The hobgoblin raises an eyebrow at Valdisara's comments. "No quarrel, be your words? You oppose the perfect will of Razmir, shelter a murderous slave, and are shocked to find that we be having quarrel with you!"
The hobgoblin looks over and considers, "Then again, your accuser be unable to advance his claim. If you pledge on Razmir's good will, that your orc be no fugitive, I will then withdraw all our accusations."
Valdisara, the hobgoblin talks a convincing game, but you can tell he's readying another attack as well.
Her stance sure and easy, the paladin fixes the Viper with a cold gaze. "I swear by no god but mine own. All who travel with me ride freely, by the grace of Iomedae. If that is not good enough for the likes of you, then step forward and we shall end this."
Valdisara, you can't take a standard action during your turn and delay a movement action until later in the round.
Val will step down into H7, her blade still at the ready in case the Hob advances into her threatened area, in which case she will use her Smite Evil ability as previously stated.
The hobgoblin then rides up, dismounts into H9, and calmly stabs his blade into Kara, who's still on her hands and knees on the ground, for 9 points of damage. Then he turns to Valdisara and salutes. "Your comrades are as good as dead. Surrender, and we will spare your life. Or come down here on equal footing, and die with honor."
Valdisara narrows her eyes and glowers at the hobgoblin. "We had no quarrel with you, yet you choose to attack us in violence and malice. You leave me no choice in this. May the gods take pity on you and bring you a quick death."
If I still have a move action this round, Val will move to the ground. If not, I will move to the ground on my next available move action. If it will not provoke an attack of opportunity, she will move to H8 (when the move action is available); if it will, she will move to H7 and ready an attack for when the hobgoblin moves within 5 feet of her. She plans to use her Smite evil ability to try to dispatch him.
"Not yet, priest... wait until words have failed, then show them the power of your god," Valdisara whispers to Orislav, before turning to face the brigands.
The paladin stands tall in the bed of the wagon, (Square I-8) her voice ringing cold in the still afternoon air as she stares at the churlish hobgoblin. "I assure you, you are mistaken. Leave now, for you shall take none unwilling who claim the protection of Iomedae..."
She raises her blade, unwavering, to point at the rider. "...or stay and dance the blades with us, and the depth of your folly will be proven on your carcass."
Val will ready an action to attack the first target to come within reach of her blade, while trying to remain on the high ground of the wagon's bed as long as feasible.
Valdisara tilts her head briefly, then says in a terse voice just loud enough for her companions to hear, "Stop. Horses incoming, to the left, behind the rise. Ready weapons."
The paladin hastily draws and loads her crossbow, holding it ready in the event the approaching riders are bent on mischief.
Assuming whoever is approaching is intent on hostile actions, if they are mounted will staying/standing in the wagon negate any height advantage they might have? Also, does the wagon grant any cover?
Valdisara has no skill with driving a team of horses, so she chooses instead to sit in the back of the wagon and keep an eye to the party's rear. Her blade casually rests across her knees, ready should she need it.
Satisfied that his daughter's ankle is taken care of, the paladin assists "Hugh" as best she is able in outfitting the wagon team. As the young girl passes on the message about Sachiko, Valdisara merely nods at the information.
"I am sorry, but I have nothing to offer you for your service except my thanks." She bites her tongue to refrain from adding some unwanted advice about choosing appropriate clothes - not to mention profession - to the girl, instead merely frowning and turning back to her task.
Once the horses are ready, she turns to the others and says merely, "Anything else before we leave? Time is wasting."
The paladin nods in greeting and in thanks to the older half-orc.
"Your generosity is much appreciated, by all of us. The least we can do is to help your daughter here." At that, Val nods to the cleric. "This man is skilled in the healing arts, he should be able to assist her."
"We are pressed for time, so if you can help us outfit these beasts with proper harnesses, we would be grateful. We leave town within the half-hour. When we return, however, I for one would welcome the chance to assist you with those.. Vipers, I think they were named, whether it be by clearing up your debt to them or.. clarifying.. that no debt is owed."
Val gives a mental shrug at the man's threat and name-calling, knowing she has been called much worse in her short lifetime. She keeps her gaze fixed on the thugs until she is sure they are departing, then turns to the others. With a nod at Kara, she says,
"Well, that was interesting. Does the deputy have any able-bodied assistants we should perhaps warn of their.. intent to gain other mounts? And you, madam," Valdisara looks intently at the injured woman. "What do you know of those men? Are you involved with them somehow? How did your ankle come to be hurt?"
Assuming she replies, Val will sense motive to try to determine her truthfulness
To the others she adds, "On a different note, I confess I am without funds to cover the harnesses we need for these steeds. What of the rest of you? Do we collectively have the means to arrange for equipment?"
Valdisara steps in front of the others and between the horses and approaching miscreant, her hand near her blade. Narrowing her gaze and speaking with as authoritative voice as she can muster, she states, "I would advise you to look elsewhere for mounts. These are not for the taking. Perhaps one of the other stables in town will have what you need."
Diplomacy check? Also, for the others in the group, if this devolves into melee/combat, we should probably try to use our biting stallion if possible, assuming someone has skill with animals.
Valdisara raises her voice above the din, "HOLD IT! All of you be silent for a moment."
If necessary, I will use the Diplomacy skill to gather and focus the group's attention
Lowering her voice only slightly, to ensure everyone can hear her, the Paladin continues, "The most efficient use of our time is for those who may have leads on these scofflaws to quickly investigate them, in no less than pairs - there is safety in numbers, after all. The rest of us should ready our transport and then all should rendezvous at a designated place and time. Since time is of the essence, those who miss the meeting are on their own. Let's regroup in an hour, on the road north of town."
Valdisara looks towards Martaug. "Can you suggest a suitable landmark, perhaps fifteen minutes beyond the city gates?"
"For the rest of you, Yalka follows the dwarf to the docks. He can ride to the rendezvous point with you, like it or no. And make sure to impress upon him that we have pressing time constraints."
"You," she says, looking at Zosimus. "If you have a lead, explore it now while there is time. You can take my donkey, since the Dwarf seems to have forgotten it. Deserach has a mount, he can accompany you."
"That leaves the rest of us to finish things up here and get ourselves to our landmark in time. We can discuss strategies, tactics and any new information after we regroup. What say you all?"
That's five to stay with the wagon or arrange for additional supplies, and two each (with mounts) to pursue the pair of leads we have.
"I guess not" Valdisara mutters when no one answers her question about the Rolsen's children. Having said all she is inclined to at the moment, she quietly watches the others as they negotiate for transport and discuss recent events amongst themselves. With a mental sigh, the paladin resigns herself to the familiar role of outsider.
Her brief fit of self-pity evaporates as her eyes rest on the strange young woman calling herself Sachiko. What is going on there? Val wonders. Something about the girl's words.. and what she doesn't say aloud.. strikes her as odd. That's one worth watching, she thinks before turning back to re-enter the inn.
"Ahem." Spying the weary-looking innkeep across the room, Valdisara coughs softly to draw his attention to her. "Pardon, Sir. I understand the town's alchemists are being brought here for this man. This is to go towards their services, or for his family should they be ... unsuccessful in aiding him."
With that, Val hands him her coin pouch, which contains all of her remaining funds except the 1 piece of gold she keeps hidden in her right boot.
The young woman nods in farewell to Jolem and exits into the sunlight once again. "So, if the Deputy found a camp of some sort, how much time are we going to spend looking for it versus traveling to these people's farm? You mentioned a wagon and team - how quickly can they take us to the Rolsen's? Is their homestead on a cleared path that a wagon can traverse?"
Valdisara hastily gathers up the pack she had slung to the floor and heads towards the door. As she passes the wounded Deputy and his caretakers, she lowers her head and prays aloud, "May your valor and honor this day be rewarded." Without pausing, she exits the Cold Comfort and approaches the group forming near the inn's entrance. Glancing at the gathering, she says simply, "I am Valdisara, recently of Vigil and sworn to do Iomedae's will in these lands. I am a stranger to you but would assist you in this endeavor, if you will have me. If you will not, I will go alone."
The paladin turns to the rough-looking dwarf. "I have a pack animal you may ride, if you wish it, although I have no mount of my own."
"As for the 'boy' he mentioned" she continues to no one in particular, "do the Rolsens have a child?"
As individuals join the group and introduce themselves, Val will attempt to Sense Motive to see if they appear to be genuine in their statements and intentions. Assuming she travels with the group, at an opportune time - during her daily prayers most likely - she will use her detect evil ability to make sure the company is not infiltrated by agents of the reported bandits ... or worse.
Valdisara raises her voice above the din in the common room, "Is there an alchemist or herbalist in this town? Someone with skill in countering poisons?"
Val scans the crowd to see if she discern who might be a local besides the innkeep. (Perception check perhaps?) Picking a likely target, she points and says, "You! Stop gawking and make yourself useful! This man's life hangs in the balance!"
In her next breath she adds, "Who knows exactly where the Rolsens live?"
Oh, and a question for both you and Valdisara: I'm going to refer to your PC's by name, and every so often it'll be useful to refer to you as a player. (As in "Gee, it's been five days since Fax last posted.")
I'd rather have some sort of monicker for you as a player other than "Deserach's player".
Valdisara swings her green eyes towards the door the deputy just entered. Raising her brows skyward at his sudden and bedraggled appearance, and even more unexpected call to arms, Val rises from her seat in the darkened taproom corner.
What could have happened to rouse the man such, let alone cause him obvious harm? She had just seen him hours before, shortly after her own arrival in Carrion Hill, and had sensed nothing awry.
Earlier that morning Valdisara met Deputy Wyngate when she presented him with a young would-be thief she had apprehended as he tried to steal a haunch of meat hung to dry.
Val watches the deputy, tensely awaiting his response to the questions being thrown at him by her fellow patrons.
History:
Valdisara’s origin is shrouded in mystery, at least for the time being. She knows not her surname, and indeed has chosen not to adopt one. What she does know is primarily what is obvious to others: she was born perhaps some twenty years ago of mixed heritage, and strongly favors her elven ancestor(s). With fair skin, platinum-blonde hair and moss green eyes, her striking good looks are “marred” only by the strange birthmark that stretches from above her left brow to her jaw. Some say it marks her as blessed, some the opposite, but all note its striking similarity to a blade.
Growing up in the temple in Vigil, Val’s youth was spent in rigorous martial training and immersion in Iomedae’s teachings. Initially she was given no explanation for how she came to be reared there, although there were whispers she was orphaned as an infant and found by a member of the faith. Only recently did she discover she was in fact abandoned with the temple due to the symbol on her face, which, in a note found with the newly-born girl, supposedly marked her soul for the goddess’s work.
The unsigned note, given to her upon completion of her initiate’s training by her long-time mentor and surrogate father, Elidan Vrammyr, is the only link the young woman has to her birth family. Since then, she has struck out from Vigil on simultaneous quests: to do her life’s work in the service of the goddess and to find her family. The latter has brought her to the town of Carrion Hill.
Personality:
Valdisara had a sheltered upbringing within the confines of the church, and can be very black-and-white in her interpretation of the world around her. Her brief travels from Vigil to some of the surrounding towns and cities have broadened her outlook somewhat, but only just. Although attractive to others and at heart a warm person, the teasing and sometimes bullying she took from certain initiates in the temple due to her mixed blood and “deformity” on her face has made her suspicious of others and hesitant to take friends.
Lem Sandeen is a tall, well rounded human man who appears to be in his early 40's. If you look closely at him (and in the right light), you can see the vague silhouette of a warrior's build beneath several years of accumulated taste-testing bulk. In the five years he has been the owner-operator of the Cold Comfort Inn, his patrons have come to appreciate both his deft hand with spices as well as his ready ear. Customers often claim that his steady, black gaze beneath the now grey-shot red brows seems to invite others' confidences while simultaneously hiding Lem&'s own mysterious past.
Jolem is a retired warrior who lost his adventuring partner and wife, Lloraine, nearly six years ago while the two were seeking fortune amongst the Hungry Mountains. The broken ashwood staff that hangs over the door of the Cold Comfort and a silver band suspended on a chain around his neck are the sole visible reminders he has of his lost love.
Greetings! I am stopping by as promised by my partner-in-crime and other half Cacophonik.
I am an experienced Role-Player, mostly with D&D, although it has been more than five years since my last play-by-post. I am not currently involved in any games, and anticipate I will be able to post regularly.
Currently, I am most interested in playing a Half-Elven Paladin of Iomedae, recently departed from Vigil.
I will post my NPC tomorrow. Thanks for the consideration! :)
Posts
