Dagor initially sweeps his axe up and faces Tobin, letting it fall back at ease as fast. Though he hadn't seen any zombies yet, he imagined right away how this man managed to survive possibly up to two years in such an den, and surmises an alternative. With a glance to the others, he raises his voice enough for Tobin to hear clearly.
"You want to fight in our rank? The armored husk of a city takes generations to beat the dents out of. Nae, we're not a resistance, we're tryin' to get a big boat. One way or another. You want out, y'can come with us, but watch yourself."
He turns then, eyes panning the road. He'd prefer to avoid the main arteries of the city, though they have a ways to go. He looks back to the stranger.
The heavily armored gunslinger snaps open its wolfheaded helmet, revealing its doglike features as it nods in agreement to Dagor's words before adding quietly in his guttural, gratty voice. "I, Haundo, they are Dagor, Uchendu and Andreas. Our caravan just arrived. Do you know of any others surviving here? Because we will need many to take a ship safely." Haundo's instincts screamed for him to get off the street and slink through the darker quiet corners, while his training told him to ready his shield and hold the street at any cost if the Fallen showed themselves. He was very conflicted.
"I'm Tobin. Tobin MacGregor. I haven't been to the docks since this all began. Back when...when there were more people, some said that the docks got pretty bad in the beginning. It didn't seem worth the risk.
There are survivors here. I know there's an organized resistance but I haven't been able to make contact with them. If they don't want me that's fine. I'll take ship, anything's better than being here."
Tobin looks off thoughtfully for a moment. When he speaks again it's quiet, almost at the edge of hearing. Perhaps he's not talking to you anymore.
"To be honest, I don't like our chances. Lately, I've begun to feel like the city doesn't want me to leave..."
Andreas looks at Tobin trying to see if there is any blood on any of his clothing. "When was the last time you saw another living person or for that matter a walker or the like." Andreas looks around looking from where the man came from "When were you last outside?"
Hmmm... It seems dat dere might be a good reason dat de 'Resistance' ignored him, if indeed it exists...
Uchendu nods a greeting to the new 'guest'.
"So, what has happened here?"
Haundo grimaces, revealing several canine teeth when the newcomer speaks of an organized Resistance. He mumbles more to himself then anyone, his voice becoming more gritty and guttural as he looks about frustrated and angry. "The gate stood undefended, until we claimed it. No free person walks the streets. This resistance hiding?" He spits the word out in disgust and continues in his mocking tone. "Cowards hiding in holes. What are they waiting for? The Fallen won't kill themselves. If a Learned is born of this we will all die..."
He shudders visibly and shuts his helm, barely avoiding slapping it shut in outrage. He pulls out his Battleaxe and advances a few steps down the street mumbling something that sounded like Disgraceful... Nightwatch Commander.... Heads would roll...
"I'm outside every day. Unless you mean out of the city. It's been some time. Every time I've tried to leave lately groups of zeds have been blocking my path.
Oh, and why would the gate be defended? The enemy is already inside. I don't know where the resistance is. I...was there something else? I haven't really talked to anyone in months. This is all happening really fast."
Tobin looks up to the sky, judging the position of the sun.
"Look, if you want to go to the harbor, lets move. Sun won't last forever. I understand if this is weird for you, too. I'm happy to talk about it but I'm uncomfortable out here in the open."
Dagor nods and begins moving. At full stride for a short distance, he checks his surroundings again, panning all around. "If we stay out here like this for long they're sure to find us. There's no honor reserved for those who die in vain to the dead. Converse more later."
Bearing his axe high, he continues scanning. He felt a part of him wish for a line of corpses to sever open, but the greater part of him kept alert for the promise he's yet to fulfill. Turning forward, he resumes moving at a hush. "I'll be see a mountain crumble before letting them get me here. Won't count the clear roads a blessing just yet."
Haundo shook his at the newcomer as they came walking up to him, continuing towards the docks. "Why wouldn't you? It would be foolish not to. The enemy is both inside the walls and beyond them, we found a hamlet overrun only a few nights ago. We purged what we could but we didn't have time to root them all out." He grunts at the job being half finished before continuing, talking quietly as they move. " Having no men on the walls, tells thieves and bandits this town is dead and undefended. They will leave the gates open and more Fallen will come before or after they are done pillaging this wretched place. The Fallen can sniff out the living, even leagues away and with the gates shut you are at least safe from the ignorant ones. I was paid to know these things and assumed some of it was common knowledge, sadly I was wrong."
He looks to Dagor, completely unconcerned if the newcomer hears him or not. "We continue as planned, gut the city, take those who are willing and slay what Fallen get in the way. What I wouldn't give to have a score of my brothers, we'd clear this city in a fortnight."
Tobin casts mage armor, his body shimmering briefly, before following his new companions.
Taking out a small journal and a piece of charcoal as they walk noting what Tobin said about the last time he saw people. "Tobin do you know where there might be an armory in the city, we have some people that might need some protection back in the caravan." Andreas puts his journal in a side pouch and redraws his rapier.
"Andreas, wasn't it? Um, no, Andreas. I'm not originally from around here. My wife...um...I came here as a scientist. An armory was not something I was particularly interested in before. And now, well I'm not really the wearing eight hundred pounds of steel type.
Am I babbling? I feel like I'm babbling."
Having topped his water off at a well without incident, De'ohge heads for off across the roof tops easily balancing across the wooden planks that span the alleys and narrow streets.
Unfortunately, it's been so long since he had to deal with any of the undead once he hit upon this avenue of travel that he has become complacent and is prone to ignore anything in the streets when traveling between destinations. For his thoughts are on a building he is one plank short of reaching. He's pretty sure a wizard lived there and his thoughts of the challenges of getting into the wizard's study have him distracted.
As such, he fails to notice the group of people below him as he nimbly hops along the parapet of a roof heading for the plank that will lead him almost directly over their heads.
A strange sound causes Haundo's canine ear to twitch and he turned to survey the upper floors of the buildings nearby. He stood in the shadow of a tall building as he brandished his magical battleaxe with intent to use it if he needed to. He wouldn't have been so on edge if more of them were heavily armored. At least then they could form a shield wall and hold the street.
The sound though was out of sorts with the surrounding areas, like wood rubbing on stone and creaking planks. Sounded more like a dockside. Perhaps it was a trick of the wind? Or was it just him hoping for a swift end to being out in the open?
He shook off the ill feeling as Dagor and the others continued on by. Must be the sounds of dock being carried by the wind... That's all it could be, the resistance let the city die like fools.
With that he turned and continued down the street taking the rear guard as he was prone to making more noise then anyone else.
It is about 4pm now.
You are on a main street. You can continue going this way or take another path that is more crowded, but less likely to have hiding places.
Perception:
Haundo hisses to get everyones attention and quietly clunks up and points at the building a good distance ahead of their group. "Colored windows, that part collapsed building there movement inside, slow and most likely Walkers. Can't tell how many though. I can scout it out, if something goes wrong, take a different street and don't wait. We can't afford waiting too long." He looks to the sun, estimating the time. "Evening is coming..."
Haundo sets down his shield and frees up his movement considerably.
"Very well, den. We should be quick, and quiet..."
Tobin steps closer to the front of the group, determined to prove himself to these professional seeming warriors. His pupils and irises disappear behind a blue glow as he build up power.
Dagor agrees silently. He picks up Haundo's shield, hefting it up with some effort. "Be sure to come back n' claim this, Haundo. Hadn't ever been a shield dwarf."
It had taken several hours for De'ohge to find and move a plank long enough to reach the building he wanted to investigate, but it was finally done. Unfortunately it was nearing dusk and he knew better than to be stuck in an unknown location after dark. Sighing with remorse that he would need to leave the building for tomorrow, he quickly headed back to his hideout.
A blinding glare reflects off something in the street below, nearly blinding him as he was just about to step onto another plank. Quickly stopping to see what was going on, De'ohge peeks over the edge of the roof and sees several 'living!' people below him. One has just set down an enormous shield, the same shield that probably reflected the afternoon sun into his eyes.
He can't make out what they are saying but the gestures towards the building at the end of the street indicate a direction. De'ohge decides to stick around and see what they might be up to.
Haundo nods to Dagor before he starts moving slowly towards the distant building, he draws a battleaxe into each hand. He wasn't proficient in duel-wielding but it was better then leaving his hand empty, if he was lucky he'd get a few hits in before they overwhelmed him.
He stuck to the shadows though, using his celestial sight to pierce the shadows around him, he didn't need something grabbing him from an adjacent doorway. He needed to reach the far building and account for how many Fallen there were...
Andreas watches Haundo advance thinking he should not be heading off by himself not when we don't know what is out there. Andreas takes a deep breath draws his rapier, then begins to follow Haundo. Keeping his eyes open to make sure nothing jumps him or his friend.
Perception:
Stealth:
hmm, this may be my chance to get out of here. If nothing else, they will be a distraction for the undead while I make my way out of here.
De'ohge continues to slink along the roof, doing his best to keep adjacent the one that dropped his shield.
Haundo moves within sixty feet of the ruined building, hoping to be able to get a general idea of their numbers. He looked for anything nearby that was burnable as well, canvas, dried out wood. As much as he wanted to avoid causing a widespread fire, it would make dealing with the large number of Walkers easier and hopefully deafen them to other noises.
He noticed some movement behind him, too close for comfort and he raised his shimmering new battleace defensively before looking at Andreas in surprise. He lowered his axe and raised two fingers, pointing at the various buildings and then back at his visor as if to say. Keep your eyes open then Haundo looked back towards the stained glass windowed ruin and tried counting their numbers.
Knowledge(nature)?
Haundo grimaced, they were outnumbered, he wished he could engage them but that would be a fools errand. When he spotted their strange observer he gave the creature a long hard look. It didn't appear injured or gaunt, but if it was a learned... It had to die. He waved to Andreas, pointing back to their fellows and slowly heading back the way they came. He kept his twin axes up and watched both the strange observer and the group of walkers, the pair of runners gave him cause for concern though. Faster fallen were a problem, they made more noise and were way more vicious.
He mumbled to Andreas. "Keep an eye on the one on the roof, we need to fall back tell the others of the walkers, runners & that. If they come do not stay, the runners will be too fast, best I keep them distracted."
Andreas looks up at the creature on the rooftops.
Knowledge Nature:
Taking his new rifle in hand if something happens with the creature on the roof. "Let me go back and warn the others, you start to follow back when I am halfway to them leaving some space so you can slow them down."
Andreas looks a little puzzled at the creature on the roof, thinking that they are not normally from this region of Golarion, there might be an interesting story on how he got here in this Walking Dead World. whispering under his breath "that is not something see in these parts."
De'ohge cocks his head to the side and reaches one hand to idly pet his companion's head as the creature peaks out of a pocket of his cloak, and softly mumbles "well Kira, it appears that we have been spotted. They certainly are not acting like undead..."
De'ohge looks at the building they were looking at, then to the group that is standing back at the last intersection. Watching intently as the one heads back to the others with his rifle unslung, De'ohge is torn between leaving them to their own machinations or following along to see what use they can be to him.
Decision made, De'ohge stands to his full height of 3 feet AND 1 inch. Flipping his cloak about is shoulders, he stands for a moment on the parapet of the roof, and steps back, dropping from sight.
He quickly crosses the roofs back to where the rest of the group is waiting, quietly sits on top of the parapet to continue his observations. He pulls some string from his pocket and starts playing cats cradle while he observes.
"No loud weapons, not here, too many will hear the rifle. Bows, blades and hammers. It isn't what we would like but it is quiet. Be careful my friend." Haundo nods to Andreas and turns to face the unaware fallen, allowing Andreas the time to cover the needed distance. Haundo watched as the small observer seemed to stalk Andreas as he retreated, Haundo barely stopped from growling at it. Enemies on two fronts. A sore day and hopefully it would not turn into a red day...
We are the keepers of the crypt, the soldiers who face the darkness and keep the fallen away from the cradle of humanity. We are the expendable and the forgotten. We are the Nightwatch.
Andreas nods and slings his rifle over his shoulder and begins to head back towards the group to warn them. Andreas tries to keep an eye on the creature on the rooftops as well as keeping the noise down so not to get the attention of the Restless Dead.
Perception:
Stealth:
Both of you(Huando and Andreas) make it back to the group without being seen.
De'oghe you don't see the undead, but you saw the others try to sneak away from the building, so you know something is up.
Haundo arrives a few minutes after Andreas and stands with the others. "Runner like the ones in the jail we destroyed, these wlll not die easily. They are quick to, vicious. We also have that." He points out the strange observer. "Do not know if they live... Shall we find another road or destroy the fallen in the building?"
Andreas Looking at Haundo, "What do you think the pan of attack should be?"
Haundo grimaces as he looks towards the waning light of the evening sun. "Not easy call, with light fading we may want to keep marching. So we have light when we are clearing a ship. I hate to leave them behind us, but we can return later and destroy them. What say you friends?"
Taking up his shield, nodding his thanks to Dagor. "We can light a torch and toss it close to them, it should attract them. With bows we can injure the runners and end them before the others come. Then it will be a tough fit, as long as others do not come out of hiding..."
Haundo nods in agreement, as much as he hated to leave them behind. They could and would be dealt with later. Time was wasting. Taking his shield from Dagor. "Thanks my friend, lead and I shall follow."
"I can get de spirits to possess one of de walking dead, and turn it to our cause, which should help level de field, if we choose to attack..."
Uchendu shakes his head.
"That would attract too much attention from de uder restless dead."
"We don't want the whole city on fire, plus that might force more than we can handle out of the shadows. looking towards the docks. "We need to get a path to the Docks and get the other inside and on a boat."
Haundo nods as the general agreement is to carry on. With shield strapped back on he nods to Tobin. "Show us the way Tobin, hopefully we don't encounter more of the fallen."
The party follows Tobin through an alternate path. Using alleyways which probably saw little traffic even when the city was full the party passes through a few abandoned buildings. After another hour which makes it about 5 pm the party is within 1000 feet of the dock. A two-story building is nearby that has a good view of the dock from its upper floors.
The option of going to get a land level view of the docks is also available.
Every alley way and abandoned building caused Haundo's hackles to raise. Too many tight corners and cramped conditions for him not to feel uneasy but when they emerged close to the docks he nearly barked in joy. "
We need to clear out a building, give ourselves a place to hide if Mob or Pack comes through." he looks at the nearby two-story building and smiles thoothily behind his visor. "That one will do, clear it level by level and secure any doors leading out and I can lead us in. What say you comrades?"
"We're close enough to the docks that we'll have a good view from the second floor. I'll be right behind you Huando."