Once you have all acquired sufficient gear, you join Tairas in waiting for Jallant, the head of this sect to return. You will notice that Tairas only has ten men left in the whole base. "He should be back soon."Tairas points out.
You all wait for a good hour before Jallant and two other men return with him. Jallant is a tall attractive middle aged man. His dark hair is finely comb and his beard is also trim and well groomed. His dark eyes survey the room where Tairas and his men are ready to welcome him. Two men are with Jallant. They look around at the mutineers with anger but Jallant's gaze is simply, and calmly, fixed on Tairas.
Tairas approaches Jallant and points a sword at him. "Good to see you old buddy. You made quite a slip up today." Tairas asks.
Jallant speaks with an eerie calm. "I wonder, Tairas, how do you plan to explain this to the collective." Jallant simply stares at the man.
Tairas chuckles and pulls out a document. "Well it just so happens I have a letter stating that you plan to leave the collective to join another organization." With a smug grin.
Jallant narrows his eyes. "I am surprised that you managed to find that document, I never figured you for being that capable."
Tairas looked surprised, shocked even. "Wait, what? You were actually planning to leave?"
Jallant chuckles. "Yes I was but that fabricated document isn't the real thing. I'm not going to tell you who I am in league with either." Jallant looks passed the confused Tairas and then at the rest of you. "They aren't part of your traditional bunch of goons. They look more like those six special prisoners the king and his advisors completely had been hunting for and finally managed to arrest."
At that Tairas stares at the six of you in utter astonishment, he turns back. "Your lying! They can't be the the malevolents, it's impossible. Those are just a normal bunch of ruffians, like any other. They are my lapdogs now. And your days are numbered."
Jallant simply just looks at you. "I could use a hand in dealing with this traitor. You seem able enough and I am sure you have many questions. Some of which I can answer, but only if I live."
Tairas cries out. "Those are my men! You die!" Tairas lunges at Jallant but the man nimbly avoids the attack and drawas his weapon. Suddenly a full fight has broken out. Jallant's two escorts are proving to be quite the challenge for Tairas's goons and Tairas himself is in danger against the far superior Jallant.
You have to choices and little time to confer with each other. You will need to make a choice and trust that your fellows are with you. Your choices are:
Tairas: He has promised you jobs within the Collective
Jallant: Seems to know of you and has promised you some answers to questions you may have.
There is also the choice to stay out of the fight and see what happens
Once you have chosen, Roll initiatives and make your first and second round actions. Enjoy.
Initiative :
Round 1
Jarcal yells to the others, "I've no intention of becoming Tairas' lackey, do any of you?"
He then casts a quick incantation towards Tairas, causing his weapon to become slick and hard to hold.
If Tairas drops his sword Jarcal will call to him, "Tell your men to stand down Tairas and I'll make sure all of you live!
Diplomacy :
Round 2
If Tairas and his men refuse to surrender, Jarcal draws an arrow from his back and lets loose on the nearest of Tairas' guards while falling back to the nearest wall, away from the direct fighting.
"Should have listened to me Captain, could have saved a lot of lives..."
Longbow :
Damage :
Crit Confirmation :
Crit damage :
Lady Vorannia narrows her eyes at Jailant.
"Was it you who had my sister killed?"
Initiative:
(If there is ample space and the enemy lackeys have moved forward to combat Jallant's lackeys, leaving Tairas vulnerable from the back.)
She expands to large size, hefting her sledgehammer over her head and charging at Tairas. (Since she is not known to be a combatant and she is a new combatant entering the fray, I think that opponents are flatfooted against her and unable to react? If not, she charges if she only triggers at most one AoO) Jen calls out to Tairas. Say Ruffian again, for me. She begins flanking him in the process with Jallant.
Attack Roll:
Damage Roll:
Crit Confirm:
(Or if there is no way to get near the person)
Jen quietly casts bless at the edge of battle, giving her party members and Jallant's fellows extra courage (+1 to attack rolls and saves against fear).
If there was no space to get near the person last round, she does the same thing this round.
If there was space and she managed to get the attack off last round, then she dons her shield and withdraws to the edge of the room.
In the span of the few seconds it took for the conversation to play out between Tairas and Jallant, an internal struggle danced across Baguta's face. By the end of the conversation, however, his emotionless facade returned.
As the time to make a choice becomes clear, Baguta draws his falchion and stands beside Megan, begins to set for a charge right at Jallant's men and...
...swings the sword down hard to Megan's chest.
"Don't take it personal, you are just in the way."
With a subtle flourish, a passing shadow, a flicker of the lights, Baguta seems to vanish from sight, as if he was never there.
"One day I will be free! Not a lapdog or prisoner!"
"No clean hands on this battle, Jarcal."
Baguta directs his attention (but not his eyes) to the Lady Krellin. "Won't get answers that way. Best to leave him alive to ask later. Jallant knows more than Tairas, and has more power." the fact seemed simple to Baguta, he just shrugs and dodges a swipe from one of Tairas' loyals. He adjusts his position in an attempt to flank, and returns the stroke.
Lady Vorannia narrows her eyes at Jailant.
"Was it you who had my sister killed?"
@Veronnia
While Jallant is battling with Tairas and the others join the frey, he calls out to you. "I know what happened to your family. Tairas has no idea."
Tairas snarls "I do too, they're a bunch of blood sucking vampires!"
@Jen
Round 1
Lady Vorannia walks up behind Tairas and with a few whispered words of power calls the familiar ice cold blue flames to her hands.
casting chill touch
Round 2
Vorannia's hands still glow with blue flame, so she targets Tairas or another enemy.
Initiative
Round 1
"I hope for your sake you actually can answer our questions," Leon shouts at Jallant as he charges into the fray with bastard sword and shield drawn.
Attack (Power Attack, Charge)
Damage
Round 2
Continuing the attack, Leon tries to mow down as many of Tairas' lackeys as possible.
Attack (power attack)
Damage
After much battling the three remaining lacky's of Tairas flee.
Leon accidentally charges in and hits one of Jallant's guards by mistake.
Jallant's guards both died at the hands of Jallant's men....and Leon.
Leon makes up for it by turning about quickly and cutting down the right foe this time.
Between Jen and Jallant, Tairas is a nice squishy paste on the floor.
After a brief duel, Baguta had manages to take down Megan
Jarcal had intended to put a nice whole in Tairas but Jen beat him to the punch, however, his arrow found another target right between the eyes. One of Tairas's men fall.
Veronnia was annoyed by the confusion but determined to get answers she moves to aid Jallant. Misses her spell at first but succeeds in stopping another villian and Jallant runs the man through.
Tars also moves in and pummels a villain to death and attempts to attack another but fails.
The Battle is over
Total outcome.
6 of Tairas's men are dead leaving four. Those four, seeing their loss, run like the blazes out of the lair
Both of Jallant's guards are dead.
All that is left are nine corpses, you six, and your prisoner, so to speak, Jallant.
Jallant looks at you with the same strange calm. "So you actually helped be. I honestly wasn't expecting that. As your reward, I will answer what questions I can. I am sure you have plenty. Then, I will leave my fate in your hands."
Jarcal moves forward, putting a hand on the man's shoulder and looking him in the eye, "Unless you attempt to betray us in some fashion I promise that you have nothing to fear from us."
He turns to the others, "I assume none of you will cause me to break that promise?"
Why were we captured and put in this specific place, of all places, and why did the mysterious man rescue us?
"What word do you have of my mother and father, the Holloway family? They're of noble blood, but I fear for their safety because of my incarceration."
"If the underground is this chaotic, I can only imagine how chaotic things are up there. What's been going on?"
"What will the fate of this cell of the collective be? What will you do now?"
Jallant starts to search through Tairas's body. "You all were arrested for false charges. Simply put, the king and his advisors feared you. I don't know why. Our informants say that the king received a visitor who warned him that you were a threat. The only people who know what caused the king to hunt you down down are the advisors and the Whispered Word."
He gets up after recovering something from Tairas's person. He looks at the party "I do not know who the man is that you speak of." He then looks at Leon and then at all the others. "I have bad news for you all. All of your families are in shambles. Those who could be were arrested and executed very quickly as conspirators in one of the most dangerous rebellions currently happening in Borallas. Total crap if you ask me. But things have gone badly for sure." He looks straight at Leon. "Your father sacrificed himself for your mother. I do not know where your mother is as of right now, though you home is still intact you may want to visit the place." He then looks at Veronnia. "Things are bad topside. The king and his entire family are dead. The Stewart and the advisors have intensified the law around the Borallas capitol so anyone who isn't a strong supporter of the new regime has a real hard time. The governors of each city have formed a very loose alliance against the Stewart and the orcs. Though they still aim to one up one another. It wont be long before their allegiance degrades and falls apart, and the orcs over take and slay us all." Jallant then looks around the room. "The collective will send an executive by soon to clean up this mess and restore this cell to it's original functions. A disposal ground for their enemies. I am no longer a member and now I am hunted. If you have any other questions please ask, I need to disappear. That is" He turns and looks at Veronnia. "You don't kill me, you do have the right after all." He seems to be waiting.
Vorannia arches an eyebrow at him. "Why do I have the right?"
I have read from many histories passed down through the church that clerics were frequently the target of persecution by powerful regimes. Though I have never heard of an instance where Erastil's faithful were persecuted...this government, it must be evil and it must be destroyed.
"Why do you know so much about us? Who would want us to escape? What is the Whispered Word? Who is running this new regime, and how can we avoid it?"
Jarcal looks sick to his stomach,"You seem to have been keeping tabs on the fates of our families, why? Do you know anything of my family? Have my sisters managed to avoid arrest?" Jarcal sighs and grimaces slightly, "What of my parents?"
Jallant straightens up getting ready to speak tough news. He first looks to Veronnia. "I gave the order to have your sister killed. I will tell you why but I do not expect that to save me from your wrath. Vervont is a Collective insider who told us that the Krellin family had turned to vampirism. We didn't believe it from the government but Vervont is a reputable informant who worked for your family and he was convinced. After I received the head, I knew she was not a vampire. Regardless I still turned the head in and then Vervont took the money and ran. He was the one who captured her and brought her here. That said, I would not be surprised if you took it out on me."
He then looks at Baguta. Then at the rest of you. "We in the Collective have a large information network and we watch things that are particularly important. For some reason your capture was important according to our informants in the castle. So much so that they have already got bounties out for your recapture. They must really fear something about you six and I don't think it has anything to do with what deity you serve. As for who would want you out, I can think of a few sources. First there are the rebels of course, anything the kingdom fears is an advantage to them. The city governors are still looking for an edge, maybe it was them. The old man you described reminds me of the Elgians, a bunch of gypsies who have several guilds and bases in the kingdom. The nothing but a bunch of street performers, whores, and fortune tellers. They used to run the Silver Slipper and Mithrial mug and similar places before the hunt for you all began. Now those two places are warehouses. The Elgians are a large group but very overlooked as they do not get involved in real crimes or politics. Rumor says it may have been one of them who visited the king. And even though the king is dead, The Stewart still seems to fear you, even more than the king it seems. He will have guards hunting you everywhere. Your probably safest outside of the capitol. You may want to join one of the governors, an underground organization, or the rebellion for additional protection. As for the Whispering Words. They are like our rivals only they deal in secrets. Odds are, they know more about us than we do of them. This is bad for the Collective as the Whispering Words could be our demise. Though I'm no longer in a position to really. The Whispering Words are said to trade only in information but rumor has it that they also deal in assassination and other such underhanded work. They are a dangerous group to be sure."
Jallant then looks at Jarcal and lets out a heavy sigh. "Your parents are both dead. Last report was that your sisters joined the Elgians for safety but I do not know where they are now. Your estate still stands. They have not bothered to do anything with it. It seems as though any threat that you six pose comes from you or your families, nothing you possess. They are on the hunt for you all."
He looks back at Veronnia. "Your family estate also still stands unhampered which is really strange for a vampire hunt. Often times, people raid the homes of vampires looking for treasures or things of unholy nature to destroy. Stranger still, all of you who have noble families, your estates seem to be intact.....if a bit under kept. You could even return to them to get things. It is also possible the regime wont look for you there, they haven't entered them since they drove your families out."
Jallant looks ready. "Is there anything else you want to know?"
Jarcal winces slightly at the news of his parent's death but keeps his reaction minimal, the news of his sisters makes him smile, "I'm glad at least some of my family survived."
Sighing, Jarcal turns to the group, "It would seem we have missed much during our incarceration. I think our first priority should be to visit our family estates and see what we can recover from them? Perhaps I can even retrieve my grandfather's bow? Next we need to find aid, I think our best bet would be to locate the Elgians, if Jallant is correct they may be responsible for our freedom. What say each of you?"
He turns to Jallant again, "Do you know where the nearest guild or outpost of the Elgians is? How would we best approach them?"
Lastly Jarcal addresses Vorannia, "It would seem that this man has a lot to answer for and seems content to leave his life in your hands but I urge you to spare him. He has done us all a great service in answering our questions and I for one would like to avoid any unnecessary loss of life."
Leon is stunned by the news of his father. "Dead?" he asks nobody in particular, and then dismisses himself from the group to be alone for a few moments. He listens to Jallant answer the others' questions without saying speaking or expressing much emotion, and when he finishes Leon steps forward again.
"Yes, I must get to my estate and search for clues as to where my mother may have gone. If she is alive, I must find her and make sure she is safe: if my father sacrificed his life to save her, I will make sure he did not do so in vain." He breathes heavily, then continues, "And then I will seek my revenge. You are all welcome to join me, but when the time comes I will pit my sword against the evil men who unjustly took our families away. I will join the rebellion and see this land to a new era, and if they can't accomplish that then I'll find someone who can. Or do it myself."
Vorannia narrows her eyes as she considers Jallant's words.
"I will not kill you, but do not be surprised if I call upon you to answer for your crime in some other way. Do not be hasty to believe the lies that others tell you, even if you are afraid they might be true. It is this Vervont who interests me now, he will pay for his crime and betrayal against the Krellins. Oh yes... a slow, agonizing, and painful death."
Of course, he will first have to tried under a proper and lawful authority, Jen quickly adds.
We are not murderers and we cannot kill in the absence of self-defence and necessity. Killing him slowly and painfully would be worse than what he has done to you, and the powers above would judge you accordingly. While she says this, she motions upwards at the heavens.
Jarcal looks at Jen worry in his eyes, "From what Jallant says, there may not be a proper court left to present the man to. I fear the decision over what is just my fall to us for immediate future..."
The Baron sits back and listens to exchange of questions, he drinks his wine and thanks Cayden that he can enjoy the drink once again. As the questions are answered he starts thinking of secerts of his past, as he hears the news about the slipper and mug he drops his wineskin in shock.
"Warehouses!?! Who dares take two of Borallas's treasures and turns them into storage houses!?!"
He starts to pace around in worry, then he stops and picks up the wineskin and offers it an apology. He starts to calm down and leans againist the wall and says,
"I might have an idea where to find the Elgians, I know how they think."
Jallant nods to each of them. He turns first to Veronnia. "I do not like begging for my life but I don't want to die either. I am grateful for your decision."
He turns to the others. "If the Elgians are who you will be seeking for the time being, you can find them almost anywhere. Just look for colorful brothels or pubs to Cayden or Callistria and any fortune tellers or street performers you can find. They also own several theatrical establishments."
He shoulders his pack and nods to the group. "I recommend you leave soon. The collective will send clean up agents here soon and they are very efficient. Best to disappear before they show. Now, if there are no further questions, I need to get going."
You know of one particular Immoral showplace in Corallas that your home seemed to have close ties too. In fact you've met the guy who runs the place. His name is Ser Issac Beuton. He was a good friend to your familiy and he had a really nice place.
Perhaps we should stick with the more reputable theatrical establishments and street performers. I fear that I might have the urge to convert the heathens frequenting the brothels...or smash them over the head.
Shall we be off?
"Yes, let's make ourselves scarce." Leon checks his things, making sure he has everything, and heads for the exit. Before entering the daylight, however, he stops the group and says, "I still have these disguise kits from that first body we found. Maybe some of the more reputable of us should make use of them, in case we are spotted and recognized once we're out in the city?"
Leon, at least, uses one of the kits to slightly alter his appearance, trying to add a scar to the side of his face that would obstruct any recognition of him.
Untrained Diguise (+2 disguise kit, +5 minor details only)
"Oh.. wait a moment. I need to find something else."
Vorannia returns to the storage room to find something to protect her from sunlight. She finds a dark veil and puts it over her head.
Jarcal holds up a hand as Leon begins applying his disguise, "Hold good sir! Now we are in my realm, my youth spent on the stage shall aid us greatly here. Allow me to apply that for you, it takes a skilled hand to craft a scar that will bend properly with one's face. If any others of our group wish to hide their identity out their, just let me know how you would like to look?"
Disguise :
"K, mate I could use some help diquising myself as well. Plenty of people know me hehe." He responds to Jarcal.
Also in between that he will quickly find a long sleeved tunic and leather gloves to hide his tatoos.
Baguta tries to give Jarcal a few pointers on believable scars, using his own as reference . "No doubt we will ALL need some form of disguising. If you all recall, we are wanted for who knows what. Best we lay low. Not attract attention." Baguta begins looking for a large hooded cloak, also to hide from the light of day. "Let'sgo."
Once the disguises are completed , Jarcal turns back to Jallant, "Where are we in the city exactly? Which of our estates is the closest to here?"
Jallant finishes his packing and turns to the group. He gestures down the hallway. "Okay, time is short and I need to go. If you are not going to kill me then I a thank you for that and wish you well. A warning, you don't want to be here when the clean up crew arrives." With that Jallant heads down the hallway and up a flight of stairs and is gone."
You all have some time to set up decent disguises before you are ready to head out. If you want to loot the bodies before you go, there his is the loot.
Tairas=
Masterwork Longsword
Silver Masterwork Shortsword
Hand Crossbow w/34 bolts
2 Daggers
Masterwork chainmail shirt
Megan The Dwarf=
Masterwork Hand axe
Masterwork EarthBreaker
6 Throwing Axes
Master work Scale Mail
Tairas's men(All)=
3 Longswords
2 Hand Axes
Rapier
3 Crossbow w/63 bolts
5 Daggers
2 Swtichblades
3 Leather armors
2 Studded leather
Chain Shirt
Jallant's men=
1 Masterwork Katana
1 Masterwork Longsword
1 Masterwork Shortbow
1 Hand Crossbow w/ 16 bolts
1 Masterwork Wakazashi
1 Masterwork Handaxe
2 Daggers
Masterwork Scale Mail
Masterwork Scale Mail
Total Money: 362GP 1305SP
Once you guys are disguised and gathered what you want, please make your way to the exit. There you will enter a vacant cleaning store in Borallas residential district. The streets outside seem to bustling with people and guards.
Once the disguises are all set, Jarcal looks over the bodies for the most valuable equipment and then heads to the empty store outside. Looking around he moves to the window quickly and looks around for landmarks to tell him where they are and how close the nearest of his companions estates is?
Knowledge (local) :
Leon first inspects the shortsword on Tairas' corpse, then the armor. "These exquisite items, the chain shirt and this silver short sword, are the only things of this mess that spark my interest. Does anyone else want one or the other?"
In the abandoned shop, Leon whispers to his companions "It's like nothing changed. People just continuing on with their lives right above us all along. I wonder in which part of the city we've come out?"
As they get up to the shop, he'll take a peek up top.
"I wonder how big the dungeons expand, so whats our first stop? I believe the elgian I know will be in Corallas so once were done in here we should head over there."
With the dark veil over her head, Vorannia looks like a mourning widow. Her features are well hidden by the veil. She uses a bit of the makeup from a disguise kit to add some stage wrinkles to her face. They probably would not stand up to close inspection, but through the veil she should be fine.
"Friends, how should we conduct ourselves for the next bit of time? Nearly all of us have families or friends to contact and homes to visit, should we call on each one by one as a group, or separate for now and reunite tomorrow somewhere? Maybe we should split into two groups, so nobody is left alone for too long, but we could cover more ground that way."
"I think we should stay as a group until we know for certain what is going on in the cities. Is it general chaos out here, are there patrols searching for us? These are important things to know before we go off on our own. Eventually, though, that should be our goal."
You recognize that you are in the "slums" of the Borallas Core city. This is only the area furthest south of the castle but still within the Core city. You are able to deduce that with four hours of travel to the northwest, you will get to Corallas the Artisan and entertainment City. About a good two hours or so and you will be back at the castle.
Your home is a good ten to twelve hours from here in Torallas. Your family estate is set up in the North residential district along the wall. It was suppose to be a safe and comfortable place to live.
Ser Issac Beuton's place is about five to six hours hike from this location in Corallas. Also you old home is in the red lantern district in Torallas, a good ten hours from here.
If I am correct, your home is in the Jorallas noble district. which is about a 20 to 24 hour trip from here. Better put yer hikin boots on ma lady.
The nearest church to Elrastil is in Gorallas about a good sixteen hours away, if that is where you were interested in heading.
Your home is in Borallas about four hours northwest of this location
Jarcal nods at Vorannia's words, "I agree, each of you have proven yourselves more than capable. I for one wouldn't like to run into a contingent of the steward's guards or those responsible for framing us without you all at my side."
He stares out the window casually at the crowds in the street, "We appear to be in the core city, in the southernmost slums it smells like. My family has their estates in Torallas, at least ten hours from here. Does anyone live a little closer? I'd feel better if we were able to stay somewhere secure and out of the public's eye for tonight. Plus, the sooner we can drop some of this equipment off in storage, the better."
She thanks Jarcal for the news. "That at least gives me a general idea of where I am. Quite some distance from my home."
Upon emerging into the filthy city streets, Baguta turns to everyone else. "I want to leave you all to your noble house drama. But it seems fate is not done with me yet. I need answers, and we are all a part of this. So be it."
At Jarcal's 'smell' comment, Baguta lifts his nose to the air.
"Indeed. I think I know a place that is close. We can sell stuff at a decent price, no questions..." Baguta seems reluctant in giving this information.
"But if we can avoid that area, we should."
