"It's always useful to have friend in the right sort of places Mr Hollyshan," Karrin says, "I suspect we'll be in touch. Well seeing as your lot is here I'd better collect my associates, nobody is going wandering in here all unexpected like with your lot camped outside. We got other things to take care of as well as tying up some loose ends before this thing busts open."
The richly-dressed Taker smiles thinly again
"Indeed. Should you find this cipher, please come and see me, Lady... ?"
As he asks Karrin's name the Harmonium start clanking back down the stairs.
Drazek walks straigth forward treating the beggars as if invisible.
Merle remembering what happened last time she handed out money follows Drazek's lead
Merle and Drazek stick by Issac as a ragged whirl of beggars surges past them.
At Drazek's lead, Bethany dives out the window behind him, unfurling her wings and riding an updraft to the lip of the roof opposite the window. She watches the Hardheads through the window for a moment, before taking off after the others, landing beside Drazek and giving him a nod and a grin at their close call.
She pushes her way through the beggars and stops with the others near the fountain, her wings spread around her and Drazek in an attempt to shield them from the beggars surrounding them.
Isaac nods toward the triad of Dustmen.
"Let's cool our heels, cutters. Somethin' tells me those bloods ain't here fer the ambiance."
He tries to get a bit closer to the Dead so he can eavesdrop.
"Kind," Karrin says, "of the Silver Rose, and don't worry about that. That thing would be too dangerous for someone without backing to hold onto. If we come across it I think it's safe to say we'd be looking to unload it fast."
Karrin waits to see if the guards come back down dragging anyone and when she sees the guards returning empty handed she turns to the others.
"Okay gang," Karrin says to the others, "looks like the bonus has flown the coop, time to collect the primary and get back home."
Miss a day in this game and you're toast! :)
Bethany's exotic winged appearance seems to keep the beggars off. One does approach though, a woman with serious grooming issues.
"Lady angel! Use your powers of good to heal me brainbox! It's all wiggly in the whozerpants! I gots rot grubs in me shins and they sing so loud!"
The ragged bird-nest-haired woman advances on Bethany, pupils so wide she looks as if her eyes are black
Isaac nods toward the triad of Dustmen.
"Let's cool our heels, cutters. Somethin' tells me those bloods ain't here fer the ambiance."
He tries to get a bit closer to the Dead so he can eavesdrop.
Issac slides off from the others and ghosts along the crowd towards the cluster of Dead and undead.
"Okay gang," Karrin says to the others, "looks like the bonus has flown the coop, time to collect the primary and get back home."
The Harmonium troops clatter down the stairs. Their leader, still tugging at his plate suspiciously, walks to the bar,
"No sign of him, Factor. He gave this place the laugh, and the room's been tossed. All we found was .."
Factor Gervais shushes him with an upraised hand.
"You can give me a full report later Measure Var'Orgmed. For now, I believe our work here is complete."
The factor nods to Karrin
"A pleasure meeting you Lady Kind."
The Takers and their Hardhead allies depart the Butcher's Block.
Ekuur tries to ascertain the sincerity of Factor Gervais in his talks with Karrin.
Sense Motive
Ekuur tosses back the last of his mug, then mentions to Justin, "Hmm. My first interaction with that faction. I do not think I like them."
Isaac nods toward the triad of Dustmen.
"Let's cool our heels, cutters. Somethin' tells me those bloods ain't here fer the ambiance."
He tries to get a bit closer to the Dead so he can eavesdrop.Issac slides off from the others and ghosts along the crowd towards the cluster of Dead and undead.
Stealth
Ekuur tries to ascertain the sincerity of Factor Gervais in his talks with Karrin.
Sense Motive 1d20+9
Ekuur tosses back the last of his mug, then mentions to Justin, "Hmm. My first interaction with that faction. I do not think I like them."
Ekuur:
stealthy mode
Issac works his way fairly unobtrusively through the crowd of Hives thronging the area surrounding Allesha's Pantry. It is hard to stay unobtrusive in this crowd, since he is dressed much nicer and armed with a sodding huge sword. However, the Dead trio and their bony companions don't seem to be paying any attention to him.
As he gets closer, he notes that the three men in Dustman rig are very pale. One is wearing a set of red-tinted goggles and scanning the crowd in a slow sweep. The other two carry ... something ... in their hands, but Issac can't make out exactly what from the distance he has stopped at. He'd go closer, but that would put him a little close to the bubble of space the Hivers are leaving around the Deadites.
The skeletons are almost indistinguishable from someone wearing full plate, except that their visors are up, revealing their fleshless brainboxes. The carry black greatswords, and Issac isn't sure, but they seem to be scanning the crowd as well, something quite unusual for mindless undead to be doing. The breatplate of the skellys' platemail features a silver-embossed screaming skull, the Dead's faction sigul.
Ekuur tries to ascertain the sincerity of Factor Gervais in his talks with Karrin.
Sense Motive 1d20+9
Ekuur tosses back the last of his mug, then mentions to Justin, "Hmm. My first interaction with that faction. I do not think I like them."
"Could have been an illuminated agent sent to clean up the shadowknave's mess," Karrin whispers back, "otherwise just some mid level grinder looking to make a name for himself. You must have seen the type back home. Places are different but people remain the same."
Merle seeing deaders and crazy people on all sides decides to try and slink off down a side ally away from the crowds.
Swire also decides that there's no reason to be here and stalks off.
Isaac bends his keen eyes and ears toward the contingent of the Dead.
Perception
"Could have been an illuminated agent sent to clean up the shadowknave's mess," Karrin whispers back, "otherwise just some mid level grinder looking to make a name for himself. You must have seen the type back home. Places are different but people remain the same."
"Yes. We called them templars."
Drazek keeps an eye on Isaac, realy to lay down cover fire if needed. Glancing over at Bethany he makes sure they stand in a spot with overhead clearance.
Isaac bends his keen eyes and ears toward the contingent of the Dead.
Perception 1d20+16
Issac:
"That one."
"No. A shifted Hamatula."
"That one."
"A shifted Bralani."
"That one."
"Elf with a glammered visage."
The bony guards look about, their glowing red eyes raking the crowd. After a fairly long period, one opens its bony jaws and croaks in a sepulchral voice rusty with disuse.
"We need to move forward and rally with Team Gamma. They have swept the Great Bazaar and are heading to the Temple District. We will meet them there."
The Deaders all turn and begin walking towards the Lower Ward.
Isaac slips back to Drazek and Bethany, looking around to see where Merle and Swire split off to.
"Let's give this place the laugh, cutters. The Dead are scannin' the crowd, looks like fer shapeshifters or some bloody thing. Let's head back to the Butcher's Block and see if our crew's still coolin' their heels. Any sign o' Hardheads, though, we hit the Black Sail instead."
Swire also decides that there's no reason to be here and stalks off.
Merle seeing deaders and crazy people on all sides decides to try and slink off down a side ally away from the crowds.
The alleys around here are choked with refuse and squatter shacks. Merle's delicate senses are assaulted by half-a-hundred different stenches. There are twisting 'roads' through the back lots of many of the buildings here in this section of the Hive. She could explore them if she so wished ..
Karrin pulls her companions out into the street.
"let's get going," Karrin says, then quickly adds in a much lover voice, "doesn't matter which direction, out eyes in the sky should pick us up."
Bethany looks at the beggar coming her way and sneers. "That's it. Drazek, Merle, cover your ears and start making your way after the sneaky one." She waits until both of them are covering their ears and are moving away, giving them both a grin as she begins to sing.
Bethany begins to sing. It is a haunting melody, and many of the Hivers look up in wonder. Dozens of ragged men and women start to crowd about the harpy bard, enraptured. Others break away and run as fast as they can.
Bethany waits until the others are well clear of the throng, before launching herself into the air, resisting the urge to take a parting swipe at the woman who approached her. She wings in a spiral around the square for a moment, before taking off after the others, keeping to the air as she does so.
As Bethany heads for the skies she sees a large pale-skinned white-winged figure emerge from Allesha's Pantry and arc into the sky in a blaze of feathers. It seems to be headed right for her at amazing speed.
Fly Check:
Out of the corner of her eye as she begins to fly after the others, Bethany catches sight of a blur of white wings coming from the doorway of the Pantry and head straight for her. She wheels to the right and then jukes back to the left in an attempt to avoid a collision, as it seems as though whatever it is is intent on flying at her.
Bethany jinks and dives over the crazyquilt of Hive buildings, trying to get away from whoever is chasing her. Unfortunately it is to no avail. A tall being with marble-white skin, royal blue eyes, platinum blonde hair, and blinding white wings dressed in a very small loincloth flys up astride her as if she was standing still. He seems to be unarmed, and his eyes are puzzled-looking.
"Winged one. Why did you beguile those mortals?"
Merle seeing deaders and crazy people on all sides decides to try and slink off down a side ally away from the crowds.The alleys around here are choked with refuse and squatter shacks. Merle's delicate senses are assaulted by half-a-hundred different stenches. There are twisting 'roads' through the back lots of many of the buildings here in this section of the Hive. She could explore them if she so wished ..
Part of her realises she should probably stay with the others....but another louder part is very curious on what she may find "Spent to much time with Swift." She mumbles to herself as she begins to explore.
"Spent to much time with Swift." She mumbles to herself as she begins to explore.
Merle:
Merle keeps exploring, until the alley she's following debouches into what looks to be an old building lot. The tenement that stood here has long fallen, the stone and rotted slivers of wood all that is left. In the cellar hole a small squatter village has sprung up, several hodgepodge dwellings crowded together around a central fire pit. Several hunched ragged beings are cooking a meal on the fitful flames. The walls surrounding this empty lot are a massive scrawl of graffitti.
Perception
Perception
1d20 + 4
Merle suddenly feels something sharp poking her kidney. Someone is at her back with a knife. A voice whispers in her ear.
"Easy now, kitty. No sudden moves."
Seph sees a short figure in dark robes sweep out of a dark corner and come up behind Merle.
Seph stay quite and out of sight Merle says over the mind link before turning to the situation at hand and getting directly to the point she simply asks "What do you want?" whilst positioning herself to be as none threatening as possible.
Seph meekly obeys hiding in the shadows and watching
Isaac, stares in astonishment as Bethany gathers the Hivers and takes off... and seems to have pursuit.
"Bloody Cage.", he says to Drazek,"Can't run a sodding errand without a bloody to-do."
He looks between the empty bit of sky at the center of the Ring and the surroundings in the Hive, debating in his brainbox. He sighs.
"We're more use scannin' fer Merle an' Swire unless you can grow sodding wings, cutter. Let's see if I can get a trail of her..."
Isaac will start looking for tracks or sign of Merle, since Swire's boots are likely unidentifiable from any other Hiver's.
Survival (tracking, modified for favored terrain)
Swire also decides that there's no reason to be here and stalks off.
Isaac and Patrick
Merle and Patrick
Merle & Issac:
Seph stay quite and out of sight Merle says over the mind link before turning to the situation at hand and getting directly to the point she simply asks "What do you want?" whilst positioning herself to be as none threatening as possible.
The man at her back whispers
"Nuffin' fancy, jest yer coinpurse. No tricks now."
The man keeps the knife close to her, while he gropes for Merle's beltpouches.
Perception:
Swire walks leisurely through the crowd on Two Lamp Lane back to the Butcher's Block. He spots the folks that stayed in the common room emerging, right after the Hardheads clank off down the street.
As he walks to meet them, a screech makes all of them look up. The sky is full of cottony grey fog clouds, and two winged forms can be seen streaking in and out of them. It looks like Bethany being chased by an angel, of all things.
Karrin and Naridre recognize the angel: It is Unity Of Rings, the Angel of the Cage. He is known to help out at Allesha's Pantry, where both Nari and Karrin met him. Why he would be chasing Bethany is anyone's guess. It is surprising, as he is one of the most non-violent beings ever to set foot in the Cage.
Seph stay quite and out of sight Merle says over the mind link before turning to the situation at hand and getting directly to the point she simply asks "What do you want?" whilst positioning herself to be as none threatening as possible.The man at her back whispers
"Nuffin' fancy, jest yer coinpurse. No tricks now."
The man keeps the knife close to her, while he gropes for Merle's beltpouches.
Stealth
"Look up in the sky," Karrin gasps pointing, "what's going on?"
"Look up in the sky," Karrin gasps pointing, "what's going on?"
Swire steps out of the crowd next to Karrin, smirking as always. "Looks like our little harpy's dealing with a bloody halo at the moment. So, anything interesting happen while I was out?"
"So uh you're not Shadowknave then?" Merle inwardly curses she thought she was onto something but all she had found was a common thief. As best she can she try's to see what the rest of the squatters are doing.
"Look up in the sky," Karrin gasps pointing, "what's going on?"Swire steps out of the crowd next to Karrin, smirking as always. "Looks like our little harpy's dealing with a bloody halo at the moment. So, anything interesting happen while I was out?"
"But I thought he was a pacifist," Nari says, confused, watching Unity of Rings chasing Bethany.
"And where is everybody else?"
"But I thought he was a pacifist," Nari says, confused, watching Unity of Rings chasing Bethany.
"And where is everybody else?"
"He is? Well, first time for everything."
"I decided to give them the laugh before they started giving jink to barmies or something silly like that."