"We are the eight!" Akari yells with a fiery passion. Taking on new identities was never a problem for her, but this was different, it meant so much more.
As the ritual goes on, Akari looks up at the others, confused as to the source of these additional chantings.
"I must lack creativity"
"We are the eight!
A shot of pain runs through her chest as she purges the thought of the imminent death of the sage. She closes her eyes and embraces the new power now coursing through her veins.
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After a brief flash of blue twisting light, a new world materializes around you.
Your have appeared in the centre of an ornate town square, the floor a writhing mosaic depicting demons and angels clashing. Its black tiles are however strewn with brown dust and other matter which gives off a foul odour, but is nothing compared to what emerges from the north: an immense space the size of a large jousting field, piled high with what might politely be called horse-leavings. The far edge of the field is a river, and you can just see huge barges collecting and removing piles and piles of the field's... contents.
To the east, south and west are tall buildings, which for some reason have no windows facing towards the square. Long stone benches rest against the walls of these buildings, but otherwise the entire square is deserted. The sun hangs low in the sky, not yet night but the darkness is fast approaching.
As one, the orphans slap both hands against their noses and mouths to block the overpowering stench.
Needing time to gather her thoughts, Mellany makes for the nearest bench and sits down. She looks to the eight-pointed star that appeared on her arm during the oath taking to confirm that her memories are real. The blue mark fades away as she watches, but she can definitely feel it's presence. "Whatever's going on, it isn't a dream," Mellany says. "Dreams are never this aromatic."
"Phew," Aleksandyr said when they arrived outside of the prison. He was left reeling but the overpowering smell of mature assaulted his senses like a charging knight on horseback. He placed his hand over his nose and breathed out. "I think we need to get out of the city or find a place to lay low until we get our bearings straight. Surely word will spread throughout the guard that eight prisoners escaped and we don't need that right now." Aleksandyr nodded as he offered his council on their immediate ordeal.
The stench clogs his nostrils, delivering a sundering wallop to his head, its almost dizzing. Shaking his head to get his wits back, Aromar surveys his new location. Wonder and amazement reign, at the teleportation, at the dramatic turn of events, his new powers and the unknown weight of the oath's obligation.
He nods an affirmative at Aleksandyr.
'Is there anything useful here in the immediate vicinity - an improvised weapon, a clearer direction to take?'
'Where are we and what's the quickest way out' He thinks to himself.
"This place is vaguely familiar, unless someone else knows their way, I think heading south through the alle might lead us to a busy street where we may have a better chance of 'getting lost' in the crowd. What about the children, where might we take them?"
"It may just be me but I think they know this place better than we do. If we're getting out of this city we're best of letting the guide us."
He turns to the maimed kids, "What do you guys think, can you help us get out of this place?"
"If we decide to leave the city," Mellany says with a smile, "I bet they don't search those barges carefully. But I really have to find Cat before leaving."
Urk. Taurven almost loses the contents of his stomach, but gains control just in time.
Taurven pulls his shirt up over his nose and mouth; he finds the smell of his own armpits to be preferable to the stench of excrement.
We need to find weapons and gear before we go anywhere. Taurven adds.
I don't feel good about just abandoning these kids to the streets either. Taurven has visions of setting up an orphanage, but he knows such a project would take vast amounts of gold.
Blast reels a little upon appearing in the square, and holds his breath for a moment until he can get used to the noxious smell. He glances around, noticing the blue symbol fade from his arm, and listens to the others as they voice their opinions.
"I agree, Alek," the tiefling nods. "I'd like to head back to my house and shop, but they're probably being watched, or will be soon."
He nods as Aromar, Alian, and Mellany speak. "If we want to stay in the city, I agree with Aromar--we should get lost in the crowds. But if we want to escape, then I also think we should have these little rascals help us."
"Inveniemus eum certe, non curas," Blast says to Mellany. "Alchimia libri mihi mi vel aliquam novam ipse."
"Gratias," Mellany responds to Blast. "Scio omne quod videtur absurdum soliciti Vestibulum factitatum felis sed est amicus meus. Vestibulum accipere librum reversus est."
Mellany stands and stretches. Despite being near an acrid dung heap, the night air feels good after the confines of the prison. "First things first. We need to help our young friends get someplace where the guards won't find them. Since they know these street better than us, I think they should lead the way."
"Gratias," Mellany responds to Blast. "Scio omne quod videtur absurdum soliciti Vestibulum factitatum felis sed est amicus meus. Vestibulum accipere librum reversus est."
Mellany stands and stretches. Despite being near an acrid dung heap, the night air feels good after the confines of the prison. "First things first. We need to help our young friends get someplace where the guards won't find them. Since they know these street better than us, I think they should lead the way."
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"I should think we'd lead you!" the boss child, Bob, says scornfully. "We live on these streets! You're the ones who are prison escapers in a dangerous town. We've got our hideouts and routes you know- it took a damn DEMON to catch us!" the boy's voice grows somewhat prideful at his words, and he turns to Mellany. "Look, babe, we owe you for getting us out of there. We don't know how you did it- all those words made my head whirl- but we owe you. We won't tell anyone about ya, and when you really need help, you can call onnus. And I wouldn go leaving the city- nothing but empty spaces for miles around, and a ton of army camps and training posts."
With a gesture from the lad, the other children scamper away down the streets, grabbing dirt from the ground to rub into their faces before disappearing off in groups of twos and threes. The boy's face becomes slightly inqusitive as he looks up at Mellany. "Doll, could I get another look at that mark or tattoo or whateveritis you got there? I think i've seen something like dat before..."
"Doll, I like that. All right, Bob," Mellany nods and approaches the boy. "It kind of faded on me, so there might not be much to see." She pushes back the sleeve of her dress and notices that the mark comes back into view as she thinks about it. Showing the mark on her forearm to Bob, Mellany asks, "So, what do you know about this?"
'Hmm one minute the hand of fate is held by an old man uttering his last few breaths, and now ours lies in the hands of of children barely out of the womb.'
The symbol was on a wall somewhere? What were the odds of that be a fluke, it had to somehow be related. "Could you take us there? It might indeed be very interesting."
"Its a start," Aleksandyr reasoned. If they could trust the children, who were more or less in their debt, then they would make it easier for them to avoid the guards and find a place of safety within the city.
"Agreed," Blast nods to Aleksandyr. "And we need to start somewhere. May as well start with what has to be more than a coincidence."
Blast sighs deeply, looking at his surroundings, then down at his mark, which burns brightly again for a moment.
"I don't think we're going to see many true coincidences anymore."
"Thanks, Bob," Mellany says as she adjusts her sleeve so the mark is hidden again. "Let's go to the White Lily and meet your friend Shelia."
"Its the most promising option we have, lets be off, at this rate it'll take a hurricane to rid these clothes of this stench."
As of right now, all Akari keeps day dreaming about taking a nice warm bath, and relaxing her mind, though it did not seem likely this would be happening any time soon.
Still shaken up from the events of the last hour, Akari follows along with the rest of the party to the White Lilly, extremely suspicious of everyone who's eye she catches in the streets. She especially keeps an extra eye open for anyone who may be following the party.
Yeah, let's get out of here. Taurven catches up with Bob and Mellany. Any thoughts on where we can get some weapons? I'd feel a lot better if I had at least a dagger in my belt.
Taurven slouches down and tries to keep to the shadows.
Stealth:
OK, Mellany, we can do this. Don't try to hide just walk down these streets like you own them and everyone else needs to stay out of your sight.
Pyrrius clenches his fist as he watches the mark on his arm fade before entering a state of introspection to determine the mark's effects. Noticing the others begin to move off, he replayed the conversation that he had pushed to the background. The White Lily? Interesting.
He then moves to join the group, using his size and a menacing demeanor to his advantage to make his way through the crowds, keeping an eye open for a doublecross, or an onrush of guards.
Blast tries to slink through the crowd, making sure to keep his tail hidden, and trying to keep a low profile unworthy of notice, while watching for danger himself.
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All of you successfully manage to slink through or cow the crowd so that they do not trouble you... except Blast. The kinder of the crowd simply avert their eyes, the rest point and shout and jeer as Blast trips and bumps against a number of carts, drawing gazes. One particular dirty-faced man in a studded brown jerkin's face contorts at the sight of Blast and his tail and darts into an alley, his purpose reveals as you pass the next alley and two sets of hands reach out to grab Blast by his tail and waist.
"Filthy tiefling!"
Blast yelps as his tail is grabbed. "Slepptu mér, vitleysa-fyrir-gáfur þú heimskingjanna!" he curses, struggling against them. Then he calls, "Mellany! Aromar! Everyone!"
Perception:
Initiative:
Taurven is skulking along on the far side of the ally. (G-10)
E10
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Initiative Order:
Them
You fellows
Perceptions:
Surprise Round:
Two thugs reach out of the alley and grab Blast, pulling him off the street. The other flings a dagger at him, and connects.
Round 1:
Blue Thug continues grappling Blast and maintains his grip.
Red Thug lets go and draws a longsword, striking at Blast and dropping him to the ground. (5 damage)
Green Thug gives a grin of malicious satisfaction and walks over to Blast to start sorting through his belongings.
New Map.
You guys are up.
"Blast!" Mellany shouts when she sees the sword wielding thug strike her friend. She sprints forward and starts chanting. "כמה זמן אתם שוכבים שם, אתה עצל? מתי לקום מהשינה שלך?"
"Hey, leave him alone!" The knight spoke up when he noticed his companion being attacked. Drawing his sword, he rushed for the alley while he saw the man attacking Blast fall to the ground with a snore. The man fell and gave way to the sight of three individuals. He tightened his grip on his sword with both hands and swung at the thug to provide a threat. "Back off!"