The pain in Saroune's chest subsided gradually as the strikingly handsome man used some kind of magic to knit her wound back together. She thought that she had heard him called Horatio earlier.
"Thank you,"she gasped. She looked around, trying to get a sense of what was going on. The woman called Noro still fought for her life against the massive brute in the ring and in the stands around them, it looked like others were fighting off the Scarnzi thugs. The guards had arrived though, so perhaps the tide was turning.
She saw that Pavanna was still squaring off with the thug that Saroune had left her with. Summoning up some of her will, Saroune coalesced a fist of telekinetic force and slammed it into the man that had wounded her.
Seeing Noro in danger I leap into the ring and attempt to throw the hulking brute. I maintain a defensive stance while doing so.
Ki Throw w/ fighting defensively:
Thirzin makes a bit of steady footwork to head up to the woman in the ring, thinking right now some dwarven muscle might be well appreciated.
Once he gets himself into the ring, he gives a hefty swing of his axe, hoping to take the legs out of the ugly brute, seeing it bite deep into flesh. "Hey, ya ugly mug! Time for a bit of a haircut!"
Victoria strikes hard, sending yet another thug to the floor. Thirzin hops into the ring and makes the monster of a man howl in pain as his axe sinks deep into his arm. Saroune mimed punching the thug that almost skewered her, causing him to laugh, until he a shimmering wave of energy knocks a few teeth loose. Akisame hops into the ring and rushes up to the ogrekin and attempts to tangle his legs, but only manages to trip himself up (falls prone.) Pavanna rushes up to the dazed thug and opens a gash from hip to opposite shoulder that leaves him bleeding out on the ground. Olivius stands atop the bleachers looking out over the rest of the warehouse, and can see a half-dozen guards rushing in, with another half-dozen outside. Noro, hanging on to consciousness with an adrenaline-fueled tenacity, tries to roll to her feet. Right as she manages to get on her feet, Gluck sends her staggering with a right hook that will be leaving a bruise, but no broken bones.
Meanwhile Horatio sees more of the Sandpoint Guards, followed shortly by a very well armed, and very, very pissed off Sheriff Hemlock, who steps into the warehouse right as Horatio finishes his sentence.
But before Belor Hemlock can respond, the last remaining thug bolts, only to skid to a halt as her sees the Sheriff between him and freedom. Gluck, though, seems unaware of his wounds and continues to fight. He hauls his fist back and delivers a brutal uppercut to Noro's belly, causing the queasiness beginning to build in her stomach to become significantly worse.
The guards pour in and the Sheriff bellows loud enough to rattle even the windows at the other end of the warehouse.
"THAT'S ENOUGH! ANYONE STILL FIGHTING IS GETTING CLAPPED IN IRON!"
Gluck though, looks like he's anything but ready to stop fighting.
"Then tell the big ugly mug in front of me to stand down, or he's heading to the ground!" He yells out, trying to put his body in a defensive posture in front of the brawling woman.
Olivius recognizes the sheriff instantly in spite of the fact that the two have never officially met. The sheriff sometimes ran cargo inspections on Glinter when they came in from the Mushfens run. He waves his spear then points to Jubryal who is tangled up in peices of shipping crate and shouts to the guards, Seize him, it's the ring-leader!
He then immidiately sheathes his spear in compliance with the order.
“Oh, my fight is done, Sheriff,” Pavanna says calmly, cleaning her sword on her fallen opponent’s pants before she sheathes it. She hasn’t met Belor Hemlock before, but Father Zantus told her enough of Sandpoint’s recent history that the powerfully-built Shoanti leading the guards can be no-one else. “These fellows just tried to murder us, and this one hurt my friend over there. (By the way: Horatio Aldebrandt, meet Saroune Anzoletta, a fellow scholar I met at the Curious Goblin. And behave yourself, Horatio!)”
She smiles and makes a half-joke. “Tell me, Sheriff: would you prefer that I heal this fellow, so he can face a magistrate and a noose, or shall I simply let him bleed to death where he lies?” The end result is much the same. Especially after the Sczarni chose to set up a formal introduction for us!
"Sheriff Hemlock, sir," the bard begins, taking a couple of steps forward, hands still raised, "the lady speaks the truth. With all due respect, if something isn't done about that brute-" he gestures to Gluck, still set on fighting "-this is likely to end in more death."
"It ain't endin in ours, that's for sure." The dwarf seems quite prepared to take the thing down, if need be.
Saroune put her scrolls away gingerly, her chest still aching from the rapier slash. She was done fighting; the guards could take it from here.
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Although the Sheriff's words were heard clearly by Victoria, she didn't want Gluck to continuing hurting people. Noro didn't look very well off and few people could take a hit like the brute was dishing out. She readied herself to defend the innocent Noro, or anyone else for that matter, and was prepared to face the consequences of that decision.
I attempt to stand using acrobatics. Subduing my opponent is more the way I work so I won't be attempting to kill the man. Acrobatics to stand:
Provided I make it to my feet without being hit and knocked out by an AoO, I attempt to grapple my foe:
If he is grappled, the DC he must beat is a 20.
with Gluck's last hit Noro staggers back against the ropes using them as support to remain on her feet she is no longer in any condition to fight.
it is obvious she is one hit away from unconsciousness.
breathing heavy she can no longer maintain her stamina
current hp 2
AC 10
conditions: fatigued, nauseated, staggered
The sheriff hustles up the ramp followed by a five guards. He looks from Horatio to Pavanna to Victoria before speaking to all three.
"Staunch the bleeding, the healers can bind their wounds."
He moves his gaze to the ring where Akisame manages to leap to his feet and put the ogrekin into a hold. Noro slumps against the side of the ring, obviously just a solid connection aware from unconsciousness. With the stalking confidence of a seasoned warrior, he moves down the bleachers and jumps into the ring.
"You! Ugly! Stop it before I knock some sense into you."
The ogrekin begins to struggle, but a nerve pinch from Akisame and a slap of the flat of the axe from Thrizin finally knocks the brute out.
After the dozen and a half guards bind the remaining prisoners and has heard all of your stories he has his men take away the thugs, Gluck, and Jubrayl.
"While I can't condone killing, I appreciate you helping put Jubrayl in jail, even if temporarily. I don't have the details, but it seems he was the mastermind, and Noro had ticked him off one too many times. Whatever Jubrayl gave her is some nasty stuff, but not fatal from what the guards told me."
The corner of his mouth rises in a sort of half smile as he continues.
"Technically, I should lock all of you up as well, but since it was obviously in self-defense, I'm thinking that the jail is full enough. Get some sleep and enjoy the festival tomorrow."
Thirzin puts away both his axe and his shield, stretching just momentarily, as he moves over to Noros, trying to figure what in the heck is wrong with the woman brawler and get her feeling better.
"You fight a mean battle there. What'd you take? Cause its either powerful or insanely stupid."
Olivius joins the others that were attacked in the arena square. On the way down from the top of the stands, he stows his shield on his back. He then steps off the top of the ring and lands with a heavy, metallic thud.
He strides around to Pavanna. Pavanna, are you alright? I saw you just before we got attacked, but I was too far to help you when it happened.
|
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Sheathing her longsword, Victoria listened to the officer, giving a slight bow with her head. "Thank you, officer."
She then turned to Akisame, she spoke relatively quietly. "Not sure I quite expected this much drama for the night. The evil in the room sickened me, I should have known better than to come unprepared. Are you alright?"
She was legitimately concerned, though it's obvious that she'd behave in the same way if she felt responsible for putting anyone in harm's way. Especially Akisame. At least he would understand where she was coming from, though.
Horatio lowers his hands, inclining his body in a slight bow as the sheriff finishes speaking. "Many thanks, sir. And I for one will appreciate not spending the night in a cell." He retrieves his gear, notably his violin, breathing a small sigh of relief to find it still unharmed, then offers an arm to Pavanna. "Well, my dear, I suppose I knew you'd be of more use here than I. Maybe one day I'll be able to help you in some way. In the meantime, shall I walk you back to the inn? And you may want to check on your friend, since I have to behave myself." A smile is on his face, yet he seems troubled.
Thirzin puts away both his axe and his shield, stretching just momentarily, as he moves over to Noros, trying to figure what in the heck is wrong with the woman brawler and get her feeling better.
[dice=Heal]1d20+3
"You fight a mean battle there. What'd you take? Cause its either powerful or insanely stupid."
Noro barely knows which way is up as she glances toward her opponent on the floor
She then glances at the dwarf that addressed her.
I feel horrible she says as she drops to her knees then collapses, barely able to do much else. She definately appears unable to really answer his question.
The dwarf's trained eye can tell its not booze that caused ths condition.
“Well done catching Jubrayl, Olivius! I should have hated to see the man responsible for this get away,” Pavanna says, then adds soothingly. “And I’m hale and hearty, thank you.”
She looks to Victoria, arching an intrigued eyebrow. “Part of which I owe to you, it seems. That could have been messy, but your intervention was as well-timed as it was unexpected. Thank you, Miss; might I have the name of the woman who so ably broke up that little double-cross?”
Hearing Horatio’s words, Pavanna rolls her eyes to herself, then joins him and nods her acceptance even as she works a spell on Saroune’s half-healed injury. “«Cure Light Wounds.» Thank you, Horatio. And I’m sorry: you’ve been honest in your intentions as long as I’ve known you, and that joke was as poor as it was unfair. I’d be delighted to have your continued company.”
She flicks a quick glance to Saroune and adds in Thassilonian: “«See, Saroune? ‘A flirt, but not a heartbreaker’, just like I said earlier.»”
Hearing Noro’s collapse, Pavanna looks over, gasps in alarm at seeing the Tian woman’s state, and dashes down into the arena to help her, tossing a quick word over her shoulder. “I’ll be back with you both in a moment! Noro, please, don’t try to move just yet. «Cure Light Wounds.»”
"Horrible ain't half of it, from the looks of it. Come on, lets get you checked out a bit."Thirzin waits on getting the brawler to her feet. "Show's over, folks."
He mumbles something about getting too old for this stuff, remembering his own young, an slightly less wise, days.
"I must say, I've been enjoying your company as well. And I suppose I deserved that jape - after all, who can really trust anyone they've just met, especially in these dangerous times?"
As Pavanna helps Noro, the bard busies himself readjusting his cloak, making sure it sits right, before turning to Saroune. "Well met, m'lady. Saroune, was it? How's that shoulder feeling? That was quite the blow you took. And I must say, while I saw many Varisian folk back home in Old Korvosa, none seemed quite so happy - or so beautiful - as yourself."
When Pavanna rejoins them, he turns to her again with a warm smile. "Well, if you're enjoying my company as much as I'm enjoying yours, would you allow me to be your escort at the festival tomorrow? Perhaps I could pick you up in time for breakfast? Of course, you're welcome to spend the night with me at the Dragon. For convenience's sake, of course, nothing more." A wink and a devilish smile suggest that of course there's more to it than that, but he's not about to suggest it outright.
Saroune blushed furiously at Horatio's comment. Pavanna had warned her at the bard was a notorious flirt, but she was never good with handling this sort of thing. "Thank you again, Horatio. It was difficult to concentrate on my technique through the pain," she managed to stammer.
Great, Saroune. Typical. A guy is talking to you and you bring it back to magic. This is why father thinks you'll never get married. She tried to change the subject, but just blushed more. When she saw Pavanna return from healing the wounded Noro, she called out to her in Thassilonian.
"<<I don't know what to do with this man!>>"
After seeing that his only friend in the group is ok, Olivius lets her run off with the limp-wrist. He stays in the arena and simply observes, trying to conceive what was so special about this group that someone would attack them without warning or provocation.
He saw Pavanna casting, and the Limp-Wrist too, but they were no mages. Seeing magic do it's thing, however, still made his heart pump a little faster. How he wished there was someone who could tell him why everything he tried was so persistently unsuccessful.
“«I don’t imagine many women do, Saroune,»” Pavanna snorts. “«Just because he’s silver-tongued doesn’t mean you have to be. Just... be yourself. What happens will happen.»”
Sage advice delivered, she looks to Horatio and switches back to Taldane, her tone gently reproving. “And that’s why I made that joke, Horatio: I like Saroune dearly, but I don’t think she ever learned the rules of the game you’re so fond of playing. A little less of ‘Horatio, practiced Master of Charm’ and a little more of ‘Horatio, the kind, generous, honest man he is’ might be in order.” She resists the impulse to issue a semi-joking warning, but she does make it a promise to herself: If he hurts her, I will beat him about the head and shoulders with a shovel.
“And as to your offers? Breakfast and the festival, certainly. The offer of a shared room is tempting —” In more ways than one, damn it! “— but... not tonight. For one thing, after this morning’s incident I doubt Viskalai would refund me what I’ve already paid for my lodging at the White Deer, so I’d best not waste the coin.” After that pre-paid stay runs out... we’ll see. What happens will happen.
As they move away, Pavanna finds herself circling back to a nagging question. Why in the Inheritor’s name were the eight of us targeted like that? Why would anyone connect all of us... wait, that fellow at the Dragon! Was he just watching the crowd, or was he one of Jubrayl’s Sczarni, watching for people who might try to keep tonight’s fight honest?
Or am I just being paranoid?
"Well, I'm sure I could teach her the rules, but I fear any such attempt would end with me on the pointy end of your blade. So, as per your request, I shall instead turn my charms elsewhere - to you, for example. I hope you realize you brought this upon yourself." His tone is light, cheeky even. "Should you wish I turn them away from you as well, then I suppose I shall acquiesce. Though I sincerely hope you don't wish such a thing. In any case, I shall be a perfect gentleman to the lovely Saroune, as it appears to be the best option for my own health." His face takes on a sincere expression. "And I'll have you know, my lady, I never go back on my word. Where are you staying, by the way?" he asks, wheeling back to the Varisian woman. "I'd hate to see you attacked again, and even in a small town, the night can be a dangerous time. And as for you," back to Pavanna again, "what's troubling you? Best get it off your chest now, for tomorrow you'll have no time for worries."
The tiefling woman chuckles, then gives him a kindly look. “Oh, I’m not the least surprised. I don’t really mind your flirting, Horatio, and you needn’t stop flirting with me; I just wonder why you keep up the habit. Something tells me your heart’s not really in it.”
“And what troubles me is this little ‘formal introduction’ we walked into,” she adds. “As near as I can tell, the only thing the eight of us have in common is the taproom of the Rusty Dragon — at least, that’s where I remember seeing the dwarf, [Akisame], and [Victoria]. Nonetheless, Jubrayl and his thugs picked all seven of us out of the audience and tried to murder us in our seats — before any of us made any move to help Noro!
“The only thing that I can imagine is that someone saw all of us together at the Dragon. There was a man there that I thought might be paying me undue attention for being a ‘fiendblood’ — he had wild hair — but I lost him in the crowd when Noro ‘spilled’ her drink on you. At the time, I decided he was just watching the crowd and enjoying the show, but with this? I have to wonder if he was one of Jubrayl’s men, keeping an eye on Noro.” Unless something else is at play, she adds to herself, but shakes off the thought. Don’t do that, Pavanna. Like Mother always said, ‘the simplest explanation is usually the correct one’.
"Well, my dear, my heart and all of its mysteries are yours to explore at will, even if I won't give them up so easily. The question is, though, while I do enjoy a bit of harmless flirting... are you enjoying it? Perhaps more than you're letting on?" He meets her gaze, eyebrows raised, a smile playing across his lips.
"And that is a troubling thought. We weren't exactly all in one group at any point. We didn't even happen to all sit together by chance. I didn't see this fellow you speak of, but it does sound suspicious. Perhaps we should see the sheriff tomorrow? He might be able to get us some answers."