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"Dont worry, I'll be back to advise you on our successes. Thanks for asking. You can say that you knew me when, brave warrior. You can tell stories of my inspiring successes!". Pau claps the man on the back, not realizing that he wasn't the intended recipient of the message either.
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"Nice to meet you, brave warriors. We need you to man the front gate and push those Apsis bastards back. How Paul's you feel about that?"
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"That's the spirit! Teach those Aspis...nerds...a lesson!" Evarice clasps her hand on the young man's shoulder.
Ah, the joys of youth. Evarice turns and heads off.
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"If you can direct the guards to protect the front gates, the Pathfinders can fight better, knowing the fight is restricted to the lodge grounds." Evarice requests. "Can we rely on you? What assistance will you need?"
Jayson looks embarrassed for a moment. "Aahh.. you don't know? He didn't tell you. That's good I guess. Never mind. I just had a bad experience, that's all. And it's sorta stayed with me. I'm fine, though. Really."
He's not terribly convincing.
You notice the halfling warrior leading the small band is a female. "Ho, Pathfinders! I'm Meesha Tenpenny. And who be you?"
"There be no Aspis at the gate, unless you mean the city watch. Are they Aspis?"
"We went past earlier. The guards really want in, and if we're going to obey the law as Pathfinders, we'll have to let them. How should we go about keeping them out, legally?" The halfling looks willing, but unsure how to proceed.
Meesha considers Prisim's response. "What if the guard won’t take no for an answer? Can I be arrested? Will someone post my bail? Maybe a Venture Captain should be doing this?"
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"You are in the Society! We aren't asking you to hurt the guard, just keep them out of here. Lock the gates and be done with it! My wrath is much more than that of some simple city guards! You need to lock it up! Get yourself together. We are under attack here and you are either with us or against us!"
Whatever Charisma check the others try aid another
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Prisim nods to Meesha.
"If they don't take no for an answer then you tell them that VC Jani Ivulxti himself - known favorite of Gloriana Morilla..."
Here she pauses to make sure the name sinks in. "Has asked that the gates be closed. The city guard should make sure nobody else comes in, but unless they have a permit signed by the Swordmaster himself, they have no authority in the Grand Lodge. Remind them of the Free passage act of 4667. Signed by Lord Gyr himself. If they want to dispute that, they can take it up with the Primarch."
She makes sure there is a look of sincerity in her face.
"You are in the right doing this, and don't let those busy body guards tell you otherwise."
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Prisim nods to Meesha.
"If they don't take no for an answer then you tell them that VC Jani Ivulxti himself - known favorite of Gloriana Morilla..."
Here she pauses to make sure the name sinks in. "Has asked that the gates be closed. The city guard should make sure nobody else comes in, but unless they have a permit signed by the Swordmaster himself, they have no authority in the Grand Lodge. Remind them of the Free passage act of 4667. Signed by Lord Gyr himself. If they want to dispute that, they can take it up with the Primarch."
She makes sure there is a look of sincerity in her face.
"You are in the right doing this, and don't let those busy body guards tell you otherwise."
"Wow! You're really smart. Maybe you could help me study for confirmation?"
Wyatt thinks long and hard about any historical cases of precedence for keeping the city watch out.
Wyatt gets the sense that Prisim is on the right track though. He doesn't recognize the law or date she mentions, so that's clearly a fabrication. It's a fabrication that seems to work, however.
Prisim's words are enough to remind Meesha of something. The halfling responds, thoughtfully, "I don't know that law, but there is one that requires they have a warrant. Maybe that was it, I don't know. But it's something I can use. You can count on us. We'll keep the guards out for as long as we can, and we'll keep it legal. Maybe that'll be enough." She motions her followers to, well, follow, and they head for the gates.
As you're hurrying away from the gates, you see a ranger you recognize from an earlier description: the dwarf, Shorvan Anvilhammer. He and the two Pathfinders with him would be ideal for escorting some scholars to safety. Tough armor, excellent archery skills, and robust constitutions would make them ideal bodyguards.
The dwarf makes a show of looking around and making sure you're addressing him. He glares up at Evarice, wary, because he doesn't recognize her. His words are plain, but there is challenge in them. “I’m quite confident that Professor Nigel Aldain can find his own way to the front gate. What gives you the right to order us about? You’re no venture-captains!”
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"Dwarf, jump into action when your superiors command it! We've been deputized by the Venture Captain Ivulxtin. We need your group to escort the scholars to safety, and I will not ask again. i will personally report your insolence to the Venture Captain if you refuse, plus I'll be forced to thrash you in front of everyone here! So how do you wish to proceed?
Intimidate aid another
Anvilhammer looks at Pau irritably. (Although it might just be his normal expression.) "It just ain't done tha' way. Venture Captains don't delegate authority like that. Thay ne'er have and the ne'er will. So you can close that pie hole 'afore I fill it with mud."
You recall at least four major recorded instances where VCs delegated authority, similar to this situation. In the most notable, 150 years ago, most of the Decemvirate and the Grand Lodge leadership were saved from an attack by extra-planar beings when the dwarf, Lars "Cleaver" Thunderrivet accepted orders via a pre-Confirmation squire.
In another instance, in what is now known as the "River Run Debacle", three venture captains and an elvish ambassador were slain when a contingent of Pathfinders discounted a stable boy sent with orders, believing he wasn't in their chain of command.
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Wyatt clears his throat, before launching into a lecture.
"Actually, I think that you will find that there are a number of precedents for junior Pathfinders passing on messages from Venture Captains to members of equivalent or higher rank. Several in particular spring to mind - 150 years ago, most of the Decemvirate and the Grand Lodge leadership were saved from an attack by extra-planar beings when the dwarf, Lars "Cleaver" Thunderrivet accepted orders via a pre-Confirmation squire. Similarly, a few years ago, a Pathfinder expedition in the Mwangi Expanse was saved from a siege by savage ape-men, when a group of Pathfinders led by Varian Jeggare broke through a blockade, and took control of the beleaguered Society forces there, following through on a plan put in place by the Master of Spells. Lastly, in what is now known as the "River Run Debacle", three venture captains and an elvish ambassador were slain when a contingent of Pathfinders discounted a stable boy sent with orders, believing he wasn't in their chain of command."
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The dwarf's shoulders sag slightly as he knows he's beaten. "Aye. 'Ow could I forget cousin Cleaver? He was my mother's uncle's brother-in-law's cousin, dontcha know."
The dwarf rallies and waves his men on. "These Pathfinders 'ave the righ' of it, lads, let's get to work." He turns back to Wyatt, "Thanks for reminding an old dwarf of his duty. Puts fire in the bones and makes me wan' to chop some Aspis heads!"
The dwarf and his company hurry off in the direction of the civilians to escort them to the main gate.
You scan the campus briefly. Although there are pockets of fighting pretty much everywhere, you see little else that isn't being handled by another party.
The northeast campus is the smallest section with a single building to check. As you hurry past, you see Dara Immlin, the Aasimar sorceress you met earlier, staged around the Repository with her soldiers.
Moving down Balphory's Walk (between Arliss Hall and the Quadrangle) you notice that the crude stone heads have all uniformly turned to face southwest at some time during today. Each bears an expression or combination of anger, grief, shock, and/or outrage.
You arrive at the Quadrangle, where you see few Pathfinders around. The area is eerily quiet. The buildings contain sleeping areas for Pathfinder initiates, a small stable, training yard, study chambers and lecture halls. It's usually brimming with noise and people, so the stillness is a bit unnerving.
The solitary figure of Ambrus Valsin jogs out of the Quadrangle’s courtyard. “You lot, we have a crisis here that can’t wait.” He turns and gestures to the Quadrangle. “When the banquet started, I dismissed the first-year initiates back here to continue their studies for a few more hours. The damned Aspis were waiting inside two of the dormitories,” the venture-captain says, pointing to two ivy-covered stone buildings. “I think their plan is to leverage the initiates as hostages if they have no other escape route.”
Venture-Captain Valsin regards you with an inscrutable look. “This situation can only become more desperate. The safety of our initiates can’t wait another minute. Consider yourself drafted, because you’re all I’ve got. I’m heading to the southern dormitory. You head to the northern dormitory. Talk them down, or hit them hard and fast.”
"Do you have any questions for me before I go?"
As you investigate the outside of the building, you see all of the rooms except the main hall have small windows whose curtains are drawn, leaving the rooms in darkness.
The main hall has 20-foot-tall ceilings. A large window 10 feet off the ground on the western wall allows the afternoon sun to illuminate the hall. The ivy on the western wall is particularly thick.
Exterior doors are locked.
"Based on my counts of those who are safe, it appears there are about ten initiates in each building. There are relatively few hostage takers, it seems, so I suspect the hostages are grouped together." The venture captain looks anxious to be on his way, but remains for further questions.
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Evarice was starting to relax a bit as the group travelled northeast. Her military march broke down into a simple jaunt, almost skipping along the way.
Venture-Captain Valsin's words, however, knocked whatever joy she had built right out. "Hostages...we'll rescue the Initiates, and make sure those Aspis thugs pay if they harm anyone." Evarice readies her glaive and prepares to head to the northern building.
"If I were any good with stealth, I would try to scope the place and try to get into an advantageous position. But..." Evarice briefly glances at Apollyanna, "Force is my preferred strategy, here."
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"Agreed, we will save these hostages. Evarice, I agree with you... negotiations will likely not get us very far... but that does not mean we shouldn't try. If we go in swords-swinging, they might kill some of the initiates out of spite. We should find a way in, get as far in as we can before being spotted, and then attempt to convince them to give up. If they refuse, we will end them."
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<back>
"Wow Wyatt, you know a lot. Well done." says Prisim, quite impressed by his lawyer like knowledge.
Prisim nods to Gailen's words.
"We try words. Umm.. I'm not very good with force though. Remember, I can disable some small groups if you lot don't get in the way.. That may be quite effective in helping out here."
She opens the door and peers into the room beyond. If empty, she opens the curtains to allow light into the room.
Doors and windows are locked.
Except for the large picture window on the west wall (10' off the ground), all windows have closed curtains.
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"Maybe just break a window or...."
stars Prisim.
"That would make a lot of noise. Does anyone have a weapon that can just cut the glass?"
She moves aside and points to another window. "If we could quietly get in here, that would be helpful. If they have an ambush set, it is likely at the main doors."
She looks upwards.
"Can anyone see if the curtains in the upstairs rooms are closed?"
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You know earlier experience that what windows there are on the second story (dormitories) are nailed shut to prevent novices from exiting after curfew. Pau climbs up to check anyway, and sees the floor dark through a curtain that wasn't closed all the way.
More importantly, his climb gives him an opportunity to peek through the big picture window on the west wall. The window is a focal feature of the main hall and from your perch on the ivy covered wall you can see in.
Looking inside, you see a stage below the window. (You know from being inside the hall that it would be a trivial jump down, only a few feet, should you break the window and climb in.) The ceiling is 20' high; the room is dark, lit only by the light of the afternoon sun to the west. You keep your shadow from blocking the light, but as you peer in, you see ten hostages grouped together near the north wall of the room. They appear to be injured, and not in good health. A lone figure paces between the stage and the front (east) door. He stops at the door each time to listen, briefly.
Pau notices a gold goblet suspended 10' in the air above the frightened hostages. It's hanging from the ceiling (10' more up) by a wire.
It's certainly out of place; you've never seen anything like this in the hall before.
The hostages are injured to the point that it looks like a slight breeze might knock them over and kill them.
The room is fully lit (from the window) about half-way in from the west; the rest is low light, as there are no additional light sources.
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"Hmm, we can't go in, full force." Evarice ponders. "They'll drop that...thing on the hostages." If only I became 1 Clr/1 Rog instead of 2 Clr I completed my detective training...
"Parley will be our best option. Even if we're just lying. If I get close enough, I can quickly heal their wounds and defend them against whatever is in there. Prisim, do you have a way of turning invisible, even briefly? The Paladins and I can parley and stall for time while you or Pau either ambush the man or disable the trap."
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Apollyanna looks a bit shocked by Gailen's suggestion.
"Maybe instead of lying to them we should just go in and talk to them. I mean 'As a rough stone hides a diamond, a drab face may hide the heart of a saint.'" Apollyanna says quoting a portion of her paladin's oath.