The Inquisition [PF] IC

[The Architect]

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- INQUISITION -
Book I : To Breach The Barrier

The twang of the string of a broken fiddle rings in the night. Two one horse wagons trundle along a path slick with the deluge of earlier rainfall on a path more moss than mud. A few moments on a man in armor keeps a slow pace atop a war-steed. The six figures move as a single convoy as a grey sky of rolling storm clouds roll overhead. To their left is the river Ädh, and in the distance, and past a rolling slope of mud and bush, could be seen the river Ätoulya. Here, north of the Ollivian Empire's lands, the two great rivers came together, or more accurately broke apart. The party, a half-dozen Inquisitors or as good as, were heading for Lynoa, the port village that rested not far from where the two rivers came together.

The group was a incongruous collection of every shape and size and as the wagon's dragged on in near silence they cut a strange silhouette over the landscape. Most of them had been to Lynoa before. The village had once prospered due to trade with the Dwarven Empire, acting as the doorway through which their goods flowed to the humans to the south, and while the village was protected by humans, Dwarves, and elves alike as their staging post during the war against the undead the eighty nine years since had not been kind. Most stores and warehouses were dilapidated and abandoned wrecks. In the present only the village's most inner locales were at all occupied, such that all travelers were forced to march through a dim reminder of better, and worse, days upon every visit. The village was a decaying outpost on the edge of civilization and in its own way its every crevice and corner was a sign post, here and no further it told visitors pass here only death remains. It was a lie of course, the town decayed instead largely out of fear, a lack of willingness to establish a presence in the rest of the Barrier, and there was most certainly much more than death beyond its narrow-minded confines.

There was indeed a disproportionate amount of death one could argue, but life everywhere was full of such uncomfortable truths.

The party had been ordered into the Barrier Marsh on a mission many of their colleagues had dismissed as vague, pointless, and a waste of valuable men and money. Collected by orders and letters the six that had been chosen would head into the area and seek out a young Elven girl of approximately a century old, given a vague description of white hair and violet eyes, and return her to the Inquisitorial Fortress in the city of Lehsail to the south. She may be called Duvainiel, or perhaps went by a different name. It seemed nonsensical that the Council of Curiosities or any of the High Inquisitors would allow such a fools errand and when the group had been informed, once assembled by senior Inquisitor Hebridan in Lehsail before they departed north, that 30,000 gp and control of the Inquisitorial chapter in Lynoa would be theirs it only became stranger. Such resources put into a mission so unlikely to succeed was worrisome, and it did not bode well for their superiors allowing them to give up and seek glory elsewhere anytime soon.

The group saw the smoke first, twisting upwards over the town of Lynoa like grey tendrils. They didn't dismiss it but they also hurried their pace only slightly. They'd be little help in the case of a fire, and it had been over a decade since a notable Dragon attack in the Imperium, and they'd never heard of such an attack on Lynoa in their lifetimes. It was only when they came close enough to see the parapets of the outer wall that they began to press the horses on with fervor. In the great stone wall was a dip, a breach wide enough to ride two war horses abreast through, and the fire was not one smoke trail now but several. Their final warning came when they were still over a minute away, despite their pace. Standing in the breach was a mounted figure, obviously on patrol, but it was not an Inquisitorial man at arms or some other form of town guard. It was a deep red skinned goblin outrider, garbed in ashen leathers, with a hood pulled over a pudgy and tumorous face of worn flesh. It rode atop a warg that seemed easily large enough to consume it easily if it made the affair. As the wagons rumbled closer the creature seemed to break its patrol, heading back into the city and three blows of a whistle could be heard clear as day, the creature having waited long as it could before fleeing with more than enough time to escape the wagons if they choose to pursue.

Parking the wagons, unable to press them over the debris strewn gap, and unwilling to wait long enough to unhitch them or circle the town to the main gate, Ser Gauchier led them through the outer reaches of the village, apparently where many of the fires had been set, and raced into the village as his compatriots drew their weapons and followed him through the breach. The signs of raiding were evident, smashed doorways and the scattered embers of torched debris, but few bodies were seen so far outside the inhabited area of the village.

When the group finally broke into the outskirts a whistle was heard again, a slightly different pitch. They turned a corner to find the source and the whistle blew again. Towards the very far end of the street the party saw a half-dozen orcs arrayed in two tight military march like lines to either side of a seventh orc in full plate mounted atop a barded worg. In one hand he clutched a falchion in another a shield and a whistle. His orc footmen before him carried tower shields, as large as themselves, and halberds. He blew the whistle one last time, clutching the small tin item to his lips , and the two lines broke and marched into a line blocking the width of the street. Their shields slammed onto the ground with a mechanical unified thud forming a sudden wall as their halberds came down and braced.

The orc, like the best captains of the Imperial Army, passed back and forth between his small band shouting over and over in orcish in the few seconds it took the party to close the distance more meaningfully "VO DOMOZ! VO DOMOZ! VO DOMOZ AH!"


http://s2.postimg.org/msttxcdbd/Chapter_1_Image_1.png

What Do You Do?

ROLL INITIATIVE! :biggrin:

Don't forget the revised Initiative rules by the way; see the main document if you haven't already.

Also please state if your character is specifically holding a light-source when you post and if so what kind.

Don't forget you each have 1 Hero Point.

Without further ado;


THE MAP (https://docs.google.com/drawings/d/1vsI-z3cryljpexOJCfYh46t9gwhXgucyPLjW307Rqz8/edit)

[Green Bean]

Elus felt the adrenaline rise as he prepared for battle. This did not seem like something he could negotiate out of, but he held out hope nonetheless. "Go dtuga Dia díbh leaba go buan."

Elus cast Light on himself as night fell, and the tips of his horns are glowing.

Initiative: (the higher of) [roll0] [roll1]

[The Architect]

Encounter I : Trouble In Lynoa

With the thud of boots on wood over a dozen orcs cast off camouflage tops along the rooftops skirting the road and suddenly the party goes from chasing down an isolated group of orcs to staring down the notched arrows of more than a dozen compound bows.

This will not be an easy one.

What Do You Do?

[SuperCracker]

Aeryn Kane

He stood, blue eyes watching the orcish commander as he shouted in their guttural tongue. The mysterious blade Muramasa had been drawn already, the black katana pulsing with arcane might and a thirst to kill these villains. An ethereal, ghostly shield of force floated before him, glowing a soft white. He took a step forward, extending a finger towards the orcish captain,

"That shield wall's not going to stop us."

The camouflaged rooftops came off, revealing the multitude of archers. Aeryn glanced at them and back to the captain. "Neither will they."

He focused some of his own arcane might, channeling it through the Muramasa, from his soul directly into the bonded weapon. A roiling purple energy began to flow around it before a dangerous violet outline settled around the blade.

Swift action to spend an arcane point and add a further +1 to my weapon.

Aeryn began to advance, moving towards the right and hugging the building there to take cover from the archers above and to the right. It left him exposed to the ones on the left, but that's just something he had to deal with. His free right hand (Aeryn's left handed) began to move as he cast a spell, and he spoke the words aloud.

Then all of a sudden there was more than one Aeryn... how many more, you say? Let's find out.

Mirror Image. [roll0] images appear.

As discussed on IRC, Shield Spell is active. Current AC is 23.

[Naleh]

"The roof!" Aria shouts in warning as she catches the movement above. She dashes to the left, pushing past Aeryn and ducking under Gauchier's lance, nocking an arrow as she moves. Shadows spin wildly as her crystal torch zips through the air next to her head.

The elf takes up position with her back against the door of a decaying restaurant. The floor above juts out over the street, and the overhang hides her from a few of the archers. And as she raises her bow, she starts to sing. Her voice is deep but smooth like treacle. The words are Elvish: a slow, ancient song of war and heroism.

[SuperMuldoon]

Malakai Cross

"Stop us? Hells, this won't even slow us down."

Malakai drew his blade from his sheath, metal gleaming in the dark, honed to a menacing edge. There were a lot of foes, but Malakai had confidence in his compatriots abilities. He strode forward, down the street, making his way to the shield wall. He felt his confidence buoyed by Aria's song, and pointing his sword to the sky he shut his eyes, calling on his Inquisitorial training, harnessing extra magical power.

Feeling strong and ready for combat he opened his eyes and waited for the orc's move.

Swift action to activate Judgement. I will be using Protection which gives me +1 to AC. Then standard action to cast Divine Favor, which gives me a +2 bonus to attack and damage (+1 from spell, +1 from Fate's Favored trait)

[The Architect]

Encounter I : Trouble In Lynoa

As the duet of Inquisitors, Malakai and Aeryn, charge forward under a hail of arrows from above both the mirror copies of Aeryn are pierced through the hearts, fading from existence. A moment later the Orc Captain to the end of the street dashes down the alleyway to the right, out of view.

What Do You Do?

Round 0 is over.

PC Block, Round 1 is now up.

Any PCs may now post in any order they please.

[Green Bean]

Elus fell to his knees and prayed. He felt himself filled with divine light as his god Ryawidan answered is plea for aid. "A ruain mo chroidhe tá carthannach, 's a ghrádh gach súl' dá bhfaca thú." There was a brief flash of golden light, and an eagle appeared in the thick of the archers on the roof on the left, in the air near the dark-clad archer. It lashed out at one of the less significant archers with beak and talons.

Talons (x2)
Attack Roll: [roll0]
Damage Roll: [roll1]

Attack Roll: [roll2]
Damage Roll: [roll3]

Beak
Attack Roll: [roll4]
Damage Roll: [roll5]

[SuperCracker]

Aeryn

The hail of arrows came down all around Aeryn, striking and slaying the two mirror images he had formed. Aeryn counted his blessings for a split second. The commander seemingly fled, but with the urban environment, it was difficult to tell exactly where he had gone. Aeryn pressed forward towards the foes with the shields, casting another spell as he advanced.

The half-elf then grew, his size practically doubling with each step he took, until he towered over the orcs, now fully ready to strike.

"Come on, cowards! You just going to stand there?"

Advancing and casting Enlarge Person.

AC is now 21 (down from 23). Strength has increased. Aeryn is now a Large creature and has a 10 foot reach.

[EikaForge]

"What a noisy bunch you are." Alice complains before following Aria and starting the elven incantations and gestures for her spell. As she reaches the storefront, she turns around, squeezing an extra bit of magic into her spell before firing three florescent-red magic missiles at Wise Eye.

As the first salvo lands upon her target, Alice repeats the same incantation and gestures in an encore performance, sending yet another three of the missiles sail off towards her foe.

[SuperMuldoon]

Malakai Cross

Malakai begins to head toward the shield wall, a few loping strides (making sure to avoid the now rather large Aeryn) before bellowing out a battle cry and charging in full speed, hoping to use his body mass and knock one of them back.

Plowing through, Malakai willingly accepts the attack that one of the orcs manage to land on him in order to break through their phalanx. Baring his teeth letting out an angry growl, he pivots and swings his falchion at one of the orcs, whose flank is now exposed.

[roll0]

[Naleh]

"To arms, to arms, the nightingale calls..."

Aria's lips quirk upwards in a smile as she hears Alyssionata's complaint, but she doesn't reply, preferring to maintain the rhythm of her Elvish song. Following immediately in the wake of the younger elf's spell, Aria smoothly lifts her bow. She looses her arrow with needle-fine precision directly into the Wise Eye's eye.

"...For death, for death, we bring on our foes."

[Steve_the_ERB]

Gauchier somewhat agreed with Alice on her comment, there was a time for banter and a time for action, and now was the time for action. Having no option to deal with the archers he decided to do what he did best, meet the foe head on. Fortunately Malakai had opened a perfect hole in the line for him. Tossing his torch aside he slipped his shield from his back, lowered his lance, and spurred Firemane forward, angling across the street to slip his lance past the shield of one of the orcs next to the hole in the lines and striking true with a loud crack.

[The Architect]

Encounter I : Trouble In Lynoa

With the ease of the drilled the two archers and their captain take a step back from the summoned eagle. The Captain busies himself with failing to get a wand to function while all of his archers simultaneously pepper the creature trying to engage them in melee with arrows. An instant later the creature is a pin cushion and it explodes with a burst of otherworldly light.

At the same time the archers on the opposite roof attempt to get revenge for the sudden death of their captain by peppering the casters with arrows. One finds its mark in Elus' arm, while another strikes Aria's leg, and a third all but pierces Alice's heart, leaving her badly wounded.

Down the street Kane knocks away a halberd strike while Malakai parries the pair suddenly flanking him. Gauchier though is just a little too slow in bringing his shield up to rebound a thrust from one of the orcs and takes a halberd tip to the shoulder, leaving a bloody gash.

After all of this a roar can be heard as the third captain rushes into the alleyway in the middle of the street, too slowly to move deeper before the party can act but intent to split their forces down the middle.

What Do You Do?

The PC block of Round 2 may now act in any order they wish.

[Green Bean]

Elus continued his fervent prayer - the celestial eagle could not maintain its hold on the Material Plane, but what relief the archers may have felt vanished as another rose to take its place. It attempted to finish off the already-wounded archer.

Casting Summon Monster II again, positioning the eagle to engage the archers on the left once more.

Talons (x2)
Attack Roll: [roll0]
Damage Roll: [roll1]

Attack Roll: [roll2]
Damage Roll: [roll3]

Beak
Attack Roll: [roll4]
Damage Roll: [roll5]

[SuperCracker]

Aeryn

Aeryn grinned as his friend Malakai stormed forward and broke through the orcs' line. The cavalier was quick to take advantage of the situation, and Aeryn would do no less. Parrying the swing of the orc's halberd, Aeryn leaped to the side and gripped the Muramasa with both hands. Using a powerful downward swing, he took advantage of his current height and struck from overhead.

The Black Blade, now the size of a greatsword, slammed into the orc with terrible cutting force.

27 to hit. 18 points of damage.

[SuperMuldoon]

Malakai

Malakai grinned fiendishly as he cut the orc down. One less foe to worry about. "Press the attack! Show them the price of those that aim to harm the Inquisition!" he growled, and turned to swing his blade at the unlucky orc caught between himself and Gauchier.

power attacking Power attack -1atk+3dmg, flanking +2, and all those other bonuses. [roll0] [roll1]

[Naleh]

Ariavoroledra Starheart

Aria grins as she watches the magus tumble slowly from the roof – but her smile vanishes as an enemy arrow returns the favour, piercing Alyssionata's chest. That's bad. By comparison, the red-hot flare of pain from Aria's own leg seems a minor concern.

"Get inside! Take cover!" Aria hisses between lines of her song. She takes aim at the goblin that hurt Alyssionata, dispatching it quickly. "Our blades, our blades, of moonlight and sun..."

[Steve_the_ERB]

Guachier

Gauchier wheeled Firemane in place, spinning counterclockwise as he dropped his lance to the ground with a clatter and drew his sword, Firemane rearing up to lash out with ironshod hooves and a vicious bite at the middle orc of the three on their flank. As Firemane came gone he brought his own sword crashing down on the head of the orc on the back end of the line with a resounding thud.

[The Architect]

Encounter I : Trouble In Lynoa

The arrows hail down again as yet more of the orc soldiers are felled. Sadly the second eagle is pincushioned as quickly as the first while Aeryn is nicked by an arrow falling from the archers on the right hand side.

Suddenly the third Captain bursts forth from the alley way and charges towards Aria with a roar on his lips to his still living fellows "GIVE THEM NOTHING! TAKE FROM THEM EVERYTHING!" His scarlet light emitting falchion comes down in a violent chop across Aria's midsection but she swings out of the way only be torn at by the teeth of the Worg the Captain rides atop "time to die eldari1!"

What Do You Do?

The PC block of Round 3 may now act in any order they wish.

1 Elf = Man/Woman equivalent word; Eldari = Human equivalent word

[SuperCracker]

Aeryn

With the shield wall being felled by the three Inquisitors, Aeryn turned his attention towards the reappearing Captain and his worg. Aeryn’s piercing blue eyes narrowed as he began to weave a spell. Upon completion of his incantation, Aeryn vanished from where he was, leaving a line of multi-colored still frames of himself between where he began his casting and where he reappeared, which was within blade’s reach of the Captain and his Worg.

“Leave her alone!” He shouted, delivering two rapid swings of his blade at the orc Captain.

With Aeryn's rage in full-swing, he called out an ancient word for lightning, and the Muramasa crackled with electricity which was then directed at the Captain in another powerful attack.

Full round action to spell combat with Bladed Dash. Bladed Dash comes first, which moves me 30 feet and grants me an attack with a +3 circumstance bonus. Then I take my normal attack. All attacks are at -2.

Bladed Dash Attack (one handed now): [roll0]; Damage: [roll1]

Attack: [roll2]; Damage: [roll3]

Then 5 foot step to back away and take advantage of my reach.

Hero point for another standard action. Attack roll and damage is in the OOC. 24 to hit, 12 slashing damage, 17 electrical damage

[Steve_the_ERB]

Gauchier

Ignoring the orc to his flank, Gauchier wheeled a little further and with leveled his sword at the orc captain. Not given to mighty roars as his companion, his voice nonetheless carried to the captain, calm and assured.

"Indeed, for this affont against the empire and the my companions, you shall not leave this place alive."

Spurring Firemane he charged in, following on the heels of Aeryn, driving his sword into the orc captain with the full force of his charge behind it.

[Green Bean]

Elus continued his prayer: he heard trampling hooves, and screams and cries, but he kept his faith, and was rewarded for his resolve with two more feathered protectors. They split their roles, each targeting a cluster of archers for assault.

Summon Monster II again, one on the left, one on the right.

Eagle 1

Talons (x2)
Attack Roll: [roll0]
Damage Roll: [roll1]

Attack Roll: [roll2]
Damage Roll: [roll3]

Beak
Attack Roll: [roll4]
Damage Roll: [roll5]


Eagle 2

Talons (x2)
Attack Roll: [roll6]
Damage Roll: [roll7]

Attack Roll: [roll8]
Damage Roll: [roll9]

Beak
Attack Roll: [roll10]
Damage Roll: [roll11]

[Naleh]

Ariavoroledra Starheart

Aria hisses as the warg's teeth cut at her. She stumbles back a pace and starts to reach for her sword, only to see Aeryn and Gauchier charge in and pulverise the orc rider. "How chivalrous," she teases. She nocks and looses another arrow, scarcely paying attention to the orc it hits as she warily watches the worg. "Our souls, our souls, of mithral and of oak..."

[SuperMuldoon]

Malakai

Malakai lets out a laugh as the orc commander is felled. "Nicely done! Now let us finish this!" he yells across the street, and then turns his attention back to the foes still around him. He pivots quickly to his right and swings his falchion in a cross cut, aiming to split the orc in half.

5 ft step, and Power attack -1atk+3dmg on the undamaged orc. [roll0] [roll1]

[EikaForge]

Alice eyes go wide as the arrow pierces her chest, gasping as the very act of breathing sends new waves of agony across her nerves.

Away. She had to retreat, find a place hidden from those archers. Mind clouded, she backed up into the door of the shop, hand fumbling for the doorknob before retreating inside. Now in safety, her mind calmed ever so slightly. Alice knew healing spells and this injury wasn't immediately fatal, she would survive...but she did need to take this arrow out.

Gasping out the incantation of the spell in shallow breaths, she readies it in her right hand, while gripping the tail of the arrow in her left, she counted. "Three....Two....One......AUUUUUUURGH" The arrow came out with bits of her still on its barbs, but the magic healed the worst of the damage, enough that she could take vengeance on the orc who had done this to her.

Peaking out of the doorway, she looks at her choice of victims. Honestly she didn't know which Orc had hit her, but there were two who had arrows sticking out of them and they would do nicely.

Lifting her hand up, she fired off three missiles.

For this turn, casting magic missile with Arcane Reservoir buff again, first two missiles on the Orc with 12 damage and the third with 8 damage.
[roll0]
[roll1]
[roll2]

[The Architect]

Encounter I : Trouble In Lynoa

The arrow cascade continues but Malakai dodges the singular remaining halberd and a hail of arrows with ease while Elus and Aria dodge their arrows entirely.

One of the celestial eagles even remains when the arrows stop flying, though damaged by an off course explosive that had taken a small chunk from the roof, and the other had been desummoned by an arrow to the breast.

Lastly the worg, now riderless, had taken a bite out of Gauchier's trusty steed Firemane.

What Do You Do?

The PC block of Round 4 may now act in any order they wish.

[Green Bean]

"Fir sgiursaidh an t-sluaigh, cha bhuan iad bharrachd air càch." Elus finished his prayer, and warm light suffused the battlefield, strengthening the resolve of all those whose hearts were filled with goodness (plus Alice). He then looked up, as if for the first time, to see the carnage that had unfolded before him, and decided to take cover under the awning on the right near Aeryn.

The eagle screeched for his now homeward-bound brother, and redoubled its assault on one of the orcish archers.

Casting Bless. All allies within 50 feet of me gain +1 to attack for 4 minutes.

Talons (x2)
Attack Roll: [roll0]
Damage Roll: [roll1]

Attack Roll: [roll2]
Damage Roll: [roll3]

Beak
Attack Roll: [roll4]
Damage Roll: [roll5]

[SuperCracker]

Aeryn

With the rider dead, Aeryn turned his attentions to the Worg. He drew upon his innate arcane power, drawing his Shocking Grasp spell back into being and immediately casting it again as his black blade flashed forward in two deadly strikes. Electricity coiled around the Muramasa, arcing and leaping out at the Worg as it was struck down, a bloody smoldering heap.

Aeryn then turned his blue eyes upwards at the archers. He spotted a path to them, and a wild grin spread across his lips.

Actions/rolls are in the OOC.

[Steve_the_ERB]

Gauchier

Gauchier kept his face carefully neutral at Aria's tease, so neutral as to make it obvious that it was he was taking exceptional effort to keep it that way. He nodded to her silently. He then turned to Aeryn and nodded again in appreciation for dealing with the worg threatening Firemane, his face relaxing into a more genuine expression, before turning back to the fray.

Wheeling Firemane again Gauchier rode back up the street, not as headlong as before but instead aiming so he would pass by the orc, bringing his sword down into its shoulder as he flew by. Reaching the intersection, he veered to the left, looking for a ladder or stairs or some other way to get up onto the roof to get at the archers harrying his companions.

[Naleh]

Ariavoroledra Starheart

"To arms, to arms, we heed the falcon..." The lilting Elvish words rise in pitch as Aria's morale soars. Despite herself, she feels Elus's blessing reassuring her. And look! Most of the enemies have fallen!

Confidently, Aria looses another arrow and strikes another orc.

[SuperMuldoon]

Malakai

Seeing Gauchier ride by and put the remaining orc down, Malakai gives him a thumbs up. Looking around to see that the only remaining orcs are up on top of buildings, he heads to the nearest structure and starts climbing. Well, as best as he can.

[roll0]

[EikaForge]

Alyssionata Silvermoon

Alice smiles as her allies slay the remaining orcs on the ground, now to finish off those on the roofs. She fires off 3 more magic missiles.

Casting Magic missile, boosted by Arcane Reservoir. First shot to the orc damaged by Aria, second and third to a random orc.
[roll0]
[roll1]
[roll2]

[The Architect]

Encounter I : Trouble In Lynoa

Elus gains more notoriety as an employer to avoid in the outer realms as yet another of his summoned creatures explodes in a flurry of light and blood like some strange macabre dayglow balloon. Simultaneously Aria, perhaps in retaliation for her killing or mortally wounding several orcs, takes two arrows to the chest but twists at the last moment to insure one barely avoids piercing her heart.

Lastly Viküs The Brightarrow appears along the edge of the left-hand rooftop ledge again with a bomb in hand, one which he promptly throws at Aeryn's enlarged face which in a flurry of fire and smoke does nothing for Aeryn's complexion. Viküs shouts something in that elegant but rude offshoot of Elvish called the Orc Tongue which manages to doubt Aeryn's ancestry, comment on his mother's dedication to a commonly derided career path, and question which of his extremities Aeryn would most prefer Viküs to insert into his now grossly enlarged anus. The few number of words this requires in the Orc's native tongue is actually quite the impressive linguistic feat; one which would have gone largely unappreciated by Aeryn if not for the matter, that by strange coincidence, most swears had remained largely unchanged in Elvish's bastardization into Orcish. Sadly Aeryn was not appropriately appreciative of well developed syntax and had instead focused on the altogether more banal matter of Viküs politely attempting to communicate his previously stated observations on Aeryn's mother's vocation through the language bridging medium of hand signals, vulgar thrusts, and weapon wagging.

That last part was not a euphemism.

Lastly, almost as a matter of casual disinterest, also murder, Gauchier decapitates the last Dragoon as he rides around the corner. While he doesn't sadly see some sort of horse winch mechanism to get him and Firemane both to the rooftop he does see a half dozen grapple lines trailing along the alley wall to the ground, seemingly left over from the Orc's own ascent.

What Do You Do?

The PC block of Round 5 may now act in any order they wish.

[Steve_the_ERB]

Gauchier

Spying the ropes he guides Firemane across the street to the ropes dangling from the north building where the larger number of orcs seem to be. With a whispered command to Firemane to 'Guard' he grabs the rope and hoists his armored bulk out of the saddle, moving fairly quickly up the rope for someone lugging around as much metal as he is.

[EikaForge]

Alyssionata Silvermoon

Out of spells today, Alyssionata draws out her crossbow. She had never been a fan of it, big, clunky, all in all inelegant, it didn't befit an elvish woman like her in the least. However, it was reliable and easy to wield, which meant she didn't need much practice to become proficient with it. All the more time to study her books.

The dhampir leveled the pointy end of the contraption at the Orc archer she had wounded and fired. *kathunk*

[SuperCracker]

Aeryn

The half-elf was caught in the face with whatever bomb the orc had thrown. Black smoke obscured his visage for a moment before dissipating, revealing that Aeryn's face had been blackened on one side, but he was far from dead. He raised his free hand, pointing at that particular orc as a promise.

And then he went for the alleyway. His giant size allowed him to use the separate buildings to help hoist himself up. The climbing gear helped (because of course you wear climbing gear at all times; that was grandpa's number one rule). Within seconds, the magus popped up from the side of the roof, landing near the trio of archers and menacing them with his katana.

It was an event that the archers probably weren't counting on... a twelve foot tall half-elf on top of their safe ambush spot.

[Green Bean]

Elus paused for a second to look out over the battlefield, and decided that while things were going well, maybe he'd better add a supplemental prayer. He knelt, and rattled off a string of Celestial. Yet two more eagles appeared, undaunted by the temporary (though rather bloody) fates of their brothers in arms. One went after Viküs, apparently not approving of his potty mouth, while the other went after the uninjured archer nearby.

Eagle 1 (vs. Viküs)

Talons (x2)
Attack Roll: [roll0]
Damage Roll: [roll1]

Attack Roll: [roll2]
Damage Roll: [roll3]

Beak
Attack Roll: [roll4]
Damage Roll: [roll5]


Eagle 2 (vs. Archer)

Talons (x2)
Attack Roll: [roll6]
Damage Roll: [roll7]

Attack Roll: [roll8]
Damage Roll: [roll9]

Beak
Attack Roll: [roll10]
Damage Roll: [roll11]

[SuperMuldoon]

Malakai

Malakai keeps on climbing, or tries to, at least.

[roll0] I have climbing gear, which stated in the OOC gives a +2? I'll add that in here but if it doesn't give the bonus just subtract it. Oh. Yay.

[Naleh]

Ariavoroledra Starheart

Aria lets one more arrow fly, piercing an already-wounded orc through the stomach. Confident that her target is taken care of, and seeing Aeryn looming on the roof behind the few remaining archers, Aria decides that this is a good moment to shift her position.

She dashes across the street, still singing, leaving a trail of blood from her painful wounds. Shadows stretch and distort from the movement of her ioun torch. Before any foe can shoot her in the back, Aria kicks in the opposite door and ducks into the cover of the shop.

[The Architect]

Encounter I : Trouble In Lynoa

Aeryn took another arrow to the shoulder mid-climb while yet another of the eagle detonates in light as an arrow pierces its skull and Malakai slips from his footholds to the ground below, landing a few feet from the resting Firemane.

What Do You Do?

The PC block of Round 6 may now act in any order they wish.

[SuperCracker]

Aeryn

He ascended the building, springing up over the edge. Before the orcs knew what hit them, he'd slashed down onto the archer to his right, cleaving from the orc's shoulder down through his chest before withdrawing the blade. That deadly violet glow flared with the sword's satisfaction -- another evil heart stopped permanently.

Aeryn slid his left foot back, bringing his sword's grip over his head, the blade pointed backwards as he readied to slay whichever orc tried to flee or tried to fire their bow in his presence.

Aeryn had an arrow sticking out of his shoulder, another broken off in his leg. Blood dripped from the wounds, but he was fighting through the pain.

18 damage to the orc. He dead.

[Steve_the_ERB]

Gauchier

Hauling himself up the last 15' of rope with surprising ease, Gauchier planted his feet on solid roof, stepping forward to the closest archer as he drew his sword. He called out clearly to the orcs. "You have lost the advantage of your position, throw down your bows"

[Green Bean]

Elus kept praying, and Viküs may or may not realize that he'd attracted some negative attention from On High. Meanwhile, the final eagle tore away at the injured archer it was engaged with.

Casting Ill Omen on Viküs; the next d20 he rolls he has to roll twice and take the worse result. He may be able to take an action to avoid it, but he'd have to recognize the spell first.

Talons (x2)
Attack Roll: [roll0]
Damage Roll: [roll1]

Attack Roll: [roll2]
Damage Roll: [roll3]

Beak
Attack Roll: [roll4]
Damage Roll: [roll5]

[EikaForge]

Alyssionata Silvermoon

Alice lowered the crossbow and reloaded before heaving it up again and letting off a shot which goes sailing past her target.

[Naleh]

Aria leaned out from cover, raising her bow and scanning the enemy line along the roof. An odd orc out caught her eye. She swiftly aimed and shot, then ducked back behind the wall.

[SuperMuldoon]

Malakai

Seeing Gauchier discover the grapple lines, Malakai means to follow him up after recovering from his tumble.

following gauchier up the lines. [roll0]

[The Architect]

Encounter I : Trouble In Lynoa

With a grim determination Gauchier marches across the roof, a wide slash of his blade deflecting an arrow while two more arc harmlessly over his head. A moment later a bomb collides with his chest and detonates, burning the flesh of his torso, and almost forcing him off his feet. When the smoke clears Viküs is smiling "Vi vo ellia va!" He shouts to his orcs.

Across the street the other orcs are locked in melee with the giant Aeryn and. while he parries one falchion, a second is raked across his arm adding another potential scar to his already varied injuries.

What Do You Do?

The PC block of Round 7 may now act in any order they wish.

[SuperCracker]

Aeryn

The battle continued its pitched pacem as the archers gave up on firing into the street below in an effort to save themselves. Aeryn held off the two attackers for a moment before taking another slash to his body. His left arm had a new, fairly deep cut in it. His blood dripped down his arm, making the Murasame's grip damp. He was nearing his limit, breathing hard.

"Don't stop. Fight through the pain." The voice of the Black Blade spoke calmly, reassuring the half-elf.

Aeryn nodded in agreement, then let out a sharp battle cry and slashed twice, the first attack biting into the orc's abdomen, the second attack carrying through with greater force and cleaving the other orc in twain. As the blade connected, the magic carried in the strike went off - a red glyph filling the body of the orc. In old elvish, it read "Judgment." The force of the strike sent the torso tumbling off the roof -- legs standing upright for a moment before falling in a wet thud.

"Come on," he said to the last remaining foe upon the rooftop, readying himself for the counterattack to come.

Attack and damage are in the ooc.
12 damage to one orc. Crit for 31 damage to the other orc.

[Steve_the_ERB]

Gauchier

Grimacing from the unexpected explosion, Gauchier gathered his legs under him and sprinted the short distance between him and Viküs and swinging his sword. However, he was still off balance and while his sword bit into the flesh of the orc it was a minor blow. Determined to put and end to this battle he gathered his will and swung again, putting all his strength behind it, but the pain from his scorched chest distracted him and his aim was well off the mark.

[Naleh]

Seeing Gauchier charge the lead archer, Aria switched targets and fired to the left, at the least-scratched of the orcs she can see on the roof's edge. She didn't account for the changed angles and her arm slammed against the doorframe, but she still managed to nick her target.

Throughout all of the pain and action, Aria's flowing, sonorant warsong continued unabated.

[EikaForge]

Alyssionata Silvermoon

Reloading her crossbow once more, Alice looked over at her previous target, a bleeding, wounded wreck of an orc on deaths door. Swiveling her aim to the other side of the rooftop, she centered on a fresher enemy.

*KATHUNK* *TING*

The bolt struck just below the roof. Alice cursed under her breath in elvish.

[SuperMuldoon]

Malakai

More climbing!

[roll0]

[Green Bean]

Elus continued his prayer, and the shadow of divine displeasure was once again laid over the battlefield. For his part, Elus hurried to better cover.

Casting Ill Omen on Viküs once more.

[The Architect]

Encounter I : Trouble In Lynoa

Gauchier charges forward, forcing Viküs on the backstep, as one of the two remaining orc archers strikes him in the shoulder. Meanwhile Malakai finally climbs onto the roof and alice takes out the remaining orc next to Aeryn.

What Do You Do?

The PC block of Round 8 may now act in any order they wish.

[SuperMuldoon]

Malakai

"Finally..." the Tiefling inquisitor grumbles as he reaches the rooftop. "Alright, now to find something to hit..." he says and scans the rooftop, locking eyes with the orc archer standing in front of him. He slowly starts to walk towards his chosen prey. "You!" he yells, pointing with his falchion. "I hope you've made peace with whatever gods you worship, because you'll be seeing them in person the second I get over there!"

[roll0] to demoralize the orc archer.

[SuperCracker]

Aeryn

The orc before him fell to an auspiciously-timed crossbow bolt, and that death cleared the way for Aeryn to assault the bomb-thrower. He took a running start towards the edge of the rooftop and as he stepped out off the ledge, a burst of magic rippled around him as he was magically transported across the divide; another trail of multi-colored images left behind him.

As he appeared, he delivered a slash to Vikus, who dropped to the floor with vacant, dead eyes.

[Green Bean]

With the combat having now moved entirely to the rooftops, Elus simply knelt and prayed for his comrades' success.

[EikaForge]

Alyssionata Silvermoon

*Ting Crash Fwip*

The bolt she shot before ricocheted around before landing square in the intended targets back. Either Alice had the best luck in the world, which she veritable didn't, or that orc had the worst luck.

The dhampir watched the other orc she could see finally fall to bloodloss and then that elven girl take a shot at an orc above the building she was in. Ok, options. She could run across the street, letting the orc archers above her have another chance to turn her into a pin cushion. Or, she could stay right where she was, let the Inquisition mooks go about their business.

Last option sounded nice, but that damned billy goat looked pretty roughed up and she could see her hunting assistant's horse was riderless.

"Damn it all."

Alice burst through the door, her feet pounding against the road before running into the same building Aria occupied.

[Naleh]

Aria loosed one last arrow, dispatching another orc with leisure. She ducked back behind the door as Alyssionata hustled into the building with her.

[Steve_the_ERB]

Gauchier

Charging between Aeryn and Malakai, Gauchier sought to end this battle with one final below, however he misjudged his swing terribly and he cut nothing but air above the orc's head. He grimaced to himself, disappointed but still determined.

[The Architect]

Encounter I : Trouble In Lynoa

Perhaps as a rare indication of cowardice, or common sense, the last orc breaks into a run and slides down a grapple line onto the street below, out of view, breaking into a run. Fleeing.

What Do You Do?

Unless someone requests it that will be the end of this combat.

[Green Bean]

Elus heard the sounds of combat fade, and with it the rush of danger that always seem to drive Common from his head. He called up to his fellows on the roof. "Is there anyone in need of healing?"

[SuperCracker]

Aeryn

He watched as the lone orc fled through the streets. The Muramasa pulsed with a desire to go finish the orc off, but given how many evil foes it had slain within the past minute, it would be satisfied leaving one to flee with its tail between its legs. Aeryn took a cloth and wiped down his sword before sheathing it back behind himself once more.

He heard Elus call up, and he responded. "Just a little bit," he said with a mild grunt as the various punctures and lacerations were now acutely felt throughout his body. Aeryn went for the grappling lines and climbed down, taking his sweet time. After a few moments, he came walking around the building to where the others were.

"Good job, people," he said with a little grin on his lips. It was quite clear he had enjoyed the fight.

[Steve_the_ERB]

Gauchier

Gauchier nodded as the last orc fled, having no need to continue combat now that the immediate danger had passed, sheathing his sword and stowing his shield upon his back. Following Aeryn down the ropes to the ground he walked over to Firemane, pausing to pick up his torch and lance from where they lay on the wet pavement. Patting Firemane on the neck in appreciation he turned to the group:

"We have done well so far but this night is far from over. We should investigate the source of those fires and see if there are more orcs about or if any of the villagers need our assistance."

He threw his leg over the saddle and pulled himself up, wheeling Firemane in preparation of heading further into town but not moving until everyone had the chance to ready themselves, readying his shield and lance once again in case more foes presented themselves.

[Naleh]

Ariavoroledra

Aria held the last note of her song for a few moments after the sound of fighting ended. She lowered her bow and turned to Alice, wincing at the younger elf's nasty chest wound. "Are you okay, Alyssionata?" She reached for the healing wand at her belt. "Let me just use my— oh, right..."

Aria's own breathing was shallow and she was peppered with several shallow arrow wounds, not to mention the bite of the worg, but that wasn't what she was concerned about right now. She hobbled out into the street. "Hey, kid. You're needed."

[The Architect]

Lynoa : Week 1 : Day 1

The group takes stock of the more important looking orcs and proceed to follow the streets towards the inhabited section of the village. On their way into the town proper they pass a figure draped over a mound of scattered debris from an upturned wagon. He bears the marks of combat and the colours and sigildry of the Office of the Inquisition. Farther down the pass three more figures, a Dwarven girl and two human boys in the same men-at-arms equipment have fallen under arrow fire.

The first building they reach that isn't boarded up, strangely given one would expect Orcs to raid these obviously occupied homesteads, is a large fort built amid one of the few spacious clearings this deep in the settlement. A bronze eye looming behind a clock-face marks the building as a center as a fort of the Inquisition. The building is partially aflame, though its largely stone structure suggests it might hold yet, and a dozen humanoid corpses litter the stone steps leading up to the black doors that have been thrown open to a cramped foyer within.

The orcs have clearly come and gone but from within there is a distant and repetitive tapping.

What Do You Do?

Those of you who were raised, at least in part, by the Inquisition should know most of these forts include orphanages and schools, as well as barracks and other military elements. You do not see any dead children, at least none so young they couldn't serve as men-at-arms.

Armored Kilt, Masterwork Scythe, Wand of Inflict Light Wounds1 (44 Charges), Spell book2, Prayer Book3. Composite Longbow, Chain-shirt, 2 Fuse Grenades, 2 Alchemist Fires, 2 Flash Jars, 2 Tanglefoot bags, 2 Thunderstones, Wand of Gravity Bow4, Masterwork Full Plate, Masterwork Heavy Steel Shield, Shortbow with 20 arrows, +1 Falchion.

1 44 Charges.
2 0th: All Core Wizard/Sorcerer Cantrips, 1st: Mage Armor, Sleep, Summon Monster I, Mount, True Strike, Magic Missile, Cause Fear, 2nd: Scorching Ray, Dread Bolt, Summon Monster II, Command Undead, 3rd: Summon Monster III, Fly.
3 Unusable by party.
4 27 Charges.

[Steve_the_ERB]

Gauchier

Gauchier lept from Firemane's back, turning to his allies briefly.

"I suggest we not all rush in, in case more orcs arrive and to aid those we bring out."

Having said that he then immediately turned to rush up the stairs, shield out, sword sheathed but his hand resting on the hilt just in case the orcs had left anyone behind, and sweeping into the foyer.

[The Architect]

Lynoa : Week 1 : Day 1

Gauchier rushes to the second floor and finds himself in a dormitory, full of drawers and childrens toys rather than any actual beds. The place is a wrecks, signs of extreme mundane and magical violence scattered around the small space, and a dozen orc corpses lining the floors, most of which could not be called 'intact'. At the center of the mess is a blonde haired elven woman who, if Gauchier remembered his old tutor's lecture on Eldarie physiology, was at least two centuries old and comparable to a battle worn woman in her early to mid twenties. Round one arm she wore the red ribbon of a Lieutenant-Inquisitor, a senior Inquisitor of the static martial branch of the Inquisition. One half of her face had been freshly burned black in the shape of a large humanoid hand-print. Her eyes were distant, dead, and in one hand she clutched what appeared to be the broken beginnings of a blade and its hilt. The blade was of strange design and the remains of the blade measured about as long as a typical dagger. Her right hand was empty, but she bore the scabbard of a long-sword on her opposite side along with that of a makeshift dagger scabbard suggesting her primary weapon had been looted.

The tapping was replaced by the mewling of terrified children and Gauchier saw little boxes, maybe ten to a wall, lining the space. He realized what they were but until this moment he hadn't actually seen one. They were cot-holds, or as the more macabre called them coffin-cribs. In the areas of the Barrier Marsh, and farther north, it was unsafe for the vulnerable, the young and the old, to sleep with easy access to others in case they succumbed to sickness in the night, whether expected or not, and rose as undead to kill others before they could wake. The boxes were effectively just large enough for a bed and for a child to sit upright. The door had a slider in to check inside and holes for air.

Only now did Gauchier notice that the external lock had been forced on about a quarter of the score or so of cot-holds. He could not tell if they had been forced from the inside or the out.

What Do You Do?

[EikaForge]

Ariavoroledra

Aria held the last note of her song for a few moments after the sound of fighting ended. She lowered her bow and turned to Alice, wincing at the younger elf's nasty chest wound. "Are you okay, Alyssionata?" She reached for the healing wand at her belt. "Let me just use my— oh, right..."

Aria's own breathing was shallow and she was peppered with several shallow arrow wounds, not to mention the bite of the worg, but that wasn't what she was concerned about right now. She hobbled out into the street. "Hey, kid. You're needed."

Alyssionata Silvermoon

While Aria was looking away, Alice adjusted her disguise to cover up the chest wound that pained her so. "I am fine, tis you who needs the help." Alice loaded her crossbow and put the safety on before walking out of the building, trying to hide the pain she felt from the others.

As they neared the fortress, Alice decided to leave the group by shifting into a bat, flying up to a tower of the fortress, and then shapeshifting into a wolf as she began her investigation of the fortress. While she searched with her eyes for survivors, she kept a nose out for any fresh elven or human blood.

[Green Bean]

There were tears in his eyes as Elus moved through town, seeing the dead before them. They had to worry about practicalities right now, but they would all get a proper funeral, he'd make sure of it. He waited outside at Gauchier's command, but when he heard tapping replaced by crying, he rushed in, any worries about danger replaced by concern.

Hearing their terror, Elus spoke up in a clear but calm voice. "Don't worry, children, you're safe now. We're here to protect you."

[The Architect]

Lynoa : Week 1 : Day 1

The tapping returns at the sound of Elus' voice and a muffled series of sounds fill the room that could be words. Elus' knows how thick the doors of those cot-holds are and knows that the sound is probably being muffled in both directions.

What Do You Do?

[Green Bean]

Elus went over to one of the cot-holds with a broken lock and opened the viewing hole.

[The Architect]

It is empty.

[Green Bean]

Elus went down the row, opening up all the other viewing holes, especially the ones with forced locks.

[Steve_the_ERB]

Gauchier

Unphased by the blood and the bodies around him, Gauchier actually need a moment to center himself at the thought of the cot-holds. Having lived a life of relative comfort and his exposure to the swamp having been in the company of fellow knights and warriors, the implications of their need sank in slowly and he needed a moment to process.

He roused himself as Elus finished opening the holes on the first row and moved to cautious look inside of the ones the tapping was coming from.

[Naleh]

Ariavoroledra

Aria paid precisely no attention to Gauchier's instructions as she rushed inside beside him. Upon seeing the dead elf woman, Aria wasted no time. She drew her sword and methodically severed the corpse's head, as she'd done for many of the orcs they'd slain earlier.

Then she looked around the room, immediately recognising the cots for what they were – she'd once lived in one herself. "Oh no. Oh no oh no oh no..." Showing none of the caution of her companions in checking viewing holes, Aria went straight to smashing the lock of the nearest noise-making cot with the hilt of her sword. "Open. Open damn you! I'm coming, child!"

[The Architect]

Lynoa : Week 1 : Day 1

Alice first reached a stairwell in the tower, evacuated, before proceeding to an armory, that has been largely emptied, and then down to the same foyer as one can see from the front door, with two stairs leading up from it, and four doors leading off it.

Upstairs Elus' finds that the forced open cot-holds are all empty, while those that are still locked contain terrified prepubescent children and toddlers. The three half-elf girls seem most calm, followed by a pair of male dwarf twins, with nine other terrified human children, with the fifteenth of their number being a Mul (half-Dwarf half human, an extreme rarity given such a mating's tendency towards natal and pre-natal complications) girl who is the tallest of the grouping but presumably still a juvenile. Aside from their fear what stands out most is that the Mul girl's skin is an ebony that is unknown among Dwarves as far as Elus' and Gauchier know and more akin to the complexion of the Akríssht Kingdoms of the far south.

The children do not seem to be harmed but the forced open and empty cells do show signs of a struggle.

What Do You Do?

[Naleh]

Ariavoroledra

Aria looks at Gauchier - the one person there wearing a cloak. "Cover her up," she says sternly. After that, she directs all her attention to the children. She dotes on them like a young mother, wiping their terrified faces and crooning in soft tones. "It's okay, we're here now, you're safe..."

[EikaForge]

Alyssionata Silvermoon

Alice remains still for a moment and sniffs the air. Bleh, dwarven blood from down stairs smells the freshest, but maybe she would find something more interesting along with it.

She looks into the dormitory briefly to see what the fools were doing. Orphans, wonderful. She wastes no more time and trots down the stairs, following the scent of fresh blood.

[Green Bean]

Elus' tears were gone now, replaced with resolution. There were children in need, and that took priority over everything, even his own feelings. He added his reassuring voice to Aria's; years of practice had left him a deft hand at comforting distraught children. It was a necessary skill, but it often saddened him that he had become so experienced.

When the children calmed down enough that he felt he could leave them with just Aria, he gently pulled the least-terrified child aside to converse with privately. "You've been very brave, but I need you to be brave for me for just a little while longer, okay? Can you tell me what happened here?"

[The Architect]

Lynoa : Week 1 : Day 1

The wolf passes through a corridor lined with rooms that seemed to be for the adults living out of the fort. Eventually, following the scent, she comes to a room at the end of the corridor. The door was barred with all manner of debris but it seems to have been broken down from the outside. Within is the corpse of a rotund elderly dwarven woman with long white hair in thick braids. Her torso has been opened from side to side with a long bladed swipe and the bed around her is matted with her blood. Her dead arms still clutch two crying human babes, while two dwarven babes wrapped in blue cloth are crying and patting her, and the final baby is a half elf infant that seems to have ended up on the floor in the struggle, but it seems unhurt. The babies are caked in blood but seem unharmed unlike their dead former protector.

Upstairs most of the children are crying or in shock as they are ushered away from the cloaked corpse. As they took the key from the corpse to open the locked cot-holds Elus noted faint glowing runes alone the broken blade of the dead Lieutenant-Inquisitor's makeshift dagger. Once all the children were out, though for the most part still crying Elus' took aside a small blonde haired elven girl.

"Uruks were... were here. They were shouting in Orldari so I got some of it, 'cause it's like Eldari and my da' taught me pieces 'fore he left and stuff. They said they wanted kids, I think, so we got really scared and Lieut-lieut-Madame Aiko hid us in our coffin-cribs. Then they... we heard things... They left us though... Where's Shoko? Or.. or... Niko? Or... Or... or-"

What Do You Do?

[Green Bean]

Elus embraced the girl while she calmed down, letting the storm pass before he continued. "Were those the people inside the open cot-holds?"

[The Architect]

Lynoa : Week 1 : Day 1

The girl looks over to the other cots and had to have the ones with the broken locks pointed out to her "Shoko," she says pointing to one "Ao," to another "Kenna," to the third "Akemi," to another and lastly "Niko..." she looks up with fearful eyes "Niko is my sis, half-... half-sis... cause our da' is the same but ... she's was born first but she's not really older cause I'm half southern so I act older than she does. She's small, and a full elf, but da' used to say we were the same before he left, even if we had different moms. Niko scares easy ..." her eyes water "Niko is going to be so scared with out me," she looks up again "where is she mr sheep?"

What Do You Do?

[SuperCracker]

Aeryn

While the others rushed ahead, Aeryn walked more slowly. His eyes observed the savagery perpetrated by the orcs. Bodies on the ground, good people murdered. And due to the curse upon this land, Aeryn had to further desecrate their corpses. Every corpse he encountered was beheaded, the cuts clean and quick. Neither the wielder or his blade enjoyed the work.

“I know what you’re thinking.”

Aeryn was silent. It was true. Sorrow and rage filled his blue eyes.

“There is not a soul in this world that will care about what happened here. Not really. The city was already dying, this land cursed.”

Aeryn narrowed his eyes, agitated by his sword’s words. “Why are you saying this to me?”

“So that you know… that you must be the one to avenge the fallen.”

Aeryn took a breath in through his nose and he held it for a moment. He hadn’t noticed it, but his fist was clenched and it was trembling.

“You’re right.”

Eventually, he found his way into the children’s room. The anger that boiled within him surged as he noticed the broken cribs. “We’ll find her,” he said quietly. Looking at the little half-elf before him, Aeryn couldn’t help but see himself a bit.

[EikaForge]

Alyssionata Silvermoon

The wolf shifted back into her human form, as not to scare the half elf child. "She should have been clutching a weapon, not her squalling little monsters." Alice took the five babes into her arms with a certain disdain for the two dwarves and walked back upstairs to the others.

"I found five more brats for you lot to take care of, and a dead body downstairs to behead."

OOC: I misread the initial post to only have three babies. Retconed to carry all five now.

[Steve_the_ERB]

Gauchier

Bristling a bit at Aria's command he still saw the value in it and draped his cloak over the elven woman's form and waited until the children has been mostly hustled away or distracted by Aria and Elus before attending to the sad duty of sliding his sword under the cloak and deftly decapitating her lest she rise again. He left the dagger where it lay but was sure to leave it outside the cloak so it could be examined without needed to disturb the body later.

Then leaving the children in the care of those better suited to it he began a survey of rest of the interior, looking for both supplies such as food and water and for any corpses that needed to be attended to in the same manner as the elf.

[SuperMuldoon]

Malakai

Malakai was never really good with children. They tended to get rather terrified of him, though he didn't intentionally mean for it to happen. Just one of those things when you sorta look like you came up from the nine hells. So he instead loitered around the streets, keeping an eye out for any orc reinforcements or anything out of the ordinary. Inwardly he wondered just what they were going to do with all these orphans. They needed to be kept safe from further attacks.

[Green Bean]

"I don't know yet, but we'll find them, don't you worry. That's what we do." Elus was distracted from further conversation by Alice's entrance with five squalling babies. He grabbed some bedding to set them somewhere soft, and then two at a time tried to settle them down. Before Alice could leave, Elus called out to her. "If you find any female livestock or mother survivors, can you please bring them here? These babies are no doubt very hungry."

[The Architect]

Lynoa : Week 1 : Day 1

One of the half-elven girls spoke up as the Mul girl took the two dwarven babies "are the orcs gone? Should we go get the adults in the center of town? Are they okay? Your Inquisitors right?"

What Do You Do?

[EikaForge]

Alyssionata Silvermoon

Alice sighed, "Give them some of your blood if you are so concerned."

The dhampir follows Gauchier out on his explorations, keeping the pain of her chest wound off her face. Despite her comment to the Aasimar, she does keep an eye out for any milk-like substance that would still be edible.

[The Architect]

Lynoa : Week 1 : Day 1

As Malakai waits outside, cleaning his weapon after having to behead a dozen of his brothers and sisters of the Inquisition, he sees something riding up out of the distance. It is a robed figure, stocky and lean, riding atop a strangely large ram in barding. One hand clutches the reins and another holds aloft an ever-burning torch. Seeing Malakai the ram rears up on its hind legs suddenly and the rider dismounts, making the final distance on foot. The figure flicks down his hood making a horrified but constrained sweeping glance over the assembled corpses. The man was tall, broadly built, and with thick visibly sinewy muscles over every surface of his exposed arms. His complexion was unusual, close to a bronze tone caked in a layer of soot. His hair was shock-white and tied back over his head in a thick pony-tale that went down to the nape of his back, though the sides of his head and his face were shaved. If he was human, or is, he appears to be somewhere in the middle of his third decade; kind decades. His eyes were themselves also white, with the faintest hint of an iris and pupil. What exactly he was was hard for Malakai to place, perhaps a Mul given he was a tall well built humanoid, though they were very rare, but that didn't explain the eyes or other strange pigmentation. When the man was finally a few feet from Malakai he spoke with a local accent "I suspect your no ill beast sent raiding with these uruks if you wear the greys and blues of the Office of curios, so might I have a name? How came so many to be laid low? Just the orcs?" he swings his torch around again "hundreds came through the central square while men and babes hid in their homes. I would expect as many uruks lying here as men-at-arms, if the tales are to be believed, but I see none," he motions to the upper levels "Lieutenant-Inquisitor Aiko commanded this place. It is said she's faced dragons and march-hags, even that she once stepped into the deep-shadow and returned, that she wields an artifact of the Elven High-King she took from the ruins of Lichtenkrieg," he hunches over one of the men-at-arms "not one dead orc. Ill tides, horned man at the threshold. Ill tides."

He rises and stows his torch, the braziers of the fort supplying enough light "one assumes by now you desire a knowing of me, as I the same of you, or so I said. I am Aigrimm, son of Bángrimm and Isabelle, Mayor of Lynoa," he looks to the upper levels again "I do hope Aiko still has my card."

What Do You Do?

[EikaForge]

When they reached the first floor, Alice systematically explored the three doors that still held mystery, checking each room behind them for content and bodies to behead.

[The Architect]

Lynoa : Week 1 : Day 1

Through the first door Alice found a common room with a large fireplace which led into a dining chamber which connected to a Kitchen which led down into a cellar and pantry. The cellar and pantry have been largely, and aggressively, emptied.

Though the second door Alice found a library and a pair of offices which aside from a general turnover have been left largely untouched. On the desk of the larger office Alice finds a wooden chest with the sigil of the Office of the Inquisition. It appears to have contained platinum coins, given a note inside; in fact it seems the container formerly contained the gold intended to fund the party's expedition.

Through the final door is a large chapel with fifteen shrines within. Seven are dedicated to the imperial faith of Septism, two of which appear to be shared with Elven spirit-avatars shrines (perhaps synergized in local folklore through failed efforts to press Septism onto the Elven population of the Imperium), while the last eight are dedicated to other Elven spirit-avatars. Several smaller chambers seem to branch from the chapel but they seem to servile chambers related to religious ceremonies such as a prayer pool.

Alice discovers no more bodies.

What Do You Do?

[SuperMuldoon]

Malakai

Ugly work, beheading the corpses of friend and foe, but necessary nonetheless. Seeing the rider on the ram approach, he braces for the worst - but lets himself relax slightly when the strange visitor appears to mean no harm. "You suspect correctly, as I am indeed with the Inquisition." he says, extending a hand in greeting. "Malakai.
"

"We arrived a short time ago and were ambushed by the foul creatures. They were quite organized, but we managed to cut them down just the same. We are still assessing just what happened here as well, but as you say the lack of orc corpses, besides the ones we are responsible for, does not bode well. And if Lieutenant-Inquisitor Aiko is as formidable as you say, well, it leads me to believe that something very strange happened here."

Malakai pauses as the man introduces himself. "Well Mayor, let's hope Aiko is here and can fill us in on just what happened here."

[The Architect]

Lynoa : Week 1 : Day 1


http://s22.postimg.org/djmysdtkh/Giftest_B1_Recovered.gif

With that the Mayor follows Malakai through the fort and upwards towards where the others currently reside with the still petrified children. The noise they are creating is easy to home in on. Mayor Aigrimm comes to stand in the threshold and fully half the children rush over to grab at his robe. His eyes dance over the living members of the Inquisition and finally comes to rest on the tarp on the floor over the body. He simply questions, knowing "Aiko?"

What Do You Do?

[Naleh]

One of the half-elven girls spoke up as the Mul girl took the two dwarven babies "are the orcs gone? Should we go get the adults in the center of town? Are they okay? Your Inquisitors right?"

"Yes, that's right, we're Inquisitors," Aria said in her gentle tone. "The orcs should all be gone, but we're going to stay here just in case, okay? Just until we know where the adults are."

Before Aria could choose someone to send off into the centre of town to find the adults, she was interrupted by the Mayor's arrival. She closed her eyes and sighed. Then, not wanting to lift the body's shroud, she instead picked up the dead elf's broken dagger and offered it to the Mayor as proof of identity. "She was guarding the children. Even if... things went wrong, she is a hero."

[The Architect]

Lynoa : Week 1 : Day 1

The Mayor takes the dagger, or at least the shattered part of the larger sword, and stairs at it for a long moment before speaking "Illushí," as word drifts from his lips elvish engravings along the blade of the weapon burn a faint orange "Aiko took this from the ruins of Illutítra before it became a stronghold of the Uruks. If the stories are to be believed it was the blade of the last High King of the Elves, Silevon the Bright," he holds out the blade for it to be taken back as the lettering fades "it is a curio I'm sure the Inquisition will find use for again. She was a great warrior who helped protect this small homestead in the dark for longer than many are gifted with living. She will be missed. May her next life in the cycle be worthy reward."

The Mayor takes one of the children in his arms "we should move the children to the town hall. There's an empty apartment there you could use to rest for the night. Will we be off?"

What Do You Do?

[Naleh]

Ariavoroledra Starheart

Aria breathed as the Mayor spoke of the sword's history. That such a blade could be broken... The bard accepted the hilt back from him, this time with greater reverence.

She nodded at his suggestion that they move to the town hall. "Thank you: that's exactly what we needed to hear. I'm sure the children will be safest and happiest with the rest of the town. Just give us a moment to regroup." She waited for Gauchier and Alice to return from their exploration.

[EikaForge]

Alyssionata Silvermoon

Alice whispers a short elven prayer for the elves who fell or were captured in the attack before leaving the chapel and heads back to the nursery. "The Food stores have been ransacked, coin looted, armory is nearly empty, and no more children to be found. Unless you wish to remain in a burning building, I suggest we depart, but first, who are you?" Alice questioned the group rather than the man.

[Steve_the_ERB]

Gauchier returned with Alice, slightly disheartened but the sight of an adult who wasn't an orc gave him some hope that the rest of the town had been spared. He put his hand on Alice's shoulder gently.

"The fact he is speaking here with Aria and Elus makes the import of his presence clear and I am sure there will be time for introductions later. But for now I must insist we away with the children to a more secure location, to which I hope this gentleman can lead us."

[The Architect]

Lynoa : Week 1 : Day 1

The Mayor nodded "I'll just need a moment," he nodded to Aiko and motioned for the party to bring the children downstairs. He moved over to Aiko's body while some of the party remained within eye-shot and raised the tarp for a few moments, apparently searching for something, before lowering it again disheartened "Hmmm... not here ... Curious," he stands with a sigh "best be off. We'll send someone for her so she might be buried with due rights."


***

The group, now over twenty strong counting the numerous children, moved through the settlement with a somber silence. In places the adults stopped to behead corpses, either moving ahead of the main group or allowing it to past first to save the children additional discomfort. The Inquisitors noticed that many of the human, elvish or dwarvish bodies they encountered bore weapons, as of course did the orc corpses who were fewer but still present. The Mayor spoke on this within earshot of some of the Inquisitors as if a guide "some of you might not know, having only encountered the Uruks of isolated bandit groups or while defending themselves but they rarely attack those already cowed. Resist them and they will slay you outright, no pomp or dueling here, but rare is the Uruk who in a true army of their kind would slaughter the harmless. It would be a sign of weakness I've always theorized, culturally akin to slaughtering small domestic animals for sport. Not typically for-" he stops as the group passes the corpse of a man holding a rusted pitchfork who has been bisected, his entrails trailing along the path "I should mention as well that challenging above your station is also a grave insult in Uruk culture, tending to receive a proportionate response. Perhaps as a means of reasserting their masculinity. Well not quite that. It's harder to ascribe such concepts to them as they tend to shy away from strict gender norms, unlike say Humans, Dwarves or post-diaspora Elven culture," he guides a smaller child around a puddle of human remains as he continues "curiously they share a tendency towards polyamorism with pre-diaspora non-aristocratic Elves, though my studies of them have never found a causal link for that."

The Mayor continues to jump between varied topics, displaying a oddly broad education for one living at the literal edge of civilization, as the walk continues. The town hall itself, once reached, appears to be one of the few new structures in the entire settlement, a Gothic structure in the vein of the great buildings of the last century of the central domains of the Ollivian Imperium. It is a particularly small, almost dwarf, example of such extravagant architecture though, given it is only two cramped stories tall with a single unembroidered wooden front door.

He leads the group inside to a large hall branched by a staircase in one corner. Along its walls are a series of eight doorways and at its end is an open archway leading to a central space that seems like a cross between a living room of some expensive sort and an office. There is no door to be sealed between this living space-come-office and the front door.

Scattered adults, already waiting fretfully take the children with little comment, perhaps urged to silence by the amount of blood on some of the Inquisitors battle nicked clothing. They move to the nearby chambers or out of the building entirely but it seems, at a glance, that orphans will be cared for for the evening.

Once the group has settled in the central office space they notice a half dozen armchairs, Atruvian by design - expensive, and within one is seated a figure. He is old, in his twilight years, though his features are tanned by decades of traveling under the sun. He wears a worn robe of faded orange tripped with dirty brown fur and from the edge of wide brimmed pointed hat pokes a thin long pipe. His pale grey eyes turn towards the group as they enter, his long white hair nearly forming nearly a cape behind himself as he turns in his seat, with his beard as a sword like narrow wedge trailing down past his waist "Hmmph," he takes three long puffs on his pipe "Aigrimm, they'll be the Inquisitors then yeah? Spectacular. Spectacular."

The Mayor moves to a desk at the far back of the chamber "this is Honfao, a friend."

"Hmmph," the old man remarks with a grunt "suppose they arrived to late to be of note then?"

What Do You Do?

[SuperCracker]

Aeryn Kane

As the group walked ahead and the Mayor spoke about the ways of the orcs, Aeryn stayed quiet, his eyes drinking in the chaos left in the wake of the orcish war-band. His blade similarly didn’t speak, though Aeryn could feel it nearly vibrating with simmering rage and killing purpose. Whatever this sword was, wherever it came from, it was attracted to the part of Aeryn that would wreak vengeance for these acts.

He gently placed his palm upon a small child’s face, shielding her eyes from the entrails spilled across the street. Once they reached the town hall and the community took the children in, Aeryn felt a mild sense of comfort. At least one issue was resolved.

Subjected to the withering glare of the old man, Aeryn’s blue eyes watched him for a long moment before he replied to the words. “At least two dozen orcs and three commanders are dead. But you’re right… the damage had been done.” He makes no apology. They weren’t aware of an attack, there’s nothing they could have done differently.

[The Architect]

Lynoa : Week 1 : Day 1

"Ten times that number at least attacked the eastern wall," Honfao mumbled with another puff.

"The Uruks have rarely attacked Lynoa with such numbers," Aigrimm said with a furrowed brow "Bleakfort to the north yes, but not here."

"Maggots, all o' them. *cough* Rarely if ever straying far from the corpse of that Dwarven Slave-Kingdom Corpse," Honfao snarked flicking ash over the carpet "I notice Aiko is not with you?"

"She's... passed Honfao."

"Ah," moving in his pockets for his herb-box "can't be helped. How big a mound did you find her atop?"

"Not a dead Uruk near her."

"Hmmph. Ill tidings," he shook his head showing a somber air for just an instant before returning to his cantankerous tone "your bet then will go unanswered. Was it with her by any chance?"

"No. Perhaps one of the Uruk Mystics took to it," the Mayor shakes his head "but that is all an irrelevance to the larger point. Their raiding was minimal, scattered homesteads along a single path, yet they seemed to assault the fort with effort then hold only a skeleton crew towards the southern wall."

"You think they came for a reason?"

"They always come for a reason. Any creature that can think is incapable of acting in a purely irrational unit, the bestial is the individual, the societal is the machine. My worry is that their reason for their attack could be as terrible as the attack itself," he finally looks up the party "do you have any theories Inquisitors?"

What Do You Do?

[Naleh]

Ariavoroledra Starheart

Aria glanced at Alice and Aeryn. She would have liked to discuss this issue with her team first, but it would become fairly obvious once the townspeople spoke to the orphans, so she might as well answer the man anyway. "Just one. We found many children in the fort. Around twenty in all. But not one of them was eldarie. There were signs that some of the cots had been broken into, and one child said that some of their fellows were missing – all with elven names."

[Green Bean]

Elus had no problem releasing the assembled children into the villagers' custody - they were familiar faces and could provide comfort in a way he could not. But he would go back to check on them tonight, just in case. He could do no less. He paused just before the threshold to the town hall and scratched a curved shepherd's crook symbol into the ground off to the side. He knelt and prayed. "Ryawidan, guide and keep these children and their missing brothers and sisters from harm, and protect those who have taken them into their hearts."

Feeling cleansed, he joined the others inside.

[The Architect]

Lynoa : Week 1 : Day 1

Honfao takes another puff in the corner "Urukie taking Eldarie. Heh. It would take one back if one was old, wouldn't Mayor?"

"Took them where though... the Mayor turns and begins to unfurl maps on his desk "Illú river branches to become the Ädh and the Ätoulya not far north-east of here..."

"Ah. Yes. 'two dozen miles isn't far' 'e says."

"They'd not have left boats for so long unattended and to cross with so many so quickly ..." he presses his finger to a point on the map "the Exodai Bridge. They'd have crossed there."

"That ramshackle thing, does it still stand?"

"Yes, I believe so. It may have been built quickly but it still stands last I heard tell. It means we know where they are going, and two hundred Urukie, less some forty or fifty, plus fifty or so Goblin cavalry can't be hard to track from there."

Honfao takes a long puff "Mayor? You intend to track them yourself. How noble."

The Mayor rolls his eyes at Honfao, motioning to the Inquisitors.

Honfao takes another puff "ah," forcing false sadness "and I always liked Elves. Poor things."

What Do You Do?

History Check DC 15 if you want to get what Honfao's first comment meant.

[EikaForge]

Alyssionata Silvermoon

Alice added to the topics the mayor covers as they go, quoting related texts and stories. Occasionally she makes queries, absorbing as much knowledge as she could glean from him.

Alice bristles at Honfao's comment, "And Inquisitors wonder why I live away from people." She purses her lips, considering the idea of grabbing her stuff and walking right back to her home. No, even if she had to put up with human scum that looked down on her race, she would help in saving the kidnapped Eldarie.

"Before I make conjectures, what is this item of Aiko's you two are so concerned about? Some kind of Eldarie relic by any chance?"

[The Architect]

Lynoa : Week 1 : Day 1

Honfao rolled his eyes "not of Elvish make."

The Mayor shakes his head "he guesses," he draws something between his fingers from the pockets of his cloak.

Holding it up to the light it appears to be not more than a blank card a fingers length or two long, a bit large for a playing card. It's back was blazoned with a design of twinned silver and red dragons, but the face was a bordered white "a magical curio, one likely of many unexplained items possessed by the fort over the years before being sent on to the Grand Fortress of your Office in the Central Domain. It is magical, powerfully so beyond belief, but they possesses no actual abilities, close as we could tell, and, as far as Aiko or I could discern, they were indestructible," he turned the card lazily between his fingers, a motion clearly practiced a thousand times before "my hypothesis had always been that they were batteries, small portable containers of magical energy to be used by the Dwarven Grand-Wizards as fuel in their incredible magical creations. Aiko instead theorized that only in a unity, of some unknown iterations of the devices, a pack, could their true purpose be discerned. Her own and this one were twins at least," he stowed the card "I suppose now we'll never know. No one will win the bet."

Honfao spoke again staring into the fire "hmm. If the Urukie have truly taken it then perhaps they know?"

The Mayor shakes his head again "doubtful but not impossible. I hear tell of many varied and powerful Orc conjurers. Any other questions? I must see to my citizens and I suggest you wait till morning to set out after the Urukie."

What Do You Do?

[EikaForge]

Alyssionata Silvermoon

"If Aiko was formidable as you say and was taken out so easily, then at least one of the orcs is considerably powerful, likely possessing some magical aptitude. They might know the cards purpose, or perhaps they simply detected its power and took it out of curiosity." Alice put a single finger to her lips as she paused to think.

"To the meat of the puzzle, why kidnap Eldari children only? We know they did so frequently when they first emerged, but not why. This practice waned over the last two centuries, so why suddenly start again now and in such an aggressive manner?" Again Alice paused, thinking.

"The small amount I know of their language suggests that it is directly descended from Eldairi and remains closer to it than I'd expect. They seem to share some cultural similarities to Eldari, like loose gender norms and polyamorism. Also most accounts of orcs portray them as brutish and thick headed, but the tactics they employed against our group and the town dispel that notion."

"Knowing all of that, what can be concluded? If they were using Eldari to breed, they wouldn't capture children they first need to raise. Maybe for use in a specific magical ceremony that requires young Eldari, as sacrifices or some polymorphism spell to change them into orcs? But why would they possibly need to do that when they can breed true? Whatever the reason, I have a strong feeling it has to do with the connection between the orcs and Eldari."

[The Architect]

Lynoa : Week 1 : Day 1

Honfao coughs "Orcs into Elves? Ha. Heh."

The Mayor, now in the doorway, ponders the theory "perhaps... but then why leave the Elvish children in the homesteads? They did pillage some homes on the paths to and from the fort but they took no Elvish children from those homes, few as they were."

Honfao narrows his eyes leaning forward "They only took Elvish orphans in the care of the Inquisition, a rare and narrow grouping, hmm?"

The Mayor nodded to that "a troubling curio. I must go and see to my people. If you have any further questions Honfao is learned in the ways of the people of Lynoa and the Barrier Marsh's history. He should be able to help. Thank you Inquisitors for all you have done, I will see you off in the morning. Get some sleep as soon as you are able."

With that the Mayor departs.

What Do You Do?

Close out here?

[Steve_the_ERB]

Gauchier

Guachier remained silent during the many discussions about history and magic. While he was by no means stupid, neither of those were really his area of expertise so he left it to others to discuss. Not to mention that he thought much of the conjecture a waste of time. They would solve the mystery when they caught up with the orcs and could question them about it. He was however most interested in the map the mayor produced, pouring over it, getting the lay of the land, assessing routes to this bridge and what lay beyond it.

When the mayor left he turned as if to follow but then stopped himself. As much as he longed to help see to the people of the town it was clear that their mission would resume early the next morning. So he did as Sir Othon had trained him: first he saw to his horse to make sure Firemane was properly rubbed down and stabled, next he saw to his gear to make sure his weapons and armor were cleaned and sharpened, and only then did he find a place to settle down for the evening to get some rest.

Sure, we can move on...I'm just mono-characterizing here

[Naleh]

Ariavoroledra Starheart

Aria frowned as the team started departing for bed. "There are still children out there, remember. Every night we waste is a night they're spending out there in the marsh, in the hands of orcs." But she could only watch disapprovingly as the group dispersed.

Her grumpiness only lasted a few moments. Aria poked through the building until she found the bulk of the orphans. With a broad smile on her face, she sat down among the children, introduced herself as Aria the Inquisitor, and offered to sing them a tale.

She sang a song about a young girl – an orphan, just like them – who loved to sing. One terrible day, the girl's home was overrun by monsters. The girl hid, scared and upset, hoping that the monsters wouldn't find her too. But very soon some heroes arrived and drove the monsters off, and they took the girl away to a safe place. She never forgot about the home and the people she'd lost, but she made new friends with those heroes and she lived happily ever after. And many years later, the girl grew up to help people just like those first heroes did, and she sang to people about her story…

An hour later, just before going to bed, Aria sat down with Alice and set out the various objects they'd looted today. "I'm glad you let the kid heal your wound," she said quietly to Alice, gesturing at the younger elf's unmarred chest. "From what I've seen of you over the last few days, I was worried you'd be the independent sort who refuse aid." Then she began patiently examining the objects for traces of magic.

Using the detect magic cantrip to identify the magical properties of the loot from this post (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=18773808&postcount=67), the black rings from this post (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=18789576&postcount=118), and finally Aiko's broken sword, the alleged Illushí.

Unfortunately Aria was never that good at magic-artifact-collection aspect of the Inquisition, and her Spellcraft is an abysmal +0, but she'll take 20 so she can identify items up to caster level 5.

[Green Bean]

After their audience with the mayor, Elus went to retrieve his horse and car, and made sure Broderick was fed and rubbed down. Then he went looking for the Inquisitorial orphans to check on them. Shock took a little while to wear off, and he wanted to make sure they were okay. He found them towards the end of Aria's impromptu concert, and even ended up joining in the last few songs.

When it was over, he helped take them to bed, and checked in with the generous souls who'd taken the children in. He made sure they had enough food and clean water to spare - if not, he provided what he could. Then, privately and individually, he spoke with all of the children old enough to talk to him, asking them whether they felt comfortable and safe with their new guardians. Sad as it was, he knew from experience this was a necessary step.

[SuperCracker]

Aeryn Kane

Aeryn listened as the two locals spoke to one another. Though he could be headstrong, his mother had taught him the value of simply listening. When everything important had been said, Aeryn spoke to the Mayor and the older man. “We’ll find the children and the artifact. Aiko died for this city. We Inquisitors will not let her sacrifice be in vain.”

As he began to leave the room, he took heed of Aria’s words. Aeryn turned his blue eyes upon her. “I know,” he said in response to her disapproval, “but when we catch them, we’ll have to fight. We need our strength to be any good to those kids.” Aeryn placed his hand upon the bard’s shoulder, his attempt to comfort before he too dispersed.

Later he would find himself standing upon a balcony, his eyes turned in the direction of the bridge. Deep into the lands of the dead. His grandfather had adventured here once, as had his father. This land was the ancient homeland of his mother. Though evil tainted it, he looked forward to learning about himself and his own eldar heritage. His thoughts were interrupted by the singing, drifting out from an open window to where he was.

The magus smiled softly to himself and just listened.

[EikaForge]

Alyssionata Silvermoon

Alice sat down after letting Aria into her private, single bed room, specifically requested so she didn't have to sleep with the Inquisitors.

"I did not require nor desire his aid since it is through independence I find strength. Now keep your eyes on those items while I attend to my clothing."

------------------
Ariavoroledra Starheart

Aria frowned. "I don't understand," she said, keeping her eyes obediently fixed on a looted wand while her magical vision resolved itself. "I saw you wounded, and quite nastily. How did you get healed if the kid didn't do it?"

-------------------
Alyssionata Silvermoon

Alice disrobed, laying her real dress on the bed after she made sure Aria was averting her eyes. "Because there are relatively easy spells that can mend the unliving and I am intelligent enough to have learned one of them. How else would I survive on my own, far from any medical assistance?"

The dhampir began casting her mending and prestidigitation spells to fix the damage the arrow had done and clean the dress for the next day.

-------------------
Ariavoroledra Starheart

Aria hesitated a few moments. It seemed straightforward that the kid's miracles could heal an unliving body as well as a living one, but the idea of a deliberate, wizardly spell to repair the undead… She wondered where someone would even learn a spell like that.

Still, she breathed a sigh of relief. "And it's powerful enough – or you can cast it enough times – to recover from what happened to you? As long as you're healthy, I'm happy," she said while she noted down the wand's properties in a notebook.

--------------------
Alyssionata Silvermoon

Alice, satisfied that her dress would bear her through the next day began to put it back on, her response muffled through the clothing.

"I am unsure why you and that goat kid derive so much happiness from the welfare of others. Is it something that comes from being in the Inquisition these days or are do you both require others to help you through life?"

---------------------
Ariavoroledra Starheart

Aria carefully set aside her stylus. She put down the first analysed wand, and picked up another. She cast her spell again. And only then did she find the words to reply. "When you've known both true happiness and true despair, you despise the latter. You want to do everything in your power to make sure noone else feels the way you once felt."

-----------------------
Alyssionata Silvermoon

While Aria recast her spell, Alice moved to a small balcony and bathed in the soft, silver moonlight. Unlike the harsh sun that burned her eyes and skin, the light of the moon soothed and relaxed her.

"There are those who inflict suffering on others to ensure they continue to experience that happiness." Alice gave a sullen smile, memories of a childhood dominated by hiding bleeding to the surface of her mind. "People feel threatened by the unknown, unreasonably fear that which they do not understand. It is one reason why I learn as much as I can, so I do not fear anything that does not warrant fear."

------------------------
Ariavoroledra Starheart

"I understand the cruelty of other people, Alyssionata. What elf doesn't?" Aria said quietly. But then she raised her head and grinned. "Hey, enough gloom. Are you going to help me examine these items, or aren't you?"

------------------------
Alyssionata Silvermoon

"Only if you will help me with something later in the future." Alice gets up from her moonlight bathing to help.

------------------------
Ariavoroledra Starheart

After they finished, Aria jerked her thumb at her pack. "I brought my sleeping roll. Do you mind if I sleep in here? I know you were being all 'I demand a room to myself,' but you could use some company, right? And this way I don't have to sleep with, you know." 'Human men' was the words she didn't say.

-------------------------
Alyssionata Silvermoon

Alice grimaced at Aria's request, but then sighed and motioned for her guest to lay down her roll. Sleeping alongside strangers made her uneasy, they always were always unknowns, but Aria seemed acceptable.

[SuperMuldoon]

Malakai

He nodded and bid farewell to the Mayor and then Honfao. They had their task for the morning. "Get some rest this night, for tomorrow promises to be a long, arduous day filled with nasty surprises." he said as the group dispersed, knowing that when they found the orphans they would most likely be finding a tough fight as well.

Malakai allowed himself some time to relax, finding a nice private spot that was within earshot of Aria's singing. The music brought back memories of his own childhood as an orphan, of his trials in the Inquisition, and of Claire. Time passes, and he realizes he had drifted off to a combination of a melodic voice and melancholy memories. Grumbling to himself, he heads for bed.

[The Architect]

Lynoa : Week 1 : Day 3


http://s12.postimg.org/ks4c7k9l9/Lynoa_Map_2.png

It takes most of two days in the wagons to reach the plains overlooking the river bed and the Exodia Bridge, a crumbling edifice of magic warped stones lined in the long vandalized statues of the noble dead from the era of the Great War against the plague. It wasn't really a plague of course, and there wasn't quiet a lot that had been great about the conflict, and the noble dead were made up of the same humans who had not intervened to assist their former Elven allies against their oppressors or held true to most of their promises after, virtually all of the honored dwarven sculpts had in some way served as part of the same tenebrous Empire built on the backs of elven slaves, and most of the elven patriots had largely served themselves and their own. It was a crumbling sentiment built to commemorate a momentary alliance that could never last.

As the wagons rumbled along the beaten but untended roadway they came to overlook a great plain that had recently been trampled and strewn with the debris of a moving raiding party. It was mostly garbage.

Amid the junk was a figure in a thick fur coat, a dwarf, with a great grey beard so voluminous it hung between his legs, legs which ended just past the knee in smooth golden caps. One eye was a bronze coin with the rough carved image of a dwarven face held to his scarred features by a black strap of leather. Beneath his dirty brown fur coat he wore the brown dress uniform of the Drakka-Druum, the Dwarven special forces of the fallen Empire of old. He seemed to float in the air, his coat trailing behind him, until one saw the golden rune carved disk he was resting atop, barely wider than his own bulk.

As the group came slowly closer they picked small forms, five elven children picking through the debris for anything worth holding on to. Two of the children wore babes tied to their back, swaddled in spare cloth. All the children wore the blues of the Inquisition on their worn and torn clothing. The Dwarf seemed to be barking orders to them all, but remained largely still himself.

All this though paled once the central stone gatehouse, a monolithic tower, half caved in, no longer hid the body of the gate and they could see through the archway as they came level with the former camp. There was a large chunk of stone missing from the center of the bridge, as if a wedge had fallen to the river bellow. It was impassable.

What Do You Do?

[SuperCracker]

Aeryn Kane

Along the way, Aeryn and Alice actually worked together in identifying the remaining magical items. Aeryn also found a few pages of the orc’s spellbook that were of particular interest to him, and over a few hours he copied two of the spells over into his own book. Afterwards he sat back in the wagon and quietly observed the land. He memorized his spells and would speak with Gauchier and Malakai – the men in the front-line. Once they made their way close to the bridge, Aeryn caught sight of the dwarf… with the children.

He recognized them as eldarie, and their clothes as that of the Inquisition. And a burning rage filled him. Without a word, he jumped out of the wagon and drew the Muramasa. The black blade pulsed with a faint purple glow, as if the heartbeat of one filled with anger.

“You, slaver,” Aeryn nearly spat, “These children are under the protection of the Inquisition. Return them to us immediately or I will kill you.” He cast a spell quickly, forming that same ghostly barrier of force in front of himself.

"If he's done what you think he has... kill him anyway."

Casting Shield.

[EikaForge]

Alice was closing her eyes inside the wagon, saving herself the pain of sunlight when she heard Aeryn shuffle to get up and then shout to the dwarf.

"Slavers and children eh? Muramasa has the right idea then." Alice said as she opened her eyes and sighted the dwarf, ready to bring death upon him.

Will cast Magic missile with arcane reservoir point if he makes any aggressive moves.

[The Architect]

Lynoa : Week 1 : Day 3

He glances to Aeryn "fancy magics," he turns his nose up at him "for an elf."

After a pause he points back at the bridge "if yehs want across though yeh'll need m'help, and ... oh" he clicks his fingers and a flurry of wind turns leaves nearby to feathers, then into a nearly formed and summoned Owl Bear "yeh ain't d'only one with a bit a magic boy. Best begin talkin' with a little respect, ya hear? Yeh got d'ears for it."

He motions to the children "now, I ain't unreasonable. I got 'em from some orcs who came through here as trade. Seemed it was that or kill 'em and they preferred givin' 'em to me. I'm a charitable man see. I even had to 'aggle for the babes. They was iffy about keepin' those. So now we have a better idea of what we're 'agglin' for what have yeh got to offer?" he nods to the children "lest we get all roust-about with the kiddies in chuckin' distance," he licks his lips "yeh hear?"

*Hoot* *Hoot*

What Do You Do?

[SuperCracker]

Aeryn Kane

Aeryn continued to advance on the dwarf, not deterred by the sight of the summoned creature. The dwarf’s words enraged him further, but he did stop when the children were threatened. “First off, I’ll offer you your own head. If a single child is harmed, nothing will stop us from removing it from your shoulders. Do you hear me?”

He stood, watching the dwarf for a moment. “Why do we need you? What’s stopping us from just continuing over the bridge. The orcs did it.” Aeryn had no doubt that these children would be enslaved forever had they not come along. This man was wicked, and it pained him to have to deal with such scum. “Sell yourself.”

[The Architect]

Lynoa : Week 1 : Day 3

He points back to the bridge behind him "well the bloody great 'ole in the middle of the thing for starters. D'orcs paid, so I bridged the gap for 'em. Don't like a Dwarf them blokes but sensible if they're in the season for it," he runs his hands through his beard again "and keep threatin' me boy and I'll whip your knife-eared arse till your a virgin meringue."

*Hoot* *Hoot*

What Do You Do?

[SuperCracker]

Aeryn Kane

“You can try. I’d be pleased to oblige,” he said with his eyes narrowing. That said, if there was a hole in the bridge and it was impassible, then the dwarf had them in a position where they had to tolerate him. “What do you want for the children and to clear passage across the bridge?” Reluctantly, and very much to the Muramasa's chagrin, Aeryn sheathed his sword. He was smart enough to know where he stood right now.

[The Architect]

Lynoa : Week 1 : Day 3

With a crooked grin the Dwarf made a slow drift towards the wagons, glancing in their backs "half the food and water in dem barrels o' yours..." he turns to Aeryn "that's for the toll on the bridge Mr. Inquisitor," he leers at those inside and holds out a hand which glows a faint fuchsia "there's magic here. Things with magic. Likely dwarvish then, only decent makers o' magical things," he mutters something about knife eared thieves "I want some o' your magical things for the little 'ens. Less yeh you want to cross the bridge without 'em? Leave 'em with Gorrderak here."

*Hoot* *Hoot*

What Do You Do?

[Naleh]

Ariavoroledra Starheart

"Don't bargain, Aeryn."

Aria's eyes were wide and her jaw shook with the strain of speaking so calmly, but her hands were steady. She hopped down from the cart she'd been driving, twirled and activated a wand, drew her bow from her back, and finally trained an arrow on the dwarf's face.

"We can bargain for the bridge. We can spare magical trinkets. But if you threaten those children one more time," Aria said, enunciating each syllable slowly and firmly, "the remainder of your life will be measured in seconds. They are children. They are not bargaining chips. Do not try me, scumbeard."

Using a charge from the Gravity Bow wand, just in case.

[EikaForge]

Alyssionata Silvermoon
Alice finally settled herself down enough to apply logic to the situation in front of her.

"I would not test the Inquisitor's patience on kids, they care ever so much for their young. Besides, seven mouths to feed that can do nothing but menial labour can not be worth much to someone who wanders out here. So name what you want and let us finish this before any kids die and someone ends up with an arrow in their knee"

[The Architect]

Lynoa : Week 1 : Day 3

He pointed straight at Aria "yeh put that sharp piece o' wood down 'fore I shove it up yeh arrogant arse yeh knife eared bit!" he makes a dismissive motion in the wagons direction "and I've already said what I'll be havin' so just unload the damn wagon and load up yeh damn gremlins."

What Do You Do?

[Steve_the_ERB]

Gauchier

Gauchier tightened his grip on his reins, sidestepping Firemane to get a clear line to put himself and his mount between the owlbear and the children should it become necessary.

"In all fairness, sir dwarf, you named 'some of our magical things' as your price. I would pray you to be more specific in your request. While bartering for the lives of children is gauche in the extreme, you may have spared them from some worse fate so I am willing to entertain further discussion on the matter as long as it does not weaken us as to put ourselves in undue peril."

[SuperCracker]

Aeryn Kane

Thought I posted this... I did not. >.>

Aeryn raised his left hand back towards the other Inquisitors, signaling them to calm down. He definitely understood where they were coming from, but for now they simply had to play along. “You’re not getting anything until you prove that you can open the pathway on the bridge. That’s the deal. Isn’t that right, Malakai?” He said, giving the cue to the tiefling inquisitor that he should really be doing some of the talking here. Malakai is, after-all, a very scary individual when he sets his mind to it.

[SuperMuldoon]

Malakai Cross

The big tiefling stood and hopped down off the wagon, taking his time. "That sounds about right, Aeryn." he says, his sharp teeth showing as his lips curled back in a smile. "Sir Dwarf, why don't you get to work patching the bridge and maybe we'll see how much compensation your work deserves."

"Oh, and the kids are coming with us."

Intimidate to influence his attitude. [roll0]

[The Architect]

Lynoa : Week 1 : Day 3

He looks the Tiefling up and down, and likely anywhere else in the dozen and one domains the Dwarf would have been more estranged by Malakai's appearance than his words, but it says a terrifying amount about the Barrier Marsh that the old Dwarf seemed to merely be more put out and otherwise unfazed.

He swings a pudgy digit in Gauchier's direction "I ain't all knowin' now am I. Get out the magics you got that you can part with and I'll pick out some choice pieces. I suspect yeh're the sort to have a few trinkets and rings and such on yeh, and don't you be forgetting the food neither!"

He then looks over at Malakai again "and I ain't subservient to yeh boy. I don't give a dragon's tit what yeh think m'product's worth, cause yeh'll damn well pay my price if you want to cross, even IF yeh're the sort of brigands to murder a dwarf in cold blood at a crossroads like yeh seem to be implyin'."

Lastly he turns back to Aeryn "ah. I suppose it's only fair. Now if yeh're a fair man, wonderin' if dem racist caricatures of a cheat-y dwarves is true den all yeh'll need is to see I can bridge dat bridge. If yeh're a murderous cheat yeh might try and kill me and cross. I should mention dat'll mean yeh'll all either be stuck here or fall to yer deaths. Still..."

He turns back to the bridge and raises his hands to the bridge like the conductor of an orchestra, chanting in dwarvish "<Númyith, Kami of colonies, fellowships, bridges, and passages. I beseech the power of the earth and stone, your fellows on the earth. I am your Druid of the pass, your stalwart at Exodia. Furnish me a path, bring forth your sons.>"

As the hard toned dwarvish ends a strange shifting blanket of black seems to form, crawling up along the edges of the earth from the river far below, and then like a pool it drifts down along bridge's path. It takes a few seconds before the party realizes they are staring at millions and millions of insects, ants to be precise. They bridge the gap and form a black replica of the missing piece that seems to shiver ever so slightly in the afternoon sun.

"<Thank you>" whispers the Dwarf in a guttural tone under his breath that causes any who don't know Dwarvish to likely assume it was some kind of swear word. An instant later the ant-abridging disperses.

"Any questions?"

What Do You Do?

Sadly failed the check Malakai.

[Steve_the_ERB]

Gauchier

Reaching for his saddlebags, Gauchier tosses the falchion recently looted from the orcs on the ground in front of the dwarf. "I am not one for trinkets but I'll happily part with this magic blade if you wish. I will include my cloak, with its minor protection magic, for the list to you consider." Although he leaves the cloak on his shoulders for the time being.

He turns to his companions, specifically looking at Malakai and Aeryn but including everyone. "While I find the idea of bartering for lives distasteful, a fight here serves no purpose other that to put the very lives of the children we want to save in unnecessary danger and possibly weaken ourselves for later confrontations. As he has proven at least a small measure of good faith, let us conclude our business and move on."

[Green Bean]

Elus was not paying the least bit of attention to the dwarf, and had instead marched right over to the children to see if they were hurt or sick in the least.

[SuperCracker]

Aeryn Kane

Aeryn stood by and watched as the dwarf began to chant. Luckily, the Kanes had a few dwarves as family friends – smiths that they have acquired arms and armor from for generations. Aeryn had learned the Dwarven tongue from old Master Drummond, so he understood each and every word the dwarf spoke. The dwarf was a druid, and he called upon nature to do his bidding. Furthermore, although the dwarf was far from a moral paragon, he appeared to be trustworthy if one is willing to deal.

This gave him an idea.

Aeryn began to speak in Dwarven, a subtle shift in his tone.

<”I accept your proof, and we will offer you goods. However, I would bargain with you. You’re a man of the Barrier Marsh, through and through. You have dealings with orcs and come away unscathed. You’re resourceful, and I don’t doubt that you’re an able combatant.”>

He approached, his weapon still sheathed. He was no longer in an aggressive posture.

<”My offer is this. The Inquisition has come to the Barrier Marsh. And in our travels we will come across more magical trinkets, more gold. We will continue to acquire wealth and food, the things you value. Perhaps we could build a business relationship.”> He gestured towards the children, <”Let’s not think of these children as slaves to be sold. Think of what we give you as a reward for your valiant efforts. And if you were to rescue people out in the wastes, including more children, there would be future rewards.”>

He extended a hand to the dwarf in the human manner of working out a deal.

<”We both get what we want, and we both have no reason to backstab each other.”>

[EikaForge]

Alyssionata Silvermoon
Alice made no move to offer any thing of hers, things she had shaped and crafted with her own hands. However, she did know dwarven and listened to Aeryn's 'proposal'. It had some merit, but trusting a dwarf, an old guard no less, to hold up his end of a bargain? A fool he was indeed.

But he could speak the rare language of dragons, one she presumed the dwarf did not. <Be careful what you sow half-blood, he may just capture some poor souls to trade.>

[The Architect]

The Exodia Bridge : Week 1 : Day 3

"<You bring me things I need, I'll pay. If I have things you want in return, I'll sell. That simple,>" with that he shakes Aeryn's hand.

Simultaneously, Elus approaches the children, who while searching through the leavings of the camp, don't seem to be any worse off than they probably were when they were taken by the orcs.

He moved over to the wagon with a pair of bags and a barrel, beginning largely without invitation to take his half of the food and water "<sword and cloak all there is to pick through then?>"

What Do You Do?

[SuperCracker]

Aeryn Kane

Aeryn replied to Alice in Draconic. //”You know what would be done if it happens. But for now, we need him… and I’d rather he bring these people to us than have them pick the bones of the Marsh for the rest of their days.”// The whole affair wasn’t pleasant for him, but rule number 1 of adventuring: you have to make do with what you have.

Back in Dwarven, he continued to speak as he fished out a few of the items he had identified before. <”The knight speaks hastily. Where we’re going, he will have use of that sword and cloak, and you will want him to survive so that we can continue to do business.”> He turned and held out the rings within his palms. He didn’t particularly like to give this dwarf these items, but they could afford to spare them. <”These are rings we found from the orcs. They’re a means of control, sending a pain signal from some master source. Once you put them off, they don’t come off… not without some heavy-duty magic. There’s also an orcish prayer book that you may be able to get something for. We also collected several uses of alchemist fire and thunderstones.”>

<”As a gesture of goodwill, I’ll also throw in more water. Though in return, I’d like a gesture from you… some knowledge about what lies beyond that bridge.”>

[The Architect]

The Exodia Bridge : Week 1 : Day 3

He took the rings and turned them over in his hands "<'rare are wrought rings worth wearing'>" mumbled the Dwarf "<aye. These and that will do.>"

He put the rings in his pocket and turns to the bridge "<this is the border of the lands of men, of the dozen and one domains. Here order comes to a close. The Barrier Marsh is but a tiny spec of a greater whole but this is its door, and it the door to much beyond, if there be but one. A few sparse settlements hold against the undead that linger here, Bleakfort, Aysha-Tír, Nêtregöz, among others. For the most part the place is full of the bizarre, dangerous, and disturbing. None but the Orcs claim any sort of dominion their, and even they are little more than a loose confederacy of city states.>"

He turns to everyone else "if yeh're ready to depart get in your wagons, the bridge won't be abridged for long!"

What Do You Do?

Ready to move on? Still planning to track the Orcs? Have any questions about the Barrier Marsh (if so you can roll if its something you'd like to know IC)?

[Naleh]

Ariavoroledra Starheart

Aria is given pause by Aeryn's bargain. She keeps her arrow ready, but she says nothing.

[SuperCracker]

Aeryn

Once more, in common, he calls out to the young priest. “Collect the children, we’re moving.” He made his way to the wagon and climbed in. He was aware of the look Aria was giving him, but didn’t say anything. “Let’s cross while we still have a bridge.”

[SuperMuldoon]

Malakai

"The deal is made. Let's go, daylight is wasting." Malakai says, and moves to help herd the children to the wagon before hopping on himself.

[Steve_the_ERB]

Guachier

Pausing to collect the falchion, Gauchier otherwise did not take his eyes off the owlbear and dwarf. He didn't know what the rings did and decided he didn't want to know and instead kept a watch until everyone was loaded up and moving.

[EikaForge]

Alyssionata Silvermoon
"Gauchier, empty your supply horse to the minimum rations needed for five children and two adults for two days journey, we are taking these kids back to the town, they will be dead weight otherwise." Alice jumped out of the wagon and opened her parasol to cast her in shadows. "The rest of you, keep following the orks. Any way they go, the wagon should suffice. If their trail becomes harder to follow or you change direction, leave an obvious mark for us to follow back to you. If we can not find you in fourteen moon rises, Gauchier and I will go back to my house and wait for you there. Questions? No? Good. Move out."

*FADE TO BLACK*

[The Architect]

The Line Roads : Week 3 : Day 2


http://s13.postimg.org/92nt7rbk7/Map_Trek_Pathfinder_1.png

When the group meets again it has been most of a fortnight, having returned the children to Lynoa and the care of the Mayor, before returning to the Barrier Marshes and moving along the coast till they reached the Line Road, a great white expanse of unnatural straight flat seamless stone about twenty feet across and stretching far into the horizon. Racing to chase the orcs, and not searching any of the areas they passed through for anything of note, meant that the group managed to move up along the coast of the river with little distraction beyond the occasional relatively harmless animal.

When Gauchier and Alice returned to their fellows, following discrete but regular arcane marks along their route, they found them camping near the Line Road leading to Illú'astra, nestled in the Cliffs of Illú. As the pair approach the group's small camp the reason for pausing here is obvious. Even miles in the distance the high white marble towers of the bright city are visible in the twilight of dusk, stretching high above the cliffs they rise from. Illú'astra has been reoccupied, and apparently by quite a substantial population. That the relatively small orc force would be willing to walk straight along the indefensible Line Road, across the great gulf of the river, and up the forested mountain path suggests exactly who now occupies the former capitals of the Eldarie.

What Do You Do?

Quest Experience : Tracked Orcs and Saved Children : 1,200 XP

Had to fix the day count as it turns out Wagons are even slower than I thought. xD You now reached the Exodia Bridge the morning of Day 7. :smallsmile:

Also this is the 'all around a camp fire chilling out scene' so feel free to start character stuff, or argue, or whatever. :smalltongue:

You are out of rations.

[SuperCracker]

Aeryn Kane

Aeryn stood, leaning against the arch of an old dwarven ruin. It sat on the edge of the cliff, giving him a window from which to look at the corruption that had taken hold within the old Elven city. Aeryn himself felt a hunger in his belly, but he trusted that the survivalists could take care of the issue.

What he could see for himself was that they were ill-equipped to do anything about this city for now. He turned back towards the others.

"We should go to Bleakfort. Find out more about the area. Without an army to chase, we can proceed a little more deliberately."

[EikaForge]

Alyssionata Silvermoon
"We need to refill our water stores from the river first, fresh water is hard to come by in the swamp and the goat may become incapacitated. Malakai, take Greystep and the goat to the river and accomplish this if you would. Gaucheir, we have pushed the horses a bit in our haste. Please make sure they are well fed and rested. Aeryn, you and Muramasa stand watch for any unwelcome company. Aria, I trust you can tell a poisonous plant from an edible one?" Alice barked out commands. She wasn't their leader, she wasn't even sure if they had a leader, but gods be damned if they were going to enter the swamp unprepared.

[Steve_the_ERB]

Gauchier

Gauchier sniffed. As if he would not take good care of the horses. But he was too much of a gentleman to call Alice on it. He checked on Firemane and Greystep regardless before handing Greystep's reins to Malakai.

"Heading towards Bleakfort sounds like a reasonable course of action. If the child we seek is in yon city then she is lost to us for the time being."

He turned to Aria and asked with cool politeness. "Do you require assistance with gathering provisions?"

[Naleh]

Ariavoroledra Starheart

Aria was distracted from gazing at the marble spires by the voices of her comrades. She rolled her eyes at Alice's skepticism. "I'm a local, Alyssionata, I know the marsh's plants. Hunter is one of my specialist roles within the Inquisition."

She openly scoffed when Gauchier joined in. "Alright, if you think you can do so much better, stodger. Come with me and show us what you can do. We'll make it a competition." She grabbed her pack with its survival kit and waited patiently for Gauchier to join her before she headed out into the wilds.

[SuperCracker]

Aeryn Kane

The Magus turned his blue eyes upon Alice in a withering gaze and he proceeded to continue doing what he was doing. He didn't like anyone trying to boss him around, much less someone who wasn't even an Inquisitor.

Of course, what he was doing already was exactly what she'd suggested... so he didn't actually make a verbal argument over it.

[Steve_the_ERB]

Gauchier

"After you...m'lady" said Gauchier just a little too politely. He grabs his own gear and sets out with her. Unfortunately for him after several hours of setting snares he manages to only catch one scrawny rabbit, barely enough for a meal.

[EikaForge]

Alyssionata Silvermoon

Once the party were off on their assigned tasks, Alice went to forage for food on her own.

[Naleh]

Ariavoroledra Starheart

Aria seemed almost disappointed with her pouch of berries, cluster of fruit, and trio of large healthy waterfowl – enough to feed the whole party today and then some. "It's a decent haul, but I know I could've done better," she confided to Aeryn when she returned. Still, when she saw her bounty piled up next to Gauchier's, Aria grinned with satisfaction. "Why, what a contribution. Some day you'll make some lady very lucky with all the bacon you'll bring home, Gauchey," she teased.

[The Architect]

The Line Roads : Week 3 : Day 4


http://s8.postimg.org/dbj498u9h/Map_Trek_Pathfinder_2.png

The party breaks camp and makes for the the line roads, needing to spend more than a little time hefting the wagon over the rubble where the roads have fallen to disrepair or the stone has been looted in places. With the game hunted that evening they manage to travel largely uninterrupted along the Line Road for nearly two days, camping out on the elevated road rather than return to the ground level muddy plains below. In fact the endless stretch of white highway is both impressive and mind numbingly dull; hours and hours of white road with little interruption in damp and cold weather begins to ware on the party.

When on the evening of the second day of travel they are setting up camp along the road, and realizing they don't have quite enough food for that evening's meal, they spy a light approaching along the line road. One benefit of the unnaturally linear and elevated road is that it ensured no one could easily approach without warning. The party readied their weapons but found it was unnecessary as the light was only that of a small lantern hung off the edge of a small wagon being pulled by a worn down pony and being driven by an elderly human man wearing a grey cloak and a dirty brown leather patch over one eye. He slowed as he approached the camp and seemed to eye the colours of their now dirty-with-travel uniforms. when he was only a dozen or feet from the camp he forced his wagon to a stop and spoke "Hemshal the trader, out of Bleakfort and Igano before that. Wonderin' if you find masters of the Office of Curios might be able to spare a meal and some clean water for an old merchant, perchance?"

What Do You Do?

You are at 0.8/1 for feeding the party today so you'll need to hunt again.

[SuperMuldoon]

Malakai Cross

***earlier***

Taking Greystep's reins, with a nod of thanks to Gauchier, Malakai couldn't help but give a comment as he headed to the stream. "Of course fearless leader, under my supervision, Greystep shall become the most watered horse in the kingdoms." he said snarkily and headed down the trail.

***now***

This was the worst part of the job. The mindless slog of travel, watching the scenery go by and having to stay alert despite the conditions conspiring against it. He was thankful when the day was done and they set up camp, but his stomach let him know that they were still in quite a situation with their food stores. Obviously this did nothing to improve his mood.

When Hemshal approaches the camp, Malakai is quick to react with hand to blade, but relaxes as the man introduces himself. "Hail good Hemshal, I am Malakai of the Inquisition." he says, approaching the man in greeting. "As much as I would be glad to offer you a meal and a place by the fire, I'm afraid our food stores are...in a state of flux at the moment. Perhaps after we forage for the night, we may have enough to fill your stomach as well as our own?"

[Green Bean]

Elus

As the person not worn down by the short nights and meager fare, Elus endeavored to make himself as useful as possible to take the burden off his fellow party members. When the traveler arrived, Elus was feeding the fire and carefull repairing some torn clothing. He wasn't trained, but as long as he went slowly and carefully, he could fix simple tears. "For now, let's get you and your animal some fresh water. That much we can provide, and you both look like you need it."

[Steve_the_ERB]

Gauchier

Working in tandem with Malakai, Gauchier had much better luck with his second hunting attempt, managing to snare a couple of large waterfowl. He returned to camp with them slung over his shoulder, silently adding it to the sizable pile of provisions.

That evening, as the food cooked, he turned to Hemshal. "Good sir, can you tell us anything of the road ahead as we are heading to Bleakfort ourselves."

[The Architect]

The Line Roads : Week 3 : Day 4

It took sometime but the group was able to acquire enough food by hunting to feed Hemshal for the night and themselves for days. As the group collected again around the campfire and asked for news of the road ahead his face turned somber "the road is fine, but if I were you gentlemen I would tarry long and far from the Bleakfort. It has come to be assaulted often by the Urukie of the Bright City of Illú'astra, and its new ruler is more monster than merciful."

What Do You Do?

[SuperCracker]

Aeryn Kane

He had been standing by, watching the merchant with a wary eye. Now he spoke up, "Ever more reason for us to go to the Bleakfort. The Inquisition has come, and we will do what we can to make those people safe from the uruks."

[SuperMuldoon]

Malakai

Malakai echoed Aeryn's sentiments. "We have come this far and will not run with our tails between our legs like some mangy dog."

"Hemshal, can you tell us anything more of the situation at the Bleakfort, and the identity of this new ruler?" he said, softening his tone.

[The Architect]

The Line Roads : Week 3 : Day 4


"Ever more reason for us to go to the Bleakfort. The Inquisition has come, and we will do what we can to make those people safe from the uruks."


"Hemshal, can you tell us anything more of the situation at the Bleakfort, and the identity of this new ruler?" he said, softening his tone.

The man seemed to grumble under his breath then tore meat from the food handed to him "the Inquisition are there, sadly. Not the nice sort like you lot, nah, and the Uruks ain't much of a terror to 'em at the moment neither. Yeh see, a Dragon now rules the Bleakfort, Áigog the Dreaded. He truck a deal with Lieutenant-Inquisitor Sovin Grekzarr, the one that rules the fort there and by extension is Mayor of the town. Never trust a Dwarf I say, even an Inquisitorial Dwarf. No offense meant. Áigog now kills any Uruks who assault the town and in exchange receives tribute. It's a sorry mess but most townsfolks are too afraid to make a trip through the marsh south, so they remain."

What Do You Do?

[EikaForge]

Alyssionata Silvermoon

"A dragon? I haven't heard of any dragon in the area, strange one would choose to settle in such a remote outpost."

[The Architect]

The Line Roads : Week 3 : Day 4


"A dragon? I haven't heard of any dragon in the area, strange one would choose to settle in such a remote outpost."

"Not as strange as you might say. The dragons have been rousin' in all the corners of the North since the fall of them Dwarves. Keepin' quiet but about, still, queer thing for a Dragon to do. Their sort plan things though, for years, decades, in their future, game players the lot. All a dragon knows is moves and counter moves. I doubt that is the end o' what he plans," Hemshal finishes with a saddened look.

What Do You Do?

[SuperCracker]

Aeryn Kane

"If the dragon is ruling the city and doing so with the collaboration of the local Inquisitors, it's most likely not a good thing. Dragons play long games, and we're all just grist for the mill. Even dragons with good hearts aren't afraid to throw mortal lives away if it's in the interest of 'the greater good.'" Aeryn said after being silent for a time, thinking. "We'll need to keep our eyes and ears open.. try and figure out exactly what kind of plan would bring a dragon out into such a prominent position."

He changed the subject, turning towards the merchant once more.

"Tell us more about the goings on in and around Bleakfort. I'd like not to miss anything while we're here in the region."

[The Architect]

The Line Roads : Week 3 : Day 4

Hemshal shrugs "not much more to be said in truth. Urukie want somethin' from 'em to be sure, since they keep attacked despite a Dragon and all that but that is all I know. There any more o' that deer?"

What Do You Do?

Ready to close out and move on to the Bleakfort?

[The Architect]

The Bleakfort : Week 3 : Day 7


http://s28.postimg.org/57lfp7z7x/Map_Trek_Pathfinder_3.png

The assembled party of two wagons comes to halt at the edge of the Bleakfort, a stark silhouette amid the dying light of dusk. Wooden pikes round a derelict fort wall, each pike impaling the corpse of some desiccated corpse or broken Uruk; a few of these pitiful things are even still twitching, animated by the curse of the region. The walls themselves are fruitlessly tall, a dozen feet of haphazard stone work wholly broken down in places by time and repeated assaults by Urukie and Undead. In places, especially in locales where the outer wall has been so broken down as to allow ingress, the earth has been left a smoldering acidly smoothed patch.

The rood terminated in a great stone arch of Ollivian design holding two broad wooden doors that have clearly been repaired dozens of times, still baring the remnants of a carved inquisitorial eye. Before the group can pass through to enter the small town beyond they are approached by a pair of figures carrying halberds and baring brown clothes over armor that might have once been inquisitorial blue.

"Stop! Who goes there?" both figures were human and couldn't be older than their late teens "what is your business here?"

What Do You Do?

[SuperMuldoon]

Malakai

"They don't call this place the Bleakfort for nothin'." he says to his compatriots as the first signs of the fortress come into view. "But then again everything else we've seen has been pretty bleak."

When approached by the two young guards, Malakai steps forward. "Hail and well met, I am Malakai Cross, member of the Inquisition, and these are my compatriots. We are pursuing a band of Uruks that recently attacked Lynoa. We'd like to stop to resupply and see if the people of Bleakfort would be able to provide any assistance in our mission." he states plainly.

[Steve_the_ERB]

Gauchier

Gauchier had planned to let Malaki do the talking but he took one look at the men and could hold his tongue. "Be you men of the Inquisition or not? We have heard tales of what has been happening here at Bleakfort and your garb only suggests that they are true."

[The Architect]

The Bleakfort : Week 3 : Day 7

The young pair seem to be taken aback at Malakai's bizarre appearance but respond to Gauchier and Malakai after a moment "Aye, we're of the Inquisition, but you'll find little assistance here. We've time for little but protecting ourselves against the Urukie."

He waves the two wagons into the fortress with a cautious look to his features. As the group moves on into the fortress proper they see that every nearby building towards the outer edge of the town is either boarded up or abandoned, and once again their are numerous signs of acidic damage. In the town square the group picks out one of the few buildings still unbarred, an inn marked only with a small wooden sign. The guard gruffly indicates saying "that's about the only place in town you'll find a place to stay. Though I can't say how much it'll cost yeh sirs."

What Do You Do?

[EikaForge]

Alyssionata

Alice whispers to Aria, "We should take care in what we tell the Inquisition here. I get the idea the dragon they are aligned with will throw any elves to the wolves if he thinks it will help."

[EikaForge]

Alice gets up from inside the wagon and pokes her head out ever so gingerly to bark orders at the others. "Let us head for the Inquisition headquarters so we can be gone from this place as quickly as possible."

[SuperMuldoon]

Malakai

"Agreed." Malakai says in response to Alice. "This dragon being here complicates matters, and we cannot be sure the Inquisition here will be entirely helpful with us if our needs run counter to that of their scaly friend. Tread lightly." he says, and carries on with the group to the Inquisition HQ.

[The Architect]

The Bleakfort : Week 3 : Day 7

Has you head towards the barracks, much like the building in Lynoa though larger, a pair of guards bar your way, a Dwarf and a Half-elf "I'm sorry travelers but the barracks are off limits per order of the Lieutenant-Inquisitor Sovin Grekzarr."

The pair seem to take little notice of the Inquisitorial regalia you all wear.

What Do You Do?