Moving to get a better angle on the escaping band members, Rallos palms stealthily draws a dagger....
Sister Zalinsel stays quietly sitted, looking quite indifferent.
Hellknights. I'll just watch.They can handle it.
She pushes her grey cape aside to be able to get easier access to her weapon, if need arises.
The accuser isn’t the same lady as was previously pickpocketed. The woman whose key you retrieved is sat near the entrance and is rummaging around in her skirts, a look of consternation on her face
The first of the thieves to take flight takes one look at Grayface, at the oversized weapon he is wielding and at the cold look in his companion’s eyes…and the fight goes out of him completely. He drops the dagger to the floor and slumps down on a nearby bench…
The other three band members make it to the back of the room, clearly intent on escaping through the door behind the bar, whilst two of the heavily clad Hellknights pursue them…
Rallos throws a dagger at the closest fleeing thief.
not sure if sneak attack is on, but rolled it just in case
To the pacified musician, "Smart boy. Now kick that dagger on the floor away from you, and don't make another move."
Grayface would not blink. He knew this wasn't over yet. Best to keep up the intimidating glare to keep him cowed.
A blade is thrown at the trailing runner…it catches him between the shoulder blades and, with a cry, he drops to the floor…scrabbling to shelter behind a nearby chair.
Following Gray’s command, the first thief to run dejectedly kicks his crude dagger towards Emerald...moments before a black-mailed fist clamps down upon his shoulder...”Don’t think about trying to run again…we’ll have you all rounded up in a moment...and then it’s a night in chains for you”. The other thief looks up from his hiding place behind the chair to see a second knight looming above him…
The remaining two thieves crash through the door behind the bar…there is the sound of metal and glass falling to the floor as they try to make their escape…
The stunned silence that had befallen the bar dissipates as people start realising what has happened and demand their purses back…
”SILENCE!!!! The Order of the Pike will return your property on the morrow when we pass judgement on these strangers…assemble at the Gate before Nine of the Morning…and see how we deal with those who step outside the law in Fort Inevitable”
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Rallos walks over to the fallen thief and removes the blade from his back, wiping it off on the man's pants.
Glad I could be of service.
"Why do I get the feeling this will not end well for those men?" whispers Yasmin to her tablemates.
Once the hellknights leave, she approaches the woman whose keys she retrieved. "Lucky for you, you don't have to go to the gate tomorrow. I have the key they stole right here." She'll hand the key over and introduce herself. "What will happen to those thieves?"
-Posted with Wayfinder
Grayface sheathes his bastard sword once the Hellknights seem to have things under control. He looks to the other man, the one who so deftly put a dagger into the fleeing thief's back from across the room...
"Impressive." Gray gives the man a stiff smile. "I am called Grayface." The warrior then turns and opens his hand toward Emerald standing next to him, "This is Em." He then points to cleric at the bar, "and that is our new friend, Sister Zalinsel."
"What do they call you?" he said to the cloaked stranger. "One with your quick reactions could be useful in a fight. You should come with us to the Spire tomorrow morning, if you have the stones."
Greetings....my name is Rallos. Thank you...it seems like you scared the fight out of that one. Em, pleased to make your acquaintance. I was going to inquire about employment, so the more the merrier.
"I've been meaning to head there for a long time, just never managed to get a team together."
Well, I think the three of us makes a decent core. Shall we sit and have and get to know each other a little better?
After handling her affairs with the customer, Yasmin heads over to the two warriors that put a stop to the thieves. She forces herself to smile at the scarred-faced warrior and the demonic creature. After all, how could she expect adventurers to be of the normal sort. "Hail fine folk. I'm impressed with how easily you stopped those thieves. Much better than those blustering Hellknights, as a matter of fact. Are you heading into the Emerald Spire? There are two scholars who went into there and have not been heard from since. They may be in peril!" Yasmin waits a moment, withholding any mention of reward. If they were the sort to stop thieves, they might also be willing to save lost scholars without a fee.
Hmm...a cause and adventure at the same time? My, things might be looking up for once....
"It is settled then. The five of us will depart on the morning. I hope someone knows the way to this spire.
I want to see the hellknights' display tomorrow before we leave. I want to see this land's laws on display, and I want to inquire about any bounties before we leave. There is no sense in turning down easy coin."
Easy coin is the best coin....
Answering Rallos
Life isn't cheap, but Death is free.
Dragged to his feet, the injured thief is manacled to the first of the thieves and then led from the bar. With the Hellknights departed, there is a spontaneous round of applause as the victims of the band show their appreciation for how you apprehended the criminals. A round of drinks is brought to your table, words of gratitude are uttered and, when the hour for sleeping finally arrives, the innkeeper makes it very clear that you need not worry about paying for your lodging tonight.
After a good night's rest, the morning arrives...a grey mist shrouds the Fort...yesterday's snow has frozen rendering the road and paths treacherously slippery. The temperature has risen slightly so that huddled against the rest of the crowd at the Gate Market, it isn't as cold as it might have been. Approaching the crowd, you can see that their attention is on a platform at the northern end of the market. There, flanked by black armoured Hellknights stand the two thieves of the night before. A silence washes across the crowd as a woman climbs the platform and addresses the crowd, also dressed in the black garb of a Hellknight, this tall imposing woman clearly holds a position of power...and knows it.
"Last Night, the Order of the Pike apprehended these two in the course of robbery at the Juliver Arms...they have admitted to those crimes and to more besides...they have confessed to membership of the Splinters of Echo Wood...the brigands who waylay the caravans that trade with us, who steal our crops, who steal from our homes....", she lets the words hang in the air whilst murmurs of retribution echo around the square. "For these crimes, there is but one sentence...they shall be hung and their bodies left for carrion...a warning to those who would challenge the law of this land...Our land...sentence has been passed and, in due course, a time of execution will be announced"
"Let it be known that the Order of the Pike knows where this illegal guild is based and that a bounty is offered for their leader, Tarrin Dars. Those brave and skilled enough should come to the Citadel to discuss the bounty with myself"
During the woman's speech, Rallos looks about the crowd...trying to see if the second pair from the night before show up..
if any are spotted, rallos will move to shadow them....sneakily of course...
Rallos: Looking around and moving through the crowd, there is no sign of either of the other two thieves.
The ugly warrior is used to parting crowds with ease due to his size and scarred visage, and this time was no different. After the woman-knight's speech ended, Grayface made for the platform she stood upon. The commonfolk made way for him.
"Hail. I would hear more of your bounty on this Tarrin Dars. Tell me of him, this band he runs with, their location, and any other information that will be be helpful in retrieving his head."
Emerald follows in the wake of Gray, though she inwardly cringes at drawing the attention of the Hellknights.
Clearly taken aback at Gray's approach, the Hellknight woman replies, "Pray tell, what makes you think that Tarrin Dars is a man? Our intelligence would suggest that Tarrin is a woman..., she fixes Gray with a look that clearly suggests intelligence is something that he is not overly blessed with...
"Still...you look like you know how to handle a sword, Emerald knows where the Citadel is...I suggest she brings you to my offices within the next hour...I would rather continue this discussion in private", and with that, she turns and, with her retinue of guards, marches eastwards along Juliver Way.
The Citadel is home to Lady Commander Audara Drovust, as well as 40 Hellknights of the Order of the Pike and a number of servants. In addition to living quarters, it is rumoured that it houses kitchens, a banquet hall, offices for town officials, a small chapel, extensive cellars for food storage, a well, and dungeons for holding prisoners of special interest to the lady commander.
she fixes Gray with a look that clearly suggests intelligence is something that he is not overly blessed with...
The warrior harrumphs and turns a shade of maroon. "Indeed."
Gray looks to his new companions, and then to Emerald. "In private then. We must know more of this bandit woman."
This might get interesting.....a woman leading a band of brigands? That is something not heard of too often. I think we must hear all we can about this bandit queen...
"Thank you, Lady Iliara. I bid you safe travels." Yasmin takes the parchment; however her attention seems transfixed by the prisoners before her. "Doesn't seem like the work of brigands, to go openly into an inn to steal." She looks at the thieves and Hellknights to see if the confession seems genuine or coerced. .
"You underestimate women at your peril, Rallos." As the crowd disperses, her attention returns to the parchment from Iliara, and she reads it.
Pardon my bad choice of words....I did not mean it like that. I meant that it is unusual for a woman to be in charge of a bunch of brigands. It tends to be a more of a patriarchal society. and yes, it is unusual for brigands to make a play at an inn...very unlike them, unless they are new...almost against their usual conduct. Maybe they were going rogue....no pun intended...
Rallos smiles a very fiendish smile at that last comment.
Ea keeps silent and thoughful
I just hope the hanged thieves will stay dead after their punishment.. It won't be under the Hellkights to animate their bodies to frighten potential wrongdoers...
"Come on, lets go, perhaps have a quick drink and then I'll show you the way to the Citadel."
Opening the parchment from Iliara Starcloak, there is a brief note stating: Friend, what I write here is to be held in confidence, my colleagues Jharun and Tiawask were researching the arcane nature of portals in the region of the Emerald Spire. I fear that their research has, despite my warnings, led them into the Spire…in which case they are in mortal danger. Any help that you can provide my order, either with confirming that they did enter the spire or, by some good fortune, finding and rescuing them…will be rewarded with the utmost gratitude…May Nethys watch over you...and guide your hand”. The parchment is signed, Iliara Starcloak.
The Commander’s Citadel is an imposing structure, standing more than ninety feet tall in the southern wall of the Fort. With the snow and the white walls of the fortification, there is a very monochromatic, cold ambience to the place. Crunching up the path to the entrance, your way is blocked by two Hellknights; once they hear that you wish to discuss the bounty on Tarrin Dars, they size you up…clearly assessing whether you are up to the task, and then stand aside. As you open the doors into the building, you can clearly hear a stifled laugh from one of the guards.
The doors open into a large vestibule, several guards are going about their business and one, acknowledging your entrance directs you to the offices of the Lady Commander. Her chambers, directly off of the Vestibule are open and, seeing your arrival, she bids you enter. Her manner remains as formal as it was in the Gate market, ”You wish to pursue the bounty on Tarrin Dars? Very well…It is well known that our Order remains understrength...and is stretched thin enough merely protecting the local environs…I am not so proud as to avoid asking a third party to solve our ‘shared’ problem…the bounty for the leader of the outlaws stands at 1000 Gold, payable upon bringing Tarrin Dars back to Fort Inevitable to answer for her crimes. She must stand accountable for her crimes…and an example made”.
”The confessions from our captives confirmed what we already suspected, Tarrin and her gang are holed up in the Spire…quite how she has gained entry and made it secure is anyone’s guess…little matter though, it does at least make her easy to locate”, she looks at Emerald, and rhetorically asks, ”You, of course, know where the Emerald Spire is?”
The Lady Commander takes another look at you, and appears to consider something before shaking her head and warning you that the woods around the Spire have become perilously infested with dangerous creatures of late. ”Now, do you have any questions? I would have this problem resolved as soon as possible…”
"She must be brought back alive then?
Do you know any more of her?
What is her weapon of choice?
Does she lead through fear or love?
Do you have any idea how many thieves accompany her?"
As soon as these questions are answered, Grayface looks to his companions.
"To the Spire then?"
Does she have to be brought back alive? Just asking as a matter of expediency. I know you would like to make an example of her, but do you not think that her minions might want to break her out if she is captured? I don't know how audacious they are....but, you never know....
”I would have her brought back to the Fort to answer for her crimes…a public condemnation would be so much more reassuring to the traders who hesitate to risk the roads than a rumour of her death…if something does go wrong though, a reduced bounty may be payable.”, answering Gray, ”We know that her gang has been growing in strength and boldness over the last few months…yesterday was the first time they have dared to operate within our walls though…as to Tarrin herself, not much is known…mainly rumours, which I would treat with caution, but some say that she is a sorceress, that she bewitched her gang and forces them to do her bidding…the more outlandish rumours suggest that she isn’t human at all…like I say though, rumours…”
”As to the size of her gang….growing by the week it seems but I would think, from their modus operandi and the range over which they operate, some twenty or so criminals”
Turning to Rallos, ”Tarrin will not be long at Fort Inevitable…she will hang within a day of arrival…precious little time for a rescue attempt”
"You don't think we're ready for this, do you?" says Yasmin, as the Lady Commander hesitates. "Let me remind you that we're the ones who caught those two thieves - your Hellknights let the other two get away." Yasmin pauses for a moment to let the statement sink in. "Since you no doubt have access to an armory, might I suggest allowing us to borrow some weapons and armor? We'll have no trouble taking down Tarrin Dars when properly equipped, and you can deduct the cost from our reward when we succeed."
So...20 or more against the 5 of us....sounds like an adventure! Would you happen to have a set of manacles and hobbles? I seem to have forgotten mine somewhere...
Rallos flashes his teeth in a wicked smile.
"I think I can remember the way, yes" Emerald mentions hesitantly.
The Hellknights make her nervous, she's never broken the law, but still...
Let's try not to fight the twenty thieves in one bout. If we manage to get their chief, they will probably disband or fight among themeselves to find a new leader.
If the Lady Commander is insulted by Yasmin's observation as to who really apprehended last night's thieves, she doesn't show it, "Whether you are truly ready for this is not really my concern...if you succeed, we all benefit, if you fail...well, someone else will, no doubt, seek the bounty that I offer...but I bear you no ill will and, as a sign of my good faith, you may equip yourself with a weapon from our Armoury", turning to Rallos, "...and a set of sturdy shackles".
"As to Armour, it takes years of training and devotion to earn the garb of a Hellknight...you could do worse than asking at Rillin's if you are looking for Armour...his shop is just off Juliver Way at the Victory Fountain"
"A word of warning...it won't be just Tarrin and her band that you find at the Spire...you will encounter other dangers along the way...many have tried to explore the ruin in years gone past, few have returned..."
"I have much to attend to, do you have any further questions...or requests? If not then I bid you farewell. The next time we meet, I hope that you bring me Tarrin...in chains"
It is clear that, as far as the Lady Commander is concerned, this meeting has come to an end.
{b] Excellent...good shackles are hard to come by. [/b]
Emerald is happy to leave the Lady Commander's office.
Once outside she'll speak with the others "I'm pretty familiar with the route to the spire, even with the snow it shouldn't take more than four hours by foot. It's a fair well travelled route - tourists like to go and take a look, though few dare try to enter."
"As for gear, I don't think I really need anything, maybe a few more waterskins, don't know how easy it will be to resupply once we're in there?"
I'm ready to leave for the Spire.
"Thank you, commander. We will succeed."
Yasmin grabs a net from the armory. "Shall we go?"
-Posted with Wayfinder
I don't think I may need anything. Unless we can pool some ressources and buy an healing kit, which may be useful for those who aren't too much keen on dying....
I don't think I may need anything. Unless we can pool some ressources and buy an healing kit, which may be useful for those who aren't too much keen on dying....
Good call. I pledge up to 20g toward a healers kit, unless everyone has the spare cash to kick in an equal share.
That's a good idea. I'll contribute to that instead of the net.
8gp donated towards the kit...its all I got...
I can throw 25gp into the kitty, if you like.
Ea silently puts her 20 gold pieces on the table
I propose we buy one Healer's kit and one flask of Alchemist's fire, maybe a sunrod if we can find some.That could be useful. Does everyone has enough to eat and drink on the road? Anything useful you can think of?
Yasmin chips in 37 gp to the kitty, making the total 110gp.