As You Command IC

[Darius Vibrtrar]

Sharkan acknowledges that he is.... less than eager to crawl beneath the streets in the dark and filth that could be there. He is thankful that he was not commanded to seek out the woman. He stands at attention by his lord, looking him over to see if there is anything that needs to be cleaned off him, any marks or filth upon his person so that when he chooses to reveal himself he would look his best and most imposing.

[MrAbdiel]

Their options, Lamorak observes, are quite limited. They cannot crawl through the way Maiabel has gone - or at least, that is a prospect of extreme difficulty and possibly embarrassing capture or death, for less agile individuals. Their hopes lay on Maiabel finding and negotiating some manner of bargain with the woman, and her theoretically skilled husband.

For now, Lamorak crosses the floor to the door he kicked open to break the lock... and begins barricading it. In the minutes to come, that may buy them needed seconds.

[Waistcoatwill]

Cypher nids a greeting to Lamorak on his return.

Lord Protector, if I may, I will see if these busy bodies can provide us with some assistance even now.

Cypher quickly checks the bodies of the Elf guards.

Sharkan, perhaps you could strip the armor off that one? If we have time before more guards arrive I might be able to assume their form and throw off the search further.

Spoiler: Actions

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Search (1d20+11)[29]

[Darius Vibrtrar]

Sharkan gets to work stripping the other guard, setting the gear into organized piles as he goes, he speaks to himself as he goes.

"Elf calves, strong muscle, low fat content. Elf Ears, lots of cartilage, but a strong flavor. Elf fingers, good grilled with an acidic fruit sauce...."

Once done stripping the guard he stands to the side, waiting for further instructions.

"Is there a cut my lord would like?" Sharkan purred as he said 'my lord'

[MrAbdiel]

"No."

The answer is blunt. Then, whether he is concerned that Sharkan will be wounded in feeling, or that his companions will mistake him for squeamish, he clarifies.

"I will not eat the flesh of people I intend some day to rule - or at least, to expect to behave as pliable neighbours. But does your butcher's eye detect what the flesh-wrights of this place are using to make these hounds, and golems? Humans? Or meats more exotic?"

[Darius Vibrtrar]

Sharkan doesn't look phased by the blunt answer.

"An astutely asked question my lord"

He purrs as he says my lord.

"While my focus is usually intended for ones pallet, there are indeed several components here that would be fine if one were inclined to make golems or constructs. The arms and legs of elves are particularly sinuous for fine motor control, the heart is an excellent muscle for their kind, and the brain is well aged. Ill make note that your tasks are far more exotic than such common fares."

[Dusk Raven]

Maiabel spends a long moment pondering her best move. She thinks about sneaking up to hear the conversation better, but decides against it. She's here to deliver a message, and to communicate, and communicate she shall. So, she takes her blade and raps the side of the chamber she's in to make noise and announce her presence, before stepping into view of the others, sheathing her blades. "I'm not here to fight," she says simply, before waiting for the other people in the room to make the next move.

[JbeJ275]

Above

Cypher's search reveals plenty of interest. Both carry spellbooks, in packs that lie around the hip, as well as packs of materil compoments commonly used in arcane casting. The senior guard had a set of +1 Bracers of Armour, made in silver with lunar imageragy repeated across its surface. They further both had small squares of card with black and white images of them upon, also giving their name and rank. One was Guardsman Rathal, the other Guard Captin Marikoth, there are further arcane arrangements below that would seem to be another identifier in some way. They also carry four lightweight sets of manacles and a length of chain each, as well as a ring of keys. They each have a needlessly ornate wooden club at their sides, but thier uniforms would provide minimal actual armour. Finally Rathal was carrying a scroll of Detect Thoughts.

Outside, you can hear further shouting, but none seem to be heading down your particuar alley quite yet.

Below

The small woman in robes turns quickly to face you, clutching her amulet. The woman you first ran into turns to you with nought but suprise while the other two put their hands to their weapons but don't draw or ready them quite yet.

"Hmm," The robed figure begins. "Why are you here then? When so capable as to cut down the wizards above and their golems. Even as it seems you must not serve them I would have heard if the network were sending one such as yourself. What cause do you have to chase us down here?"

[Dusk Raven]

Maiabel takes just a moment to ponder before answering. "I come on behalf of Lamorak, he who would be king of the Marcellian Empire. Quite simply, we have come here in search of subjects, people dissatisfied with life under the elves, who might come and work for Lord Lamorak. And I have come down into this tunnel because she-" Maiabel turns to the woman the group met above, "-Helped us when she need not have. That has caught my lord's attention." She pauses for a moment before adding, "As will this underground network you seem to have. This is much more than we could have hoped for."

[JbeJ275]

"Better than I'd feared at least, but it seems that you coming down here has brought a great danger with you. We'd hoped to seal the tunnel off and crack it into the sewer pipe, then abandon this whole place to collapse but maybe we won't need to. Tell me, your Lamorak, and these others Beyla told me of, can they fight? Not the many elves of this city but a few powerful golems? Or else do you have a way of bringing four others along with you in your flight, Belya her husband and her children? They'll be here soon, and you've seen to it that their home is no longer safe for them."

The small women says all this quickly and urgently, before taking a breath and adding.

"That said, if you help people out of here I must commend that at least. Is your lord Lamorak the same one who sent those ships bearing scrolls into the elven waters? Many have heard of this but most think it's a false front, a plot of some sort. to kill off the disloyal."

[Waistcoatwill]

Cypher blurs as he fills himself with kinetic energy once again. The uniform and equipment of the guard captain almost leaps onto him with his enhanced speed. As the dust begins to settle his form ripples into that of an elf. It might not fool close acquaintances of the former captain but might fool subordinates at a distance.

He tosses a set of manacles to Sharkan and gives a short bow to Lamorak before presenting him with a second.

We have a possible exit strategy, but I am loath to use it. I can pretend to have taken you prisoner, Lord Protector and potentially escort us out of the undercity. I am open to any alternate strategems but we may have limited time to enact them before Maiabel returns or more guards come.

Spoiler: Actions

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Swift action haste to hopefully speed up donning the captain's uniform.
Last IP to cast alter self into an elf.

[Darius Vibrtrar]

Sharkan Joins cypher and dons on a uniform, but uses his own Clothes to pull a hood over his Feline head. He takes the manacles from Cypher and adorns them on his attire.

"I believe, dressing in the fashion of the locals will be an asset, if only for a few moments deception."

He takes up one of the needlessly fancy clubs and muses hitting someone with it, a toothy grin coming to his lips.

"What an opulant thing.... I think I shall keep it."

[MrAbdiel]

The cold second hangs in the air for what seems like much longer than the actual duration, where Lamorak's regard for the ruse and its suggestions remains ambiguous; but he comes out on the side of amusement.

"Cunning enough. I trust you, Cypher; let us see if our enemies do also."

He submits Malakharn, the Hollow Blade, to Cypher as a token of disarmament, and the spiked shield to Sharkan; and permits himself to be shackled at the wrists. There is no shortage of weapon on his person potentially, still - his army is still covered in jagged edged and spines, and he is capable of killing with a touch - but the lie of capturing an enemy without the time to strip him of his tertiary armament, when it involves doffing his armor, seems plausible enough.

Then he takes a knee, and slouches against the wall; adopting the posture of one who has been laid low by some disorienting enchantment.

[Darius Vibrtrar]

Sharkan takes the sheild and slings it to his back. He looks over his lord and shakes his head.

"Unconvincing at a glance my lord. Allow me."

He purrs as he says my lord, he uses a price of blood from his own finger, and dirt from the floor to craft a dirtied and blooded appearance of the lord so he would appear... beaten and taken physically.

((Take 10 on disguise check for a 19))

[Dusk Raven]

"We can certainly fight, though without knowing the odds, I can't say whether we'll be successful. If the foe is anything like the constructs we fought already, we'll manage." Maiabel puts a hand to her chin. "Though, Lamorak and the others may have other suggestions. Either way, we'll do what we can. And to answer your last question, it was indeed under Lamorak's order that those messages were sent. As I said, we are in need of subjects, and we'll help you out if that's what it takes."

[Waistcoatwill]

Of course, Lord Protector, this is merely a ruse. I would not risk your security with functional restraints.

Spoiler: Actions

Show

I'd previously forgotten to take 10 on disguise for 20.
Disable device to stop the manacles actually locking (1d20+15)[25]
Sleight of Hand if that'smore appropriate (1d20+9)[24]

[JbeJ275]

Above

As you make your preparations, you hear the elven forces move onto this street, shouting in elven for people to come out of their homes and sending constructs in to drag them away at any hesitation. Soon one spies the constructs where you dropped them and calls a squad over, then yells down the alley.

Spoiler: Elvish

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"Out of the house! Out! Out! We will not hesitate to cast!"

In total there seem to be six elves and two Astral constructs taking cover at the end of the alley, possibly with more in the street beyond.

Below

"Then I leave it to your wisdom, these golems are larger and more powerful than the normal constructs, but they're not the worst in this city. If you feel you can face them now, I can help you bring your friends down here. Else if you can but leave the city with Beyla and her family I'll spread the word that the ships bear true messages, and work out a way to bring some message to you when you should feel ready to face down these greater creatures.

[Waistcoatwill]

Seeing no evidence of his peers understanding the elven shouts, Cypher takes a breath and prepares to attempt some subterfuge. It had been nice when he still had some surviving operatives for this kind of work. His knowledge of the elven tongue is excellent, he hoped that and an appropriate air of arrogance would cover any issues with the local accent.

Stand down! He yells through the door before dragging the remains aside and stepping through. He stays partially turned towards the hut as though continuing to watch the hulking form slumped against the wall in chains.

Half yelling over his shoulder he continues. We have secured this brute. Where are the two that left? after the tiniest of pauses so that they can't reply he jerks his head in exasperation and continues. Hasted male human arcanist and female martial adept. They went that way and that way. He gestures in the direction of his original flight and an approximation of the cardinal direction the tunnel in the hut seemed to follow.

Get after them or they'll be long gone! We can't be humiliated by filthy humans. Now stop interrupting my interrogation!

He stalks back into the hut, seemingly focused entirely on Lamorak.

Spoiler: Actions

Show

He tried to keep as much of that a dragon's truth as possible but here's a Bluff roll (1d20-1)[18]

Hopefully Sharken and Lamorak can give that a boost with Aid actions and any circumstantial bonuses apply.

[Dusk Raven]

"Very well. I'll bring this news to Lamorak -- he'll decide what to do." Maiabel turns back to the tunnel she came through, but then looks back over her shoulder at the others. "We may have some other problems to deal with at the moment. I'll return here with the others to discuss matters more, once the immediate threat of detection is gone."

With that, she goes back along the tunnel, pausing at the entrance, just out of sight, listening to make sure the coast is clear before she exits the hidden passageway.

Spoiler

Show

Hide check: (1d20+16)[21]
Listen check: (1d20+18)[29]

[Darius Vibrtrar]

Sharkan moves to stand behind his Lord, a hand on his shoulder to give the impression he has some sort of physical handle on the manacled brute

He keeps his face hidden beneath his deep hood, and stands tall in the elven uniform, his other hand firmly holding the police Cudgel, as if to strike the manacled brute should he misbehave.

[JbeJ275]

Above

The captain relays Cypher's message to his crew.

"You heard him! After them, Malnurn your squad that way and Quorith take yours to track the female, I'll ensure this man gets to the pits."

As four of the elves and both the constructs dash off two of the figures comes towards you, the one talking is of aristocratic bearing and has a lightly armoured uniform and a staff. The other wields a spear and a large shield with slightly heavier armour. Both look to be hurrying.

"Why are you interrogating this wastrel here, either get a diviner or send him to the pits. I swear, the blood weakens with each season of recruits. Hurry up! At least you managed to catch the fool, how did this fool of a man ever hope to get away with hiding such weapons in here."

The other elf is silent, content to look down at Lamorak as the others berate you. They both seem to be expecting you to move with them though, and the other elven guards are still fairly close.

Below

Miabell quickly squirms through the tunnel, quicker now she's more familiar with the twists and turns, you get back quickly enough to hear all of this and as far as you can tell are unobserved at this point.

[Waistcoatwill]

Cypher quickly picks up on the newcomers' apparently elevated station and nods respectfully, but sighs when asked why his interrogation has not moved to better surroundings. He gestures to the strapping noble form of the Lord Protector as if he is a very large and stubborn mule before switching to common.

No more of your malingering, human. If you don't get back on your feet Guardsman Rathal here will have to drag you through the muck. He gestures towards Sharkan. Make no mistake forcing such an indignation upon an elf will not make things go better for you when we've transported you to the pits.

[Darius Vibrtrar]

following Cyphers que he nods silently from beneath the hood and physically guides his lord toward moving in the direction Cypher motioned. He didnt dare speak, he knew his accent would come through for anyone with a keen ear.

[Dusk Raven]

Maiabel's first thought as she listens is that the others have been captured - but she relaxes a little on hearing Cypher's voice. They must be performing some kind of ruse, she thinks. Best not to interfere. While she waits, she gathers her energy, restoring her expended maneuvers to her mind.

Spoiler: Actions

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Just going to hang tight here for a bit, and spend a few full-round actions recovering maneuvers.

[MrAbdiel]

The malingerer, under such compulsion, ceases to malinger. He grumbles with faux resentment, in a wicked tongue...

Spoiler: Infernal Bluff!

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"Damn your eyes, wretches. When the Mistress discovers this, you will suffer in measure to your presumption..."

He has, of course, no such mistress; but there's no harm in sowing seeds of confusion in case either of these escorting elves escapes the coming wrath; and in case either of them knew the devil-tongue. Perhaps they'll wonder if this operation was the brainchild of one of their own rotten elven houses. Perhaps, further afield.

BluffIfItMatters - (1d20+15)[20]

Besides this, he is studying the armored elf escoring them, planning a death attack in a few rounds.

[Darius Vibrtrar]

As his lord mvoes forward, sharkan only moves him closer to the door to enhance the performance, as the sounds the master made would certainly move with him and change in pitch and density as they carried out to the other guards, they would have no reason to suspect delay. He would stop his master before he came into sight, waiting for more queues from the Mage or his Lord.

[JbeJ275]

Spoiler: Elven

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"Useless, this is how you do it."

Says the elevn mage, moving towards Lamorak and shouting at him in clumsy infernal.

Spoiler: Infernal

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"You best worry less about what you mistress would do to me, and more what they'd do to you when we pull her knowledge from your mind, now get moving, we don't need you with all your limbs to interrogate you."

With that he begins casting a spell behind Lamorak, and seems to slow the final movement needed for casting it watching if lamorak means to continue resisting or will follow his direction out of the alley.

[Waistcoatwill]

Cypher steps in close in an apparent effort to help th caster. Instead he attempts to divine the nature of this held spell as well as ensuring Lamorak's blade is close at hand.

Spoiler: Actions

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Close in on the Wizard.
Spellcraft to ID the spell (1d20+14)[15]

[MrAbdiel]

The brute permits himself to be driven by his captors, offering no more direct opposition to the leading. It's undignified, of course; but a part of him enjoys the subterfuge. He could never do such a thing in a land where he claimed domain - the strictures of the Way Of The Manifold Grip were the steel in his spine, and he could not feign submission to authority that he had authority over. But this was a foreign place; a nation he had not yet claimed as domain. They did not owe him fealty. He did not owe them honesty. And the lie of weakness was a sweet savour, in anticipation of the retribution to come.

These elves, who lived for centuries and thought themselves masters of magic and science, did not know the truth of themselves. They were overripe fruit, rotting on the vine of Empires and Kingdoms. In time, the vintner would come; and such idle, wasted fruit would be cut away.

[Waistcoatwill]

Cypher deferentially falls back in the procession slightly, allowing the elven mage to direct the prisoner towards the pit.