"D'Orionus, Sir Gareth d'Orionus. I've accepted the position and badge of justicar for the murder of Canoness Y'dey from Sir Romidar. I'm here to collect a writ of confirmation." Sir Gareth replies.
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I am Conner Hawthorne, guide and tracker, from Woodsedge up north. I traveled south with Sir Gareth in a caravan bound for Almas. I will be staying on to provide my services to assist Sir Gareth in his endeavors. I have already uncovered the whereabouts of a wagon here in Homlett that left the caravan on the same evening that members were slain and an attempted poisoning took place.
"My name is Xavorin, sorcerer form Kyonin, I am a driver on the caravan that Sir Gareth and Conner is talking about and I to will be accompanying the two to help them out"
A perception check, initiative, and another Will Save please, just in case.
I have seen many men today good sir. Do you seek the business of me they did? She gives you a sickening leer, eyes dark and she moves along the counter that seperates you.
A perception check, initiative, and another Will Save please, just in case.
I have seen many men today good sir. Do you seek the business of me they did? She gives you a sickening leer, eyes dark and she moves along the counter that seperates you.
D'witt watched the woman as she moved and tried to maintain a casual demeanor. "Well now, that depends on how good you are at your business."
D'witt watched the woman as she moved and tried to maintain a casual demeanor. "Well now, that depends on how good you are at your business."
The woman moved swiftly and with florish, attempting to draw D'witt away from the back corner. She stands but 10' from you.
Sleight of Hand
Initiative
She speaks a hushed word, the wand again spilling arcane energies over D'witt and his mind. She may be old, but it has been a few... Oh gods, to get that image out of your head.
You notice in the corner, the staff Jaroo carried, beside the spot the witch once stood.
Perhaps I am not meant for peace. I will play any roll I must. As Erastil wills
You think back on the Wisdom of the Hunter, one of the hardest books of Erastil's teachings. The words meanings depend so often upon the foe the reader is pursuing. To hunt two targets is to divide your aim, take the first shot, and keep watch for the second. But then there is the camp, Take the bigger fatter game, and worry about the other later. Is Erastil asking you to hunt the game of freedom from prison, hunt the game of Ragnek, or hunt the game Erastil has set before you?
D'witt snarls as the woman once again attempts to influence his mind. "I think I may be ill after that last one." He thinks to himself even as he pulls the pepperbox and levels it at her. "Attempt that again and I will not hesitant to fire. Toss the wand aside and tell me were the one known as Jaroo is..." The tiefling glares at the woman. "Or have found the one I was looking for?"
Kenter nods and takes a sheet of parchment and inkwell from the desk. Very well good sir. Sir Gareth I hope you understand the delicate nature of this matter. The people of Hommlet are good and honest. They are faithful and devout, but also headstrong and have long memories. Accusations breed more of the same, so please, use discretion.
He scribbles for a few minutes, then takes a small stick of wax, warming it by candle. He stabs the end onto the parchment, drawing back quickly. He then presses a stamp into the wax, the seal of Hommlet.
This will give you authority to ask your questions, to seek justice for the village and for Y'dey. Do so quickly, for this in this room day after tomorrow, the council will decide it for you.
The mayor then begins a coughing fit, at which his daughter enters and comes to his aid. Good sirs, he needs his rest. He has not been well these last few weeks. We had thought Y'dey could... Kenter puts his hand upon her arm. Hush girl, let the men be on their way. They have business to attend.
She approaches her companions.. "After speaking with the church here, they seem to have the same news about my husband.. He and his group set out for the fort and then on towards this old temple.. I offered my assistance in resolving this murder incident and the preist advised i seek some sort of justicar position.. With that said i will see i through before setting off after my husband.. So where are yall heading?"
"Well good.. I'm glad you took the position.. I gave my word to help, but am very content to play a second in all this.."
To the elder.."I am Angel Dawnstar, Paladin of the Everlight.. I too will help determine the truth of all this.."
"Thank you, Mayor. Lady Angel here served as the healer of our caravan. Perhaps she may help with you. We'll be on our way now." Sir Gareth gets up to leave.
"Oh, there's one more thing. There were some murders that occurred in our caravan several days ago. The murderers escaped on a wagon that we just found out at Riley's who said that a Chatrilon Unosh brought it to him. What would be the best way for us to secure the wagon and this Chatrilon Unosh, until after the murder of Canoness Y'dey is addressed?"
"Or have found the one I was looking for?"
The old woman lashes at the center room pole, her arms "changing" into gangly pale extensions, ending in sharp black talons. They slash across the pole, scoring into the old-rot timber.
The roof begins to collapse in on the shanty, even as the old woman lunges back behind the counter.
After pondering the wisdom of Erastil Carlson comes to a decision. I must play the game Erastil sets before me. Succeed in hunting the Elk, and the deer shall prove little challenge.
Carlson awaits what will befall him next.
The others should be along to investigate, I mean interrogate, I mean introduce themselves, yeah that's it, shortly.
"Oh, there's one more thing. What would be the best way for us to secure the wagon and this Chatrilon Unosh, until after the murder of Canoness Y'dey is addressed?"
The mayor looks up and pauses a moment, catching his breath as he steadies himself. If you think these other matter's bear connection to your charge here in Hommlet, use the edict I have handed you to place them into the custody of the town guard or Andoran militia. That would allow you to hold them for forty eight hours, or at least until the council meets. Pausing his voice becoming a wheeze, The council will hear your testimony and adjudicate them alongside the murder undertaken here in Hommlet, and pass seperate judgement.
On the way out.. "I think we should go speak with the Carlson and get his side of the story.." Looking around.. "Where's D'witt?"
"Thank you, Mayor. Please take good care of yourself." And Sir Gareth departs.
"Exactly, Angel," d'Orionus replies to her. "We were on our way to see the suspect. Lead on Elias. D'Witt? Haven't see him since breakfast."
After a couple minutes of walking, he asks, "Elias, while we are visiting Master Kalizer, would you please have a couple of your friends bring the wagon to your compound and issue a warrant of the arrest of Chatrilon Unosh, as per the Mayor's advice. He's not from Hommlet, so we need to grab him when he returns. Murders are not commonplace here in the country, so the two events are probably connected. Besides, what's the likelihood that we'll get him in custody within 48 hours without looking for him ourselves? Slim, I'd say."
If we still have walking time left to the tower, he asks, "So Xavorin, what's your story? Any commitments or intentions? You never said."
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On the way out.. "I think we should go speak with the Carlson and get his side of the story.." Looking around.. "Where's D'witt?"
"Exactly, Angel," d'Orionus replies to her. "We were on our way to see the suspect. Lead on Elias. D'Witt? Haven't see him since breakfast."
A shot rings out from not too far away, followed soon by another accompanied by a flare.
A moment's hesitation when the woman's hands transform allow her to gain the advantage. D'witt fires as the woman... no, the creature leaps for the counter. He can't tell if he hit or not, but the tielfling is fairly sure he missed.
D'witt's mother may have raised a stubborn, impulsive, and adventurous little boy, but she certainly raised no fool. He knows to chase after an unknown creature through a collapsing shack would be unwise.
Once he is clear of the shack he looks around for anything fleeing the wreakage. As he does, his tail withdraws a flare cartridge from his pouch and places it in his hand. He loads the shot into the now empty chamber, not having to look to do it from habit. Loaded and ready D'witt cycles the chamber into place and fires the flare round up into the sky. "If the first one didn't bring the guards, that one should."
Perception Flare:
"Elias, while we are visiting Master Kalizer, would you please have a couple of your friends bring the wagon to your compound and issue a warrant of the arrest of Chatrilon Unosh, as per the Mayor's advice.
If we still have walking time left to the tower, he asks, "So Xavorin, what's your story? Any commitments or intentions? You never said."
As you are walking from the mayor's manor to the tower, it is not that far. Elias leaves you at the tower while he runs off quickly to report to Sir Romidar. Be back in but a few moments. Getting the most out of me and your writ, ehh Justicar. Meet you at the tower then.
Angel spots the flare briefly over the labor camp at the time Conner hears a distant clap of thunder. They direct the attention of their companions towards the camp. As the crow flies, you are roughly 200-250' from the source of the shot, lost within the heart of the camp city.
Elias did not hear nor notice the flare, and continues on his run. The high watch however most likely caught it and a patrol may be going that way soon.
"If the first one didn't bring the guards, that one should."
D'witt shot quickly, and from the hip, his round punching through the creatures hand as it resolved from twisted claw to a normal hand. A splash of silver blood was the last sight as the creature dropped behind the counter.
The shanty collapses completely as D'witt emerges, and begins to pull at the three adjacent buildings, the sloppy construction threatening to take them down with it. People flee the area in a mad rush, and chaos quickly ensues. The fortunate side of this is no one realizes D'witt was involved in the incident, the unfortunate, he loses sight of everything and everyone quickly, if only for a few moments.
"What was that? There are no thunderclouds. Maybe that was D'witt's pistol? Let's go check it out. Keep alert." Sir Gareth says and hustles toward the noise.
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Conner draws an arrow to his bow, and proceeds after Sir Gareth in the direction of the warning signal.
"A pistol? Did anyone else see the flask of light over there? Lets go quickly.." With that she makes her way with the boys and draws he sword as she goes..
D'witt muttered an infernal curse as he watched the collapsing shack threatened to take down it's neighbors. The gunslinger's eyes darted here and there as the chaos erupted. All the people running around gave the creature too much of a chance for cover.
Though it was but a moment, it was enough time for the old witch to claw her way out and dash off from the scene, but not quick enough that D'witt missed her escape. She has a moment's start, as the gunslinger must move around the collapse to get across to the other alley. She is moving further and further away from the Tower and town, as are many of the other inhabitants of these slums.
The would be black market is already closing it's shutters, fearing the arrival of authorities. Eyes are fearful, and they are noting every face they see, especially those that might not belong.
Perception:
The party was about 250' away when the shot was heard. D'witt was somewhere inside the maze of twisting rows of shanty-shacks and prop tent housing the poor are living in. You can see people coming clearing out, but few are actually leaving the area, at least in your direction as the tower and castle both sight down on the same piece of ground.
Most anyone you see are heading into shelter and closing up the doors as you reach the edges of the pocket village. You will need to head into the maze to try and find the cause of the sound, which from previous checks you would guess is about near the center.
Sir Gareth continues hustling "into the maze to try and find the cause of the sound, which from previous checks you would guess is about near the center."
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Conner stays right on Sir Gareth's flank.
D'witt spots the woman running away. Hesitation had let her slip away once, he was not going to let it happen again. There are too many people for a clear shot now so the tiefling gives chase.
"Why do they aways run? First chance I get, I'm gonna put a shot right in its knee, see how much running it does then." He grumbled as he ran after the creature.
After a short chase of two rounds, you can get to within 35' actually; the witch was delayed getting out of the wreckage and in twisting down another series of winding alleyways, evidenced by a prone villager at D'witt's feet as he turns the corner to face her. There are two other villagers along the path to the old woman, ducking into a doorway, but you still have a line of sight to her. Glancing at you, Hellspawned fool she spits and raises her arm, preparing to do, well, something, while still moving for the corner 5' away.
Don't forget, if you wish, you may spend 1 point of grit to increase your touch AC attack into the next increment and take your shot.
Sir Gareth and companions arrive at the scene of the collapse in the same round D'witt makes his decision above. They witness a disaster to the slums, the complete collapse of half a block of the twisted, clapboard and canvas homes/shops. The area is nearly deserted, though one hidden scruffy lad of maybe his teens suddenly lunges past the group. Grabbing for him, as you call to stop, he suprisingly jerks from your grasp, leaving a large patch torn from his threadbare tunic. He looks back in fright, stammering T'wern't me gov'na, damn demon wat tack't Jaroo n is 'ore. Went tha' way dun did. He drops and scrambles into a hole in the side of a nearby shack, dropping a canvas cover behind him. You hear the watch coming, a shrill whistle announcing their approach, maybe a round behind you.
Conner gives chase in the direction that the lad points.
Perception:
Sir Gareth double-checks if anything is stolen from his person by the urchin and then looks over the wreckage to see if anyone is trapped or injured. "Is everyone alright? Is anyone injured?" He calls out to the wreckage.
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He calls out to the wreckage.
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[dice=Perception]1d20+11
Nothing seems missing from Sir Gareth's person, it seems the urchin more wanted escape than pilfery. Looking over the runis of the shack, he does notice the glint of gold and rich wood, mostly buried under the back wall.
Glancing at you, Hellspawned fool she spits and raises her arm, preparing to do, well, something, while still moving for the corner 5' away.
"I've been called worse." He replies flatly. Leveling the pistol on the creature, he aims and fires.
The sharp bark of the pistol echoes around the twisted trails of the slums, causing everyone hiding to hunker down a little closer. The shot bites into wall beyond the witch, punching through the flimsy planking.
The old hag gestures her hand, grasping at the ground then lifting upwards, her finger rising in a rude gesture. Leave off fiend, your fires put out. With that she rounds the next corner. The sound of crashing wood almost immediately follows.
From the ground before you, a sudden rush of water spouts upwards, striking towards D'witt's chest, rock, dirt and debris carried along in it's path, bullrushing the young pistolero. vs D'witt's CMD 19. The forceful burst shoves him back 5', but he deftly avoids slamming into the prone villager, who is likewise splashed by the deluge.
The sudden attack drenches D'witt in muddy water and filthy runoff, but even worse, threatens to ruin his ammunition.
Conner hears the report and, making a judgement, rushes off into the maze, twisting and turning as his thoughts deem correct. He hears a crash shortly thereafter. Somewhere, battle is joined.
Sir Gareth had stopped for a moment, noticing something of value in the debris. He hears the shot, but cannot place it as keenly as Conner did.
Angel and Xavorin stop up short before the wreckage, unsure of what stopped Sir Gareth, of what Conner pursues.
Sir Gareth is not the thieving or plundering sort of noble knight. He makes a mental about the thing and follows Conner in a hustle.
It will take Conner and the others two rounds at hustle to get to the spot of the last shot heard. It will take the watch a few rounds to find the wreckage, then a few more to get to the sound of the that same shot.
D'witt growls as his shot goes wide and the creature runs off around the corner. He starts to follow after her again when the ground suddenly erupts. The tiefling it completely caught off guard and finds himself knocked back several feet, nearly falling over a prone local.
The sudden attack drenches D'witt in muddy water and filthy runoff, but even worse, threatens to ruin his ammunition.
"Son-of-a-!" D'witt snarls. "She is so gonna pay for that." The gunman starts chasing after the creature again, rounding the corner as quickly as he can.