It's people like these that makes this all worth it, Wilhelm thinks as he spends time with the fishing family from Egorian. These honest, hard-working people deserve so much better than we're being given. If enough people such as these join our cause, we may yet affect some real change!
Applause and admiration aren't something Wilhelm gets a lot of in the city guard, but he finds he rather enjoys it. He can hear the crowd starting to find a unified chant behind one of the other protesters, who seems to be doing an incredible job at getting people enthusiastically riled up.
Is that a Vashnarstill? It's good to have some nobility on our side as well!
He waves his home-made banner animatedly for the group around him.
"We'll show the Thrunies that Kintargo has a spine! We are not dogs to be kicked for their amusement! When the government stops protecting the people, the people must be protected from the government!"
He then joins in the chanting, staying close to Alfonse, Walter and Penelope. Their combination of youth and strength can often lead to recklessness, and while the Thrunies bay have backed off for the moment, there's always the possibility that they might regroup.
Ignati and Valleria
Ignati recognizes the scowling woman as Barzilai's bodybuard, Nox. There are many different rumors about her, including fearful whispers that she's actually a Devil, but no one has seen anything conclusive.
The Dottari bristle a bit as they are addressed directly, and a few look to Nox for direction, but she gives them a curt shake of her head and they return to their positions, doing their best to remain stoic.
Morrigan
Bacon slips free of Morrigan's arms and quickly dashes towards the smell of food. It is not difficult to find him, however, and when she does Morrigan finds him being fed bread crusts by a young Tiefling woman with horns and a pair of strange, goat-like eyes.
"He's such a cute little guy. Is he your's?" she asks Morrigan.
Corian
The crowd seems too distracted to take note of the movement by the third floor window, and the figure appears to have retreated inside at this point. It is possible that your contact has not yet arrived on the scene.
Voreni
Wilhelm
Alfonse, Walter, and Penelope remain at your side during the protest, and chant alongside you.
As the protest continues into its third hour, Wilhelm begins leading Alfonse, Walter, Penelope and anyone else willing to follow on a meandering route throughout the crowd actively seeking out the more unruly opposition elements before they can regain enough momentum to start causing serious problems. He's banking on his previous success, plus the addition of several more burly bodies (untrained though they may be) to put a stop to what might turn into nasty confrontations before they happen. Unlike the usual duties of the city guard, which are generally reactive in nature, Wilhelm is feeling like a good offense might be the best defense in helping to prevent the protest from devolving into unstable violence as the hours march on.
If I can ensure this protest keeps its hands clean, the better our chances at being seen in a positive light by the people who aren't here and will only hear about it. Let us build a reputation as the good guys and not give the Thrunes ammunition with which to label us otherwise!
Voreni does his best to melt into the noisy crowds while keeping the object of his affection in sight.
Morrigan glances in Corian's direction that dashes after Bacon. Damn.
When Morrigan catches up to Bacon, she smiles at the tiefling woman. "I am so sorry. I will pay for whatever he ate." Morrigan takes out her coin purse. "Yes, he's mine. His name is Bacon. My family names the pigs after food so we don't grow too attached, but he's grown on me anyway."
Bacon oinks.
"He says thank you for the compliment, by the way. I think he likes you." Morrigan gives the girl a gold coin. "This is for any trouble the little guy caused. Also, you haven't happened to see a man pass by wearing a single black glove have you? I've become separated from him and would ever be in your debt if you can point me in his direction. Otherwise I must get going."
Morrigan scoops up Bacon. 'You've been a bad boy," she scolds. "I hope you're satisfied. If I knew you were going act up, I'd have left you behind, but I needed the extra pair of eyes."
Seeing that his rallying has done nothing to sway the dottari, Ignati tries another tactic, he points toward Nox and shouts above the crowd.
"You would let this devil in disguise Intimidate you? Force you to take arms against your countrymen, your brothers and sisters in arms, and protect the element of chaos sitting within OUR Opera House? Well let me remind you that this city protects those loyal to it, and turns out her betrayers. The line is drawn today, and if you choose the wrong side you will regret it!"
He winks at the red haired guard next to him and leans in.
"I'm sure that grabbed some attention!"
"I think you did... lets just hope that we did not overstep! If she decides to send the dottari towards the crowd, we can defend ourselves, but the common people cannot..."
Valleria looks around, trying to notice the general picture of the propest.
As soon was she turns her head, something enters in her eyes.
Damn!
"Morrigan? Hells. Tiefling, what was his...?" Corian finds himself without companions for the moment. Scowling, he makes one more attempt to find this mysterious one-gloved person.
"This is a stupid place to meet someone," he mutters to no one in particular, crossing his arms.
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Ignati successfully suppresses the pro-Thrune group, and draws the attention of three more citizens who form a retinue around him. They are a middle-aged Halfling couple and their teenage son.
Elsewhere, the others are not having as much success as Ignati, but Morrigan does safely reclaim her pig. The young Tiefling smiles and doesn't seem to mind the pig at all. Morrigan catches her name as "Zea" before she fades back into the crowd.
And then, the bells of the Cathedral of Asmodeus toll three times, for no apparent reason (as they always do; no one knows why or when the bells ring). A moment later, a pair of windows on the third floor of the Opera House swing open, and a man dressed in red, orange and black, wearing an ornate breastplate emblazoned with the star of Asmodeus appears. He is idly cradling a finely-made mace. It is the new lord-mayor of Kintargo, Barzilai Thrune.
“Ah, my adoring little chickadees. I am sorry to say I have not yet adapted to your quaint, country ways, being accustomed as I am to the sophistication and learning of Egorian. Nonetheless, know I have heard your concerns, and that I appreciate your valued feedback, and I know we shall eventually find a mutual understanding in the fullness of time. I take pride in updating Kintargo’s quaint, outdated laws to the modern standards the city deserves, and strengthening its ties with the empire in these cruel times, but obviously I have approached my duties too aggressively.
“You say you chafe at the presence of nonnatives in positions of power? That authorities not of this city have no place as its leaders? That you will not be yoked by intruders? Your lord-mayor hears you. And so it is with a heavy heart that I issue this proclamation, in response to your demands: all ships’ captains are hereafter barred from leaving their vessels and setting foot on Kintargo docks or streets, under pain of... let’s say... squassation!”
No sooner has he finished his speech than a pile of rancid manure sails through the air and lands about 6 feet below the window. Startled, the lord-mayor flinches and spills his glass of wine onto his breastplate. Incensed, he throws the wine glass down onto the streets below and bellows:
"Enough of this! Nox, arrest them or kill them. I care not which!"
Nox straightens up and signals the dottari, who spring into action. Within the crowd as well, many begin to move, raising weapons in preparation.
Wilhelm rankles at Barzillai Thrune's condescention, then quickly becomes outright furious.
Torture?! Now this madness comes with a penalty of torture?!
He's pretty sure that his heart stopped beating for a moment when the manure sails. Given the Lord-Mayor's reputation, the results were not unexpected. Now his main priority shifts from political statements to what essentially boils down to his full-time job: protect the citizens.
he shouts. He gives the fishing family from Egorian a meaningful look that he expects that to include them.
- Cavalier's Banner: +2 morale on saves vs fear & +1 morale for attacks on a charge (all allies within 60')
- Longspear: 10' reach
- Combat Reflexes: 3 attacks of opportunity available/round, able to make AOO's before acting
- Tactician Trait: 1/day, +2 to hit on an AOO
Manure? That's surely not human, right? Gods above I hope not.
Ignati draws his rapier, hoping not to have to use it, but preferring to be armed. He nods to the halfling family and tells them to run as fast as they can. "I don't need to tell you that punishments are particularly hard for your kind. I know you want to fight, but now is not the time. I am Ignati Vashnarstill, find me later, and keep your son out of trouble!"
He looks the dottari woman who had joined him in protest and tilts his head toward the unarmed civilians, hoping his message is clear.
Thrice damned Thrunes indeed.
Who I was kidding... of course this would end like this.
Valleria readies her heavy shield in protection of the halfling family, hoping to stop any arrow or bolt.
"Fellow dottari, I now make you a vow. Honor your duty to protect the citizens or you'll all be put down!"
Hearing Wilhelm's Strong voice across the yard, Valleria continues.
Well s&%#. Someone just had to go and throw poo. She sighs. I'm never going to find the contact in this chaos now. It's his own fault for giving such vague instructions. Why couldn't we have met at a quiet tavern instead? That would have been so much nicer. Now I may never know if Robin survived. She sighs again slightly depressed. Morrigan don't go there right now. You can't let these people get slaughtered. Oh, I wish I hadn't lost sight of Corian.
"Alright, Bacon! Like my mother used to say, "Turn that frown upside down." We've got work to do. I can't carry you anymore so stay close."
Morrigan unstraps her crossbow and crouches down to fade into the shadows using the crowd to provide her additional cover.
That could have been an outraged citizen or one of the instigators throwing that manure. Either way, I knew it would come to this evenutally. Voreni thinks with a sigh. He reaches up and pulls his handkerchief over his face and makes ready to protect Lily and any other citizen near him from the dottari and trampling crowds both.
From within the crowd, a group of armed civilians begins to coalesce. The men and women who you have been chasing away for the past three hours have donned simple black tabards bearing the cross of Cheliax and are carrying small maces, eagerly chasing and swinging at anyone in the crowd not dressed similarly. Five of them approach Ignati's group, hoping to cut off the escape of the crowd that had gathered to hear him speak, or at least give the people a beating on their way home.
Our initiative order:
Wilhelm
Valleria
Chelish Citizen's Group thugs
Ignati
Voreni
Corian
Morrigan
Wilhelm would have preferred it not come to violence, and would have been reluctant to do any more than try to trip up the opponents, if it weren't for the gleeful way they were swinging their maces at the civilians. His emotions blow way past angry, through incensed to a sort of calm fury in which he's prepared to put a stop to the thuggery through any means possible. Not knowing for sure how many other people at this protest were armed, other than Valleria and himself, he assumes he's outnumbered and aims to reduce that advantage in the most expedient manner possible: lethal force.
This will not stand.
He makes a beeline for the closest one to him and stabs at him with his spear as soon as he gets close enough.
- Cavalier's Banner: +2 saves vs fear & +1 attack rolls on charges for all allies within 60'
- Longspear: 10' reach
- Combat Reflexes: 3 AOOs available/round
- -2 AC if need to charge
Corian casts Bless after most everything else happens, grumbling. He draws back his hood and exposes his holy symbol of Milani.
"Don't let those thugs intimidate you, Kintargans! Stand firm, by the Everbloom! Let her protect you and guide your hand! Strike down these invaders to the Silver City!"
Valleria watched her opponents coming closer step by step. She wanted to charge them, cutting them in half, but the citizens at her back were more important.
Hum, the way he holds his mace... he lets his guard open when he steps with his right feet... it is just a fraction of second, but I might take an advantage...
She steps forward at the last moment, swing her sword with precision.
S%%!! These are city guards. I'm already wanted by the church. Now I'm going to be wanted by the government too.
"Things are not looking good for us Bacon." she whispers.
I'd love to just blast these fools but there's too many people in the crowd. I'll need to be subtler. It's best I don't reveal I'm a mage just yet anyways.
Morrigan fires her crossbow at the nearest opponent.
Staying put, she reloads.
Keeping himself in front of the Halfling family but still out of harms way, Ignatiy pulls out a small vile and drinks it.
"Come you lap dogs! I'll give you the fight you want!"
Wilhelm's spear tears the throat out of the thug in front of him, who falls to the ground gasping his last breath.
"Thomas! I will avenge you brother!" cries a young man who leaps over the fallen man and swings his mace down upon Wilhelm
Another of the thugs deftly sidesteps Valleria's thrust and swings wildly for her sword arm:
Morrigan's crossbow bolt finds its mark in the shoulder of another thug who had been advancing in Ignati, and she snarls angrily as she turns on the young half-orc
"You pompous dilettante! Let's break that treasonous jaw of your's!" shouts a thickly-built young Chelish man as he prepares to mash Ignati in the face.
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That's right. Focus on me and forget the others. I can handle myself, and I can handle you.
Wilhelm uses the length of his spear to deflect the thug's blow, then steps backward to maintain the tactical superiority of his greater reach.
"You thought you'd get your jollies by running amok among the unarmed. It's easy to be a tough guy when you're the only ones with weapons. It's not so fun being a rat when the cat comes to play, isn't it. These people are defended."
He punctuates the end of his sentence with a thrust of his spear.
- Cavalier's Banner: +2 saves vs fear, +1 attack rolls on charges for all allies within 60'
- Longspear: 10' reach
- Combat Reflexes: 3 AOOs available/round
- Tactician Trait: +2 to attack roll 1 AOO/day.
Voreni draws his rapier and rushes to Lily's side. Taking her arm he lowers his voice and tells her, "Come, let's get you to safety Miss Lily. The alley over there." He points in a direction away from the melee.
Bacon sneaks up behind the thug and nips angrily at his heels.
Morrigan takes a 5 ft. step back and summons dark tendrils of shadow to bind the man charging her.
"From the deeps of the shadow plane, I call upon thy dark denizens to bind my enemy. Binding Darkness!"
As a standard action, you cast a weave of shadows at any foe within 30 feet as a ranged touch attack. The shadows entangle your foe for 1 round plus 1 additional round for every five wizard levels you possess. In conditions of bright light, this duration is halved (minimum 1 round). A creature entangled by your shadows has concealment from those without darkvision or the ability to see in darkness, and other creatures likewise have concealment relative to it. You can use this ability a number of times per day equal to 3 + your Intelligence modifier
"Leave now! I have no desire to kill you. But I will if you take another step forward."
Valleria takes advantage of the poorly made swing at her to conter attack.
As she hits her target, she wispers to him.
"How does it feel to die like a traitor?"
Corian notices that the melee is starting to draw into focus--the City Guards he saw before, and the nobleman, are all battling against the nondescript fellows.
Wading into the fray, he grips his mace with both hands and swings it at one of them, choosing one at random. "For Kintargo!" he shouts.
"Don't let the Thrunies intimidate you!" he calls to the crowd, even as his mace connects.
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Round 2 Init 16
"Treasonous? I am the height of patriotism!"
Ignati shouts back as he takes a stab with his rapier.
"That was a warning, I won't go so lightly next time!
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Wilhelm
Wilhelm's spear punches through the thick leather of the man's armor, drawing blood. The man cries out in pain and staggers back, holding his seeping wound.
This one is too strong! Let the Dottari deal with him! he cries out to his fellows, and stoops down to drag his fallen friend's body away.
Voreni
Voreni and Lily move as far as they can to safety; due to the difficulty of moving in a crowd, a full-round will only get them 30 feet away, where Voreni is confronted by a matched pair of Dottari, brandishing heavier, more battle-worn maces than the Chelish vigilantes.
"Drop the rapier and lay down on the ground, and you won't get hurt! You are both under arrest for rioting!" says one of them.
Morrigan
The man doesn't even take notice as Bacon yips and snaps at his heels, nibbling ineffectively on thick boot leather. The sudden surge of shadow magic around him, binding him to the ground. The shadows will not last long in broad daylight, but perhaps long enough to escape...
Frustrated, the man hurls his mace at Morrigan's head.
Valleria
The man chokes, coughing blood onto the hilt of Valleria's sword as it punches through his sternum, emerging from his back. He sputters his last words:
"I...I die for...Cheliax..."
Corian and Ignati
Ignati's rapier thrust falls wide of his target, and the young man sneers dirisively as he steps forward to swing his mace in reply.
"Your swordplay is as rotten as the filth you've been spewing all afternoon! Take this!" he cries.
The mace connects with Ignati's ribs with a sickening crunch, leaving him gravely wounded.
Corian slides in on the left of the Chelish thug and slams his own mace into his shoulder. The arm hangs loose and bloodied now; almost useless.
NEXT: Top of the third round, Wilhelm
In a split-second decision Wilhelm decides that letting the man get away might cause more trouble than allowing his retreat, both near term and long term. In the long term, he might be the source of nasty personal repercussions from the state, considering the Lord-Mayor and all the machinations of Cheliax would be on his side.
In the near term, he would prefer that the guy not grab more people to gang up on him. He decides to take advantage of the man's distraction while it presents itself.
----------------------------------
Round 3, Initiative Count 24 (first)
With a few more seconds to think about it, Wilhelm still thinks letting the man get away is a mistake that could come back to haunt him in unforseen ways.
You're not getting away so easy.
He follows the man and uses his spear to try and finish what he started.
- Cavalier's Banner: +2 Morale on savs vs fear & +1 morale on attack rolls on a charge for all allies within 60'
- Longspear: 10' reach
- Combat Reflexes: up to 3 AOOs/round
- Bless: +1 morale on attack rolls
"Run!" Cries Voreni as he places himself between her and the two dottari. "You two ruffians have a difficult choice to make. Follow orders from a tyrant and be defeated by me and my fellow citizens, or do your duty and protect the men and women of this city!"
The sudden surge of shadow magic around him, binding him to the ground. The shadows will not last long in broad daylight, but perhaps long enough to escape...
Frustrated, the man hurls his mace at Morrigan's head.
Improvised ranged attack: 1d20 - 3 ⇒ (14) - 3 = 11 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7
Round 3 Init 16
As the magical defense Ignati prepared stops a blow he knows would have almost taken the fight out of him he silently thanks Shelyn for preserving his beautiful life.
Seeing the hooded man assist him by disabling his attacker Ignati turns his attention on a healthier foe.
"What's that you said about my sword play? I did warn you."
The sudden surge of shadow magic around him, binding him to the ground. The shadows will not last long in broad daylight, but perhaps long enough to escape...
Frustrated, the man hurls his mace at Morrigan's head.
Improvised ranged attack: 1d20 - 3 ⇒ (14) - 3 = 11 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7
Round 3 Init 23
Valleria sees a man joining in their defense line and then looks at the enemies.
Better to help the other people, these ones are already safe.
Valleria sees a man being attacked by two dottari and runs toward him to help.
"I'll help the others, keep pressing on!"
Valleria looks closely, waiting for a breach in the chaos so she can charge the dottari. When the moment presentes itself, the does not falter.
Round 3: Initiative 3, Last
The man's mace goes flying past Morrigan's head, narrowly missing her.
"You'll pay for that! I gave you a chance to retreat."
The fleeting shadows dissipate but as the thug's vision clears, he sees an angry half-orc charging towards him. Morrigan rushes up to the now unarmed thug. She ducks low than swings an uppercut into the man's chin.
If the man is still standing, Bacon will also attack again. If he's not, Bacon returns to Morrigan's side.
Morrigan then tries to make sense of the chaos and see which ally is closest.
Round 3, Inititative 11, 6th
Corian brutally whips his mace at the injured Chelaxian again.
"Hullo. Brother Vinithus at your service," he says to Ignati. "Praise Milani, and forgive my dress."
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Wilhelm
The man gasps in shock as the spear skewers him again, leaving him in a bloodied heap atop the cooling body of his friend. Nearby thugs take notice and begin to seek victims elsewhere.
Valleria
Valleria intercepts the Dottari attacking Voreni and blindsides one of them, gouging a deep cut across his chest.
Chelish Citizens' Group / Dottari
The Chelish Citizens' Group forces in your immediate area have scattered, fleeing the well-armed resistance they found. Two Dottari members have waded into the fray, however, initially drawn to Voreni and Lily.
The Dottari on the left, a stoutly-built woman with a newly-acquired chest wound, turns on Valleria and throws her weight behind her mace swing. The off-balance attack sails through the air harmlessly.
The other, still focused on Voreni, rushes forward towards him.
"You had your chance to stand down, now I'll put you down!" he shouts.
Ignati
Ignati's rapier finds it's mark and expertly dispatches his assailant. The halfling family, taking heed of his advice, has escaped from the melee.
Voreni
The Dottari's mace strikes true, dealing 9 points of damage and rendering Voreni disabled, but still conscious.
Corian
Corian's blow lands forcefully, but the damage was already done to the poor man. His broken, punctured body falls to the cobblestones, staining them a deep red.
Morrigan
Morrigan's punch sends the man reeling, and Bacon's vicious head-butt to the groin takes him out of the fight entirely.
Round 4, Initiative Count 24 (first)
Wilhelm takes satisfaction that the larger mob of the Chelish Citizen's Group has scattered, but notes the arrival of the Dottari. As he and Valleria show, the city watch is far better trained than a rabble of armed amateurs. He sees Valleria successfully skirmishing with one, but the other brutally beats a civilian nearby.
With the Citizen's Group no longer a threat, he charges in to assist Valleria in dealing with the bigger problem, and hopefully draw the attention of the other guard away from his victim before he gets a chance to either finish him off or attack the other one nearby.
- Cavalier's Banner: +2 morale on saves vs fear & +1 morale on attack rolls on a charge (all allies within 60')
- Longspear: 10' reach
- Combat Reflexes: Up to 3 AOOs/round
- Bless: +1 morale on all attack rolls & saves vs fear
- AC reduced to 14 for 1 round from charging
Round 4 Init 23
Valleria watches as the woman she hit moved.
Hum, she is hurt in the chest, it must be hard to breath, she is also unbalanced and I bet she fears for her life...
Before she attacks, she readies her shield, since now it is two against one.
After her attack, Valleria sidesteps, hoping to make a clear charge line to her allies, as well as make the atempt to flank her more difficult.
Hopefully these are the sort of dottari to take their responsiblity towards the citizens serio-OW! Voreni's thoughts are interrupted by a mace to the head. Lily...
Dazed, he tries to melt back into the crowd.
Round 4 - Initiative 16
Ignati sighs with a relief as the man before him is dispatched, and nods at Corian.
"Thank you for your help Brother Vinithus, it looks like we still have a few traitors among the crowd still, care to help a bit longer?"
Ignati moves toward the Dottari attacking Valeria and attacks.