Al scratches his head, his head just a little foggy, although he couldn't help but smile a bit at Circe's reaction to his appearance. He didn't catch everything that she said, because of the torrent of words and the way that she bounced. But he nodded like he understood.
"I didn't get a message or anything unusual really. Just people following me home, which usually happens after I bloody someone's nose. What happened to you guys?"
Akydi cries out in pain, then shakes his head at his attacker "Now that was just down right rude." He says, then fires off a blast of swirling colors at the man
Akydi cries out in pain, then shakes his head at his attacker "Now that was just down right rude." He says, then fires off a blast of swirling colors at the man
The man drops his knife and sway's drunkardly.
The knife has an odd blade. It's straight on one side and curved on the other. The hilt and handle are ornate and expensive, but you'll have to examine it closer for more details.
You are bleeding fairly profusely. You have at least one round to act before his stun wears off. Use it wisely.
A stunned creature drops everything held, can't take actions, takes a –2 penalty to AC, and loses its Dexterity bonus to AC (if any).
Attackers receive a +4 bonus on attack rolls to perform combat maneuvers against a stunned opponent
Circe perches back on the edge of Al's bed and looks over at Dash and Lorth. "Did you have guys have people following you? Was that all they were doing or did anyone actually attack either of you? And for goodness sakes, why would anyone bother with us? I mean, this goes way, way beyond the occasional prank and rude comments that I usually get.
Aky takes a moment to ponder his options, most of which involve potentially killing the man, or not being effective enough. He decides flight is best. Taking a moment to wrap his wound, he picks up the dagger and runs down the street back to the dorms.
Street / dormroom
Aky takes a moment to ponder his options, most of which involve potentially killing the man, or not being effective enough. He decides flight is best. Taking a moment to wrap his wound, he picks up the dagger and runs down the street back to the dorms.
Aky grabs the dagger and holds his side as he runs back to the dorms. Aky can stay ahead of his attacker if he runs. You make it to your dorm room.
Upon entering the room those present see dark red stains on Aky's side even as he holds pressure to it. The stain grows larger as Aky breaths heavily. He's somewhat winded and has clearly been active recently.
The young man sits on his bed hard, then proceeds to wrap his wound "Ow, ow, ow. Man, my night was going so well."
Giving a little surprise squeak at the sight of a bleeding Aky entering the room, Circe goes to his side to offer help. "Oh my goodness Aky, what the heck happened to you?"
Circe lays her hand over Aky's wound as she casts a spell. "There, does that feel better now?"
He smiles a bit weakly at her "Somehow, you always make everything better" He puts a hand to his side then replies "I was ambushed randomly on my walk home. Won a game of chance, and on the way back some thug decided to stick on a knife in me. Clearly, he was expecting a pushover victim"
Dash is about to answer Circe just as Aky bursts in, and continues once she patches him up a bit. "Yeah, someone came after me too. I wasn't even gambling, so there was no gold to take fro me. Luckily, I was able to spot the guy and catch him off-guard. I missed with the first blow, but I guarantee he's smarting after I hit him with that shocking grasp," he says with a self-satisfied grin. "I think there was probably a second, even if I didn't actually see him, but both of them ran off." Dash pauses for a minute before saying a bit more seriously, "We should probably try to figure out who sent you that message, Circe."
Aky looks around, as if seeing everybody for the first time. "I seem to be missing a few things. Somebody care to fill me in?"
Still blushing slightly from Aky's comment, Circe turns to Dash, thinking back to that message. "But the message just suddenly appeared on my blank, how could we possibly find out who could do that? I wish I knew how to find them because surely I owe them my thanks. What would have happened if I hadn't taken the east road like I was told? Would I have been attacked like Aky and Dash? I'm not a fast runner or a good fighter. What would they have done to me?" Circe is now visibly upset, thinking about what possibly could have happened to her.
Hemmick will lead them first to the spot in the alcove at the hall of wonders, "I found her here...face down...she wasn't moving....so...I took her into the morgue."
If they wish to explore, Hemmick will wait for them to finish up, otherwise he'll take her to the morgue to see the body. He will be slightly impatient if they take too long in the alcove.
In the morgue, he'll take them right over to the body.
Akydi gets up slowly and gives Circe a comforting hug "Shhh. No need to worry about what might have happened. You took the east road, and are here safe and sound." He sits back down, as standing is just a bit much for him at the moment "Now, what in the Nine Hells is going on?"
Dash gives Akydidyka an annoyed look. "That's just the point, we don't know. Circe got a strange message on her Blank, and the rest of us were either shadowed or attacked. Actually, hang on a sec... Where's Hemlock?"
"Oh I'm sorry, which one of us walked in here bleeding profusely and missed the happy talk?" Aky says a bit angrily. He looks to the Witch "What did the message say? Tell me everything. The more I know, the more I can try to find out." He gets up and goes over to a table, and begins to lay out his Harrow deck.
Al stood there and watched everything that was going on. Slowly piecing things together he took this time to answer Dash. He gritted his teeth and used his training to start to clear his head. They might all need their wits tonight.
"Hemlock would be at the morgue. We should all go if any of us do."
Dash sighs a bit and says, "You're right, Aky, I'm sorry. I guess I'm still a bit on edge, though you have more right to be than I do. Still someone needs to go check on Hemmick, and Aky needs to see what he can figure out. Al, I think the two of us ought to be able to handle ourselves getting over to the morgue, and the three others should be able to hold there own in close quarters like this. Heck, Lorth can just sit on anyone who comes in."
"It is impossible to say whether or not we can handle it if we do not know what we are dealing with. It seems they are organized and possibly an actual threat. We also do not know how widespread this is, or if we are the only targets." Al was starting to calm down, his manner was cool and detached, which he always seemed to do when he was getting serious.
He didn't like leaving people behind when their lives had been threatened. "But I am okay with whatever everyone decides, especially if Aky gains an inkling of what is out there."
Morgue
Hemmick will lead them first to the spot in the alcove at the hall of wonders, "I found her here...face down...she wasn't moving....so...I took her into the morgue."
If they wish to explore, Hemmick will wait for them to finish up, otherwise he'll take her to the morgue to see the body. He will be slightly impatient if they take too long in the alcove.
In the morgue, he'll take them right over to the body.
You and the guards enter the morgue. Leading them to the "hall of wonders" they look at you and the hall's displays oddly, but they do look around. When you go to show them the body you'll find that it's gone. The straps are cleanly severed by something very sharp near the base.
After looking around for a bit the guards come to speak to you. It's the same guy that's been talking to you. "Look, buddy. I don't know if this is a prank or you actually believe what you're saying. Or if you just wanted to show us those freaky preserved corpses. Regardless, I think we're done here. You've clearly been spending too much time here. Being around the dead this much can't be good for the brain. Why don't you go home and sleep it off or something. Maybe go to a bar, meet a girl or whatever you're into, have a few drinks, you know become one of the living again. "
You'll no doubt look around. You see no sign of the dead girl's body. If you want to look somewhere specific let me know and roll perception. Unless you have something compelling the guards will pat you on the back, give you a sympathetic look, and leave you to your devices. Clearly they don't believe your story.
Where are you two keeping the daggers you picked up?
When Aky asks about the message, Circe walks over to the desk where he is laying out his Harrow cards. "Well, it wasn't a long message and it was rather vague. It just said that my friends and I were in danger and that we shouldn't trust anyone. Then it told me to take the east road home. That's it, nothing else no signature or anything of the like."
Looking over to Al and Dash as they discuss checking on Hemlock, Circe asks: "Can't we all just go together? Just in case?"
"All I need is ten minutes of quite contemplation. No interruptions and I can try to find out if we should listen to this mysterious warning or not" The seer says.
Hemmick will just stand there looking at the table where the dead girl laid,"But...but....she was right ther.....hrmmmm." He will nod slightly to the guards,"Sorry. Didn't mean to drag you out here."
After they leave he'll look carefully as he can at the ropes and how they were cut. He suspects it highly unlikely she cut her self free being dead and all. "Have to use thicker ropes the next time this happens."
Does it look like the ropes were burst from or were cut?
After determining this he will look under and around the table for any sign or disturbance, maybe where someone had drug a body?
Unnerved. He'll be moreon edge in case of attack since it's obvious someone else has been and may still be in the morgue. He'll check any other cadavers down there to see if someone is hiding out.
"Ten minutes is too long, Hemlock could already be hurt. If you guys want to stay while Aky finishes his divination, that's fine, but I'm going. If anything, it might be better for me to go alone. They won't even be able to spot me if I make an effort to stay hidden."
With that, Dash turns for the door. Once outside, Dash heads for the shadows between the buildings and heads to the morgue.
Also, I don't know how long it will take me to reach the morgue, but Dash can move full speed while stealthing.
"Be careful Dash!"
After Dash heads out, Circe fretfully sits back down on the edge of the bed, waiting for Aky to finish his divination.
Hemmick will just stand there looking at the table where the dead girl laid,"But...but....she was right ther.....hrmmmm." He will nod slightly to the guards,"Sorry. Didn't mean to drag you out here."
After they leave he'll look carefully as he can at the ropes and how they were cut. He suspects it highly unlikely she cut her self free being dead and all. "Have to use thicker ropes the next time this happens."
Does it look like the ropes were burst from or were cut?
After determining this he will look under and around the table for any sign or disturbance, maybe where someone had drug a body?
Unnerved. He'll be moreon edge in case of attack since it's obvious someone else has been and may still be in the morgue. He'll check any other cadavers down there to see if someone is hiding out.
Striation patterns indicate that it was cut by something extremely sharp, but not something manufactured. Perhaps a razor sharp claw.
You see no other signs of disturbance and the rest of the morgue is silent as a grave. :-)
"Ten minutes is too long, Hemlock could already be hurt. If you guys want to stay while Aky finishes his divination, that's fine, but I'm going. If anything, it might be better for me to go alone. They won't even be able to spot me if I make an effort to stay hidden."
With that, Dash turns for the door. Once outside, Dash heads for the shadows between the buildings and heads to the morgue.
1d20 + 14
** spoiler omitted **
You can make your way to the morgue unmolested and you see no signs of danger.
As Dash reaches the morgue his heart is racing. Not out of exhaustion, but fear for his friend. Once he gets there he asks the first person he sees if they've seen Hemmick. "Tall, skinny half-elf. Not quite as skinny as me. Quiet fellow. Kinda strange..."
Hemmick will purse his lips in frustration as he discovers the information about the bonds and speaks silently to himself. "Why would someone steal a dead girl? And how does a girl get onto the grounds without any blood? OR did she get in here THEN get drained of blood? Hrmmmmm"
Akydi unbuttons his shirt and throws it onto his bed. The young man is not overly muscular, but his arms and stomach are tight with what muscles he does have. His got about a dozen tattoos, on his arms and torso. Several are just whirls and patterns, most likely holding meaning to his people. One however is very obviously a viper, coiled around his right forearm. A few others look vaguely familiar, almost like glyphs of some sort.
He runs his fingers through his hair then finishes laying out the his Harrow cards. He closes his eyes, focusing on the problem at hand and the cards on the table. He tries to figure out if the message Circe received can be trusted and heeded.
Morgue
As Dash reaches the morgue his heart is racing. Not out of exhaustion, but fear for his friend. Once he gets there he asks the first person he sees if they've seen Hemmick. "Tall, skinny half-elf. Not quite as skinny as me. Quiet fellow. Kinda strange..."
When you're a few hundred feet away you see about 4 men dressed in guard uniforms leave the morgue. They walk in a brisk pace away.
Upon entering the morgue you find no one present, but you see Hemmick looking around a table.
Morgue
Hemmick will purse his lips in frustration as he discovers the information about the bonds and speaks silently to himself. "Why would someone steal a dead girl? And how does a girl get onto the grounds without any blood? OR did she get in here THEN get drained of blood? Hrmmmmm"
You hear a noise behind you. When you turn Dash stands in the doorway.
Akydi unbuttons his shirt and throws it onto his bed. The young man is not overly muscular, but his arms and stomach are tight with what muscles he does have. His got about a dozen tattoos, on his arms and torso. Several are just whirls and patterns, most likely holding meaning to his people. One however is very obviously a viper, coiled around his right forearm. A few others look vaguely familiar, almost like glyphs of some sort.
He runs his fingers through his hair then finishes laying out the his Harrow cards. He closes his eyes, focusing on the problem at hand and the cards on the table. He tries to figure out if the message Circe received can be trusted and heeded.
You get a very clear image in your mind. It's the faces of actors masks joined as one. One face smiles. The other cries.
Hemmick seeing Dash figures it all out and laughs, "Ahhh I get it now! Very clever!" Shakes his finger at Dash,"You really had me going! This whole disappearing dead girl thing was your idea right? Just like the reanimating slime toad you slipped into my dissection class that one time? I think the guards think I'm sleeping with the corpses now thanks to this little prank."
Hemlock shakes his head and turns around to unpack his alchemy kit from his satchel all the while talking over his shoulder,"It was a good one but I got a question, where'd you get the body? and where is it now? If it's in my cot in the mens rooms I'm gonna be pissed!"
Turning around with his journal in hand, "I'll get you back for it though, you WILL have pink hair one day."
Dash is visibly relieved to see Hemmick, and some of the tension leaves his shoulders. "Dead girl? Hemlock, that wasn't me. I mean, if it were a prank it would be a good one, but I can't take the credit. Something weird is going on. I mean, really weird. Circe's Blank got overwritten with some sort of warning that we were in danger, and Aky and I got attacked. We have to get back to the dorm."
Lorth grunts as he enters, clearly unperturbed by the presence of visitors and moves over to his bunk - sitting down on it and searching around for a drink. He's clearly listening, but doesn't add words to the conversation ongoing.
Aky comes out of his trance and signs a bit deeply. These visions aren't easy and with his wound, its that much worse. "Well, it looks like both good and ill can come from heeding the message Circe got. Of course, my visions aren't the most accurate, but they're usually pretty reliable."
Having quickly tired of sitting, Circe is now restlessly pacing about the room. "Both good and ill? So should we heed the message or not? And why did it warn us to trust no one? I find it hard to believe that there is no one else in the school we could trust. And what is taking Dash so long? Shouldn't he and Hemlock be back yet? How long should we wait before we go and look for the both of them? Were any of you attacked or followed once you entered the school or just when you were off the premises? Maybe we will be safe here? Though I guess if it were safe here then we'd be able to trust people. Oh, I wish they would hurry back here."
Dash is visibly relieved to see Hemmick, and some of the tension leaves his shoulders. "Dead girl? Hemlock, that wasn't me. I mean, if it were a prank it would be a good one, but I can't take the credit. Something weird is going on. I mean, really weird. Circe's Blank got overwritten with some sort of warning that we were in danger, and Aky and I got attacked. We have to get back to the dorm."
For a moment, Hemlock thinks Dasheel is still covering for his prank but seeing his serious demeanor decides he's telling the truth, "Attacked? by who?"He throws the journal back in his satchel and slinging it over his shoulder follows after Dasheel. "Is everyone ok?"
Hemlock will be much more on edge at this point, watching the shadows and dark spaces in the hallways as they pass. "Had to believe that someone got into the school given the number of guards they have here but then again if they are all as uninquisitive as the last bunch, maybe not so hard to believe after all."
He will hurry along with Dasheel in the lead towards the dorm.
Lorth grunts as he enters, clearly unperturbed by the presence of visitors and moves over to his bunk - sitting down on it and searching around for a drink. He's clearly listening, but doesn't add words to the conversation ongoing.
As the walk along, Hemlock will explain what has happened to him up to Dash arriving at the door to the morgue. "So THAT'S why I thought you had pulled a fast one on me. I never felt like I was going to be attacked but by the gods I guess someone or SOMETHING was waiting out there in the dark for me." He stops and thinks for a moment, "If I had gone searching on my own, I'd likely have been eviscerated." He gets lost in though for a while...."I wonder what that feels like?" He drifts off into quiet contemplation.
Dash does his best to explain everything about the attacks and the message on Circe's Blank. "So Aky started doing a divination, and I didn't want you to be alone if anyone came for you."
After going through the more heavy laden topics that needed to be discussed Dash relaxes significantly, though he still keeps a vigilant eye out. "I'll have to remember that one though, corpse that just disappears. I mean, I know someone had pretty messed up intentions when they did that, but it would serve as a good prank, so long as nobody actually got hurt. And turning someone's hair pink. I think I might have to hit you with that one now that you've brought it up. Oooh, or Circe! Can you imagine the look on her face?"
When they get back to the dorm Dash sneaks up to the door, and presses himself up against the wall so that the door will hide him when opened, and knocks 3 times very loudly. When someone opens the door, he jumps out.
Circe looks to the door and then to the guys. Motioning for Al or Lorth to get the door, Circe calls out: "Yes? Who's there?" Surely an attacker wouldn't knock on the door, but better safe than sorry,
"My guess is we are to trust few others. I believe that is why I got a vision of both good and bad. If we trust nobody else, then perhaps that will be beneficial to us, in a way, but it will always be very bad. That means we suspect everybody, can never be certain who is out to get us, and pretty much constantly live in fear." He pauses to catch his breath, then continues. [b]"We should try to figure out who we can trust. I would like to believe we can trust each other, for starters. Beyond that, faculty would be my next to investigate. Some we could most likely trust, others maybe not."
Akydi is still recovering from both his wounds and vision, so he waves off answering the door. He does however, dip a hand into his vest to take hold of a dagger.