Inck roars, "You'll all hang for this!" But his threats seem a bit less while tied up and stuck.
Inside Lefty starts letting our the prisoners. There are about a dozen or so normal folks, probably put here on trumped up charges. In the back there are two in special cells. One is a hulking Ulfen bounding heavy chains, bolted to the wall. The other is a skinny female halfling, gag and hands bound.
In the offices the prisoners and mercenaries quarrel over items which the ex-prisoners say belong to them but the mercenaries claims as spoils of war.
Flori tries to get them to stop bickering. Let's just get these weapons out of here. If something belongs to one of the prisoners, let them have it. We can bicker about it later.
Lefty faces a different challenge. He tells the Ulfen, I'll let you go, but you have to promise you won't hurt me or any of these people.
He approaches the halfling and tells her the same, adding that she must be a spellcaster, and her talents would be appreciated in the fight to come.
The prisoners and mercenaries scowl but then the mercs find a small chest filled with silver coins. Happily they smash it and spread out the ill-gotten gains.
The hulking barbarian grins, showing a mouth full of shattered teeth. "Of course." he says in heavily accent Common. The caster, unable to speak simply shrugs and nods, holding up her bound hands.
The thing rangy mercenary says, "We need spellcasters. She might come in handy?"
I never got your name, Latharien says to the thin man. I'm Lefty.
Flori barely saw Lefty as everyone busted in. She goes to the back to see why he hasn't come back to the exit, and sees the others.
Hi, I'm Flori, she says, with a smile. I sorta organized this thing, and we really have to run along.
She sees the halfling, still gagged and bound. Lefty, why isn't that halfling free, yet?
Lefty, feeling a bit sheepish, pulls the gag off the halfling, and starts to undo her restraints.
The rangy man sticks out a hand, "Name's Rinan. Nice to meet you. You folks are making quite a stir."
Lefty unties the Ulfen and the halfling wizard. The Ulfen grins and grabs a battleaxe from the armory. He holds the massive steel weapon like a toy. "I'm with you. Kill some Muckrakers?" His voice sounds like a landslide.
The halfling, by contrast is jumpy and her eyes are a bit wild. 'What is going on? Who is breaking us out?"
The good people of the Puddles are taking the power back, dear lady. You don't have to help us, but we'd really appreciate it if you would. I'm Flori, this elf is Lefty, and we really don't know these guys, but they look like they'd be good in a fight. This is just a general uprising, and the Muckruckers deserve it. We're doing pretty well, so far. Can you help us? Flori explains.
We'll take you somewhere safe. You can eat, get some proper rest, and do as you will tomorrow. Sound good? Lefty adds.
Flori turns to the large Ulfen who was just broken out of jail and grabbed a big axe. She extends her hand and curtsies. I'm Flori. Charmed, I'm sure. We need to go. Can you carry the halfling? She looks a little tired, and the water's up to her t*ts.
Flori and Lefty lead the considerably increased band back up the streets. Varl eyes them with more then a bit of worry, obviously concerned mass looting might break out. The massive Ulfen carries the little halfling like a father might carry his child, and his dirty blond braids twist and turn as he gazes at the city. The wizard's eyes look very bright.
The march up the sodden streets doesn't take long, although many locals are peering out at them. Seeing the rough and ready armed mob though makes most retreat into their houses and lock the doors. Varl sighs, "That isn't good. We need the people with us."
You're right. They have to know we're on their side, Flori says. Let's hurry back to Rafleck's and see who else has shown up. Hopefully, we've got enough numbers to put up a real fight. The rest will join us if they're confident in us, or at least are persuaded by their friends who have joined us. She starts thinking about the difficulties of defending such a unique place.
So, what kind of spellcaster are you, Miss... Lefty says to the halfling.
The halfling says, 'Wizard." Her eyes are fixed on the buildings they jog past, as if calculating something. "Been locked up a long time."
They soon arrive at the block of houses that are turning into a fortress. The Ulfen grins, "This is where we fight?" He sounds pleased but Rinan looks around, "The lake at our back is good, but still, not great. We'll need archers on the roof, snipers. We need a better palisade then this..." he kicks the shoddy pile of timber serving as a barricade.
Rafleck hurries over, 'We got about two dozen men and women so far, a few more trickling in. Word is the Muckrakers are coming though, a whole pile of them" He looks nervous and peers at the motley collection. "How was the Brine?"
We got what we needed. Weapons, and some motivated reinforcements. We've got some crossbows, and a few other arms to share with those who can use them. The halfling there is a wizard, I'm told.
Lefty tries to get the halfling's name and offers her his spellbook, if she has none of her own. He needs to prep some spells, too, since he's about out. He looks to find them a meal and some rest before the Muckies show up.
Flori goes on. I think we need to hide our numbers and try to pin them in a crossfire. What buildings can we use to do that?
Lefty will look about and assess the situation and offer his perspective on strategy before he rests.
The halfling is eyes the buildings, leafing through the spellbook.
Lefty peers at the building. The houses here are fairly sturdy and the the barricaded ones more then most. Only a few of the other houses could be used as strongpoints if they wished to resist an assault. Most have windows and such that could offer good shooting but what if the Muckrakers trapped them inside?
Lastly, Lefty recalled the Siphons underneath. Perhaps the Muckrakers intended to attack from below, through the sewers?
A light rain starts to fall, making the entire area of the Puddles dance and splash.
Lefty thinks that a central house should be made to look like the main fortress: A few archers and a few guards at the gate, but nothing more.
Other houses nearby will wait until the Muckruckers are going at the main house, then fire on them, and attack with infantry once they've thinned them out a bit.
Flori and Lefty get some sleep after posting watchers and snipers in a few of the buildings. The rain picks up, and the drumming drops help lull the two adventurers to sleep. A few times they stir, hearing voices and feet, but no one wakes them. Finally, near dawn their is a voice at the door tot he little damp bedroom they are using.
"They are coming!" It sounds like Rafleck.
Flori dons her gear and strings her bow. How many, Rafleck?
Lefty hurriedly prepares the spells he needs. Mostly Magic Missiles, so it doesn't take too long. He retains a few spells from yesterday.
Shadow stretches lazily. He's warm and dry, and doesn't want to get wet until he has to.
They look outside.
'A few more then us. Maybe about forty of them?" The man says, sweating a bit despite the cool, clammy air. "They tested a few times over the night, scouts and such, but we held them off. I think this is the big push though. Some fellow named Inck is leading them, he seems to know you?"
Lefty casts Message, including Flori, Rafleck, Rinan, and the wizard. They'll spread out, ready to fire, or go out and melee.
The muckrakers are thirty five strong, armed and angry looking. Thoroughly soaked, they splash through the streets looking at the buildings, a number carry crossbows and bows. At the head leads Inck, looking quite confident.
Stopping he shouts, voice loud over the falling rain, 'Surrender now, in the name of the Puddles District. If you do not, we have the authority to use lethal force in putting down this riot! You were warned." He leads his band between two buildings...
Flori replies, from cover, You have no authority here! The crimes and abuses of the Muckruckers are grievous and malevolent. They are not accepted by the people of the Puddles. They will, to a man, be stripped of their offices and tried for high crimes, including murder, wrongful imprisonment, and racketeering, among others.
Lay down your arms and your badges, go to your homes. and await notice of your trials to come, or be cut down where you stand!
Don't fire until they're all in the center! Just wait! Flori may talk some more, Lefty whispers.
Flori's words cut like a knife through the Muckrakers, but none run away. Inck spits into the water pooled at his feet.
Inck suddenly spots the sniper in the building at the edge. 'They got scouts! Take them out!"
Two crossbow bolts sizzle towards the sniper and two Muckakers rush the door. Inck laughs, "They are all spread out, I bet."
They fired first. Engage! Lefty whispers. He casts Shield on himself, and looks around carefully.
Flori goes straight for Inck's throat. Should have killed him when I had the chance!
EDITED for duplicate post.
Flori's shot hits Inck square in the chest. He staggers back, coughing up blood. Lefty spots the Muckrakers moving out and then, out of the corner of his eyes, two small boats crossing the lake, hoping to take them by surprise. They are loaded to the gunnels with men and weapons.
Arrows shoot back at Flori, under soft cover.
All three arrows miss, plunging into the wall near ranger.
The streets turn into a chaos of arrows and bolts firing this way and that, Muckrakers rushing buildings, trying to take out snipers. The ulfen waits, although Flori can see his grin from across the street.
Flori takes aim at Inck once again.
We've got more coming on the lake, people! the elf whispers.
Lefty fires Magic Missiles at 3 separate people in the boats, aiming for archers, not rowers. He wants them to know they've been spotted.
Shadow will just guard his master for now.
Flori's second arrow knocks the man down in a pool of blood. Lefty's missiles hit but do little damage to the archers. They shoot back at the barricaded house and lefty isn't sure who they hit, but Shadow remains safe.
The ulfen roars out of hiding, taking on multiple Muckrakers at the same time. His battle axe moves so fast it becomes a blur and for a moment he holds back the entire attacking force.
Two shoot at lefty, spotting him.
One arrow hits, sinking into his shoulder, sending blood down his arm. Two Muckrakers charge his building.
Flori fires at any archer she sees.
Lefty can't miss. He goes downstairs, drawing his rapier, and aims ALL his missiles at one of the Mucks.
He'll look for an ally to flank with.
Flori hasn't moved much, so Shadow stays by her side.
Flori's arrow hits another Muckie but fails to knock him down. Lefty's missiles strike one of those battling the Ulfen but only manages to distract the Muckie, not kill him.
Suddenly a fog bank rolls in, seeming to come from the boats, hiding the entire area from Flori's and Lefty's snipers. She can still hear the battle raging inside the cloud, but is unable to help.
Inside Lefty's building he is confronted with a Muckie. Before he can flank him, the ugly looking half-elf attacks.
He misses and Lefty manages to flank him, for his turn to attack. Flori is confronted with a wall of gray fog. Behind her Rafleck curses, "There goes your plan!"
Nonsense! We just drop the bows and go fight 'em hand-to-hand. Don't lose faith now! Flori says to the balding man.
She draws her falchion and heads down. Come on!
Shadow goes with her.
Lefty goes for the flank attack.
Flori and Shadow plunge into the foggy melee in the square. They soon run into the knot of men fighting around the massive Ulfen. He is covered with slices and bruises but is laughing as he fights.
'About time you come!" he booms to Flori.
She is distracted as a Muckraker runs up to her, splashing up, sword swinging.
The sword slices along Flori's upper arm, drawing a neat red line of blood.
Inside his building Lefty cuts the Muckie but does little other damage. The other townsman though tackles him and they roll into the foggy street, splashing and fighting. For a moment lefty is alone in the building. he can hear battle from all over, including the barricaded houses.
The boats have landed and lefty can see them bobbing empty.
The elf notifies his friends.The reinforcements have landed off the lake. There's a whole lot of them! Move east, out of the fog!
Flori shouts to her allies, Move east! Out of the fog!
She flanks and swings on the Muckie that hit her.
Shadow takes a swing, too.
She then moves 15' to the north side of the long building. Shadow goes a little farther. Go around to the north side of the long building. Hold them off there! she says through the spell to her allies.
The others in the spell heard Lefty, but not Flori. Lefty reiterates. Go to the north side of the long building! Make a stand there!
He heads that way, too, along with whichever allies are near him.
Flori and Shadow kill the Muckraker in front of them, who barely has time to scream. Lefty heads north, giving up the barricaded houses to the lakefront attackers. A few defenders follow him. One of them gasps, "What about Rafleck and Varl? They were in the lakefront houses." Then another asks, 'We just leaving them there?"
Rafleck heard me.
Rafleck?
Flori busts out her wand.
The elf listens for a response, fearing the worst.
After a breif moment he hears the man's voice, 'Trapped in house. Muckies from lake took us by surprise. Some mercenaries came in.....we are trapped!" he sounds on the edge of panic.
Rafleck's trapped at his position. I'm up north. Who's close to Rafleck? Rinan? Halfling?
He and Flori exchange a worried look. She casts Lead Blades on herself.
We have to hold this position. Come to us.
Latharien planned this defense, more or less, knowing it wouldn't be easy. He knew they were savvy.
Get them here, he whispers.
Rinana's thin hungry voice suddenly sounds to Lefty. 'Stuck inside the houses with Rafleck. Thought I was missing the fight so came in with some of the lads. We are holding them out, but I can't get us out. We are out numbered." Suddenly the mercenary grunts loudly and his voice drops to a grunt. 'Could use some help."
Lefty tells Flori about Rinan and Rafleck's situation.
We got them into this. We owe it to them to get them out. Let's go, Flori says, not a trace of doubt in her voice.
She runs back into the fray, attacking the first Muckie that stands in her way.
Shadow attacks the next, tripping him and moving on.
Lefty follows, attempting to clear a path to his fellows to the south by firing missiles of glowing force at the next person in their way.
We're coming to you. Hold on!
They charge into the melee, Flori and Shadow taking out a young, scared looking Muckraker. Lefty showers another with missiles but his magic is off today. It pummels the man but he remains upright.
The fog curls nearby, but not enveloping them. They can see the block of barricaded houses, with Muckrakers running around the base, shooting up at windows and throwing axes. Apparently the fight is still hot there and if they can surprise them from behind....
The trio trudges onward, butchering their way through a sea of humans to rescue their allies.
Flori doesn't flinch, hacking down the next unfortunate to cross her path.
Shadow follows suit.
Lefty flanks with the fierce cat, stabbing at the hapless man.
He misses , but moves past, looking for Rafleck and Renan.
Flori and Shadow are an unstoppable team, taking out Muckraker after another while Lefty dances along side, keeping his eyes open. Peering up he spots Rinan in a high window. the mercenary spots him, waves, and sends an arrow into the mob of men at the base of the building.
Finally the trio, backed up with a dozen or so locals reach the barricaded buildings, with the Muckrakers still focused on taking the houses. For a moment they have the element of surprise on the besiegers.
Lefty spots an archer on the ground, and catches him by surprise.
He keeps moving.
The others actually manage to hurt people.
They keep moving, too.
They make it to the door, although still surrounded by Muckrakers. Things look rather bleak. Although Flori and Shadow are a potent combination, they are still only two fighters. And Lefty still seemed dogged by self-doubt. They look around, facing a building full of violence.
Then off to the west a huge orange flame appears, a rippling burning wall of fire, making the fog bank vanish and the knee deep water sizzle and pop. At the center stands the small halfling wizard, hands up, spewing flame. A dozen Muckrakers turn into charred cinders as the halfling laughs crazily.
The Muckrakers break and run for cover, heading the way they came.
Flori doesn't let up. She and Shadow will still take AoOs, if applicable.
Lefty fires more missiles at a retreating enemy, just because.
They'll then assist in retrieving the wounded and tending to them.
They'll meet with others in the community to determine the next step. Flori thinks they might be in a position to negotiate, maybe bring in some people from the "real" government to see what's really going on.
Lefty's not as optimistic.
Flori, Lefty and Shadow take out a few of the panicked Muckrakers. Only a bare dozen or so make it out alive. The water is full of blood and other less savory body parts.
The halfling however, doesn't stop, throwing fireballs at the houses and building, grinning crazily. Unless stopped....
Rinan appears at the foot of the stairs, looking tired and covered in blood. 'She is going to burn down the whole district!"
Flori runs up and grabs her before she can do more harm. Stop! What's wrong with you?
We should have left you in the jail, Latharien says, disappointed.