The Lion Throne [IC Thread]

[ZeroNumerous]

DM

Sun rise over the siege camp brings cold autumn mists rolling in from the sea. The Prince had been camped outside Thay for a month after the Battle of Barum Hill where he routed Victor Cello and the loyalist army. Count Ormond spoke of Thay falling within a week, but the Prince's catapults did little to the city's sturdy walls. Then the days turned to weeks, and the weeks into a month. Now winter is coming, and many of Emeric's troops will die of starvation or exposure in the cold. It is obvious to even the dullest of military minds that something must be done, or the Rebellion will be finished.

Serafina

The matriarch's wagon proves insulated from the cold morning air, but the familiar chill of autumn still creeps in through the windows and door. The wagon is set up near the makeshift field hospital set up in the center of the siege camp. While the location allowed Urim and Serafina to assist in taking care of the injured, there is a much more practical purpose behind its choice: The Prince's own camp had been set up just opposite the field hospital. He often walked among the men, spoke to them, and reassured them. Perhaps to keep up morale, or maybe to simply inure himself to them? Regardless of that stupid boy's reasoning Serafina had been forced to set up nearby, or else she'd never get the chance to meet the fop until the city fell and that boy started holding court again. The whispers of the injured, the nurses, and the healers also provided a wealth of information that simply wasn't available elsewhere in the camp, or at least wasn't available without greasing palms or talking to camp followers.

Serafina wakes whenever she normally does, and is free to set about her morning routine uninterrupted by any shenanigans. Well, except for the fact that her useless nephew is taking up the little couch in her wagon. The fool was in a sleep so deep he'd be mistaken for dead if not for the slight rise and fall of his chest.

Urim

Urim finds himself in a familiar dreamscape he'd visited many times before. Cold grass, each blade a tiny frozen dagger slicing into his feet, spreads across a seemingly infinite expanse of rolling hills. A sky as black as pitch, lit only by the occasional soundless bolt of lightning leaping from cloud to cloud, looms overhead. Cold biting wind rushes between the hills, wraps tightly around his body, and forces him to pull his meager clothing together in a vain attempt to retain his warmth. In the distance, illuminated by the lightning and guarded by the cold, stands the only landmark aside from hills and grass: A tower of ivory rising from the ground that terminates suddenly in a jagged and broken top. The dream came on days before things changed--often for the worse--and always played out the same: Urim would walk toward the tower, cutting his feet upon the grass in the process, mark a bloody trail up to the base of the tower. He'd nearly make it inside only to be struck by lightning, and then he would wake up.

Even so, perhaps this time it would be different? Either way, the cold wind and grass were the only companions Urim had in his dream.

Danielle

A soldier wakes early, quickly, and ready to start her day well rested. Unfortunately for Dany she had the night watch, so she'd already been awake eight hours staring into the darkness hoping to spot anything coming toward the siege camp. The night was uneventful, and whether that was fortunate or unfortunate was up in the air. On one hand it meant eight hours of standing, watching, waiting, and getting nothing. On the other hand, it meant no one got killed last night. Or, at least, hopefully no one got killed. The cold morning mists rolling in from the sea made the last few hours of watch harder than normal, but ultimately Dany hadn't been forced to raise the alarm and hadn't heard anyone else raise the alarm. It wasn't glamorous work, but it was what being a soldier was about. Nonetheless, after eight hours of standing in place the would-be-empress is off the hook to do as she pleased. She could visit Urim and his crazy aunt, but that would involve a thirty minute trek to the field hospital. She could try to get some sleep in her bedroll, but a cold gust of wind hammers into Dany's body as if to remind her of the coming of winter. She could try to get some practice in while the rising sun warms things up, but that might draw attention she couldn't do with. Especially without Urim's crazy aunt around to convince people she's just a soldier.

Some days, it almost seems like being a noble or other big name would be easier. They just have to sit around and look pretty.

Victus

Being half-elf had its own problems, but one of the lesser known ones was sleep. Elves lacked it, humans always had it, and half-elves were left with fitful half-trances that more closely resembled sleeping while sitting down rather than a proper trance. Slumped over, staring at a spot on the floor, half-awake and half-asleep with little recollection of events: A half-trance is basically the worst of both worlds. Fortunately, Victus doesn't remain in his half-trance for long, and is quickly roused to full awareness by Garuda landing on his head and pecking him harshly on the forehead. Two hard knocks are all the bird gives, and it seems to expect the young half-man to rouse immediately. Once Victus is back in the land of the living he finds himself inside his uncle's wagon. The good Count insisted on Victus remaining within arm's reach, but did not have spare quarters for him like his cousins got. As such the young half-man shared his sleeping quarters with the aging warrior who supposedly carried half his blood. Fortunately the old man was out--probably meeting the Prince to discuss strategy--and Victus had the small sparse wagon to himself.

The wagon reflected his uncle: Simple, spartan, and efficiently used space combined together to form the perfect living quarters for a soldier. Perfect living quarters disrupted by Victus' presence as the half-elf's things were oddly scattered about, and the half-man himself took up residence on a small bench.

Garuda tilts its head and stares at Victus with one beady black eye. "Are you awake?" If Victus doesn't answer the bird jabs its sharp beak at the closest piece of flesh it can reach. "Wake. Your uncle has a use for us."

[Bad Situation]

Victus blinks back into the realm of the consciousness, his right eye twitching open with surreptitious slowness as Garuda comes to perch on his head. After the first rapping of his forehead, he brings a hand up to the bird's face and angles it away from him. "I'm up." He stands up from his meditative seat with a quiet grace, smooth enough not to disturb the bird on his head, and moves to collect his few belongings scattered about the room. Thankfully, he and his uncle were alike in that regard. He possessed little of note besides his sword and his cloak and with the coming chill of the season, wore even the latter to 'sleep'.

He had tried organizing his possessions when he and Garuda had first moved into the wagon but they possessed so little of value that the task seemed almost pointless. It takes him a scant few moments to dress himself, the wealth of his time spent binding his face with cloth and mask. For those who weren't in the know, he supposed he looked more like some elf bodyguard to the good Count than nephew, which was fine. He certainly didn't want people thinking he had some kind of claim to the Ormond holdings. The less people thought of him, the better. Even now there was trouble with his noble cousins.

Once he fully dressed he steps out into the camp proper, tightening his cloak as a stiff breeze comes to strike him across the face. "Uncle always has a use for us, Garuda. We wouldn't be here if he didn't." He stares out at the walled city, chuckling under his breath at the sight, knowing full well what is to come. "I take it you are ready, in any case."

[Cespenar]

Urim looks around him, taking in the familiar terrain. He knows he should be inured to this by now, but a fickle property of his dreams was that he couldn't stop feeling vulnerable to them -- perhaps the very reason he's still having them. Regardless, he can't do anything else but shudder against the cold and swallow his growing anxiety as he makes his way to the base of the tower. As he approaches the very end, he fights against the urge to look up at that ominous sky, and keeps his gaze firmly on the tower's door in a sudden surge of stubbornness.

[Eurus]

Sleep doesn't come as easily to the old. One of the body's many little betrayals before the last big one. Serafina wakes shortly before dawn, as usual, feeling the chill even in her relatively sheltered little nest. She goes through her short routine of morning prayers, the work of only a few minutes, and washes quickly, using a little curtain for privacy in the unlikely event that Urim wakes or somebody calls on her this early. The cold makes her shudder, but it wakes her up quickly. She dresses warm, heavy robes in pale grey embroidered with a single outlined rose in red stitching on each sleeve. Her jewelry comes next, a few expensive-looking rings and a plain silver headband. Modest as befitting her age, dignified as befitting her status, with just enough ornamentation to express nobility.

By the time she's dressed and forced down a small breakfast of boiled oats, the sun has risen. If Urim still isn't awake by then, she brusquely nudges him awake.

[Princess Tracy]

Danielle finds herself dozing off a little, the bitter cold of the night not agreeing with her after the time spent in the warmer climates of the Greenskin Isles and Summers filled with fighting pirates. Her thoughts guide her to dreams of the yet further past, to when she still had her hair dyed made into golden curls, to the warmth of the hall as cooked pork and rare beef wafted about her to fill her nose and heart with vigor. Ringing of a bell, a servant brings her seconds, ring the bell again everyone's staring at her now as Mother says no. You can eat like a pig when you're too old to be a vixen she says, though her crow's feet never allowed her the pleasure of a full mouth of meat, not in polite company anyway, heh. Her own growling stomach snaps her out of it before the crack of dawn does at least. Stupid daydrems and wandering thoughts that didn't know what to do with themselves. She was usually so diligent too, but this attrition had taxed, among other things, her own patience.

Its hard to believe it had only been a matter of weeks since she signed into the army as some anonymous sellsword. A soldier's lot in life was little indeed, to be slain by some arrow in the name of a man he'd never met - after all, someone always has to be the first to die in a battle, the first anonymous grave filled, never knowing the outcome. The rush of battle, the daunting of death, was enough to keep any whippersnapper Empress humble, though even all the Matrons of Malkuth couldn't dissuade Danielle from getting antsy already as she stares off at their target that doesn't seem to be getting any closer. The longer this siege drew out, the longer she had to question the Prince, answerable to no soldier. Keep your head down, keep humble, she tried, gods did she try. Her thoughts never strayed to her position of the past so much before she returned to this country, but being embroiled in the games of nobles will do that. But, they were nobles. And she was a soldier.

Urim's aunt seemed good enough at throwing suspicion off of herself. Danny had to thank her for helping her pass for just another mercenary for what it was worth, it would be more complication than it was worth to be recognised. Yet despite her best efforts, its ultimately unethical to hold back on the battlefield, and sooner or later she had to strike down a unit or two of flanking opponents with flaming arrows and draw more curious awe-filled gazes than she cared for. Everything should be fine if she wasn't recognised...

Danny sighs, pushing herself up to attention with her great trunk of an arm and pulling her raggedy cloak about her as the not-quite winter air blows her hair in her eyes. What the hell, she could do with someone to talk to. The hulking amazon of a woman pushes through the camp in the direction of the hospital to drop in on Urim, wondering just how much the army must have swelled for the medics to be nested so far from her guard spot.

[ZeroNumerous]

Urim

The cold grass does as Urim remembers: Stabbing into his feet and slicing apart his heels like daggers in the dark. Even so the old man can feel his blood freeze as it flows from his wounds, and he leaves no trail this time. The tower painstakingly inches closer and closer as Urim trudges on feet numb from a thousand razor sharp pinpricks. A bolt of lightning strikes the tower, and dust and stone fall to the ground like rain. Even so, the tower remains standing, and soon enough Urim finds himself standing at its door. No flash of pain and instantaneous death comes this time however. Instead, a dark man-shaped shadow slams the door open. It towers over Urim and stares at him with a face like a new moon night. A flowing cloak made from the darkest night envelopes its flesh, and the only distinct feature--the only thing that tells Urim it is a creature rather than night incarnate--is the faint sound of a woman's tears. The man-shaped darkness spreads wings of shadow, and its body darts into the sky like a hawk. But before Urim can follow a roiling blackness, physical and heavy, floods out of the ruin and threatens to overwhelm the oracle. Thick inky darkness encloses him, crushes his body like twigs underfoot, and drowns out any attempt to move. Surprisingly, there is no pain as the heavy featureless dark envelopes the man and crawls down his throat to kill him.

Then he wakes to his aunt shaking him.

Danielle

A chill wind buffets the young soldier as she heads deeper into the camp. The army had grown to nearly thirteen thousand strong after the victory at Barum Hill. With so many nobles switching sides, and mercenaries joining up looking for gold, the army had recouped all of its losses and then some. Of course, the camp had spread out to block passage into the city, and Dany just happened to get stuck on the far end of the camp near the sea.

Traveling across the camp reveals what Dany would expect: Soldiers waking, eating breakfast, and huddling together for warmth against the cold autumn morning. A few fellows from the night watch are even gathered together, dicing with some others who just woke up, probably hoping to swindle the half-asleep out of some coin. Occasionally Dany comes across a meeting between the camp and its camp followers: Peddlers selling poultices, scavenged armor, or rum to troops, non-fighting women or men meeting their husbands or wives, and the odd prostitute plying her trade. It was like a small city of tents had set up outside Thay, and like every city it had its own seedier bits.

Whether or not Dany pays any attention to the troops or their flagrant disregard for the rules and regulations laid down by their noble lords, she cannot ignore what she hears next.

"Let meow go!" The shout comes from one of the tents set up closer to the noble's camp, and if Dany investigates she spots three soldiers gathered around a black-and-white furred catfolk (http://i.imgur.com/P11Rq82.jpg). She's wearing dirty leather armor, a tattered scarf, and showing off more skin--well, fur--than anyone should in this weather. The soldiers are all wearing the white-and-blue uniform of House Jorvik, and each has a tabard with the black raven of Corvel Jorvik stitched on the chest. One of the soldiers has her by the wrist, and she seems to be holding onto a golden band of intertwining snakes. The other two soldiers are alternating between trying to grab her tail--which bears a similar golden band--and trying to grab her other hand. "T-That's mine! It was a purrfectly fine gift!"

"Quiet ya little git", one of the soldiers yells in a shrill voice, "ya stole it and we's gonna take it back." The catfolk struggles to free herself, but she seems to lack either the strength or the training necessary to break free. Fortunately things seem to not be escalating, until she roughly kicks one Jorvik's troops in the stomach.

"Let go right meow! I didn't paw nothin'!" The kicked soldier grunts, then draws his sword. The catfolk struggles with renewed strength, and it seems there's going to be bloodshed without some sort of intervention.

Danielle can tell that the catfolk honestly did not steal the golden bands, but the soldiers seem bent on taking them away all the same.

Victus

Garuda squawks twice in an awkwardly short manner, and to an observer it'd look strange. But Victus' time with the bird let him recognize it was the bird's laughter. "Good morning."

When Victus is fully awake, dressed, and outside he finds himself staring at the busy siege camp. The guard are changing, and soldiers are traveling from the safety of the center into the mists surrounding the camp's edges. Further beyond, half-hidden in the morning mist, sits the sloped stone walls of Thay. The city walls lacked towers, and as a result the siege camp was mostly safe from bored bowmen. But their thick stone proved a more than adequate shield against the army's presence. The only way into the city were through three gates the largest of which was the Lion Gate. Even now Victus could see its impressive gilded doors through the cold autumn mists. It protected the main thoroughfare dividing the city in two, and normally would be open and filled with merchants traveling southward toward Mathiel. But with the army cutting off land routes the city's traders could only leave by sea. The other two gates, the Snake Gate and the Goat Gate, lay on the edges of the city near the harbor. Both were much smaller than the Lion Gate at its center, but served as a way for less important folk to travel out of the city safely.

When spoken to Garuda gives a low squawk of laughter. "I suppose that is true." The bird looks out over the city as well, then to the people in the camp. "Do you think I can get my own bath when the city falls?" Regardless of Victus' answer the bird leaps from his head and starts lazily winging its way through the air. Victus recognizes the path easily, and knows that Garuda is flying toward the command tent his uncle had set up. If he follows, then he's forced to trudge through the crowds of half-asleep soldiers on foot. After a few minutes of walking the half-man finds himself staring at a small hill rising from the ground, with a gold-and-black tent set up on the hilltop. Above it, flapping in the morning wind, rises the gold-and-black banner of the Lion. A stylized gold lion, bearing its teeth and fangs as it rears up to fight some invisible foe, is the Bas'korath family's personal coat of arms. Normally it's on a field of white, but the Prince seems to have adopted the field of black. Perhaps to separate himself from his ancestors?

Victus can hear the voices of his uncle, a woman he recognizes as General Caroline Avegine, Duke Jorvik, and the Prince's right hand: Rubra Fatum.

"This plan of Jorvik's is crazy. If it fails, then we lose two thousand men, never mind the damage to morale." The familiar harsh voice of the lady general seems to disagree with whatever the Duke has plotting.

"And if it succeeds?", The duke says, "The city will fall, our army will have housing and food, and the winter will protect us from Victor's counterattack."

"Perhaps", Uncle Ormond says, "or perhaps Victor will bring more supplies than we did and siege us out. We should meet him on the field again, then renew the siege afterward."

"Will they not destroy our catapults?" The familiar feline lilt of the Prince's right hand questions Victus' uncle. "We will have to leave them unguarded, or face Victor with less than our full strength."

If Victus enters the tent he finds a stern looking woman (http://fc08.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2013/332/6/a/teldra_by_peachplums-d3fy3m1.png), his uncle (http://fc03.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2010/111/9/b/old_knight_by_QuintusCassius.jpg), the duke (http://fc02.deviantart.net/fs31/f/2008/203/1/c/The_Duke_by_arventur.jpg), and a dark-furred catfolk (http://i.imgur.com/Y2iE0fw.jpg) gathered around a map. It's not hard to guess that it's a map of Thay, and it's not hard to guess why they're grouped together. Victus recognizes all four of them: The stern woman being General Caroline Avegine, the foppish man being Duke Corvel of House Jorvik, and the catfolk being the Prince's Lawspeaker Rubra Fatum. Where is the Prince at when his council discusses strategy?

Serafina

While Serafina goes about her business she can see the camp rousing from its slumber out her window. Alchemists, clerics, and medics alike congregate near the field hospital as they tend old patients, and treat new ones that came in the night. She vaguely recognizes a few of them, but spending enough time among the sick and dying to recall any names was a young woman's work.

Urim takes some time to wake up, and by the time Serafina is washed, dressed, and eaten he's still totally out of it. It would be unsettling how close to a corpse her nephew looked to an outsider, but anyone who spent any amount of time around Urim knew better than to suspect he was dead. Serafina's nudge wakes the sleeping oracle immediately.

[Bad Situation]

Victus wrinkles his nose in amusement, tracing the curve of his bird's beak with his gloved hand. "Your arrogant crooning does your wisdom a disservice, Garuda. Though...I suppose they could not deny you a special bath if you insisted on badgering them as you do me."

He watches the bird fly ahead to the command tent, already dreading the situation. He draws his cloak that much tighter as he prepares to enter the tent, thankful once more for the mask that obscures his features from their prying eyes. He meets his uncle's gaze first, nodding once as a polite gesture but then searches the tent for their Prince only to find him missing from the lot. Taking in a silent breath, he speaks openly and without reservation, inflecting his words with a slightly Elvish accent, "The Prince. Where?"

Not that every war meeting necessarily required the lordling's immediate presence but it was a strange sight, nonetheless. It was doubtful in the extreme that the assembled were plotting against him, but the Prince did like to take an active role in his war. How curious. He throws a glance at the Duke, careful not to attract the man's attention, but quickly lets the thought go. His eyes instead flit toward the map and he attempts to look at it in some way that the others have not already canvassed in their various, lengthy meetings.

"The small fanged serpent...destroys from within what the heavy-set constrictor cannot...without. However, it should be...clear enough to us all that the walls of Thay are a hide too thick to pierce by any conventional fang..." He reaches out as if to rap his fingers over the map but retrains himself, turning finally to his lord uncle. "Do you have need of me, milord? You know you need only ask."

[ZeroNumerous]

Victus

The bird lands on Victus' shoulder when he approaches, sitting there and glaring down from its perch like some gargoyle atop a belltower. The four people in the tent look to Victus when he appears, then turn their attention back to the map. Rubra looks to Garuda, bears her teeth, and the bird gives her an impassive gaze. It is Ceno that breaks the silence that settles when Victus asks his question concerning the Prince. "The King", Ceno says ignoring the fact that the Queen held the crown and the throne, "came down with an illness last night. Some kind of cough. He's with the Herbalist." He could only mean the warforged alchemist. Ceno had never trusted the mechanical monster, since its kin had not come to support the Prince as they should have. It is likely that the old man would be guarding the Prince, if not for this strategy meeting.

Rubra turns her pale yellow eyes away from Garuda and to Victus. "We're just here to listen to the Duke's latest plot, so as to not disturb His Majesty's rest." That gets a scoff from Corvel, and he crosses his arms and throws an agitated glare at the Prince's right hand.

"Not all of us can whisper into his ears at night, Lawspeaker. Some of us have to be useful outside of the bedroom." The obvious insult plainly rankles the Lawspeaker, and she bears her teeth at the Duke. Both the soldiers glare at the squabbling nobles--or, at least, Victus thinks Rubra is some sort of noble. She certainly dresses more for the court than for battle, as her silk dresses would only serve to slow her down in fights. The catfolk flexes her fingers and looks ready to claw the Duke across the face, but before things can get worse Caroline slams her hand down on the map. Garuda lets out another low squawk, and it's plain he's laughing the two nobles glaring at one another like scolded children.

"Enough. Ormond, your killer is here. Get on with it." Victus' uncle turns away from the spectacle long enough to look at Victus.

"Elf", he says with a hard voice put on for the peanut gallery, "I need to know how many men you need to hold a gate. The good Duke has a plan to get us inside the city, but we need strong soldiers to open the Lion Gate and keep it that way long enough for our vanguard to get in." Caroline looks toward Victus and is plainly awaiting an answer. It seems her support for this plan lies on Victus' confidence in his skill.

[Bad Situation]

The half-elf shrinks down into his cloak, his hand not quite grasping but resting rather, on the hilt of the scimitar hanging at his side. He regards the female soldier with a slight flickering of his eyes but his gaze never leaves his uncle's. What the general wanted wasn't his grasp of the situation or his sense of military tactics. It was exceedingly likely that her decisions were more or less decided. No, what she really wanted to hear was his earnest confidence. If so, he was happy to supply it. "How many soldiers I require to hold a gate...and how many you and the good general will provide for me are but two very different things, sir. It is...an irrelevant question so I will not bother to answer. I will manage with however many you feel is prudent."

He holds up a hand to silence whatever Garuda might have to say on the matter, though the gesture is more for his own benefit than theirs as he uses the time to collect his himself, "With that said, am I truly to be the hammer for this operation? I can't but feel that my...particular talents lay in being the nail..."

[Cespenar]

Urim recoils from the lightning as it strikes the tower instead in a slightly more fortuitous turn. He barely has the time to recover when the figure slams the door open and faces him head on. Something in that fleeting second reminds Urim of someone -- mostly the hint of tears -- but is it a past memory or a future one, he has no idea. And the surging darkness denies him the chance of contemplation anyway, paralyzing and smothering him. He recognizes the end of the dream is coming, and forces himself to relax. No easy feat when you're held and force-fed inky, smoky darkness, but just as he begins to choke, a hand reaches out to him...

Urim flashes his eyes open at the nudging, and stares at his aunt as if he's looking at Keter himself. It takes a few moments to shake the dream off -- a definite improvement since his earlier years, when the transition was slower and more painful. Still, he fumbles around the words.

"Was I..? Oh. Uh, good morning, aunt."

Recovering his wit takes a few seconds, apparently.

"You should know better than to wake me up like that," he adds, in a slightly accusing yet nonchalant way. Despite how nightmarish his dreams often become, he always felt like he lost an irrecoverable possession when he's jostled awake before the dream's natural end. Or as if he's cut from the womb prior to his birth.

[ZeroNumerous]

Victus

The general stares at the half-elf with the practiced gaze of a soldier. She's plainly evaluating him, not as a man but as Ormond's hired killer. She narrows her pale blue eyes and stares at Victus as she tries to find some hint of fear or apprehension in him. Whatever she finds, or thinks she finds, Caroline looks to Ormond. "A thousand in the vanguard. If this fails then we can't risk more than that or we'll be too close to Victor's numbers, then he might get brave and hit us while we're camped like this." She motions for Victus to come closer to the table. When the half-elf gets closer he's able to clearly see the map they'd been arguing over. It's a crudely drawn photo made by a scout--probably someone left handed based on the smudging across its lines--and shows a gap in the wall just east of the Lion Gate. The gap has the word "Drainage" written under it. The gap feeds into what could only be a series of sewer tunnels that twist and turn as they lead deeper into the city. One of the tunnels is circled and has the word "Street" written above it.

"The Duke had one of his lackeys pass a message to some spooks inside the city. They found a sewer drain that'll lead right up to the streets. Unfortunately, the drain is only big enough for one person at a time, and an army can't crawl in single file like that." Caroline points to the crudely drawn maze of tunnels.

"The plan is to send twenty people through this tunnel under the cover of night. Once inside they'll split up into two groups: The first group, led by a certain pyromaniac, will head to the barracks near the gate. The second group, which will be led by you, will wait near the sewer until you hear the explosions. The first group will use explosives and fire to, hopefully, draw enough men off the gate that you can seize it." Caroline drums her fingers against the table.

"You'll only have one shot. Kill the guards, open the gate, and keep it open. The vanguard will start moving when they see the smoke, so you'll have to hold the line for anywhere from five to ten minutes. Fail, and you'll die. And, I suppose, the rest of us will too when Victor's army arrives. Succeed, and we take the city." The stern general looks toward Victus, and frowns. "Can you do it?"

[Bad Situation]

Victus fails to meet her gaze, his practiced stoicism threatening to crumble beneath the soldier's heavy gaze, though he hopes his clear focus on the map is enough to deflect any criticism that might arise. His gauntleted hand traces the map's crude sewer schematic with an agonizing slowness, the roughly shaped points on his fingers drawing some kind of path in his mind like nails on a chalk slate. When he's finished plotting out their path he turns not to the general but to his own uncle, diving directly into the task that lay before him.

"Two or three archers. Nightvision preferred but not necessary." He points out a few blindspots in their push that he wants covered before moving on, "Two lightly-armored combatants, strong-armed but quick enough to keep pace." His plan thus far was to make a strong initial push for the gate with himself spearheading the attack, in the hopes of fortifying and holding their newly obtained ground with superior artillery. But for that he would require no less than, "Two grenadiers. To help us maintain our advance."

With the crux of his plan accounted for he stops rapping on the table and makes one last request, "And magical support to fill in our ranks. The best you can scrounge up on such short notice."

He looks back at the map however, his eyes lingering on the barracks now. "...is the youngest Wyne the pyromaniac you refer to, or can I expect her aide on my group?"

[Princess Tracy]

Some days Danny has to wonder whether those constant puns that catfolk make are intentional, or if some wordsmith went ahead and laced references to their own tongue throughout the Common language to make catfolk retroactively more irritating to be around. She further wonders if her fur keeps the catgirl warm in this weather if she's a total fashion victim. The soldier woman makes something that's not quite a yawn but not quite a sigh, before stepping forward between them. She seemed sincere enough, at least. But she didn't have the look of some noble who 'needed' such fineries in the eyes of these soldiers, or at least no one would take her side and get them in trouble. In that case, it seemed some injustice was about to be visited upon an innocent by some vigilante soldiers.

One of the men clawing at the cat, who has her by the wrist, suddenly finds his hand being yanked away, Danny almost lifting the goon off his feet as she twists his arm around his back. There's a boom in her voice as she speaks, making her unmistakable, yet her words flow like fine wine from her years spent practicing the oratory and demure etiquette of a noble. In the end, she adds the edge of a drill sergeant to her tone, speaking in that famous 'combat voice' that could snap any well trained soldier to attention, and she doesn't waiver one notch no matter how her opponent struggles. "At ease, soldiers. Its too early in the morning for tragic misunderstandings. Go back to your breakfast, while you still can." The woman stands imposingly above them, and would harbour no struggle or counterargument she makes clear as she applies a bit more pressure on the bound one's wrist, seeing if she can't illicit and exclamation of pain to punctuate her threat.

Grapple and Intimidate as per OOC

[ZeroNumerous]

Danielle

Once freed the catfolk dashes behind Dany, using the tall wall of meat to protect herself from the other three humans. A flash of surprise plays across the guard's face as Dany grabs her, and for a moment she seems ready to fight back. But once Dany makes her threat the guard backs off, and her compatriot sheathes his sword. Once Dany releases the guard the three of them start to leave, until the guard Dany grabbed turns and glares at the catfolk. "We'll get even later kitty cat." The fur-clad catfolk just sticks out her tongue in response and blows a raspberry at the retreating Jorvik troops.

As soon as the guards are out of sight they're out of mind for the catfolk, and she turns her attention to Dany while slipping on the nearly stolen armband. "Thank you for helping little old meow." The cat's tail lashes about behind her in a manner that probably means something, but Dany doesn't know enough about animals to tell what exactly. "My nyame is Silver!" A hand covered in fine black-and-white fur sticks out toward Dany as the catfolk offers her hand for a shake. "What's yours?" That's the first sentence she's said without a pun.

Victus

The half-man's uncle nods. "I know of a priestess who'd be eager to have the honor of this job. That'll get you your magical support." The Count looks to the general, and she grunts.

"I have some good soldiers I can put forward as well. Two good archers, a sorceress, and an elf like yourself. That should round out your team." Five people, plus Victus himself, were close enough to the six or so troops Victus had asked for. When Victus asks about the youngest Wyne--the Mad Angel as the troops dubbed her--Caroline visibly grimaces. "That's the one. The good Duke put her forward."

Corvel seems to take offense at that. "She's a competent soldier, acquainted with the explosives we plan to use, and savvy enough to draw the enemy away without getting caught. What more do you want?"

"Sanity helps", Victus' uncle mutters under his breath before returning to proper speaking volume, "but she'll be leading the second group. She's also been given free reign to assemble her team on that side."

[Eurus]

Serafina scoffs at her nephew's reproach, but gives him an appraising look.

"Prophecy is an unreliable gift at the best of times, nephew. Did you see anything useful tonight?"

[Princess Tracy]

Danielle stares unblinkingly at the soldiers until they're done clearing out, before finally letting out the full blown yawn she'd been suppressing, not bothering to cover her mouth. "Think nothing of it," she says reflexively as she's thanked, her thoughts turning back to a bedroll and some food - surely Auntie and Urim could help out there. When the catfolk introduces herself though she remembers her place and looks to her, blinking some sleep from her eyes. Might as well reward good behaviour, so her unless sentence is rewarded by a proper, friendly handshake from the soldier. "Danny," she says, tending to introduce herself by a nickname - she hardly went around flashing 'Ramidos' after all. She tended to write Danny on her rare paperwork in her exile (hey, you can't hand in a pirate's bounty without filling something in these days - at least her mother's education meant she didn't need to pay a scribing fee) as she found gender-based assumptions of a reader amusing. Though 'Dani' may be more proper.

She snaps out her thoughts, the weariness taxing her attention again, and makes sure to give an assuringly warm smile to Silver as she looks the catfolk up and down. She never could figure out what those tail movements meant, so ignores them entirely. She was more of a dog person. "I could hardly turn a blind eye to injustice just because I share a camp with those men. Do you have somewhere you should be? I doubt those soldiers would actually bother with reprisal, but you can walk with me for a while to keep safe. I'm not up to much in particular but looking for a warm corner to unpack a bedroll and some trail rations."

[Cespenar]

Urim raises himself to a sitting position, rubbing the remnants of sleep from his eyes.

"Ill omen. But this time something else. A figure of darkness, a... woman, I think." He falls silent for a few moments.

"I think something big will happen here, aunt. Aside from the siege, I mean."

[Eurus]

"See? Much too vague. We can hardly be on guard for such an amorphous threat. If the gods can't be clearer than that, our time is better spent in the world of the waking, hm?"

Serafina shakes her head and passes Urim a bowl of oats.

"No matter. Eat, get dressed. We have work to do, if we hope to stay current."

[Cespenar]

Urim shakes his head, despite knowing that he couldn't persuade his aunt's logic without hard evidence.

"They are... the gods! They can't come out and say 'your old biddy will treat you to oat in the morning'. These visions are... my limited mind interpreting their massive gifts," he blabbers on while chewing, filling the gaps in his sentences with spoonfuls of oat.

Quickly gulping down his breakfast, he dutifully gets dressed and accompanies Serafina outside.

"Maybe I'll ask Keter about it. He often answers more clearly than these visions," he muses, implying the controlled trances he can do as much as once a day, about a certain question or subject.

[ZeroNumerous]

Danielle

When Dany offers up her hand Silver smiles, turns the former noblewoman's hand around, and leans in to kiss the back of Dany's hand like she's some sort of nobleman at court. The catfolk's fur feels soft and well kept, but her hands are calloused like someone who works with them regularly. Even so, for her to have such soft fur she must have access to a regular bath. "Few will help a cat like meow. Most are purrfectly happy to ignore us." Silver stares at Dany when she offers the catfolk a chance to walk with her, and her face is oddly blank. Her tail movements slow down as she seems to retreat into her own mind for a few seconds, then the smile of a cat who ate the canary spreads across her face.

"Meowvelous! I've got to meet with someone, and he's always got a good place to rest and food!" Another sentence without a pun. "I'd like to offer you a free meal, so what do you say furend?" Whether Dany accepts or not the catfolk starts heading deeper into the camp. If Dany follows her, then she notes that Silver avoids most of the camps with Jorvik's troops--or any place with his banner nearby--so perhaps there was a deeper story to just being harassed for being a catfolk?

The catfolk takes the time to sneakily sniff Dany's hand when she kisses it. Perhaps taking in her scent?

[Bad Situation]

Victus nods and spares one last look at the map, "Then I will require two more soldiers, if you can manage it, to help me hold the line and make the initial drive toward the gate." With that said, he bows to his uncle politely and makes to leave but not before speaking aloud, "Send the sorceress and priestess to me. I should like to coordinate with them before we begin our attack."

He bows a second time as he steps out of the tent, gesturing for Garuda to come with him. Now, if he wanted those grenadiers he would have to speak to the woman leading the attack herself. "Garuda. Where does the youngest Wyne keep her quarters?"

[ZeroNumerous]

Victus

The general frowns and grunts. Whether that was an affirmative or a dismissal remains to be seen, but it's plain he'll get no answer just yet. When the half-man goes to leave his uncle has one last thing to say to him. "Send in one of the guards. We'll need runners." If Victus relays the message, then one of the guards heads inside the command tent.

Once free of Victus' hand, and under the gray autumn sky once more, Garuda scoffs at the question. His pride clearly rankled by Victus' shutting him up during the meeting, but he takes off and starts flying away all the same. The bird wheels up higher and higher, scanning the ground below for any sign of the alchemist's wagon. After several seconds the bird dives downward, and lands on Victus' shoulder. "It looks like someone moved her away from the field hospital. Her wagon is a few minutes north, but I don't know if she's there."

If Victus heads toward the wagon he finds it quickly enough with Garuda's directions. Faera's distinctive wagon, a fire red box with an iron door, an impressive lock, and a sign that reads "Faera's Fireworks", rests nearly thirty feet away from the nearest camp of soldiers or other wagons. Whether she was forced to set up there, or others simply avoiding getting near it for their own safety. A brown-furred monkey lays on top of the wagon's sign, sunning itself as best it can in the chill autumn morning, and leaps up to a sitting position when Victus and Garuda come closer.

"Ee-ook-ook!" The monkey hops up and down, and Garuda's feathers bristle at it. Without further ado the monkey climbs down, uses the sign like a tree branch, and swings straight into Faera's closed window. A dull thud announces that the monkey had been swinging at full speed straight into the plated glass, and a weak ook is all it says before sliding down the side of Faera's wagon and landing in a pile on the ground. Garuda glares at the stupid animal, and looks to Victus for an answer.

"I'm still not allowed to kill it, am I?"

Surprisingly, the commotion does not bring Faera out of her wagon. Perhaps she's working on something inside?

Victus is able to hear two voices arguing inside the wagon if he listens closely enough.
"Faera. One of my patients told me you're sneaking into the city." The first voice sounds motherly, clearly concerned for Faera's safety.

"So what if I am?", the second voice is plainly Faera.

"That's the job for soldiers. We're creators, healers, alchemists! We are not soldiers." Faera scoffs at that.

"You, dear sister, are not a soldier. I am! I signed up and everything. Avegine even pays me!"

"W-What? Sis... Blood money? Why woul--"

"Shove off! I'm not you! I don't pretend to care if I kill people!"

"Faera, how could you?"

"You just want to pretend your hands are clean! But every person you help, all the injured you treat, just go off to kill others! You're as complicit in this mess as I am!"

"N-No I--"

"Get out! Get out, get out, get out!"

The sounds of a scuffle come from inside the wagon, and then the door bursts open. A familiar redhead (http://i.imgur.com/YSNo9Vn.jpg) tumbles backwards out of the wagon, landing in the dirt with a hard thud and a groan. Her bright red hair, plainly dyed as it resembles neither of her sisters, becomes duller as dust and dirt thrown into the air starts to settle down. After a few seconds a tiny girl (http://i.imgur.com/RIeDKTd.jpg) steps into view, grabs the door, and angrily slams it. Whatever went on it's obvious that they're not on the best terms. Victus knows that the eldest Wyne isn't exactly a fan of fighting--a hold over from her eccentric mechanical master--so it's not hard to guess what caused the commotion.

"And stay out!" Caera Wyne, eldest of the Wyne sisters, sits on the cold hard earth and just stares at the closed door for awhile. She doesn't seem to care for her outfit, or any potential damage to the vials and materials she carries with her, and certainly doesn't notice Victus or Garuda.

The bird looks at the half-man, then to the human, then to the monkey. "Why are primates always falling over?"

[Princess Tracy]

Danielle can't help but be a bit charmed by the kiss on the wrist, its been a while since she'd been on the receiving end of such a gesture and it catches her off guard. Feeling her counterpart's softness makes her feel a bit embarassed for her own position, her hands not the cleanest or smoothest after years and days spent on the battlefield. As the girl retreats to her thoughts, the soldier wonders if the cat is planning out her next doses of wordplay. Though she was able to maintain her streak even while in a potentially deadly grapple with armed thugs, so maybe it just came naturally to her. All the same she smiles and lets on no irritation, present or not, at the cat's speaking habits as she invites her along. "Oh? I suppose I might as well not reject your offer then," she says hurriedly as the girl's dashing off leaves her no time for humility. She jogs briskly and steadily behind, the soldier surprisingly light and springy on her feet as much as any catfolk as far as navigating goes. She raises an eyebrow at the flags being avoided. "Is that the first time those guys have bothered you for your jewellery? You said they were a gift from someone, I'm curious now..." she supposes innocently.

[ZeroNumerous]

Danielle

"Furrtastic!" The catfolk says in response to Dany accepting her offer. She walks with the speed and grace of her species, and one could be forgiven for confusing her as a dancer. When Dany notices that she's avoiding the Jorvik troops, and speaks up about it, the catfolk is surprisingly quiet once more. The only noise she makes is the swish of leaves and grass as she passes, but Dany can tell she's thinking based on the rhythmic swaying of her tail. Or perhaps she simply absentmindedly swings her tail. After a few moments of walking in silence, the catfolk's tail goes still and she finally responds.

"Jorvik is a clawful lion dirtbag." A twofer. Making up for the missed pun before? "Actuakitty, I had a run in with some of his mewn before. They tried to skin meow!" Something doesn't quite fit with that statement, and it's not just the puns. But before Dany can question it Silver turns the inquisition back on her instead. "It was really brave of mew to stand up to Jorvik's dogs", she says the last word with more bitterness than most would expect, "mew must have someone special protecting mew, huh?" Maybe they're not puns, and just someone screwed up when teaching her proper Common? Notably, the catfolk avoids answering the question as to where she got her jewelry from.

As time passes Silver barrages her new friend with questions, and cat puns: What's mew doing working for the Prince? Where's mew from? Is Danny a furcious furighter? Where'd mew lay paws on the wonfurful longbow? How long has mew been a furighter to have that cattitude? Is mew tailent centered around a bow?

The barrage of puns, and questions, pass the time as Dany realizes that they're heading toward the center of camp. The duo arrive where the noble wagons were set up, just near the field hospital, and Dany can see Serafina's--and by proxy Urim's--wagon. However, the catfolk doesn't head toward a wagon. Instead, she heads toward a black-and-red tent with a red fang stitched onto the side of it. The tent, set up inside a copse of trees, is just out of view of the field hospital and the wagon train beside it. In fact, Dany's certain that if she didn't have Silver here to guide her then she could have searched for this tent for awhile before finding it.

Dany recognizes the stylized red fang as the symbol adopted by Rubra Fatum--the Prince's Lawspeaker--when she was granted her title and raised to nobility. It made a strange sense that the catfolk would know one another.

Fortunately Silver points it out, and looks to her new friend. "This is where my meowster stays, but it's a secret to everykitty." Unless stopped, the catfolk opens the tent and announces herself loudly. "Meowster, I'm home! I brought mew a friend to share breakfast! ... Oh." The white-and-black furred cat pulls her head out of the tent and looks at Dany. Her dejection is plainly painted on her face, and she looks on the verge of tears. "M-Meowster isn't home. Meow'll starve."

[Eurus]

"Well if he deigns to explain anything properly, let me know. It would be nice to have a bit of forewarning, I admit."

When Urim joins her outside, Serafina starts heading toward the hospital. Duty was duty, and she had to at least check in on it before she could take her leave to gather some intelligence if she wanted to seem useful. Besides, it was a surprisingly good place to do some of that intelligence-gathering, when it was occupied.

She talks as she walks, half to herself and half to her nephew.

"Winter's going to sink its teeth in soon. And when it does, this siege is finished. Things are going to start moving quickly, I'd wager... which means we need to keep well abreast of the situation."

[Bad Situation]

Victus clicks his tongue at Garuda's aggressive stance, playfully clipping the bird's beak to get him to stand down. "Yes, Garuda. You still aren't allowed to eat it. Can't have you drawing the ire of the Ms. Angel, can we?" He smirks at the sight of the comical thing, "And I wouldn't think too lowly of it. It has hands after all. You know, those useful things that yo-" When he gets close enough to hear the sounds of commotion he frowns and goes silent. Fighting amongst family was always a messy thing to happen upon, his own experiences included. Then, when the sounds of the scuffle heads his way he jerks himself out of the way of the slamming door and holds himself stock still in the hopes that the tall redhead doesn't see him. How had the smaller woman lifted her sister he wondered. "Strong. A result of her magical concoctions?"

When she finally does storm off he stops and considers his approach. Approaching the youngest Wyne now seemed a bad idea at the moment. Stooping low, he bends down to girl's pet monkey and rouses it back from its stupor. He smiles at the cute, if unintelligent, creature and holds out some food from his bag. "Hi there, it would seem that your master has need of you. Would you mind calming her down and telling her that she has a visitor?"

Handle Animal: [roll0]

[ZeroNumerous]

Victus

Caera makes no moves other than to curl up a bit. Apparently thinking herself alone the herbalist caves to her own inner turmoil, and simply settles onto the dirt. The half-man can see that the elder sister is sobbing, but no sound comes out. Perhaps she's suppressing the noise, or maybe she's faking it to manipulate the younger Wyne? Either way, she makes no move to leave for what seems like an eternity. Eventually she seems to calm down, stands up, rubs her tear-stained face, and brushes off her clothes before heading back to the hospital. Of course she couldn't have noticed the dirt on her face, or the plainly forlorn look she now wore. Oddly, despite being bodily hurled from the younger Wyne's wagon, the elder seems to have no visible scratches or scrapes.

Garuda just frowns at the whole mess, and in particular at Victus. "I've heard alchemists can create potions to vastly increase their strength. But she is just a hatchling. It's rather strange indeed."

Retrieving the monkey proves easy enough, and the tiny thing rouses to full awareness once Victus touches it. As the half-elf speaks to the monkey it looks at him with vacant eyes, scratches its head in confusion, and lets out a single sound: "...Ook?" Clearly it is not a pet prized for its powerful intellect. Nonetheless, the monkey takes the food offered and stuffs its cheeks full. Without even bothering to chew the monkey climbs up to the window, hangs down from the top, and starts to pound the glass with its feet while hooting loudly. "Oo-oo-oo!"

The monkey rears up as it swings its back, knocking louder on the glass using its whole body as a living doorknocker. Then, just as the monkey rears up for another loud bang, the window slides open and its tiny furry form hurtles into the void left by the glass. The monkey flies out of sight, but the loud crash and shattering of glass announces that it landed somewhere fragile. The window slams shut once more, and Victus plainly hears the sound of scrabbling inside followed by a very distraught ook. Suddenly the door to Faera's wagon pops open once more, and the little teenager comes out with monkey in hand raised high over her head, as if she were intending to throw it at someone.

"I said get o--", she stops when she notices that the monkey wasn't bothered by Caera, but rather by an annoying elf. "Oh. It's you. Count Ormond's pet assassin, right?" Faera casually drops the monkey, and it lands on its feet in a daze. After a few seconds the primate scrambles up her leg, and perches on her shoulder still chewing away at the food offered by the elf.

"I'm not in the mood to make things, and Naera does poisons better than me." She turns around to go back inside.

Serafina and Urim

By the time Urim's woken up, eaten, and the duo arrive the field hospital is in full swing. The weeks that passed since the Barum Hill saw most of those injured in the battle healed already, but every night the siege dragged on was one more night of drunken fights, accidents, or rivalries that flared up between mercenary companies--or worse, noble families. The hospital itself is compromised of six separate massive tents, each the size of a small house, set up in a radius. The largest of the tents serves as a makeshift emergency area, where the most clerics, alchemists, and other magical healers serve to help the most grievously wounded. Other tents are used as quarantine, a stockpile, a permanent wing for those who've lost limbs or other injuries unrecoverable except through powerful magic, and the two smallest tents are where doctors and other mundane specialists handle the camp followers, headaches, bruises, and other non-threatening aches and pains. Just north of the hospital sits two wagons: The first a simple and plain brown affair both Serafina and Urim recognize as belonging to Master Herbalist Wayfarer--the deranged warforged who somehow converted to pacifism. The second is a bright red box with more windows than normal, and Serafina at least recognizes it as Caera Wyne's wagon. Past those two wagons are tents and open air laboratories where other members of the alchemist guild--and many of Caera's nascent apprentices--are working around the clock to produce the potions the army goes through during battle.

The ER seems empty, and thankfully it was truly a quiet night. But several camp followers and soldiers are coming into the non-emergency sections complaining of stomachaches and hangovers. Serafina could canvas the hospital, touching base with her contacts and seeing what happened in the night. Or the duo could barge into Wayfarer's wagon and grill the warforged on what the latest mess is. Of course, there was also the option of simply going elsewhere.

[Cespenar]

Urim nods at her aunt's ominous words. "You validated what I just said!" he thinks to himself, but refrains from bringing it out. Still, having his omens validated by a realistic person always gave him reassurance, a friendly reminder that he's not in fact insane.

Though now that he accompanied her to the hospital like a good boy, Urim looks around him and feels at a loss. Despite being capable of magical healing, it seems to Urim that his time is spent best elsewhere and not curing foot soldiers of spear wounds. Still, making an effort seems to matter for people, it seems, so he fumbles around his pack for his healing wand, only for it to fly from his hands as if slapped away by a school bully.

Oh, right. Them.

Urim sighs and raises his head, facing the slew of ghosts. His ghosts, actually. A bunch of his old townsfolk, who died around him in that elven raid decades ago. There were ones impaled by spears, dismembered by blades, and even a couple of cleanly beheaded ones. A couple of burned children were the worst of it. They haunted him ever since then, but having achieved control over the years, he could face them without freaking out, and even use them to channel his divine gifts.

With the patience of a kindergarten caretaker, Urim shuffles his feet and grabs his wand again. Then, wandering around, he looks for anyone needing of urgent healing and dispenses a few charges if only to ease his conscience. He calls to Serafina afterwards.

"I'm heading out, aunt. I'll try to find 'her' before she bumps into a soldier and break their nose or something. You can debrief me later."

Even though he liked his aunt, politicking was something he tried to avoid when he could.

[Princess Tracy]

The speed and frequency of the questions confuses Danielle when they come in tandem with so many cat puns, and her usual barrier of privacy doesn't know what to do with it all as she stresses she'll end up running her own mouth just to keep up. "Erm... I'm just by myself. I'm working as a mercenary. I'm a bit of a wanderer. I guess? My boyfriend hooked me up. I... I don't know. I like to think i'm good with a bow though I've got a sword and shield too." Its such a barrage that, even though she knows its a deliberate reversal of inquisition, she so can't be bothered to deal with matching the girl's enthusiasm for another reversal, she was far too worn out. She wonders if she could get the girl a language coach. While not nearly as annoyed as some may be, she was having trouble telling what she was saying. Against her greater knowledge, her daydreams construe it must be something intrinsic to catfolk to talk in such a manner without even meaning to, and were she down an Alter Self potion to disguise herself as one, her own words would naturally sound like that to others. Makes perfect sense.

As the head towards the centre of camp, she gets itchy with discomfort, this was far too close to the nobles' tents for her liking, far to close to important people that may recognise her either as the Empress or as anything more than a humble soldier for that matter - the less time in the spot light the better. That symbol on teh tent Silver looks in, what was it, its on the tip of her tongue but she just can't place where she'd seen it before... She shakes her head, nothing. When silver withdraws her head from the tent, Danny chuckles and lays one big hand on the cats head, patting her in comfort. She's tempted to pet her ears, but decided it would be entirely too disrespectful. "Don't lose hope. My acquaintances are just around the corner from here as it turns out, why don't we go see them instead? Either way, I can share enough rations that you won't go hungry, though I think we would both prefer a hot meal, eh?" If Silver agrees, Danny is happy to put a bit of distance between herself and the likes of the Prince to lead Silver to Urim and Serafina's tent, hoping they aren't too busy.

[ZeroNumerous]

Urim

There aren't any injuries serious enough to warrant uses of Urim's wand. The people at the hospital currently were mostly complaining about things the alchemists could handle with ease. No one among the staff or patients attempt to stop Urim from leaving, so unless Serafina has some issue he's able to leave without trouble. As he leaves he spots Dany walking alongside a white-and-black furred catfolk, and it seems that the cat is bugging her with questions.

Danielle

The cat's dejection only lasts until Dany points out that she has food, and then she's back to her talkative--and annoying--self. She immediately launches into a barrage of questions about Dany's friends: Who are they? Where're they from? What do they do? Why are they so important that they're with the nobles and not the soldiers? How did Dany meet them?

While Dany is trying to lead the catfolk off to Serafina's wagon the duo run into one of Dany's friends: Urim steps into view after leaving one of the big tents set up as part of the field hospital.

Unless Dany points him out the catfolk goes on with more questions, but she goes quiet if Dany says something.

[Princess Tracy]

"My friends are some of the priest-types among the field medics. I guess getting patched up by them made me take a charm to them," Danielle weakly offers. She raises a hand to wave at Urim when she sees him. "How's your morning going then?" she asks him before loudly yawning.

[Bad Situation]

Victus frowns at the bird as well, "You know that it isn't our place to butt into the family affairs of others, Garuda. We've caused enough trouble for Uncle as it stands. For now we should do as he says and help him accomplish his goals. You can go see to her if you'd like but please take care in not overstepping our bounds."

When the shorter human retreats into the caravan, Victus follows, edging his scimitar into the gap to keep the door from closing fully. Perhaps in bitter mood because of the young woman's treatment of her sister and monkey, Victus raises his voice slightly and hitches his tone with a slightly plainer and more direct Elvish accent. "And I am not in the mood to mince words. You are leading the diversionary assault. I am in charge of the attack on the gate. I am here to discuss our plans and coordinate our movements."

[Eurus]

Serafina doesn't look thrilled, but doesn't stop Urim from leaving.

"Very well. Keep your ears open. And make contacts! We didn't come all the way out here to babysit drunk soldiers."

She almost adds something about Danielle, but decides against it. Her nephew would be much harder to work with if he was cross with her, and she wanted to keep her options open in regards to the girl anyway. Not that anything was likely to come of it, but no sense in burning bridges unnecessarily. As long as Urim didn't waste all of his time on her.

For now, Serafina focused on the hospital, seeking out her contacts. Her demeanor softened a little, here; not much, she traded more on the appearance of wisdom and integrity more than friendliness, but it was still noticeable. She greeted the nurses by name, indulged in a bit of small talk if necessary, and panned through rivers of gossip and rumor for nuggets of knowledge.

[Cespenar]

Urim waves back at Danielle, cheering up a bit.

"Oh, apart from Aunt's politics and the childish pranks of certain... apparitions, it's okay, I guess." Urim replies sardonically. He eyes the catfolk.

"Who's your friend, then?"

[Princess Tracy]

She looks at Urim when he mentions some portents of his, her eyes steely, nodding curtly and her face gray as she seems a deal more serious about it than Serafina in any case. It was his soothsaying that gained him favour in her mother's court, after all, she respected that much about him.

Danielle looks back at Silver and shifts her neck to signal her its okay to come forward. "Her name's Silver. I found her getting clawed at by some ignoble Jorvik goons. I chased them off, and kind of promised to get us some breakfast. Don't suppose you can help me make good on that so I don't have to cram down my crusted down rations, pretty please." She puts her hands together as if praying and does her best to inject some pleading pity into her voice, but such a thing doesn't come naturally to her generally prideful self and she has to focus not to laugh.

[ZeroNumerous]

Serafina

The rumor mill proves, as always, full of gold. Though, sifting the useless trash from the real information takes effort, and worse: Often times the real information can simply be a fabrication started through overhearing conversations.


A wounded soldier tells Serafina that a mate of a mate heard the Prince was spending his days with Duke Jorvik. Why he could never guess, but he hoped the young prince wasn't learning from that sleazy bastard.
A particularly chatty nurse, looking like the cat that caught the canary, informs the aging priestess that she knows the Prince's secret plan for ending the siege before winter. But when asked about details she goes on about balloons or something stupid.
Several older nurses are talking about how they can feel winter coming "in their bones", and how bad it'll be. Most are pessimists and expect lots of cold young men to die hungry, alone, and terrified.
Apparently Lady Jorvik had lost some very precious jewelry passed down from her mother's side of the family. Some sort of bauble her family was granted by elves, orcs, or some other wild beasts masquerading as men.
Whispers from early risers that morning speak of the Prince being with Wayfarer. Something about a cold or sickness of some sort. Many of the younger nurses seem more interested in seeing the man naked than fixing his illness.


Serafina also hears the other stock rumors: The Ravens kidnapped some little boy and ate him, the Jade Hounds have started killing humans that wander into their camp, Wayfarer is experimenting on human corpses, and the like. None of it was ever true, but even so: People were always more creative when injured than hale.

Danielle and Urim

When the catfolk is introduced she leaps into the fray. "Hello! Dany was furry brave when she saved meow from being dragged off!" She's embellishing a bit. The mention of food perks the catfolk right up. "A hot meal would be purrfect!" Who taught her how to speak?

Victus

Garuda looks at Victus with a weird look on his beak. Others would likely think the bird had gotten sick, but Victus recognizes it as the bird's smile. "I said nothing." The bird simply watches Victus' exchange with the youngest Wyne with an dispassionate gaze. The bird looks to the half-man. "She seems nice."

When Victus steps up to stop Faera's retreat the alchemist reaches toward her right hip. Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately for Victus, her pouch of materials is not on hand. Would she really try to force out the half-man? Perhaps his uncle was right, and perhaps sanity helped more than ability. Regardless, once Faera realizes she can't actually force Victus to back off she shrugs angrily.

"Whatever. We talk outside though."

She waits for Victus to back off, then shuts her door momentarily. Victus' bird friend looks to the half-man with a smile.

"She seems your type: Lonely and crazy." Garuda laughs at his own joke, then takes flight to sit on the Wyne's wagon. Perhaps to keep watch, or perhaps to simply be out of the way if she decides to try and blow up the elf.

After a few moments the youngest Wyne steps out of her wagon in full kit, with her monkey on her shoulder like a pirate and his parrot, and throws a rolled up scroll at Victus. The scroll unravels into a map, a much more detailed charcoal sketch of the other side of the wall, with a square building nearby marked with an X in red ink. The wall itself has a red arrow pointing toward the south edge of the wall. The girl crosses her arms over chest, and then sets about explaining.

"I marked my target with an X, and yours with an arrow. My team will create a distraction using my bombs. That gatehouse is the only way to open the gate without fifty people--or an ogre--so securing it is the key to this whole plan."

[Cespenar]

"Pleased to meet you Silver. I'm Urim."

Urim raises an eyebrow when Danielle explains how he chased off the soldiers. It was classic of her, really. Some things can't really stay bottled up.

"And what do you think will happen when they'll find her again, but this time without you?" His voice isn't really chiding, but just encouraging thought.

Rolling his eyes against the pleading, Urim continues.

"Anyway. Since I'm not an officer in any stretch of the word, I'm in the same boat as you fellows. So tell me, where would one find a hot meal in an army camp?" He looks expectantly at Danielle.

[Princess Tracy]

Danielle shrugs. "I suppose I'll just have to keep a protective eye on her until I'm sure she's safe. She seems to have a benefactor among the mewbles - er, nobles." She cradles her head, she got her wires crossed while trying to figure out catfolk speaking patterns in the back of her mind. Her resolution was always as simple as it was absolute, if Urim knew her at all she would know her to regularly get into this much trouble on account of strangers. "I'm a soldier, not a chef," she snaps at the question of where to get hot grub. "Though if I were to guess I would say in the area with more important people like you and the nobles. And if you don't have anything, well I suppose I don't want to drop in on the prince just to ask if he could hook us up with some fried eggs. Guess its just rations after all, Silver."

[ZeroNumerous]

Danielle and Urim

Rather than the mention of food, her safety, or her mysterious benefactor: It's the mention of Urim being important that gets Silver's attention. The catfolk's ears perk up, and her tail seems to naturally form a question mark as she starts what Dany now recognizes as another inquisition. Perhaps it is her curiosity that got her into whatever business she has with Jorvik? "Special? Mewbles?", Unfortunately it looks like Dany taught her a new word, "Purrfect! What does a purrson like mew do? How did mew get paw-fur-ential treatment?" She sounds the big word out like a child playing with a new toy, and fails spectacularly. Perhaps something is fundamentally wrong in her brain?

[Cespenar]

Sidestepping the subject of his "importance", Urim clacks his tongue at Danielle, both for her answer and her indiscretion. Hadn't they planned to lay low and not brandish their name and stature around the place?

"No, it would be at the mess hall. Or mess tent, more like. It's been almost a month, this whole siege, remember? No soldiers would have lasted on their own rations for a whole month.

"Let's go, then. It should be this way. I must warn you, though, the stocks are getting low. I had cold porridge for breakfast myself."

[Princess Tracy]

"Hey, you're a medic person, that's important enough in my book. Healing wounds magically, big stuff - as someone that actually gets wounded I personally appreciate it a lot. I'm a random soldier person on the night watch about a half hour from the Prince's tent, while you're about a leap from it. So forgive my mental association, but every step it takes to get to the important people makes me feel more comfortably unimportant by comparison to you, my majesty," Dan comments, playing with her hair a bit as she stares off to the horizon, surely the sun was blooming now. With regards to her rations, she shrugs. "Its not like I've been here the whole time. I stepped out to stretch my legs and do some hunting when off duty..." Which wasn't entirely untrue, but more accurately she'd scavenged a few rations from the dead soldiers. She'd turned most of them to the supplies, but always made sure to keep some for herself. Even before joining this army, it was an old habit. She liked to always be fully equipped to uproot and skedaddle at any time, and having a few days worth of rations at all times was important of that.

When Urim complains of cold porridge, Danielle turns back to him and gives a single contemptuous "Hah!" as she points to the bags under her eyes from the aforementioned night watch. Better to get a full nights sleep and a cold meal than no sleep at all. All the same, she smiles and returns to her usual self momentarily, letting Urim lead the way to the mess for her and Silver. "How's Auntie? At her age in this weather, its important to keep wrapped up."

[Cespenar]

Urim nods with serene approval at the younger woman's if not perfect, then pretty adequate save.

"I'm merely doing Keter's work, whether I fail or succeed at my healing," he replies humbly. At the mention of his aunt, however, his eyes flash with a sudden glint.

"Heh. She's sharp and meticulous as ever. If anything, the weather should beware of her."

[Eurus]

Serafina ends up spending most of the morning in the hospital, but it's an acceptable sacrifice. As usual, the information she ends up with is open to interpretation, but it's better than flying blind.

She contemplates the rumors in silence as she departs from the hospital tent. Whatever the plan was for the siege, it wasn't common knowledge yet, which was itself illuminating. Surely a major military action would have been known by now, so... something subtler, perhaps. If she was in charge, that certainly would have been her first option. All this sieging seemed ridiculously wasteful, to her. If the prince's staff couldn't come up with a better plan than camping outside the walls for months on end, they were disappointingly dense.

Lady Jorvik's jewelry is an interesting tidbit, filed back into some tidy corner of her mind in case it proved relevant later, but in all likelihood it wouldn't. If it was stolen, it was probably being traded around the mercenary camps by now, and she couldn't exactly wander around there. Although, mercenaries got wounded often enough... it might be worth looking into later.

Most interesting of all is the rumors about the prince. She'd never shared the disdain for Jorvik that many of the prince's supporters seemed to -- resenting a man for being self-interested was like resenting the winter for being cold. She didn't trust him, certainly, but at least a self-interested man was predictable. There was no telling what kind of madness an idealist could get behind. Either way, Jorvik was far enough above her that she couldn't simply talk to him directly, and she didn't have any sources in his retinue, something she should really look into fixing.

Wayfarer... perhaps. Easier to get in to see, at least, even if he unsettled her a little, but if the prince was sick, that was the sort of thing she liked to know. But frankly, she was hoping for more; she could think of a dozen much more interesting reasons he might have gone to see the warforged. He might even know something about the plan for the siege, considering his unusual skills.

Deciding on that as her most viable course of action, Serafina heads toward Wayfarer's tent. She keeps her eyes out for anything unusual on the way, of course.

[Bad Situation]

He scoffs at the bird's joke, rolling his eyes at the playful teasing. Sometimes it was hard to forget that the bird was an animal given how acclimated it was to human humor. How long had the bird even spent living in the wilderness, really? "I wasn't aware I had a type but then, I suppose the question is: Is she lonely because she's crazy? Or is she crazy because she's lonely?"

When the two of them are finally alone he crosses his arms, "Which brings me to the original purpose of my visit. You, as the head of the diversionary attack, have free reign in choosing the particular talents that will best aid in your assault, but I need to know if you can spare any of your soldiers. I will need the support of at least one grenadier if I am to hold the gate for any length of time." He unfurls the map as well, tracing over the more detailed design with his gloved hands. "What path are you taking to the barracks? We should be able to predict the bulk of their movements in the face of panic but how do you intend on circumventing their cycles or more importantly, extracting yourself from the resulting conflagration?"

[ZeroNumerous]

Serafina

While she was busy listening and trading secrets Serafina is approached by a young boy--a squire no doubt--wearing Ormond's heraldry. He explains that the good Count would like to speak with her, and relays any message she sends back. Serafina is able to leave the hospital four hours later armed and armored in rumors and hearsay. Just as the old woman leaves a group of mercenaries--none of them bearing any sigils or flags Serafina recognizes--head into the tents. They're carrying two men and one woman who look like they were caught by a wild beast based on the horrible scratches and mauling they seemed to have received. The three injured humans appear to be members of Jorvik's troops, or at least one of them is still wearing the bloody tabard of House Jorvik. With most of the ER members handling the newly busy hospital Serafina is left to investigate the Master Herbalist with ease.

Finding Wayfarer's wagon isn't hard since the warforged hadn't moved in since that morning. It seems to be occupied, based on the lights coming from the glass, and when Serafina knocks there's a moment of silence. After a few seconds the door swings open and a man of patchwork metal (http://i.imgur.com/cNkwxRZ.jpg) steps into view. The warforged, plainly comprised of bits and pieces scavenged elsewhere, towers over the old woman. Its broad metal limbs, six and a half foot height, and obvious weight tells stories of its kind's purpose: Warriors, soldiers, and police of the old Empire. But now they were like Wayfarer: Ancient, half-broken, or cobbled together from bits of their friends like patchwork monstrosities. The warforged's immobile face, half-stern and half-melted from some sort of attack in its past, looks down toward Serafina. Its eyes flash green, and the metal man crouches down to look the old woman in the eye. "Greetings", the warforged's electronic voice comes across like a brick hurled through a window, "You do not seem sick human. Is there someone who needs this one's attention?"

Victus

The small girl--who couldn't be older than a teenager--simply shakes her head. "I'm only bringing a swordmage, a cleric, two archers, and myself. We need a small group to move quickly." When questioned about the path she intended to take the girl draws a path between the sewer opening, through the alleyways, to the back of the barracks. She then points to a side street drawn on the map that heads deeper into the city, and continues speaking.

"It should take us about two to three minutes to get a good fire going, and once the fire starts my team is going to head deeper into the city this way. That should avoid any patrols heading toward the barracks, and we can move about freely in the confusion. We'll strike targets of opportunity, and try to avoid contact with any troops." She looks at Victus. "But if you say you need a grenadier to hold the wall, then my group could try doubling back", she draws a path from the barracks to the wall, "sneaking along the wall here and coming up beside the gate." The obvious problem with her first plan is that five people weren't exactly the best strike force when attacking targets of opportunity, but if her group doubles back then that may draw more enemies than the two combined groups could handle.

Danielle and Urim

The catfolk's tail twitches, but whether she noticed she was being diverted or not Silver goes along with the two. The catfolk plainly draws attention in this part of the camp, from soldiers bearing the tabards of noble houses to nobles themselves, and it's plainly obvious that she's not seen in this area regularly. The question of whether or not that's because she's more stealthy or because she avoids it remains to be seen. The camp's more active this time of day than most times, and the press of soldiers looking for meals flows toward the larders. The larder, a set of eight wagons set up in a train, holds most of the camp's remaining supplies. Sixteen burly men in full kit stand around the wagons with shields out, but swords still sheathed. Each of them bears a tabard with the golden lion heraldry stitched onto it, and it's obvious that they're the Prince's men. Their purpose was equally obvious: Stealing would not be tolerated. The army's supplies were dwindling, and foraging for over ten thousand people proved problematic all on its own. In fact, if not for House Jorvik bringing supplies along with his money and troops, the place would look a lot thinner and worse for wear.

While the trio are drawing closer to the larder they can spot troops handing out rations. Most of the rations are cold bread and vegetables, and each soldier is expected to make his own soup or broth at his camp. Occasionally someone's lucky enough to get a slice of cold meat.

Or, at least, it appears like it's random at first, but an outsider observer can quickly notice a pattern in the men getting meat and those not: Their heraldry. Two men bearing the golden lion are given bread, one bearing the wounded boar gets meat, three with the white wolf's head are given bread, and then one with the black gate on his chest gets meat, two more mercenaries pass by for meals of bread and carrots, and finally one bearing the raven steps forward and gets meat. The golden lion are the Prince's men, the wolf belongs to Ormond, and who knows whom the mercenaries were sworn to? However, the wounded bear was Count Yeor, the black gate was Baron Talis, and the raven belonged to Jorvik: All three men are Jorvik's soldiers.

The three get in line behind a burly-looking half-orc (http://i.imgur.com/wCSB2VG.jpg) and a redheaded halfling (http://i.imgur.com/ZgffnFX.png). Neither of them seem to be wearing any identifying heraldry, but the halfling's cloak bears the iron sword of Malkuth. Both are armed and armored, but the half-orc's dagger at her side says it's plainly not used for fighting and she lacks armor. She has a bow of black wood slung over her shoulder, and it looks as rough and haggard as its user. The halfling bears scalemail, a shield bearing the anvil of her goddess, and an ornately done longsword.

The halfling looks to the newcomers and scoffs. "Mercs, huh? Prepare to get screwed."

The half-orc looks at her little friend. "Bah. It's just luck." She turns to to the three newcomers and sticks out a hand. Silver just stares at the woman's extended hand, and then to the half-orc herself. "Zevra." Whether the group shakes her hand or not she points to the halfling. "Littlefoot."

"Lana", the little halfling interjects immediately, "and it ain't luck. We're getting screwed."

The half-orc shrugs, and looks to Dany. "Well you're a tall one. Who're you folks signed up with?"

[Princess Tracy]

Danielle surveys the line, partially out of boredom at first as she waits, but soon enough she's intently observing from the corner of her eye as the halfling and orc banter. "This halfling is correct. Observe their heraldry. This food is courtesy of Jorvik's supplies. The gate, bear and raven are heraldry with loyalty to him, and in turn they get meat," she explains simply, sighing. "Its a sign of poor faith, an army moves on its belly, and to nourish your own troops but not your allies betrays a lack of trust and dependence. Quite a mercenary move for a noble."

Her piece said, she pays closer attention to the conversation at hand. My, these two mercenaries are quite striking, she silently appraises, smiling pleasantly at each of them. "I suggest you respect Lana's name, as a fellow sword of Malkuth I assure you its unwise to tempt her wrath," she adds half-jokingly to the half-orc. "Danny, mercenary," she says quickly, putting out her hand to shake Zevra's own solidly.

[ZeroNumerous]

Danielle and Urim

Dany's statement gets a smile from the halfling and a laugh from Zevra. "Another Ironborn? Ha. Let me guess: Danny is your only name too then princess?" The halfling ignores the whole mess with Zevra and addresses Dany's statements from before instead. Whether she dealt with Zevra often enough, or simply did not care what she was called, remained to be seen.

"Either Jorvik gave the orders to feed only his men, or these men know which camp they're in. Personally, I blame that damn highborn boy", she could only mean the Prince, "and his retainers. We're at war, but they're keeping House Jorvik at arm's length. You can't exactly expect your allies to be loyal if you treat them like traitors." That plainly riles up Silver, and the catfolk makes her loyalties obvious when she leaps to the Prince's defense.

"Corvel and his lackeys are dogs! They have to be kept on a tight leash." A whole string of words without a single pun in sight. And calling the House Jorvik troops dogs was akin to the greatest insult known among catfolk, and would have crossed several lines twice if Corvel or his men were catfolk themselves. To the furless bipeds it's simply another word. The halfling just shrugs at Silver's defiance.

"We're at war young one. Our allies are those who draw swords with us regardless of what they intend to get out of it." Silver's tail bristles as she glares at the halfling. Perhaps the two meeting wasn't the most ideal, but Zevra doesn't seem too on edge.

"Even if they're helping only because they expect to be rewarded?" Lana stares at the catfolk like she'd grown a second head.

"And what are you getting out of this?" That question shuts down the catfolk, and Zevra looks at her tiny friend and takes the time to interject.

"This, Littlefoot, is why I'm your only friend." The halfling crosses her arms and glares at the half-orc, who in turn just smiles disarmingly at her compatriot.

[Bad Situation]

Victus stares at the woman--no, teenager-- with skepticism. "Your fire will cause panic in their ranks for a time but a group as small as yours will stall out before long if you bring any sort of attention to yourselves. And the moment you stop moving, you will be dead." He looks closer at the map and bites his lip slightly before continuing, "No, there will be no need to resort to such unnecessary risks."

He taps out a few locations he feels are low-risk, and ultimately low-value targets and traces them in a path that roughly takes them away from the gate, "Once my team is able to seize the gate, your team is more valuable for sowing chaos and destruction than attacking anything of actual value. If you see an opportunity, but are unsure of your ability to extract yourselves, do not bother. You're no use to me, or the Prince, dead."

Folding back a few of the curling corners of the map, he continues, "The officers in command will of course prioritize the defense of essential components of the siege, but the common soldiers will not see it that way. Holed up in the city like the panicked and complacent rats that they are, seemingly random and superficially impressive attacks will damage their morale more than taking out a handful of officers will."

He hums, biting his lip again. "I had hoped for the aid of a grenadier in holding the gate but I suppose I can do without one, provided you are able to hold up on your front...and once the Prince's soldiers are able to relieve me of the task of holding the gate, I will come to extract you. Do you have any means of signalling either myself or Garuda? One that wouldn't attract the undue attention of any soldiers in your immediate area?"

[Cespenar]

Urim silently observes from the back as the argument goes on, and only steps forward after it shows a bit of a promise of cooling down.

"What I understood from all this, and correct me if I'm wrong... is that we'll all get just bread and vegetables. Though I reckon a nice hot soup could come out of it, if everyone would pitch in their share."

He glances at the halfling and the catfolk matter-of-factly.

Diplomacy for 25.

[ZeroNumerous]

Victus

When Victus revises the plan the girl just shrugs. "If you say so. Our job is just to draw as many people away from the gate as possible anyway, so I don't exactly want to do more than necessary." Despite the fact that she had intentionally chosen targets like the armory or larders: Things that were vital and would under heavy guard. Nonetheless, the girl studies the targets Victus points out and seems to be planning the best ways to destroy them in her head. Perhaps she was more crazy than lonely. When Victus talks about extracting her the teenager just shrugs.

"I could set something on fire. But aside from that, a smokestick, or some large explosion: Nothing. And all those options will draw the enemy just as easily as it'll draw anyone else." Certainly a giant conflagration or pillar of smoke would be obvious--to everyone involved--but what other skills did she have? And, without any towers on the wall, there wouldn't be an easy way to get a birds eye view of the city. Except for, of course, an actual bird flying up high.

"But, question", the girl raises her hand like she was a student in a school, "what's a garuda?"

Victus' bird speaks up when his name is said. "I am, young lady." The alchemist looks around for the source of the sound, and only Garuda's squawk gets her looking up at the roof of her wagon. The look of disdain on her face is practically palpable, and she narrows her eyes at the fearsome bird of prey roosting on her wagon.

"You're bringing a bird." Garuda's whole body puffs out as her words rankle his warrior's pride. But, rather than yell at her, the bird takes the path of least resistance: He turns his beak up and ignores her. The alchemist turns her attention back to Victus and repeats the question: "Why are you bringing a bird?" She asks the question just as her monkey gets bored--or perhaps seeks to be useful to its master--and starts picking through her hair as if to groom her.

Danielle and Urim

Urim's question gets a deadpan look from the halfling, and a huff from the catfolk. However, it's Zevra who answers Urim's question. "Well, Spooky", where did that nickname come from, "if this goes on people will start to get weak. A bit of bread and a carrot are not a meal for anyone, never mind a soldier. Not that I care, mind you. I'm with Littlefoot: We're here for the money." Lana's look of disdain turns to the half-orc, and Zevra shrugs. "I'm here for the money. She's here for her crazy goddess."

"Going to war, serving in an army, and defeating your enemies is the greatest form of worship of Malkuth. It is through battle, not prayer, that our goddess is venerated. The world should be seen through the faceless helmet, experienced as a foot soldier, and conquered through the might of arms. Battle is our goddess' greatest gift, war the most pure form of supplication, and soldiers her most glorious disciples! To--" The halfling delivers her little monologue with a gradually growing fervor, until she notices Zevra casually cleaning out her ear as if she'd heard this speech a hundred times before. The halfling drops her hands, turns to stare at the man handing out food, and mutters to herself. "... This is why I hate you."

"Love you too Littlefoot." The half-orc casually rubs the halfling's head, and that only seems to rile the halfling.

[Cespenar]

Urim raises his hands in a "well, I've tried" look, and falls silent. After the halfling delivers her zealous speech, however, he shakes his head in a sad manner.

"You'll be serving Keter either way", he mumbles darkly, mostly to himself.

[Princess Tracy]

"Danny is good enough," the soldier explains simply. "Yeah. I wonder if Jorvik would be so forthcoming as to instruct such distribution of his supplies, but it is his responsibility regardless to see to fixing it if he took an interest. In the end, nobles play the game of war in the long term. It isn't enough just to put someone on the throne, they also have to secure their place in a new dynasty." She watches on as Silver gets riled up, it indeed seemed that the cat's beef with Jorvik was no isolated incident. "The Prince requires Jorvik, if you have some admiration for him you must trust his judgement and dilemma in that. At this point... we're entering Winter. If this siege fails, there won't be anymore supplies coming, and the morale of the army will fail and splinter. Without the fairweather friends and mercenaries in his camp, the Prince's loyalists would be routed come Spring." Hm, the conversation had gotten her thinking about the situation at hand again. She looks over to where the army SHOULD be advancing. Its obvious enough to her to intuit something that may be in the works, for it is the maneuver she would make. if only she were in charge. There needed to be a risk, one last push with a strike team to break the defence, and soon indeed... The thought occurs to her just what in the world she's doing here.

The halfling's rant on Malkuth's teachings brings her back to reality eventually, and she bows her head quietly to her fellow sister of the blade. Teh exchange with teh half orc just makes her chuckle. "You two are adorable together, though," she comments lightheartedly, breaking the increasingly heavy pace of the conversation - at least in her perception. She had a sense of where this was heading, this siege for sure, but as she was powerless to affect it much from this position she tries not to think on it too actively. She almost asks Lana why she would join the Prince's side, but catches herself - she didn't want the question reversed on herself. She eyes Urim sideways at that fatalist comment. "Keter isn't just death but change. Technically all things serve him that are not stationary, and a revolution like this doubly so," she observes, waving his despair to the side.

When its her turn in line, Danny considers urging the food dispensers to disrtibute the food more evenly, though hesitates - it hurt to keep a low profile sometimes. Perhaps her hunger outdid her secrecy, or her pride flared up again, but either way she proceeds. She opens up simply with "Hey, the mercs are getting restless on carrots you know. Doesn't matter how good the coin is, you can't pay them enough to sit around and whither on horse-food in the cold. Or have you only enough meet for Jorvik's men?" she asks shrewdly. "It might stir paranoia in the troops if they realise even the Prince's men are only getting bread. Mix it up a little," she advises levelly, seeming to offer her silence in exchange for sustenance. "Black Gate, Wounded Bear, Raven," she adds in a gotcha sort of way, to assure it wasn't just speculation - she knew precisely what heraldries were being catered to and their significance, after all.

Diplomacy take 10 for 24 to get us some real food, I dunno. She figures she can at least get Urim an in to collect some meat since he's not a mercenary :smalltongue:

[Bad Situation]

Victus eyes her initial targets and blinks. "...right." Maybe coming here was the right idea after all.

At her questioning he responds smoothly, "And why not? Garuda is no mere animal, if that is your concern. Besides being my trusted companion, Garuda is a finer combatant than most of the 'soldiers' we host at this camp. He has served me well as a scout and partner on the Greenskin Isles for years now. And, if his pompous boasts are to be believed, has seen more war through his peregrine eyes than most humans do in a lifetime."
Even if the bird wasn't willing to defend itself, he wasn't about to let his friend be insulted like this. Still, things would be much easier if Garuda deigned to talk for more than a few, paltry seconds. And to think, when the bird was alone with him, it never seemed to shut up.

"Moving on, his eye's are sharper and can pierce the veil of night better than I. You are in the possession of smokesticks, are you not? Do you have anything that disperses quickly and matches the color of the night sky? Garuda, from his sky high perch, will see signals that others cannot." He quirks his eyebrow at her, one of the few places on his face that he knows is not obscured, and monotones, "You do realize that Garuda is not the same as that monkey of yours, right? I am not so frivolous that I would bring a hapless, untrained animal into the center of a violent conflict."

[Eurus]

The squire's message is received by Serafina with a polite but placid response that she will appear before the Count as soon as she is able. Inwardly, of course, she's immediately trying to guess at the reason behind the meeting, to the point that she almost forgets what she was doing in the first place. She'd have to keep her visit to the herbalist short, then; she was no fawning toady eager to jump at every request, but it wouldn't do to make a poor first impression by keeping the Count waiting all day. She notes the injured mercenaries with interest as she leaves, and resolves to investigate that later. They'll likely be at the hospital for a while, from the looks of it.

When Wayfarer finally appears, she's struck by how eerie he looks. The combination of scarred, crude-looking artifice and vaguely human features seemed... decidedly unnatural. Not unlike a walking corpse, really. It didn't help that he couldn't even be bothered to act human. Or that he had lived through a dozen of her lifetimes and could well see a dozen more. But that was an unpleasant tangent to get on.

Realizing that she'd paused just a bit longer than was probably socially acceptable, Serafina clears her throat and recovers.

"My apologies if I've interrupted you, Master Wayfarer. Serafina Greychapel, priestess of the Great Father's church. I am not ill as such, no, although if you have a functional sleeping draught I would find myself in your debt. My own supply has long since run dry, and these old bones of mine do not rest as easily as they used to. Beyond that, I simply came to pay my respects and perhaps meet the man behind the rumors."

[ZeroNumerous]

Serafina

The warforged clanks its left claw together as Serafina stares at it in silence. Whether it's agitated by the silence or not, it's plainly noticed. Once the old woman starts speaking however Wayfarer nods, and it moves to into its wagon. If Serafina follows then she finds the wagon meticulously organized, well-stocked with potions lining the wall, with bags and boxes full of other materials that don't make any sense to the inquisitor. "I have things that will help with sleep." It doesn't take long for the metal monstrosity to pick out one of the many vials on the wall, turn around, and hand it to the inquisitor. "A teaspoon with food at dinner will relax, dull wits, takes a few hours to put to sleep. Too much may cause nausea or sickness."

With the vial handed over the warforged looks at his old visitor with its silent gaze. Its head makes no movements, its eyes simply stare at Serafina with an unblinking dead gaze, and its scarred visage remains immobile even as the giant speaks. Whatever it's thinking, whatever its doing, the warforged remains an unknowable entity. Perhaps it simply knows nothing of human courtesies, or perhaps it simply does not like the old woman. Either way, it seems she'll need to act rather than simply letting it speak its secrets. Could Serafina even work her magic on a creature who is so different and alien?

The warforged gives Serafina seven doses of sleeping poison. It's a DC 14 ingestion poison that causes sleep after 1d4+1 hours as a primary effect. Secondary effect is causing 1 point of constitution damage.

Danielle and Urim

Silver looks at Dany like she's been betrayed, and the catfolk steps back to sulk. It's obvious where her loyalties lie, and she's no doubt one of the loyalists following the Prince for whatever reason. Regardless, when Dany makes her comment Zevra just shrugs and the halfling huffs loudly. Whatever her relationship with Lana: It's plain that they've known one another enough to not get into spats over things like this. The line goes quickly enough, and each of the mercenaries receives a hunk of bread, and a vegetable. Neither Zevra nor Littlefoot complain, and seem to have gotten used to this sort of treatment. Zevra receives a carrot, Lana a potato, and Dany's little speech brings a smile to the soldier giving out food. The soldier's old, gnarled, and has a beard that more closely resembles some white creature stuck to his face than hair. His lips peel back to reveal blackened teeth, and the old man laughs at the young girl. For her efforts she's given a single celery stalk, and her bit of bread is much smaller than Zevra's or Lana's. If the would-be-empress looks closely at her food she notes the celery is wilting, and her bread has weevils. The guards shoo Dany onward before the would-be-empress can complain. Zevra tosses her carrot at the noblewoman, and stores her bread in her rucksack. "You need it more than me."

When Urim steps up he receives bread, a carrot, and half a stick of some kind of jerky. At least Dany's efforts weren't totally wasted, even if the soldier got less than the oracle. Littlefoot trundles southward, away from the hospital and the larder, but Zevra turns to look at the duo. "Well Princess", she seems to be addressing Dany with that nickname, "I gotta repay you for that stunt you pulled. Littlefoot and I have some friends who..." She seems to stop and think on how to put it, then shrugs and just starts talking. It seems that's a way she settles all kinds of awkwardness. "I guess the easy way to say it is: You'll get along. They ain't ironborn, but they've complained about the food situation loudly enough to get banned. They're pretty good at hunting, and have been handing out decent meals."

Just then Silver pops up behind Urim, seemingly out of no where, and hands Dany a big hunk of bread. The catfolk seems to be chewing on a bit of jerky, but before anyone can raise the question of where exactly she got it the sound of shouting about thieves comes from the food line. It's quickly followed by the noise of a scuffle, and soon the larder's guards are running off to handle a fight that broke out between a man bearing the raven heraldry and another wearing a red spear covered in thorns. If questioned the catfolk just shrugs. "What're you looking at meow fur?"

Victus

Garuda puffs out its chest and preens itself at the praise being heaped upon it by Victus, and the half-man knows he's just feeding into the bird's already inflated sense of pride. However, the young girl simply looks at Victus with a deadpan expression as he exalts his bird's virtues. When he's done Faera just says two sentences: "Falcons only live about fifteen years. Your bird is younger than I am."

When the question of her smokesticks come up the alchemist digs around in her pack, and produces a trio of alchemical devices. The first is a black tube filled some tar-colored liquid, the second is much the same except its liquid is a bile yellow color, and the third contains blood red ooze inside. "I'm afraid I've only got three colors, and two of them will be plainly artificial." When Victus talks about her monkey the limber primate looks to the half-man and releases a prideful ook. It seems it dislikes being disparaged, or perhaps it simply recognizes the word monkey and reacts appropriately. Regardless, it leaps from its master's shoulder and pounds the ground with its fists. Protesting Victus' statement, or simply acting out for attention? Regardless, the alchemist ignores both the half-man and his distant relative's tantrum. "I think it's safest to simply make our way toward the harbor and escape on a boat in the confusion. Chasing us down in the city will expose your group to enemy patrols, or worse: You might get caught up in the main fighting. It'll be easier for our smaller group to move around. Speaking of groups: Do you even have anyone picked out yet? This kind of crazy mission requires skill. You can't trust old men like Jorvik and Ormond to pick the right people."

[Eurus]

The silence lasts a few awkward moments. Serafina feels briefly at a loss, not sure how to approach such a man, if that word was even appropriate. She certainly wasn't going to give up without trying, though. If he wasn't inclined to start conversation, she'd have to make the attempt herself. It wasn't as if she could do much worse than accidentally offend him, really, in which case she'd be no worse off than she started.

"Thank you, it will be much appreciated. It's an unusual honor to have a member of the Alchemist Guild's council with us. Although if I may say, I was surprised to hear that you had pledged to the prince's cause."

[ZeroNumerous]

Serafina

The warforged simply stares at its withered companion for a moment, then answers in the cold monotone of its people. "This war will not end without many injuries, many deaths. This one came to save lives." Straight forward and completely to the point. What can one say to a machine?

[Cespenar]

Urim throws a hard look to Danielle at the remark about Keter.

"Everything comes to life, changes, and dies. It doesn't mean that you should stop using that big brain of yours and start flailing around with your sword like a savage, you know," he says, indicating the halfling's speech.

Regardless, as the line progresses and they get the handouts, Urim looks around with the piece of jerky in his hand for Silver, only to find her with the obviously-not-stolen food. He rolls his eyes a bit, but doesn't directly antagonize her.

"I was going to give you my pieces anyway." Shrugging, he pockets the bread like the half-orc and munches on the pieces of carrot and jerky instead.

[Princess Tracy]

"Hah, death, don't talk to a soldier about death," Danny retorts to Urim's talk of the cycle of life. "I'm not a child, you know, I know that reality perfectly well aready," she comments, bringing back memories of her first encounters with him in her mother's house, where he advised her, though of course she wouldn't go deeper into it than that in public. "It is not my place to revere Keter, it is yours. If you don't want me putting my mind to my sword, perhaps my bow would do better," she teases, moving up to the counter. Her travels seem to have made her far less respectful to Urim's religion, when she regarded him as a wiser elder, while she'd barely learnt to write or use the right fork at supper. But then, it was his advice on behalf of Keter's teachings that got her out on those travels ultimately. Those ideas may go hand in hand with ambitions she'd buried as best she could.

Danielle stares at the server with sharpening eyes, and considers reaching over and plucking him from across the counter to see if he still smiles then. Part of surviving in this world by your own, be it on the streets as a starving youth or as a wanderer on the road was not allowing yourself to be trampled over. But, she wasn't on her own, she was in this army now for the time being, and would have to abide by that order. Better that than spread chaos, and she really didn't expect a much better reaction than that when she went all know-it-all on the contemptuous old bastard. Having brought it on herself, she takes the bread and celery and walks away - though as she examines them she again has to resist turning around and shoving the disgusting scraps down the bastard's sorry throat.

She sighs and accepts the carrot when offered. "Thanks. Sounds good, show me around sometime then," she responds to Zevra, before adding "And I don't let just anyone call me Princess." Before she can speak further, Silver appears. "Ah, er, thanks little one," she says, taking the break quietly. As the chaos of her burglary unfolds, Danny just bites her lips, putting a hand at the catfolk's back to move her along as she briskly walks along away from the mess, though obviously not running to avoid suspicion.

With some distance between the catfolk and her crimes, she speaks to Silver again. "I'm sorry if I said anything hurtful," she says, remembering the cat's look. "It was just my somewhat impartial breakdown as I understood it. Obviously you're passionate and have your reasons, and perhaps if I knew a little more or was in your position I would trust the Jorvik guys even less than I already do," she says, leaving an open invitation for the catfolk to further explain her beef with those dogs, but not particularly forcing it out of her.

[Cespenar]

Urim looks at Danielle in an odd kind of way -- he doesn't remember getting this much lip from her in many years. But he knew before everyone else that philosophy and theology have the tendency to provoke even the gentlest souls, so he merely sighs and chews his carrot in slow, thoughtful bites.

[Bad Situation]

Perhaps this was the reason why Garuda never bothered speaking to anybody besides himself and his Uncle. Once people had a thought in their heads, was it really worth the effort changing their minds about it? Even worse were the scientific sort. All number and facts and estimates with them. So when she says her bit he merely shrugs and moves on. "I do not know any of the soldiers by name. I attempted to recruit you in the initial draft of my plan but was informed that you were leading the diversion and even then, I only knew you by your reputation. Besides which, I trust that Count Ormond and the general will furnish me with the finest men and women the camp has to offer. Regardless, I will make do with whoever they deem me worthy of directing."

Sensing that there was something like a conversation in this he finishes lamely, "And you?"

[ZeroNumerous]

Victus

The girl frowns at the half-man's statement. "You need to keep tabs on skilled fighters." She retrieves a thin stick of charcoal and a roll of parchment from the pouch at her waist. She writes quietly, and an awkward silence fills the air. After nearly a minute of not talking the girl hands Victus her writings. It's a list of names, races, and vocations written in the kind of meticulous well-crafted handwriting that betrays the girl's education and upbringing. Wherever the Wyne sisters were from they were clearly nobility, or perhaps Wayfarer taught them to write.


Seira Blackbow - Human - Archer
Ana - Human - Wizard? Likes fire
Arikan - Elf - Spearfighter
Natalie Starkweather - Human - Archer
Lana - Halfling - Cleric
Ragnall - Jotunn - Punches guys? Doesn't wear shirts
Isabel - Human - Swordfighter
Dany - Human - Archer
Alphonse Shieldbreaker - Dwarf - Angry axefighter (careful)
Saarvith Greenscale - Lizardfolk - Druid? Turns into a raptor
Mathias - Human - Swordfighter



"They're mostly mercenaries I've run into", she says with a matter of fact tone, "and I'm not sure all of them are still alive. I tried to get last names, but not everyone gave one--or had one--so be ready to do some hunting." The girl shrugs at that, then looks toward her monkey.

"This stupid thing has all of their scents, so it could guide you on where to go. Unless they're not in camp." The implication in that statement is obvious: They'd have to have deserted or died to not be in the siege camp currently. "I've already sent out messages to the people I'm looking to join my team, so feel free to ask about." Garuda leaps from her roof and settles himself on Victus' shoulder. The bird stares at the list, then squawks a laugh and looks at the girl. He opens his break and seems ready to speak, but then thinks better of it and remains quiet. Perhaps he'll have something to say once away from the crazy grenadier.

"If you're desperate for a grenadier, then you might try Naera", the youngest Wyne speaks of her middle sister, "but she's probably hiding out with her poisons."

Danielle and Urim

The half-orc watches the scuffle near the larders with a smile on her face, and just looks to the trio and laughs. "Well, best come along quickly then." She leads Dany, Silver, and Urim southward along the same path Lana had been trudging toward. The tiny gait of the halfling cleric proves easy enough to follow, and soon the four become five when they catch up with the armored priestess of Malkuth. Dany's apology finds Silver turning her head and huffing, and it's plain she's acting more indignant than she actually is. After all, she did give the would-be-noblewoman a chunk of stolen bread. Even so, Silver gives stony glares and hard frowns when Dany asks about her past. Whether she was keeping it secretly, or the time was simply not right to ask, remains to be seen.

After about ten minutes of walking the quintet of humanoids arrive at a small camp set up just outside the ring of noble's wagons surrounding the field hospital. There are no tents set up at the campsite, but they do have a big canvas tarp and several bedrolls set up like a makeshift giant tent. Beside the sleeping area sits a stone-ringed fire, and a red-robed girl (http://i.imgur.com/mZA3MGu.jpg) seems to be roasting a deer's leg over the open flame. Beside her, kneeling down near a wounded soldier wearing Count Yeor's heraldry, is an armored woman (http://i.imgur.com/VayWPJm.jpg). Her gilded armor looks decidedly out of place for a soldier, but the sword at her side confirms that she is not some useless maiden dressing to impress. She's binding the wounds of a blond-haired man (http://i.imgur.com/uhYq5Xm.jpg) that could be Dany's blood sibling: If not for his strikingly teal eyes, and the bloody wound near his liver. The man is plainly some sort of soldier, and the sword at his side bears a hilt with a roaring bear's head for a pommel.

Once the group gets closer the blond-haired man points over the armored woman shoulder, and she grabs her sword before turning to look at who's approaching. Zevra raises her hands, and both Dany and Urim hear her laugh. Once the group is close enough to talk the half-orc goes about with introductions while Lana simply trundles over to the campsite. "Good to see you haven't died on us", the half-orc says as she digs out the bread she'd tucked away and throws it at the red-robed girl, "I brought friends." Zevra looks to Urim, Dany, and Silver, then seems to decide to start with her own people first. "Sunshine", she says as she points to the armored woman, "Goldilocks", she points to the dark-haired woman roasting deer, "and finally Junior", she points out the wounded man. The half-orc sticks out a thumb toward Dany, "Princess", then on to Urim, "Spooky", and finally settles on Silver, "Stickypaws."

With the half-orc's weird introductions done 'Sunshine' goes back to dressing 'Junior's wounds, but she does address her odd friend. "Sorry. I'd shake hands, but..." She shrugs, and it's obvious that shaking hands would just get the young man's blood all over whomever she touches. "My name's Seira, the cook's name is Ana, and this idiot's name is Mathias." Almost as if to punctuate her point she pulls on his bandages a bit too tightly, and the wounded man grunts in pain. Ignoring him, Seira continues to talk with her back turned to Dany and Urim. "I guess you got banned from the larder too?"

[Bad Situation]

Victus watches the bird's reactions carefully and turns back to face the young alchemist, "There will be no need for that, thank you though." He does however, accept the list and after reviewing it one last time, folds it up and places in a waist pouch. She wasn't wrong. It didn't hurt to have contacts in the army, especially ones apparently as skilled as these individuals were. He knew of his own reputation as a mercenary certainly, but it probably wouldn't hurt in the long run to come and meet with these people.

He nods at the girl, allowing himself a ghost of a smile, "It is not within his realm of interests, but I will pray to The Great Hart for our success all the same." Hod was not a god so easily moved by simple prayer but it would be wise to pay his respects nonetheless.

Feeling slightly teasing he stops short of stalking away from the wagon and regards her once more, "You have remarkable handwriting for someone of your age, human. It betrays your typically crude manner and speech. Garuda. Say 'Goodbye' to the young woman."

When they're far enough away from the alchemist girl he turns to Garuda and waits for the bird to speak.

[Cespenar]

"Not yet, but we're working on it," Urim remarks, side-glancing at Silver. He gingerly takes a couple steps closer, enough to see the treated man's wound.

"I see you got it to the next level, though," he says, indicating the fact that they aren't in the hospital tents. "Anything I could help?"

Is it anything a Cure Wounds can take care of?

[ZeroNumerous]

Victus

The alchemist shrugs. "I don't pray."

When she starts to head back into her wagon the young girl is stopped by Victus' joke. She just narrows her eyes at the half-elf, and looks at her monkey. A loud whistle draws his attention, and the monkey trundles its way toward its master with its hands over its head hooting the whole way.

With the insanity out of the way Garuda looks at Victus. "I would like to forget this ever happened." When the duo leave the crazy girl's wagon behind, the falcon points to Victus' waist pouch. "I've overheard a few of those names before. Most of the names on that list are just pretty people the other soldiers gossip about. I doubt greatly that she's even met one of them, let alone half of them."

Regardless of the girl's circumstances, Victus now had a list of people to search for who might be useful. Or, at least, had an excuse to ask about strong mercenaries.

Danielle and Urim

Seira looks at Urim and shakes her head. "Not unless you can fix a sword wound to the liver." Short, to the point, and she's already back to work. A soldier through and through.

The half-orc walks toward their makeshift tent, unshouldering her bow as she walks, and tosses the black bundle onto one of the bedrolls. "Junior was one of Yeor's men. His sergeant caught some spies from the city and decided to use them as crossbow practice. Junior decided he was gonna be a hero, but he got a sword to the gut for his troubles. He's lucky Littlefoot and I were in the area, or his traitorous little head would be on a pike."

Zevra heads over to the fire and starts picking at the deer leg, and the black-haired woman known as 'Goldilocks' just swats the half-orc's hand. She looks at Urim when he makes his comment about being banned, and just laughs. "Haha. I guess you could we're the misfits who got kicked out for not doing as we're told."

[Eurus]

Serafina listens to Wayfarer's explanation with skepticism. There were plenty of lives that could be saved elsewhere, lives that wouldn't promptly attempt to kill more people. But the warforged would have them all believe that he had no personal investment at all, that he might as well have just flipped a coin to decide between the prince's army and Victor's. Ridiculous. If he was here, he had just as much interest in seeing young Emeric crowned as the rest of them.

Rather than saying anything so tactless, of course, Serafina just nods contemplatively.

"I can't say I've much of a fondness for war myself. Hopefully the prince will be a peaceful ruler, when he is crowned, hm?"

[Cespenar]

Urim grimaces at the sight of the wound, but the astute can tell that he does so more to convey the wound's severity, rather than simply being emphatic. He looks thoughtful for a moment, fumbles around his belt for the correct wand, and takes it out with a harsh gesture as if he's trying to wrestle it from some kind of opposition.

"Ah, yes. It would have been easier if it were just a flesh wound, but organ damages are more tricky. Nevertheless," he breaks off, and activates the wand with a small, if grim, prayer. "May the Shadow not reclaim you just yet."

[ZeroNumerous]

Serafina

"If he is not, then there will be another war. There will always be war." The machine makes no effort to clarify its surprisingly nihilist statement, and simply stares at the old woman. Suddenly, its cold dead eyes leave the old woman as it turns its head to the door. Seconds later the knob turns, and a young woman (http://i.imgur.com/YSNo9Vn.jpg) steps into the wagon.

"I'm sorry I'm late Master. I was trying to convince Faera to come back and stop her nonsense, then I got distracted by--" She finally looks up and notices that Wayfarer has company, visibly flusters, and pulls off a hasty curtsy to the older priestess. "Oh! Pardon my intrusion, I did not realize Master had company." She looks to the warforged with concern plain on her face, and the warforged returns her gaze with such a dispassionate look that its hard to believe its alive. Seemingly not finding whatever she was looking for from the machine, the apprentice herbalist makes another curtsy then turns to leave. The machine watches her exit before turning its attention back to Serafina, yet it makes no overture toward continuing the conversation beyond what it had already said.

Danielle and Urim

No one stops Urim from helping, and the wand works its magic without trouble. The man's wound glows, his flesh grows, and soon its knitted together as if no injury had been present. Seira stops her treatment when Urim's magic fixes Mathias' injury, and stands up beside him. "A priest of Keter in the army? Odd, but I won't complain."

[Cespenar]

Urim nods at Seira, acknowledging exactly what, it's not clear. In any case, he stuffs the wand back in his belt sharply, and nods once to his patient as well.

"From one misfit to another."

[Eurus]

Serafina nods politely to the girl as she enters, and reassures her before she can depart.

"Oh no, child, I was just leaving."

In truth, Serafina is somewhat glad to have an excuse to leave. A thoroughly unproductive interaction, but what could she expect? Wayfarer must have had its secrets, like anyone, but this was clearly an exercise in futility. He wasn't the type to let anything slip about the prince, and just asking him seemed unlikely to work. Nevertheless, she bids farewell to the warforged with a smile.

"Well, thank you for the medicine, Master Wayfarer. I'm sure you've more important things than to humor an old lady, so I'll take my leave."

Once she departs, Serafina immediately heads toward the Count's camp. That had the potential to be much more interesting, and hopefully less vexing.

[Princess Tracy]

Danielle doesn't pressure the cat further. If she wasn't forthcoming and it wasn't pertinent, there was no reason to pursue it at the cost of her companion's comfort and trust. She does however make a show of taking the maggoty bread she received from the larder, and tossing it as far as she can, aiming for any old tent bearing the Jorvik flag. The would-be empress waves as she appears before the odd party, fixing with some concern to the bleeding young man as she can't help feel confused why everyone seemed so calm about his wounds. But once Urim steps in, her silent worry dissipates as she trusts him to deal with it. "I'm Danny," she simply corrects the half orc but thinks not much of it. "Wonder if I should make a nickname for Zevra at least," she thinks aloud. "Anyway, yeah. I kind of gave the serving guy some lip about he was obviously only giving Jorvik's dudes any food. So what's the deal here then?"

She looks over to the wounded man and, walking over, gives him a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "Our Spooky friend here knows what he's doing, you'll live," she says, smiling.

[ZeroNumerous]

Serafina

The machine watches Serafina get up and leave. Normally a host would say how it was a pleasure to have met his guest, but the machine makes no overtures toward the old woman. In fact, it is Wayfarer's apprentice that does so. "It was good to see you, miss. Take care of yourself, please." The other herbalist's concern for the old woman is obvious, and she helps Serafina out of the wagon and shuts the door behind her.

Serafina is able to find the Count's camp easily enough, and surprisingly his simple and unpainted wagon stands without guard. The old man answers the door when Serafina knocks, but does not invite her inside. Rather, he climbs out of the wagon to talk in front of it instead. A pained groan escapes the old man, and he places his hand upon his back. He's wearing simple wool breeches, a thick woolen sweater, and a pair of riding boots instead of his armor. The old man sits on the steps of his wagon and sighs. "Matriarch Serafina. I hope you'll spare me the doublespeak. I don't exactly have much time left, and would rather not spend it playing word games." That itself was a word game, and one used quite often by the aging clerics of the Beautiful. What better way to get to the point than talking about old age first?

Danielle, Urim, and Victus

The half-orc shrugs at the idea of getting a nickname. "Knock yourself out, but they never stick Princess." Dany's words to Mathias get a grunt from Lana, and then it becomes obvious that he would have been fine regardless. She was a cleric of Malkuth. Even if Urim hadn't healed him, then it was only a matter of time before Lana did it herself.

Seira sets about ignoring Zevra being herself, and turns her attention on the three newcomers. "I've heard of you", the blond-woman says while looking at Dany, "the stories around camp say you're an archer who lights her arrows on fire when shooting. I'm surprised to see that you're a merc. I thought someone as skilled as you would be with one of the nobles." The seemingly de-facto leader of this little group of misfits looks to Urim and Silver in turn. "Though I'm afraid I didn't catch your names?"

After Urim introduces himself the white-and-black furred catfolk puts one hand on her hip and uses the other to point a thumb at her chest. "And meow's name is Silverfang, or Silver for short. It was given to meow when I ate a silver coin when I was a kitten." If anyone expected Silver to be intelligent, then clearly they had not known the catfolk long enough. If Dany takes the time to ask about hunting arrangements, then Zevra reassures her that she'll always have a meal at their table. Or, at least, at their patch of dirt that serves as a table.

After Urim and Silver introduce themselves the half-orc points toward the camp. "Surprise." The sarcastic comment draws attention to an robed elf whom Urim at least recognizes as one of Count Ormond's men.

[Cespenar]

"I'm Urim, though Spooky will do just fine."

Urim glances at Lana, realizing from her response that she is supposed to be a cleric as well. Then why was this woman tending to the wound anyway? If he makes eye contact with the cleric of Malkuth, Urim just shrugs.

At the sight of the elf, he nudges Danielle from the side and points. "Count Ormond's man, I believe. And high ranking too."

[Bad Situation]

Victus spies out the small entourage and sets his eyes upon Danielle instantly, recognizing her striking looks from the rather avid descriptions he'd come across throughout the camp. He scans the lot of them, trying to place faces to names but comes up short, turning the rest of his attention to the few faces he does know. He descends upon the party with the grace of an alighting hawk, his movements bold but altogether cautious of his surroundings. The elf is dressed up in various pieces of leather armor, bound together and held in place by several hide straps and tight cloth bindings. His cloak, in stark contrast to his rough piecemeal armor, is a beautiful and vivid sky blue article lined with expensive looking gold and red silk. From his head down to his neck, he layers his face in delicate blue silk, exposing only his inhumanly red eyes to the world.

He approaches with very obvious intent and with careful, measured steps he finally arrives at the makeshift campsite. When he stands before you all he takes his left hand and places it, knuckles down, on the hilt of the blade handing at his side. Those with any experience or special learning might recognize it as an elven gesture indicating his peaceful intentions. Granted, as far as elves are concerned, 'peace' is a rather relative term. He bows at Danielle, though it's more of a slight stooping of his neck than any formal genuflection, and waits a few seconds before introducing himself.

"What I am called is inconsequential. However, know that I serve the good Count Ormond. Is this the Mercenary Danielle that I speak to?"

[Princess Tracy]

"Thank Malkuth," Danny comments at the notion of 'Princess' not sticking at least. At Lana's annoyance, she smiles and explains herself a little. "Sorry there. He usually isn't that life focused, this priest, I'm trying to just encourage him to be less spooky," she jokes.

The words 'I've heard of you' sends a shiver up Danielle's spine. Any kind of recognition was baleful. When the blonde confirms her recognition was from her accomplishments in these battles, well, it could be worse and she forces herself to relax. "It was one time... it was just a trick with a tinderbox and some oil on the arrows. Didn't mean to be so flashy, I could have set myself on fire by accident," she waves it away. She was lying of course. The Solar Wind was every bit as supernatural as it appeared. "Am I really that distinct...?" she wonders out loud, tugging nervously on a strand of hair. Her natural dirty blonde colour didn't stand out too much, yes yes. She shakes her head and drags herself back to reality to pat Silver on the head when she gives her anecdote.

However, sensing the elf approach she turns her head to him and keeps her eyes peeled, staring levelly at him. She isn't sure what to think, but the sudden influx of recognition makes he normally confident and collected soldier break out in a cold sweat on the spot. "Um..." Count Ormond... She looks to the elf's gesture and thinks its one of peace. She's not wholly sure as she's rarely seen such things - she tended to end up fighting the few elves she'd spent much time with on a battlefield. Had a noble recognised her? She swallows just to get her heart out her throat, then regains her composure with a cough, trying to seem at least a little intimidating. "It's rude to ask my identity without disclosing your own," she says in reference to not knowing his name. "If I'm who you're looking for, what'dya want with me?"

What do i know about Count Ormond? [roll0]

[Cespenar]

"Nah, you're the picture of an ordinary peasant woman," Urim mumbles with a roll of his eyes.

As she tenses under the elf's question, however, he mumbles faintly, only for her to hear.

"Calm down, they wouldn't send just one man for that."

[ZeroNumerous]

Danielle, Urim, and Victus

Dany's flustered weirdness gets a raised eyebrow from Lana, but she says nothing. The others make no overtures at the would-be-empress, except Seira. "Oh. I was hoping to meet a fellow divine warrior."

When Zevra points out the elf, and he starts to approach, Seira looks a bit on edge. When Urim mentions that he's one of Ormond's men, then the armored woman reaches for her sword as if she intends to draw steel on the newcomer. However, she's stopped when Mathias gets up and places a hand on her shoulder. Whatever Seira's business with Ormond it's Zevra that tries to defuse the situation--and make the elf feel welcome.

"Ahoy!" An orc thing? "We're about to sit down to breakfast. Care to join us?" That gets a stern look from the halfling, and Lana looks like she wants to say something but doesn't.

Lana takes 10 on Sense Motive for a 21 to get a hunch of how trustworthy Dany is. So, Trace, how much does Dany trust the random strangers?

[Eurus]

Serafina's lips twitch upward briefly, the closest to a smile that she generally approaches. The games of conversation were like politics, in that choosing not to play was itself a move -- and more often a bluff. But she nods politely.

"Great Father bless you, Count Ormond. I'll do my best, but old habits die hard."

[ZeroNumerous]

Serafina

Ormond smiled at that. "I'm told you're quite interested in getting into the King's good graces." Never mind that he was not King yet. "I won't feign ignorance as to why: His support will catapult you through the Church's politics. You could retire as a bishop, court chaplain to the King, or even as Grand Matriarch. Well, I happen to know of a raid my, uh, my men are conducting tonight. They intend to open the Lion Gate and let us march right on into the city. If you're serious about gaining the King's support, then helping out with this might be a good start."

[Eurus]

"...An interesting suggestion. I would, of course, be grateful for the opportunity to prove my commitment to the young King's cause."

Crowned or not, Serafina certainly wasn't going to cause offense by implying that the prince was anything but king, certainly not around the Count. That was one of the funny things about succession squabbles, really. Both sides tended to pretend that the whole "war" was just a formality, compared to the legitimacy of their claims. Never mind the fact that the side with the bigger army generally turned out to have the best claim of all.

And while volunteering for a combat mission wasn't exactly how she'd imagined today going, once she got over that, she was becoming increasingly sure she could work with this. A little undignified, but surely she had enough sense to make it through in one piece. That is, if the offer was as straightforward as it seemed.

"I must admit, though, I hardly seem like the most likely candidate, particularly for such a sensitive -- and no doubt challenging -- task. Surely you aren't that short-handed for spellcasters."

Serafina will try to get a sense for if the count is being deceptive or hiding ulterior motives, or if there's significance to that pause in the mention of "his men". Taking 10 for a 29.

[ZeroNumerous]

Serafina

If the Count is lying, then he's far better at it than anyone Serafina ever met. The honed senses of someone used to dancing around the twisting wordplay of clerics of Gevurah find no falsehood among the Count's words, though it's plain that he's hiding something. The question of whether or not he'll tell is up in the air. "Whether we're shorthanded or not isn't the issue. Rather: We need people who are skilled. And, pardon my rudeness, but one such as yourself does not easily survive to old age."

[Eurus]

"I'll choose to take that as a compliment, I suppose. At any rate, I'm hardly going to decline. I imagine failure isn't an option here, with winter bearing down on us."

[Bad Situation]

Victus reacts very calmly to the apparently aggrieved woman, flipping his hand about and turning his peace gesture into a ready to draw pose. It probably said something about elves when their overtures for peace were so easily turned toward violence but this was no time for any lengthy cultural discourse. His mind, contrary to his calm facade, races and breaks down the vectors of her approach, ready to apply lethal counterforce to her advance if pushed to it. Conflict is thankfully averted however, by the amiable half-orc in the party.

He directs some of his attention at her, though he signals Garuda's vigil over his would-be assailant. "Thank you but that will not be necessary. I am here on business and have no special desire to tarry." His eyes flit back to Danielle and then stop at the woman tending to the fire. That made things easier. Now then, was it a case of the strong attracting the strong or was it simply a matter of pretty people congregating themselves.

"I cannot disclose the specifics of my job but I have been selected by those in the Command Tent to select a strike-force for a...job that requires my skills. At the recommendation of the other fellow chosen for leadership, I am seeking out skilled fighters with which to fill out my team." When Danielle stands up to address him he is neither cowed by her attempt at intimidation nor does he respond to her as a threat in any way. Instead, he points out that, "I have already disclosed my identity to you. I am Count Ormond's servant. My name is inconsequential where my identity is concerned and ultimately, subordinate to that fact. For convenience's sake however, you may call me Victus."

He nods at her, his inhumanly red eyes twinkling in the chill of the early morning sun. "To summarize, I am seeking out skilled warriors and certain individuals have vouched for your sakes. The plan is of course, confidential, but understand that you will be well rewarded for your services. More will be disclosed should any of you accept but there will be no backing out once the decision is made." Though he makes no overtures to the specifics of the plan, anybody close enough to see his eyes will take note of their constant flickering toward the looming city walls they're currently camped around.

[Princess Tracy]

Danielle is quiet for a time, letting him say his piece and mull it over to reduce the chance she'll say something stupid, even taking a time to glance in the direction of his eyeline before snapping her attention warily back to him. "So my hunch was right... I was wondering how long it would take them to make a strike team for a push," Danielle says. She wasn't in the commander chair, the defences of the enemy were not laid out for her as they would be were they in charge so she couldn't speak to the method that would be used, only her instinct that a smaller team would be required to punch a hole in the defences. It couldn't be so big as to risk the morale of an army, and would need more bang for their buck - exceptional people. Danny sighs. "I didn't think they'd come to me though..."

She looks around to Urim for some guidance once more. She'd been getting itchy, wanting to do something... but on the other hand, the attention of nobles was the one thing she was hoping to avoid. If anything, the plan was to pack her bags and skedaddle if the siege proved fruitless much longer, not charge headlong in for personal glory like some war hero. "I suppose you need my answer now?" she questions Victus. "Signing up for some plan I know nothing about, not the risks or rewards, is a lot to ask of a mercenary don't you think?" she points out to probe for information. He wasn't wholly forthcoming and a wiser, humbler follower of Malkuth would likely decline him on the spot in her situation - unless all they sought was a fight to the death, she supposed. But she couldn't help being curious.

[Bad Situation]

Victus responds to her smoothly, "This is not a matter of glory. I seek only the success of this operation and have thus, approached individuals that have been deemed more skilled than the norm. Make no mistake. If you choose to refuse your services, I will merely continue down the list of contacts that I have obtained until I have assembled a number that is deemed acceptable."

He shrugs and stares coldly, "The soldier's first duty is to serve. I have indicated the utter importance of this mission. There is little else I can tell you unless you accept. Will you undertake the task or risk allowing somebody less skilled to take your place?"

[Cespenar]

Urim meets Danielle's look questioningly. Though he offered his insight often on philosophical or ethical conundrums, this was neither. This was a call to action, and the decision ultimately rested on her shoulders alone. Did she intend to always lay low and keep things inconspicuous? Why did they come to this camp in the first place, if not to battle? Would her (rather needless, Urim might add) devotion to Malkuth prevent her from such heroics, or would her imperial blood shine through, accepting and savoring fighting among the brave and the elite? These were all questions she had to answer herself.

Urim opens a hand to her and raises an eyebrow, as if to say "What's your answer then?"

[ZeroNumerous]

Everyone but Serafina

The peanut gallery listens to the exchange between the half-man and the would-be-empress, but its Mathias who breaks the silence after Victus' statement. "If you need men: I'll go." He kneels down to pick up his sword, and straps the sheathe across his back. Seira gives the blond-man a glare that speaks volumes: She plainly wants nothing to do with Victus, but whether that's his race or his connection to Ormond remains to be determined. Mathias steps up and sticks out a hand toward Victus. "Name's Mathias. I'm a competent swordfighter, quick on the upkeep, and I have the utmost confidence in my abilities." After hearing him speak at length Dany has a vague sense of déjà vu. She's certainly heard that accent from somewhere before. Regardless, the man's volunteering gets the half-orc off her butt.

"Well, I suppose if Junior's joining up, then I've gotta help out too. Can't let a kid show me up. Name's Zevra. I was a Settler, so that should speak to my credentials." What would a devoted servant of Binah be doing out here, in a war, and as a mercenary no less? Zevra looks to her halfling friend and smiles, but Lana simply shoots her a deep frown.

"This sounds like a good way to get killed. I'm out." That gets an quick roll of the eyes from the half-orc, and Zevra just smiles at Victus as if to say 'She'll come around'.

"If Zevra's going, then this'll be a walk in the park. So I'll join you." The woman cooking the deer shrugs, and speaks without even looking up from the hunk of meat. She doesn't even bother justifying herself, and seems to have just joined solely because of the half-orc's endorsement.

The only person left in their little entourage is Seira. The armored woman simply stares at Ormond's pet assassin for sometime, and seems to elect to remain quiet. Silver, Dany's pet catfolk, takes no note of the choices of the other crazy losers. Instead, she looks to her noble-blooded friend for guidance, and her presence seems solely dependent on Dany's choice.

Serafina

"Indeed. Winter's forcing our hand, and scouts have talked about Victor gathering strength again. We did rout him once, but if he attacks the camp while we're committed to the siege..." Serafina wasn't Ironborn, but it wasn't hard to see that the rebel army would be destroyed in a battle with Victor's forces as they were. They were spread thin to maintain the siege, and a concentrated force would smash through their lines easily. Count Ormond stands up, popping his back loudly as he stretches, and turns toward his wagon.

"The troops we're devoting to this will be gathering together three hours after sundown. I'll fill you in on the details then. Just be sure to rest those old bones of yours."

[Princess Tracy]

Danny is distracted by deja vu for a moment but drags herself back to the situation shortly. Do or die time, she supposed. Lana backed out, she took that as a sign of Malkuth's take on the matter - but then the halfling was a person with her own biases rather than Malkuth herself, whatever qualification of priesthood she possessed. She's shocked to see Silver looking to her for guidance. As far as Danielle knows, she has little reason to believe the catfolk she'd been bodyguarding all morning was any kind of elite soldier that Victus' pitch seemed to be looking for. In fact, a great part of her says it would be unethical to lead her into probable death where she herself was hesitating to go. Still, she wouldn't infantilise the cat woman no matter how odd her speaking pattern or how determinedly she ate coins, so thinks to at least ask the cat her thoughts before shooting her down altogether. "Silverfang, do you think you have what it takes? It might be dangerous, more dangerous than some Jorvik goons."

Urim's look strikes her oddly and she can't help but feel a stirring for something more. It seemed taken for granted that this is what she should want. She supposes she would do more that way than by sitting on her laurels in the lower infantry. Yeah, it was for entirely unselfish reasons, not because she was bored and seeking thrills. Victus' own comment on other soldiers taking her place twists the knife for her.

Danielle sighs the humphs dismissively, adjusting her unmanageable hair with a gallant wave of her arm. "Fine. Sign me up I guess. What do I do now?" She prayed it didn't involve meeting any nobles face to face who might recognise her. As the good people gathered here had just demonstrated, she was rather conspicuous in her appearance - even if she was a lot messier and toned up than when she was in House Ramidos, she's still a god damn amazon.

[Eurus]

Serafina chuckles. "As one relic to another, Count, I suppose I should say the same to you. My goodness, but war is a young man's game..."

[Cespenar]

Urim nods and straightens himself as well, when Danielle finally agrees.

"Then it becomes obvious that I should come as well." He raises a hand against Victus preemptively. "I'm a Keter priest and well accustomed to danger. I'm sure I can find something to do out there."

[Bad Situation]

Victus nods at each of them in turn, "...thank you." And motions the ones who have agreed to draw closer to him.

When Danielle asks her question he turns his head in the direction of the Command tent, "Be ready by nightfall. Rest, tend to whatever wounds you may have, make peace with the Host you serve, and prepare yourselves for what may come ahead. Garuda will come fetch you in time for the briefing. By this time tomorrow, should we succeed, the Lion's Gate will be ours." With those ominous words said he looks about ready to leave but, thinking back to the young alchemist, he hesitates and seems to consider some option in his head.

"...the youngest Wyne sibling. She will be leading the diversionary attack but, having reviewed and revised her plans, I have come to the conclusion that the fool girl is going to get herself killed trying to do something he cannot. Her unique talents have qualified her for this task but I worry that her immature attitude, if not her suitability, is ill-suited for this monumental duty. I understand that this request is not within the original scope of my own mission but when the time comes, I would ask that one or more of you go with her and keep her out of needless danger."

He blinks. "The success of the mission comes first and foremost, after all."

Nice save.

Take 10 on Diplomacy for 24. Trying to convince one or two of them to help.

[ZeroNumerous]

Everyone but Serafina

Dany's question is greeted with a questioning look from the catfolk, and she just brushes it off. "I'll go with mew. To keep mew safe." She delivers such a crazy statement as if she had been talking about the weather.

Victus' statement concerning the youngest Wyne, and his request that someone goes with her, finally gets a response from the armored woman. Seira crosses her arms and sighs. "I know the girl. I can keep her from doing something crazy." The question of how the plainly older woman knew the teen alchemist, or how she'd convince such a bullheaded fool to do anything, goes unvoiced from the peanut gallery. Then again, based on how they acted, it's likely one or more of them already knew how the two met.

DM

Most of the day passes without incident, but in the evening a group of scouts return from the wilderness. It isn't long before their message is all over the camp: Victor was on the march. The Rose Duke had gathered an army, and were currently just 15 leagues south of the Fleuve river. They would likely camp for the day 6 to 8 leagues away from Thay, and from there they could march quickly enough to arrive sometime tomorrow. Even the dullest of military minds knew that there wasn't enough time to organize the camp into a fighting force, and as a result the camp is filled with a nervous and frantic energy. Most of the army's officers had opened up their private alcohol stores and were now distributing it to the troops. A toast, they claimed, to the prince's inevitable coronation. Such nobility did not go unnoticed, and most of the older mercenaries, the ones scarred and wary from wars long past, were quietly packing their things. Some were even saying their prayers, making peace with their makers, and quietly hiding the fear of the coming battle. Others, too new or too stupid to recognize the coming reaper, drank the rum offered by their officers and sang the merry songs of men looking to live. The fleeting respite, offered so they could die with one final day of happiness, stands as a stark contrast to the fear in the older troops. Anyone who knew where to look would immediately know how a battle between Victor and Emeric would end: The rebellion could be destroyed, unless they could get into the city via some miracle.

Serafina, Urim, and Dany

It's two and a half hours past sunset. The two clerics and their soldier friend remain cooped up in Serafina's wagon, as it was the only place safe from the frenetic revelry that had taken over the camp, along side Dany's newly acquired pet catfolk. Silver spent most of the day bugging Serafina and Urim with questions about themselves, about where they're from, why they're in the camp, and what their favorite dishes were. She'd tried to roam the cramped wagon as best she could, and often picked up knick knacks to ask either Serafina or Urim about. Certainly curiosity would kill this kitty, or at least someone frustrated with her incessant questioning. Her constant talking is aggravated by the fact that only two-thirds of the things she picks up are put back down, but fortunately the small wagon makes it impossible for her to truly steal anything since any of the three humans immediately notice when something is out of place. When confronted the thief coughs up what she's taken, but never stops palming things. She almost steals as an afterthought, and perhaps it's simply a reflex honed from a long history of... doing whatever it is she does.

The four of them were waiting on the signal to meet up, and it comes in the form of two hard raps on the window. Opening it reveals a mottled grey-feathered bird--part falcon, part hawk, and all war animal--perched on the wagon's windowsill. It stares at the group with eyes carrying a spark in them more man than animal, and it shows that spark by speaking. "The Angel, the Dead, the Lion. Hm. I'm glad we've met." The bird makes no effort to clarify what its said, and puffs out its chest. "My name is Garuda. I have been sent to find you. The war hinges on what comes next, so please: Follow me. Quietly."

Its wings flutter as the bird rises into the air like a thunderbolt, but the sound of it landing on the roof comes before the question of how far it's gone can even be voiced. Garuda waits for the man and women inside to get dressed, put on their armor, and otherwise prepare themselves for the coming battle. Once the trio leave they find the bird perched atop Serafina's wagon giving them an appraising and almost human look. "I'm surprised", it says without any prompting, "that opportunists are still in this slaughterhouse." Without further ado the bird lifts off, and lazily wings its way across the camp fires toward the city.

Victus

The half-man stands with his Uncle, Caroline, the Prince's Lawspeaker, Jorvik, and the Prince himself. The Young Lion, dressed in simple linen and rough wool clothes, looks practically naked without his sword and armor. His Lawspeaker warned that the Prince's body had not recovered from whatever sickness had taken him that morning, but his firm stance betrays no hint of sickness. Even so, with no one near except his staunchest allies, what purpose would the Lawspeaker have to lie? Even without his armor the Prince's commanding stance and broad back belay his noble lineage, and it's plain the boy had been groomed to rule and trained for battle for some time. He stares at the city for awhile in silence, seemingly contemplating going and taking it himself, and no one on the council speaks up. Suddenly the blond-haired king-to-be turns to Victus, and addresses the half-man in the voice of a ruler rather than a man. "Victus, was it? Caroline said that We are sending twenty people to take this city."

"Two-thousand and twenty. Twenty to open the door, two thousand to secure it, and then the rest of the army will march in and take the city." A soft smile plays across the Prince's features as his general speaks to him as if he were one of her sergeants, but it fades quickly as the Prince looks to the older woman and simply nods.

"Two-thousand and twenty then. We have been informed that you were given command, Victus. How do you intend to deliver this city to me?" Did the Prince not know the plan, or was he simply trying to gauge the half-elf?

[Bad Situation]

Victus stares at the prince plainly, unnerved by the regal looking man's paradoxically fierce and calm demeanor. How indeed. Mentally, he runs through the plan he'd spent hours devising and reviewing, tracing in his mind if not the map, the path his team would take toward the gate and the formations they'd fall into once they were in position to defend it. Truthfully, there wasn't much to plan to scrutinize over in the first place. There were simply too many variables and unaccountable figures for any kind of point-by-point procedure, made worse by their relative lack of intel. Still, it wouldn't do to tell the Prince that he more or less planned to play the operation by ear.

There was an elf joke in that thought that Garuda would have appreciated. A shame that the bird wasn't here at the moment. Off collecting the others, no doubt. Or fetching himself something to eat. It was hard to say where his companion was concerned.

Realizing how quiet he's become he answers the young lion with a simple, "By sticking my foot in the door, my lord."

"...twenty feet, that is to say."

[ZeroNumerous]

Victus

The half-man's joke gets a smile from the Prince. "Surely you mean forty? Or do you intend to only put a foot in the door, and not a step further?" That joke gets a frown from Caroline and Count Ormond. It's the good Count that speaks up.

"This is hardly the time for jokes, my lord." The Prince shakes his head.

"Comedy keeps the dreariness away, my friends. Nonetheless, if this goes well then the leader of such an assault would need to be rewarded." The Prince turns to Victus. "So, tell me: What does an elf want from a King?"

[Cespenar]

At some point during their waiting, Urim finally stands up with determination as if he has solved a great puzzle, and gently but firmly asks Silver outside, along with Danielle to accompany her. "Just give me an hour," he says, and both Serafina and Danielle understand what that means, having been near Urim for so long. It seems that he has decided on his question and is ready to undertake the trance.

With only his aunt as a witness, he silently prepares himself, setting a nest of pillows and blankets to surround him, and getting his old, large tome ready. Everything set and done, he slowly begins to set his mind to the task, blocking out the outer world, seeing his ghosts, looking past them, following the trail that tied them to him, and coming out to... wherever this is. Urim always thought it was Keter, his realm or at least similar facet of his power, but was there any concrete evidence, really? Even so, the results were hard to argue with.

Going as deep as he can into his mind, he thinks his question, as plainly and openly as one might present an offering.

The siege. Besides enemy soldiers, what or who should we beware about it?

[Bad Situation]

Victus doesn't smile back but does respond in turn. "All the better to stand aside, when the time comes. With both feet planted in the door, I would be trampled underfoot when the army arrives, would I not? It does not hurt to be careful in these perilous times."

He shakes his head as he continues, "There is nothing a King could give me. Nothing that I would want given to me, at any rate. If I must have something however, then I only want you to remember this: Remember that no one man was responsible for the success of this operation. That I alone did not hold the gate and that twenty others risked their lives delivering this city to you. Remember well the Duke's resourcefulness, the Count's wise council, and the General's steady hand. If you can promise me that, there is nothing else that you could hope to give me."

"...nothing, save for a private bath built in honor of my avian companion Garuda, of course. Between you and me however, I would greatly prefer the former."

[Princess Tracy]

Danny eyes the cat like the deepest puzzle when she says she would protect her. She didn't want to discount anyone's potential, for she herself was a diamond in the rough, and Silver was certainly enigmatic enough to be surprisingly effective. But all the same, if for no other reason than she felt rather protective of her apparent pet, there's a sinking feeling in her stomach at the thought of her on the mission. "But Silver, if you're protecting me, how will I find the time to protect you?" All the same she doesn't fully object to it yet, and hopes the cat will change her mind come nightfall.

Victus' concern over a single alchemist actually helps cement his certainty of success in her mind - he seemed sure enough of success, if he could afford to spare such concern for a single person it must be a sure thing. Or at least that's her first thought. Perhaps the seemingly composed man had a blind faith to him. Whatever the case, she'd already agreed and moreso than any threat given to her to not back out, she had a sense of honour to stick to it.

That ideal of sticking to the plan actually grows as she sees the news spread through the camp. "How many leagues? I see..." She goes into her thoughts a little. At that range, its possible the coming army could force march through the night and be here by morning. But by waiting, they give just enough time for the mercaneries to lose hope and leave, yet not enough time for a practical defence to be mounted, while keeping themselves fresh for battle. "By my estimate... we have until noon tomorrow to take the gate and move the army into the city, or this rebellion is over," she tells Urim and Serafina privately. She finds herself suddenly anxious to get started, get a move on it. She wasn't one best skilled at subterfuge, so can only conclude waiting to nightfall was important still...

She's quite thankful for Silver's antics distracting her from her anxiety, even managing to smile a little as she plays along. She does eventually have to give her a short talk about personal property "Its not nice to take things from your friends without asking, Silver," she instructs. With Urim and Serafina around she at least feels at ease enough to get to sleep, and rest away the fatigue of the nightwatch. She grumbles when she's woken by Urim to clear the wagon, but understands his meaning soon enough and clambers out of it, though determined she'll get to sleep as soon as she's clear of the truthteller. "Silver, leave things from the wagon and come protect me while I sleep," she says, grabbing a raggedy blanket and propping herself against the wagon as she goes back to her kip.

Once Urim finishes his thing, she heads back inside with Silver to await being sent for. When the bird raps on their window, she jumps a little, looking around in confusion, but a talking bird isn't the most unusual thing she'd ever seen and she does her best to take it in stride - she's too pent up with nerves for the coming battle to act like some innocent little noble girl fawning over every curiosity. She's silent for a moment, looking around to Urim. "I think you're the Dead?" she comments, concluding Serafina's the angel and herself is a lion. Or perhaps Silver was a lion, unlikely but at least its a cat. In which case Danielle herself was an angel? "Oh, you're Garuda, okay." Her heart swells, good, she's being called out. She grabs the bands of her armour and refastens it as she piles out of the wagon. She looks back to Silver and Serafina and worries about her friends on the front lines. At least Urim revelled in his acceptance of death. "Don't suppose I could convince you to entertain (babysit) my cat here while I go off to battle, could I, Auntie?" she proposes with an awkward chuckle.

Once they're all ready, she heads off to follow Garuda.

[ZeroNumerous]

Urim

The dead are found easily enough, but they do not come when Urim calls. Instead, the spirits gather before the priest of death, and they dance, they cry, they curse his name, and they replay the infinite number of deaths they suffered. As Urim forces his way through the crowd of dead they grasp out at him. Hands of ice and fear clutch at the oracle, but even so he is able to press on. Soon the dead lead the dying into a realm of black.

The familiar wind buffets Urim's form, but the oracle feels nothing. He only recognizes the wind through the fluttering of his clothes, for his body seemingly does not visit this realm like it does in his dreams. He walks across the razor sharp frozen grass feeling neither injury nor chill, but he does not come to the same tower.

Instead, the oracle comes to a clearing of dirt bigger than a house. Eight stone columns, standing tall and carved in runes that shift and dance like shadows at the edge of torchlight, stand guard over the dirt circle. At the center of the clearing, between the stones, stands a squat pillar of rock carved with a hundred sigils. Lashed to the pillar is a familiar girl: A blond haired younger Dany--desperate, hungry, bone thin and dirty--lays atop it tied at hands and feet with silken ropes. Above her stands a beast that walks like a man, with the furry head of a lion, the curling horns of a ram, the wings of a bat, the body and arms of a man, and cloven hooves. Four chains, blacker than night, bind its hands and feet to four separate columns, and the monstrous demon can do nothing but gnash its teeth and roar its fury.

The sigils on the stones suddenly shift, and begin to alternate between Abyssal and Celestial as they answer Urim's question: False words, false deeds, false flags, false men.

Victus

The Prince simply laughs. "Haha. Rare is the man who is truly selfless." The Prince turns to look at his Lawspeaker. "Remind me to commission a birdbath Rubra. If I survive this, of course." Whether the Prince is going to actually do as Victus asks, or is simply humoring the half-man, remains to be seen.

[Eurus]

"I'm afraid babysitting your new friend isn't in the cards for tonight, child. I'll be accompanying you."

Serafina spends most of the day quietly resting. Not sleeping -- too much effort right now, and she didn't want to risk the tonic on an important day until she knew how it would affect her -- but saving her strength. She keeps an eye on Urim while he enters his trance, and leafs through one of the few dozen books she'd picked out from her library back home. A history and genealogy of twenty of Tazrath'dur's most notable modern families, including the Bas'korath dynasty itself. Dry reading, and she'd skimmed most of it at some point or another, but it never hurt to refresh.

She's pouring a cup of tea and offering one to Danielle when the bird appears. Wordlessly, not wanting to encourage the creature's frankly irritating attitude, she puts it aside and pulls on a dark brown cloak, and prepares to follow.

[Cespenar]

A faint fear flutters in Urim's mind as he pushes forward, the thought that this time, the dead would claim him as their own. But Urim recognizes it as a reflex, and forces his mind through it. The dead would claim him after all, when his time comes. He need not fear it, for it was nothing unnatural. Only Keter's will.

Finding himself standing at the edge of the clearing, Urim looks at the grim scene and tries to make sense of it. But after he barely acknowledges the entirety of the message -- he simply wakes up. It seems that the place of deliberation, of understanding, was never meant to be there after all.

Blinking his eyes, he finally focuses on the tome in his hands and the perfect drawing he apparently did while in the trance. That's funny, he who had no such skill while awake, could draw like this. He looks at the scene again, rereads the messages, and beckons his aunt to have a look. While Serafina has time to examine the drawing of the scene, Urim goes out of the tent and finds Danny. Maybe her studies about heraldry could help shed some light on the matter?

***

Summoned by the odd bird, Urim follows Serafina and Danny to the place it takes them. He merely raises an eyebrow at the moniker, "Dead", but "Lion" reels him back as if he's struck in the chest. He side glances at his aunt and Danny, trying to gauge them. Was it his paranoia, or did they make the connection as well?

[ZeroNumerous]

Urim, Serafina, and Dany

The bird proves easy enough to follow, and eventually brings the quartet to the feet of a small hill just outside the siege camp. No torches illuminate the group, but it's plain that five humanoid shadows stand at the top of the hill. The bird flies straight to the fifth shadow, and settles itself upon the shape's shoulders. It's more than a little obvious where they need to go. Urim, Serafina, Silver, and Dany arrive at the hill to find The Prince (http://fc05.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2011/203/7/2/knight_by_mineworker-d419vo9.jpg), naked of armor and weapon, accompanied by his closest supporters: Count Ormond (http://fc03.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2010/111/9/b/old_knight_by_QuintusCassius.jpg), General Caroline (http://fc08.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2013/332/6/a/teldra_by_peachplums-d3fy3m1.png), and Lawspeaker Rubra (http://i.imgur.com/Y2iE0fw.jpg). Beside Ormond stands his pet assassin from earlier that morning, and the five of them together represent the group most eager to see the city fall.

Victus

As the others approach Rubra is the first to turn toward them, and she whispers a single word: "Visitors." When the catfolk turns, then so does the Count, the General, and the Prince.

The count looks to Rubra, and the catfolk speaks. "Three humans and Silver, my lord: An old woman, a man, and a girl." It seems the darkness is more of a detriment to the humans than to the cat, but the catfolk describes the quartet's approach. The Prince is surprisingly quiet, though he does look to Rubra when she mentions Silver.

"That old woman must be Serafina. I asked her here. She's been bugging barons and counts trying to get a meeting with the King, so I figured now would be a good opportunity to prove herself." Rubra smiles at that.

"Sounds interesting. I would love to speak with her."

[Princess Tracy]

Danielle thoughtfully wraps a scarf around her lower face as she goes off with Garuda on the off chance she bumps into anyone important, and sure enough it turns out prophetic when she recognises all the big shots of the core army at the side of the would-be King himself. She gulps deep as her stomach wants to heave - battle she could take, but if it weren't for Urim's dear aunt here to speak for her she'd probably run off at top speed rather than confront this lot. Speaking with the knife of nobility to her throat was an art she felt she'd slowly forgotten in the wilderness - as her body bronzed and niceties forgotten. Still, she maintains her pace, walking at the back, planning to just shut up, and get into the fight as soon as she could.

[ZeroNumerous]

DM

When Serafina and her three followers finally arrive in speaking distance the good Count Ormond steps up to introduce them. "Your Majesty, this is Matriarch Serafina Greychapel", he motions to Urim, "and her nephew Undertaker Urim... Ah, my apologies lad, but I've forgotten your family name." He was an old man after all, so it would be expected that he wouldn't recall the younger man's last name. Nonetheless, at least he recalled that Urim was a priest in full rather than simply his aunt's nephew. Regardless, Ormond turns his attention to Dany and the catfolk, but finds himself bereft of words. "Hm. I'm afraid I don't recognize either of you."

Rubra steps forward to identify the others. "I can help you there. The catfolk is Silverfang, one of my spies. The girl is someone I instructed her to watch." The coy turn of her lips, says it all: She already knew who Danielle was. The Count looks to the Lawspeaker with a confused cadence, but then the catfolk's statement clicks. He whips about to face the would-be-empress and reaches for his sword, but the Prince speaks up to stop him.

"She is not someone to be concerned about, my dear friend. Do not strain yourself." The Count relaxes, and nods at the Prince. The king-to-be turns his attention upon Serafina, Dany, and Urim. The rumors about the Prince seeing Wayfarer due to being sick seem to be just rumors, as his broad soldiers and firm stance look ever much like the ruler and king rather than the appearance of a sick man. "We have been told you have volunteered for this mission, and We are not without benevolence. What would you ask of a King?"

[Princess Tracy]

It happens pretty fast. As soon as the word 'spy' slithers past her ear, deduction strikes the soldier like lightning - THAT was the heraldry she couldn't quite put her finger on, that's who Silver was shacked up with. Was she ever really in peril of those thugs? She curses her own kind heart and her contemptible naive self, looking around to the catfolk with wounded betrayal in her eyes that must rapidly turn to a cold fury; another reaching for their weapon brings her eyes reflexively forward as she grabs her own bow. She would NOT be offed here like some mangy dog with her friends, though a dark isolation clouds her thoughts in that moment of treachery and she thinks mainly of her own escape. Of course, it isn't really thought. It's all instinct happening in the beat of a heart - and she'd have struck down the Count before she even recognised him or considered the ramifications - to herself or the kingdom - if but another moment had passed.

The Prince's casual dismissing of conflict goes unnoticed for a moment until she realises the Count has stopped moving to fight. By the time she takes stock of everything that just happened, her bow was in her hand and hand at her side. She kept her quiver on her belt, her style unconventional and fluid. One familiar with the techniques she'd assimilated might guess how close she was to a killshot, but a casual observer would merely see a dishevelled archer to unsteady in stance and too close to her target to be a threat - a cornered rat making a panic move. Though it wasn't far from the truth in the latter case all the same. Darkness hadn't released her thoughts yet and she breathes deep to try and calm her shaking body as she very slowly tucks her bow away once more.

"Well, this is quite an evening to meet, Prince Emeric..." She casts a gaze over those present, before bowing slightly at the hips to the Prince - her sign of respecting the order of peace. By the time she comes up again, she unfurls the scarf around her lower face and lets it flap in the late-autumn air as it tangled in her cloak and armour, seeing no reason to feign hiding her identity now since everyone seemed on the same page, or seemed to be from the Count's reaction. Her calling him prince rather than King as some of the men seemed to do reflected her own philosophy subconsciously - such titles as King and Emperor requires ascendence. And she apparently didn't think of him as any more of a King that he may become than she was the Empress currently. Such things seemed in the rebellion's interest, that its soldier doesn't claim a title that supersedes the one so many are dying to bequeath upon another.

If she lets Serafina do the talking she should be out of here alive just fine if Urim's Auntie cared at all for her safety. Was she being paranoid? It wasn't like her to so decisively conceal herself and it had tolled on her. Perhaps being in the open would suit her better, but for now the explosion of activity in her mind left her negatively excited.

She rather determinedly doesn't make eye contact or acknowledge Silver for some time except to perk her ears to make sure she doesn't literally stab her back.

[Cespenar]

Urim nods at the Count without any resentment in his expression, mildly surprised that he got his vocation right in the first place.

"Bertold. Urim Bertold, your Excellency."

As the truth about Danielle gets revealed and the situation tenses for a moment, Urim instantly puts a calming hand on Danny's quiver arm. Though it's certain that the amazonian woman could swat his hand aside with nary an effort, Urim hopes the touch itself is enough to convey his meaning.

The moment passes one way or another, and Urim lets out a breath. The young Prince either had more compassion than they thought he had, or the game was more convoluted. In any case, that was aunt's department. That being said, Urim takes Emeric's bait and speaks up, leaving Serafina to the last place -- perfect for clearing their potential diplomatic blunders.

"Your Majesty, if I may, my wish from you comprises two small pieces. The first would be the continuation of the good graces you seem to have bestowed young Danielle here. Whatever her blood is, she's no threat to anyone unless they make them to be, and she's never beyond diplomacy and reason.

"And the second would be- I hate to sell myself, but it would be for your Majesty to take my omen into consideration. I had the opportunity to consult the gods themselves regarding this siege, and this was their answer, word by word."

Calmly and slowly, he produces a parchment, tears out a strip, and writes the eight words he has seen on the pillar in his vision. Folding the strip in half, he takes a step forward and gauges the Prince's reaction. If he lets him, he approaches further and delivers the strip by hand. If anyone else comes to take it from him, he reflexively shies away, putting the message into the pocket of his plain grey robe.

[Eurus]

Serafina can't help finding Urim's performance a little amusing. The line between ominous and ridiculous was a fine one, and for someone as impious as Serafina, the second category was a good deal larger than the first. Knowing the gods, they'd all be bleeding out from a knife in their backs before they finally realized what that vision was supposed to mean. But if it did pay off, it would build her nephew's reputation quite nicely. Worth trying, anyway. She lets Urim finish his presentation before she responds to the question herself.

"I will consider myself sufficiently rewarded if we survive the week, your Majesty. Beyond that, we will be glad for the chance to prove our usefulness."

[ZeroNumerous]

DM

Dany's scramble to arm herself only has more swords produced against her as Caroline goes for her blade as well, but surprisingly Silver makes no movement toward Dany. Perhaps she's more a spy than a fighter, but who can say? Regardless, the Prince's words put hostilities aside. When Urim steps forward the Count interposes himself between his King and the stranger, but the Prince speaks.

"If there are any concerns, then you may express them seer. Certainly you have shared such visions with your companions, and those who stand with me here have been entrusted with my life." Whether Urim decides to share his vision or not, Emeric turns his attention upon Dany.

"I would have greeted you in better circumstances, but since you decided to hide from me I didn't feel it was necessary to bother you. Unfortunately, We needed your help, so Our dear Lawspeaker decided to approach you." He motions to Silver, and the catfolk waves. "My apologies for not calling upon you earlier."

When Serafina and Urim both refuse any reward the Lawspeaker laughs. "My, oh my. All these selfless people just wiggling out of the woodwork. I'm disappointed." The Prince nods at the requests.

"Very well. We shall continue to not meddle with Ms. Ramidos."

[Bad Situation]

The second Danielle even thinks about reaching for her quiver, Victus launches himself between his uncle and his would-be assailant. What arrogance. Did the girl think herself the only quickdraw in the world? His hands do not go to his sword but are instead, raised and poised to disable the woman should she attempt to lash out. Thankfully, the Prince is able to diffuse the situation before anything of note should come to a head. His stance relaxes slightly, though he does not move from his position in front of Count Ormond and his eyes flash with the first spark of emotion Danielle has seen from the elf-man. A muted but vicious anger, directed solely at her.

But the moment passes almost as quickly as it comes, and the flat look to the elf's eyes return. Whether it's because he's legitimately calmed himself or if he's simply schooled his features remains to be seen but all the same, his eyes never leave Danielle's own. With his gaze firmly glued to the archer he confers with the Prince, "I believe it goes without saying that these three are acting highly suspiciously in spite of their words to the contrary but so long as they are not a detriment to the mission, there will be no need for concern."

[Princess Tracy]

Danny is unshaken by the elf in that moment, having thought herself a cornered beast in a desperate struggle one more aggressor was all the more reason to act desperately. When he parts away from her, she does thoughtfully maintain eye contact, recognising his stance as no light thing, but doesn't fear him so much she forgets to look towards the would-be king. She'd faced far more terrifying and cruel elves than this pet assassin.

Danielle is still left feeling shaken and stupid for being caught out like that. Not that her hiding was ineffective, she didn't hold herself for subterfuge when that was Auntie's department. But that she'd let some rat - or cat - slip under her nose and lure her to dogs. All the same, the Prince's smooth way of speaking and Serafina and Urim's determinedly calm manner of presence reminds her to keep a level head, or at least seem calm. To be honest her last encounter with nobility ending as it did, she felt the sword of fate hanging over her head just being in the presence of such high-ranking people even before they'd identified her.

She hears the Prince's explanation of his surveying her and wonders how much truth there was to it. How long he'd known she was around, and whether it wasn't so much not wanting to bother her as sitting on what he would do with her. Still, she remembers herself. Digging deep she finds the instincts engraved in her as a prim and proper noblewoman's daughter, and her face goes blank and her stature subtly bowed. Looking incredibly formal was better than looking incredibly nervous at least. "I see. I was quite startled to have it broken to me so suddenly, I apologise for my instincts... I wouldn't try my luck asking for an award in any case. I spend my time as between vagrancy and bounties, I don't know what I would do with your coffers and it seems you are in need of them at the moment too much to be wasting it on a short term investment of a lowly mercenary such as myself. Thank you for granting me grace, that's more than I could have hoped for currently. I've been in exile for some time and it seems the country has degraded in my absence. It doesn't feel right to entirely sit away and watch it crumble to corruption, yet all the same I feared you would take my presence as an ill sign. All the same... I just go as Danielle, these days. I have no intention of claiming the Ramidos estate and mother has excommunicated me thoroughly, I see no virtue in claiming that name which I was not born into and will die without."

She skips a beat at the elf assassin's interjection to the Prince, but does not address Victus, only the Prince. "My Prince, there's nothing to suspect. My cards are laid bare and I am dead to rights. My identity itself was my only secret, and those that know me would know why." Her eyes do flicker to the Count for a moment before back again, who seemed prepared to strike her down without a second thought when he realised who she was from the slightest hint. Was he truly so bloodthirsty to strike her down invited without being ordered - personally no less? She doubts that was foolishness. However it is Emeric himself she can't get much of a read on, so just maintains civility.

"What would you have of me, then?" she finally asks, casting an eye out towards the Lion Gate, having a rough idea herself already what her instructions would be.

[ZeroNumerous]

DM

Ormond looks to his nephew, and for a moment his face softens. But the Count, recognizing that they have an audience, glares at the elf as if he had interrupted something important. Meanwhile the Lawspeaker turns her attention to Ormond's elf. "Eager to jump to the defense of his master. I like loyalty like that." She looks to the white-and-black catfolk who did not pick sides in the fight. "It is certainly something that my own toys could learn a thing or two about." The catfolk looks down and crosses her arms over her chest, but says nothing to Rubra.

Dany's monologue about her reasoning causes the black-furred catfolk to turn to the Prince. She speaks one word, and those who know the language of dragons recognizes it as "Privacy", and then launches into her own monologue. However, to Danielle, Urim, Serafina, and Victus her words come out as random gibberish. She speaks her total nonsense to the boy who would be king, and he responds in equally nonsensical words. Suddenly Count Ormond interjects in the same babbling talk, and the General shrugs her shoulders as if she understood what was being said. That causes the black-furred catfolk to motion as if sweeping aside something, and she responds in more of their insane gibberish tongue. Count Ormond once again responds in gibberish, and this time the General also responds to whatever it is he said. That gets an odd look from the Prince, and he says a short phrase of gibberish. The Count and the General nod their heads, but the Lawspeaker simply stares at her would-be-king. One more exchange of gibberish leaves the Lawspeaker's lips, and in response all she gets is a stern glare and a single word. Rubra finally sighs, shakes her head, then looks to Silver. She motions for the catfolk to come closer, but Silver looks a little apprehensive. Silver doesn't move toward Rubra until the Lawspeaker points to the ground in front of her, and immediately the white-and-black furred catfolk takes her place beside Rubra.

You recognize that the catfolk cast the spell Codespeak.

The Prince finally turns his attention to Dany. "You were adopted, and that makes you Ramidos until you die. House Ramidos isn't much of what it once was, but by law, it is yours." Emeric seems to be ignoring Duchess Ramidos, but is that because she's the enemy or because something happened to her? However, before anyone can question the Prince's statement his Lawspeaker interjects.

"The army will turn south after Thay falls. Toward the familial lands of House Ramidos. Your King has graciously decided to grant you the lands and rents once belonging to House Ramidos, if you agree to take up the title of Duchess. This all hinges, of course, on your successful mission." The Duchy constituted the counties of Kalden and Amber, which held several small villages, a few small forts, and the city of Ramidos and the Castle at its center. Taking those lands would require the same kind of military expedition that had taken Thay.

[Cespenar]

Urim pockets the strip and steps back at the Prince's rebuttal, sighing faintly. What seemed ominous and important back then feels trite now that he stands in front of a man who would think and plan about possible betrayals at his every waking second. Still, backing down now would be even more suspicious.

"So be it, your Majesty." Trying to look at no particular person, he continues with a stronger monotone. Even the hint of blaming anyone in the close court would be a bad idea. "I foresaw betrayal. Not only mere spies or deserters, but whole banners who have been lying in wait for the right moment."

He falls silent as quickly as he started. "That is all."

At the elf's remark at their group, the priest merely shrugs. No contest there, they really did look suspicious. It was hard not to do so with a politician, an oracle, and, yeah, the rightful heir to the Empire.

[ZeroNumerous]

DM

The man who would be King takes the news with a grim face. "Who plans to betray me?"

[Bad Situation]

Victus inclines his head slightly, "The viper that has slithered into grounds not its own, bares its fangs and says that it is no danger? The sow that lets it pass deserves whatever fate it brings upon its head. Regardless of your intent, your presence, nature, and very existence are suspect here. That is not up for contention."

He finally shrugs and takes a step back, receding into the natural darkness of the camp, though he remains nearby the Count in case he is needed. "However, this talk of politics is of no concern of mine. I do not believe you are a threat. Not of your own accord, at any rate." His eyes flick toward the aged woman he knows is their trio's wily politician but his gaze does not remain for long. "We will begin this mission with a clean slate. Whoever and whatever you three are is of little consequence so long as this mission is a success. I will go over my plan when the others I have called upon arrive."

[Princess Tracy]

Danielle doesn't bother trying to follow the conversation when she realises they're using a tongue she has no familiarity with, though she guesses its some manner of code so she specifically won't understand. She does her best to pay no mind to Victus insisting on her suspicion, lest a reaction condemn her as such. My, he was fixated on me baring my fangs. Lest he forget his Count reached for his weapon first. I did not submit to some execution without trial - those that draw their weapons should be prepared for others to do the same. Perhaps its more an emotional response then... She notes there may be more to Victus than meets the eye before turning back to Prince as he switches back into Common. Her formal tone and composed monologue felt unnatural on her after all this time but she decided it best to conduct herself.

"Er..." Her facade cracks for a moment at his newly insisted plan. He didn't just want her as an archer, of course. He wanted her as a political tool to protect his holdings. So he intends to march on Mother next... of course, to grant me her holdings he would have to wipe out her and her blood heirs. Her stomach curdles at that. For all she may have been a tool for the Duchess she still bore her little ill will - or at least convinced herself she didn't. At the very least, for having taken her away from an early death starving on the streets she thought of herself owing enough life to Mother to not turn her sword against her. Still, it was best not to seem ungrateful, she would just have to accept his offer for now. "I see... thank you, my Prince. I'm not sure how the life of nobility would agree with me after all this time, but if it is my country's need and your will I can hardly resist that duty. Though... It is hard to think of personally striking down my own family." She regrets the words as soon as they leave her mouth - given the Prince's situation, confronting family hardly seemed a problem for him. She can't think of a save though and just purses her lips, hoping someone will help her out. She's never felt so ready to run into a fight.

[Cespenar]

Urim meets the Prince's grim look.

"I'm afraid the gods are never that clear in their messages, your Majesty. I apologize."

He purposefully avoids meeting the elven soldier's gaze, for fear of finding himself agreeing with him.

[ZeroNumerous]

DM

Urim's statement gets a nod from the boy who would be king. "I will remain vigilant." For what, precisely, there's no telling. Such nebulous information was hardly actionable, but the Prince appears gracious all the same.

Dany's statement turns the Prince's face into a stony mask. His impassive gaze falls upon the soon-to-be duchess, and in that moment it's plain to onlookers that he's adopted the role of a monarch rather than a man. "It is the obligation of nobility to do things we find loathsome for the good of the realm. You would do well to remember that." The Prince's Lawspeaker speaks up once more.

"Fortunately for you dear: You won't have to. Your dear mother died of grief after your disappearance. Or, at least, that's the story of how she passed, if my little birds are to be believed. The poor Duchess vanished from the public eye after you disappeared, and supposedly died alone, grieving, of a broken heart. Then her eldest son died in a hunting accident a week later. Don't worry, his little brother made sure to hang the bastard who killed him, but then the poor boy died after a horse got spooked and kicked his brains out of his head. Then, to complete the unfortunate tragedy, her daughter--bereft of all her family--chose to take her own life by hanging." As the Lawspeaker tells tales of the gruesome end of each member of Dany's small family their names and faces come unbidden: Dear Marcus, the eldest, had always been gallant and strong. But he had always been a skilled hunter, and likely Dany's absence saw him grow into a better one. Young Jeremy had dreamed of being a knight, riding to battle alongside his fellows, and had been squiring to the Ramidos' man-at-arms when Dany had left. It made sense that he would die like that. And little Eliza had always been a forlorn girl who cried at the drop of a hat, and it would make sense for her to take her own life.

"Of course, when it was all over, your dear cousin James inherited the Duchy and holds it now. Funny how the fifth in line just happened to come into power after the Duchess' favored heir ran off to play with swords. Convenient, hm? Almost like someone had wrote it that way." The Lawspeaker looks directly at Dany, as if judging the girl. "If my family had died in such ways, then I would dearly love to question the sole survivor. I suggest you do the same."

[Cespenar]

Urim's jaw almost drops open at the Lawspeaker's telling of the Ramidos family's fate. It was so outrageous as to defy reason -- he couldn't even feel sorry for the bunch right now, and he had lived under their roof for so many years as to count them as if not family as Danielle would have done, then as good acquaintances.

He turns to the would-be-Empress, fearing her reaction.

[Princess Tracy]

Danielle's face remains blank even as her thoughts turn ashen and despondent when she hears of mother. Grief? Surely not... It doesn't sink in, she doesn't let it, doesn't want to. She recalls their names and faces as each one is announced dead and more despair smothers her heart. Her very soul simply holds its breath, does not inhale such truths. She's quiet for some time, and the last few words past the obituary of her sister, the words condemning James, do not compute just yet as her wide as saucer eyes look out over to the Lion Gate again. "I don't..." believe you, she almost says, but is too afraid to actually have her back up her words, too afraid of confirmation. Her reaction is underplayed as time stands still for a good long moment. She's lying.

Before she realises it, she's moving, walking away. As the others watch she shambles on shaky feet away from the light, and stands a little off to the side, not totally out of earshot, but enough to be out of teh conversation as she keeps her back to the rest. She opens her mouth to tell Victus to call for her when he's ready to elaborate his plan, but no words come out and she just stares blankly at the night sky, wondering why someone would lie about that and not caring to know the answer.

They want me on their side, to kill James and take the Duchy, that's why. Yeah... but what would they do when you found out they're lying? Shut up... This is... this is no time for this. Keep your head in battle. Don't lose your wits. Just concentrate on the fight. Worry about this afterwards...

"Cousin James...?" she can't help but question to the night air even as she's determined to not think on it. Her heart's too caught in her throat to deal with the anger that surges through her at the implication that he had conspired their murders, and she barely notes the way her fingers drum meaningfully upon her sword.

She stands quite still and quietly until called for.

[Eurus]

Serafina feels rather surprised herself as the prince goes over the fate of house Ramidos, although she does a much better job of remaining composed. Her gaze flicks over to Dany for a minute, and she notes with little surprise that the girl seems shell-shocked. She felt a little twinge of sympathy, for a moment. Silly girl or no, that was hard news to hear, and she had some personal experience with that. The lawspeaker wasn't being particularly gentle, either. Her choice to drop that bombshell on her right here, without even the pretense of privacy, was undoubtedly a deliberate one. Whether it was simply to unbalance her and measure her reaction or if there was a more specific purpose, Serafina couldn't say.

Hopefully the girl wouldn't let it turn her off the offer. It was an impressive one, beneficial to all parties involved. The prince would have a more legitimate claim to control the lands of house Ramidos, through her, and she would have a title with some actual use to it. But she had the feeling any advice on that point now would go unheeded. Sighing, Serafina attempts to steer away from this particular subject and nods in Victus's general direction.

"How many more are we expecting?"

[Cespenar]

Still feeling incredulous, Urim turns to the Lawspeaker.

"When did all this happen?"

[ZeroNumerous]

DM

Rubra answers Urim's question plainly: "Duchess Ramidos died a week after her pretty heir left. The eldest boy a week after that. The youngest two weeks after that, and the girl a few days later. It all happened very quickly."

[Princess Tracy]

A week... a week after she left? How... how had she not known? Not heard? Exiled as she was though, was it reasonable to expect a warm home and her family still waiting for her to return to one day?

So... that's why Mother never wrote.

She lurches as her eyes moisten, as she bows cups her face at that thought, the amazon brought low as its all she can do to not scream her woes into the night sky. That was the straw that broke the camels back, the realisation that for all the distance and silence, that woman did care for her.

[ZeroNumerous]

DM

The crestfallen mood is interrupted by the arrival of Duke Jorvik (http://fc02.deviantart.net/fs31/f/2008/203/1/c/The_Duke_by_arventur.jpg), and at his side is the youngest Wyne child (http://i.imgur.com/RIeDKTd.jpg), along with an elven... swordswoman? man? (http://i.imgur.com/ZmmtgH5.jpg), a hooded man (http://i.imgur.com/RVPwUq3.jpg), his hooded companion (http://i.imgur.com/pWnEAxQ.png), a woman carrying a spear (http://i.imgur.com/vrfmrmh.png), and an elven archer (http://i.imgur.com/jfPecG6.jpg). The Duke introduces himself to the Prince, but ignores Serafina, Urim, Dany, and Victus unless spoken to. Surprisingly, neither the Prince, his Lawspeaker, nor Count Ormond inform the Duke about Dany's arrangements, or where the army is moving after Thay falls. Perhaps they intend to wait until the city has fallen, or perhaps he'll find out after they're already on the road? Regardless, Faera heads over to Victus to go over the final attack plans while the others with her separate themselves and talk amongst themselves.

"I couldn't find anyone, so the Duke lent me his personal guard for this attempt. He's desperate to prove himself, I guess." Garuda squawks another laugh, probably thinking the girl didn't even try to find anyone, but Faera just looks at the bird. "Still bringing that mangy thing?" Her monkey is, unsurprisingly, absent. Such a creature would likely be a detriment on this mission, or perhaps she simply doesn't bring it everywhere?

After fifteen minutes of waiting Zevra (http://i.imgur.com/wCSB2VG.jpg), Ana (http://i.imgur.com/mZA3MGu.jpg), Seira (http://i.imgur.com/VayWPJm.jpg), Lana (http://i.imgur.com/ZgffnFX.png), and Mathias (http://i.imgur.com/uhYq5Xm.jpg) arrive on the scene. They're walking in an order with Mathias at front, with Lana following close behind, Seira and Ana in the middle, and Zevra taking up the back. The five people head toward the only people they know: Urim and Dany.

Zevra immediately notices that Dany's acting strange, and looks to Urim. "Hey Spooky. So what's the plan we've got going on, or did I convince Littlefoot to get herself killed for nothing?" That gets a scoff from the halfling cleric, and the half-orc just smiles. Mathias and Seira look at where Victus is, and the armored woman is plainly on edge.

---

After the discussions are had the Prince steps forward. "Ladies, gentlemen, I have asked for your swords in order to take the city tonight. As you know: Things are desperate. Victor's army camps less than a day's march away, and our own forces are too scattered to be formed into an effective fighting force. We must take the city, tonight, or many men and women will die." The Prince motions for Caroline to step forward, and the General does so.

"The plan is simple. Directly north of our position is a sewer drain just big enough to squeeze in one person at a time. The sixteen of you will head into the city through that drain, navigate the sewers until you reach street level, then assault the Lion Gate from the inside. Faera here", she motions to the small alchemist girl at her side, "will be leading a group to distract the enemy and draw them away from the Lion Gate. Our elf friend here", she motions to Victus this time, "will be leading the others in the gate attack. The distraction team's job will be start a fire at a barrack nearby the gate. The gate team's job is to hold the gate until our vanguard arrives and secures it. Emeric", she says his name rather than King, His Majesty, or some other title, "has already explained the importance of this mission. Our lives are in your hands soldiers."

With that the general steps back, and the Prince points to the city. "May the Gods go with you, watch over you, and protect you."

---

The group starts marching northward, with the Faera and her company taking the front. During the march Seira approaches the alchemist and requests to join her group, and she's accepted after much blushing and stammering from the young girl. It's plain where Seira knew her from now, and the armored woman takes up a space beside the alchemist. The vanguard group consists of Faera, the Duke's personal guard, and Seira.

Meanwhile, Victus' group made up of Dany, Urim, Serafina, Silver, and Zevra's crew, takes up the rear. Silver follows Dany closely, but says nothing unless prompted. It seems her shame, or perhaps her guilt in abusing her friend's trust, is stronger than her desire to be annoying. Or perhaps her annoyance presence is simply an act, a mask to put on to lower the guard of people she meets and discarded once it's no longer useful? Regardless, it seems things are going fairly well as the small squad approaches Thay under the cover of darkness.

[Bad Situation]

Victus smirks at the girl, knowing his face mask and the cover of night will obscure any real emotion from leaking through. There was something about this stupid, overeager girl that did something to his paternal instinct. It would be nice if she made it out the conflict alive. "Desperate to prove himself, hm? Then I imagine you two get along marvelously." He gestures at the assembled fighters he's recruited while they go over their plans and can't help but let some of his teasing attitude into his inflection, "Your list was very helpful, by the way. No doubt because of your legible handwriting and very credible work experience with the lot of them."

Before she can react he shoots Garuda a warning glare and signals him to keep a watch out as he leans toward the girl and whispers very carefully, with none of the carefully parsed Elvish accent in his voice, "Listen, you've got nothing to prove here, okay? If you do this mission well, you'll have enough accolades to last you a lifetime...but you won't be able to enjoy them if you're dead. Do what it takes to get the mission done and then do whatever you can to get yourself out safe. I've spent more of my boyhood years than I care to admit, fighting for the petty gains of warlords in the Arjann Deserts. That was fine for something like me but a smart, pretty young woman like you? Too much talent to waste as bleached skeleton trapped on the dunes, no? I'm not going to ask you to do this for your sisters, the Duke, or even the Prince himself. Do it for yourself. There will undoubtedly be more fighting after this and with it, more and more opportunities for somebody who has proven themselves dependable."

He pulls away and assumes the same neutral pose as always. "If there is nothing else, I will leave you to your plans. I must tend to my own team."

Victus takes 10 on Diplomacy for 24. If taking 10 isn't possible, I'll roll it in the OOC.
---
Once he's moved toward the back with his team he takes his time examining them before he opens his mouth to speak, "I take it there are no problems with the plan, then. Our thirteen will split into two once we enter Thay. The quickest and most physically able of our lot will advance and clear the way, allowing the secondary force to follow close behind while picking off whoever manages to escape our initial strike. If any passing patrols attempt to cut us off, we converge upon them and cut off their escape. Once we reach the gate, we will take stock of our position as well as our available resources, and then fortify to the best of our ability, bolstered by whatever magic our spellcasters can muster in the defense."

[Cespenar]

Urim stands by Danielle while she mourns, laying a consoling hand on her back, but otherwise giving her space. It was especially ironic for a Speaker for the Dead like Urim to hear nothing of the death of a family he spent so much time with, but Urim wonders what would happen if he were close by. Researching such obviously plotted deaths would probably add his own name to them, and leave Danielle pretty much without any allies. Hmph.

"We'll get to the truth," he simply promises.

When approached by Zevra, Urim nods his acknowledgement. "The plan is basically them providing the confusion, and us... the 'holding of line'. Though I'm sure the elf will explain it further."

As the general and Victus each present the plan in their earnest, Urim listens silently, paying attention, but also suspecting that maybe mission strategies shouldn't be this simple?

[Princess Tracy]

Danielle says nothing, just gritting her teeth as she continues to cup her eyes. The rest of the meeting washes over her and try as she might she can't hone in on the details, or at least not care much. She was going through a sewer to kill some people until the rest of the army could get through, that would do. When Urim eludes to finding the truth, she looks around at him blankly. Vengeance is little comfort, and all presupposed ideas she had for even this the craziest of evenings had abandonned her. She just pulls her bow from her back, throws her scarf around her and marches down into the dark with the rest of them.

Fighting didnt' require words or thought. Fighting suited her well enough for the moment.

[ZeroNumerous]

Dany

While the group is walking the small halfling adherent of Malkuth gets in front of Dany. She's slower than the humans, and she seems to be intentionally walking a little bit slower than the others. Or, at least, she walks slowly unless Dany tries to move around her. Unless the amazon tries to force her way through the halfling then the two of them gradually get further away from Faera and her group, but Lana keeps pace with her own group. Eventually, whether Dany gets frustrated and says anything or not, Lana breaks the silence. "You know the Ravens? Those pirates turned mercenaries? Normally, they don't mingle with the other troops, but Ana's part dragon or something and some of them try to kidnap her from time to time." The halfling talks without looking at Dany, but it's obvious that she's talking to the amazon. "Can you imagine our surprise when some of them came by, and decided to talk instead of fighting us? They talked about someone putting a bounty out on you. A human with a lot of money who was quite interested in capturing a six foot tall warrior woman. Blond, blue eyes, speaks up too much for her own good, shoots a bow with flaming arrows: Sound familiar? Offered us good coin for information too."

The halfling finally stops completely and looks at Dany. "Just watch yourself. Someone very wealthy is very interest in grabbing you. And they're laying low about it too. Zevra asked around for three hours, but she couldn't find out anything. You know that girl makes friends like fire makes ashes, so whoever's in on it has enough money or power to keep people quiet." The halfling resumes moving, and looks back toward the city. "I don't know what's going on, and I don't care. Just don't get my people involved. I don't wanna have to bury any more of them."

Victus

Faera gets plainly nervous with the elf getting in close, and she listens to his monologue. "Don't worry about me. I'm pretty good at what I do." When Victus leaves to talk to his own team the Alchemist goes to her own group as well, but she doesn't make any grandiose speeches nor does she seem to talk to them. Seira shadows the young girl closely, and Jorvik's guards seem to give the duo their own space. It seems that woman is holding true to word, and is at least trying to keep her close.

DM

No one seems to take not of anything dangerous during the trip, and eventually the squad arrives at the base of the city's wall. It takes some time searching, but someone soon spots the sewer drain they need to take. The grate covering it comes away with a sharp tug, and crawling into the sewer proves easy enough. Traveling through a sewer is its own problem, but Faera takes out a small map and eventually leads the group to a ladder. The alchemist looks to the assembled squad, and motions toward the ladder. "My group will head up first, then start toward our target. We shouldn't hit any patrols, but just in case you guys should wait here for a couple of minutes. If we get caught, then we'll just run and draw them away." Seira takes point, and the armored woman climbs up the ladder and disappears into the darkness above. The rest of Faera's group goes one-by-one, but the alchemist turns toward Victus. She fetches a pair of potions from her pouch, and hands them over to the elf.

"You guys will probably need these more than us. Serious injuries and light injuries. Afraid I can't spare more than that." With that done the alchemist climbs up after her squad, and the seven of them are off.

As time passes and no shouts or explosions announce the other group meeting the enemy, the rest of you eventually climb out of the sewer. The ladder empties out into an alleyway tucked in between two houses, and that alleyway looks to dump you onto a side street that leads right down to the main road. No guards nor sentries are visible, but you're a good two hundred feet or so away from the wall. After a few more minutes pass there haven't been any explosions, and no smoke is visible on the horizon. Whatever happened to Faera's group they've plainly been delayed.

[Cespenar]

After waiting for a while long enough to even cue Urim that something is wrong, he sidles by Victus and shows him a wand.

"I can mark and keep track of one of us, if you'd want to send someone to check up on them," he offers.

Actually, now to think about it, this would have been great if he'd have cast it on Faera. That is, if his mind wasn't occupied with the House Ramidos' fate.

[Princess Tracy]

Danielle shuffles along, lost in her thoughts as others find the sewer entrance long before herself. She isn't paying fine enough attention to Lana when she slows her pace, and so accidentally bashes a shin against her, mumbling an apology as she slows down to match her pace. She looks up from the ground, her eyelids heavy to face her diminutive companion. She was too tuned out for some of it to sink in, but 'pirates' conveyed enough danger to her. "I see... someone's always trying to get me. I'll be careful," she says simply. "Enough people have died on my account. I'll... keep out of your way," she says, looking to the sky again as Lana seems concerned her pursuers not come back to haunt her group. "Thanks," she says as they clamber into the sewers. Lana reminded her of something - that if she slacked off, others would die for her weakness. In that spirit, she cannot afford to be weak no matter the state of her heart. For the sake of friends, even fairweather, she steels herself for battle.

When they emerge into the city, she's less outwardly dejected at least, and nestles an arrow between her fingers, twirling it ready to fire in a moment's reaction as she rests it against her bow. No particular battlefield brilliance occurs to her in her state, so she remains quiet and waits for her cue or someone else to suggest something; if someone were to break the quiet of the night, she'd likely be the last to do it.

[Eurus]

Serafina is unusually quiet as they move and emerge, following Victus's lead. As far as she's concerned, military engagements aren't her particular forte, so she may as well leave the decisions to him. She sticks to the rear and keeps her eyes open, hoping that the soldiers will stay between her and the undoubtedly short-tempered opposition they're likely to encounter.

That's the plan, anyway. As time passes, though, while they wait in a random alley, she finds her patience wearing increasingly thin. Finally, she sighs and mumbles a spell. Invisible tendrils of thought extend out to Urim, Danielle, and Victus. The words that flow along it are in no voice recognizable as Serafina's, just a soft inflectionless whisper in the back of the mind.

This is Serafina. I've established communications. I can only do a handful, but if you need to give orders to my nephew, the lady Ramidos, or myself, you can use this. I'm not sure what your plan is, but since we seem to lack a diversion, I can provide invisibility, if it helps. Urim, do you still have that wand of silence?

Casting heightened awareness and casting Serafina's Benevolent Counsel, functions as mindlink targeting Urim/Danielle/Victus. Duration on each is 70 minutes.

[Cespenar]

Urim flinches for a small moment when Serafina establishes the mind link. It had happened before that reading Urim's mind exposed the reader to all the apparitions haunting him as well, and he wouldn't want that on Danny or Serafina in any case. Still, he gingerly waits, hoping a benign telepathy spell won't trigger the phenomenon after all.

Uh, yes, I have, he tries answering his aunt.

When he's sure that part of his mind isn't leaking out to anyone, he reaches out to Victus through the mindlink.

By the way, now that we can talk like this, there's one bit I should tell you. You surely remember what I told the Prince about my omen of betrayal? Well, Faera's team consisted almost wholecloth of Duke Jorvik's soldiers. And now we can't hear from them. Just putting that out there.

I'm alluding to the Horrifying Mind trait Urim has, but that triggers on reading thoughts, I think.

[ZeroNumerous]

DM

Garuda wings upward, and heads toward the Barracks that Faera's group were going to target. Pressing onward and traveling northward along the wall eventually reveals the gate and the guard assigned to it. Eight men, garbed in the golden lion of the King, stand guard with crossbows and swords at the ready. Their leaders are obvious: One is a scruffy-looking man with the same bags and bandoliers full of explosives that mark an alchemist. The other carries a long metal tube that Dany and Victus, being more traveled than Serafina and Urim, recognize as a pistol. Behind the human leaders stand a quartet of artificial humanoids. The steel children of the ancient Empire bear tabards emblazoned with the lion of Bas'korath, and each is armed with a sword. The apparent leader of the steel soldiers, his head marked by an eyeless socket, wears a long golden cloak marking him as a member of the Lionguard. The soldiers are staring out at something outside the walls, but the wall blocks sight of what's going on beyond the stone barrier. Nonetheless, what is happening becomes obvious when the machinist speaks. "Looks like the rebels turned on themselves."

The metallic soldier responds in deadpan. "The royal army will arrive soon, and kill those who survive. There will be no quarter granted to traitors."

The machinist steps away to put a tiny amount of distance between herself and the warforged. "You guys are some creepy bastards."

Just then a burst of sound interrupts the soldiers announces the success of Faera's group, and the guards on the wall look to the pillar of smoke coming off the city's barracks. The machinist looks confused. "What happened? Hey, you four, go investigate."

The warforged responds without looking at the woman. "I was ordered to keep the rebels out of the city. What happens within the city is not my concern."

Victus' warbird returns, and settles on the ground nearby the half-man. It doesn't speak, and when questioned the bird simply shakes its head. "We do not have much time. We must open the gate now."

http://i.imgur.com/j7NQ3RR.jpg

[Princess Tracy]

Danielle raises her head as she becomes vaguely aware that something was wrong - the distraction team was behind schedule. That could mean any number of things, but all the same she focuses her energies, not caring to conceal her talents as the arrow she twirls in her hand gains a quality of magic - sparking flames whenever it moves. before sputtering back to normal when brought to halt. Summoning her command of fire upon her weapons was simple enough and best done ahead of a fight. It seems an innocent enough trick, but a keen observer may foresee that the greater a speed that goes through the arrow, the greater the flames; one might imagine how they would roar with a temporary but explosive flame when fired from the amazon's great bow. With the eagle going to look, there's not much else to be done but progress towards the gatehouse - whether Jorvik's mean had turned traitor or not, it seemed their commander had determined there to be too little time and chance of success to intervene, and so she can only trust that team to their fate. At the signal of the explosion, things seem clearer as she notches her arrow along her bow's string - the great hunk of wood about the size of the woman herself and unearthly thick, few mortals seem fit to wield it, and her arrowhead sizzles with flame with the length in her hand as she pulls it back. Such arrows would fell a normal soldier with a single show, she was confident.

Bow in hand, and stance assumed, Danielle heads out from between the houses. "Urim, Serafina, stay the furthest from the fight, behind me," she communicates telepathically. The rebellion had turned on itself, is that what she heard? Good gods, had fighting broke out back in the camp? This wasn't the time to think on it. Everyone out there would die regardless if this gate still stood.

"That odd cylindrical device is a pistol, it fires armour-piercing projectiles, be wary," she instructs the rest simply. If she kept her distance it would be okay though - from this range, her bow would dominate. Stealth wasn't her way, she didn't mind drawing attention to herself for the sake of her companions. "Go around to the stairs, I'll cover you from the road."

AC 26 I think, Hit points max, condition: good, weapon:yes.

actions to be edited in during my next break, soz

[Eurus]

Serafina grimaces at the soldier's ominous comment. The rebels had turned on themselves? If it was true, their problems were just beginning. Time to move.

Almost unconsciously, she extends a fragment of her awareness out to Victus, giving him a mental nudge to quicker action and sharpening his awareness of the battle for just one crucial moment. At the same time, she flutters a hand in front of her and chants a short prayer for protection. The invisible connection between her and Danielle strengthens.

Take down the officers, Danielle. I'll try to keep you in one piece.

Casting Serafina's Subtle Hand on Danielle as a standard action in the surprise round.

[Bad Situation]

Victus peers around the corner of the house and then beckons everybody close as he details his plan. "Change of plans. Matthias, Zevra, Lana. The four of us will charge ahead to draw their attention away from the rest of the group. Space yourselves out accordingly to avoid the worst of the alchemist's barrage and get up onto those steps however you can. Spellcasters, provide support for our advance as well as cover fire. When the worst of their attention is directed towards us, follow behind and help us take the gate."

He gestures at the catfolk, "That door leads into the gatehouse proper. While the rest of us are attacking, you will do your best to get the door unlocked or otherwise unbarred. We will assist you in any way that can but for now, stay out of sight and ensure that they underestimate our numbers. I will see what I can do about their light sources."

At Danielle, "And you. Stay on your feet but send as many arrows into the air as you possibly can. Keep them guessing and provide us with cover fire."

He doesn't need to look at Garuda when he chooses to address the warbird, "Stay in the air, well out their range, and inform me of any developments with the magical link. When we need to turn the tides in our favor, I'll call you down for a fight. Until then, we need to keep up on the information front."

With that said, he marches out without another word, his scimitar at the ready.

Surprise Round: Moving to the square just left of Matthias. Golden Commander Stance.

[Cespenar]

Urim shakes his head at his "orders". Covering fire really didn't translate to his abilities at all, and now to think about it, neither did open warfare. Still, he nods as if he understand what Victus is saying, and decides to just wing it.

Looking around at his ghosts, he focuses on a particular one, and enacts his will on it. The thing collapses into itself, forming just a black mote in the air and a couple of waving lights alongside it. He directs the anomaly into the open path, hoping to draw fire to it and away from his allies.

The process though, unfortunately, didn't wipe away the ghost entirely. It somehow reformed in a random point in the future, as if not to leave Urim alone for too much at a time. And if they felt anything at being used in such a manner, well, they didn't show it in their actions. Haunting was haunting, after all.

HP: 50, AC 16

Casting Summon Monster II at 5N, 2W from Urim, summoning a Small Gravity Elemental. Casting time is 1 round.

[ZeroNumerous]

DM

Mathias nods at his orders, then motions for Zevra to follow him. He moves to the far edge of the wall, drawing a chipped and battered longsword in the same movement. The half-orc follows behind him, but produces no weapon. Instead she simply clenches and relaxes her hands rhythmically, trying to get the blood flow to her fingers going. Silver follows them, and also produces no weapon. Lana and Ana go about casting their spells.

Danielle's appearance in the street gets the attention of the enemy soldiers. The machinist points her out. "Who's that? Shift change isn't for another hour." But the warforged takes note of the woman's stance.

"There is not a human who uses a style like that in this city. That one is an enemy." He reaches for his sword, and his allies react by reaching for their weapons as well.

http://i.imgur.com/2Aj81ge.jpg

Altered the map so that the grid is more visible.

Urim's gravity elemental will appear at the end of his next turn.

Lana casts Bless, affecting all of her allies. Ana casts Shield, affecting herself only.

Initiative:
Victus - 22
Ana - 20
Soldiers - 20
Urim - 19
Mathias - 16
Dany - 11
Lana - 10
Zevra - 8
Serafina - 7
Warforged - 6

Unless instructed otherwise, the NPCs will take the following actions on their next turn:
Mathias - Double move 60ft to the staircase
Zevra - Double move 60ft behind him
Silver - Double move 60ft toward the gatehouse
Lana - Double move 40ft toward the edge of the house
Ana - Move 30ft to the edge of the house and cast Scorching Ray at the closest enemy.

[Bad Situation]

Victus charges toward the gatehouse with the others in short order but reminds the team with a harsh whisper before they break free of their cover, "Dispatch the first two crossbowmen first. Danielle! Occupy the attention of their spellcaster and leader while we make the push."

Double Move 60ft toward the staircase. Activates Indomitable Presence as a Free Action.
Garuda ascends 30ft (60ft of movement?) into the air and 20ft forward.

[ZeroNumerous]

DM

Victus rushing out draws the attention of the warforged. "More enemies. Are you rebels? I am surprised you survived the ambush." The loyalist troops move south to fight Victus, until the appearance of Urim's gravity elemental. Two crossbowmen open fire on the elemental, since it's clearly upsetting to them. Two others fire at Victus. Meanwhile the other loyalists drink some sort of potion, and the alchemist in particular grows a bit more robust and appears stronger.

Mathias, Zevra, Silverfang, and Lana follow Victus' lead.

http://i.imgur.com/HkfD6K2.png
Blue marks: Buffed
Purple marks: Readied actions
Red mark: Injured.

Ana casts Scorching Ray at one of the Crossbowmen.
Touch attack Roll: [roll0] - Hits
Damage: [roll1]

Mathias double moves toward the stairs.
Silverfang double moves toward the gatehouse.
Zevra double moves toward the stairs.
Lana double moves toward the stairs.
Urim's Gravity Elemental appears.

Enemy Actions:
Crossbowman #1 shoots at Victus
Attack Roll: [roll2]
Damage: [roll3]

Crossbowman #2 shoots at Victus
Attack Roll: [roll4]
Damage: [roll5]

Crossbowman #3 shoots at the Gravity Elemental
Attack Roll: [roll6]
Damage: [roll7]

Crossbowman #4 shoots at the Gravity Elemental
Attack Roll: [roll8]
Damage: [roll9]

All the swordsmen take a move action to move closer to the south stairs. Two use their standard actions to drink a potion(blue marks), and two take ready actions(purple marks).

The alchemist moves south and drinks his mutagen.

The machinist moves to take cover, and drinks a potion.

[Eurus]

Serafina remains behind the building, figuring it's the safest place. She starts mumbling a spell and funneling power through the link between her and Danielle, laying a vicious blessing on the girl's bow.

Listen, girl. I've enchanted your weapon against humans. Focus on the officers.

Swift action to use Bane (Humans) on Danielle's bow, standard action to cast Shield of Faith on Danielle for +3 deflection.

[Cespenar]

The bolts fired against the gravity elemental are curiously drawn into the black mote, and start to orbit around it instead of hitting anything solid. Carrying the missiles with it, the elemental approaches the battlements, soaring as it does, and launches one of the bolts back at the machinist hiding behind the cover.

Meanwhile, Urim casts another spell, drawing some of ghosts around him for protection. They were never reliable for such things anyway, but it was something, at least.

Urim glances at Danielle, trying to suppress the satisfaction he gets by enacting payback on the poor souls, finally making use of them after having been haunted by them for decades. He reminds himself (with a little difficulty) that the souls had just as many choices in the matter as Urim had himself. Breathing deeply, he refocuses.

Gravkid goes 12w, 1nw, 7 up, and throws one of the bolts at the machinist as an improvised weapon. I'm not sure of the damage of a thrown crossbow bolt.

[roll0]
[roll1]

Urim casts Entropic Shield on himself.

[Princess Tracy]

Danielle pulls back her bow string and lets loose. Its a tricky shot - they're high up and the crenelations provide interference. But she would be more effective at this stage being back here, providing covering fire. All the same, those stairs look rather steep and her allies are heading right for them, it may be an idea to clear them before. Arc the shot - don't go from the hip, go for the classic long range style, arms still. Do it like m-... like mother used to show you. She shakes her head at the errant thought, this was no time or place for grieving. Don't get distracted now, just shoot. She adjusts her arc enough to try and account for any interference from Urim's weird swirling friend that was drawing fire for her. A tingling at her fingers as her bow receives additional enchantment, and some advice to aim for the leaders. Who are the leaders? She follows her instincts and lets loose with the additional protection from Serafina's spell to back her up.

She doesn't adjust her aim to account for focussing her shots, just first come first serve, instead strafing the bow and letting loose with simple twangs as if all in one smooth action. She adds one last spark of power to her arrows as she lets them loose, deciding to state her purpose as truly threatening; each arrow is less like a projectile and more a medium for a great blast, a flying column of flame that looks like a dragon in flight. One can only hope her mind if in the fight enough for any of them to hit their mark, but even if they don't perhaps she plans to distract their attention with a fantastic display...

Activate searing break as swift action to gain +3d6 fire damage on each attack.

Activate Rapid Shot, -2 to-hit, +1 attack at highest BAB

Active effects: Bane (human), Stance of Piercing Rays, Shield of Faith, Auntie's connection spell thing, mindlink, bless
AC 29, HP 76

Attack #1 versus Machinist. [roll0], [roll1] piercing damage +[roll2] electric damage (shocking enhancement) +[roll3] fire damage. +2 to hit and damage, and additional +[roll4] damage if human. If it hits (and deals at least 1 damage), Danielle expends a use of her Armiger's Mark: they're marked for 4 rounds (Int Bonus), taking a -4 to attacks and 13% spell failure chance for actions not targeting herself.

Attack #1 versus Alchemist. [roll5], [roll6] piercing damage +[roll7] electric damage (shocking enhancement) +[roll8] fire damage. +2 to hit and damage, and additional +[roll9] damage if human. If it hits (and deals at least 1 damage), Danielle expends a use of her Armiger's Mark: they're marked for 4 rounds (Int Bonus), taking a -4 to attacks and 13% spell failure chance for actions not targeting herself.

Attack #1 versus Warforged leader dude. [roll10], [roll11] piercing damage +[roll12] electric damage (shocking enhancement) +[roll13] fire damage. If it hits (and deals at least 1 damage), Danielle expends a use of her Armiger's Mark: they're marked for 4 rounds (Int Bonus), taking a -4 to attacks and 13% spell failure chance for actions not targeting herself.

I'll take a 5 foot step if that would bring anyone into my first range increment, otherwise I'll stay put.

Readied Maneuvers: Searing Break, Intercepting Shade, Taunting Turtle, Blinding Ray Shot, Shards of Iron Strike (strike-through=expended)

[ZeroNumerous]

DM

Through the combined efforts of the Gravity Elemental and Danielle the machinist goes down to a crossbow bolt in the stomach and an arrow in the face. Danielle's other arrows strike the crenellations and prove ineffective, but at least one enemy has fallen.

Seeing his mortal allies fall to their own frailty, the warforged leader points to the rebels. "Exterminate the rebels. We will take no prisoners." The sons of the Empire move to follow their leader's orders, and they take fighting stances as they prepare for the rebel's invasion. Both Victus and Danielle recognize their fighting stances, and recognize the leader's own stance and maneuvers.

http://i.imgur.com/OzxnKQu.png

Warforged Soldier #1 double moves 40ft south, and activates Stance of the Defending Shell.
Warforged Soldier #2 double moves 40ft south, and activates Stance of the Defending Shell.
Warforged Leader double moves 30ft south, and activates his Golden Commander Stance. As he is no longer flat-footed he's now providing his Aegis to all of his allies within 10ft. He activates Extended Defense and burns his Warning Roar counter. All attacks made against his allies within 60ft have to beat a DC equal to his Diplomacy Check or they're automatically negated: [roll0].

Warforged Spellcaster moves 30ft southeast and casts Magic Missile on the Gravity Elemental.
Damage: [roll1]

Victus - 22
Ana - 20
Soldiers - 20
Urim and Summons - 19
Mathias - 16
Dany - 11
Lana - 10
Zevra - 8
Serafina - 7
Warforged - 6

[Princess Tracy]

Danielle watches with a detached disgust as her arrows pierce and seem to instantly cremate her target. War doesn't satisfy as the life of a vagrant vigilante did. All notion of right is ambiguous on a battlefield, and in her current state she only drifted further from the urgency of her motive; meaningless such that it hardly seemed that the woman was felled by her hand at all, but rather that she had fallen to the tides of war itself, a mechanism in which she was just a blood-caked gear.

The warforged announcement of taking no prisoners however restores an urgency to her. Of course, however this fight was entered, there was only one way to leave it alive now. For now she must soldier on. her mind snaps into place, remembering the style of Warforged. "Our spellcasters, to me, away from the phalanx. Take down their spellcaster first, then make them scatter and take down their leader," she commands simply in a flat boom.

[Cespenar]

Unlike the crossbow bolts, the magic missiles hit the elemental directly, rocking its vague shape and make it twitch erratically. Nevertheless, the dark mote hovers near the warforged spellcaster, but refrains from acting for now.

Urim, on the other hand, collapses another of his ghosts into another, similar shape, but this time an angry storm cloud with lightnings dancing around it. He whispers all too quietly. "Ein Sof."

Gravkid moves sw, 2w, and readies an action to throw its last remaining bolt at the spellcaster if he begins to cast a spell.

Urim casts Summon Monster II to summon a Lightning Elemental, again at the square to Garuda's southwest.

[ZeroNumerous]

DM

Ana moves toward the northside of the house when Danielle shouts, and fires three magical missiles at the warforged spellcaster. Victus moves in close, and the two men swing at him as a result. Fortunately for Victus they both miss horribly, and the half-man is uninjured. Victus' orders send Mathias forward, and he attacks the two men in front of him. Unfortunately Mathias hits only shields and air with his sword.

The enemy soldiers move closer toward the rebels, and their crossbowmen open fire on the rebels rushing the stairwell. The alchemist hurls a fire bomb that catches both Zevra and Silverfang in its explosion, but when the smoke dissipates the half-orc remains standing and the catfolk is only slightly singed.

http://i.imgur.com/sV4yZ6h.png

Swordsman#1 readied action goes off and he attacks Victus
Attack: [roll0] - MISS
Damage: [roll1]

Swordsman#2's readied action goes off and he attacks Victus
Attack: [roll2] - MISS
Damage: [roll3]

Mathias takes his turn and moves 5ft west, then uses Scything Strike to attack both swordsmen.
Attack: [roll4] +4 from Tactical Flanker due to flanking with Victus' stance. - MISS
Damage: [roll5] + [roll6] from scarlet einhander + [roll7] sneak attack from flanking

Ana moves 30ft north and casts Magic Missile on the spellcaster. Damage: [roll8]

The enemy swordsmen double move 40ft south.

Crossbowman #1 five-foot steps back, reloads, and fires at Zevra
Attack: [roll9] - HIT
Damage: [roll10]

Crossbowman #2 reloads and fires at Silverfang
Attack: [roll11] - HIT
Damage: [roll12]

Crossbowman #3 moves 20ft south, reloads, and fires at Ana
Attack: [roll13] - HIT
Damage: [roll14]

Crossbowman #4 moves 20ft south, reloads, and fires at Ana
Attack: [roll15] - MISS
Damage: [roll16]

Alchemist moves 20ft southwest, creates a bomb, and throws it at Zevra
Attack: [roll17] - HIT
Damage: [roll18] + 6 splash damage to Silverfang

Silverfang moves 30ft toward the gatehouse door, ending up underneath the gravity elemental, and spends a standard action opening the door. Disable Device: [roll19] vs DC 25.

Zevra will move into melee if Mathias kills either of the guys, or she'll just move in behind Mathias if he doesn't kill anyone. She'll rage for the extra HP. She'll likely rage and punch someone if she can.
Attack: [roll20]
Damage: [roll21]

Lana double moves 40ft to Zevra's old spot.

[Princess Tracy]

Danielle follows her instincts, seeing a spellcaster about to enter the fray as a few others seem to concentrate on him. She pops off a couple of arrows in his general direction as she steps forward, though her flames are lessened from a moment ago when her energy was at its peak. It would take a moment to breathe to restore that technique, which she didn't feel she could spare at the moment. She moves somewhat pensively towards the stairs, not breaking into a proper stride yet as she concentrates her shots.

Full attack then 5-foot step northwest, see OOC

[Eurus]

While she wanted nothing more than to keep some sturdy walls between her and the enemy, it was becoming increasingly clear that she'd be unable to contribute much from back here. As she funnels more power into Danielle, Serafina also mutters a spell of concealment over herself, fading into invisibility, and advances quickly.

Swift action to put a Judgment on Danielle, giving her a +2 sacred bonus to attack rolls, and a standard action to cast Invisibility on herself. Moving 15 feet forward and 15 feet northwest.

[ZeroNumerous]

DM

The warforged move in clearly inhuman coordination. No communication goes by, yet they act as if they all held the same train of thought. Two move closer to Victus and Mathias, and then ready themselves. The spellcaster moves away, and also readies himself. Then, in a burst of action, their leader steps forward and points his sword toward the rebels. The warforged move as one unit, the soldiers attacking Victus and Mathias, and the spellcaster unleashing his magic upon the gravity elemental.

http://i.imgur.com/D0DsoiR.png

The warforged soldiers move 20ft closer to Victus and Mathias, then ready actions to use Angering Smash on any enemy within 5ft.

The warforged spellcaster moves 20ft away, and readies an action to cast Magic Missile on the Gravity Elemental when he moves 5ft.

The warforged leader moves 20ft south, then uses Circling the Prey to grant all the enemies 5ft of movement. Everyone moves about, and the warforged soldiers move within 5ft of Mathias and Victus and their readied actions goes off. The warforged spellcaster's readied action goes off after he takes his 5ft step.

Warforged #1 shield bashes Victus
Attack Roll: [roll0]
Damage: [roll1] - If successful Victus takes a -4 penalty to hit anyone that isn't the warforged in front of him.

Warforged #2 shield bashes Mathias
Attack Roll: [roll2]
Damage: [roll3] - If successful Mathias takes a -4 penalty to hit anyone that isn't the warforged in front of him.

Warforged Spellcaster casts Magic Missile on the Gravity Elemental, triggering its AoO. Due to the spellcaster being outside of the Gravity Elemental's first range increment it'll take a -1 penalty to its attack roll. If the Gravity Elemental hits then the warforged needs a Concentration check: [roll4]
Damage: [roll5]

Victus - 22
Ana - 20
Soldiers - 20
Urim and Summons - 19
Mathias - 16
Dany - 11
Lana - 10
Zevra - 8
Serafina - 7
Warforged - 6

[Bad Situation]

Victus threshes through the warforged soldiers with ease, his blade and fist slicing through their mechanical parts like the claws of a vicious beast. He darts into the space of recently destroyed automaton and whistles sharply, a tune and signal that none of his allies seem aware of, but quickly rectifies this confusion by shouting a quick set of orders in a language the others can understand. He resumes whistling soon thereafter however, even as he eyes the remaining opposition.

And emerging from the dark night sky is a response to his call: a pair of talons that emerge seemingly out of of nowhere, lancing themselves through the injured warforged's skull.

Victus does his full attack and then activates Circling the Prey to grant himself and all allies (within 60ft) a free 5ft Step. He takes his free movement to shift into the square of the recently downed Warforged Soldier. Then he uses his remaining 5ft Step to slide westward. Matthias follows after him and occupies the downed Warforged Soldier's space, and then Zevra takes a diagonal 5ft step northwest and occupies the space Victus held previously. Garuda uses his 5ft Step and his 80ft Fly speed to end adjacent to Zevra and makes a standard action attack against the remaining Warforged with flanking: [roll0] / [roll1]

...Eh, I think my explanation is confusing. Here's what I had in mind in picture form:
http://i.imgur.com/SfNjcNx.png
Lana, Ana, and the Gravity Elemental also get 5ft Steps but I don't have anything in mind for them so they can use theirs (or not use them) as they please.

[ZeroNumerous]

DM

The bird's razor-sharp talons tear into the warforged, catching a piece of its rusted metal skull and smashing into the soft bits inside. Whatever arcane energies animate the ancient golem fade and it clatters to the ground as a useless pile of scrap metal.

The soldiers move around, reacting to Victus' shouted orders in order to form some sort of defense against the onslaught of enemies. The crossbowmen, unable to fire into the melee, fire at choice targets who aren't engaged with their enemies. One bolt catches the dragonblooded sorceress in the stomach, but she just returns fire with her own magical blasts. Another pings off the halfling's shield, and she grins at finally having joined the battle.

Mathias rushes into the gap created by Victus and Garuda, and swings at the enemy leader. His battered sword seems to glow red, and for a moment the warforged has a look of surprise and fear on his face, but his shield intersects with the boy's attack. Cursing under his breath the warrior starts studying his opponent carefully, searching for a weakness or gap in the warforged's defenses.

Unfortunately the enemy is ready for Mathias, and three men rush him at once. Two of them find flesh with their blades, but one misses horribly. Lana rushes in to heal the boy, but the flurry of swords proves too dangerous for the halfling and she loses her spell.

Finally, Zevra leaps in to help her friends, and in a brutal display of pure physical might she lifts one of the warforged up and slams him onto the ground. The machine seems dazed, and in fact more than a little surprised such a thin creature could left its body. Zevra grabs the warforged's arm, and steps on its chest to hold it on the ground.

http://i.imgur.com/FpTcbwZ.png

Three of Victus' attacks hit, dealing 33 damage to the warforged. Garuda's attack hits, and finishes it off.

Mathias, Zevra, and Garuda follow Victus' orders. Lana uses her 5ft step to move NW and take a position beside Victus.

The enemy soldiers move south. Three move to surround Mathias, while the fourth retrieves, and drinks, a potion. Healing: [roll0]

Soldier #1 attacks Mathias
Attack Roll: [roll1] - HIT
Damage: [roll2]

Soldier #2 attacks Mathias
Attack Roll: [roll3] - HIT
Damage: [roll4]

Soldier #3 attacks Mathias
Attack Roll: [roll5] - MISS
Damage: [roll6]

Crossbowman #1 shoots at Lana
Attack Roll: [roll7] - MISS
Damage: [roll8]

Crossbowman #2 shoots at Victus
Attack Roll: [roll9]
Damage: [roll10]

Crossbowman #3 shoots at Ana
Attack Roll: [roll11] - HIT
Damage: [roll12]

Crossbowman #4 shoots at Danielle
Attack Roll: [roll13]
Damage: [roll14]

Seeing that Victus is some kind of leader, the alchemist hurls a bomb at Victus, catching Zevra, Lana, and Garuda in the splash.
Touch Attack Roll: [roll15]
Damage: [roll16]
Potential scatter: [roll17]

Garuda, Zevra, and Lana take 6 splash damage, with a DC 15 Ref Save for half.
Zevra: [roll18]
Lana: [roll19]

Mathias will use Regal Blade and attack the warforged leader to no avail.
Attack Roll: [roll20] +2 due to flanking from Victus' stance. - MISS
Damage: [roll21] + [roll22] sneak attack + [roll23] bane. If he hits, he'll use an immediate action to Study the leader for +2 to hit and damage against it. He'll then spend his move action using Vanguard's Bond to grant +1 to hit and damage against the warforged leader to everyone within 30ft. Mathias spends his move action Studying the Warforged Leader.

Lana will move in behind Mathias, and be completely useless defensively cast Cure Moderate Wounds on Mathias or Inflict Moderate wounds on the Warforged Leader.
Touch Attack: [roll24]
Healing or Damage: [roll25]
Concentration DC 19: [roll26]

Zevra burns an additional round of rage. She'll attempt to grapple the warforged in front of her, and she'll burn Strength Surge for an additional +5.
CMB to Grapple: [roll27] vs DC 20
If successful she deals unarmed damage due to Raging Grappler: [roll28] and automatically prones the warforged. She takes no penalties from grappling due to Improved Savage Grapple.

Ana casts Magic Missile on the warforged spellcaster again: [roll29]

[Cespenar]

Skirting death with each passing second (or freedom, more likely), the gravity elemental pushes his luck further and closes in on the crossbowmen. Then, with a sudden pulse, it sends out a shockwave against the soldiers.

Meanwhile, the lightning elemental takes up to the air, setting up a later attack.

Urim turns around the corner of the house, and from far away, tries to get a bead on the alchemist that seem to be causing trouble for his allies.

What a mess battles are.

Gravkid moves to 5 ft. above the northwestern crossbowman, and uses Crush, getting all four of them. DC 12 fort save to halve [roll0] bludgeoning damage.

Raitoningu double moves diagonally to the air, ending up 100 ft. to west and 120 ft. upwards, I think.

Urim goes: s, 2sw, 2w, and casts Hold Person (DC 17 Will) at the alchemist, assuming that he has line of sight. If he can't see the battle, he moves a further 6w instead.

[Princess Tracy]

Danielle notes Serafina disappearing out of the corner of her eye, she supposed it was magic. Their own fighters finally engage the Warforged, its quite messy and chaotic. She felt the logical thing would have been to head around to the north and flush them out, but it hardly seemed appropriate now that things were so messy. Was her heart faltering on the battlefield? The bleeding heart of a traumatised maiden - how pathetic for the last of the Emperor. The alchemist was proving troublesome and needed to be stopped before he hurt anyone much more, right? Reasonable enough... she could afford to fire another volley before moving in to sweep them up.

As Ana approaches her, Danielle's battle spirit gives an eerie sense of protection to her. "You would do well... to not ignore me!" she says, quietly faltering for a moment before turning her voice to a boom as she looks to her enemies and releases her volley, the smell of sulphur filling the air as she attacks, taking a step forward with each release of her bowstring. "I can kill each of you myself, and intend to if you distract yourself with them." She directs her voice mostly towards the crossbowmen and to the spellcaster and alchemist if he still stands, hoping her taunt will draw their fire from her allies. It was true though, her glorious first volley had claimed the first blood of the battle previously and she intended to draw as much attention to herself as possible while she, unlike her allies who she saw being brutalised, was still unscathed.

Danielle will full attack with rapid shot, targeting the Alchemist. If I do some damage but don't drop her on my first hit, I'll use Armiger's Mark on her. If I drop her, I'll decide on my other target(s) from there but will likely go for the warforged spellcaster.

Attack #1
Hit [roll0]
Damage [roll1], [roll2] electric, [roll3] fire, +[roll4] bane bonus. (if not human, forget bane bonus and subtract 2 from hit and damage roll)

Attack #2
Hit [roll5]
Damage [roll6], [roll7] electric, [roll8] fire, +[roll9] bane bonus. (if not human, forget bane bonus and subtract 2 from hit and damage roll)

Attack #3
Hit [roll10]
Damage [roll11], [roll12] electric, [roll13] fire, +[roll14] bane bonus. (if not human, forget bane bonus and subtract 2 from hit and damage roll)

Another 5-foot step to the NW

[Eurus]

Serafina quietly curses the world, the gods, the war, the nature of man, and her own failure to procure better boots as she closes the distance between herself and the battle as quickly as possible.

30 feet west, 30 feet southwest.

[ZeroNumerous]

DM

The warforged leader watches one of his own fall, and then another falls to Danielle's flaming bolts. He turns his sword upon the mortals who have cost his companions their lives. "Enough!" The blow sends the swordsman reeling, and the enemy troops take the opportunity to leap upon him. The field of swords leaves Mathias bloody, but the strength of his sword arm says he's not beaten yet.

http://i.imgur.com/gED5toD.png

Crossbowman saves: [roll0]
[roll1]
[roll2]
[roll3]

The leader uses Defending the Pride as his swift action, and uses Pack Pounce on Mathias. Due to the five people surrounding Mathias he gets a +15 to his damage.
Attack Roll: [roll4] - HITS.
Damage Roll: [roll5]

The grappled warforged attempts to break free. [roll6] vs DC 22. He fails. If he succeeds then he'll try to stand, and trigger an AoO from Zevra, Mathias, and Lana.

Lana attacks.
Attack Roll: [roll7]
Damage Roll: [roll8]

Mathias attacks.
Attack Roll: [roll9]
Damage Roll: [roll10] + [roll11]

Zevra grapples him again.
CMB Roll: [roll12] vs DC 20.
Damage Roll: [roll13]

For her turn Ana will cast Magic Missile on the warforged leader: [roll14]

[Bad Situation]

Victus hisses dangerously at warforged's efforts and weaves himself once more into the fray, cursing himself for not making more aggressive advances on the enemy squad. He doesn't signal his avian companion so much as he roars his command, "Garuda! With me!" and begins his mad attack on the enemies standing in his way. They would not take a single soul from his team while they were under his watch.

He cuts straight through the grappled warforged, paying only some heed to the half-orc that it has it pinned and continues relentless attack on the leader. Garuda darts in past while the leader's attention is drawn to Victus and easily dips in underneath its feeble attempt to stop him, pecking repeatedly at the already injured human and giving the swordsmen another target besides Matthias.

Swift Action - Victory Gambit
Full-Attack
Unarmed #1: [roll0]
--Damage: [roll1]
Unarmed #2: [roll2]
--Damage: [roll3]
Scimitar #1: [roll4] - Ignores half of Armor AC
--Damage: [roll5]
Scimitar #1: [roll6] - Ignores half of Armor AC
--Damage: [roll7]
Effect: If he succeeds in killing that first warforged, Victus regains 4 Maneuvers and all allies receive a +4 morale bonus to their next attack roll.

He aims all of his attacks at the warforged being grappled by Zevra and if he succeeds in killing it, takes a 5ft Step into its now open space and spends whatever remains of his full-attack string on the warforged leader.

Garuda, regardless of Victus' success, flies forward 10ft, dodges the warforged leader's attack and tries to remove the injured swordsman. From the OOC (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=18980752&postcount=804):

Garuda's Attack: (1d20+16)[29]
--Damage: (1d4+5)[9]

Talon #1: [roll8]
-- Damage: [roll9]
Talon #2: [roll10]
-- Damage: [roll11]

[ZeroNumerous]

DM

Garuda's talon finds flesh, but despite the bird's war training it proves incapable of securing the kill. Victus' attacks slay the warforged Zevra holds, and the half-orc moves up with him to put their impromptu teamwork to the test once more. The gravity elemental's manipulation of gravity injures the four crossbowmen, and they drop their crossbows to attack the elemental with blades. The swordsmen leap on the chance to continue the fray, but only one of their number finds flesh, and Mathias finds himself bleeding once more. Fortunately Lana patches the young boy up with magic.

As the battle rages on Victus drops one of the enemy warforged, and takes his place at the top of the wall. Now, finally able to see over the obstruction, he spies a dangerous sight. The siege camp is in total disarray. Banners have been raised, fires dashed, and a third of the camp seems to be fighting against their former allies. Among those raised banners Victus spots the familiar raven banner of House Jorvik, the wounded bear of Count Yeor, and the black gate of Baron Talis. The half-man had seen this kind of thing happen many times in elven war camps when ancient blood feuds, simmering but never forgotten, suddenly leap to the forefront of soldiers' minds and they cut one another down rather than their enemies. That always resulted in many times more losses than was ever necessary, yet the elves gave no second thought to it. This Jorvik would fit in well with them.

Regardless of the siege camp's problems Victus can also spot the vanguard's hiding spot from his place atop the wall. While it is dark, and they carry no torches, he can barely make out the chaos of movement and battle. Even the vanguard had been infested with rats.

However, the madness of the battle is suddenly quieted by the sky lighting up as if the sun had risen. A great burning stone, as bright as the sun and trailing a cloud of brimstone behind it, plummets from the heavens. Its silhouette forms a bloody gash across the stars, and several seconds pass as the red wound crawls along through the dark night. Then, as quickly as the light had come, it vanishes as the meteor hurtles through the clouds and disappears over the tree line to the southeast. A great explosion lights up the sky once more for a brief few seconds, and then the transient sun vanishes and the dark reigns supreme once more. The warforged watches the meteor's descent, and then it seems to look to the southwest. The machine man turns his attention back to the battle, and its immobile face seems to take on a grim cadence.

That is, until the former Settler of Binah gets a hold of him. In the span of a few seconds the half-orc grabs the warforged, lifts the hunk of metal bodily from the ground, and slams him into the ground head-first. Mathias, bloody but alive, quickly stabs the warforged in the chest twice. His blade, glowing with a pale red light, slices through the machine's metal skin like paper. It spams and twitches, then an irreplaceable wonder of the old Empire is lost as its one functional eye dims forever.

Map no longer necessary.

Crossbowman #1 drops his crossbow and pulls out his sword and attacks the Gravity Elemental, provoking an AoO for drawing his weapon.
Attack Roll: [roll0]
Damage: [roll1]

Crossbowman #2 drops his crossbow and pulls out his sword and attacks the Gravity Elemental
Attack Roll: [roll2]
Damage: [roll3]

Crossbowman #3 drops his crossbow and pulls out his sword and attacks the Gravity Elemental
Attack Roll: [roll4]
Damage: [roll5]

Crossbowman #4 drops his crossbow and pulls out his sword and attacks the Gravity Elemental
Attack Roll: [roll6]
Damage: [roll7]

Swordsman #1 attacks Garuda
Attack Roll: [roll8]
Damage: [roll9]

Swordsman #2 attacks Mathias
Attack Roll: [roll10] - [HIT]
Damage: [roll11]

Swordsman #3 attacks Mathias
Attack Roll: [roll12] - [MISS]
Damage: [roll13]

Swordsman #4 attacks Lana
Attack Roll: [roll14] - [MISS]
Damage: [roll15]

Lana moves through the enemy swordsmen's threatened area to go 10ft south, then moves back north triggering two AoOs.

Swordsman #3 AoO
Attack Roll: [roll16] - [MISS]
Damage: [roll17]

Swordsman #4 AoO
Attack Roll: [roll18] - [MISS]
Damage: [roll19]

She then casts Cure Serious Wounds on Mathias without risking losing her spell: [roll20]

Zevra burns another round of rage and grapples the warforged leader
Attack Roll: [roll21] vs DC 23 - [HIT]
Damage: [roll22]
If successful she automatically Prones him.

Mathias, if he survives, full attacks the warforged leader.
Attack#1 Roll: [roll23] - [HIT]
Damage: [roll24] + [roll25] sneak attack + [roll26] bane.

Attack#2 Roll: [roll27] - [HIT]
Damage: [roll28] + [roll29] sneak attack + [roll30] bane.

[Princess Tracy]

Danielle sighs as the leader goes down, knowing the rest were meaningless. Innocent foot soldiers caught in the crossfire, in well over their heads but doing their best to protect what she thought was important. Now that she was here among the city and could see the homes of civilians for herself, and knew of the Jorvik dogs way of getting away with violence, it seemed impossible that the Prince could exert such authority and grace so as to keep the populace of this place safe from the abuse of their invaders even if he cared to. Was it the felling of the warforged that weighed on her? Partially. Every arrow thrown their way reminds her of her own blood, as old as their shells that now lay there as scrap, probably for some rogueish soldier to strip and sell off later - like grounding his enemies to mince for the army canteen would really be any better.

She approaches the wall slowly and doesn't care to loose anymore arrows unless the remaining enemies make a genuine effort to fight rather than flee and she must defend her allies. Once they are cleared away she takes her place on top of the wall along with Victus, gazing out over the crenelations to the rebel army beyond. Horror should grip her, she knows, but the night had left her feeling rather selfishly numb. "What was that meteor?" she asks with little curiosity, her voice now deflated of her usual vigor as bags pool around her eyes - a break in the battle letting her slip away from the urgency of violence to her own demons. Her voice is soft, one might say more ladylike, more a whimper than her usual roar. "A spell? Or an omen..." She supposes Urim would know and disregards it. "Someone get the door open, I imagine that's cue enough for them to come in," she remembers as she sees the vanguard hiding.

She turns her back to the army - there was nothing more she could think to do for it now, the deaths of thousands at the hands of their allies may be only put off by the light of hope of this door opening and otherwise they would all die anyway. Let the survivors work it out. She puts her weight on the wall, and from there feels heavy indeed, about ready to let her massive frame crumple under its own weight and just fall into sitting in a ball until it was over. She wasn't some beggar girl who had the privilege of wasting away anonymously though, she shakes her head, there must be something more to do. She looks to Garuda, then looks Victus straight in the eye. "Your friend, the alchemist. Do you want to go find her or await the vanguard here?" she asks.

[ZeroNumerous]

Ragnall

The sound of battle rises as a symphony around the jötunn, and with it comes the best night of the young giant's life. The human's tiny Raven lord raised his banners in defiance to the human's king. Or was he not king yet? It didn't matter. He was no chief who earned his right to rule through honorable hólmganga, so who cared what he called himself? A sword comes slices through the air, singing it's desire to bite into the frost giant's flesh, but it found nothing. The fury of conflict beats like a drum around the jötunn, and its rhythm pulses right alongside his heart. Men were weak and small, and each blow from the frost giant's mighty fists sends a mortal human crumpling to the ground. A raven, a bear, and a man wearing no symbol charge the frost giant with swords raised high and their human battle songs in their lungs. Or did humans even have battle songs? What did it matter? They fall all the same.

A gruff man bearing a greatsword steps forward. His bear-skin clothing and poorly fitting leather armor belie his status as a barbarian or outcast. Likely some mercenary exiled from the Greenskins and trying to make it by selling his sword. His lips curl into a grin that shows teeth as black as his pitch, and it becomes obvious who your next victim is.

Others

Meanwhile, Silverfang finally pops open the door to the gatehouse. The sounds of a scuffle come from inside, but they're quickly silenced. Soon enough a loud metallic clang reverberates through the air and the gate begins to slowly rise off the ground as it retracts into its housing. The black-and-white furred catfolk climbs up the wall, literally, and approaches Danielle and Victus quietly.

Mathias wipes his sword free of blood and oil, then heads to the former warforged sergeant. The boy kneels down, takes out his dagger, and starts working at a screw or seem on the warforged's face. Unless interrupted he'll work at it until he finally pops the warforged's face off and has access to its robotic brain. Lana goes over to heal Mathias, and both Zevra and Ana approach the other two members of their group. A quiet conversation takes place between Zevra and Lana, and the two seem to be disagreeing about something based on the look on their faces. Then again, when could an adherent of Binah and an Ironborn ever agree? But then Mathias seems to say something, and the discussion ends when the two women look at the boy. He pulls a small metal box out of the warforged's head, then looks to Lana. He nods his head toward Victus and pushes the box toward her. The boy stands up, brushes himself off, and leads Zevra and Ana down off the wall. Unless stopped the three of them start heading into the city, and it's plain what their intentions are: The warforged claimed there had been an ambush, and Seira was still out there.

The halfling straightens up and dusts her hands off, then trundles over toward Danielle and Victus in her small-legged gait. Lana sheathes her sword, and looks at the half-man. "Thank you for keeping the boy in one piece. It ain't much, but he wanted you to have this." She hands Victus a small and thin metallic box one inch wide, three inches long, and impossibly thin. The box is covered in many small green square-shaped protrusions and several metal prongs extend from its edges. The thing certainly doesn't seem usable by a human, and Lana confirms this. "I'm told that's important to the warforged. I don't know why, but it ain't my place to know. Maybe you can sell it somewhere?"

Once Victus takes the object Lana withdraws. "Me and mine aren't gonna stick around", she motions toward the chaos taking place just outside the gate, "and it should be obvious why. We're gonna go find Seira, sneak out the way we came in, and head back west. You lot are welcome to come with us", then the halfling looks at the chaos unfolding outside, "damn sight safer than staying here."

[Princess Tracy]

Danielle watches everyone scurrying about, hearing them as she staves off some kind of overload - it takes a second to assign any kind of personal recognition to the people scurrying around her, or realise that Silverfang was having a fight down there. By the time she acts on her dutiful instincts and pushes off from her perch on the wall though it seems to be over. The gate was theirs. She turns her nose up at her companions harvesting the parts from the warforged, such disrespect would never even occur to her. They fought fairly for their own cause and lived many millenia, such brutality disgusted her.

A fire lights in her mind as it snaps in place in her head that there was a meteor just now. She turns back around, looking out over to the vanguard. "A meteor..." her eyes go to where it faded from her sight. She was too busy firing the last arrows of the battle to appreciate it fully before, but thinking on it. "Its quite similar to the one of legend. Millenia ago, it marked the changing of the age and end of the empire. Perhaps the prince's rebellion has great significance after all..." she comments aloud for anyone who cares to listen. Was there meaning in her being there all? Yes... of course there was meaning. Her second wind hits and activity - a desperate anxiety to do something, anything overtakes her like a hot stroke. Everyone running around... make or break. Stay here or run off. There was no meaning in dying here, for sure. She bounces on her heels as she readies her bow again. Here she was, unscathed, while there was so much out there that it was almost crippling to think about. She had to get out of here alive, she had to get the army inside the city, she had to go find what hell consumed her family and why and who was responsible. She had no luxury for a breather even if she had the time now. She fires a quick volley of the most glorious dragon-flame arrows into the fray from afar as she contemplates the offer to run away with the others. Once she lets loose her arrows though, the enormity of the vanguard hits her - she saw no one of immediate importance to save and what good would herself do in the end. All the same, she makes some attempt... Her arrows explode across the battlefield once again fantastically, her flames cutting a sway through the dark even if only slightly. "Eyes up, soldiers. Perhaps if the followers of Jorvik turn tail and flee, most of you can get out alive." She doesn't expect anyone to hear her.

She cracks her neck, no good, what to do, what to do. "We can't really save those people, can we?" she questions over the mindlink to Victus, Urim and Serafina. "Perhaps if we all helped we could get a fair amount of the vanguard into the city alive, if that's where we concentrate our effort. Otherwise it may be best to save ourselves and the ambush team and flee." She bites her lip, readying another palm full of arrows. What should she do? What on earth should she do...

[Cespenar]

Urim freezes in his tracks as he notices the meteor falling down and somewhere to the southeast. He knew what that meant, but would he be able to convince the others: that was an open question. Regardless, he plunges forward, and finally reaches the gate, his breathing only slightly accelerated. Thankfully, the combat wasn't long and physically demanding -- at least for him in the back seats.

He reaches Danielle in time to hear her bit about the meteor. He nods, but there was more.

"It's the gods sending their servants down to the earth. We should investigate it. Does anyone know what's to that way, to southeast?"

He also adds his reply against Danielle's suggestion regarding helping the vanguard similarly through the mindlink.

"Keep calm, Dany. Our numbers wouldn't mean anything to them. We should either try to find Faera's group, or investigate this meteor while it's still newly fallen." He glances at Victus and Serafina for advice.

What does it say that he cares more for a chunk of sky rock more than the possible lives of his fellow soldiers? But regardless, he just feels something very important is tied to the meteor. And besides, it is his specialty.

[Princess Tracy]

Danielle spins a last arrow in her hand and ultimately re-quivers it, looking over her shoulder to Urim as she lowers her bow. He was right, this was pointless. "Servants of the gods?" she questions. "Which... gods?" There were quite a few gods. I thought it was just an omen... But you're saying the meteor was an actual cause?" She turns around and looks over their battleground. "I... guess you're right," she says, nodding solemnly. "Let's... find Faera and the rest and leave, I guess. I can't tell how far that thing flew, we'll regroup and go investigate it once we've gotten to safety," she says, trying to be decisive. All the same she bites her lip, she killed these men and risked her own life just to let the vanguard in, it seemed like a waste. "We'll help Faera. if the vanguard hasn't entered the city by the time we find her, then we leave," she says, giving the situation something of an ultimatum, bargaining.

[Cespenar]

Urim shrugs at the question, gazing to the southeast.

"Could be their servants, could be their favor. Could be from any one god, or all. Though it always seemed to me that if any god would send down a meteor, it would be either Ein Sof, because of the grandness of the gesture, or Malkuth, because of the powerful metals found in the meteorite. You know, the lost Imperial Sword of the First Emperor was made of one such meteorite."

He looks sideways at the would-be-Empress.

[Princess Tracy]

Danielle shivers at the mention of the Emperor and his treasures. Both her identity and the idea of those treasures sought after in her homeland triggered something in her that makes her shake even in her present state. She shakes her head to regain her wits. "One thing at a time..." is all she comments. "For now, let's ensure we all last the night." With that, she heads down off the wall, following after Lana and the others to go find the unaccounted for distraction team.

[Eurus]

Serafina is silent for most of the exchange, sizing up the situation. Still invisible, she picks up one of the crossbows and puts on a chain shirt. Finally, as if to remind the others that she's still here, she dismisses the spell of invisibility and plants one hand on her hip, still holding the crossbow.

"Yes, clearly a handful of soldiers who may already be dead are more important than the entirety of the Prince's army."

She shakes her head, scowling.

"Our job is to hold this gate. Until and unless the vanguard falls, I intend to do that."

She doesn't finish the corollary of that statement; that if the vanguard does fall, all bets are off.

[Princess Tracy]

Danielle jumps at Auntie's sudden appearance and and grits her teeth before simply falling silent. The normally strong willed amazon with a spark of leadership was entirely out of decisiveness and can only rub her temples as she paces, stuck on the wall. "But... but we can't... I can't abandon... people in need... they wouldn't be in this mess if..." she mutters, arguing with no one but herself.

[Eurus]

"Fortunately, there are ten thousand people in need right outside this gate, making this an easy decision."

[Bad Situation]

Victus stares at Garuda but can't bring himself to anger over the breach in trust. Given the circumstances, he would have done the same. It's not as though he would have been able to fight harder even if he had known. He looks the bird directly in the eye and says softly, "You knew," perhaps more for his own benefit than anything else. The half-man takes in a deep breath and gazes over the wall thoughtfully to consider his next course of action. Certainly, it was no longer safe on the wall and more so with the traitors that seemed poised to strike. But he had given his word, and now more than ever, was it important that he uphold it.

"We hold the gate. The men and women of the vanguard need this gate held so we shall hold it, understaffed as we are. I will not require your presence, however because the decision is ultimately yours. Short of slaying you on the spot there is nothing I can do to stop you, no knowledge that I can use to leverage your aid, save perhaps for whatever still guides your moral compass."

He glances at Serafina and Urim but squares his vision back to Danielle, "You surround yourself with allies who would have you do right by them. They are both wise and foolish in their own respects but I imagine you value their counsel greatly. The old madame speaks true: if this gate is recaptured we will be condemning what remains of the vanguard to death. But so too does the grave speaker. You are not beholden to this mission. Your word is worth merely as much you are willing to invest in it. If your interests lie in the exploration of that meteor or coming to young Faera's aid then that it is not my place to stop you."

The half-elf calls Garuda to his side and whispers to him in Elven, "Fly to my...master. Ironborn or not, he should not be fighting a young lion's war at his advanced age. If he sends you off, retreat to the darkness and watch over him. If...it is too late, investigate as quickly as you can and return to my side."

"Please."

[Princess Tracy]

Danielle takes a deep breath as she's addressed, she had to at least try to be rational. She looks down to the elf, then to Serafina and Urim. Closing her eyes she nods. "My word is no light thing. I do not and shall not run in such a time of need. The others have gone to find the distraction team and rescue them. I'll... try to have faith in them, and the vanguard. I'll stay here until the army falls or enters the city," she says, some strength back in her voice as she gives herself a mental slap. She turns, bow in hand, into the city as she prepares to face resistance that would reclaim the gate. "The meteor is not an immediate priority, and our escape route is not lost to us - we won't take it until the last moment if we need to retreat." Finely reasoning with herself, she steels herself for whatever may come, and waits. "I don't suppose anyone can see how the in-fighting is going...?" she says to no one in particular. She suddenly remembers Silver was here, though is too embarrassed to address her directly.

"The timing of this fight is impeccable. Jorvik knew of this secret mission and seems to have struck in this exact moment to give his army a chance to, alone, take this place." Perhaps the realisation that she was still on the battlefield helped her get it back together. "But then... if that is the case, he would have to be incredibly sure of his army's ability to capture and hold this place even without the Prince's forces. Its quite the gambit, and we could all well be dead by morning because of it, including himself... Who would make such a gamble, even in their own interests?"

[ZeroNumerous]

DM

The bird meets Victus' gaze with its own, but Garuda elects to stare at him with only one eye. "Could you have killed them quicker knowing the truth?" The question is the only thing Garuda has to say on the matter, and the bird lets it drop when Victus does the same.

However, when Danielle poses her question the bird is, surprisingly, the one who answers it. "He knew of it because he suggested it. He likely did not intend to hold the city, or even for this plan to succeed at all. The rest of our team had been composed of his men entirely, except the young girl my pupil", the bird speaks of Victus as if he was the student in their relationship, "was smitten with. In fact, my pupil, you, and your friends are only here because Count Ormond insisted on lending men to the attack." The bird looks toward the siege camps. "And out there, in the dark beyond the camp, are men. An army of them. Likely loyalists, but I didn't see which banners they flew. They haven't moved to join the battle yet on either side. Perhaps Jorvik intended for the gate to be a desperate gamble, and then to betray everyone to curry favor with the Crown. Or perhaps he was always under orders to betray them? Regardless, it seems he has been abandoned to die a fate a traitor deserves. The Lion will eventually win at great cost, and then he will die."

The bird says nothing more on the subject, except to look at Victus when the half-man orders him away. It responds in Elven. "All men know death one day." With that enigmatic statement the falcon takes to the skies, and flies like a loosed arrow toward the siege camp. No doubt he would defend the aging Count as best he could, or at very least bring the man's body back to Victus.

When Danielle looks for her pet she finds the catfolk curiously missing. A more thorough search reveals a black shadow running away from the gate toward the battle, and it's obvious who that is. Silver likely picked her allegiance to the Prince, or perhaps to Rubra, over following orders.

Regardless, Silver's disappearance leaves the four soldiers guarding an empty gate, standing among the corpses of their fallen enemies. In the darkness beyond the gate the scurrying of soldiers, desperate and fearful, cling to their lives in pitched battle against the traitors. Opposite the chaos of battle stands the towering inferno that had formerly been the city guard's barracks. The blazing barracks lights up the city, and it's likely the sole reason the gate is as relatively peaceful as it is. Minutes pass with neither the battle nor the inferno seeming to abate, and the quartet are left as a small current of calm in a whirlpool of madness.

[Cespenar]

Urim's face sour in distaste as Mathias wreak havoc on the warforged's corpse, but he holds himself back, only warning him of the theological matter.

"Young man, you're committing a dire sacrilege in Keter's eyes. I shall not stop your hand, but know that those defiling the dead often find themselves haunted by them in return."

If he sees anyone else (like Serafina or Danielle) looting the dead as well, he merely locks his icy gaze at them, not wasting more words after his grim omen from moments before.

In response to Victus's, Danielle's and Garuda's conversation, Urim similarly stays silent yet watchful, and spends his time instead by traveling from corpse to corpse (including the warforged), and uttering brief prayers to usher their passage to Keter's arms.

[Princess Tracy]

Somewhere in the back of her mind as she hears Garuda's explanation, she notes the eagle might be the most intelligent person she'd spoken to in this army - though perhaps it was just the contrast of him appearing as a regular bird. Garuda stating he couldn't identify for sure what the approaching army was brings a confused flex of the eyebrow. Surely it was obviously loyalists. Who else could it be...? It hardly seemed likely to be unannounced reinforcements or the invasion of another country. Though its odd they wouldn't fly banners, she dismisses the thought. "Even if he had arranged it ahead of time, I find Jorvik being granted pardon by the kingdom unlikely. One way or another, I believe some of our force will enter through this gate. The honeyed words of some diplomat from the Queen convincing the cornered Jorvik to betray the Prince's army are not one's they're likely to hold to once his deed is done, unless he'd truly colluded on an elaborate betrayal from the start from the start." The last words 'the lion will win at great cost and then he will die' in his monologue draws her gaze to rest solely on the bird. She hadn't heard such melancholic portents from anyone but Urim before. Did the bird expect the Prince (the Lion, surely) to die this very hour? That hardly seemed a victory at all when his personage as an heir to the throne was the cornerstone of this entire rebellion.

She watches Garuda fly off. With little else to do she reaches for some unused supplies to pry from her fallen opponents. Feeling Urim's gaze, she sighs. "You can tell me how to pray forgiveness appropriately later, I promise. But while honour is good in a duel, this is a war. I won't die, nor let any of you die, just because my sense of honour was too great to procure life saving supplies," she says, dangling a healing potion out in front of him. "I'm not just fighting for myself, I'm fighting to protect you, Auntie, and every other one of my allies and friends. My honour is a personal thing and none of those I love shall die by it." Her wisdom is well honed from her years in the wilderness and among thieves. All the same, she nods in approval at Urim's prayer for the dead; she truly respected each one of her opponents in this fight.

Her eyes dart around as she sees Silverfang missing from her spot, spinning to look and see her dashing out across the plains to the battle. "Silver, back!" Before she knows it, she's demonstrating her armour and body aren't as top heavy as they seem as she balances on the battlements like a lanky, well-armed goat. She purses her lips, reminding herself that Silver spied on her and betrayed her trust. Yet all the same... "Urim, I'm about to do something stupid," she says with bizarre lucidity.

[Cespenar]

Urim shakes his head Danielle's rationalizations, but doesn't further the discussion. "For the greater good" was an argument he heard often, after all.

But when she expresses her wish of following the catfolk, he just replies curtly.

"Then don't."

Regardless of her final decision, he produces a new wand from his belt, and taps her once in the back with it before she gets away, and then repeats the gesture with Serafina and Victus.

3 charges from Status wand.

[Princess Tracy]

Danielle takes another deep breath. The cat couldn't possibly be wading in to battle, though her moments hesitation saw the thief being consumed by the shadows of night at the edge of her vision. She was gone now in any case, and tracking her by the light of a lantern around the edge of a pitched battlefield was a good way to waste time and be drawn into the violence in all likelihood. Though she was loath to leave her, she performs one more act of faith and trusts Silver to take care of herself. She steps down from the battlements and sighs, with little to do but wait as death transpires only a hundred yards from herself. She looks over to the burning barracks and remembers how much she had cursed the cold just that morning.

[Overlord Rion]

As the battle raged, Ragnall sung old songs of his father, and his love of punching. Whether anyone understood them was irrelevant, the point was to inspire those around him. Enemies and allies alike fell around him, and it only provided fodder for his future songs. He needed to do his damnedest to make sure this battle ended as quickly as possible. All these mortals were mere speed bumps. The man with the greatsword was no different. Ragnall tightens his fists and surges forward. He too would the strength of a jötunn.


Charging if I have the room.
Taking a penalty of -2 for my PA

[roll0]

[roll1]

[ZeroNumerous]

Ragnall

The giant's fist finds its place in the barbarian's face, and the man's flesh and bone transforms into a sickening mess of blood and pain. The human crumples to the ground quickly, and soon Ragnall is standing over another dead body. Minutes later the battle is over, and the formerly two-thousand strong vanguard has been reduced to a paltry nine hundred. Ragnall finds himself beside Goldenbow, the sun elf who'd been placed in charge of the vanguard, and she points to the giant. "I need a big guy. Come with me." After a few moments of walking she leads Ragnall to a small copse of trees where dead men wearing the Raven of house Jorvik are scattered about. A black-clothed woman Ragnall recognizes as a witch is slumped against a tree, holding her side where the haft of an arrow is sticking out of her. A black-clothed man carrying an oversized trident is forcing a potion down her throat. "I need that woman alive. Carry the witch, don't let anyone else take her from you, and I'll see you get a recommendation for the effort." Eventually the trio rejoin the vanguard, and the half-strength army trudges through the city's gates.

DM

It takes a few minutes for the vanguard to get inside the city gates, and the time it takes them gives the watchers on the wall a chance to see what Jorvik's plan had been. The movement among the siege camp slows, and it becomes obvious that Jorvik's men have been eliminated. Within moments the Prince's army begins moving toward the city even without orders. Before anyone can question why they're moving the reason becomes immediately obvious. A flood of movement, of troops and horses, flows out of the edges of the darkness surrounding the camp fires. The enemy troops hit the beleaguered rebels, and they wash across the weaker runners like a wave and visit death upon the traitors. As the enemy move into the camp's fires it becomes obvious who their allegiance falls to, as the banner of the rose-encrusted crown of House Cello stands beside the golden lion of the Bas'korath dynasty.

The vanguard's leader, a dark skinned elf bearing a golden bow (http://i.imgur.com/Jq216Y1.jpg), climbs up the stairs leading up to the wall. Beside her stands a man in a black coat (http://i.imgur.com/hi6hHqR.jpg), and a massive giant that both Danielle and Victus recognize as a jötunn. The giant is carrying a witch holding her blood-stained side (http://i.imgur.com/vBHYqgS.jpg). The elf woman looks at the assembled group. The elf sneers at Victus, but before she can really lay into him she lays eyes upon the carnage beyond the wall. She's silent for a few moments, but soon enough her brain works through what's going on and she glares at Victus. "I suppose we have to get ready then. Aria Goldenbow", she points to the man in the black coat, "Joseph Samuel, Baron Samuel's eldest", and then she sticks a thumb out toward the giant and the witch. "Ragnall, and one of the traitors who had the good sense of surrendering."

[Princess Tracy]

There isn't much that Danielle can do but watch the scene and wait as the army destroys itself and flees towards her with the apparent loyalists hot on their heels. She grits her teeth, thinking of everyone out there still in the camp caught in the carnage. She should have gone with Silver, but it was too late now. Her role seems rather pointless as no resistance arrives to reclaim the gate before she is relieved, and the moment of personal peace only exacerbates a feeling of cowardly guilt for not being where she was needed. She eyes the giant and elf, wondering what they were doing at the forefront of the army without noble rank. They must have some merit to them... though seeing the witch, she wonders if the Jotunn's only there as glorified manhandler. She doesn't comment on her sneering at Victus and barely wonders at it. She nods at each person lazily as they're introduced. "Danielle..." she says simply. She looks to the treacherous witch with heavy seeming eyelids. "Why?" is all she can question of the spellcaster.

[ZeroNumerous]

DM

Goldenbow simply shakes her head. "Been trying that for a minute or two I'll be sur--"

"The chance to survive." The elf is cut off by the witch's statement, and she simply crosses her arms over her chest and lets the witch speak. "This rebellion is finished. Victor had a plan: He'd march during the night and attack the rebellion while it was spread out. There wasn't enough time to draw up battle plans, or get everyone in position to follow them. Jorvik offered twice our salary and a pardon for treason if we betrayed the rebels. Said he had an accord with Victor. ****in' lied through his teeth. I'd rather be a prisoner with you idiots than get killed fighting the loyalists." The elf sighs and shakes her head.

"Twist her head off." Those who know of elves would expect that kind of order. Loyalty is important in the wilderness, because you always needed to know that the person behind you won't just leave you for dead when a bear shows up. Traitors are dealt with harshly. In the Arjann desert traitors are punished by tying them up, tattooing the elven word for traitor on their forehead, riding a mile out into the wastes, and just dumping them wherever they happen to stop. The slow wasting death of dehydration is the only fit punishment for traitors in Arjann, but the sun elf likely chose this death simply because the wastes are months away from Thay.

"Wait, what? No, please, I'll help!" The witch struggles, desperately trying to free herself, but being a spellcaster she isn't very well trained in the physical arts. Carrying her and holding her is as easy as carrying a sack of potatoes. The elf looks surprised that she'd help people whom she'd just betrayed, and shrugs.

"Oh, really? Okay then. Twist her head off slowly."

[Princess Tracy]

Danielle listens to the witch's explanation, it seemed pretty true to her expectations, though Garuda's deduction shone true - laying waste to his own forces with battle was not conducive to inhabiting the city, he must have truly believed that turning traitor would save himself. Not that there was much sporting contest in it. The games of nobles played with pawns in the thousands in times of war were truly sick and twisted... It hardly mattered now though. What was left of the army was progressing into the city.

Danielle's expression turns from weary to a cold fury at the elf's sudden orders to execute the woman, and she looks up to the jotunn to gauge if he would really do it - a deathly glare ready to discourage him. The cruelty of elves was something she was more familiar with than she cared to be. Their brutality was above that of any orc pirate, and all the more constructed - organised and directed in a sick means of order. And there was always that one elf, the 'Flowerchild', whoever they were, that left her with a great gash of a scar - marking their rival like one might erect a flag on claimed territory or a dog would piss on a tree. Her hand goes to her chest, to where that wound once was and had healed painfully, under her armour, as she recalls. Still, it was not a prejudice she held against all the elves, but it was impossible if not foolish to separate those practices from an elven military leader behaving much the same way right in front of her. "She's mercenary, someone who sides with a pile of gold could hardly be called a traitor. I wouldn't trust her to help either, but tie her up and have her stand trial once we've captured this city. You went to the trouble of capturing and bringing her here alive after all, why kill her now?" Danielle reasons. Even as she says it, it occurs to her: did the elf only want to keep her alive long enough to hear that short explanation the witch gave? "I have captured this gate and allowed your army passage as proof of my loyalty; release her to my custody and she'll be my responsibility."

Anyone wanna aid-another on a diplomacy check?

[ZeroNumerous]

DM

Goldenbow looks at Danielle, neither seeing nor caring about whatever emotional turmoil the warrior-woman is undergoing. "My people have a word for humans like you: Attanaka. The twice-bitten. You want to pet the snake that bit you once, then be my guest." She shakes her head and looks to the jötunn, and leaves the decision up to him.

Once the jötunn has made his decision the sun elf looks at the city. She sighs, shakes her head, then looks to the wall. Just then a lightly armored scout runs up the steps, waving at the elf the whole while, and steps in front of Goldenbow. "Everyone made it inside?"

The question is met with a nod. "Yes ma'am. Everyone's waiting on your decision."

That gets another sigh from the elf, and she's quiet for a bit as she surveys the city. Finally, she looks at the group on the wall. "Feel like making yourselves useful? The vanguard was supposed to take the walls, hit the enemy general, and mop up the survivors at the barracks. I don't have enough men left for all of that, so I need a group of people who're competent enough to cut the head off this snake without getting killed in the process. Or, at least, killing the snake before snuffing it themselves."

[Overlord Rion]

Ragnall looks to the elf, then to the human. Both wore disapproving looks. So far, women are the same out here as back home. He begins going through the motion to "twist her head off" but thinks better of it. Instead he lifts her in front of him by her neck. As she starts to fight for air Ragnall wags his finger at her for a few moments before setting her down on her feet. He crosses his arms as he waits for her to catch her breath. He makes a motion as if to say "Well?"

[ZeroNumerous]

DM

The witch is easily lifted up by the jötunn, and the sudden pressure on her throat causes her to reach for his fingers and kick her feet in the air. She desperately tries to free herself, but her thin body untrained for combat stands no chance against Ragnall's powerful grip. When dropped the witch falls to the ground and collapses immediately like a puppet with its strings cut. She rubs her throat, breathing heavily due to her brush with suffocation, but looks surprised and amazed to be alive. When Ragnall asks his question the witch nods her head and gives a hoarse answer. "I'll help. I won't betray you again."

The elf shrugs. "There are snake-charmers in training everywhere it seems."

[Cespenar]

Urim shakes his head at their new 'orders' with an ironic smile on his lips.

"Well, she picks the right suicidal types for the job," he mumbles to himself, only loud enough for his aunt and Danny to hear.

[Princess Tracy]

Danielle's eyes widen as it seems the Jotunn will kill the prisoner, but is weirdly relieved to see him release her. She normally wouldn't, but she offers a hand to the witch as she gasps for air to help her on her feet. "Name?" Danielle questions the witch simply. She turns to the elf. "You want us to go find and take out the enemy general then? Any idea where would they be hiding?"

[Bad Situation]

Victus draws up within himself when pressed by the elf, eying her carefully lest he say or do something that might indicate his true nature. Did she know? Or was this merely the trademark hostility among elves. For his sake he hoped it was the latter. Realizing that he's been silent for too long he puts on an affected smirk behind his mask and gently chides her with an elven proverb, "One so wary of snakes should not have come to this den of vipers."

He continues in plain common for the benefit of the others, "You said it yourself: the vanguard is lacking in competent warriors. Traitor that she is, this mission will require all the help it can get. Trust is hard to come by in these bloody times but is made all the more valuable for it. Provided we do our job right, she has nothing to gain from betraying us and everything to lose if she does. Cello is not so foolish as to take on the services of a woman who has betrayed twice over. She'll be put to the death regardless of how she aids the crown."

The half-man shrugs casually and motions for Serafina, "Madame Greychapel, you are wizened by your human years so I will defer to your judgement. Do you believe this slip of a girl can be trusted?"

Then he nods, sparing only a glance at the man garbed in black. "At any rate, I see that Baron Samuel's child is amongst your number. If this how my course must be altered then I accept my duties willingly. You will have strength for this mission."

Diplomacy: [roll0] - Change Aria and the witch's (hostile?) attitude.

[ZeroNumerous]

DM

Victus' defiant stance and careful gaze gets a nod from the elf, but she remains bristling and on edge. After all, who knew when ancient animosities would have them at one another's throats? Regardless, she responds to the half-man's proverb with one of her own. "The wary hunter watches the scorpion fight the tarantula, and kills the winner." Victus recognizes the often stated warning against trusting others, as it passed between elves talking about other clans quite commonly. A clan at war with your enemies are still your enemies, so it was often best to let them fight it out first before killing the victor.

When Victus switches back to Common she does as well. His statement concerning the witch only gets a shrug from the elf woman. "Now I can see why you're not back home." She could only mean the Arjann deserts, as sun elves weren't native to anywhere else. "That kind of approach would get you stabbed in the back, or worse: Sold at market to some warlord." She says that as a simple matter of fact like speaking of the weather.

The witch herself simply looks at Serafina, and shakes her head. "Please, just let me live, and I'll do whatever you ask."

When Victus acknowledges the younger Samuel he gets a curt nod. He couldn't expect much more from a noble to a hired sword, even if that hired sword worked for his father's liege. Aria shrugs and speaks in elven. "I haven't got more than that either." She moves on in Common. "The enemy's general is Champion Kafya Greybeard. He should be holed up at the Palace of the Moon." She turns and points to a building on a hill overlooking the harbor. Its short walls separate it from the rest of the rather opulent looking buildings around it, and it's clearly some sort of important structure. "I'm told these Thayans hold elections for their champion, so he's likely gotten his office through politics. Even so: He's the only person who can officially surrender the city to us, so capturing him is paramount. I don't know anything about his personal guard or anything, so you'll be walking into this blind."

[Bad Situation]

Victus smirks at her beneath his mask, a real one this time, and chuckles softly, "And who said it didn't?"

He turns to face the city, wondering what their plan would be. "Going in blind? For somebody so touched by the desert, you certainly demand more trust in our lot than you would let on."

[ZeroNumerous]

DM

The elf shrugs. "I don't have enough troops to have a choice in the matter. I can either trust you to get it done, or leave it undone."

[Eurus]

Serafina surreptitiously wipes the oil off her hands and gives the witch a detached once-over.

"She's not lying, as far as I can tell. Her best chance of survival is cooperating anyway, unless she plans on trying her luck in a war zone by herself."

[Overlord Rion]

Ragnall coughs loudly to grab some attention. He points to the witch and points to himself, then puts his hand on her shoulder.

[Princess Tracy]

Danielle looks to the Jotunn, cocking an eyebrow. Was he offering to carry the witch further? So be it. "I can do it myself," she says, grabbing the witch's arm.

She sighs. "Very well, lets go deal with the general," she remarks, looking around to her crew. "We should find the rest of the strike team before they flee - the loyalist army turned up sooner than expected so they don't have anywhere to retreat to even if they did manage to rescue the ambush team. We'll do a sweep through and see if they can help us again, if we don't find 'em we'll gather some of the vanguard as backup and do it ourselves," she evaluates. "All in?"

[Bad Situation]

Victus shakes his head. "Looking for the other team is a waste of our time and resources. If we encounter them along the way we will collect them and reappropriate their talents for the sake of defeating the general but actively searching for them in this panic will only decrease the chances of our success. They left several minutes ago and besides their general destination we have no concrete information pertaining to their present location. For all we know, they could have extracted themselves by now."

He examines the edge of his scimitar as he takes stock of his supplies and continues, "We must proceed at once. The longer we wait, the more time their general will have to forge order from this chaos. We cannot let this be."

[Cespenar]

Urim nods stoically at Victus and turns to Danielle.

"The elf is right," he says without much ado, refusing to further the discussion any more.

[Overlord Rion]

Ragnall's hand doesn't move from the witch's shoulder. At the others voicing their opinions, he simply shrugs his shoulders.

[ZeroNumerous]

DM

The witch, being the target the archer and the giant are fighting over, voices her opinion on the matter. "I can walk just fine, thank you." She attempts to move away from the giant and the archer, but unless both of them let her go her attempts are in vain.

[Princess Tracy]

Danielle unhands her, not particularly caring. Frankly she was only manhandling her so the elf wouldn't object to the witch being in her custody.

[ZeroNumerous]

DM

The witch follows along the group, and with Danielle taking up the rear it's easy to keep an eye on her.

Traveling to the Palace of the Moon proves easily enough: The streets are empty, and the homes along the way have windows boarded up and doors barred against potential intruders. If anyone is still around, then they avoid the five heavily armed misfits moving through the city streets. Eventually the densely packed streets crowded with homes eventually give way to paved roads and well maintained homes. The group quickly find themselves in the city's wealthy quarter, and the Palace of the Moon comes quickly afterward. The Palace of the Moon is a tall grandiose structure plainly designed for status rather than war. Four pearl-colored walls separate it from the opulent homes around it, and tall windows with white milk-like glass decorate the palace itself. It's topped off by a dome of marble in laid with silver depicting a rising crescent moon. Two guards are posted outside the door. Each one holds a torch, but neither has their shield out nor has drawn steel. They don't seem to have noticed your group yet.

[Princess Tracy]

Danielle notes the gash at the witch's side and produces a potion she'd scavenged. "You hurt?" It wasn't in her interests to have a weak companion. She steps closer to give the potion to the witch if she accepts. If she does, she also whispers "Just do your part and I'll tell you how to leave the city after this fight, the route I infiltrated it by. Wartime justice is a brutal thing and I haven't the heart for it tonight."

As they approach their mark, she produces her bow and locks an arrow in place, readying herself. She looks to Victus for orders, or rather, council. "I could slay one of them before they raise an alarm, by myself. If one of us wants to try sneaking up, we could coordinate to take both the guards out."

This plan acknowledges me only getting a single attack in on a surprise round, since I didn't take one of the technqiues that lets me double-attack.

[Eurus]

"That sounds like an ideal plan, but I can't contribute much to it personally."

[Bad Situation]

Victus nods his head and motions for the closer of the two, and then to Danielle and the one further away from him. "Once I'm close enough to strike, shoot them. I will use the distraction to eliminate the remaining target."

[ZeroNumerous]

DM

Victus notes that their torches shed light out to about forty feet, but the darkness makes it possible to sneak up to that point without being spotted. Of course he would still need to be quiet.

Victus will need a Stealth check to get within charging range without being heard.

[ZeroNumerous]

DM

Victus successfully sneaks up to charge range without getting spotted.

[Princess Tracy]

Danielle nods, steeling herself again for battle if things went poorly. Stealth wasn't her usual mode of doing things and just highlighted the dishonourable violence of it all, but she'd killed enough people tonight, what was two more. She sighs and readies an arrow, preparing to attack whichever guard the elf didn't target.

Readied action to attack with maneuver and stuff, yada yada

[Bad Situation]

Victus creeps through the darkness with only his elven senses to guide him and when he draws up close enough to charge, he signals Danielle, pointing to the guardsman he intends to leave to her. Without any giving any indication that he's ready, he dashes in past the sentry's guard and slams them up against the wall, bracing his scimitar against the their throat and jerking it across using his other arm for leverage.

Brave Gambit: [roll0]
Damage: [roll1] + [roll2]

[ZeroNumerous]

DM

Between Victus and Danielle's efforts it proves easy enough to casually murder the two guards. The first slumps to the ground with an arrow growing out of his forehead. His companion doesn't have time to cry out before Victus is upon him and slitting his throat. Soon the group stands in front of the Palace's doors, alone except the two murdered men laying near by. The two pale whitewood slabs bar passage into the Palace. Each is bounded in mithril bands and gilded with golden reliefs of the goddess Chesed. The reliefs of the small but voluptuous goddess, depicted with her ever present smile, seem to be inviting visitors inside. But anyone with a modicum of knowledge of the gods knows that Chesed's smile and small stature obfuscate the inherent danger of dealing with the Goldblessed. Odd then, that someone would place the Goldblessed on their front door, unless they were announcing their intentions of self-interest from the start.

[Princess Tracy]

Danielle walks up to the door, joining Victus before it and looking down at the dead guards, something in her heart curdling with disgust at the sight of it. She looks up at the door and to the surrounding walls. "In through the front?" she whispers, resting her hand upon the door, one knee bent as she prepares to kick it open.

[Cespenar]

Urim follows the fighters, stopping by the corpses for a couple seconds to utter a prayer to Keter; but other than throwing the occasional odd look at Danielle, he stays silent.

[ZeroNumerous]

DM

Danielle's kick smears dirt and muck across one of the reliefs as she kicks the door open. The palace's doors open up into a grand hallway. Paintings line the hallway's pearl colored walls, and each one depicts a man or woman in regal dress. The people depicted vary greatly in size, height, weight, and appearance, and it's plain that there is no relation between them whatsoever. Yet, each one is likely a former Champion of the city, for the only common thread is a cold black plate gauntlet dominating their right hand: A symbol of office no doubt. The group's foot steps echo loudly on the hard marble flooring, and it immediately becomes obvious that any attempt to approach quietly would be in vain. Tapestries bearing Thay's heraldry, two red swords crossed over a coin dripping blood, dangle from the rafters. The opulent entryway is mercifully unpopulated, and leads to a door on the far side. The heavy oak door bars entry into the Palace proper, and the general's presence likely hides further within.

[Cespenar]

Urim spots the reliefs late -- only after Danielle has thrown her kick. He reaches in vain, and then palms his face after a moment.

"Add Chesed to your list of absolution," he mumbles wearily. A thoughtful second later, he adds with just a hint of sarcasm. "You're probably lucky that we haven't encountered a spiteful god yet."

[Princess Tracy]

Danielle feels a vague confusion at Urim's comment, and does a double take, looking at the door she'd just sent a splintering boot through. Oh... that was a shrine to Chesed. She was too wrapped up in her own little world to notice. "I don't suppose ignorance is an excuse?" she comments. She shrugs, having no particular idea about how to appease a god. "I'll pay to have the door fixed later, I guess? Don't suppose you know the rites of praying forgiveness from Chesed." It was small talk really, though she felt an odd chill that made her check the door in the first place at her blasphemy, she didn't know to think she was actually cursed by the gods for such an act. It was a poor place to put any particularly important shrine ornament, frankly.

She looks around as she enters, to the portraits in particular. She notches an arrow and enters, walking along the hallway to the oak door, though is far more hesitant to kick it open this time at least. She didn't have such a disrespect for the gods that she revelled in messing up their stuff, after all. She puts her ear to the door, to see what she can tell of the other side.

Perception check to try and hear what's on the other side, I take 10 for 22

[ZeroNumerous]

DM

Even those who aren't particularly versed in the Goldblessed ways would know that, like a dragon or a cat, the easiest way to draw the goddess' attention is with the glint of gold. A gift to one of her temples would likely absolve oneself of any crimes, or perhaps an anonymous donation to the poor or unfortunate. Traveling into the Palace causes echoes of loud footfalls to reverberate throughout the hallway. Each step deeper into the heart of the building brings the feeling of being watched, and the eyes of the painted Champions seem to track and follow the group as they move. Listening at the door reveals nothing of particular note, but whether that means the room beyond is empty or the would-be ambush is simply quiet remains to be seen.

[Princess Tracy]

Chesed was one of those gods that Danielle respected for having a good side. She donated a fair bit of her adventurer gold to the orphanages of her hometown in the past - reverence through caring for the poor came easily enough to her. Her head wasn't in it now, but she would see to a donation to the lower quarters later. For now, her head was on the current situation, and doesn't stray to that or any of her other various regrets or concerns.

She looks hard at one of the paintings, wondering if it's actually staring at her. She recalls a few paintings from the Ramidos estate that always freaked her out... She shakes her head and looks around to the others after having her ear to the door. "Nothing," she mouths voicelessly.

She takes a breath and does her best to quietly interact with the door, pushing it open an inch or so to see inside - though gesturing to the more stealth Victus to take a shot himself.

I open the door such that it still provides cover but allows me to see into the room. if one can make a stealth check to do so undetected, I'd let Victus try or else take a shot myself [roll0]. I don't imagine that will work if anyone on the other side is looking right at the door anyway, naturally, I'm just trying to be noiseless at least. Perception to get my general bearings in the room, 10 for 22.

Edit: Somehow knew I'd roll a 22. I just open it, Victus can watch me be super sneaky (not)

[Cespenar]

"Ignorance is rarely an excuse when it comes to the divine. And you know Chesed's ways as well as me, so I'll act like I didn't hear that," he replies with a smirk, and lets the matter drop for now, not wanting to distract her from the job at hand.

[Bad Situation]

Victus questions the wisdom of letting the emotionally unhinged archer take point but decides not to contest the issue and instead stands back to let her roam to her own content. Her fumbling with the religious icon and brutish ways notwithstanding, she probably knew what she was doing if she'd managed to survive this long. He motions for her to continue and watches her work ease the portal open.

At least she wasn't kicking this one down.

He readies his scimitar and prepares himself for a battle nonetheless.

Perception: [roll0]

[ZeroNumerous]

DM

Danielle pushes open the door, and in the process unleashes the most hellish squealing noise from its hinges. The squealing hinges echo throughout the hallway, adding ghostly shrieks of stress and rust to the cacophony of noise generated by the archer. She's able to open the door just a crack, but there's little doubt as to whether she was heard by any potential ambushers or not. The crack in the door reveals nothing, except that the room beyond is pitch black. No soldiers rush the door, nor shouts of alarm reach the archer's ears, so it's plain that no one is inside. The only sound audible is a constant dripping, like a leaking bucket over a bath, that permeates the whole room.

Pushing open the door further leads into a pitch dark audience chamber. Neither lanterns nor candles were lit within, and until someone produces a light the room remains a mystery. Once someone produces a light, then the room proves empty of assailants. Six pillars of fluted marble form sentries leading up to a surprisingly simple silver chair atop a raised dais. A red carpet leads from the dais to the front entryway, and its embroidered in golden lions down its edges. Five doors provide entryway into the room: The one the group entered, one to the far left, one to the far right, and two in the rear on opposite sides of the room. Each pillar is adorned with tapestries presenting Thay's bloody coin, and each one has a dark humanoid shape at its base. Investigation quickly reveals what those shapes are made of: Soldiers, in silvery breastplates and the foppish clothes of an ornamental guard, arrayed as an honor guard for their lord. Each one leans against a pillar, but the light reveals their long steel pikes lay discarded on the floor. Each one has their head down, arms dangling uselessly at their sides, and a bloody hole bored clean through their breastplates and bodies. The hole is about an inch in diameter, and passes clean through each guard's heart. Blood leaks from the front and back of each guard's wound, and the source of the incessant dripping makes itself known. Each guard's life essence gathers in crimson pools at his feet, and there is little doubt that the stone will be irreparably stained.

The chair is unoccupied, but blood stains the left side of it. A trail of blood, about the width of a human foot and in lines that speak more to dragging than dripping, leads away from the chair toward the rear right hand door. About ten feet away from the chair another pool of blood sits, and it seems whoever was bleeding fell to their knees. The trail widens, to about the width of a human body, as if they were now wounded in two spots rather than one. The door the trail leads to, the same heavy oak as the entrance to the room, is adorned with a blood stained handled and sits slightly ajar. But a pool of crimson gathered beneath it speaks volumes of what lays beyond it: A body, a rotund man in ornate and ultimately useless armor, lays sprawled across the threshold. His portly body speaks of a life of luxury rather than war, and his face--wrinkled from age and sporting a well maintained goatee and mustache--remains contorted into a look of terror. Two bloody holes, bored clean through his flesh, decorate each of his thighs. A third hole likely marks how he died; a wound clean through the heart, just like his guards. A black gauntlet on his right hand marks the man as the city's Champion, or perhaps his body double.

[Princess Tracy]

Danielle sighs under her breath at the loud creaking, apparently no grace on earth was enough for this rusty hinge, and prepares to face the consequences. But after a second or two with no fighting and looking into the unlit room, she bites her lip. That dripping... she cautiously smells the air for oil fumes, before producing her lantern and lighting it, heading inside, taking point as she wastes no time before rushing to investigate the blood. She stops at the dead guard. Something had boared through them? She inspects their wounds, crouching over them with her massive frame as she produces the pistol she'd filched from the machinist, holding the barrel close as if to compare. It seemed odd, such distinct wounds, her guess was that it was a firearm for the time being. "Someone else is here," she says in a low voice. "Chaos is upon us," her portents continue. "Stay behind me," she almost growls at Serafina, Urim and the witch, her instincts marking the spellcasters as easy targets. She gets to her feet, eyes up and only glancing down at the train of blood to make sure she doesn't step directly in it as she follows away from the throne, eventually finding the dead body at the door. "The Champion...?" she comments. "A coup...?" She looks around the room. "The lights were extinguished, and the blood is still dripping, guards were at their post. No struggle, only this one's attempt to escape the attack. Assassination. Betrayal?" she deduces, commenting the last word in the language of an Elf.

She nods from Urim to the champion, inviting him to once over the body or at least say his prayer. Whatever the case, she does her best to keep a lookout. "The guards out front... if they were unaware of these events, and that was the only way out, it seems someone is still in the building with us. Someone that didn't want him to surrender the city to us?" Or perhaps the guards were in on it. Not that she had much way of knowing now... It occurs to her, one of the death-haunted priests' spells he'd cast. "You can speak with the dead still? The best question I can think of is to confirm he was the real champion," she suggests.

"That wasn't a gun that dealt these wounds, be on your toes," she advises the others of their unknown potential adversary - they could be an ally for all she knew but in this situation she wasn't dropping her guard.

[Eurus]

Serafina watches silently, apparently emotionally unaffected but with a pursed expression, as though she'd just tasted something bitter. While Danielle rambles to herself, the priestess follows behind her, scanning the room for anything -- or anyone -- suspicious.

Once she's close enough, she crouches down to inspect the champion's wounds more closely, trying to determine if they're from a magical source. After a moment, she speaks in a low voice.

"...What odd wounds. Spiral grooves. It could well be a spell of some sort, but it's not one I've seen firsthand."

Taking 10 on Perception for 26, and on Spellcraft for 21.

[Cespenar]

Urim frowns with a crunched nose, but keeps silent. He was all too familiar to post-death scenes like this, and as long as nothing moved, he would call it pretty tame, in fact. Still, he could almost sense the cold air he often felt in murder scenes. It was somehow different from the chaos of escalated arguments, fights, or even open warfare. This felt closer to a professional murder, but on a grander scale. Whoever did this was no one to smirk at, that was for sure.

Discounting most of Danielle's ramblings as, well, ramblings, he follows his aunt's steps and reaches the champion. He nods once to Dany when asked about speaking with the dead.

"I could ask him one question, but the ritual takes about one minute in full." He looks at Victus for tactical validation. Was spending a full minute here right now wise? "Also, I'm open to more suggestions about the exact question to ask," he adds with a soft voice, his tone a bit wry.

Engineering for 21, checking how cleanly the armor was pierced, for any hints about the nature of the weapon: i.e. if the hole rim is deformed with heat, simply cut clean, bent with extreme force, etc.

Heal for 16, for any insights on the wounds' properties in general.

[Cespenar]

Regardless, unless someone stops him or supplies with a better question to ask the corpse, Urim starts his short ritual. Not disturbing the body, he moves around it, taking the scene in. After a moment, he kneels down, produces a small ledger from his pack, dabs a finger to the man's blood, and prints it on the left side of the page. He fills the right with small details -- the body's physical description, where it's found, etc. all the while chanting prayers to Keter under his breath. Roughly a minute later, he finally directs the gathered energy into his spell, and reaches out to the spirit of the Champion.

"Who killed you?" A simple enough question.

[ZeroNumerous]

DM

Urim's spell calls forth a cold draft that seems to emanate upward from the floor. The Champion's corpse jerks and shudders, and its animated by its own spirit returning from whatever realm it resided in. Its terrified gaze goes slack, and its eyelids slide back to reveal pale-white orbs glaring at the priest of Keter. Plainly the spirit is angry for being drawn away from death, but it answers Urim's question all the same. "The darkness, the gods."

[Princess Tracy]

Danielle gives a steady breath as she watches everyone's back, preparing for some unseen spell slinger to make a move on them, resting her lantern on the floor so she can ready an arrow against her bow while her Keter-worshipping old mentor casts his mysterious spells. When he completes it and asks his question however though, she purses her lips, not surprised by the answer that comes, though somewhat put off by the grizzly medium. "The lights were out," she reiterates. "Perhaps the assassin anticipated such magical interference as yours and extinguished them. This was no rookie on a spur of the moment. 'The gods...'?"

She sighs, looking to Victus. She points to the Champion's gauntlet. "That identifies him as the Champion as well as my knowledge of hierarchy tells. The man who could have delivered us surrender of the city is dead. There is now no legal means of gaining control and the Prince's army will simply have to seize it." She bites her lip. Surrender was the cleaner option with the fewest casualties. She had no desire for collateral damage and transfering thousands of soldiers into the city would not be a bloodless task. The Emperor's Last sighs. "We should get out of here and report back, there's enough chaos this night without the army waiting on a surrender that isn't coming. We can investigate whatever the hell happened here later, for now there's a war going on out there and we might be more useful to when not in here."

Perhaps she would shoot down the King's flags around this place to mark the conquest, but for now was still in battle mode as she picks up her lantern again. She looks around to the witch, though only from the corner of her eye as she tries to keep her sights trained on Victus' blind spots. "You're some kind of spellcaster, any opinion on this attacker? Also, your name would be nice." She then addresses Urim. "Would it be acceptable to take that gauntlet, as proof he is dead? It won't leave the city he championed and will be granted to the next holder of his office appropriately," she reasons. "It is a mark of station, not a personal possession."

If no one has further business or suggestions, Danielle is prepared to lead everyone back out the way they came in.

[ZeroNumerous]

DM

The witch simply shrugs. "I don't know. Looks like someone attacked them all before they knew what was going on." If asked to elaborate she simply points to the dead guards. "They're all standing at their posts. If you kill one guard, then the others react. None of them did. They either all died all at once, or no one noticed they were dead until it was too late." When Danielle asks her name the witch shakes her head. "The less you know about me the safer I am."

[Princess Tracy]

Danielle nods. It was the same evaluation she had - they died on the spot, that was an eerier detail than most anything. But then, everything is quite eerie when there were people so skilled with magic in the world while she didn't even fully understand her own spark of a gift. She really should learn more of magic, if only to counter the spells of others without having to rely solely on her allies.

At the refusal of a name, Danielle just nods shortly, not pressing her for one. If she didn't trust her with it, so be it.

[ZeroNumerous]

DM

Whether Danielle takes the gauntlet or not there's little else to do at the Palace of the Moon. Looting the dead provides the group with seven sets of now useless ceremonial breastplates, seven ceremonial swords, six ceremonial halberds, and the Gauntlet of the Champion. Leaving the palace reveals the city is in chaos; Rebel troops are flooding through the Lion Gate, loyalists are resisting poorly, and the city looks like it's going to fall. By the time its all said and done some six thousand rebels are all that remain, and they control the city of Thay. Flagging down a nearby group of rebel troops reveals that the Prince survived the battle, and is supposedly leading the attack on the city hall. The group could go report their failure at the gate, go directly to the Prince and return the gauntlet, or follow in the footsteps of Lana and her group and abandon the army entirely. Or whatever choice individuals would like to make.

[Princess Tracy]

Danielle takes the gauntlet from the bloody corpse and leads everyone cautiously outside, unless stopped. Flagging down the troops on her way to the gate, she receives the news of the Prince's arrival and decides to go to him directly. "I may as well see this mission through, or this night was pointless..." she says out loud with a sigh. She heads out to see the Prince, leading anyone that will come with her. "If anyone's leaving town, take the witch here with you I guess."

I forgot to actually hit Submit Reply on this for about 4 hours, sorry

[Cespenar]

Urim nods once and simply releases the spirit back into wherever it came from. He was disappointed, yes, but it wasn't anything new either. Like an arrow shot into the dark, it surprised Urim when it did finally work, rather than the other way around.

He nods at Danielle's interpretation of the darkness, and continues on. "The gods, as in, everything stems from them. A cryptic way to say 'I don't know'." He snorts without humor.

He nods again at her inquiry regarding the gauntlet, silently validating her. "The intent is what matters. And your intent now isn't looting," he explains briefly.

Getting up and dusting himself off, he gives away his findings in a curt tone to the people nearby.

"They don't seem to be killed by any mundane weapons, firearms, nor any common elemental magic. My guess is some sort of advanced contraption on the level of the warforged we have seen. But that's just a guess."

When Danielle declares her urge to leave, he wordlessly falls in line, as usual.

[Princess Tracy]

High tech ancient weaponry, and an act of the gods. Certainly an act of the gods may be a dismissal of the unknown, but what if the champion had reason to suspect it was more than that when he was attacked, had an idea of what was coming or what had struck him was beyond his reckoning in a way even the darkness could not be accredited. Even the warforged were supposed to lack knowledge of their own making and all other things pertaining to the ancient times in which they were birthed by the hands of the ancients, so who? And there was that meteor. "That's the second omen of the gods this very evening, is it not?" she points out in response to his snort. "But I suppose interpreting such signs and their significance is your profession." That's all she says on that topic as she leads Urim away. "To be bored through like that would take a weapon too large for personal use, surely..." she mutters to herself. She knew a dwarf or two that may have a more educated opinion than she on engineering.

[Bad Situation]

Victus slips his scimitar back into its belt loop and shrugs, "Leave these investigations and ministrations to those better suited for it. There is nothing to glean anything from this pointless philosophizing that others will not attain sooner. The battlefield is no time for these talks besides. I should like to attend to my master but I agree that first we must report to the Prince."

[ZeroNumerous]

DM

Returning to the front finds the Prince's group has finally made it through the gate. The would-be-king stands on the wall along side his inner circle. Caroline standing behind him, alongside the dark-skinned elf from before, Joseph Samuel, and three newcomers: A gruff dwarf with a bloody eyepatch (http://i.imgur.com/BHbqPGQ.jpg), and a pale skinned woman (http://i.imgur.com/4RUlzrl.jpg) with the bearing of a noble. She's supporting a red-headed girl (http://i.imgur.com/a30h5Do.jpg) trying, and failing, to stem the bleeding of her left side. Victus notes that Count Ormond is no where to be found, and by proxy his bird is also missing.

The dwarf is Baron Galgon Odenham, Baron of Stillhollow and one of Jorvik's allies. Or at least, former allies if he's still alive and still standing beside the Prince. His family comes from a long line of merchants, and they bought Castle Stillhollow when Emeric the First was alive. The girl and the woman go unrecognized.The girl is Miranda Dalfar, the fourteen year old only child of Baroness Natasha Dalfar, Baroness of Castle Blackstone and one of the Prince's core allies. Her presence, sans her mother, likely means the girl's mother is dead and she's the new Baroness of Blackstone.The woman is Katarina the Ill, eldest daughter of Corvel Jorvik, and black sheep of House Jorvik. She supposedly fled the House when Jorvik passed her over as heir in favor of her younger brother: Casval Jorvik. Supposedly she was an adventurer, but her attire speaks of a time spent with nobles rather than on the road.

When the group is noticed by the Prince's entourage Caroline grunts. "You're alive. Wonderful. That means some good news, I hope."

Meanwhile, looking over the wall reveals that the loyalists seem to have broken off their pursuit. Now Victor Cello's men seem to be picking through the siege camp for supplies and things left behind by the rebels, but whether that means they intend to take up the siege abandoned by the Prince remains to be seen.

Anything your characters are not carrying right now is unfortunately lost to looting from Victor's army.

[Princess Tracy]

Danielle isn't too talkative, and moves through the streets cautiously as she approaches the wall. She eyes over the group gathered, the girl and dwarf familar to her though she draws a blank on the woman. "Balfar and Odenham... that woman isn't her mother, so I suppose she's Baroness too," she comments before they're in easy earshot, reflecting on her own circumstances. God, she was Duchess Ramidos now by that logic...

She sighs and nods as she reports in. Reaching into the leather straps of her bag - which she was thankful contained her important possessions now, seeing the state of the once-rebel camp - she produces the gauntlet. "An assassin struck before we arrived," she declares waving the bloody gauntlet around. "They struck in the dark, so even my death-speaking companion couldn't find out who. The Champion of Thay is dead. From the state of the scene, I would say he was killed not far from the time when we took the wall. To my knowledge, no one else in the city knows of his death yet."

[ZeroNumerous]

DM

The Prince sighs at Danielle's information, but beckons her forward and extends a hand to accept the gauntlet. "Without the champion being granting us the city then there will be rebellions."

Caroline shrugs. "There will always be rebellions. At least with this in our grasp they won't have any legitimacy among the blue bloods."

The Prince nods. The nobility would likely support any rebels anyway, but at least this would give him a legal recourse to imprison those who're overtly rebellious. The would-be-king looks to Danielle once more. "I'm afraid I won't be able to reward you until the city is in our control. Jorvik's betrayal cost us the treasury. It is unfortunate that we could not capture him, or else I would have him hanged for being a traitor."

That gets a laugh from the dwarf. "Bastard took my eye. A warrior's death was more than he deserved." That gets a cold glare from the pale-skinned woman. Perhaps a hold over from what little familial love remained between abandoned daughter and beloved father? Even so, she makes no statement about her father's passing.

Meanwhile the would-be-king simply shakes his head. "We need a symbol of law in these days, or things will become worse in the coming days. Without some gesture on our part that law and righteousness still reigns true, then there will be a great many deaths. It is truly unfortunate that we could not capture more of the traitors."

[Cespenar]

Was it bad form to say "I told you so" to a king? Probably.

Urim stays silent and still like a statue behind Danielle.

[Princess Tracy]

Danielle watches the nobles convene on this news. "That's fine," is all she says to the Prince's comment of not being able to reward her yet, the situation was fairly self explanatory and she hardly had her mind on monetary reward. "I wonder at the assassin's motive, as now without a surrender it can only mean chaos and death on both sides. The method of killing was also unusual. But an investigation is of lower priority than claiming the city," she admits. "Though solving that to clear our own names of the Champion's death may bring some goodwill, who knows," she adds.

She nods at the Prince's assertion that gestures of good and law were needed. Taking people alive was a sentiment she appreciated. "Keeping the army from collateral damage will be a priority then. I saw how edgy the men were getting at the outskirts of camp," She sighs. "Jorvik was so desperate he personally fought to the death. This is one rather ridiculous night..." She turns her head, looking over the battlements, to the sky, in the direction that the mass of flame had pierced the heavens. "I assume even among that mad fighting, my Prince saw the comet? It appears, perhaps... there is a great significance to your rebellion, in the eyes of the gods. At least from my own reading of history and fables of similar events. Such things marked the rise and downfall of the Empire, it is said..."

Her eyes go back to the ground, then to Urim, and finally to the Prince. "Have you anymore work for me tonight?" It suddenly occurs to her that everyone who was coming through should be in the city by now. A wave of white hot guilt hits her as she realises that, even if duty compelled her and she went off of her own volition, Danielle still abandoned Silver to her fate. Why did she care so much? She did either way though, it seemed, or perhaps she was just looking for things to worry about. "That spy of Rubra's, Silverfang..." she mutters, wondering where she was. There were thousands of people here though, and she knew the secret way in, she could be anywhere and still be safe.

[Cespenar]

Urim clears his throat, mildly annoyed, only seeing it fit to speak when Danielle talks about the meteor.

"Rather, meteors are sent from the gods, as their boon or sometimes as their servants. With all due respect, even considering all the issues you have to take care of, I think it still would be prudent for your Majesty to investigate the meteorite. If not by any spare troops, then by us, perhaps."

[ZeroNumerous]

DM

The Prince nods at Danielle's assessment. "Yes, I saw the comet. Right after Jorvik's troops attacked. It's almost as if the world went mad for just one night." When Urim speaks of the meteor, then the Prince nods. "Very well, but the enemy outside the gates pose a grave risk to leaving the city today. If I sent anyone out there, then it would be tantamount to condemning them to death. If the siege lifts tomorrow, then I will happily send troops to investigate."

When Danielle brings up Rubra's spy, the Prince sighs and the old dwarf guffaws. A rumbling laugh comes from the small humanoid's body, and he motions toward the little Baroness. "Those two catfolk? They went and got themselves stuck saving the little one. Don't worry lass, they're both with that old rotten machine. Along with that old kook who's always about the young lord. Got himself a spear in the gut for his king: A righteous injury!" With the knowledge that Rubra, Silverfang, and Count Ormond were with Wayfarer the Prince shakes his head.

"I have no further tasks for you. You have my leave, and my blessings for opening the gate. The men, and I, owe you our lives." The Prince gives the group the chance to leave, and both the pale noblewoman and the injured girl leave when they do. The girl and woman follow the group for a time, until the warrior-woman speaks up.

"I am told I have your people to thank for opening the city gates. It may not mean much, but little Miranda and I owe you our lives." The woman motions to herself, and then to the young girl at her side. "Katarina Jorvik, eldest daughter of House Jorvik, and Miranda Dalfar, Baroness of Blackstone. It's serendipity that we would owe Miranda's liege-lady our lives, and we are yours to command." The woman looks to Danielle, and the young girl curtsies as best she can in her injured state.

[Princess Tracy]

Danielle nods at the dwarf's relaying of Silverfang's and the others' whereabouts. "Thank you," is all she comments at that. At being dismissed by the Prince, she nods. "I suppose I'll find somewhere to rest then," she turns and takes her leave, presumably with Urim unless he cares to talk longer, in which case she remains while he says his piece. At the Prince's thanks for saving the army, she bows at the waist to him and pauses. "... While my certainty is wounded, my conviction seems inhumanely steeled. I did what was righteous." She doesn't hide much sadness in her face as the calming of the storm leaves only thoughts of family lost, and takes her leave once all is said and done.

Danielle starts to seek out Wayfarer. She doesn't mind the new followers tagging along by her side. To Urim she comments "Is it so urgent to look into the meteor? If need be, we could do it ourselves. There's been enough chaos this night though, lets wait till morning when the dust has settled to make our plans. The Prince is right, if they take up the siege camp, no one will be leaving here for a while. While Winter was well timed and will ravish the army, they have supply lines and support from the rest of the kingdom that the rebel army didn't necessarily have the luxury of. They could be out there for months, in which case we can't depend on the army over a small team to investigate. But again, wait until morning.." She sighs, really just speaklng so she doesn't hear her own thoughts, really.

She blinks as the woman addresses her, halting to size her and the girl up. She bites her lip as the girl gives a pained curtsy, seeming to notice the bleeding for the first time. Before thinking about it, she removes her scarf and hands it to the girl, "It's not the cleanest, but it will do to apply pressure..." she starts to advise on what little she knew of battlefield injury treatment, or at least what worked for her, before realising the obvious solution. "Urim, tend to her," she orders quickly. Shaking her head, she acknowledges the introduction. "Sorry, my mind and manners are elsewhere tonight." She looks to the woman and gives a small bow. "Katarina Jorvik... charmed. So it was your father that... no, I apologise, forget that. Sorry for this evening... Ah, Blackstone, I thought I recognised you... Danielle. Danielle Ramidos." She adds with some finality, confirming her place as 'liege-lady' she supposed. Some more of the nobles the Prince had roped in, it seemed.

She shakes her head. "I have no command. Until an hour ago, I was unaware my family had... left me with such authority. It's... been a night of Hell, not everything has processed yet..." she admits sighing. "I shall be glad that as many made it into the city alive as they did, yourselves included. Its good to know I accomplished something tonight, at least."

[Bad Situation]

Victus waits for his turn to speak, drawing up into himself at the thought of his uncle and Garuda being lost to the chaos of the battlefield. When the dwarf does reveal his kin's fate however, he lets out a breath of relief that he only hopes is silent. Injuries, while worrisome, were the least of his worries where the Count was concerned. The man was of iron after all, regardless of the infirmity his age typically presented. But then, that raised the question of Garuda's whereabouts. He tilts his head at the prince turned king and says, "By your leave, I should like attend to my master."

He lingers for a few moments after the Prince departs though, and passes a glance at Danielle and Urim. After some deliberation, he leaves her with a half-compliment, "You served quite adequately under my command tonight and were not as emotionally compromised as I would have expected from one of your kind. Your reckless anger however, leaves much to be desired. It will be exploited if you do not keep it in check. Take care."

[Princess Tracy]

"Anger?" Danielle pauses as Victus says his piece. "I haven't felt anger since our mission began," she replies. She only spares a moment of thought on what he meant, thinking back to that desperate, white hot excitement that scorched and sent shockwaves through her spine when her identity was revealed.. "If you mean my introduction to your master, it was a rather upsetting situation, and I'm glad no one was hurt over the moment of misunderstanding." She shrugs. "You did well too, I hope your master's injuries are minimal and you find him thankful." Though she gives a parting blessing, she supposes she's in search of teh same person as he, as it was said Silver would be with Wayfarer too.

[ZeroNumerous]

DM

The Prince grants Victus leave to do as he pleases. After all, he was an Ormond bannerman, not one holding the lion of Bas'korath.

---

Miranda raises a hand to ward off any attempt from Urim to treat her. "No magic. I need this to scar, lest I forget the price of inaction and grow complacent." That hard statement seems alien coming from a small noble girl, and seems more deserving of an aged warrior or a soldier. The pale-skinned noble woman lets that ominous statement slide, and simply looks to Danielle. When the young duchess makes her blunder and refers to Katarina's deceased father, then the noblewoman smiles.

"Yes, the traitor, he was mine." A suddenly sarcastic statement comes from the noblewoman, but whether those are her real feelings on the matter remain to be seen. She brushes away the duchess' apology with a wave of her hand. "Think nothing of it. The world will forget him in time. I already have." A surprisingly somber and long view of things for a young woman, and especially a human. When Danielle provides no orders, then Katarina raises an eyebrow but says nothing. Miranda nods at the Duchess' orders, and looks to Katarina.

"I will be taking my leave then. I must return to the men, and regroup them as best I can." The young girl extricates herself from Jorvik's daughter, and limps away. Her left arm dangles at her side, and her left leg drags a little bit. Katarina watches the young child limp her way back to the battlefield, and does nothing to stop her. The pale skinned noblewoman turns upon Danielle, reaches into her vest, and retrieves a disk of stone. The small disk, no longer than a finger and no wider than a fingernail, is etched on both sides with a raven in flight.

"You can contact me with this. Just whisper it a message, and I'll hear it if I'm within a mile. Keep the messages short, or it won't work." With that said the noblewoman follows in the wake left behind by the young baroness.

---

Finding the way to Wayfarer proves less easy than one would expect. The army is still in disarray, and that means treatment is scattered and random. It would require a competent searcher, or questioning someone with knowledge of Wayfarer's whereabouts, to actually find the humanoid machine and his patients.

[Princess Tracy]

"The Prince... made it clear I'm to take over my... late mother's position. So perhaps I'll have need of you then, but tonight all I have left are personal tasks," Danielle explains. She shakes her head at the girl's stoic bleeding. She reaches up to her shoulder and undoes a leader strap on her armour, partialy pulling a plate away to show the nastiest scar, a little below her collar bone, looking like she was pierced by something just above the heart. "There's nothing too glamorous about a scar that heals badly. Make sure you apply pressure at least," she says, rebinding her armour. She indicates to the scarf she passed the girl. "Its cold out, stop the bleeding or you'll deal with worth than a scar," she advises with genuine concern. On some level she supposed being 'liege' to the girl made her more protective of her. It was her place to watch the Ramidos' holdings, now, she supposed.

She looks over the stone and nods, pocketing it. "Thank you, Katarina. Oh, did you see where Wayfarer went?" She isn't sure what to say on the topic on her father and so says little, only adding "I'd not heard of you before... I hope I remember your name most vividly then," she says, parting with a bow of the head.

[ZeroNumerous]

DM

Katarina shakes her head. "I try to avoid him. He creeps me out."

---

Investigating among the troops provides few answers. Most of the men are run ragged and are more concerned with their own safety than the whereabouts of a warforged, but a few say that they've seen Wayfarer moving about. Ultimately, for all of Danielle's questioning, she finds nothing on the warforged except that he is somewhere within the city. The chaos of the battle, and the continuing struggle to suppress the Thayan troops still fighting, obfuscate the warforged's whereabouts.

[Cespenar]

Urim greets the women briefly enough, does a double take on his healing wand, but ends up not drawing it. Foolish or not, he wouldn't try and override the woman's own choice. Still, it was ironic that such a girl would come to be the vassal of someone like Danny. The gods, even when playing small, had a sense of humor after all, or so he always thought.

After Victus' "compliment", Urim is left with a faint grin. The elf was alright in his own sense, if stiffer than an adamantium staff. Still, a good foil for Danielle, and he has a sense that they haven't seen the last of him in any case.

Not arguing much on the subject of the meteor, he, again, silently follows the would-be-Empress, deep in thoughts. If the gods had tenth of the spite a human had, how would they react to their dear gift left alone, ignored, scorned? Not to mention with this much time in between, who knows who could have gotten to the meteorite?

Sparing a glance to the amazonian woman he's shadowing, he sighs. He didn't make a very good spiritual mentor after all.

[Princess Tracy]

if the witch follows her still, Danielle yawns and tells her the direction to the sewer grate she entered the city through. "Go for it if you want, Red, though you didn't hear the directions from me. Though with an army out there, it may be safer in here. Even if you don't trust the Prince's leniency, things are too hectic to bother with trials and executions, so you're safe at my side for the time being."

As Urim watches, Danielle does her rounds through the army's mass, dutifully circumnavigating the many thousands gathered and cutting a swathe through, looking for this warforged even in the chaos, to little avail as she presses folks for answers. She almost seems to be purposefully tiring herself out, letting the last of her adrenaline slip away. In truth that was the circumstance, for she found she didn't dream so much once exhausted, and she didn't care for anything but a wholly restful few hours away from the world of the waking without such distractions as her own thoughts. After what may have been a couple of hours, or more, she sighs. If Urim follows her still, she turns to him. "Want to go find somewhere to sleep?" she proposes. "No one's getting anything done tonight. Even just getting a group together will prove impossible without any infrastructure to the army's mass, the meteorite will just have to stay out of our grasp for now."

Danielle wanders towards the lower quarters. "Wonder if any inn in town would give us a room... I guess I've got the gold to have them not ask any questions, and you and I aren't wearing heraldry. Though getting my throat slit in the middle of the night by some vigilante civilian doesn't sound like fun... Not that we couldn't just take turns on the night watch." She rubs at the bags under her eyes and yawns again. "How you holding up, Urim?"

[ZeroNumerous]

Victus

The half-man could easily scale the wall and cry for his bird, or scale one of the houses for the same effect. Of course, the Palace of the Moon is the tallest and grandest structure in the city, but it's seclusion from the city's populous would likely make it hard for Garuda to find him. Regardless of where Victus calls from it takes around an hour for the bird to make its way to the half-man's side. The heavy black bird falls from the sky like a thunderbolt, landing on Victus' shoulder as if he were made of lead weights. The bird carries a few new scars, and its missing enough feathers to look half-molted. Nonetheless, its injuries seem to have been magically healed over. Whether Wayfarer's work or the work of a cleric remains to be seen.

"I am never going to look after your uncle again. The old lout nearly got me killed, and never mind the damage he did to his body. You'd be looking at his grave if not for me." The warbird throws a dark look at Victus as it grumbles its displeasure. Whether Victus shares in the bird's sentiment, or dismisses his complaints, the bird looks to the city and ruffles its blood-stained feathers. "I suppose I shouldn't count on that bath, should I hatchling?"

[Cespenar]

Urim accompanies Danielle on her search with few words, his mind troubled with all the signs and omens of the recent few days. It was certain they were on the precipice of something big, and it both gnawed at and excited Urim.

Nevertheless, he smiles kindly, pleasantly surprised when Danielle asks his condition.

"Thanks, Danny, I'm fine. I'll be better when I can peg down all these portents to something more... understandable. Sometimes I wonder if the only god I can hear is Netzach, because why would all the others be this cryptic anyway?

"Anyway, never mind my ramblings. Let's go and find a place to sleep."

[Overlord Rion]

Ragnall parts ways with the group fairly quickly, grabbing bits of debris and wrecked tents in order to make a bed for the night

[roll0]

[ZeroNumerous]

Ragnall

The jötunn is easily able to construct a place to sleep from remnants left on the roadside, and soon has a functional, if ramshackle, place to bed down for the night. The soldiers give the jötunn a wide berth and plenty of space. However, just after drifting off to sleep, the giant finds himself on the business end of someone shouting. The voice is loud, feminine, and rouses a forgotten buried memory from within the giant. A memory of school, of his people's history, of songs of glory whose meaning has been forgotten but must be learned for tradition. A glorious battle, the gut-wrenching demise of the hero, the grief-stained shouts of his peers, and their inevitable righteous vengeance... and fear? The details remain out of focus to Ragnall's half asleep mind, or perhaps the jötunn never knew them.

If Ragnall opens his eyes he finds himself staring at the same elf from before: The dark-skinned elf with the golden bow. What was her name again? Something stupid, no doubt. The elf stares at the sleeping giant with her hands on her hips, and that ridiculous weapon slung across her back. "You awake jötunn? I hope so. I'd hate to have to do this without someone to walk into the trap first."

Danielle and Urim

Finding an inn proves a bit harder than one expects, or perhaps just as hard depending on how well versed a person is in the business of a city under siege. After an hour of searching Danielle and Urim eventually find themselves staring at a squat two-story inn that's plainly seen better days given its ramshackle appearance. A sign hangs out front in the shape of a lamb with its belly cut open, and the name the "Slaughtered Lamb" dangles beneath the sign. The door, stained dark by some incident in its sordid past, sits in its door frame at a slight angle hanging only from one hinge. Light streams forth from within, flickering and haunting in the dark of night, and it's obvious that someone remains inside. Knocking on the door summons a small human, a hunched and wretched thing whose flesh has been warped by Yesod's love, and he appraises the newcomers with one lazy eye. His other eye is closed, with grotesque bulbous growths flowing from his flesh to block his sight. The wretched little thing shakes its deformed head, as if dismissing the new arrivals, but a voice comes from within the inn and interrupts it.

"Bellas?" Elvish for Strength? "Who's out there Bellas?" The sick human stares at the newcomers with an oddly plaintive look on its face, but motions a stunted little limb into the inn. If Danielle and Urim enter, then it struggles to close the door behind them before trundling into the inn. The inn itself is normal, for the most part. A gathering of chairs, tables, and a healthy fire in the hearth make up the inn's common room. Beyond the common room is a tiny bar, and behind that tiny bar sits the inn's proprietor. An elven girl, much darker skinned as the elf on the wall, with ivory white hair that seems to fit on an 80-year-old human rather than the thin elf child. The elf turns two milky white orbs toward the newcomers, and it quickly becomes obvious she's lost her sight.

"Bellas? Do we have guests?" The stunted little man stomps his foot on the floor, and that gets a smile from the elf. "Ah, welcome to the Slaughtered Lamb. The name's terrible, but I haven't been able to pay a cobbler to fix it. I was thinking of calling it "The Bay Rest". Anyway, we have clean linens and good food. Fortunately for you, we've got four cheap rooms on offer, and a suite with a good lock on it for long term rent. Um. A night's rest comes with a hearty breakfast on the house." The elf girl motions to the stairs, well, motions in the vague direction of her left. Surprisingly, she doesn't stand up as she launches into her spiel selling the inn. Perhaps that's why they have so many vacancies? She looks toward the source of sound in the room rather expectantly as she waits for some kind of reaction.

[Eurus]

Serafina accompanies Danielle on her search for Wayfarer, staying out of their conversation and doing her own level best to find anyone who knows the current disposition of the healer or the city in general. It seems that nobody does, though. When it becomes clear that they're not getting anywhere, Serafina finally stops bothering with the questions and just follows along wearily as they search for an inn.

The one they find makes her feel like grimacing, but she suppresses it. As they enter, she pulls a few coins from her robes.

"It'll do just fine, dear child. I don't suppose I could trouble you for some tea, though? I doubt I'll be able to sleep with this racket outside."

She turns aside to Urim and Danielle.

"And we should talk, before you turn in. It's been an interesting day."

[ZeroNumerous]

Serafina, Danielle, and Urim

The young girl nods. "Bellas, some tea for our guest, please. Will you be staying the night, or would you like to rent a room for longer?" It makes sense that the blind girl wouldn't be the one making tea. The tortured little human hobbles its way behind the bar, and then disappears into a room behind the elf. A pantry of some sort, since it quickly reappears carrying a kettle amusingly oversized relative to itself. It takes a few moments, but soon the kettle is full of water and hanging over the fire. In a few minutes time the tiny man trundles over to the Matriarch and extends a cracked mug held in shaking hands toward Serafina.

[Eurus]

Naturally, Serafina doesn't seem bothered at all by making a cripple get her tea, and calmly takes a seat.

"Thank you, dear. For a while, yes. I doubt the army will move on while winter lasts. Such a mess out there, it's chaos."

She sips the tea and warms her hands on the cup.

"Run this place all by yourselves, do you? It must be difficult."