Vallus slides over to Shellin and asks in a whisper, "How did you come to be mixed up with ratfolk?"
Returning his whisper
"We took a job from the City Guard to 'thin the herd' as a solution to an overpopulation issue, but rather than commit wholesale slaughter of an entire people, we came to negotiate their removal from the city to grounds where they might feed their people without stealing. Brigands to hunter gatherers, seemed a good move."
"Ah, I see! I always heard ratfolk were vermin, you see. But these seem... reasonable." Vallus whispers.
"Suprisingly so, yes..."
...but why?...
With a shrug he continues,
"Shellin supposes we should ready ourselves for anything."
"Beadsss help. Know Sssssity issssss not very accommodating to sssssmall onesssss"
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"Squeak, squeak," said the ratfolk man. "Everyone is ready for Beads to lead us to your swamp. Everyone is gathered, squeak, squeak."
"It seems our group is ready as well. Lead on, Beads."
Tony unlimbered his crossbow and loaded it. Taking up an escort position, he kept sneaking glances at the unusual people they were escorting...
Kali will bring up the rear of the group, to watch for ambush-based shenanigans.
As you wait on Beads to take the lead, you see a group of ratfolk form a line from where you are into the depths of the sewers. They are willing to leave and you take them into the wilderness. The swamps Beads spoke of, is better than the sewers, they think. Beads would take the lead, and fortunately, there are more entrances to the sewers than just the one in the Guildsman district. Somehow, you managed to convince enough of the ratfolk council to follow you to the swamps.
So far, the ratfolk seem to be on the level.
"Onwardssssss!" he exclaims. It took him a while to take in the amount of rats. A lot more than his tribe. But best help them. And the swamp was big enough anyway. Not to mention it was hard to spot his own kind anyway
"Ssssstay together. No want attack from othersssss" he warns again as he leads them out
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There are other entrances into the sewers than the one you took, for how did the ratfolk get in? The rats followed your group, as they followed Beads. It took a while, but soon you found yourself out of the sewers. Or basically a sewer gate. The gate is locked, but with strength you can open it. You can use a strength check to open the gate leading you out of the sewers and into the open air.
Vallus follows along, keeping a side eye on the rat-folks, for as a citizen of Ptolus, he has always been told they're treacherous and vile creatures.
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Sure, why not? You can use disable device.
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Beads opens the lock rather easily and it comes open. To the surprise and gratitude of the ratfolk you are leading. They all want to go outside in a rush, to feel the sun on their backs again.
"WAITSSSSS!!!!!" he hisses. Holding up a claw in the air
"Need to make ssssssure itssssss sssssafe firssssst. Check cornerssssss. Ssssssshadowssssss. Lurkerssssss can sssssnatch you up quickly. Yessssss. Ssssafe firssssst" he nods before he pokes his head out. Checking all the dark corners
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Tony was also wary of ambush at this natural chokepoint.
Beads and Tony, there is nothing about ambush here. The city's folks might be glad you are leading the group out. The only thing to worry about is centaurs. So far. Perhaps, this time, you are safe from highwaymen and robbers. This time. In the future, who knows what would happen?
Nodding, he begins to lead the hoard deeper into the forest and swamp, and farther away from the city
Okay, here we go.
According to the dice, the group meets up with a highwayman. This one calls himself the Cloaked Avenger. "Stop, so we can take your valuables," he says. Then he sees the party you are leading. A large group of ratfolk.
"Oh, I see," he said. "You're on your way from Ptolus and these are ratfolk. Dirty creatures. That being said, will you mind handing over your gold?"
Vallus continues onward and tries to strike up a conversation with the ratfolk. "So, um... What do you do for fun?" He awkwardly asks.
Vallus continues onward and tries to strike up a conversation with the ratfolk. "So, um... What do you do for fun?" He awkwardly asks.
"We make virulent diseases from the sewer water under the city," said one sarcastically. "No, in truth we play games."
Shellin will call the group to a stop as they notice the brigand. I wonder what he wants...
After hearing his request/demand, Shellin's half smile will grow to nearly split his face in two. In response to this, the dragons that are his shadow begin to sweep and seethe across the ground around him.
Oh, a bandit. I love bandits.
"Oh, you mean to rob us. Simple enough then-"
Shellin's eyes will change to azure blue orbs with reptilian slits as he screams
"WE ARE UNDER ATTACK!"
Followed by the verbal and somatic of Reach Shocking Grasp
Beads stops and tilts his head. His eyes blinking
"Gold? Ssssshiny thingssss people trade for larger thingssss? Nope. Beadsssss not have any. But Beads no think you are a nisssssse persssson. Perhapssssss let usssss passssss? We isssssss more than you" he turns to look at the multitude of rat people behind him
"Not wissssssse choice...."
His words were cut off as one of those behind him used magic to attack. In sheer panic he moves to hide away and not be in front!
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hit
"I've tried to .... be ....nice," the Cloaked Avenger says through the shocking grasp.
"Games? What sor... Oh we're being robbed!" Vallus holds up his angelic symbol and points at the Masked Robber. "DROP!"
He obeys and drops to the floor! "I am really trying hard to be polite here," he says. "I'm a gentleman, and I don't like being treated like this."
"Gold?" Tony grinned at the the thought of the crowd around him having any.
"Terribly sorry old sport. Student here! I am afraid you've hit a dry hole, so to speak." He said, covering the Cloaked Avenger with his crossbow.
Kali laughs and begins moving towards the front. When she finally arrives, she says "What sort of idiocy makes you attempt to rob an army of beings in front of you? It makes no sense."
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"Honestly, I made a mistake," he says. "I'm a highwayman, and I do accost people for their gold. I thought you were easy pickings."
Easy pickings, like Mother... no, can't be angry now, it won't help. Logic, Shellin, logic.
Manic grin affixed, dragon eyes gleaming still, Shellin says "If we leave him be he will likely steal from other, weaker prey. Allow Shellin to dispatch him and be done."
Emphasize his point, Shellin will send a Jolt to sear the ground beside where the brigand is laying. Speaking to the thief, he says "Regardless of our decision, stay there till it is made."
"Don't you want me to go into the woods?" the Cloaked Avenger said.
Turning his manic facsimile of a smile to the bandit on the ground, "No, now sit there like a good little boy while my friends decide your fate."
Seeing the coast was clear, he slinks back out from the shadows
"What now? Beadssss usually just hide from money sssstealing people. Never had anything to ssssteal before"
Vallus shakes his head. "He hasn't actually harmed anyone yet. And he did try to intimidate us out of our gold before he assaulted us. It may be that he's not a terrible person. Like our rat-friends, he may not be as bad as we fear."
Tony's eyes narrowed.
"He seems awfully bold; a single man versus more than fifty.
"Either he is tremendously skilled, or perhaps he has friends." He said as he turned his eyes to the surroundings.
"Or he believes that he can win."
"Well, Vallus makes one vote for sparing the wretch, Shellin makes 1 against. A tiebreaker, if you will friends."
"If we let you live, will you find some other city to rob?"
"Yes, and on the other side of the continent I trust?" Added Tony helpfully.
"You can't treat me this way," he says. "I have a lot of friends."
"That is it. We have places to be and he's stalled us long enough." Tony said as he dropped his crossbow and pack. He pulled out a 50 foot silk rope.
"I'm tying him to the nearest tree." He said seriously as he approached the highwayman.