Surrender! One shouts at you.
Follow me The man says, motioning Alathea to fall in behind him. He leads her along the roof line and to a trap door. Opening it up, he climbs down the ladder to a floor below. Close the door He orders without looking up.
Walking quickly down a short hallway, he opens up another door, and motions Alathea to follow him. I have to get you and your friends out of town. Fastest way to do that is through the sewers. We need to get to your friends. I think i hear one of them, calling for someone.
As the man pauses, you hear the voice of Kodokura calling for assistance from Fia, in which she replies, her voice growing stronger.
Is that them? the man asks alathea.
Given that the men opted to try and force his surrender instead of attack, Rhoekk will move to attack.
Alathea follows the man as best she can, trying not to slow him down. She nods at his question. "Yes, they are my friends." But she looks at him suspiciously. "Who are you? Why do you risk your life for us? You must know what kind of people are kept by these Children, yes?"
Matrim Cauthon, at your service. He says with a devilish smirk; a look upon his face shows that he is expecting some kind of reaction from you. When none comes forth, he frowns.
I risk my life for anyone who resists these cursed Children. Their oppression, their "rules", their power. I resist, and some people i know resist as well.
Alathea stares a moment longer, then finally nods. "If you resist these Children, that is good enough for me. Light knows I need some help, yes? Let us find my friends, then I am sure that we will have a long discussion, yes?"
Feeling sick and dizzy, and wanti.gg nothing more than to collapse into oblivion, Fia stumbles into the inn. Kodo? Where are you? I am coming!" she makes her way towards the sound of his voice....
Hearing Fia's voice, Kodokura struggles upright once more, his leg on fire. "Second storey," he yells, the pain evident in his voice. He lurches towards the door of the room, breathing heavily.
Hold on, I am coming! Fia calls to him. Spying the stairs, she makes her way up them.
When she spies Kodo and sees his twisted leg, she gasps and rushes to him. "Here. Lean on me. I don't think there is time to deal with this properly right now. They will be coming. We need to find Alathea and get out of here."
Child 1
child 2
Child 3 vs ryland
The one that Rhoekk attacks, child 1, drops to the floor from Rhoekks strike.
Into the hallway walks a man with a smirk upon his face, followed closely by Alathea moments later.
Come, we must go. To the basement. the man says, stooping to pick up Kodokura.
Relief floods into Alathea upon seeing her companions, but she hisses at the sight of Kodokura's twisted leg. As this Matrim Cauthon picks Kodokura up onto his shoulders, Alathea limps up and takes Kodokura's hand. "Do not worry, Kodokura. We will Heal your leg once we are safely away from those Children," she says softly. Turning to Fiallain, she smiles wearily but with genuine happiness. "I am happy to see you both. But we must be away from this place. Master Cauthon has offered his assistance; let's not keep him waiting, yes?"
A look of relief passes over Fiallain's face as Alathea appears with the man on the roof. She passes the injured Kodokura to the man and smiles warmly at Alathea. "I am glad to see you, my friend. I see you as well, master Cauthon? We would be grateful for your further assistance. The sooner we disappear from this madness, the better. Please, lead the way."
Kodo tries his best not to grimace and hiss in pain as Cauthon supports him, but nods his thanks through pain-tightened eyes. He puts together a white-lipped smile for the women, not trusting himself to speak at the moment.
Rhoekk lashes out again and again at the Child in front of him.
Ryland attempts to parry the child's attacks and let Rhoekk disable the men.
Rhoekk's blows fall upon the second man, yet only one strike appears to have any effect upon the man.
Ryland parrys the pathetic swing that his oppenent makes, choosing to not attack, and let Rhoekk dispatch this minimal threat.
Dragging Kodokura along, Matt leads the group down the back steps, into the kitchen. The smells of cooking meat, baking bread, fill your nostrils, making your stomachs growl. Take your fill. We wont be able to eat until 3 days from now. Matt says, grabbing a loaf and stuffing it into his pouch.
Walking through the kitchen, Matt kicks open a small short door. Steep narrow stairs descend into the darkness. Sorry friend, but you will have to go down on your backside. He says, gently lowering Kodo to the floor. Going down first, he then turns and grasps kodos legs to assist.
Rhoekk makes another series of strikes upon his foes.
Rhoekk becomes a flury of blows, one smashing hard into his opponents jaw, and two swift kicks to the chest and face of the other attacking Ryland drop both men to the ground.
A sharp intake of breath brings your focus upon the cook, who still stands behind the counter.
His hands shoot up. Please, sirs, dont hurt me.
Kodokura attempts to shift aside to let the others past, forcing out between clenched teeth, "Let me go last. At least I can hold up any possible pursuers, rather than delaying my friends." He attempts to struggle upright, putting his weight on one foot, prepared to hop down the stairs slowly.
Rhoekk hops behind the table and with quick, practiced motions ties and binds the cook hands to feet behind his back. As a last touch, he stuffs a gag in his mouth and ties it in place with a rag.
He stands again quickly and signals to Ryland that he is ready to move. He moves to the window trying to get a grasp on what has taken place out there.
There is another matter besides our own escape qas well," Fia states as she follows the others through the inn. "Two others are with us, two men who may still be in the palace, and who may have been put in an awkward situation due to our escape. We will need to somehow find and rejoin them."
looking out through the window, you see a haze of smoke and dust begining to be blown away from the wind. At first, it is just haze, but soon you are able to see objects moving about the courtyard. Men dressed in white uniforms, swords of flame in one hand, a blue aura shimmering around their other hand. They move about the courtyard, searching.
Beyond the courtyard is a wall, or, what is left of a wall. A large pile of rubble lays in the area where a wall would've stood. Beyond that is a city street, and across it is a line of buildings, an Inn, an exchange, a clothier, a dressmaker, and a merchants shop. These buildings appear to have large holes smashed into their fronts, as if rocks were hurled through the wooden frames.
Alathea follows Matrim down into the inn, still holding Kodokura's hand. She follows Matrim's suggestion, and takes enough crusty golden bread and root vegetables to feed herself for a number of days, but only a small amount of meat. She pauses, then takes enough for another day's meals. "If I am to Heal, I will not have those under my care going hungry while they recover, yes?" After dropping her supplies down into the darkness, she turns back to look for water, wine, or beer, and takes enough of whatever she can find to provide for the days ahead.
Alathea sniffs and shakes her head at Kodokura's words. "And how do you plan to hold up those who might follow us? You have a broken leg; you needed to be carried here." She nods to Matrim. "Let this man finish what he started and go down the stairs. We will follow right behind you, yes?"
Alathea helps Matrim wrestle Kodokura down the stairs and remains by his side.
Indeed my man, come, no need for bloody heroics.Matt says, sliding Kodokura down the stairs.
Seems there's nothing I can do to preserve my dignity, then, Kodo thinks as he is painfully manouevred down the steps, grimacing as he thumps down each one. I'd much rather flop down this staircase without an audience... He puts up no further resistance, but concentrates on not squeezing Alathea's hand too hard when the pain lances through him.
In response to Fia's comments, Kodo nods. "The Aielman and warrior. If they are held there, they will surely suffer for our deeds."
That is what I fear, and if it is so, then I must go back for them. Cauthon? You are from around here, what is likely to be the children's response towards them??
Alathea nods at Fiallain's suggestion. "Although I do not like you going back there, we cannot let our friends stay in the palace. Be careful, yes? Do not let those men capture you! I will stay with Kodokura and tend to his wounds. In my state, I would be of little use to come along, yes?"
Turning to Matrim, Alathea asks, "When you return, would you please bring me clothing, if you can?" She gestures to Kodokura's borrowed coat. "Although I am grateful to Kodokura for letting me borrow it, it is hardly appropriate for me, yes?"
"Friend Ryland, look there. There is a length of rope dangling from that building, the inn. I've never seen any reason for that on a wetlander building; it must have fallen from the wall when it was destroyed. I believe our friends escaped over the wall that way; either that, or they are dead beneath all the rumble in the courtyard. We must get out there and see to finding them before the Children do. Do you see any way for us to get past them?
Rhoekk looks around carefully, trying to spy out a path through the courtyard, or a door that might lead them to the exterior wall, or some other way of getting out of the fortress.
Ryland inhales deeply, trying to pick up his friend's scent.
I am almost always careful, Alathea. But I will try not to get myself captured. I will return as quickly as possible." She gives her friend a grin that spoke of a confidence her battered body wasn't entirely feeling at the moment.
Turning to Cauthon she asks, "When I find them, how shall we then find you?"
Ryland, you pick up the faint smell of Alathea upon one of the men that Rhoekk has just felled.
Ryland snarls and kicks the unconscious man. "We need to go."
"Which way? Do you see a way out past the children?"
Rhoekk looks around carefully, trying to spy out a path through the courtyard, or a door that might lead them to the exterior wall, or some other way of getting out of the fortress.
[dice=Perception]d20+16
looking out beyond the window, to your right, on the other side of wall looks like a set of steps, similar to the ones you walked in on. Fastest way to them would be through the trading hall.
Matt looks at Fia, his mouth hanging open. Snapping it shut, he grunts. Are you bloody stupid? You just got sprung from jail, and chances are, they may think you are dead. and you want to go back out and show that your alive???
Rhoekk points off to the steps and then moves at a dash to the trading hall.
"There. Let's hurry."
"Not stupid," Fia answers with a wry twist of her lips that might have been a half smile. "just a little crazy."
She looks back at Matt with a steady gaze, though in truth she hasn't the faintest notion of where or how to look for the others, never mind what she could hope to do that wouldn't make matters worse if they really were in danger.
"I am aware of the risks and the likely outcome, Master Cauthon. I am also aware that my friends were inside the palace when this all began and are likely in danger. So, unless you are prepared to swear and prove to me with absolute certainty that no harm has or will come to them and that they will be able to find us shortly, then I am going back for them. If I wake from this dream, then I wake. Now, where will we find you?"
Matt looks at Fia, his mouth hanging open. Snapping it shut, he grunts. Are you bloody stupid? You just got sprung from jail, and chances are, they may think you are dead. and you want to go back out and show that your alive???
His face pale and damp with sweat from the pain of his shattered bones, Kodokura still manages to regard Mat with an expression of stoniness. "Good sir, while we all appreciate your help so far, please refrain from speaking to a capable woman like Fia in that fashion. She knows what she's about, and if she asks you a question it behooves an honourable man to answer such a woman with more than insults." He gasps as his shoulder flares with pain, distracting him from Mat.
Alathea can hear the pain in Kodokura's voice, even though he attempts to hide it. Although she fears what this Matrim might do, she can't bear to see her friend in pain any longer. He will see me Heal him eventually, yes? Taking Kodokura's hand in hers, she speaks to him in a soft voice. "That is enough, yes? Matrim has risked much for us, and Fiallain is capable of defending herself. Save your strength; you will need it." She fixes Matrim with a steady look. "I am going to Heal my friend. You do know what kind of woman you've rescued, yes?" Turning her attention back to Kodokura, she embraces saidar and prepares to Heal.
Kodo opens his mouth to respond, then gasps as the shockwave of Healing crashes over him. His head drops to his chest for a moment, then he raises his eyes, looking even wearier than before. "Thank you my lady, I..." He shakes his head, then rises to his feet, testing out his leg.
"Apologies, Master Cauthon. My pain may have made me... obstreperous. Still, lady Fia is capable - you can trust her at her word." He nods again to Alathea in gratitude.
As fast as Alathea is at healing Kodokura, Matt is just as fast, drawing a dagger and hurling it at Alathea. The dagger streaks through the air and slams itself into the wooden step, pinning her arm to the deck.
BLOOD AND ASHES WOMAN! You have just alerted your presence to the entire garrison. Dont you think that the Children have plans for if and when a woman channels within the City limits? This is one of the most prominent locations for the Children, aside from Tar Valon herself. We need to move, fast.
Looking up at fia, he continues As for you, your friend just nixed your idea. I know, you will have toh towards your friends for not attempting the effort to find them. But there is much ji in waiting, since you would be helping your two friends here. So, put aside any thoughts of going back for now. Oh, and so help me, if you think to sneak away, think again. If need be, i'll put you in white robes and call you gaishan for a year and a day.
pausing to take a breath, and let the seriousness of this sink in, he continues.
I will take you to a safe house. There, you will wait. I will go out and find your friends, so long as you describe them accurately to me. Deal?
Running back the way you came in, you step out into the grand hall, and you see people huddled in groups. what once was a loud affair of people hollering prices, now stands one man atop a platform.
Please, people, calm down. Nothing to be afraid of. Everything is in hand, and shortly we will be able to get back to trading.
Walking swiftly along the wall avoiding the thick pockets of people, you see your exit. 2 large doors, capable of allowing a wagon to pass through, stand closed. a couple of Children stand in front of the doors.
as you approach one moves and stands in front of you.
None shall pass. None shall pass until the prisoners have been found, or verified dead. Please return to the center of the hall for your safety.
Fiallain blinks at Matt. Rand al'Thor said the Aiel have not crossed the spine in 400 years! How then does he know of Ji'e'toh? Has he been to this three-fold-land?
She glances at her two injured friends, wavering. If Cauthon was right, then she knew they had probably near used up the brief respite gained by ducking into the inn. She also knew the two missing men were reasonably capable of taking care of themselves, and so she growls with obvious reluctance. "Fine. Let's get these two to your safe house first and then we can discuss how best to reach the others."
Alathea's face flushes red with anger and she opens her mouth as if to speak, but she holds her tongue. With visible effort, she calms herself. "I apologize, Master Cauthon. I am not used to the ways of this city, and did not think before I acted. Please, help us escape from these Children."