He fixes up an alchemical concoction he calls The Flaming Burst Broadsword for you and Naleksa, and anyone else daring enough to blow out the 10-inch flames that dance upon its surface and down one.
Scarlet drops 10 gold on the counter, takes the bottle, blows out the flame and downs it, while keeping her eyes on Red.
She coughs out a plume of smoke as it gets the best of her. "Wow, this is good stuff!"
"My stable boy is already on his way to the nearest guard post. The one over there still standing is Red, he's one of the Scarred Shadows, the city's thieves' guild." He says gravely.
"Sounds like you guys really don't want anyone in the sewers. You messed with the wrong guys, buddy. Be happy the guards got here before you did something stupid, like your friend here."
Alia quickly fetches her gear, then prepares to leave with Zokon:"Scarlet, take care, and try to find out what this all was about...Red, I'm sorry about your friend. I hope to see everybody again soon..."
Then she will rush after Zokon, hand on her blade, prepared to use her inherent link with it to cast Vanish at the first sight of guards, to get into cover.
Assuming that Elves are not mighty common around Restov, that might mean I should not re-visit here in the near future depending on how you guys resolve things when the guard arrives.
Alia quickly fetches her gear, then prepares to leave with Zokon:"Scarlet, take care, and try to find out what this all was about...Red, I'm sorry about your friend. I hope to see everybody again soon..."
He fixes up an alchemical concoction he calls The Flaming Burst Broadsword for you and Naleksa, and anyone else daring enough to blow out the 10-inch flames that dance upon its surface and down one.
Scarlet drops 10 gold on the counter, takes the bottle, blows out the flame and downs it, while keeping her eyes on Red.
[dice=Fort Save]1d20+4 She coughs out a plume of smoke as it gets the best of her. "Wow, this is good stuff!"
It only really burns after he's mixed it in the cup... and when you drink it.
"I'm an independent operator now just like you-- Then, buttoning up, she looks to the kitchen door at the sound of a tiger's growl. "Almost like you. So, how have you been?"
Posh felt the trauma all over again as he showed him that wound. He looks back to the growl, but believes whatever it might be can be left alone. He relaxes his grip now completely and decides to sit down with her.
"I'm not doing mugging or killing. In fact, many of the bandits we returned I had saved myself." he states with a heavy sigh "It's unlike me, I know. However, I want to make ammends for what I...no. What we did. All of us attacking and mugging people for her. This group is clearing up bandits to the south for the Swordlords. Something about establishing trading routes, I don't know the details completely. However, they are a interesting group..." he seems to trail off as something or someone comes across his mind. He stops to look up at her curiously. "What do you mean by being an independent operator? Won't she hear of this and move up north to find you or me?"
"I'm not doing mugging or killing. In fact, many of the bandits we returned I had saved myself."[/b]
"Returned? So you saved them for the gallows you mean?"
[spoiler=Posh]"What do you mean by being an independent operator? Won't she hear of this and move up north to find you or me?"[/b]
"She'd have to find me first."
A young guard captain arrives at the tavern along with two guardsmen.
"So what's this about?" He says surveying the scene.
** spoiler omitted **
"Well yes and no. Some of them we have given work back at Oleg's trading post and the young woman you saw us with, tied up appears to be...touched and we're seeking to get her help. I, Celyne and Alia didn't want them do needlessly hang and give them a chance. Alia had surprised me that she would forgive them after they had killed her fiends and imprisoned her with one of her bodyguards. She's got a lot of strength. I don't think even I could forgive someone who hurt me in such a way."
Scarlet's grins as the guards arrive. "This fella." She points at Red "And his friends tried to pick a fight with us. They're part of the thieves guild. Dunno what we did to make em mad, but..."
"There were five total. Two are unconscious out in the back. One of them fled as soon as they heard you guys were comin'. And this guy," she looks aside at Wyne. "He picked on the wrong lady, some kind of noblewoman or something. She ran him through and left."
She turns to Numular. "Right? Did I get that all right?"
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Numalar continues to chat pleasantly with Naleska at the bar, until the guards arrive. They talk a bit more quitely, but not so quiet that others couldn't hear, if they were paying attention.
"Naleksa, please. There is a maturity in those deep and clever eyes that is true, and it makes their gaze all the deeper. But I see whimsy and courage as well. They are like fathomless pools such that I can not help but try to plumb them."
"As you say there is no always. Only the here and now. So let us not waste time and instead enjoy now while we have it."
Numalar raises an eyebrow. "That isn't exactly what I meant Milady, but I can say that I admire your philosophy. Who knows what tomorrow might bring? Worry about it too much, and you might miss out on today. Cheers." Numalar raises the drink to his lips again, and takes a small sip. Must pace myself... at 41 pounds an eight year-old human girl could probably out-drink me...
"Nearly all of the above though I have never been to Taldor. Taldor strikes me as too stayed and civilized for my tastes, and for yours as well." She says noting the drink that burns like a wall sconce in front of you.
"Oh, no, Naleska, I am not some wild man. When I am on the frontier I do so out of duty and necessity. But I appreciate the finer points of culture, and Taldor... Taldor is the bright heart of art, of theatre, music, the things that make human achievements so fascinating. No, I would love to visit Oppara if I could. I know that Taldor's true glory days are past, but even a sunset is beautiful."
"As you have said though, you have had the longer life, so you must have more stories."
"Stories? Heh... I have spent almost my entire life telling stories. No, no... the thing is lately I am finally able to do something instead of just talking about it."
Scarlet's grins as the guards arrive. "This fella." She points at Red "And his friends tried to pick a fight with us. They're part of the thieves guild. Dunno what we did to make em mad, but..."
"There were five total. Two are unconscious out in the back. One of them fled as soon as they heard you guys were comin'. And this guy," she looks aside at Wyne. "He picked on the wrong lady, some kind of noblewoman or something. She ran him through and left."
She turns to Numular. "Right? Did I get that all right?"
Numalar turns to Naleska. "I'm sorry, Milady Vijic, but I think this is for me."
Numalar gets down from the barstool and approaches the guards. As he walks towards them he pulls his charter from the scroll case.
"Thank you for coming so quickly, good fellows. We were accosted by this group of ruffians and unfortunately, blood was spilled. But allow me to introduce myself; I am Numalar Auritonius of Valdralee, recently chartered by the Swordlords on a mission of exploration and bandit suppression out in the Stolen Lands. I suppose that means we are kind of in the same business, only you get to sleep in a bed more often, heh heh."
Numalar offers the charter if the guards want to inspect it.
"But to get to the core of things, we had recently rescued a noble elven lady from Kyonin out of the hands of a group of bandits in the stolen lands, and escorted her back here to civilization. This lot," Numalar indicates Red and Wyne's body cooling on the floor, "decided to pick a fight with us while we sat at our table. That one," pointing at Wyne, "Struck the lady with a bludgeon and cursed at her when she simply tried to stand. So naturally she cut him down."
"Of course, she felt quite rattled by this ordeal, so she has retired off to meditate in her grove, or whatever it is that elves do. But if there is some sort of summons that is required I can vouch for her appearance. I didn't want to march down to Magister Lebeda's at this hour; we've already bothered him once today."
"I'm sure the barkeep and the other patrons will confirm my account, if you wish."
"No, that won't be necessary." The guard captain says looking but not really reading the charter--until you see him start for a moment in surprise. His eyes narrow, then as if he is trying to parse something he's reading near the bottom of the document. He looks about the room and then while doing so hands you back the parchment.
A bit perturbed he looks back down at Numalar. "Right. Your charter seems in order, Mr. Auritonius. We will question the witnesses and once done, I'm sure we can let you go on your way. In the future though, I would tell your elf to be wary of whom she draws upon, even a down on his luck swordsman in Restov can be a dangerously skilled one if he's spent even a little time in one of the fencing schools."
He and his men go from person to person asking questions various people in the main room of the tavern.
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"No, that won't be necessary." The guard captain says looking but not really reading the charter--until you see him start for a moment in surprise. His eyes narrow, then as if he is trying to parse something he's reading near the bottom of the document. He looks about the room and then while doing so hands you back the parchment.
A bit perturbed he looks back down at Numalar. "Right..."
"Yes indeed, you are right. I'll be over here; let me know if you need anything from me."
Numalar turns away back towards the bar. He rolls the charter back up slowly and puts it back in the scroll case, glancing at the bottom of the document as he does so. Something about this document bothered him. Something at the bottom. The signatures? He knew my name already... Celyne? Probably not; he looked around the room and didn't see what he was looking for, and she's still here. Zokon? Yes, maybe. Or perhaps one of our companions who are no longer with us?
"No, that won't be necessary." The guard captain says looking but not really reading the charter--until you see him start for a moment in surprise. His eyes narrow, then as if he is trying to parse something he's reading near the bottom of the document. He looks about the room and then while doing so hands you back the parchment.
A bit perturbed he looks back down at Numalar. "Right..."
"Yes indeed, you are right. I'll be over here; let me know if you need anything from me."
Numalar turns away back towards the bar. He rolls the charter back up slowly and puts it back in the scroll case, glancing at the bottom of the document as he does so. Something about this document bothered him. Something at the bottom. The signatures? He knew my name already... Celyne? Probably not; he looked around the room and didn't see what he was looking for, and she's still here. Zokon? Yes, maybe. Or perhaps one of our companions who are no longer with us?
Bah! Stupid laws.
Scarlet wipes the sweat off her brow, then sits back down to continue drinking her gargle blaster.
Hmm. Alia seemed to be worried about this thug. Nice to see she'd be willing to kill for me, I guess. I suppose I'm more than her bodyguard at this point. She's not used to unnecessary bloodshed, though.
The guard captain asks a few questions and takes a few statements, a minor functionary and a gravedigger arrive with a cart from the temple of Pharasma and remove Wyne's body. And soon after you are released, and Red is escorted away by the guards as a "public nuisance."
One of the stable hands is brought in to help with cleaning up the mess.
Meanwhile beyond the city gates, Alia and Zokon set camp on the edge of a flowering orchard. Though the lights of the city dim the stars above the night is clear and crisp.
Sitting by his bedroll
"I suggest 4 hour watches or however long we can hold out, we can deal with losing a bit of sleep this night"
"Definitely. I'm sorry about this mess. On the plus side, we got to escape that pugnant stench in the city and get to sleep under a clear, starry sky smelling of flowers. I know you would have preferred a bed, but I'll make it up to you, somehow. If it's the same to you, I'll take first watch...i doubt I'll sleep any time soon."
If Zokon agrees, Alia will find a spot where she can easily overlook the nearby area, slightly lost in thought but depending on her keen hearing to pick up on anything or anyone approaching the camp.
Zokon nods and snuggles into his bedroll quickly falling asleep under Alias watch.
** spoiler omitted **
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She leans down grabs Posh by the back of the neck, and plants a fierce, full-body kiss on him that nearly drags him off his feet. After a long moment she releases him and exits through the doorway and slips out the back door.
** spoiler omitted **
"I hope so, Raven." he replies quietly with a soft smile as he watches her slip out the back door.
Posh then emerges from the kitchen with a solemn look before taking in the scene and noticing the clean up. As he looks over to Celyne and Luna he instantly changes to his usual smile.
"So, what have I missed?" he asks as he also looks over to Numalar. "Seems we're missing one or two people."
"Alia and Zokon are out. Red was arrested by the guard, and Wyne. Well, he was carted away. Looks like the Thieves Guild doesn't want us to help Mung."
She takes another swig and coughs up more smoke. "Phew! That gets my engine runnin'." She turns to Posh. "You okay? Alia seemed pretty upset. Celyne and Luna. Well, city life, I guess."
"Alia and Zokon are out. Red was arrested by the guard, and Wyne. Well, he was carted away. Looks like the Thieves Guild doesn't want us to help Mung."
She takes another swig and coughs up more smoke. "Phew! That gets my engine runnin'." She turns to Posh. "You okay? Alia seemed pretty upset. Celyne and Luna. Well, city life, I guess."
Posh tilts his head to one end when told about the Thieves Guild and not wanting to help Mung.
"Well clearly they should've been more cautious and simply asked us or observed us if they thought we were working for him or something. They don't attack everyone who buys a pie from him, surely?" he states finding the whole situation ridiculous and at the mention of himself and Alia he shrugs it off. "Oh, I'm fine. Just not as good with the ladies I used to I suppose." he laughs before then returning to the topic of Alia "She and I both feared the worst for you and Zokon. My guess is she felt somewhat-cursed. She already lost a few friends earlier to those bandits and the idea that two more people she had just gotten to know might be dead got her riled up so much she managed to kill Wayne but when seeing you two fine...she must've been really upset to kill someone who hadn't actually killed any of our companions."Posh states as he thinks he's gotten everything sussed.
Clearly something is bothering Posh, however he is clearly covering it with joking.
The talk about Alia seemed more focused from his own feelings instead of what he believes he has taken from his own guess. This suggests he would've attempted to kill Wayne and possible Red too if he had the chance before Alia.
Edit:
"Yeah. I guess she's not used to loss..." She muses for a bit.
"Does anyone know where Alia went?" Posh asks curiously as he looks back to the kitchen for a moment.
Celyne responds quietly so as not to alert the entire common room, "She and Zokon went out of the city I think... or at least to a safe place."
Celyne responds quietly so as not to alert the entire common room, "She and Zokon went out of the city I think... or at least to a safe place."
Posh looks down for a moment, but then decides to make best of the situation.
"Well then, what's our plan for tonight? Shall we sing songs or just have a quite night after all this excitement?" he asks as he clasps his hands together and looks over to Scarlet, Numalar and Celyne.
"Honestly, I'm looking for a quiet nap here. Still exhausted from all that sparring. Besides, Numular and I paid quite a penny here."
Scarlet does a quick stretch. "Hopefully no more danger will come to us tonight."
"Hey Faeria. No, over here. You've got an important day tomorrow."
"Then, I will retire here as well. I don't feel up to trying to track down Alia or Zokon." with that he gives a bow and sees about booking a room and settling for the night. Seems the day was hard on him considering he wasn't bothering the bar maids this time.
Alia, on her watch, first thinks of the others, still in the city, especially Scarlet and Posh. When her gaze passes Zokon in his bedroll, she considers how she could make it up to him...a few minutes later, she has an idea, and hastily scribbles a shopping list, in case she would be unable to return to Restov herself.
After several hours, probably past her watchtime, judging from the position of the moon, she will wake Zokon for his shift, and settle down into some uneasy sleep from which she will rise easily, but not well rested the next morning.
Celyne sighs softly, actually looking forward to a little quiet song or two, but agrees that rest is probably the safest and best action at this point.
"Scarlet, do you want to bunk the three of us, you me and Faeria together, and you and I can take turns keeping an eye on her during the night... we won't be at our best tomorrow perhaps, but she will be safe and unharmed."
Alia, on her watch, first thinks of the others, still in the city, especially Scarlet and Posh. When her gaze passes Zokon in his bedroll, she considers how she could make it up to him...a few minutes later, she has an idea, and hastily scribbles a shopping list, in case she would be unable to return to Restov herself.
After several hours, probably past her watchtime, judging from the position of the moon, she will wake Zokon for his shift, and settle down into some uneasy sleep from which she will rise easily, but not well rested the next morning.
"Scarlet, do you want to bunk the three of us, you me and Faeria together, and you and I can take turns keeping an eye on her during the night... we won't be at our best tomorrow perhaps, but she will be safe and unharmed."
”Yeah, that makes sense. I’ll try not to make a big mess.” She burps.
Scarlet manages not to snore, but she tosses almost everything off her bed as she sleeps.
Morning arrives. The city begins bustling early as shopkeepers and laborers go about the business of tending to their businesses. Out in the nearby fields a dew has settled on the landscape reflecting the orange dawn.
Scarlet wakes up, rolls out of bed, and manages to keep her nose intact as she falls face down. "Ugh, what a night." Luna gives a dreary glance at the woman. "What're you lookin at?"
After putting on her armor and dusting herself off, she takes Faeria to the tavern and serves her some breakfast. "I saw we go to Erastil's lodge. Zokon knows we'll be there, so we can wait for him and Alia to return. In the meantime we can help Faeria here."
Scarlet wakes up, rolls out of bed, and manages to keep her nose intact as she falls face down. "Ugh, what a night." Luna gives a dreary glance at the woman. "What're you lookin at?"
After putting on her armor and dusting herself off, she takes Faeria to the tavern and serves her some breakfast. "I saw we go to Erastil's lodge. Zokon knows we'll be there, so we can wait for him and Alia to return. In the meantime we can help Faeria here."
After meeting the rest downstairs Posh seems up unusually early.
"That sounds like a great plan. Let's get to it." he says already up on his feet and getting ready to go. "The sooner we're out of this city the sooner we can get rid of The Staglord and make these lands safe."
After an interesting night Zokon wakes Alua at the agreed time.
"What did we want to do, try and figure out if we are wanted or try subtly get back into the city."
"I would say the smart thing would be for you to find the others, and find out what's going on. I will lay low here and wait for word from you. If things went bad, it may be safer for me to to not enter the city...you on the other hand should be free to do so."
Alia will thank Zokon again, then find a nice spot to hide, waiting for his eventual return.
"I don't like leaving you alone but your hardly defenceless. I'll be back as soon as possible"
Zokon then gathers his gear and runs back to the city Conan style
He'll goto the tavern and the temple from there if he has no joy.
Celyne wakes languidly and rises, nods to Scarlet before washing and dressing. "Aye, we should take Faeria to the priest first thing." She gathers her gear, and Luna, and heads downstairs with Scarlet and Faeria.
If you go very early (say shortly past dawn) you arrive for the clergy's morning devotions and are told to come back in a couple of hours as the priests are in prayer and then must prepare for morning mass. Zokon probably catches up with the rest of the group while they are waiting.
After morning mass ends (mid-morning) the boy you met the previous day meets you outside the temple and guides through the hall where many of the parishioners are still clustered talking to one another in small groups. He leads you out a backdoor to a small, fenced in, vegetable garden. A small chicken coop sits over to one side.
"Morning." Shepherd Keegh says looking up from his sprouting onion bulbs. He gets up awkwardly in his green cassock and smacks the dirt from his hands and knees. He greets you all again pausing just long enough for someone to introduce Zokon and Numalar when he gets to them. Keegh even asks after Alia, and then gets down to business.
He brushes his long unruly brown mane back and says: "Now you know that what is about to happen may have some drastic effects on your girl. The person that you know right now--may come back radically different and once the change is made it's made. So, are we doing this?"
"Should we keep her bound in case she comes back violent or something?"
If you go very early (say shortly past dawn) you arrive for the clergy's morning devotions and are told to come back in a couple of hours as the priests are in prayer and then must prepare for morning mass. Zokon probably catches up with the rest of the group while they are waiting.
"Morning Zokon. Where's Alia? I thought she would want to see this." She waits for Zokon's response. "Oh, hmm. Usually I'd strut right back into town first thing in the mornin', but I guess we think differently. How am I supposed to protect my charge if she's in the woods? Whatever, we'll pick her up after we handle Faeria."
"Morning." Shepherd Keegh says looking up from his sprouting onion bulbs. He gets up awkwardly in his green cassock and smacks the dirt from his hands and knees. He greets you all again pausing just long enough for someone to introduce Zokon and Numalar when he gets to them. Keegh even asks after Alia, and then gets down to business.
"Morning Shepherd. Nice onion bulbs. I'd love to get some pointers on growing those... I'd love to try to grow...something while I'm travelling." She takes a quick look at them before getting back to business.
"Alia's doing alright, she just needs time to rest. We got into a fight last night. She isn't harmed, but it upset her a bit."
He brushes his long unruly brown mane back and says: "Now you know that what is about to happen may have some drastic effects on your girl. The person that you know right now--may come back radically different and once the change is made it's made. So, are we doing this?"
"I know we're ready. This lady doesn't know what's real from what isn't. I don't know how she'll react to the real world, but I can't let her suffer like this. Alia couldn't let her suffer, either. I'm ready."
"Seeing as it is all clear now, Alia is awaiting someone to retrieve her and thankyou Posh for the information"
The strange feral mage stands in the garden quite still marveling at the fluttering bees and butterflies and blossoming vegetables, while a brawny rustic-looking man from among the lodge's congregation holds her hands steady.
"Got her." Asks the Shepherd.
The man nods.
Keegh closes his eyes and offers a prayer to Erastil and then touches the woman on the forehead. There's a brief corona of gold light that rings the spot as if he were using his finger to stopper a hole in a sun-side wall that was perhaps just a hair too big. Faeria's eyes flutter about uncomprehending and then close. The big man steadies her. Then the shepherd removes his hand and the light fades into the daylight. "There. It is done."
The brawny man releases Faeria.
She opens her eyes and looks around.