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  1. - Top - End - #271
    Ettin in the Playground
     
    Devil

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    Default Re: tomboys and troublemakers part 2: road to couronne

    As the action settles and the most critical injuries are taken care of, Bertelis clears his head enough to check in with Deanna. They were not outrageously close before his departure for his errantry, but she was family; and facing peril such as this has a way of firming frail bonds. She has cultural hesitations about being attended by a male spellcaster - there are none, in Bretonnia, and precious few female - but it's hard to argue with such a miraculous rescue. Bertelis does not thank Wighard. Such a thanks required has too much volume, too much necessity, to be offered in this grim aftermath while so much else is on everyone's minds. His restraint might almost come off as ingratitude; though that is not a trait one associated much with Bertelis.

    But after things have calmed some, lying on a blanket on the road so that Wighard can sew up his spear wounds, Bertelis calls one of his 'war room' meetings with the Company.

    "We have lost perhaps ten people - Bruno, I think was getting an exact count. And there is some sense in suggesting we hurry on and do not look back. But not only do I not think that is the moral option... I do not think it is an option at all. My friends, we must give chase, and return these pilgrims to our train. For I do not know the ways of the rat-men; but I understand them to be cunning; and I understand both slavers, and war. They attacked us with perhaps a hundred of their mangy, malformed slave-caste and only a handful of warriors. I ask you, what force would commit such an incompetent body of warriors to a battle, only to have half of those beasts of station killed, or badly quarrelled? I will tell you: a force that does not expect much resistance at all. These rats must know about the pilgrimage path. I do not know if that means they have spies in the empire to know when one leaves, but a column of desperate humans, religiously forbidden from carrying more than a walking stick, is a slaver's delight. Now, elven corsairs prize fighting slaves, as do the flesh-takers of Araby; but I suspect these rats are more like the wretched Northmen. Their purpose must be chattel. They use their own kind as warriors - perhaps they can absorb a military scale of abuse, that humans cannot. But this must tell us the ratmen's plan: to surround the column, tease out any fighters with their small force of rat warriors, and then eliminate them viciously with their hellish contraption gun - the one that misfired, before Gimgroth fletched him. After that, there would be no stopping them, and they could drag off as many as they wanted into the dark, never to see the sun again. But the Lady has given us a miracle, with that weapon's malfuction - we fought back, claimed some of their warriors, and - Ssss..."

    He hisses as Wighard's needle makes an inexplicably especially painful passage.

    "...and now they only have a handful of captives for their purposes. I do not know how deep their tunnels go, but I must bet that such a small claim of captives does not outweight the cost in feeding - even sparingly - the horde of their own rat-slaves they brought up here. It's not enough. And if we carry on down this road, I promise you they will attack us again tomorrow. They brought the minimum resources for an easy slave raid, and their plan has been set awry by valor and fortune. We must strike before they strike us."

    Spoiler: OOC
    Show
    Knowledge: Strategy and Tactics paying for itself already.


    With Wighard's stitching finished, he sits up with another wince, and then takes the skaven weapon in one hand, holding it out for all to see. "This is a longspear. It is ideal for doing exactly what was done - unhorsing cocky knights from a safe distance. But it is also ten feet long. This... was not carried up from the bowels of the earth through miles of tight winding corridors. The obstacle hazard would drive a cave-diver mad, getting caught and snagged and jabbing one another as it needs to be carried forward-facing. They would use shorter spears, if they had come that far. No, this came from a reasonably broad underground cavity; one that they could not have dug for this specific assault. Given that Axebite pass lies between the historic dwarf holds of Karak Zilfin and Karak Azgaraz, it may well be a segment of the old dwarven underways they hade made their staging ground. But they will have some kind of pen there, to keep their captives while they decide which are worth the trouble of taking with them, and which are for... more immediate uses. That is where they will have our people."

    Spoiler: OOC
    Show
    Knowledge: Geography paying for itself already, also.


    "I say Axe-Bite pass is Bretonnia, but I say so out of love for home. In truth, the path is the sight of the greatest shameful wars between our nations; a riot of pointless blood back and forth between Ubersreik and Montfort. The path is held by petty Lords, usually of intermarried families from both nations, who pay taxes to both as they demand it and take it out of travellers in tolls, pilgrims excluded. The coaching inns, whose walls we have camped within our way through the pass so far, belong to these Lords. And if rat-men are setting up slave-taking operations in the pass, then those Lords are about to lose most of their income from merchants who would rather pay the Marienburg wharf to ship their goods around the coast than to lose men and materiel in this way. And the estate of the nearest is Lord Pelford du Moll; a far cousin of the Duke of Montford, whose wife is half-sister to the woman who was once wife of the the uncle of Graf William von Suponatheim, of Bogenhafen."

    Spoiler: OOC
    Show
    Knowledge: Geneology and Heraldy paying for itself also, also.


    "But neither the Elector of Reikland, nor the Duke of Montfort will march an army of any size into this gap and torment the fragile peace, so soon after this great war against the Enemy. The lords of the pass must, now and for some time prior, have looked to themselves for defence against bandits and goblins. So here is what we must do. Lord Pelford's estate, sharing the same walls as the next coaching inn, Lambord's Rest, will take us most of the rest of the day's travel. Bruno and I will take the pilgrims there, to safe rest; and then we will have nobles of both sides of the mountains to make earnest our plea for help. Lord du Moll will send pigeons to his neighbors, who will, preferring this task now than to lose their needed tolls, send us a small force of their men at arms to assemble here, where we were attacked. We will not need many - just thirty or so, is enough to put the fear of Man into the beasts. We do not need to kill them all; just to show them they are in mortal peril and must flee, unencumbered by their slaves. Slavers always run, to steal flesh another day. But while Bruno and I are making our plea..."

    He looks, plaintively, at Wighard, Jasmine, Glod and Gimgroth. "I must ask you to perform the harder and riskier task; picking through the surrounds here, disarming any traps left behind, and hopefully finding the way in so we do not need to spend time with the men-at-arms scouring the ground. You may do best, if you find one, to capture one of the rats alive - the bigger ones, that are not so whip-marked, must have enough Reikspiel to direct slaves. And then... force it to betray its fellows, in exchange for a chance to flee up into the mountains - the right to die, likely, to the elements, or the goblins in the high places. But if we can do all this - rapidly secure some aid, find the way in, and force-march over night to get here in time, we can storm their den while they are still nursing their own wounds, waiting for word from the scouts they must have now up past Lambord's Rest that the pilgrimage is moving again, and once more vulnerable. And they they will flee to... wherever they come from; and we will not have shamed Shallya for failing in our vow to defend her children."

    Exhausted from the grand explanation (and bloodloss), he looks wearilly to his companions, desperate for their support.

  2. - Top - End - #272
    Troll in the Playground
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    Default Re: tomboys and troublemakers part 2: road to couronne

    You would appear to be making a lot of unsupported and frankly wishful assumptions about our opposition.

    I will not stay here, my place is with the pilgrims - and to keep an eye on your family

    In any case I am not suited to such work - however Gimgroth, Glod and Jasmine can all see in the dark so if we are going along with this noble but probably insane plan they are the best to leave behind with a combination of stealth and combat power



    Spoiler: OOC
    Show

    (1d100)[58] Heal 81
    (1d10)[6] Points
    Last edited by wilphe; 2022-10-31 at 06:22 AM.

  3. - Top - End - #273
    Troll in the Playground
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    Default Re: tomboys and troublemakers part 2: road to couronne

    bruno, bertelis and wighard at lambords rest: you all make it to the keep of lord du moll in early evening. the doors to the great hall open as you walk in. the lord waits there. if he was roused, he seems unperturbed. the steward introduces you all, and the lord says "how can i help you sir bertelis" a scribe sits at the foot of the throne, taking notes

    gimme fellowship at +10

    gimgroth, glod, and jasmine: please split the following checks amongst yourselves. I'll need perception and search rolls to find the traps, and agility rolls to disarm them. ill also need a follow trail roll at -10 to find where they went

    every hour you linger here, gimme a d100 roll. as always, lower is better

  4. - Top - End - #274
    Ogre in the Playground
     
    BardGuy

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    Default Re: tomboys and troublemakers part 2: road to couronne

    Spoiler: PossibleRetraction
    Show
    Gimgroth stands in the dusty pass of Axe Bite watching the pilgrimage disappear over the horizon. Turning to Jasmine and Glod he offers And now we hunt raki! Let's see what signs these beasts left for a trail.
    Spoiler: OOC
    Show

    I see that Gimgroth owes an agility test from the combat to avoid skavenslave damage.
    Agilityvs32 - (1d100)[38] barely missed
    Wounds - (1d3)[1] took 1 wound
    HealVs28 - (1d100)[37] Wounds - (1d10)[2] any healing if required. No healing done.
    PerceptionVs48 - (1d100)[10] Success!
    FPvs48 - (1d100)[64] FP if needed. This would be first FP spent this day. Don't think the character sheet was updated correctly. FP remains 2/2

  5. - Top - End - #275
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    ElfRangerGuy

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    Default Re: tomboys and troublemakers part 2: road to couronne

    "Before we make any decision about this," Bruno said, "we best consider the pros and cons of such a plan. Leaving a few people behind against an enemy who already outnumbered us, despite what we did to them, who most likely knows the environment better than we do, especially in the hills away from this road, and who had time to call up reinforcements and probably set traps, is just insane. We need to continue and let the local lords know. They have the manpower to deal with this or the resources to hire a company of mercs to guard caravans, if needed."
    Clacks-Overhead: GNU Terry Pratchett

    "Magic can turn a frog into a prince. Science can turn a frog into a Ph.D. and you still have the frog you started with." Terry Pratchett
    "I will not yield to evil, unless she's cute."

  6. - Top - End - #276
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    OrcBarbarianGuy

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    Default Re: tomboys and troublemakers part 2: road to couronne

    Temporarily embarassed by her poor shooting and failure to protect Deanna, Jasmine spends some time skulking around the edges of the caravan, making sure that the beast-men are well and truly fled. She meets up with Bruno and agrees with him adding, "Sir Bertelis has forgotten that we were bein' spied on back in Altdorf. I wasn't able to figure out who was buyin' and sellin', but someone was very interested in where we was goin' and when we was doin' it. We can go searchin' but I reckon we'll either be chasin' shadows or run into the teeth of another ambush."

    Spoiler
    Show
    (1d100)[41] v 66 perception, (1d100)[61] v 56 for search, (1d100)[68] v. 64 agi, [roll]1100[/roll] mystery roll not staying too long.

  7. - Top - End - #277
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    Default Re: tomboys and troublemakers part 2: road to couronne

    If I may be blunt for a moment. Wighard looks around to make sure none of the pilgrims are too close We have a duty to the living not the dead; fewer than 50% of the pilgrims who leave Altdorf make it even as far as Montfort, and we are doing way better than that so far. We were never going to do this without losing people. It sucks but there it is.

    And anyone taken by them is as good as dead; and before you ask if I would think differently if they had gotten away with Deanna or Siobhan I would remind you that Siobhan is a wizard of no small power so that's unlikely to happen, and her location I can track anyway so long as she is not too far away.


    He stares very directly at both Gimgroth and Bertelis and speaks calmly and deliberately

    And also I had given both of them a Blausäure pill to end their lives quickly in the event of capture.

    I should have suggested that we drill for what we do in the event of attack - I will have to live with that.

    And had I reason to expect Skaven - I would have offered that way out to more people
    Last edited by wilphe; 2022-11-01 at 08:33 AM.

  8. - Top - End - #278
    Ettin in the Playground
     
    Devil

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    Default Re: tomboys and troublemakers part 2: road to couronne

    Bertelis is looks genuinely stunned that there is any resistance to his scheme at all; and then positively betrayed when Wighard indeed pulls his first rejoinder out of his mouth to pre-empt him, about Deanna or Siobhan, and the pills. It clearly hits something in him - dueling tenets of his code are both to never give up, and also never to permit oneself to be taken alive. The better-to-die/better-than-be-captured dichotomy, especially when framed with the only just recovered and then throat-cut and healed Deanna, is a trolley problem he is just not equipped to engage with in the moment. So silence hangs in the air, and the conflict on Bertelis' features strips back the veneer of valor and determination he tries so hard to maintain. Briefly, in the sight of his companions, he not the self-appointed shot-caller; but the youngest of them again. A young man, who left his teens at some point on the road with them and never thought to mark its passing. But also a fraying one, who has been nearly fatally injured three times in the last two months; in all cases because of his desire to be first into the breach, to throw himself underequipped into a battle, to stand at the head of the column where the enemy collides first.

    This all said, after that naked and undermining pause, he is not denuded of his convictions. He musters himself, frustrated and feeling outflanked, and retorts with growing exasperation.

    "Not assumptions. Deductions. Not without some leaps, but with the best information available with a view to offering us a way to act other than to shrug and give up. There is risk in my way, but risk managed against possible hopes. If we all go for aid and return with it, we lose time that may be crucial in saving lives. If we march on and strike these people off as lost, they are certainly doomed - and we may yet be assaulted again on the road, as I have postulated. But if some of us do the night scouting here while others muster aid, we can move against the enemy as quickly as possible while securing enough force to accomplish our goal."

    He wheels to Bruno, picking up the man's stated concern. "Not behind the lines - the rats cannot be operating out here in large numbers or over a long time, or else the local lords would already have made moves to secure their tolls and taxes. They will not be waiting around behind trees in the hopes someone stumbles through the dark to them - perhaps a scout or two, and I have faith in our power and cunning to subdue such. But no one is to go into the lair until we return with force. This is the only way we can take that force to them as soon as we can, instead of wasting hours accomplishing work that might have been done before hand - and under cover of dark, where even a cunning night scout might only see so far, instead of daylight where such a scout might see thirty men marching easily and take those spare hours to muster a defence, or flee."

    And then to Jasmine, growing more frantic in tone and nearing desperation. "Yes - yes, perhaps we were being watched. But what is better - to risk a clash at night for the chance to attack and destroy the enemy later, or to carry on our way, cloaked in hope that the enemy will not try again - and that on such occasion, we will again have the fortune to spot the gunner, or that his weapon betrays him, instead of sawing in half those of us they now know can fight? We take one risk to avoid another - and to gain the greatest chance to pluck the pilgrims from the jaws of doom."

    Finally, with that pause, he seems ready to address Wighard's earliest pre-emption. "And if it had been Deanna or Siobhan, or any of us, this would not even be a discussion we would be having. We would take the steps to ensure the maximum chance to spare them these terrors, with the cold hope they had denied their captors their lives as a secondary consolation. I am not asking for a doomed charge into the enemy heart without aid, or sight; just for us to do everything in our power to deliver these souls, in as much as is possible."

    Puffing, holding a hand over one of his spear wounds, his gaze then naturally drifts to Glod, and Gimgroth - the dwarves stoic for now, as is their way. The Company of the Burning Slug has never decided a matter by vote; but the Bretonnian, wounded and frayed as he is, seems infatuated with the idea enough to break that record of harmonious democratic action.

    Spoiler: OOC
    Show
    Sorry for long posts, I know it's a bore sometimes. That's just how I write. Also, while I'm playing Bertelis as feeling betrayed and alienated, that's naturally all IC and I'm having a great time. It's good to have a group solid enough you can RP internal conflict!
    Last edited by MrAbdiel; 2022-11-01 at 04:54 PM.

  9. - Top - End - #279
    Ogre in the Playground
     
    BardGuy

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    Default Re: tomboys and troublemakers part 2: road to couronne

    Gimgroth's head hung low as the members of the Order of the Burning Slug debated the next course of action. Wisdom and common sense dictated that Wighard, Bruno, and Jasmine had the right of it. That the order continue with escorting the pilgrims through Axe-Bite and then report the raid to the local human lords so that they can hire the appropriate mercenaries to deal with the Skaven threat. Gimgroth himself served in many such mercenary tours in his years among the Tilean companies. He had faced these accursed Raki or rat-folk as the Umgi referred to them and Gimgroth was more accustomed to calling them himself. Through the years Gimgroth has lost numerous companions to the Skaven of Tilean. None more impactful than his former companion, Gottfried. Gottfried and Gimgroth shared many campaigns of service together. Saving each other's lives on the battlefield countless times the two grew close enough that Gottfried confided in his supporting a daughter with his hard won coin. Gimgroth's mind turned to Gottfried's laying in a pool of his own blood riddled by the Skaven warpstone bullets and Gimgroth's oath to look after Beatrix- Gottfried's young daughter. The raki have taken too much from this dwarf already.

    All this turned over in the dwarf's mind as he sat silent alternatively looking at the ground by his feet and the hills to which the Skaven retreated. He shifted his weight, looked to the company, and simply said.
    I mean to go after the rat-bastards. Gimgroth exhaled slowly and sorrowfully. My book ain't got room for any more Skaven grudges. I can't walk away from this one. He takes his purse of coin and hands it to Wighard. I won't be needing this where I'm going so hold on to it and most my weapons. If I don't meet up with you again by the time you reach Couronne please see that the coin finds it's way to young girl named Beatrix at the Sell-Sword Inn in Miragliano. Let her know that her father loved her dearly. Make that fathers. Gimgroth starts handing over his weapons until he has just his new hammer, shield and crossbow. I'll try to leave an obvious path for the local lord's men to follow. But I'm hunting rat. Gimgroth states empathetically.

  10. - Top - End - #280
    Troll in the Playground
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    Default Re: tomboys and troublemakers part 2: road to couronne

    Wighard looks at Gimgroth, knowing that there can be no argument,

    It shall be as you wish he embraces his dwarven companion

    Kill some for me my friend

    He looks at Bertelis, If you are intent upon this course you go now and take only the essentials as Grimgroth is. Adelard will be no good under ground and we don't want the Skaven getting hold of your treasure notes.

    You know where we are going, if we succeed, we then Deanna will be at court. the pilgrims will be safe and we can come look for you.

    If nobody else has anything to add, I want us out of here to get to the next stop
    Last edited by wilphe; 2022-11-02 at 01:03 PM.

  11. - Top - End - #281
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    ElfRangerGuy

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    Default Re: tomboys and troublemakers part 2: road to couronne

    "Very well," Bruno said. He didn't know the group all that long, but he did know that once a dwarf had decided on a course of action there was no budging them.
    "I'll stay with the pilgrims to protect them," he said, "also I can't see in the dark and with this heavy armour I make a lot of noise, so they will hear me coming from far away."
    Clacks-Overhead: GNU Terry Pratchett

    "Magic can turn a frog into a prince. Science can turn a frog into a Ph.D. and you still have the frog you started with." Terry Pratchett
    "I will not yield to evil, unless she's cute."

  12. - Top - End - #282
    Ogre in the Playground
     
    BardGuy

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    Default Re: tomboys and troublemakers part 2: road to couronne

    Gimgroth smiles as Wighard gives him a warm embrace. I'll kill more than some. Mind Siobhan. nodding in the direction of the remaining pilgrims. Get them to Couronne. With any luck we'll be joining you again as soon as the local lords muster the forces required to purge the Skaven from the path.

    Gimgroth offers a firm handshake to Sir Bruno. I will hunt with a clear head and heart knowing that you are with the Pilgrims and Wighard keeping Siobhan and the others safe Sir Bruno. I won't ask that any of you accompany me on this as I highly doubt the chances of full success. But if you like me see no other way to proceed without this foolhardy attempt than I would welcome the company on my path forward into the hills.

    As Wighard is ministering to Sir Bertelis's wounds, Gimgroth shares with the two of them.
    Last night I had a dream of yellow-eyes. He seemed in control of my dream and offered me a chance at playing a game with him. The rules being answers given to questions with fateful cards being drawn for mistruths or failures to answer. It's my believe that this sorcerer has found the means to affect others dreams. He seems bent on the destructive of the Order of the Burning Slug and those it holds dear.

  13. - Top - End - #283
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    Default Re: tomboys and troublemakers part 2: road to couronne

    those at lambords rest

    you all make it to the keep of lord du moll in early evening. the doors to the great hall open as you walk in. the lord waits there. if he was roused, he seems unperturbed. the steward introduces you all, and the lord says "how can i help you fine gentlemen" a scribe sits at the foot of the throne, taking notes

    gimme fellowship at +10

    glod, gimgroth and bertelis: after a half-hour of searching, you find a passage concealed behind a gorse bush. It's a steep way down, and you'll probably be unable to get back up, unless you wish to do more looking. as it stands, this is the first passage you found, and there are plenty of gorse bushes.

    wdyd?

  14. - Top - End - #284
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    Goblin

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    Default Re: tomboys and troublemakers part 2: road to couronne

    "Your path is a worthy one, Gimgroth. I will walk it with you, and the blood of many thaggoraki will be spilt before our axes are sated."

    Glod knew that this was the right path for him. His wasted youth in the Empire had caused him many regrets, one of which was the fact that he had never served the customary stint in the ironbreakers that his family traditionally subscribed to. And most importantly, how could he look at his ancestors at the end of his life and tell them that he had voluntarily surrendered a chance to kill skaven when it was offered to him, and turned his back on a fellow dawi at the same time. He might as well shave his head and swear the Slayer's Oath at that point.

  15. - Top - End - #285
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    OrcBarbarianGuy

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    Default Re: tomboys and troublemakers part 2: road to couronne

    Spoiler
    Show
    After the rat-hunters go in one direction and the pilgrims go in the other, Jasmine (who can see quite well in the dark) slips out behind Gimgroth and Bertelis with her loaded guns. If they got lost they'd need someone to guide them, after all...

    (1d100)[10] v. 64 Silent move to not be noticed

  16. - Top - End - #286
    Ettin in the Playground
     
    Devil

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    Default Re: tomboys and troublemakers part 2: road to couronne

    The meeting hadn’t gone the way he'd envisioned; but the outcome was close to the same, except with worse feeling. His expression takes on confusion when Wighard yields immediately to Gimgroth’s determination and not his own - wondering why it is the dwarf’s honor is respected and not his own (a thought only possible because he cannot see his own signs of mental fray). But it’s done now - his night eyes were no better than anyone else’s, but that hasn’t stopped him before. He puts his extraneous gear on his horses, and gives the reins to Bruno…

    “Here - Adelhard has taken on a little limp to the left fore. He hides it at a gallop, but when we slow to rest he takes weight of it. From the wound the north man have him. I… hope to retire him when we get to Bordeleaux. But he will serve you well in the interim. You understand courts and lords as well or better than I; money will compel them, though tales of walking rats will close imperial ears. But I have faith in your talent to compel, Baronet.”

    And then, in the company of Wighard after receiving the first infusion of healing magic from his arts, he takes a moment to find words. The discomfort of the clash hasn’t faded, even if both men are equipped not to take it too personally.

    “I… appreciate it. I know your position, on using your magic this way. And especially for Deanna. Having gotten that letter, and then negotiating with the knight, I don’t know what I would have…”. He trails off there. Then it’s time to part, and part they do.

    It’s almost too easy to find this entrance. Bertelis squints at it in wonder, and confers with his comrades.

    “No good - a way in, but no way out. A rope too easily thwarted. Perhaps there is another way - but ah, it grows dark. Here - I can do little in the gloom. Let me do what I can. I will play the rube, walking in the dark with candle and wounds. If there are rats, let them ambush me, thinking to take me prisoner - then you may fall on them instead. If we take a prisoner, we might get information. And if we have no takers… we may have to take our chances with this pit.”
    Last edited by MrAbdiel; 2022-11-03 at 03:46 AM.

  17. - Top - End - #287
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    Default Re: tomboys and troublemakers part 2: road to couronne

    bertelis: ten skavenslaves pour out of a small hole to your 12 o'clock

    glod and gimgroth: can i get perception tests at -10?

    jasmine, the same, but flat?

  18. - Top - End - #288
    Ettin in the Playground
     
    Devil

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    Default Re: tomboys and troublemakers part 2: road to couronne

    Bertelis startles back, lets out a somewhat staged bark of surprise; shield on his arm, candle gripped in his other hand... and a slim dagger held in an inverted grip in that same hand. The candle won't survive long in the fight, he knows; the illusion of vulnerability was part of the ruse. But he would just have to make use of its light while it lasted, and then hope his eyes adjusted quickly to the gloom once it inevitably whiffed out in the coming scramble for supremacy over this horde of snivelling wretches.

    Spoiler: OOC Actions!
    Show
    I may actually go first, with an 11 initiative. Wouldn't that be a treat! If I go before the slaves, or before they can reach Bertelis, he'll take a full defense stance, giving the slaves a -20% to hit him. That'll counteract the +20 they'll get for outnumbering him three to one, leaving them hitting, I hope, on their crappy slave weapons skill. After that, I've got a parry and dodge to try; and with those there might be some kind of roll to see if this awkwardly held candle goes out. Maybe 50/50, with each attempted defense? Up to you.

  19. - Top - End - #289
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    Default Re: tomboys and troublemakers part 2: road to couronne

    Wighard's eyes are slightly tear stained as his companions depart but he does not look back. The doves take flight in waves from rock to rock as the caravan advances.

    It seems that the mood of the pilgrims has improved in mark contrast to Wighard whose countenance can best be described as grim but determined.

    Deanna takes Rainier close to the wagon, Msr, may I ask you a question

    By all means milady

    I understand you made a great sacrifice to save my life, why?

    Because you are very dear to someone very dear to me, who had recently paid a greater price to bring you back and I have had enough of his blood on me during our travels together that I feel I am practically family

    Yet you refused to follow him on his rescue mission but acceded instantly when the dwarf wanted to

    I make it a habit of trying to talk my friends out of suicidal actions; one of them I might have been able to convince, but two of them? Not a chance.

    Besides for Bertelis alone it would have been suicidal, with the four of them, some of whom have actually fought ratlings before and can see in the dark it is merely highly dangerous


    Do you feel bad about leaving them?

    Of course, but I have a greater duty, the more so now that the defenders of this pilgrimage are reduced to Bruno, myself and Siobhan. In any case I have not totally abandoned them, you are a perceptive young lady you might have noticed that I did have a raven once and now I don't

  20. - Top - End - #290
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    Default Re: tomboys and troublemakers part 2: road to couronne

    So what is happening?

    It seems they found a big hole in the ground and in contrast to how we would both expect did not instantly jump in

    Wow, they might actually live

    Well their next plan appears to have Bertelis blunder around with a candle like a night blind fool and draw out an ambush

    Play to your strengths I suppose

    You still want me to follow them in?

    Of course, if you wouldn't mind

    I would mind very much actually not least because I am a bird not a bat

    But you are black and you can pop out of reality if you get in trouble

    This had better be the best bowl of sausage and egg ever prepared by primate hands

  21. - Top - End - #291
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    Default Re: tomboys and troublemakers part 2: road to couronne

    Wighard returns his attention to the real world, his expression now looking slightly less grim

    Now may I ask you a question milady?

    Mais oui

    How do you feel? Both physically and emotionally?

    You have suffered a near terminal injury and had a great quantity of magic flow through you. I cannot really deal with the psychological part but you may experience some magical side effects. Candles may be brighter around you, objects may move, this should fade with time

    Further, you may find people treat you differently now


    How?

    It will go one of two ways: You will either be treated as a living symbol of Shallya's mercy

    The other?

    An unholy abomination snatched from the gates of Morr's garden by a sinister foreign sorcerer using terrible magics

    We would of course both prefer the former, and the fact that I am on good terms with the Holy Family and we are on a pilgrimage to Shallya's principle shrine surrounded by devoted followers of the Maiden of Mercy who watched it happen means that that is probably what will happen.

    But there will be the odd exception


    I see

    Also you need to change that dress at the earliest opportunity, not just because its covered in blood but also its likely to get treated as a holy relic and peasants will descend on you and try and cut pieces off it until there is nothing left. You don't want to be wearing it while that happens

    And what happens to you?

    I will probably attract a great deal of attention by people wanting to be healed, and that's not unwelcome given that fair Brettonia is not renowned for its friendly welcome to foreign spell-casters.
    Last edited by wilphe; 2022-11-03 at 08:33 AM.

  22. - Top - End - #292
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    Default Re: tomboys and troublemakers part 2: road to couronne

    Wighard will let Bruno do the talking at Lambords Rest and, assuming Bruno consents - enhance his persuasiveness a bit. Otherwise he will present himself and Deanna, leave the latter in the care of the women of the place and excuse himself to attend to the pilgrims


    Spoiler: OOC
    Show


    (3d10)[6][5][4](15) -3+2 TN 18
    The Power of Truth
    Casting Number: 18
    Casting Time: 1 full action and 1 half action
    Ingredient: A blank sheet of vellum (+2)
    Description: A character you touch becomes more convincing to others but only if he speaks honestly. If he abides by that restriction, the character gains a +30% bonus on Charm Tests and can affect double the normal number of people (such doubling should be done after the effects of the Public Speaking or Master Orator Talents are factored in). The influence of this spell is not obvious (the target doesn’t have a glowing aura or the accompaniment of unearthly music), so there is no easy way to gauge the honesty of the recipient. You can also cast the power of truth on yourself. This is a touch spell.
    +

  23. - Top - End - #293
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    Default Re: tomboys and troublemakers part 2: road to couronne

    Wighard flinches and curses **** NUGGETS, fortunately they have not got inside yet

    I'm sorry.

    I have tried

    Too much magic

    In one day

    You will have to

    Rely on your natural charm
    Last edited by wilphe; 2022-11-03 at 07:16 AM.

  24. - Top - End - #294
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    ElfRangerGuy

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    Default Re: tomboys and troublemakers part 2: road to couronne

    While part of the group was going to chase the Skaven, Bruno would have to be extra vigilant for the rest of the trip. At least until they returned. If they returned. He felt a bit bad for not joining, but he thought it was a suicide mission. And someone had to protect the pilgrims. He would use Bertelis' horse as it was the best trained of the group and he was sure he would need it to protect the group.

    During the trip to Lambords rest, he kept mostly to himself, trying to be everywhere while letting Wighard take care of the pilgrims. He did push to move as quickly as possible so they would spend as little time as possible in the pass.

    ==== Lambords rest ====

    "Thank you for taking us in, mylord," Bruno said after bowing, "my name is Baronet Bruno Von Richter and these are my companions."
    He introduced Wighard and Siobhan as part of the group, then mentioned Deanna (he had asked her for her titles to do a proper introduction).
    "We are here to protect a group of pilgrims on their way to the temple of Shallya," he continued, "in the pass we were attacked by a number of Skaven who took some of the pilgrims. We continued with the pilgrims, while Sir Bertelis of Bordeleaux, Gimroth, Glod and Jasmine, the other members of our group, are tracking the skaven and trying to rescue those taken. We would like to request you send a group of soldiers to help and maybe some wagons as well. Those rescued pilgrims are most likely in a very bad shape."

    Spoiler: OOC rolls
    Show

    fellowship: (1d100)[100] vs 67 (FEL 57, +10 from the GM). If it's the charm skill, +10% and if etiquette applies, another +10%

    EDIT: FP used, 22 in OOC topic
    Last edited by farothel; 2022-11-03 at 02:11 PM.
    Clacks-Overhead: GNU Terry Pratchett

    "Magic can turn a frog into a prince. Science can turn a frog into a Ph.D. and you still have the frog you started with." Terry Pratchett
    "I will not yield to evil, unless she's cute."

  25. - Top - End - #295
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    Default Re: tomboys and troublemakers part 2: road to couronne

    lord du moll steeples his fingers. "you present a compelling case. i shall send twenty men to assist" he walks up to bruno, and whispers "my price is an assortment of black-powder weapons and the ability to make powder and shot"

    he steps back and says "do we have a deal?"

    the two who could hear that was wighard and bruno
    Last edited by bramblefoot; 2022-11-03 at 02:44 PM.

  26. - Top - End - #296
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    ElfRangerGuy

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    Default Re: tomboys and troublemakers part 2: road to couronne

    Bruno had expected a lot, from a flat refusal to the full garrison moving out, but not this. But he was nothing, if not adaptable.
    "Unfortunately I can't help you there, mylord," he said, also making sure no others except Wighard could hear, "I have only one black powder weapon myself and the way to create such is a secret to me. I do know they take quite a bit of training to use, and they can explode in your face if you're not careful, or if they are not maintained properly or are not correctly made. That training can't be kept secret, it is my duty to warn you. But I can use contacts I have to bring you into contact with people who build them. You will need at least one such person to reside here permanently to keep making powder and bullets anyway. And I can give basic training in the use of such weaponry, should you desire to continue on this course."

    Then he thought of something he had picked up from conversations with Bertelis.
    "Such contraptions, you might have seen during visits in the empire," he continued, "are most effective when used en masse. To use such effective, one will have to train peasants in their use, which I assume, when it inevitably comes out, will not endear you to your peers."

    Spoiler: OOC rolls
    Show

    let's play on a Brettonnian noble's vanity and his not wanting to give these weapons to peasants.
    charm I guess: (1d100)[9] vs 77 (57 Fel, +10% mastery, +10% etiquette)

    Clacks-Overhead: GNU Terry Pratchett

    "Magic can turn a frog into a prince. Science can turn a frog into a Ph.D. and you still have the frog you started with." Terry Pratchett
    "I will not yield to evil, unless she's cute."

  27. - Top - End - #297
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    Default Re: tomboys and troublemakers part 2: road to couronne

    Wighard nods sagely

  28. - Top - End - #298
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    Default Re: tomboys and troublemakers part 2: road to couronne

    lord du moll waves a hand "peasants? the very thought" he sniffs. "i merely seek to modernize my defenses as the empire does"

    he clears his throat saying "it is late. best to sleep on it"
    Last edited by bramblefoot; 2022-11-04 at 01:02 PM.

  29. - Top - End - #299
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    Default Re: tomboys and troublemakers part 2: road to couronne

    As your Lordship wishes, the pilgrims have had a stressful day and I will endeavour to lighten their spirits with as best accommodation and food as can be found for so many

    Wighard would prefer to keep Deanna close by him - but that would require her to stay at the inn and he would rather be with the pilgrims and he doesn't want to broach the matter directly in case his lordship would treat that as an insult to his hospitality.

    Also that gives a minor degree of profit to their host and a subtle reminder of how lucrative the pilgrim trade can be

  30. - Top - End - #300
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    Default Re: tomboys and troublemakers part 2: road to couronne

    He will allow a little degree of bonhomie from warm food and fine wine to develop in Deanna before raising serious matters If milady would oblige our curiosity, we were already intent on this pilgrimage when Bertelis received the letter from Lord Roche warning him to stay away and that you had been struck dumb.

    I as you might imagine have a considerable professional interest in this matter.

    Therefore, unpleasant though it may be, I must ask that you share with us what transpired between his lordship writing that letter and your reunion with your son

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