Korvosa Unchained - CotCT playtesting new rules (Inactive)

Game Master Darkness Rising

SUNDAY, 18 GOZRAN 4715 A.R.

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XENIA
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Just for a brief moment, an expression of wonder touches the boy's face - almost instantly it disappears, but he looks at you with a touch more confidence about your ability to survive.

With that, he's gone.

Xenia watches as the boy leaves. After a few minutes, she turns to the tattoo of a butterfly on her shoulder.

You can come out now.

A moment later, the tattoo begins to more, the butterfly wings waving. After a few more moments, the tattoo simply lifts off her skin and flies about her head before settling on her shoulder.

Many would consider her insane as Xenia begins to have a simple discussion with the butterfly.

What are we to do? This Lamm is clearly a horrible man, but I must help Tivera. And that boy, it is clear that he does not like what is happening. There are probably others.

Her discussion continues in this nature for a while until the sun has begun to go down. Realizing that she is hungry, from the rumble in her stomach, she considers heading out to get some dinner, until she realizes that there is little to be found, except at places such as Eel's End, which she will avoid until it is the only and last resort, and even then she will seek alternatives.

Before turning in to sleep, her stomach still rumbling, the small butterfly returns to her should, once more morphing into her as a colorful butterfly.

Anyway let's go on with it and face down the Marshall Lorick says after his mug is finished.

Juliet nods to Evelyn and tips back another shot. "Kid, your family is going to be the talk of this town someday, I guarantee it."

Turning to Lorick, the singer frowns. Sure, she was impulsive, but there's always got to be some underlying something at play. Here, she's always been working towards that something, even when it was just to be the best addict that she could be. And then there's her hulking friend, who displays a tenacity and focus that she could only dream of - and is so stuck in the moment as to not picture a different - or better - future.

"Start thinking about it. We've got powerful friends. Lamm's not going to be in our lives forever."

Taking one last shot, Juliet slides the glass across the table and stands. "Agreed. Face down the Marshall it is."

SUNDAY, 18 GOZRAN 4715 A.R.

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XENIA
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Petrivar is overjoyed at the news you bring of his release from Lamm's 'taxation' - however temporary. With a swift hug and a smile, he insists on celebrating by buying you dinner; although, with the city in the state that it's in, this doesn't constitute very much. But it's better than you could have found by yourself.

TOILDAY, 20 GOZRAN 4715 A.R.

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EVELYN, JULIET, LORICK
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Your meeting with Kroft doesn't quite go as planned (after all, what does these days?); but then, she is the Field-Marshal and you are not. At first, you aren't expected and the guards are about to turn you away; but then, having sent a message that you are here, you are suddenly admitted.

Kroft's office is unchanged from your last visit, as is she herself; although a little more drawn and tired if anything. She gives you a wry smile. "I was not expecting you for a while longer; but it is good that you are here. I have a new recruit for your little band."

Sure enough, the door opens and the Guard escort someone in.

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TYENAR
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You've been out of the Field-Marshal's office for perhaps three hours - or, if you look at it another way, an eternity.

Bricks have been counted, recruiting posters have been doodled on, but the boredom threatens to stretch on and on and on and on until-

Wait. Suddenly one of the Guard appears, reaching for you. "Field-Marshal wants to see you." What, again?

You are escorted into her office, with the door unceremoniously shut behind you.

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EVELYN, JULIET, LORICK,
TYENAR
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Kroft smiles at you all - sort of. "I'll let you make your own introductions. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a city to get up and running. I'll see you on Moonday 3 Desnus, as agreed. First thing."

With that, you are escorted briskly out.

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XENIA
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It doesn't take Lamm long to get in touch with you about 'services' - the kid Timmor finds you early evening, with a message: "Lamm's got a group he wants you to join. Said to meet up with 'em at the Creaky Hammock inn tomorrow at noon."

Although it is only a few short days since you last saw him, Timmor's entire demeanour has changed; like a merchant who's been told Taxfest is doubled.

Xenia smile back at Timmor.
The Creaky Hammock. Not exactly my type of place, but if that is what Lamm wants, I will be there.

She then looks at Timmor and his slightly changed demeanor before tossing him a silver piece.
That is for food, not for anything else less than legal. Keep your head high and you will find yourself free before too long.

Before he leaves, she adds:
The Eternal Rose rewards those who create and praise beauty. In this dark time, you should seek out a chapel and try to make something nice to brighten the hearts of the people in this city.

Shunted out before they could get a word in Lorick rotates to give the new guy a once over.

Not good. Is he Kroft's spy? How do we explain this - whatever this guy is - to Lamm?"

"Wha? Wait! What?" Juliet protests - lamely - as she's led out the door, questions running through her mind. The door slamming shut, she shouts one hurried question into the office, even as she's staring at wood by the time she belts it out. "So we're supposed to babysit this... companion until Moonday?"

Turning to the newfish, frown on her face, Juliet looks him up and down, not sure what to make of the guy. "I'm Juliet D'Artangen, singer at the apparently closed forever Ricci's. So you're one of Kroft's guards then?"

S!%!. I should check in at Ricci's!

Before being escorted back in.
After only 3 hours, Tyenar was already almost on the brink of a mental breakdown. The other times it was different: he knew how much he was going to be kept in a cell, and so he could still plan ahead on how to recoup the lost time. But how he was supposed to do that now? He had no idea when (or if) Blackjack was going to strike again, and in the meantime he had to be dragged around by what could only be a group of posh Chelaxian mercenaries or some such: there weren't many street urchins or whatever in the Queen's good graces, of that he was pretty sure.
Just as he was thinking this, one of Kroft's guards enters the room and escorts him out, before the Sylph can even say anything.

With everyone

The guards brings in a short young man, not much older than Evelyn. He looks at you with light blue, grayish eyes, and with as much confusion as you look at him. You are sure that the windows are closed, but the new recruit's blonde, almost white hair seems to be currently moved around by a faint breeze, and a light blue swirling mark (a tattoo?) rests beneath his left eye.

His extremely pale skin and lithe frame suggest that Kroft either had a very good reason to take him on board, or that she's running really short on people and recruiting everyone that can pick up a blade: the latter is more probable, but it's also probable that they guy before you would probably struggle to even do that.

These three don't look like posh Chelaxian Mercenaries...

Aways without saying a word, the sylph pulls out a notebook from his pocket, and starts scribbling on it as he stares at the three strangers as soon as they're thrown out of Kroft's office.
Have I any information on any of them?
"Tyenar, nice to meet you." the sylph introduces himself with barely audible voice, remembering a moment after that you have to offer to shake hands when you introduce yourself to someone "Yup. New recruit.".
Tyenar stares at the three, scribbles something on his notebook, stares again, then flips trough the pages, then stares some more.

Staaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaareee.

I knew I would have hated this! Do they expect me to say something, right now? Or do I have to wait for them to say something else, first? Should I just ask them why they're here?
"Kr-The Marshall said the Queen herself sent you to work for her. Is that true?" the Sylph asks.
Even if I wasn't supposed to say that, at least I'll get some information out of it....

"Yes, that's right." says Evelyn with a characteristic grimace "The queen specifically called for us specifically. I am Evelyn Gertruade deGrey, of the deGrey family."

Unsure what is going to happen, Xenia helps Petrivar clean the shop up hoping that the current lull in the civil unrest will bring some, or at least any, customers back to the tattoo shop.

Late in the morning, she bids Petrivar farewell and heads off to find this Creaky Hammock inn, unsure of what to expect, she dresses in a sleeveless top and loose pants which will allow her to move quickly if necessary.

What's your connection to the Marhsall Skinny? Lorick asks And what're you scribbling in that notebook?.

It's hard to say whether Lorick is being meancing in his tone or if that's just the way he talks.

Juliet stares back at Tyenar, not sure whether to laugh or sneer. At the very least, this guy is painfully shy. More likely, he's acting and a spy. Or a simpleton. Or all three.

"Yep, we're kind of a big deal. Kroft calls us out when she needs some big swinging swords, know what I mean? Why's she got you attached to our hips? And what got you so noticeable to the Commander?"

The laugh wins out, though its a snide one. "Wasn't your outgoing personality, I'd wager."

A slight wince, a little remorse crowds Juliet's mood as the guy/thing stares back. Yep. Simpleton.

"Big and scary here's name is Lorick, by the by."

With much more agility than his sluggish pace of conversation would have suggested, the Sylph deftly catches in the air the equipment that the guards throw back at him, giving particular care to avoid a pouch of reagents and iron vials to touch the ground.
Maybe I should have mention to them that the stuff in here was volatile if not handled with care...
Sifting trough his backpack, the young man retrieves a couple of bandoliers filled with iron vials and a cloak, putting them on, with a finely crafted rapier on his waist.

Tyenar throws a suspicious glance at Evelyn, flipping trough his notebook to see if he ever heard of the deGreys, but freezes when Lorick and Juliet start asking him questions.
Them asking questions to him!
Wait, I'm also supposed to answer to what they ask me!? Am I just supposed to go tell random strangers my businesses now? Gods, I thought this whole thing would be boring and a waste of my time, but this is torture.
Completely immobile, the wind around him blowing stronger than before, a couple of other swirly marks, not unlike that under his left eye, appear on the Sylph's skin, running around it just to disappear under his neck or hair, as the young man doesn't utter a word for half a minute as he thinks of what to say. The big guy apparently having a voice that defaulted to threats and the singer having a great time watching him struggling to form a sentence quickly enough.

"J-just wanted to help around. Don't know anything else, the Marshal just said to follow you." Tyenar says after what felt like an eternity to him, avoiding eye contact and not even addressing what he was writing in the notebook.

Evelyn furrows her brow at the continuing dialogue. "Are you sick miss Tyenar? You mannerisms are quite odd."

Lorick cocks his head to the side. The skinny new guy seemed incredibly nervous.

In any case

If you just wanted to 'help out' then you wouldn't have met the Field Marhsall herself, you'd be a new recruit probably manning a desk somewhere. Even with the Guard being undermanned they wouldn't send you out on the frontline with your little notebook. Kroft would only stick you in with us if you could handle yourself somehow. And knock me down with a feather if I'm wrong but I don't think you volunteered yourself. Seems to me that you got volunteered.

Juliete arches an eyebrow. "Right. So what is it that you do Tyenar? If you're going to help, we should talk about how you can best help, yes?"

Hold up. Lorick looks Tyenar up and down a bit again. You're the twig got caught looking into The Spider King's business aintch'a?

M-miss Tyenar!?
Tyenar grows white as a sheet (more than usual) when Lorick starts talking, and the winds blowing around him go completely still when the hulking monk mentions Lamm found out about him.
"I-I...the Marshal suspects me of something, and told me to follow you around so I can be cleared of suspicion. I didn't do anything, and it has nothing to do with him finding out about me!" the Sylph pleads panicked, talking just a tiny bit louder than before "Please don't tell that to the Marshall, or that I told you about this!".

Tyenar looks back at the three, a calculative glance flashing trough his eyes as soon as he stops at a page while flipping trough his notes.
"Beside, I'm not the only one here working for him." he adds much more calmly, pointing at Evelyn "If you don't tell Marshal Kroft that I have to work for him, I won't say a word about it, either. For everything else, tell the Marshall everything that you find out about me: I'm innocent, and I need the Marshal to understand that as soon as possible.".
"And if you have to know what I do, this is what I do: I find info about the city. I probably know more about Korvosa than most people that lived here all their life, and I can handle myself just fine." Tyenar says calmly with a tinge of pride, resuming his routine of staring and scribbling. "I have the basics of Alchemy down, know about the city, and I'm pretty good at telling if people are lying. I practiced fencing some, too." the Sylph adds, tapping the rapier on his waist.
"So, what to we have to do?"

Lorick raises an eyebrow at the others based on what Tyenar said. You're being forced to work for Lamm? Huh. Tell you what. Tell us where you're staying and we'll meet up with you soon. Certainly before Moonday.

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Seperately to Juliet and Evelyn
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I'll scare up some info on Notebook separately, see if he's lying or not. Hell didn't Lamm say he was adding someone to the crew too?

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With Sia
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Finally done for the day Lorick takes a deep breath and tries to unwind in Sia's fancy digs. There was just too much going on.

Hey, Sia. he asks the person he trusts most in the world You know anything about that nosy git that was prying into Lamm? Had a run in with him and he claims that he's forced into service just like us. You know if that's true?

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LORICK
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With Sia
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Finally done for the day Lorick takes a deep breath and tries to unwind in Sia's fancy digs. There was just too much going on.

Hey, Sia. he asks the person he trusts most in the world You know anything about that nosy git that was prying into Lamm? Had a run in with him and he claims that he's forced into service just like us. You know if that's true?

Sia is, as usual, very happy to help with any 'unwinding' that needs doing.

She throws you an amused glance at your question. "Yeah, you know Lamm - he don't mind snoopers, long as they ain't Guard or paladins or whatnot; can always be turned, once you found what they hold dear." She sounds like she's quoting something she overheard, or learned by rote.

"So yeah, some dumb airy-fairy type, looks like a stiff breeze'd blow him over - askin' about Anders, he was, 'pparently."

Casting a sideways glance to the others, Juliet mumbles. "Yeah, sure, innocent. Everyone's innocent, till they're not."

Still, the newfish seemed to have some skills, or at least he thought he did. And he liked to fence, so that was a plus. Juliet pats her own sword.

"This is Spite. My finest possession. We'll have to parry sometime."

Then Lorick's talking to the newfish, and there's Ladzlo's voice, all crawling up Juliet's skin, like he's breathing on the back of her neck, her hairs tingling.

Looking to the newfish, Juliet frowns. "Meet us soon, like Lorick says. Actually, at the Creaky Hammock, noon, tomorrow. Don't be late. No one be late. We've got another newfish to meet."

Turning on her heel, Juliet's headed home, to get some sleep. She's got a feeling she'll to be well-rested tomorrow.

Under her breath, she whispers, "Yeah, yeah, Greased Face. Tell the boss we'll be there to meet this newfish. Better not be a trick, Ladzlo. Or I'll cut your flacid-"

And then the link's broken.

WEALDAY, 21 GOZRAN 4715 A.R.

Set up with a nautical theme, the Creaky Hammock tends to serve ships’ crews in port for a few days. Its attached tavern makes for loud nights and boisterous days, which led to the saying, “The only way to sleep in the Creaky Hammock is to drink yourself asleep.”

One thing is clear: you shouldn't have much trouble spotting one another...

Sia

Roped in 'cause of Ladzlo's brother? Lamm really knows how to put the hook in, give the spider bastard that Lorick grumbles before putting all of it completely out of his mind as he twists to get away from the very enthusiastic but amateurish back massage he's getting from Sia; rolling her over onto her very expensive sheets....

WEALDAY, 21 GOZRAN 4715 A.R

When he was young, Lorick had known of Midland as a reasonable place to find scraps and the careless patrons of the Creaky Hammock in particular had been one of the favorite haunts of street children. Half eaten plates of food from rousingly drunk patrons make for good pickings and the only challenge came by competition from other scavengers both sentient and non.

Walking in with money in his pocket and clean clothes was incredibly disorienting and Lorick reverts to silent observation as they settle in. He looks around and spots the person Juliet described. It wasn't hard as she certainly stood out. He taps the others and nods in her direction.

TOILDAY, 20 GOZRAN
"Another newfish"? The Marshal didn't say anything about that...let's see where this goes: in any case, the more I'm around them, the more possibility there is for Blackjack to make a move while I have an alibi.
"Tomorrow, Creaky Hammock, noon. Understood." Tyenar nods, scribbling on his notebook. "If you need me, I'm staying at an Inn in Northpoint, Alina's...even if I'm afraid I'll have to relocate in a bit." the Sylph adds with a tinge of sadness, biting his lip.
"Sparring sounds good, too: it's a bit hard by myself."
...And again, more time when I can have an alibi.

WEALDAY, 21 GOZRAN
Notebook in hand, Tyenar scribbles information on the patrons of the Hammock, glad for a time to not have to skulk near the walls and just stand behind a guy more than six feet tall.
"So, are we going to stand here , or are we going to talk to her." the Sylph comments in what seemed to be his usual tone (that is, much too quiet and hard to make out what he's saying, particularly in the Hammock at noon), before raising the index of the hand he was writing with "Better, are you. You are the ones that are supposed to meet with her."
That, and after yesterday I've had enough for introductions for at least two weeks.

Juliet casts another sideways glance as Tyenar mentions Alina's. Coincidence? Regardless, she's not tipping their hand that they know the place.

WEALDAY, 21 GOZRAN

Juliet arrives at the pub an hour or so early, the hood of her azure cloak pulled over her head. Sidling up to the bar, she orders a cider and sits, looking in the mirror behind the bar for signs of Ladzlo or his cronies.

As the others arrive, Juliet relocates, nodding when Lorick taps her shoulder and points to the woman, Xenia. Standing, the singer takes one last look around the bar and heads over to the newfish. "Oi. I'm Juliet. Chinney is you're a new friend, yeah?"

WEALDAY, 21 GOZRAN
Xenia arrives at the early, perhaps a half hour before high noon. Unsure of who she is supposed to be meeting, and hoping that it is not some slimy half-life such as what was his name . . . Ladle. She watches, seeing numerous would be drunks, most now sober and seriously ticked off with the lack of good booze in the city.

Having found a seat in the back of the room, where she can watch those who come and go, and is readily visible, but where she is likely to not be noticed by those just coming in the hope of drowning their sorrows.

While she tries to keep alert, the tattooed woman was never known as the most perceptive, and quickly becomes distracted by trying to identify the various tattoos on display on sailors, professional ladies, workmen, and others finding solace in the tavern at this early hour.

Surprised when a woman speaks next to her, the dark haired Xenia almost jumps out of her skin. If one was looking close enough, you could almost swear that the tattoo of a large butterfly on her shoulder flapped its wings.

Chinney? Um . . . Juliet? Can . . . can I help you?

The concern, and confusion, and perhaps fear of the unknown, is readily apparent in the woman's response, as is the fact that she, despite her tattoos, clearly does not belong in this type of an establishment.

Scowling, Juliet persists. There can't be two heavily tatooed mongrel beauties in this bar, can there?

"Oi, chinney! You're the newfish, yeah? Lamm? Ladzlo? Names ring a bell, beauty?"

Finally sort of realizing what the Varisian is saying, Xenia nods her head.
Um . . . Lamm? You are with Lamm? He told me to meet someone here. Is that you? Juliet you said?

As she says this, she reaches up and rubs her shoulder where the most lifelike tattoo of a butterfly you have ever seen is.

Juliet bows, quick and rigid. "The one and only. His flunky told me to meet you. Know what this is about? And I can keep calling you 'beauty', or 'butterfly' perhaps, but if you've got a name..."

"Nice work, by the by. Who's your artist?"

Tyenar raises an eyebrow at Juliet's reaction, noting it quickly with a scribble.
That was strange. Did something happen between her or them since the night of the riots? I'll have to investigate...

WEALDAY, 21 GOZRAN
Tyenar stays silent as Juliet introduces herself to the 'newfish', scribbling on his notebook.
Did she have something to do with Lamm, too?

Evelyn is away from the bar, occupied in a game of bones with some other collection of scoundrels and lowlifes. Juliet was apparently elected to greet the second newcomer who, from what could be seen, was also Varisan of some kind. "All the better, then" she says to herself, no doubt they'll be clucking to each other in their half-gibberish that only Juliet seemed to understand. Evelyn didn't give the matter much more thought.

Instead, her mind wandered to the situation at hand. She likened it to a game, tangentially related to the one she was playing at the same moment. Each participant had their own aims, though for the sake of simplicity it could be generalized as a struggle between just two sides. Evelyn, her companions, and Lamm, though with each of them holding a dual-role of both player and playing piece.

As with any game there was some matter of strategy to be considered and that is what most concerned Evelyn now. Lamm had the advantage numerically, to be sure, but was uniquely unaware that he was to be participating. Hopefully, that is. If their treachery came to light too soon then their odds were shot to hell. Herein lies the issue - the entrance of two new players in the form of Tyenar and the as of yet unnamed Varisian. No doubt both would say they were no friend of Lamm and Tyenar had even come from the Marshall's office, but that wasn't any sort of guarantee considering she had already seen five criminals win favor with the queen through little more than good luck. It wouldn't have been too much trouble for Lamm to plant a watchdog of his own. It follows, then, that introducing them to the fortune teller came at considerable risk, let alone just having them around. Sacrifices had already been made to get this far - Vaenn, Gehenna for starters, and her Guardian as well when he had refused to cooperate. The idea of that all being for not, spoiled by one stupid decision, made her stomach churn.

She grimaced, looking down at the game of bones. She hadn't been paying attention and had lost handily.

Still uncertain, Xenia pauses for a moment.
I . . . I am Xenia. Nice . . . nice to meet you Juliet.

Suddenly she realizes what the second question was.
The art? Oh, mostly I do my own work. I enjoy it and with all the sailors in this town, there is always a plenty of business. It takes more time to create your own tattoo, but it is not like I am on a time constraint, so I can design and redesign my own art.

She pauses:
At least there was plenty of business until all the riots and the ships stopped arriving.

A lot of that going around Lorick says I'm Lorick, girl over there is Evelyn, Notebook here is Tyenar. Lamm want us to get matching tattoos or is there something else you can do? Lorick asks Xenia with arms crossed.

Xenia frowns at Loricks comment and considers.

Well, I can give you all matching tattoos. How about this.

She waves her hands at each of you while speaking arcane words. A moment later, tattoos of a lamb being fed to a shark appears on each of the other party member's arms.

Magic Lorick sighs. Well I'm here to stand in front so I get stabbed instead of you

Rubbing her hand across the tatoo, Juliet smiles. "Nice trick. It will certainly come in useful. Which begs the question - what exactly are we doing here?"

"I dunno. You tell me." Tyenar shrugs to Juliet, moving the forearm where the tattoo was back and forth to convince his eyes, too, that it was an illusion: the other confirmed it and he recognized the spell, but the thing still seemed to be there.

Unless he tells us to jump I ain't inclined to ask how high. Lorick grumbles. It's obvious to everyone who 'he' is. Just so's you know Xenia we're being good little adventurers working for the Guard right now. Field Marshall Kroft'll give us something to do Moonday. Unless something else happens that's the next thing.

Xenia shrugs, although the images remain, as though she forgot to dismiss them.
I don't know what he wanted. I was just told to be here and to meet a group. Apparently you are the group.

She pauses and considers before continuing.
What type of things does that creep . . . does Lamm tell you to do? And, you work for the Field Marshall? What . . . what do you do for her?

Let's see... Working backwards rescued a girl and a corpse from a necromancer, brought in a rogue guard, killed a sewer monster, assassinated a cook. Lost a friend along the way and another left without a word

Xenia's eyes narrow at the last accomplishment:
Assassinated a cook? What type of evil are you?

Lorick raises a placating hand Cook's what we call a drug alchemist. Making Shiver without clearing it with Lamm. He had it coming. he looks at the newcomer appraisingly Still this is a rough line of work. If you ain't up to it you may as well disappear now.

It's the explosion that is the first clue that something is wrong: a giant blast of fire that catches all of you in its radius, instantaneously scorching and vanishing, leaving in its wake the charred corpses of Evelyn's bone-players.

The second clue is the tiny red-skinned devil that drops down from the rafters, its tail lashing at Lorick.

The third clue is the shriek of rage, coming from the ceiling, as the warding magic vanishes, revealing a golden-haired tiefling; although obviously attractive, it's clear that her appearance has been the last thing on her mind for a while: her hair is matted and she is dishevelled.

Lost a friend along the way and another left without a word

"Lost?! LOST?! My beautiful Gehenna, you scum drove her away!!!! DIE!!!! DIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

The surviving patrons stampede for the door, the windows, any available exits.

Round 1 is GO! Tyenar and Lorick get an action, then the Imp, then Juliet & Xenia, then Jezebel, then Evelyn.

MAP LINK

Tyenar barely manages to see the bead of fire in time to shield his notebook with his body: the Sylph himself isn't as lucky however, and screams with pain as he's seared by the fireball.
"W-what's going on?!" he asks in a panic, looking around him frantically before the imp and tiefling appear.
Do they know her? What did they do to this 'Gehenna'?

Trying to think trough the thick fog of fear that was shrouding his head, Tyenar elects to go directly for the murderous tiefling.
As the Imp tries to catch Tyenar while he moves away, a gust of wind moves the Sylph out of the way, as if he didn't weight more than a piece of paper. Hopping trough the charred debris, the investigator has no problems reaching Jezebel while drawing his rapier.
Let's see...that book I had read said to raise the sword perpendicular to you, then...
Once he has reached the tiefling however, he attempts to assume a clumsy fencing stance, and attempts a couple of stiff strikes at Jezebel.

Either Miyoto's teachings are finally sinking in or it's his street born insticts that allow Lorick to shift out of the way of the blast and whirl to avoid the flames entirely. Coming out of the spin Lorick sees the imp's tail coming and deflects it with a warding palm.

The charred bodies make it clear that the crazed tiefling is out for blood. Flowing into an offensive stance Lorick lets just a hint of his old fighting style back into what Miyoto has drilled into him. Most of the attacks go wild but the one that connects, connects solidly.

Tyenar's rapier connects with the tiefling, who has been foolish enough to descend to ground-level to inspect her handiwork; she wasn't expecting anyone to survive and cries out in pain and surprise as the sylph stabs her.

Lorick lands one solid hit on the imp; he feels tiny bones crunch under the impact. The imp hisses and lashes out in return, managing to dig into Lorick's skin; the monk feels the sting of poison but his system is able to cope with it - no ill effects.

Juliet & Xenia are up