"Bandits AND undead. Why any solace would seek to steal from their own under the weight of the dead is beyond me." Kendall scowls, and contemplates spitting.
"Well I'll go to the foot of our stairs, you're reet good with this flying." Edie beams with admiration at Aleena's skills.
"Canst turn her over in air like? Quite fancy that now I'm not driving."
Tuning in to the conversation about Donte, she filters through Kai's information and comes to her own conclusions.
"So, bit ruinous and filled with ghoulies and thieves?"
"I'm unsure if indeed there will be ghouls, but you have the pertinent information correct." Kai finds that staying in instructor mode helps him get through the worst of Aleena's aerial acrobatics.
"This Mother Grain of yours, did she have owt to say about carding combs? Not rightly kitchen as such, but capable of good damage I've found."
"I remember her praising its effectiveness in dealing with the wolf-in-sheep's-clothing."
Aleena glances worriedly in the direction of her oversized, (previously leopard-skinned) now fleecy suitcase.
She intuitively shares Kai's concern for the Leprachaun's vulnerability to groundfire from angry mobs, and looks for a level, secluded site to set her down.
Making a mental note to check the fleece on Aleena's suitcase at some point(although surely it used to have spots?), Edie joins the quest for a safe hiding place for the Leprichaun.
After way too long, staring at the world whipping by, the novelty of the pattern of tiny farmfields, crinkly hills with tufts of forest and glassy blue black rivers is long long gone, replaced by the nausea and terror of feeling as though you are falling down a deep hole, about to hit bottom at any minute--but never quite getting there. The Lucky Leprichaun rises and lurches downward for hours in the air currents, wheeling side to side like a drunkard. Different pilots take the helm, which is a whole new kind of terror.
Then, in the distance, a beautiful trade town of thatched roofs and windmills cradled in the bosom of a string of forested mountains. It's now early evening and above the mountains, the most amazing thing. It looks like a rainbow hued snowstorm from this distance, streaks falling from the sky--but glowing like rainbow colored embers to dust the mountains in a multihued aurora (Arcana check?).
The lands around the town are largely agricultural. There are a number of barns and haystacks and orchards where the ornithopter could be stashed in walking distance of town--but short of flying over the whole town and landing in the mountains, every bit of the land for miles seems to be cultivated by ranchers or farmers.
Edie scans the countryside and concludes it's too lush for good sheep rearing, even though she nods appreciatively at the well ordered landscape. The snowstorm rainbow also catches her attention.
It appears to be residuum falling from the sky. No mistaking it.
Kendall rests his craghammer before him as he stops to appreciate the scene before him. "I...was unaware of such majestic sights. If this is truly what the world is like down here....." He leaves his sentiment unspoken.
Edie gazes at the residuum rainbow in awe, before gently nudging Kai. "Happen tha might want bucket under that. Reet pretty, isn't it?"
"Are we headed for the local tavern?" asks Aleena who is hungry and thirsty from air travel.
"And if the locals ask, what are we? Traveling fleece merchants?"
Edie grunts.
"Not proper sheep country, that won't do. Traveling entertainers mayhap. Our Kai can juggle fire, Sir Kendall's the bodyguard lessen he's hidden talents in children's tales or puppetry, tha canst sing lass, and for mesen, I'll just lay low and listen to gossip like."
As the Lucky Leprichaun circles a farm on the outskirts of town, slowing and dropping altitude in the same choppy manner as before, the beating wings churn up a storm of yellow straw from the haystacks all around. Just in time, someone remembers to flip the switch to extend the landing legs, and the whole contraption lands with an exhausted thump. From the cargo bay it is simple enough to spot the big crank for loweing the landing platform--it's sweaty work, but at least the world isn't whirling around anymore. From outside comes a nice cool evening breeze and the smells of agrarian life.
The ornithopter stands amid a couple of wrecked haybales, covered in straw and looking a bit disheveled and bashful. Around it a ring of other haybales stand perfectly intact, not bad camoflage unless someone actually wanders inside to take a look. Better than nothing. (Stealth if you want to try and blend the Leprichaun better, pile straw on her to create some cover or the like.)
It's a nice cool twenty minute stroll from the farm down a twisty path toward town, lanterns hanging from carved wooden posts keep everything illuminated in small round puddles of orange light. The town is surrounded by a stout wooden wall that seems as though it's been through some action over it's history--rusty arrowheads dug into the cracks where it was too much hassle to dig them out, some of the big logs looking like newer construction, replacing sections that may have been damaged or fallen. A few stout gate guards look you all over as you make your way into town, but you seem to pass their inspection of you--none of them stop you, just give friendly nods on your way in.
Cobblestone walkways weave between the various thatch roofed stone buildings. The first part of the town seems like a lot of businesses dedicated to visitors with a slant toward agricultural supplies--livery stables, a smith with farm equipment and horseshoes hanging up outside, feed stores, a general outfitter. A few lights are on in upstairs windows, but the businesses look closed for the night for the most part.
Then you turn a corner on the main road and see the big ornimental bridge for which the town gets its name. The posts are all carved in the likeness of totem spirit animals, stacked one on another. The bridge acts as docks for riverboats going up and down river, but most of the boats are dark and there's no activity on the docks except some quarreling riverbirds. There is a crossroads right before the bridge and four small inns that absorb the business coming off the boats. Spritely flute music drifts from one doorway, smell of fine food from another, and from another...the sound of smashing wood from a broken table and then a tavern patron flying through a window!
Through the swinging shutters an armored tiefling stands in the center of the room. He's flanked by four big grim looking crewmembers. He grabs the bartender by the front of his shirt and pulls him over the bar, bellowing at him. "You! Maybe you'll tell us what those glowing clouds are over the mountains, and why they caused my ships to come crashing out of the sky! You'll tell me, or you'll pay! You hear me?"
Kendall had pondered whether or not to wear his armor into the village, and eventually decided for it, as it could be a good way to discourage problems.
The town vexed him for some reason he couldn't put his finger upon. His furrowed brow looked apprehensively at the town below the clouds, and especially at the totem spirit carvings.
Religion
He can't assume anything but the sheer basics, that these totems were to be worshiped perhaps?
The bar itself brightens his spirits, at least until trouble begins. What was it with bars and brawls?
The knight enters the bar unassumingly, quietly places his craghammer, business end down and then measures the scene, before harumphing to get some attention
"Good gentlemen. Let go of the barkeep."
His tone is all business, a stern warning always worked better than a bright smile, at least in these situations.
Intimidate
Despite the straw in his beard, he can manage a pretty mean gaze.
Kendall sets down his hammer with authority and the big tiefling let's the bartender wriggle out of his grasp. "Forgive my lack of manners, friend dwarf." He reaches down and gruffly paws the dust from the bartender he'd been accosting. "Strange seeing those of your race in these parts. I'm Maborg, I run a salvage vessel called the Dire Omen. Has a reputation in these parts. Suprised you don't seem to have heard of me..." He and his men chuckle a bit, the townsfolk around withdraw back toward the walls.
"Then you're giving salvage a poor name. I see that you are having issues, which is unfortunate truly, but accosting a villager will net you no gain. Choose a more profitable way to extol your frustrations, and you will get greater yields."
He moves out of the doorway, and if anyone else is behind him, he'll gesture for them to do the same.
"If you have nothing more then, I see no reason to escalate this any further."
Aleena sets down her ridiculous suitcase and stands alongside Kendall in a show of solidarity.
Edie's lips purse when she hears the tiefling's name, remembering Manifest's warning, but quietly awaits developments.
Kai would've used arcana to help conceal The Lucky Leprichaun. Bending the light a bit, wrapping other parts in shadow.
It takes just a few moments, but in the end he is more than satisfied that it would take extreme skill to pick Lucky out of the haystacks. He starts off after the group with a big smile.
Kai-Sovis seems lost in thought as the team travels the road. The wall, the bridge, the various shops, none of them register. This was the first time he has truly used his magic outside of the classroom. The thrill of it burns bright on his face, while his mind races translating arcane academics to practical application in his mind.
Kai is so focused, that he barely notes the ruckus within the inn. And it's not till he hears Kendall's Intimidating warning, that he finally wakes up and feels the groups tensing. He does his best to stay out of the way and towards the back. Arms folded behind him, eyes blazing, and trying his best to note anything he can about the group and the surroundings.
"Indeed." Maborg says, with a sudden flash of pointed white teeth, approaching palms out in a gesture of benevolence. "None of us wants salvagers getting a bad name, eh? In fact, there could be a way for us to work our way out of this together...like a team" He and his men step toward the rest of you, slipping naturally into a shoulder to shoulder V formation.
"Could be you have a ship around here somewhere? Could help us with our rescue mission. Save our friends. Figure out how to get around that blasted storm that's protecting what we're here for--maybe." Maborg and his men, hands raised, eyes glinting continue step by step towards you all. "Maybe split what we find, half and half, your crew and mine."
"Happen we'll be best off discussing that calm-like," suggests Edie, her hand moving discreetly to her wand.
She's not at all sure she's keen on Maborg's approach, or his men.
Aleena thinks Maborg is more interested in seizing the Lucky Leprachaun than in any assistance the party can provide.
"We're in the salvage business, not the rescue business. How can you be sure we can help?"
Kendall maintains his firm demeanor, giving the tieflings the big eye for a moment.
Insight
His low, measured voice picks up, and says "If you have friends in danger there, you had best explain what had happened before I agree to assist you."
As quietly as he can manage, Kai whispers to his shipmates, "That is NOT a salvage team, that is a muscle team - notice: no researcher, no support members, nothing but brute force... They most likely want to take our Leprichaun and press gang those of us that are left standing."
The knight errant replies softly "Perhaps, but it may be their research side that got captured. If not, they'll not take us unaware."
Maborg eyes his men to either side. The two men flanking him stay put, the rest head over to the busted out window and vault through, but it's a bit of a bottleneck, making it so the first two get out and tumble to their feet with another guy in the process of getting out.
Maborg eyes the dwarf who still dominates the doorway. "Shame you all can't be more helpful natured. Could have been profitable for you. But see we're getting your ship..." he pops his knuckles and draws the big spike studded club from his back, letting it hit the floor with an anvil ringing clang. "You can be on it or not."
The two big guys flanking Maborg draw weapons, twin axes on the right, big warhammer on the left. His two crewmembers outside draw weapons as well, nunchaku and a pair of shortswords. The last member is in the windowframe getting ready to roll out.
(Initiative!)
Edie finds herself unexpectedly prepared.
"Ha hah! Like you'll ever find The Lucky Leprichaun." Kia is still proud of himself until he sees the weapons being drawn... Now things are getting hot!
Aleena levels her quarterstaff at the approaching foes.
"Your barbershop quartet is no match for the musical might of Bee Folds Five!"
Inish
Edie purses her lips and points her wand at the nearest offender.
"Pillock", she announces derisively, before turning her wand on him.
She flickers out of view of her victim and seems to blur slightly as she stomps away.
The thug from Maborg's crew locks eyes with Edie, suddenly seeing something fearsome there, his eyes go wide and blood spurts from his nose, temple veins throbbing. He reels back, arms up over his face unable to meet her gaze.
Kendall scowls, stepping forward to the line of three goons. He calls out to the team, "Leave em alive, if you can." He turns his attention to the three, hefting his shield, "That said, you will regret bringing arms to bear."
Minor: Defend the Line is active.
Move: Move to the three guys on the side,
Standard: Total Defense
Kendall abruptly withdraws from the doorway and stamps to meet the thugs running in from the left, presenting them with a facefull of steely shield, all his allies arrayed in a half circle around him now. Maborg--suddenly the flanker, the front of the battle now having shifted around him, snarls.
"Courteous offer, 'leave us alive'. Hear that men! Let's respond in kind. Don't kill any of them. Just beat 'em till they beg!" The two men with him laugh, the three facing down Kendall and Edie don't seem as sure.
Maborg takes advantage of the new situation, sending his warhammer fighter forward ahead of him to hit Kai-Sovis. He runs forward, hammer high, but finds Kendall's stance more flexible than he anticipated and shifting his shoulder back the dwarven knight interrupts his downswing causing it to go wide. Maborg charges in next, catching the eye of the hammer weilder. He brings the spiked club around in a stomach high arc to pound Kai in the unarmored gut, but his frustration makes him sloppy--his form is terrible and the mage is able to easily wheel away from it. The hammer fighter looked ready to follow up the blow with a second attack, but the hoped for opening never comes. The twin axe fighter that was opposite Maborg hopes for better luck against Aleena, but again Kendall's stance holds firm and she is able to pull to the side behind the cover he affords, the axes whistling by--a hairsbreadth away!
The more roguish crewmembers on the front look distinctly ill at ease with the big knight between them and the fight. The one with the nunchaku begins to spin them, circling before engaging.
"One of them hexed me, something terrible in her gaze! I can't bear to look at her."
"Steady!" Roars Maborg, "It will pass. The way is clear, attack the others!"
Decided, he sets his jaw and leaps toward Kai. Kendall's shield interposes itself fiercely enough he can almost see his reflection, the end of the nunchaku whizzing away harmlessly.
The dual shortsword fighter sizes up the party and continues pacing, looking for an opening.
"Rude beggar" mutters Edie under her breath.
The ground begins to rumble faintly. Enough so that with everything going on one might assume they were imagining it--adrenaline shakes or whatnot.
Aleena puts her battle cleric seminary training to good use against the axe-wielding murderer using her quarterstaff.
Taking advantage of the momentary distraction provided by the earthquake, Aleena's suitcase morphs into a bearskin rug (complete with snarling teeth and claws), and moves caterpillar-like to menace the rogues.
"Oh! I've yet to introduce my lovely daughter! Presenting B.B. von Trapper. She has her father's looks, and her ♫mother's voice♫!"
Kai spares a half second to appreciate Steelshod's valor... just a half second. And then throws one of his stronger spells at the group. A ball of glowing force streaks to the center of our adversaries and then erupts into arcane shrapnel that flies towards the others. ()
Kendall gives a series of stiff reminders as to whose running this show.
"Hold! I am your quarry, none other."
MBA vs Ruffian 1 damage
MBA vs Ruffian 2 damage 16 damage!
MBA vs Ruffian 3 damage Brutal 2 weapon (Craghammers rock)
Edie boggles as Aleena's suitcase unfolds into a defensive mat.
"That's no fleece," she remarks, casting a beady eye at the newcomer. She turns her attention back to the varmints attacking them.
"Twerp", she snarls, cursing the nearest body, before jabbing her wand at whoever is nearest and then turning her attention back to her earlier victim.
"Still don't like tha looks."
Opportunity Action MBA vs Maborg for damage, miss deals 4 damage
Kendall drives his craghammer into Maborg's nose wordlessly.
Next round actions!
Standard: MBA vs Maborg for damage
Kendall maintains the front line with a scowl of conviction. While he managed a brutal lashing out moments earlier, taking several opponents unaware, his next strike was a bit more telegraphed.
Kendal's shoulder check of the hammer fighter is accompanied by a stiff retributive strike with the handle of his craghammer, but the blow seems to be cushioned by armor. The skinny fellow with the nunchaku isn't so lucky: Kendall fends him off with the shield and then brings the heavy hammer around into his ribs. It takes some finesse to pull back enough not to murder the kid, but it drops him onto his back gasping into unconsciousness. The axe fighter is unreachable, Aleena has gone back to back with Kendall and her opponent is on the opposite side of her, out of range.