"Then we stop by this Maric's place first, then on to check that Viviana's sisters are safe." Rodan hitches up his pack a bit higher on his shoulder, then turns and begins walking along Lancet Street in the direction of the temple district. He stays near the walls and in the shadows almost instinctively. "Well, come along, don't dawdle..."
The walk up Citadel Hill towars Maric's residence is not pleasant, not in the least. A building or two burns, waste is constantly flung down from the upper stories where looting or worse is occuring. Twice you run across a mob of wild-eyed citizens bent on lynching the new queen. From a few streets over, you can hear the resultant melee when that mob runs into a squadron of Hellknights from the Order of the Nail, leaving most of the citizens wounded, dying or worse.
The place seems mostly untouched, and a small dim light is burning in a window as you approach.
"This is it. It will only take a second Maric, while old and frail, was a cleric of Iomedae for 50 years. I'll go in first to make sure he's ok."
As Kalvin approaches the door, he pokes his head past the window with the light.
He then withdraws a small key from a chain around his neck and uses it to open Maric's door.
"Maric, It's Kalvin are you in here?"
Just as you open the door and are about to enter, a swarm of 4 imps. emboldened by the chaos of the city around them swoop down and prepare to attack. Imps are a common site in the eaves of tall buildings in Korvosa, whether by chance or as familiars of the occult students of the Acadamae.
Good Guys
Bad Guys
Imp Attack - Round 1
23 Crux (delaying)
23 Imp 1
22 Imp 2
15 Rodan
8 Kalvin
8 Viviana
7 Graxton
7 Imp 3
5 Imp 4
Crux delays.
Imp Attack - Round 1 - continued
Crux watching to see how this unfortunate turn of events will play out. He sees the nearest imp swoop at the yound paladin, stinging him in the neck and injecting poison in the wound.
The second imp also flies in to attack, but makes a beeline for Graxton the Encumbered.
As the imps swarm down to attack, Rodan draws his blade and steps up behind Kalvin before turning to attack the little devil now trying to sting Graxton...
Kalvin groans from the sting and feels his head swoon. Angered by these interlopers he attacks.
"Maric it's Kalvin, were under attack by the imps.We're coming in!" turning to his companions he shouts. "Move. I'll hold the line while you get inside, c'mon."
Crux targets the imp attacking Graxton with a surge of electricity.
Jolt: RTouch, fire into melee
to hit damage
Graxton takes a full withdraw action, avoiding the AoO to those in his immediate area. Assuming the door is open now, he holds his shield in front of him keeping it between himself and the Imp he passes by. Once inside he drops his pack, thus lessening his encumberance.
Imp Attack - Round 1 - concluded
The sneaky Rodan draws his blade and steps up to assist the two allies under attack, but his attempt with the sword misses the nimble, flying imp.
At the same time, Kalvin sickened by the poison running through his veins, makes a valiant effort to stand as a shield wall to his companions. He lashes out with his sword, slicing into the body of the attacking imp, but the devil's magic lessens the effect somewhat.
Viviana's shot at the imp attacking Graxton sails wide past the devilish familiar.
Finally, Graxton withdraws, keeping his guard up, into the house and drops his pack.
The other imps also attack one against Kalvin and the other against Rodan. Kalvin is stung again for 2 hp damage, but Rodan manages to keep them at by with his flashing blade.
From inside the house, the old man cries out "By the power of all that is Right, take up the Shield of Iomedae," and grabs Kalvin's shoulder, transferring a protective warding to the lad.
End of Round 1
Imp Attack - Round 2
23 Imp 1
22 Imp 2
16 Crux (delayed last round)
15 Rodan
8 Kalvin
8 Viviana
7 Graxton
7 Imp 3
5 Imp 4
4 Maric
The first imp, who had attacked Kalvin continues the assault. While the second imp turns on the deformed wizard. Kalvin is hit hard taking 4hp, while Crux is stung but only slightly (1hp) The poison now works on his frail body.
"C'mon damn you get inside!" he shouts at the rests of the crew.
Kalvin groans at the wound and then swings again at the Imp.
same Imp I just hit.
Crux hobbles into the house as fast as he can.
Fort
Dex dmg
Taking the paladin at his word, Rodan flips back into the doorway of Maric's house, then slips behind the door itself ready to slam it shut. "We're inside. Now get in here yourself, you bloody martyr." he shouts back at Kalvin.
Imp Attack - Round 2
Despite Rodan's impressive display of acrobatics, the imp hovers finding the right opening for a sting but cannot hit the tumbling man.
As Crux rushes inside, one of the imps takes a swipe at him with it's stinger, but fails to hit the limping wizard. Thankfully, he makes it back into the house with Kalvin standing guard over the doorway. The young paladin, face to face with evil, let's loose with his longsword again, slashing into the flying devil a second wound.
Viviana is able to tumble away from the flying devils and into the house. Once everyone is inside, Rodan tries to slam the door, but Maric stands in the way.
"Begone, devil-spawn, the power of the Inheritor sends you back to Hell where you belong." A coruscating ray beams from his hand at the nearest imp, causing it to cry out in pain. Just as he says this a swarm of tiny psuedodragons appears over the rooftop and descends like a rain of arrows into the midst of the imps. The magical beasts swirl and grapple flying or hovering in mid-air, claws flashing, teeth bared.
The imps realize they are getting the worst of it, and fly off, tails between their legs, while the tiny dragons swarm together again, and dart off in search of more targets to attack.
End of Combat
"So Maric?... thank you for your magical input, thank you Kalvin for taking those blows... Maric do you have anything for the poison that they likely are affected with?" Graxton slightly out of his comfort zone asks.
Maric nods at the half-orc and excuses himself. He returns from the back room with a small metal flask. "Whoever was stung should drink this, it will counteract the poison." He pours several small shots for you and as you drink it, the dizzying effect of the imp venom fades (and DEX back to normal for all).
Maric then calls on the righteous power of the Inheritor to heal all those who would battle evil in any of it's forms. The channeling of energy heals you all to normal full HP.
"Now, what brings you lot to my home in the middle of the night, and infected with imps to boot?" You can see the man is old and righteous, and he is play-acting at trying to be grumpy with you.
Graxton has a massive grin on his face, enjoying the old man's antics. He also nods his thanks for the remedy. "We came to check on you for the city is in an uproar, riots and burning can be heard if not seen all around us. " Graxton seems to be in a good mood, even though he just relayed the dire situation.
"It's good to see you too Maric," Kalvin laughs as he drinks the potion. "It is as Grax says, and while I know you're mind is as sharp a weapon as it ever was, I worried a bit about your bum shoulder."
He gives the old man a great hug.
"We're trying to counter the tide of chaos that has swept over our city. But the Hell Knights are already out dispensing their versions of justice."
Crux finds a place to sit down.
"Aye lad, the Hellknights were chomping at the bit to bust some Korvosan heads, and have taken this as their opportunity. The enforce the law, and I'll grant 'em that, but their methods are bit, shall we say, questionable to those of us who follow the Inheritor. I'd rather they stayed out o' the city, but the new Queen didna ask me."
"Even though the cities gone a bit daft tonight, I am surviving here as I always will. Yer a good lad, Kalvin, me boy, for checkin' on an old man, but I have my faith and my sword to protect me should the need arise."
He pats Kalvin on the arm, and nods appreciatively at the others.
"But I do have somethin' you can help me with, if you have a mind ta?"
He goes on to show and tell you. Sometime during the night, a drunken guard sergeant made his way to the priest's house, seeing he was no condition to walk the streets in uniform to night, Maric laid the stuporous soldier in his barn, and there he still lays, snoring blissfully while the town burns around him.
"Can you escort this man ta safety tonight? I doan want the townspeople to find out I've been quarterin' Guardsmen in me barn, or I maybe the next to burn."
"Sure, on our way to our next stop. Perhaps I know the fellow. Either way it is always good to know guards and to have more friends." Graxton smiles and offers a 'whatever' attitude about it all.
"Aye lass, to Citadel Volshyenek, the headquarters of the Guard or anyother means you have of sobering him up for duty so he doesn't go on report. A good man shouldn't suffer just because he's had a bad day."
"Of course Maric, I'll see to it that he's returned home safely." Kalvin replies. He turns to Grax. "You don't have any spells that could sober him up do you?"
Rodan looks decidedly disgusted at Maric's request. "Oh yes, just great. I'm sure that the guards will be delighted to see me - a wanted thief - and a bunch of friends show up at their door in the middle of an insurrection with this drunk in tow." Nevertheless he walks over to the comatose guardsman and heaves him upright, supporting the dead weight with some difficulty. "Just as well we still have that cart outside..."
Kalvin slaps Rodan on the back and laughs.
"Cheer up, you're well on your way to an unintended redemption. I mean first you're saving old men and protecting clerics, now you're saving a guard. Next thing you know you'll be smiting evil right along side me."
Kalvin then walks over and hugs Maric.
"Take care of yourself old man. I'll check in on you when this all blows over."
As Rodan moves to gather up the intoxicated guard, the man wakens and stirs. "HUh, whazz happ'nin'? Where 'm I?" he pushes away your hand and attempts to rise, falls back to the hay floor and then rises again, if a bit unsteadily.
A little more clearly, he says:"Sergeant Grau Soldado reportin' fer duty." and he snaps off a smart salute, staggers a bit, and catches himself against the barn wall. "The king's dead, long l've the king," he murmurs under his ripe breath.
The man is upright, but looks a sight, eyes bloodshot, unsteady on his feet, and unshaven. His uniform is mussed and torn in a few places, and his normal short sword is missing.
**Heavy Sigh** Crux gets closer to the guard and uses Prestidigitation to clean him up a bit as well as lessen the scent of stale ale that clings to him. "Kalvin, could you fetch some water and a bit of bread for our charge here? This is going to take some work.
The magical cantrip cleans up the man's uniform, smoothing out the wrinkle s and removing some unidentifiable stain. It's beginning to work, but still a ways to go to make him presentable.
"I wassn't alwaysh thish way, you know." says the soused guardsman bitterly. "It was all HER fault, an' now can't train an' I can't fight, an' all I can do ish drink but that don't make me fergit her, no shir! There'sh no fergittin' tha' girl."
He pats Crux on the back as the magician gets close in. "Thanksh fella, you're the besht."
"I have no spells that will help that, though we could have him purge himself, that could get rid of some of the intoxicants, *sneer*, let me try a few orisions they might help. May Gorum watch over you this night of nights." Graxton then touches the drunk guard and casts a stabilize, then virtue. He then analyzes the man, though sure that Maric is of better skill in healing, he still will check...
Heal check to know the guards condition or what affects him, also to know how he could fix the hangover if not the drunkeness.
"Just keep him from touching me again. Now I have to change my bandages."
Kalvin grabs some bread and water and brings it back.
The man eats the bread ravenously, but only looks at the water. "Got any whishkey? That'd r'lly go betr'r with that bread," says Grau, dusting himself off a bit.
"We goin' shome'ere, cap'n?" he asks arching an eyebrow at Kalvin.
Graxton just shakes his head at the shape of the guard.
"We're going back to your base and you need to sober up."
The man raises an eyebrow at you. My bashe? Ya mean the Citadel? I can' go back there, not lookin' like thish at least. Lemme get my gear and we can shtart tha' way. Maybe we'll find a plashe to get a drink on th' way?"
The inebriated guard reaches down for his pack, staggers a little as he bends over, but catches and rights himself on the wall and door frame.
He checks himself over, patting down his hair and soon finds his empty scabbard. "Where'z mah blade, eh? One of you have it? Doan know what old Orsini'd say if he knew I lost my blade. Probably gut me on the spot, which o' hish shtudents can't fin' their sword, I ashk ya. I'm shure she ne'er lost a blade. Not that one! She's far too smart fer that, smart and cold and lovely."
His voice trails off and he looks up with a tear running down his dirty cheek. He wipes it away in with his sleeve, snuffles his nose, and nods, as close to ready to move out as he'll ever get.
"No proper individual of our dear town should be without his blade, where is the last place you remember having it?" Graxton asks a bit perturbed at the guards situation.
The inebtriated guard just shrugs in response to Graxton's question. "If I knew where it was, then it wouldn't be missin'." He says sensibly.
Seeing that he's just about as ready to go as you can make him, you set off down the street for Citadel Volshyenek, the headquarters of the Korvosan Guard.
The streets actually seem a bit tamer as you leave Maric's outbuilding. Squadrons of flying Sable Marines fly overhead in a patrol pattern instead of rushing around. A group of Hellknights has apprehended a knot of unruly dock workers and is putting them in leg irons, and blessed quiet has fallen across the city.
Slowly, you make your way to the Citadel on the banks of the Jeggare, and your charge, Grau Soldado, slowly sobers and straightens himself. By the time you reach the gate, he could pass for having been in a fight (except perhaps for the smell) and his gait is nearly back to normal.
"Thank you my friends. I am afraid I have embarrassed myself and the Guards with my behavior, but the death of the King is really just the last straw. I thank you for looking out for me, and hope to return the favor someday. If you have trouble with the Guard, just call for Sergeant Soldado, and I'll assist in any possible way."
With that, he shakes hands with each of you (except Crux) to whom he just nods sagely, and ducks into the fortress, as dawn starts to break over the eastern sky lighting up the black marble fortifications.
"Be careful my friend, and remember the Gods watch over us all."
Kalvin turns to his comrades.
"A golden deed ey?"
"I believe our next stop was to be Calistria's house. I suggest that now would be the time to go."
Graxton knew better than to say anything, but supported the guard to get to the fortress the best he could. He nods to the guard as he enters into the barracks.
"Yes, let us see what will be sent into our path again. To Calistria's house!" Graxton says with emphasis, and moves off down the road, hoping he is going the right way.
Kalvin steps up along Grax.
"How long have you been a Cleric, Grax?"
"Since I have been a boy, my warpriest mentor bashed away the other weakling priests, seeing the mark of Gorum on me and in me." Graxton smiles.
"We are alike in that," Kalvin responds with a smile. "I am but the humble son of a blacksmith and would have been content to have spent my days following in the honorable trade of my father, but Maric saw something in me. A passion for justice not present in other young boys my age. He culled me from the crowd, seeing the nature of the Inheritor within me."
He took a few more steps.
"How were you trained?"