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  1. - Top - End - #31
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    Ramsus's Avatar

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    Default Re: Guilty until proven innocent [IC]

    Atronia Ambrosia
    Human Fighter
    AC: 10 HP: 22/22
    PP: 11 PIv: 9 PIs: 11
    Conditions: --

    "Ok, we don't have enough time. We need to leave now." Atronia says and picks up the dead tabaxi, slinging the body over her shoulder and makes for the nearest wooded area (or other area where they get out of sight and hearing).

  2. - Top - End - #32
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    Default Re: Guilty until proven innocent [IC]

    "This is taking too long," Lucia says. "Best to wiggle or squeeze out of the chains if at all possible. And anyone who may want to sneak into the camp, make sure they have all their chains removed first. As for the llamas, maybe.. wait..!"

    Atronia must have heard it too. Lucia tries to usher everyone into woods to hide from whoever was coming.
    Avatar by linklele!

  3. - Top - End - #33
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    Default Re: Guilty until proven innocent [IC]

    The woods.
    The main tree seems to be a willow with very large flowers. You can see three types of palms and a type of smaller tree with large beautiful trumpetlike flowers. The floor of the forest is rich in various ferns. They grow over waist height so simply kneeling or squatting under their level gives a person good cover in most places.
    There's various flowering vines on the trees.

    Insects are plentiful and you can hear small animals moving under the ferns. The ground itself is quite moist.
    There's a rich atmosphere of plant smells and birdsong.

    You quickly spy that there's some rich clumps of ferns near the road. If your aim is to ambush the comers, this seems like a nice spot. If your aim to hide and escape, you see a small forest path lead northwards. This would be easier going than in the thick woods.

    The hill that rises in the woods relatively nearby might also be a suitable target for your push if you're looking for a vantage spot, somewhere from whence to gaze upon the region.

  4. - Top - End - #34
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    Default Re: Guilty until proven innocent [IC]

    "Longterm, our goal has to be escape," Chazwick whispers to Atronia. "There's more of them than I want to fight as it is, and if they get a runner out to their allies we are screwed. Short term, we might have to ambush these new comers: these chains will slow us down and make us too noisy to sneak effectively, and if they come this way, they'll find us before we can slip the chains."
    Last edited by whiteflash; 2020-11-13 at 07:17 PM.

  5. - Top - End - #35
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    Default Re: Guilty until proven innocent [IC]

    Now that the others had slipped into the woods, Lucia continues trying to explain her plan where she left off. "Assuming that whoever comes by doesn't cause us trouble, I think we could afford to completely remove the chains from one or two people. They could then have a much easier time navigating the camp undetected. Perhaps they may find the keys to these locks. And perhaps we can just take the llamas to ride ourselves."
    Last edited by WindStruck; 2020-11-14 at 06:02 AM.
    Avatar by linklele!

  6. - Top - End - #36
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    Default Re: Guilty until proven innocent [IC]

    You rush to the protection of the woods and then rapidly advance near the western road. You hide under a patch of high ferns on the northern side and wait to see whoever's coming.

    Miranda picks up the bow since nobody was choosing that one. Justius and Rodrik pick up the daggers in the absence of other takers.

    You hear the comers before you see them. They're singing in a folksy tune
    Spoiler: Tukuut
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    Pear logs and apple logs
    They will scent your room
    And cherry logs across the dogs
    Smell like flowers a bloom
    But ash logs smooth and gray
    Buy them green or old, sir
    And buy up all that come your way
    For they're worth their weight in gold sir


    Two snakelike reptilianfolk, ophidians by the look of them, come walking. They're carrying a large bunch of wood on their backs each. THey're wearing dirty headscarves, dirty torn shirts and skirts. One of them looks male and the other female.

    They seem tired but they still manage to sing in a happy way. They seem unarmed and they walk quite slowly with their heavy loads.

  7. - Top - End - #37
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    Zain casts a spell to create ominous whispers and moving of branches on the opposite side of the road.

    The two stop in front of you and turn towards the movement. The female ophidian starts talking. The male lifts his hands up clumsily in greeting.

    Spoiler: Tukuut
    Show
    Sir, guard, sir. We're from the camp of Wrengap and we bring wood for the tradepost.


    They're about 10 feet in front of you with their backs turned.

  8. - Top - End - #38
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    Default Re: Guilty until proven innocent [IC]

    "They deserve this even less than that guard did... but we need them to quiet down," Chazwick whispers. "I'll take one. Who'll take the other?"

    He turns to Rodrick. "And... can I have that knife back for five seconds?"

  9. - Top - End - #39
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    Rodrik, a kind and gentle warrior, asks you whispering.

    He're's the dagger back young sir. But I beseech you, could we capture and interrogate them instead? We have chains we can use to tie them down farther in the forest.

  10. - Top - End - #40
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    "If we do that, I don't think I need the dagger... but we need to decide now."

    He turns to Atronia. "Judgement call, cousin."

  11. - Top - End - #41
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    Default Re: Guilty until proven innocent [IC]

    Caex
    Monk, Way of the Psion
    HP: 19/19, AC: 18

    Speaking quietly "The Caex help fight with no kill."
    "Time is an abstract concept created by carbon-based life-forms to monitor their ongoing decay." - Thunderclese

  12. - Top - End - #42
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    The two woodcarriers call to the woods once more:
    Spoiler: Tukuut
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    -Are we allowed to go on, sir guard, sir?


    Then the female says to the male in common.

    -Dear, I think it's just a capybara. Let us continue.

  13. - Top - End - #43
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    Default Re: Guilty until proven innocent [IC]

    "Did... the problem just solve itself? Or are we still trying to catch and interrogate them?" Chazwick whispers as he hands the dagger back to Rodrick hilt-first.
    Last edited by whiteflash; 2020-11-14 at 04:09 PM.

  14. - Top - End - #44
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    "That depends on if they keep quiet," Lucia hisses.

    "...and I hope they do. If not, we should at least talk to them."
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  15. - Top - End - #45
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    Default Re: Guilty until proven innocent [IC]

    The couple starts onwards and not a few steps have gone by before they start singing again. In about a 100 m they'll be in the middle of the catfolk camp.

    Justius dashes in front of them, metal chains clanking with every step. He brandishes the dagger in front of them. And hisses at them.
    Be quiet if you want to live.

    The couple stop moving immediately.
    The male puts his hands in the air again and says.
    We know we're surrounded so we're not doing a thing. Do you need firewood?

  16. - Top - End - #46
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    Default Re: Guilty until proven innocent [IC]

    "We need to know where we are, and maybe some other things. Follow."

    He looks at their burdens. "Someone should help them out with those packs. They slow our captives down too much, but we can't leave them. If the guards find abandoned lumber lying around, there will be questions. Maybe we can drop them in the ferns, so we don't have to carry them too far?"
    Last edited by whiteflash; 2020-11-14 at 07:50 PM.

  17. - Top - End - #47
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    Default Re: Guilty until proven innocent [IC]

    Lucia steps out of the woods as well.

    "What we need is to get out of these chains. And your continued silence." Her eyes narrowed a bit, hopefully clearly implying silence in the not-so-near future as well.

    "And though you sing, perhaps you do not fancy life as a tabaxi slave. We are of a noble house, and any aid returning to our rightful place would surely be rewarded."

    Spoiler: roll
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    Let's try to recruit them to our cause!

    persuasion: (1d20+4)[24]
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  18. - Top - End - #48
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    The two woodcarriers bow under their heavy loads best as they can. They start following Chazwick back into the woods and you start looking for a suitable spot where to spend a little while picking locks and talking.
    Rodrik and Maria help them carry the wood in the forest while Justius keeps close to them with blade in hand.

    After Lucia mentions silence the two keep silent as they can. Even when one of them stumbles on a treeroot the other one helps them up but they're quiet. As you have more time to look at them, you see signs of many old wounds on the couple. Scarred over, bones healed back together, yet their bodies remember.

    When you mention nobility, they look confused and the female has a suspicious look. Again though, they keep quiet.

    You find a place where there's a flat stone in the ground. There' a clear space around the stone and you can climb on the stone even with the chains. Here you can sit down and work the locks. The road is maybe 80 meters away so nobody should hear you talk.

    They lay the wood to the ground and wait.
    Justius snaps at them Tell us who you are and what is this place!

    The couple look at each othe quizzically at each other. The female then quietly whispers to Lucia
    Are we allowed to talk?

  19. - Top - End - #49
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    Atronia Ambrosia
    Human Fighter
    AC: 10 HP: 22/22
    PP: 11 PIv: 9 PIs: 11
    Conditions: --

    "You don't need to keep shouting at them Justius, they're just civilians who were unlucky enough to stumble into this situation. Keep an eye on them yes, but until they do something there's no reason to assume they're a threat." she says lightly rebuking Justius. It's not like they need more tension in this situation. Their captives were calm right now and calm meant less noise to attract their own captors.

    To the couple she gesticulates that they can continue and says,
    "As long as you don't shout feel free to talk. In fact, if you could tell us anything about where we are and the dangers present to us here it would be appreciated." She tries to say all this with some warmth, and maybe there's a bit there, but mainly the practicality of her tone is what dominates as she's too focused on helping with the locks to also focus on putting up a properly welcoming facade. Not that such things had ever been her strength to begin with.

  20. - Top - End - #50
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    Default Re: Guilty until proven innocent [IC]

    The male ophidian asks
    Are you with the guards?

    The female says
    They've got chains on. I think they're from the outside. Did the Iron Chain bring you?

    The male goes
    But they said they were nobles.

    The female continues
    Indeed. Are you part of a gang?

    The male goes
    You've got to look out for the guards then. I think there's a whole camp full of them in the next clearing.

    The female continues
    You're on the guarded side of the river here. The gang turf is on the other side.

    The male says
    When you ask about dangers do you mean like the spiders and the wild dogs?

  21. - Top - End - #51
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    Default Re: Guilty until proven innocent [IC]

    "Spiders and wild dogs? Yes, those both sound like things my cousin meant."

    "And yes, we're from the outside. I... think the Iron Chain brought us? The guard we... escaped from had a chain tattoo on her leg, and I could swear I heard the phrase 'Iron Chain' while we were being dragged here... but what is the 'Iron Chain,' and where is 'here?'"
    Last edited by whiteflash; 2020-11-15 at 02:59 AM.

  22. - Top - End - #52
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    The male ophidian looks perplexed and the female looks to be in deep thought for a moment. Then she replies to you in a serious tone.

    The iron chain is band of mercenaries that bring new prisoners to the valley. They buy them from others or raid poorly guarded areas in the Fist and Palm. Then they sell the prisoners to the mraow nobles.

    The male interrupts, finally having reached a conclusion
    Would you mean the giant bear too?

    The female stops him
    Dear, the bear isn't dangerous. It's a pet.

    The male whines
    But maybe if they anger it somehow?

    Female answers
    Why would they try to anger an enormous bear of all things?

    The male goes very quiet
    I was just wondering. I don't want them to get upset with us.

    Female shushes and then continues
    This is the valley of the Floater river. The mraow call this the Valley of Souls and the whole valley has been a prison camp for twenty years now.

    Coatell interrupts the discussion at this point.
    A-ha. I knew it! The mraow are the rebel faction of the tabaxi. They are the ones who conquered the area of Birdland from our kingdom. A hundred years ago this was still territory of Fist and Palm! The Floater river is a tributary of the Birdriver, the eastern one of the two Cornrivers that give our duchy it's name!
    She looks very proud after saying this.

    Spoiler: Zain
    Show
    The name, Floater river instantly brings you memories. You and the baroness came to the area of Ambrosia as pilgrims with your parents as young children. The family used to live near the upper parts of Floater river. You were so young you don't remember the area but you remember the stories your father told of a beautiful forests filled with exotic birds, of the colourful flowers of cockspur trees and of a river covered by waterlilies and other flowering waterplants.

  23. - Top - End - #53
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    Default Re: Guilty until proven innocent [IC]

    "Yes, you may speak. Just no yelling, please," Lucia says. "Or singing," she adds.

    "We are nobles, indeed, but from outside. I don't know what you mean by gangs, though. What do you mean by gangs, and why would only one side of the river be guarded?"

    "Hold on. You mean to tell us this entire valley is like a prison camp??"

    She tries to clarify the whole situation."Listen. We are from the Fist and Palm. And we intend on getting back. Obviously, people who mean to keep us as slaves, or who might have some other reason to attack us are a threat, as well as wild animals."

    She sighs, pausing a bit and looking thoughtfully at them. "Perhaps, think of us as slaves that are trying to escape. Where should we go? And what dangers should we look out for?"

    Lucia looks over at Coatell and nods satisfactorily. "Yes, we've been traveling mostly east this whole time. I figured we would have wound up in either Emberdin or Birdland by now..."
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  24. - Top - End - #54
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    Default Re: Guilty until proven innocent [IC]

    The two ophidians nod along Lucia's words.

    The female repeats.
    No singing.

    And the male goes
    Can I hum? How about yodeling?

    He looks earnest and nervous.

    ...

    The female continues in a serious tone.
    The mraow dwell in the mountains. They also have a series of walls and forts blocking the way in and out of the valley. They've got metal nets and chains in the river. It's tight. If you try to get out of the valley, they catch you and make an example of you. They guard the river's crossings and some of the camps on this side of the river. If you make trouble they might toss you to the other side of the river. There's no guards on that side. On that side gangs rule. There's the gnolls, the dwarves and empire loyalist groups.

    The male goes
    Aren't the dwarves all dead? And what about the caitsith?

    When Lucia asks why only one side of the river is guarded, the female lowers her head and goes silent.
    The male waits a moment and says
    Maybe you could ask the ranger?

    When you talk about escape the female says.
    There's no escape. I don't think there's an escape, at least on this side of the river. Maybe some of the gangs would know something...

    The male goes
    Maybe you shouldn't try to ecape. You'll just die on the walls. One can live peacefully here as long as one just mind's oneself. The guards will trade you for food if you give them herbs or lumber.

    The female repeats morosely, shaking her head.
    The whole valley is a prison.

    The male suddenly has an idea.
    Maybe the king of llamas could help you escape?

    The female gives a harrumph
    That's a myth. There's no king of llamas and he won't come no matter how you whistle.

    The male says
    Maybe he's just difficult to find.
    He tries to whistle, then he looks at Lucia and bites his lip
    Sorry.

  25. - Top - End - #55
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    Default Re: Guilty until proven innocent [IC]

    Lucia looks a tad bit annoyed when the male asks about humming or yodeling. Though she says nothing. On one hand, all the little clarifications seemed a bit annoying. But all that extra thoughtfulness could maybe actually be useful in case someone overlooked something... Still, exercising some common sense would be nice. It's why she tried to explain their situation more.

    "And what about all those scars? How did you get those?" Lucia asks rather pointedly. Didn't seem like their life as a prisoner was all that great.
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  26. - Top - End - #56
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    Atronia Ambrosia
    Human Fighter
    AC: 10 HP: 22/22
    PP: 11 PIv: 9 PIs: 11
    Conditions: --

    "You don't happen to have a map do you? Also I'm not sure I caught your names. As for threats, while I did mean wild animals and monsters, I also meant the military of criminal kind." Atronia adds.

  27. - Top - End - #57
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    Default Re: Guilty until proven innocent [IC]

    The male introduces themself as Micruru and the female as Yarara.

    Micruru points at a spot on his head where he's missing scales.
    This one I got when I tried to jump over a waterfall.
    Then he points at a his feet that are bent.
    The legs I broke when a tree fell on me... And the lashwelts... my cousin tried to escape so they whipped everyone in the camp while his head was put on a stake.

    Yarara scowls
    I fell... Several times... Don't you understand? We can survive here. It's the gangs that kill. The guards just want lumber. How was it different when my mother paid taxes to a baron of Fist and Palm?

    Micruru seems frightened
    Darling, aren't we just helping these people, these nobles? Aren't they victims who need help? What have we got except our happy spirits? So no, I'm afraid we don't have a map.

    Yarara collects herself a little
    If you want to know places, maybe you should talk to the ranger. He's a knight of Fist and Palm as well as a cat.

    Micruru brightens up
    Isn't that a great idea?

    Yarara continues
    It's not far from here. And the area is quite safe too, far as you don't go antagonizing guards.

  28. - Top - End - #58
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    Default Re: Guilty until proven innocent [IC]

    Uncle Zain let the younger ones handle this situation. He gives thanks to (god of protection). And spends his time trying to get out of his shackles.

  29. - Top - End - #59
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    Default Re: Guilty until proven innocent [IC]

    Caex
    Monk, Way of the Psion
    HP: 19/19, AC: 18

    With the needle broken Caex looks through the equipment at their disposal eventually pulling an arrowhead off of an arrow.

    Speaking quietly "Use this to open chains?"
    "Time is an abstract concept created by carbon-based life-forms to monitor their ongoing decay." - Thunderclese

  30. - Top - End - #60
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    Default Re: Guilty until proven innocent [IC]

    "Uh... hm... I think it can be done?"

    Chazwick takes the disassembled arrow and tries to use it as an improvised lockpick.


    Rolling with disadvantage... Pathmaker don't fail him now...
    (1d20+7)[14]
    (1d20+7)[25]
    Edit: Is it too late to ask Uncle Zain (or Brother-In-Law Zain, in my case) for Guidance?
    Last edited by whiteflash; 2020-11-15 at 03:17 PM.

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