Jaylen looks over his shoulder, seeing Cade heading to help Thovin and then to the slowly rising half-elf and bride. Scooping up his rapier as he runs forward and tries to leap onto the half-elf and bride.
Sevren calls out to Thovin "Keep going!"
Then, seeing Jaylen in position, he tries to stop the man leaving with the bride.
Missing wide, he calls out to his newly conscious ally, "Thovin, the rope!"
[O]oc Thovin, they acted before you, so would have downed you before the channel. You were also revived after your turn in initiative, so it did not go off then. All should be caught up and back on track. [/ooc]
Cade watches as his enemy gets away, but hear the sudden combat behind him and catches sight of his Dwarven companion hitting the ground. Running quickly to engage the two short blurry figures, he manages to catch one of them as they leap off of the Dwarf's body, catching him with two quick strokes, fast enough to counter even their lighting fast speed. The blur disappears, stopped in its tracks. The body of a small creature, humanoid, though with onyx colored skin and wearing tight fitting leather armor, is all that remains. A tiny dagger is still clutched in his hand.
Jaylen leaps into the air, reaching his hand out to grasp on to the bride, but he instead grabs onto hardened leather worn by the half elf, who begins to try and shake the Guard Officer off.
Bernarius is pulled upward quickly, his body offering little weight to whatever is pulling the rope upwards. Noticing the quick turn of the tide, he looks down to the half elf being dragged down by Jaylen. Remember the college, the story, the legend. Make ours real, till we can make another story together again, live on. After a moment's hesitation, he pulls himself onto the roof through the window.
The injured half elf gets to the window, where he only gives a weak smile to the other man trying to fight off Jaylen. The half elf seems to acknowledge the halfling's words as well as his brother in arms' smile, and with that he lets go of the rope, taking both himself and Jaylen to the stone floor in seconds.
Meanwhile, the last standing blurry fey notices his companion fall, so in a blur of motion runs by his lifeless body, disparaging from combat and taking his friend's remains with him down the aisle and out the door.
Thovin has barely had time to hit the ground before he is sucked back into the loud church, where the people are huddled in the pews, and the band still roars out its fast paced music, much to the apparent confusion of many of the members.
In a last attempt to stop their escape, Sevren slings a bolt of fire at the rope, but the sudden movement caused by two falling humanoids throws off his aim. With that, the injured half elf pulls the bride through the window onto the roof, causing her to disappear from sight, though you can hear her shouts for a second more before they are suddenly silenced. The band is suddenly quiet, and there is a brief moment of silence as everyone reels from the shock of what just occurred.
Then that moment shatters as some people rush for the door, some go to the aid of the guards, and the family of Sir Cassius and Lady Anchorate rush to check if the two men in the front are still alive, with the priest appearing from where he was hunkered down beneath the podium to lend his aid.
"You okay Thovin?" asks Cade, worry clear on his face.
Shaking the stars from his head, Thovin stands and picks up his warhammer.
Surveying the scene, he doesn't see the flying blurs or ropes from the window. Did they exist? Did he suffer another blackout? What just happened?
Not seeing any hostiles, Thovin stows his warhammer and looks toward the halfling who addressed him. His name is Cade, right? "Yes. What happened?"
"Good, get to your feet. We have some wedding crashers to deal with." Cade moves to the door, then says "Unless you're too busy lying there, that is." before heading out the front door of the church.
Landing with a THUD, Jaylen curses and crawls on top of the new half-elf, He then attempts the turn him over and grapple his arms behind him. adv if he’s grappled. for 6 bludgeoning. While punching the half elf in the kidney. ”Who are you and where are they taking her!?”
Cade rushes out the door and finds a scene that does not belong at a wedding. A carriage is parked at the base of the steps, with two horses escorting it. An unconscious guardsman lies beside each horse, unmoving except for their labored breathing. The people in the courtyard beyond are in a state of confusion, some scattering, though none seem to understand quite what is going on.
Jaylen rolls on top of the half elf, who offers no resistance to the officer other until he starts swinging, when he rolls both himself and Jaylen to the side, pinning his opponent's arm under their combined weight, but keeping himself held in the officer's grip. My duty to the college is complete, therefore I surrender to my current captor. Protocol dictates I give you information related to the legend once allowed to stand.
Unable to piece together what happened, Thovin sees Jaylen wrestling with someone. He heads toward him to assist.
If he passes any wounded NPCs, he would heal them if they need it.
Seeing the half-elf well in hand, Sevren rushes after Cade. Finding the mess outside the door, he scrambles to get a view of the roof. "What's all this!?! Where'd they go!!?"
"Nothing is ever simple." mutters Cade to himself as he sheathes his blade then goes and checks the guardsmen for signs of life.
Sevren glances around, trying to catch a glimpse of how the enemy is escaping with the bride.
Jaylen pauses at the half elf’s composer. Shakes his head and roughly stands the man still holding his arms. ”Say what you are meant to say and be quick about it. You’re friends will be caught. ”
Thovin notices that though Sir Cassius is stirring from unconsciousness, the older man is not responding to the people attempting to shake him awake. Laying his hands upon the man's messy wound, Thovin channels enough energy to knit it back together, halting the blood pouring out of the area.
Nearby, the half elf is yanked to his feet, and begins talking in an even and steady tone of voice. Bernarius will head north, out of the city limits. He will travel for a few days time, where he will meet a friend. It is a straight shot north, and you 4 are already expected, though he will have a head start of course. Is there anything else I shall tell you? The College allows me to inform you of any prominent things relating to a legacy.
Outside, Cade jogs over to the downed guardsmen, and finds that while they are breathing steadily enough, they both have a few small incisions scattered about their bodies.
Sevren looks around, scanning the crowd in front quickly before stepping back to get a view of the roof, which appears to lack anyone atop of it. Though only listening for a moment, he can hear the sounds of people shouting frantically along with the sound of horses hooves on stone from the back of the church, possibly where a street running behind it would be.
Sevren calls out to Cade "Let others help him! We might be able to catch the culprits!" He glances around for a horse he and Cade can commandeer/borrow.
He shouts to some of the onlookers. "Help these guards! Go tell my friends inside that they're fleeing from behind the church!"
Nodding to Sevren, Cade leaps into the coachman's seat on the wedding carriage and begins steering the horses towards the back of the church, Shouting "Grab the others!" at Sevren as he takes control of the horses.
Thovin lays his hand on Sir Cassius and prays to Tharmekhûl to relight the forge of the wounded groom.
"Expected where, kidnapper? And, tell the groom the reason for this attack." Thovin asks the half-elf.
Jaylen cocks his head slightly considering why their guy may actually be telling th truth but strangely thinks he is. ”Yeah, what’s the point. What are you trying to prove here? All you’ve done is hurt and scare innocent people. We will find your friend and it will probably cost him his life.”
The half-elf goes to speak, but stops for a moment, as if considering his words. After a moment of thought, he continues Expected north, at the great Universita di Leggenda. The fabled college of legends. We go to bring forth stories of our tales, in hopes that they allow us entrance. And so, this legacy has begun with the capture, and will end with the bride's return, after proof of our story's worth has been shown. And what better way to make a legend than to have a band of famed heroes participating in a wonderful chase I ask you?
Outside the church, Cade and Sevren jump onto the carriage, with the halfling taking control of the horses, leaving Sevren free to do as he can in the seat beside him. 5 horses dash into their field of vision, passing by the square in the direction of the main gates. The pair takes off after them, managing to keep them in view, but a significant distance behind them. (Animal handling roll to see how fast you get these guys going)
Bernarius sits on the lead horse, with the horse in the rear holding the familiar sight of a wounded half elf. Two of the horses are riderless, though only one contains a saddle, and the remaining horse is ridden by a large figure in robes, one big hand holding the reigns, the other holding a bound bride tightly against his side.
"So I've never driven a wagon in a chase before. You?"
One of the townsfolk, upon hearing Sevren's command, manages to get his body moving, and so takes off into the church itself. To those inside, a young man rushes into the room, incredibly worried and having issues controlling his speech, The..the man outside wants me to te..tell you that they are escaping from behind the church.
Shaking his head in disbelief at the absurdity of the half elf’s story Jaylen hands the elf over to a pair of nearby guardsmen. Just as the current miner comes in to tell the inside lees about the fleeing suspects, the ranger says ”Don’t let this one get away. If we don’t find his friends, we will be back.”
He then gallops out of the church, again cursing the dress uniform.
Thovin nods at Jaylen putting the prisoner into custody. He brushes off his snow white ceremonial vestments and follows Jaylen at a walk. He certainly was not fast enough to catch them. He limped a little in pain from the walloping by the fairies.
And, he knew where the villains were going. He started to wonder if he had enough time to collect his traveling/working attire.
Thovin racks his mind for information on the College, but comes up blank at the moment, although it is not the first time he has heard the name.
The two members of the group finish their hasty interrogation of the prisoner before rushing out of the church, finding their two companions on the coachman's bench of the bridal carriage.
"They're going to the Universita di Leggenda. It's up north. Does anyone know where it is? If we can find out, we can get prepared and follow them." Thovin asks.
Sevren thinks to himself. "I think I may know where that is. Should we pursue them immediately or equip ourselves and follow at our convenience? We must decide immediately."
Sevren knows that the Universita di Leggenda is little spoken of, and when it is, it isn't ever solid. Thought of to be a discreet bard college, they have no official establishment, and any contact to be had is initiated by them first. They are said to focus upon making timeless and memorable legends, through many means, and with utmost devotion.
"I have marked the wounded elf. It shouldn't be hard for us to follow them. Return to the inn so we can get our things. We will pick up the trail from there. From what the half-elf said inside, I don't think they will harm their prisoner. This seems more of a game to them. A very dangerous game."
As the group piles into the carriage, Cade snaps the reins to get the vehicle moving.
"Don't bother changing, just grab your gear and go. Also, someone grab my gear!"
Sevren nods. "I'd be happy to oblige. I have little to carry for myself." He heads into the inn and gets the needed belongings from his room and from Cade's.
With the clear to the inn, Thovin follows Sevren. He changes into his working clothes and leaves his monster chest at the inn.
The party races to the inn, where they gear up for a tougher lifestyle. Cade, remaining outside, noticed the three horsemen racing towards the inn a moment after they arrive. In the lead is a grim faced Sir Cassius, sporting a bruise on his cheek where he was struck earlier. He is dressed differently though, having abandoned his ceremonial outer layer, wearing a layer of mail now, and it is easy to spot the breastplate hanging off of his horse as well. He is flanked by two guardsmen, who also seem to be in a bit of pain from sore spots covering their body.
If you are going after that bastard Sir Cassius begins, spitting out the last word, then I inform you that I am setting off after him as well. It would be beneficial to combine our efforts I believe. Other members of the party hear this very commanding statement as they exit the building, armed and armored.
"We would welcome your assistance. I believe my companions were interrogating the man we captured, so they can share information, if they ever get out here. So much for 'grab your stuff and change in the carriage.'"
Thovin returns ready for travel. "Ah. Sir Cassius. You'll be joining us."
Sevren comes rushing out with his and Cade's belongings. He throws them into the carriage and, breathing heavily, nods to Sir Cassius. "Your aid will be most valuable. Let us leave at once!" Once the others join the carriage, Sevren casts guidance on Cade again to steer, if necessary.
Jaylen hustles our with his weapons armor and backpack. Seeing Cassius this n the bourses and hearing his proclamation Jaylen winces slightly but says ”Understood m’lord. I hope to be able to catch thier trail still. I have one of the terrorists marks with magic.” he explains as he is buckling his actual sword belt, happy to be rid of the rapier.
Throwing his leg over his own horse, he mounts up ready to head out with the posse.
The party head north, accompanied by Sir Cassius, leaving the city behind and entering into the flat Greenland area. The group has no issue tracking their quarry, especially with the aid of Jaylen's magic, and settles into a hasty but sustainable pace.
Sevren lifts a hand and speaks an arcane word. A glow of energy flows through him briefly then he nods with satisfaction.
He turns to his allies as he rides in the carriage. "Any idea what we should expect from these anarchists?"
As the group travels, Cade will hand over the reins of the carriage to someone else and take a moment to get changed into his armor by climbing into the carriage itself, then return and take the wheel again.
Sometime into the trail, Jaylen's magic fades from his target making things take a little longer to follow the tracks. He stays focused though, trying to not get distracted so that they keep to the trail.
The only exception to this is when he ask's Sir Casius a question. "Have you dealt with these people before M'lord? It is strange that they would target you and your wedding specifically."
Cassius, riding alongside the party on his mount, addresses the questions directed towards him with an icy rage. I am unaware of what they may be planning, nor do I know what they are capable of. They seem compotent enough and had a plan of sorts, so I would be wary. In particular, I have never met these ruffians, no. Why they chose my sacred day to attack I have no idea, but if they are as self centered as you predict, it may be because I am known by the people. The news of the attack has spread quickly I am sure.
Jaylen weighs the Lords words trying to determine whether he is hiding anything.