Campaign thread for Carrion Crown - The Trial of the Beast.
Meowmix. :o
Noted.
ready
Hurray! Waiting on two more and we'll get started.
Made the changes I needed to make to Otis, and also added a brief background to my stat-block
The city of Lepistadt stands as a bastion of civilization in the dangerous county of Vieland in Ustalav and functions as its unofficial capital. Famed for its University where the bizarre and strange are often studied. Near the University the city's wealth has been concentrated with grandiose structures, wide plazas, and newly-bricked roads. Away from the University the city is twisting, narrow, crumbling, and ominous.
However, throughout Lepistadt a carnival atmosphere has taken hold with the capture of a legendary creature known as The Beast. Often thought to be a myth, it was captured after a strange break in to the University itself. People are ecstatic; The Beast has been to blame for practically every ill to befall Lepistadt and the surrounding villages for years.
All five of you have received summons to Judge Embreth Daramid, but we begin the evening beforehand.
It is now evening after you have interviewed The Beast and investigated the break in at the University. The trial is due to start the day after tomorrow and you have a few blessed hours to yourself. After the disappearance of Maximillian and Zod, you have been summoned back by Judge Daramid, who claims to have found some companions for you.
The past month has been hectic. After attending the funeral of Professor Lorrimor you found yourselves clearing out a haunted prison and uncovering the evil workings of the Cult of the Whispering Way, who were behind his murder. His last wish of his will was that you bring books to Lepistadt, which you have dutifully done and been rewarded for.
One recipient of your delivery, the Judge, beseeched the two of you to help and offered 100 platinum each. The Beast now stands on trial, and she is convinced it is innocent. Being a Judge she cannot interfere in the case, but has asked that you investigate the three crimes it has been accused of. You have begun your investigations and now must choose from three destinations tomorrow - Morast, Hergstag, and Karb Isle. You expect you will be reviewing your gathered evidence with the Judge tomorrow morning.
The man who has been a blood brother, if not a protector and guardian to you is back in town. Hearing of Araxiel's return brought you great joy initially until you heard that your mutual acquaintance Professor Lorrimor had been killed in Ravengro. Although you were unable to attend for the reading of the will, you have been asked by your brother to meet with him at the home of Judge Embreth Daramid. Apparently the legendary creature known as The Beast has been captured and put on trial. But it may not be guilty. The message asks that you be at Judge Embreth's house tomorrow. You have the evening to yourself, perhaps to meet up with your brother.
The call for Professor Petros Lorrimor's funeral came far too late, the messenger only having found you outside of Lepidstadt putting to rest a haunting at a local graveyard. The man who learned a great deal of the undead through you is dead, and although you were not granted the information in time to carry out the wishes of his will, Professor Lorrimor's close friend Judge Daramid has summoned you to her home. The Judge believes there has been a miscarriage of justice, and requires the noble intent of a paladin to set things right. You are expected at her home tomorrow morning.
Your time at Lepidstadt University as a guest lecturer on the Effects of Magic on The Crimson-Spotted Ustalavian Toad has been rewarding if not particularly high on pay. You were saddened to hear of the death of your mentor and the man who got you the job - Professor Petros Lorrimor and regret being unable to attend his funeral. However, the news about his death became very interesting. Apparently those who attended his funeral managed to clear out a haunted prison, prove his death was a murder, and are now in Lepidstadt investigating The Beast!
The Beast has made the past week fun. A few days back the gigantic, crazed, sentient flesh golem broke in and stole a strange figurine called the Seasage Effigy before being captured. You had begun to look at the crime yourself before receiving a private message from Judge Embreth Daramid, who wants to call in a favour tomorrow morning.
For those who ask the locals about The Beast...
"BURN THE BEAST!"
"I hear the trial’s first day detailed a long list of crimes against the Beast, three of which are to be used as the basis of its execution—burned alive in the Punishing Man, a giant pyre that is even now being raised outside the courthouse!"
"Ha! That fool barrister Gustav Kaple is defending the creature—he can’t even get a whole sentence out without stuttering! The Beast is as good as dead! I’ve heard that the prosecution’s case is watertight—murdering those poor children in Hergstag, killing all those swampers in Morast, and burning down good Doctor"
"Yes, I’ve heard stories that the Beast has done some kind things too, but it’s plagued Lepidstadt for far too long. Even if it did do those things, that’s just proof that the creature is mad and deserves to be burned!"
Araxiel is restless after meeting with the Beast, and eager to continue their hunt for the truth. Reminds me of... me... not long ago. Can't let 'em kill 'im just for bein' ugly.
However, he knew he had to wait for their new companions to arrive so he settles for the next best thing - trying to make his weapons that much more shiny; the better to kill things with.
Not many are eager to help him, despite how cordial he might try to be. Of course, he is fairly used to it. Being monstrous even by tiefling standards, most of the common races are either frightened or angered by his presence. Standing at almost 7 feet tall, before adding in the length of his spiraling horns, Araxiel is a mountain of a man - well muscled and with a jaw like an anvil. From beneath long, unkempt black hair two red eyes burn like dying embers and his skin is textured with rough, rust-colored scales. His heavy cloven hooves clack heavily against the cobblestones beneath him, and he feels tired and annoyed after wandering around the university district for over an hour.
"Iz'veru... ja nav ark'krast kalau norvin'ka drul, iz'var ja'anaar varak kas skuul." He muttered to himself.
He decides to stop at a tavern and see if they might know where to find a finger wiggler to help him shine up his mace and strides in and sits at the bar, paying no attention to any stares or glares he gets going in.
"Barkeep." He says in a deep, commanding voice. "I'll take some ale." He places a couple gold on the counter. "And I'd appreciate an answer to a question." He grins, showing off a pair of sharp canines.
Araxiel:
You wander into a quaint establishment called the Rake's Lament, which seems a locals' bar more than anything. As its early evening the bar is bustling, and you immediately feel the unfriendly eyes of the locals on you as you walk in.
The bartender looks about ready to throw you out before the gold lands on the bar. He's a sour-looking old man who has gone mostly bald except a few long, grey threads at the back of his neck. Grumbling something, he fills an ale from the cask and plunks it in front of you sullenly.
"Make it a quick one ya demonspawn. Bad luck ye lot are."
Araxiel's tail flicks slightly with irritation, but he doesn't let it show on his face. "Aye, mayhaps, but I'd wager we make for some of the better tall tales your patrons tell." His grin broadens momentarily, then he clears his throat. "I'm just some hired muscle on the Beast's case - believe it or not, even my kind wants to see some real justice served. I'm just lookin' for one of them magic types to give my weapon a bit of an edge, just to make sure it's extra deadly in case I run into anything... troublesome, during my duties."
Araxiel:
"We don't need your kind meddling in our affairs, tiefling! You want your weapon all magicked up? Ask them eggheads at the University what with their book learnin' and finger-wiggling. Finish yer drink and go."
With that the bartender turns away from you and wanders over to another customer.
Araxiel makes a growling noise not unlike a lion and downs his drink in a single gulp, then puts the tankard down on the bar and mentally checks himself to make sure his demonic temper doesn't get the better of him. A flame is rarely useful when it's out of control... He reminds himself of Professor Lorrimor's wise words as he quickly leaves the bar. I do miss the old coot. Always knew what to do... an' without Theodus I gotta do all the talkin' to boot. He sighs loudly and begins walking back towards the university.
"Excuse me can you-... no..." "Hey, you know where I can find-... guess not." "Why are you screaming, I haven't even asked you anything!" Having gotten poor responses from most everyone Araxiel sits wearily on the steps of one of the university halls, taking a moment to hang his head and calm himself before trying to talk to anyone else.
"Hey you." He asks someone young passing by, maybe a student. "You know if there are any enchanters round here?"
Professor Drau Bellend, sessional lecturer at Lepistadt University, is in the process of giving a lecture to a group of curious students. The subject of today's class is the effects of performance-enhancing potions on the Hylidae family of frogs.
"And as you can see here," Drau says, holding up a large milky-white frog in his right hand and a small vial of liquid with an oily sheen that seems to shift through all the hues of the brown spectrum, from fudge to toffee to caramel to creme caramel and back. "If we apply just a drop of this Oil of Speed to our good friend Manny here, we can observe-"
The moment the drop of oil hits the frog's back, it takes off out of the hapless professor's hand, shooting across the room like lightning from a wizard's wand. Drau shrieks and dives for cover behind his desk, a flurry of unmarked essays and robes obscuring his attempted departure. He peeks out at his students, but most of them are making their way hastily toward the exits.
"Don't forget you have papers due in four days on the sacral vertebra and it's importance to modern healing techniques!" he calls after them.
Three enterprising youths are trying to catch the frog. One of them has a bow.
"Don't kill Manny!" he pleads to the boys as Manny runs a rainbow of white frog goo over a wall and out the door. Drau's shoulders slump in defeat. "Five gold to whichever one of you fine gentlemen can bring Manny back alive. I need that frog! ... He's my friend."
"Yessir, Professor Bellend!" one of the students says, saluting sharply. Drau blinks at him suspiciously, feeling as though he's being mocked though uncertain as to just how.
The elf turns back to his desk to straighten up the papers. It looks like a tiny tornado has torn across his desk, wreaking all manner of disorganized havoc. He collapses in a chair and stares at the mess, then happens to notice an untouched scroll, rolled up and wedged between two jars of frog parts. There's a vague memory of someone handing him the scroll earlier in the day, but who it was or why they delivered it is lost to him. He breaks the familiar seal on the scroll, wondering for a moment why a judge would be interested in him.
After terrifying some of the populace, someone finally stops to regard Araxiel.
"What the... oh, a tiefling! Fascinating, I've never met one! I have to write a paper on you people. Demon or devil? Or maybe even a daemon - oh this is so exciting! Do you mind if I take a lock of your hair?"
The student then realises what you've asked and grins sheepishly.
"Oh... all those weapons, you probably adventure or something. Not much to catch around here since they got The Beast. But check in with Professor Latrix - if the pay is right she's been known to enchant weapons and stuff. Uh. Can I still have some of your hair? Wow you're so BIG!"
You unfurl the scroll, which is stamped with a seal of Judge Embreth Daramid. You vaguely recall her as a friend of Petros Lorrimor's.
"Dear Professor
BelleB. I hope you find yourself in well. I understand from dear Petros that you were a good friend in a pinch and I have dire need of one of those. Please attend my house tomorrow morning. Please use utmost discretion and destroy this letter after reading. This matter concerns The Beast and the break in at the University and I cannot be associated with an ongoing trial.Yours,
Embreth
You know a little bit about The Beast and have certainly heard of the break in. Some massive beast smashed into the antiquities department a couple of days back, destroyed some of the place, and somehow vanished a figurine of some kind. The townsfolk have been blaming this creature for pretty much every crime conceivable for years, and it is certain to be found guilty and burn in the next couple of days. Right now there are parties in the street regarding its upcoming trial - which has resulted in absenteeism at the University.
Araxiel raises an eyebrow at the sudden enthusiasm from the student, then descends into slight annoyance with a look of 'whatever, this might as well happen'.
"Uh... demon."
He pulls out a couple strands of hair from the top of his head, but holds it up just slightly out of the kids reach.
"Just point me in her direction and it's yours."
Araxiel:
The student excitedly pockets the hair and points you over to the Faculty of Magickal Studies with a room number.
This is one of the newer buildings and is a spectacular, twisted stone behemoth covered in bizarre artwork. The inside is relatively sedate and boring. You pass by a classroom where somebody dryly intones about the history of illusion magic. Finally, you come a room that has "Professor Latrix, Laboratory 5" neatly stamped out on a plaque.
You step into the room to find a tiny gnome casting a spell over a wand. Your heavy footfall startles her and she leaps back to stare at you with wide eyes.
"Augh! I mean... wait, who are you? We don't have any tieflings on campus. Be warned, creature - I have powers beyond your ... pseudo-mortal ken!" Her voice is high-pitched and a little nasal. She grabs the wand she was working on and points it at you.
As the last Ghost vanishes Otis takes the letter handed to him by the Messenger and reads.
Oh by Ragathiel the poor Professor is Dead
I must make my way to Judge Daramid's, any miscarriage of justice must be rectified. But first a good nights rest is in order.
"Please let the good Judge know that I will be at her home, as requested, first thing tomorrow morning"
Otis:
The messenger passes the scroll to you, nodding solmenly.
"It ain't signed, but I've been told to tell ya verbally that this is from Judge Embreth Daramid. She instructs that this message be confidential - that means just 'tween you and me, mate."
With that the messenger vanishes.
Dear Sir Songsteel of Ragathiel,
I hope the day finds you well. The tales of your exploits in vanquishing the undead threat that continually plagues our country have not gone unnoticed. That said this note is to bring you sad news, our mutual friend Professor Petros Lorrimor was foully murdered in his home town of Ravengro but a month ago. The messengers hired by his daughter Kendra appear to have not found you in time.
Be at ease that his death was partially avenged by friends of his who put to rest a major undead threat unearthed by the Cult. These friends are now in Lepidstadt, and in my employ for another matter. I have reason to believe an upcoming, notorious trial is in error and the defendant has been wrongly convicted. I cannot personally intervene due to my station, and thus request your presence tomorrow morning at my home. I trust to your discretion in the matter.
-E
It isn't a difficult guess to imagine this has to do with The Beast of Lepidstadt. Upon arriving to ferret out evil in the area, you had been overwhelmed with requests to find and catch the terrible Beast. Nobody could describe it beyond it being large, and everybody had a different story of what evils it had done. But the evils were most certainly evil. Apparently two days ago it broke into the University and stole something before it was captured.
It is currently late afternoon and you are free to explore the city, do some investigating on your own, or simply wait until the next morning.
"A good friend in a pinch," Drau sniffs, insulted. "I was a good friend, with or without pinches!"
He pulls on his travelling cloak. His hat changes from a battered, dishwater-grey, pointed wizard's hat to a battered, faded red fez with a thinning black tassel. He has given up almost immediately on finding his frog. The more important matter at hand now is to make his way to the courthouse and seek out the judge.
"Ah, my dear professor," says Drau to the door knob as he locks up his classroom. "If only you could see me now. Down one frog but up one letter from a judge to inquire as to the whereabouts of one so-called Beast." He taps his bottom lip with the key and drops it into the breast pocket of his robes. "What do you suppose my family would say?"
Drau:
Lepidstadt bustles with activity. Songs are being sung in the streets as the locals celebrate the arrest, trial, and certain execution of The Beast. You make your way down the cobblestone streets towards the centre of town and finally come to the grand courthouse.
The courthouse is a large, squat building dominated by an enormous clock overlooks the town square. A huge figure of wood, roughly man-shaped, stands in the square in front of the building. Small children play in front of the gigantic wicker figure while some other locals pile logs at the base.
Although you may able to speak for uninterrupted hours on the effects of cantrips on amphibians, this gigantic wicker man is something entirely new to you. The locals seem to love it, though.
The inside of the courthouse is a little more orderly. A bored-looking half-elf sits at a front desk beside a noticeboard. Notices on the board are entirely devoted to the three crimes The Beast has been accused of.
Drau looks over the notices on the board, lifting up loose announcements and peeking at the ones underneath as he looks for something about the giant wicker man. He glances over the Beast-related notices and moves on.
"Um, excuse me?" he timidly asks the half-elf at the desk. "Can you tell me about that wicker thing out front?" Drau looks toward the door. "And if you could possibly direct me in the, ah, direction of Judge Daramid, I would be quite grateful."
He tries to give his most confident, charming smile but he looks more than a little scared and confused.
Drau:
Drau's awkward charm works out and the half-elf smiles back encouragingly.
"Ah, new to the city are you? That's the Punishing Man, which is being prepared ah... well, rather illegally by the townsfolk for the Beast's trial. Normally executions are prepared after a guilty verdict is passed down, not before - but as you can see people are excited. It is the favoured manner of execution for heinous crimes in Lepidstadt. The convicted is then placed in the structure and then set ablaze."
"As for Judge Daramid, she is in the justice's chambers right now. There is no trial right now so you're free to speak to her. Go straight ahead into the barracks, then up the stairs to the left. She'll be the middle door across from you."
"You humans," Drau chuckles and shakes his head. "You're too clever by half. That's what my head master said when I was knee-high to a spiderling. Too clever by half." He smiles a nostalgic smile. "Thank you, my dear. Now, I must be on my way."
Drau takes his leave of the half-elf. He follows the directions he's been given. Straight ahead into the barracks, up the stairs.
"Which door was it?" Drau asks himself quietly, tapping his chin thoughtfully. "Eenie meenie miney mo." He points at a different door with each word. "Catch a drider by the toe. If he hollers, cut his bloody head off so he doesn't alert the entire Darklands to your presence. Eenie meenie, miney, mo."
His finger stops on door number one. Cheerfully he steps up to it and pushes the door open.
"Spiderlings?" says the confused half-elf as you push through to a barracks. A dozen cots and trunks and a washstand fill this room, where the six off-duty guards usually sleep.
A stone staircase leads up the courtroom above.
You head up into the stairs and into a massive, gorgeous courtroom.
This grand room is panelled in dark oak and its vaulted ceiling is 25 feet high. Three throne-like chairs with built-in lecterns for the presiding justices stand in front of the east wall. The witness stand is directly in front of them. Two polished mahogany desks, one for the defence and one for the prosecution, stand facing the justices’ chairs. An iron restraining chair with six sets of masterwork manacles for the accused stands in the centre of the room, specially created for this trial. Behind the accused, two rows of a dozen seats each face the front of the court. To the west, the public gallery overlooks the room ten feet above.
You stare blankly at the three doors along the north wall before trying the one on the left. You step into small, simple office. A harried-looking older man looks up at you curiously.
"C-c-c-can I help you?"
Araxiel folds his arms across his chest and looks wearily at the mage.
"If I wanted to hurt ya, do you really think I woulda just strolled in here without a weapon drawn?"
He takes a deep breath in and sighs.
"I want to know if you can enchant a weapon, but if you're gonna be like most everyone else in this town and tell me to get out, lets get it over with now."
Araxiel doesn't look hopeful at this point, his shoulders drooping slightly.
"Oh!" squeaks the gnome. She flips the wand in hand and plops it back on the table. "This is just a stick right now anyways. And don't pout at me young man! Your demonic blood makes you a curiousity in these grounds, which may be just as alienating as being a pariah, but people will be nice at least. Well, most people. Ustalavians don't really like anyone who hasn't had eight generations of ancestors."
Her speech is rapid and cheerful. She moves around her small but very wide desk and looks up at you. The Professor Latrix has violet-hued skin, green hair that is touched with grey, and huge eyes.
"Anyways, what do you need enchanted and when do you need it by?"
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Secoundus walked atop a roof. He knew the way to the college. certain bird had told him. he Pulled the hood tighter around his head, shielding his animal like face. He loved the roofs of any city. It was always quiet, and he had birds to talk to. He kept on his way to college, he had a brother to meet up with.
and some acrobatics for the jumping between roofs
"Sooner is better, I have some pressing work that needs done tomorrow... but hey, even if it'll take longer, I'll just come back when I'm done!"
Araxiel gives a genuine, crooked grin.
You race across the rooftops towards the newer district of Lepidstadt, grateful for the newer construction which means firmer rooftops. The sounds of revelry float up from below as the day grows longer. More drunks in the street, more songs, more chants of "BURN THE BEAST".
You come to the tricky entrance to the University and do a long vault to cling onto a gargoyle. As all the construction is new, it holds under your weight and soon you are on the bizarre architecture of the Department of Magic.
As you pad along the rooftop, you come to a skylight which focuses inwards on a laboratory. Peering down, you see a brightly-colored gnome talking happily to a behemoth of a tiefling. After a closer look, you're pretty sure that you're looking down at Araxiel.
"Well let me see!" Professor Latrix casts a spell and your earthbreaker floats up and away from you before lighting on the table in front of her. She frowns as she looks it over before glancing over to you apologetically.
"Alright young man, I will enchant an earthbreaker for 2000 gold for one casting. This ... thing is not sturdy enough though. Bring me one of higher quality. Its around eight hours work and so I can have your smasher ready by tomorrow morning if you hustle."
You hear a very quiet 'thump' from overhead and notice a shadow has passed over you. You shoot a glance up to see Secoundus lurking directly overhead.
The Professor does not seem to have noticed as she babbles away happily about the cost of materials for a casting of magic weapon.
Araxiel looks up slightly and shakes his head subtly, nodding vaguely at the door.
Idgit... I hope to all the gods that he don't just jump down here and scare the mage. He's likely to get himself AND me put in the stocks."
He looks back at the mage, and picks up his old, battered mace.
"Sure, I think I can manage that. If I don't come back tonight, I'll be back soon and with a better weapon."
He nods his head respectfully at the mage and quickly heads back out the door.
"Oi, Ke'lel!"
Araxiel calls out, though not too loudly, looking up at the tall architecture trying to locate his blood brother from amidst the gargoyles and pillars.
"Don't make me climb up there after you."
"Try Daenar's Weapons on Lichbourne Alley! Should cost you around three hundred!"
She seems cheerfully oblivious to the lurking figure on the skylight.
You see Araxiel finish speaking to the gnome and then step outside. You hear ""Oi, Ke'lel!" called out from below.
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secoundus gave a slight chuckle. the thought of that hulking mass making his way to the side of the building would be fantastic. but no. that would probably be bad. so he instead climbed down, dropping from ledge to ledge till he was on the ground.
then, in abbsyal "araxiel, oon dalla mel'dek kalmar, ke'gret?"
Araxiel folds his thick arms across his chest and groans.
"I'll be better once I'm not worried about you breaking your neck. Why not just walk on the street like the rest of us, or are you too good for this?"
Despite his best efforts, he grins a little.
"The plan is to help in any way we can. We have some leads, but I'll be leavin' those explanations up to those with slicker tongues than I. As for the Beast, well, I guess the best way to describe him would be as the local boogie man. All this celebration going on is cause he's finally been caught and they've put just about every crime they can on his head since he's been blamed just about everything gone wrong in this city for a long time now."
Araxiel watches Secoundus carefully.
Gods I hope he don't fall.
Although nearly impaling himself on a particularly pointy bit of architectural whimsy, Secondous manages to get onto the ground without attraction any serious attention. One student stares a little bit, but shrugs and moves on. It's a department where the unusual can be expected.
Secondous, having overheard the conversation with Professor Latrix, you know the location of the store she mentioned. Roughly a five minute walk northeast of here.
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Finally he reached the ground and walked quick to araxiel, and quickly became uncomfortable. Secoundus shifts from one leg to the other anxious for both being on the ground and in the open.
"Tatad, lauj parvietot. lai iegūtu so ieroci jūsu. netalu no sejienes, jo veikalos."
Araxiel grins and puts a frying pan sized hand on his little brother's head and messes his hair.
"Vai nav fret bralik, ticiet mal, dazi vus akmenus, lai atktali cinities ar mani, un cina tie vrus, ja viti census invatos jumas. Tagad, kapak nav vus vadit ceļu uz zo veikalu."
As the day wears on, the party gets even wilder. People careen around, drunkenly collapsing into one another, singing, and occasionally breaking into chants.
"BURN THE BEAST! BURN THE BEAST!"
Unfortunately your travels take you closer and closer to the courthouse, which means the crowds get thicker and thicker. People generally get the hell out of your way. However, as the crowd gets rowdier, a few local toughs start to size the two of you up and start following both of you.
"Luuks like we found t'Beasts cousins! Yer kind ain't welcome here! We burn folks like ya 'round these parts!"
Encouraged by the shouts of the thugs, people's chants turn to jeer as you try to make your way through the crowd. When people were once leaping out of your way, they now stand boldly in front of you, forcing you to shove them aside.
Soon, you find that a large circle of people has formed, blocking off the street. Six local toughs have stepped up on you and one truly massive man sneers at the two of you, fixing his eyes on Araxiel in particular.
"C'mon ya big bastard! Get outta our city! We're strikin' back 'gainst t'evils that take our children, foul our drinkin' water, and murder good folk in their beds!"
Drunken cheers erupt as he speaks, and soon the chants of "BURN THE BEASTS! BURN THE BEASTS!" start up again. This time, the chants are plural. Although normally reserved and suspicious, the locals are now a drunken, angry, mob.
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secoundus gave a sigh
" jus redzat, kapec man nepatīk nokapt no jumtiem? drīz vien varēsu, es saņemu atpakaļ tur."
he shook his head then darted to one of the sides, trying to uuse the surprise movement to startle the people, so he could get past them and climb up the wall to the roof top.
and if it goes off
Araxiel's normally docile demeanor begins to turn to something much darker as he is actively threatened, and his tail whips back and forth instinctively.
"Atrast tieseni, Ke'lel. Iat atri parak, tas klist nekron trol'jakal."
Araxiel speaks to his brother quickly before turning his attention to the thugs.
"I am no Beast and I don't want to hurt anyone."
He says, holding his mace up in a defensive posture.
"But I will not let any harm come to my kin nor I. The choice is yours. Let us pass, or we will fight."
Araxiel's body exudes an increasingly uncomfortable heat and he bears his fangs and growls.
The leader of the crowd steps back as Araxiel bares his teeth and then lets out his own roar, which is echoed by the crowd. Meanwhile, Secondous takes a dead run at the edge of the crowd and suddenly leaps straight at the building. His skill pays off as he steps off of someone's shoulder and clings to the side of the building. A few more seconds and he's up top.
Unfortunately for Araxiel, he's got a fight on his hands.
Initiative rolls:
They seem to have completely ignored the fact you tower over most men and have a gigantic hammer strapped to your back. The thugs all advance carrying various miscellany - some cudgels, a broken table lag, and in one case an ale mug. It is uncertain whether or not they mean to commit murder or just rough you up a little lot.
SECONDOUS IS UP. Followed by one goon, Araxiel, then the rest.
That seems to have an impact on the angry mob. Everyone suddenly looks very nervous and the fact that they are wielding cudgels and bottles against two very well-armed adventurers sinks into their skulls. The circle of people back up and scatter. The lead thug and his cronies also look unsure of themselves, but then let out a roar and charge anyways!
Round One
Intitiative Order
Secondous (done)
Thug 3
Lead Thug
Araxiel
The other thugs
One of the thugs rushes in with a broken bottle, swinging at Araxiel. However, Araxiel simply twists in place so that the bottle shatters against his armour! The thug is now unarmed.
The lead thug smacks his cudgel on the ground and runs in to swing at Araxiel's head! Araxiel simply sidesteps the drunken swing and the cudgel hits a lot of air.
Drau rushes up to the man and grasps his hand, shaking it firmly. He gives the man a warm smile.
"Ah! Judge Daramid!" he says, continuing to shake the man's hand. "A right pleasure to meet you. Right pleasure! I came as quickly as I could. I do hope there's something I can do to help you. I don't have a lot of resources but whatever I have is at your disposal, providing what you need doesn't require much more than brain power or a bit of a spell. I'm not too bad at spells. Of course, what I'm really good at is lecturing. My specialty is frogs, of course, and the effects of cantrips on various species. Although I'm sure if you needed a lecture, there are plenty of tenured professors that could help you. Unless you also wanted to confer tenured status on my, ah, um - if you wanted to make me a tenured professor. But if you didn't, I'm perfectly happy to remain on as a sessional lecturer. Anything to educate young minds on frogs."
Drau inhales deeply, having run out of breath, and smiles feebly at the man.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, your honour."
The man stares at you incredulously he has a rich, booming voice marred by a stutter. He looks anxious and exhausted.
"D-d-do I look like my name is E-e-e... damnit Embreth? My name is Gustav K-k-kaple, barrister and the defendant of the B-b-b-east for this wretched trial! Judge Daramid is n-n-next door! N-n-now if you'll e-e-excuse me I have to fill out all this damned paperwork for the public d-d-defenders!"
"Oh! Is Embreth a girl's name?" Drau asks thoughtfully. "Well, I thought it was a bit too cute for you. No offense, Gustav. I'm sure the human women find you plenty cute. While I've got you here, do you think I could I ask you a few questions about this Beast? Like, could you tell me everything you know? Well, maybe not everything but, you know. Tell me something interesting - and possibly helpful!"
He gives Gustav his most charming smile.
Araxiel snarls as the glass breaks across his chest, broken glass flying dangerously close to his face.
Not wanting to hurt the man to severely as he might with his colossal hammer, he lashes out at the main thug with his razor sharp ivory claws.
Araxiel keeps his hammer drawn and instead lashes out at the lead thug with his claws. Blood sprays onto the ground as the thug is rocked back, roaring in pain.
The other thugs charge in to start bashing at Araxiel. The blows rain on him but just bounce off of his armour uselessly.
Round Two
Secondous
Thug 3
Lead Thug
Araxiel
Everyone else