"I thought your folk were agile and quick to dodge. I quess that mop on your head isn't the only thing that is not elf like."
"Yeah lady, well it was two against one." He looks at the fallen bodies at his feet. "I don't think I did half bad, all things considered."
Luenevyn gasps in pain again as Summer probes his wound. "Ow! Watch it!"
Summer keeps with her work and tells Luenevyn to hold still. She stops the bleeding and then says "Well I stopped the bleeding but I don't have anything to clean or bandage it with. You might want to get it cleaned and bandaged before you go charging off to more battles, it is a pretty nasty slice.
Once Summer is done with her ministrations she follows the way that Lancet and Prat went
Some post get "lost in the mail" from time to time. I don't know why...
It happens to me about once a week.
Prat leads the way chattering about how exciting his day has become to anyone in the group who will listen, "By the way they call me Prat. What should I call you?"
Prat leads the party out of the alley and around the building to Warlock's Run. The excitement has already settled down in the commons area, although there is a gathering of guards at the west entrance to the alley. The few people nosing along do not pay any special attention to you.
The road passes narrowly between a row of squat, cramped buildings on the seaward side and a more ornate, ivy-latticed stone wall on the right. Then the road opens into a vast market square just past the majestic opera house. Prat begins to angle toward the coast.
The square is full of color, as tents and stalls made from canvas of brilliant reds and yellows ruffle gently in the afternoon breeze. The smell of seafood, exotic animals, and alien spices waft along, too. The tide is gentle this time of month and several large ships are moored at the various piers. Sailors jostle crates, cages, and massive bundles. Ladies of Means wander to and fro with their parasols and dotting servants. There are noticeably few guards, possibly because this is more polite and behaved district.
Rounding the lighthouse, the first pier is obviously your destination. As you draw near an unfortunate scene begins to take shape. People on the deck of the ship are running all about and yelling. There is a brief clashing of steel on steel. A group of people rush down the loading ramp as many more poor over the sides, boxing them in. A humans, a half-elf, and a dwarf seem to be corralling a more noble looking lady toward the center. The scruffy human catches a glimpse of you. He grins with pure excitement as he raises one of his swords to you and attacks the rogues! He manages push one of the thugs off the pier and his commrades, working in perfect concert form an escape path. The half-elf and the dwarf appear to half drag, half lead the lady away from the thick of battle.
Luenevyn draws his club and moves forward
Lance runs up the pier and throws his dagger at the thug in hopes that the rustic man will be able to withdraw without being threatened.
Lam-ang urges the Lady's Party to depart, "Friends, you have to get away!" Stating the obvious, "You are outnumbered!"
Summer just got the oppurtunity to look at the berries in her hand and realize what they were. She throws one to the elf and says "Eat that it will make you feel better." Summer has reached her limit and decides that this delay is not really worth it. She turns to leave, back to her delivery
Filled with the rush of adrenlin Prat acts rashly, drawing his rapier and he yells (in with a voice not so filled with bravado), "Have at you." He moves up next to the elf ready to defend himself.
Something about Prat's young enthusiasm makes Summer turn back, she watches him rush forward and hands the handful of berries to whoever is closest. "If any of you get hurt eat one of these and they will heal you. Also if one of you is seriously hurt you can come to Elaine's Herbals and we may be able to help you Elaine's in the left of the Merchant district, next to the Sage Vanton's I think that person knows the way." She points to Lance then turns and leaves.
A riot of action explodes on the pier! Everyone rushes toward the center except the dwarf, the half-elf, and the lady. They race past you and out across the market, deftly avoiding slashing daggers and raucous curses.
At once Lance races forward and flings a dagger. It sails wide and unnoticed. The scruffy man is surrounded and the glint of steel flashes over and over. More often than not they are matched with the ringing answer of clashing blades. Lam-ang strides toward the front line, encouraging who must be the Jade Raves with "Friends, you have to get away!" and "You are outnumbered!" Summer takes a hesitant step back as Prat launches forward. She hands the Goodberries to Luenevyn and gives the elf a bit of direction. She quickly heads off the pier with a look of determination. Luenevyn and Prat join Lam-ang with weapons drawn. One of the thugs wails in pain and falls off the pier.
STh: Move forward, Thug#5 moves from G14 to G12 and attacks the zealous man, getting help from Thug#7 (who moved from from H15 to H12)
NTh: Thug #1 (H11) attacks the rustic man. Thug #3 moves from I11 to H10 and attacks the half-elf. Thug #4 moves from J11 to I10 and attacks Lance (misses).
Lam-ang: Moves to I7 and yells "Friends, you have to get away!" and "You are outnumbered!"
Summer: backs up, passes the Goodberries to Luenevyn and departs.
Luenevyn: moves to H7
Prat: (since you technically went before Luenevyn I am making your move a readied action based on Luenevyn)
Jade Ravens: The dwarf, the half-elf (getting a AOO), and the lady race deftly passed everyone and out across the market. The scruffy man swings at Thug#5 and cuts him solidly across the abdomen. He falls over into the water.
Prat is inspired by the way his new companion charged into the battle despite the fact he lost his weapon in the attack. Eager to prove himself he charges up beside him and attacks the thug.
Lam-ang moves beside one of his companion, Lance, but towards edge of the dock. He whirls his quarterstaff and attacks the thug menacing Lance.
Lam-ang sees the tide of battle going against them and urges Lance and Prat to withdraw, "Friends, we are vastly outnumbered! Let's go!" Lam-ang moves back and holds out his quarterstaff in a ready position.
Luenevyn gulps a couple of the berries Summer gave him and stays where he is, twirling his club, and holding the line of retreat with Lam-ang.
Attack roll (if needed) (1d20=18)
Damage roll (if needed) (1d6=3)
Lance takes a 5' step backwards. Once out of immediate danger he then retreats back to j6 and prepares to use his sling.
He yells to the one man trapped behind enemy lines "Swim!"
Summer seems somewhat surprised by the way that these strangers throw themselves into battle to save people they do not even know. She takes a hesitant step back towards where Lam-ang is standing.
Luenevyn: You pop two of the berries in your mouth which waters immediately upon the salty-sweet taste of palpable nourishment and health. You feel your wounds tingle then physically fade. Your whole body feels rejuvenated.
Lance cautiously backs up and yells for the scruffy man to swim as Lam-ang and Prat spring forward to attack. Surprised by the youth's zeal, Lam-ang's swing falters and he misses. However, the thug reacted with a dodge that put him directly into Prat's thrust. The blade pierces the man and he twists to the deck.
Several thugs move down the pier with murder in their eyes. Luenevyn steps toward one and knocks him off balance. He falls to the deck and does not get up. The scruffy man takes out another and steps out from the knot of slashing daggers.
Thugs: Thug #3 moves forward, ignoring Tolin's AOO. Thugs #1,6,7 attack Tolin, two hit for 6pts dmg.
Lam-ang: move to J9, attack and miss
Summer: She takes a hesitant step back towards where Lam-ang was standing.
Luenevyn: Eats two berries and holds his ground - Thug #3 is within 5' so the elf attacks
Prat: leaps forward and attacks and hits (I rolled dmg: (1d3=1))
Jade Ravens: attacks twice and hits both and takes a 5'
Luenevyn:
Lam-ang decides to strike hard at the thug before him. He shouts, "Fall before the Whirling Fury."
Attack Roll 1d20+2=22, Damage Roll 1d6+3=5
I hope my ruse works. "Quickly, comrades! Strike them from behind!"
Luenevyn is feeling positively giddy from the effects of the berries. He steps up to stand beside Prat.
"It seems our cunning plan to withdraw has failed," he tells his companions. "To the right, 'ware the man on board the ship."
Lance moves for a better view and then he swings his sling and launches a stone at one of the men still near the Jade Raven.
Prat is nearly drunk with excitement as he watches the thug fall victim to his blade. With a brave thrust at the nearest villian still standing he screams, "You shall all fall to my relentless blade!"
Lance moves across the pier and launches a sling stone but it goes astray.
Luenevyn holds his ground and says "It seems our cunning plan to withdraw has failed. To the right, 'ware the man on board the ship."
The thugs begin to all converge on the scruffy man but Lam-ang and Prat, intoxicated by the action assault two of men. Lam-ang decides to strike hard at the thug before him. He shouts, "Fall before the Whirling Fury." The blow lands true and the thug does fall. The remaining man casts a nervous glance toward the ship and Lam-ang yells "Quickly, comrades! Strike them from behind!" The bluff works and the thug squeals in a most un-manly manner. But his panic causes him to stumble and Prat's exuberant thrust misses.
The scruffy man lunges violently towards a thug and he yelps, drops his dagger and falls to the pier for mercy. The thug closest to Prat also drop his weapon as the man on the boat raises up, holding a crossbow. The farthest thug curses colorfully and dives into the water. The crossbow fires at the fleeing criminal but misses. "Hold up! We have them!" the scruffy man announces.
The scruffy man immediately stoops over and picks up the daggers, all the while keeping his blade leveled on the groveling men.
"I am Tolin and who might you fine, brave warriors be. What fortuitous happenstance has brought you to my rescue?"
A few more saliors on the ship begin to peak over the stern.
Prat bounces around annoyingly bellowing, "We did it, did you see that... I cut him down," and the like as he re-enacts his skillful part of the action to anyone who will listen.
"My name is Lancet, but please call me Lance" Lance gives a short bow and sweeps a hand out to his fighting companions.
"We came from the noble district after helping a lady out who was attacked by thugs." He says and then holds up the jade raven they were given.
"But I think it is only fair that these brave fellows introduce themselves because I don't believe even I know all of their names." He chuckles and the shudders.
Lance looks over at Prat, Lam-ang, and Luenevyn. "I thank you all. With out your bravery I don't think I would have made it here alive."
Looking at Luenevyn "How is your wound?" he asks gesturing at his bloody shirt.
He then meets Lam-ang's eyes and says "I believe I owe you ale." He smiles at the rest of his comrades and says "All of you are welcome too." Then to the hoodlums "Except for you."
"I'm Luenevyn. And my companion speaks true, we came to the aid of Liamae. She was having...similar...thug problems. Happy to be of service, but I believe she mentioned something about a reward for our aid...?"
"The lady's berries seem to have done me right, Lance. Sadly, I can't say the same for my shirt. But I'll gladly the accept the ale!"
Lam-ang heaves a sigh of relief. He nods at the others' attempts at conversation.
"Well met, gentlemen" Tolin begins. He takes the jade raven from Lance and remarks "Makes since then, Liamae is the luckiest lady I know. My good fortune is just a side effect of her mysterious ways. None the less, this day was won without undue pain or loss.
"I wont speak of certain matters in their presence," Tolin indicates the abashed thugs, "but if you would be so kind as to let me know where you are staying I will ensure you get your just reward. Lady Vanderboren is a Lady of means whereas all I can offer is my heart felt thanks.
"Now, I must be off to meet with my companions! Please remain here until the authorities arrive."
Tolin waits a brief moment to answer any of your questions, collects your information, and jogs down the pier. You see him talking with a guard before hurrying on his way.
"You can leave word for me (and my reward) at the Empty Grave tavern in Azure District. But who is Lady Vanderboren? And just what's been going down here today?"
Summer now turns to leave and this time actually walks away, heading in the direction of the house where she is delivering the packet.
Lam-ang meets Tolin with a steely gaze, "I am Lam-ang and am presently staying at the Knowlern Estate. I didn't help you people for the money. But I am not in the habit of refusing anything freely given." Then, Lam-ang offers his hand in a gesture of peace to Tolin.
"You can call me Lance."
Lance then looks around and with a start he goes over and tries to see if any of the downed thugs are still alive and if they need medical attention. He also strips any weapons, expensive items, money pouches and gang symbols that he finds. But he is concerned to find any that will live, can be helped and are dead. He tosses the items into a pile (except for breakable items which he places) to sort later. Once the guards get close he indicates for everyone to pick up what they can so that the guards don't.
"Well met, Lance, Lam-ang, and Tolin. Everyone just calls me Prat."
Luenevyn jumps off the pier into the water to wash off the blood, then hops back up, dripping wet. Seeing that Lance has piled the thugs' goods in a convenient pile, he keeps an eye out for anything of particular value. He also looks for a new shirt that isn't ripped, bloodstained, and might fit him.
Tolin makes his hasty leave, stopping briefly to flag down some oblivious guards.
Lance begins to organize the various items on the pier while Luenevyn dives into the bay. He quickly pulls himself back up and trades shirts with one of the captives.
The more ornery of the two spits and hisses "You'll pay for this. I know who you are and when I get out, we'll come looking for you."
Summer:
Following the elegant red-brick wall she finds the front gates and knocks. After a typically "you were not expected and therefore will wait" period of time typical of this haughty district, the gate opens. A well dressed butler eyes Summer up and down and says "Yes?"
She hands him the package and he takes it without explanation. Then he hands her several silver pieces, including an extra one as a tip. Without so much as a "thank you, good-bye" the gate closes.
Summer makes her way back to Elaine's shop and reflects on the odd circumstances of the day. She finds herself thinking of those goodberries and of the awesome healing power found in nature...
"Pray tell us... the name of the gang that will back a loser like you. Ha ha ha." Lam-ang then picks the whittled whale bone.
The more ornery of the two spits and hisses "You'll pay for this. I know who you are and when I get out, we'll come looking for you."
Lance says to the thug "I might seem like an easy target for your rage but you should think why you are here. You chose to do this but more importantly you should question the person's motives that sent you here. Attacking a lady? What if you had succeeded? Isn't murdering a noble a capital crime?"
"And I am sorry about your comrades. Is their any type of funeral wishes any of them had talked about?"
Luenevyn wouldn't mind a new pair of boots, so he tries them on and picks up the buckler too.
Lam-ang also takes a dagger.
Feeling extreemly brave after the victory and with new friends at his side, Prat sitcks his tounge out at the taunting thugs, "You can try to find us, but I doubt you could find your arse if you were sitting on it."
Lance waits to see if the thugs say anything in response to his question.