He is barely able to control his bloodlust. This man is insane and planning to murder someone.
About Lizards: "Not at all. I like the idea that we are not bloodthirsty. I believe we gave them all the chances they needed to settle things without bloodshed. There will always be those that choose that option though as the world is a dark place."
With the crazy man:
Johanna looks at the man as well and her hands move to her blades.
Lisl rears back slightly and prepares to follow Isabel's lead.
"Wait? What? Really?" While Josef tries to comprehend that this crazy-looking coot might actually be a threat, his training still kicks in and he draws his blade and turns the horse, preparing to ride the man down, or to receive a charge, however it might work out.
"Cheaters!" The bedraggled old man screech's hatefully as he resists Isabel's spell. "Gettem Cat!"
Battle Order:
Johanna
Freya
Isabel
Old man
Darian
'Cat'
Josef
Lisl
Johanna, Freya & Isabel are up.
Freya fixes her gaze on the mad man, hoping to end this quickly by putting the man to sleep while Fenrir moves up to defend his master.
The old man blinks in surprise and then slumps to the ground asleep, his Mountain lion companion hisses in anger.
Darian is up.
Darian draws his sword and dismounts, then rushes forward to get between the big cat and the others!
________
Johanna rushes forward as well drawing her blade.
"It seemed this man is a murderer. He is too dangerous to leave alive."
She states standing above him ready to end his life next round.
will also parry any attacks that come from the cat. Going to CDG the druid in Round 2 if group doesn't suggest otherwise.
Seeing his master threatened the hissing Mountain lion races at Johanna
Josef & Lisl are now up. Johanna, Freya & Isabel after them. The old man is asleep thanks to Freya's hex.
Lisl moves to aid Johanna in fighting off the angry cat. She swings her spiked shield hard, hoping to give it a grievous blow.
Round 2
Johanna performs a CDG on the murderous man.
Thinking that animals are big on displays of prowess, Josef decides to see if he can convince the cat to run without having to actually engage with it.
Lisl swooshes with her shield.
Johanna murders a defenseless Old man. :)
The Mountain lion goes a%!+@*~!
Blade in hand Josef dismounts with a triple twist followed by a half pike.
Badly shaken by this the Mountain lion looks worried.
Freya and Isabel have actions.
Freya fixes her gaze on the mountain lion this time, hoping to end the altercation.
Fenrir rushes around to engage the mountain lion, protecting his master.
The Mountain lion is too enraged to submit to Freya's hex.
Fenrir tears into one of its legs deeply, drawing a feline shriek of rage and pain.
Darian has an action, then the cat goes again.
Darian steps up to Flank the cat, thrusting his blade into its side between a pair of ribs.
__________
Darian steps up and calmly ends the Mountain lions life with a thrust. The woods grow silent again.
Loot:
Leather armor +1,
Whip +1,
MW short sword,
Ring of protection +1.
Congratulations! You have found and killed Bokken's insane brother. He will have a reward for you.
The remainder of the region is quiet and peaceful. What are you doing now?
"I do not enjoy the taking of life, but that one was mad. I fear other lives would have been taken if I did not take his. Where do we go next?"
Freya nods in agreement. "While it was not pleasant, it was something that needed to be done."
Darian sheaths his sword, growing more and more perturbed. ”Can someone explain to me what just happened? Do we just execute people on hunches now, without evidence?” he asks angrily.
"It was I that made the mistake. I saw in him his murderous intent and acted on it. Do not judge the others. She begins to cry a bit realizing what she has done."
She sobs.
"I'm sorry, being here has reminded me of being with family and when I sensed in him his intent all I could see were the ones that slayed my parents and took from me, so this time I took instead. Forgive me." She falls to her knees sobbing more.
Obviously not feeling the same level of remorse as Johanna, Freya adds. "Regardless, he sought to deceive us in some manner. If was a druid as he claimed, he would have understood me when I first spoke to him."
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"He was no druid." Isabel comes to Johanna's defense. "That much was clear. I could feel his malice. That's why I tried to halt him, but he shook the magic off." She shakes her head. "I've been focusing too much on Silverhold and Magnus. I need to focus on my magic again, practise more, be stronger. But Johanna was reacting to my lead. It's not her fault."
She stares her husband down...
"Didn't get much of a chance to actually hurt anyone, but that doesn't tell us what he was trying to do. You are very good at talking to people, but Isabel's better at understanding them. She seems pretty positive about how this went."
"There is no ones assessment on this world I trust more," Darian says as he takes Isabel's hands. "But we can't just do things like this. We have to have proof, or else we will be accused of just executing people out of hand."
He then goes over and squats down beside Johanna. He reaches out and lifts her chin with the knuckle of his finger to look her in the eyes, "Hey. I'm not blaming you. Or even saying the end result is necessarily wrong. There is nothing to forgive," he says as he gently wipes a tear away from her cheek with his thumb before standing and helping her to her feet. "Just next time, lets try to take people we suspect of heinous acts alive if possible and gather evidence. Okay?" he asks as he looks back to his wife to see if she is in agreement with what he said, or if he would need to make a stronger case for his view on the matter.
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He asks as he looks back to his wife to see if she is in agreement with what he said, or if he would need to make a stronger case for his view on the matter.
Isabel nods firmly. "That's what I tried to do. Unfortunately he was strong willed... anyway." She turns to Tyg and tries to dismiss the topic. "We need to get this one home! Come on everyone, no point crying over spilt milk!"
She quickens the pace back to Silverhold, and not entirely for Tyg's benefit.
Returning to your settlement with the missing child is marked by great joy. Tig's parents show the trait of all parents, unable to decide between hugging their son, or strangling him?
It takes a week or two but eventually Bokken identifies the Madman as his long missing, murderous brother. He shows nothing but satisfaction that the killer of their own mother is now dead.
Your arrival is also familiar as you have barely settled in before Kesten arrives with another problem for you to deal with.
"A newcomer named Grigori. Arrived several days ago and has taken up public speaking. Very critical of your leadership in fact. He's out there in the square everyday telling people what you're doing wrong."
What are you doing now?
Johanna stands and is reassured at the words spoken.
"Thank you. I will do better."
She says, and remains quiet in their journey back.
Later at the mention of this Grigori fellow.
"Why would someone speak out on what you have done here. These lands were untamed from what I know. Perhaps we should disguise ourselves and go here what he has to say first hand."
This rabble rouser concerned Darian. He considered what had happened to them since they had come to these lands, and worried that maybe this Grigori was linked to the assassination attempts.
He turned to Johanna, ”Yes...at least you could, perhaps. However, I am wary of giving him more ammunition for his rants by showing up in secret and being discovered. I will go and see exactly what this trouble maker has to say to us face-to-face. Sometimes people like this lose their sharp tongue when the target of their ire is present.”
Darian looks to Isabel and asks with a smirk ”Well, shall we go and teach this fellow some manners, Darling?”
Freya says one last thing to Tig as he is reunited with his parents. "A curiosity about the wilds is natural. Though next time you want to go out there, come see Aunty Freya first. Okay?"
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When Bokken identifies the madman as his murderous brother, Freya nods with an expression showing her own satisfaction with the outcome.
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As the conversation turns to Grigori and his rabble-rousing...
"What do we know of him? Anything? What sort of things have been said?" Freya asks.
Turning to Johanna she says, "Yes, most of the area was untamed wilds. Some of us have had...concerns about 'civilizing the region as well."
"I agree, but showing up directly could be seen as a challenge. Be prepared for that fight as the people are going to be what is won or lost. We go at a disadvantage if we don't know what he knows of us."
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Darian looks to Isabel and asks with a smirk ”Well, shall we go and teach this fellow some manners, Darling?”
"I think this could be positively fun!" Isabel responds with a wide smile, much more happy having seen Magnus happy and well with his wetnurse. "Let's take a stroll and see how he responds!"
"We must settle this matter by dialog if at all possible," suggests Lisl. "Otherwise people will assume that grievances are to be settled with violence, especially grievances against the state. That leads to an illegitimate state and we would be perceived... negatively."
"Don't know what rabbit you have in your hat, but you are about to give him what he wants, what he's prepared for. Always a bad idea to let your foe determine the battlefield."
Shaking his head, Josef lets the subject drop, wondering how they can get themselves drawn into such a trap while demanding there isn't one.
When you first arrive, Grigori is giving a talk in the town common, speaking of your “gross negligence” in abandoning the town to “go gallivanting through the Narlmarches on fool’s errands” and leaving the town exposed to banditry, monster attacks, and worse.
He brings up the town’s recent werewolf troubles and even suggests that you may be responsible for the attacks because your wilderness explorations drove the monster into more civilized areas.
He claims that you have acquired much wealth during your adventures, but you have used it only to enrich yourselves, not to aid the town or its citizens.
While not everyone seems to be agreeing with this 'Grigori' you can see several people nodding in agreement. Some people would feel poorly done by no matter how lucky they are.
So far you have not been noticed, having arrived at eh fringe of the crowd while all attention is on the speaker.
What are you doing now?
Johanna watches listening as she does not know of any of these things so would be little use to help dismiss them.
Lisl whispers to the team, "Someone needs to make a counter speech. Show that he has no bearing to stand on - but that we are not tyrants who quash all criticism. Ask how to make things better rather than simply turning neighbor against neighbor with jealousy and suspicion."
Darian casually makes his way through the crowd, listening to the rants of this Grigori. He rolls his eyes at his accusations, but eventually, can take no more of his prattling. He nods to Lisl before he steps up onto the outer edge of a not-quite complete fountain that is central to the town common and calls out ”I do not think Tig’s mother and father would call them fools errands, Mister Grigori!” as he walks nimbly along the stonework. ”As for the werewolf, the afflicted man was a traveler from Brevoy, who came by the illness without his own knowledge. I would hope, if I were to befall a similar fate, that someone would undertake a fool’s errand in my own behalf to find a cure. Tell me, sir, what you would have done different! I by no means claim to be perfection incarnate, and am always open to wise counsel!”
Keeping his hands away from his weapons, Josef will wander around the outside of the crowd, working to the far side. Once there. he takes up a position to watch and listen.