She smiles at Rick
"Rick O dear, I have something of a confection to make, I am sorry to say I lead you here under a false pretext."
She stops eating and point a chip stick at Miria.
"I am sorry to say we already have a very good guild in Miria here, it was Miria who found this wonderfuly fine Inn. Miria showed us the shops we needed and the markets for us, she has shown us the safe streets to walk down and safe ways to act. In fact she has been keeping us safe and sound in this strange place wile showing us its better parts all day, even wile we where with you. I really do recommend her should you need a good guild."
The then points her Chop-stick at Rick
"Wile your guiding skills have been some what lacking. Your 'help' as you put it at the might market was if memory severs me well. To ask us about ourselves, where we have been, what we have done, what we have planed, where we are going, if we had purchased at a Market and what our thoughts where on what lived behind some hanging bed sheets. "
She stopped pointing puts down her chopsticks and takes up her class.
"So you see you don't really have anything we need in that way. However you may have something to trade still. When we fist meet you said you where fascinated by us, following us because 'when one loses something important, one realizes the value of everything one has, or had'. you told me that 'we called your attention' because of what had been done to us. Then you added you 'Had a friend who could greatly benefit from' lets say just say our doctors work"
She takes a sip from her class
"Now Rick before we divulging our plans or in fact anything more, I think you need to be a little more open, forthcoming, you seem to have information that could help us, if not help then enlighten. Because right now the only thing you have that we want is such information, like."
She looks closely at him.
"where and how did you came by your Artificial back Implant?. Who is it that needs something like that from our Doctors?. Why do you feel you need to get it for them?. Once you have given some meaningful answers, we can take it from there, but remember we all ready have a very good guild, so this may be your one and only change to get what your seek. So over to you."
She go's back to eating.
::"I am such a bad girl, but you see why now I dragged him along. he knows far more than he's letting on, He got an Artificial back Implant from some place and it was not The Bad Doctor and Craft boys. So where, and who is he looking to get one for. If any of what he said about that was true."::
Jack answers when Sallrana finishes, answering Rick's question.
There are several other people around you listening intently to your conversation, with various levels of artifice. One of them is so open about it that he has just stopped eating and is sitting, staring at your little group. At this hour you don't have much company... but you have certainly drawn the attention of the few who are within earshot.
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John looks around the room, his hand touching his pistol. do you mind, pilgrims. This is a private conversation. Long ears may be removed. John looks straight at the man who is staring. His voice drops to a near whisper. especially you, pilgrim
John's artic blue gaze drills into the mans eyes.
Then he turns back to the others
]
John, the patron in question man slams the back of his head on the wall as he jerks away from you in fear, and the few other people there are suddenly very interested in their food.
Sallrana let's the others do what must be done, she seems intent on her meal.
When john gets up she neatly finishes off, putting her things away. She takes the half empty bottle of brandy with one hand and johns arm in the other. Waiting for him to lead them off to a more privet place to keep on talking.
She has read minds going, what are ones lead wigging in thinking wile they talked , most of all the intent one.
Rick doesn't seem to care much about the bla bla bla of the woman, he half-listens while eating something, but he decides to reply before proceeding to a place without this many listeners. "The more you speak, more of a fool you sound like, Sallrana... You say you were walking down the safe path, but ended up in the night market? Is the night market really your concept of safe? Have you wondered about the consequences in case they had taken the memories of your comrades away? You would not remember them, and be suspicious all the time, which eventually would lead your mistrust to get someone killed. Probably you, anyway. If you think I'm making a poor job, let me tell you. I consider walking out of the Night Market with only one negotiation closed to be a very good guidance, and I would have advised John against it, in case he had given me the opportunity. If the little halfling were not there, you and your group would probably be still selling your soul and whatever else you could to grab a few more items, none of which you would really need."
"I've told you before I don't remember how it happened, but what does it matter?" He lifts his shoulders "You would not believe me anyway! I could tell you that I want to see your doctors because I'm not going to last for long at this rate, but hey, you would not believe that either!! If I ask what you're doing and where you're going is to try to prevent you from doing, and trust me when I say that's a hard task. But if you don't believe in me, I'll make sure to be far far away from you next time you draw a katana on a restaurant and try to get yourself killed." He lifts his eyebrows. "Oh yes, everyone's knowing about that!" Rick shows you a raised thumb and winks at you. "Good job!"
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After listening to Rickonni's rant, Roger gets a confused look on his face and says "I thought you were a halfgnomeling. Now I'm confused." Roger will pause for a minute before saying "You don't need to be so angry, Rick. You're in a safe place."
Rick smiles with the simple comment. He likes simple people. "Thanks! It's not that I'm angry, it's tiresome to repeat it all again..."
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Actually Shallrana, a suspicious mind may look askance against you. By your own admission you are not our original Shallrana, but a duplicate from...somewhere else. Indeed you have made yourself more suspicious in some of your statements and actions, For example, you mentioned early on about your husband being alive, when I know he is dead, for quite a while now. Then there is your manner of acting. You are different from what you were even this morning. Tell me, what happened at lunch today, with us.[b]
John sat, seemingly relaxed as his eyes watched the woman. His eyes were, as always ice cold and very blue, gleaming as only metal can.
[b] And then there is your questioning of Rick here. Blatent accusations, intimidating stance, these are not what I expect. You are subtle, intelligent and usually show much more grace in conversation than that.
John finishes his ale
Best not to throw stones, so to speak
Sallrana looks on at the anger of the Halfling, looking down at him,
A sly smile crossing her face was he rants.
Its hard to read what's she's thinking.
Then Roger talks
Then John talks and.
DC20 Will Power.
Her face stays the same but the smile now is a polite one.
She simply says in a totally calm and controlled voice.
@Rick
"See, that was not so hard now was it Risk, and such a hot temper, you really must keep an eye on that."
She turns back to John,+others
"Shell we go as you suggested John, to a more secluded place everyone. As for my eating today John. O I left the meat well alone then as well."
As you think back you note she made a good act of eating but in fact you never saw her place meat in her mouth, and when you left her plate was still full of food.
Then in your mind a voice full of worry and stress talks to you.
::"John! is it true is my Husband dead in this world"::
you sense the pain and anguish in the question.
When John told her about her husband in this world, she lost her PSI Focus, all powers end.
She takes a round to get it back up again.
[spoiler=John]
There is a long silence you feel her grip your arm.
Then in a more collected voice she says.
::"That is troubling new John, I... its hard to think"::
She seems to collect herself
::"I needed him to open up, to see what was behind his act, John his minds is shielded not a little but all the way, I can't read it at all, I just get an image of smoked class. You need a high level of power to do that. Not the kind of thing you find in a simple guild for hire. That's what has me so suspicious of him. If not he then someone dos not want his true intentions found out."::
She projects an image to you of what she sees shielding in his mind.
Detect psionic/magic on you.
She's looking for what's shielding your mind
note we are using the transparency rule so Spell craft works on psionics etc.
::"Mam is very thing well with you, I lost contact for a moment then"::
::"No I am not all well, I have just been told my husband in this world is dead. Not that kind of thing to make one well. I must hold to the hope I can get back v the portal, to my our world. Where hes very much alive. That poor other Sallrana, no wonder they think of me as cold and heartless. The pain she must have been thought to have such a loss."::
::"If the other Sallrana has made it to out world she may...::
::"Yes yes that's what has me worried, I just think what I would do if some thing happened to.. Keep I look out, I need to think"::
PM GM
As John and Sallrana stand to leave, the door to the establishment opens and a small group of men walk in. One, who you assume to be the leader, tips his hat at your table as he walks past to the bar.
'Ales for everybody, Alice. It's been a long night.'
The new group spread out across two tables by the door, folding up traveling cloaks and making themselves comfortable as the ales are taken over to them. Most of them are middle-aged men, although a few are women, and the majority of them are of human stock. They look tired, and cold, and their faces all show the same grim expression.
::"John, act like nothing is wrong, but them men who just came in, there troops of come kind, beneath their heavy jackets they have weapons. I think by the looks of it Flintlocks and daggers would be my guess, their clothes was tailored specifically to conceal these armaments from anyone who might be looking. So they my be a thugs or a press game, even assassins. Bets get ready we may have a fight on our hands."::
The man that ordered the drinks turns in his seat to regard your table, tipping his hat once again.
'You folks are up late. Had a busy night?'
Before any one can answer she whispers to John, in a voice all can hear
"I'm sleepy dear"
She pats John on the arm.
"Ill let you carry on drinking with the men folk here, ill go get our bed warm."
She smiles sexually and meekly at him then
A elf maid in a low cut slinky evening dress heads up to her room.
, the man keeps the same unhurried conversational tone as he draws a flintlock from inside his jacket and aims it squarely at you.
'One more step, and I will cut you down where you stand. This is not an empty threat, lady.'
He gestures you back towards your seat with his free hand as the rest of the men and women draw their weapons, unhurried and professional. One of them makes a gesture towards the front door of the inn, and tells the rest of the patrons and bar staff to leave, and that they saw nothing. They comply, wordlessly.
Rick was about to take a closer look at the men, but their threat put him on red alert. Still sit, he raises his empty hands to the leader, seeking some agreement with him, although he is still seeking signs of what the man is trying to do.
"Common sir, we were just having a drink here, and certainly not seeking trouble. There's no need to scary the pretty ladies, is there?"
As John stands and draws you have the chance for a headcount - there are eighteen people sitting between you and the door, all of them ready... But relaxed. Apart from the single individual with his gun pointed at Sallrana, none of them are actively threatening you... But there's a hell of a lot of passive threat going on.
'Sorry to be so extreme, folks... I don't mean to scare anybody, but... But I really can't have any of you running off now. And Pilgrim, you draw on me like that again and you will regret it.'
John, you recognize that language... Whoever this guy is, he knows your ways.
Jack winces at the translation of the famous phrase from Orcish.
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John eyes the speaker. well Pilgrim the way I see it I didn't start the draw. That was a mite unfriendly, in my books. And from my look out I won't be the only one to be regretting. Drawing a weapon shows an intent for violence. You could have just asked.
John, without dropping his aim, moves to a more relaxed posture. now how about he puts down his weapon, and I'll do likewise. And we can have a talk. Or we will start dancing and let justice decide.
He quickly glances at the others there. not like I haven't faced worse odds
well? siay heretey nay usticejey erehay
The man chuckles at Jack's words, but there is a hint of nervousness in there somewhere. He brandishes the flintlock in a shrugging movement.
'You'd have to drink might fast, pilgrim... but then looking at the size of you, I'd reckon you could actually manage it.'
But as soon as John speaks he snaps something back, a spat curse in a language that you very rarely ever hear.
He sighs, regaining his composure, and takes a drink from his own mug before continuing.
'Sorry, I... sorry. To tell you the truth, I don't think that what I'm going to say will make you very happy though, to be honest. My name's Auken, and I work... for the city, let's say. And a little bird told me that there were people here, eating and drinking and jawing about some very interesting things, people that they didn't know, new in town. And the thing is, the gates are closed - have been since yesterday, and the ports are closed too. So seeing new faces is mighty disturbing for a man of the city like me, and it makes me wonder where you few are from... and when I started wondering about that, one of my brothers here pointed out that the damn thing a-ways away in the harbour is some sort of... gate. So I got to wondering, Auken, I said to myself, you had better go down and see what these good people are doing in your home, and how they managed to slip in so secret-like...'
The man leans forward slightly, aggression - only a tinge of it - entering his voice for the first time.
'... so we come down here all ready to be peaceful and then I see a familiar face, and I says to myself, Auken, what is John of the Wains doing sitting and drinking in an inn on the wrong side of the mountains? What is John-leave-a-man-to-die-in-the-dirt-of-the-Wains doing showing his face to the world like a man of honour? So those are my questions - only two, and very simple they are at that. Number one - how in the hells did you get into my city? And number two... can anybody give me one good reason I shouldn't put a hole in the head of this rotten traitor while I'm here?'
His smile shows no warmth now.
'I'm a reasonable man... but I have my limits.'
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For the first time John shows something none of the party has ever seen. He is nonplused.
Er...Do I know you pilgrim? Because I have never seen you before in my life. But you act like an Inquisitor. John thinks a second, and says
As to how we got here, it was by boat, for the last part. The rest is a long story involving a company, possibly illegal magic, that gate and these John taps his eyes. A slight metal tink can be heard.
As to the second question And John's face hardens and his icy glare drops to sub artic levels. Any man you claims I have broken my word and oath had better be prepared to prove that. Any man who threatens me had better be prepared to bleed. He then says something in a harsh barking tongue and places a hand on his holy symbol.
You see a shadow of terror cross the man's face as he hears John's closing statement, swiftly replaced but most definitely there. For the rest of you to says nothing more than that John can be damn scary when he wants to be, but for John himself...
But your head starts to throb and your guts coil tight - you have no idea where that was, or when, and if somebody had asked you a minute ago you would say you'd never seen him before in your life, and been telling the truth. You have never seen this man before, yet you remember sparing his life...
Your lower chest hurts like hell, John.
His fear quickly forgotten the man points to your chest, - blood is leaking down your front, starting just above your stomach - you certainly don't remember injuring yourself there.
'Old wounds bleed true, pilgrim. It's a sign from the law. Oh, you're confident now, but I remember what you did. Why not come clean - tell these nice folks you travel with now how you left me to die, tell your lady there what kind of a man you are.'
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John,staggered, his face stoic, looks at Auken. You know if law is punishing me, I would be on the floor. And then Justice would kill me. I follow Justice and her brother law. I think they are just reminding me of that.
John straightens up, his pistol still ramrod straight pointing at his accuser. No pain shows on his face, no yielding in his expression.
I am a walker of worlds, I realise that now. I am begining to think this one isn't mine. Maybe you know another John of the Wains, but that is not me. Memories do bleed from one to the other it seems. I remember you now; crying, sniveling and begging for your life. Which I spared. Don't know why that happened. Don't know why I spared you. The memory is gifted me. Justice knows her own. And I see the fear behind your eyes, Pilgrim. Fear leads to hate. You rewrite history to make you the hero. When you were not. Were you.
John now stands fully erect, focused on his target.
And you are afraid. Might be why you brought this posse with you. Lots of bodies to get in the way of harm. Inquisitors do not work that way. Unless they are afraid
John touches the torc around his neck, then once again touches his holy symbol.
Might be I erred that day. Justice over rides the law. Maybe her way of sayin' it. Her little sister mercy might have spared you. Looks like you have a choice. Better make it a good one. And not your last.
John give Auken a wry look. Quietly he says Your move, Pilgrim
::"Roger all right John keep him talking, if hes the local law hes braking it making this personal with you.
::[i]"Wait on Johns to actions, if a fight starts kill the lights"::
::"I have told them, they wait on your action, once you act they will kill the lights and start"::
She stand there all 5'10 of her slight elven form, she has her hands up, looking very frightened at the gun pointing at her. For all the world like a fine Elf lady in a evening dress, weaponless, powerless with a large criminals gun pointing at her body. She look obviously to terrified and frightened to speak.
How heavy and big do these tables look?
Jack stands up from the floor, his legs unfolding as he stretches up... and up... and up... Till his head all but touches the cieling. His inhuman orcish features look down on Auken.
Jack points at Roger
The man himself, Auken, sits resolute with his eyes fixed on John, but his men...
His men are wavering. You can see it in their expressions, in the way their fingers tremble on their weapon-grips, in the way they moisten their lips or shift in their chairs. They are following their leader, or loyal to him, or maybe even simply in his pay... but they had not expected this.
Sallranas manner changes, look and posture of fear fades and a evil smile crosses her face.
As it dos her clothing changes to that of a simple black uniform a few deaths head skulls and a pecked cap.
As she talks her eyes begin to blaze green light filling the room with an ierry strange glow.
In a calm and rational voice she says, as if talk business she says.
"You know you tuck your time. What I mean is we strutted around the streets, showing our faces to one and all, and nothing. I even waved a sword around in a packed restaurant, can you believe it still nothing, we just about did all we could to get your attention and now late at night your finally get here. Thank you, I was starting to worry you would not take the bait."
Her glass of brandy in front lifts off the table to her hand, she takes a sip and then lets it go, it flouts back to where it was.
"Now I don't what you others to worry so much about my companions here, yes I am sorry to say given half a change they will just rip your arms off, cut you clean in two or blow your head off before you can blink. But me, O I'm a whole other order of danger, one that if you make the wrong call now you will fine out about. It would be impolite of me to talk about it now. No what I want to talk about is what you decide to do next."
The green light from her eyes seems to come out, solidify to from a shield in front of her.
she acting as if there was no danger at all in the room.
"Now lets be a little more civilised about this shall we, because I am sorry to say poor Auken here has lead you all into very nasty trap. Now knowing this will I promise help with what you need to think about from this point on. Because your now have to make an important decision witch, and I must be rude here and say may be you last if you get it wrong. Its like this, you can stay here and come to some grizzly and bloody harm at our hands or you can run away as fast as your legs can take you. That is all of you but Auken here, him we wish to have a little conversation with. But I would not concerned with that. No right now you need only be concerned about yourselves an uncivilised death at our hands or civilised running away, so time to decide"
With that HexQin moves up her chest to sit on her shoulder blazing more green light.
"O one other thing you should know, right now, I'm bullet prof so Auken by all means take that shoot, but I'm sorry to say that will be the last thing you do in this life, because I can and will rip your mind apart."
Her last words are said in mater of fact way, as if polity closing a meeting, she smiles at them scanning each face, her look is one of confidence and power, a nobles look. As she dos to each she lets her mind brush across their thought, A light touch of something outside seeking a way in, whispering one word.
::"Decide"::
Having gained some manner of control over his abilities, Roger began slowly growing as the men and women filed into the room, until he reached the full size granted by his abilities. Looking at the thugs, he picks one and says "What's your name, boy? I'd like to know what you are called so I can let them know for the tombstone. Is granite good for you, or did you want something nicer, like marble? I get that you wanna back up your boss, but take a look at us, and a look at your friends. Guns don't scare me."
The halfling exhales heavily. He certainly believes things could have gone easier had they tried the diplomatic path, but now it was too late for that, and as the group was trying to scare them away, he could help. After all, magic was rare in this place, and a large demonstration of that could easily convince the thugs that it was too much too handle, and Sallrana had showed quite a bit already.
Quiet in his place at the table, he twisted his hands and there seemed to be a mantle of shadow appearing over Sallrana's body, coming from within, that moved up, away from her, as if her own soul was being removed. The Shadow formed a three-dimensional monster behind and over Sallrana, clearly a twisted projection of the woman, with bare fangs, leathery wings and red blazing eyes, instead of the green ones. The figure smiled to the thugs and awaited, flapping her wings slowly and silently.