East-River is on the Eastern bank of the river Chrono, and south of it a much smaller river. South along the river is Twilight Lake and north following the river is Coite-Bodher Fortress and farther up river is Arche Koeln Falls.
You all have left a nearby town/village/hamlet due to a raid on it. You have made your way to East River. East River and it's farms are surrounded by 10ft high fence and has 3 gates, one in the West, one in the North, and one on the southern side that leads to the docks. The Village has a Bar and Inn (The Dragon's Horde), a blacksmith, tanner, and the necessities. But inside you can see a small section of the town has been on fire and was burnt to the ground.
Where do you start in town?
The Dragon's Horde has a front porch and porch roof 5 feet out and as wide as the building, two double doors on it's eastern side. In the most south eastern corner is a large table and 2 large chairs, the western wall has a stage 4 ft up, 10 out and 20ft wide, the south western corner has a washroom, the northern side has a fire place the bar is on the eastern wall between the two double doors. The stairs going to the upper level is in the north eastern corner.
A 6 foot well muscled man with red hair and green eyes tends to the bar.
A beautiful voluptuous barmaid of 5 foot 6 with silver hair and blue eyes.
The barmaid is wearing a brown mid Calf length skirt, a white short sleeved shirt and a brown bodice that assists with her figure. And a kerchief on her head.
The barmaid is Draconic, she is using the kerchief to hide her small dragon horns behind the ears and her finger nails are a silver colour.
The walk in had been a long one, Jarret seemed to be a refugee wherever he went. Taking note of the burned buildings on his way in, He makes his way to the "Dragon's Horde". Once inside his eyes are caught immediately by the voluptuous barmaid.
He notices the woman's heritage, but decides not to press the matter. Smiling coyly at her, he hopes to catch her eye before taking a seat at the bar." Good evening sir, Could I get an Ale" he asks the keep, keeping a wary eye over his shoulder both to the door and to the barmaiden's figure.
Rick:
in a calm and polite voice
"Which ale; the local, Ager's 11, Dragon's, or Marshwater ale."
Hack, tired and sore from avoiding the raid, lit up when he sees Jarret, a familiar face, enter the Dragon's Horde. He stands and motions Jarret to his table.
Hey friend, glad ya made it out of the raid. I wasn't sure I would be seein' ya again. C'mon! Join me fer a cold one, eh?
Perception:
Melina:
she walks to your table and over hears
"What raid? Oh Goodness, I hope South Lake was not raided."
Why yes, dear, South Lake is the town that was raided.
Mia:
"I pray that more than you two survived that raid."
Hard to tell with all the fightin' and killin'. When I ran out of enemies, I simply kept runnin'. I wound up here after a time. Can I get two Dragon's for me and my friend here.
Melina:
"Two dragon ales, for the order."
she walks to the bar and gets the drinks and drops them off at your table.
"Here you go Dragon ales."
I am sure that East River, bein' fenced and all, doesn't see much in the way of raids or trouble, eh?
Melina:
"The fence is to keep trouble out, namely goblins, bandits and various other things."
Jarret offers a warm smile and sets by Hack, Taking a deep swig of the dragon ale before slouching in his seat dramatically." It got crazy back there, that's for sure." Turning his attention to Melfina and Mia" I saw there was some fires on the way in here, what happened there? Goblins, bandits?
Melina:
"It just one thing after another. First it was the goblins, climbing gates and torching a house, then Zarus showed up attacking the goblins and telling the Village if we switched over to Zarus the Village would be protected. I call it BS, they most likely routed the goblins here some how."
Goblins or Church of Zarus...makes no difference to me...both need killin'.
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Clifford sat near Hack and Jarret's table and listened as he sipped the rest of his warm ale.
he thought to himself as he leaned a little closer to hear what these to men were about.
Due to his great bulk the old chair could not support the one time circus performer on it's back legs. Clifford fell over on his side to the floor with a loud thump and the splintering of wood.
Lying there he looks up at the barmaid and the two warriors.
"Opps. Umm... sorry 'bout that." he says with a grin.
HP: 10/10
AC: 16 (T:14, FF:12)
INIT: +3 Speed; 30'
FORT: +3, REF: +5, WILL: +0
CMB: +0, CMD: 13
extracts(2/day): jump, open slot
mutagen: DEX (+4 DEX, +2 NAT ARMOR, -2 WIS) 10 min.
Melee:
mace +0 (1d6, x2) B
dagger +0 (1d4, 19-20x2) P/S
Range:
dagger +3 (1d4, 19-20x2)range:10' P/S
bomb(4/4) +4 (1d6+3, x2)range:20' FIRE (special- throw splash weapon, splash dmg=4; relfex save DC13 for half)
Hack looks down at the fallen portly gentlemen, and he throws his head back in laughter, then stands and lends an enormous hand to help him up.
Haaaaaa, ha, ha! Whoa there fella...get on up! I know the feelin' Most chairs cannot hold me either. Have a seat here with Jarret and me. What brings ya to East River...runnin' from the raid too?
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Clifford excepts the offered hand and smiles warmly as he takes a new seat. He lowers himself slowly into the wooden chair and when he realizes it will hold, his smile grows bigger.
"Running from the raid?" he asks shocked. "No, no. I was headed to South Lake, but detoured here when I heard about the trouble."
Clifford shakes his large bald head, "And then I find that trouble has been here too. I don't think anywhere is safe nowadays. Somebody ought to do something."
Aye! My name is Hack, and this is Jarret. We were thinkin' along the same lines. What do they call you?
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"Me!?" Clfford asks in surprise. "Well I guess it is a long way from the circus, HA HA! I was so use to the TentMaster introducing me that I forgot that out here I need do it myself."
Holding out a pudgy hand to Hack and Jarret he adds, "Clifford Dunidan. The Amazing Rotundo was my stage name but please just call me Cliff."
Very good, Cliff. Me and Jarret here have no likin' for the Church of Zarus, and we wouldn't put it past em' to be the source of these raids. We are lookin' to do what mischief we can to slow them down and maybe make some gold in the process. Are you interested?
Jarret seems aloof in the company of mainly men, hiding the fact he is listening, he talks between bites of his breakfast."A pleasure to met you Cliff." Jarret adds."And you're d@mn right someone should do something about it. As Hack has mentioned, Mister Dunidan, we are looking to do something and I'm sure we could use all the help we could get, and no offense my rotund friend, but I'm not sure of the strengths of a circus performer in such a group. Perhaps you can tell me a little about yourself."
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Mischief you say?" Clifford says his smile growing. "I wouldn't pass up a chance to give the ones who tried to burn down this town a little taste of the same."
Clifford shakes with mirth at his own jest and then listen as Jarret address him. He nods his head sagely as he agrees that a performer probably isn't the best problem solver.
"But then maybe a performance is just what we need," Clifford says with a new grin. "Would you gentlemen be interested in a demonstration? It is easier to show than explain the minor abilities I have that might help."
Clifford rises from the table and heads for the door. "A little fresh air wouldn't hurt us either."
Hack shrugs his shoulders, looks at Jarret, and as he picks up his ale says,
Aye, Cliff, show us what ya got.
He stands and strides outside after Cliff, motioning to Jarret.
Let's go Jarret, you asked to see what he can do - it's showtime!
Melina, another round for when we return, eh?
Melina:
"One round of dragon ales, for the after show, OK."
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Clifford rubs his hands together and steps outside ahead of the other two men.
"Well now let's see," he says looking around. Spotting a building abandoned because it was greatly damaged in the fire Clifford smiles.
"This will do nicely." he says as he retrieves three colored glass balls from inside his tunic and starts to juggle them while waiting to make sure he has both of the men's attention as they stand on the porch and watch. While he waits he adds a forth ball and then juggles them all one handed with ease.
Jarret stands around long enough to get his Dragon ale from Melina before stepping outside. As the man begins to juggle, a smile creeps across his face." We can just send Cliff to Zarus's gates and stab the bastards in the back while they watch the juggling act." He can't help but be patronizing, it's in his nature. "Hurrah, The Amazing Rotundo!" He calls out, raising his steiner up high before drinking from it generously. Jarret looks to Hack and nods before returning his eyes to Clifford.
Hack smiles at Jarret's comments,
Aye, our portly friend is a good diversion, but I hope he can do more than juggle?
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Clifford nods to the complement and then switches up his juggling, moving so the two men can see the ruined building behind him.
One by one the colored glass balls disappear (back under his tunic), until he gets to the last ball which he tosses in a high arc at the already scorched wood.
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When the ball hits the building it shatters and erupts into a ball of flame. The mini explosion rocks a few of the timber and the flames cover a good ten feet of area before dying out.
Clifford stepped back a little at the explosion, not quit sure if he had meant for it to be so big. Turning towards the two men once more he dust off his hands. "I use to make those smaller to just give off a little light and smoke. I found mixing in a little bat guano and sulfur gave them an extra kick."
HP: 10/10
AC: 16 (T:14, FF:12)
INIT: +3 Speed; 30'
FORT: +3, REF: +5, WILL: +0
CMB: +0, CMD: 13
extracts(2/day): jump, open slot
mutagen: DEX (+4 DEX, +2 NAT ARMOR, -2 WIS) 10 min.
Melee:
mace +0 (1d6, x2) B
dagger +0 (1d4, 19-20x2) P/S
Range:
dagger +3 (1d4, 19-20x2)range:10' P/S
bomb(3/4) +4 (1d6+3, x2)range:20' FIRE (special- throw splash weapon, splash dmg=4; relfex save DC13 for half)
Hack arches his eyebrows at Jarret after the explosion, chugs the remainder of his ale and bangs the tankard on the porch post repeatedly.
Here, here, Cliff! Well done! Now THAT could come in handy, eh Jarret?
Melina:
from in side you hear
"I hope you did not dent the porch post."
STR Check:
Ahhh...just some love taps to show my appreciation, Melina.
the post is not dented
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Clifford blushes slightly under the complement and looks on eager to see if Jarret approves.
"I'm also good with the occasional lock or trap. As well as able to brew up a few concoctions, if I have the time and materials that is." he says hurriedly to add.
He hopes it is enough to allow him to join in and help give these goblins and cultist a taste of their own medicine.
You hear a scream from beyond the fence and gates.
The scream is for help, you hear the a few words "Help and goblins"
The scream is from a child.
Perception:
Hack quickly draws his Axe, and as he leaps from the porch and rushes to the front gates, he yells,
That was a child's scream, goblins are attackin'! Let's go!