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As the passer-by recounts his impressions of the estate's demeanour and atmosphere, Ilandro nods, keeping the pleasant smile on his face. He nods in agreement with with the man, flicking his gaze over to the building. "I guess you're right, it doesn't seem very friendly. Well, thank you for your time, kind sir, and a blessing of the Starsong on your travels today," he nods, bidding the passerby farewell.
Ilandro crosses the road again and joins his companions, relaying what the passer-by had said. "It might be that the odd actions of Skelg's men not wanting him to have help isn't their own doing. Magic, maybe? From the artefact that Captain Adril told us to find?"
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Xaaven looks at Tsakolk when questioned about his opinion on the guards. "Apparently I was the only one to notice, but they had their surcoats on backwards. I doubt a self-respecting guard would do that knowingly. The only way we are getting a message to Skelg is by getting past the guards. We need to either sneak in or go in with force. If he is being held against his will, it is our duty to save him."
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"I hadn't noticed the surcoats, a curious detail...
Much as my heart yearns for force, you can't look for tracks if you've already trampled the path.
If your happy to try and sneak in to reach Skelg, Xaaven Lightfoot, and explain our position... You have my support.
But I wonder if we are missing another approach. The man is dying, what will he be able to tell us that we don't already know. The guards seem to be a lead we shouldn't ignore...
Perhaps splitting up would be a plan, if your good at moving quietly, go with Xaaven, the rest of us approach the guards again, at least we would create a diversion, we have already made it known that Pathfinders have been sent, we don't have the element of surprise anymore."
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Xaaven listens to everyone's input on how to proceed. "While I understand the cover of darkness would make it easier for me to sneak around, it also makes it harder for me to see. I believe if Skelg is being held against his will, we have every right to try to get to him. I will try to climb into the window I saw, but it could be helpful if the rest of you could occupy the guards. If you hear me scream, please come quickly. Can someone hold onto my gear? I won't need most of it and it weighs me down." He takes off his backpack and puts down his longspear.
Again the guards regard the party with a hostile air. One of them speaks: "I thought we told you to get lost. Get out now, or things will get unpleasant for you."
You can hear the crackling of the fire and a low moaning of someone else in the room, as though someone is in chronic pain, or a deep fever.
You creep down the corridor without the thin man quite noticing you. In the room is a bed, pushed perilously close to the fire. In the bed is a single large figure, who seems to be the source of the moaning. You can tell by the timbre of the voice that the figure is male. The thin man is watching the figure attentively; his face carries a deeply worried look. The room is incredibly hot, despite it already being a very warm day outside.
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Xaaven carefully pulls his light mace out of his belt. He tries to get within striking distance of the servant.
Not knowing if there are other guards around, he quietly speaks to the servant so that only the servant can hear him. "Don't move. I'm a Pathfinder sent by Adril Hestram to help your master, Skelg. Can you be trusted, unlike the guards outside?"
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Leaning over and speaking in a voice audible only to Tsakolk, "These guards are getting on my nerves. Are we prepared to take this to next level?"
Fidgit gets more interested with the guard's threat. "Unpleasant? Would that be a threat of some kind? You may regret that action. It works both ways you know. Do you intend to dishonor yourselves AND the Ripper?"
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Tsakolk smiles a knowing smile and gives Fidgit a 'calm it down' hand gesture...
I like this lad, he's got fire in his blood. Fight smart though kid, only way to stay alive is to spend as much time as you can not fighting
"No-one here for a fight guardsman, just want to chat, you got a name guardsman? See the thing is we're all just 'the men' here aint we, got no say in things. I go back to my boss with 'they told us to go away' then there's no ale monies for me is there, but then you've got yourself the same problem see 'But boss they said they really needed to see you' ain't gonna save your job is it now guardsman? We've all gotta make a living right... It's cold in here isn't it? does wearing your surcoat like that help?"
all the while he's talking Tsakolk is staying away from the guards wandering around the courtyard, entirely relaxed.
The guardsman to whom Tsakolk is talking glares back at the half-orc. "Only see two men here. And yes, come to think of it, it is a threat. Tostig, close the gate."
The other guardsman moves towards the gate and locks it.
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"Well now, ain't that a shame... Fidget, now's your chance, bit close for bow work I fear though. Only two men, we'll see about that shall we?"
Dropping the long spear to the ground with a clatter Tsakolk steps up to the man in front of him, loosing his hammer from his belt as he does so gripping the unadorned weapon in both hand he brings it up between the guards legs
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"I didn't mean to startle you, but I didn't know whose side you were on. Well met, Tyros, I am Xaaven, and I'm not alone. The rest of the group is outside distracting the guards. Who is this Bengeirr? Is he here in the house and is he responsible for Skelg's condition? Are there more guards other than the ones outside?" He says as he looks around the room for other entrances.
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"Don't kill them!" Ilandro cries out, his voice slightly higher than normal in pitch as he watches his companions attack the guards. "They may not be themselves."
He then steps up behind and to the side of Tsakolk as he spins his longspear around and attempts to attack the other man with the solid haft of the weapon, stabbing at the man's head with the blunt end.
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The half-elf will concentrate and in that concentration will call upon Iomedae to put his foes and the foes of justice to sleep.
Hear me, Inheritor, and keep these infidels from harming the faithful as they impede and cause injustice to our cause/
Will Save 13
Focusing it on so that only they baddies are in the aoe.
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Xaaven laughs at seeing the fight. "And they said they didn't want to attack them. I guess that's one way to cause a distraction. Does this window open?"
He continues talking to Tyros as he watches the fight. "Where can we find Bengeirr? Do you know what he did to cause Skelg's condition? And what do we need to cure him?"
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Fidgit eyes widen as he was not really expecting an altercation to insue. After realizing the the start of hostile action, he quickly noches an arrow and lets fly!
"Finally! This is what you left the boredom of the gate for. Time to make an impression on my new companions."
"Bad move Cochise! Feel free to lay down your arms, when you've had enough. We didn't come here to kill."
Daereon swings his morningstar at the warrior previously struck by Tsakolk - the man collapses as his colleague looks on, grimly.
The remaining fighter swings his greataxe at Ilandro ...
... and hits him in the side, drawing blood.
Tostig doesn't answer, he simply prepares to attack.
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Xaaven considers just letting the fight continue outside, but hearing Ilandro cry out that he was hit changes his mind. He unlocks the door and flings it open dramatically, a big smile on his face.
"Ha! and you said you didn't want to attack them. Drop your weapon, guard, the ruse is up. I told you guys he wasn't with Skelg. His master is responsible for Skelg's condition and the demise of the real guards. Maybe next time you'll listen to me." He stands in the doorway with his light mace ready to smack the guard with it should he come near.
Tostig hears the halfling, and can see him standing the other side of the group. But he growls and launches an attack on Daereon ...
... wounding him as he had previously done Ilandro.