Bastargrae flinched like a child beneath a scolding parent's hovering hand as though expecting a beating.He hunched his shoulders and cringed away from the big brutish man intent on pulverizing him over something as trivial as brewing tea.
...Away from me,you blackguard! I've done nothing to warrant such treatment.Leave me be or you'll regret it,sirhe yelped in a shrill voice.
Although he was a bit unnerved by the man's threat,Bastargrae still managed to concentrate on using the power his extract granted him. He blew out a cone of flame that licked the man's foot and went as soon as it came in the damp air.It left the man's leather breeches steaming and slightly signed.
A tad disappointing, really.
The zealot eye's go out of focus a split second.. he then lowers his weapon, and grimaces at Jacques "Och... You're prob'ly right."
More and more are getting involved in the push toward the opera house. A large group surges.. leaving a couple bloodied Chelish thugs in their wake. The Dottari guard shifts east to address the swell in resistance. The armored soldiers look unaffected by the rioters' assaults.. the only danger to them is sheer numbers, and the little restraint they do show.
There is a brief flash of flame on the west side of the fountain... a few shrieks and gasps. It sends some running... a few out of fright, a few actually burned. The target of the blast cocks his head, "I knew you'd be trouble, gnome...."
"Oh... thank you." Asha stammers out a reply as the tiefling she has been helping slips a wax coin in her hand. She quickly tucks the coin away and nods towards a woman in the crowd who seemed quite intent on reaching them. "Is that a friend of yours? She seems to be in trouble with these thugs."
The thug avoids Erodel's strike, then grins as he turns to fully face him.
"Heh.. alright."
The thug attempts a clumsy half-feint before striking, and misses.
He then whistles sharply, and motions for a nearby ally to join him... unaware of his ally's current condition.
The Chelish thug after Idril gets distracted by other rioters passing between them. Another thug - who'd been perched on the south edge of the fountain - although occupied with other rioters, he is making his way closer to you as well.
B'laiclau responds in the brief respite "We've never met, but I know of her. A rising star where Barzillai Thrune now resides." He bows his head to Idril.
Frustrated,Bastargrae scuttled to the side of the man with the crossbow who had apparently come to his aid.Tears or sweat pricked his eyes as he fluttered his lashes to clear them.
Thank the goodly gods...This uncouth bully is trying to cave my skull in for no reason than I was serving tea. Attempted homicide is no justification for being a vendor!He bawled,tugging at his savior's pant leg and pointing.
"You should accompany me good sir, to make sure no further misunderstandings occur, failing that, you should leave this place, afore the throng of protesters turn their wrath upon you, tearing you limb from limb."
Indio continues to move towards the Gnomish purveyor of fine brews.
Idril bounced through the crowd until she finally made it to B'laiclau. There she gasped for breath while simultaneously curtsying and introducing herself to him and Asha.
Though all she could get out is "...Idril..." and gesture to herself.
The black-skinned woman nods in greeting at Idril. "I am Asha. We should move away from the crowd." She takes a look around, straining to see beyond the wall of bodies around them, keeping watch for more of those brutish guards.
"B'laiclau." He bows his head to Idril, then nods to and follows Asha. He casts an eye behind to be sure Idril accompanies them safely.
Indio's charmed thug sidles up beside him.. "I won't fail that." as he reaches the gnome tea merchant.
The rioters surge wherever the dottari guard have left gaps in their defensive line.. the guard adjusts. Though neither side seems to be gaining much ground, only the rioters are dropping. Two more soldiers come trotting in from the west, and collide with the crowd.. swinging and bashing.
Bastargrae beamed with nearly hysterical glee at the two bigfolk flanking him--even one of the thugs had been converted by the dusky gentleman he'd exchanged pleasantries with prior to the riot.
He leered up at the outnumbered bully and waggled his walking stick at him,clicking his tongue.Me and my companions will be taking our leave now,he said smugly.If you be so kind as to sod off...
The thug struck by Erodel drops... out cold.
>This shows where you spotted a man who may be your contact<
You now see two Chelish thugs charge into that alley.. weapons raised.
The charmed thug scoffs, and voices a complaint to his new friend Indiro.
"Look at that! These people... Street trash with falchions!? He should be in chains!" He gathers the manacles from his hip in the fist not wielding the truncheon. "Can't see the harm in cracking his skull, you?"
THe two thugs nearest Asha and Idril are still occupied.... However, as they catch sight of each other, the one who'd grappled Idril appears to point her out to the other.
"Master B'laiclau!" Idril addressed the tiefling, patting her hair back into place. "I understand you know Shenshen! Is she here at the protest?" She asked, looking around as if the star were going to leap into view at any moment.
Outwardly, Indio is a picture of serenity, inwardly he is cursing at the new complication.
How do I head this confrontation off? Appeal to duty? No, technically he IS trying to do his duty.
Self-preservation? That may work better, he does seem like a standard bullyboy.
"Be careful my good man, Attacking an armed man like that could have unforeseen consequences, especially as your own armament does not seem to be his equal.
Also, I hesitate to point this out, but he has already downed one, and you are currently without backup, in a hostile crowd, many who are failing against the guards, but still quite willing to shed blood..."
As he speaks, Indio does his best to catch the armed man's gaze, surreptitiously motioning with his free hand for him to move away.
Noticing the attention of the guards on them, Asha attempts to shepherd them out of the crowd. "Please, miss, it's not safe here. We should move away, the guards seem quite keen on us." She feels the familiar tingle in her arms and the heat in her chest as her magic flares inside her; images flash through her mind as she watches the guards, willing them to look away, to leave them alone.
Outta our way,if you please,wheedled the gnome tea merchant, rapping impatiently at the knees of the bully blocking his immediate path. His sheathed sword cane bounced off the man's thickly padded leather breeches without leaving so much as a bruise.
Like a stubborn ox!
The thug clenches his fist as the gnome smacks him, but heeds the advice he's been given. He squats down to check the breathing of the fallen.. sees no mortal wound.. turns to look at Indiro...
"Can get out of the riot on your own, friend? My comrade... I should drag him to safety."
B'laiclau responds to Idril "I do. I'd thought she might have come, but haven't seen her... she's not been seen for a while." He follows Asha eyes with her warning, and nods. While pulling a flask from his waistcoat.. "You've been very kind. There is a chance.. I might be a target... time to disappear." he raises the flask like a toast, chugs it, and literally disappears.
The bulk of the dottari guard straighten their line while the two on the west sweep eastward viciously. Though well over a dozen rioters have been taken out of the fight, it is a drop in the bucket... no visible effect on the herd.
Bastargrae scurried after the burly man with the crossbow and scimitar, flailing about with his cane and holding onto his hat in his attempt to keep pace and not get treaded upon.
Idril looked around, disappointed.
"Well then. Shall we too disappear?" She asked Asha. "I was hoping to see Shenshen, but if she's not going to be here I might as well go home. I definitely don't want those government thugs to put their greasy hands all over my good clothing. I get enough of that at work!" She said, straightening her scarves.
"Well then. Shall we too disappear?"
"Yes, I think that would be wise. Where do you live, miss? With things how they are now, it might be a good idea to not walk around the city alone." Asha keeps moving as she talks, at a pace that allows Idril to walk alongside, away from the crowd but without picking a definite direction. Her voice is shaking slightly and she keeps glancing over her shoulder as if to check for pursuit.
Erodel, Indiro, and Bastargrae make there way through the crowd... staying behind those pressing against the phalanx of guards, the only path remotely clear leads them east by the trees near the water.
Exiting the throng - at the same moment as Asha and Idril, you all see fire coming from near the opera doors. The screams and shrieks cut through the other noise. As the rioters begin to scatter, you see the commander has returned... with a hellhound at her side breathing flame.
Meanwhile.. in an alley not far ahead, you see a man fighting off three Chelish thugs. He wields a rapier in one hand, the other gloveless hand dangles with a thin stream of blood trickling down to the flagstone.
"A gentleman in need of aid it would seem. I do not believe I can give him proper aid alone, what say you?"
Realizing that the alley offers the best chance of escape, Indio begins to move towards it.
As soon as he lays eyes properly on the foes, his eyes flashes and bore into the closest one.
"Good sir, fight through and join us, your chances of survival are much better that way."
Having said so, he then draws forth the blade hidden in his cane, and lifts it in salute.
Indignant at the spread of criminality, Idril stepped forward (to (K,3)).
"ALL YOU HOOLIGANS! BE OFF WITH YOU!" She shouted.
Stooping, she picked up a random stone, unslung a scarf and formed a loop, dropped the stone in, whirled it around and slung it at the thug at (K,15).
for a possible bludgeoning damage.
Things are getting out of control. This is no law enforcement, this is tyranny and thuggery!
Asha does not wait for encouragement to come to the aid of the lone man in the alley. She dashes forward, frantically thinking up options. Behind her, Idril is shouting and throwing stones. Perhaps shouting would be a viable strategy, this way the thugs will know that their actions will not go unwitnessed... and hopefully they'll stop before causing serious damage.
Bastargrae skidded into the alley,grasping his cane and giving it a deft twist to reveal it was a sword cane similar to Indio's,only smaller and the blade resembling a vicious needle.
His hands trembling with nerves due to having never drawn the blade free prior to this moment,Bastargrae scurried into the alley with his unsheathed blade leading the way.
I'm sick of bullies like you tormenting people!!he screeched more out of fear than anger.
At least he wasn't alone.
Idril's stone smacks the nearest thug in the shoulder blade.
He turns, and swings .. barely missing Erodel.
The injured citizen glances to the group "How delicious is this?", nods to Indiro.. "Heard and understood, my good man... though between you and me, the main purpose of my blade is to look good and.. at best threatening whilst sheathed on my hip."
He seconds Bastargrae's declaration.. "As am I!", and thrusts his rapier at the foe between you as he lunges forward. He leaves himself open for an wallop from behind, the third thug tries to get a hold of him.
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Round 2________________
"GO ON WITH YE!" She shouted.
Idril advanced another thirty feet (to (K,9), snatched up another broken paving stone, whirled and slung it again to the same guy (K,15).
for a possible bludgeoning damage.
for a possible extra bludgeoning damage.
Idril's stone cracks the cheekbone of the nearest thug.
Erodel's swing drives him into the wall.. he slumps down unmoving.
Witnessing the brutal blow up close, the injured citizen's eyes go wide, and his mouth purses to a tiny "o".
Bastargrae, being unversed in combat,ran at the nearest thug with his bared blade.The needle of keen steel promptly struck an unfortunate man's buttock that was within the gnome's reach.
Yet failed to penetrate the leather breeches,instead resulting in a bruising poke more than anything.
Things were getting quite violent in the cramped confines of the alley and Asha had no wish to become the target of a sword swing, intentional or not. She takes another tentative step forward and shouts, putting all her outrage and conviction in her voice, her pointing hand fairly trembling with fury (and maybe a little bit of fear). "Stop harassing citizens, you worm-bellied bullies!"
Indio moves to take the place vacated by the falchion wielding warrior, motioning for the one gloved man to move behind them.
He then focuses his flashing eyes on the bullyboy straight ahead and to the right of him, preparing to strike should an enemy approach.
The injured man slips between Erodel and Indiro "Pardon me.. excuse me.. thank you so much... ", and reaches the end of the alley. He smiles and nods to Asha and Idril as he steps to the side "Let me just get out of the way...."
He pulls a flask from his belt pouch, as his gaze goes to the two Chelish thugs approaching from the northwest, he assures Asha and Idril "None to worry.. I'll be right as rain in a snap."
The nearer Chelish thug approaches with a confident jog , the second (the same who'd harassed Idril) lags twenty feet behind with an injured leg. The riot behind them has quickly turned from mass melee to protestors fleeing the area.
The Chelish thug directly across from Erodel brings his Asmodean amulet to his lips, before moving at him. Disregarding the gnome, he charges.. truncheon raised, but fails to hit his target.
The thug tapped by Bastargrae "You picked the wrong day to grow a spine, gnome." swings awkwardly - unaccustomed to gnome-swatting.
Round 3________________
"Pick on someone yer own size!" She shouted.
Idril snatched up another broken paving stone, whirled and slung it again to the same guy (K,15).
for a possible bludgeoning damage.
"Better luck next time", says Asha, patting Idril on her throwing arm. Strangely, the spot where she touches the other woman glows briefly. She breathes in sharply as one of the thugs swings at the gnome, How very brave of him, to charge in like that!, and takes three steps forward, prepared to come to the fellow's aid if need be.
Asha huffs in frustration as the bullies ignore her suggestion. I just need to try harder. This time, she takes a few steps forward and directs her efforts at the one attacking the gnome. "Leave him alone!"
Dear me, that was a poor showing.
AoO
Feeling unusually confident in the crowded alley,Bastargrae ducked under the thug's lazy swing and saw an opening.He struck with a stinging poke that left a satisfyingly red hole in the man's leather breeches in his thigh.
The odd sensation of wounding a foe sent a thrill up his spine.
Do this is what combat feels like...What a dizzying rush! Terrifying and satisfying all at once!
Attk
Damage
He unstuck his blade from the passing thug's leg and tried again,seeking higher upon his torso.Preferably his arse.
Idril's stone misses the target.
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Oh my, I surely have allowed my skills to rust. I shall have to resume my lessons most emphatically.
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The thug facing off against Erodel and Indiro reels from the blow. He takes a couple steps back, and takes a defensive stance. He risks a quick glance toward his nearby comrade. "Ignore him! Gnome with a %^$@ hatpin!? Get up here!"
The scolded thug growls as he stoops to scoot the tea merchant back as he advance to his comrade's side. "Move it... poke me again, and I stuff you in a sack."
The Chelish reinforcements move closer... Black-eye veers to get a better view of the alley before getting too close... Limper overworks his uninjured appendages to keep up. "Done pullin punches..." Black eye's statement sounds as though they intend to engage.
The man you'd just rescued drinks his flask, and moves up by Idril. As he settles into a stance..
"Name's Rexus... pleasure to meet you." introduces himself with a quick nod and unworried grin to Idril.
"No! Stop!" shouts Asha, stamping a foot on the cobbles. "Attacking people in alleyways, you thugs! Stand down!" She fairly vibrates with indignation, fists bunched and face screwed up in concentration as she wills the man behind the gnome to stop assaulting the people who have come to the defense of their victim.
"Ah, now the narrow passage begins to work against us, it is imperative that we push on through before we become boxed in."
Indignant at the thug's attempt to handle him like some unruly child,Bastargrae squirmed free from the man's attempt to stoop down and scoot him aside.Seeing his throat within reach,the gnome lashed out with the needle thin blade.
The thug's reflexes saved him from a haircut below the chin. All his strike did was sever a lock of damp black hair.
Hatpin?! I'll just treat you like a pincushion, then!huffed the tea merchant.