The man -you can see now that he is a middle-aged man wakes up coughing "Wait...You seem like you can handle a knife but unless you have something real special up your sleeve you wont be able to get past that woman. My guess is she is a devil, and I mean an actual devil from hell. The best option now is to retreat and try again later. This whole thing was a trap and some poor fools in the courtyard are going to feel Thrune's wrath in our place. We should help them and make our escape then I can repay you for saving me and maybe help you achieve what I believe is our mutual goal."
"My name is Rexus...Rexus Victocora" you recognise the Victocora name as a noble house in the city they were the most prominent supporters or the former lord-mayor. "A few nights ago my manor as well as several other buildings in town caught fire and burned down. This was no accident. The culprits were dottari guards sent by Thrune to pave the way for the new lord-mayor. The rest of my family did not escape the flames." he says as you make your way out.
Will wait until fight moves on a bit before we move on but you can throw in another post to reply.
Freya is up
And here comes the sob story, Tobias thinks. At least those he was immune too. Heard more than his fair share and most were false or embellished. Tobias holds up a hand to stop the monologue. "Shut it," he whispers harshly. "I don't care and we're still not safe to talk here." Only once they are out of the opera house does he speak again. He leans lazily against the side of the opera house, head down and hat obscuring his features.
"I helped because our goals align for now and I want what information you have. I have no intention of joining your little freedom fighters club. Besides, you guys aren't much better then the Dottari leaving civilians to distract them while you sneak in." Tobias looks up enough to show the would be assassin a hard stare. He wasn't going to let other unwilling targets get involved in his revenge. He had at least that much honor left in him. This was a personal vendetta against the house of Thrune.
Freya decides that she doesn't quite like having swords so close to her and backs away. Then she calls upon the pool of magic she keeps inside her to come forth and strike the fool she knocked prone previously.
Threaten me will he? We'll see how he likes this!
The guard sees the attack coming and tries to dodge but is just a little bit to slow. He cries out in pain as the ice pierces his armour.
Goon 1: Badly bloodied this guy turns and runs towards the opera house (using withdraw action to not provoke attacks)
Goon 2: Seeing his buddy run he decides to join him but before he does he call over to some nearby guards "Hey don't just stand there help us apprehend these criminals". The guards who are just regular guards and not dottari hesitate reaching for their weapons but not coming forward just yet. (also withdraws but still provokes attack for Zindra)
Goon 3: Attacks Turp
Goon 4: "That hurt dammit!" says the guard going after Freya in anger.
You can all go.
Tobias and Rexus are in the courtyard as well now.
Oh, no! You can not run! Zindra slashes at the guard as he moves away.
Mordecai seeing the two goons he was engaged with fleeing, reassess the whole situation. Seeing the Guards on the sidelines indecisiveness he decides too act. Turning towards the Guards that the Dottari were addressing he begins stowing his weapons and says.
Sons of Kintargo! You saw these men... Mordecai points at the two fleeing Dottari attacking indiscriminately as they waded into a crowd of unarmed Chelaxian Citizens, whom it is your duty to guard. Any one of these victims could have been your brother... or sister... Mordecai directs his gaze to the youngest guardsman, or parent... looking to the oldest guardsman or child!
Move action===> stow the light mace
Standard action====> Lets hope these are good local boys and not mercenaries hired from out of town.
So if he is staggered he will move away instead and try to run.
Zindra will attack the goon fighting turp dealing him 3 damage.
Bjorn will hit goon 3 attacking turp dealing him 7 damage ( single hit cause he has to move to hit him)
one more hit on him and he is likely down the rest are running.
Rexus runs out into the courtyard and shouts out to everyone. "Hey you all need to get out of here now! In a few moments this place wil be crawling with dottari and devils and anyone still in the square is doomed. The square is most likely surrounded but I know a few secret ways follow me!"
So Tobias and turp can post actions for this round.
Tobias does not follow immediately. Instead, he watches from the shadows of the alley they exited the opera into. Like he said earlier, the enemy didn't know he existed yet and it was in his best interest to keep it that way. When Rexus finally moves to exit the courtyard, only then does he follow at a distance.
Zindra looks over at the man that just ran into the courtyard. With the way he was acting and the way her looked, she thought she should believe him.
If the others back down and follow the man, I will also. She thought. Aloud she said to the ones fighting with her,
Do you think we should follow him?
"I'm not keen on getting arrested. We're both far too pretty for jail especially in Cheliax. If he double-crosses on we can get the jump on him and take 'im out!" Freya says as she starts running towards Rexus
To the other people who helped fight the Dottari.
I wish we had a way to heal all these people lying on the ground... But We do need for the Guards to have everything under control when the Dottari show up... we can't give them an excuse for more violence..... so you best run... feel free to find me later.
to the regular Guardsman of the city...
I remit myself to your custody, I'm under arrest... now get over here and help me with the wounded...
Mordecai kneels down and begins doing what little he can for the wounded on the ground.
He has a point. Should I stay and help heal? Zindra hesitated a second before she ran after the three.
No, I can not go to jail and since I attacked a guard, I am sure that is what will happen.
The final Dottari guard retreats for now and you make a run for it except for Mordecai who turns himself in and is arrested by the guards.
"What a fool...Hopefully I can arrange for him to be saved before he is tortured to death." says Rexus as you leads you away from the square.
In the square Mordecai is witness to a pack of hellhounds being released to hunt the others. Massive black dogs that are wrapped in fire that were summoned from the pits of hell itself.
He takes you to an alley and shows you a hidden trapdoor that leads into down into a tunnel you all go inside as the first hounds arrive on the scene and he collapses the passage behind you once everyone is inside just in time.
"I'm sorry you all became involved in this. We organised the protest and riled up the crowd a bit but we didn't think it would come to bloodshed. Still with this the spirit of rebellion will burn in people hearts stronger than ever" says Rexus.
"My name is Rexus Victocora, and until last week’s Night of Ashes, I was one of this city’s nobles. My family estate burned to the ground that night—I lost my entire family and I escaped simply because I was studying at the Alabaster Academy during the fire. There were other fires that night, as you may know—fires that many believe were started by Barzillai Thrune or rather his agents in an attempt to squash any spirit of rebellion Kintargo might have before his arrival. Now more than ever we need that spirit of rebellion to stay strong, but Thrune’s actions have driven into hiding those who would stay strong and resist. Those who could once rally the city to a cause, such as Lord-Mayor Jilia Bainilus are missing at best, and are more likely dead. I cannot do this on my own, but with the aid of talented citizens such as yourselves, I have hope that we can chase Thrune out yes. Will you aid Kintargo? Would you help me save this city from the devil? If not I can help you escape, you will need to flee the city and find a new place to live since you will likely be considered rebels now whether you like it or not. If you want to stay and fight however I can help you contact others who would fight Thrune and maybe together we can assemble an effective resistance. Our first task I think would be to rescue that fellow who was caught in the square."
Freya smiles and jumps a bit. "This is just like the storybooks! I am totally in for kicking some Thrune ass!"
"Chase him out?" The man that came in last stands in the deepest shadows in the tunnel. His voice sounds gruff and annoyed. "Should have let you bleed out. Better than getting caught by Thrune. Because if that's all your after that's where you'll end up. Let him go and he will return. Then his pride will be on the line. He'll burn the town looking for you."
Zindra stood quietly to one side of the tunnel listening as Rexus talked.
"I am Zindra Malru. I am all for getting back at Thrune. I believe he is the reason behind the death of my grandmother." With a deep breath, she pauses before contiuning. "Let me know what I can do to be of assistance." Well, grandmother may of just been in the wrong place at the wrong time, but she still deserves justice.
"If the opportunity comes along to stick a dagger in our new lord mayor than I am all for it. That was my intent today but as you saw this will require some planning." replies Rexus to Tobias.
"I know a safe place were we can lay low. From there I will talk to my contacts and see what we can do."
Tobias almost mentioned that planning such opportunities was his job but the less they knew about him the better. Instead he just waves the man forward to lead the way.
Once you emerge on the other end of the tunnel Rexus takes you along some alleys to reach the Long Roads Coffeehouse.
He knocks three times pauses then knocks twice and a dwarven woman opens the door.
"Didn't go as planned I take it? she says and looks around
"Made some friends instead? Come on in"
Rexus explains to her the situation and she nods.
"You can use the bedrooms upstairs they are all empty."
"Get some rest tomorrow we can decide on a course of action." says Rexus
...
I'm sure it wlll have little effect but Mordecai Goldman will demand his Lawful rights using profession lawyer...
if that has no effect he explains to his goalers exactly how Asmodeus punishes those who do not respect the Laws of his church and Country in the afterlife...
The woman Nox comes down to your cell and grins.
"Don't you know? Traitors don't have rights"
"Now then why don't you tell me everything you know about the other rebels that escaped from the courtyard."
The woman practicably radiates evil and you recall how a knife in the throat didn't even slow her down.
"I call the biggest bed!" Freya shouts as she races to where the beds are.
Ma'am I am a son of Kintarro and of Cheliax. My family has served the empire since before Aroden's death. We bent knee to the Thune house just like every other family in order to restore order to the empire.
My purpose today was to protect the innocent tax paying citizens, who were in the town square by order of Lord Thrune, that were unlucky enough to be too close to the soldiers under your command. With out your command they had gone from being a force to restore order and had become a cause of chaos. As a loyal vassal to the Thrune House I was honor bound to protect The Lord Mayor 's citizens from those ruffians. If I were a rebel I would have run with the others. Ask the guardsman whom I willingly remanded myself to whether I acted in any way that wasn't consistent with protecting the subjects of The Lord Mayor.
Unfortunately I know virtually nothing of those people. Certainly nothing your own men could not report on their own. But I will say that if today was caused by them and they willingly put all those innocent men women and children in harms way by initiating a foolish act of dissent than I hope they get what is coming to them.
Freya comes back after Bjorn's question.
"Freya Solheim, journeyman wizard and freedom fighter extraordinaire! Now that I'm here, we can start the rebellion that bloodies Thrunes' devil-loving noses!"
Zindra introduces herself, smiling at the exuberance of Freya."I am Zindra Malru, a cleric of Sarenrae. I am more than willing to help with this rebellion and hopefully find these missing people."
"Best I not say anything. Guards never saw me so I am an unknown here. The less you guys know the better." Tobias takes a room on the ground floor that is equidistant from all exits he can see. Already he was formulating methods of approach from what little he saw of the opera house and listing threats. Nox and the hell hounds were very high. He needed more info so he'd follow along with these people for now.
"Is that right? So your loyal to Cheliax then?" she looks to the guards Untie him" she hold out a black stone that radiates heat and flame but doesn't seem to bother her "Hold this stone and swear the hellfire compact and I promise to free you if you survive."
'Mordecai's hand reaches out for the stone. Halfway there it falters his head filled with doubts... Is this a trick? Will the stone punish him for being more faithful to Cheliax and it's people, than the Thrunes? Will this moment give the Devils of Cheliax some sort of control over him? His mind raced in that half second and then he remembered one of his lessons as a child.
Mordecai: Teacher why did the Noble houses swear fealty to the House of Thrune and their Devils? Why didn't they continue to fight them?
Mordecai's Teacher: Mordecai... War was destroying our country. Noble sons were dying in pointless battles for inconsequential gains. Our borders were beginning to weaken to outside encroachment because of our infighting. What's more is countless citizens were forced to fight and die to settle the conflicts of the higher classes. Meanwhile food ran short and the people could not feed their children. Disease ran rampant through the cities. No end was insight. When House Thrune gained their advantage... The other houses bent knee to put an end to that. It is the job of the noble houses to bare the brunt of The tyrants who brought peace and stability to our country. It is our place to be the shield of the people and suffer indignity so that they don't have too.
Mordecai's focus shifted back to the present. He could see the look of victory in the devils eyes. At that moment his worries subsided and his will became clear. What I do.. I do for the people's of Cheliax... May Aeroden have mercy on my soul.
Mordecai's hand reaches out and grabs the stone as he recites the pact.
Mordecai walks out of the Dottari prison into the streets under his own power.... he closes his eyes and opens them back up hoping to awaken from a bad dream... but he can still feel the throbbing burning in his hand... he can see evidence in the courtyard of the conflict that had transpired. Looking up at the balcony that Thrune had addressed the crowd from he can even see a red smear where a tomato had narrowly missed the new mayor.
So much has changed so fast... a few days ago Kintargo had seemed so much safer. Now with Thrune here It looked like the city would be torn apart by the conflict between the rebels and Dottari.
I have to do something... Thrune can't be reasoned with I know... Maybe the rebels can be... The antics in the courtyard today had endangered too many people. I have to try and find them... but first I need to see if I can do anything about this...
Mordecai looks down at his hand flexing the fingers and feeling the pain. He places a glove over the injury and starts heading towards the Temple of Shelyn to see what, if anything, can be done about his wounded hand.
Mordecai learns that the brand is a devil curse and is very difficult to remove. They can heal the damage from the burn but the mark would remain as well as the curse. To remove the brand would require a spell to remove the curse and another to remove the effect with a cost of 2000 gold.
The next day he will go in search of the rebels who were responsible for the bloodbath in the town square.
You all awaken on the next morning and the coffee-house owner has prepared breakfast for you all and she tells you Rexus has gone out but will return shortly.
"Well the heroes in the storybooks usually try to either recruit new troops or make a big public strike against the evil king. I think we need the support since we just did a big strike against the Thrunies."
"I agree. But how do we gather support? It's not like we can go up to everyone and just ask." Zindra stares at Bjorn for a min, then with a chuckle she starts eating her own food.
"Good food, isn't it, Bjorn.."
Mordecai is wandering about asking about the rebels when he is approached by someone who speaks quietly to him.
"If you want to meet the rebels I can take you to them but you will need to put this on. It will hide you from eyes that can watch from afar." he hands Mordecai a necklace of a silver raven.