Lirrathan rolls his eyes and huffs, "Lets not dwell on it. No need to change it, just roll with it and adjust the lie to fit. It's just like wooing women, it's all about being able to tell them what they want to hear." with that he starts taking a few deep breaths, and holding them, while jogging a little in place. The jog turns into a rush into the building.
He rushes up and leans hard against the door, his self-induced heavy breathing pushing his lie, "Phew... I thought... I heard voices... You guys should... clear out of here....but with empty pockets.... If those paladins... coming up the street... think you're looters..... they won't let you alone." He gulps as he swallows some air. "I convinced them... I was trying to fight off demons... or they either... would have hauled me in... or cut me down right there. They do not look happy."
He leans out the door, and winks at the group, "Oh crap! Here they come now. Quick, drop all you got, tell them you were on a patrol or something. If you're lucky they'll only pat you down."
Paritosh charges in, weapon raised.
"in the name of irabeth, put down your arms and submit to a lawful search!"
"You heard him, stand still and do as your told, and we will get you back to the Defender's Heart in short order." Sir Bastion say as he and Jokum come hurriedly in.
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On Going Effect: Life Link (Paritosh)
Arc moves in with Sir Bastion and readies to cast a spell a the first enemy that takes a hostile act.
Lirrathan's eyes are greeted by three dirty and disheveled looking men, boys really. They look up in fear at first, and then in greater fear as he talks about Paladins.
Paritosh and the others' timing and threats drive them over the edge, causing them to leap up and dart out an open window. On the ground where they were crouching is a pile of stuff in a sack.
Lirrathan let's out a long laugh. "Ha ha! Did you see the look on their faces? Oh, that was well worth it. I would swear at least one of them had wet themselves. They jumped so... well what did they have here?" He opens the sack of 'goodies' and rummages through them. "Not a bad haul, we could probably get some good... trades when we contribute this to the cause, is what I was saying. You know, funding the fight and all, should warrant us some choice equipment."
"Well that is a shame, those boys running off like that. I hope they heard mention the Defender's Heart and head in that direction." Sir Bastion comments as he looks around the room while Lirrathan goes through the sack.
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On Going Effect: Life Link (Paritosh)
"That plan worked exceptionally well! Great job all. Shame about those kids running off."
Having bounded in to the room and scaring the upright pups away, making them leave thier toys, Jokum goes back over the door and happily looking up at Rocinian, with is tongue hanging out the side of his mouth.
Did you see me? Scared those pups away. There is a sack in here that 'He doesn't share food' is sniffing in. You will probably have more to carry. Let me see if I can find more for you to carry."
Jokum returns and begins sniffing around the room for any interesting scents or demon rats to kill.
Jokum will bring over to Sir Bastion any items that look important, like good things to chew on.
Lets have a look in the sack. the wizard says as he casts Detect Magic and scans the room.
"yes yes, I saw, you were amazing. I have plenty to carry now. Maybe they can put a saddle on you too?"
"Sir Bastion, your dog seems particularly excited at discovering something."
"He probably found something to chew on, let me go take a look."
Sir Bastion moves over to where Jokum is sniffing around at, to see what has got his attention.
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On Going Effect: Life Link (Paritosh)
Nemris moves to the window and looks out , then laughs. "Well that was... interesting."
"Will that dog never shut up?"
"Well, this lead appears to have been overstated. Does this then leave us with Nyserian Manor and the Gray Garrison as places to go?"
"I hope I can get rid of this smelly body on my back soon."
"Hey, dog, what's going on in there?"
"The masters are looking in a bag and the furry one is trying to jump to a window like an old fat house cat." Jokum barks back.
Jokum happily trots back over to the swirling dust, as he knows more than Rocinian.
"If you come in, don't go over by this shelf. Something here makes my sniffer tickle when I get around it."
Jokum sneezes a couple of times as he sniffs the area again.
"I'm not usually allowed to come into people places.
"Are we then off to the Manor, or the Garrison?"
"I suggest the Manor."
Good call. Let us be off.
Making your way to Nyserian Manor brings more sights of destruction, getting worse and worse until you reach your destination. What was once surely a stately manor is now nothing more than a pile of rubble and a gouged trough of ruin.
Nothing is here, except the cry of vultures and ravens, and surely this is no longer a safe house.
Sir Bastion turns to face the sun, "I feel the tempature is begining to cool, and the sun does not feel as harsh. May it be a good time to either return to the Defender's Heart or shall we check in our friend Lord Gwerm? It would be good to hear the young girl's laugh again during these troubled days."
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On Going Effect: Life Link (Paritosh)
"I am unsure of whom you refer, but I will follow wherever you lead."
Paritosh goes outside and gives Rocinian a good rub on this neck, "Sorry about having you carry that load my friend."
Rocinian preens a little.
"See, he does care."
"I vote for getting some water and oats, and maybe a rubdown. What about you dog?"
"I don't want no oats." Jokum shakes his head back and forth, like there was something irritating on his nose.
"But there was old, good meats there."
Rocinian shakes his head and slobbers a bit. "Those don't sound good at all!"
Paritosh attempts to comfort Rocinian, "Easy boy, easy. What? do you smell the enemy?"
Rocinian nods his head, "heck yes I smell the enemy, this putrid one you have strapped to my back. Can we get rid of it? I'm not a hearse!"
The group arrives at Gwerm Manor, and find all in order. After a meal with Horgus Gwerm and catching him up with the situation at the Defender's Heart and other locations in Kenabres, the group of adventures prepare for another night in the devestated city of Kenabres.
Once more a gaurd is set throught out the night.
Lirrathan, Partitosh, Pouncing Tiger and Sir Bastion, in a 2 hour rotations. If the night is uneventful the others will find Sir Bastion performing his daily obediences in the light of the rising sun.
"So are we ready to go back to the Defender's Heart, give our update on those three safe houses and prepare to head to the Gray Garrison?" Sir Bastion asks as he chews on a piece of jerky.
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On Going Effect: Life Link (Paritosh)
It is so close that we should go and make a swift report and learn if anything more pressing has come up for us to do.
"And do they have a morgue!"
Sorry again all, one day I will be healthy an hale again. I long for that day.
What's your plan for going to Gwerm Manor? Last you knew he was holed up in his basement, and then you found at the Heart that he'd been supplying the remnants of Kenabres there.
We should go in looking for trouble. Perhaps all is as we left it, but these are dangerous times.
"Looking for trouble, got it. You guys want to tell me what this place is?"
Going to Gwerm Manor reveals that it is left much the same as before...still intact amidst the ruin.
Going inside and to the basement, you are greeted with a brick wall.
"Everything looks ok to me. How about you guys?"
The wizard knocks at the wall and calls out Gwerm?
Paritosh knocks and calls out, "Amontillado."
"So, on to the next spot?"
You don't hear any responses from your inquiries to Horgus...There doesn't seem to be any sounds coming from the other side of the brick wall.
Nemris stares, puzzled at the Wizards actions, "It's a wall son, I don't think it can hear you." he chuckles to himself.
Sir Bastion thinks for a moment, "Wasn't it a fairly easy sequences of knocks? Something like three rapid knocks on the wall.
He moves up to the wall where the opening should be at, and raps on the wall quickly three times, stepping back to see if anything happens.
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On Going Effect: Life Link (Paritosh)