Khalid de la Poer |
"Right. I think that once we are finished with our meal, we should get some rest. Tomorrow, we can set out and explore a bit. Maybe we can get some clues as to what happened to Derrick. Maybe he didn't step into the mists like the rest of us and met the same fate as Wyatt, but he also may have just entered this realm in a separate location. Either way, we owe it to him to look." The Vistani shrugs and sips his wine before continuing. "Who know, we may even find a way back while we are at it."
Anything else need to be done before we rest?
Dark Powers |
Somewhere...
Carella Fletcher & Lady Elaris
As the mist clears the two women find themselves standing in an alleyway of all things, alone. The echoes of the voice they heard just that, an echo. Down the alley there appears to be some hustle and bustle but not much.
The ladies' heft their packs, as both of their horses have inexplicably also disappeared!, and head to the mouth of the alley. They stand in a small town a dirt road that appears to be the main thoroughfare is frequented by people with strange garb. Colorful but yet drab at the same time. The people speak until the ladies' make their appearance at which time conversations cease and gazes turn upon them.
Down the way is a sign for a building that appears to be an Inn. As no one will engage the ladies on conversation, the residents turn around as politely as one can without responding, it seems that the Bard's Retreat will be the only place that they can find out where the hell they are!
Dark Powers |
the Bard's Retreat
Before Lucifer can comment on the soundness of Khalid's plan, the Inn, which almost become lively again goes silent once more. The reason, two young, beautiful women enter the Inn.
All together now!
Carella and Elaris receive the same empty stares from the patrons as they did the passers by, all except for the people at one table...
Veryone please describe yourselves and let's get this game rolling once more!
Nezter "Spleenripper" |
When you look at the fellow with his feet on the table his shoes are worn, well oiled, a bit dirty and comfortable. These are the nicest things you might say about this seedy looking fellow. His eyes are watchful and ine hand is beneath the table while the other feeds food to this guy like it was going out of style. If he didnt have those dead, calm eyes and that prepared for what ever look you might call him a slob, or some other insult. At least his travel cloak is in good condition. You also havent seen him talk much.
Marco Andrezi |
Marco enjoys a drink and is in close conversation with Khalid as thd wimen enter. He leans back in his chair, putting his feet up on the cornrt of the table and his hands behind his head. He has a smile on his face, but it hides a lingering danger in the relaxed nature of his body language. He is almost like a panther poised to strike or stretch, and no one can be sure which. He has a rapier on one hip, a well-made shortsword on the other, and he wears a fine hooded cloak over studded leather armor.
Well, Khalid, lookin' like more o'the strangers have arrived.
Elaris |
Elaris shivers at the temperature drop, from the plains of the Emirate to ....wherever they were. The harem dress the Emirate's wives had forces her into was sheer and comfortable....but definately not suitable for this climate.
"I've got to get out of this getup..." she comments to friend Carella, a wry smile on her lips from the look Carella gives her, as if to say, "I told you so."
When they emerge into the street, Elaris can't help but remark, frowning "A strange folk..." but her face brightens at the sight of the inn.
Stepping in with her friend, she's not surprised to be greeted with the same polite disinterest by those gathered in the common room...except for a motley group at one table.
"Look...there" Elaris indicates to her friend , and makes her way over to the more 'interested' group.
Clad as a harem girl, mid-riff and sleek thighs revealed by sheer silks , the rest covered with tight ,shimmery cloth, the woman nonetheless appears quite prepared for a life of adventure. Black and red leathers peek out of the top of her pack, and a very servicable rapier hangs at her hip.
Beautiful , yes, but most importantly....confident. Nary a hestitant step does she present stepping into a common house dressed as she was.
Then she's standing before the group, pack set at her feet, a lute tied to it's side, arms akimbo, "Hail and well met!" she exclaims with a smile, "Maybe you can answer a question....Where in the 9 hells are we?"
Up close, her face has a resemblance to the Keleshites of Golarion, but the cheekbones are finer. Her accent as well echoes that of the southron races, but certain inflections are foreign-sounding.
Marco Andrezi |
Aye, a fine question, Lady. Me and my mates been askin' the same, seein' as we're not from here either.
He stands, and bows at the waist.
I am Marco Andrezi, and who'd you be, Lady?
Lucifer Graves |
Also seated at the table is a human man, lean and handsome. He wears a black leather vest over a flowing scarlet shirt, with charcoal trousers beneath that tuck into tall black boots. A wide-brimmed hat rests atop his head, and the blond hair pulled back at the nape of his neck accompanies a thin beard along his jawline. He isn't wearing armor or weapons, but he still gives the sense of capability, if also the look of a minstrel. Oddly, a chunk of bread sits on one his shoulders as he rests one elbow on the table, his chin leaving his hand as he turns to look at the new arrivals.
Even as Marco stands, the man in scarlet joins him, and he steps forward into a sweeping flourish of a bow, his hat deftly snatching the bread as it falls from his shoulder. "Fair lady, allow me to answer your question, as a local and a gentleman. You have come to the town of Harmonia, in the land of Kartakass. It is a beautiful land I call home, although I admit many of our people are... mistrustful, shall we say, of strangers."
He blinks and cocks his head to the side, and then grins and looks between the new women and the others. "Ah! I should mention. If any of you can sing, even a little, please share your voice. It could go a long way to earning trust."
Carella Fletcher |
Carella suddenly finds herself in an alley with Elaris. "That's interesting. At least the Emirate will have a hard time finding us here. Wherever here is."
She follows Elaris to the Bard's Retreat. "We need to get you out of that outfit. That's something I'd wear when working. Distract the marks and all. Let me have it after you're done alright?" she laughs as she walks into the inn.
"Feet on the table? Not too civilized around here are they." Dressed in serviceable, and well tailored studded leather she carries a quarterstaff in her right hand, and has a sickle on her hip. Her bright red hair streaked with black flows to her waist, and shows off her pale skin and bright blue eyes. She moves to the table next to Elaris. "Harmonia. Never heard of it, but as long as games of chance are allowed. I can make this work." Carella nods in greeting. "Carella Fletcher."
Elaris |
Elaris smiles at her friend, then looks back to the men, inclining her head to the courteous Marco, then a brief nod to the curt Nezter, finally her eyes rest on the most interesting Lucifer.
"A local! That talks! How wonderful!" Elaris exclaims, then frowns prettily , agreeing with Carella, "Harmonia...Kartakass do not sound familiar at all, I fear we're far from home, Car." she says to Carella, then shrugs, "But we're used to that!"
She cocks her head to the side in mimickry of the tall local man, "Songs you say? Oh, I'm full of them, " she says , indicating her lute tied to her pack, "But , if I'm to perform, I must divest my self of these silly frills."
Retiring for the moment to the privy or a private side room, Elaris changes into her regular garb.
Returning, she holds the harem outfit up to Carella's frame, "Might need to be taken in a bit, but it should suffice.", she says, handing it over.
She's changed into the black and red, or rather scarlet, leathers that peeked out of her pack. Tight leggings, and matching jacket, now open to reveal a fine silk chemise, top two buttons artfully left undone.
"That's better." Elaris says, picking up her lute and taking a seat to tune the instrument. She softly utters a perfect C note, and twists the lute's pegs as she gently strums the strings...until satisfied. She continues through a series of notes untils she appears happy with her efforts.
Looking to Lucifer, "Now then, what kind of music do the locals enjoy?"
Then realizing her faux pas, smiles and says, "You can all me Elaris."
Dark Powers |
the Bard's Retreat
Before Khalid can chime in, the door bursts open and a wild eyed man enters the Tavern, "Help help! One of the prisoners is loose from his cell and he's attacking the Constable!"
The locals look to one another as if wanting to aid but hesitating for some reason. Nadima elbows Nezter, 'This is our chance to get in good with the locals".
Carella Fletcher |
"Let's go and see what we find. From the reaction of the patrons it will at least be interesting." Carella heads for the door. "Why won't you help?" she asks the patrons on the way to the door?
Elaris |
"Ah, Car! They aren't people of action like we are!" Elaris exclaims, throwing an arm around her friend's shoulders, "But, yes, let's see what the commotion is all about." she says, buckling her coat closed as she walks out with the others.
Bannock |
Bannock turns his helmeted head to the screaming wild-eyed man. "So it begins," he says to no one.
As bodies rise to advance outward and begin the scourging that Chaos so richly deserves, he catches Carella's question, but sadly shakes his head. "Do not be hard on them. We are wise and they are afraid; A wise man does not fear; a man afraid does not think.
So too, there is not a righteous heart among them, and Death is the servant of the righteous.
But soft, I have some high regard for them.
A small mind is a tidy mind."
The WarCleric tromps out, ready to serve the salvation that all souls cry out for.
Lucifer Graves |
Lucifer wordlessly snaps back to his table when the man bursts in with his news. From beneath the seat he deftly draws and buckles on a sword belt, upon which rest a pair of thin blades, one long and straight, the other shorter with a wicked curve. He also swirls about a long coat, which he slips into as he moves back for the door, reaching the outside nearly in step with the others. "Show us the way," he says. His voice is no longer friendly and carefree, but hard-edged and professional.
Carella Fletcher |
"I wasn't trying to be hard on them. I'd like to know if this is more than the town drunk getting loose and taking his anger at being locked up to dry out out on the Constable."
Dark Powers |
Harmonia Jail
The patrons still seem hesitant to rise as the strangers spring into action.
Lucifer's friends nod to him as he steps out but say nothing further about him getting himself involved.
Nadima stands and follows closely behind Nezter. The Constable smiles nervously, "Strangers armed and armored? Well, if you are what I have then you are what I will use, come quickly!"
He races through the dirt streets of Harmonia where you come to a building that is clearly a jail. He heads into the front door where you hear the sounds of combat from within along with a group of men yelling in fear and anger. As you step inside you see that there is a literally a portcullis that bars the entrance past the small office by the front door.
The Constable turns to you, "Beneath the jail is a mechanism that operates the portcullis, enter and I will close it behind you that you can stop the prisoner!"
What do you do? You cannot see the combatants from your current position. I will work on a map as I assume that you will all enter else why come here!
Carella Fletcher |
"Yes we'll help, but I'd really like to know what we are facing." she moves next to the portcullis ready to go inside when it opens.
Lucifer Graves |
Lucifer nods in unison with the others, and nods a second time at the comments. "The ladies and mage speak well. If you can tell aught of what we face...?"
Dark Powers |
Harmonia Jail
"Harmonia's worst! A mountain man savage! Hairy like a beast he is and vicious, like an animal his teeth and jaws snap and rend. Two of my comrades are in there I pray we are in time to save him!"
Carella Fletcher |
Know Nature: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9
Carella shrugs at the description. "Big guys fall hard. Let's get the guard out of there. It would be nice to know if we can use lethal force or need to be careful though."
Lucifer Graves |
Nature: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 = 20 Holy smokes!
"Thank you," Lucifer says to the constable. He does hang behind a moment, though, and whispers to the nearest of his new companions. "'Hairy mountain man' may mean a lycanthrope, a werewolf. I'll explain more later, but pass that on, and prepare yourselves."
With that, the man draws his own weapons in a fluid motion--the longer blade and a dagger, which was fitted alongside its companion in the scabbard. He turns his head to the side and nods. "I was just thinking the same, but silver costs more, doesn't it."
Dark Powers |
Harmonia Jail
As you get ready to move in, the portcullis gates open before you all. Once you move in they begin to then close behind you.
Open and close as you move through, as you round the corner, you hear the sounds of growling coming from ahead. A sound all too familiar to the men of Paridon, the growls of something not quite a man...
That man has already slain two guards whose bodies lay in the hallway.
At the end of the hall the echoes of shouts ring out along with the growls, "Devon we must continue to flank him! Else we end up doomed like our companions, I pray that help comes soon..." The voice is cut off by the sound of pain!
The sounds come from the highlighted room but the walls are concrete so you can see, only hear what is going on within.
Elaris |
Elaris walks forward , shoulder-to-shoulder with Carella, humming a little tune. At first, Carella finds it familliar but can't place it...then is comes to her; she remembers herself and Elaris atop a bar in a tavern, in which a full scale melee was taking place. The women were busy throwing tankards at random targets in the milling fisticuffs, laughing and screaming...All the while , in the corner of the room, a trio of musicians played on, somehow unscathed in the chaos...and they played the tune Elaris was humming.
Bardic Inspiration. can use 1d6 inspiration die to add to one ability check, attack or saving throw; or in combat AC or damage
Dark Powers |
Harmonia Jail
As the brazen adventurers round the corner, yet another portcullis gate slams in behind them!
The Beast is fearsome indeed, it stands on two legs jaw protruding, rows of razor sharp teeth splattered with blood as is its entire hairy torso! This is no wild mountain an but some sort of lycan creature straight from your nightmares!
It howls a challenge at your sudden appearance.
The guardsmen, each injured, one worse than the other seem to brighten up at your appearance, "Finally, aid".
Nezter, Carella and Elaris - please give me Fear checks DC 12 as this is your first confrontation with such a Beast. Everyone else give me a Fear check DC 10.
Bannock 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13
Khalid 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22
Marco 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24
Nezter 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16
Carella 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9
Elaris 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17
Lucifer 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22
Devon 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13
Kurt 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19
The Beast! 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
Round 1 - The Characters - GO!
The Guards
The Beast
Elaris |
Fear, Will DC 12: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11
Elaris rounds the corner, smiling at this new adventure, then sees the slavering nightmare accosting the guards.
Her mind goes blank...eyes wide...her friend Carella beside her forgotten...her only impulse...to flee.
Backpedalling back past those that stayed, a low-pitched whine escaping her lips, she turned and ran smack into the closed portcullis, straining against the bars, as if to wrench them aside.
Bannock |
Wisdom save!: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20
Brother Bannock takes note as his companions are checked by the gruesome beast, and he states to them , comfortingly, "Be strong, my brothers and sisters of battle! Foolish are those who fear nothing, yet claim to know everything."
As he strides confidently forward, he makes a pass with his hands.
"Brave are they who know everything yet fear nothing."
An ephemeral sword appears above the creature's head and strikes down!
Spiritual Weapon Attack!: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14
Spiritual Weapon Damage!: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10
"The truly wise are always afraid."