness, may Baal shroud me in the darkness that is his domain, may the gods grant me safety from the prying eyes of the just. I call ask of thee" and with that he disapears.


-casts Invisbility
-Once shrouded he moves 10 feet to the left
- begins studying the Judge (1 round)

[Sir_Chivalry]

The two judges reach forward and place their hands on Cat, channeling dark power into the celestial bear.

Cat takes 48 points of damage. That is the end of their deadly touch ability.

The Judges heal 10 points of damage each from their Blessing of the Godless healing pool.

The Zealot continues to swing his chain, unaware of the impending danger. He sweeps Nevare, Tiago, and Kalypso off their feet, disarming each of them of their weapons and laughing once again as his eyes to glow with red light, as if lit from within.

Forgot my AoO last time you guys got up. I've been fair to you guys up until now, I'll remain so and just let it slide. 11 points of healing for him.

[PollyOliver]

The great bear gives a faint whine of pain, though only those nearby can hear it. Cat staggers, shaking her head to try and clear the fog of pain, and pulls herself together enough to retreat so she can regroup.

Meanwhile, Sedge goes for the chain-wielder's ankles again, snapping and snarling and trying to pull him off balance.

Cat uses the withdraw action, avoiding the Judges and then moving around 100 feet to the right, if there's nothing there to block her path. Hate to waste the full round, but I don't think I can risk eating two AOO's right now.

Sedge repeats his usual attack routine, hoping for another natural 20. :smallsmile:

[roll0]
[roll1]
[roll2]
[roll3]
Trips:
[roll4]
[roll5]

[Sir_Chivalry]

The great bear gives a faint whine of pain, though only those nearby can hear it. Cat staggers, shaking her head to try and clear the fog of pain, and pulls herself together enough to retreat so she can regroup.

Meanwhile, Sedge goes for the chain-wielder's ankles again, snapping and snarling and trying to pull him off balance.

Cat uses the withdraw action, avoiding the Judges and then moving around 100 feet to the right, if there's nothing there to block her path. Hate to waste the full round, but I don't think I can risk eating two AOO's right now.

Sedge repeats his usual attack routine, hoping for another natural 20. :smallsmile:

[roll0]
[roll1]
[roll2]
[roll3]
Trips:
[roll4]
[roll5]


The bear comes crashing out of the fog, her lungs burning (1 more point of Con dmg and you're clear)

Sedge digs his teeth once more into the Zealot, ripping chunks of flesh but failing to pull the Zealot off balance (11 points)

[Kurai]

Kalypso whines loudly as she hits the dirt once again, but she coils her body once more and tries to land quickly on her feet.
Once again she presses her hand on the grip of her sickle, feeling its comfort between her fingers.

Instead she concentrates on her flesh, on her wounds, and touches the earth. The young woman draws strength from it, feeling the vitality of nature flow into her body, strengthening her blood and bones.


I have a AC of 30 against that thing and it happily throws me around like a ragdoll. I don't like you anymore, demon-thingy >_<

Swift action: Keeping Gust Armor up with Concentration [roll0]
Tumble to stand up as Free Action: [roll1]
Move Action: Retrieve the Sickle (g'damnit)
Standard Action: Casting Lesser Vitalize defensively (healing 25 hp)

[HeadlessMermaid]

As Marie witnesses the Zealot's death, she can't help feeling pity for the creature. "He was yearning for freedom in death, poor thing." But then she snaps back to her normal, stone-cold self. "Of course, if he had declined the offer in the first place, when he was still a man, he would have saved himself the pain and all of us the trouble. Damn him and damn whoever devised this stupid, warped procedure."

Pure fluff here. Not my turn yet.

[Sir_Chivalry]

Kalypso whines loudly as she hits the dirt once again, but she coils her body once more and tries to land quickly on her feet.
Once again she presses her hand on the grip of her sickle, feeling its comfort between her fingers.

Instead she concentrates on her flesh, on her wounds, and touches the earth. The young woman draws strength from it, feeling the vitality of nature flow into her body, strengthening her blood and bones.


I have a AC of 30 against that thing and it happily throws me around like a ragdoll. I don't like you anymore, demon-thingy >_<

Swift action: Keeping Gust Armor up with Concentration [roll0]
Tumble to stand up as Free Action: [roll1]
Move Action: Retrieve the Sickle (g'damnit)
Standard Action: Casting Lesser Vitalize defensively (healing 25 hp)


The Zealot lashes out at you again with his spiked chain, but doesn't manage to pull you to the ground as you spring up.

[Samfool]

Stepping in front of Cat and close enough to the Zealot to hit him, Nokai smiles as he punches once, aiming for the Zealots chest..


Move action in front of Cat, 10ft away from Zealot.

Stunning Fist: 11/12
Attack Roll-
[roll0]
Son of a.. really? Good thing I have 12 of these per day!

Fortitude Save- DC: 21 or Stunned for 1 Round: drops everything held, can’t take actions, takes a -2 penalty to AC, and loses his Dexterity bonus to AC.

DC= 10 + 1/2 Character Level (6)+ Wis Mod (3)+ Ability Focus (2)

[Mazeburn]

Giving up with the axe for now, Tiago jumps to his feet once more and unhitches a short spiked morningstar from this belt.

"You know what? I think I'll wait till Mr. Swordsman here cuts you down himself. That way, you'll be intact enough that I can take that damn chain and shove it up through your stomach, out through your mouth, and hang you from the sign of the Six Winds as a warning to any other sorry lowlives like you," he shouts, grinning almost as maniacally as the Zealot.


Tumble check to avoid AO on getting up (can't remember if Tumble applies to that, if not, ignore this): [roll0].

Making a demoralise opponent check:
[roll1]

Thanks to Imperious Command, if that succeeds, he'll cower for a round then be shaken for a round. If he cowers, he drops his weapon.

[ToySoldierCPlus]

Tumble check to see fi I can get up as a free action, and thinking about grabbing that skill trick that lets me do this easily: [roll0]
Nevare rolls himself back to his feet, grabbing one of his swords as he does so. "Getting really tired of that, monster."

[ToySoldierCPlus]

Succeeded on the Tumble check again LIKE A BOSS, so I'm going to post Nevare's remaining action here.

Nevare pauses momentarily as he rises, the world slowing around him. His breathing deepens and evens out, and he can clearly see the holes in his opponent's guard, the weak points in its defenses. He stabs at one such hole, aiming to kill.

Using Greater Insightful Strike.
Attack: [roll0] (should be. +9 BAB, +1 Weap. Focus from Discipline focus, which I forgot about earlier, +6 Dex, +2 flanking (which I also forgot about earlier), +1 weapon enhancement, +3 Shadow Hand enchantment, -2 unnerving gaze = 20)
Damage: Concentration check: [roll1] x2

EDIT: Fuuuuuuuu-- 1 shy! ...Uh, I am still affected by that unnerving gaze, right? If I'm not, that attack gets increased by 2. And I didn't forget any bonuses, did I?

EDIT2: Forgot about Marie's Haste effect, which grants +1 to attack rolls! That's a +21, which gives me a 32, and the Concentration check is doubled as indicated for 56 damage to the Zealot, less whatever his DR is (3, I think you said).

[Sir_Chivalry]

Stepping in front of Cat and close enough to the Zealot to hit him, Nokai smiles as he punches once, aiming for the Zealots chest..


Move action in front of Cat, 10ft away from Zealot.

Stunning Fist: 11/12
Attack Roll-
[roll0]
Son of a.. really? Good thing I have 12 of these per day!

Fortitude Save- DC: 21 or Stunned for 1 Round: drops everything held, can’t take actions, takes a -2 penalty to AC, and loses his Dexterity bonus to AC.

DC= 10 + 1/2 Character Level (6)+ Wis Mod (3)+ Ability Focus (2)


Nokai's massive fist fails to dent the judge's thick armour, but the judge seems more distracted by the cloudkill.

Anyway you missed, so no biggy, but I'd just like clarification.


Giving up with the axe for now, Tiago jumps to his feet once more and unhitches a short spiked morningstar from this belt.

"You know what? I think I'll wait till Mr. Swordsman here cuts you down himself. That way, you'll be intact enough that I can take that damn chain and shove it up through your stomach, out through your mouth, and hang you from the sign of the Six Winds as a warning to any other sorry lowlives like you," he shouts, grinning almost as maniacally as the Zealot.


Tumble check to avoid AO on getting up (can't remember if Tumble applies to that, if not, ignore this): [roll0].

Making a demoralise opponent check:
[roll1]

Thanks to Imperious Command, if that succeeds, he'll cower for a round then be shaken for a round. If he cowers, he drops his weapon.



When Tiago stands up: As he stands up, the chain wraps around Tiago's legs and trips him again, smashing him into the ground.

Tiago takes 13 points of damage. Also, we switched to armour as DR and defense bonus, so you have DR 2/- (which I factored) but you only get half the armour bonus and you get a misc bonus (+10) that overlaps that. Feel free to re-allocate the money you spent on the magic armour to other magic items. Your Ac would therefore be 23, and you'd have DR 2/-

The Zealot is blind, and cannot see Tiago, along with not hearing his words due to deafness. It can only perceive his mind, his thinking thoughts, like a light before it.


Tumble check to see fi I can get up as a free action, and thinking about grabbing that skill trick that lets me do this easily: [roll0]
Nevare rolls himself back to his feet, grabbing one of his swords as he does so. "Getting really tired of that, monster."


Succeeded on the Tumble check again LIKE A BOSS, so I'm going to post Nevare's remaining action here.

Nevare pauses momentarily as he rises, the world slowing around him. His breathing deepens and evens out, and he can clearly see the holes in his opponent's guard, the weak points in its defenses. He stabs at one such hole, aiming to kill.

Using Greater Insightful Strike.
Attack: [roll0] (should be. +9 BAB, +1 Weap. Focus from Discipline focus, which I forgot about earlier, +6 Dex, +2 flanking (which I also forgot about earlier), +1 weapon enhancement, +3 Shadow Hand enchantment, -2 unnerving gaze = 20)
Damage: Concentration check: [roll1] x2

EDIT: Fuuuuuuuu-- 1 shy! ...Uh, I am still affected by that unnerving gaze, right? If I'm not, that attack gets increased by 2. And I didn't forget any bonuses, did I?

EDIT2: Forgot about Marie's Haste effect, which grants +1 to attack rolls! That's a +21, which gives me a 32, and the Concentration check is doubled as indicated for 56 damage to the Zealot, less whatever his DR is (3, I think you said).

As he flips up, Nevare is dragged down again by the chains, slamming into the ground with force. His hand finds his blade, and he stabs at the creature, but the attack does not find its mark due to his unfortunate prediciment.

16 points of damage to Nevare. Attack misses.

[ToySoldierCPlus]

Lemme guess, the thing has combat reflexes, and it tripped me as I was grabbing my weapon? The epic use of Tumble allows for standing from prone as a free action without provoking.

[Sir_Chivalry]

Lemme guess, the thing has combat reflexes, and it tripped me as I was grabbing my weapon? The epic use of Tumble allows for standing from prone as a free action without provoking.

It tripped while you were standing up. It in fact does still provoke an attack of opportunity, and yes he does have Combat Reflexes. I looked through Epic Level Handbook and Complete Adventurer, I made sure. To quote Complete Adventurer:
Free Stand: With a DC 35 Tumble check result, you
can stand up from prone as a free action (instead of as a
move action). This use of the skill still provokes attacks
of opportunity as normal.
Sorry.

[Sir_Chivalry]

The two judges swing at Nokai, three of their attacks missing. Two missed entirely, the fog blinding them to where Nokai is, and the other was skillfully dodged by Nokai. The fourth attack hit true, bashing Nokai's hand.

4 damage. Oh dear.

[ToySoldierCPlus]

It tripped while you were standing up. It in fact does still provoke an attack of opportunity, and yes he does have Combat Reflexes. I looked through Epic Level Handbook and Complete Adventurer, I made sure. To quote Complete Adventurer:
Sorry.

Ah, Complete Adventurer. I was reading from the SRD, which doesn't have that caveat. Of course, it doesn't say otherwise, so I must have been assuming it did that. Oops. Ah well. Hmm, I think next time I end up on the ground, I'll be rolling to see if I can stand and waiting for your response, because Nevare wouldn't be attacking from the ground, he'd be trying to get up again. Ah well, lessons.

[Sir_Chivalry]

Ah, Complete Adventurer. I was reading from the SRD, which doesn't have that caveat. Of course, it doesn't say otherwise, so I must have been assuming it did that. Oops. Ah well. Hmm, I think next time I end up on the ground, I'll be rolling to see if I can stand and waiting for your response, because Nevare wouldn't be attacking from the ground, he'd be trying to get up again. Ah well, lessons.

You could always withdraw at double your crawl speed, letting you go 10ft away from him. Do that enough and you'd be out of range.

[Sir_Chivalry]

Everyone, the cloudkill is expanding by 10 ft each round, so you might want to get away soon. Also, Thomas needs to make a DC 14 Fort save, success means 1 point of Con damage, failure means 2.

[ToySoldierCPlus]

You could always withdraw at double your crawl speed, letting you go 10ft away from him. Do that enough and you'd be out of range.

I'm thinking Nevare is going to start doing that, especially with the cloudkill expanding now.

[Sir_Chivalry]

I'm thinking Nevare is going to start doing that, especially with the cloudkill expanding now.

Also the Kyton-Zealot is back down to 30 AC, as his effect ended.

[Sir_Chivalry]

I'm thinking Nevare is going to start doing that, especially with the cloudkill expanding now.

Good plan. Not going to be a resounding victory mind you, but a good plan.

[Frozen Messiah]

Thomas squints into the clud the has enveloped the battle feild. Damnable thing, how can I kill what I cannot see Thomas thinks to himself in frustration. THomas decides it is better to not stand near the fog and backs away and then kneels and places a hand on his right shoulder and his other hand on his head and begins to pray to his gods for aid.


- Thomas moves back 15 feet
- Casts Prayer

[Sir_Chivalry]

Thomas squints into the clud the has enveloped the battle feild. Damnable thing, how can I kill what I cannot see Thomas thinks to himself in frustration. THomas decides it is better to not stand near the fog and backs away and then kneels and places a hand on his right shoulder and his other hand on his head and begins to pray to his gods for aid.


- Thomas moves back 15 feet
- Casts Prayer


Don't forget to make your Fort save (DC 14) You pass, 1 point of Con damage.

[HeadlessMermaid]

Marie can't see what's going on in the alley, but she hears the people's screams and they are not at all encouraging. She whispers to them.

"There's a poisonous cloud about to engulf you. I'll try to end it, but I suggest you get the hell out of there. The thing you're fighting can sense you and follow you, but is deaf and blind. Try to move around and lure it towards the noise behind you. This noise is dangerous even for the deaf. Godspeed."

Then she steps back, and directs a spell to a point in space. If all goes well, the poisonous vapors will be no more.

It's almost a shame. The sound of his majesty's Judges coughing in agony in there... oh, that's just too good. Too good...

5 ft step to H11.
Move action: Concentrate on the Fugue.
Standard action: Area Dispel.
20 ft radius. The center is out of the map, the area includes the Cloudkill's point of origin (the Zealots's dead body), and the Judge at L2. Not Nokai, not the Fugue's point of origin (which was around O-1, I believe). On the map, it covers from I-1 to N-1 and from K-2 tp L-2.

Dispel Check:
(CL check = 10 max caster level + 7 from Marshal's Aura)
[roll0] for the Cloudkill
[roll1] for the Judge at L2.
The Fugue is mine, so it's dispelled automatically but only partially, within the Dispel area.

ABOUT THE CLOUDKILL: I chose to (try to) dispel it completely, with the understanding that it will spread and spread, and then we'd have to run away from it ad nauseam, the map would expand and expand, the people in the inn would die and... too much of a hassle.

But! If it only moves after all, without expanding its area, I would try to partially dispel it instead - open a path for people in the alley to get out, but keep the Judges and Nokai in.

Please let me know if it's the latter. :)

[Samfool]

The two judges swing at Nokai, three of their attacks missing. Two missed entirely, the fog blinding them to where Nokai is, and the other was skillfully dodged by Nokai. The fourth attack hit true, bashing Nokai's hand.

4 damage. Oh dear.

I get an AoO to trip if they miss!

Assume I place the "Dodge" thing on one of the judges, I always neglect that power >.>

[Sir_Chivalry]

Marie can't see what's going on in the alley, but she hears the people's screams and they are not at all encouraging. She whispers to them.

"There's a poisonous cloud about to engulf you. I'll try to end it, but I suggest you get the hell out of there. The thing you're fighting can sense you and follow you, but is deaf and blind. Try to move around and lure it towards the noise behind you. This noise is dangerous even for the deaf. Godspeed."

Then she steps back, and directs a spell to a point in space. If all goes well, the poisonous vapors will be no more.

It's almost a shame. The sound of his majesty's Judges coughing in agony in there... oh, that's just too good. Too good...

5 ft step to H11.
Move action: Concentrate on the Fugue.
Standard action: Area Dispel.
20 ft radius. The center is out of the map, the area includes the Cloudkill's point of origin (the Zealots's dead body), and the Judge at L2. Not Nokai, not the Fugue's point of origin (which was around O-1, I believe). On the map, it covers from I-1 to N-1 and from K-2 tp L-2.

Dispel Check:
(CL check = 10 max caster level + 7 from Marshal's Aura)
[roll0] for the Cloudkill
[roll1] for the Judge at L2.
The Fugue is mine, so it's dispelled automatically but only partially, within the Dispel area.

ABOUT THE CLOUDKILL: I chose to (try to) dispel it completely, with the understanding that it will spread and spread, and then we'd have to run away from it ad nauseam, the map would expand and expand, the people in the inn would die and... too much of a hassle.

But! If it only moves after all, without expanding its area, I would try to partially dispel it instead - open a path for people in the alley to get out, but keep the Judges and Nokai in.

Please let me know if it's the latter. :)

The Cloud disappears, and all at once the battlefield changes. Bloodlust born of the nobleman Crawford found not its root in the Zealot, but consumed another, the Zealot in the alley. He looks upon his masters, and seeing them weak, acts. This will be his moment, this will be his feast. They will all die, every last one of them.


I get an AoO to trip if they miss!

Assume I place the "Dodge" thing on one of the judges, I always neglect that power >.>

One of the Judges goes crasing to the ground, the one to your right.

[Sir_Chivalry]

Marie can't see what's going on in the alley, but she hears the people's screams and they are not at all encouraging. She whispers to them.

"There's a poisonous cloud about to engulf you. I'll try to end it, but I suggest you get the hell out of there. The thing you're fighting can sense you and follow you, but is deaf and blind. Try to move around and lure it towards the noise behind you. This noise is dangerous even for the deaf. Godspeed."

Then she steps back, and directs a spell to a point in space. If all goes well, the poisonous vapors will be no more.

It's almost a shame. The sound of his majesty's Judges coughing in agony in there... oh, that's just too good. Too good...

5 ft step to H11.
Move action: Concentrate on the Fugue.
Standard action: Area Dispel.
20 ft radius. The center is out of the map, the area includes the Cloudkill's point of origin (the Zealots's dead body), and the Judge at L2. Not Nokai, not the Fugue's point of origin (which was around O-1, I believe). On the map, it covers from I-1 to N-1 and from K-2 tp L-2.

Dispel Check:
(CL check = 10 max caster level + 7 from Marshal's Aura)
[roll0] for the Cloudkill
[roll1] for the Judge at L2.
The Fugue is mine, so it's dispelled automatically but only partially, within the Dispel area.

ABOUT THE CLOUDKILL: I chose to (try to) dispel it completely, with the understanding that it will spread and spread, and then we'd have to run away from it ad nauseam, the map would expand and expand, the people in the inn would die and... too much of a hassle.

But! If it only moves after all, without expanding its area, I would try to partially dispel it instead - open a path for people in the alley to get out, but keep the Judges and Nokai in.

Please let me know if it's the latter. :)

The Cloud disappears, and all at once the battlefield changes. Bloodlust born of the nobleman Crawford found not its root in the Zealot, but consumed another, the Zealot in the alley. He looks upon his masters, and seeing them weak, acts. This will be his moment, this will be his feast. They will all die, every last one of them.


I get an AoO to trip if they miss!

Assume I place the "Dodge" thing on one of the judges, I always neglect that power >.>

One of the Judges goes crasing to the ground, the one to your right.

[Sir_Chivalry]

The Zealot runs over Sedge, going to fight the Judges. Nevare, Tiago and Sedge all attack him, cutting chunks from his flesh.

Nevare- 10, Tiago- 7, Sedge- 2, curse-spewing affects the Zealot.

The Zealot charges at the north judge, swinging at him.

15 points of damage to the Judge.

[Samfool]

I get an AoO for tripping him I think.. (Improved Trip Feat)


Nokai leans down, pummeling the man in the face and body with a mixture of punches and knee attacks.


Flurry of Blows as a Full Action
Attack
[roll0]
Damage
[roll1]
Attack
[roll2]
Damage
[roll3]
Attack
[roll4]
Damage
[roll5]
Attack
[roll6]
Damage
[roll7]

[HeadlessMermaid]

For the first time since it all began, and in fact for the first time in weeks, Marie's face is brightened with a genuine smile as she watches, beaming, the Zealot attack his new target.

Justice for the Judges. Excellent.

[Sir_Chivalry]

I get an AoO for tripping him I think.. (Improved Trip Feat)


Nokai leans down, pummeling the man in the face and body with a mixture of punches and knee attacks.


Flurry of Blows as a Full Action
Attack
[roll0]
Damage
[roll1]
Attack
[roll2]
Damage
[roll3]
Attack
[roll4]
Damage
[roll5]
Attack
[roll6]
Damage
[roll7]


As the Judge falls to the ground, Nokai smashes him in the face. He continues to rain blows while the Judge is on the ground. The Judge seems to be screaming in pain, his armour acting like an echo chamber.

I rolled the additional attack from Improved Trip, it was a crit. All together your attacks added up to four successful attacks-forth of damage.

[PollyOliver]

With the fog gone and the strange chain-wielding creature attacking the knights, Cat decides to try and finish things quickly. She gathers what strength she has left and charges at the fallen knight, teeth and claws flying.

Sedge surges out of the alleyway and lunges at the other knight, trying to pull him down as well.


Cat pounces on the prone Judge, ideally ending up directly south of that Judge if that angle is permissible for the charge. If that's not permissible, I'd ask that you let me retcon this post, as I don't want to end up in full attack range of the other Judge this low on hp.

I'm not sure if the +2 attack bonus from charge or the -2 from fugue apply on grapples, so I haven't included either, but if both do nothing changes, and if only one does, add or subtract 2, respectively from the grapple rolls. Both are already included in the attack rolls.

[roll0] [roll1]
[roll2] [roll3]
[roll4] [roll5]
[roll6] [roll7]
[roll8]
[roll9]
[roll10]

Sedge charges up to the other Judge. I think he takes an AOO from the Zealot, but if he stays standing he bites the judge once and tries to trip.
[roll11] [roll12]
[roll13]

I'll update AC for both momentarily (-2 from charge).

[Kurai]

Kalypso was angry. Not enraged anymore, not wild like a rabid dog, but it was deeper than a soured mood. And now her opponent even dared to run away, fleeing like a froothing madmen. Curling her mouth distastefully, she clawed at the earth, then went into an easy run. One of them had done something and now her steps were even lighter than before and she loved it.

It only took her a second to tuck herself into a roll, sliping between the light-taker's legs and then come back to her feet to run fast and freely, the wind jostling around her and following her steps like a playful puppy.

But not all was playful. The sky grew dark as she felt her target raging, his manic movements racing all through her nerves. The blonde could almost taste his attacks on her tongue. Once again she called lightning forth on the tips of her fingers and lightning came, crashing and merciless, slipping down to crash against both the Zealot and the bad man close to him, one that had dared to scratch the kind bear's thick hide.

They would burn for that.


Swift Action: Keeping Gust Armor up (Concentration [roll0] )
Move Action: Happily running to the Zealot, tumbling past Tiago, skirmishing on her enemy and retreating back a few steps (with no AoO, thanks to lovely Spring attack).
Standard Action: Using Lightning Strikes Twice on both the Zealot and the adjacent Judge

Zealot
Attack: [roll1] (+ Haste)
Damage: [roll2] (+ Shock, Skirmish, Improved Skirmish, Lightning Strikes Twice)

Judge:
[roll3] (+ Haste)
Damage: [roll4] (+ Shock, Skirmish, Improved Skirmish, Lightning Strikes Twice)

If it hits, both are blinded (haha, how devastating for the Zealot..) until they manage a Fort save against DC 22.

And I have +5 Armor until my next round, thanks to Skirmish.

[Sir_Chivalry]

With the fog gone and the strange chain-wielding creature attacking the knights, Cat decides to try and finish things quickly. She gathers what strength she has left and charges at the fallen knight, teeth and claws flying.

Sedge surges out of the alleyway and lunges at the other knight, trying to pull him down as well.


Cat pounces on the prone Judge, ideally ending up directly south of that Judge if that angle is permissible for the charge. If that's not permissible, I'd ask that you let me retcon this post, as I don't want to end up in full attack range of the other Judge this low on hp.

I'm not sure if the +2 attack bonus from charge or the -2 from fugue apply on grapples, so I haven't included either, but if both do nothing changes, and if only one does, add or subtract 2, respectively from the grapple rolls. Both are already included in the attack rolls.

[roll0] [roll1]
[roll2] [roll3]
[roll4] [roll5]
[roll6] [roll7]
[roll8]
[roll9]
[roll10]

Sedge charges up to the other Judge. I think he takes an AOO from the Zealot, but if he stays standing he bites the judge once and tries to trip.
[roll11] [roll12]
[roll13]

I'll update AC for both momentarily (-2 from charge).


Cat rips the first Judge apart, (taking liberties here) and she begins to rip apart the other Judge. Sedge dodges the chain to the muzzle, and manages to bite and trip the Judge.

The trip misses, my god . . . :smalleek:

Judge #2 is dead, and #3 is down to his last third of hp and grappled by Cat.

[Sir_Chivalry]

Kalypso was angry. Not enraged anymore, not wild like a rabid dog, but it was deeper than a soured mood. And now her opponent even dared to run away, fleeing like a froothing madmen. Curling her mouth distastefully, she clawed at the earth, then went into an easy run. One of them had done something and now her steps were even lighter than before and she loved it.

It only took her a second to tuck herself into a roll, sliping between the light-taker's legs and then come back to her feet to run fast and freely, the wind jostling around her and following her steps like a playful puppy.

But not all was playful. The sky grew dark as she felt her target raging, his manic movements racing all through her nerves. The blonde could almost taste his attacks on her tongue. Once again she called lightning forth on the tips of her fingers and lightning came, crashing and merciless, slipping down to crash against both the Zealot and the bad man close to him, one that had dared to scratch the kind bear's thick hide.

They would burn for that.


Swift Action: Keeping Gust Armor up (Concentration [roll0] )
Move Action: Happily running to the Zealot, tumbling past Tiago, skirmishing on her enemy and retreating back a few steps (with no AoO, thanks to lovely Spring attack).
Standard Action: Using Lightning Strikes Twice on both the Zealot and the adjacent Judge

Zealot
Attack: [roll1] (+ Haste)
Damage: [roll2] (+ Shock, Skirmish, Improved Skirmish, Lightning Strikes Twice)

Judge:
[roll3] (+ Haste)
Damage: [roll4] (+ Shock, Skirmish, Improved Skirmish, Lightning Strikes Twice)

If it hits, both are blinded (haha, how devastating for the Zealot..) until they manage a Fort save against DC 22.

And I have +5 Armor until my next round, thanks to Skirmish.


Blood spurts from the Judge's throat, and the Zealot screams in agony.

[Kurai]

As if edged on by the Zealot's screams, Kalypso throws her head back and howls. It is strange, and it isn't even really clear if the sound is because she is happy of her accomplishment, or because she feels some sudden, sickly kinship with the creature. Maybe it is just the same way a dog reacts to a sudden loud noise in the darkness.

[Mazeburn]

Tiago clutches his wound for a moment, finding hot fresh blood beneath his grasp, dripping through his fingers onto the dirt. Well, that was it. Reaching up, he smears the red like warpaint across his face, then hefts his ask and charges at a frightening speed into the fray once more. His dog moves with him, almost becoming liquid as it flows across the ground, a mass of squirming shadow. It halts just behind the Zealot, as Tiago crashes towards the beast and puts his full weight into the swing of his axe.


Move action to charge 40ft to H11. Dark Companion comes with, moving to M1. -2 to my AC for next round. Dreadful Wrath would trigger, but that's not gonna affect anyone now.

Melee attack on the Zealot. Bonuses: +2 Charge, +1 Haste, +13 BAB, +2 weap, -2 unnerving gaze, +2 flanking (if the Judge counts as flanking, exclude if not).

[roll0].

If hits, damage roll:
[roll1]

[Sir_Chivalry]

Tiago clutches his wound for a moment, finding hot fresh blood beneath his grasp, dripping through his fingers onto the dirt. Well, that was it. Reaching up, he smears the red like warpaint across his face, then hefts his ask and charges at a frightening speed into the fray once more. His dog moves with him, almost becoming liquid as it flows across the ground, a mass of squirming shadow. It halts just behind the Zealot, as Tiago crashes towards the beast and puts his full weight into the swing of his axe.


Move action to charge 40ft to H11. Dark Companion comes with, moving to M1. -2 to my AC for next round. Dreadful Wrath would trigger, but that's not gonna affect anyone now.

Melee attack on the Zealot. Bonuses: +2 Charge, +1 Haste, +13 BAB, +2 weap, -2 unnerving gaze, +2 flanking (if the Judge counts as flanking, exclude if not).

[roll0].

If hits, damage roll:
[roll1]



Tiago slams into the Zealot, cracking bonues beneath his axe.

[ToySoldierCPlus]

Tumble check again to see if I can stand up freely, if not, that will affect how I act for the rest of the round. [roll0]

[ToySoldierCPlus]

That would be a Nat 20... Still, not complaining about a free-action stand from prone! Posting the rest of my round here.

Nevare grabs for his other sword, and then flips himself upright with another burst of speed and agility. He then strides towards the remaining zealot, hoping to be able to get one more strike at the creature that would dare to wear Stacey's face.

Free action stand from Tumble, move action to pick up his sword, other move action to move 30 feet to I-1. If the zealot lives next round, Nevare'll be moving in to finish it off. But I doubt it'll live that long at this point.

[HeadlessMermaid]

Marie wishes she could think of a way to end the Zealot's life painlessly. But she can't, so she focuses on someone yearning for life rather than death. And that someone is currently in the form of a severely injured bear.

When men, women and beasts are killing and dying all around you, it's a bit surreal to start telling tales. But tales have power. Tales do and undo things. Stories weave and unravel the world. Words kill - and words heal. Marie knows all that, and her voice rises above the clamor of the battle.

"Do I have a story for you tonight! A tale of courage unimaginable, of valor unthinkable, of kindness unheard of! A tale of a shapechanger who crossed half the world and battled armies and dragons to save a single child, and the child was a bear cub. Listen...."

5 ft step to I-9, so that Cat is within 30 ft.
Inspire Greatness to Cat. Duration: performance+10 rounds. Cat gains:

2 HD (2d10 hit points + CON)
+2 competence to attack
+1 competence to Fort saves

[Frozen Messiah]

Thomas looks at the field and how his handywork litters it. The zealoty has killedthe judges qand now himself ahs put himself in a position to be defeatwed simply. Thomas seaks to press the advantage. He unsheaths his bladea and moves to the bewildered creature. Your blood will stain my blade no matter what face you wear. Thomas mutters as he rushes the creature, blade exposed and ready to slice into the flesh of the beast.


Attack: [roll0] Edit: forgot to add 5 to that...hope a 12 hits
Damage+ Sneak Attack: [roll1][roll2]

[Sir_Chivalry]

Thomas looks at the field and how his handywork litters it. The zealoty has killedthe judges qand now himself ahs put himself in a position to be defeatwed simply. Thomas seaks to press the advantage. He unsheaths his bladea and moves to the bewildered creature. Your blood will stain my blade no matter what face you wear. Thomas mutters as he rushes the creature, blade exposed and ready to slice into the flesh of the beast.


Attack: [roll0] Edit: forgot to add 5 to that...hope a 12 hits
Damage+ Sneak Attack: [roll1][roll2]


Thomas misses wide on his stab.

[Sir_Chivalry]

The Zealot swings out with his chain at Cat, Kalypso, Nevare and Thomas. All of them duck easily. The Zealot is frustrated!:smallannoyed:

[Samfool]

Laughing as he punches at the man, he reaches clear around Sedge and attacks.


Another Flurry!
Attack
[roll0]
Damage
[roll1]

Attack
[roll2]
Damage
[roll3]

Attack
[roll4]
Damage
[roll5]

Attack
[roll6]
Damage
[roll7]

[HeadlessMermaid]

Marie keeps weaving her story, but at the same time points to the ground beneath the Zealot's feet. And the ground turns to slippery mud.

Keep performing for Inspire Greatness.

Standard action, cast Grease at L1-M1. (Can cast spells while performing with Melodic Casting.) Zealot makes Ref save 18 or falls. Don't step in there.

The Fugue is no more, since it did no good, and no one except PollyOliver payed attention to the damn thing anyway. :smalltongue: (Entirely my fault, since I failed to specify the exact area.)

Samfool, you are Hasted like the rest of us (we're on Round 4 of 11). You get +1 to hit and an extra attack, among other things.

[Kurai]

Her rage cooled and the smell of burning flesh in the air placating the blind woman, she seems to have lost interest in the Zealot. Instead she 'looks' on for a moment, watching with other senses how the men hack away at the strange creature.

Then, as if that got boring as well, Kalypso turns and runs the few feet down to the bear, the smell telling her that it was still Cat underneath the thick fur.
"They won't hurt you anymore," Kalypso says with pride, one hand touching the warm flank. "I made sure they burn."
Warmth floods from her hand into the bear at the same time the winds around her body calm and cease, as if finding their protégée in enough safety for the moment.


Ending Gust Armor
Movement: Somewhere next to Cat
Standard Action: Lesser Vitalize (Heal 25 hp)

[ToySoldierCPlus]

Nevare dives, flips and rolls his way past Tiago, Sedge, and the Zealot, coming up next to Sedge and plunging his blade into the Zealot's flank.

Tumble check to move through Tiago and the Zealot: [roll0]
Tumbling through the Zealot's square sets off my Acrobatic Backstab Skill Trick, so it is flat-footed against my next attack.
Balance check to move through Grease: [roll1]
Attack against the Zealot: [roll2]
Damage: [roll3]

EDIT: Dangit, I can't touch this thing, even when I'm not taking any penalties. Also, not that it makes a difference, I forgot the Haste effect again, so that should be 23.

[Sir_Chivalry]

Marie keeps weaving her story, but at the same time points to the ground beneath the Zealot's feet. And the ground turns to slippery mud.

Keep performing for Inspire Greatness.

Standard action, cast Grease at L1-M1. (Can cast spells while performing with Melodic Casting.) Zealot makes Ref save 18 or falls. Don't step in there.

The Fugue is no more, since it did no good, and no one except PollyOliver payed attention to the damn thing anyway. :smalltongue: (Entirely my fault, since I failed to specify the exact area.)

Samfool, you are Hasted like the rest of us (we're on Round 4 of 11). You get +1 to hit and an extra attack, among other things.

The Zealot slips and falls.


Her rage cooled and the smell of burning flesh in the air placating the blind woman, she seems to have lost interest in the Zealot. Instead she 'looks' on for a moment, watching with other senses how the men hack away at the strange creature.

Then, as if that got boring as well, Kalypso turns and runs the few feet down to the bear, the smell telling her that it was still Cat underneath the thick fur.
"They won't hurt you anymore," Kalypso says with pride, one hand touching the warm flank. "I made sure they burn."
Warmth floods from her hand into the bear at the same time the winds around her body calm and cease, as if finding their protégée in enough safety for the moment.


Ending Gust Armor
Movement: Somewhere next to Cat
Standard Action: Lesser Vitalize (Heal 25 hp)




Nevare dives, flips and rolls his way past Tiago, Sedge, and the Zealot, coming up next to Sedge and plunging his blade into the Zealot's flank.

Tumble check to move through Tiago and the Zealot: [roll0]
Tumbling through the Zealot's square sets off my Acrobatic Backstab Skill Trick, so it is flat-footed against my next attack.
Balance check to move through Grease: [roll1]
Attack against the Zealot: [roll2]
Damage: [roll3]

EDIT: Dangit, I can't touch this thing, even when I'm not taking any penalties. Also, not that it makes a difference, I forgot the Haste effect again, so that should be 23.

I count a hit actually. Prone (he was before, but I forgot, oops) flanking, and his ac is dropped by 2 due to Tiago's black hound. That puts his AC at 28 and your attack at 29. 22 damage:smallbiggrin:

Blood explodes over Nevare's face as he stabs into the Zealot's neck.

[PollyOliver]

Cat sways on her feet, paws slippery with blood—both the knights’ and her own. Dazed as she is, and buried in the strange almost-calm roar of battle, she hardly notices when the small woman begins to speak. But the story wraps around her like the tendrils of a vine, lifting her, and suddenly her flagging body seems to pick itself up. She straightens, the muscles bunching beneath her skin as she prepares for one more, desperate lunge forward, and when Kalypso lays a healing hand on her fur she is feeling almost well again.

She flings herself forward onto the last foe, roaring in defiance.


Sedge attacks again.
[roll0] [roll1] [roll2]
[roll3] [roll4] [roll5]

I think I've been occasionally forgetting sanctify natural attack bonuses for both of them. Oh well. I think I've managed to include both here.

Cat charges forward ten feet, stopping just short of the zealot and grease, and full attacks. With IG up and fugue no longer active, and the charge:
[roll6] [roll7]
[roll8] [roll9]
[roll10] [roll11]
[roll12] [roll13]

Not trying to grapple, since we're all trying to swing at him.

[Sir_Chivalry]

Before Cat can make it to the Zealot, he falls, his body slumping to the ground.

Encounter over. Good job everyone.

[PollyOliver]

Cat springs forward, poised to land on the creature, but it falls. She skids to a halt and looks up; the fight is over. She fixes the image of her human body in her mind, and flows back into her true form. She staggers for a moment, briefly feeling very weak compared to the great bear, but catches herself on her walking stick and then straightens.

Her eyes fly first to Kalypso and Sedge, but they seem to be okay. Sedge trots to her side, and she scratches his ears and smiles.

"Thank you" she says to Kalypso and the other woman, and then looks round at the broader group, pushing up her sleeves. "Are you all right?" she asks. "Is anyone injured?"

[Kurai]

Kalypso, sitting back on her haunches with a distracted, happy line around her mouth, touches the still raw cut on her cheek when Cat speaks to her. It's the only wound left over from her fight with the Zealot, but it seems she doesn't care really much about the pain, so she doesn't answer.

"They burn, burn, burn," she sing-songs, seemingly lost in her own world for the moment, "and blood is all we earn."

Interested in the blood clinging to her sickle, some of it having run down her hand, she sniffs at it. Tentatively, the blonde licks at the sticky substance with primal curiosity.

[Samfool]

Laughing heartily, not even bothering to wipe the blood off his fists and face, he turns to the one whom he challenged before.

"Now what would you do if I truly was with crown?" The large man barks, searching of the dead man over.


Search Check
[roll0]

[Sir_Chivalry]

Laughing heartily, not even bothering to wipe the blood off his fists and face, he turns to the one whom he challenged before.

"Now what would you do if I truly was with crown?" The large man barks, searching of the dead man over.


Search Check
[roll0]


You find a garnet.

[ToySoldierCPlus]

Nevare steps back out of the grease, away from the zealot's body. He plunges one sword into the ground, then pulls out a cloth and wipes the other down before resheathing it and repeating the process with the first sword. Once both are clean and in their sheathes, he pulls out a secodn cloth and wipes the blood off his face, then focuses and meditates for a moment, readying his maneuvers again, so as not to be caught unawares. He then turns to look at Nokai.

"I'd start by wondering why you attacked the judges. But I think the more pressing question is why you claimed to be with the crown, when you clearly aren't?" Nevare offers the cloth to Nokai, so he can clean himself up a bit.

[HeadlessMermaid]

The half-told tale fades to silence, and with a flick of the wrist, the slippery mud is no more. Marie seems concerned about injuries as much as the (former) bear lady, but when she hears the enormous man's laughter, she pauses. She walks slowly towards the group, nods politely to the women - though one of them apparently can't see her - and merrily addresses the men.

"Gentlemen!" she says, smiling radiantly. "Every single one of you is a brave and valiant warrior, a gallant champion for freedom, a mighty defender of the downtrodden, and a complete..." (the smile starts fading away) "... and utter..." (and is promptly replaced by a furious scowl) "...FOOL!"

Fists clenched, Marie strides towards them in a flurry of skirt and cloak, like a lofty ship with her sails flapping in the wind. The wild look in her eyes indicates that she's about to smack someone, but she stops abruptly in front of the group, puts her hands on her waist and starts shouting. If anyone has ever been relentlessly scolded by his mother, he now has every reason to experience relevant flashbacks.

"Are you boys actively trying to get killed? And take bystanders with you to your doom? Or are you so goddamn THICK that you expected to survive this? Because let me tell you, it is a MIRACLE we survived this, and miracles don't happen every day! And you think this is FUNNY?"

And then she turns to the lad who started it all (OOC: Nevare), one hand still on her waist, the other pointing a finger to his face and moving madly around.

"First, you! Declaring you're no friend to the King in broad daylight and in the presence of unknown men, and then challenging Judges! Are you daft? Have you the slightest comprehension of how the world works? Do you realize how lucky you are to be alive and in one piece? Because let me tell you, if we weren't around by sheer, blind LUCK, and if that Zealot weren't happy to attack the Judges first chance he got, again by sheer, blind LUCK, right now you would be laying in your own blood and chocking on your own guts!"

:smile:
That was a big big smile to remind you that all this scolding is IC exclusive, and OOC we are still friends. Marie is used to playing the Mom's role, and she will try that, one way or another (at least with the boys), if you let her.

I think that this can lead to interesting interactions among the characters, and that it can be fun without being silly. But, if this behavior annoys you as players, please let me know, and I'll find a reason for her to lay off your back. :)

[PollyOliver]

Cat looks back down at Kalypso, licking at the bloodied sickle, and sighs.

"That's probably not very good for you, child," she says. "And it can't taste good." She holds out one hand and gently presses it to the wound on her cheek, concentrating.

"There," she says. "That should be better in a little while. Is anyone else injured?" she repeats.

Lesser vigor on Kalypso. Fast healing 1 for 15 rounds, plus 2 hp from augment healing.

[Samfool]

Nokai chuckles to himself at the shouting fit that just happened. Pocketing the garnet, he walks over to the next body and searches that one as well. He would have addressed the question aimed at him, but obviously the angry woman wanted a piece of him first..


Search Check
[roll0]

Anyone wondering what made him large? I mean.. the drunk man just doubled in size..

[Mazeburn]

Tiago brushes blood out of his eyes, breathing heavily from the combat. Eyes still fixed on the dead Zealot, he hefts the axe up once more and brings it down straight into the dead creature's face. It strikes down with a wet splatter, showering the black ichor at boot-level.

"Stay dead, this time, you bastard," he growls, then starts wiping down the axe blade on a piece of stained cloth hanging from his belt.

The huge black dog steps through the body, joining Tiago at his side. The man reaches down and ruffles the monster's ears; though barely canine by anyone's standards, it responds amicably enough. Then his hand drifts to his wound again.

"Nothing that won't heal on its own, bear-girl, but thankyou," he replies. Then he turns to Marie, who seems to him to be having some kind of tantrum. She's small enough that he could probably pick her up and put her in some very high tree until she shuts up, which was exactly what he'd done to his wife on occasions when she had been annoyingly vocal. But he has an inclination that for all her mouthiness, this girl had been useful during the fight, and it probably wouldn't improve the situation any more.

"Calm down," he mutters. "I say the murders in broad daylight are going to earn us enough attention without you screechin' like a banshee."

[Kurai]

Kalypso squirms like a child getting its face cleaned, but doesn't pull away. Then she smacks her lips a few times and grimaces deeply. "Bad blood. Not good for eating." She spits, then tilts her head almost comically at the other woman's loud rant.

Huddling closer to Cat, Kalypso raises her face up to her. "She's loud," the young woman says, as if unsure if to be afraid or confused, "I don't like loud. Unless it's a storm." She smiles brightly. "I like storms."

Suddenly she storms off, running around and in circles as carefree as someone can be.

[ToySoldierCPlus]

Nevare hasn't quite processed that that's an odd occurrence. It'll hit him in a second.

Nevare looks Marie directly in the eye in response to her tirade. "Fine, you're right, it was rash of me to challenge them like that, especially when I didn't have any guarantee of support. I have my... reasons... His voice trails off for a moment, lost in a painful memory. He shakes his head and focuses back on Marie. "That said, I had no idea those things were in that alley, or just what they were. I'm still not entirely sure what we just killed." Nevare gestures to the town around him. "And one way or another, I'm not going to stand idly by while the crown wipes out any town it pleases. If we hadn't interfered, all of the people here would likely be dead now. And I will not apologize for acting to protect others from our mad king." Dropping his voice, Nevare mutters, "But you have a point. I can't rescue her if I'm dead, and that needs to be my first priority."

[Frozen Messiah]

Thomas falls down ot one knee, finally the damage that he suffered by the Judges comes into full realization. Thomas spits out a bit ofblood not listening to the ranting of the woman. He stands up to full heigth and surveys the battle feild. "Excuse me, Nokai is it? Can you find a shovel because we need to hide these bodies." Thomas says to the massive man as he feels for broken ribs. He looks towards all of the people whom he had fought with and one thought went through his mind, They will do nicely

[ToySoldierCPlus]

Nevare glances over at Thomas, and sees him bleeding profusely. "Uh, Miss Bear? I think this gent might need some healing, if you have a moment." Nevare then looks over at the bodies. "Why don't we just burn them? It'd be faster than digging a hole." As he says this, he starts looking for a shovel as well, figuring that the bleeding man has a point.

[Kurai]

Having just passed Nevare in her jumping and running around, wild blond hair flying freely, Kalypso laughs and repeats "Burn! Burn!" with as much glee as she can muster.

[Samfool]

"Have you ever smelt a burning body boy?"
Says Nokai in a somber tone,
"Besides, they have metal on them, that doesnt melt well."

[ToySoldierCPlus]

"We could take the metal and sell it. Or better yet, use it to arm some of the resistance. Supplies are short enough as it is." Nevare wrinkles his nose. "I haven't smelt a burning human before, but there was a fire in my village once. A man's barn caught fire. He lost three cows and a horse. The smell was awful. I only suggest it because it'd be faster than digging a hole."

[Samfool]

"We could take the metal and sell it. Or better yet, use it to arm some of the resistance. Supplies are short enough as it is." Nevare wrinkles his nose. "I haven't smelt a burning human before, but there was a fire in my village once. A man's barn caught fire. He lost three cows and a horse. The smell was awful. I only suggest it because it'd be faster than digging a hole."

"You dont think much do you?" Nokai sighs, "If we set fire to the bodies, then that will attract guards or knights or the like to make sure everything is going alright."

"Also, the chaps in this building here" he mutters, jabbing a thumb in the direction of the Inn, "They wont appreciate that smell any more than you did when that man was burnt alive. We are all criminals, and they will treat us as such. Even if more of these men come, the inn keep will blab exactly what he saw."

Standing and facing his new "friend", Nokai finishes by saying, "Unless you want to kill the poor bastard, we are caught. We need to get out of here now, so I suggest you grab those horses."

[PollyOliver]

Cat moves quickly to the side of the nobleman and places one hand on his shoulder, concentrating. Healing energy flows through her hands and into him.

"I think you may be forgetting," she says as she works, "that the townsfolk are just as much criminals as we are, now. They were doomed, and now we've killed five of the king's...things, in their defense. If anything they are in more danger now. If we flee, they will be dead or worse when what happened here gets out. We must at least make sure they know to leave as well."

She focuses again, closing her eyes, and tries to ease the worst of his wounds.

Tough of healing brings Thomas up to half HP. Lesser restoration for the point of CON damage, plus 6 hp from augment healing. Mass cure light wounds heals [roll0] on Thomas and [roll1] on Cat with augment healing, and we'll see where that leaves us.

[ToySoldierCPlus]

"You have a point, uh... I don't think I caught your name--" Nevare suddenly cuts himself off and looks at Noaki. "Weren't you smaller?"

[Samfool]

"You have a point, uh... I don't think I caught your name--" Nevare suddenly cuts himself off and looks at Noaki. "Weren't you smaller?"

Haaha! I see someone noticed! Nokai boasts. He looks down upon the man and says, "My name is Nokai, the Giant, and a great mage gave me this form. In order to become like one of you, I have to use this magic trinket, a wand if you will."

[Kurai]

Kalypso stops, rolls a bit on the balls of her feet and tilts her head.

"But we're the mouses, right? And the king's the cat? And if they are the cats, don't they want the mouses and not the bugs? Mouses run, mouses hide, then the bugs are..." She scrunches up her nose. "Or maybe cats like bugs more? I haven't talked to a cat yet."

Ambling over to Sedge, she tilts her head down to him as if expecting him to answer like a perfectly educated human being. "Do you like bugs more than mouses? I don't like bugs."

[Mazeburn]

"Tch, amateurs," mutters Tiago, smiling. "You guys act like you've never had to dispose of an impromptu corpse before. We've got lots of options. Chop them up and hide 'em in some barrels, drop 'em in a river if there is one... Or better yet, there has to be a rag-and-bones man in a town like this. Distract him and dump 'em in with his wagon. That would give us enough time to get away, certainly... But to be honest, I say we just skip town."

He trails off, and glances at Cat. "Don't tell me you're a moralist or something. The townsfolk are likely going to die if we warn them or not. There's nowhere for 'em to run, especially - the wilderness'd kill 'em, and even if they do find somewhere the King's forces won't be long in finding it too."

With that, Tiago turns and starts to walk towards one of the horses. Raising his hand, he attempts to stroke its nose.

Handle animal: 1d20+6

[Mazeburn]

Sorry, keep screwing up rolls. xP

Handle animal: [roll0]

[Samfool]

"Tch, amateurs," mutters Tiago, smiling. "You guys act like you've never had to dispose of an impromptu corpse before. We've got lots of options. Chop them up and hide 'em in some barrels, drop 'em in a river if there is one... Or better yet, there has to be a rag-and-bones man in a town like this. Distract him and dump 'em in with his wagon. That would give us enough time to get away, certainly... But to be honest, I say we just skip town."

He trails off, and glances at Cat. "Don't tell me you're a moralist or something. The townsfolk are likely going to die if we warn them or not. There's nowhere for 'em to run, especially - the wilderness'd kill 'em, and even if they do find somewhere the King's forces won't be long in finding it too."

With that, Tiago turns and starts to walk towards one of the horses. Raising his hand, he attempts to stroke its nose.

Handle animal: [roll0]

Nokai laughs again and says loudly "I like this man! He is rational. Get the horses! Lets get out of here.."

[ToySoldierCPlus]

"Interesting. A mage made you a giant. That's a story I haven't heard before." Nevare chuckles. "I like that. That's a good story. The name, as I'm sure you've gathered by now, is Nevare." Nevare offers his hand for Nokai to shake.

[PollyOliver]

"Moralist?" Cat asks, thinking of the oath she once made, and broke--and how she probably didn't break it far enough. Damned both ways, she was. "Hardly. I'm a healer. I keep people alive, and there's more than one way to do that. It's much easier to act before the hammer falls than after." She straightens, feeling much better now, but still not quite right, and presses the palm of her hand to her own chest, focusing, letting the healing energy flow through her.

"There's a town north of here, on the New Solsmere side. They might be safe there. It might be a hard journey, and they might not make it, but it's better than waiting for certain death. Much better, if we help them with some simple preparations. If we can spare the time to bury the dead, surely we can spare a few minutes to help living."


Another lesser restoration, [roll0] CON damage healed on Cat, plus 4 hp (sorry, the last one should have also done 4 hp, I thought it was a level 3 spell for some reason).

[ToySoldierCPlus]

"I agree. We can't abandon these people. The king wants them wiped out, he's not going to stop because one group of judges was eliminated. If anything, that'll only make him more determined." Nevare looks at Cat. "The only problem is actually convincing the people to leave. In my experience, people prefer doing things the easy way. Even when their friends and families are on the line..."

[Sir_Chivalry]

Search Check
[roll0]

Anyone wondering what made him large? I mean.. the drunk man just doubled in size..


If the zealot: You find another garnet, same cut
If one of the judges: you find a small pocket watch that only counts hours. It seems to be two hours away from noon/midnight. It is neither of those times right now. The watch seems to have broken in the fight.

[Samfool]

If the zealot: You find another garnet, same cut
If one of the judges: you find a small pocket watch that only counts hours. It seems to be two hours away from noon/midnight. It is neither of those times right now. The watch seems to have broken in the fight.

Ima search the next one anyways!

[roll1d20[/roll]

"Good to make your aquatinance" Nokai says, smile as enlarged as the rest of him. Accepting the handshake, he continues to the next body and begins searching it.

[Sir_Chivalry]

Ima search the next one anyways!

[roll1d20[/roll]

"Good to make your aquatinance" Nokai says, smile as enlarged as the rest of him. Accepting the handshake, he continues to the next body and begins searching it.

Search check:[roll0]

You find the watch.

[Samfool]

Search check:[roll0]

You find the watch.

Thanks! xD


"Unless you want to strip the corpses, lets get going!" Nokai says, getting almost impatient, "I can run as fast as any horse, so I will stay on foot. The rest should grab some sort of steed.."

[ToySoldierCPlus]

"What about the people? Are we going to warn them?"

[HeadlessMermaid]

"Calm down," he mutters. "I say the murders in broad daylight are going to earn us enough attention without you screechin' like a banshee."
Marie looks at the man with the axe as if she's about to say something very clever and offensive, but instead she stops huffing and puffing, and composes herself. In all fairness, he has a point. "Hmmf. Quite right." she grants him.

She looks at the mayhem around her, and shakes her head in dismay. The boy she had just scolded seemed at the same time repentant and completely ready to do the exact same thing next time. Everyone was vigorously disagreeing with everyone else. And around them all, a feral child was prancing about unconcerned.

Oh for gods sake, we'll sort this out later. We have more pressing matters.

She folds her arms in front of her and begins explaining, calmly this time.

"Well. Allow me to shed some light on what just happened here, because some of you seem to lack information. First. The knights were Judges, in the process of "purging" towns. If they were still alive, this town would have burned already. Or rather choked to death. These Judges are equipped with useful trinkets and dangerous trinkets. Those of you who pocketed whatever you found on their bodies, for your own sake I hope you know what you took." Marie glares at them at this point, but takes a deep breath and continues.

"Second. Their Order is stationed at Isa Ophan, which is perilously close, and they will send a second wave of in a couple of days. We don't have to start running like rabbits, but we don't have a lot of time. If they find the bodies, they will be able to draw all sorts of conclusions about how they died. This is bad. So, we burn them. And no, Nokai the Giant (she spits the word in an incomprehensibly insulting tone) "the smell won't magically reach Isa Ophan before the second wave arrives anyway, and no one else is coming."

"Third. The town cannot be saved, but the people might. There's one simple way to warn them safely. By a staggering coincidence, this way also gets us information about the roads and passages around here, and provisions, and blessings for a safe journey to boot, since we just saved their collective butts." And she points to the inn. "If no one objects, I'll go knock on that door now."

[ToySoldierCPlus]

Nevare looks at Marie. Well, she certainly seems to know what she's talking about. "By all means, if you can think of a way to save the townsfolk, go for it. I do have two other questions, though. One, what exactly where those blind things in the alley? Like I said, I'm still not fully clear on that. Second, and this may be slightly more important, how do you know all of this?"

[HeadlessMermaid]

"By all means, if you can think of a way to save the townsfolk, go for it. I do have two other questions, though. One, what exactly where those blind things in the alley? Like I said, I'm still not fully clear on that.
Marie sighs. "They are called Zealots and they were men once... But they are, sort of, fused with fiends, you understand? They have a voice inside them that urges them, relentlessly, to kill everything in their path. Some of them can drown an entire city in poisonous fumes. Others can sprout chains from their arms and chop you to pieces. There may be more varieties. I gather that they live in constant torment. At least these here were, they seemed to find great relief in death.

Oh, and by the way, the Judges must have had something on their persons that prevented the Zealots from attacking them, something that obviously stopped working. But the one that our assassin gutted earlier must have his intact. Be a good lad and search for it. I don't know what it looks like, but we can compare the Judges' equipment and figure it out."


"Second, and this may be slightly more important, how do you know all of this?"
And finally, Marie smiles. "Son, I'm a storyteller. Storytellers don't just tell stories. They share them."
She realizes that this doesn't sound at all reassuring, but she beams with pride nonetheless.

[ToySoldierCPlus]

"Yeah, that is by far the least reassuring thing anyone has ever said to me. Ah well, I happen to like stories, so I'd be happy to listen to any you'd care to share later, once we've gotten things taken care of here." Nevare heads over to the judge Thomas executed and begins rifling through her armor, clothes, and any bags or pouches she might have on her. "You think whatever it is will still work if we run into more Zealots?"

Taking 20 searching the judge that Thomas shanked, for a result of 22.

[Sir_Chivalry]

"Yeah, that is by far the least reassuring thing anyone has ever said to me. Ah well, I happen to like stories, so I'd be happy to listen to any you'd care to share later, once we've gotten things taken care of here." Nevare heads over to the judge Thomas executed and begins rifling through her armor, clothes, and any bags or pouches she might have on her. "You think whatever it is will still work if we run into more Zealots?"

Taking 20 searching the judge that Thomas shanked, for a result of 22.

You find a small blue-green crystal.

[PollyOliver]

Cat digests the woman's words, not speaking. When she is confident the conversation is turning in the right direction, she makes her way over to the horses where the man with the axe is standing.

"Sedge, stay with Kalypso," she murmurs, not wanting to risk the dog spooking them.

She approaches slowly, shoulders relaxed, and speaks soothingly.

"Hello, boy," she murmurs to the nearest one, holding her hand out for it to sniff before she tries to touch it. "Sorry about all the noise." Then she gently lays a hand on its neck.


Wild empathy [roll0]

[Frozen Messiah]

"Tch, amateurs," mutters Tiago, smiling. "You guys act like you've never had to dispose of an impromptu corpse before. We've got lots of options. Chop them up and hide 'em in some barrels, drop 'em in a river if there is one... Or better yet, there has to be a rag-and-bones man in a town like this. Distract him and dump 'em in with his wagon. That would give us enough time to get away, certainly... But to be honest, I say we just skip town."


"I am glad that you have some experience in the matter, would you like to show us your expertise instead of talking about how good you are at?" Thomas says nervously as he checks around the place looking for any more troops. The information that was given by Marie has heightened his anxiety. "This is a botched kill and thus we have to get moving, we can talk on the way I am just saying we need to get moving quickly."

[ToySoldierCPlus]

Nevare examines the crystal, then clenches it in his fist and heads over to show Marie. "Do you think this is it?"

[Kurai]

Unconcerned with the hustel around her, Kalypso plops down on the ground, hands stroking the soft fur on the dog. She purrs softly, as soft things beneath her hand are the equivalent of something beautiful, colorful. Not that she would know what colors are.

[Mazeburn]

"I am glad that you have some experience in the matter, would you like to show us your expertise instead of talking about how good you are at?" Thomas says nervously as he checks around the place looking for any more troops. The information that was given by Marie has heightened his anxiety. "This is a botched kill and thus we have to get moving, we can talk on the way I am just saying we need to get moving quickly."

Scowling, Tiago turns back from the horses and approaches Thomas, fixing him with a cold stare, made all the worse by the blood and scars on his face.

"First thing you have to know about me, I do not take orders from some damn stuffed shirt who won't get his frock-coat dirty. If you ever try and speak to me like that again, you'll find just where my expertise lie," he snaps, instantly turning savage. "But alright, I say we burn 'em. That way, maybe the stinking flesh might drive the idiots from their homes. If you're insisting on warning them, go and find the town crier and give him word. You might have to slip him a coin, but I expect he'll do it."

Walking to the Judges' corpses, Tiago grabs two of them and starts forming a pile just off the path by the tavern.

"If anyone wants to help, go and look for a barrel of tar somewhere. There might be some around the inn, or a shop nearby."

[Sir_Chivalry]

Cat digests the woman's words, not speaking. When she is confident the conversation is turning in the right direction, she makes her way over to the horses where the man with the axe is standing.

"Sedge, stay with Kalypso," she murmurs, not wanting to risk the dog spooking them.

She approaches slowly, shoulders relaxed, and speaks soothingly.

"Hello, boy," she murmurs to the nearest one, holding her hand out for it to sniff before she tries to touch it. "Sorry about all the noise." Then she gently lays a hand on its neck.


Wild empathy [roll0]

The horse breathes out loudly and lowers its head, nuzzling Cat's arm.

[Samfool]

"First thing you have to know about me, I do not take orders from some damn stuffed shirt who won't get his frock-coat dirty. If you ever try and speak to me like that again, you'll find just where my expertise lie," he snaps, instantly turning savage.

Nokai found this hilarious, as he was lifting one of the bodies to throw it into the pile, he began laughing hysterically, "Now there is a warrior!"

After throwing one of the dead off to the side, he comes back to hear,



"If anyone wants to help, go and look for a barrel of tar somewhere. There might be some around the inn, or a shop nearby."

"Tar eh? Alright, I am on it." He says, looking about for a quick moment. He stops to ponder for a moment and then says, "Where are we going after this if I may ask? Or what I mean to say is, has anyone thought that far?"

[PollyOliver]

Cat smiles at the horse, murmuring softly to it and rubbing its neck.

"There's a good fellow," she says softly, before she moves onto the next horse, still talking in a soft voice.

"And you too," she says, holding her hand out to it briefly before moving to caress it as well. She pets this horse briefly, talking softly, and then moves to the final one, that the man with the axe had been beside. She holds her hand out to it as well.

"You boys are well-trained, aren't you? And smart, and brave, not to spook from all that."

Then she turns back to the group, speaking to the large man but keeping her voice low so the horses will stay calm.

"I plan to help get these townsfolk moving, if we can. After that...well, unless you've a different idea, the same destination sounds just as inviting. We can hardly head for Isa Ophan, after all, and we can hardly stay here. While I wouldn't mind taking to the wilderness myself, I have no reason not to accompany them.

Edit: brain fail, I'll roll in the other thread. Whoops.
Wild empathy [1d20+14] and [1d20+14] on the other horses.

[Mazeburn]

Nodding his thanks to the Giant, Tiago drags the last of the bodies into the pile.

"Woah, woah, hold your horses," he says, glancing up at Cat. "Uh. Pun not intended. Look, I suppose we can travel together till we're outta harm's way, I suppose you can warn the town if you really want. But there is no chance of me playing escort. Townsfolk like this won't have walked a day in their lives, not over rough terrain and nor with whatever hoardes of bandits are inevitably waiting for us out on the open roads. There'll be women, children, the old, the sick - we just don't have the time for that. Every day, the king's forces grow stronger, more able, more effective. Bastards like this-" he kicks the Kyton Zealot roughly. "-springing up out of nowhere, like maggots on a corpse. The only choice we have is to move fast, and move fast, or we're as weak as those we protect. Who's with me?"

[PollyOliver]

"Move fast to where, precisely?" Cat asks idly, still patting the horse's neck. "And do what once you get there? You can move as fast as the wind, but if you don't have a plan...." She shakes her head. "And speaking of the wind, I have a few tricks that might help. I can help the young and infirm keep up with the rest of the group...or the rest of the group keep up with us, if there are few enough. But I suppose 'us' is presuming; I have no interest in telling you what to do. How many people do you estimate are in this town, anyway?"

[Sir_Chivalry]

All three horses react favourably towards Cat, and seem anxious to be off. However, on the note of speed, they are wearing platemail barding . . .

[Frozen Messiah]

Scowling, Tiago turns back from the horses and approaches Thomas, fixing him with a cold stare, made all the worse by the blood and scars on his face.

"First thing you have to know about me, I do not take orders from some damn stuffed shirt who won't get his frock-coat dirty. If you ever try and speak to me like that again, you'll find just where my expertise lie," he snaps, instantly turning savage.

"Well you would be the first person I would talk to about being dirty." Thomas says with a small smile. "We can't help the people, the best thing that we can do is to leave this place beacuse the if the judges came here in search of a reason to destroy the town there is even more now. If we move than maybe they will put more of their forces on the pursuit than towards the town." Thomas asyas as he moves closer to Cat, "Excuse me are those safe to ride?" Thomas says as he point to the horses.

[Mazeburn]

"Well, anywhere but here, for a start. And after that... Well, I dare say I have a plan. It might not be the smartest one ever, but all I know is that I'm tired of chased like a rat from town to town by the whims of a madman. Don't get me wrong, I don't want to get stuck politicking, but what we have right here is no way to live. It's tiring, demeaning, and damn it, impossible to get a good lay. Before anyone tells me how dangerous rev'lutionry talk is, I've got no inclination to do any talking when there's acting that can be done," Tiago replies, staring levelly at Cat. "So, what I'm going to do is first, is burn these bodies. Then, I'll take one of those charming horses - I'm sure you don't need three - and ride out to the next sign of civilisation. Then I'm going to work out how I can get close enough to, if I can, make the king sign his own death warrant. I think that would be very funny. And anyone who doesn't get my sense of humour is very welcome to stay behind."

Ignoring Thomas's comment, Tiago starts searching around the side of the inn for tar, liquor or anything that might make the bodies burn better.

Search check, [roll0]

[ToySoldierCPlus]

"You people are going to think I'm nuts, if you don't already, but do you think it would be possible for us to lead the secondary force on a wild goose chase? We could warn the townsfolk to escape, and then cover their retreat by leading whatever clean-up crew Isa Ophan sends in the wrong direction." Nevare glances at the others' faces. "If we traveled light, the few of us could stay ahead of the larger force of Judges. Once the people are safe, all we would need to do is throw the Judges off our trail, and then head for that town in New Solsmere. If we were to split into two groups, one to escort the townsfolk and one to lure the Judges away, I think we'd have a shot."

[PollyOliver]

When Nevare speaks, Cat mulls it over for moment.

"Perhaps," she muses. "I can hide a trail, and well, but I am not prepared to do that today for more than a handful of people. But if it is a plan that people will agree to, I will do what I can to help make it work."

She turns to the other men, the ones who would flee. She takes a deep breath, keeping her voice calm and even as she continues.

"Frankly, there is no logical reason not to at least try help them, unless you object to the very idea of aiding those in need," Cat says to the one with the axe. "If you intend to head toward the nearest site of civilization, there are two real options--Isa Ophan and New Solsmere. The first will see you dead, if you are truly wanted. The second is where I intend to go anyway. Again, I can help them move more quickly than they would normally be able to, if they agree to come. If they do not, the point is moot. The lady said we have some time. So why do you object to spending a few minutes of it seeing if we could help? They'd be going in the same direction anyway."

[HeadlessMermaid]

"So, what I'm going to do is first, is burn these bodies."
Wait! I want to check something first. I've heard say that the Judges wear magical belts that can heal them. That would be very useful, no?
Marie walks towards the corpses, and kneels beside them. If they indeed wear belts, she'll take them, and attempt to figure out their function. She does the same with the crystal that Nevare has given her.

No idea how to deal with this mechanically. Ummm...
belt: Use Magic Device [roll0]
crystal: Use Magic Device [roll1]


"We could warn the townsfolk to escape, and then cover their retreat by leading whatever clean-up crew Isa Ophan sends in the wrong direction."
My dear boy, if you know how to cover the trail of an entire town emigrating, you are very wise indeed. I, for one, have no idea how to do that. Any suggestions? Or shouldn't I let my pretty little head worry about such trifle things?

[ToySoldierCPlus]

"I was actually thinking of something more along the lines of making them want to ignore any trail left by the townsfolk. The bear-lady, whose name I don't believe I've caught just yet, said she can cover a trail for a handful. That's a start. I say we gather as many of the townsfolk who are willing to leave as we can, then head out in the direction of that town over the border. Once we're in the woods, we split into smaller groups. The bear-lady and her companion take as many of the townsfolk as she can hide, mostly the slow and infirm. The rest of us split into two or three groups, with the faster townsfolk and those who can wield weapons. These smaller groups split off from the main group, and head in two different directions, one towards New Solsmere, the other in any direction that does not lead to here, Isa Ophan, or any of the other groups. The judges can't follow three groups enmasse, and they won't likely go after what appears to be a very small group when there are two clearly larger groups, most likely the townsfolk, fleeing in different directions. We buy each group one day, and then turn and head for New Solsmere, to the town over the border. If we move soon, we can get quite the headstart on the clean-up crew."

[PollyOliver]

"Unless," Cat says quietly, "they think that small group is us. Who they most definitely will want to follow. And you can call me Cat." She shakes her head. "I can do any number of things with trails and speeds, but what I really need to know right now is how many people it is we're trying to move."

[ToySoldierCPlus]

"Well, if that's your concern, then this gets even easier. You help the large group get across the border, I and anyone else who is willing will take a roundabout route that buys you an extra day or two while they follow us. We can keep ahead of them by being the smaller group with the head start. This can be made to work, and we can save all of these people without any more killing." That's what Buel would want me to do, fix this without killing anyone else. I think I can do that.

[Kurai]

Kalypso let her scarred face be warmed by sun's rays, fingers still combing through soft fur. "All this talk of speed and destinations," she murmurs, "but they all don't know how the woods and rocks whisper and flow. How to step quick and light and unhindered." Holding up a finger, the blonde lectures to the dog, looking as very self-important as a five-year-old while doing so.

"But we, we know how to listen and be quick like the fey." She laughs light-heartedly. "Why choose destinations if the land is free?"

But suddenly her mouth draws down in a frown and her free hand grabs her temple as if in pain or thought. As if remembering something. "But it's not free? Someone making things difficult and strained and encaging, like creeper?" Her voice turns sad. "I don't like him," Kalypso murmurs mostly to herself.

[Frozen Messiah]

"People, people, now it is heart warming all of this talk about asving an entire town but I do believe that would just extend their suffering. If they stay here than they have a chance of hiding in cellars and under floorboards, out in the wild they will get found in territory that isn't theres. All that the knights need to do is get some bountyhunters, oh and I know there will be bounty hunters, and we are lost. Lets get to New Solsmere, it can't be snuffed out like this town." Thomas says growing increasingly uneasy as the conversation has grown to lenghty for his tastes, if it were his choice he would have already been gone. These people need to learn to have a killer instinct or they will never get ahead in life Thomas thinks to himself as he glances around the area for anything that may allow them to get on the move.

[PollyOliver]

"Forgive me," Cat says slowly, as she thinks her way back through his words, "but that doesn't really make any sense. Clearly these Judges have access so some magic. Hiding under floorboards would see this village suffocated by the poison cloud that you were just injured by. They would be dead in no time. But bounty hunters? I have never seen the king operate this way. Perhaps he would, but we have no information to base that on. Staying is certain death for these people. Leaving gives them a chance--though I will grant we do not know what that chance is."

She folds her hands and unfolds them, getting frustrated but not wanting to sound angry. They're just talking past each other now, each having made up their mind and not wanting to relent. How does she make it clear what she will be able to do once the sun comes up?

"Why don't we simply ask who would come?" she asks. "Nevare was right, to a certain extent. If we stayed forever, we would not convince everyone, and we do not have close to forever. But there are some people who might be convinced, and those we can save. How many people do you think there are here? Fifty? We would be able to convince far less than that. Of those, I can get the infirm to walk faster until it is truly too dark to continue tonight.

"Tomorrow morning, I will be able to re-prepare myself for this situation. If need be, tomorrow I can have 60 people walking at twice their speed and leaving no trail at all--yourself included. We have two days, the storyteller said, before they even get here. Then they would have to follow--and guess, because there would be no trail. And if their horses are anything like these, in this armor, they might well be slower than a normal human. If your wish is to get somewhere quickly, does it not make more sense to wait one slower night and travel all the days after that at twice the speed without leaving a trace?"

[ToySoldierCPlus]

Nevare nods at Cat's suggestion. "Now that's what I like to hear!" He looks around the town. "We should start knocking on doors, gathering the people in the town square so we can explain the situation and see if we can convince anyone to come with us. Once we get that done, we'll know how many we're bringing with us, and we can be on our way. If Cat can really cover the trails of 60 people tomorrow, and I'm inclined to give her the benefit of the doubt and believe that she can do as she says she can, if for no other reason than she has no good reason to lie about it, we can escape easily." Nevare gestures towards the rest of the town. "I'm going to see if I can find a crier or messenger to bring everyone here. Don't burn those bodies just yet. Put them out of sight off to the side, but don't dispose of them. We may need them as evidence that the crown does, in fact, plan to purge this town." With that, Nevare trots off into the town, stopping and knocking on the inn's door to quickly explain the situation to the innkeeper and ask for directions to the town hall, and where a crier might be found.

[Frozen Messiah]

"You said they clearly have access to magic thus stating they have access to finding us, no matter how many trails that we hide. The town is good as dead, they came here for the town not us." Thomas says growing increasingly frantic, he then takes in a deep breath and continues more calm than before, "Look it is nice and heart warming that you want to help these people but all you are doing is moving the site of their execution out into the wilds rather than in the town they have lived in all their life." Thomas pauses a moment and then looks straight at Cat, "So once we get them out of here and let's say they aren't hunted down like dogs, what are you going to do with them? Are we then going to drop them off at the next stop, jobless and homeless? Are we going to set them up with jobs and affordable housing? We bring them to any location you are going to cause problems for the evacuated and the locals. Leave them here and you can at least say that you tried."

[Mazeburn]

Since I didn't get a response to my search check, I'm gonna assume it's okay. Seems quite likely to find flammable materials near a grungy old bar. If there's a problem, though, feel free to object and I'll retcon. :)

Emerging from the back of the inn, Tiago holds a squat barrel of some kind of thick black liquid, which does smell distinctly like tar. He's also found a couple of pieces of flint, likely fallen roof tiles. After waiting for Marie to finish searching the Judges, he slops it liberally over the pile, then stands back.


So why do you object to spending a few minutes of it seeing if we could help? They'd be going in the same direction anyway.

"Cat, was it? Look, these people don't deserve our help. What've they done for you? What could they ever do for you? They're weak. Fancy-pants here-" he jabs a thumb at Thomas. "-he's got the right idea with that. But I see you're stubborn, and we need to get moving. So alright, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt - if you can really cover the tracks, I'll go along with this. You can expect me to take full advantage of any financial or... physical recompense which I might be able to extort, however, because this had better be worth my while. And no risking our speed or safety to save those who fall behind or mess us around. Agreed?"

"I suppose I should introduce myself, anyway. The name's Tiago Morden... State executioner, or so I was, but that was some time ago now so I suppose that would make me ex-executioner."

With that, he glances the pieces of flint off one another until glittering sparks drop down into the stinking pile of tar and corpses.

[PollyOliver]

Sorry if this double-posts; I got an error the first time through.

Cat stares blankly at the young nobleman for a moment.

"Abandon them?" she asked after a moment. "So that I can say that I tried?" She shakes her head in utter confusion. "How on earth does that make any sense whatsoever?" She took another slow breath, gathering in the fraying edges of her temper and holding them in tight, like the tarred end of an unraveling rope. "As you say, they came here for the town. They will be coming back for the town. Unless you think a village of shopkeepers can stand against that," she says, pointing at the pile of bodies, "they are as good as dead if they stay here. Or worse, they might be turned into more of those creatures and set against the rest of us. But any who stay are dead."

"You are of course right," she continues, "that they will start off homeless and jobless in New Solsmere. But New Solsmere is the frontier. Everyone who first went there was homeless and jobless. And it is better to be homeless and jobless than tortured and dead. By tomorrow morning, I can have whatever willing there walking faster than you can. I am asking nothing of you besides walking a little slower tonight so you can walk far faster tomorrow. So what precisely is your objection?"

She looks at Tiago as he returns. Executioner. So the smell was right. And he might well be the light-taker. She glances at the lordling, licks her lips, and grimaces. If she had been right about the executioner...well, the lordling smells of blood and chaos, of something dark and pliable and dangerous.... Her nostrils flare slightly. Strife. Strife is the word for it.

She swallows, trying not to breathe through her nose. The ability is still new to her, and her awareness of it comes and goes in flashes.

"Tiago," she says, testing the word out. It tastes like the air around him. "Fitting," she says, before she catches herself. "I will see no one harmed, but the willing are none of my concern. I will do what I can to help those who fall behind, but I will not ask you to risk yourself for them. As for why I care...it is complicated. If you wish to know, I will tell you what you want when we are underway. If not..." she shrugs, and looks at the lordling and the giant.

"Would that be acceptable? If I can make you walk twice as quickly on the morrow and leave no trail, would you accompany us as long as we stay ahead of the Judges? I would not ask anyone to stand and fight if it comes to that, only to help get moving. And if it does come to that, I will do what I can to help you get away, if that is what you want."

[Frozen Messiah]

"Fine, there is no reasoning with you so I might as well watch as this miserably attempt at aid goes haywire and causes us to be dragged with it." Thomas says to the frantic woman, "oh and by the way my names is Thomas Crawford, eldest son of the Crawford family and Husband of Lenore Uthrien daughter of the late Princess Sophinia. You might now understand what I have to lose in this scenario."

[PollyOliver]

Cat almost sighs with relief, but just smiles.

"Thank you," she says. "My lord. I met your mother-in-law once, before her death." Cat flexes her fingers and then leans on her walking stick. "Are you feeling better?" she asks, spreading her hands and holding them out. "Or should I see if I can do anything else?"

[Frozen Messiah]

"You have done enough this day. Get on with your plan so we can see that these people get where you believe they need to be, I am merely coming along for the ride." Thomas says absent mindedly as he scans the horizon towards New Solsmere.

[Kurai]

Kalypso walks closer to Cat on all fours, sitting down on her haunches next to her. It seems the situation is getting through to her head and she inhales deeply, shoulders held close to her head. The posture emits wariness and maybe a hint of fear.

"I don't like many people." she raspes with caution. Her body tilts longingly in the direction of the woods. "They don't like me. They hunt me." The young woman gets frisky, ears catching the noises from the men and woman standing around.

There is a miserable look on her face as she points to them. "Will we stay with them? I'd rather be alone. They make disgusted noises and angry voices at me..." Her voice gets smaller and smaller, the rest almost whispered as she speaks on. "I can smell it, too. And there's the light-taker, and the blood-man..." For a second, it seems she is ready to bolt back into wilderness, but instead she stands up on her feet for the moment, hands playing with the uneven ends of her blond hair.

[Sir_Chivalry]

Since I didn't get a response to my search check, I'm gonna assume it's okay. Seems quite likely to find flammable materials near a grungy old bar. If there's a problem, though, feel free to object and I'll retcon. :)

No that's fine.


With that, Nevare trots off into the town, stopping and knocking on the inn's door to quickly explain the situation to the innkeeper and ask for directions to the town hall, and where a crier might be found.

The innkeeper looks at you bemusedly.

"There ain't any town hall or criers here boy. Naught but two score and ten people in this village, most out on farms. If you're going to talk to them all, you'll need most of the day and night."

[ToySoldierCPlus]

About what time of day is it, in-game? Also, what directions are the dwellings and farms located in from our position? I guessed as to where they'd be, but if I'm wrong, I can change it.
"That... is not what I was hoping to hear." Nevare sighs. Well, this certainly complicates things. "Thanks for the information. If you're going to be joining us, I suggest you grab whatever you think you'll need and meet us over towards that field as soon as you can. We'll be leaving in a few hours, with as many as we can." Nevare gestures at the field Nokai had initially led him toward, and then trots back to the group. "We have a problem. There aren't any criers or messengers in the town. We'll have to knock on each door individually, and the innkeeper estimates that it'll take most of the day and night, and, correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think we have that kind of time." He looks at the others. "We'll need to split up to contact everyone in the village. Thomas, Tiago, you two head for the east side of the village. Tell everyone who will listen to pack only what they can carry on their backs and meet us in the field here in 3 hours. Take the horses if you have to, but strip them of their barding so they can move faster. Nokai, you and Marie should head west, telling people the same thing. Cat, you and your companion stay here to organize people as they arrive. I'll head south and see who I can rustle up." With that, Nevare departs again, heading for another section of the village and trusting the others to do as he said. We can save them. Most of them...

[Samfool]

"Saving innocents eh? Noble goal, but a foolish task to be undertaking. I will not abandon the civilians, but know this, one day you will have to sacrifice one to save the many. When that time comes, I hope that you are all ready." Nokai somberly states, then looking at Marie he says, "Let us go, we have to at least warn them. How much do you weigh?
I may be able to carry you.."

[Sir_Chivalry]

About what time of day is it, in-game? Also, what directions are the dwellings and farms located in from our position? I guessed as to where they'd be, but if I'm wrong, I can change it.

About mid afternoon, and the dwellings and farms are east and west of here, as you said.